The petition of Elizabeth Poulton of Pewsey, Wiltshire, Hilary 1661
To the R[igh]t Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll the Justices of the peace of the Countye of Wiltes[hire] nowe sittinge att the gen[er]all Quarter Sessions of the peace for the s[ai]d Countie att New Sarum.
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Poulton of Pewsie in the Countye of Wiltes[hire] widowe
Sheweth
That yo[u]r Petic[i]oners late husband Thomas Poulton being engaged w[i]th John Penruddocke Esq[ui]r[e] and other of his Ma[jes]ties loyall subjects in the late engagem[en]t in the West for his Ma[jes]ties service and Restaurac[i]on Was for such his loyaltie appr[e]hended and most vniustlye brought to a shamefull vntymely death By meanes whereof yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r w[i]th Fower her younge infant children are become very distressed
May it therefore please yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to take the deplorable state and condic[i]on of the widowe and fatherles into yo[u]r pious considerac[i]ons and be pleased to order yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r some allowance out of the publique stocke of this County, for her and her poore childrens pr[e]sent subsistence and releife
And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall ever pray &c
To haue 5 li giuen her for her pr[e]sent support, and to be paid by the Tresurer of the north
Fra[ncis] Swanton