The petition of William Ballard of Taunton, Somerset, 12 July 1653
To the r[igh]t Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace now assembled at in Sessions at the Castle of Taunton for the County of Som[er]s[et]
The humble petic[i]on of William Ballard of Taunton
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r during the seu[er]all seiges of Taunton was a faithfull Souldier in the service of the state vnder the com[m]aund of Capt[ain] Philip Lissant in w[hi]ch seruice yo[u]r pet[itione]r rec[eived] a shott from the enemy in the throat by means wherof hee still continues in a very sad condic[i]on & vnable to get maintenance for himselfe his wife & three small children
May it therfore please yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to consider the pr[e]misses & vouchsafe to order that something may be conferd on yo[u]r pet[itione]r for the releife of his present & future necessityes as in yo[u]r graue wisdomes shal be thought fit
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall pray &c
<We whose names are herevnto subscribed doe attest the verity of this petic[i]on>
<Philip Lissant>
<John Sampson>
<William Jeule>
[Reverse:]
Nothinge till further ex[amination] Ballard xii p[er] weeke by the p[ar]ish unles cause to the contrary to the mayor &c of Taunton