The petition of William Rashwood of Nursteed, Wiltshire, 8 April 1662
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Justic[e]s of Peace at the gen[er]all Quarter Sessions of the peace holden at the Devizes Aprill viiith 1662.
The humble Petic[i]on of Will[ia]m Rashwood of Nusteed in the p[ar]ish of Bishopps Cannings Labourer
Humbly sheweth, That whereas yo[u]r Pet[itione]r was prest a souldier at Nusteed afores[ai]d in the late kings service ag[ains]t the Parliam[en]t Army, and lay 4 dayes in the Feild in Allford fight neare to Winchester vnder the Com[m]aund to Captayne Barnett in Col[one]l Hoptons Regim[en]t. And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r continued in the said service vntill he became soe sick & lame w[i]th lying on the ground that he was noe longer fitt for the service, And is thereby disabled from labouring for his living as form[er]ly he hath done.
Yo[u]r Pet[itione]r humbly prayeth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to be pleased to allow him a Penc[i]on by the yeare towards his releife, such as in yo[u]r wisedoms you shall thinke fitt, To be paid vnto him by the Treasurer for the North p[ar]te of his Countie. And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall ever pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps health & happynesse.
<Atested vnder the hands of the p[ar]ishoners>
Tho[mas] Rose
William Smith
Richard Gr{e}en }
Robert Brothers } Church Wardens
John Wintworth
John Leawes
Mich[ael] Rose
Mich[ael] Chappelle
William Powell
Antho[ny] Flower
Henry Lowes
Will[iam] Lewes
<40 s. p[er] ann[um]>
<1 li. m[an]o>
Noe penc[i]on[er] in ye County hath more nede of y[ou]r Wor[shi]pps Compasion