The petition of William Byam of Church Coppenhall, Cheshire, Epiphany 1663
<Com[itatus] Cestr[iae]>
To the right hono[ura]ble Beanch of his ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace and Comissioners authorized for this Countie Pallentine of Chester and others whom it maye concerne greetinge.
The humble petition of William Byam of Church Coppenhall beinge Seaventie and three yeares of age.
Humbly Shewinge
That whereas yo[u]r petitioner was trayned souldier for the Townshippe of Church Coppenhall eighteene yeares seruinge vnder the Com[m]ande of Captaine Peter Minshall of Yearswicke, a gentleman well knowne, which then was Captaine of the trayned band of the Namptwhich hundred And yo[u]r petic[ioner] when hee was souldier, did take the oath of Allegiance two seu[er]all tymes to bee faithfull and a lyall [sic.] true Subiect to his Ma[jes]tie kinge Charles the first, Father of blessed memory, his heires and successors, Then beinge put vppon in these troblesomes [sic.] tymes, for to engage himselfe, contrary to his former oath, refused the same and would by noe meanes doe it, But layd downe his Armes, And went to the garrison at Chomley and listed himselfe vnder the Com[m]and of Captaine Rob[er]te Horton who kept garrison then there, and was his Clarke. But when the house was taken, by the Earle of Denbigh, your poore petitioner was taken prisoner and stripped starke naked, And moste Cruelly vsed to the danger of his life, and was tyed to an other prisoner w[i]th match and garded like a theefe to the Namptwich, and put in the Com[m]one prison and laye there thenn weekes, vppon his owne Charge, And in the end did giue vnto Collonel Croxson beinge then governor of the Towne and to the Marshall two povnds three Shillings and sixe pence for life libertie, And in the meantyme all his whole estate seaized vppon and taken to yo[u]r petitioner great losse and hinderance.
Soe because Captaine Minshall is dead, and likewise his sonn Captaine Thomas Minshall, And Captaine Rob[er]te Horton liveinge at London, vnder whose Com[m]and yo[u]r petic[ioner] serued Cannot make his greevences soe Evidently appeare, as is true, Referrs his lamentable Condic[i]on to yo[u]r honours graue wisdome, beseechinge you to take it into Considerac[i]on And that you would bee pleased to order it soe, That yo[u]r humble petitio[ne]r maye receiue some pention of money as well as others that haue not suffered such punishm[en]t in body and losse of goods, as hee hath done; And yo[u]r honours humble petitioner as hee is bound, in duetie, will ever pray &c
The trueth of this petition is knowne by mee – Rap[h] Horton
Lawrance Twisse}
Thomas Shenton } Church wardens
Thomas Malbon}
Thomas Massie } swornemen
Randle Smyth }
Randle Clyfe
John Malbone
Constables
Randall Stoneley
William [?Skeewill]
Thomas Wetenhall
John Rawbon
George Steele
Thomas Hodgkinson
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