The petition of Andrew Smyth of Mere, Wiltshire, 11 July 1650
To the Right wor[shi]pp[full] the Justices assembled at the Sessions holden at Warminster the xith of July 1650
Humbly
Sheweth that I Andrew Smyth of Meere haue alwaies benn fourth in Armes vnder the Command of the States of this kingdome, vntell about a yeare since, at which tyme I was bound for the Service of Ireland, Then it pleased God to Inflect a Grevious desease on me, which Compelled me to forsake my Company and repaire to my freinds hopeinge there to finde some Releife: But they beinge not of Abillytie able to Releiue me in this my Greate Necessity, I was forced to Compl[ain]t to Cor[one]ll Ludlow and hee gaue ord[e]r that I should rec[eive] two shillings p[er] weeke of ye Parishio[ne]rs vntell the Sessions, and then To make my case knowne there, Now my humble desire is that yow would be pleased to take into yo[u]r Serious Considerac[i]ons my sad Condic[i]on, & ord[e]r that I may be Allowed some Reasonable Maintenance, which waies your wor[shi]pps shall thinke it fitt, vntell such tyme as I shall recou[er] my health againe, & I shal be eu[er] bound to pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps Welfare in this Liffe, Eu[er]lastinge happines for the future.
the p[ar]ish to give him reasonable releife 3 s. 6 d. p[er] weeke vntill such tyme hee is able to releive himselfe