The petition of William Goant of Bondleigh, Devon, Easter 1664
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll S[i]r Thomas Carie and the rest of his ma[jes]ties Wor[shipfu]ll Justices of the Peace at the generall sessions holden at the Castle of Exon, the humble petic[i]on of William Goant.
Humbly sheweth to y[ou]r Worships that y[ou]r said petition[e]r William Goant of the parish of parish of [sic.] Bondleigh in the County of Devon being pressed awaye out of the said parish for his Ma[jes]tie King Charles the first his service in the voyage to Yorke did Continue in his said Ma[jes]ties service (to the utmost hazard of his life and fortunes[)] for the space of nine yeares. Who (although he suffered Verie hard imprison[en]ts and Cruell usage from the enemie) never deserted his said Ma[jes]ties service or toke armes against him, but Continued a faithfull and Loyall soldier and subiect unto the end of the late unhappie warres in this Kingdome, but now (being disenabled by divers and dangerous wounds w[hi]ch he then received in the said service) to gett any livelihood by his labour, he is reduced to extreame povertie and want.
The humble sute of y[ou]r poore petition[e]r therefore is that y[ou]r Worships would be graciouslie pleased to take in to y[ou]r grave Considerac[i]on his sad Condic[i]on, and to order some waye and meanes for his reliefe in this his great necessitie and want as in your Wisedome you shall thinke fitt. And yo[u]r petitio[ne]r shall ever praye &c.
We whose names are here subscribed doe hereby Certefie that the petitio[ne]r William Goant was pressed out of our parish of Bondleigh for his ma[jes]tie King Charles the first his service in the Voiage to Yorke, as is abovesaid, And that he continued (to the best of o[u]r knowledge) constant in his ma[jes]ties service unto the end of the Late unhappie wars in this Kingdome and that we never knew, or heard that he at any time tooke armes against the King, And also that he is now impotent and Come to great povertie and want.
<Wee believe this petition to bee true.>
Robert Underhill Constable
signe of
William [symbol: mark] Peeke overseer for ye poore
Thomas Banberie
John Paddon
Christopher Rogers sen[ior]
Christopher Rogers junior
John Hatherleigh
John Newcombe
Phillip Dunne
George Packer
William Heward
Thomas Luxton
< Jo: Clotworthy>
<I know the petic[i]oner was a long tyme in his ma[jes]ties service & believe the peticon to be true.>
<Bartho[lomew] Gidley>
30 s. p[er] ann[um] & 5 s. in hand
[On reverse:]
Goants petition
maimed soldier fiat ad