The petition of Richard Ricketts of East Knoyle, Wiltshire, Michaelmas 1646
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace of the Countie of Wilts[hire]
The humble petic[i]on of Richard Ricketts a poore lame maymed man
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r petic[i]oner being a Carpenter and at Worke at Rudge in the p[ar]ish of Chilmarke in the Countie of Wilts[hire] was in the tyme of the kings Armey Regency in these p[ar]ts impressed guarded & by Force Caried vnto Langford Garison vnder the Comand of S[i]r Bartholmewe Pell & others the kings comand[e]rs by John Fezard then tythingman of Rudge aforesaid, In w[hi]ch service of the said Garison yo[u]r petic[i]oner was dangerously woonded & Cripled & disabled for all Future service or labour, whereby both himselfe and a small child of yo[u]r petic[i]oners is left wholy to the charitie of his neighbours for their releife & susteynance
Yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] most humbly desireth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to tend[e]r the wretched estate of yo[u]r petic[i]oner, and to order that some allowance be made for yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs releife, according to the Statute and yo[u]r wor[shi]pps wisdome & Charitie, by the inhabitants of the said p[ar]ish of Chilmarke & Rudge being a woonded man for the service of the said p[ar]ish And yo[u]r petic[i]oner shall eu[er] pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]pps longe life & hapines &c
the p[ar]ish to releive them accordinge to ye [illegible] necessity of ye p[ar]ty
stay the draweinge vp of this order vntill the Justic[e]s be further Acquainted