To the Right Honble. Willm. Benn< no role > Esqr . Lord
Mayor and the Rest of the Worshipfull the Bench
of Justices now Sitting at the Old Bailey

The humble Petition of John Cooke< no role > now a
Prisoner in his Majestys Goal of Newgate

Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner was Yesterday Indicted Arraigned
and Tryed at the Sessions House in the Old Bailey upon a Charge laid
agt. him for Carrying Fire Arms Etc. Upon the Statute agt. Smugling
And your Petitioners Councell Attorney and Witnesses not being
present at his Tryall as they Promised and ought to have been
your Petitioner was found Guilty without any Defence being made
for him

That your Petitioner was so farr from ever Abusing
the Officers of the Revenue or Opposing them in their Duty that he
always Endeavoured to Prevent their being Abused And was the only
Person that was Instrumentall in Saving the Life of the Thos
Mortimer< no role > and Thos. Hurst< no role > two officers of the Customs at last Bourn
in Sussex and Five Dragoons And also the Life of one John Bolton< no role >
another Custom house officer when taken by the Smuglers as may
Appear by the Certificate hereunder written for which reasons

I do Certifye that the Prisoner
John Cooke< no role > once Saved my Life
when I was taken and Abused
by the Smuglers in the Year 1744

Jno Bolton< no role >

Your Petitioner most humbly Prays you
will be Pleased to Consider his present
Miserable State and Condition and
Recomend him to his Majesty as an
Object of Mercy and Compassion

And Your Petitioner as in duty bound
will for ever Pray Etc.

The mark [mark] of John Cooke< no role >