Pleas and gaol delivery at Ely, 26 March 25 Eliz. [1583]

Membrane 1r. Preamble: writ of assizes and gaol delivery commission.

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1. Margaret Jackson of Ely, spinster, is indicted that on 7 Oct. 1582 at Ely she feloniously took and carried away goods and chattels from Mary Harryson worth two pence and two shillings and three pence in numbered money. Not guilty.

2. Thomas Breamly of Wisbech, husbandman, is indicted that on 23 March 1583 at Wisbech he feloniously took and carried away 17 pence in numbered money and a ring to the value of six pence. Not guilty.

3. Richard Eyre of Manea, labourer, is indicted that on 11 Aug. 1583 at Downham he feloniously took and led away a grey horse worth 26 shillings and eight pence and a black foal worth ten shillings from Robert Holt. Guilty, to be hanged.

4. John Froste of Witchford, husbandman, is indicted that on 28 Dec. 1582 at Witchford he feloniously took and carried away a shirt to the value of ten pence from Robert Godman. Guilty; no goods or chattels to forfeit.

5. Arthur Kyng of Witcham, labourer, Helen Beeston of Wilburton, spinster, Thomas Rudston of Haddenham, labourer, John Blewick of Ely [occupation not stated], Joan Dore of Dodington, spinster, John Alexander of Witchford, labourer, Robert Wylsey of Tidd St Giles, labourer, Dorothy Edwardes of Witchford, spinster, are freed and acquitted.

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6. Thomas Keyster [Caster] of Ely, thatcher, is indicted that on 28 March 1582 at Ely he feloniously took and carried away two [nets] worth 20 shillings from Thomas Cole, and that on 5 Dec. 1582 he burgled the house of Thomas Fermor at Sutton and feloniously took and carried away 15 pounds of butter to the value of three shillings, two quarts of honey to the value of two shillings and a cheese to the value of two pence, and that on 20 Dec. 1582 he feloniously broke and entered the house of John Rashe at Sutton. On 22 Mar. 1583, Caster broke out of prison and escaped from the custody of Richard Flowers at Ely Barton. Presumed at large.

7. Lawrence Crossye of Ely, [?fishmonger], is bound to answer a plea of debt from Thomas Brave. Peter Tye of Ely, cleric, and John Wright of Streatham, husbandman, act as surety.

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8. Lawrence Crossye of Ely, yeoman, is bound to answer a plea of debt from William Garret. Peter Tye of Ely, cleric, and John Wright of Streatham, husbandman, act as surety.

9. Lawrence Crossye of Ely, yeoman, is bound to answer a plea of debt from John Kercher. Peter Tye of Ely, cleric, and John Wright of Stretham, husbandman, act as surety.

10. William Stookes of Whittlesey, husbandman, is bound to answer a plea of trespass on the case from John Darbye. Thomas Freman of Whittlesey, husbandman, and Thomas Burbancke of Whittlesey, joiner, act as surety.

11. John Darby of Whittlesey, husbandman, is bound to answer a plea of trespass on the case from William Stookes. John Hill of Whittlesey, husbandman, and Thomas Burbancke of Whittlesey, husbandman, act as surety.

12. William Totham of Wentworth, husbandman, is bound to answer a plea of debt from Thomas Bunston. Thomas Harding of Witchford, husbandman, Robert Russell of [Burney], miller, and Richard Tylney of Witchford, husbandman, act as surety.

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13. Henry Dawkyns of Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham, husbandman, is bound to answer a plea of debt from John Pepis. John Kyrke of Haddenham, husbandman, and Thomas Raven of Haddenham, husbandman, act as surety.

14. Nicholas Bugg of Coveney, yeoman, is bound to answer a plea of trespass on the case from Richard Arkynstall esquire, Robert Arkynstall and Richard Arkynstall junior. John Daye junior and William Ellyes, yeoman, of Ely act as surety.

15. Cuthbert Ashewood of Wimblington, yeoman, is bound to answer a plea of debt from Thomas Bleesby. William Ashewood of Doddington, husbandman, and William XXX act as surety.

16. Roger Palmer renounces his suit in a plea of debt against William Jakes of Coveney.

17. Lawrence Crossy of Ely, husbandman, renounces his suit in a plea of trespass on the case against John Wright of Stretham, husbandman. Wright is discharged.

18. Henry Dawkyns of Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham, husbandman, answered a plea of non-payment of 20 pounds from John Pepis [Pepys], gentleman, according to a bond of obligation, 6 Mar. 1580 at Haddenham. Dawkyns is to pay debt and damages.

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19. John Norfolke of Haddenham, husbandman, answered a plea from John Spackman that on 23 July 1582 he ejected, expelled and moved by force and arms eleven acres, one rod and half a rod of arable land, and two acres of pasture at Haddenham from Richard Cobbe and William Savadge which they held by demise from John Spackman. John Norfolke says he is not guilty of trespass and ejection; to proceed to jury trial.

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20. John Hunt of Chatteris, weaver, and John Cooper of Chatteris, labourer, answered a plea from Nathaniel Barnes that on 16 Oct. 1581 they conspired to accuse Barnes of stealing a white sheep. Hunt and Cooper pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

21. Robert Wardell senior of Emneth, Norfolk, and Robert Wardell junior of the same answered a plea of trespass on the case from William Payne that on 20 May 1582 at Ely the Wardells trampled grass in certain pastures laying in Old Field by overgrazing sheep, horses, cows and pigs. The Wardells pled not guilty to trespass; to proceed to jury trial.

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22. William Jakes of Coveney, husbandman, answered a plea of non payment of 40 shillings from Roger Palmer. Palmer says Jakes borrowed the money on 20 June 1582 at Wisbech. Jakes says he is not in debt; to proceed to jury trial.

23. Robert Smyth of Peterborough, Northamptonshire, horse-leech answered Richard Welby, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case that on 20 Aug. 1579 at Tidd St Giles, Welby paid Smyth a sum of money not specified to cure a fistula in his horse. Smyth pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

24. Thomas Bulwarde of Emneth, Norfolk, yeoman, answered Thomas Archer in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a suit in the King’s Bench between William Cawson and Bulwarde. Bulwarde denies the charge; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 5v.

25. Richard Mobbe of Doddington, husbandman, answered a plea from Thomas Batesworth that on 14 Feb. 1583 Richard Mobbe by force and arms ejected Batesworth from a land holding which John Mobbe demised to Batesworth for a term which had not yet expired. Richard Mobbe pled not guilty of trespass and ejection; to proceed to jury trial.

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26. William Payne answered a plea of replevin [recovery] from Robert Wardell that on 7 May 1582 at a place called [Crabhensland] in Old Field, Payne took seven cows from Robert Wardell. To proceed to jury trial.

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Membrane 7r.

27. John Chicken gives 6 shillings and 8 pence as licence to agree in action with John Crooke and Agnes his wife, and George Philipp alias Short, concerning one messuage and one garden with appurtenances in Ely.

28. Robert Custaunce gives 6 shillings and 8 pence as licence to agree in action with Alexander Stringer and Susanna his wife, concerning a piece of land in Sutton.

29. Warrant of attorney [full list of names not transcribed]. The following names of attorneys are listed: William Franklyn; William Smegergill; William Hubbard [Hubberd]; Edward Ball; Thomas Harryson; Thomas Goldeburghe; John Cheney; Thomas Funston.

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Pleas and gaol delivery at Wisbech, 16 July 25 Eliz. [1583]

Membrane 8r. Preamble: gaol delivery and writ of assizes.

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30. Thomas Hacker of March, labourer, is indicted that on 1 July 1583 he feloniously took and carried away ten shillings in numbered money of goods and chattels from the outbuilding of Francis Sowtholde at March. Not guilty.

31. Isaac Gars of Newton, butcher, is indicted that on 3 June 1583 he feloniously took and drove off ten wethers [rams] worth 33 shillings and four pence and three lambs worth six shillings from John Harpley at Newton. Not guilty.

32. Richard Jackson of Downham, labourer, John Clappam of Downham, labourer, and William Beadham of Downham, labourer, are indicted that on 3 July 1583 at Downham they feloniously took and carried away a pole worth two pence, a pole worth one pence and five pecks of corn worth eighteen pence. Verdict not stated.

33. John Bosworthe of Newton, labourer, Roger Atkynson, [place of abode not stated], labourer, Roger Palmer [place of abode and occupation not stated], Helen Mephyn of Wisbech, spinster, Anthony Whitaker [place of abode and occupation not stated] and Henry Wilkynson [place of abode and occupation not stated] are freed and acquitted.

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34. Margery Bywaters of Whittlesey, widow, is bound to answer William Cony in a plea of debt. Thomas Martyn, blacksmith, and William Bywaters, yeoman, both of Whittlesey, act as surety.

35. John Dyconson of Walsoken, Norfolk, is bound to answer Richard Hunston, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case. John Clapton of Wisbech, gentleman, acts as surety.

36. John Tyms of Chatteris, yeoman, and Francis Newton of Chatteris, yeoman, are bound to answer a plea of debt from Edward Styward. John Phicas and Edward Knight of Chaterris, yeoman, act as surety.

Membrane 9v.

37. William Totnam of Wentworth, husbandman, answered a plea from Thomas Dyeke, gentleman, of non-payment of 40 shillings according to a bond of obligation of 20 Sept. 1582 at Ely. The judgement is to recover costs and damages; Totnam is fined.

38. Francis Cooke of Aldreth, basket maker, answered a plea from John Kyrke of trespass that on 25 May 1583 at Aldreth, Cooke entered the close of John Kyrke called Gallyons Close, lying to the west of Richard Reade’s close, and caused the grass growing there to be trampled by cattle. Cooke pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

39. Nathaniel Barnes of Chatteris, yeoman, John Merrill of Chatteris, husbandman, and John Phicas of Chatteris, butcher, answered a plea from John Hunt of conspiracy relating to a stolen sheep on 10 Apr. 1582 at Ely. The outcome is not stated.

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40. John Mobb of Wymblington, husbandman, the son and heir of William Mobb, answered a plea from Richard Mobb, alias Richard [Milli], of non-payment of 100 pounds relating to a bond of obligation, 20 Oct. 1557 at Ely. John Mobb states he is not in debt, he does not hold any lands, tenements or hereditaments from his father.

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41. Margery Bywaters of Whittlesey, widow and administrator of the goods and chattels of John Bywaters who died intestate, answered a plea of non-payment of 100 pounds from William Cony relating to a bond of obligation. Margery Bywaters asks for judgement in her favour; to proceed to jury trial.

42. Francis Newton of Chatteris, yeoman, alias drover, and John Tymes of the same, yeoman, answered a plea from William Steward, esquire, of non-payment of eighty pounds according to a bond of obligation of 5 Oct. 1582 at Ely. The judgement is to recover costs and damages; Newton and Tymes are fined.

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43. Andrew Reade brought information for the Crown that Thomas Freman of Whittlesey, yeoman, on 1 Apr. 1582 did have or did wear three cards of velvet on his shoes contrary to statute (1 and 2 Philip and Mary c.2). Freman pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 12r.

44. Warrant of attorney [full list not transcribed]. The following names of attorneys are listed: William Hubberd; Thomas Goldeburgh; Edward Ball; Thomas Funston; Henry Goldwell.