The petition of Thomas Howson, Charles Gerard’s Regiment of Horse, May 1660
To the Kings Most Excellent Ma[jes]tie
The humble petition of Thomas Howson Late Purveyor for yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Poultrey in ye west of England.
humbly sheweth.
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r served yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie faithfully in the Army with his life & fortune Vnder ye Com[m]and of Mr David Walter in the Regim[en]t of ye Right hono[ura]ble the Lord Gerrard While yo[u]r pet[itione]r was Com[m]anded by Mr Hall Clarke Controuler to attend yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie as Purveyor in the rome of yo[u]r pet[itione]rs Master whoe by sicknesse was incapacitated to serve yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie.
Nowe soe it is may it please yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie yt yo[u]r pet[itione]r at yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties departure from England was left behinde; yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie haveing noe Occasion for to imploye yo[u]r pet[itione]r further: and ever since yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath indeavored by his parson and purse to promote yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties interrest being in ye West plundered of all yo[u]r pet[itione]r was worth and forced to beg his bread all ye way to London and after in the Regim[en]t of S[i]r William Compton at the Surrender of Colchester strypt naked even to his very ruine.
Yo[u]r pet[itione]r therefore most humbly Prayeth ye premisses being considered That yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie wil be gratiously pleased to bestowe on yo[u]r pet[itione]r the yeoman purveyors place for poultreye there being none left alive yt ever served yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Royall Father or yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie in that Imploym[en]t and yo[u]r pet[itione]r being ever educated to that service from his youth and nowe desires to spend ye remainder of his dayes in yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties service.
And as in duty bound yo[u]r pet[itione]r shal ever pray &c.