The first petition of William Starre of Westbury, Wiltshire, Easter 1661
To the right wor[shipfu]ll his Maiesties Justices of the peace sitting at the Quarter sessions houlden for the County of Wilts[hire] at ye Devises
The humble petic[i]on of William Starre of Westbury aforesay in the County aforesayd husbandman w[i]th the true Certificate of the Inh[ab]itants whose names are here subscribed.
Humbly sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner being alwayes affected towards the p[ar]te of o[u]r late sou[er]aigne king Charles deceased was for his opinion taken vp by one Captaine Bennet, and conveyed to prison where yo[u]r petic[i]oner by the appoyntment of Captayne Bennet was put in the Bridewell and there tyed vnto a poste, and grievously whipped
Now yo[u]r petic[i]oners humble desires is that yo[u]r worships will be pleased to commiserate his poore estate soe farre as to allow him som resonable pention towards his liuelihood according to the law in that case p[ro]vided whereby hee may haue somthing to subsist in his olde age. Soe shall yo[u]r petic[i]oner euer pray for yo[u]r worships &c
Felipe Whethers maior
John Gibbes
William Clefe
Thomas Hancocke
Henry Bolton
William loue
John Amiat
Nicholas [?Anills]