The first petition of Mary Thorpe of Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire, July 1660
<Mary Thorpe’s petic[i]on.>
To the King’s most Excellent Ma[jes]tie
The humble petic[i]on of Mary Thorpe Widowe ye Relict of John Thorpe dec[eas]ed.
Humbly sheweth,
That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs said late husband was Legally settled Keeper of a new Worke house at Bridewells at Fisherton Anger in ye County of Wiltes[hire] before ye late vicissitudes, which allwaies he diligently and faithfully p[er]formed. But being one of ye p[ar]ty yt rose (for yo[u]r sacred Ma[jes]ties restorac[i]on) vnder Col[one]l Penrudduck in Wiltshire was taken sentenced to death & executed att Salisbury accordingly, whereby yo[u]r pet[itione]r did not only lose ye s[ai]d Workehouse but also all her other estate, & herselfe & six children vnable to get their bread are exposed harbourlesse & friendlesse to ye vtter ruine of them all vnlesse releeved herein by yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Clemency.
Yo[u]r pet[itione]r therefore humbly beseecheth yo[u]r Ma[jes]ty to grant yo[u]r pet[itione]r the said Workehouse for her life for ye support of herselfe & children in lieu of her great losses & sufferings for her husbands Loyalty
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r (as in duty bound) shall eu[er] pray &c.