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Preamble: letters patent; writ of assizes; gaol delivery commission.

1. Arthur Heynet of Eastrea in the parish of Whittlesey, yeoman, is indicted with others unknown that on 22 Feb. 1578 he broke and entered the close of Thomas Browne, and feloniously took and carried away 70 new tenches from his fishpond to the value of three shillings and four pence. Not guilty.

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2. William Holdernes of Tatsell [?Tattershall], Lincolnshire, yeoman is indicted that on 19 Oct. 1578 that he feloniously took and carried away a purse with 24 shillings and six pence in numbered money and [a key] worth 3 pence from John Barnes of Paddington, Bedforshire, yeoman. Not guilty.

3. Elizabeth Moreton of Wisbech, spinster, is indicted that on 5 Aug. 1578 she broke and entered the house of Elizabeth Myddleton, widow, at Wisbech and feloniously took and carried away 18 pounds in numbered money from a chest. Not guilty.

4. William Androwe of Whittlesey, husbandman, is indicted that on 1 Dec. 1578 he feloniously led away a black steer worth 20 shillings from Robert Searle of Whittlesey, yeoman. Not guilty.

5. Martin Arborowe of Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham, [tippler], is indicted that on 26 May 1577 he broke and entered the close of William Chandler at Aldreth, and feloniously stole, took and carried away a mast beam worth six pence, and on 24 Oct. 1477 he feloniously took and carried away a hen worth four pence from Robert Parkes at Aldreth. Not guilty.

6. Memorandum that on 2 Sept. 1578 John Crocyne, William Wylson, Henry Fausyt, John Hubbothwayte, George Wylham, George Mason, yeoman, and John Ryppe, gentleman, appeared before Edward Wylkes, Justice, to hear and give evidence.

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7. Nicholas Cole of Wisbech, shearman, Thomas Lake of Haddenham, labourer, Audrey Corbet of Ely, spinster, Thomas Fleete of Littleport, labourer, James Toppyn of Littleport, husbandman, William Woodcocke [place of abode not stated], labourer, Richard Robynson alias Collyar [place of abode not stated], yeoman, are freed and acquitted.

8. Richard Randes of Sutton, labourer, answered Richard Merryn of Sutton, string-maker, in a plea of trespass on the case that on 1 Feb. 1579 at Sutton he did, in scandalous words, accuse Merryn of being a false knave who maintained John Randes in the breaking of his chest. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

9. Roger Ostler of Aldreth, [?widower], answered Miles Thompson in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the payment of 66 shillings and eight pence towards a third share in a windmill, 1 June 1578 at Sutton. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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10. William Totnam, alias Totnham, of Wentworth, husbandman, answered William Styward, esquire, in a plea of non-payment of 20 pounds relating to a bond of obligation of 5 Apr. 1578 at Ely. To proceed to jury trial.

11. John Preston of Chesterton, victualler, answered Thomas Atkyn in a plea that on 20 July 1578 he took and carried away a boat from Atkyn at Ely. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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

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13. William Payne and Alice, his wife, answered Thomas Aunger and Margaret, his wife, in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a dispute over the sum of ten pounds and over the will of John Murryell. To proceed to jury trial.

14. George Aspland brought information for the Crown that Thomas Jeames of Downham, husbandman, lent John Hurtley of Downham 32 shillings and four pence contrary to statute [37 H8 c.9 A bill against usury], 20 Mar. 1579 at Haddenham. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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15. William Bartrop of Downham, husbandman, answered Lawrence Johnson in a plea of trespass on the case that on 30 Sept. 1577 he put his own ear mark on a foal which belonged to Johnson. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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16. William Payne of Witcham, husbandman, and Alice, his wife and executor of the will of William Merrell answered Ellen Bentley, widow, in a plea of non-payment of 12 pounds which Merrell had owed to Bentley. William Payne married Alice on 20 May 1578 at Witcham but did not honour the debt to Bentley. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

17. Francis Woode of Ely, baker, answered John Hammond in a plea of non-payment of 50 marks relating to the ownership of a customary tenement with appurtenances in Manea in the parish of Coveney, 20 Mar. 1577. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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18. Christpher Cav[er]ley of Talloner’s Drove [?Tholomas Drove], Wisbech, labourer, answered Richard Lees junior in a plea of trespass and ejection that on 25 Dec. 1578 he forcibly ejected Lees from a tenement comprising six acres of pasture with appurtenances lying in Talloner’s Drove which Richard Lees senior had leased to Lees for a term which had not yet expired. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

19. William Jetherell of Witcham, yeoman, answered James Rotherham in a plea that on 20 Feb. 1579 he broke and entered the close of Rotherham at Witcham. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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20. William Bownet of Downham, husbandman, answered John Lewes in a plea of assault that on 20 May 1578 at Downham he assaulted, wounded, beat and maltreated Lewes putting him in despair of his life. To proceed to jury trial.

21. Richard Flower [place of abode and occupation not stated] answered Thomas Jervys in a plea that on 1 May 1577 he took some livestock, namely 2 horses and 3 foals, from a place called West Fen close in Ely. There is lengthy discussion of feudal service and the 60 acres of land in West Fen with appurtenances. Flower to pay damages and costs.

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22. George Aspland brought information for the Crown that Thomas Jeames [James] of Downham, husbandman, lent John Huntley of Downham 32 shillings and four pence contrary to statute [37 H8 c.9 A bill against usury], 20 Mar. 1579 at Haddenham. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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23. Robert Towerson of Haddenham, husbandman, answered Edward Bland in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the sale of 12 acres of meadow and marsh, more or less, lying in Haddenham, 12 Jan. 1579. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

24. Thomas Jervis of Ely, gentleman, answered Thomas Wilkes in a plea of trespass that on 20 Aug. 1578 he broke and entered Wilkes’ close at Ely, and took and carried away one cart-load of barley and one cart-load of wheat. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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25. Robert Parker of Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham, husbandman, answered Thomas Gallant, gentleman, in a pleas of trespass that on 17 June 1578 he broke and entered the dwelling house of Gallant at Aldreth, and destroyed, took and carried away a chest or case with diverse charters, documents and muniments. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

26. William Marche of Haddenham, gentleman, answered William Pelset in a plea of trespass and ejection that on 4 Dec. 1577 he forcibly ejected Pelset from 30 acres of pasture in Witcham which Andrew Perne, doctor of Theology and dean of Ely Cathedral, had leased to Pelset for a term which had not yet expired. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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27. William Gothergyll, John Jaxon and William Marshall are bound to answer Richard Arkenstall, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case. Thomas Goade of Bedwellhay, yeoman, and John Beamys of Thetford, husbandman, act as surety.

28. Robert Tudnam is bound to answer William Sturmyn in a plea of trespass on the case. John Evans of Wisbech, [occupation not stated], acts as surety.

29. Thomas Bulward is bound to answer William Davison in a plea of trespass on the case. Edward Wilkes of Wisbech, yeoman, acts as surety.

30. John Ostler junior is bound to answer John Buck in a plea of debt. Arthur Gallyon of Aldreth, husbandman, and Edward Kellett of Ely, husbandman, act as surety.

31. Robert Parker is bound to answer William Malden in a plea of debt. Arthur Gallyon of Aldreth, husbandman, and Henry Dawkyn of Aldreth, husbandman, act as surety.

32. Andrew Reade is bound to answer Miles Tompson in a plea of debt. John Kyrke of Aldreth, husbandman, and Thomas Ladymande of Haddenham, [occupation not stated], act as surety.

33. Henry Brachier is bound to answer Thomas Rowsley, gentleman, in a plea of debt. [Nicholas] Smyth, [place of abode and occupation not stated], and William Toppyn [place of abode and occupation not stated] act as surety.

34. John Ostler senior is bound to answer William Chawner in a plea of trespass on the case. John Ostler junior of Aldreth, husbandman, and Arthur Gallyon of Aldreth, husbandman, act as surety.

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35. Robert Gye of Stretham, husbandman, answered William Hytcht in a plea of trespass and ejection that on 1 Jan. 1579 he forcibly ejected Hytcht from a messuage with appurtenances in the village of Stretham which Thomas Hytcht, cleric, had leased to William Hytcht for a term which had not yet expired. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

36. Francis Drewe of Newton, yeoman, answered Thomas Howell in a plea of trespass that on 22 Feb. 1578 he broke and entered the close of Howell at Newton and at a place called [Startes] trampled the grass growing there with his feet. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

37. John Ostler senior of Aldreth, husbandman, answered William Chawner in a plea of trespass on the case that on 20 Sept. 1578 at Aldreth he did, in scandalous words, publicly accuse Chawner of being a thief who had stolen a horse. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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38. William Payne of Witcham, husbandman, answered John Merell in a plea of trespass relating to a dispute over a messuage and ten acres of land with appurtenances in Witcham, 20 Mar. 1578. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

39. Thomas Gallant of Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham, [occupation not stated] answered Arthur Gallyon of Aldreth, husbandman, in a plea of trespass on the case that on 19 Feb. 1579 at Haddenham he did, in scandalous words, publicly accuse Gallyon of stealing a calf. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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40. Thomas Phipers of Haddenham, husbandman, answered Andrew Arkenstall and Giles Arkenstall, gentlemen, in a plea of trespass that on 8 Apr. 1578 he forcibly ejected the Arkenstalls from [77 acres of land lying in Haddenham] which Richard, Lord Bishop of Ely, had leased to them for a term which had not yet expired. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

41. William Hurst, [place of abode and occupation not stated], answered Thomas Thomason and Elizabeth, his wife and executor of the will of William Bocher, in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a dispute over three steers, a [bulling] steer, 40 wethers, a ewe and 10 lambs. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial. Membrane 10v.

42. John Colvile of Newton, esquire, answered Lancelot Flower, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a dispute over glebe lands situated and lying in fields in Newton, 16 Oct. 1576. There is discussion on the ownership of various pieces of land in Newton. Lancelot Flower is fined.

43. Robert Martyn of Wisbech, butcher, answered John Burton in an action of account relating to a sum of 8 pounds received by Martyn from John Hegges of Barnwell, Northamptonshire, on 20 May 1571 at Wisbech. John Burton is fined.

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44. John Webbe of Thetford, yeoman, answered William Hytcht in a plea of trespass that on 20 June 1577 he broke and entered the close of Hytcht at Thetford and allowed his sheep to overgraze and trample the [peas] growing there. There is a lengthy discussion and dispute over the location and ownership of the close. To proceed to the next plea session.

45. Thomas Procter, [place of abode and occupation not stated], answered John Ewsden in a plea of non-payment of 3 pounds which Procter borrowed from Ewsden at Ely, [date left blank]. Procter states the plea is insufficient in law. To proceed to the next plea session.

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46. William Juderell of Witcham, [occupation not stated], answered William Ostelor in a plea of trespass that on 1 Aug. 1577 he broke and entered the close of Ostelor at Witcham and took and carried away a cart-load of hay to the value of 10 shillings. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

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47. Thomas Bulward of Emneth, Norfolk, yeoman, answered William Cawson in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a bond of obligation and debt of 16 pounds, 20 Aug. 1578 at Wisbech. To proceed to jury trial.

48. Robert Tudnam of London, grocer, answered William Sturman in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a bond of obligation, the date of which is left blank, and a debt of 20 marks. To proceed to jury trial.

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49. John Pott of Wilburton, gentleman, alias of Badburham [Babraham], answered Thomas Ebden of Sawston in a plea of non-payment of 30 pounds relating to a bond of obligation of 1 June 1574 at Ely. Pott states the obligation is not valid in law, cites statute [13 Eliz. I c.8 An act against usury]. To proceed to jury trial.

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50. Robert Perce of Thetford, shepherd, answered Ralph Wymple in a plea of trespass that on 20 July 1578 he drove off 200 of Wymple’s sheep [with dogs]. Perce pled not guilty to trespass, and states the land in question, called Thetford Field, was held by Thomas Knyvet, knight, William Gothergyll and Henry Rydley, gentleman, and the sheep were overgrazing and trampling the grass growing there. To proceed to jury trial.

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51. William Alman, gentleman, [place of abode not stated], and Katherine, his wife, formerly the wife of Thomas Butcher, bring a suit against John Butcher relating to a third share in a messuage with appurtenances in Wisbech which Katherine received from Thomas Butcher. To proceed to jury trial.

52. Roger Wyllet of Haddenham, yeoman, answered Richard Arkenstall, gentleman, in a plea relating to Arkenstall’s exercise of office as under-bailiff , 16 Apr. 1578 at Haddenham. There is lengthy discussion of Roger North, chief justice of the Liberty of the Isle of Ely, and the exercise of authority and privileges of this office. To proceed to the next sessions.