The petition of James Simple of Lathom, Lancashire, Midsummer 1656
<Com[itatus] Lanc[aster]>
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll [illegible] Justices of Peace & Quor[um] at this present Sessions Holden at Orm[skir]k &c
The Humble pet[ition] of James Simple of Lathom [illegible] in the p[ar]ish of Orm[skir]ke labourer
Humbly sheweth:
That your poor pet[itione]r hath beene a Sould[ie]r in the late seruice for the Parliam[en]t & Comonwealth of England in the Seruice for Scotland & other places within this nation, who alwayes was, and is willing to p[er]forme the same duty when hee is therevnto Required and haueing married a wife In this p[ar]ish where hee now liues with whom hee hath by his said Wife 5 small Children the youngest not aboue 20 weekes Old, your pet[itione]r[s] said Wife haueing long languish[e]d In sicknesse on his hands, who While hee was able did releife and mayntayne her & the 5 small Children by his great pains & Industry from troubleing eyther the Towne or p[ar]ish as wil bee made to appeare, and haueing receiued some losses by the death of his horses, he is soe Impouerisht that by all his labour & paines, he can in noe way mayntayne them, except some charitable allowance may bee granted forth of the p[ar]ish afores[ai]d.
The premisses Considered the pet[itioner] humbly prayeth your wor[shi]pp to take into Considerac[i]on, this his greiuances, and to Comiserate his sad Condic[i]on, and to grant an Order for the releife of his poor wife & 5 Children, that the Churchwardens and Ouerseers of the poor may prouide for them, as in theyr discretions shal bee thought fitt, that they may bee preserued from p[er]ishinge for releife and In soe doeing your peti[itione]r as in duty Bound will Euer pray &c
referred to C[hurchwardens] & O[uerseers] & give accompt next privy s[ession]s
[Illegible]