The indictment of Ben Jonson

Middlesex County Records: Volume 4, 1667-88. Originally published by Middlesex County Record Society, London, 1892.

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'The indictment of Ben Jonson', in Middlesex County Records: Volume 4, 1667-88, (London, 1892) pp. 350. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/middx-county-records/vol4/p350 [accessed 17 March 2024]

THE INDICTMENT OF BEN JONSON.

This interesting document, described at length in the Editor's preface to vol. i. of the Middlesex County Records, is here reproduced in facsimile. The record is as follows:

"Cogn' Indictament petit librum legit ut Cl'icus sign' cum lra T Et del' iuxta formam statut' &c.

"Middss Juratores pro Dña Regina p'n'tant qd Beniaminus Johnson nup[er] de London yoman Vicesimo Secundo die Septembris Anno regni Dñe Elizabethe Dei grã Anglie Franc' & Hibinie Regine fidei defensoris &c. Quadragesimo Vi & armis &ca. In et sup quendam Gabrielem Spencer in pace dei & dce d[omi]ne Regine apud Shordiche in Com' Midd. pred' in Campis ib[ide]m existen' insultum fecit Et eund'm Gabrielem cum quodam gladio de ferro et calibe vocat' a Rapiour precii iiis quern in manu sua dextra adtunc & ib[ide]m hait. & tenuit extract' felonice ac voluntar' percussit et pupugit dans eid'm Gabrieli Spencer adtunc & ib[ide]m cu' gladio pred' in et super dexterū latus ip'ius Gabrielis Unam plagam mort'lem profunditat' sex pollic' & latitud' unius pollicis de qua quidem plaga mortali idem Gabriel Spencer apud Shordiche pred' in pred[i]c[t]o Com' Midd. in Campis pred[i]c[t]is adtunc & ib[ide]m instant' obiit Et sic Jur' pred[i]c[t]i dicunt sup[er] Sacrm suu' qd prefat' Beniaminus Johnson pred[i]c[t]em Gabrielem Spencer apud Shordiche pred' in pred[i]c[t]o Com' Midd & in Campis predict' ( ) pred[i]c[t]is felonice ac voluntar' interfecit & occidit contra pacem Dce d[omi]ne Regine &c."

Endorsed "Billa vera."