The petition of Mary Cooke of Canterbury (St Alphege Parish), City and County of Canterbury, 1677
<Citty of }>
<Canter[bury]} s[e]s[sion]s>
To the right wor[ship]full the Maior and Justices of the Peace assembled at the gen[era]ll Quarter Sessions, holden in the Guildhall of the said Citty, for the said Citty, and County of the Same.
The humble Petic[i]on of Mary Cooke of the Parish of St Alphege in the said Citty widdow.
Sheweth:
That the officers of the said parish long since remooved yo[u]r wor[shi]pps said poor Pet[itione]r from the place where shee then was, to a roome in the house where one goodwife Shaw now liveth, in w[hi]ch Roome there is three beds, so that there is no place to sitt or doe any thing in; besides the bedds ar in danger of fireing, they being so neer the Chimney, so that her habitation is so inconvenient, as shee doth not know how to live there.
That shee is a very poor weakely, and sickly woman, and is thereby vnable to gett a poor Subsistance, and cannot Subsist vpon the poor weekly collection, now allowed her from the said parish; it being but 18 d. p[er] weeke.
Wherefore shee most humbly beseecheth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to enioyne the officers of the said Parish, to provide her a convenient roome else where, and to allow her a more Competent releife, for her subsistance; as to yo[u]r wor[shi]pps shall seem most meete.
And shee shal be ever thankfull to, and also pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps &c.
Referrd [sic.] to Mr Maior