By J. Waylen. 885 
Showing—That your poor petitioners are willing to undergo their proportional 
tax of the general burden of this kingdom, provided they be tied to no other 
inconveniences than your Excellency’s Declaration and the Ordinances of Parlia- 
ment divulge,—To the effect, That if the country pay the £60,000 per mensem, 
there shall be no free-quartering. Now, we have had here for the last thirty 
days a troop of a hundred dragoons, besides their officers, under Captain 
Barrington; and those of us who refuse to quarter them are compelled to pay 
three shillings a day. Ours is the least and poorest hundred in the county. We 
therefore desire you to give us a positive order under your hand and seal as to 
what we shall allow soldiers, whether upon a march or upon settled quarters. 
Having suffered far beyond other places, we ask to be free of settled quartering, 
except it be upon a march for a night or two. And your petitioners as in duty 
bound shall ever pray for your Excellency. (Signed by) Thomas Hancocke, 
Mayor, and twelve others. 28th February, 1648. 
6th April, 1647. Richard Hunt is become tenant in the behalf of Jane 
Blackmore, widow, for a copyhold in Collingbourn Kingston, belonging to Captain 
Robert Ford, a delinquent in arms, for the year ending Michaelmas next, at £14 
payable half-yearly. 
6th April. Having received an order from Goldsmiths’ Hall’signifying that 
Sir John Penruddocke’s sequestration being taken off, £32 10s. is to be repaid 
him, Mr. Berry is become tenant to the State for Mr. John Penruddocke’s annuity 
out of his father’s estate till next Michaelmas, and is to pay presently £7 10s., 
which, with the other sum of £32 10s., is aceepted for the rent of Mr. John 
Penruddocke’s annuity, whereof £40 was due last Lady-Day. And Mr. Berry 
is to pay £40 more next Michaelmas, when his term ends; as also young Mrs, 
Penruddocke’s fifths.—(Subsequent entry.) 26th June, 1648. Being a different 
agreement, showing that Mr. John Penruddocke had just come into possession 
of further means accruing to him by his father’s death. 
6th April. Thomas Walker, late Quarter-Master to the troop of horse under 
the command of Lieut.-Col. Pudsey, whilst he was Governor of Chalfield garrison, 
having in London exhibited his debentures for arrears of pay, the Committee of 
Safety request the Wilts Committee to give him £30 on account, or what more 
they conveniently can. [The above garrison was stationed in 1645 for a short 
period in the old mansion, still standing, called Great Chalfield, near Melksham.] 
Another officer, named Lieut. Henry Prescot, exhibits debentures for no less 
a sum than £460, for services performed in conjunction with Col. Edmund 
Ludlow. The Wilts Committee are urged to advance him £60 on account. 
Ist May. An order from the Committee of Safety directs the Wilts Com- 
mittee to pay unto Mrs. Bridget Thistlethwayte, relict of Captain Francis 
Thistlethwayte, the sum of £142 10s. as arrears for his services in Wilts as 
Captain of foot under Sir Edward Hungerford, as by his debenture shown. And 
the Committee of Hants are likewise to take his case into consideration for his 
services in that county under Col. Richard Norton. 
