The petition of Christopher Lyon of Thirsk, North Riding of Yorkshire, 6 October 1691
<North ridd[ing] Com Ebor>
To the R[igh]t wor[shi]pfull their Ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace at ye generall quarter sessions held at Thirsk in ye rideing afores[ai]d ye 6 Oct[ober]: [16]91
The humble Petic[i]on of Christopher Lyon of Thirske afores[ai]d – Humbly sheweth
That your poor Petic[i]oner was a soldjer in ye reigne of K[ing] Charles ye 1st of blessed memory under ye Com[m]and of Sir Edward Brett in ye said service received severall wounds which are apparent upon him by reason whereof he is now very impotent & feeble, it hath pleased Almighty God likewise to strike your poor petic[i]oner with blindness as may be witnessed by ye neighbourhood of Thirske afores[ai]d for this seaven yeares by past at ye least soe yt he is deprived altogether from his hard labour being a Carpenter by Trade & now growne [e]xtreamely indigent, yo[u]r poor Petic[i]oner therefore humbly craves yt your wor[shi]pps would be gratiously pleased to grant him what gratuity yow in your prudent judgem[en]ts may think necessary & he (as in great thankfullness obliged) will daily pray for your wor[shi]pps &c.
5 s. as a grat[uity]