The petition of William Bygrave of Ashwell, Hertfordshire, 15 April 1658
<15th of Aprill 1658>
To the R[igh]t wo[rshi]pp[fu]ll the Justices of the Publique peace for the County of Hertf[ordshire]
The humble petic[i]on of William Bygraue of Ashwell in the said County labo[u]rer
Whereas ytt pleased the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory to order sev[er]all penc[i]ons to be yerely paid for and towards the releife of poore maimed souldiers for the County aforesaid w[hi]ch yett remayne due and payable accordingly. And whereas a penc[i]on of 40 s. yerely was lately ordered by yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to be paid unto William Gearinge of Wormley beinge a p[er]son lame in the late State seruice upon whose death that penc[i]on now ceaseth, yo[u]r petic[i]oner ya beinge for 6 monethes together and upwards in the late warrs for the said State seruice a souldier under the com[m]and of Collonell Rochford att Edgehill fight and under the Com[m]and of Collonell Michell att Henly upon Thames and haueinge had much lamenes and sicknes in the said service and since is now unable for hard labour by reason theirof and haueinge wife and children to meynteyne and for the reasons aforesaid
doeth humbly beseech yo[u]r wor[shi]pps that the said penc[i]on of 40 s. lately conferred upon the said Gewaringe deceassed may be transferred and paid yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner And he w[i]th his wife and children shall daily pray yo[u]r wo[rshi]pps &c.
<Wee the Inh[ab]itants of the p[ar]ish of Ashwell whose names are subscribed doe humblye certifye the contents of this petic[i]on to be true.>
Rich[ard] Reaynolds
John Crow Minister
Jonathan Waller
[Illegible] Waller 15458 [?15 April 1658]
John Clerke
John Sell } Ouerseers for the
Henry Shipsea } po[o]re
John Shipsea }
John Lilly } Church wardens
John Plomer
John Sell senior
Francis Rainour Constabl[e]s