The petition of Richard Howells of Hereford (St John the Baptist Parish), Herefordshire, 17 August 1663
To the Right Hono[u]rable the Judges, and Justices of the Assizes, Nisiprius & Gaole deliu[er]y houlden for the County of Heref[ord]
The humble peticon of John Richard Howells of this Citty a poore man of the Age of seaventy three yeares or thereabouts;
Whoe most humbly sheweth That in regard of yo[u]r petic[ione]rs fidelity in the late vnhappy warrs in the seruice of his Ma[jes]ties Royall father of blessed memory yo[u]r poore petic[ione]r by his Ma[jes]ties order was cast vpon this Citty, where hee first tooke vpp Armes for to bee relieued, who haueing order vpon order vnder the Maior, & Magistrates of this Cittys hands for 1s. p[er] weeke to bee paid yo[u]r poore peitc[ione]r by the ouerseers of the poore of the parish of S[ain]te John the Baptist within this Citty since a weeke before Easter last being Eighteene weekes compleate; whoe neuer receaued but 2 s. of his Allowance; the overseers being vnconscionable Quakers; not regarding yo[u]r p[e]ti c[ione]r a poore ould soldier for his Ma[jes]tie; bidding yo[u]r petitc[ione]r goe to his Ma[jes]tie & looke for his Allowance;
That yo[u]r good Wor[shi]pps wil bee pleased by fine & strict order to Order the overseers Philip Langford & John Dowe to pay yo[u]r petic[ione]r his Arreares forthwith being 16 s. & yo[u]r poore petic[ione]r will Daily pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps.
<Wee desire Mr Mayor of Hereford to take such course w[i]th ye overseers of the poore yt ye pet[itione]r be paid all his arreares to this time forthwith, And likewise yt he be continually paid for the future as ye same shall grow due, and if ye overseers shall neglect soe to doe yt he bind them over to ye next Assizes to answer their comtempt therein.>
<17o Aug[ust] 15o Car[oli] Se[cun]di>
<Rob[er]t Hyde John Kelynge>
<the petic[i]oner to have i s. weekely accordinge to the order>