The certificate for Walter Bowman of Brixton, Devon, 18 April 1685
<Devonsh[ire]>
To the right worship[fu]ll his ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid
These
Wee the p[ar]ish[i]oners of the p[ar]ish of Brixton in the County aforesaid whose names are hereunderwritten, doe humbly certifie unto yo[u]r good worships that Walter Bowman of our said p[ar]ish husbandman was a souldier in the service of King Charles the first (of blessed memory) in the late unhappy warrs for the space of three yeares or upwards under the Command of Collonell Champernowne, And in the service of his said ma[jes]tie did lose one of his hands by a shott from the Enemy which hath very much impoverished him, and now being aged & very poore and having a wife & family to maintaine he must perish for want unless yo[u]r worsh[i]ps afford him some reliefe sutable to his necessities, the which wee leave to your serious consideration, Witnes our hands the 18th day of Aprill Anno d[o]m[ini] 1685.
Wee believe the truth of this Certificate
Dennis Venn Edward Fortescue
Vic[ar] de Holbeton Thomas Maynard
Walter Stert
Tho[mas] Serjeant
Cur[ate] de Brixton.
Edward Reade
Nicho[las] Winston
R[ichar]d Hillersdon John Avent
Edward Shepheard
John Stevens
Edw[ard] Yarde Henry Winston
Will[iam] Stawell Thomas Winston
Thomas Stert
Lawrence Worth
Tho[mas] Avent
Walter Worth
[Overleaf:]
Bowmans petic[i]on