To the Honble: Bench at Hicks Hall

The humble Peticon of Anthony Couch< no role >
Lieut: of their Majties ship : Assistance

Sheweth

That yor: Petr: being malitiously be prosecuted by
Alice Singleton< no role > upon pretence of your Petrs: keeping
a dishonest house , And your petr about 14 Months since
gave Bayl to appear & Answer the prmisses before
this Honble: Court But your petr being then Master
of their Majties. Ship Mordant which was going to the
West Indies your petr was Obliged to go the sd: Voyage
And in an Engagemt there with the French hath had
an Arm & a Leg shot all to peices

That dureing yor. petr Absence the sd singleton also
& comited yor. petns [..] upon the same peticonr from
whichshe was discharged by this Honble: Court that ye
petr: being newly return'd to England and not writing
that his afors'd. Bayl should Suffer is ready to hereunder
himself to this Honble: Court

Your Petr: therefore most humbly prays Yor:
Honrs: Consideration of his being Necessitated to
undertake the said Voyage, not with design to
Fly from the Justice of this Court, but in
Order betweene there Majties. And that your
Hones will be pleasd to Paul your petr Anthy
said Bayl Such discharge as to your Hones
Wisdom & Goodness shall seem meet,

And yor: Petr: shall Ever pray Etc.