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The humble petition of the poor prisoners of Lancaster Castle whose names are hereunder subscribed. Humbly showeth that Mr Randolph hunter the gaoler of this Castle of Lancaster has given order formerly to his under-keeper to stop and to hinder any strong drink from coming to us... and always to break our bottles which his keeper did on his command and doth still pursue the same notwithstanding our endeavours to the contrary though formerly (and has the same now to produce) we had an order from the Sessions of Preston to the contrary, now the reason we object against your gaoler (and not out of any objection to him, are there) first to object against him that we must have no drink but which comes from his house, where they must be ready money had and no credit this we object that we can have more drink out of the town for two pence than from Mr Hunter's tapsters for three pence farthing and far stronger besides credit till we can conveniently pay; and if we have any credit for our drinks in the [house of] correction the Saturday next following our steward is tapped up for it so that we are ready to starve with hunger all the week after. Secondly where we have not sometimes [had] our strong drink, we cannot get our small beer nor other measures they often do us out of kindness, as giving us broth buying roasting or boiling out meat merely out of pity as also sometimes fetching us coals... besides other advantages which is too long to set down: these things premised we humbly beg that we having no more but one poor sixpence this week's allowance to maintain us with considering our necessitous condition that you would grant us an order (if your worships think it so fit) that we may have our meat and drink at the best hand out of town or elsewhere, and that the under gaoler may give his due attendance at convenient times... and that your poor petitioners may not be contained within their chamber longer than what your worships may think convenient... and we shall ever pray as in duty bound for all your healths and happinesses.