All such persons as have just cause to complain against privileges and protections (claimed by the Parliament, the Nobility, Gentry, King, Queen, or Prince's Servants, persons of quality, or others) are desired to come to Saddler's Hall in Cheapside, London, upon Wednesday next, by two of the clock, being the 21. of this present july 1641.  
And you are likewise desired to bring with you your particular grievances in writing at the same time.   

CERTAIN PETITIONS PRESENTED BY THE LORDMAIOR, AND COMMONALTY OF The City of LONDON, To the Honourable House of Commons, SHOWING. The great Inconveniences of Protections, Privileges and Privileged Places, with the Allegations and Reasons tendered by the Committees, appointed by Common Council of the City of London, against the same: being Voted by a Committee of the Lower HOUSE.  
LONDON, Printed for George Badger, 1641.   

To the Honourable Assembly of the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, in the Commons House of PARLIAMENT: The humble Petition of the Lord Maior and Commonalty of the City of LONDON.  
SHOWETHS, That your Petitioners, by reason of their Trades and deal, are the greatest Creditors in the Kingdom; That before, but chief since the Sitting down of this Parliament, they find the multitude of Privileges and Protections, Claimed by the Parliament, the Nobility, Gentry, his Majesty's Servants, Persons of Quality, and others, to be such, as for the most part take away all benefit of Law from your Petitioners, you may be pleased to Consider, that his Majesty, and this Honourable Court are the Fountains of Justice, from whence the propriety of every Subject's estate is derived, And seriously to take into consideration, that Parliaments continuing long, or coming often, these Inconveniences, and mischiefs will follow: 

1. Propriety will not be maintained, because the Debtor is made master of the Creditors Estate.  
2. The want of that liberal Credit, which hath formerly been given to Persons of Quality.  
3. The great decay of Trade, wherein every member of this Kingdom, from the highest to the lowest, hath his common Interest.  
4. And without some present remedy, there must necessarily follow, the destruction of many Families, their means being detained from them.    
Your Petitioners therefore humbly desire, that by the Wisdom and Justice of this Honourable House, such course may be taken, That these Inconveniences may be removed.  
And they shall pray, etc.   

To the Right Honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, in the Commons House of PARLIAMENT, Assembled: The humble Petition of those whose names are under written, being Citizens and Tradesmen, of the City of LONDON.  
SHOWING, That we lately making our griefs known to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Council of London, they were pleased to intercede to this Honourable House, by an humble Petition against Privileges and Protections, whereby as yet we find no fruit or benefit: We therefore humbly desire, That that Petition, and the reasons therein given, may be taken into serious consideration: And be pleased further to consider, that we and our Families are not able to subsist, neither are we able to bear the great and public charge, already imposed, and to be imposed, our means being detained from us, And these which prosecute in a fair and legal way, just and honest debts, being therefore Severely punished.  
Humbly therefore do your Petitioners desire this Honourable House, which hath ever maintained the Common justice of the Kingdom, and still provided remedies against great and growing evils, to do therein such justice, as your Wisdoms shall hold agreeable to the Law of God, and Reason; And your Petitioners shall ever pray for the prosperity of you, and your honourable proceed,   

REASONS, Tendered by the Committee, appointed by Common Council of the City of LONDON, against Protections, Privileges, and Privileged Places for Debtors, to make good the Propositions, and Allegations set forth in their Petition, presented to the Honourable Honse of COMMONS, against Protections.  
ALLEGATION. I. 
 Propriety will not be maintained, because the debtor is made Master of the Creditors Estate.  
REASON. 
 For that the Creditor taking his legal course agalnst the Debtor, in stead of receiving satisfaction for his debt, is oftentimes both he and the Officers, imprisoned, and the Debtor discharged: which doth not not only discourage many Creditors in taking course for their own estates, but greatly encourage others to run into debt, and the Creditor is also hereby disabled to satisfy his several engagements.  
ALLEGATION. TWO 
 The want of that liberal Credit, which hath been formerly given to Persons of quality.  
REASON. 
 For that the Creditor cannot receive back the estate, by him trusted forth. And we believe that this Honourable House is in good measure sensible hereof.  
ALLEGATION. III. 
 The great decay of Trade, wherein every member of this Kingdom, from the highest to the lowest, hath his common interest.  
REASON. 
 For that the Commodities of drapery and others, being carried out of this Kingdom, are again returned into the Kingdom, in Silk, Linen and other Wares, which by Merchants are trusted forth to Shopkeepers, and by them to sundry other persons, & by reason of Privileges, Protections, and Privileged places, preventing due payments of moneys, the trade both within the Kingdom, & into For reign parts, is much hindered and abated, Merchants and others being by such ways kept from their estates, to pay their debts, and to buy other native Commodities, fit for exportation: and upon examination, it is found, that in the year now last passed, there hath not been so much moneys laid out in Trade to Foreign parts, by many hundred thousands of pounds, as hath been in a like equal time formerly.  
ALLEGATION. iv 
 And without some present remedy there nust necessarily follow the destruction of many Families, their means being detained from them.  
REASON. 
 This the City hath sufficient experience of, there being divers Artificers, who formerly lived in good credit and fashion, and were able to give towards the maintenance of the Poor, who are now by reason of Privileges, Protections, and Privileged places, keeping their Estates from them, fallen into want and penury, and not able to support themselves; and others of better quality, who did formerly keep divers persons and Family's in constant employments, are by reason of the said Privileges, Protections, and Privileged Places, hindering them of their Estates, much fallen, both in their Trades and Credits.  
That some principal Merchants of the City of London, writing to Friends into foreign parts, for about One hundred thousand Pounds, to furnish the necessity of the State withal, were from them answered, that they were afraid to send their moneys, because they could not command the same back again at their pleasures, by reason of Privileges, Privileged places, and Protections so generally granted. And it is a general complaint of Strangers here, that whereas our Merchants trading into foreign parts, have liberty and freedom without interruption, to recover their debts against Persons of greatest quality and Estate, Strangers residing and trading in this Kingdom, have not the like liberty against the meanest Subject in it, by reason of Privileges, Protections, and Privileged places: the like whereof (by consent of all Merchants, with whom we have conferred) is not granted in any place whatsoever, neither to Nobles nor others.  
Besides the great prejudice and inconvenience to the Common Trade of the Kingdom, and to many particular persons alleged in the Propositions before mentioned, it will clearly appear by the multitude of Protections, Privileges, and Privileged places, whereof use is made at this present, by debtors, to shelter themselves from payment of their just debts, whereof to the number of a thousand, came to our knowledge within the compass of a few hours, and are particularly collected and distinguished in writing, and many more will appear, if further way may be given to an inquiry after them. And by credible information, the debts owing by some of the Nobility of this Kingdom (which the Creditors are enforced to forbear by reason of Privilege, not reckoning within this estimate, any other debts, either of Lords or Commons) do amount to above a Million, which Sum (as is conceived) if it might be gotten in, and employed, would drive a greater Trade than is driven by all the Merchants in London put together. By which estimate, the mass of Money withheld from Creditors by their Debtors, under colour and pretence of Privileges, Protections, and Privileged places, against Law, and the right and property of the Subject, the miscarriage of Trade and Creditors, is more evidently represented.  
Moreover, it is humbly conceived, That whereas divers estates of Nobility and Gentry are clogged with vast debts and encumbrances, Young heirs, and persons of Quality would be careful how they run into so deep debts, if these ways to evade the just and honest payment of them were taken away. And lastly, we humbly represent that (as Parliaments are now settled by the wisdom of the King and State) these Privileges, Protections, and Privileged places are a greater burden to the City of London, a greater grievance, and of worse consequence to the general Trade of the Kingdom, than the Patents of Soap, Leather, Salt, or that great and unsupportable burden of Ship-money.  

WE are informed, that in Spain and Portuga'l, all men's estates are alike subject to pay debts, but every Nobleman and Gentleman, his person is free, and his bed that he lieth on, and his horse allowed him, but all else is subject to pay debts, and one may have Sentence for a just and true debt, a bill or bond, in 27 days, and then the Creditor may go without an Officer into the Debtors house (Yea, though he be a Nobleman) and take the Plate from his Table, and take down his Hang, and carry them away, with what else he sindes, and sell them at an outcry, and take the money in part of his debt, and likewise Sequester the whole Rents, or Revenues of his Lands, till the debt be fully satisfied. Sanctuary cannot defend a Priest from payment of his debts, though it guard his person; An Englishman hath there caused his slipend or Rend belonging to him, for his maintenance, to be Sequestered for the payment of his debts.  
Duke DALVA, his Plate was taken out of his house for payment of his debts.  
In Florence, Leghorn, Pisa, and the rest of the Duke of Florence his dominions, No Nobleman or Gentleman is any way Privileged or Protected more than others, but all men there are subject to the Law alike, and for a just debt, a bill or bond, he must pay presently, or go to Prison without suit of Law; only he is called before the judge, and if he ca●not deny the debt, he is forthwith sent to prison, there to remain until the debt be paid; no man there was ever Privileged or Protected, except upon some great occasion. The Great Duke hath sometimes protected the persons of Strangers for some short time, but never his own Subjects  
In the United Provinces, Holland, Zealand, and the rest, all persons are alike subject to the payment of de●ts, none are Protected or Privileged, of what Quality soever; no not the States themselves: Soldiers only are excepted in their Persons, so long as they are in pay, and employment; but their Rents, Revenues, their goods, their wages, is liable, and may be sequestered and taken for payment of their debts.  
In Flanders, and in Brabant it is the like. In Geneva no men whatsoever are privileged from payment of their debts, but at all times, all persons are subject to one Common Law: and for a just debt, a bill or bond, one may have Sentence in Geneva in a month at the furthest, both against their persons and estates; there it is held a great disreputation, not to pay their debts, and the Law is, that if any be chosen Senators, and is sued for debt, that he doth not pay, he must leave his gown, and cannot be admitted.  
In Germany, no Noblemen or Gentlemen are Privileged, or Protected: it hath been known that at Hamborow, or near that place, a Nobleman's goods, or estate hath been sold for payment of his debts; and having not enough to satisfy, they sold his honour likewise.  
SEXTUS QVINTUS the Pope made a law, that no Cardinal should have a voice in the Conclave, at the Election of a Pope, if he owed any money, or were indebted, which custom is still in use. And this SEXTUS QVINTUS, was Pope in Queen ELIZABETH'S days.  
In Scotland, neither the King's Service, the Court, not the Parliament can Protect the Person or Estate of any man, neither Nobleman or Gentleman, from payment of his Debts, or the Prosecution of Law against him.   
FINIS.