The certificate for Joseph Smith of Marlborough, Wiltshire, 23 January 1650
Gentlemen
The bearer hereof Captayne Joseph Smith hath beene often dangerously wounded in the Parliam[en]t seruice; And at the first siege of Readinge was shott through the thigh with Case shotte: And with those wounds and oth[e]rs hath layne seuerall times und[e]r the Chirurgions hands: at this Fathers house, the Bath & other places to his extraordynary Cost and charges: And hath sustayned greate losse by the Enemy, his Father beinge so often plundered and robbed not able to relieue the said Capt[ain] Smith as I am informed And for as much as he beinge this Countreyman borne and Inhabited in the Country but a litle before the Warres: And for his sayde remarkable Seruice doen in many places for the State: wee are Ingaged effectually to recommend his sad Condityon into yo[u]r serious Consideration he beinge not able to make any prouision for his Liuelyhoode for wante of the use of his limbs: that you will be pleased to setle him a Penc[i]on out of the Stocke of the County for his subsistence as you haue farther directions in an ordinance of this pr[e]sent Parliam[en]t on the 28th of May 1646 for the reliefe of maymed Sould[ie]rs And in so doeinge you will oblige yo[u]r assured Freinds
dated at Westminst[e]r
the 23th of Jan[uary] 1649
W[illia]m Lenthall Sp[eaker]
Pemb[roke] & Montgomery
Edm[und] Haruy
J Da[n]uers
Alexander Popham
M[ichael] Oldisworth
Joh[n] Dove
John Ashe
Edm[und] Ludlowe
Phi[lip] Smythe
Edw[ard] Popham
[illegible]