The petition of George Clarke of Bocking, Essex, 1653
To the Hon[oura]ble the Judge and Justices in this Present Sessions assembled.
The humble petition of George Clarke of Bocking in this county of Essex Fuller.
Most humbly Sheweth:
That your pe[titione]r having been for a long time out upon the service of the State and now of late in the expedic[i]on for the affaires of Scotland in the Fight at Dumfarlee and other places vnder the Com[m]and of Leiuten[an]t Colonel George Rigley in the Regim[en]t of Colonel Edward Taylor And being through sicknes and weaknes forced to leave the said service was by the said Colonel discharged of the same having a wife lying sick of his hands and three Children to maintayne who through his inability of body by reason of lamenes and distempers the decay of trade and want of worke which your pet[itione]r if he had ability to performe cannot have of his calling
Is necessitated humbly to desire this Hon[oura]ble Bench to be pleased to Comisserate the sad Condition of your pore pet[itione]r and his distressed family and to afford vnto him the wonted and accustomed Clemencie and benevolence that this hon[oura]ble Bench hath formerly done to others in a Caise of such imergent necessity that your Pet[itione]r and his may be kept from a famishing Condition.
And your Pet[itione]r shall for ever stand bound to pray &c.
The facts of this petitioners declaration I conceive to bee true. John Gaude R[ector] of Bocking
W[i]ll[iam] Skinner
Henry Ardley
Hercules [?Arthur]
Henry {?Cawood}
{Illegible}
40 s. paid.