The petition of George Babb of Sampford Courtenay, Devon, 1691
To the right wor[shi]p[fu]ll their Ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace for the cou[nty] of Devon
The humble petition of Geo[rge] Babb of Sampford Courtenay in the county afors[ai]d husb[andman]
<Sheweth>
That y[ou]r poor petition[e]r served his late Ma[jes]tie King Charles the first of ever blessed memory in the then vnhappy warrs & therein made manifest proofe of his loyalty by continuing stedfast in his said Ma[jes]ties service & neuer deserting the same but readily vnderwent all the hards[hi]pps imprisonm[en]ts hurts bruses &c. yt the cruelty of his Ma[jes]ties & the Kingdomes enemies could inflict by meanes whereof & y[ou]r petition[e]rs old age in w[hi]ch y[ou]r petition[e]rs former hurts & sufferings are now more painfull than formerly
May it therefore please y[ou]r wor[shi]pps the pr[e]misses considered of y[ou]r wonted clemency & for ye better encouragem[en]t of others in their loyalty to afford y[ou]r petition[e]r an yearly penc[i]on in the roome of one of the same p[ar]ish late dec[ease]d y[ou]r pet[itione]r being a very aged poor man & can liue but a short time & y[ou]r pet[itione]r as in duty bound shall eu[er] pray &c
Wee beleiue this petition to bee true
Hen[ry] Northleigh
Jo[hn] Battishill
[Overleaf:]
Babbs pet[ition] 30 s. p[er] ann[um]