The petition of Thomas Clarke of Cockerham, Lancashire, Midsummer 1674
To the Right worshipp[fu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of Peace and Quor[um] att the Gen[er]all Sessions of peace holden att Lanc[aste]r for the County Pallatine of Lancaster.
The humble petic[i]on of Thomas Clarke of Cockerham a poore maymed Souldier;
Sheweth:
That yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r beinge a very poore man and hath nothinge wherewith to live vpon saveinge his handy labor and one that hath beene ever Faithfull in his Ma[jes]ties service since the First beginninge and hath beene one that had an Allowance or Stippend yearly out of the moneyes raised for poore Maymed Souldiers since his Ma[jes]ties happy restorac[i]on save onely the last yeare and how yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r came to be put out of the list he knowes not, but humbly beggs he may be restored into his former place & have such Allowance as yow in yo[u]r wisdomes shall thinke meete, otherwyse yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r is in great danger of sadd want and poverty fallinge vpon him;
May it therefore please yo[u]r Good worshipps to seriously Consider of yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs sadd Condic[i]on whereby he may bee releived and he in dutie bound will ever pray &c.