The petition of John Wills of Trusham, Devon, 1678
To the Right Hono[u]r[a]ble S[i]r Thomas Carew kn[igh]t and the rest of the Wor[shipfu]ll Bench at the generall Quarter Sessions held at the Castle of Exon for the County of Deuon now assembled
The humble petition of John Wills of the parish of Trusham Weaver:
Sheweth
That wheras yo[u]r poore petitioner being a Souldier vnder Captaine Barthol[omew] Gidley, att the last Seige in a Fight against Plymouth, in the raigne of King Charles the first of blessed memory, your poore petitioners Powder being spent and fetching a new supply out of the Common Bagg of powder, which said Bagg vnfortunately takeing a Fier whereby your poore Petitioner received hurt to the disenableing of both his Hands, that your petitioner is not able to worke to his Trade as formerly, to the Impoverishment of himeselfe and Familie.
Your Petitioner therefore humbley prayeth that yo[u]r Wo[rshi]pps (in tender Considerations of the premisses) would be Charitabley pleas’d to releive your poore petic[i]oner out of the Common Stock for maimed Souldiers.
And as in duty bound Hee shall euer pray &c.
[Overleaf:]
John Wills Allowed 40 s. p[er] ann[um]