The petition of Thomas Neale of Rushton, Northamptonshire, Trinity 1676
To the right wor[shi]pfull his Ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace for the County of North[amp]ton[shire]
The humble petic[i]on of Thomas Neale of Rusden in the said County of North[amp]ton[shire] Laborer
Sheweth
That yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r is aboue the age of Three score and Fowre yeares and beinge Lame and sore greived with aches and paines, by reason of his lamnes and his age, & past his labour, & not haveing wherewithall to maynetaine himselfe to supply nature & that yo[u]r poor petic[i]on[e]r was one of his Ma[jes]ties souldiers in the late warrs.
Yo[u]r poore peticon[er] most humbly prayes yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to take his deplorable condic[i]on into [his] yo[u]r pious Considerac[i]ons and graunt an ord[e]r that yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r may receive from the p[ar]ish of Rusden (itt being the place where yo[u]r poore peticon[e]r doth inhabite) such weekely mayntenance as yo[u]r wor[shi]ps shall deeme meete and convenient towards his releife or graunt yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r a penc[i]on.
And yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.