The petition of Richard Towneley of Skipton, West Riding of Yorkshire, 5 February 1679
To ye Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of ye peace at the Q[uarte]r Sessions of the peace houlden at Skipton the fifth day of Februarij Anno R[ex] Caroli s[e]c[un]di nuc Angli &c xxxjo: Annoq Domini 1678.
The humble Petic[i]on of Richard Towneley of Skipton whoe showeth to yo[u]r worr[shi]pps yt yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r was a souldier vnd[e]r the Com[m]and of Collonell Malham in ye late vnfortunate warrs in England, in w[hi]ch hee receiued sev[er]all wounds (& haveing had a Considerable estate before) was much Impov[er]ished by the s[ai]d service, & now beinge growne ould, lame, & Infirme, & not able to gett a liueinge whereby to gett maintayne himselfe, is likely to fall into greate necessitye & want
Yo[u]r Petic[i]on[e]r therefore humbly prayes yo[u]r good wor[shi]pps will be pleased to take ye pr[e]misses into yo[u]r serious & Juditious Conisderac[i]ons, & yt hee may be admitted as a Penc[i]oner & entred into ye Penc[i]on Roll & [illegible] yt hee may receiue ye penc[i]on w[hi]ch formerly did belonge to Mr Brayshaw of Skipton late dec[ease]d & yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r as in duty bound will ev[e]r pray &c.
Wee haue taken ye Petic[i]on into Considerac[i]on & doe know the Petic[i]on[e]r deserveinge, & doe thinke fitt yt he may be Admitted into ye Penc[i]on Roll accordinge to ye ten[o]r of ye Petic[i]on, In testimony whereof wee haue herevnto subscribed our hands.
And oath beinge likewise made vnto us doe further thinke fitt & doe ord[e]r yt ye Petic[i]on[e]r be admitted into ye Penc[i]on Roll at ye next Q[uarte]r sessions at Pomfract & yt hee haue ye Penc[i]on form[e]rly belonginge to the aboves[ai]d Mr Brayshaw.
John Seables