Reasons tendered by the Free Butchers of London, against the Bill in Parliament, to restrain Butchers from Grazing of Cattle.  
FIrst, the cause of this Bill put in against Butchers for grazing and selling of Oxen and Sheep alive, is, because that those men that frame their Bill against us, know that Butchers of London can afford a better pennyworth than they can: The reason thereof is, that there is no Butcher of London, but doth serve seven years' Apprentice (at the least) before he is made Free, and in that time he may learn to know what a lean Ox is worth, and what he may be worth when he is fat: But on the other side, these men (for the most part) were never Apprentice at all, to know how to buy and sell: and therefore, although we pay as much for ground as they do, yet we will afford a better pennyworth than they either will or can: and in that we hope we are profitable to the Commonwealth.  
2. We say, that we are to provide and keep in store for the City: For, as it is the care of the Lord Maior & other the Magistrates of the City of London, in the time of plenty to buy Corn in the Markets, and to lay it up in store, for to supply the Markets when the Country doth fail: So, it is our care (being free Butchers of London) to buy Oxen and Sheep when they are plentiful, and to keep them in our grounds near London, for the provision of the City, till the Country cannot afford such Cattle sufficient to serve such an honourable City as London is, because their drift is long, and the ways very foul, which is the cause that though they are fat when they come out of the Country, yet they are lean before they come to London: When on the contrary, our Cattle are in our grounds near London, and may be brought home in half a day, so that in driving they are never the worse. This we will prove, and therefore they cannot afford so good as we can.  
3. It will be proved that in any Market of London, if Butchers do bring Cattle to sell, they do sell them sooner, and as good cheap as any man whatsoever that renteth his ground.  
4. We crave to have the liberty that all the King's subjects have, viz. All men of what degree, estate or calling whatsoever, be they rich or poor, from the highest to the lowest, they may graze Cattle if they will, and sell them alive: Or any Tradesman in London, or in the Country, if he be able to hire Land, or if he have land of his own, it is lawful for him to graze, and afterwards to sell the Cattle he hath grazed alive: therefore we trust, that which is allowed every one of his Majesty's subjects, is not prohibited for us to do: so that we hope we may have liberty to feed Oxen and Sheep, and all other Cattle, and sell them alive if we need (keeping them so long as the Statute alloweth all men) otherwise, we should seem Aliens and strangers (being barred of that liberty which is limited to every one) and not his Majesty's subjects.  
5. We crave (not on the behalf of all Butchers whatsoever, for there are many that have not served half their time, and some that were never Apprentice, that use the trade of a Butcher, these we omit: but on the behalf of the Free Butchers of London, that are a Company of London, and bear the charge of a Company of London) that the benefit of grazing may not be taken from us, which anciently we have used, and without which, our trade is (as it were) no trade at all, and not worthy seven years' service.  
6. Those that have put in their Bill against Butchers, have not done it for the good of the Commonwealth, but for their own private gain. For, if they can enact an Act of Parliament against Butchers for selling of Sheep & Oxen alive, than the London Butchers must many Market days in a year, give them that prosecute to have such an Act, twenty shillings in one Ox, and eighteen pence or two shillings in one Sheep, more in one Market day, than they were worth the Market day before. The chiefest cause that they would have this Act, is, that thereby they might have their wills to enhance their prizes at their own wills and pleasures (not caring for the hindrance of others:) For when the Market is scanty of Cattle, than we have them in our grounds to serve our turn, and to furnish the Markets for others of the poor Inhabitants of so great a City: for then (unless we ourselves would be loser's) we must be forced to sell Beef at three pence or four dearer in a stone, & every joint of Mutton three pence or four pence dearer in one market day then at other times: but having in such times of scarcity Cattle grazing in our own grounds sufficient to serve the Market, we thereby hold down their excessive prizes, which is the only cause they have preferred this Bill against us free Butchers of London, for selling of Cattle alive.  
7 When as there happen any deep snows, foul weather, or high waters, that the Graziers cannot bring their Cattle to the City: as also in the time of the visitation of the plague, the Butchers of London out of their own provision and store, have used and do continually furnish the City of London, which otherwise would not be supplied.  
8. The King's Majesty's Court at the entertainment of Ambassadors, and other times, is often furnished with provision out of the Butcher's store, which they shall never be able to do, if they shall be restrained grazing, and so consequently, his Majesty oftentimes unprovided.  
9 Lastly, when it shall be considered by this high Court of Parliament, how much it may concern the benefit of the Commonwealth, that we the free Butchers of London should continue the use of grazing: and on the contrary, what scarcity it will many times in a year bring in the City, if such an Act should be enacted against us, we doubt not but it will be thought that those men who have framed this Bill against us, have done it more for their own private gain, then for the good of the Commonwealth.