The petition of Geelian Cowley of Llanrhydd, Denbighshire, 3 October 1665
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace att the pr[e]sent Generall Sessions.
The humble petic[i]on of Geelian Cowley a poore widdowe and mother of three smale fatherlesse Children
Sheweinge
Yo[u]r wor[ship]s that yo[u]r pet[itione]rs late husband by name Edward Birien of Ruthin a souldier that served in his Ma[jesty]s service in Ireland neare vpon three yeares & afterward he retorned to England he [?served] in his Ma[jes]t[y]s service there Sixe or seaven yeares where in all these tymes he suffered many ymprisonments wounds & brueses w[hi]ch made him vnable to earne his livelie hoode & more especiallie this two yeares last past then he was allowed one of his Ma[jes]t[y]s penc[i]oners to receave a share of his Ma[jes]t[y]s allowance for Maymed souldier p[ro]vided. Nowe May it please yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to be advertised that the said Edward Birien yo[u]r pet[itione]rs late husband had a longe sicknesse beeinge vearie poore & nowe called to gods mercie caused yo[u]r pet[itione]rs to goe vpon her Credit with her neighbors to suplie her s[ai]d husbands wants in Confidence to receave his share & allowance of penc[i]on as afore is set forth, but It was gods will to take him to his mercie afore this generall sessions.
Most humblie prayeinge yo[u]r wor[shi]ps to allowe yo[u]r pet[itione]r the Petic[i]on allotted her late husband for [illegible] to paye to her creditors what she is engaged for & yo[u]r wor[shi]ps further help & succo[u]r in such sort as yo[u]r wor[shi]ps thinke meete without yo[u]r wor[shi]ps Comisserac[i]on hearin yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall not be able to goe amonge good & charitable people for releefe to her & her small children for feare of arrest or lawsuite. this I humblie bege for gods sacke.
And euer praye &c
<It is ordered yt the Treasurer for the maymed souldiers mize doe pay ye aboue petic[i]on[er] Geelian Cowley Relict of Ed[war]d Berian deceased one of the maymed souldiers ye whole quarterly allowance form[er]ly allowed her husband for the quarter last past>
<enter in booke>
<R[ichard] Wynne>
<Bevis Lloyd>
<R[obert] Price>
Edward Price
Tho[mas] Dixon
Jon Thelwall
Edward Price Rob[er]t Williams
William Lloyd
Ambrose Thelwall
John Jones
John Pirce