The petition of John Head of Easton, Wiltshire, 11 April 1648
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Justic[e]s at the gen[er]all Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden at the Devizes Aprill xith 1648
The humble petic[i]on of John Head of Easton in this Countie late souldier in ye Parliam[en]t Army.
Humbly sheweth, That whereas yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath ben ymployed in the warres vnder the late Right hono[ura]ble the Earle of Essex, wherein yo[u]r pet[itione]r did faithfull service to the State, & did vndergo many dangers in Cornewall & elsewhere: And hath ben many tymes plundred & ymprisoned by the kings forces: And yo[u]r pet[itione]r being old, is growne weake & feeble: And (w[hi]ch addeth to his miseryes) his wife & children have ben sick ever since Michaelmas last, & are not yet recou[er]ed, And w[i]thout some releife they are like to p[er]ish.
Yo[u]r pet[itione]r humbly prayeth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps that some moneyes may be allowed him, to releive him & his family in this theire necessity. And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall ever pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps health & happynesse.
to repaire to the two next Justices of the Peace who are desired to proceed accordinge to the ordinance of Parlyament
p[er] Cur[ia] Will[ia]m Coles cl[er]icus pac[i]s
Fran[cis] Peckstone Cu[rate]
Jaems Mist
Tho[mas] Crab his marke [symbol: mark]
Augustin Ball
Francis Smith
John Clarke
William Mist