To all Constables & other Officers of the peace for the City of London
& Liberties thereof whom this may concern & to the Porter of Bridewell
Hospital Johnson

John Wilkes< no role >

Whereas it hath appeared unto me one of his
Majesties Justices of the Peace in & for the City of London
as well upon the Complaint of the Overseers of the Poor
of the Parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate London
as upon the Examination on Oath of Elizabeth May< no role >
of the said Parish Singlewoman that about five weeks
ago she was delivered of a Male Bastard Child in the
Work house belonging to the said Parish which Child is
now living a chargeable thereto And Whereas it also
appears to one that George Leary< no role > of the same Parish
Labourer and now a Pauper in the Workhouse of the said
Parish is the Father of the said Bastard Child to the great Burthen of
the said Parish & to the Evil Example & Encouragement of Lewd Life
And Whereas the said George Leary< no role > being now personally present before one
being brought by [..] Warrant upon Application for that purpose to one
made by John Wiran< no role > one of the Overseers of the poor of the said
Parish hath refused to give Security to indemnify the said Parish &
hath also refused to unto into a Recognizance with sufficient Surety upon
Condition to appear [..] the next Generall Quarter Sessions of the peace to
be holden in and for the City and to abide and perform such Order or
Orders as shall be made in pursuance of an Act passed in the 18th year
of the Reign of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth concerning Bastards
he gotten and him out of lawful Matrimony These one therefore the
command you the said Constable safely to convey & deliver forthwith into
the Custody of the said porter the Body of him the said George Levy< no role >
Which said Georgeyou the said Porter are hereby required
to receive & him in your Custody safely to keep until he shall enter
into Recognizance as aforesaid or be otherwise by due Course of Law
discharged Given under my Hand & Seal this 19th. Day
of March 1788 .