To the Right Honble Sr Edward Clarke< no role > Knt
Lord major of the Citty of London And the Rest
of his Majesties Justices of Goal delivery of newgate
For the City of London and County of
Middle Sex

The Humble Peticon of John Purslow< no role >

Sheweth
that in February ninty Four & five or there abouts our Ralph
Harbottle< no role > & Robert Long< no role > sent for him to the magpy Tavern without
Bishopsgatte where your peticon went & there met the sd Harbottle
who tould him hee was one of the Kings messengers & yt there was
and Information against your peticonr for incouradgeing Clipping
and that though he had not used the trade of Clipping himself
he had offen subplyed them that ded with abroad mony for Guineas
and then pul'd out a messengers Badge & tould me he must secure
mee for treason upon which So reply'd I defied him and all the
world to Charge me with any such action or any Knowledge wth
any of them that did use that trade upon which he produce'd
one Robert Long< no role > who pretended he could Sware it upon [..] mee
but the sd Harbottle replyd he would be Kind to me and that I
must give him twenty pounds and that he would bate nothing of
it I being a young man and not knowing what such villians
might sweare did comply & pd the sd Harbottle ten pounds and
gave him a note For ten pounds more but your peticonr being
very uneasea at what he had don found out this Harbottle
whom he found to be one of the [..] Shreiffe porter and not a mess-
enger Soe he finding he was decoverd beg my pardon and gave
me my note of ten pounds & pray'd that I would take a note
For Five pounds to be paid the First day of July 1695 which
I have but being inform'd that I cannot Compound soe [..]
greate a villiny most humbly Submitt my Cause to your
Lordship and this Honble Court

and as in Duty Bound Shall ever Pray Etc