_115. Petition of William Davis. 1717._[1] [Footnote 1: Suffolk Court Files, fragment 26283, paper 2. There were several oral witnesses to Thomas Davis's good character.] To His Excellency the Governour and Council The humble Petition of William Davis of Bristol Carpenter and Father of the said Thomas Davis, Sheweth, That the said Thomas Davis from his youth up hath been a Dutiful and Obedient son, and his life and Deportm't has been always Regular and becoming as well as Peaceable, and your poor Pet'r prays your Excellency and Honours will Compassionate him and extend your Favour and Indulgence to his son as far as shall stand with your Wisdom and Clemency. And your Pet'r shall pray, etc. WILLIAM DAVIS. Capt. John Gilbert, Marriner, belonging to Bristol, Testifyeth and saith That he well knew Thomas Davis (son of the abovenamed William Davis) for these seven or eight years last past, and that he has had a good Education in a Religious and Orderly Family, and his Conversation, Carriage and behavour all that while was very decent and becoming, and this Depon't has no reason to think but that he always lived a well ordered life, having never heard to the Contrary. And further Saith not. JNO. GILBERT. PRIZE COURTS. _116. Sir Henry Penrice to the Secretary of the Admiralty. November 29, 1718._[1] [Footnote 1: Public Record Office, Admiralty 1:3669. This letter was apparently addressed to the secretary of the Admiralty, Josiah Burchett. Sir Henry Penrice was judge of the High Court of Admiralty from 1715 to 1751.] _Sir_, Since I had the Honour of your letter I have looked into the Registers Office,[2] and there find Copies of the Orders of Council, of Commissions for granting Letters of Mart, of Commissions for proceeding in Prize Courts, and of Warrants to the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty thereupon, in the years 1664, 1672, 1689 and 1702,[3] of which if you please you may have Copies if they will be of any service in the present Case. [Footnote 2: The office of the register of the Admiralty.] [Footnote 3: At the beginnings, respectively, of the Second Dutch War, the Third Dutch War, and the wars of William and of Anne against France.] Now as to the Question proposed whether there is Occasion for any further power, to the severall Courts of Admiralty in the plantations, other Remote parts, or at home, to Try and Condemn such Prizes as may be Taken?