The petition of William Summer of Leicester, Leicestershire, 1653 to 1655
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Maior of Leicester the wor[shipfu]ll Aldermen his brethren and the rest of the societie of this Corporac[i]on
The humble petic[i]on of William Summer of the said Borough of Leicester Taylor.
Sheweth vnto your wor[shi]pps That your petic[i]oner haveinge lyved for many yeares together in this Corporac[i]on and payeinge and vndergoeinge all taxes and imposic[i]ons which have beene any waies laid vpon him both to Church State and poore, moreover beeing a fellow=sufferer with others in this Towne when it what was stormed by the late Kings forces haveinge then lost the greatest part of his estate by plunder and alsoe beeing then deprived of one of his sonnes whoe was slaine in defence of this said Towne hee beeing a great helpe and comfort to your petic[i]oner in helpeinge him to gett a great part of his liveinge.
That your petic[i]oner haveinge likewise paid vnto the Company of Taylors in this said Corporac[i]on the Sum[m]e of Tenn pounds to bee admitted to worke in the said Trade and likewise payeinge vnto them sixe shillings and eight pence for openinge his shopp windowes which moneys your petic[i]oner conceived was to make himself both of Towne and Trade yet notwithstandinge his money soe paid doth little advantage him without the Freedom of this said Borough in regard hee is not as yett incorporated as a Freeman into this said Borough.
Humbly therefore hee supplicateth yo[u]r wor[shi]pps that the p[re]misses Considered you will bee pleased to graunt him his freedome hee haveinge paid soe much Money beeing a poore man and [illegible] his employment beeing but meane, yet desireinge to bee conformable to the Orders and government of this said Corporac[i]on
And hee as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
To bee pr[o]secuted at ye next Com[m]on Hall