The petition of Bridget Clerke of Weymouth, Dorset, July 1660
To the Kings moste excellent maiesty
The humble petione of Bridget Cawlie (alia[s] Clerke) the wife of Clement Cawley Gunner & Seruant to his late maiesty of happy memory
Humbly Sheweth
That yo[u]r petio[ne]rs said husband being Gunner for his maiesty at Newbery was there slayne in the fighte & yo[u]r peti[tione]r had all hir Estate & goods in Waymouth seised upone by Collo[nel] Sidenham & shee and hir children turned naked out of dores, where yo[u]r peti[tione]r then lost almoste 300 li. worth of goods & not only soe, but yo[u]r peti[tione]r was Cruelly Imprisoned, Tried by a Counsell of warr, and not long after was by the said Sidenhams Comand shamfully whipped out of the towne & all this meerly for hir fidelity & Constancy to his late Maiesty
In tender consideratione of the premises, and for that both shee & hir Children euer since haue bin vtterly beggerd therby, & yo[u]r peti[tione]rs now husband Robert Clerke hauing also suffered greate extreamity, being also a slaue amongst the Turks & from them redeemed about 14 years since.
Shee therfore moste humbly beseecheth yo[u]r Maiesty, by the mercies of Christe to Comiserate this hir Suffering distressed conditione, and according to yo[u]r Princely inclynatione to acts of Justice & mercie, to be pleased to order to yo[u]r peti[tione]r full repayratione for hir losse of Estate & greate sufferings wrongfully sustayned, And in the meanetime to be graciously pleased to grant vnto yo[u]r peti[tione]rs present husband a Tidesmans place at the Custom haus of the porte of London, That soe therby yo[u]r peti[tione]r & hir children may be preserued from perishing.
And shee (as bound) shall euer pray for yo[u]r maiesties helth & prosperous reigne ouer vs: