The petition of Raphe Harding, Cheshire, Epiphany 1657
To the worshipfull the Justices of the peace att this present sessions
The humble petic[i]on of Raphe Harding a poore maymed souldier
Humbly
Sheweth that yo[u]r pet[itione]r in the late warres hath faythfullye serued the Parliam[en]t as a souldier in actuall armes by the space of Fowrteene yeares together in which seruice being often engaged ag[ains]t the Com[m]on Enemye hee hath receiued seuerall dangerous and deepe Cutts shotts and wounds in his bodye insomuch that hee is thereby altogether disabled to take my paynes for the maynteynance of himselfe his wife and Children and hath noe estate lefte him but hath spent all that small meanes hee had vppon surgeons for the Care of his wounds, and yett they are soe dangerous that and still fester insomuch that hee is in noe wise able to helpe himselfe not soe much as to putt on his owne Cloathes nor stirre from bed to fire without helpe that lyes in a moste miserable Condic[i]on and his wife and Children almoste starved for wante of maynteynance.
His humble request to yo[u]r worshipps therefore is that vppon serious Considerac[i]on of his sadd Condic[i]on & in respect yt his [illegible] necessitous indigent Condic[i]on is onely occasioned by his wounds receiued in the Comonwealths service you wil bee graciouslye pleased to allow a pension to bee paid by the tre[asurer]s for maymed souldiers &c in this Countye towards the maynteynance of himselfe & familye & as in dutye bound &c
<40 s. from the trea[sure]r & to Cease>
<absent>