Membrane 1r. Preamble: letters patent, writs of assize and gaol delivery commission.

1. Agnes Grene of Ely, spinster, is indicted that on 13 Jan. 1572 she feloniously took and carried away four pairs of sheets and one sheet to the value of nine shillings from the dwelling house of Edward Slowe at Ely. Not guilty.

2. Margaret Palmer of Ely, spinster, is indicted that on 8 Sept. 1571 she feloniously took and carried away a silver ring to the value of five pence from Agnes Holland and a silver ring to the value of five pence from Margaret [Monsedall] at Ely. Not guilty.

Membrane 1v.

3. John Appleby of Haddenham, yeoman, is indicted that on 9 Dec. 1571 he broke into the close and dwelling house of Oliver Keete at Haddenham at about 11 o’clock at night, and assaulted and wounded Oliver with the mind and intent to murder, or at least to rob, him. Not guilty.

4. Thomas Kynge of Wisbech, butcher, is indicted that on 20 Feb. 1571 he feloniously took and led away a horse worth 26 shillings and eight pence from John Gardener, gentleman, at Wisbech. Guilty; to be hanged.

5. John Abelynne of Whittlesey, labourer, and William Grownde of Whittlesey, labourer, are indicted that on 27 Jan. 1572 they feloniously took and led away a heifer worth 20 shillings from Thomas Elmarr at Whittlesey. Guilty; Abelynne allowed benefit of clergy, Grownde to be hanged. Grownde appeared before the justices at Wisbech on 17 Sept. 1572 and was remitted to prison. On 27 July 1573 Grownde was acquitted.

Membrane 2r.

6. Agnes Grene of Chatteris, widow, is granted bail. John Phicas of Chatteris, butcher, and John Grene of Chatteris, carpenter, act as surety.

7. John Appleby of Haddenham, yeoman, is granted bail. John Hosteler of Haddenham, yeoman, and Edward Gibson of Ely, yeoman, act as surety.

Membrane 2v. : blank

Membrane 3r.

8. John Tonge of Doddington, labourer, is indicted that on 8 Dec. 1571 he broke into the close and park of Richard [Cox], Lord Bishop of Ely, at Doddington and feloniously took and drove four swine worth [13 shillings and four pence]. Guilty; allowed benefit of clergy.

9. John Burges of Ely, labourer, Willaim Fleete of Ely, labourer, Richard Brytten of Haddenham, labourer, Robert Payne, [place of abode not stated], labourer, Thomas Walker of Wisbech, butcher, Agnes Grene of Chatteris, widow, Thomas Wotton of Ely, fowler, and Adam Robynson of Ely, glazier, are freed and acquitted.

10. William Gunton of Wentworth, husbandman, is acquitted.

11. Thomas Grey of Whittlesey, gentleman, is bound in recognisance to Richard [Cox], Lord Bishop of Ely.

12. John Hosteler of Haddenham, yeoman, is bound [to appear at the next plea session].

13. Geoffrey Slater of Ely is granted bail. Richard Strynger of Ely, fishmonger, and Robert Ashewell of Ely, husbandman, act as surety.

Membrane 3v.

14. John Drake of Doddington, husbandman, is granted bail. John Bull of Doddington, husbandman, and Henry Corbett of Doddington, fisher[man], act as surety.

15. Lancelot Flower of Ely, gentleman, is granted bail. John Cristian of Coveney, cleric, and Richard Flower of Ely, gentleman, act as surety.

16. Alan Chapman of Melbourn, gentleman, is bound to answer Robert Reynolds in a plea of trespass on the case. John Chapman of Witcham, gentleman, acts as surety.

17. Edward Weseman of Wisbech, yeoman, is bound to answer James Levett in a plea of debt. John Browne of Wisbech, waterman, acts as surety.

Membrane 4r.

18. Thomas Mott of Whittlesey, husbandman, is summoned to answer Anthony Larkyn in a plea of debt of 200 pounds and 50 shillings relating to the lease of messuage called Heldernell in the parish of Whittley, 10 Sept. 1563. Mott acquitted; Larkyn fined for bringing a false claim.

19. William Gunton, [place of abode and occupation not stated], answered William Blynckhorne in an action of trespass on the case that on 10 Nov. 1570 he publicly slandered Blynckhorne by calling him a false thief who had stolen his calf. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 4v.

20. William Gotobed of Thetford, husbandman, answered Ralph Fordam in an action of trespass that on 10 June 1568 he took and led away a horse worth 40 shillings from Fordam from the [royal highway] lying near to the pinfold at Witcham.

21. Henry Corbett of Earith, Huntingdonshire, yeoman, and Stephen Cattell, alias Wright, of Somersham, Huntingdonshire, husbandman, answered William Mallerye esquire in an action of trespass and ejection that on 18 Aug. 1571 they ejected Mallerye from a close and marsh consisting of 14 acres of land lying in [Cokesues] in Sutton which John Burges of Somersham had leased to Mallerye for a term which had not yet expired. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

22. John Crowe of Elm, husbandman, answered John Byrde in an action of trespass that on 13 July 1571 his livestock entered the close of Byrde at Wisbech, and overgrazed and trampled the grass growing there. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial. The entry has been crossed through.

Membrane 5r.

23. John Byrde of Wisbech, butcher, answered John Crowe in an action of trespass that on 17 Apr. 1571 his three bandogs [a mastiff or bloodhound] chased a cow worth 40 shillings belonging to Crowe at Elm, causing it to die. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

24. John Odam brought an action of trespass on the case against George Hasyll relating to a debt of 25 pounds owed by Hasyll to a certain Ralph Hall, 10 June 1570 at Wisbech. Hasyll fined.

Membrane 5v.

25. Thomas Mathewe and John Mathewe, and Thomas Cobbe, their attorney, brought a suit against John Meryell concerning a messuage, 11 acres and one rod of land, three rods of meadow, and two acres of pasture with appurtenances in Coveney. This appears to be a common recovery. [Full seisin to Thomas and John]. Membrane 6r.

26. Thomas Jervys, gentleman, brings a suit of trespass against Thomas Almonde that on 1 July 1571 at Ely he took and drove a cow worth 40 shillings belonging to Jervys. Almonde acquitted; Jervys fined for bringing a false suit.

27. Thomas Chester of Haddenham, blacksmith, answered William Savage in an action of trespass on the case that on 3 July 1571 he publicly slandered Savage calling him a false knave, a villain and a thief. Chester fined; to pay damages.

Membrane 6v.

28. Thomas Rosell brings a suit of trespass against Richard Nicholas and Miles Nicholas that on 16 Dec. 1568 they entered Rosell’s close and house at Whittlesey, and took and carried away a featherbed, a mattress, eight pillows and eight pairs of sheets, two bedsteads, 12 pieces of pewter, ten candlesticks, six measures of flax seed, four pairs of cart gears, and many other household items and tools [full list not transcribed] to the value of 40 pounds. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

29. John Cobbe of Burwell, yeoman, is summoned to answer Robert Pereson in an action of debt of 30 pounds and 16 shillings relating to the sale and supply of 59 coombs of malt, 1 Sept. 1569 at Wisbech. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

30. Robert Balam esquire, [place of abode not stated], is summoned to answer the Dean and Chapter of Ely in an action of debt of eight pounds and ten shillings, 30 Nov. 1569 at Ely. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

Membrane 7r.

31. John [Lamman] of Coveney, husbandman, is summoned to answer Thomas Sprynge in an action of debt of eleven pounds, eight shillings and six pence relating to the sale and supply of 20 wethers, 11 July 1570 at Sutton, and 33 wethers and ewes, 2 Nov. 1570 at Sutton. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

32. Richard Fox of Eton, Bedfordshire, inn holder, answered Robert Payne in an action of trespass on the case and breach of promise relating to a dapple grey gelding worth 100 shillings, a horse collar to the value of six shillings and a bridle to the value of four shillings, 14 Feb. 1572 at Witcham. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

33. John Christian, cleric, of the parish church of Coveney is summoned to answer Andrew Perne, Dean of Ely Cathedral, in an action of debt of eight pounds according to a bond of obligation of 9 Aug. 1568 at Ely. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

Membrane 7v.

34. Thomas Rosell of Whittlesey, tailor, answered Richard Nicholas of Whittlesey in an action of trespass on the case relating to the lease and rent of a messuage with all its appurtenances in Whittlesey, 20 Sept. 1564. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

35. Edward Papworth of Haddenham, husbandman, is summoned to answer John Phipers in an action of debt of sixty pounds relating to a bond of obligation of 24 July 1569 at Haddenham. The bond of obligation is recited. No outcome is stated.

Membrane 8r.

36. Geoffrey Slater of Ely, currier, is summoned to answer John Bynsdall of King’s Lynne, Norfolk, merchant, in an action of debt of eight pounds according to a bond of obligation of 7 Mar. 1571. Requests leave to imparl to the next session.

37. Edmund Wesenham of Wisbech, oatmeal maker, is summoned to answer James Levett, Thomas Aynesworth and John Wyllyams in an action of debt of 20 marks relating to a bond of obligation of 16 July 1569 at Wisbech. The bond of obligation is recited. Wesenham fined; to pay damages.

Membrane 8v.

38. William Conye senior and William Conye junior per their attorney bring a suit against Francis Woodhouse, esquire, and Margaret, his wife, relating to the manor of Repps with appurtenances and two messuages, six tofts, six gardens, six orchards, 100 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow and 60 acres of pasture with appurtenances in Wisbech. This appears to be a common recovery. [Full seisin to William and William Conye].

39. Warrant of attorney, [list of names not transcribed].

Membrane 9r. – 10r.

40. Memorandum that Thomas Wrenne, Williams Whiskyns esquire, Richard Arkenstall and William Adam, gentlemen, came before the court to enrol an arbitration relating a dispute between the tenants and inhabitants of the township of Wilburton and Agnes Payne, widow, over the enclosure in Wilburton. The arbitration is recited.