To the Hono[ura]ble Bench of Justices of the Peace nowe assembled this present generall Sessions of the Peace for the Countie of Devon.

The humble petic[i]on of Johan Illery of Hemiocke a poore distressed Widowe

Shewing that Henry Illery y[ou]r petic[i]oners late husband in obedience unto and on the Parliam[en]ts behalf at his owne costs and charges freely adventred his life at the services performed at Exon, Topisham, Modbury and Stratton and upon the defeate at Stratton aforesaid was enforced for the safegard of his life to flie unto and to protecte himselfe at the Garrison at Lyme where he contynued during the most part of the seige that was layde against that Towne, and at length together w[i]th others of that Garrison removed from thence, and w[i]th full hope and assurance of doing good and acceptable service to the Parliament and State in generall as also to the Towne and parish of Hemiocke his dwelling and habitac[i]on in particular he there with others in hope of the Countries general aide and assistance, there fortified themselves in the Castle, w[hi]ch being att length taken by the adverse partie yo[u]r petic[i]oners said husband, by the expresse commaund of the Lord Paulets against all rules of humanity and christianitie was most barborouslie executed not being allowed by said Lord Paulet although your petic[i]oners husband in all humilitie desired the smallest respit, yea not one halfe quarter of an hower to prepare himselfe to die but was by the said Lord Paulets expresse commaund as aforesaid ymmediatelie drawne out of the castle of Hemiocke and upon a tree ioyning to the said Castle by the said Lord Paulets commaund there hanged with expresse Commaund from him of paine of death to any man that should cutt him downe in seaven daies through feare whereof yo[u]r petic[i]oners said husband soe died and hanged at the tree as aforesaid eight daies following and ymmediately his Souldiers not onelie came and tooke from yo[u]r petic[i]oner all her goods and p[er]sonall estate both without doore and w[i]t[h]in, her wearing apparell nor dish nor spoone wherein to eate her meate nor anything els excepted but they did also threaten to hang yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner and also vowed and endeavoured to burne her poore fatherles children. Whereas your poore petic[i]oner with her said husband in time of peace and before her husband spent himselfe and estate in the Parliaments service as before is menc[i]oned were worth in theire estates above seavenscore pounds & that yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner w[i]th three poore smalle infirme children and such as have noe bread but what yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner can by her hard labour of spinning & carding provide for them.

It would please this honrable Bench & Justices aforesaid out of the bowels of compassion & christian charitie towards your poore petic[i]oner and her three poore fatherles, hopeless, comfortles children aforesaid nowe that you are upon the occasions of yo[u]r present meetinge & assosiating for the good of the whole Countie in generall soe likewise you wil be pleased to commiserate these yo[u]r poore distressed & that you wil be pleased to order & award some such present & future reliefe for your poore comfortless & distressed petic[i]oner & children as you out of the bowels of comassion & according to Justice and equitie shall thinke fit.

And yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner shall dailie pray &c.

<5 li. & 5 li. fro[m] the Committee>