The petition of Bridget Massy of Boughton, City and County of Chester, Epiphany 1662
To the R[igh]t Wor[shi]p[fu]ll his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Justices of the Peace now sitting at Quarter Sessions in the Castle of Chester for the Countie Pallatine of Chester.
The humble petic[i]on of Bridget Massy of Boughton wid[ow]
<Shewing>
That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs late husband John Massy from the beginning of the late warrs was during his naturall life a most faithfull Subiect to his late Ma[jes]tie of famous memorie, and to expresse his Loyalty did engage himselfe as a Trooper vnder Col[one]l Werden, afterwards vnder Col[one]l Vaughan at the fight at Naseby where he was slaine, in the Interim of the time of his service for his Ma[jes]tie the better to advance his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Interest, he did vpon his Creditt buy horses & Armes and gaue bonds for the same: Yet now soe it is, may it please yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps that the persons to whom yo[u]r pet[itione]rs said husband engaged in manner and forme aforesaid, daily threaten to sue yo[u]r pet[itione]r for her said late husbands engagement, he voluntarily doing the same for his Ma[jes]t[y’]s service.
That yo[u]r Pet[itione]r is a very poore woman and lives on the Racke, and hath a charge to mainteyne, and is not able to satisfie the same the summe amounting to 20 li. and as she humbly conceiues his Ma[jes]t[y’]s debt.
May it therefore please yo[u]r wor[shi]pp[s] to take the pr[e]misses into yo[u]r most tender and graue considerac[i]ons, and that yow wil be charitably pleased to consider on some course and graunt her an order whereby she may be relieved in the pr[e]misses, and the rather in regard of her poverty, and being a forlorne widow.
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r (as in duty bound) will daily pray &c
Wee whose names are herevnto subscribed doe humbly Certifie yo[u]r good Wor[shi]pps that we are fully satisfied that the Contents of this petic[i]on is trueth and we doe recommend her (as an obiect of Charity to yo[u]r wor[shi]ps charitable considerac[i]ons.
Roger Massie H Barnston
Richard Massy Richard Barnston
the marke of
Ralph [symbol: mark] Hinchet
<absent>
<referr the churchwardens to take care for her>