The petition of Robert Lewis of Alvanley, Cheshire, Trinity 1646
To the Right worshippfull & worshippfill the deputie Leiutenants for king and Parliam[en]t of the Countye Palatine of Chester, and other gentlemen w[i]th them this day vppon state affaires at Knuttesford assembled. The humble petic[i]on of Robert Lewis of Alvanley.
Sheweth vnto yo[u]r wor[shi]ps yo[u]r sayd humble Oratour that for the space of certaine yeeres preceding the Ciuill warres of our kingdome hee hee was a Trayned souldier of Bucklow hundred and soe continued and by reason of his refusing to beare Armes for the Commissioners of Array, a troope of their horse fetcht him forcibly from his fathers howse to Hallton Castle where hee was kept Closse prisoner ymediately after yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs release from that durance hee tooke vppe Armes vnder the wor[shi]pfull Collonell Brooke his com[m]and And in service for the state continued the space of three yeares and vpwards during w[hi]ch time hee (in his zeale for the advancem[en]t of the publique Cause) relinquished his fathers howse, goods & estate (exposed for a long time to the enemies power who by their frequent plundring did much impouerish & weaken his estate to his great preiudice and dammage to w[hi]ch it pleased God to adde his durance in Crew Hall; and after that the death of his father, to augment his griefes & losses his said father by his last will & Testament leaving him noe estate in his Tenem[en]t the terme of his lease expyring w[i]th his fathers life, nor proprietie in goods to the value of aboue twelve pence. Since which time of his fathers decease yo[u]r wor[shi]ps petitioner (holdeth vnder the state) the sayd tenem[en]t vppo[n] yeerely Racke by reason of which & the prementioned occurrences and wante of p[ar]te of his due pay the arreares wherof is Twenty pounds and vppwards hee is like to fall into irrecouerable depts and extreame wantes v[n]lesse yo[u]r worshipps shall be pleased to afford him reliefe.
Now yo[u]r petic[i]oners humble request vnto yow is yt you will be pleased to take the premises into yo[u]r fauorable Considerac[i]on Soe both hee and his shall euer be obliged to pray &c
That an ord[e]r bee drawne to the sequestrators that they suffer him to enjoy his whole tenement hee paying the old rent and all suits & serves considering his good deservings hee beeing content to take it in p[ar]t of his pay.
<For the wo[rshipfu]ll the sequestrators of Bucklow hundred (this)>
<Gent[lemen]>
<Vpon examinac[i]on wee are satisfied that the deserts of the petic[i]on[e]r are more than are here expressed. Wee likewise are confident that the state intends to [illegible] pay arreares & therefrore wee conceiue it fitt (for the encouragement of him & others that the pet[itione]r bee satisfied in p[ar]t out of this yeares rent & wee rest>
<yo[u]r very lo[ving] friends>
<H[enry] Brooke>
<G[eorge] Booth>
<John Legh>