The petition of William Pulman of Alphington, Devon, c. 1675
To The Right W[o]rsippfull
Thomas Carew Knight or to the W[o]rsipfull Justices
The Humble petition off William Pulman of the parish of Alphinton in this county of devon: yo[u]r pore petitioner would desire yo[u]r worships to commiserate my pore & impotent condition, yo[u]r pore petitioner hath served his Royall maiestys father, in fights & all other dutys faithfully, all the tyme of the war: & was wounded dangerously which is Apearant, & alsoe can p[r]oduce wittnes unto what is here expresed & ever since the happy Restauration of o[u]r gracious King Charls the second has bene A sworne foot post on all command, but now being sixty & six years old, is very feeble, whith former greivious wounds, & having much other sorrow, in the los of children, one was in the Kings service 13 mounth & in three engagements & received noe pay & now being drownd coming from France the last Easter, yo[u]r pore petioner did goe beyond his power before he went to France to disburs for conveniency for his son & passed for necessaries that now are like not to have a bed to lye on, but am like to perish soe hopeing yo[u]r gracious consideration will releeve my distress I shall be bound to pray for yo[u]r worships prosperitie
[On the reverse:]
Will[iam] Pulman 20 s. p[er] Annu[m] & 5 s. in hand