The petition of Richard Parker of Wellington, Somerset, 12 July 1653
To the r[igh]t Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace now assembled in Sessions at the Castle of Taunton for the County of Som[er]s[e]t
The humble petic[i]on of Richard Parker of Wellington
Sheweth.
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r duringe the late warrs was ever a faithfull Souldier in the service of the State and he being a Souldier vnder the Com[m]aund of Lieut[enant] Col[one]l Bovett in the garrison house at Wellington yo[u]r pet[itione]r was there taken prisoner by the enemy & afterwards endeavouring to escape from them was illegible taken againe & condemnd to be hanged & was cast of the ladder but god in mercy to yo[u]r pet[itione]r broke the rope & lyeing a long time dead in the place yet p[ro]vidence restored yo[u]r pet[itione]r to life againe: by meanes of w[hi]ch cruell vsage yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath continued euer since in a very weake condic[i]on
And doth therefore humbly pray (in regard yo[u]r pet[itione]r is a very weake aged man & not able to get maintenance by his labour) yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps y would vouchsafe to order that somthing may be conferd on yo[u]r pet[itione]r for the releiefe of his pr[e]sent & future wants & necessityes as in yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps graue wisdomes shal be thought fitt.
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall pray &c
[Reverse:]
viii d. p[er] weeke by the p[ar]ish unless cause