ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
In the summer of 1682, for the space of nearly three months, an old man might have been seen pacing daily up and down near the Ordnance Offices in the Tower of London, growing shabbier day by day, more hopeless and purposeless in his gait, yet seeming bound to the place either by expectation or command.
At last with trembling hand he prepared for the Honourable Board of Ordnance the following quaint petition:—
"The humble Petition of John Hawling, Master Gunner of
His Majesty's Castle of Chester."
"Sheweth:—
"That ye Petitioner being commanded up by special order from the office hath remained here ye space of 13 weeks to his great cost and charges, he being a very poor and ancient man, not having wherewithal to subsist in so chargeable a place.
"He therefor most humbly implores yr Honrs to take his sad condition into your Honours' consideration, and to restore him to his place again, yt he may return to his habitation with such commands as your Honrs shall think fitt to lay upon him.
"And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray."