The petition of Thomas Bell of Runcorn, Cheshire, Easter 1661
To the right wor[shi]pfull the Justices of the Peace now assembled at Midlewich in the County Palat[ine] of Chester.
The humble petic[i]on of Thomas Bell a souldier in the late Kings Army vnder the command of Col[onel] Gibson your petic[i]oner being the eldest seriant in that Regiment.
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That your poore petic[i]oner hath binn a souldier ever since the distractiue tymes begann & euer hath binn faithfull to his late Ma[jes]tie & ever hath vpon occasion commanded, hath faithfully obserued his Commands, in which service your Petic[i]oner was wounded & Maymed to his great loss & pr[e]iudice by reason yo[u]r poore Petic[i]oner is not able any way to help himselfe by reason of his afforesayd wounds & hurts & Maymes.
May it therefore please yo[u]r wor[shi]ps to take into Considerac[i]on the lamentable Condic[i]on of yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner hee being in Runckhorne borne in the County of Chester & soe many yeares suffered intreats yo[u]r wor[shi]ps to consider whereby Releife may be had for his wiffe himselfe & Children & yo[u]r petic[i]oner will euer pray &c