The petition of Elianor Butt of Isle Brewers, Somerset, c. 1654
To the R[igh]t wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace at Bridgwater in Sessions assembled for the Countie of Somersett
The humble Petic[i]on of Elianor Butt, widdow:
Sheweth
That yo[u]r Pet[itione]r[s] husband was ingaged in the service of the Parliam[en]t from the begin[n]ing of the warre vntell hee dyed, and hath left yo[u]r Pet[itione]r three Children, and nothing to maintaine them, and that the house in w[hi]ch shee form[er]ly liued being puld downe & burnt, yo[u]r Pet[itione]r therevppon repaired to Ilbruars in the same Countie, the place of her said husbands birth, where shee was receiued & hath liued there in a howse w[hi]ch stands in the high way, But soe it is that not long since yo[u]r Pet[itione]r hauing informed Major Sampson of an vnlicensed Alehowsekeep[er] who kept much disorder in the said parish, shee was therefore turned out of the said howse in which shee lived, and hath never since beene able to p[ro]cure a howse, soe that shee is in greate distresse & readye to perrish.
Yo[u]r Pet[itione]r doe therefore humbly desire yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps, the pr[e]mises duely weighed, to take such course for her reliefe as yo[u]r wisdome shall thinke meete,
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall euer pray &c.
[Reverse:]
Butt. Referd to Maior Sansom & Capt[ain] Barker.