The petition of James Leech, City and Liberty of Westminster, October 1651
<Leech his petic[i]on>
To the hon[oura]ble & right wor[shipfu]ll ye Justices of the Peace for the west parts of ye County of Sussex.
The humble petic[i]on of James Leech of Westminster.
Humbly sheweth:
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r for a long time hath byn assigned & paid a smale penc[i]on of 4 s. per annu[m] as a Maymed Souldier out of the west division of Sussex. beinge prest into seruice from thenc vnder the com[m]and of Capt[ai]n Thomas Badby. And having since done other acceptable seruice for the parliam[en]t & com[m]on wealth of England, whereof hee is redy to give a iust accompt both by warrants and Certificats from the late lord cheife Justices, & other most hon[oura]ble personages of quallety.
Insomuch as yo[u]r pet[itione]rs good seruice and behauio[u]r hath heretofore byn recom[m]ended to yo[u]r hono[u]rs Charitable Considerac[i]on. not only by some of his honorable good friends of this county, But alsoe by the Justices & others of his Credible Neighbours of Westminster as may appeare.
The pr[e]misses duly considered, yo[u]r pet[itione]r doth most humbly beseech yo[u]r hono[u]rs to bee pleased of yo[u]r pious Clemencie to make him some Addicon to his said penc[i]on for ye future, or other wise to give him such a competent sum[m]e of money in hand as best may seeme meet in yo[u]r hono[u]rs Judgments. and vpon payment thereof hee will release & acquite his penc[i]on for the tyme to come.
And as dutie ever bynds him pray &c.