To the Right Honourable John Barber< no role > Esquire Lord
Mayor of the City of London and others his Majestys
Justices of the Peace at this General Sessions Assembled

Wee the Grand Jury of the City of London having with great Concern observed
That many Vexations and litigious Prosecutions have Appeared before us in the
Course of this our Duty and Service against many of the Inhabitants of this great
City Humbly Conceive it becomes us to Enquire how and in what manner such
Prosecutions are fomented and Stirred up and by whom Prosecuted and Carryed on

And first it Appears to us that Divers Persons Clerks or Servants to many
of his Majestys Justices of the Peace within this City do under Colour and in the
Execution of their Office Exact and Take from all Persons Accused and others bound
to Prosecute Several Sums of Money under Pretence for Warrants Commitments
Recognizances, Discharges and other Matters Incident to the Duty and Office of a
Justice of Peace contrary to the known Laws of this Realm In Violation of Publick
Justice and to the great oppression of his Majestys Subjects

Wee further observe that many such Clerks and Sollicitors in Confederacy
with a Set of People calling themselves informing Constables Newgate Sollicitors and
others Do not only Excite and Stirr up Iqnorant and unwary People to enter into such
Prosecutions but are Actually Concerned as Sollicitors and Agents for them thereby
encouraging and Abetting ignorant and weak People to Strife and Envy and getting
that Money from them to which they stand in Need of for the Support of themselves
and poor Familys

These Things We humbly beg Leave to present as tending to the Subvertion
of the Laws The Hindrance of Justice The Litigating Strife And Contrary to the good
Order and Government of this great City Begging that this Court will take
such Measures for redressing such Evills for the future as shall Seem most
meet and Reasonable

Abra: Lestourgeon< no role >
James Dargent< no role >
John Short< no role > hazell
Richard Bradshaw< no role >
William Amsinck< no role >
Samuel Shute< no role >
William Overton< no role >
Peter Lucas< no role >
William Davis< no role >

John Sheppard< no role >
John Kent< no role >
George Peapidge< no role >
Edward Bracebridge< no role >
William Woodcock< no role >
William Johnson< no role >
John Neale< no role >
Richard Godfrey< no role >

It is ordered by this Court That a Copy of the Presentment of the Grand Jury be
Sent and Delivered to Sir Richard Brocas< no role > Knight and Sir William Billers< no role > Knight
and Aldermen of this City and to be farther acquainted that the Grand Jury Declared
Severall instances of the Complaints within the Presentments above mentioned appeared
to them to be fomented and encouraged by one Bird Clerk to Sir William Billers< no role > and
one Bayly Clerk to Sir Richard Brocas< no role >

Jackson