The petition of William Ireland of Southwick, Northamptonshire, Easter 1668
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll Justices of the peace for the County of North[amp]ton[shire]
The humble petic[i]on of William Ireland of Southwicke in the said County of North[amp]ton[shire]
Humbly Sheweth
To yo[u]r Woo[rshi]pps that yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner is in a Lame man and altogether vnable to get a Livelihood to live vpon by reason of his greate Lameness w[hi]ch he received in the Servis of his late Ma[jes]tie of euer blessed Memory And there vpon it were the Goodnesse of this hon[oura]ble Bench to allow him the yearely penc[i]on of Foure poundes a yeare, and hath an Order for it, And had his order by the Consent of the Right hon[oura]ble the Earle of Westmorland, And Maurice Tresham & Edward Palmer Esq[uire]s & Justices of the peace for ye said County were pleased to sett their hands to the said order about Three Yeares since. And the last asessions it were the pleasure of the ho[noura]ble Bench to Order his said penc[i]on of Foure pounds a yeare to Foure Nobles a yeare.
May it therefore please yo[u]r Good Wor[shi]pps to Consider of my poore & Lame Condic[i]on and that I am an antient Man Three score years old & vpwards & live at a greate distance from this Town of North[amp]ton & almost vnable to come to this Sessions for my pention humbly beggeth of yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps for the Continuence of my former pention if it may be, otherwise I earnestly beg of yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps for an addition to yo[u]r wor[shi]pps late order
w[hi]ch will cause yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner dayly to pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps &c