May 24, 1649. A true Representation of the present sad and lamentable condition of the County of Lancaster, and particularly of the Towns of Wigan, Ashton, and the parts adjacent.  
THE hand of God is evidently seen stretched out upon the County, chastening it with a three-corded scourge of Sword, Pestilence, and famine, all at once afflicting it: They have borne the heat and burden of a first and second War, in an especial manner above other parts of the Nation: through them the two great bodies of the late Scottish and English Armies passed, and in their very bowels was that great fighting, bloodshed and breaking. In this County hath the plague of Pestilence been ranging these three years and upward, occasioned manifestly by the Wars. There is a very great scarcity and dearth of all provisions, especially of all sorts of grain; particularly that kind by which that country is most sustained, which is full six-fold the price that of late it hath been. All trade (by which they have been much supported) is utterly decayed: it would melt any good heart to see the numerous swarms of begging poor, and the many families that pine away at home, not having faces to beg: Very many now craving alms at other men's doors, who were used to give others alms at their doors: To see paleness, nay death appear in the cheeks of the poor; and often to hear of some found dead in their houses or highways for want of bread. But particularly the towns of Wigan and Ashton, with the neighbouring parts, lying at present under the sore stroke of God in the Pestilence: In one whereof are full two thousand poor, who for three months and upward have been restrained, no relief to be had for them in the ordinary course of Law, there being none at present to act as Justices of the peace: The Collections in our Congregations (there only supply hitherto) being generally very slack and slender, those wanting ability to help who have hearts to pity them: Most men's Estates, being much drained by the Wars, and now almost quite exhaust by the present scarcity, and many other burdens incumbent upon them: There is no bonds to keep in the infected hunger-starved poor, whose breaking out jeapoardeth all the neighbourhood. Some of them already, being at the point to perish through famine, have fetched in and eaten carrion and other unwholesome food to the destroying of themselves, & increasing of the infection: And the more to provoke pity and mercy it may be considered, that this fatal Contagion had its rise evidently from the wounded soldiers of our Army left there for cure.  
All which is certified to some of the Reverend Ministers of the City of London, by the Major, Minister, and other persons of credit inhabitants in, or wellwishers to, and well acquainted with the Town of Wigan, together with four godly and faithful Ministers of Lanchashire, by providence in this city at this present.  
Now if God shall stir up the hearts of any or more Congregations in and about the City of London (the premises considered) to yield their charitable contribution to the necessities of these afflicted & distressed parts and places, it will be carefully sought after, and thankfully received by Mr. James Wainewright, Mr. Thomas Markelande, Mr. James Winstanley, and Mr. John Leaver or some of them, and faithfully disposed according to Christian discretion by Major General Ashton, William Ashurst, Peter Brookes, Esquires, Mr. jolly Major of Wigan, together with Mr. Richard Heyricke, Mr. Charles Herle, Mr. Alexander Horrockes, and Mr. James Hyet Ministers of the Gospel, or some of them.  


of the Town of Wigan. 

Ambrose jolly Major  
James Bradshaw Minister  
John Standish Bailiff  
Ralph Markland Bailiff    
Ministers of Lancast●●…. 

James Hyet  
Richard Hollingworth  
Isaac Ambrose  
John Tilsley