The petition of William Witham of Writtle, Essex, 1675
To the Right honno[ra]ble and Right Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace Assembled this pr[e]sent Quarter Sessions
The humble Petic[i]on of William Witham of Writtle
<Sheweth>
that yo[u]r pet[itione]r in the yeare 1648 out of his affection and Loyalty to his late Ma[jes]tie Charles the first of blessed memory did voluntarily inlist himselfe a souldier vnder the Conduct of Leiut[enant] Collonell Smith in Coll[onel] Farres Regiment in the late expedic[i]on at Colchester in which service yo[u]r pet[itione]r continued till the surrender thereof faithfully discharginge his dutye But so it is that by meanes of the hard dutye and vnholesome dyett in that seige yo[u]r pet[itione]r is much impaired in his sight & vnable to followe his Trade beinge a Blacksmith
Yo[u]r pet[itione]r therefore prayeth that in Regards hee hath hitherto rec[eive]d very little satisfaction for his services & sufferings that this honno[ura]ble Bench will please to allott him some Competent Gratuity out of the stocke for Charitable Vses in such p[ro]porc[i]on as you shall thinke fitt And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall pray &c.