• THat the infinite number and increasing multitudes of Aliens which have and still doe Intrude them­selves into this Kingdome are so great both of French, Walloones and Dutch, and their accesse of using trades here in these Citties and liberties, which is the Rumating of the most part of the poorer sort of Tradesmen in the said Citties and liberties, That thereby the French, Walloones and Dutch have got our trades into their hands so, that we native borne subiects are enforced to be their ser­vants, and have our bread snatched out of our hands by them, A thing not suffered in any other Common wealth.
• 2 That since the beginning of this happy parliament there have beene diverse petitions delivered to this honourable Assembly for prevention of this misery and mischiefe, which we poore natives lye groning under the bur­den of.
• 3 That we which suffer most (by this grievance) are poore men and not able to wage law, and therefore the more sleigh­ted by those of Eminency amongst us, and from our Masters and Officers can get noe Reliefe in this case, our Masters and governors in the places where we live having taken diverse summes of money to licence, admit, and allow the said Aliens to trade as freely as wee, insomuch that many of us Tradesmen which might have lived very comfortably on our Trades and been helpefull unto others, are forced through want of Imployment to be chargeable to the parishes in which we live, many even to beg, many to turne Porters, Day-labourers, Waterbearers, Chimney-sweepers, and the like thus the Aliens are cherished, and many of them get great and unknowne estates, as it were even out of the subiects mouths.
• 4 That a great part of the said Aliens are Roman Catholiks, and but few of them that have any certificates to shew of what Religion they are, or how they learned their trades which now they use.
• 5 That the said Aliens the most part of them live in Allies, by-places, and odde corners, postering their houses with five or six families in one house, which is altogether very dangerous for infection, especially now in these Cities and Liberties.
• 6 That by the tollerating such infinite numbers of them, they having gotten the most part of our trading into their hands, commercing one with another, and imploying men and women of their owne nations, as Brokers, to sell and put off their workes and wares for them, whereby they doe dayly increase, which makes houses at excessive rents, and all provision the dearer.
• 7 That we native borne subiects, are by the Lawes of this Land, to serve seaven or eight yeares for our trades before we are suffered to worke for our owne benefit: But on the contrary, the Aliens and strangers at their first comming, set up as ma­sters, or worke as iourneymen without restraint.
• 8 That we Englishmen are not suffered to enioy any of these priviledges in France, but must of necessity be servants there, and not be suffered to worke, no not so much as in our chambers, in paine of the losse of the commodities so wrought.

Therefore we laying aside all Confidence in our Magistrates Masters & governours on whom we have Relyed, we do here most humbly appeale to this Honourable assembly, knowing that it is your desires and all you labour for, to doe good, to Relieve the oppressed, to Reforme abuses, and to heare all poore mens grievances: Our request is to this Honourable assembly, that your grave Wisdomes will be pleased to take the premisses into Consideration, and pro­vide some fit meanes whereby we may be releived herein, And your petitioners as in all duty bound will dayly pray for your prosperities.