The petition of Richard Ricketts of East Knoyle, Wiltshire, Hilary 1648
To ye wo[rshipfu]ll Justices of ye Peace in this pr[e]sent sessions at Saru[m]:
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Ricketts of Knoyle Manga in Wilts[hire]
Sheweth
That yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r in ye yeare of ye Lord 1644 was called from his owne worke in ye Parish where he liued at Knoyle aforesaid to ye tything of Rudge w[i]thin ye p[ar]ish of Chilmarke to worke at his Trade beinge A Carpenter where he was pressed for A soldier by John Fizard Tythingman, for ye service of Laingford Garrison, wherein yt service, yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r was daungerously wounded, & lost ye vse of his right Arme, soe yt yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r and his child is like vtterly to come to misery, seeinge he can not worke at his Trade.
yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r before he was pressed did honestly & carefully maynteyne himselfe & his charge, as by A Certificate vnder ye hands of his Parrish[i]on[e]rs heerevnto annexed more fully appeareth:
May it therefore please yo[u]r good wo[rshi]ps seeinge yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r is nowe disabled & cannot worke to maynteyne himselfe & his charge, to allowe him some allowance for ye tyme past, & alsoe for ye future, accordinge as yo[u]r wisedomes shall seeme meete from ye Tythinge of Rudge afores[ai]d from where he was pressed whose occasion, was both ye vndoinge of yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r in beinge wounded & alsoe did saue at home those w[hi]ch should haue gone in his place out of ye said Tythinge.
For w[hi]ch yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r shal be in Duty bound to pray &c