Christmas now drawing near I would have you give to the several towns as formerly.

they answer your lordship always remembered them after an election and if you were put in mind of their poor condition and the severity of their masters, would not forget them now. Indeed their poverty pleads their excuse. Everything (especially for the belly) is extravagantly dear, and the markets rise every day and all manner of trade is dead. Cloth which is the chief manufacture of that town does not go off so that little is made and … the weavers … and shearmen are ready to starve. Its much worse with them than common wandering beggars. The latter if they miss at one door will have it at another, whereas the former … cannot make their wants known, and many of them have great families to maintain … I doubt not but your lordship will be pleased to pardon my presumption to mention them, since there are more than two hundred families, which I have a list of, that are in want in that town.