The petition of Grace Fielden of Blackburn, Lancashire, Midsummer 1659
Y[ou]r humble petitio[ne]r
Grace Fielden the Relict and late wyffe of Leeften[a]nt Henry Fielden haue contynued widow these Fifteene yeares ever since the death of my husband and haue carefullie brought vp a great meny of children with verie smalle meanes, whereof some are now in the parlam[en]ts service and haue bene above ten or twelve yeares; And after the death of my husband for the most part sithence, for my better lyvelihood and subsistence haue kept Ale to sell without the least opposition or complaint of any of my of neighbo[u]rs or others vntil this last yeare. That one man onlie in our towne did laie such foule aspersions vpon me especiallie at the last privie Sessions houlden for the division of Blackburne hundredth, soe as by noe meanes I could procure licence to keep Ale as formerly I had And yet doth still p[er]sist soe vehement against me, as he intendeth nothing more then to overthrow me in my poore & small estait and to take my good name and fame vtterly from me to my intollerable greeff and sorrow As you maie p[er]ceiue by a warrant (here to be shewed) directed forth against me to appeare this daie before you, And in obedience therevnto least I should offend the law, with great paine by reason of my infirmities & indisposition of of [sic.] bodie, haue travelled hither to purge my self of such aspersions as already haue or are to be obiected against me, Which I trust (by gods Good helpe and the assistance of my good and honest neighbo[u]rs) whose names be subscribed whereof some be here in that behalf will vpon examinac[i]on of our cause plainlie appeare to be most vntrue, which if they be, I trust you will (in ye solid Judgem[en]t and prudent considerac[i]on) wey and com[m]iserate my case & poore condic[i]on And grant me license as to keep ale as well as to others according to the rules and order of the law in that case made & p[ro]vided, which (god willing) I shall soe observe as noe Just complaint can come against me And soe onlie [illegible] and humblie desiring y[ou]r lawfull favo[u]r and wishing y[ou]r everlasting health and prosperitie rest y[ou]r humble and poore petition[e]r
Grace Fielden
Will[ia]me Rishton
Will[ia]me Oldam Chr[ist]ofer Fielden
George Ainsworth John Hargreaves
George Hindle George Ryley
Edward Holker John Broughton
Thomas Broughton Richard Lacy Lacy
Chr[ist]ofer Hindle Thomas Cottam
Raphe Rishton Laurence Tomlinson sen[ior]
John Crosley John Hindley
James Kirshey Laurence Tomlinson jun[ior]
Laurence Duckworth Raphe Walkden
Chr[ist]ofer Baron John Hindle free mason
Gilbert Houlden