Page:Shakespeare of Stratford (1926) Yale.djvu/77

Shakespeare of Stratford ''suaded or drawn thereunto. In tender consideration whereof, and for so much as it is against all equity and reason that the estates of some that are willing to pay a reasonable part toward the said residue of the said rent of xxvij li. xiij s. iiij d., having respect to the smallness of the values of the things they do possess, should depend upon the carelessness and frowardness or other practices of others, which will not pay a reasonable part or anything at all toward the same; and for that it is most agreeable to all reason, equity, and good conscience that every person, his executors and assigns, should be ratably charged with a yearly portion toward the said residue of the said rent, according to the yearly benefit he enjoyeth or receiveth; and for that your orators have no means, by the order or course of the common laws of this realm, to enforce or compel any of the said parties to yield any certain contribution toward the same, and so are and still shall be remediless therein unless they may be in that behalf relieved by your Lordship’s gracious clemency and relief to others in such like cases extended. May it therefore please your good Lordship, the premisses considered, and it being also considered that very many poor people’s estates are subject to be overthrown by breach of the condition aforesaid, and thereby do depend upon the negligences, wills or practices of others, and shall continue daily in doubt to be turned out of doors with their wives and families through the practice or wilfulness of such others, to write your honorable letters unto the said Lord Carewe, thereby requiring him to appear in the High Court of Chancery to answer to the premisses, and to grant unto your said orators his Majesty’s most gracious writs of subpoena to be directed unto the said''