Middlesex Sessions Rolls: 1642

1642

11 January, 17 Charles I.—Order, made at S. P. held at Westminster, that the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of St. Martin's-in the-Fields forthwith cause an assessment to be paid amongst the inhabitants of the said parish, for the repayment to Robert Skelton or his assigns the sum of 100£ with interest, which 100£ were in the year 1636 borrowed upon bond of the same Robert Skelton, for the relief of the poor of the said parish, then being visited exceedingly with the plague, by George Hulbert esq., Robert Shaw and Henry Strugnell churchwardens, and by Thomas Snelling then one of the collectors for the relief of the poor of the said parish; the order thus given for re payment of the 100£ with interest, being made by the Justices on information, that the widows of Messrs. Hulbert, Shaw and Strugnell had been arrested in respect of the debt so incurred by their late husbands. S. P. Book.

16 February, 17 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Margaret's Westminster co. Midd. on the said day, Francis Hudson gentleman, . . . . Williams gentleman, Robert Griffeth gentleman, Richard . . . . gentleman, Francis Robinson yoman, and Henry . . . . gentleman, assaulted a certain William Fitter and robbed him of one hundred pounds, of the goods chattels and moneys of Sir Robert Carr baronett.—Francis Robinson yoman and Henry . . . . gentleman put themselves on trial. The other culprits were at large. G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

20 March, 17 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Giles's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, Francis Quassett alias Robert Redpeith alias Greene alias Holmbie late of the said parish clerk, born within the kingdom of England, and after the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1 Eliz., and before the said 20 March, 17 Charles I., made and ordained "Sacerdos anglice a Seminary Preist" by authority derived from the See of Rome, was and remained traitorously and as a false traitor of the said Lord the King &c. The only clerical memorandum over Francis Quassett's name is "po se" = he put himself. G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

28 March, 18 Charles I.—Recognizance, taken before Laurence Whitaker of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields co. Midd. esq. J.P., of John Langston of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields gentleman, in the sum of one thousand pounds; For the appearance of the Ladie Elizabeth Willoughby at the next Gaol Delivery for Middlesex, then and there to answer &c. "for refusing to take the Oathe of Supremacie." G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

13 April, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Clement's Danes' co. Midd. on the said day, William Turner late of the said parish yeoman spoke publicly these words to the depravation and contempt of the "Book of Common Prayer," to wit, "That the Booke of Common Prayre is lyes and that they were fooles and knaves that will maynteine itt." G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

13 April, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Clement's Danes co. Midd. on the said day, Richard Bailye late of the said parish yeoman spoke publicly these words to the depravation and contempt of the 'Book of Common Prayer,' to wit, "That the Booke of Common Prayer was all lyes." G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

15 April, 18 Charles I.—Recognizances, taken before George Longe esq. J.P., of Philip Barnardo of Carter Lane London merchant and George Woolley of Gutter Lane London leedeman, and Francis Barnardo of Fetter Lane merchant and Hugh Lewes of Fosterlane goldsmith, in the sum of one hundred pounds each; For the appearance of the said Francis Barnardo and Hugh Lewes at the next Gaol Delivery for London and Midd., they being "suspected to bee privie to the stealing of divers Jewells ringes diamondes and money about the value of 1500 li, of the goods of James Walsall out of his house." G. D. R., 20 April, 18 Charles I.

20 April, 18 Charles I.—Record of a special finding of a jury, touching Francis Quassett, seminary priest:—"Wee finde that Francis Quassett in the indictment named the xx^th day of March in the xvii^th of his Majesties raigne that now is, that is to say on the xxxviii^th yeare of the raigne of our late soueraigne Ladye Queene Elizabeth was borne att the parishe of Greeneloue in the county of Barwicke in the kingdom of Scotland and not within the realme of England, And that the said Francis Quassett afterwards and before the said xx^th day of March in the said xvii^th year of his Majesty's raigne that now [is] was made and ordained a Seminary Priest prout, And afterwards the said xx^th day of March in the said xvii^th yeare &c. att the parishe of St. Giles-in-the-Fieldes in the county of Midd. was and remained.—But whether uppon the whole matter found as aforesaid the said Francis Quassett be guilty of the Treason contained in the said inditement contrary to the forme of the statute of 27th Elizabeth &c. wee are altogether ignorant,—And yf uppon the whole matter itt shall appeare to the Courte that the said Francis is guiltye of the said Treason prout, Then we find him guiltye prout,—But if so itt shall appeare &c. That the said Francis is not guilty prout, Then not Guilty &c. G. D. Reg.

10 July, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at Stepney co. Midd. on the said day, Rachael Pollester late of Stepney aforesaid spinster alias Rachael Pollester wife of Ralph Pollester late of Stepney aforesaid marriner spoke and uttered publicly these seditious words, to wit, "The Kinge is a papist and a ranke papist and cromoled (sic)." G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

14 July, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Andrew's Holborn co. Midd. on the said day Sir William Car late of Westminster co. Midd. knt. and George Seaton late of Bushey co. Hertford clerk . . . . made certain false and counterfeit letters on paper, so that they had the appearance of letters dated by the king, and put a forged signature resembling the King's Sign Manual to the same forged letters, running in the following words:—". . . . . . Welbeloved wee greete you well, Whereas wee are gratiously pleased to conferre upon our trustie and welbeloved Henry Robinson of Bucton in the County of Yorke gentleman The dignity of a Baronet of this our Kingdome, and to intaile the said dignity of a Baronet of this our Kingdome upon the heire males of his body: Our will and pleasure is that you prepare a booke of our royall dignity . . . . . . our grant of the dignity of a Baronet unto the said Henry Robinson and the heire males of his body as aforesaid as also a warrant in usuall forme for discharging him of soe much . . . . . . in respect of that dignity, and that you prepare them both for our signature and for soe doing this shalbe your warrant. Given at our Court at Yorke the first day of July in the eighteenth year. . . . . . To our trustie and wellbeloved servant Sir Edward Harbert Knt. our Attorney-generall, Or to our trustie and welbeloved servant Oliver Saint John Esqr. our Sollicitor Generall"; the purpose of the two fabricators of this spurious Sign Manual being to compass a grant under the Great Seal of the dignity of a Baronet to the said Henry Robinson. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

15 July, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Mary's Islington co. Midd. on the said day, John Scullard late of the said parish laborer spoke publicly, in the presence and hearing of many of the king's lieges, these wicked and devilish words, to wit, "Poxe confound the Parliament." John Scullard was at large. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

25 July, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. James's Clarkenwell co. Midd. on the said day, William Spencer alias William Pigge late of the said parish yeoman spoke publicly, in the presence and hearing of divers persons, these opprobrious and scandalous words, to wit, "That the Parliament had imprisoned the Lord Maior" (meaning Sir Richard Gurney knt. and bart.) "for nothinge else but because he was an honest man and did the King's service." William Spencer was at large. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

25 July, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. James's Clarkenwell co. Midd. on the said day, William Spencer alias William Pigge late of the said parish yeoman spoke publicly, in the presence and hearing of many of the King's lieges, these scandalous words, to the defamation of Henry Earl Holland, Knight of the Garter and one of the Privy Council, to wit, "That the Earle of Holland was raysed from a begger by the Kinge and that now he did what he could to cutt the King's throate." G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

18 August, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at Whitechappell co. Midd. on the said day, Elizabeth Humphries late of the said parish spinster, alias Elizabeth Humphries wife of Robert Humphries late of the said parish yoman, spoke publicly these wicked and diabolical words, to wit, "The Devill take the Parliament." Found 'Guilty' by a jury, Elizabeth Humphries was fined forty nobles. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

22 August, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-the Fields co. Midd. on the said day, Robert Robinson late of the said parish clerk, born within the kingdom of England, and after the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1 Eliz., and before the said 22 August, 18 Charles I., ordained a Priest by authority derived from the See of Rome, was and remained tiaitorously and as a false traitor of the King. Robert Robinson was at large. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

22 August, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Giles's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, James Browne late of the said parish clerk, born within the kingdom of England, and after the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1 Eliz., and before the said 22 August, 18 Charles I., made and ordained "Sacerdos anglice a Seminarye Preiste" by authority derived and pretended from the See of Rome, was and remained traitorously and as a false traitor of the said Lord the King &c. Putting himself on trial, James Browne was found 'Not Guilty' by a jury, who did not retract. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

31 August, 18 Charles I.—Record of the indictment of John Sprint (he being 'at large') "pro non dicendo librum communis precationis"; Also record of the indictment of Robert Robinson (he being 'at large') for being a seminary priest; Also record of the arraignment &c. of Thomas Bullaker for being a catholic priest; and also of Margaret Powell, for receiving and harbouring the said Thomas Bullaker (pro hospitacione Tho. Bullaker). Against the name of Thomas Bullaker appears this minute "non vult directe respondere nec se super patriam ponere, Ideo consideratum est quod predictus Thomas Bullaker trahetur super hurdellam usque furcas de Tiborne et ibidem suspendetur et vivens ad terram prosternatur, quodque interiola et membra sua e corpore suo abscindentur et in conspectu comburentur, quodque caput ejus abscindetur, et corpus ejus in quatuor partes dividetur, Et quod corpus et quarteria ejus ponantur ubi Dominus Rex assignare voluerit."—Against the record of Margaret Powell's arraignment appears the memorandum "po se Repr usq' prox sine ball" = She puts herself 'Not Guilty' on a jury of the country, and is reprieved without bail till next Session.—In the record of the proceedings of the next Session, viz., of 7 December, 18 Charles I., appears this memorandum, "Itt is thought fitt and soe desired by this Courte that Mr. Serjeant Phesant doe attende the House of Lords to acquainte theire Lordships with the proceedings against one Margarett Powell, convicted for the felonious receivinge Thomas Bullaker a Popishe Priest (who was executed the last Session) knowinge him to bee soe, And to knowe theire Lordships' pleasure whether shee shall bee executed according to the judgment given against her or be reprieved." G. D. Reg.

4 September, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at Hampstead on the said day and afterwards until the day of the taking of this Inquisition, John Sprint late of the said parish clerk was the minister of the parish church of Hampstead co. Midd., and did not say and use all the "common and open prayer" in the said parish church, in such order and form as are mentioned in a certain book, entitled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies authorized in the Church of England, by act of the parliament 5 and 6 Edward VI., with alterations and additions made thereto by the statute of 1 Eliz., entitled An Acte for the uniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church and the Administracion of the Sacraments, and that the aforesaid John Sprint refused to say and use the aforesaid common and open prayer. At the finding of the bill John Sprint was at large; but afterwards at the Gaol Delivery of 7 Dec., 18 Charles I., he put himself 'Not Guilty,' and afterwards, to wit, at the Gaol Delivery of 13 Jan., 18 Charles I., he was found 'Not Guilty' by a jury. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

11 September, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Sepulchre's London co. Midd. on the said day, Thomas Bullaker late of the said parish clerk, born within the kingdom of England, and after the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1 Eliz., and before the said 11 Sept., 18 Charles I., made and ordained "Sacerdos anglice a Seminarye Preist" by authority derived and pretended from the See of Rome, was and remained &c.; and that, at St. Sepulchre's London co. Midd. on the said 11 Sept, 18 Charles I., knowing him to be a priest of such kind as is abovesaid, Margaret Powell late of the said parish spinster received, harboured, comforted and maintained the said Thomas Bullaker. The clerical note over Thomas Bullaker's name at the bill's head is, "Nihil dic' Judiciu' q^d. trahetur suspendetur et quartiatur videlt.' At the bill's foot appears the usual record in full of the sentence for execution at Tiborne, in the manner prescribed for the execution of felons, convicted of high treason. A note over Margaret Powell's name shows that at a subsequent Session, held on 7 Dec, 18 Charles I., she was found 'Guilty' and sentenced to be hung. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

24 September, 18 Charles I.—Recognizances, taken before George Longe esq. J.P., of Thomas Needler of Fanchurch Street London tailor and Robert Harvey of Coleharbor Lane merchaunt-tailor, in the sum of one hundred pounds each; For the appearance of . . . . at the next Gaol Delivery for Middlesex, to answer &c., she having been "committed at the last Sessions for speaking wordes against the Parliament, viz. The Devill take the Parliament." G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I

29 November, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, Robert Boys late of the said parish gentleman uttered publicly certain seditious words, to wit, "I will bee avenged of the Kynge or his blood". Putting himself on a jury of the country, Robert Boys was found ' Not Guilty.' G. D. R., . . . ., 18 Charles I.

17 December, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at the parish of St. Leonard's Shoreditch, co Midd. Nicholas Culpepper late of the said parish gentleman practised witchcraftes upon and against Sarah Lynge widow, so that she has wasted away from the said 17 Dec., 18 Charles I., till 12 Jan. next following, and still remains so wasted. Putting himself 'Not Guilty,' Nicholas Culpepper was acquitted by a jury. G. D. R., . . . ., 18 Charles I.

20 December, 18 Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Peters-advincula within the Tower of London co. Midd. on the said day, James Carver laborer and his wife Mary Carver, both late of the said parish, stole and carried off one thousand ounces of silver in ingottes (mille uncias argenti in palaoris) worth two hundred pounds, of the goods and chattels of the Lord the King; and that, after the doing of said felony, John Hickes late of Stepney co. Midd., knowing that they had perpetrated the said felony, received, harboured and comforted the said James Carver and Mary Carver at Stepney aforesaid, on the same 20 Dec, 18 Charles I. James Carver was found 'Not Guilty' by a jury, who did not retract. Found 'Guilty,' Mary Carver pleaded pregnancy, when she was found 'pregnant' by a jury of matrons. Found 'Guilty,' John Hickes asked for the book, read it, and was branded. G. D. R., 15 Jan., 19 Charles I.