The petition of Alice Clifton of Pilling, Lancashire, Midsummer 1651
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace and Quor[um] within the County of Lancaster at Preston.
The humble petic[i]on of Alice wyffe of Law[rence] Clifton of Pilling.
Humbly Sheweth
That yo[u]r petic[i]oners husband is prest for the service of Ireland for the township of Garstange whereby yo[u]r peticoner is left with one little Child and not any meanes to manteyne her selffe & her little one nor noe place of habitac[i]on that whilst her husband lyved with her did manteyne & provide for yo[u]r peticoner & her little one by his handy labors without beeing troublesome to anyone in the said township & now hee beeing taken from yo[u]r peticoner is likly with her little one to starve unlesse some course bee taken for there releefe by this ho[noura]ble Bench.
Wherefore the premisses considered it is the humble desire of yo[u]r peticoner yow would bee pleased to afford yo[u]r peticoner yo[u]r worships order for some releeffe for her her little one [sic.] out of the parish or otherwise & yo[u]r petitioner will duly pray &c