The petition of Richard Wright, Thomas Tench, Thomas Pemberton, Randall Sackerson, Hugh Tench, John Ravenscroft, John Pratchett, Robert Parker, Josias Croxton, Martha Mainewaringe, and John Wright, all of Nantwich, Cheshire, Michaelmas 1651
To the Right Wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of Peace at this Present Sessions held in Northw[i]ch
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Wright Thomas Tench Thomas Pemberton Randall Sackerson Hugh Tench John Ravenscroft John Pratchett Robert Parker Josias Croxton Mrs Martha Mainewaringe & John Wright Inhabitants of Namptw[i]ch
<Sheweth>
That whereas yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs haue ever bin Cordially affected to the Parliam[en]ts p[ro]ceedings and haue in defence thereof formerly seu[er]all tymes exposed their Persons and Estates to many hazards and sithence these late Revoluc[i]ons haue faithfully demeaned themselues and readily & willingly Submitted to the pr[e]sent Governm[en]t by Subscribeing the Nationall Ingagem[en]t when at first tendred And yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs being Inhabitants in Namptw[i]ch and in respect of their good Affection as afores[ai]d vppon the late March of Charles Stuart w[i]th the Scottish Army towards Namptw[i]ch, most or all of yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs (to saue their Persons from the Cruelty of the publiqe Enemy) were necessitated to departe and leaue their habitac[i]ons and fly to the Parliam[en]ts Garrisons and other Places of defence And soe forced to leaue and expose their Families and Estates to the me[r]cilesse Cruelty of the invaded Enemy, who then (by reason of yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs fidelity & good affection as afores[ai]d) did Plunder and take away from yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs seu[er]all large Quantities of goods & Cattell p[ar]ticularly menc[i]oned in the Schedule annexed w[hi]ch yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs are ready to p[ro]duce sufficient Testimony to proue if need shall require.
May it therefore please yo[u]r wor[shi]pps takeing the premises into yo[u]r serious Considerac[i]ons to grant yo[u]r Petic[i]oners A Certificate vnder yo[u]r hands and Seales in open Sessions to the Parliam[en]t of England touching the pr[e]misses and therein alsoe humbly requesting that Hon[oura]ble Assembly to take such Course for yo[u]r Petic[i]oners Releife herein as in their Charitable Wisdomes shall seeme meete
And yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs shall eu[er] pray &c
<To bring profe before 2 next Just[ices] & Certifie at the next Assizes>