You are the hand of the Commonweal whereunto god hath put his sword of justice Ministers are the mouth of your Church, where we see abuses in either, we may only reprove and complain your have power to correct. A mutual help may work a better reformation for my own part the experience of your love, and confidence of your uprightness, do sufficiently encourage me to inform your worships of... things amiss. I am persuaded that this is the most thiefish corner of the shire; and this parish of Tatham has been of a long time (by report) the very receptacle of rogues: yet I think that they never swarmed in greater abundance here than of late. The reason whereof may be conceived to be the excessive number of blind alehouses, there being 7 or 8 within this poor parish (being but a part of a Township) and those seated in such by-places where Rogues may have their residences securely. And as though these places were not sufficient for the harbouring of that Crew, we have others vehemently suspected to be receptors of such but especially one Francis Bland, one of a long time suspected to be be an arrant thief, is not long since detected and arraigned for stealing sheep and other things (as some of our parishioners can more fully inform you) and yet I hear this fellow intends to petition the Bench for maintenance from our parish notwithstanding that he hath the fruits and profits of the acres of ground now in his own occupation... Let me entreat your worships to take these things into your serious consideration; and then I assure myself that your stand do god and your King good service in suppressing the most part of these alehouses (there are too many) and rooting out these nurseries of idleness and theft, and thereby oblige many good people to pray for your health and happiness but especially your devoted servant, Gilbert Nelson.
Petitions
LRO
QSB 1/136/27
Petition
Lancaster, Lancashire, England
1634 (Midsummer)
Petition
Complaint
6 July 1634
Relates To
Lodging
Keeping a disorderly house
Setting
Alehouse
Transcription
Petitionee
Francis Bland
male
Alcohol Retailer: Alehouse-keeper
Tatham, Lancashire, England
Petitioner
Gilbert Nelson
male
Tatham, Lancashire, England
Signature