The petition of Thomas Rushon, Staffordshire, January 1656
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the Sessions now holden in Stafford
The most humble Petic[i]on of Tho[mas] Rushon:
Most humbly sheweth That yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner hath beene longe a Souldier in the Parlyam[en]ts seruice here in England vnder the Comand of Coll[onel] Symon Ridgley and afterwards in Ireland vnder Collo[nel] Vennables where he gott a most cruell disease called the fallinge sicknes in soe much that not beinge able to doe service any longer then came againe for England and went vpp to London listing himself againe in the sayd ymploym[en]t but the Officers fyndinge his disubilitye to doe his duetye was willinge to release him from his Engagm[en]t and soe he came againe into his Countrye againe hopinge to haue had some releefe from his Father but he not beinge not [sic.] willing to afford him anye is constrayned to moue this Wor[shipfu]ll Bench that some Course may be taken ether w[i]th his Father or that the p[ar]ish wherein he was borne may giue him some allowance to keepe him from starueinge, not now being able to helpe himselfe, by reason of the sayd sicknes.
And he shall pray for yo[ur] happines.
See [?the] [illegible]