To the Worshipful
his Majesty's Justices of the Peace
for the County of Middlesex in
Sessions Assembled

The Humble Petition of James Young< no role > of
his Majesty's Victualling Office Master Cooper

Sheweth

That one John Collins< no role > Son of Luke Collins< no role > Labourer on
the third Day of July One thousand seven hundred and
seventy one by and with the consent of his Father did place
himself Apprentice to your petitioner to learn his Art and
with him after the manner of an Apprentice to serve from
the Day of the date thereof for the Term of seven Years and
Your Petitioner in consideration of the Sum of Fifteen pounds
his said Apprentice in the Art of a Cooper which he used by the
best means that he could should Teach and Instruct or Cause
to be Taught and Instructed and find him meat Drink
Lodging and Necessary

That the said Apprentice hath at Various Times greatly
Misbehaved himself in Your petitioners Service by frequenting
Ale House Getting Drunk and Absenting himself from Your
Petitioners Service not only without his Consent but contrary to
Your Petitioners Commands for many Hours together sometimes
a whole Day and sometimes all Night and for Disorderly
Behaviour and Neglect of Duty and Disobedience to Your
Petitioners Commands when in his Service Insomuch that Your
Petitioner is Apprehensive that his Behaviour & Example will
concept the rest of Your Petitioners Apprentices who are Six in
Number

That from the Disorderly Behaviour of the said Apprentice
Your Petitioner was obliged to and did take him before a Magistrate
who severely reprimanded him and would have committed him
to prison but being the first Time of the Youths being before a
Justice did on his promising Amendment discharge him

That the said Apprentice soon relapsed into his former Course
of Behaviour and given of Possible more disobedient So that Your
Petitioner was again obliged to have him before Two Magistrates
who on hearing Your Petitioners Complaint Committed the
said John Collins< no role > to Bridewell for one Month

That the Mother of the Apprentice hearing her Son was
Committed came to and earnestly Entreated and requested Your
Petitioner to procure his Discharge and Your Petitioner being
induced to think the Committment would have some influence
in reclaiming this Youth as he then cheesed some Sign of
Repentance by making fair promisses of Amendment procured his
Discharge on the Fourth Day after his Committment beet Instead.