To the Right honourable, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, now Assembled in the High Court of Parliament.  
The Petition of the Masters and Workmen Printers of London.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat whereas sundry of His majesty's Predecessors, Kings and Queens of this realm, have in their several reigns made sundry wholesome Ordinances for the good government and regulating of Printers and Printing, and thereby given great encouragements to the Professors thereof for their cheerful proceeding in the said mystery; And whereas tertio & quarto Philippi & Mariae, the said Printers together with some bookbinders and booksellers, were Incorporated by the name of one Master, two Keepers or Wardens and the Commonalty, and entitled under the name of the Company of Stationers, since which time the said government (by what power we know not) hath been altered, and there hath been invested divers persons under the name of Assistants, who together with the said Master and Wardens being booksellers and Strangers to the said Mystery, have assumed and taken upon them the sole Government and Ordering of the Science and Mystery of Printing, which is an Art they are altogether ignorant of, whereby the State hath been, and still is like to be much disturbed and abused by multitudes of seditious books and Pamphlets daily Printed and published, and the said Art of Printing much debased in workmanship, and otherwise, to the great dishonour of our Nation.  
Now for that this Art of Printing much concerns the good both of the Church and commonwealth, by propagating the Gospel, and advancing all other Arts and Sciences within his majesty's kingdoms and Provinces; And for the further preventing of such Seditious books and Pamphlets privately Printed here, and also imported from beyond the Seas, and that books may be Printed on better Paper, and yet sold at cheaper rates than formerly, as also that Printing may be every way as graceful and beautiful in these his majesty's Dominions, as in any other part of Christendom (which we are well able to perform, and which good work hath long been hindered by the ignorance and unskilfulness of the aforesaid governors.)  
It is therefore the humble suit of the Masters and workmen Printers in general, That for the performance of the premises, We the said Artificers, by special grace and favour from his majesty and this high and honourable Court, may have power to regulate the said Art, and every person now using, or hereafter professing the said Art: And also considering the great number of poor workmen belonging to the said mystery, We the said Artificers may alone be stated in all those lawful immunities and privileges, which at any time heretofore belonged and appertained to our Predecessors, or that at any time hereafter may of right belong unto us.  
And we shall daily pray, &c.   

May it please this high and Honourable Court, our Grievances are very many, but especially four Patents. viz.  

I.  
A Patent granted to Christopher Barker, and Robert Barker his son, in the late Queen Elizabeth's reign, for the sole Printing of all Bibles, Testaments, &c. in English.   

II.  
Another Patent granted first to Richard Tottle (as we believe) and lately confirmed to John More, for Printing of all Law books whatsoever, prohibiting all others to Print the same.   

III.  
A Patent granted first to John Norton, and since descended to Roger Norton his Kinsman, for the Printing of all Bibles, Testaments, grammars, &c. in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, together with an Introduction to grammar in English, and sundry other books.   

IV.  
A Patent lately granted to one Thomas Symcocke, for Printing of all things, that are, may, or shall be Printed upon one side of a sheet, or any part of a sheet; provided one side thereof be white Paper.   

We beseech your Honours to consider, that none of the aforesaid Patentees were at all acquainted with the Mystery of Printing, or ever served any time to any Printer: yet have they and their assigns, hitherto enjoyed their said Patents (being the sole livelihood of Printing) to the great prejudice of us the said Artists, and the whole state in general: for if it may stand with your Honours good liking, to make void these Patents, the commonwealth shall be far better served with these and all other books, they shall be better Printed, and on better Paper, and yet shall be sold one shilling in four shillings cheaper than now they are, and every workman in the said Art shall have a competent livelihood, to maintain them, which we are not as yet able to have, by reason of the aforesaid Patents.  
And we further humbly pray, that for the better encouragement of poor workmen in the said Mystery, all those Books formerly given and granted by his majesty, or otherwise, for their relief, may by the special grace and favour of his majesty and this high and Honourable Court, be confirmed to them.