The petition of William Howard of Petworth, Sussex, April 1683
To the Kings Ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace for the County of Sussex Sitting in open Sessions
The humble petic[i]on of William Howard late of Bury & now of the Parish of Petworth in the said County
Sheweth
That yo[u]r poor Petic[i]oner served his Ma[jes]tie King Charls the first of blessed memory vnder the com[m]and of the right hono[ura]ble the Lord Loughborough as a faithfull Souldier vnto the end of the first Warr 1646 ever behaving himselfe as a good Souldier & faithfull Subject And hath ever since continued (as in duty bound) his allegiance & fidelity to the kings Ma[jes]tie that now is & ever will continue the same vnto his lifes end And further sheweth vnto yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps that yo[u]r Petic[i]oner is now by misfortunes brought into a very lowe & poor Condic[i]on and not able to releive himselfe as formerly by reason of his age & imbecility
Wherefore yo[u]r poor Petic[i]oner humbly implores yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to consider his needfull Condic[i]on and to allowe him a Pention towards his sustenance as yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps shall think fitt And yo[u]r Petic[i]oner ever will (as he allwaies hath) pray for the long life of his Ma[jes]tie & prosperity of his Government and the continued happinesse of yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps and all others vnder it.