Star Chamber Reports: 6 Charles I

Pas. 6 Car. & Trin. 6 Car.

Woodmongers London, vers. Wharfingers and Carmen London.

Four hundred Cars only to be used within the City of London, and the Liberties and Places adjacent; namely, Southwark, St. Katharines, and the Strand; and all Persons within those Liberties restrained from working any Cars, not being of that number allowed by the Company of Woodmongers.

Orders regulating the Company of Woodmongers.

A convenient number of those Cars to be distributed to the Wharfs in Southwark, St. Katharines, and the Strand, as time will permit by the death of the present Owners.

And to the end Prices of Fuel may not be enhanced, nor the Owners of Wharfs that want Cars too much prejudiced in the mean time; the Woodmongers are to allow to the Wharfingers in the said places adjacent, till Car-Rooms fall by death, an indifferent number of Cars for 12 d. a Week each Car, until they may be freely distributed.

Attorn. Regis & Dom. Powis vers. Vaughan Arm. & al.

The Deed complained of to be forged was left as a suspected Deed, and therefore referred to a Trial at Law for the validity thereof, and all the Defendants in both Causes dismissed.

Attorn. Regis versus Leighton.; Libel against his Majesty, the Peers and Bishops.

The Defendant being a Roman Catholick, framed and contrived a seditious Book against his Majesty, the Peers, Bishops and Prelates of this Kingdom, Intituled (An Appeal to the Parliament: Or, Sion's Plea against the Prelacy) and caused about five or six hundred of them to be printed, wherein were contained these traiterous, false, libellous and seditious Assertions and Positions following. 1. That we do not read of greater Persecutions, higher Indignity done upon God's People in any Nation professing the Gospel, than in this our Island. 2. He terms our Prelates Men of Blood, and Enemies to God and the State. 3. He faith it is the main and Master-Sin, the establishing and maintaining of Bishops within this Realm, and that Ministers should have Voices in Councils, both deliberative and decisive. 4. That the Prelacy of our Church is Antichristian and Satanical, and the Bishops Ravens and Pye-Maggots that prey upon the State. 5. That the Canons of our Church made 1603. are Nonsense-Canons. 6. He condemns the religious and devout Ceremony of Kneeling in receiving the Sacrament, alledging, that the Suggestion of false Fears to the King by the Prelacy, and the seeking of their own unlawful Standing brought forth that received Spawn of the Beast, Kneeling, &c. 7. He faith the Prelates corrupt the King, forestalling his Judgment against God and Goodness. 8. He calls our Queen the Daughter of Heth. 9. He impiously commends him that killed the Duke of Buckingham, and encourages others to do the like. 10. He scandals the King and Kingdom, saying, All that pass by us spoil us, and we spoil all that rely upon us, which being too well known, makes us odious to the World. 11. That no King may make Laws in the House of God; for if they might, then the Scriptures should be imperfect. Lastly, He adviseth all to consider then what a pity it is, and an indelible dishonour it will be to the State Representative, that so ingenious and tractable a King should be so monstrously abused by the bane of Princes, to the undoing of himself and his Subjects; and for this he was committed to the Fleet during Life, unless the King enlarge him; fined 10000 l. referred to the High Commission Court to be degraded of his Ministry, and then to be whipped at the Pillory at Westminster, and standing on the Pillory to lose one of his Ears, his Nose slit, and his Face branded with a double S. and in like fort to be whipped and lose his other Ear at the Pillory in Cheapside.

Mich. 6 Car.

Attor. Regis versus Norton & al.; Scandal of the Lord Coventry.; 3000 l. Dam.

The Defendant Bonham Norton having a Cause depending in the Court of Chancery before the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Coventry, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, endeavoured to have fastned a Bribe upon his Lordship, and thereby to have procured his favour in the said Cause; but being disappointed therein, and the Cause coming to be heard upon his Petition, and not succeeding as he expected, the said Defendant raised and divulged Rumours of supposed unjust Proceedings by his Lordship in that Cause; and to give colour to the Scandals did, of his own head, contrive, and put in Writing divers false and seigned Notes, intituled Memorials, whereby he pretended he received private Informations from the Defendants Lee and May of the Sum of 600 l. and of other several great Sums of Money supposed to be given to the Lord Keeper, for Favour to be done to the Defendants in Chancery; with other Passages how, and by whom that Favour was compassed; and he, and the other Defendants published the said Notes and Memorials, and out of them drew Cases in Letters, whereby they traduced the Lord Keeper, calling him by the Name of Sir J. K. and terming him the Unjust Judge, and the Decree made by him an Unjust Judgment, and carried those Notes to Council, and thereby framed a False and Scandalous Petition to his Majesty against the Lord Keeper, therein taxing him with Injustice and Corruption; and the Defendants caused the same to be presented to his Majesty, and published the said Scandals in divers parts of the Kingdom; and the Defendants May and Lee had several Rewards from Norton for raising these false Reports. And for these foul Scandals and Aspersions, Bonham Norton, the Principal Offender, was fined 3000 l. to acknowledge at the Chancery-Bar, with a Paper on his Head declaring his offence, that the Decree of that Court betwixt him and Barker was just and agreeable to the Rules of Equity, and a good Conscience; and then humbly acknowledge his Offence, and ask his Majesty and the Lord Keeper forgiveness; and to make the like acknowledgment and submission in this Court, and at the Assizes at Salop, where the Decree shall be read. Lee and May, his Agents and Instruments in raising and publishing the Scandals and Memorials, committed, and fined 1000 l. apiece; and to ride to Westminster from the Fleet with their Faces to the Horse-tail; and at the Chancery-Bar, and in this Court, with Paper on their Heads declaring their Offence, and acknowledge their Offence, and ask forgiveness, and then be set on the Pillory with one Ear nailed to it, while the Courts fit; and another day to ride into Cheapside in such manner as before, and be there set on the Pillory, with their other Ear nailed, and be carried to Prison, there to remain during Life. John Norton, for contriving the Cases, and Petitioning to the King, and publishing the Scandals, committed, fined 1000 l. and ask forgiveness at this Bar. Diggs, Winston, and Harper, Publishers of the Scandals, fined 100 l. apiece, committed, and ask forgiveness at this Bar. Hingate, for his malicious publication of the Scandals, committed, fined 1000 l. and ask forgiveness, ut ante: And Smith, for publishing the Scandals, joining with Norton to fasten the Bribe on the Lord Keeper, committed, till he make his acknowledgment, submission, and ask forgiveness in this Court, and fined 1000 l. Serjeant Ashley reproved, and not to practise before the Lord Keeper, until he had privately submitted unto him. Lowns left with a Non Liquet, and the Defendants fined to pay the Lord Keeper 3000 l. Damages.

Attorn. Regis ver. Sampson Corrupt Dying of Silk.; Resistance of the Lords of the Councils Warrant.

The Defendant, being a Silk-Dyer in London, used Slip and Alderbark in the dying of black Silks, and kept them in steep much longer then they should, being truly dyed, and by that corrupt Means made the said Silks rotten, and much heavier than otherwise they would have been, and less serviceable. And the Wardens of the Company, assisted with a Constable, and other Officers, by virtue of their Charter, and a Warrant from the Lords of the Council, coming to search the Defendant's House for such corrupt dyed Silks, and finding some, endeavoured to seize them, to the end to make trial of them; the Defendant, in contempt of the Warrant, took up a Halbert, and assaulted the Wardens, Constables, and Officers, forc'd the Silk from them, and drave them out of Doors: and for these Offences was committed to the Fleet, fined 100 l. and to make an Acknowledgment of his Offence, and submit himself to the Wardens at the Dyers Hall.

South Knigat versus Ward Cler.

The Defendant, out of Malice to the Plaintiff, did, in the presence of divers Gentlemen of good Rank, flourish his Truncheon over his Head, and in disgrace of the Plaintiff whom he then knew to be a Justice of the Peace, say with a loud Voice, that the King had done great wrong to make the Plaintiff a Justice of the Peace, and him the Defendant no Justice, for he was more worthy than the Plaintiff; and that the Plaintiff was a base Knight, and a Stinkard: and for this was committed to the Fleet, fined 100 l. and to acknowledge his Offence, and submit himself to the Plaintiff at the Assizes, the Judges sitting.

Bacon ver. Boulton & al.; Conspiracy falsely to indict the Plaintiff of Felony.; 100 l. Dam.

The Defendants, out of Malice to the Plaintiff, did conspire together to accuse and indict him for supposed slealing of several petty things, which were long before delivered by themselves unto him, and left with him in keeping: And accordingly did prefer two several Indictments against him for the said things; whereupon the Jury returned Ignoramus; and by like Conspiracy and Agreement they preferred another Indictment against him in his absence at the Quarter Sessions for stealing a Ring, a Silver Spoon, and twelve Pence in Money, (which in truth were long before given him by Jane Hemingway, one of the Defendants) yet upon her evidence of the Felony, the Jury returned Billa vera, and thereupon he was with them at the next Quarter-Sessions arraigned and tried for his Life, yet acquitted, notwithstanding their malicious Prosecution. And for this they were all committed to the Fleet, one fined 100 l. another 100 Marks,and their Wives 50 l. apiece; all bound to their good Behaviour, and disabled ever after to be Witnesses in any Court whatsoever, and pay the Plaintiff 100 l. damage.

Attorn. Reg. ver. Jones.; Slander of a Master of Chancery, Sir Euble Thelwall.

The Defendant being discontented at several Reports made by Sir Euble Thelwall Kt. one of the Masters of the Chancery, contrived a libellous Writing in the nature of a Petition, containing, that Sir Euble had made a false Report in his Cause against one Hughs & al. and that he was not an indifferent Person in the Cause; and to this Petition annexed a Schedule of Exceptions, containing, that Sir Euble had made two false Reports against him; that he was become his persecutor by indirect Means for laying down of Truth under his Hands, and that he did challenge property in part of the Lands in question; and caused this Petition to be written by a Scrivener, and then delivered to the Master of the Rolls, desiring the Reference to be transferred: And by another Writing, which he caused a Scrivener to write, and then delivered it to Sir Euble himself, he falsely charged him with ordering things not referred, making of false Reports in two Causes without Warrant, Cause, or Colour, and that he was become a Party against him, and therefore required him to meddle no farther in his Business. And for this the Defendant was committed to the Fleet, and fined 200 l. and to acknowledg his Offence at the Chancery-Bar, and at the Court of Great Sessions for the County of Denbigh, and the Decree to be then read.

But no damage to Sir Euble, because he died before the Sentence.

Attornat. Regis Rel. Powel Baronet vers. Vanlore Bar. & al. Practice to get away a Bond to the prejudice of an Executrix.; Riotous Rescue.; Riotous carrying away of Tithed Corn.; Submission not complained of.

The Defendant by practice with Love and his Wife, two of the Servants of Dame Jacoba Vanlore, his Mother, Executrix of the Will of Sir Peter Vanlore, his Father deceased, and for Bribes and Rewards to them given and promised, got into his hands a Bond of 16000 l. being the Goods of his deceased Father, and belonging to his Mother as Executrix, and then went to Sir Sackville Crow, one of the Obligors, and told him there were Suits like to grow between him the said Defendant, and his said Mother; and that if he would procure the Duke of Buckingham, for whose Debt the said Bond was entred into, to assist him the Defendant to overthrow the Will of his Father, he would deliver up the Bond into the Dukes hands; and one of the Defendants being arrested at the Lady Vanlore's Suit, four other of the Defendants, armed with several sorts of Weapons, riotously rescued him, and beat and hurt the Bailiff that made the Arrest; and conceiving that one Bilmore, the Lady Vanlore's Servant, accompanied the Bailiff to shew him the party to be arrested, they lay in Ambush for him, and at his coming riotously beat him with their Staves, and brake one of his Arms. And the Defendant Sir Peter Vanlore endeavouring to frustrate a Conveyance made by his Father, and to keep his Mother from the Possession of the Parsonages and Rectories of Compton and Beenham, did procure the other Defendants at several times, to go armed in warlike manner into the Fields, and to take away several parcels of Corn, of several forts, belonging to the said Lady Vanlore; some before it was tithed, and some after; which the other Defendants by his ***ment performed in very Insolent and Riotous manner, and the *** that if any came to resist them they should be soundly beaten. And for there Offences Sir Peter Vanlore was committed to the Fleet, and fined one thousand Marks for his practice to procure the Bond, and five hundred Marks for procuring and maintaining the Riots, and pay the Lady Vanlore 11000 l. damage, unless he did by the first day of the next Term deliver her up the said Bond of 16000 l. undefaced and uncancelled; and Love for his Treachery and Infidelity to his Lady, in delivering up the said Bond, was committed and fined 200 l. the Rescuers and rescued fined a hundred Marks apiece, and the six Rioters 50 l. apiece, an all committed to the Fleet; and Sir Peter Vanlore to pay the Fines of so many of the Rioters as are not able to pay it themselves: and Sir Peter to make an acknowledgment, and ask Sir Edward Powel forgiveness, for saying Sir Edward Powel was a Fellow would say, or swear, any thing, which words were proved, but not charged by the Information. Quod Nota.

Attornat. Regis ore tenus vers. Leving-stone & al. Practice to procure the Escape of a Prisoner out of the Fleet.

The Defendants practising with one Leighton, a notable Offender, to procure his Escape out of the Fleet; Levingston put off his Cloak, Hat and Breeches, being all of a Gray colour, and Anderson his Doublet, and Leighton put them on, and in that disguise they all went out of the Fleet unsuspected; but he was afterward taken again. And for these Offences, in respect of their Penitence, they were only fined 500 l. a-piece, and committed to the Fleet during his Majesty's Pleasure.

Hill. 6 Car.

Attorn. Regis ore tenus versus Morgan.; Slander of the two Justices in the Country of Flintshire.

The Defendant being a Popish Recusant, and being convented before Sir John Bridgeman, and Sir Marmaduke Lloyd Knights, Justices for the County-Palatine of Chester, and County of Flint, and accused to them to be a Popish Priest, was required to take the Oath of Allegiance, which he refusing in open Court, he was indicted and attainted in a Premunire, and committed to Gaol. And thereupon, in revenge, he wrote a libellous and scandalous Letter to the said Justices, taxing them with Injustice; and after framed another libellous Writing, which he entituled, The State of Flintshire, and therein traiterously alledged his Majesty to be deposed, the Authority of his Privy Council abrogated, the Bishop of Chalcedon made King, the Inhabitants of Flintshire his Slaves, and Sir John and Sir Marmaduke his Justices; and after contrived another Writing more libellous unto them; and caused it to be delivered to the High Sheriff in open Court, wherein he termed the said two Justices Traytors to the King's Crown, and the State of the Common-wealth; and saith, they are Favourers and Furtherers of the said Bishop of Chalcedon. And for this he was committed to the Fleet, during his Life, fined 1000 Marks, and be set on the Pillory at Westminster, and at the Assizes for Flintshire, with one Ear nailed at each Place, and a Paper on his Head declaring his Offence, and there shew himself heartily sorry and penitent.

Bincks versus Beeston & al.; Riotous taking away of Cattel by colour of a false Warrant.; 50 l. damage.

The Defendant Tires being Clerk to the Under Sheriff of the County of Lincoln, and hearing that a Writ of Fieri Facias was sued forth on the behalf of the Lady Dymock against the Plaintiff upon a Judgment of 200 l. directed to the said Sheriff, did before any Writ delivered, and against the Will of the said Lady, and her Solicitor, make a Warrant, without Warrant, upon the said Writ directed to himself and the other Defendant Winter, one of the Sheriffs sworn Bayliffs; and out of a greedy Disposition to gain to himself the Benefit of the said Execution, he, and the Defendant Winter, with others armed, by colour of that unlawful Warrant, went to the Plaintiff's House, brake open the Stable Door, and therehence, and out of the Yard drove away two Geldings, and nine young Beasts of the Plaintiffs. And for this Tires and Winter were committed to the Fleet, fined 40 l. a-piece, and to pay 50 l. Damage to the Plaintiff.

Attorn. Regis ore tenus versus Taylor and Stephenson.; Counterfeiting of Farthing-Tokens.

The Defendants, contrary to his Majesty's Proclamation, prohibiting the counterfeiting of Farthing-Tokens, or the making of any Engines wherewith they might be counterfeited, being Confederates together did, at several Times, and several Places, make, and counterfeit great Quantities of Farthings, like the Farthings allowed by his Majesty, and made by his Patentees, and vented the said counterfeit Farthings to several Persons at 24 s. 25 s. and 26 s. in Farthings for 20 s. in current Money; and Tailor made the Stamps, and Rolls wherewith those Farthings were made. And for these Offences, in contempt of the King's Proclamation, and to the abuse and prejudice of the King's People and Patentees, they were committed to the Fleet, bound to their good Behaviours during Life: Taylor fined 1000 l. and Stephenson 500 l. and both of them to be set on the Pillory with Papers on their Heads, declaring the nature of their Offences, at Westminster, Cheapside, York, Rippon, Bishops, Awkland, Newcastle, and Durham, and there the Decree to be publickly read.

Monk versus Blackburn & al.; Conspiracy to accuse the Plaintiff of Treason.; 500 l. damage.

The Defendant Dorothy Blackburn, out of malice to the Plaintiff, for that he had caused her Husband to be arrested for Debt, intercepted two of his Letters, and one Letter from his Attorney to him, and in his two Letters procured the other Defendants to insert treasonable words, and scandalous matter against the Lord Gray and cunningly drop'd one of those Letters in a Market-Town, so as it might come to her hands again, and then carried them to the said Lord Gray (to the end to take away the Plaintiff's Life) who thereupon sent his Warrant for him, and committed him (after Examination) to Prison, and after sent him to the Lords of the Council, who committed him first to the Gate-house, and then to the Tower to be rack'd. And for this wicked Conspiracy she was committed, during his Majesty's Pleasure, bound to her good Behaviour during Life, and if ever his Majesty enlarge her, disabled ever to be a Witness in any Cause whatsoever, and be well whipt in the Palace-yard at Westminster, standing on a high place with a Paper on her heard deelaring her Offence, and be branded in the face with the Letters F and A, signifying a false Accuser, and to stand in like sort, and be whipt at Leicester, Skellet, her Agent in carrying, and intercepting the Letters, committed, fined 100 l. and bound to his good Behaviour: And Betson, the Counterfeiter of the Letters, committed, fined 500 Marks, bound to his good Behaviour, disabled ever to be a Witness in any Cause hereafter, and to stand on the Pillory at Westminster, with a Paper on his head declaring the nature of his Offence, and all of them to pay 500 l. damage to the Plaintiff.