The first petition of Henry Lester, City and County of Bristol, June 1660
To the Kings most Excellent Maiestie
The humble petition of Henry Lester gent[leman]
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r peticon[e]r hath for the space of sixteene yeares last past faithfully serued yo[u]r Maiestie, and yo[u]r late Royall Father in yo[u]r late Warrs between yo[u]r loyall and disobedient subjects, by reason whereof yo[u]r peticon[e]r hath beene very often wounded imprisoned, tryed for his life, and at last forced to fly into parts beyond the seas, for pr[e]servation of his life, hee being neuer accused for any Crime, saue onely his fidelity to yo[u]r Maiestie
That by the meanes afforesaid yo[u]r peticon[e]r was plundered of all his personall estate, w[hi]ch was worth six thousand pounds and alsoe inforced to sell his inheritance worth two hundred pounds p[er] ann[um], And hath now noe estate left to maintayne himselfe his wife and children whose wife was daughter to Col[onel] Gainsford Colonell vnder the Lord Gerrard her hands burnt to confess where her husband was
That the place of Customer Inward of the Port of Bristoll is become voyd by the death of John Trupp gentl[eman] deceased and is now in yo[u]r Maiesties gift
Your peticon[e]r humbly beseecheth yo[u]r Maiestie to bestow and conferr vpon yo[u]r peticon[e]r the said place or office of Customer Inward of the said port of Bristoll, for the better supportac[i]on and maintaynance of yo[u]r peticon[e]r his wife & children. And yo[u]r peticon[e]r shall ever pray for yo[u]r most sacred Maiesties most happie & prosperous raigne long over vs to Continue