The poor Prisoners Petition for Charity against Christmas.  ECCLESIASTES, Chap. XI. Verse. I. Cast thy bread upon the Waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. 
To the right Honourable, the PARLIAMENT now sitting at WESTMINSTER. The humble Petition of the miserable poor Prisoners in Woodstreet Compter, and in behalf of the rest of the poor Prisoners in and about London, most humbly begging your Charity and pity against this blessed time of Christmas.  
Humbly showeth:  
THat whereas the preceding Parliaments were graciously pleased to take into their charitable consideration, the miserable condition of poor Prisoners, and thereupon granted the five pound Act wherein was expressed that all those Prisoners who were not able to pay fees, and Chamber rents, their own security was to be taken: and since that another gracious Act was granted, which tended as much to the good of Creditors, and poor Prisoners as could be expected, and yet for all this, the poor Prisoners must now be kept in Prison to the endangering life there, for want of food; unless they can find money to satisfy the unreasonable Jailor.  
May it please this honourable Parliament to vouchsafe a charitable consideration of your poor Petitioners, and to give their following humble Remonstrance, but a favourable aspect, then with confidence we may expect that charity, that pity from Salter's Hall which we never yet found.  
And we shall be always bound to Pray etc.   

To the honourable the Judges sitting at Salters Hall. The humble Remonstrance of very many poor Prisoners, that have been and now are sufferers in the Compter in Woodstreet London, by the Tyrannical oppressions long since continued and now practised by the power of the Master of the said Prison and his shirking Officers.  
I THat all drink they use there in general, is strong Beer and Ale, which must be bought by the Prisoners in the house, at the master's price which is as dear as in any place of England, being two pence the flagon; besides nick and froth, and generally very bad, and not any leave is there allowed to the poor Prisoner, to send out of doors for what he wants, although he may have it better and cheaper for the same money abroad, and only lives upon charity.  
II. That all exactions are there used to Prisoners and friends, visitants that possible may be in any place, for there they must pay for Tobacco, Pipes, and Candle, and be cheated too in the reckoning ●f not careful.  
III. That in there Chamber Rend there is as much oppression as may be in general, for the Prisoner pays all alike when he hath a bedfellow, and none, and so likewise he that hath a Chamber to himself, and he that hath a mate.  
iv That all Garnishes are basely extorted, which is a thing altogether unlawful, to the extreme abuse of many a Prisoner by the sharking Officers if not paid.  
V That those that are not able to pay Chamberrent at the day, are most barbarously dealt withal, for without any respect of person he must from the bed to the bare planks, let the weather be never so cold, and many times endangers life there, yet when he or they are to go off, the Master calls for his Chamber rend and makes them or their friends pay to a penny, ●s if they had never laid in the hole upon Charity, or else keeps them Prisoners until legacies come about, and then pays himself or else no liberty.  
VI That every single Chamber on the Master side, and the least of all though but a Garret Room, without a Chimney in it, is five shillings the week to one alone, and if he hath a Mate he pays as much more, and they have their Chambers from ten shillings the week, to twenty shillings the week besides.  
VII. That all that lodge on the Master's side, though in a three bed Chamber, must pay six pence a night at least, besides 12 pence for sheets, and some more lying single or double.  
All that is herein mentioned the poor Petitioners will maintain to be true.   

The Petitioners further Humbly offer to your Honours these ensuing proposals.  
I. Whether is it not fitting that the Prisoners there should have as much accommodation in a civil way as in any other Prison.  
II. Whether it be not fitting that Prisoners there should have liberty to buy at the best hand, what they daily want without control.  
III. Whether is it not fitting that the Prisoner having paid for his sheets should quietly enjoy his Bed, and not be subject to every sh●…ke Officer, to be turned out of his lodging for want of money to pay them their unlawful Garnish.  
iv Whether it be not fitting that every Prisoners own engagement should be sufficient for his Chamber rend for a convenient time, and not be subject to be turned to a worse or base place than many a dogkennel is.  
V Whether is it not fitting that every Prisoner that hath a bedfellow should be eased the one half of his Chamber rend.  
VI, Whether six pence a night be not sufficient for any one to pay that hath a Chamber to himself.  
VII. Whether is it not fitting that the Prisoners there should find as much honesty for their money as at the Upper Bench, or Fleet, where they have their drink in general, at five farthings the quart, and there is little or no difference in the measure as they usually fill.  
VIII. Whether is not fitting that the poor Prisoners in the hole there should have their drink as good cheap as the poor, in the Ward of the Upper Bench, where they pay but one penny the quart for the best strong beer.  
IX Whether is it fitting that the poor Prisoners there should be stopped for Chamber rend, or fees when unable to pay.  
X Whether is it not fitting that your Honours now appointed to relieve the poor and oppressed Prisoners, should be fully satisfied, how all Legacies and charitable moneys appointed for that place are disposed of and not abused (as they say) by the Master there and his shirking Officers.  
XI. Whether is it not fitting that there should not be one or more persons of honesty and indifferency appointed for that Prison, that upon all just occasions of complaint should see the Prisoners have present remedy,  
And lastly your poor Petitioners most humbly beseech your Honours that you will be pleased to regulate the excessive Fees and Chamber rend of the said Prison, according to the late Act, impowring your honours thereunto, whereby all oppression may be removed, and the poor and honest Prisoner may be relieved.  
And your Petitioners as in all duty bound shall pray etc.   

This humble Remonstrance was presented to the Honourable the Judges sitting at Salter's Hall, about the sixth of March last passed, and they promised that the Prisons should speedily be visited, and that the poor Prisoners should have redress, but it seems multiplicity of business or some other reason prevented their good intentions therein.  
ANd upon the twenty eight of March address was made unto Deputy HOVIL being then a constant sitting Judge at Salter's Hall, in the behalf of the miserable poor Prisoners; his Worship answered that he had seen the humble Remonstrance before, for they had it at the Hall, and for Mr. HACKET the Master of the Prison, they understood him to be a very honest civil man, but pressing his Worship farther to be mindful of the misery of the Prisoners, his Worship answered that he doubted they hardly should have leisure to do any thing in that business, because they should be so extraordinary busy about selling of Lands; but as it proved he and they were very much disappointed.  
God send us more honesty and less Honor.  25. of Mat. 35 and 36 Verses. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me in, Naked and ye clothed me, I was sick, and ye visited me, I was in Prison and yeecame unto me.