The petition of John Wayte of Horningsham, Wiltshire, Easter 1647
<Wiltes[hire]>
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll Edward Tooker esq[uire] & Francis Scranton esq[uire] twoe of his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Justic[e]s of the Peace for the Countye aforesaid.
The humble petic[i]on of John Wayte of Hornigsham husbandman.
Sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] went a voluntary souldier for the kinge & Parliam[en]t into Ireland & vpon cessac[i]on of Armes there, served the Earle of Stamford in the west, both at Stratton fight, & the deliu[er]ye vp of Exeter to his Ma[jes]t[y’]s forces, at w[hi]ch time yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] came to Horningsham to his owne habitac[i]on, & married a wife & hadd [illegible] a child whoe are yet livinge, after w[hi]ch time yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] was impressed for his Ma[jes]t[y’]s service here in England, by reason of w[hi]ch services yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] hath received divers wounds vtterly vnable to mainteyne himselfe or his familye he beinge borne of honest parentage in the parish aforesaid whoe is ashamed to begge or vse any vnlawfull meanes for his supportm[en]t
May it therefore please yo[u]r Wo[rshi]ps to take pittye of yo[u]r petic[i]one[r]s disabilitye by reason of his hurtes in his righte Arme & legge received whereby he can[n]ott worke for his livinge as formerly and to order that such maintenance may be allowed yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] & his family as yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] Wor[shi]ps in yo[u]r wisedome shall thinke fitt And yo[u]r petic[ioner] as dutye bindes will daily pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps happines & p[ro]speritye.