91 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



' the better fupport and maintenance of themfelves and fatni- 



* lies have, time whereof the memory of man is not to the con- 

 4 trary, kept mops, and traded in buying and felling of groce- 

 ' ries, and all other forts of mcrchandife, whereby they made a 



* very good fh if t to live very creditably and Tioneftly, and dif- 

 ' charged the merchants of Neivcaftle^ and others they dealt and 



* traded with, from time to time, to the great comfort and fatis- 

 ' faction of their friends and relations, and benefit and advan- 

 ' tagc to themfelves and families, and never troubled or molefted 

 ' for fo doing, until now of late fome wicked and malicious per- 

 ' fons envying the happy eftate and condition of the faid tradef- 



* men, out of a peevifli and pc-rver-fe humour, and felf interefl, 

 ' go about and endeavour to foment and fet up fuits againft the 

 ' faid tradefmcn and fhopkccpers of the faid town, and threaten 

 ' to indict them in the crown-office, and at the affizes and feffions 

 ' upon the ftatutc of the fifth of Elizabeth^ and for following 

 * more trades than one, which will be a very great lofs and preju- 

 ' dice to the faid tradefmen, and to the impoverishing, undoing, 

 ' and ruining of them and their pofterities, and in a manner de- 

 ' populating of the faid town, fome tradefmen being fo nume- 

 4 rous there, viz. tanners, glovers, and fhoemakers, that they 

 1 are fcarce able to maintain their families by one of thcfeiingle 

 ' trades, without making malt, keeping mop, or following fome 

 ' other employment, which if they continue to do, they are 

 1 threatened to be indicted, and if fo, they muft be forced to 

 ' look for a livelihood fome where elfe for themfelves, and leave 

 ' part of their children to the town to be maintained, which will 

 4 be a great and infupportable burden for the faid inhabitants to 

 ' undergo. 



* May it therefore pleafe your honour to take the premifes into 

 * your ferious and judicious confideration, and not to give any en- 



* cou- 



