The petition of Thomas Ainsworth, Lancashire, 8 October 1661
To the hono[u]r[a]ble his Ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace and Quorum at the Quarter Sessions holden this 8th day of October 1661 at Lancaster the humble Petition of Thomas Ainsworth, whoe humbly
Sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r hono[u]rs petitioner accordeing to his bounden Faith and Loyalty, did in the times of this last horrid and bloody Rebellion, against that Royall and sacred Martyr Charles the first of England king, take vpp Armes in defence of that blessed king, vnder the Comand of that Noble subiect S[i]r John Girlington whoe lost his life in his Masters cause, vnder whome yo[u]r hono[u]rs petitioner was Quarter Master and in that service receiued seuerall dangerous wounds whereby yo[u]r petitioner has remained a lame and Impotent man these many yeares by past and soe still continues, beesides beeing struck into great yeares with the losse of all his worldly estate in that serueice, and brought into a verie poore and lowe condition haueing a wife and charge of children, and nothing left him to buy them bread, nor to releiue and suckour himself, and that merely for his Loyalty to his soveraigne Lord the king of blessed memorie.
May it theirfore please yo[u]r hono[u]rs in tender comiseration of yo[u]r poore petitioners sad condic[i]on and that sustained in soe sacred cause, that you will take the pr[e]misses into consideration and afforde him such releife as shall seeme best with yo[u]r hono[u]rs graue Judgements and most agreeable to the Charity of yo[u]r noble hearts, that yo[u]r poore petitioner, his wife and children may not die in woefull want and yo[u]r petitioner as in dutie bound will humbly pray for yo[u]r honor[u]rs health and safetie &c.