The petition of John Cooley of Ware, Hertfordshire, 1661
To the Right Wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of ye Peace assembled att the Quarter Sessions att Hertford for the Countie of Hertf[ord].
The Humble Petic[i]on of John Cooley of Ware a Souldier for his Late Ma[jes]tie.
Humblie Sheweth.
To this Honno[ura]ble Bench That yo[u]r peticon[e]r like a loyall & faithfull Subject did serve his Late Ma[jes]tie of blessed memory in the kingdome of Scotland: and afterwards did appeare againe in Armes under the Com[m]and of S[i]r John Watts kn[igh]t in the Cittie of Colchester: and did there Continue untill such time as the said Cittie was Surrend[e]red: as some of the persons hereunder named can testifie. Since which time yo[u]r petic[i]oner hath beene ever loyall & Faithfull to his prince & hath endeavoured himselfe to take pains for his livinge, but soe it is now that through often watchinge and lyinge upon the ground in the aforesaid services and by the Carriadge of great Burthens yo[u]r Peticoner is growne very Lame and Crazye and not able to doe any worke.
Honno[u]r[e]d Gentlemen wee whose names are hereunder written doe humbly desire yo[u]r wor[shi]pps for to commiserate the Condicon of yo[u]r petic[i]oner knowinge that hee did serve his late Ma[jes]tie in the aforesaid places & that hee is now very Lame and Crazye, and a very fitt Obiect for to receive a penc[i]on out of the Treasury of the County which wee hope yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps will grant unto him. And not onely wee shall acknowledge soe great a favo[u]r donn unto us, but yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps health shall ever daily pray &c.
Geo[rge] Bromley Jun[io]r
Hum[phrey] Packer
Edmond Ralph
Richard Uthwat
Peter Bowes
Jno: Waller
W[illia]m Crosse
Stephen Lam[m]as
Thomas Holland
William Tayler
James Wigston