The petition of Richard Howland, City and County of Canterbury, 5 February 1650
<Howland:>
<5: Febr[uary] 1649>
<intr[avit]>
To the right wor[ship]full William Reeve Esq[ui]r[e] Maior the Aldermen his Brethren and the rest in Court of Burgmoth Assembled.
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Howland of this City of Cant[erbury] Cordwainer.
Pleaseth it yo[u]r wor[shi]pps yo[u]r said petic[i]on[e]r having many yeares since served an Apr[e]ntishipp w[i]th Robert Sowthway after the expirac[i]on whereof he seated himselfe neere London, where he continued diuers yeares vntill abowte 7 yeares since hee beecame a Souldier in the Parliam[en]ts service where some yeares he remained and received a maime on his Arme after w[hi]ch, by order of Parliam[en]t, yo[u]r said petic[i]on[e]r was appointed to this City to be kept as a maimed Souldier: But for as much as it hath pleased God to Enable him in some sort to worke for his liueing he is willing to labour to the vtmost of his power, rather then to be chargeable to any. Now pleaseth it yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps, forasmuch as there are diuers who doe maligne ag[ains]t yo[u]r said petic[i]on[e]r, and obiect ag[ains]t him, that he hath no Coppie of his freedom; w[hi]ch to take for the reasons abouesaid hee then neglected, but now sith[ence] it hath pleased God to bring him to this place againe, he humbly craveth the same at yo[u]r wor[shi]pps hands, nothing doubting but that forasmuch as he can prooue that he served his said Appr[e]ntishipp yo[u]r wor[shi]pps will be so gratious as to graunt him the Coppie of his Freedom.
And he shall hold himselfe most deepely bound to pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps health and prosperitie &c