The petition of Anne Massye of Nantwich, Cheshire, Trinity 1650
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the bench & deputy Leivetenants of this County.
The humble petic[i]on of Anne Massye wife of Will[ia]m Massye of Wichmalbancke in the County of Chester
Sheweth
That yo[u]r petic[i]oners said husband Will[ia]m Massye s[er]ved in the Parliam[en]ts s[er]vice for a long time vnder the Com[m]and of Major Bromhall to whose certificate for the more certainety of the time this petic[i]oner referreth her selfe. That he had little or nothing at all for his s[ai]d s[er]vice as his Captayne can truely testifie. But yt pleased god that by reason of a Cooth taken in hys lymms in that s[er]vice he fell lame & not able to goe soe much as to his bed w[i]thout the helpe of one or two to leade him or w[i]thout Cructhes [sic.] for the space of one yeare & a q[uar]ter much lesse was he able to worke in his trade w[hi]ch is a wett glover or to doe any thing for the helpe of himselfe yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner his wife & her Children to their great ympoverishm[en]t. And since may yt please yo[u]r worships he is gone ou[er] into Ireland w[i]th a Captaine who beate his drum for voluntaryes here & hath s[er]ved there in the Parliam[en]ts s[er]vice above a yeare & lefte yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner w[i]th six small Children vnable to helpe themselves & yo[u]r petic[i]oner w[i]thout meanes to helpe them soe that shee is altogeather vnable to releive them or herselfe w[i]thout some speedy helpe be administered.
Humbly prayeth yo[u]r wor[shi]pp[s] would be pleased to take her miserable condic[i]on into yo[u]r pious consierac[i]on & to consider of some way for her pr[e]sent releife at least to allow her what shall duely appeare to be arrere & due to her s[ai]d husband for his s[ai]d first s[er]vice & shee will eu[er] pray &c.
<M[emoran]d[um] Thomas Wixtid of Dartford to p[ro]vide for the Children & the ord[e]r to be left at Cap[tain] Actons for>