The petition of Edmund Roberts, Cheshire, Trinity 1658
To the Right worshippfull the Justices of the peace att this present Sessions
The humble petic[i]on of Edmund Roberts a poore Maymed souldier
Humebly sheweth that yo[u]r pet[itione]r is a poore weake impotent man, and made altogether vnfitt for labo[u]r or paines taking by reason of his many wounds received in the late warres in the service of the Commonwealth. That yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath foure small infants and his wife lately dead and hath noe estate att all to maynteyne them nor any subsistence neyther from for them nor himselfe but w[ha]t hee is enforced [illegible] beyond his strength and to the hazard of his life to Labour for w[hi]ch yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath endeavoured soe long to doe that hee is in noe wise able longer to Continue itt, but himselfe and his foure small helplesse infants are vnavoidably likely to sterve and perish.
Hee therefore humbly implores yo[u]r worships wil bee pleased to admitt him a penc[i]oner in this Countye and to order him some yearely penc[i]on as shall seeme meete to yo[u]r grave wisdomes according to his necessitious & distressed Condic[i]on And as in duty bound hee will eu[er] pray &c
<40 s. a yeare>