The petition of Richard Minshull of Willaston, Cheshire, Trinity 1662
To the Ho[noura]ble the Justices of the Peace in the County Palatine of Chester:-
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Minshull of Willaston
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r at the beginninge of the late warrs was a Trayned Souldier for the Towneship of Willaston afores[ai]d and continued in the Loyall and faithfull service of his Ma[jes]ties father that now is of euer blessed & glorious memory from the beginninge of the said warrs till after [illegible] Holt Castle was reduced during w[hi]ch time hee was euer faithfull & loyall accordinge to his imploym[en]t and since his Ma[jes]ties happy Returne yo[u]r Pet[itione]r beinge wounded in the late warrs, made his addresse to some of the ho[noura]ble Justic[e]s and his condic[i]on deplorable were pleased to order him nineteene shillinges p[er] ann[um] towardes his releife, but his pr[e]sent condic[i]on beinge very indigent, and family great whose mentaynance depends vpon his industry and hard labour, and yo[u]r Pet[itione]r beinge aged & disabled by reason of his woundes that hee is not able to follow his worke soe as to rayse a competent livelihood for himselfe & poore family, and that yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r is informed [illegible] that his Royall Ma[jes]tie hath binne pleased by Act of Parlyam[en]t to allow some releife to such souldiers who haue binne euer faithfull and Loyall to his Ma[jes]tie that now is & to his Royall father
Therefore yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]r humbly prayes that yo[u]r hono[u]rs wil be pleased to consider his sad and deplorable condic[i]on and accordinge to his Loyalty to inlarge his anuall penc[i]on that he may not beg in his old dayes
And as obliged hee will euer pray &c
<Wee whose names are subscribed knowing this petition to bee true make bould to Certify on his behalfe desiring hee maybee releiued accordinge to Acte of Parlyam[en]t>
<Yo[u]r hon[ou]rs most humble servants>
<Richard Walthall>
<Alexander Weld>
<souldyor>