The petition of John Rolfe, Sussex, October 1654
To the right Worshipfull the Justices of ye Peace for the West Rideing of Sussex
The humble Petition of John Rolfe
Humbly sheweth
That wheras yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps humble Petitioner led by his good Afection to the Weale-publique did at the first voluntarily ingadge himself vnder the Comaund of the Right Hon[oura]ble Collon[e]ll Morley, and hath ever since yt time been actiue vnder severall Com[m]ands in the said service wherin yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r hath lost the vse of one hand to his exceeding detriment & discomfort. Moreover yo[u]r humble Petic[i]on[e]r did at his first goeing forth into this service, entrust Mr Hoglin A Kentish man with goods amounting to the valew of 90 li. who in yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs absence (being at yt time comaunded to Abington) died and soe much in debt, yt yo[u]r Petition[e]r (not hearing of his death for ye space of half A yeare after) sufered the loss of every peniworth. And since yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs being forced to take vp money giving his Land for Securitie not doubting but his Areares (which amount to 200 li. & odd:) would be truly payd: wherew[i]th he intended to redeeme his Mortgaged land: w[hi]ch fayling allso his land is lost for halfe the worth of it. All which your Petic[i]on[e]r is ready to proue if thereto required. Soe yt by the loss of his Estate, loss of limbes, and Areares hath made him vtterly vncapable of following any Calling, or takeing any other Course to mayntaine his great Charge: And hath enforced him to make these his publique Addresses to you.
Humbly entreating yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to take his sad Condition into yo[u]r serious Considerac[i]ons, And alow to yo[u]r humble Petic[i]on[e]r such Anuall pension as is vsually graunted to those who haue been dismembred in service. Or if it shall stand with yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps pleasure to settle him in yt place now vacant: and at yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps disposall, your poore Petic[i]oner with his whole family, will not cease to performe theyr duty, in praying for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps Prosperity.