The petition of James Gettings of Hornby, Lancashire, Midsummer 1659
To the wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of peace and quor[um] for the County Palatine of Lancaster:
The humble petic[i]on of James Gettings a poore old distressed man:
In all humilitie shewinge
That he being A Cooke a long tyme and liveing in the Towne of Hornby had two sonns whome hee and his poore wife tenderly brought vp and nourished and dearely loved in hope they should haue had comforth of them and help from them in this their decreped ould age:
That they comeing to full age were soldiers in Scotland where they lived a good space, and from whome yo[u]r pet[itione]rs receyved some meanes for their Liuelihood and maintenance yett now they both being either slaine or dead in theis warrs, yo[u]r pet[itione]rs wanting that releife are both growne into povertie and very ould soe that they cannot takes [sic.] paines as in former tymes and therby are in great danger to p[er]ishe vnles yo[u]r wor[shi]ps favour be to them in this their misery and distresse extended & towards them shewed:
And therefore they humbly beseech yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps in charitye to bee pleased to grant them some weekly maintenance even what yow in yo[u]r good discrec[i]on and wisedome shall thinke fittinge for their releife and by yo[u]r reference herevnto to order the ouerseers of the poore of the parishe of Melling to pay it them weekly for their present help and releife to keepe them from absolute starveing
And yo[u]r poore pet[itione]rs as neu[er]theles in dutye bounde shall & will dayly pray &c
Wee whose names are herevnder subscribed knoweing the p[re]misses to be true desire yo[u]r wor[shi]ps favour for the poore pet[itione]rs
Tho[mas] Sharpe
Josias Morey knoews that James Gettings is very poore and needy
And Francis Maddison
Tho[mas] Runnington Constable
Henry Chinall makes ye testimonie as the aboueseaid Mr Josias Morey has seaid
<Ch[urchwardens] & O[uerseers] to allowe eyther vi d. a weeke>
<[Illegible]>