The first petition of Jeremiah Maye of Ashdon, Essex, 1652
To his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell,
The humble petic[i]on of Jeremiah Maye.
Sheweth, That aboute 7 yeeres since your pet[itione]r w[i]th one John Wyeburne S[i]r Timothy Middletons mans did take a Cavelleere w[i]th his horse & armes at Stamford Mount Fitchett, and hee offered them his horse & 40 li. in money to lett him escape, Butt they refused the same, Not longe after your pet[itione]r was imprest at Ashdon in the County of Essex for the Parliam[en]t service & served under the Com[m]and of Capt[ain] John Smith in the Regiment of S[i]r William Waller at Basing howse where hee receaved divers hurts & wounds in his Body, As by Certificate will appeare, The w[hi]ch hath altogether made him unfitt for future service & noe waies able to mainteyne himselfe & languishinge family beinge nowe in a most sadd & deplorable condic[i]on.
Humbly beseechinge your Excellency to take the p[re]misses into your wise Considerac[i]on and to bee pleased to grant your Excellencies Warrant directed to the hono[ura]ble Bench assembled in Essex to afford your petitic[i]oner a Penc[i]on or some other Releife what they in their Wisedomes shall thinke fitt.
And hee shall ever pray for your Excellency.