Middx ss.

To the Right Worpfull her Maties. Justices of the
peace for the said County assembled in Quarter Sessions Etc

Whereas upon the humble peticon of William Freind< no role > of the Hamblett of Limehouse
in the parish of Stebunheath als Stepney in this County Barber exhited to her Maties
Justices of the peace for this County att the genall quarter Sessions of the peace held for
the said County on Monday the first day of July Instant Shewing that he inhabited a
house of Seaven pounds p ann in the said Hamblett and for Sevall yeares past had
been rated and paid eight Shillings p ann in the rate for the releife of the poor there
(besides the reassessments) and that the Officers of the said parish had in the rate made
for the releife of the Said poor for this present year raised the said Petr. from eight
Shillings to twelve Shillings p ann (besides the reassessments) altho few or none of
the Inhabitants of the said Hamblett (as the Petr was informed) were raised in the said
poors rate proporconably to the Petr. and that Severall of the Inhabitants who were of
much greater ability then the petr. were favoured and eased in the said rate and that the
Petr was not equally rated proporconably to other Inhabitants there and he haveing a great
charge of Children found himselfe aggreived by the said rate It was therefore prayed that
he might be reduced to the former payment of eight Shillings p ann in the rate
for the releife of the sd poor and in the reassessments proporconably, or that the said
matter might be referred to such of the neighbouring Justices in the Tower Division to
examine and report to this Court (in case they could not accomodate the same) as to the
Court should seem meet see that the petr. might be releived therein Whereupon itt was
by the said Court of Sessions recommended and referred unto us Robert Bateman< no role >
Robert Constable< no role > and Richard Lestock< no role > Esqr. and alsoe to George Ford< no role > and Roger Smith< no role > Esqr.
five of her Maties. Justices of the peace for this County or any two of us or them to convene
before us or them the Churchwarden and Overseers of the poor of the said Hamlett of
Limehouse and to examine into the truth of the Petrs. Complaint And if it appeared
that the petr was overcharged, and that the Said Churchwarden and Overseers of the
poor refused to ease him in the rate assessed upon him for releife of the poor of the said
Hamblett then the said Referrees or any two were thereby desired to report their opinions
touching the premisses unto this Court to the end such further Order might be therein
made by the Court as should be just
And whereas we the said Robert Bateman< no role > Robert Constable< no role > and Richard Lestock< no role > Esqr .
three of the said Referrees have [..] Sumoned the Churchwarden and Overseers of the poor
of the said Hamblett and all other parties conceived to attend us upon the said peticon and
referrance the 12th day of July Instant att three of the clock in the afternoone att the Court
house in Whitechappell and the said Churchwarden and Overseers of the poor and severall
other Inhabitants of the said Hamblet haveing attended accordingly together with the said