TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens and Burgesses now assembled in Parliament.  
The humble Petition of Andrew Church, George Allen, Thomas Sander, Robert Parkinson, John Tippin, and John Wigmore, as it was by them delivered to Master Speaker the 9 of August, in the behalf of the multitude of poor tradesmen and artificers, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, with the Suburbs and liberties of them both, And by Master Speaker, presented to the honourable house of Commons, the 16. of the same month.  
Humbly showeth,  

THat the infinite number and increasing multitudes of Aliens which have and still do Intrude themselves into this kingdom are so great both of French, walloons and Dutch, and their access of using trades here in these cities and liberties, which is the Rumating of the most part of the poorer sort of Tradesmen in the said cities and liberties, That thereby the French, walloons and Dutch have got our trades into their hands so, that we native born subjects are enforced to be their servants, and have our bread snatched out of our hands by them, A thing not suffered in any other Common wealth.  
2 That since the beginning of this happy parliament there have been diverse petitions delivered to this honourable Assembly for prevention of this misery and mischief, which we poor natives lie groaning under the burden of.  
3 That we which suffer most (by this grievance) are poor men and not able to wage law, and therefore the more slighted by those of Eminency amongst us, and from our Masters and Officers can get no relief in this case, our Masters and governors in the places where we live having taken diverse sums of money to licence, admit, and allow the said Aliens to trade as freely as we, insomuch that many of us Tradesmen which might have lived very comfortably on our Trades and been helpful unto others, are forced through want of employment to be chargeable to the parishes in which we live, many even to beg, many to turn Porters, Day-labourers, water-bearers, Chimney-sweepers, and the like thus the Aliens are cherished, and many of them get great and unknown estates, as it were even out of the subjects' mouths.  
4 That a great part of the said Aliens are Roman catholics, and but few of them that have any certificates to show of what Religion they are, or how they learned their trades which now they use.  
5 That the said Aliens the most part of them live in Allies, by-places, and odd corners, postering their houses with five or six families in one house, which is altogether very dangerous for infection, especially now in these Cities and Liberties.  
6 That by the tolerating such infinite numbers of them, they having gotten the most part of our trading into their hands, commercing one with another, and employing men and women of their own nations, as Brokers, to sell and put off their works and wares for them, whereby they do daily increase, which makes houses at excessive rents, and all provision the dearer.  
7 That we native born subjects, are by the laws of this Land, to serve seven or eight years for our trades before we are suffered to work for our own benefit: But on the contrary, the Aliens and strangers at their first coming, set up as masters, or work as journeymen without restraint.  
8 That we Englishmen are not suffered to enjoy any of these privileges in France, but must of necessity be servants there, and not be suffered to work, no not so much as in our chambers, in pain of the loss of the commodities so wrought.   
Therefore we laying aside all Confidence in our Magistrates Masters & governors on whom we have relied, we do here most humbly appeal to this Honourable assembly, knowing that it is your desires and all you labour for, to do good, to Relieve the oppressed, to reform abuses, and to hear all poor men's grievances: Our request is to this Honourable assembly, that your grave wisdoms will be pleased to take the premises into Consideration, and provide some fit means whereby we may be releived herein, And your petitioners as in all duty bound will daily pray for your prosperities.