Middlesex

To the Worshipful John Hawkins< no role > Esqr .
Chairman of his Majesty's Honourable
Bench of Justices at the General Session of
the peace for the said County and the
rest of the Worshipful Justices there
Assembled

The Humble Petition of Joseph Hopwood< no role > , in Newgate

Sheweth

That he is by Business a Carpenter and having become
Bail for a Woman to appear here, He was advised to surrender the
Party for whom he was Bail For which purpose he waited a
considerable time in Company and drank too freely So that on his
being in this Honourable Court and it being required of him to
Declare his Name for want of well knowing what he did he
behaved with insolence and irreverence to the Honourable
Court and wou'd not own his Name and the Court therefore thought
fit to Commit him to Newgate

That your unhappy petitioner is well known to be a painstaking
man and has a Wife and Four Children and they are in need of
his Aid and support and he is not subject to give offence in general
and is most heartily pennitent on the present Occasion

Your afflicted petitioner therefore most
humbly implores the mercy and Indulgence
of this Honourable Court that he may
be brought here to beg pardon on his knew
for his great offence and that from a
principle of pitty and indulgence he may
obtain your Honours pardon [..] heartily
and sincerly promising never to offend this
Honourable Court or any other in any
sort howsoever

And as in Duty bound your most
humble petitioner will ever pray Etc

Joseph Hopwood< no role >