The petition of Henry Nicholls of Totnes, Devon, 1663
To the right wo[rshipfu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of Peace for the County of Devon At the generall quarter Sessions there now Assembled,
The humble petic[i]on of Henry Nicholls of Totnes in the same County Labourer
Sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r pet[itione]r in his true Loyaltie to his King and Country, did (in the beginning of the late vnhappy warr) serve his late Ma[jes]tie of blessed memory, as a souldier vnder the Commaund of the Lord Hopton, in the Fight at Stratton, the fight of Topsham, seiges of Exon and Plymouth &c. and by fyring of a Musquett in the said service, he lost one of his sights, and by reason thereof the other eye is much weakned & in daunger, as by seu[e]rall Certificats vnder the hands of hono[u]r[a]ble and Loyall p[er]sons, ready to be shewen, doth appeare, That by reason of the pr[e]misses, hee is very much disabled for the getting of his and his families subsistance, haueing a wife and 4 small Children who are all in much want, and like to be vtterly subverted, if not tymely pr[e]uented,
Hee therefore humbly prayeth, that in tender regard of the pr[e]misses yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps would be pleased to Order him his Ma[jes]ties releife as a penc[i]oner, (being a Mayhaymed Souldyer) to be paid him yearely out of the Treasury ordayned to that end, for the subsistance of yo[u]r pet[itione]r & his poore Family,
And (as in duty bound) hee shall pray &c.