The petition of Henry Dickson of Brinkworth, Wiltshire, undated
To the thrise noble William L[or]d Marquess of Hartford
The humble Petition of Henry Dickson of Brinckworth in the County of Wilts[hire]
In all humility sheweth
That having beene a Souldier at the Siege of Breda vnder the command of the Right hono[ura]ble Earle of Southampton. At the siege of the Ile of Ree vnder the L[or]d Danvers late Earle of Danby; then Governor of the Ile of Gernesey. And last in his (of ever blessed memory) late Ma[jes]t[y’]s service in his distracted now most fortunate kingdome, and therein and at Malmesbury taken prisoner, stript, plundred, lamed, maimed, his house burnt to the ground &c by the Parliam[en]t party. And since affliction adding to misery death bereaving him of his deare wife, by whome he formerly had some livelihood, but now in his old age approaching neare Seventy yeares, is left destitude.
Your Petition[e]r most humbly beseecheth yo[u]r hon[ou]rs favourable aspect whose admired vertues resplend throughout this kingdome, to shine on him who hath long beene in darknesse through peniury & want; who vnderstanding yo[u]r hono[u]r to be the greatest disposer of Suttons Hospitall (be it craved w[i]th all your h[onou]rs p[ro]ceeding pardon) be gratiously pleased {illegible}