Middlesex

To the Worshipfull the Chairman and
other his Majesties Justices of the Peace
for the County of Middlesex at their present
Session Assembled

The Humble Petition of the Under signed
Labourers and Workmen by the Week Labouring
and Working in the County of Middlesex on Behalf
an Behalfof themselves and other their Fellow
Labourers and Workmen in the like Station and
Employment

Sheweth

That your Petitioners are Employed by the Silk
Throwers and their Hours of Work are thirteen out of
which they are allowed half an Hour for Breakfast
and the like only for Dinner

That their Wages is eleven Shillings a Week But that
they very seldom can receive it, For being allowed but
half an Hour to go to Dinner and return to Work again
they are frequently necessitated to exceed the Time and
if but a few Minutes over there are many more Minutes
(and often half an hour) deducted for it

That they constantly Work in Water and thereby often
loose the Use of their Limbs

That most of your Petr: have Wives and many Children
to maintain and frequently are out of Work; for want of
Employment and on Hollydays your Petrs. are not permitted
by their Masters to Work at all

That at this Time and for some Time past Provision and