The petition of James Brearcliffe of Garforth, West Riding of Yorkshire, 28 April 1674
To the right worship[fu]ll the kings Ma[jes]ties Justices of peace for the West Ridd[ing] of the County of Yorke, at the generall Sessions of the peace holden at Pontefract the 28th day of April, 1674.
The humble petic[i]on of James Brearcliffe of Garforth.
Humbly sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r was three yeares or thereabouts a souldier in the service of his late Ma[jes]tie of ever blessed memory, in Maior Marmaduke Holtby his troope, vnder the Command of the right worsh[i]p[f]ull S[i]r Walter Vavasour kn[igh]t in which time hee was at severall great battails and skirmishes, to wit, at Yarum, Chalgrave field, Seacroft moore Marston moore and many other places, and in w[hi]ch service, besides the expense of all the estate hee had, and the several imprison[en]ts and great hardsh[i]ps hee suffered, he received many sad & grievous wounds, whereby he is now disabled for service in order to the maintenance of himselfe his wife & family, and so growne very poore and indigent, Notwithstanding all which, he never either diserted his said late Ma[jes]ties service, nor ever was vnfaithfull or disloyall either to him, or to o[u]r pr[e]sent dread sov[er]aigne Lord ye king.
Wherefore yo[u]r pet[itione]r humbly intreats that your worsh[i]ps will be graciously pleased to take the pr[e]misses into tender considerac[i]on, and as you haue been graciously pleased to doe to others in the like Case so to grant to him a yearely pension, whereby his life may be made more comfortable to him, and hee not exposed to perpetuall ruine and misery and yo[u]r pet[itione]r (as in duty hee is bound) shall ever pray &c:
<I well knowe this Petitioner was a soldier as is abouesaide and beleeue all the rest is true>
<Witnes my hand>
<W. Vavasour>
<We doe certifie that he is verrie poore and verrie needie & desire him to be admitted a pentioner>
<W[illia]m Lowther>
<W[illia]m [?Elkes]>
<peticoner to be admitted in the place of Thomas Wright of Leeds>