The petition of Susan Coles of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, 11 April 1648
To the right worshipfull his Ma[jes]tyes Justices of the Peace for the County of wiltes[hire].
The humble Petic[i]on of Susan Coles of Mayden Bradley in this County of wilts[hire] a poore distressed widd[ow] and of Fower poore fatherlesse Children.
Humblye shewinge that yo[u]r Petic[i]oners husband Henry Coles takeinge vp of Armes in the Parliam[en]t service w[i]thin this Countie as a Troop[er] vnder Captaine William Ludlowe beinge then a Captaine of a Troop of horse vnder the Com[m]and of Colonell Edmond Ludlowe Esq[ui]r[e]. And that about Three yeares sithence yo[u]r Petic[i]oners sayd husband beinge then in Armes w[i]thin this County in the Parliam[en]t sayd service vnder the com[m]and of Colonell Ludlowe as aforesayd was slayne at Newe Sarum in this County at that tyme when the Lord Goringes army fell vpon the sayd Colonell Ludlowes Regiment, sithence w[hi]ch tyme yo[u]r Petic[i]oner w[i]th her fower smale Children hath endured much misery and want shee beinge a very sickly woman & havinge noe other meanes left for the mayntenance of her selfe and Children, but what shee cann of her selfe p[ro]vide,
In tender Considerac[i]on whereof may it please yo[u]r wor[shi]ps to consider of the losse of yo[u]r Petic[i]oners sayd husband he beinge a Tradesman by whose labo[u]r yo[u]r Petic[i]oner & her fower smale Children were maynteyned & shee nowe beinge sickly & not able to releive her selfe & them humbly desires some yearly penc[i]on from the Treasurers of maymed soldyers of this County towards the releiffe of her and her sayd children accordinge to the Parliam[en]ts moste gracious orders & Ordinanc[e]s in such Case made And yo[u]r poore Petic[i]oner & her fower Children shall dayly pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps health & longe to continewe.
Ad Session[es] tent apud Devizes xio Apr[ilis] xxiiiito Car[olus] R[egiu]s
It is desired by this Court that the two next Justices to the Petic[i]on[e]r take this Petic[i]on & Cirtificats into Considerac[i]on & to allowe the Petic[i]on[e]r & her children tawards their releiffe such pr[e]sant money & such future penc[i]on or allowance as they shall thinke fitt, accordinge to the ordinance of Parliam[en]t in that Case made And that the same be Cirtefyed to the next Sess[ion]s
[Several illegible Latin words]
Thomas: Benett
Jo[hn] Goddard
<p[er] Cur[ia]>
We haueinge Examined the truth of this petic[i]on & the poverty & distresse of the peticoner & her Children doe hereby declare & order that the Th[reasur]er for the south p[ar]t of this County of maymed souldiers allowe for the pr[e]sent to the Peticon[e]r v li. She beinge sick & fifty shillings hereafter quarterlie to begin this next midsomer Sessions for her & her Childrens releiffe