The petition of Richard Hayes of Nantwich, Cheshire, Trinity 1656
To the Right w[orshi]p[fu]l ye Justices of Peace att this Sessions
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Hayes of Namptw[i]ch Com[itatus] Cestr[ia]
<Sheweth> That yo[u]r Pet[itione]r eu[er] ready to aduenture life and limbe vpon any call & comand fro[m] ye Authority of this State, was att Beeston siege wounded and maymed [illegible] to ye vndoeing of him, his wife & foure small sick children, being thereby disinabled to work as form[er]ly, towards his owne and his poore Families reliefe. Whereupon yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r was amongst others inrolled to receiue thirty shillinges yearely, w[hi]ch accordingly hee did, vntill two yeares agoe, since w[hi]ch time hee hath had three shillinges foure pence yearely abated, although hee was att Worcester, where hee had one brother slaine, and another sore wounded w[hi]ch lay tenn weekes aft[e]r vpon yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r without any satisfaction att all for ye same.
May it please yo[u]r w[orshi]ps then, to look vpon ye fidelity & sad estate of yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r: and to order yt yo[u]r Pet[itione]r may receiue ye six shillinges eight pence for ye two yeares past and haue ye thirty shillinges for the Future paid vnto him, as att ye first without abatement, haue a great charge, & nothing els to mainetaine him, his wife and children vpon, but w[ha]t work hee is now able to follow, being by reason of ye maime receiued in his hand vtterly disinabled to work as before And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r as bound shall for eu[er] pray &c.
<Nil>