To the Right Hon: the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, of the Higher House of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of the Drapers of the Town of Shrewsbury.  
WHereas there is a Bill passed in the Lower House of Parliament, for the free Trade and Traffic of Welsh  in and through the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, by which the Inhabitants of Wales are enabled freely to sell by way of Barter or otherwise, all their welsh  at their wills and pleasures, to any persons who may lawfully buy the same; And that any persons who by the Laws of this Realm may lawfully buy any such , may freely buy the same of any persons inhabiting within the said Dominion of Wales; Any Charter, Grant, Act, Order, or any thing else heretofore made or hereafter to be made to the contrary notwithstanding; And further giveth certain liberty to any persons using the Trade of Merchandise, to transport the said  into the parts beyond the Seas, out of any Ports or Havens of Wales, etc. ut in billa: which Bill if it shall also pass this Honourable House: these inconveniences would ensue.  
1. To the Town of Shrewsbury. 
 The Clothiers of Wales may sell their  by retail or otherwise in Shrewsbury, contrary to an ancient Charter of Corporation granted to the Drapers by Edward the 4. th', and confirmed by the King's Majesty that now is, and others his Ancestors: And so for this Commodity it doth take away their Privilege, and the Privilege of all other Corporations of England.  
The Drapers are prohibited by the French Patent to transport the said  into France as formerly they used to do; and so if this Act pass, will be deprived of their Trade both abroad and at home; Which home-Trade for Welsh , they have founded, continued and maintained, even time out of mind.  
Many poor Sheermen and their Families, to the number of 800. persons, that live there by Dressing the said Clothes, will be undone or forced to seek them new dwellings in the farthest parts of Wales, where dwellings are scarce.  
The Town in general wanting its accustomed Trade, will be impoverished and made unfit to do his Majesty service, as heretofore it hath done.  
2. To the Country of Wales. 
 The Merchant's transporting thence only at certain times of the year, will overthrew the weekly Market at Oswestrey; Without the which the poor Clothier cannot live, at which Market the Drapers of Shrewsbury, Oswestrey, and Whitchurch, did bestow 2000 pounds or thereabouts, every week.  
3. To the King. 
 By transporting out of those parts and selling in diverse Markets; the King will be defrauded of his Custom and Aulnage; or be at a greater charge in receiving of it, than the profit will amount to.  
4. To the Kingdom. 
 Foreign parts will be furnished by foreign Merchants, with the better sort of those  (which are very useful) and at a cheaper rate than our own Kingdom.  
Under colour of transporting Cottons out of those creeks, the Merchant will transport Raw hides, Wool, Tallow, and other prohibited goods.  
THe Lords of the Privy Counsel aswell in the late Queen's time, as in his Majesty's time that now is, have, upon grave and mature deliberations and refferences, to diverse Honourable personages and grave judges, both of England and Wales (who heard the allegations on all parts) made several Orders for the settling of this Trade; which by this Act will be overthrown.  
It may therefore please your Honour to have consideration of these precedent Reasons, and to lend your Honourable Assistance for the rectifying of the said Bill; for the good of the said Town and Commonweal.