The first petition of Captain William Croome, Richard Thornhill’s Regiment, May 1660
To the R[igh]t hono[ura]ble S[i]r Edward Nicholas Cheife Secretary to his sacred Ma[jes]tie
The humble Petic[i]on of William Croome
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath faithfully served his late Ma[jes]tie of happy & blessed memory from the begining of the Warrs untill his death as Capt[ain] of a Troope of Horse in Col[one]l Richard Thornehills Regim[en]t of Horse, and as Quarter Ma[ste]r Generall of the Earle of Cleavelands Brigade of Horse, As by his Commissions appears, And went from Holland with his now sacred Ma[jes]tie into Scotland, when at the Charge of Musselbrough under the com[m]and of Col[one]l Robert Mountgoemery, your pe[titione]r was desperately wounded and quite disvigered by Cutts in his Face, and had many in his body, and then taken prisoner, And was with his Ma[jes]tie at Worcester fight, Since which hee hath not beene able to beare Armes, but contracted soe much sicknesse, that hee continued soe for neare five yeares, & hath beene reduced into very great poverty and want by these unhappy times, yet remayned constant and faithfull to his Ma[jes]ties Interest.
Your Pet[itione]r therefore most humbly prayes yo[u]r hono[u]r That you will be gratiously pleased to grant him a Messengers place to the Councill, or any other as to your hono[u]r shall seeme meete.
And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r as bound shall pray &c.