TO THE HONOURABLE ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONS house of Parliament, and to the Committees, for Grievances of the same house.  
The humble petition of Edward Hopkins, William Barwell, john Bellamy, Robert Ʋilet, john Walter, Robert Wright, and other Wharfingers in and near the City of London.  
WHereas the petitioners and all others using Wharfes for sale of Fuel within and near the City of London, have time out of mind had the use of a competent number of Carts and Cars as necessarily incident to their trade, to carry wood and coal for the necessary use of his Majesty's subjects in and about the said City, until some of the Woodmongers in An. 3. jac. (without the consent of the rest) did not only procure themselves to be incorporated by his Majesty's letters patents, with power to make ordinances for government thereof, but also for their own lucre, and to the intent to oppress his Majesty's subjects and make a Monopoly thereof, upon pretence of better government, have by colour of the said Letters patents made ordinances, whereby they have drawn the government of Cars into their own hands, and so provided that neither Wharfinger nor other might use a Car without licence from the said Company; and upon such as had licence for use thereof, laid an imposition of 17. s. 4. d. per annum, and other great taxes, as sometimes 40. s. and at other times 4. lib. a man.  
ANd the said Company having so settled their said government, did deny the use of Cars to diverse owners of ancient Wharfes using the trade of Woodmongers, and either sold them out to others for 40. and 50. lib. a Car-roome, or else did farm them for 10 s and 12. s. the week; by which means the said Car-roomes are appropriated to Tapsters, Ale-house-keepers, Scriveners, Ostlers, Bakers, and such like, not using themselves either Wharfe or Car, and become private interests, and go as Chattels to Executours.  
ANd when Wharfingers (in case of necessity) used any Cars for use of their trade, themselves and their servants have at several times been (by colour of the said Letters patents) committed to prison by the Master and Wardens of the said Company, and there detained sometimes 7 or 8 days; at other times their Cars have been by the said Company or their ministers taken from them; and when they have endeavoured by course of law to relieve themselves, they have been unduly stayed.  
BY which unjust courses the petitioners and diverse others being free of the City of London, have been most unjustly denied the free use of Carres, and thereby hindered from using their said trade, and enforced either to buy diverse Car-roomes, or to farm them at the several rates aforesaid, to the utter undoing of themselves, wives and children, to the great enhancing and raising of the price of Fuel, and the great grievance and oppression of his Majesty's subjects in and near about the said City, and to the raising of the price of carriages, with many other inconveniences.  
IN tender consideration whereof, and for that the said Grant (accompanied with ordinances as aforesaid) is not only a Monopoly, but the execution thereof tends to deprive his Majesty's subjects of their liberty, by unlawful imprisonment, contrary to the great Charter of the Liberties of England, and to the hindrance of Legal proceedings and stop of justice for their goods unjustly and against law taken from them, and to the destruction of their trade, and is otherwise enormous and extreme grievous to the petitioners and others his Majesty's subjects, and may with the like colour be put in execution against Brewers, Scavingers, and diverse other trades; and for that the petitioners are ready to make good each of the said generals, with diverse particulars of every sort.  
MAy it therefore please this honourably Assembly and high Counsel to take the premises into consideration, and to appoint some time for the hearing thereof, and to take such course to reform the said abuses, and punish the said offenders, as to justice shall appertain:  
And the petitioners (as most bound) shall ever pray for the long continuance and happy prosperity of this honourable Assembly, and all the members thereof, etc.