The petition of Elizabeth Dey of Whiston, Lancashire, 20 July 1657
<July 20th 1657>
To ye R[igh]t w[o]r[shi]p[fu]ll the Justic[e]s of peace & Quor[um] at ye Quarter Sessions at Orm[skir]ke
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Dey of Whiston widdow
Shewinge That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs late husband Henry Dey (beinge willing to serue ye Parlyam[en]t) was a Listed Soldier vnder Col[one]l Moore & amongst manie others (when the Garrison of Liu[er]poole was taken by Prince Rup[er]ts forc[e]s) was cruelly murthered in the s[ai]d towne to ye greate grief & vtter vndoeing of yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r & her Children being then three but now two aliue not having any manner of Liuelihood or assistance nor indeed able to worke for that purpose By reason wherof she is now brought into a [illegible] very sadd Condic[i]on & much Exigency.
May it therffore please yo[u]r Lor[dshi]ps (the pr[e]misses duely considered) to Graunt vnto yo[u]r pet[itione]r such order as to yo[u]r w[o]r[shi]ps shall find reasonable & fit for releefe of widowes & fatherles Children: Or otherwise to Graunt yo[u]r w[o]r[shi]ps Certificate from the publique Sessions of the truth of the pr[e]miss[e]s To th[e] end she may indeauo[u]r to gett such releefe at London as vsually hath beene or is yeelded to widowes & fatherles Children in the Lyke Condic[i]on & vpon the Lyke occasion. And she will dayly pray &c.
Cert[ificate]