The petition of Peter Caverly of Braunton, Devon, 1684
To the Right Worshipfull Hon[oura]ble the Deputies Leiuetenants for the County of Devon & the Worshipfull Justices of ye peace of the s[ai]d county.
The humble petition of Peter Caverly of Braunton in the County aforesaid Chirurgion.
<Humbly Sheweth> To your Good worships that he the said Peter Caverly at the first Beginning of the warres here in England was inlisted a souldier in the service of King Charles the first of ever Blessed memorie: and was in most of the Greatest fights that were in England and also in Ireland was a Commission officer and soe continued his faithfulness and Loyalty to the Great hazards of his life, as By many wounds and shots which he received in his Body the scarres and markes whereof on his Body doe still visibly appeare, And yet notwithstanding all this his undaunted courage and zeale for his Majesties service, Carried him still along soe far untill at Last, By that Tyrant Cromwells armie [he] was taken prisoner in Ireland and carried into Saints aBastens in Spaine and sold for a slave and after a considerable time of enduring much misery there, By the Good hand of providence came Back againe to his native country and in a forlorn condition lived during the Usurpers time having nothing to maintaine himself his wife and children, But what he could Get By his profession which was as it were By the way of stealth he Living in obscuritie and always in fear to be Discovered by the rebellious party, This Being his condition untill the happy Restauration of our Gracious Soveraign that now is King Charles the Second, since which time likewise has Binn a souldier in the country troope, first under the command of S[i]r John Northcott, and afterwards under the command of Captaine Prideaux as By a note under his hand appears, And has served with his owne horse when the troopes were called at Dartmouth, Lyeing upon his owne charges for six weekes together and has Attended since at the severall musters without any considerable Recompence for all his charges and paines: And now Being arrived at the Age of seaventy years is rendered uncapable of Doeing that service for his King and Country as his heart desireth and having But a little inconsiderable cottage to maintaine himselfe his wife and five children. Humbly prostrats himselfe Before you, emploring your noble condesention in granting him a pension annually out of the County Stock or out of the monies received every year By the one weekes pay, of which great summes are now remaininge in the respective receivers hands they only awaiting your order for the Distribution of it: in this Doeing you will doe Both an act of Justice and Charity and will ever oblige your petition[e]r to pray for your health and happiness &c.
We whose names are subscribed doe testifie that the abovesaid Peter Caverly: ever since we had any acquaintance with him, which has Binn above Twenty yeares, have always found him a faithfull and Loyall person to his Majestie and on all occasions ready to serve his Majestie.
Francis [?Banks] Robart Isaac Lewes Jurden
Michall Arundle Edward Fleming Phil[ip] Pyne
Edw[ard] Lovett William Burgoyn Antho[ny] Colemore
Lewes Stevings Ed: Pointz Luke Falvey
Arthur Ackland
John Garland
<40 s. p[er] ann[um] & 5 s.>
[Overleaf:]
40 s. p[er] ann[um] & 5 s. in hand