Which doth plainly and perfectly shew the reason why Leather is so excessive dear , and so unserviceable for the use of the Common-wealth : the abuse is wholly occasioned by the Leather-sellers , some Curriers , some Coblers , Taylors , Weavers , Button-makers , Broakers , Black-smiths , Chandlers , Tapsters , and that which is worst of all , some Shoe-makers , some of them have left off the Trade and will not work , but scorns to work , and are become sole Merchants of Leather onely , that do buy up all the Leather in some Country Fairs without Comptroule , bragging and boasting the Law can take no hold on them , and they convey what they list beyond Sea , and the rest they keep at home , in their Shops and Cellars , and there sell it at their own Rates , and are grown to such a Head , that it is in vain for any Shoe-maker to go to any Fair or Market with a small quantity of money , but he must be forc'd to come and buy of them ; they forestalling , and ingrossing the greatest part of the Leather in the whole Kingdome into their own hands : Insomuch that if any of these people before mentioned , do come into any Fair or Market , the best and ablest Shoe-Maker in all England must stand off untill they be served , or else out-prize them , which is destructive to the Common-wealth : likewise some of them do keep ten or twelve Shops a piece , others three or four Shops or Cellars , planting both City and Suburbs and Country over ; and some of them do return one hundred pounds a week in one Shop ; then consider how much the whole Kingdome is prejudiced by these Purse proud people . First , because they forestall and ingross and enhance the price . Secondly because they transport , or sell Leather to Merchants , that do transport . Thirdly , because they buy up so much Leather in Inns , and Tanners yards , which is raked and shaved and hastened in the Tanning , that it is scarce halfe tanned , that sucks water like a Spunge ; that people can never go dry on their feet ; and Shoes made of such Leather breaks out of the sides , before they be halfe worn . And lastly , consider how many hundred of poor Shoe-makers all England over , are tyed up from their proper Rights and freedome of buying Leather at the best hand of the Tanner , but are kept under and forc'd to buy of them , that they get the gain of all that poor Men labour for ; and put Chance , if any Man get a poor Livelihood by his Trade , it must be by working such stuff as is not serviceable for the wearer , or if he puts in good stuff , he must exact an unreasonable price upon the Customers , they getting all the gains to themselves as aforesaid ; and no Remedy for it , so long as the Curriers and Leather sellers , and Leather Cutters , as they are so called , are suffered to buy Leather , and fell , as they do , and neither can nor do convert the same Leather into made Wares : There was a Statute made in the first year of the Raign of King James , and the two and twentieth Chapter which is yet in force , That no Person or Persons shall buy , sell , bargain , bespeak or take , promise , to have , exchange or put away any Tanned Leather not wrought , and converted into made Wares , but only such Person or Persons , as will and shall work and convert the same Leather into made Wares , upon pain of forfeiture of the Leather so bought , sould , exchanged or put away , or the value thereof . But alas , Information can do no good in such cases , and they are counted odious in most places where ever they come , though their cause be never so good , nor hardly any Jury will allot them any thing , to the great discouragement and utter ruine of his Majesties subjects , and the King deprived of his just Revenues ; Therefore let us all Petition to the Kings most excellent Majestie , and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and Commons As-sembled in Parliament : to take it into their serious Consideration , they being in part sufferers by the dearness and badness of Leather , that they stand up for the prosperity of the Land of their Nativity ; and to grant a Seizure to take away from all unlawfull buyers that cannot work and convert the same Leather into made Wares , and to set such a Fine on the heads of those shoe-makers that may buy Leather lawfully , and yet sell it again Red as it came from the Tanners , as to their grave wisdomes shall think fit ▪ and that it may be lawfull for any of his Majesties good subjects to be Seizures , and that it may not be involved to some partic●lar Mens hands , who may som●●mes happen to be offenders themselves , or through Friendship or Bribery , they will not do their Office .

And this Request of theirs being granted , the , Petitioners , as in duty bound , shall ever pray , &c.