The petition of James Cawverd, Derbyshire, c. 1650
To the right Wor[shi]p[f]ull Justices of Peace & Quor[um] for the countie of Derbie.
The humble petic[i]on of James Cawverd maymed souldier.
Sheweth:
That aboute 5 yeares agoe: yo[u]r peticoner beinge souldier vnder the comand of Col[one]l: Randle Ashenhurst in the p[ar]liaments service beinge one of a p[ar]tie by order apointed to keepe the hall of Shallcrose:
Mr: Shallcrosse himself entringe the howse & a stronge p[ar]tie with him: cutt & wounded most of the souldiers found in the howse: Amongst whom yo[u]r peticoner receaved such cutts: & woundes: that ever sinc [sic.] hee hath lost the vse of his Arme & hand: to his vtter vndoeinge: without some speedie releife he beinge by p[ro]ffession a blacksmith & alwayes before maintayned himself & his weife & Children that they were not Chargeable vnto any.
In comisserac[i]on whereof & in observance of the statutes & lawes p[ro]vided for those cases: may it please yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to thinke wh[a]t a pore estate & miserable condion yo[u]r peticoner is braught vnto vnles it please yow to take it into yo[u]r serious Consideracons & in yo[u]r graue wisdomes: by yo[u]r order to appoint that your peticon[e]r may receaue such a yerely stipend & penc[i]on from the Treasurer of the Com[m]it[t]ie as yow shall thinke fitt towards the releife of himself his wife & children who did not offer to petico[n] whilest hee or his wife had any thinge at all to make money on (yea theire aparell whilest they had any was sould to keep them alive).
And yo[u]r peticon[e]r shall as dutie bindeth daylie pray &c.
Wee whose names are vnder subscribed doe verilie beleeue the peticon to be true: & that there is greate neede for releife to be granted here vnto.
William Garlicke Capt[ain] Thomas Rollinson
Raphe Hyde Geo[rge] Milner
John Hyde Robart Ridgward
John: Dand Robert Hadfeild
Raphe Ferneley
Thomas Ferneley Edmund Bradbury
James Ridgway John Thornndley
Thomas Waterhouse Robert Hadfeld
Raph: Waterhouse Thomas Hinchcliffe
Rob[er]t Ridgway B. B.
elder Edmund Burkinshaw
minist[e]r at Heyfield