The petition of Katherine Palmer of Leicester, Leicestershire, 1645 to 1647
To the right wor[shipfu]ll mr Maior together w[i]th the aldermen & com[m]onalty of the Borrough of Leicester the humble petition of Katherine Palmer widd[ow] & relict of Abraham Palmer late of Leicester weaver deceased sheweth
That y[ou]r petition[e]rs husband being a weaver of ierry Stuffe & a forrener did about ladyday 1645 put himselfe vpon this this wor[shipfu]ll Court for a [illegible] fine for purchase of the Freedome of this Towne who thervpon was adiudged 3 li. 6 s. 8 d. the w[hi]ch he paid to the chamberlains for the tyme being but notw[i]thstanding was not p[er]mitted to vse his trade without compounding with the rest of the trade also whervpon hee was constrained to agree with them of the trade for 6 li. more & accordingly paid them 3 li. in hand & gave bond to pay the other 3 li. by 1 li. yearly till the same should be paid but it so pleased god that within 2 months after the said purchase & agreement this Towne was taken by ye enimy & yo[u]r petition[e]rs husband was held a prisoner vntil the retaking therof & was totally plundered of all that hee had and thorough wants while hee was imprisoned tooke the cause of a disease w[hi]ch within lesse then a yeare did neare him to death by a lingering sicknesse did spend all that yo[u]r petition[e]r could anie waies p[ro]cure neither could by reason of his said sicknesse endure to worke of his trade anie more then about 2 months after so much money disbursed as aforesaid yet notwithstanding all this the company of weavers demand of yo[u]r petition[e]r the rest of the six pounds & threaten hir with suits of law for the same allthough shee is no waies able to pay the same & yet for hir quietnes hath out of hir poverty p[ro]cured to pay them 10 s. of it sicne the death of hir husband
The p[re]misses considered yo[u]r petition[e]r humbly prayeth yo[u]r worshipps to take such course as yo[u]r wisdoms may find out to releeve yo[u]r petitioners in the remaining 50 s. by inioyning the said tradesmen to release the same & give yo[u]r petitioner in the bond or otherwise as yo[u]r worshipps shall seeme best & yo[u]r petitioner will euer pray &c.
the Hall is Content to abate her the 30 s. due to them out of the 3 li.