The petition of Richard Cooke of Exeter (St Sidwell’s Parish), City and County of Exeter, undated
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Major of the Citie of Exon, the Wor[shipfu]ll the Aldermen his brethren, with the rest of ye members of the common Councell of the same Cittye.
The humble petision of Richard Cooke of the p[ar]ish of St Sidwells, Weaver
Sheweth.
That your petisioner was ever a Loyall subject & served his Majestie King Charles the first, vnder the command of S[i]r Hugh Acland, since which time by a sad accident broke his leg, & had siverall pieces of bone toke out of his ankle, is thereby vnable to goe without cruches, and is vncapable of getting his livelyhood to his calling, and hath also a daughter aged 30 yeares, blind occationed by the decease called ye King evill, these two great afflictions hath wholy impoverished your petisioner, in as much as hee is not able to array himselfe as his necessarys require.
Wherefore humbly beseechs your Wor[shipfu]lls that you would bestowe on him a Gound & shirt this season, which may succor & defend him against the stormes and cold of this hard-weather, and your petisioner shall as in duty bound ever pray &c