The petition of Ann Furnace of Hertford, Hertfordshire, 1660
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace sitting at Hertford.
The humble Petition of Ann Furnace of Hertford. Widdow.
Humbly Sheweth.
That whereas your poore Petition[e]rs husband Namely Nicholas Furnace went from this Towne of Hertford unto Oxford and there served the late King in his Warrs and in the wars lost his life maney yeares since, soe that your poore Petitioner was exposed to great misery had shee not beene kept & releeved in Charitie by her Mother who now is very aged and hath but little meanes for to kepe her selfe.
Therefore your poore Petitioner doth humbly begg your mercey & commiseration of pitty towards her in this her day of calamitie & distress. your Petitio[ne]r haveing many children to p[ro]vide for & your Petiti[ne]r noe ways as of her selfe able haveing not soe much as the use of her limbes for to bee a helpe unto her as alsoe deprived of her speech and soe like to perrish unless this wor[ship]full Bench bee pleased to releeve her in this her low estate.
And your Petitio[ne]r shall ever pray &c.