The petition of Jonathan Bradley and Margrett Ball of Wirswall, Cheshire, Epiphany 1652
To the worshipp[fu]ll Thomas Manwaringe William Marbury Henry Brookes Thomas Croxton & ye Rest of ye Esquires & Justices of ye Peace for ye County of Chester.
The humble Petic[i]on of Jonathan Bradley of Wirswall in ye affores[ai]d County yeoman & Margrett Ball [illegible] of ye same (Widdow)
Humbly Sheweth yt yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs were Commaunded to sett Forth a Souldier for ye Mallittia; & our agreement with ye Sayd Souldier was to giue him forty Shillings in hand to serve for vs in this kingdome & three pounds more if hee wente outt of ye kingdome; without any more demands or promises of future Mayntenance; & wee payd him his forty Shillings forth with; & Itt pleased god yt this sayd Soldier was wounded att Worcester against ye Scotts, & when hee Came home againe yo[u]r Petit[i]on[e]rs were forced to pay ye 3 li. more before Mentioned Contrary to o[u]r Agreemente with ye Soul[die]r vnless hee had Beene out of ye Kingdome; ye last Quarter Sessions yo[u]r Worshipps were pleased to grante forth an Order directed to ye Constables of Wirswall Com[m]andinge them to Collecte & gather soe much money in ye sayd Townshippe as should discharge ye quarters of ye sayd Souldiers; & ye Inhabitants of ye sayd Townshippe refuseth to pay any thinge att all [illegible] but thinke to putt itt vpon vs yo[u]r petic[i]on[er]s ye w[hi]ch if wee are Caused to [illegible] pay itt may prove an Intollerable burden for if hee ye sayd Souldier may bee Mayntayned hee will lie vnder ye Chirurgions hands as longe as hee liues & hee is allready verry well Recouered butt only yt hee keepes his wound open & hee might haue beene well sooner (as your petic[i]on[e]rs is Informed by his Chirurgion) would hee to [illegible] beene kepte from drinkeinge.
Yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]rs Humble Request is, yt yo[u]r Worsh[i]pps would be pleased to take itt into yo[u]r Considerations how wee were forced to pay 3 li. More then o[u]r Agreement with ye Souldier & yt you would bee pleased to Order yt ye Sayd Souldier may haue some pention out of ye Levies payd for Maymed Souldiers for the dischargeinge of ye sayd Souldiers quarters & yo[u]r Petic[i]oners shall euer pray for yo[u][r Worsh[i]pps
<the towne to pay till this Sessions & the Souldier after out of his penc[i]on>