The petition of James Bamlett of Cornwood, Devon, Easter 1648
To the right wor[shipfu]ll Edward Davies Cheiffe Justice of the generall Sessions att Exon.
The humble peticion of James Bamlett of Cornwoode.
Humbly sheweth unto yo[u]r good wor[shi]p That whereas yo[u]r Peticioner hath stoode always well affected towards the p[ar]liam[en]t service and hath bine a souldier in Plymouth dureinge the time of warres there, and by reason whereof yo[u]r peticioners Mother did resort there, as she could fitt an op[por]tunity to supply yo[u]r peticion[er]s wants w[i]th such necessaryes as he wanted, and shortly after her retorne to her owne home, some notice was taken that she was had bine in Plymouth whereuppon she was taken upp by Troop[er]s and was [illegible] in the Marshals att Plympton, where she continued for a moneth, or six weeks, till she came to her triall, and by that triall was found guiltie, and Condempt to die, And thereuppon on[e] M[ist]ris Church prevailed soe far w[i]t[h] Maior generall Harres as she procured her freedome, and paid for her fees 16 s., and thought all had gone on in a faire way, and went to have her out of the Marshall. But soe yt ys, may yt please yo[u]r good wor[shi]p That in the interim one Henry Smith then Minister of Cornwood beinge veary powerfull w[i]th generall Harres p[re]vayled soe farr w[i]t[h] him, that order was geven she should not be deliv[er]ed; but was brought to the Marshall Chamber and had there Conferance w[i]t[h] the said Smith who then told yo[u]r Peticio[n]ers Mother, that her sonne (meaninge yo[u]r petic[i]o[n]er[)] said he would see his Coate turned, but now he would see her Coatte turned, and thereupon was returned to the Marshals againe, and w[i]t[h]in a veary short time after was executed to the great greiffe, and discomfort of yo[u]r peticio[n]er and other her freinds: May yt please yo[u]r good wor[shi]p to take yt into Consideracion and to have the business duly examined, and further to inflict such punishm[en]t on him the said Smith as uppon due proffes touching her death shall appeare: And yo[u]r peticio[ne]r shall ev[er] pray unto god for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps health and happiness longe to Continue
[On the reverse:]
James Bamletts Peticion, Pasch[a] 1648