The petition of William Ratcliffe of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, September 1652
To the wo[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace for the Countie of Stafford
The humble petic[i]on of William Ratcliffe, a poore maimed Souldyer.
Humbly Sheweth that yo[u]r pet[itione]r was a Souldyer and pressed at Newcastle in this Countie about Whittsontide 1651 for the service of Ireland, and since that tyme yo[u]r petc[i]on[e]r served in the said service in the Regyment of Collonell Hewson vnd[e]r the Comand of Captaine Edward Howar vntill February last, about w[hi]ch tyme yo[u]r peticion[e]r being in a fight there was trodden vpon with a horse, and his belly thereby broaken whereby yo[u]r peticion[e]r is disabled to doe any hard worke to gett his liueinge, & hath noe meanes whereby to maintaine himself w[i]thout working.
Yo[u]r peticion[e]r therefore humbly prayeth that yo[u]r Worshipps wil be pleased to allow yo[u]r peticion[e]r such maintenance as the parlyment hath appointed for maymed Souldyers
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall daily pray &c.