The petition of Dennis Brayne of Nantwich, Cheshire, 9 July 1650
<Com[itatus] Cestr[iae]>
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at this Sessions assembled
The Humble Petic[i]on of Dennis Brayne of this towne of Namptw[i]ch late a maymed Soldier in the seruice of Ireland against those Monsters the Rebells of Ireland, & then vnder the Comand of S[i]r Charles Vauasor.
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r petition[e]r was Comanded by the Cunstables of this towne to keepe watche on Wensday last att night at Wall Lane End for keeping out of such p[er]sons as shuld come to this towne from any place infected w[i]th that heauy visitac[i]on of the Plague; And about ten a clock that night came one John Sheene alias Aldersey of this towne to one Clarkes house neere to the place where the Guard stands drew his knife & swore hee would stabbe his sonne if hee would not come away thence. But afterwards the said John Sheene came vp to the Top of a litle mount where yo[u]r Peticin[e]r stood Century & w[i]thout any cause att all given hym, called your Peticion[e]r an Irish Rogue, a base descended slaue & a man not fitt to lyue in this towne & then im[m]ediatly fell vpon him, pull[e]d a great hand full of haire from of his head [illegible] drew his knife & swore by Gods blood & divers other execrable oathes hee would cutt all yo[u]r petition[e]rs flesh of his bones & then yo[u]r petition[e]r having but the vse of one hand, The said Sheene gott him downe gaue him many blowes swore extreamely hee wold bite yo[u]r petition[e]rs nose of & did often offer to doe it & had done it had not some neighbo[u]rs then come forth of theire beds & prevented him. All this yo[u]r petition[e]r is readie to depose to be true & can p[ro]duce diuers witnesses to testefie the same.
Yo[u]r Petition[e]r therefore most humbly beseecheth yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps to take such order with the said Sheene for this great abuse as you in yo[u]r graue wisdomes shall thincke fitt & shall appertayne to Justice.
And yo[u]r petitioner as in duty bound will eu[er] pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps &c
<9o Julii 1650>
<Referred to Mr Manwering and Mr Dutton at their next monthly meetings at Chewley>
<Jo[hn] Holand>