The petition of Lewis Williams of Claines, Worcestershire, 1682
To the Right Wors[hi]pfull the Kings Ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace at the quarter sessions houlden for the County of the Cittie of Worcest[e]r the Humble petition of Lewis Williams of the p[ar]ish of Claines in the s[ai]d County of Worcester
Humbly sheweth vnto yo[u]r good W[o]rs[hi]ps That in Consi[de]racon of my Exceeding poverty & great age & weakness & my wifes age & Impotency & for my Service vnto his Ma[jes]tie yo[u]r Wors[hi]pfull Bench were graciously pleased to grant vnto me yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r a sessions order that yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r should Receive Eight pence by the weeke to be p[ai]d by the Churchwardens of the said p[ar]ish of Claines whereas yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r never Rec[eive]d but one Eight pence & that the Churchwardens Refuse to obey yo[u]r W[o]rs[h]ips order yo[u]r pet[itione]r & his Wife being not able to subsist yo[u]r pet[itione]r having lived in the said p[ar]ish of Claines Forty & Two yeares Humbly Craves that yo[u]r good W[o]rs[hi]ps would be pleased to Comisserate the necessity of yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r And further order Reliefe for yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall in duty Bound pray &c.
Harris