1673
14 January, 24 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Finchley, co. Midd.
on the said day, Symon Jones late of the said parish gentleman
assaulted James Henley on the highway, and then and there robbed
him of six hundred yards of thread bone-lace worth seventy pounds,
and a box worth three pounds, and a cloak-bagg worth five shillings,
of the goods and chattels of the said James Henley. Found 'Guilty,'
Symon Jones gentleman was sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R., 26
Feb., 25 Charles II.
20 January, 24 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Dunstan's-in-the
West co. Midd. on the said day, Thomas Milbourne gentleman and
John Featherstone-Haugh gentleman, both late of the said parish, common players at cards and common cheats and defrauders of the King's
Majesties liege people, in order to sustain the vain and evil courses of
their lives, lured and enticed one Thomas Kidwell, late of the same
parish gentleman, to play at cards with them at a game called 'Put,'
and in playing the said game with him craftily and fraudulently cheated
him of seven pounds in numbered money, of the proper money of the
said Thomas Kidwell. On 7 April, 1673, Thomas Milbourne put
himself on a jury of the country and was found 'Not Guilty.' No
clerical minute touching subsequent proceedings in the case against
John Featherstone-Haugh. S. P. R., 24 Feb., 25 Charles II.
24 January, 24 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Philip
Mathews esq. J.P., of John Bond cordwayner and Margaret Beck
widow, both of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, in the sum of ten pounds each:
For the appearance of a certain Richard Grace at the next Session of
the Peace to be held at Hicks Hall, "then and there to answer for the
haunting and frequent playing at The Wheele of Fortune in Covent
Garden."—Also, on the same file, two other sets of Recognizances,
taken on the same day before the same Justice of the Peace, for the
appearance of Mathew Douty and Nathaniel Ryder at the same next
Session of the Peace, "to answer for being taken playing at The Wheele
of Fortune in Covent Garden." S. P. R., 24 Feb., 25 Charles II.
25 January, 24 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. James's Clerkenwell co. Midd. on the said day, Thomas Vyner late of the said parish
gentleman stole and carried off three silver tankards worth fourteen
pounds, four silver cups worth six pounds, eleven silver pottengers
worth thirteen pounds, two silver saltsellers worth eight pounds, a silver
trencher salt-seller worth ten shillings, three silver beakers worth five
pounds, four silver Belly Cupps worth twenty-two pounds, ten silver
wine-cupps worth seven pounds, five silver sugar dishes worth five
pounds, twenty-four silver spoones worth thirteen pounds, eight silver
money-boxes worth thirty-five shillings, thirteen silver medalls worth
thirty shillings, three silver wine-tasters worth four pounds, two little
silver spoones worth eight shillings, three silver hat-bands worth . . . .
shillings, thirty-two gold rings set with precious stones worth one hundred
and fifty pounds, four necklaces of pearles worth twenty pounds, twelve
rough diamonds worth twelve pounds, nineteen jewells worth twenty
pounds, a gold bodkin set with nine diamonds worth ten pounds, of the
goods and chattels of John Perrin. The clerical note at the head of
the indictment runs thus, "Po se cul ca nul cre in London et pet
transpor' T'o rem quia Cur advisare vult usq" = he puts himself 'Not
Guilty' on a jury, and the jurors say that he is 'Guilty,' he has no
chattels for forfeiture, and has been branded in former time in London;
whereupon he begs to be transported, and therefore remains in prison
till next Gaol Delivery, because the Court wishes to deliberate on the
case. G. D. R., 23 February, 24 Charles II.
28 January, 24 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Richard
. . . . on the said day, of Thomas Jorden and Thomas Cellier both of
St. Andrew's Holborne brewers, in the sum of one thousand pounds
each, and of John Phillips of St. Sepulchre's London brasier, and
Daniell Norton of St. Bartholomew's-the-Great London, . . . . and
Samuell Wells of Greenehith London salter, and Richard Fincher of
St. Sepulchre's London salter, and John Wilcox of St. Sepulchre's aforesaid salter, and Henry Lavender of St. Sepulchre's aforesaid vintner,
in the sum of five hundred pounds each: For the appearance of the
said Thomas Jorden and Thomas Cellier at the next Gaol Delivery for
Middlesex, to be holden at the Justice Hall in the Old Bailey. G. D. R.,
26 Feb., 25 Charles II.
6 February, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Mary's Savoy
co. Midd. on the said day, William Pyers gentleman, James Pringle
gentleman, John Trotter gentleman, Arthur Grey gentleman, Alexander
Citterne gentleman, and Charles Mackmath labourer, all six late of the
said parish, assaulted Alexander Hume esq. otherwise styled Alexander
Earl Hume, and that William Pyers fired a pistol loaded with gunpowder and a leaden bullet at the said Alexander Earl Hume, and
thereby gave the said Earl Hume in the right arme-hole a mortal wound
of which the said Earl languished at the aforesaid parish and at St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields from the said 6th February, 25 Charles II. to the
9th day of the same month, on which day the said Earl died of the said
wound at the last-named parish, having been in the aforesaid manner
slain and murdered by the said William Pyers; And that the aforesaid
James Pringle, John Trotter, Arthur Grey, Alexander Citterne and
Charles Mackmath were present at the said murder, encouraging aiding
and abetting the said William Pyers to perpetrate it. Putting themseves
on trial, William Pyers, Arthur Grey, and Charles Macmath were found
'Not Guilty.' The Bill exhibits no further clerical notes touching
James Pringle, John Trotter and Alexander Citterne.—Also, on the
same file, the Coroner's Inquisition, taken on the eleventh day of February, 25 Charles II., on view of the said Earl Hume's body, for the
cause &c. of his death. G. D. R., 26 Feb. 25 Charles II.
11 March, 25 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir Philipp
Mathews bart. J.P., of John Edwards of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields waterbearer and Simon Bird of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields water-bearer, in the
sum of five pounds each, and David Davis of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields
porter, in the sum of ten pounds: For the appearance of the said David
Davis at the next Session of the Peace for the city and liberties of
Westminster, "to answer for being taken late at night by the watch of
St. Paul's Covent Garden, endeavouring to bilk a hackney coachman
and assaulting him." S. P. West. R., 2 April, 25 Charles II.
26 March, 25 Charles II.—True Bill against Frances Bedingfield
late of Fulham co. Midd. spinster, for not going to church, chapel or
any usual place of common prayer during nine months beginning on the
aforesaid day.—At the head of the bill appears this marginal minute,
to wit, "Postea 27°. Apr. 1674, po se Et 15° Julij 1674 Jura' cul
Finitur clxxx li. sedm form' statut, extrahi et adtunc extract' fuit in
Scac' D'ni R'is"=Afterwards on 27th April, 1674, she puts herself 'Not
Guilty' on a jury of the country: And on 15th July, 1674, the Jurors
say that she is 'Guilty'; she is fined 180£. according to the form
of the statute. To be estreated and it was then estreated into the
Exchequer of the Lord the King. S. P. R., 7 Jan., 25 Charles II.
27 March, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Fulham co. Midd. on
the said day and continually from the said day down to the day of the
present inquisition, to wit, 7th January then next following in the
aforesaid year, being two hundred and eighty-six days, Frances Bedingfield late of the said parish spinster of her own authority unlawfully took
upon herself to keep, and throughout all the aforesaid time did keep
"quandam scholam pro educacione ac gubernacione adolescentularum
anglice of young woemen, Et in eadem schola adtunc fuit Magistra
anglice School-mistress (dicta schola adtunc non existente infra aliquam
Universitatem vel Collegium hujus Regni Anglie nec adtunc existente
communi vel libera Schola Grammatica anglice a publick or free Grammar Schoole, nec eadem Francisca Bedingfeild adtunc custodiente
dictam Scholam in aliqua domo talis Primatis viri anglice Nobleman vel
Primatis femine anglice Noblewoman vel Generosi anglice Gentleman
sive Generose anglice Gentlewoman qualis adtunc non fuit recusans
anglice a Recusant, nec eadem Francisca adtunc existente specialiter
licentiata abinde per Archiepiscopum Episcopum vel Guardianum
spiritualitatum anglice of the Spiritualities ejusdem diocesis." On 27th
April, 1674, Frances Bedingfeild put herself on a jury of the country;
and on 15th July, 1674, the jurors declare her 'Not Guilty.' S. P. R.,
7 Jan., 25 Charles II.
28 April, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Margaret's Westminster co. Midd. on the said day, William Ivie late of the said parish
gentleman assaulted a certain William Pew, and slew and murdered him
by 'discharging and shooting off' at him a pistol loaded with gunpowder and a leaden bullet, and thereby giving him a mortal wound in his
left shoulder with the bullet so discharged from the said pistol, of which
wound he then and there instantly died. Confessing the indictment,
William Ivie was sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R., 14 May, 25
Charles II.
20 May, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, Francis Brockhurst late of the said
parish gentleman assaulted one Thomas Slynehead, and slew and
murdered him, by giving him with a constable's staffe a mortal wound
on the left side of his head, of which wound the said Thomas Slynehead
languished from one a.m. of the said 20th May to eight a.m. of the
same day, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields aforesaid and at St. Giles's-in-theFields, at which last named hour, he died of the said wound. Francis
Brockhurst was found 'Not Guilty.'—Also, on the same file, the
Coroner's Inquisition-post-mortem for the cause of the said Thomas
Slynehead's death, with verdict of jurors &c., saying that Thomas
Slynehead and other disturbers of the peace assembled riotously between
midnight and one a.m. of the said day in Newport Street at the aforesaid parish, within the Liberties of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster; that in the exercise of his office of High Constable of the
said Liberties the aforesaid Francis Brockhurst was with his 'watch'
endeavouring to disperse the same riotous assembly, when he was
opposed and hindered by the said Thomas Slynehead; and that the
same High Constable, whilst endeavouring to suppress the said nightbrawl and acting in the mere performance of his duty, gave Thomas
Slynehead the blow, of which he died at the ninth (sic) hour a.m. of the
said day. G. D. R., 27 June, 25 Charles II.
21 May, 25 Charles II.—True Bill, for not going to church, chapel
or any usual place of common prayer, during eleven months beginning
on the said day, against Susan Bevin widow, Margaret Betly widow,
Elizabeth Betly spinster, Elizabeth Higgs widow, Lawrence Bancum
yeoman, Michael Rackett yeoman, Hester Vincitayler spinster, Walter
Bradnick chapman, Michael Deyle laborer, Patrick Gibbons laborer,
Roger Kelley laborer, Bryan Royley gentleman, William Simpson laborer,
William Hambleton laborer, Robert Welsh laborer, Richard Phenix
laborer, William Limmer laborer, and Edward Savage chapman, all
eighteen late of Whitechappell co. Midd. S. P. R., 27 April, 26
Charles II.
24 May, 25 Charles II.—True Bill for not going to church, chapel
or any usual place of common prayer during eleven months, beginning
on the said day, against Peter Vascall yeoman, Lawrence Vanham
yeoman, Elizabeth Exam wife of Robert Exam yeoman, Francis Briggman yeoman, John Rogers yeoman, his wife Elizabeth Rogers, Margaret
Batt wife of Richard Batt yeoman, Morgan Swiney barber, James Briggmann yeoman, his wife Elizabeth Briggmann, and Thomas Bishopan
yeoman all eleven late of St. Katherines co. Midd. S. P. R., 27 April,
26 Charles II.
10 June, 25 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Charles
Pitfield esq. J.P. on the said day, of John Thinn gardener and Henry
Cratch weaver, both of Hackney co. Midd., in ihe sum of forty pounds
each: For the appearance of Elizabeth Row, wife of Samuel Row of
Hackney aforesaid victualler, at the next Session of Peace for Middlesex,
to answer to all such matters as shall be "objected against her by John
Tinson who accuses her of having an evill tongue, and is by him
vehemently suspected to have feloniously bewitched his cow and other
of his cattel to death." S. P. R., 25 June, 25 Charles II.
12 June, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, William Kirton late of the said parish
laborer stole and carried away a trunk worth four shillings, four watches
with silver cases worth thirty pounds, ninety-two peices of coined gold
called twenty-shilling pieces of guiny gold worth ninety-eight pounds,
eighteen twenty-shilling pieces of broad gold worth twenty pounds, five
other pieces of coined gold worth thirty-five shillings, a silver medall worth
five shillings, and ninety-nine pounds in numbered moneys, of the goods,
chattels and moneys of a certain Mary Haddocke; and that Mathew
Coppinger gentleman and Laurence Welch grocer, both late of the said
parish, on the said 12 th June, encouraged and aided the said William
Kirton to commit the said felony; and that, knowing him to have
perpetrated the said felony, the aforesaid Mathew Coppinger and
Laurence Welch on the same 12 th of June harboured the same William
Kirton; And that on the same 12th of June, knowing him to have
committed the said felony, Cornelius Dannovan, late of St. Dunstan'sin-the-West co. Midd. laborer, entertained and harboured the same
William Kirton. Confessing the indictment, William Kirton was
sentenced to be hanged, because he could not read. Found 'Guilty,'
Coppinger, Welch and Dannovan all three pleaded their clergy and were
branded.—N.B. Observe the variances of this bill and the next following
bill. G. D. R., 27 June, 25 Charles II.
12 June, 25 Charlel II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, William Kirton laborer, Matthew
Coppinger gentleman, and Laurence Welch grocer, all three late of the
said parish, stole and carried away a trunk worth four shillings, four
watches with silver cases worth thirty pounds, and two hundred and
twenty pounds in numbered moneys, of the goods chattels and moneys
of Mary Haddock spinster. Confessing the indictment William Kirton
was sentenced to be hanged, because he could not read ('Cogn' Sus
quia non legit,' runs the clerical note over his name in the indictment):
Matthew Coppinger and Laurence Welch were found 'Not Guilty.'
G. D. R. 27 June, 25 Charles II.
23 July, 25 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Josiah
Ricroft esq. J.P. on the said day, of John Boycoat senior of Marybone
co. Midd. yeoman and William Mercer of St. Dunstan's London haberdasher, in the sum of forty pounds each: For the appearance of John
Boycoat the Younger at the next Session of the Peace for Middlesex,
"to answer the complaint of Mary Boycoat, for spiritting her aboard
the ship Amity bound for Barbados, and by force carrying her aboard
the sayd ship, to carry her beyond seas against her consent."—Also, on
the same file, Recognizances, taken before the same Justice of the
Peace on the same day, for the appearance of Elizabeth Russell at the
next Session of the Peace for Middlesex to answer to what shall be
objected against her "on the complaint of Mary Boycoat, for spiritting
her aboard the shipp Amity bound for Barbadoes, and by force carrying
her aboard the said ship, in order to carry her beyond sea against her
consent." S. P. R., 3 Sept., 25 Charles II.
27 July, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at.St. Leonard's Shoreditch
co. Midd. on the said day, Lewis Thomas gentleman, Arnold Williams
gentleman, and James Du Bor gentleman, all three late of the said
parish, assaulted one Richard Adams, and that the said Lewis Thomas
gentleman slew and murdered the said Richard Adams, by giving him
with a rapier a mortal wound on his right thigh, of which wound the
said Richard Adams then and there instantly died: And that Arnold
Williams and James Du Bor encouraged and aided Lewis Thomas to
commit the said murder. Found 'Guilty,' Lewis Thomas was sentenced
to be hanged: and Arnold Williams was acquitted. The clerical notes
on the bill give no further particulars touching James Du Bor. G. D. R.,
5 Sept., 25 Charles II.
15 August, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Andrew's
Holborne co. Midd. on the said day, Thomas Salusbury late of the said
parish gentleman, assaulted Edward Butler, and slew and murdered
him, by giving him with a rapier a mortal wound in the right side of his
breast, of which wound the said Edward Butler then and there instantly
died. Acquitted of murder, but found 'Guilty' of manslaughter, Thomas
Salusbury pleaded his clergy effectually and was branded. G. D. R.,
5 Sept., 25 Charles II.
23 August, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd., on the said day between 4 and 5 p.m., John Wright
and William Cooke otherwise styled William Godward, both late of the
said parish, unlawfully entered the dwelling-house of the most illustrious
Prince James, Duke of York, and with false keys attempted to open the
lock of a certain chamber of the said dwelling-house, with the intention
of stealing and carrying away the goods and chattels in the same
chamber. Found 'Guilty,' John Wright was fined twenty marks and
required to find sureties for his good behaviour; and Will Cooke was
acquitted of the charge. G. D. R., 5 Sept., 25 Charles II.
27 August, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Paul's Shadwell
co. Midd. on the said day, Nathaniel Fermedge late of the said parish
laborer, in the presence and hearing of divers of the King's lieges,
openly uttered these words, to wit, 'I have had fireballs in my pockett
and I will have more,' to the great alarm and terror of very many of the
king's faithful subjects. Nathaniel Fermedge was found 'Not Guilty.'
G. D. R., 5 Sept., 25 Charles II.
1 September, 25 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Margaret's
Westminster co. Midd. on the said day, Henry Runborne gentleman,
Nathan Layton gentleman and Richard Edwards gentleman, all three
late of the said parish, assaulted a certain Thomas Brangman, and that
Henry Runborne aforesaid slew and murdered the said Thomas Brangman, by giving him with a rapier a wound in the short ribs, of which
wound the said Thomas Brangman languished at the said parish from
1 Sept., 25 Charles II. to the 4th of the same month, on which last
named day he died of the same wound: And That the said Nathan
Layton gentleman and Richard Edwards gentleman were present at the
said murder, and encouraging and aiding Henry Runborne to commit
it.—Also, on the same file, the Coroner's Inquisition-post-mortem for the
cause of the said Thomas Brangman's death. Acquitted of murder, but
found 'Guilty' of manslaughter, Henry Runborne, Nathan Layton and
Richard Edwards, gentlemen, all three pleaded their clergy effectually,
and were branded. G. D. R., 5 Sept., 25 Charles II.