To the Rr. Worshipfull his Majties. Justices of Peace for the Liberty of Westmsr.

The Petition of William Dawson< no role >

Humbly Sheweth

That your Petr. keep a Coffee house near ye. End of Queen street Westminstr . and that
Fifteen Months agoe the Constable of that Ward came to your Petr. (but whether upon a General
or Particular Direction of this Honble. Bench Pet. knows not) and asked if he had any Table [..]
Instruments of Gaining, to which yr. Petr. answer'd that he had only one pair of Tables which [..]
in his house when he brought the Goods thereof altogether but they were never made use of for the pray
of Gaming, Notwithstanding wch. yrs. Petr. was return'd by the sd. Constable as a person keeping a Disorder
in tended to Traverse, as he might well do, the bare keeking or having Such an Instrument in his house
being (as he humbly Conceives) no Gaming, or any Offence within the Wards or Intention of any of
the Statutes of this Realm, But yr. Pet. being a Person of known Reputation and unblemished
Credit was advised by some of this Honble. Bench in kindness to yr. Pet. and to Save him all farther Charge
and Attendance not to Traverso yr. Indictmt. and that upon his entering into Bond for yr. further and
to keep any Gaming house, all proceedings should Cease, and that he should be at liberty to
withdraw his Recognizance by which he Stood bound to this Honle. Court, which sd, Bond yr. Pet.
was ready to give, and did give to the Worshippful Justice Broreton, Tho: he was entirely [..]
of the Cargo contained in the sd. Indistmt. and had never kept, or intended to keep [..]
Disorderly house, and accordingly, apprear'd in Court at yr. Session, and there paid his That
he Conceives for withdrawing yr. sd. Recognizance. to wit 3s:6d: But about a mouth a [..]
a person who yr. Petr. takes to be an Officer of this Honble; Court came to yr. Petr. and Showed him
Writing which contain'd the names of Several Persons, among which was that of yr. Petr and
demanding Money from him, intimated that he would make the Matter easre sd But
because yr. Petr. did not comply with his sd. unjust and Extortious Demand, concerving he could
have no such Authority from this Hondble. Court, and that his sd. Recognizance was abroad yr.
withdrawn he having paid his Fees for that purpose, as he has before inform'd yr. Worshipfull
The Sd. Person told yr. Petr. that he would try if he could not give him Trouble and make him
Repent it or Word to the like Effect, and accordingly yr. Petr. finds the Indictmt. and
Recognizance not yet discharg'd, but by what Means your Petr. known not, and also a How
Demand upon himself 27s for a Fine sd. The truth of all which Premisses yr. Petr. is [..]
to Attest and therefore

Humbly prays that as your Worships have a Corrcive
power and Authority over all the Officers of the Court, that you
would Vouch fase to do him Justice and grant him such
Reliefe as the Meritts of his Case do Require, and these
you will be pleas'd to order his Sd. Bond may be delive'd
into him

And your Petr. Shall ever Pray