The Sad and Lamentable Case of the Tenants of the late Dean and Chapter of Durham, (consisting of about One hundred Families) briefly Stated.  
THat the tenants and their Ancestors have for many hundreds of years enjoyed their respective farms under the Prior and Covent of Durham, and after the dissolution in Henry the Eight his time, under the Dean and Chapter of Durham, by certain Customary Tenures and Services to be performed by them upon the Borders of England, against the Frontiers of Scotland.  
That in Queen Elizabeth's time they were prevailed withal to take Leases, which was settled by Decree by Consent, between the than Dean and Chapter, and the aforesaid tenants of Durham, That they should receive Leases according to the form prescribed in that Decree, paying Three years Fine at the renewal of their Leases, after the expiration of One and twenty years.  
That when the Surveyors came down to Survey their Estates in pursuance of a Bill of Sale, the said Tenants made their right as aforesaid unto the premises to appear; whereupon the Surveyors made a large and ample Certificate on their behalf, and returned the same in the Survey of their respective Farms.  
That the said Tenants did address themselves to the Committee for Removing Obstructions in the Sale of Deane and Chapters Lands, who upon mature deliberation, did allow of the said tenants Claim as aforesaid, and Ordered a reprise to the said tenants in the purchase of their several farms, in pursuance of the Decree, as by the Order of that Committee more fully appears; which Order of Allowance was left at Gurney-house for the Contractors and Purchasers to take notice of.  
That the said tenants being miserably impoverished by reason of the late wars having Armies quartered upon them for the most part of five years, and most of their farms being not above the value of three pounds per Annum, were not able to come up to London, and to bear the Charge of passing Conveyances for their respective Farms, and therefore resolved to submit to whosoever should purchase their Estates, and become their Landlords, resting confident that according to their said Claims and Orders of reprisal, they would allow the said tenants to renew their Leases under them, as formerly they did in the time of the Dean and Chapter; But the said Tenants do find the contrary; and notwithstanding that they and their Ancestors have for these 400 years enjoyed their respective F●rmes upon the Tenures and Services aforesaid; and notwithstanding that their Case is different from the Case of all other tenants to Deane and Chapters in other parts of the Nation, yet are many of them thrown out of their ancient Possessions, and left in the Streets in a miserable Condition, with their Wives and Children to beg their Bread; there being such instances to be given of the Inhumanity of some of the Purchasers to the said tenants, that it is incredible what unchristianlike hardship hath been done unto them.  
 
The tenants do most humbly pray, That their Petition (remaining in the hands of a Member of Parliament) Remonstrating their Sad and Lamentable Condition, may be called for, and Read in Parliament; that the Oppressed may be relieved, and that so many Families may not be left to perish, for want of seasonable relief.