The petition of Henry Osment of Honiton, Devon,13 July 1686
To the Right Worshipfull His Majesties Justices of the Peace Etc. now Sitting in the Castle of Exon in the General Sessions of the peace holden for the Countey of Devon
The Humble Petition of Henry Osment of the Town of Honiton in the said Countey Labourer
Humbly Shewing
That whereas your poor Petitioner being a very Poor man, having spent a great part of the best of his time in His Majesties Service of blessed memory King Charles the First, against Lime, Plymouth, Exon, Farham Castle, Taunton; &c. And now in his old age, by reason he was Lawfully called to speak the truth, Concerning a Convinticle discovered about a year & half since, Your poor petitioner is denyed Imployment; and Jeered as he passes the Street, & cannot Live quiet for his Neighbours. And one Elizabeth Colwill told him since this Late Rebellion began she did hope to see him hanged within this month. And by reason of the want of work & age (being threescore & ten years of age) your poor petitioner is not able to subsist. And therefore hath thought good to make bold to make this his most humble Petition to your good worships.
Your poor petitioners humble Petition to your Worships therefore is, That upon your worships Juditious & Charitable Consideration of the premises, your worships would of your Clemency be pleased to order some way whereby he may have a necessary Subsistance in his decayed old age. And your poor petitioner (according to his bounden duty) shall ever heartily Pray for your good worships preservation in & prosperity &c.
Likewise yo[u]r poore petitioner did Attend one his Maj[es]ties Armey in the best manner hee Could & would liue & dy one his Seruice if need shall require. And did follow the armey on his own Cost & Charge. For to pr[e]serue his life from these notorious Rebells in this Late warrs: For 5 weeks time which makes him much in want and for this his fidelitie the s[ai]d parsons for ye gratis part in the towne of honniton will not afourd your poore perticener anny Worke from this dayte
[Overleaf:]
<Devon s[ession]s>
Ad gen[er]al[e]m Sessionem pacis Dom[in]i R[e]g[i]s tent apud Castrum Exon in et p[ro] com[itatu] pr[e]d[icti] decimo tertio die Julij an[no] regni R[e]g[i]s Jac[obi] ii[cun]di Angl[ie] ii 1686
This C[ou]rt doth desire the Major of the Burrough of Honiton or any other Justice of the peace of yt Corporac[i]on to call before him the p[ar]ties concerned in the within written petition and to examine the matt[e]r therein contained & to make such ord[e]r therein as shall appear just & reasonable.