The petition of Robert Holmes of Leicester, Leicestershire, 1645 to 1647
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Maior, Aldermen his brethren and the rest of this societye.
The humble petic[i]on of Robert Holmes.
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r (at the takeinge of the towne) beinge at the works in Arms for the defence of the Garrison rece[ive]d many dangerous wounds whereby he hath vtterly lost the vse of one of his Armes.
That he hath since married Alice Orton of Humberston gate whose former husband was barberously slayne by a souldyer of this Garrison.
That he is a Blacksmyth by trade, and hath served 7 yeares as an apprentice therevnto accordinge to the statute.
That he cannott be p[er]mitted to followe his said lawfull callinge w[i]thin this Burrough w[i]thout the freedome thereof, and thereby is disinabled, eyther to maynetaine himselfe, his wife, Childe and famely, or to pay such taxes and imposic[i]ons as haue beene, or hereafter may be imposed vppon him.
The pr[e]misses Considered may it please yo[u]r good Wor[shi]pps and the rest of this society to graunt vnto yo[u]r pet[itione]r the Freedome of this Corporac[i]on vppon a moderate Fyne (his losses duly considered) to the w[hi]ch he will most willingly submitt.
And dayly pray for the p[ro]speritye of the whole Corporac[i]on.
granted for x li.