The first petition of William Ellicott of Tavistock, Devon, 1683
To the Right Worsh[i]p[fu]ll S[i]r Nicholis Slaning and other of his Maiesties Justices of ye peace for this Countye of Deuon. The Humble Petition of William Ellicott of Tauistocke of the said County
<Humbly Sheweth>
That whearas yo[u]r poore Petitio[ne]r hath Euer bine A Faithfull Subiect, and Souldier, from the Beginning of our Late vnhappy Warrs, to the End thearof, for his Late Maiestye of Euer Blessed memory; vnder the Command of Maior Jacobb, and hath bine Euer Ready, and Willing, on any Attemt Against his Enimies, and hath bine in many Bloody fights & twice dangerously wounded, before Dartmouth, & Against Plymouth, by reason of which and his seruice hath spent most of his Small Tallent. Now yo[u]r Poore Petitio[ne]r Maior Jacobb was very ready to gett him A Pention, but hauing A Small Estate was very Loath to be Chargeble to any, but Now Since the liues on his Estate are deceased, and his Estate gon from him, and now being Aged and his worke failes him, by reason partly of the paine of his ould wounds Receiued in the Warrs, yo[u]r Poore Petitioner is now Inforced to Implore yo[u]r Worsh[i]ps favorble Assistance without which his Latter Age wil be A miserable Greife to him
And yo[u]r poore Petitio[ne]r shall Euer Pray for yo[u]r Worsh[i]ps Length of dayes heere & Prosperous and Eternall Happines in the Life to Come
Wee doe beleiue the truth of this petic[i]on
Jasper Canne vicar Nicho[las] Hunt Mayor
Matthew Cudlipp Peter Contee
Curchwardens Henry Vosper
John Pennyington William Caunter
John Jacob W[illia]m Spry
John Bourne
John Wyatt
Edward Ward
George Dipford
[Overleaf:]
30 s. p[er] ann[um]