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

Membrane 1v.

1. Patrick Whightman, alias Whighthand, of Aulesley [Allesley], Warwickshire, tailor, is indicted that on 1 Feb. 1585 at Wisbech he feloniously took and carried away one chain of gold to the value of twenty pounds from [?Raymond] Fitch, gentleman. Guilty; allowed benefit of clergy.

2. John Fyndownyng of Upwell, labourer, is indicted that on 20 Sept. 1584 at Outwell he feloniously took and carried away six pies to the value of six pence and half a sheet to the value of four pence from William Dyckman. Confessed; to be whipped at Ely.

3. Richard Stennall of Ely, tailor, is indicted that on 22 Oct. 1584 at Ely he assaulted, raped and carnally knew Agnes Johnson, a single woman of about ten years, violently and contrary to her will. Not guilty.

4. Thomas Rudston of Haddenham, shoemaker, is indicted that on 28 Sept. 1584 at Haddenham assaulted John Dobson and William Malden, husbandmen, in public view and feloniously took and carried away four pounds in numbered money from the person of John Dobson. Not guilty.

Membrane 2r.

5. William Cundall of Newton, yeoman, and John Wylkyns of Newton, yeoman, are indicted that on 1 Mar. 1585 broke and entered the close of John Calvyle at Newton and feloniously took and led away two yeldings, one brown-bay to the value of five pounds and one bright-bay to the value of ten pounds. Verdict not stated.

6. Robert Richardson of London, yeoman, Richard Elwarde of Guyhirn, fisher, William Watascom of Whittlesey, yeoman, William Newball of Whittlesey, yeoman, William Andrewe of Whittlesey, husbandman, John Metcalf of Parson’s Drove, labourer, William Phillip of Downham, labourer, Thomas Burbanke of Whittlesey, glover, Peter Martyn of Wisbech, butcher, Simon Rayner of Outwell, butcher, Andrew Bowler of Wisbech, labourer, Christopher Guy of Wisbech, labourer, Simon Hoode of Wisbech, vintner, [Killeen] Dudley of [Barwell], Northamptonshire, Robert Roger [place of abode and occupation not stated], William Awyer [place of abode and occupation not stated], Isabelle Lexton of Ely, spinster, and Mildred Hamond [place of abode not stated], spinster, having been captured on suspicion of felony are freed and acquitted.

7. Margaret [Shym] of Wisbech, spinster, and Stephen [] of Ely, labourer, are indicted as vagrants with no land, no master and no legitimate trade on 1 Mar. 1585 contrary to statute [Vagrancy Act 1572, 14 Eliz. I. c.5]. To be burned through the cartilage of the right ear with a hot iron and then whipped.

Membrane 2v.: blank

Membrane 3r.

8. Christopher Wilkes of Huntington, yeoman alias woollen draper, is bound to answer John Wright in a plea of debt. Ralph Grey of Whittlesey, gentleman, and William Voytyer, alias Gyllum, of Whittlesey, blacksmith, act as surety.

9. Christopher Wilkes of Huntington, yeoman alias woollen draper, is bound to answer John Wright in a plea of debt. Ralph Grey of Whittlesey, gentleman, and William Voytyer, alias Gyllum, of Whittlesey, locksmith, act as surety.

10. Godfrey Cartwright of Haddenham, yeoman, is bound to answer Robert [Guybon], gentleman, in a plea of debt. Roger Owtlawe of Wilburton, yeoman, and Cuthbert Browne of Haddenham, yeoman, act as surety.

11. Thomas Carter of Outwell, Norfolk, inn-holder, is bound to answer John Adamson in a plea of trespass on the case. William Nicholas of Outwell, yeoman, and Henry Streate of Outwell, husbandman, act as surety.

Membrane 3v.

12. John Buck of Thetford, yeoman, is bound to answer Thomas Malyn in a plea of trespass on the case. Edward Buck of Thetford, yeoman, and George Randall of Thetford, husbandman, act as surety.

13. Henry Cooke of Ely, labourer, is bound to answer John Chickett in a plea of trespass on the case. Thomas James and Charles Taylor of Ely, watermen, act as surety.

14. Henry Cooke of Ely, labourer, is bound to answer Thomas Cockytt in a plea of debt. Thomas James of Ely, waterman, and Charles Taylor of Ely, husbandman, act as surety.

15. Thomas Bulward of Emneth, Norfolk, yeoman, is bound to answer Thomas Jackson in a plea of trespass on the case. Richard Michell of Ely, yeoman, and Robert Johnson of Ely, baker, act as surety.

16. Thomas Bulward of Emneth, Norfolk, yeoman, is bound to answer Thomas Jackson in a plea of debt. Richard Michell of Ely, yeoman, and Robert Johnson of Ely, baker, act as surety.

Membrane 4r.

17. Robert Gleden of Sutton, husbandman, answered Anne Wright, widow and administrator of the goods and chattels of William Wright who died intestate, in a plea of non-payment for a reddish cow worth forty shillings sold by William Wright to Gleden at Thetford on 20 May 1579. Gleden disputes the terms of payment; to proceed to jury trial.

18. John Bert of Wilburton, yeoman, alias John Birt, and Edward North of Downham, yeoman, answer Godfrey Ithell, executor of the will of Thomas Ithell deceased, in a plea of non-payment of three hundred pounds relating to a bond of obligation at Ely, 1 Jan. 1578. The bond of obligation is recited; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 4v.

19. John Gotobed of Ely, labourer, answered a plea from Elizabeth Gotobed, widow, that by force and arms he broke and entered her close at Ely on 26 Mar. 1585. Damages to be determined at the next session.

Membrane 5r.

20. John Hynson of Whittlesey, labourer, answered a plea from William Malyn that on 23 Mar. 1585 he ejected, expelled and removed Malyn from one messuage, three acres of land and two acres of pasture with appurtenances at Whittlesey which had been leased to Malyn by Frances Reademan and Helen, his wife, for a term which had not yet expired. There is discussion of the land in the manorial court; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 5v.

21. Thomas Raven of Haddenham, husbandman, answered Ralph Barret in a plea of trespass and ejection on 14 Jan. 1585 relating to land in Haddenham. Guilty; to pay damages.

Membrane 6r.

22. John Thomasyn of Parson’s Drove, yeoman, answered William Whight in a plea that on 20 Jan. 1585 he forcibly entered and made possession of a house with appurtenances in Parson’s Drove in the parish of Leverington which Thomas Thomasyn had leased to Whight for a term which had not yet expired. Not guilty.

23. Thomas Carter of Outwell, Norfolk, inn-holder, answered John Adamson in a plea of trespass on the case relating to a judgement or arbitration made on 8 Feb. 1585 at Outwell. To proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 6v.

24. Edward Edwardes of Downham, carpenter, and Joan, his wife, answered Lancelot Colpott in a plea that on 3 Nov. 1584 at Downham Joan drove some cattle and a horse from Colpott. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

25. Geoffrey Rowle of Ely, labourer, answered John Anderson in a plea of trespass that on 1 Feb. 1584 at Downham Hythe he drove a heifer worth 40 shillings [with certain dogs]. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 7r.

26. Robert Hamont of Ely, painter, answered John Thorowgoode in a plea of non-payment of three pounds which he borrowed on 20 May 1584 at Ely. Hamont denies he borrowed the money; to proceed to jury trial.

27. Oswald Specheley of Whittlesey, husbandman, answered Elizabeth Plant, widow and executor of the will of William Plant, in a plea of non-payment of seven pounds, thirty shillings and four pence at Wisbech, 28 Mar. [?1562]. To proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 7v.

28. Roger Owtlawe of Wilburton, husbandman, and Alice Monse of Wilburton, spinster, answer Boniface Hande and Margaret, his wife, in a plea of trespass that on 1 Jan.1585 they broke and entered the close and house of Boniface and Margaret at Aldreth in the parish of Haddenham. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

29. John Buck of Thetford, yeoman, answers Thomas Malyn in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the sale of three heifers on 31 Aug. 1584 at Streatham. Buck pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 8r.

30. Oswald Specheley of Whittlesey, husbandman, answers John Bradsor in a plea of trespass on the case that on 10 Apr. 15[67] at Whittlesey he took possession of a heifer worth forty shillings, a cow worth twenty-six shillings and eight pence, and a frock worth fifteen shillings. Specheley pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

31. Thomas Bulwarde [place of abode and occupation not stated] answers Thomas Jackson in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the lease of a house and ten acres of pasture in Emneth, Norfolk. Bulwarde is arrested and is to pay a fine.

Membrane 8v.

32. John Osteler brought information for the Crown that Thomas Swayne of Leverington, yeoman, did buy, commune and conclude to buy two oxen from Richard Tego of Leverington contrary to statute [3 and 4 Edw. VI c.19 An act for the buying and selling of rother beasts and cattle], 27 Dec. 1584 at Ely. Swayne says the plea is insufficient in law; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 9r.

33. John Osteler brought information for the Crown that Thomas Jones of Leverington, yeoman, did buy, bargain and conclude to buy nineteen oxen contrary to statute [3 and 4 Edw. VI c.19 An act for the buying and selling of rother beasts and cattle], 27 Dec. 1584 at Ely. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

Membrane 9v.

34. John Osteler brought information for the Crown that John Browne [place of abode and occupation not stated] bought a wholesale quantity of barley contrary to statute [5 and 6 Edw. VI c.14 An act against regrators, forestallers and ingrossers], 2 Feb. 1585 at Wisbech. Pled not guilty; to proceed to jury trial.

35. Henry Cooke of Ely, husbandman, answers Thomas Cockytt in a plea of non-payment of ten pounds, one shilling and sixpence, relating to the purchase of seventy-five kilderkins [casks of beer] at Ely on 26 Nov. 1583. Cooke is fined.

Membrane 10r.

36. Thomas Tomasyn of Parson’s Drove, yeoman, answers John Sheringe in a plea of trespass on the case relating to the sale of one hundred measures of ale on the Feast of Pentecost 1583. Tomasyn is arrested and is to pay a fine.

Membrane 10v.: blank

Membrane 11r.

37. Warrant of attorney [full list not transcribed]. The following names of attorneys are listed: Thomas Goldeburgh; Thomas Harryson; James Hubberd; Christopher Farforth; William Franklyn; John Cheney; Henry Goldwell; Edward Ball; William Walden.