To His Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County
of Middlesex in their Quarter Session of the Peace
Assembled

The Humble Petition and Appeal of James
Mercer< no role > of West Drayton in the County of
Middlesex Gamekeeper

Sheweth

That by a Distress Warrant under the
Hand and Seal of Thomas Bishop< no role > Esquire one of
his Majestys Justices of the peace in and for the
County of Middlesex bearing date the 20th. day
of March now last post it appeared that your
Petitioner was that lay Convicted before the said
Thomas Bishop< no role > upon the Oaths of John
Portlock< no role > William Booth< no role > George Morton< no role > and
William Wortley< no role > For having on the Morning
of the Sixth of the said then Month of March
in the Night of the said Day used a Not for
the Destruction of the Game by Virtue whereof
your Petitioner Forfeited the Sum of Twenty
Pounds to be distributed as in the said Distress
Warrant is mentioned (Viz) one half of the
said Penalty to John Newton< no role > of the Parish
of Bedfort in the said County of Middlesex
Labourer (who informed the said thomas Bishop< no role >
of the said Offence) and the other half of the
said Penalty to the Overseers of the Poor of
Hillingdon in the said County of Middlesex