The petition of Elizabeth Browne, Hertfordshire, 1656
To the Right hono[u]r[a]ble the Justices of Peace for the County of Hertford now sittinge in Sessions.
The humble Petic[i]on of Elizabeth Browne the relict and widdowe of one Richard Browne deceased
Humbly sheweth
That the said Richard Browne your Peticioners husband was a Souldier for the defence of this Com[m]on Wealth ag[ains]t the late Kinge in the Company of one Captayne John Clarke in Major Gen[er]all Skippons Regement and in S[i]r W[ilia]m Constables regem[en]t from Novermber 1643: untill June 1645. and then was very much wounded at ye battell of Nasebie & thereby disabled for yt ymploym[en]t:
And whereas at a Sessions here held the Seaventh of January 1649: by virtue of an order then made a pencon of Fower pownds p[er] Ann[um] was settled upon the said Richard and payd to him by the Treasurers of this Countye.
Now forasmuch as yo[u]r Petitioners said husband ab[ou]t June last dyed and left yo[u]r: poore distressed petic[i]oner in a very sadd low, and Indigent Condic[i]on.
Yo[u]r Petic[i]oner therefore humbly prayeth that yo[ur]: hono[u]rs: would bee pleased to take the pr[e]misses into yo[u]r grave & serious Considerac[i]ons and by order of this Co[u]rt to give and allowe unto yo[u]r poore distressed Peticoner soe much of her deceased husbands Pencon (towards the releivinge of her Cryeinge necessities) as to yo[u]r hono[u]rs shall seeme meete.
And yo[u]r Petic[i]oner shall ever praye &c.
<The Tre[asure]r to pay the widow {illegible} due for her husb[and] the last {illegible} his death>
<Bre: xx s. 1 q[uar]ter [?before]>