The petition of Lawrence Key of Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, Epiphany 1683
To the right hono[ura]ble the Justices of Peace in Quarter Sessions for the County of North[amp]ton[shire]
The humble petic[i]on of Lawrence Key of Irthlingborow a very old Lame & Maymed Souldier
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r was prest in the late King’s service ag[ains]t Scotland above 40 yeares since & hath since served his late Ma[jes]ty in the late warrs in England And had a pension of 40 s. granted him by this Court for his life But by haveing a scismaticall wife was seduced to turne Quaker And soe he y[ou]r pet[itione]rs pention was suspended.
Now soe it is may it please yo[u]r hono[u]rs that the Trayter his said his s[ai]d wife being dead yo[u]r pet[itione]r is convinced of his error & folly to bee led away by a silly woman doth goe constantly to Church & soe hath done for 5 or 6 yeares last past as by the Certificate annexed may appeare & soe by Gods Grace shall doe whilest hee lives
Hee humbly pray yo[u]r hono[u]rs to continue revive his s[ai]d pention & allow him what arreares yo[u]r hono[u]rs shall thinke fitt There being noe p[er]son more necessitous lame & helplesse then hee the then hee in his old age.
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall pray &c.
<Matthew Dudley Majoir [Illegible] & Mr [Illegible] or any two [illegible] Two next>
<Examine the nature of [illegible] petticon & to allow him [illegible] penc[i]on as hee thinks>
The petc[i]on[e]r now goes to Church