The petition of Nathaniel Creech of George Nympton, Devon, 27 August 1671
To the Right Wor[shi]p[fu]ll S[i]r Thomas Carew K[nigh]t & the rest of the Wor[shipfu]ll Justices of the Peace of this Hon[oura]ble Bench at this present Sessions for the County of Devon.
The humble Petic[i]on of Nathaniel Creech of George-Nimpton in ye County afores[ai]d:
Most humbly sheweth,
That whereas yo[u]r poor Peticon[e]r having been an ancient soldier both at home in his native Country, as also in foraign-parts in the service of his Ma[jes]tie & Royall predecessors, wherein he hath recieved divers hurts and Wounds, whereby (being now grown aged & weak) he is becom decrepid, and altogether unable any longer to labour for his living; whereby, both he & his family are reduced to a very Low Condic[i]on, & likely to fall into great poverty & want, & which, of himself he is utterly unable to withstand or avoyd.
Yo[u]r poor peticon[e]r therefore doth most humbly beseech this Hon[oura]ble Bench compassionately to resent his distressed case So as to order (in yo[u]r christian wisdom and favour) that som Releif (Such as yo[u]r pious Candor shall think fit) may be yearly allowed him out of the County-Treasury for Maymed-Soldiers; whereby yo[u]r peticon[e]r may be relieved, & pr[e]served from ruine: And yo[u]r poor peticon[e]r shall (as in duty bound) ever pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps p[er]petuall prosperity &c.
We the Officers & parishn[e]rs of George-Nipton abovesaid, do hereby certify this Hon[oura]ble Bench that the Contents of this pr[e]sent Petic[i]on are true, we having known the said Nathaniel Creech, as being an inhabitant in o[u]r said parish for many years past; Where he hath (to our knowledge) lived & behaved himself civilly & honestly towards all men; And hath been industruous & painfull to get his living by his labour, untill that now of late he is (through age & weakness) disabled any longer so to do. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto Subscribed our names the 27th day of August, in the xxiii th year of his Ma[jes]ties raign Charles the second, of England Scotland France & Ireland King &c. Annoq[ue] Domini, 1671o.
Jo[hn] Arscott Rect[o]r Roger Kerslake
Ames Nott } Churchwardens Richard Colwill
John Pawlle } Philip Colwill
Phillip Cread Constable Suimon {?Bowmon}
Rob[er]t Hele Bartholomew Hele
[Overleaf:]
Nath[aniel] Creechs peticion