The petition of Mary Burden of Corsham, Wiltshire, 4 April 1654
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justis of peace at the gen[er]all Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden at the Devizes Aprill 4th 1654.
The humble Petic[i]on of Mary Burden of Corsham widowe.
Humbly sheweth, That whereas at Marlebrough Sessions 1652 The Court graunted then to yo[u]r Pet[itione]r a Penc[i]on of 10 li. by the yeare; At w[hi]ch tyme yo[u]r Pet[itione]r received received 10 li. in hand, & hath received noe more of her Penc[i]on since that tyme.
And whereas yo[u]r Pet[itione]r is now in a sad Condic[i]on her household being sick, & she herselfe now newly arrested for [illegible] certayne goods w[hi]ch was adventured into Ireland by her husband, & hath not yet gotten bayle, but is p[er]mitted to come to Sessions by sufferance.
She humbly prayeth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps, that you would be pleased to order, That 10 li. more of her said Penc[i]on may be now paid vnto her, to supply her p[re]sent necessity And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall ever pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps health & happynesse.