The petition of William Deane the elder of Leicester, Leicestershire, 1652 to 1653
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Maior and Aldermen of the Burrough of Leicester
The humble petic[i]on of William Deane the elder of the Burrough of Leic[ester].
<Sheweth>
That whereas yo[u]r said Peticon[e]r as is not vnknowne to some of yo[u]r {illegible}Towne borne Child And as conc[er]ninge his life and Conu[er]sac[i]on hee {illegible} referreth to yo[u]r wor[shi]ps sensures: And whereas hee hath beene ready {illegible} willing to his vtmost abillity to doe and p[er]forme his true service to the {illegible} of England from the first begininge of theis vnhappy warrs vntill with this few Monethes, beinge disabled by reason of old age and his vnfortunatly of lameness Insoemuch that hee is become togeather with his wife miserably necessitated and scarce able to subsist without the Charitable benevolence of tender hearted xpians: yet hopeinge that if yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps and such others would bee pleased in the bowells of mercy to looke vpon him in extendinge yo[u]r charitable Contribuc[i]on towards beareing his chardges to London whereby hee might (by the assistance of some others) obteyne there the benefitt of some place in one Hospitall or other and by the Chiurgians therevnto belonginge bee (vnder god) cured of his lamenes Hee might bee yet able to maynteyne himselfe and his poore wife without beinge further Chargeable to yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps or any others.
Humbly therefore craveinge (the pr[e]misses Considered) yo[u]r wor[shi]ps will bee pleased to extend yo[u]r charitable Contribuc[i]ons towards the Releife of yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]rs necessitated Condic[i]on as aforesaid in what measure you shall thinke meete And they shall bee ever bound to pray &c.