The humble petition of Brampton Gourdon;

Humblie sheweth vnto your honour That whereas one John Brent of Cossington in the Countie of Somerset Esquire did about foureteene yeares since die seised of diverse landes within the said Countie and elsewhere leauinge his sonne and heire within the age of twentie one yeares and whereas after the death of the said John Brent an Inquisicon was taken within the said Countie whereby it was found that some of the said landes weare holden of the Kinges Majestie in Cheife by knightes seruice and his Majestie therevpon intituled to the Custodie and wardship of the body and landes of the said heire, and for that Elizabeth Brent2 mother of the said ward then was and yet is a popish recusant Convict: and therefore disabled to haue the custodie and education of her said sonne wherevpon the custodie and tuition of the said ward and his estate was committed to one Richard Worth3 gent brother of the said Elizabeth for his better education, but soe it is may it please your honor that the said Richard worth hath euer since the custodie soe to him committed suffered the said Elizabeth to haue the sole educacon of the said ward, and thereby the said ward through the con­363tinuall practise and industrie of his said mother wholie inclined vnto the popish religion and hath for all the said tyme refused to repaire to his or anie other parish Church and to conforme himselfe to the religion of the Church of England, to the eiuell example of others and manifest hurt of the said ward:

May it therefore please your honour to grant vnto your supliant the Custodie and wardship of the said sonne and heire of John Brent, and he shall see that the said ward be brought vp accordinge to the religion of the Church of England, and your petitioner shall praye.

let me intreat your favour to this bearrer mr. warford, who is a master of artes of 6 years standing, he haue spent 8 years hear in my brother Sedlyes2 house as a skolmaster whearin he haue wele aproued of him selfe. I haue some few tymes hard him preach in publick and often I haue hard him pray in the family for which he desaruethe wele to be aproued. my request is that you will helpe him in his seut to the master of the wardes, he hathe a presentatyon from mrs. Gurny who is gardyon to her sonn who wantethe a few monthes of being of ful age I know the master haue right to present yong mr. gurney commethe with him to manyfest his good will for the furthering of him to this liuing, I am lothe to macke this my seut to the master becaus I purpos if god will to wayet vpon his honnor and before such tyme as the king pricke shreues3 and to reneu my seut agayn to him. I pray be helpfule to mr. warford that he may be kindly delt with by the officers vnder whom he must pas. And so in hast with my commendatyons to yow and to mr. Downing I pray god to keep vs Your verry louing frend