The petition of John Richardson, Cheshire, Epiphany 1661
To the R[igh]t Worpshi]p[fu]ll his Ma[jes]t[y]s Justices of the Peace now sitting in Quarter Sessions at North=wich for the Countie Pallatine of Chester.
The humble petic[i]on of John Richardson.
Shewing
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r did faithfully and actually serue his Late Ma[jes]tie of famous memorie in the late warres of England and Ireland and never revolted or adhered to any other p[ar]tie, notw[i]thstanding the revolutions and turnings in these late yeares,
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r in the late phanatique time and in the yeare 1659, when Col[one]l Lambert ruled by force of arme, he being in discourse w[i]th some company about the late Irish affaires, yo[u]r pet[itione]r affrmed that Col[one]l Venables was not to be compared or equall to his Col[one]l (that formerly com[m]aunded in Ireland) S[i]r Simon Harecort by his name, & for saying that Col[one]l Venables was one yt sought to pull downe the Crowne, and Cromwell his renowne, wherevpon yo[u]r pet[itione]r was seized vpon in the night time out of his bed forcibly by Constables, & hurried before Col[one]l Gerrard then one of Lamberts Justices, & by him bound w[i]th suretie to answer the Quarter sessions then next foll[owing] but when the q[ua]rter sessions hapned yo[u]r pet[itione]r was altogether ignorant & mist the opportunity to appeare before yo[u]r wor[shi]ps
He therfore humbly prayeth yo[u]r wor[shi]ps serious considerac[i]on of the pr[e]misses, & to be pleased to heare the recognizance read, & to discharge yo[u]r pet[itione]r & sureties by proclamation &c
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r &c
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