The petition of John Evans of Hereford (All Saints Parish), Herefordshire, 1683 to 1684
To ye Right worr[shipf]ull Mr Mayor and Justices of ye Peace for ye Citty of Heref[ord]
The humble petic[i]one of John Evans of ye Citty of Heref[ord] Millerd Aged 60 yeres or thereabouts.
(humbly sheweth vnto yo[u]r Good worships yt hee has beene a soldior for his Ma[jes]tie of blessed Memory) And haue Liued In this Towne some Twenty Fower yeares or thereabouts and is nowe fallen weeke, sickely, very Feble decrepitt and blind of one of his Eies, soe as yt hee is not able to worke or help himselfe, Neyther hath hee any thinge where withall to realeiue himselfe; And as for that hee gott in his youthfull daies one John George of this Citty Corvizor went away out of this County & Contry and soe Coosoned him of all; and left him nothinge.
Therefore yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner doe most humbly pray & beseech yo[u]r Cleamency, and yo[u]r good worships Comisserac[i]on in this his sad misserable and deplorable Condic[i]on and yt you would bee pleased to grant him some liuelihood Reliffe and Maintainance as it shall seeme best to yo[u]r worr[shipf]ulls.
And yo[u]r petic[i]oner shall as in duty bound Ever pray for yo[u]r worr[shipf]ulls Good healths and happinesses In this world, And yo[u]r Eternall Felizities In The world To Come: