Bundle 2, Doc 4. 30 cm x 19 cm. Very fragile, with tears along file folds, and middle of the top crumbled away so that little of the heading remains. Undated, but from the contents appears to be from the time of the Civil War, probably between 1644 when Sir Philip MUSGRAVE was made commander in chief of Cumberland and Westmorland, and the death of King Charles I in 1649.
A petition / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To the [ ] MUSGRAVE Barronett Comman[ ]s of Cumber: & westmrland / The [h]umble pett: of James GILTHIRST Humbly Complaing Sheweth th[a]t to heare as yor pett: having bene in Yorkshire to by two packe of [ ]: wch goods coming along to penreth was by the way by some [ ]o troupe seised upon at Thrimby: and soe brought along to penreth to the Bailiffes and is there kept yor pett: being in Yorkshire and not knowing of the same till this notice Coming to penreth: for yor pettr: was in his Coming downe after his goods was by the parliamt: forces at preston taken prisoner and deteyned and kept prisoner there: beside other grea[t] loses yor pett: having sustained by his goods being taken in Chester Water going to Chester to be sould, wch goods did amont to the Valewe of 200£ wch goods are yett deteyened by the parliamt: forces from yor pett: to his utter undoing he being a poore traid man: and dare not repare to his owne home in to Scotland: for feare he should be forced by the Kinges Enemies to take up Armes against his Matyr: yor pett: being noe way disaffected to his Matye nor his service but atrewe and Loyall Subiect as by the Testinome of his Matys Faithfull subiects may appear and haith bene allwayes for accompted in all his actions / Nowe the priuses Considered yor pett: in all Humblenes (: humbly) desireth that yor good worpp: woold be pleased in this his extreme want and his so manifest great losses: take into yor Curteous Consideration some pittie and releife upon yor pett:to Examine the Cause of his goods soe taken: so heare by the trewth of his Cause may appeare: and that he out of yor Clemencie and mercye may be releifed, and to have his packe restored to him againe that he may make the best Comioditye in this markett of penreth for Relefe and maintenaic [?], otherwise yor pett: is distitute of all releife for the present: he being a strainger and haith noe other meanes of releife but thos 2 packs; and yor pett: will as in dewty he is bound daly pray for yor good health and happines /