To the Worshipfull His Majestys Justices of
the Peice for the County of Middx in their Generel
Serious of the Peace Assembled

The Humble petition of Margaret
Matthews< no role >

Sheweth that Your Petr at this present Sessions
was tryed upon an Indictment for a misdeneonor [..]
in thretning to Set Fire to a house and found
Guilty and Sentened by your Worships to be Pub
lickly Whiped for the said offence and is now in
the Custody at the Keeper of New Prison which Sent
ence she Confesses to be most Just That your
Petr has five small Children to provide for
which by her own Industry She has kept from
the parish Several Years and has no other way
of Getting her lively hood but by Serveing News
Papers

That if your Petr undergoes the Sd. Sentence
it will intierly Ruin your Petr and her Said
Chilldren that Humbly beg that your worships will
be pleased to take her Care into Considiration and
Mitagate the Sd Sentence as to your worships Shall
Sum meat And your petr Shal Ever pray M: M [..]

we whose Names are Subscribed So humbly Certify
to your worships that the Petr [..] a verey honest Industri
ous woman whom we have known some years and
that She has five Small Chilldren which the main
tains by her one Labour and Industry