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<p n="341">To the Rb. Honorable the Lord a Mayor, of London, the Judges, Recorder and Aldermen Etc.</p>
<p n="342">The humble Petition of the Poor unhappy Prisoners for Debt on the Common side of <rs type="placeName" id="LMSLPS15035_geo170">Newgate</rs>
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<p n="343">Sheweth and Complaineth of their following Grievances.</p>
<p n="344"> <note type="authorial" place="margin">1</note>
<lb></lb>
That whereas severall good and Charitable Christians have (out of a tender regard to unfortunate Traders that by great<lb></lb>
losses are become Prisoners for Debt and confined in Newgate considering their miserable lase and to prevent their starveing<lb></lb>
in a Christian County) bequeathed many benefits and Legacy to be paid Yearly, And whereas the Laws of the Land of the<lb></lb>
Citty of London in order to same the same to the Prisoners for Debt in Newgate (according to the intention of the Donors) to<lb></lb>
prevent their being Charted haveing granted them a Seal<obscured></obscured>
the Prison wch was to be Lodged with the Prisoners and and<lb></lb>
Scal'd to each receipt given for said Legacy's and now<obscured></obscured>
sunlly kept by the Crisoners together with Rooks of Accompts<lb></lb>
in a Strong (Rest for many Years till of late the Goulers combining with some of the Prisoners, forcibly enterd the Prisoners<lb></lb>
Ward and carried away the said Strong Chest, Seal and Books of Accompts, by which they have and do hinder the poor<lb></lb>
Prisoners of the greatest part of said Legacy's they not knowing when or where to demand the Same, And in particular<lb></lb>
a Legacy of Sr. <rs type="persName" id="LMSLPS15035_n344-2">Thomas Grethamsford</rs>
<interp inst="LMSLPS15035_n344-2" type="given" value="Thomas"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSLPS15035_n344-2" type="surname" value="Grethamsford"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSLPS15035_n344-2" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
Ten Pounds P Ann altho the first in his Will has not been received for many<lb></lb>
Years, Not withstanding it has been paid to all other Prisons mencond in said Will for many Years past, Therefore we<lb></lb>
humbly beg Justice and relief conform to the Act of 22d. & 2<obscured></obscured>
of King Charles the Second.</p>
<p n="345"> <note type="authorial" place="margin">2<lb></lb>
3</note>
<lb></lb>
That the Act of Parliament doth likewise ordain that a Take of Fees and just dues, shall be hung up in the most<lb></lb>
Publick place of each prison, but for want thereof the Goalers have extorted dayly exorbitant Fees contrary to Law and<lb></lb>
Justice. By the said Act it is provided that all Prisoners in Generall shall have liberty to bring in Victuals bedding &<lb></lb>
other Necessary's without being hundred, prolong;d or paying for the Same, nevertheless we have Sufferd the contrary there<lb></lb>
being no proper person or Turnkey's attending constantly the Prison Door as at other prison and when Bedding or<lb></lb>
other necessarys comes to us, they the Turnkeys exact one Shilling for each parcell, notwith standing they are sometimes<lb></lb>
detained and hour at the Grate before they an be admitted in and severall Charitable Per<obscured></obscured>
le does go pray as well as our<lb></lb>
friends and relations art kent govering any thing for want of Such admitta<obscured></obscured>
ce by which we are great Sufferrers land in a Starring<lb></lb>
condition The said Act does exp<obscured></obscured>
ly forbed the lodo<obscured></obscured>
eing of Fellons and honest Dab<obscured></obscured>
in one Ra<obscured></obscured>
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