The petition of Richard Johnson of Ingol, Lancashire, Easter 1674
Right Worshipffull
The humble Petition off Richard Johnson off Ingoe, w[i]thin ye Parrish off Preston in the Countie off Lanc[aste]r
Humbly Sheweth: That whereas your poore petitioner was a Souldier in his late Ma[jes]ties service vnder the Command off S[i]r Thomas Tildsley For seaven yeares together; But never gott any pay; but received Seu[e]rall woundes to his great pr[e]judice; & (your poore petic[i]oner) now being above the age off three scoore, is soe disinabled to worke For his liuelyhood as Formerly; & the Towne of Ingoe where (your poore petitioner) doth now Inhabitt, & was borne, doth deny to relieue him in his aged & imbecill’d weake Condic[i]on, But doth giue him very threatninge & vnciuill Language & tells (your petic[i]oner) that they will turne him out off the Towne. And (your poore petic[i]oner) doth Further shew That hee was compell’d by way off a presse For yt Townes Service, & was a Soldier For thirteene yeares together without any pay: & that the Towne affores[ai]d, did p[ro]misse, when (your poore petic[i]oner) was compelled to serue For a soldier that iff itt pleased God (yo[u]r petitioner) should returne home againe, hee should be sufficiently releeved, & very well manteyned: But soe long as (your poore petitoner) was able to worke For his liueing, hee did not att all trouble the s[ai]d Towne or towneshipp For a morsell off bread or att the least to intrude vpon theire patience to aske theire benevolence, but hath obtained his liuelyhood by his Civill Carriage, paines & industrie amongst (hono[u]rable Families) good, & well disposed Christians, till his eye sight was soe dim, strength much abated that hee is not now able to worke For the reasons affores[ai]d, & the s[ai]d towne doth alltogether deny to releeue yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner).
In tender Considerac[i]on the pr[e]misses Considered may itt please yo[u]r (good worshipps) to grant (your poore petic[i]oner) yo[u]r wor[shi]pps order to the ouerseers off Lea Lordshipps For such Sufficient Manteynance as your (good wor[shi]pps) may thinke Fitt, For (yo[u]r poore petitioner) & his wife & yo[u]r poore petitioner, as in duty bound will euer pray For your wor[shi]pps health & happinesse:
Wee whose names are herevnd[e]r Subscribed doe humbly make bould to Certifie (yo[u]r wor[shi]pps) that wee conceiue the (poore petitioner) hath very just cause of Compll[ain]t & that w[ha]t is laid downe in this petition is true:
Geo[rge] Addison
Edward Fleetwood
Edward Tyldesley
Daniel Chaddocke
<referred to Ou[erseers] of poore to augm[en]t his all[owance]>
<[illegible]>