The petition of William Leake of Barthomley, Cheshire, Epiphany 1656
To the Right wor[sh]ip[fu]ll the Justices of Peace within the County of Chester
The Humble Petic[i]on of William Leake.
<Sheweth>
That whereas yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]r was at the time of the beginning of the late warres in England an Inhabitant in the parish of Barthomley and by trade a Gunne Smith and beinge much maligned by the publiq[ue] Enemy hee was forced out and left his house to his great expence and losse of goods and then takeinge vpp Armes vnder the Comand of S[i]r William Brereton in Cheshire in the publiq[ue]s Service receiued an incurable Mayme in his hands whereby hee is become very much disabled to follow his vocac[i]on, as alsoe to Mayntaine himselfe and his Charge of wife and three Children, not haueinge any thinge else to Subsist on but what hee getts by his hard and very paynefull Labour w[hi]ch sayd p[ar]ticulers app[ear]inge true by Seuerall Certificates ready to bee produced.
May it therefore please yo[u]r Wor[sh]ips (Consideringe the p[re]misses) and the rather for that hee hath hitherto bin soe greate a Sufferrer and receiued (as yet) noe recompence to admitt him to become a Penc[i]on[e]r and to allow vnto him such an Annuall Penc[i]on (Consideringe his form[e]r patience) as you shall in yo[u]r wisdome and Charity thinke fitt.
And hee will Euer pray &c
<30 s. penc[i]on>