The petition of Lady Katherine Byron, residence unknown, 5 September 1660
<The Lady Katherine Relict of Col[onel] [?Tom] Petic[i]on to Assigne her 700 li. lent for his ma[jes]tys Service by yo[u]r Royall fathers com[m]and and sent for ye paym[e]nt of yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Regim[e]nt.>
To the Kings most Excellent Ma[jes]tie
The humble petic[i]on of the Lady Katherine Byron, Relict of S[i]r Thomas Byron Knight Deceased
Sheweth
That yo[u]r Pet[itione]rs husband had the Hono[u]r at the begining of the late Warres to be Capt[ain] Lieuten[a]nt to yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie then the Troope of Guards to yo[u]r Royall Father of ever blessed memory and that afterwards vpon the Modelling of the Army yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie was pleased to advance her said husband to be Colonell of yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties owne Regiement w[hi]ch he had the hono[u]r to Comaund vnder yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie vntil the Battell at Hopton Heath whene hee received those wounds whereof he Dyed.
That by yo[u]r Royall Fathers Com[m]aund he Lent 700 li. for paym[en]t of yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Regiem[en]t then vnder his Com[m]aund That for satisfacc[i]on whereof his Ma[jest]ie yo[u]r Royall Father gave him a Reference to Mr Ashburneham, but money comeing slowly in, nothing was repaid as by the annexed Certificate appeares by w[hi]ch meanes yo[u]r Pet[itione]r contracted severall debts w[hi]ch haue ever since lyen heavy vpon her. That in considerac[i]on of her husbands former services, yo[u]r Father promised yo[u]r Pet[itione]r a Penc[i]on, That yo[u]r Pet[itone]r was imployed in severall messages for the more safe carrying of Letters and intelligence during the late Warres, That she hath beene seu[er]all times plundred, sequestred and endured long and cruell imprison[en]ts in Peter House amongst those they called high Delinquents, being vtterly Ruined of her fortune and forced to plead for her life.
That yo[u]r Pet[itione]r by the losse of her deare Husband and her other sufferings is reduced to such extreamity that without yo[u]r Princely Compassion she is not longer able to support herselfe and Children.
Yo[u]r Pet[itione]r therefore humbly prayes yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie will be graciously pleased to assigne vnto her the 700 li. Lent for your service for her present releife, and to consider her Husbands merrits by affording her a Penc[i]on, or such other wayes of subsistance for herselfe and Children as in your Princely wisdome you shall thinke fitt.
And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall ever pray &c.
At the Court at whitehall 5th September 1660.
His Ma[jes]tie being well satisfied of the meritts of S[i]r Thomas Byron the pet[itione]rs late husband and of the loyalty and Services of the pet[itione]r and being Graciously inclined to favour this her humble request is pleased to referre this petic[i]on to the right hono[u]r[a]ble the Lord Treasurrer of England who is to take the same into his consideration and certifie his Ma[jes]tie what his Lo[rdshi]pp conceiueth reasonable for his Ma[jes]tie to doe in it and then his Ma[jes]tie will further declare his royall pleasure.
G[ervase] Holles