The petition of Richard Pope of Heath Charnock, Lancashire, Michaelmas 1662
To the right wor[shi]pfull his Ma[jes]tye of peace [sic.] and Coram at these quarter Sessions holden at Wigan
The humble petic[i]on of Richard Pope of heath Charnocke husbandman showeth
That whereas the late sad and deploreble wars coming on foot A gainst his late Ma[jes]ti[e]s of famous memory by vsurped authorytye and all though your petic[i]oner had A wife and Foure Children and nothing to maintaine them but by his owne hand working yet after the seage at Manchester in his Ma[jes]tys service and became settled vnder Comand of Maior Thomas Rigby being vnder Coronell Chisnall and first mearched vnder his Collonel to the battle battle at Westhoughton Common where he ascaped his life and afterwards was vnder ye same Comand at Yorke battle not ascaping w[i]thout wounds but after Yorke battle he your petic[i]on[e]r was taken prisoners and lay [?Indawance] at Manchester six months and vpward in which tyme may it please yo[u]r wor[ship]s his poore wife was plundred and divested of her goods to the want of her selfe and Children and yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r could not by any meanes of freinds or otherwise be released or Exchanged til his poore wife by asistance of his kinsfolke paid his ransum money, And afterwards his wife and Children being sore Impov[e]rished as aforesaid he your petic[i]oner fel to his hand labour to releiue them thinking his ransom at Manchester would haue fred him from futor troble yet he was taken prisoner and put in Chillilrand house and Could noe weyse be released but by his ransom in money after twenty days Imprisonment for w[hi]ch his Ma[jes]tys seruice and Imprisonment may it please your wor[shi]ps he continued two yeares and vpwards so that his goods being taken and losses sustained amounted to ye value of Fifty pounds & vpwards.
The pr[e]mises considered and in tender Considerac[i]on of your petic[i]on[er] and his wife and poore Children he humbly prayeth yo[u]r worships assistance towards his releefe according to his Ma[jes]tye gracious pleasure expresed in the Acte of the honnorable Parliament in that case made and p[ro]vided and your petic[i]oner will as in all duty bound Ever to pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps health and hapiness.
We whose names are subscribed do certifye that hee was Corporall in all this service and beleiue the truth of this petic[i]on and nessesity of this petic[i]oner is as aforesaid.
Leiften[an]t William Goodwin
Ensigne Low of Daybury his [symbol: mark]
Ssargand John Anslarke his [symbol: mark]
Roger Fynch
Robert Anslarke his marke [symbol: mark]