The petition of Joseph Smyth of Marlborough, Wiltshire, Easter 1662
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the Peace in the County of Wilts[hire]
The humble petic[i]on of Captaine Joseph Smyth
Sheweth
That your pet[itione]r being in London in the beginning of the late Warrs, did receaue a Comand from his late Ma[jes]tie for the Suppressing the Rebellion in Ireland and while the Regiment was raising there bred a dispute betweene his said Ma[jes]tie, and the parliam[en]t which occasioned his Ma[jes]t[y’]s remoouall from London and his Parliament, and soe the regiment was Comanded by the same Committee of Parliament that was appointed by his Ma[jes]tie to send men for Ireland to make a retreate and joyne with an Army raised in the meane tyme by the Parliament for to bring the king from his Euill Councell Soe tearmed by them. But yo[u]r pet[itione]r perceiving some of their designes was willing to Leaue that Seruice, and being threatned if he soe left off that he should loose his Arrears w[hi]ch amounted to a very Considerable Some and yo[u]r pet[itione]r did rather Chuse to loose his Arrears then to Joyne w[i]th the Army any longer, Only desired Some worthly Gentlemen of this County to recommend him to this hon[oura]ble Bench that he might obteyne a Penc[i]on, the w[hi]ch was graunted him accordingly, and paid till of late daies, he being falsly represented to this Court to be in Seruice in Oliuers tyme, when indeed he neuer serued him directly or indirectly military or Civill, but alwaies opposed him and That openly and was Imprisoned by him, and had taken from him 26 li. p[er] Ann[um] being accused before a Committee for Conveying S[i]r Edward Massey out of St Jameses
Now Forasmuch as yo[u]r pet[itione]r did many remarkable Seruices for many of the Kings friends As they haue certified and made it their request to this Bench that yow would be pleased to Continue his Pention to him
Wherefore yo[u]r pet[itione]r humbly praies this Hon[oura]ble Bench that his Certificate & Lett[e]rs of recomendac[i]on may be read, and that his Case may be rightly weighed in the balance of Justice and Equitie That his penc[i]on may be restored paid him as formerly
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall Euer pray &c
<continue his Penc[i]on of 5 li. & give him 5 li. in hand>