The petition of Richard Richards of East Knoyle, Wiltshire, Trinity 1649
To ye wo[rshipfu]ll Justices of ye Peace for ye County of Wilts[hire]
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Richards of East Knoyle
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r hauinge beene pressed formerly A soldier at Rudge in ye p[ar]ish of Chillmarke beinge a Carpenter onely out of Mallice to saue one of theire Tythinge at home.
Yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r hauinge lost his Right Arme in yt service & hauinge yo[u]r wor[shi]ps Order heere at Warmi[n]ster the last Sessions held 1648 as by ye Order heerevnto anexed more fully appeares to receaue Eighteene Pence a weeke for his Maynteynance & liuelihood from ye said Tythinge of Rudge aforesaid, w[hi]ch accordinge to that ord[e]r yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r hath Receaued part of ye said xviii d. p[er] week till Easter last. But since there is 13 weeks vnpaid w[hi]ch amounts to 19 s. 6 d.
Yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r humbly desireth yo[u]r Wo[rshi]ps to be pleas[e]d that ye said Order made formerly by yo[u]r wo[rshi]ps may stand & be obeyed. Although the Parishon[e]rs of Rudge will, if they can, contradict by Councell order [illegible] afores[ai]d w[hi]ch wilbe then, the vtter Ruin & starvinge of yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]r
For w[hi]ch yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r shall dayly pray &c