To the most Honble Assembly of the high Court of Parliament, The humble Petition of many thousands of poor distressed Carpenters, Bricklayers, Smiths, Plasterers, Glaziers, Painters and other handicraft's men.  
IN most humble wise showeth, that whereas your poor Petitioners exhibited their humble Petition unto the Honourable house of Commons, concerning the manner of building and repairing of houses being denied, which they lovingly heard, and presently gave order for the cal●●●g in, of M. Innago jones to answer the cause, how be it he did not attend the Committees at D 〈…〉 day of hearing, as your poor distressed petitioners did, which made the King's Majesty conceive (as we take it) that the Commissioners were never called before the Honourable House of Commons, as it appears in His most Royal speech at the last Session.  
In tender consideration whereof, it would please your Honours, to take into your Noble and grave considerations, the few Arguments and Reasons hereunto annexed, which do tend unto the general good, benefit and safety of the Honourable Cities of London and Westminster, and to grant, that if their be any opposition made, their may be a public hearing, between those apposers and us, whereby the said Arguments and reasons may pass with authority to the general good, as shall seem best unto this most Honourable Assembly.  
And your poor Petitioners shall (as duty bindeth them) daily pray unto God, for your Honourable healths, peace and tranquillity long to continue.  

Reason's moving this their humble Petition.  
1 First it doth undo many, that can repair their houses but not new build them.  
2 Secondly, Whereas five or ten pounds, will make a house serve 30 or 40. years, whereas three or four hundred pounds will not new build it.  
3 Thirdly, it hath and will be a means to waste abundance of timber, when houses must be pulled down before they have need.  
4 Fourthly, if a man take a Lease of 21. years, and if the house stand not above 14 or 16. years, but must be repaired, and being denied repairing, the house must either fall or else the building will be to chargeable for the remainder of the years, besides breach of Covenants contrary to Law.  
5 Fifthly, If a caviling tenant be not disposed to repair his house, according to his Covenants but to wrong his Landlord will complain unto the Commissioners for building, and so ●ave it pulled down, when reasonable reparations will serve.  
6 Sixthly, by this occasion, many thousands have been cast out of employment in their lawful callings, and by this means many have perished.