The petition of Thomas Osborne of Hereford (St John the Baptist Parish), Herefordshire, 1681 to 1682
To the wor[shi]ppfull Richard Gower Esq[ui]r[e] Major of the Citty of Herefford, & to others the Hono[u]r[a]ble, & wor[shi]ppfull his Ma[jes]ties Justices of peace, & Chieffe Citttizens of the said Citty;
The humble Addresse of Thomas Osborne of this Cittye Tailer a poore aged decayed freeman of the Age of 70 yeares, & vpwards;
Most humbly supplicateinge In respect, And for that your petic[ione]r haveinge binne a poore faithfull indigent souldier in the service of his Ma[jes]ties Royall father, & most gracious Ma[jes]tie that nowe is for diverse yeares togeather persistinge his fidelity repaireinge hither in fewe yeares past, where he first torke vpp Armes peticoninge for redresse beinge impotent, nowe past worke, his sight much faileinge him had provision of 8 d. Relieffe weekely ordered to him out of the parish of S[ain]te John the Baptist within this Citty, though from tyme to tyme promised the Fall of an Hospitall, yet waned, albeit many Falls since happened; And your peticon[e]r beinge not of capacity to pay Rent, buy foode, & Rayment with that his small Alloweance, humbly beseecheth order for some Additionall Augmentac[i]on more what your Honors & Wor[shi]pps please towards his further support, & Relieffe,
And this considered your poore Aged petic[ione]r as much bounden to your wor[shi]pps therefore shall allwaies pray &c;
Allowed i s. p[er] weeke