The petition of Nicholas Ward the younger, Somerset, undated
<Som[er]ss[et]:>
To the Reight Wor[shipfu]ls the Justices of the Sessions at Evilechester for ye County of Som[er]s[e]t:
The humble Petic[i]on of Nicholas Ward the younger. sheweth.
That whereas yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onor in the beginning of this vnhappie Warrs here in England, was very active and valiant in the servis for ye Parliam[en]t and yett still remaineth loyall as becometh a true and faithfull servant. In which servis yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]r by the Tyrany & Cruelty of a bloodthirsty Enemy was dismembered; haueing lost the vse of his hands & other parts of his body, his eyes and Nose cutt in a most cruell & hored manner by a mercylesse enemy, which haue bin to the greate Impou[er]ish[men]t of yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onors body and estate, and the vtter vndoeing of his poore family, which is Fower small Children, not able to helpe one the other, & his wife lately deliu[er]ed of a Child & since taken sicke & not able to helpe herselfe nor come forth of her bed without helpe.
Therefore yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onor doth most humbly desire and Intrate yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps to take his miserable and sad Condic[i]on, into yo[u]r Charitable and serious Considerac[i]on, not doubting but that yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps will bee a meanes that something may bee Added to his sallery more yn w[hi]ch hee hath had form[er]ly which is tenn shillings quarterly to the quarter Sessions; which sallery yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onor was loath to take if possible hee had bin able to haue subsisted w[i]thout it, or been able to vse his hands to worke to his Trade.
Therefore yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onor most earnesty desires & Intreates yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps to bee mindfull of him in this his woefull Condic[i]on.
And yo[u]r poore Petic[i]onor shall eu[er] pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps healths in this World & happinesse in the World to come:
[Reverse:]
xx s. advanced