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

Membrane 1v.

1. John Goodwyn of Wisbech, labourer, and [Katherine] Washwhight of Wisbech, spinster, are indicted that on 19 July 1583 at Wisbech they feloniously took and carried away a purse with one pence and 32 shillings in numbered money and four gold rings to the value of 50 shillings from Henry Pulter, gentleman. Not guilty.

2. Ellen [Keyiner] of Ely, spinster, is indicted that on 17 Sept. 1583 she broke and entered the close and house of George Randall at Thetford and feloniously took and carried away an old sheet to the value of 11 pence. Not guilty.

3. William Smythe of Leverington, labourer, is indicted that on 21 Feb. 1584 he broke and entered at night the close and house of John Herdye at Leverington and feloniously took and carried away a capon [castrated cock] worth five pence and two [hens] worth six pence. Guilty; no goods or property to forfeit.

4. John Chrystyan of Coveney, cleric, is indicted that on 23 Sept. 1583 he feloniously took and carried away a grey ewe worth five shillings from John Anderson at Coveney. Guilty; no goods or property to forfeit.

Membrane 2r.

5. John Hunt of Chatteris, weaver, is bound to answer John Phicas in a plea of trespass on the case. Thomas Bolland of March, husbandman, and Robert Cooke of Chatteris, tailor, act as surety.

6. Thomas Randall of Whittlesey, husbandman, is bound to answer John Hill in a plea of debt. Richard Dobell of Whittlesey, gentleman, acts as surety.

7. William Jakes of Witcham, husbandman, is bound to answer James Cage in a plea of debt. Caroline Taylor of Ely, inn holder, and Thomas Pyncheback of Witcham, labourer, act as surety.

8. Thomas Bulwarde of Emneth, Norfolk, yeoman, is bound to answer William Cawson in a plea of debt. Edward More of Witchford, labourer, and Arthur Keble of Witchford, labourer, act as surety.

9. William Walbutt of March, yeoman, is bound to answer John Thorpe in a plea of debt. Peter Tye of Ely, cleric, acts as surety.

Membrane 2v.

10. Richard Elward gives 6 shillings and 8 pence as licence to agree in action with William Busbye and Anne, his wife, concerning a messuage, three acres of pasture and one acre of meadow in Wisbech.

11. Thomas Marche, gentleman, gives 6 shillings and 8 pence as licence to agree in action with John Martyn and Cecilia, his wife, and Thomas Tego and Anne, his wife, and John Harrys and Margaret his wife concerning a messuage and two gardens with appurtenances in Ely.

12. Thomas Freman of Whittlesey, labourer, answered a plea of trespass on the case from Christopher Pryor that on 20 March 1584 at Whittlesey Freman, in scandalous words, accused Pryor of perjury. Freman pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 3r.

13. Lancelot Flower of Ely, gentleman, answered a plea of trespass from Francis Wood and Thomas Tylbrooke that on 20 Aug. 1583 Flower took and carried away, with force and arms, five measures [carats] of wheat in taxable payment from the close of Wood and Tylbrooke called Braham Field in Ely. Guilty; Flower is arrested and is to pay a fine.

14. Lancelot Flower of Ely, gentleman, answered a plea of trespass from Thomas Jervis, gentleman, that on 10 July 1583 he broke and entered, with force and arms, the close of Jervis at Ely. Guilty; Flower is arrested and is to pay a fine.

15. Godfrey Clements of Doddington, husbandman, answered a plea of taking animals from John Aspeland that on 18 Nov. 1583 at a place called Joheney Moore, alias Stony Farm, Clements took two horses and three chickens. Clements pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 3v.

16. Godfrey Clements of Doddington, husbandman, answered a plea of trespass on the case from John Aspeland that on 10 Nov. 1583 at Doddington he, in scandalous words, accused Aspeland of being a thief. Clements pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

17. John Jackson of Thetford, tippler, answered a plea of trespass on the case from Robert Owtlawe that on 15 March 1584 at Stetham he, in scandalous words, accused Owtlawe of perjury. Jackson pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 4r.

18. Andrew Michelson of Wisbech, cordwainer, answered a plea of trespass on the case from James Waldo that on 6 March 1584 at Wisbech he, in scandalous words, accused Waldo of perjury (‘Thow art a false perjurer and deserve to have thyne eares nayled on the pillorye’). Michelson pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 4v.

19. John Norfolke of Haddenham, husbandman, answered a plea from John Spackman that on 1 Feb. 1584 he ejected, expelled and moved by force and arms 11 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. Norfolke says he is not guilty of trespass and ejection; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 5r.

20. William Totnham of Wentworth, yeoman, answered a plea of trespass on the case from Lancelot Flowers that on 31 Oct. 1583 at Ely he, in scandalous words, defamed Flowers’ character in saying he was a bankrupt knave who had begged at the castle grate. Totnham pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

21. John Robson of Walsoken, Norfolk, yeoman answered a plea of trespass on the case from James Waldo that on 6 Mar. 1584 at Wisbech he, in scandalous words, accused Waldo of perjury (‘Thow art a false perjurer and deserve to have thyne eares nayled on the pillorye’). Robson pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 5v.

22. John Fysher of March, bocher [butcher], answered William Walbutt in a plea of non-payment of 48 shillings relating to the sale of a black cow on 20 Oct. 1583 at March. Fysher pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

23. Thomas Archer of Wisbech, butcher, answered Charles [Dalam], gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the lease of a shop in Wisbech. Archer pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 6r.

24. Edward Sutton of Witcham, smith, answered Richard Kyndersley in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the bargain and sale of smith’s bellows on 20 Oct. 1582 at Witcham. Sutton pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

25. John Hawes of Ely, gentleman, answered Michael [Aunger] in a plea that with [Averio] Pedder of Ely, labourer, William Kempsey of Ely, butcher, John Buttyler of Ely, barber, and Robert Denson of Ely, carpenter, he broke and entered the close and house of [Aunger] at Ely on 12 Jan. 1584 and took and carried away two cart-loads of timber to the value of 100 shillings, a manger and [a crib], and 100 pounds of iron to the value of ten pounds. Guilty; Hawes is arrested and is to pay a fine.

Membrane 6v.

26. John Elygood, summoner, [place of abode not stated] answered Joan Foscer, widow, in a plea of trespass on the case relating to 40 shillings received by Hugh Thompson of Littleport, deceased, on 10 Mar. 1584. To proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 7r.

27. William Ruse [Rowse] of Witcham, yeoman, answered Thomas Barret in a plea of trespass that on 27 Mar. 1584 at Witcham he broke and entered Barret’s close and his cattle caused damaged to the grass growing there. Rowse disputes the place and ownership of the close; Barret asks for judgement in his favour.

Membrane 7v.

28. William Jakes, alias Jaxe, of Witcham, husbandman, answered James Cage, executor of the will of Simon Cage deceased, in a plea of non-payment of four pounds relating to a bond of obligation at Witchford on 24 May 1580. Jakes is fined.

Membrane 8r.

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