Kalendar. 37 Eliz. 1595. Part 1.
Coroner's Inquest found that Llewelyn Dauid was murdered by
Rise Wastell, of Cardiff, baker. (Pardoned).
39 Eliz. 1597. Part 1.
Twelve prisoners died in Cardiff gaol. The Coroner's Inquest
returned a verdict of death "by the visitation of God."
Ib. Part 2.
Twenty-one prisoners died. Verdict as before.
40 Eliz. 1598. Part 1.
Fourteen prisoners died; one of them was James Turbervill
of Newton Nottage, gentleman, committed for recusancy.
Presentments.
Thomas Moote, of Cardyff, for suffering butter to be transported
out of England.
John Tanner and others, "for transportynge butter unto forreyn
countryes.
"Griffin ap Ieuan de Cardyff Taylor for engrossynge butter.
"Joh'es Jeuan de Cardyff for vsynge vnlawfull weights &
regratyng com[m]odyties.
"Jevan Rithergh de Cardyff for kepyng ill rule in his house.
Lodovicus Jeuan de Cardyff for keping an Alehouse & not
being free.
Will'us myrick de Cardyff for kepyng of a leman."
Ib. Part 2.
Four prisoners died in Cardiff gaol; one of them was Lewis
Turbervill of Llysfronydd, gentleman, committed for recusancy.
(The County Gaol at this time was crowded with Catholics.)
Presentments.
The inhabitants of Cardyff, for nuisance of the river Taff.
Robert Adams and John ffrowen, of Cardyff, for suffering
nuisances in Cardyff &c., they being the Bailiffs thereof.
41 Eliz. 1599. Part 2.
Elizabeth Squyer, of Castel cogh, spinster, was convicted of
felony.
42 Eliz. 1600. Part 1
Morgan Richard, otherwise Sprygyn, of Llanyssen, yeoman,
was indicted for being a trespasser and common barettor.
The inhabitants of Llandaff were presented for the bridge on
the river Taff and for the bridge on the river Ely.
43 Eliz. 1601. Part 1.
Rice David and other Cardiff shoemakers were indicted for
trespass and assault.
Gaol File. No. 12. 44 Eliz. 1602.
William Wastell was presented for assaulting Ann David at
Cardiff on 29 April.
John David, Katherine his wife and Ann their daughter were
presented for that they on 4 April did unlawfully enter and take
possession of the shop of Charles Riccards at Cardiff. (Forcible
entry. Writ of restitution.)
"The names of the Recusants within the County of Glamorgan
and diocese of Landaphe before the Ordinarie &c." (presented for not
attending church.)
The list contains 19 names of Catholics of both sexes, from
Saint Bride's Major, Colwinston, Penllyn, Newcastle, Llysfronydd,
Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Newton Nottage, Margam and Tythegston.
Among them are several members of the Turbervill family; two of
whom, however, had previously died in gaol, as above recorded.
Maurice David, of Cardiff, sadler, pleaded guilty to a charge of
murdering Lewis Edmond, of Cardiff, by stabbing him with a rapier,
at "the green betwene the two briges."
No. 15. 2 Jac. I. 1605.
Hugh Lewis and Margaret Williams were indicted for stealing a
sheet from around the dead body of Thomas ap Morgan who was
buried in Neath church.
Inquisition on a view of the body of one Moses Morgan. The
Jurors say that Morgan Dirick, of Cardiff, yeoman, by chance touched
the cock of a certain fowling-piece, at Cardiff, of the price of 5s., upon
the breast of one David Morgan, being in the house of one Anthony
Ockwell, loaded with powder and leaden bullets, by force of which
contact the fowling-piece aforesaid discharged itself and accidentally
pierced and wounded the left thigh of the aforesaid Moses Morgan;
by reason of which perforation and wound the aforesaid Moses
Morgan died. (Verdict of death by misadventure.)
No. 16. 2 Jac. I. 1605.
Thomas Davys committed by Thomas Mansell on suspicion of
felony.
In two cases the indictment is marked by the Clerk:—"Pleads
not guilty; asks for a book, and does not read. A pauper."
Jasper Williams, committed by the bailiffs of Cardiff for felony,
pleads not guilty; asks for a book, and reads like a clerk.
No. 20. 11 Jac I. 1614.
Thomas Davyes, of Cardiff, yeoman, was presented for assaulting and wounding John ffruen, one of the Constables of Cardiff, in
the execution of his said office.
Pentyrch. Coroner's Inquest, on a view of the body of
Margaret Williams, late of Pentyrch, widow, found that Jenkin
Roberts, of Llantwit Vaerdre, yeoman, and Morgan Jenkin, of Eley,
yeoman, brake the neck of the said deceased with their hands.
John Tanner and Rice Roberts, Bailiffs of Cardiff, Coroners, and
their Jury, found that Richard Williams, of Cardiff, labourer, fell off
his horse into the river Taff and was accidentally drowned.
Elisha Rossiter, of Cardiff, sailor, with another man and twelve
women, were drowned in the river Taff at Cardiff, by the capsizing
of a boat.
Tamosine Wastell, wife of William Wastell, of Cardiff, yeoman,
was charged with stealing certain corn called rye, the property of
Thomas Warden, of Bristol, merchant. John Wastell, of Gelligaer,
bailed her. The rye was taken by her and others from Warden's
storehouse at Cardiff.
No. 21. 12 Jac. I. 1615.
Lewis Howell was indicted for that he, at Cardiff, by force and
arms did shear a certain sheep belonging to Cradock Sherrey and
appropriate the wool.
Henry Edwards of Rothe, gentleman, was indicted by the
Cardiff Borough Jury for that he, on the 27th day of August in the
12th year of the reign of King James the First, did grievously
assault Rice Roberts, one of the Bailiffs of Cardiff. Rice Roberts
and David Lloyd, Bailiffs of Cardiff, sign the Jury's Presentment of
the offender.
The Jury present that Edward Collines, of Cardiff, cordiner,
having, by a Writ unto him directed by Bailiff Rice Roberts, attached
the body of George Morgan, of Cardiff, mercer, to find a sufficient
bail that he would present himself in person before the Bailiffs to
answer for certain offences by him committed against our Lord the
King and his whole people, and especially against John Roberts,
junior, of Cardiff aforesaid; the said George Morgan, not regarding
that warrant and command, by force and arms at Cardiff aforesaid
did assault and ill entreat the said Edward Collins, being in the
King's peace; and the said George Morgan did then and there
escape, to the evil example of others the King's lieges and contrary to
the statutes in that case made and provided.
The same Jury present that, whereas Edward Collins, of Cardiff,
serjeant at mace for the aforesaid town, by virtue of a certain warrant
unto him directed at the Guild Hall of Cardiff by the Bailiffs of the
same town, for collecting a certain sum of money from the inhabitants
of the said town, by virtue of which warrant the said Edward Collins
took unto his custody a certain felt of the goods and chattels of one
John Chambers, of Cardiff; whereupon the said John Chambers
assaulted the said Edward Collins, and took out of his custody the
aforesaid property. (At foot is written in Latin:—"Reversed by
the Court, for insufficient indictment." The insufficiency doubtless
lay in the false composition of the document, which will have struck
the reader.)
N.B.—This bundle of parchments is in very bad condition, and
the writing almost illegible.
Bundle 21. No. 1. 13 Jac. I. 1616.
Nicholas Spencer of Cardiff, gentleman, having been committed
to the Cardiff gaol for recusancy, died there 2 December 1615.
(Those claiming benefit of clergy have now to sign their names
in writing, as well as read.)
Bundle 21. No. 2. 14 Jac. 1. 1617.
Chistopher Hawkins, of Fairwater, yeoman, was indicted for
assaulting Lewis John in the exercise of his office of Constable of
Fairwater.
Glamorgan to wit. The Jury for our Lord the King upon their
oath present that William Prichard, formerly of the town of Cardiff
in the county aforesaid, labourer, on the sixth day of November in
the fifteenth year of the reign of our said Lord James, by the grace
of God of England, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith,
&c., and of Scotland the fifty-first, was and continually thereafter and
hitherto is a common barettor and a constant and public disturber of
the peace of our said Lord the King, as also a common and troublesome slanderer and a consorter with prize-fighters and a sower of
strifes between his neighbours; insomuch that he hath begun,
procured and excited divers strifes and quarrels, brawls and fights
then, there and elsewhere in the said county of Glamorgan, between
divers our said Lord the King's liege subjects, to the great trouble
of our said Lord the King's people, and against the form of divers
Statutes and the order of this his realm of England in like case
published and provided, and against the peace of our said Lord the
now King, his crown and dignity.
John Powell, clerk, pros:
"True Bill. Let Summons issue."
Twenty-three persons were prosecuted by the Crown for
recusancy, including a Turberville of Sker.
John Watkin, riding one evening from Cardiff to Cefn Mably in
the parish of Llanfedw, on a horse of Mr. David Kemeys, rode into
the river Rhmney at Llanfedw and was drowned; as also was Mr.
David Kemeys, at the same time. (Inquests at Cardiff.)
Miles Edwards was this year in the County Gaol, committed
on a charge of clipping coin. He was condemned to death, but
reprieved.
John Thomas, condemned for escape, and reprieved.
Rice Edwards, indicted and outlawed for divers felonies.
John Philips, committed for feloniously stealing a cow. Being
convicted, he asked for a book, but could not read. Was sentenced
to be hanged.
The like in the cases of John ap Owen, for manslaughter, and
David John for burglary.
Elizabeth Gunter, committed for theft, pleaded guilty to the
value of 10d. Sentenced to be flogged.
John ap Jevan, of Cardiff, to be flogged for stealing a ewe.
Bundle 21. No. 3. 16 Jac. I. 1619.
Nicholas Jenkins, of Cardiff, labourer, by command of Robert
Heyman, his master, had taken three geldings (belonging to Watkin
Reece) to the common pinfold of Cardiff, because they had been
feeding on the grass of the said Robert Heyman. Thomas David,
labourer, and John Watkins, labourer, both of Cardiff, assaulted the
said Nicholas Jenkins in a house at Cardiff. (On 9 August, Watkin
Reece assaulted Robert Heyman at Cardiff, and was therefor indicted.)
George Brodley, sailor, was summoned for unlawfully selling
beer in a tavern at Penarth.
Walter Mathew, Thomas Mathew, James Mathew, Morgan
Mathew, of Caerau, gentlemen; John ap John, of the same place,
yeoman; Mathew James Robin of Caerau, gentleman; and William
Llewelyn, of Caerau, yeoman, on 29 August at St. Nicholas, riotously
assembled and made affray, and assaulted Roger Williams, Nicholas
Jones, Elizabeth Basset otherwise Williams, William John, Philip
Thomas, Eleanor Williams, Cycill Hawkins, John ap John, and
Nicholas Jones.
Two men were charged with stealing a salmon and a codfish, of
the value of 3d. each, from the butt of Hugh Fettiplace at Llandaff.
John David, of Tythegston, was indicted "for cutting or gelding
the privie members of John Wm a chield of abouts xen yeere oulde."
Bundle 21. No. 4. 19 Jac. I. 1622.
Twenty-seven persons of both sexes were prosecuted for
recusancy. They belonged to Newton Nottage, Cadoxton-juxtaNeath, Colwinston, Ewenny, Margam, Pyle and Kenfig, Gellygaer,
Eglwysilan, Llanfabon and Llanblethian. The list is headed by
the names of Mathew Turbervile of Newton Nottage, gentleman,
and Alice Turbervile, of the same place, spinster. (The Turbervilles
of Sker were staunch Catholics, and one or other member of the
family was almost continually in prison for his religion during the
reigns of Elizabeth and James I.)
Bundle 21. No. 5. 22 Jac. I. & 1 Car. I. 1625.
In 22 Jac. I. there were nine Inquests, with verdict "by the
visitation of God," on the bodies of persons who died through disease
at Cardiff; two of these were deaths in the gaol. (The gaols at this
time were loathsome hotbeds of fever, and imprisonment for any
considerable length of time practically meant death. Contagion
sometimes spread from the prisoner's dock to the Judge on the
bench.)
The Cardiff Grand Jury presented that Thomas William, of
Colwinston, yeoman, uttered these treasonable and seditious Welsh
words, namely: Mae dy vrenyn yn drewy ger bron Duw yn y bechod val
ddoyt tithe William hoell; (fn. 1) in English, "Thy king doth stincke before
God in his sin as thou dost, William Howell." (22 Jac. I.)
N.B.—Indictments for libellous, slanderous and treasonable
writing or speech are almost the only class of public records which
furnishes specimens of the Welsh language. It was necessary to set
forth the precise words complained of, hence the employment of the
vernacular in these documents; which thus possess a peculiar value
for students of Welsh, and all the more so because the Welsh they
contain is often remarkable for interesting dialectic forms.
Arnold Thomas, of Cardiff, tailor, in endeavouring to ford the
Taff on horse-back, was thrown into the water and drowned. (1
Car. I.)
John Crabb, of Pentyrch, was drowned in crossing the Taff.
Bundle 21. No. 7. 4 Car. I. 1629.
Forty-eight persons were presented for recusancy, at Bettws,
Margam, Eglwysilan, Llysfronydd, Llanishen (Margaret Thomas),
Newton Nottage (three Turbervilles), Tythegston, Pyle (sixteen
Turbervilles and Begans), St. Mary's-juxta-Cowbridge, Whitchurch
(Miles David, yeoman, and Katherine Thomas, widow), Cadoxtonjuxta-Neath, Llanblethian and Colwinston.
Bundle 21. No. 8. 11 Car. I. 1636.
Forty-six persons were summoned for recusancy. Besides the
places last above mentioned, the following now presented Catholic
parishioners for this offence: Llanedern (William Morgan James),
Tilston, Llangeinor, Sker (6 Turbervilles), and Llancarfan.
Bundle 21. No. 9. 17 Car I. 1642.
The Royal Court of the Most Noble Philip, Earl of Pembrocke
and Mountgomery, Lord of the aforesaid Town, held in the Guildhall of the same Town on the thirtieth day of December in the
seventeenth year of the reign of our Lord Charles, by the grace of
God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of
the Faith and soforth, before Nicholas Wastell and Miles Morgan,
Esquires, Bailiffs of the Town aforesaid, according to the custom of
the said Town.
To this Court cometh Morgan Gwyn and complaineth against
Griffin Oliver, of the Town of Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan,
"worsteedcomber," in a Plea of Debt upon demand of 20s., and
findeth pleaders for the present plaint in the plea aforesaid, to wit
John Doe and Richard Roe; and craveth process therein to be made
for himself against the aforesaid Griffin Oliver. And hereupon,
according to the custom of the aforesaid Town, there from a time
whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary used and
approved in the same, it is a precept unto Richard Archer, one of
the Serjeants at Mace in the aforesaid Town and a minister of this
Court, that &c. &c. (a suit for debt in the Town Court, with fictitious
forms of procedure.) Aaron Price, clerk there.
Bundle 21. No. 20. 13 Car. II. 1661. English.
Glam' ss. The Presentmt of the Second Inquest at the Great
Sessions held at Cardiffe in the s'd Com' the twentie ninth day of
Aprill in the thirteenth yeere of his Ma'ties Raigne 1661.
The s'd Inquest upon their Oath say and Present:—
3. That the Persons hereinafter named, that is to say [here
follow the names of 18 Catholics, in the parishes of Cadoxton-juxtaNeath, Llanharry, Llanharan and Llancarfan] Haue absented themselues from their respectiue p'ish churches or chappells to heare
diuine seruice & p'forme their duties there vpon Sundayes & other
holy dayes for the space of these three moneths last past contrary to
the Lawes & statutes in that case made and p'uided.
(Among the recusants at Cadoxton-juxta-Neath is Watkin
Richard, harper. Even widows and labourers are included in the
list, together with Mathew Gibbon and Hugh Jones, both of Llancarfan, gentlemen. The others are yeomen. This document, the
Grand Jury Presentment for the County, is the only one for this
year, and consists of one skin of parchment.)
King Charles II. and his Court were by no means ill-disposed
towards the Catholics; but when money had to be raised to pay for
his public and private extravagances, the "Merry Monarch" was
always willing to propitiate the Puritans by a fresh persecution of
the unfortunate "Papist Recusants." The next Bundle will furnish
us with some melancholy memorials of the bogus "Popish Plot"
invented by Titus Oates, when Protestant England went mad with
terror over imaginary conspiracies and shed the blood of the hated
Catholics like water. Bundle 21, No. 17, consists almost entirely of
the documents in connection with the trial of two Catholic priests,
Father Philip Evans, a Jesuit, and Mr. John Lloyd, a secular, both
Welshmen. For an account of their origin, adventures, trial and
heroic deaths the reader is referred to the "Oates Plot" volume of
Brother Foley's "Records of the English Province of the Society of
Jesus." These two priests were executed as traitors at Cardiff, 22
July 1679, the mode of execution being as follows: First they were
dragged on hurdles to the gallows. Then they were hanged for a
few moments. Before they were dead they were cut down, disembowelled alive, and dismembered. Although these men underwent
the terrible punishment of high treason, it is important to learn, from
the Indictments, that what they were charged with was simply that
they, being Catholic priests, "came, were and remained" in this
country, against the form of the statute. The simple addition of
the word proditorie, "treasonably," made the priests traitors. No
attempt was made, at their trial, to convict them of actual treason,
their "proditio" was purely constructive and technical.
Bundle 21. No. 17. 30 Car. II. 1679.
[Two Indictments combined.]
Glamorgan to wit. The Jury for our Lord the King upon their
oath present that John Lloyd, of Penlline [Philip Evans, formerly of
Sker] in the county aforesaid, clerk, born within our said Lord the
King's Principality and Dominion of Wales, on the twentieth day of
November [fourth day of December] in the thirtieth year of the
reign of our said Lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God of
England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the
Faith, and soforth, he then being seminarius sacerdos, in English "a
seminary priest," made, ordained and professed by the authority and
jurisdiction derived, claimed and pretended by the Roman See, on
the said twentieth day of November [fourth day of December] in
the thirtieth year abovesaid, within the Principality and Dominion
aforesaid, to wit at Pelline [Sker] aforesaid in the county aforesaid,
treasonably came, was and remained, against the form of the Statute
in the like case lately published and provided, and against the peace
of our said Lord the King that now is, his crown and dignity.
Rickards. examined.
proceed to Justice.
[Endorsed.]
"Grand Jury. True Bill."
Then follow, in each case, the names of the witnesses for the
Crown, and the Recognizances entered into by them for their due
appearance to give evidence against the accused. The following may
serve as an example:—
Glamorgan to wit. Recognizances taken and cognised at
Tithegston on the first day of May in the thirty-first year of the
reign of our Lord Charles the Second, that now is of England, &c.,
before Richard Lougher, Esquire, one of the Justices assigned for the
preservation of the Peace of our said Lord the King, &c. . . . .
"The Condic'on of this Recognizance is That the said Anne
Richard and Margarett John al's Lewis, Mary Lewis and David
Yorath doe and shall personally appear before his Ma'ties Justices
on Monday next being the first day of the next great sessions to be
held and kept in and for the said County then and there to certifie
and declare the trueth of their severall knowledges in such matters
as shall be demanded of them on his Ma'ties behalfe against one Mr.
Phillip Evans now a prisoner in his said Ma'ties Gaole at Cardiffe in
the said County who standes there Comitted vpon suspic'on of being
a Popist [sic] priest or lesuitte; and thence not to departe w'thout
licence of the Courte there, That then &c; or else &c.
Rich. Lougher."
Among the witnesses against Father Philip Evans, sworn before
John Arnold, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, at Abergavenny, was
Mayne Trott, who tendered the most important evidence of the
accused's having exercised the functions of a Catholic priest. This
man was deformed, and had been successively Court Dwarf to the
Kings of Spain and England. He had professed himself a Catholic
and married a relative of the Jesuit Father David Lewis, who,
principally on his evidence, was hanged, drawn and quartered at
Usk, this same year. Trott was a tenant and servant of Justice
Arnold, who was a restless priest-hunter, and supplied his master
with the needful information as to the private affairs of the Catholics
in South-East Wales. Shortly after the execution of Father David
Lewis, Mayne Trott fell dead in a street in London, a circumstance
which the Catholics did not fail to ascribe to a Divine judgment on
the dwarf for his large share in the death of their priests.
Gaol Calendar.
Glamorgan to wit. Kalendar of all the prisoners remaining in
the Gaol of our Lord the King aforesaid, returned to the Court of
Great Sessions of our said Lord the King, held at Cardiff in the
county aforesaid, on Monday (namely) the fifth day of May in the
31st year of the reign of our said Lord the King, before Owen Wyn,
esquire, one of the Justices of the Great Sessions aforesaid, by
Thomas Gibon, esquire, Sheriff.
"John Lloyd cl'icus comitted for a suspected Papish recusant or
Jesuit, by Richard Bassett Esquire." (Pleads not guilty. Judgment
that he be reprieved until the Court shall otherwise order.)
"Phillip Evans gent. comitted for beinge a suspected Jesuit or
papish Priest, by humphrey wyndy and Richard Loughor Esquires."
(Pleads not guilty. Judgment that he be reprieved until the Court
shall otherwise order.)
"Charles Howell comitted for carieinge seu'all lr'es very suspicious Towards the Manadgem't of the horrible plott, by Wm
Herbert & Beniamin Browne Esquires.
"Susan Evans and Ann Thomas comitted for refuseinge to take
the Oath of Supremacy, by Edw. Stradlinge Bar', Richard Bassett
and John Avan Esquires.
"Christopher Turbervill gen', Howell Carne gen,' Evan Thomas,
david William, Richard Thomas and Gwillim Thomas comitted for
refuseinge to take the Oathe of Supremacy, by the Court of the last
gen'all Sessions of the peace held att Cowbridge 29th of April last."
Lastly come the Jury Panels.
Bundle 21. No. 19. 31 Car. II. 1680.
Inquest held at Cardiff Guildhall, on the body of Thomas Bades,
of Kevenmably, found that, being in the dwellinghouse of Alderman
Henry Draper, at Cardiff, he fell down a ladder (or staircase) of nine
steps and broke his neck.
Inquisition taken at Whitchurch on a view of the body of
Richard Jones, late of Vaynor in the county of Brecon, yeoman;
the Jurors say that the aforesaid Richard Jones at the parish of
Merthirtidvill, working in a certain coal-pit, a large portion of the
aforesaid coal fell upon him so that he then and there by misadventure came by his death.
Bundle 21. No. 24. 2 Jac. II. 1686.
Inquisition on a view of the body of one Robert Thomas, who
was killed by a bell in the belfry of the parish church of Saint
Andrew's, when the ringers were ringing the three bells.
Bundle 22. No. 1. 1 W. & M. 1688.
Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King and Lady
the Queen upon their oath present that Edward Llewelin, formerly
of Newton Nottage in the county of Glamorgan, gentleman, being a
malicious and seditious man and designing and maliciously and
seditiously intending, not only to bring our Lord William the third,
now King of England, into hatred and contempt, but also to bring
this present Parliament of England, assembled for difficult and urgent
business greatly concerning the good estate and common weal of this
realm of England, into hatred, scorn, infamy and contempt with all
the faithful subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen
that now are, and also to bring into contempt and infamy the gentry
inhabiting within the county aforesaid, on the twenty-seventh day of
July in the first year of the reign of our said Lord the King and
Lady the Queen, at Newton Nottage aforesaid in the county aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers liege subjects of our said
Lord the King and Lady the Queen, who then well understood the
Welsh tongue, maliciously and seditiously concerning the same King
that now is said, asserted and published these malicious and seditious
and contumelious Welsh words following, namely, Na fu yr yod swd
ffol o frenin ag yew hwn. (fn. 2) Which said Welsh words in English speech
signify and have the same sense as these English words following,
namely, "There was never such a foole of a king as this" (meaning
our said Lord William that now is King of England). And also on
the day and year abovesaid, at Newton Nottage aforesaid in the
county aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers of the
subjects abovesaid, of his further malicious and seditious mind and
design abovesaid, concerning the aforesaid Parliament these malicious
and seditious Welsh words maliciously and seditiously said and
uttered, namely, Y may y Parliament yn gwnythyr y peth nad oes
genthyn power am dano (fn. 3) Which said Welsh words last mentioned
in English speech signify and have the same sense as these
English words following, namely, "The Parliament is doeing a thing
they have no power to doe" (meaning the Lords and Commons
in the Parliament aforesaid). And also then and there lastly
said and published these other scandalous and malicious English
words following, namely, I (meaning himself the said Edward
Llewelin) hope in a short time to have my Will of all the Gentlemen
of this County (meaning the gentry aforesaid within the county of
Glamorgan aforesaid) for that they (meaning the aforesaid gentry)
have spunn & twisted a halter for themselves (again meaning the aforesaid gentry). To the great contempt and scorn as well of our said
Lord the King and Lady the Queen that now are, as of the aforesaid
Parliament, and to the evil and harmful example of others in like case
offending, and against the peace of our said Lord the King and Lady
the Queen that now are, their Crown and dignities.
xd Wynne.
Grand Jury.
"True Bill."
Ann David pros:
(The accused was bailed at the next Sessions.)
John Williams died in Cardiff gaol.
The Grand Jury Panel contains the name of Vaughan Edwards
of Landaffe, gentleman, "a promiseing voluntary Juror of Kibbor
Hundred." His name was struck out.
Bundle 22. No. 4. 2 W. & M. 1689.
Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King and
Lady the Queen upon their oath present that William Bew, formerly
of Roath in the county of Glamorgan, gentleman, on the twenty
seventh day of May in the second year of the reign of our Lord [sic]
William and Mary, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France
and Ireland King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, and soforth, at
the borough of Cardiff in the county aforesaid, in the presence of
several of the subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the
Queen, published and uttered (inter alia) certain false and scandalous
words concerning William Richards, of the borough aforesaid in the
county aforesaid, and unto the said William Richards, then being one
of the Bailiffs of the said borough and also one of the Justices of the
peace of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen for the peaee
[sic] within the borough of Cardiffe aforesaid in the county aforesaid, as also appointed for the hearing and determining of divers
felonies, trespasses and other misdemeanours in the said borough
committed, to wit, Thou (meaning the said William Richards) art a
Pitifull fellow, and it is a Scandall that the kinge (again meaning our
said Lord the King) should have such a fellow as thee art (again
meaning the said William Richards) a Justice of the peace. And
lastly the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid say that the
aforesaid William Bew, on the said twenty seventh day of May in
the aforesaid year, at the borough aforesaid, in the presence and
hearing of several of the subjects of our said Lord the King and
Lady the Queen, published and uttered certain other false and
scandalous words concerning the aforesaid William Richards and
unto the said William, as follows: If I (the said William Bew) had
a limner here I (the said William Bew) would have his Picture drawen
(again meaning the said William Richards) and would hang it in my
house of office (meaning the privy of the said William Bew); to the
great depravation of the authority of the Bailiffs of the borough
aforesaid, and of the Justices of the Peace aforesaid within the
borough aforesaid, and to the manifest [sic] of our said Lord the
King and Lady the Queen, as well against their peace and laws and
[sic] against the peace of our said Lord the King and Lady the
Queen, their Crown and dignity.
(In spite of the careless drawing of the above Indictment, the
accused William Bew was bounden in 40li, and William Morgan
junior, of Lanedarne, in 20li, that the said William Bew should
appear, &c., and meantime be of good behaviour. Before William
Herbert, esquire, at the Whitefriars, Cardiff, Constable of the Castle
of Cardiff and Mayor of the said Town, and [as such] Justice of the
Peace.)
Bundle 22. No. 5. 3 W. & M. 1690.
Mark Jenkin, of Llantrissent, yeoman, was presented for uttering
these treasonable words: "It was ffitter for one of King James' men
to ride a stone horse then such a rouge, declaring he was one of
King' James' men, and that it might happen ere Long that he should
ride the said stone horse."
Bundle 22. No. 6. 5 W. & M. 1692.
Evan Reece, of Coychurch, yeoman, with help of other persons,
seized at Cardiff and abducted a girl named Mary Taynton, of the age
of ten years, and forcibly married her in a house at Neath, she being
seised in her demesne as of fee of lands and tenements to the clear
yearly value of 20li and more, against the form of the statute.
Bundle 22. No. 7. 6 W. & M. 1693.
William Thomas, of Llanishen, labourer, was indicted for stealing
38 pieces of gold, called broad pieces, worth 23s. 6d. apiece; and two
gold guineas worth 21s. 6d. apiece; and a golden half-guinea worth
10s. 9d.; and another piece of gold called a Spanish piece, of the
value of 100s., of the goods and chattels and moneys of Grace Lewis,
of Llanishen, widow.
Bundle 22. No. 9. 7 Wil. III. 1695.
Edward Carne of Cowbridge, gentleman, was bound in 20li,
and his friend Edward Powell of the same place, gentleman, in 10li,
for Carne's appearance to answer a charge of speaking contemptuous
words against his Majesty and the Government to Miles Thomas, of
Llancarfan.
Bundle 22. No. 10. 10. Wil. III. 1698.
Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King upon
their oath present that whereas, from a time whereof the memory
of man is not to the contrary, there was and still is a certain watercourse at the parish of Saint John in Cardiffe, and the parish of
Llandaffe, in the county of Glamorgan aforesaid, which continually
every year and at all times in the year, when and so often as the
river commonly called the Taffe, by Cardiffe in the county aforesaid,
flowed and was used and ought to flow, without any hindrance or
any obstruction of the same watercourse, from the aforesaid river
called the Taffe through and across the highway there, as far as a
certain ditch between a certain close of land of one Henry ffox,
gentleman, called the White-house meade, on the west, and a several
close of land in the possession of one Nicholas Greene, of Cardiffe in
the county aforesaid, butcher, and another close of land called Taffesmeade, on the east and south, and through and across the said ditch
to the river aforesaid; nevertheless the aforesaid Nicholas Greene,
well aware of the premisses, but designing and wickedly minding
not only to vex and oppress the aforesaid Henry ffox in divers ways,
but also to bring and put all the liege subjects of our Lord the King
that now is, going, returning, riding and journeying in, through and
across such highway aforesaid, in danger to lose their lives, on
the first day of March in the tenth year of the reign of our said
Lord William the Third, &c., by force and arms, &c., at the parish
aforesaid, erected and built a certain mound or bank across the
aforesaid water-course, near the highway aforesaid, at the entrance
thence into the aforesaid ditch, and raised it so high, that he then
and there so obscured the aforesaid water-course, with the mound
and bank aforesaid, that the said water overflowed into the dwellinghouse and garden of the aforesaid Henry ffox, and remained in such
great quantity on the highway aforesaid, that divers liege subjects of
our said Lord the King now cannot go, cross, &c., the aforesaid
highway as they were wont and ought to do.
Bundle 22. No. 12. 10 Will. III. 1698.
Mary Griffiths, spinster; John ffeildust, ironmonger; and
Barbara, the wife of Philip Tanner, grocer, all of Cardiff, were
prosecuted for using false weights.
(N.B.—The old practice of setting forth in the list of Justices all
the Ministers of State who were Justices in every county by virtue of
their offices, has now been abandoned; and the lists commence with
the Judges of Great Sessions for the County and District. The roll
of Justices is also much increased in number for the County.)
Bundle 22. No. 13. 10 Will. III. 1698.
William Jenkins of Llandaff, gentleman, was prosecuted for
practising in the Bishop's Court without being duly qualified.
Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors of our Lord the King upon their
oath present that William Morgan, formerly of Neath in the county
aforesaid, gentleman, being an impious, profane and irreligious
person, and not having the fear of God in his heart, but moved
and seduced by the instigation of the devil and designing and
intending to scandalize and vilify the true Christian religion within
this realm of England received and publicly professed, as also to
blaspheme the wisdom and majesty of Almighty God, the Creator
of heaven and of this world, and to subvert and withdraw the
subjects of our said Lord the King from the Christian faith, as
also to vilify and mock the holy scriptures, on the 31st day of
December in the eleventh year of the reign, &c., at Neath aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers of the liege subjects
of our said Lord the King that now is, who well understood the
English tongue, said and uttered these false, impious, blasphemous
and heretical English words of and concerning the creation of this
world and the holy scriptures: This world was not made by God, but
was made before there was a God; nor do I believe the Scripture
(meaning the holy scriptures of the old and new Testament) which
is an old booke; for we are not to believe old books. And Moses
(meaning Moyses, a great prophet named in the holy scriptures) was
either a fool or a liar, and he made the scripture, which is but a fable,
to the grievous scandal of the profession of the true Christian
religion and the great dishonour and displeasure of Almighty God,
and to the great scorn and contempt of the holy scriptures. In
contempt of our said Lord the King that now is, his laws, &c., &c.
Inquest at Cardiff on the body of Oliver David, of Llanedern, a
boy aged twelve years, who riding on a mare from Cros-ych-Adam
towards New Forge in the parish of Llanedern, was thrown and his
neck broken.
Bundle 22. No. 17. September 1702.
William Holley, of Llandaff, was committed for the wilful shooting and wounding of William Turbervill of Radyr, gentleman.