THE Apprentices of London's PETITION Presented to the Honourable Court of Parliament.  
Humbly showing unto them the manifold Abuses of their Apprenticeship, how the Frenchmen, Dutch, and Walloons, do deprive them of their ancient Customs, and former Liberties in their Trade.  
Describing also the Bloody proceed of the Papists in IRELAND, and to vindicate their Master's losses by the Protestants there persecuted.  
Likewise in devoting the Prelates; and Lordly Bishops, which insult too much over the whole Clergy, as the whole Kingdom besides.  
As also speaking of the Jesuits, that were Condemned.  
Subscribed, and presented with the Names of above 30000. Apprentices.   map of part of the Thames and its tributaries relevant to London trade 
London.  
LONDON, Printed for John Greensmith, 1641.   

The Apprentices of LONDON'S Petition.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat the injuries, and abuses done unto us are many, and the grievances, and oppressions which hereupon we have suffered at sundry times are manifold: wherefore we in the general, and universal name of Us all, do presume to present our pressures, and impendent injuries to your Honours, of whom only we can expect redress, and of none other. For whereas this City hath been renowned in the gazing eye of the world, and the magnificent enemies thereof applauded (both to the glorious fame of this State, and Kingdom) of all other Neighbour Countries, and Nations: Yet the Rites, and Liberties thereof being somewhat detracted, & abused, as also the Laws and ancient Customs thereof being extenuated by some malignant, and illaffected persons, it now becomes as much deplorable in the sight of all men: and whereas this City should have been a Pattern of Piety, and goodness (regularly embraced) to the whole Kingdom besides, it is now (by the means of divers ill-planted members hereof) become an example of Schismatical disturbances, and distractions. We therefore implore your Honours withal humility to restore our former Liberties, of which lately we have been deprived and to regulate in an exact ratification the Laws, and pristine Statutes of this City to the preservation of them (of which there is a requisite necessity in these perilous and confused times) in confirming the said ancient custom hereof.  
And first we beseech your Honours to take into consideration the intolerable abuse of our Apprenticeship: for where, we by coerion are necessarily compelled to serve seven, or eight years at least, before we can have the immunity and freedom of this City to trade in: Those which are mere Strangers do snatch this Freedom from us, and pull the Trades out of our own hands, so that by this means when our times are fully expired, we do then begin in a manner to suffer a second Apprenticeship to them, who do thus domineer over us in our own Trades.  
This is the cause that so many break every year, seeing that their Trading is stolen out of their hands to the great discomfort, and confusion of us all. Moreover when we are out of our times, and should then begin to trade in the world, we can get neither House, or Shop for our money, in regard that these Foreigners, and strangers (as there are many French, Dutch, Walloons, etc.) will give any money to snatch them from us: and this is the chiefest cause, that houses are so excessive dear in this City, and by this means many of us lose the loss of years, trade, and time, and are compelled to turn Journeymen. Wherefore we solely depend on your Honour's favourable, gracious, and auxiliary opitulation, beseeching you to re-erect that, which lately have been pulled down. And notwithstanding this abuse: there is a second danger hangs over, viz. the fearful dangers, perilous plots, and conspiracies which have, and are still pretended by the Papists against us, which causeth a promiscuous muting in this Kingdom. Their exulcerated envy (I confess●) have been oftentimes kindled in a spark ●her● but (thanks be to God) their m●lice could never take fire here in England, until now they are come to a full flame in Ireland, whose Rebellious Actions are so inhuman, that it would draw tears from an adamantine eye, to think of their bloody, and Tyrannical proceed. Wherefore we humbly beseech your Honours to take their groaning misery into your Christian, and charitable consideration, that the flourishing root of Protestants be not suffered to be fully eradicated to the great discomfort of all men in these Kingdoms.  
Moreover we earnestly desire your Honours, that you would be pleased to send some speedy aid, and auxiliary assistance unto them: for otherwise it will be a great detriment and damage to divers in this City, in respect that most of your Petitioners Masters have great sums of money, which many of those Protestants do owe unto them. In that regard they will be great loser's thereby, unless they be restored unto their former estate, which will be a means to break and undo many in this City, to the great discomfort and loss of your Petitioners. Therefore we beseech you to revolve the manifold abuses, which they have done, and unless you that are the real Physicians of the state (to purge this Kingdom from those Sores that doth contaminate it) do lay a restorative plaster to those mortal wounds, that are given by the Papists, they will suddenly canker, and turn to Phlebotomy.  
Alas, 'tis unknown what danger we are involved in, neither can we receive any comfort in our trade, in respect of these manifold perils which your Petitioners Masters are in, both in danger of their estates, and fear of their lives.  
Omit not there fore we entreat you, so heavy, and weighty an importance, seeing that our necessary dependence waits on your Honours, to relieve us. That after ages, and late posterity may en-chronicle so famous a deed, to your perpetual Fame, and the immortal glory of this Kingdom.  
But that we may consummate all our greivances, and necessities in one bundle, and that you may give your Verdict to each particular of our pressures in one contract, we will proceed to our third grief, expecting herein your favourable reflection on us, viz, the insulting Domination of the Lordly Bishop of Canterbury and some others, who triumph with too much arrogant insolency over us, and their poor Brothers of the Clergy, and if please your honours to look bacl on their misdemeanours, you may easily conceive how many great and unsufferable crimes they stand guilty of, wherefore on bended knees (expressing the humble allegiance of our hearts) we your Petitioners entreat your Honours with a  aspect to view the just desires of this oppressed Jsarel, let not we beseech you these Absoloms that in the time they had Patents for their persecution) made it no scruple to persecute their own fathers, let them not linger protract not time, but let not their punishments be any longer deferred, for they have oppressed the whole Kingdom, they were the first cause of that Commotion in Scotland. But now (thanks be to God) concluded in an exact peace, and universal Pacification: Yea they have been generally acknowledged to have been the chief, and sole cause of this Rebellious insurrection in Jreland, to the Epidemical danger of both Kingdoms, and the particular grief of each Subject. Your Petitioners therefore, bearing the quotidian cries of the people in what lamentable deploration they exclaim daily against these Lordly Bishops and Archbishops, do beseech you to revolve their insultations, and what general danger they have brought into the State, and woeful perils to the whole Commons; and do therefore request your Honours to clip off some of their illimited power, and extended authority. And that they would be devoted out of the house of Peers, for they hinder and procrastinate the establishment of Religion, which have been a long time expected to the universal grief of this whole Nation.  
Moreover, we interpose with them the Romish jesuites, that sting the Common wealth with their seducing allurements to the extenuation of our Protestant Religion, and the advancement of the Court of Rome: wherefore in respect that the Rebels in Ireland being their Confederates, do so persecute the Protestants there without any humane partiality, we beseech you not to be too clement unto them, in sparing them, especially when the sentence of the Law is gone upon them.  
We beseech you therefore favourably to consider of our Petition, and we will forever labour with our full force, and power to defend your Honours to the uttermost of our might. Thus we humbly desire your grave and judicious Counsels herein, hoping your general ascents, and consents hereunto; which will be great service done to God, great fame to the Kingdom, and especially great credit to your Honours.  
And we shall be bound to pray, etc.   
FINIS.