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<p n="22">To ye: Worshipful Bench of Justices for ye: City & Liberty of Westmr:</p>
<p n="23">The humble Petition of <rs type="persName" id="LMWJPS65398_n23-1">Francis Geary</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n23-1" type="given" value="Francis"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n23-1" type="surname" value="Geary"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n23-1" type="gender" value="female"></interp>
</p>
<p n="24"> <note type="authorial" place="margin">Sheweth</note>
<lb></lb>
That yr: Petitioner humbly thanks this Worpll. Bench and Honble Gentlemen of ye: Committee (that<lb></lb>
Inspected into ye: Abuses of ye. Gatehouse prison) for their favorable Report; which they were so<lb></lb>
pleas'd to make to this Honble: Court, in favour of yr: Petitioner: and according to ye: Order given him,<lb></lb>
on Friday ye: 15th: of this Instant; yr. Petitioner, with all Submission will Obey ye: Sd: Order, only Excepting<lb></lb>
against one Article (which is under Written) in ye: Sd: Order in case ye: worships thinks Proper, which is to ye: great prejudice of yr Petr:</p>
<p n="25">That yr: Petitioner, will in Person attend, ye: Second day in every Quarter Sessions, whilst he<lb></lb>
continues in his Office; and deliver to ye: Honble: Court, an account in Writing, of all Charities, that<lb></lb>
comes into ye sd. Goal (between ye: time of holding every Such Quarter Sessions) and how ye: same<lb></lb>
was Distributed, so far, as ye Same Shall come to his hand, power, or knowledge And yr: Petition<lb></lb>
will take Care, that all such Charities brought to ye: Sd: Goal, Shall be duely Distributed amongst<lb></lb>
ye. Prisoners; and that he will give a Receipt to ye: Person, or persons, that brings ye: same;<lb></lb>
and also that he will procure a Note, Sign'd by ye: Prisoners, to testify ye: giving of such receipt<lb></lb>
and Distribucon of such Charities.</p>
<p n="26">That yr: Petitioner, will cause to be put Up, in some Publick part of ye: Sd: Goal, a list of<lb></lb>
his Fees, to be taken, from Debtors, Trespassess Felons, as Settled by Act of Parliament and<lb></lb>
this Honble. Court; and Replace ye: Same, as often as Defaced: and likewise he will put Up, a<lb></lb>
Coppy of ye: Cause, in ye: Statute, of ye: 22d. and 23d. of Cha. 2d, And not Suffer Debtors and Fellons<lb></lb>
to Lodge together in one Room; neither will he presume, to put any Prisoner, in that Room<lb></lb>
call'd ye: Debtors Comon Side, untill it be, to ye: Satisfaction of this Honble: Court. And it's to be<lb></lb>
Observed, that only one Person, and but for two Night, has lain in ye Sd: Room for three Years past.</p>
<p n="27">That yr: Petitioner; Appeals, to this Honble: Court; against that part of ye Order. viz. That ye. <rs type="occupation" id="LMWJPS65398_occ4">Keeper</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_occ4" type="occupation" value="Keeper"></interp>
<lb></lb>
of ye: Gatehouse Prison, at any time after Notice of this Order, Shall not take any Fees, Sumes of Money, or other<lb></lb>
things whatsoever, in lieu, of or under pretence of Fees, from any Prisoner whatsoever, brought thither in<lb></lb>
ye: Night time, and not Committed by some Justice, or <rs type="occupation" id="LMWJPS65398_occ5">Justices of ye Peace</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_occ5" type="occupation" value="Justices of ye Peace"></interp>
, of ye: Sd: City & Liberty of <rs type="placeName" id="LMWJPS65398_geo3">Westminster</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_geo3" type="placeName" value="Westminster"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_geo3" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
<lb></lb>
which Sd: Clause, in ye: Sd: Order, is so Prejudicial to yr: Petitioner, considering ye: small number of<lb></lb>
Prisoners that have been Committed to ye: Sd: Goal of late, that yr: Petr: lies under an Apprehension,<lb></lb>
that he must inevitably lose all his Substance, as he has laid out in Purchasing ye: Sd: Goal, and<lb></lb>
never be able to pay his Rent, or keep ye: Prison in Repair, as ye: following Reasons will make appear</p>
<p n="28">That your Petitioner, or his Deputy, are oblig'd to rise out of their Beds, at all hours in ye Night<lb></lb>
to take in Prisoners; which most comonly comes in Drunk, and makes great Disturbances in ye: Sd: Goal,<lb></lb>
which causes many times ye: whole family to Sit up all night, burning Fire and Candle; especially in ye.<lb></lb>
<rs type="persName" id="LMWJPS65398_n28-1">Winter Season</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n28-1" type="given" value="Winter"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n28-1" type="surname" value="Season"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n28-1" type="gender" value="unknown"></interp>
But in case ye: Sd Prisoners are Sober, then ye: Maid of ye: House, also, is oblig'd to rise for<lb></lb>
to put them to Bed; for which Bed, or Beds; yr. Petr: takes no more than one Shilling for a Week, so<lb></lb>
Lodging from other people and very often times not one farthing; which Usage to Prisoners, is not to be met with, in any<lb></lb>
Goal, in or about London; which can be proved by Persons, that have been Committed to ye: very Worst of Prison<lb></lb>
and for ye: very worst of Beds, were demanded to pay half a Crown down, before they were Admitted to go<lb></lb>
therein; and often times to ye: Better Sort, Three Shillings and Six pence Pr: Week, if they lay but one Night<lb></lb>
there.</p>
<p n="29">That yr: Petr: or his Deputy (and many times other Persons which they Hire) are oblig'd to attend<lb></lb>
night Prisoners, to ye: Justices; Some times three or four days together, and to all part of ye: City & Liberty<lb></lb>
of Westmr: and may times Stays in an Ale house, four or five Hours, waiting for ye: Justices to there<lb></lb>
great loss of Money & time, which is very Considerable.</p>
<p n="30">Therefore yr: Petr. most humbly Prays; that ye: Worshipful Bench, would be so pleas'd<lb></lb>
to Repeal ye: Order of Night prisoners, for no Goaler before yr: Petitioner, was ever<lb></lb>
deny'd taking half Fees for there trouble, for such Prisoners, brought to Prison<lb></lb>
in ye. Night time; or any Releif, as to yr: Worships Goodness, & Clemency thinks most meet.</p>
<p n="31">And yr: Petitioner Shall for ever Pray Etc.</p>
<p n="32"> <rs type="persName" id="LMWJPS65398_n32-1">Fran: Geary</rs>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n32-1" type="given" value="Fran"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n32-1" type="surname" value="Geary"></interp>
<interp inst="LMWJPS65398_n32-1" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
.</p>
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