The order for the maimed soldiers, war widows and orphans of Wiltshire, 24 February 1652
<Gent[lemen]>
Whereas it is provided by severall Acts & ordinancis of Parliam[en]t That ye widdowes and orphants of those whose husbands and Fathers haue died & such sould[ie]rs as haue been maimed in ye service of the Parliam[en]t should be alowed a Competent penc[i]on in the respective Counties where such sould[ie]rs inhabited or tooke vp Armes yet notwithstanding there haue of late been many & freque[n]t Complaints made by such maimed sould[ie]rs and widdowes, that albeit they haue repaired to ye Justices of peace of the respectiue Counties where they ought to be p[ro]vided for, yet ye Justices haue refused to alow vnto them any penc[i]on or maintenance according to ye said Acts & ordinances, soe that those poore sould[ie]rs widdowes & orphants are exposed to greate extreamity (if not p[er]ishing) and divers of them have returned back to London to seeke for reamidy & releife. Wherefore I make it my earest request to you, as I haue done to ye Justices of peace of other Counties, that in case you have not already made an assesm[en]t and rate vpon yo[u]r Countie for ye raising a Competent Stock for ye releife of maimed sould[ie]rs orphants and widdows according to ye said Act & ordinance, that you cause ye same to be forthwith done and put in execution, yt soe those poore sould[ie]rs widdows and orphants may not through ye neglect thereof be expsed to missery & ruine, contrary to the intenc[i]ons of ye Parliam[en]t, and w[hi]ch if suffered would very much reflect vpon ye Hono[u]r of Nation [sic.]. And I desire an account may be returned every halfe yeare to ye Com[m]ittee of ye Parliament for maimed sould[ie]rs of yo[u]r p[ro]cedings herein, And to ye end ye said account may w[i]th more Certainty Come to ye Com[m]itties hand, I desire you will direct it to be left at ye Thre[asure]rs at Ely Howse in Holborne, thus hopeing yt you will be willing to further soe good and Charitable a worke as this is I Remaine
<Yo[u]r very loveing Friend>
<O[liver] Cromwell>
<Cockpitt February the 24th 1651.>