18 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 



That havinge Lost her Husband by your Highnesses Justice ; shee hopes shee 

 may find A subsistence for herselfe and children by your Highnesses Mercy. 



And therefore shee humbly Prostrates herselfe at your Highnesses feet, where 

 her necessity will presse her doune,to lye till your Highnesses Clemency Rayse 

 her by a Remission and forgivenesse of the forfeiture of that estate w ch ., must 

 in part maintain the Lyfe of your Petitioner and her 7 small (untymely made) 

 orphans. 



May your Highnesse therefore bee graciously pleased to shut your eye to her 

 Late Husbands offence and open your Eare to the sad Complaint of the widowe 

 and the fatherless. And like Heaven (whose Minister you are) soe Relieve that 

 (as no we the prayers) soe you may for ever acquire the thanks of your Petitioner 

 and her 7 children who shall perpetually Pray for and Acknowledge your 

 Highnesses Clemency. 



Aeundell Penetjddock." 

 Here come letters to others of influence : — 



Mrs. Penruddock's Letter to Colonel Fitzjames. 

 " Good cousen, 



The perusall of yours to my cosen Bowman makes me confesse soe great 

 an obligation that my weak pen cannot returne a suitable acknowledgement 

 much Lesse a requitall. You have hitherto acted as if you had known my misery 

 more than by hearsay, and I beseech you desist not nowe since the neereness of 

 relation will not let me hide my distresses from you. 



My husband's estate in Dorset was settled a good while before his unhappy 

 actinge for the payment of his many debts, which were contracted long since with- 

 out the Least Relation to his there undertaking, what his estate was I shall un- 

 willingly for my owne sake and son's discover, but it comes short of what the world 

 believes, but I would not, because of my relations (whatever in truth I am) bee 

 thought a poore widdowe least I should invite the contempt of the world, having 

 scorn enough allready, but really cousen, the death of my poore husband hath 

 rendered me and mine soe miserable that there need not an addition of severity 

 to take that little which we now petition for, and which in Lawe my husband 

 before his conviction might have disposed off, had it not been by force detained 

 from us, and for the begging whereof I have spent almost £200. But I shall 

 not undertake to justifie our right. If I can by your sollicitation obtain the 

 charity of his Highnesse and the counsell In which I hope Coll Sydenham will 

 assist you will for ever engage mee what I must allready confesse. 



Your oblige Kinswoman 

 Dec r . 23 1656. to serve you 



Aktjndell Penruddock. 



Direct your letter to mee 

 to my cosen Bowman at 

 Salisbury." 



Mrs. Penruddock's Letter to My Lord Richard Cromwell. 

 " My L d , 



Could I have put on any other dresse, but griefe, or had any other 

 attendants but misfortunes I should have waighted on you myselfe, and have 

 been the messenger of that gratitude w ch . nowe I send for your charitable en- 

 deavours in the behalf of my Poore children, But, my L d . the calamityes of a 



