The petition of Walter Morice Walker, City and County of Worcester, 1676
The humble Petic[i]on of Walter Morice Walker Clothier of the Parish of St Martin in the City.
Who truely sheweth unto your Wors[hi]ps
That he hath been a faithfull Souldier unto King Charles the First of blessed Memory, first against the Scots, next in Ireland, after in his own native Country here in England. And after to his Ma[jes]tie that now is, untill the last fight in this Citie; being then a Lieutenant was taken Prisoner, and sold for 14 shillings, but was bought off by a Friend at Bristoll for five pounds, (having rec[eive]d several wounds in the said service) and hath lived in good fashion ev{er} since, till of late, that he is grown into decay by reason of bad trading, and his small {illegible} And is at pr[e]sent in the Town Hall prison for Debt, w[hi]ch is 8 pounds, he having {illegible} about 11 weeks, and now his Crediter would willingly accept of 6 pound, but {illegible} all the Friends he hath can will pay it during this time of his imprison[en]t, his W{illegible} and pawned almost all his poor houshold stuff to relieve him, her selfe an{d} {illegible} Children, having Petic[i]oned the Mayor, but as yet he hath no weekly {illegible} him, he being now in a very poor distressed condition, being aged sixty {illegible} very loth to make his case known, but that his sad extremity drives {illegible} become an object of Pitty. He therefore humbly intreats yo[u]r Wors{hips} {illegible} some yearly Pension on him for ye remainder of his dayes, which {illegible} the course of nature, And if your Wors[hi]ps cannot graunt him any {illegible} (That you will be pleased out of your {illegible} and Charity to bestow some thing on him to helpe him for the prese{nt} {illegible} Petitioner his Wife and Children, will be ever obliged to pray for yo[u]r wellfares here, and eternall happinesses hereafter.
Tho[mas] Vernon
X s. given in cort