The petition of John Bovey of Bickington, Devon, 1691
<Devon S[ession]s>
To the Worshipfull their Ma[jes]tyes Justices of the Peace for the said County
The Humble Petition of John Bouey of the Parish of Bickington in the said County Husbandman,
<Humbly sheweth>
That your Petitioner is aged upwardes of seauenty Eight yeares, has been Blind in both Eyes for the space of fourteene yeares, and is in a very poore Condition, haueing one shilling and six pence weekly releife from the said parish, That he was a soldier in the Late vnhappy Civill warres in England in the service of King Charles the first, Vnd[e]r the Command of Captaine Hugh Stawell, and att the seige of Plymouth (where his said Captaine was taken Prisoner) receiued a wound in his left Legge, by which hee has beene maimed and a Cripple Euer since, and is now through old age and Pouerty become an object of great Charity
Your Poor Petitioner therefore Humbly beseeches your Worships to allow him a Pention yearly out of the County Stock dureing his short Life and as in Duty Bound hee shall Euer pray &c.
<Wee beleiue ye contents of this Petition to be true>
<Tho[mas] Reynell>
<Will[iam] Stawell>
<Jo[hn] Battishill>
<Gil[bert] Yarde>
Richard Spry minister of Bickington
Will[iam] Woodcome } Churchwardens
James Furneame }
[Overleaf:]
40 s. p[er] annu[m]