TO THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF Commons assembled in Parliament.  
An Abstract of the general grievances of the poor Freemen and journeymen Printers oppressed, and kept in servile bondage all their lives by the unlawful ordinances of the Master and Wardens of the Company, which they fortify only by a Warrant dormant.  
With their most Humble Petition,  
FFOM the beginning of Printing his Majesty's progenitors by their prerogative Royal did privilege such persons as they pleased solely to Print some peculiar books, leaving the rest in general to the Printers.  
And for this Art of Printing was the key that opened the door of knowledge and learning (which is the honour and support of all States and Kingdoms) his Majesty's progenitors were pleased to incorporate a selected number, and to endow them with a large Charter and many great privileges which was graciously intended for the general good of the whole company, but by the innovations brought in by the Masters and their ordinances, the benefit is converted to them in particular, and the petitioners utterly ruined thereby.  
The laws of the kingdom authorize all persons, that have served an Apprenticeship according to the statute, lawfully to set up and use that trade to which they have served. But the petitioners are deprived of that benefit (which all honest and loyal subjects enjoy) by ordinances of the Masters of their company. And made perpetual bondmen to serve some few of the rich all their lives upon such condissions, and for such hire, and at such times, as the Masters think fit: for their trade of Printing (but as servants) they must not use, so as they take all possibiltie of Advancement (be they never so exquisite in their quality) from the petitioners, and make them uncapable of maintenance for them their wives and posterities.  
The Masters obtained a decree 28. Eliz. prohibiting the petitioners to set up any press or presses wherewith to print upon pain of six months imprisonment without Bail or mainprize, and his presses and other instruments to be defaced.  
The decree was obtained under colour of granting the petitioners diverse books in privilege to be printed for their benefit, and diverse ordinances for the petitioners continual and full employments, and other orders profitable for them. But the decree obtained, they observed none of their contracts: those being instituted without penalty. But all that tended to the petitioners prejudice, and their Masters particular profits, were enjoined under great and grievous punishments.  
Whereas his Majesty was graciously pleased to grant in privilege the printing of diverse books unto the petitioners the poor Printers (they by their ordinances have disposed them wholly to their own particular benefit, the petitioners having no share or benefit of his Majesty's most gracious and free bounty, intended chiefly to the poor petitioners. And with the profit of his Majesty's gift, they have purchased and drawn into their hands diverse other privileged books, converting them likewise to their own ends.  
In like manner under a false pretence of relieving the poor, they have obtained almost all into their hands, what either his Majesty: or his progenitors ever granted in privilege, of which the Petitioners and poor sort of Printers expecting benefit, reap indemnity and prejudice, and his Majesty's Subjects in general are abused by their exactions.  
For they keeping multiplicity of Apprentisies, (who after their Apprenticeships, like the Petitioners, become for ever more servile than before) Print Books most by their Apprentices, whereby the Petitioners have not half employment sufficient to work as servants; But the Petitioners are in worse case, then when the privileges were in strangers hands, which had no prentices. Besides the Masters of the Company have raised the prizes of Books, Print in worse Paper, and with dim and bad Letters.  
The Stationers to whom these privileges were never intended by his Majesty's most Gracious Gift, or the Grant of his Progenitors, are the chief Engrossers of these Privileged Copies, with some few Printers. And further, the Stationers by an agreement among themselves will retale no new Copies, unless they be of their own. For be it never so Religious, Learned, or profitable, if it be a Printers, either by purchase, or by free gift, they will not sell the same: but the Printer must lose his labour, his Paper and expense, if he will not sell them at their rate: by which means the Stationer hath all the profit both by Printing and Booke-selling.  
If the Petitioners infringe any part of the former Decree, or any of their own Ordinances, or but seem to question their right in the benefits Graciously given them by his Majesty, or complain of their unconscionable and lawless proceedings, they by virtue of a Warrant Dormant, presently break the Petitioners houses, imprison their bodies, seize their goods, and deface their Presses and Printing Instruments, without legal proceeding or eviction by information. And by this means dispose of all things amongst themselves, so a few are raised to great and infinite estates, and all the Petitioners thereby made absolute beggars.  

Reason's why the Petitioners should be relieved in this high and most Honourable Court.  
The Decree and their Ordinances bar them all relief in any Court of justice, or any other Court of Equity, but this only.  
The Decree and their Ordinances are absolutely contrary to the Laws of this Kingdom, and against the Laws of God and Nations.  
The Masters have in nothing performed their Contracts made at the obtaining the Decree.  
The Petitioners are deprived of that freedom that all other loyal subjects enjoy, and they ought to have.  
His Majesty's bounty extended to charitable uses, but is converted to their private ends and benefits.   

The Petitioners most humble request is:  
That the Decree may be dissolved.  
That the Petitioners may enjoy that liberty and privilege that every honest and loyal subject aught to enjoy.  
That they may have equal share of what his Majesty Graciously gave for their charitable uses.  
And such other privileges distributed amongst the whole Company as of right belongs, wrongfully by them now usurped.   
The Petitioners shall beseech the judge of all judges, to Crown you all with eternal Honour.