The first petition of Henry Manaton, Cornwall, c. 1646 to 1648
Nob[le] S[ir],
This is the Request of me Henry Manaton Lieut[enant] Collonell in his Ma[jes]ties service, and formerly a Lieuten[an]t in The states service heere, and understandinge of the difference in England came for Cornewall where I was borne to doe his Ma[jes]tie my best service where I found my Lo[rd] Hopton under whose com[m]aund I was, and afterward under the com[m]aund of Prince Mourice, under whose com[m]aund I was shote att the Vise in my Groyne and afterward in my Legg in the takeinge in of Exon, w[hi]ch is the cause of my lamenes, after w[hi]ch tyme his Ma[jes]tie was graciously pleased for my service and sufferinges to give me 400 li. p[er] Ann[um] out of the delinquents estate in Cornewall as app[ear]eth by this annexed, but could nott receive the benifitt thereof, w[hi]ch made me Peticon his highness the Prince of Walls of the hard usage and dealinge of the Shereif, and Comissio[ner]s, on w[hi]ch he was pleased to write his l[ett]re to theim to give me the fruite and benefitt of his Ma[jes]ties pleasure signified, as likewise app[ear]eth by th[e] annexed, but there was nothinge don therein in that S[i]r Tho[mas] Ferefaux came into Cornewall not longe after, but before I, out of my seale [sic] to his Ma[jes]tie and the service, rid towards Devon[shire] where the Prince intended to have fought w[i]th Ferefaux, and in my iorney my horse slide, and fell on my hurtt Legg and fractured the place where my wound was, and three other fractures in the same Legg. after w[hi]ch I Peticoned the Prince to give me the Revercion of Carrabullocke p[ar]ke in Cornewall w[hi]ch was Sequestrated to me by the Comissio[n]ers in 10 li. p[er] Ann[um], out of w[hi]ch was payable to the Prince 6 li. 4 s. or thereabout, on which his highnes was pleased to give order to Mr Secretary Fanshow to write to you, and the Comissio[n]ers of his Revenewes to certifie the valew thereof yerely, w[hi]ch l[ett]re I sent you by my man att Trewrowe, but by reason of Ferefaux his comeinge in to Cornewall prevented all, and since the tyme of his Ma[jes]ties pleasure signified of the 400 li. p[er] Annu[m] I have receaved but 60 li., and returninge heere where I had bin a Lieuten[an]t about 20 yeres found my place disposed of. And his highnes and Prince Mourice beinge att Helford Sluce came there, where booth Princes spake to the Prince of Orrange of my longe service heere, and of my service and sufferings in his Ma[jes]ties service, and to take me in to his consideracon and to give me the first Company w[hi]ch should fall of the nacon. Now my request is that you wil be pleased out of your noblenes and goodnes to write an effectual l[ett]re to the Prince of Orrange to remember me for the first Company w[hi]ch shall happen of the nacon, w[hi]ch I will present when occasion shal be offered, and another l[ett]re to the Princes Royall, nott to forgett me to the Prince of Orrange, all w[hi]ch I refer to yo[u]r consideracon and what you shall doe heerein, its done to him whoe ever wil be,
Yo[u]r thankefulll servant
Hen[ry] Manaton.