To the High Court of Parliament of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, and JRELAND.  
The humble Petition of a great number of Imprisoned freemen for Debt, of the City of London, which yet lie in Ludgate, under the cruel rigour of the Norman yoke of bondage and slavery, by the cruelty and oppression of their obdurate Creditors.  
Showeth,  
That Imprisonment of the Body for Debt, is contrary to the Law of GOD, to Reason. Justice, and charity, and to the Common-law of this Nation, as appeareth by several Statutes; the restraint of Men and womens' persons in Prison paying no Debts but defrauding the Creditors, and satisfying the tyrannical wills of the said Creditor, Lawyer, and gaoler.  
That some of your Petitioners where Committed before the 20th of October, 1653. And although very poor, by reason of loss of Trade, as also by suretyship; yet by the injurious practices of their Adversaries, combining with deceitful Lawyers are by indirect proceedings in the Law, unjustly detained to 〈◊〉 utter ruin of them and their Families.  
O●●e●s of your Petitioners, are confined close Prisoners for small matters of Controver●●●, only out of the cruelty of their Adversaries, and so still remain under their vexatious Imprisonment.  
O●●●ers of your Petitioners, are detained by outlawries and other Prosses at the state's S●ite, and cannot obtain their just Liberties.  
The premises piously considered, Your poor Petitioners humbly pray; That your Honours, would speedily break this cruel sinful yoke by the rule of Righteousness, Justice, and Mercy, and to cause an Act of Parliament to be p●st for all such as are now in Prison, to Examine, hear, and determine all Causes and D●fferences whatsoever, between Creditors and Prisoners, with small Charges; so that all Differences concerning Prisoners, may be adjudged and determined (as also Charities of, and belonging to Prisons, which hath been unjustly detained, or misemployed) speedily, without pleading of council, lest your Petitioners perish; And that there may be Provision made in the said Act, that all debtors to Prisoners may be compelled to make Restitution unto them without any further charge in Law; so as all Prisoners may be forthwith freed and discharged from their Imprisonments.  
That so not only we, our Wives, Children, and Friends, but this whole Nation, may have just cause to bless God for You, and to eter●ize your Names to Posterity; for the Speedy accomplishment whereof, Your distressed Petitioners do daily pray, &c.