The petition of Abraham Chandler, John Webb and Andrew Hall, Essex, c. 1670 to 1680
<Essex S[ession]s t.>
To the right honno[ra]ble and right Wor[shi]p[fu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace att the Gen[er]all Quarter Sessions holden att Chelmsford for the s[ai]d County
The humble Petic[i]on of Abraham Chandler John Webb and Andrew Hall
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs out of their Loyalty to his Sacred Ma[jes]tie Charles the First of blessed Memory did voluntarily inlist themselues as souldiers for the service of his s[ai]d Ma[jes]tie in the late expedition att Colchester, and did there continue vntil the surrender of the Towne to the Enymy, faithfully discharginge the trust reposed on them And for as much as yo[u]r pet[ition]rs have heretofore obtayned an Order from this honno[ra]ble Court whereby they rec[eive]d 40 s. p[er] man in Liew and recompence of their s[ai]d service. But so it is that yo[u]r pet[itione]rs are very poore and vncapable to gett any Livelyhood for the Maintenance of their families,
Wherefore they humbly pray that this honno[ra]ble Co[u]rt in considerac[i]on of the pr[e]misses will Order and allott your poore pet[itione]rs some further Competent Gratuity as you in yo[u]r Grave Wisdomes shall thinke meete
And as in duty bound yo[u]r pet[itione]rs shall pray &c