The humble Petition of the poor distressed Prisoners in the hole of the Poultry counter.  
Being about threescore and ten persons in number.  
Against this time of the birth of our Saviour Iesus Christ.  
 blazon of the Freemen of London  
Bessed is he that considereth the poor and needy the Lord shall deliver him in the needful time of trouble, and his seed shall be blessed upon earth.  Psal. 41.  

MOST humbly sheweth to your Christian Charity, the lamentable estate of the poor prisoners in the hole of the Poultry counter, being about threescore & ten persons in number, & the most part of us Freemen of this Honourable City greatly afflicted with many miseries, as hunger, could, nakedness, noisomesmels, with many other calamities that dwell with us in this our loathsome Dungeon. nevertheless knowing, like so many good Samaritans, you need no instigation to poure the oil of Charity into the deep wounds of our afflictions, we are emboldened to present this our humble Petition, only to pray and beseech your favourable remembrance of us in your godly and charitable benevolence extended towards our reliefs and comfort, against this time of the birth of our Lord & saviour Jesus Christ, who once was a prisoner himself for us all. Your reward shall be, for giuing us bread to feed our bodies, the food of Angells to refresh your souls, for giuing us water to quench our thirst, you shall taste of the Well of Life: and for being good to us Prisoners, you shal be made free denizens of that old and glorious City jerusalem. Therefore do as God shall move your hearts; and so blessed be his name for all our good Benefactors.  
We most humbly pray and beseech, that your Charity may be put into this bearers box, sealed with the houses seal, as it is figured vpon this Petition.  
God preserve and keep the Kings most Excellent majesty and his great council of Parliament.   

Printed by M.F. One thousand six hundred forty and four, Decemb: 20th 1644