The certificate for Nicholas Jones of Hindon, Wiltshire, 11 March 1662
These are to signify with requisite respect to all persons to whom this certificate shall come: That Nicholas Jones of Henden in the County of Wilts[hire] was a trooper in my owne troope into which he came immediatly before the taking of Bristoll his former Capt[ain] the Lord Arundell of Warder being then wounded and lying for his care at Oxford after which time he remayned with me in in the sayd troope, untill the end of the first warr during which time hee behaued himselfe obeydiently and ualiantly hauing signalised his courage in many conflicts but most eminently at Auburne fight which hapned 6 weekes after the Battle of Naseby at which time wee were ingaged against a number of Horse and Dragoone which more then quadrupled our number they being a great party sent from the Lord Fayrfax his army he then after fower of my troopers had been successiuely slayne outright or mortally wounded in attempting to open a gate defended by many dragoons, which gate stopp’d us, that we could not enter the feild, in which the aduerse forces had rallyed a very considerable body of horse (the grand party considered) he the sayd Nicholas Jones did offer him selfe to open the sayd Gate with admirable fortitude and contempt of death and did effect it notwithstanding that he receiued two musket shot in one thigh, which he iudged to bee mortall yet he held up the gate untill wee were in the feild and then Joyning with us he charged three times with us fighting resolutely till the enimy were routed a then he fell and hardly got to a gentlemans house where he long remayn’d in danger of death after which, although he was maymed by the sayd wounds he came back to his colours and so remayned as aboue sayd. thes things I haue asserted now and thinck my selfe y under an obligation not onely to affirme them at all times but also to endeauour to ioyne in any course according to my ability to support him, who hath testifyed by his actions not onely a singular courage but also constant Loyalty to his Late Maiesty of Glorious and blessed memory.
Draycot March 11th 1661
James Long
40 s. Granted to this man [illegible] to be p[ai]d q[uar]terly ye fi[r]ste payment att Michelmas and this granted to him ye 25th of Aprill at ye Sessions att ye Devizes witnesse Henry Coker out of ye south