Pounds P Ann; but after that dreadfull fire, which consumed most of the Habitations it was
taken of And A multitude of the Inhabitants which were burnt out, came to Inhabitt in their
Parish. And when the City was Rebuilt the houses were built soe large that their no Houses for
the Poor; The rich went all back into the citty. And left the Poor behind them who many
of them hath become A great charge and the Poverty and decay of trade and the long & sedious
Warr, And the Generall decay in the Weaveing trade, of which Trade three parts of our
Poor consist upon, whereby the Parish is reduced to such great Straites, that they know not wch:
way to releive their Poor, notwithstanding they make such great Assesments for the Poor that
noe Parish in the City or Freedom part comes nere it, And besides every year wee are forced
to make Additionall rates for the Poor. And this year besides the Assesment for ye Yearly poor
their is already Assessed A year and an halfes additionall rates for the Poor, which makes
the Gentlemen of the Parish threaten to leave the same, but wee are constrained to make
such Assesments. And all will not doe for wee are Indebted betweene Nine Hundred And
A Thousand Pounds which wee pay Intrest for May it Please your Honour And yor.
Worshpps from the time of the Dreadfull fire of London untill the Year 1688 wee had not One
Penny Allowed from the Citty; And in the sd Year 1688 wee had allowed Thirty Pounds and at
severall times by degrees it was raised to Sixty Pounds for which wee Return thanks to this
Honourable Bench. Wee are Informed that St Giles Cripplegate for the Freedom pt; doe receive
from the City Ninety five Pounds P Ann, And wee doe pay to the Poor A great deale more then
they and have A Greater number of Poor by Farr then they, As may appear by our Returne
according to the Precept received from the Lord Major and his Brethren the Aldermen; And wee
are Assessed by order of the Common Councel for the Setting the Poor to worke Three Hundred
Twenty two Pounds Thirteene shillings and six Pence which is above Double the Sume of any
the Parishes in or about the Citty of London Excepting one Parish.

Your Petitioners therefore Humbly Beseeches this Honourable Bench to Consider the
Premises And to Commiserate the Poor Condition of their Parish: And to Allow them such
further Releiffe as your Honours in your Grave Wisdom shall seeme Meett

And as in duty Bound they shall pray Etc.