The petition of William Walter of Chichester, Sussex, October 1658
To the Wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of the peace for the County of Sussex.
The humble Petic[i]on of William Walter a maimed Souldier
Humbly Sheweth
That yo[u]r poore Petic[i]on[e]r haueing beene in many Engagments ag[ains]t the Common Enemies of these Nations and Continued in the service dureinge the tyme of the whole Warre and hath receiued such dangerous Wounds that thereby hee is vtterly vndone being not able to vse his right Arme to gett a liueing for himselfe and his wife and five Small Children most humbly and thankfully acknowledging yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps favour vppon his form[e]r Petic[i]ons in granting Three and Fifty shillings & foure Pence p[er] ann[um] towards his releife, But such is his sadd Condic[i]on that though hee doe all that hee can hee finds himselfe worse eu[er]y day then other by reason of his wounds, And his Familie encreasing causeth him once more to take the bauldnesse to move yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps by way of Petic[i]on
Most humbly praying yo[u]r Worshipps seariously to Consider the Pr[e]misses and in tender Bowells of Compassion to grant that ye 2 li. 13 s. 4 d. p[er] ann[um] form[er]ly granted may by yo[u]r order bee made vp five Pounds p[er] ann[um] whereby himselfe his wife and Children may be refreshed and engaged to blesse god for you
And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall eu[er] pray &c.
5 li. a yeare ordered
<W[illia]m Walter>