The petition of Edward Pett of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, 1657
To the right wor[ship[fu]ll, and other the Justices of the Peace for the County of Hertf[ord] in Sessions assembled.
The humble petic[i]on of Edward Pett one of the poore Inhabitants of the p[ar]ish of Little Haddonn in this County.
Humbly Sheweth.
That yo[u]r said Petic[i]oner hath for divers yeares past beene a Souldier in the Army under the Com[m]and of the Lord Gen[eral] Essix & the right Hon[oura]ble the Earle of Manchester, in Capt[ain]: Newman Humpherys Company, dureinge w[hi]ch time hee behaved himeselfe valiantly, & as becomes a Souldier as by his Certificate appeareth.
That yo[u]r said Petic[i]oner by reason of much Cold & other hardshipp by hime indured in the said service is much disabled w[i]th a lameness in his Joynts & a Sore on his legg w[hi]ch is uncureable, And haveinge a wife & 4 small Children w[hi]ch are in great poverty & want, yo[u]r Petic[i]oner through lameness is not able to doe any thinge toward his owne & their Maintenance.
Wherefore hee desireth yo[u]r good wo[rshi]pps to cast an eye of Pitty & Compassion upon hime in this his misery & want, grauntinge hime some releife for the pr[e]sent & a quarterly pe[n]c[i]on for the future, toward the Maintenance of himselfe, his wife & poore Children
And yo[u]r Peticoner shall be ever bound to pray &c.