The petition of Richard Clarkson of Ormskirk, Lancashire, 3 May 1652
<May 3 day 1652>
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll S[i]r Tho[mas] Stanley Baronett Justice of Peace & Quor[um] &c.
The humble pet[ition] of Richard Clarkson of Ormskirke a Sould[ie]r prest vnder the Com[m]and of Col[onel] Barrowes for Belfast In Ireland
Humbly sheweth:
that your poor pet[itioner] In June last 1651: was prest for a Sould[ie]r at Prescott by Col[onel] Ireland and went ouer for the Towne of Ormskirke in generall vnder the Comaund of the said Colonell where hee hath Continued till about 3 or 4 weeks agoe. In which time it pleased God to visitt your pet[itioner], with a dangerous sicknesse and Lamenesse, soe that hee was not able to p[er]forme any duty, soe that your pet[itioner] was sent ouer with a passe (with diuerse other sicke persons) into England for the recouery of theyr healths to theyr natiue Townes, where your pet[itioner] doth remaine without any releife, and not able to worke.
Doe therefore humbly entreat your good wor[shi]pp with the Ho[noura]ble Bench to take into Considerac[i]on this his great misery and want, and to grant some way for to allow him some Competent meanes to keep him from starueing vntill hee shall recouer his strength as In your descretion shal be thought fitt, besides your pet[itioner] had a Brother lost his Life in the Parliam[en]ts seruice at Leuerpoole, and another Brother went for the same seruice to Wooster battle last thus farre your pet[itioner] maketh bould to certify & will Euer pray &c
refered [illegible] to p[ro]uide for him