The petition of Elizabeth Frances, City and Liberty of Westminster, September 1660
<{Illegible} Elizabeth Frances.>
To the Kings most Excellent Ma[jes]tie.
The petic[i]on of Elizabeth Frances widowe, Relict of Mathew Frances s[e]riant at Armes to King James, and King Charles, deceased, of blessed memory:
Sheweth:
That yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]rs husband being s[e]riant at Armes aforesaid for 40 yeares or thereabout was commanded by his s[ai]d royall Ma[jes]tie yo[u]r Late Father to demand the fiue members, w[hi]ch he performed, for w[hi]ch seruice he was presently imprisoned, and after made his Escape to Bristoll for the preseruation of his life, where he died in the seruice of his s[ai]d Late Ma[jes]tie Comissary generall in the s[ai]d Cyttie: Leauing yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r and six Chillderen in great greife and distress: sence w[hi]ch yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r was imprisoned, her estate sequestered, goods taken away to great valew, by w[hi]ch shee and her chillderen are reduced to a very lowe estate & condic[i]on; during w[hi]ch barbarous vsage, two of yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs s[ai]d Chillderen perrished for want yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r being noe sooner sett at libertie but presentlie againe Imprisoned for debt for a Long tyme, from w[hi]ch sadd condic[i]on she was but lately by Charitie released:
Yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r therefore humbly prayes yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie most gratiously to take her Lamentable condic[i]on togeather w[i]th her Chillderens, into yo[u]r Princelie considerac[i]on, ether as to Penc[i]on or some other way, as yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie conceiues most fitt, and conuenient, for her future support and Mayntenance:
And yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r (as in highest dutie bound, shall ever pray for yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie &c: