To the High Court of Parliament of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND , SCOTLAND , and JRELAND .

The humble Petition of a great number of Imprisoned Free-men for Debt , of the City of London , which yet lye in Ludgate , under the cruell rigour of the Norman yoke of bondage and slavery , by the cruelty and oppression of their obdurate Creditors .

SHEWETH ,

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 severall Statutes ; the restraint of Men and Womens persons in Prison paying no Debts but defrauding the Creditors , and satisfying the tyrannicall wills of the said Creditor , Lawyer , and Goaler .

That some of your Petitioners where Committed before the 20.th of October , 1653. And although very Poore , by reason of losse of Trade , as also by Suretiship ; yet by the injurious practises of their Adversaries , combining with deceitfull Lawyers are by indirect proceedings in the Law , unjustly detained to 〈◊〉 utter Ruine 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 remaine under their vexatious Imprisonment .

O●●●ers of your Petitioners , are detained by Outlaries and other Prosses at the States S●ite , and cannot obtaine their just Liberties .

The Premisses piously considered , Your poore Petitioners humbly pray ; That your Honours , would speedily breake this Cruell sinfull 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 , heare , and determine all Causes and D●fferences whatsoever , betweene Creditors and Prisoners , with small Charges ; so that all Differences concerning Prisoners , may bee adjudged and determined ( as also Charities of , and belonging to Prisons , which hath been unjustly detained , or mis-imployed ) speedily , without pleading of Councill , least your Petitioners perish ; And that there may be Provision made in the said Act , that all Debters 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 Wee , our Wives , Children , and Friends , but this whole Nation , may have just cause to blesse God for You , and to eter●ize your Names to Posterity ; for the Speedy accomplishment whereof , Your distressed Petitioners doe daily pray , &c.