Petition to Cecily Neville, c.1465
Catalogue reference: SC 8/337/15918

Most pitously and with incessaunt lamentacion compleyneth unto your most gracious ladyship your conynual and pover bedewoman Johanne Conwaye
for as mochhe as she bene long in the myserous prisone of ludgate at the sute of the right noble lorde of Bergeveny to her confucion and mortal
distruccion for ever with out your most mercyable grace be benignly to her enlarged in that behalf. Wherfor pleasith hit yor most excellent gracious ladyship
the premysses tenderly to consider and for the releeff of your seid besecher to sende of your most habundaunt grace to the seid lorde of Bergeveny and to wille
and desire hym to release and with draw all such sutes as he hath willed to be done a yens your seid besecher as conscience and law of god requireth. And
your seid bede woman shal incessauntly pray to god of his influente grace for to preserve your most benigne and gracious estate and to send your most Rial
estate many prosperous dayes

Modern English

To the most gracious and excellent
Princess the Duchess of York

Most piteously and with incessant lamentation complaining unto your most gracious ladyship, your continual and poor bedwoman Joan Conway. For as much as she has been long in the miserable prison of Ludgate at the suit of the right noble lord of Abergavenny to her confusion and mortal destruction for ever unless your most merciful grace is benignly to her enlarged in that behalf. Wherefore, may it please your most excellent gracious ladyship to premises tenderly to consider, and for the relief of your said beseecher, to send of your most abundant grace to the said lord of Abergavenny and to will and desire him to release and withdraw all such suits as he has willed to be done against your said beseecher as conscience and law of God requires. And your said bedwoman shall incessantly pray to God of his influential grace for to preserve your most benign and gracious estate and to send your most royal estate many prosperous days.