The petition of Thomas Butcher of Langham, Essex, 1657
To the Right Wor[ship]full the Justices of the peace for the Countie of Essex
The humble petition of Thomas Butcher of the p[ar]ish of Langha[m] in the County of Essex, afores[ai]d.
Humbly sheweth that yo[u]r petition[e]r beinge pressed for the service of the Parliam[en]t, against Lyn in the County of Norfolk und[e]r the Earl of Manchest[e]r and returning from the s[ai]d service sore and dangerously wounded; soe that he hath been Disabled ev[e]r since from following of his calling, soe as he could doe before; for the p[ro]uidinge of a poore livelyhood for himself and family: doth therefore humbly Crave that your Wor[shi]ps would be pleased to take his poore Conditio[n] into yo[u]r Charitable consideration[n]; And yo[u]r s[ai]d Petitioner shall for ever pray &c.
Wee whose names are here vnderwritten, Inhabitants of the parish of Langha[m] afores[ai]d doe humbly certifie, that Thomas Butcher aboue named did returne from the seruice of the Parliam[en]t sore and dangerously wounded, as is aboue mentioned, by reason whereof he hath not been able to followe his Calling, as before he Could, for the procuringe of a liuelyhood, for himself, and his family, to subsist withall.
Ro[bert] Maidstone of Boxted
W[illia]m Vmfraile
Tho[mas] Sebbon min[iste]r
Barth[olomew] Hall
Isaac Bemish
4 li. p[er] an[num]