Joseph Buxford, the fifteen year old son of the wool worker, John Buxford in Bow in the county of Devon, "being a stubborne and untowardly Boy," decided he did not want to be an apprentice to a weaver, as his father desired. He "secretly departed away to the Kings Army" after a month, where at "the defeat with the Cavaliers received at Langport-Moore," Joseph Buxford is "stripped and turned into rages," so he was left with no choice but to return home. His father entreats him to return to the weaver, but "no perswasions or entreaties could prevaile or worke upon the forward disposion of this obstinate and disobedient Boy," which caused his father to swear "in great fury," and to promise "he would bin him Apprentice to the Devill, which rash and in considerate threatenings, he often times used and repeated." John Buxford further promises to "put the same in execution."(2)