TO
THE
HONOVRABLE
HOVSE
OF
Commons
assembled
in
Parliament
.
The
humble
petition
of
the
Master
,
Wardens
,
Assistants
,
and
Company
of
Brewers
in
London
,
and
within
foure
miles
compasse
of
the
same
Citie
.
IN
all
humble
maner
,
Shewing
,
that
whereas
of
late
yeeres
his
Maiesties
Purueyor
hath
vsed
to
come
and
take
from
your
petitioners
(
being
free-men
of
the
Citie
of
London
)
Beere
and
Ale
for
his
Highnesse
vse
,
which
antiently
of
free-men
within
the
said
Citie
hath
not
been
taken
.
In
respect
whereof
,
and
for
that
many
of
your
petitioners
were
and
still
are
verie
poore
and
needie
,
and
could
not
liue
and
maintaine
their
great
charge
if
they
had
not
readie
money
for
their
Ale
and
beere
so
taken
,
or
at
least
trew
payment
for
the
same
in
short
time
after
.
The
petitioners
to
preuent
their
owne
impouerishment
and
vndoing
,
were
forced
to
denie
the
Purueyor
the
taking
of
their
Ale
and
Beere
as
aforesaid
,
whereupon
warrants
were
granted
forth
to
commit
such
of
your
petitioners
to
prison
as
refused
so
to
doe
,
vntill
they
should
be
contented
to
yeeld
to
such
takings
,
or
else
to
pay
foure
pence
for
euerie
quarter
of
Mault
your
petitioners
should
brew
.
Your
petitioners
manie
of
them
being
in
prison
a
long
time
,
to
their
great
losse
and
charges
,
and
being
desirous
of
their
libertie
that
they
might
imploy
themselues
in
their
profession
for
the
maintenance
of
them
,
their
wiues
,
children
,
and
great
families
,
were
then
compelled
to
procure
their
enlargement
by
yeelding
to
the
payment
of
the
said
foure
pence
for
euerie
quarter
of
Mault
they
should
brew
,
which
payments
your
petitioners
haue
been
euer
since
forced
to
performe
.
Now
so
it
is
,
if
it
may
please
this
Honourable
Assembly
,
that
the
said
foure
pence
imposed
on
your
petitioners
,
as
aforesaid
,
being
a
new
taxation
,
is
more
grieuous
and
burthensome
vnto
them
,
then
if
they
payd
ten
Subsidies
a
yeere
,
For
that
besides
the
charge
thereof
,
The
vndertaker
or
farmer
of
those
groats
hath
formerly
vexed
and
sued
your
petitioners
in
the
Court
of
Request
,
And
the
now
vndertakers
or
farmers
doe
continually
threaten
to
sue
and
exhibit
Bills
and
Interrogatories
in
the
Court
aforesaid
,
to
examine
your
petitioners
and
their
seruants
vpon
their
oathes
,
vnlesse
your
petitioners
will
condiscend
to
what
composition
they
please
,
not
contented
with
any
reasonable
gaine
,
notwithstanding
they
are
brethren
of
one
Company
,
to
the
great
terrour
,
grieuance
,
and
further
impouerishing
of
your
petitioners
,
and
the
generall
hurt
and
inconuenience
of
the
said
Citie
,
and
those
within
foure
miles
compasse
thereof
.
Neither
doth
this
new
taxation
vpon
euerie
quarter
of
Mault
imposed
on
your
petitioners
free
them
or
any
kind
of
way
ease
them
from
Subsidies
,
Taxes
,
Fifteenes
,
or
any
such
like
payments
,
nor
gaines
your
petitioners
any
benefit
extraordinarie
more
then
any
other
Subiects
haue
who
pay
no
such
thing
.
The
premisses
considered
,
May
it
please
this
High
Court
of
Parliament
for
relieuing
of
so
great
a
number
from
this
heauie
burthen
of
foure
pence
vpon
euerie
quarter
of
Mault
,
and
for
preuenting
of
the
like
inconuenience
that
may
ensue
,
to
grant
them
your
fauour
herein
,
And
so
they
leaue
it
to
your
Graue
considerations
.
And
they
and
their
posteritie
shall
be
ouer
bound
to
pray
for
your
Honours
long
health
and
prosperitie
.