翻刻
乍恐以口上書奉願上候
私共質物商売年来奉蒙 御忍次
渡世仕罷在候処近年追々年季銭質
御免ニ相成本株渡世之者次第ニ衰微相成
難渋仕候然ル処猶此上奉願上候者御座候而
万一御免ニ茂相成候而者弥々以渡世難取続
相成候而者眼前之義ニ而心配仕候近頃数軒歟
銘々商売全減少ニ御座候而今日之
営不相成実以歎敷奉存候乍恐此段
御賢察被成下置是迄御免之者限り之
奉蒙 御所置度只官#1奉願上候
不顧恐茂奉歎願候間何卒出格之以
御憐愍永続渡世相成候様偏奉願上候
右之趣以 御慈悲奉願上候通被為 仰
付被下置候様#2難有仕合奉存候以上
明治四辛未年七月 霜町
〽願主 岡部藤平
現代語訳
恐れながら口上書をもってお願い申し上げます
私どもは質物商売を長年にわたってご容認いただき、
生業として営んでおりましたところ、近年次々と年季銭質（期限付き質屋営業）が
許可制になり、本株（正式な営業権）での営業者が次第に衰微し、
困窮しております。そうしたところ、なおこの上でお願い申し上げる者がございまして、
万一許可になりましても、ますます生業の継続が困難になってしまいます。
これは目前の問題であり心配しております。近頃数軒が
それぞれ商売が全く減少しており、今日の
営業が成り立たず、実に嘆かわしく存じます。恐れながらこの点を
ご賢察くださいまして、これまで許可された者に限って
ご処置をいただきたく、ひたすらお願い申し上げます。
恐れを顧みずお嘆願申し上げますので、どうか格別の
ご憐愍をもって、永続して生業ができますよう、ひとえにお願い申し上げます。
右の趣旨についてご慈悲をもってお願い申し上げます通りに
お命じくださいますよう、ありがたい仕合せに存じます。以上
明治4年辛未年7月 霜町
願い主 岡部藤平
英語訳
Respectfully submitted through this oral petition
We have been engaged in the pawnshop business for many years under your tolerance,
making our livelihood thereby. However, in recent years, one after another, term-limited pawn businesses
have become subject to licensing, and those operating with full commercial rights have gradually declined,
causing us hardship. Under these circumstances, there are still others who petition for licenses,
and should they be granted permission, it would make it increasingly difficult to continue our livelihood.
This is an immediate concern that worries us. Recently, several shops
have each seen their business completely decrease, and today's
business operations are not sustainable, which we find truly lamentable. Respectfully, regarding this matter,
we humbly request your wise consideration and that measures be taken
limited only to those who have been licensed until now.
Not fearing to make this earnest petition, we ask for your extraordinary
compassion so that we may continue our livelihood permanently, and humbly petition you.
Regarding the above matter, we petition through your mercy that you would
graciously command as we have requested, which would be a most grateful blessing. Above stated.
Meiji 4, Year of the Metal Sheep, 7th month Shimo-machi
Petitioner: Okabe Tōhei