The petition of John Dilworth of Broughton, Lancashire, Midsummer 1677
To ye right wor[shipfu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of peace for ye Countie Pallatine of Lanc[aste]r assembled at theire Quarter sessions at Preston.
The humble petic[i]on of John Dilworth of Broughton in Amoundernes an ould indigent faithfull souldier to ye kings Ma[jes]tie duringe ye late vnhappie warrs in this kingdom
Humblie sheweth yt as a badge of yo[u]r petic[i]oners fidelitie and in waie of recompenc[e] for his constant fidelitie & service as a souldier for ye kings Ma[jes]tie yt now is & for his late father of euer blessed memorie during ye former late warrs yo[u]r petic[i]oner haith received from ye Treasurer for maimed souldiers thervnto appointed ye yearlie sume of eight shillings & foure pence for seu[er]all yeares now last past towards his releefe But it haith pleased god of late to visite yo[u]r petic[i]oner w[i]th infirmities both of blindnesse & lamenes in yt measure yt hee is not able nowe to doe anie thinge towards his sustac[i]on & releefe and is like to perish for want of releefe [several illegible words] yo[u]r wor[shipfu]ll to take pittie & comiserac[i]on of yo[u]r pet[itione]r[s] condic[i]on
Wherefore yo[u]r petic[i]oner humblie beseecheth yo[u]r wor[shipfu]ll to augment his former allowance as an indigent souldier unto such a Competence yearlie as maie pr[e]serve him from starveing ye remainder of his ould age w[hi]ch is not likelie to bee of anie long continuance yo[u]r petic[i]o[ne]r haveinge alreadie attayned four score yeares of age wanting one & hee will ever praie for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps.
Wee whose names are subscribed make bould to cirtifie yo[u]r wor[shi]pps yt wee know ye petic[i]o[ne]r and beleeve his petic[i]on to bee true.
I doe know the Petitioner was a very faithfull man in all the wars for his Majesty and his Father and belei[v]e him very Poore and truly indigent impotent
Witnesse my hand
Richard Butler Edward Tyldesley
Tho[mas] Stanley Geo[rge] Westly