The petition of Richard Howells of Hereford (St John the Baptist’s Parish), Herefordshire, 9 January 1678
To the Wor[shi]ppfull John Smith Esq[ui]r[e] Major of the Citty of Herefford and others the wor[shi]ppfull Justices of the peace of the said Citty:
The humble petic[i]on of Richard Howells of the parish of S[ain]te John the Baptist within the Citty of Hereff[ord] aged 80 yeares & vpwards formerly a poore day laboureinge man for these 25 yeares past belonging to this Citty.
Humbly craveinge, in respect & for that your poore petic[ione]r is an impotent aged person past worke his sight altogeather faileinge him, & for that your petic[ione]r for his fidelity in advaunceinge out of this Citty in the seruice of King Charles the first of ever blessed memory was plundred in the time of Collonell Birches entring this Citty of all his wordly goods to his vtter impoverishment & vndoeinge beinge euer since succorles & harborles noe way able to raise a penny, but through good peoples Charity to pay for a poore Lodgeinge, & there being now at this pr[e]sent a vacant hospitall by the death of John Teaene late of this Citty: That your good wor[shi]pps wil be pleased to Admitt your poore decayed, impotent aged petic[ione]r a pr[e]sent graunte of that Allmeshouse. And this for Gods Love. or a graunte of the next Falls
And your poore aged petic[ione]r shall daily pray for your good wor[shi]pps &c