The petition on behalf of William Cowper of Prescot, Lancashire, Midsummer 1647
To the wo[rshi]ppfull the Justices of peace & quoru[m] within the Countie Palatin of Lancaster
The humble petic[i]on of the ministers and Elders of the Classis of Warrington
Sheweth
That yo[u]r wo[rshi]pps humble suppliants being earnestly besought by a poore distressed Lame man, one William Cowp[er] who was formerly a souldjer for King & parliam[en]t (For a Collection in our seuerall Churches) in that it hath pleased god for the space of almost 2 yeares to depriue him him of the benefitt of both his Limbs, and therevpon being Ready to p[er]ish in that hee hathe noe way of Subsistance, his freinds being poore [illegible] and not able to able to Releeue him,
Wee therefore considering the greate pressures w[hi]ch Lye vpon Congregations by multitudes of Collections, haue conceiued that it will prooue a very small Releefe to him in that his Lamenesse is such, that hee is not Like to Recouer and doe therefore in his behalfe make bould to beseech yo[u]r wor[shi]pps, that according to yo[u]r wonted fauour & pitie you would be pleased to appoint this poore distressed man some way of Releefe: who sitts weepeing ouer his sadd condition with [illegible] a naked back and often an emptie bely belly) either out of the parish where hee was borne, or otherways as in yo[u]r wisdomes shall seeme the meetest: the Law wee humbly conceiue hath already made provisions for p[er]sons in this condition
And yo[u]r wor[shi]pps sayd humble supl[ican]t shall for his, as for yo[u]r acts of piety & pittie, be euer bound to pray &c
Tho[mas] Crompton: moderator
Rich[ard] Mollineux Scribe
<Ch[urchwardens] & ou[er]seers of Prescott p[ar]ishe to p[ro]uide for him.>