The petition of John Evans of Hereford (All Saints Parish), Herefordshire, 1684
To the Wor[shi]ppfull Symon Traunter Esq[ui]r[e] Major of the Citty of Hereff[ord], & to others the wor[shi]pfull Justices of the peace & Com[m]on Councell of the said Citty.
The humble peticon of John Evans of the parish of All saints a poore aged laboureing man of the age of 60 yeares, & vpward.
Humbly supplicateing in regard, & for that your petic[ione]r haueinge Lived within the said parish with a Maister; Thomas James, milner in seruice for the space of 26 yeares & vpward; by trueth, a hard day Labour; & And for that yo[u]r poore petic[ione]r beinge growne impotent his sight & Lymbes altogeather faileinge him, & aboue a yeare past troubled with the distemper of the dropsye, sithence not of power, & capacity to doe one dayes Chare of worke, by reason whereof your petic[ione]r is turn’d out of his said Maist[e]rs Seruice, & constrained to importune your wor[shi]pps by petic[i]on for relief, the rather also, & for that your petic[ione]r haueing bin a foote souldier in the late hono[u]rable Prince Ruperts owne Regiment, & company in the seruice of his most gracious Ma[jes]ties Royall father of euer blessed memory in the then marching Army being taken prisoner att Naseby fight, & amongst others conveyed prisoner to London, where for 16 weekes in thraldom of misery your petic[ione]r was deteined close prisoner being likewise maimed & wounded in the said seruice, & now at the pinch of poverty like to be lost, & perish by reason of his Infirmities aforesaid
The pr[e]misses Considered That yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps wil be pleased to order your poore aged impotent petic[ione]r some good Considerable Allowance out of the said parish of All saints towards his support, a pr[e]serueac[i]on from perishing. And he shall alwaies pray &c.
4 d. p[er] weeke till further order.