R.O. Star Chamber Proceedings. Bundle 21. Nos. 10 and 11. 29 Hen. VIII. 1538.
The deposicions of certeyn witnes, taken in the guyld hall of
kardif, the xxj day of January Anno regni Regis henrici viiji xxix°;
before sr Rece manxell, knyght, & george mathew, esquyer, on the
behalf of Richard hore. (Hore versus Herbert).
William yoman, oon of the bayliffs of the towne of kardif, of
thaige of xlviij yeres, deposed & examyned saith that the ship called
the valentyne [of London] was at the rode of kardif about xij
moneths past . . . . . . and that the said Richard brought
the said shipp about August last past to the rode of kardif, laden
wt salte & wynes & other things. . . . . . The said Richard
entered the costome wt the Baylyffs of the said towne of kardif, for
the said ship and lading. . . . . . . The salt was cryed for
xijd the busshell in the said towne, and the said Richard sold and
delyu'yd to oon John loveday ix tonne at xijd the bz. of water
measure, that is to say, xxx bz. water measure to eu'y tonne. The
said ship was conveyed from Cogans pill to chepstowe.
John Lyddon, the other of the Baylyffs of the said towne, of
thaige of lx yeres, deposed & examyned saith that: By the deceasse
of oon John leonard, he was made baylly of the said towne wt John
Barfote. Richard hore entred his costom before the' as Baylliffs of the
said towne, for the ship called the valentyne & iijc kahithes of whit
salte, xxx butts of seck, xiij tony fysshes & xijc of Alem. The said
Richard was arested in the castell of kardif, and was conveyed as
prysoner from kardif to chepstowe. Aboute ix of the clocke at nyght
certein srunts of Water Herbertts entred in to the howse of John
loveday, and wold haue had ij chests of the goods of Richard hore,
whiche was denyed the'; & thereuppon came to this Deponent, being
oon of the bayliffs, And shewed this said Deponent that there master
had com[m]aunded hym to delyur the' said ij chests sealled to the said
Water his srunts, who conveyed the said ij chests into a balinger
whiche went to chepstowe.
Other deponents were:—
Thomas lichefeld, Alderman of kardif, aged 67 years.
Nicholas Baker, Alderman of kardif, 61.
Dauid Baker, Alderman of kardif, 70.
John Tanner, Alderman of kardif, 43.
John Colchester, Alderman of kardif, 54. Saw in a eventide
xvj straungers wt bills & staves, repayring toward the said ship.
Roger Baylly, Alderman of kardif, 52.
John Wylly, Alderman of kardif, 52.
John Whit (and Whytte), Alderman of kardif, aged 34 years,
saith : The said Richard was acquytted by an enquest for the deth of
Agnes vernands, before the Justice of thadmyraltie.
Dauid ap Ieuan ap llewelyn, of kardif, servant, aged 59 years.
Walter Herbert was the agent of the Earl of Worcester.
Rece knapp, of landoghe, aged 50. Was som[m]oned by willyam
Carne, Crowner of Glamorgan, to appere at the blacke fryars at
kardif; And there was sworn aboute ix of the clocke aforenone,
uppon the view of the body of Agnes Vernands, by the said Willia'
Carne. And uppon there charge was com[m]mytted to a chamber in the
blacke fryars; & there kept by ij of Water herberts servaunts,
having wepons on them, so that the said enquest shuld not be
suffred to speke wt any man for to have evidence. And there kept
wtoute mete or drinke for the tyme that they were charged, vntill
they were redy wt their verdicte. The Crowner sent for ij
portingales, oon named George lopus, & a nother beyng lernyd,
who reported vnto the said enquest that by the said Richard hore
the said Agnes Vernands came to here deth. And the said enquest
coud understond nor know what the portingals did say, but by
the report of oon James, servaunt to Water herbert.
The ship brought twelve "kyntall" of alum from Lisbon and
S. Lucas.
At Chepstow, "a certayn p'son namyng hym self baylly wt a
horne aboute his necke" boarded the Valentyne and took Richard
Hore to Cardiff.
William Herbert of chepstow, wt xx p'sons wt hym, aboute the x
day of September toke the said ship out of a place called cogans pill,
wt the helpe of other people of the countrey assembled wt them for
their aide, by the space of vij dayes or thereaboute labored to haue
out the said ship. And after they had the said ship therhence,
brought her to kyngrode & there rode a nyght & a daye, & therhens
brought here to chepstowe ; & in that time did spend wyne and
victualls, & somtymes shott the ordynauncs & so wasted artillary.
Richard Hore was kept in prison in Cardiff Castle although
Miles Mathew Esqe offered to be bound for him.
There was "waste of bowes & arrowes & firings att cogans pill."
Sir Morgan William, vicar of Pennarthe, aged 44.
Sir Thomas Johns, vicar of Landoghe, aged 30.
(Agnes Fernandez seems to have met her death at Cogan Pill).
R.O. Star Chamber Proceedings. Bundle 25, No. 6. 35 Hen. VIII. 1544. Glam.; 1 mem.
The Aunswers of Thomas Mathewe, William Treharne, David
Thomas ap griff', henrye David and Nicholas David, to the bill of
compleinte of the p'sident and Chapter of the Cathedrall churche of
Landaf.
* * Richard Harrye, mencioned in the seid bill of compleynt, willed his body to be buried in the Cathedrall churche of
Landaff, as in thesseid bill of compleynt is alledged. And after died,
after whose deathe thesseid Deff., and dyuers other honest men
beinge his neighbours while he lyued, accordinge to the auncyent
custome ther vsed, the next daie after thesseid Richard Harrye
departed out of this transytorye worlde, brought his deade corps into
theseid Cathedrall churche of Landaff in moust peseable maner, and
then and ther desired the Curat ther to bury theseid corps. Whereupon on Sr Henrye Morgan clerke, beinge on of the Canons of theseid
Cathedrall churche and on of the Kinges Maiesties Justices of the
pease in that p'tes, cam vnto thesseid Deff. sayenge vnto them, that
no suche persons shulde be buried in theseid Cathedrall churche;
willinge and commaundynge them and eu'y of them, yn the Kinges
Ma[jes]ties name, to avoide. And thesseid Deff. perceivinge thessame,
yncontynent toke the deade corps of thesseid Richard Harrye and
conveyed hym into the towne of kaerdiff, beinge the next parrishe
therevnto adioynynge, where thessame corps was buried.
Plaintiffs alleged:—That afterwards the bodie of thesseid
Richard was brought yn a bere and leid downe w[i]thin thesseid
churche, ther to staie duringe the tyme that certein dyvyne services
shulde be ther seide for his soule, accordinge to theold vse tyme out of
mynde for like purposes ther to be donn ; the seid Deff., with dyuers
other evill persones, being yn defencyble arraye like men of warr,
that is to sey w[i]th cotes of defence and harneys and hadd in their
handes billes, swordes, buckeleres and other unlefull weapons,
. . . . . . at Landaf forseide, vnlefullye agenst yor lawes
assembled themsellfes togither, and then and ther w[i]th forse of armes,
of their extorte strengthe and willfullnes, into thesseid churche
entered, and the bodie of thesseid Richard Harrye, beinge in thesseid
bere ther readie to be buried, then and ther w[i]th strengthe and w[i]th
force of armes toke and bere awey, agenste yor peace and agenst
thold vse and custome ther allweis afore that tyme vsed. . . . .
And did give terryble and evell example to yor graces subiectes
dwellinge in the countre thereaboutes, to the great vnquyetnes and
dysturbaunce of yor graces seid sub
iectes, & to the vtter ruyne and
Decaye of the dyvyne seruyce of godd ther hereafter to be celebrated
and donn.
R.O. Star Chamber Proceedings. 2 mems. M. 2, No. 13. 27 Eliz. 1585.
[Epitome.]
Bill of Complaint of David Morgan and Thomas Hughes versus
Edward Kemys, esquire; with Demurrer of the Defendant annexed.
The Bill of David Morgan, gent, and Thomas Hughes of the
town of Uske in the County of Monmouth, gent: Complains that
whereas the said Thomas Hughes, about one year past, did by due
course of law outlaw one Richard Whyte, of Moulton in the County
of Glamorgan, for a certain debt, and did at Michaelmas last take out
one Writ of Capias utlegatum against him, directed to the Sheriff of
the County, Edward Kemys, esquire; who by virtue thereof did take
the body of the said Richard and him detained in his charge, and so
returned; which in prison under his custody did remain languishing,
by reason whereof he could not have his said body at Westminster
before the Court of Common Pleas at the return of the said Capias;
whereupon the said Thomas Hughes was enforced to take out of the
Common Pleas another writ, called an Habeas corpus, to bring the
said Richard White before the Justices at Westminster; the said
Edward Kemys, in respect of a reward received from the said
Richard White, hath suffered the said Richard to go at large and
will not return the said Habeas corpus. And whereas the Queen's
Highness, by her Letters Patent bearing date in the 21st year of
her reign, did grant unto the said David Morgan the custody of
Her Highness' Gaol in the County of Glamorgan, together with the
prison and prisoners in the same Gaol and all profits to the same
office belonging; whereupon the said David Morgan made his deputy
one John Hughes of Cardyff in the said County of Glamorgan, gent,
to have the charge and custody of the said Gaol and prisoners; who
by the space of three years did hold the same, until now the said
Edward Kemys hath unjustly taken money and bonds of the said
John Hughes for the said Gaolership, and afterwards put out the
said John Hughes from that office, and also hath imprisoned him
and doth wrongfully detain him in close prison in the said Gaol.
and the said Edward Kemys hath also sold sundry offices belonging
to his said Sheriffship; to one John Andrewe the under-Sheriffship
for 70l; to Thomas Williams the Clerkship of the County for 70l;
his Bailifship to Thomas Llewelyn for 8l; the Bailiwicke of the
Hundred of Gibon and Cardyffe to Morice Hoell for 12l; the
Bailiffwick of the Hundred of Singhenith to Watkin Jeuan for 30l;
the Bailiffwick of the Hundred of Llantrissen to one Jevan Gryffith
for xlijli xs "the bayliffe wicke of the Hundred of Denis powis to
one John Mathewe for xlijli xs., the bayliffwicke of the hundred of
Cowbridge to one Jankin Jevon for xxxvjli, the bayliffwicke of Newe
castell to one Jevan Morgan for xlijli xs, the bayliffwick of Egmore
to one Rice Will'm for xxli, the bayliffwicke of the Hundred of Neathe
to one John Edward for xxxvjli, the bayliffwick of the Hundred of
llangevellache to one Hopkin Will'm for xxxli, the bayliffwicke of the
Hundred of Suansey to one Richard Gwin for xxxviijli, and the same
Gaielershippe to one John Hughes for the some of xiijli vjs viijd all
theise wtin her highnes countie of Glamorgan."
[The Defendant replied by a Demurrer.]
R.O. Star Chamber Proceedings. M. 6, No. 24. 38 Eliz. 1596.
(Bundle of paper and parchment, in bad condition).
[Faint and torn].
Interrogatories to be ministred to Edward lewis, esqr.; phe'
prichard, will'm watkin, James prichard, Mathew Jones, John watkin,
Edward howell, Thomas Johnes, Will'm Harbert, John Jenkin, John
yarde, Thomas Davis, John lewis duy, Giles Morgan and Howell
Jeuan, Deffs., to be examined vpon these Inter' and no other, on the
part and behalf Of Edmund Mathewe, esqr., Thomas Johns and John
Thomas, pli'
Mem' that the name of Mathewe Jones was incerted in the
articles by the plts. Direcc'on, 4 December 1596.
[On paper in a rapid running hand].
Ex. capt' viij° Julij
anno R. R'ne n're
Eliz. xxxviij°
Sup' Interr' ex p'te Edmundi
Mathewe et al' quer' ministr'.
Edward Stradling, of Cardif in the Countye of Glamorgan,
gente, aged 26 yeares or thereabouts, sworne & exa'ned:—
To the nynthe Interr' saith : That he dyd not see or knowe that
Charles ffroude, a bailief, came at the tyme artyculat to or nere the
howse of the sayd Edmunde Mathewe or made any p'clam'c'on at that
tyme, or that he made any such p'clam'c'on then or there as ys
mencyoned in the Interr' . . . . . . .
To the xth Interr' he sayeth : That he dyd not neyther dothe he
knowe that any other p'son or p'sons dyd deliur any Weapons out of
the howse of George lewes on the daye articulat, neyther was he the
sayd lewes or this dep't at that affraye ; and more he cannot saye.
To the xvijth Interr' he sayeth: That the sayd Edmunde
Mathewe on the day artyculat iournied home from london to his
dwelling howse at Cardif.
To the Eighteenth Interr', he denyeth also that he dyd or dothe
knowe of his owne knowledg of any the matters mencyoned in the
Interr'.
To the xixth Interr' he sayethe : That he knowethe that the sayd
Miles Glm[m]s, howell Morgan and harrye Jenkin went vppon the day
articulat from the howse of the sayd Edmunde Mathewe towards the
howse of will'm wells in Cardif; but denyeth that he oute his owne
knowledg that the p'sons articulat or any of them followed the sayd
Miles Glm[m]s or his fellowes from the howse of harrye Ball to or nere
the howse of the sayd Will'm Welles, as ys supposed by the articul.
To the xxth Interr' he sayethe: That he knowethe not of his
owne knowledge to depose to any the parts of thartycle.
Edward Stradlinge.
"Edward Hoell, gente, Srvant to Sr Wm Harbert, kt, aged 25
yeares":
10. He saw the said George Lewes at the house of Thomas
Spenser, a stone's cast distant from the place where the said affray
was.
20. He being in the house of Sir William Herbert, knight, his
master, at the ffryers near Cardif, at such time as affray was begun in
Cardif, did thereupon take his sword and buckler in his hands, being
accompanied only by one Watkins, went to Cardif to the place where
that affray was reported to be. They had not any privy coats, quilt
caps, or any other weapons; saving that the said Watkins had a staff
in his hands.
Morgan Thomas, of Cardiff, yeoman, aged 30.
9. Acknowledges that the said Charles ffrowde, one of the Bailiffs
of the said Town of Cardif, came to or near the house of the said
Edmund Mathewe at such time as this Deponent heard the windows
of the said house were broken with throwing of stones ; and that the
said ffrowde then and there made open proclamation in her Majesty's
name, that all men should lay down their weapons and depart.
John Watkins, of Cardiff, gent, aged 30.
15. In the time of the affray he saw the said George Lewis in
the High Street, in the company of Mr. ffroude, the Bailiff there,
going to the Town Hall of Cardiff.
"To the xviijth Interr' he saythe: That in shorte tyme after the
Returne of the sayd Edmonde Mathewe to his foresayd howse in
Cardif, the sayd hoell Jeuan met this Dep't in the streate in Cardif,
having then Rice Morgan wm in his Companye; and that this Dep't
demaunded of the sayd hoell Jeuan whither he was going. To the
Sadler, sayd Jeuan, for a Sadle, for that his Mr Edward lewes Esquier
was going out of Towne; wherevppon this Dep't accompanyed them
Two (Mathewe Johnes not being then in theire Companye) to the
Sadlers howse; and being there the sayd howell, or his sayd fellowe
Rice Morgan Wm, called to the Tapster at the howse of Henry Ball
articulat, being a com[m]on Inne, to bring them some beare or ale, w[hi]ch he
dyd prforme, and they at that Inne dranke to gether; but denyeth
That he oute his knowledg yt any of the sayd Companye dyd drinke
flinging theyre cappes at the ayre or vsing any wordes or gestures of
Contempte or quarrell as ys supposed by the article."
John watkins.
William Lambert, of the Van in the County of Glamorgan,
yeoman, aged 26.
"To the Second Interr' he saythe That he, w[i]th wm watkyn &
Rees Thomas, clerke, onlye, went on the ffrydaye articulat in Company
together to the Towne of Cardif; and that the cause of this dep'ts
then repayre thither was onlye to vnderstande whether this Dep'ts
Sister, Elizabeth lambert, had bought for this Dep't, at St powlestyde
fayre lately before at Brystowe, such Glasse as formerlye [he] bespake
to hir for to buye for him there, this Dep't being a Glasier; and as he
thinketh, Mr Watkyn came then to the howse of Sr will[ia]m herbert, K't,
at the ffriers nere Cardif, with l'res from this Dep'ts mr Edward lewes,
Esquior, touchg Srvyce of her Ma[jes]ties. This Dep't in the time of his
suche Repayre to Cardif had a little bearing bill & a dagger at his
back, w[hi]ch vsually he carryethe, & noe other weapon or armoure; and
the said waiter watkyn had theis lite weapons & noe other weapons
or armoure, to his knowledge; and more he cannot saye."
3. He and William Watkin and Rees Thomas remained all the
night in the town of Cardif, and were lodged at the signe of "the
Pannyers"; at the house of Charles ffrowde, then Bailiff of the town
of Cardif; and that Richard Powell, Clerk, and Sir William Harbert
accompanied this Deponent and Rees Thomas and William Watkyn
that night there.
7. This Deponent having received some great hurt on his head,
in an assault and affray that was made on him by the aforesaid Lewis
ap Ieuan Higgins on the day articulate in Cardif town, & thereby for
a space being void of memory, and afterwards returning to himself
again, did all alone, bleeding, run after such persons as had hurt him
or assisted the said Lewis ap Ieuan Higgins, near the house of
Edmond Mathewe, esquire, this Dep't having only a dagger; but that
this Dep't, by reason of his fresh hurts, became so faint and senseless
that he was for safety of his life carried thence.
11. There was sent in the time of this Dep'ts extremity and of
Watkin Mathew his fellow (upon wounds and hurts that they received
in the foresaid affray, to the surgeon or other for the relief & cure of
this Dep't and his said fellow) by the said Edward Lewis, Esquire,
their master, the sum of five pounds or thereabouts.
13. "The sayd Edward lewes w[it]hin shorte tyme after that this
Dep't was hurte as aforesayd, this Dep't then lying in bed in Cardif
Towne languisshing therevppon, and this Dep't., came to the Towne
of Cardif."
26. Sir William Herbert, Edward Lewis, Nicholas Herbert and
Thomas Lewis went to the town of Cowbridge on the day articulate, to
the Quarter Sessions there then holden; and all other persons Justices
of Peace came then about other services for her Majesty in Ireland.
With them went Philip Williams, John Lewis, Thomas ap Rice,
Watkin Thomas Meiryck, James ap Richard, Thomas Llewelin,
William Miles, John Jenkyn, Thomas Davyd, Hoell Jevan, Edward
Howell, John Watkin, John Cullen, Rees Lewes, William Richard,
William Morgan, William Jones, this Deponent, and divers others;
this Deponent then having sword, buckler and dagger, but no other
armour or weapons; other some of the said persons, swords and
daggers; and other some, swords and bucklers and daggers.
35. The said town of Landaphe was this Dep'ts and eight of his
company's best and nearest way, as he supposeth, from their dwellings to the place where the musters were appointed to be kept; and
they did go the nearest and directest way, as he supposeth, after they
came from the said town of Landaphe.
38. The said Edward Lewis and his company, as they passed by
coming from the muster, did drink in Landaphe, but remained not
there the fourth part of a quarter of an hour, and so departed thence.
James Prichard, of the Vanne in the County of Glamorgan,
yeoman, aged 30. ("Wm Vaughan Interprete Jur.")
6. He came to Cardif town to market on the 31st January.
7. Being in Cardif on his own market affairs, he afterwards drank
with two of the servants of Henry Mathewe, esquire; where he had
intelligence that the said William Lambert, his fellow in livery, and
servant to the said Edward Lewes, was slain; and thereupon did
take a pike staff in his hands and repaired, in company with William
Watkin and Howell Jevan only, towards the place where it was said
he lay dead.
13. After the time that the said Lambert was said to be slain as
aforesaid, the said Edward Lewes came to the town of Cardif and
from thence went to "the ffriers" near that town, to the house of
Sir William Harbert, knight, and that about her Majesty's aftairs,
touching soldiers to be sent into Ireland for her Majesty's service;
where he remained by the space of three days or thereabouts, as he
supposeth, about those business.
33. He doth not know that the said Edward Lewes sent into
several parishes within his limits, requiring all men to come to the
said musters with their armour and weapons.
36. He knoweth not of any special art that was observed in
marching through the country, but that they went as at other times
they usually did to musters.
Thomas Jones, of the town of Cardif, gent, aged 38.
10. He heard that the said Edward Lewes sent money in or
about the time articulate to certain of his servants as then were
wounded, to relieve and succour them and for their cure at surgery.
23. He doth not know of any such "Hughe & Crye" or pursuit
made after the persons articulate, concerning the said John Thomas.
John Lewis Dio, of the Vanne aforesaid, yeoman.
2. He came to Cardif on the day articulate on purpose only to
seek for money that was owing him by one ffrewen, of Cardif, servant
to Mr. Robert Marten, and had a little short bill and dagger which
usually he beareth, and no other weapon or armour; and the said
Watkin had a javelin and dagger, which usually he beareth.
11. Edward Lewes did send to Cardif on the day articulate, by
this Deponent, certain money to be employed towards the relief,
cure, help and surgery of certain of his servants that then there lay
at surgery, sore hurt and wounded.
Nicholas Harbert, of Cardif, Esqre, aged 53.
24. Saith: That the said Sir William Harbert, knight, and this
Deponent, went to the said town of Cowbridge, on or abouts the time
articulate as he supposeth, about business of her Majesty's service in
Ireland, having in their company such their ordinary servants in
livery weapons as is usually when as they ride with their masters,
neither sent any footmen or other weapons to the said town.
15. Money being required for the performance of that service upon
their meeting, which was settled in the hands of Mr. Edmond Mathewe
the now Complainant, who then was absent, it was then moved by
some one of the Justices then there being, touching the said service,
that the said Edward Lewis might do well [to] disburse it in the said
Mathewe's behalf; whereunto the said Lewes answered, as he now
remembereth, to this effect and not otherwise: That if they would
certify the money collected for such and other like purposes for his
[sic] Majesty's use or service by the said Mathewe was not to be had
to supply the necessaries of that present service of Ireland, that then
he would lay out of himself; otherwise he would not lay out any
money for the said Mathew, being not his friend.
28. Some of the said Justices, as they sat on the Bench of Justice,
did call for the Sheriff's Return; which being seen and perused, was
by this Deponent and the other Justices disliked withal, for that there
were returned persons wholly out of some one, two or three hundred
that ought, as they thought, to have been returned, some out of every
Hundred of their limits, for the better understanding of the enormities
of their country dispersedly within their said limits; and therefore
thought it requisite, by their general consents, that the said Return
might be amended in that respect; which was done accordingly.
29. There was a Bill of Indictment exhibited at the Sessions,
against the said John Thomas; but at whose suit the same was
exhibited, or in whose name, or who gave evidence for the finding
of the said Bill, he knoweth not certainly to depose; but saith that
the same Bill was found by the said Jury Billa vera, and that the
said Sir William Harbert, this Deponent, Edward Lewis and Henry
Mathewe Gryffithe continued in the said town until the Sessions was
ended.
30. He himself hath often been at the Quarter Sessions held at
Cowbridge within these seven years last past, and before hath seen
the said Sir William Harbert and, as he thinketh, Edward Lewes
divers times to come to the Quarter Sessions held there.
Philip Prichard, of the town of Cardif, gent, aged 32 years.
1. He of late hath known of some displeasures that have risen,
and dislikings that the said persons have conceived and had against
the said Mathewes and their servants, and of some fights and quarrels
had between their servants & well-willers.
2. The said Howell ap Jeuan, being a Bailiff of the Hundred of
Denys Powes to the Sheriff of the County of Glamorgan, came to this
Deponent's house alone on the day articulate, where he stayed all
night next after that; whom this Deponent then lodged at his (this
Deponent's) house in Cardiff town, so for that he had arrested by
warrant upon process under or from the said Sheriff divers persons,
but brought some of them to this Deponent's charge, being gaolkeeper of Glamorganshire and town-dweller in Cardif.
7. After such time as it was voiced that there was an affray
happened in Cardif town, betwixt the servants and friends of the
Lewes' on the one part and the servants and friends of the
Mathewes' on the other part, which had for a long time continued,
and could not be pacified; and the Common Bell of that town rang
out, which usually is done in time of affrays and fairs or other
special cause; whereupon every Burgess and, as he thinketh, every
"Sessor," of that town, whereof this Deponent is one, is bound in
duty to rise and go to understand the cause of such ringing, and
to assist the officers and magistrates for the preventing of misdemeanours there happening. Thereupon this Deponent, at the
ringing of that bell, and not before, then not knowing who began
that affray, or of anything that was intended or done therein, otherwise than by report, did alone go and draw near to the persons so
assembled in fight, having a piked staff then in his hands, and
persuaded some of his friends in that affray to leave and go away.
This Deponent did help to carry Watkin Mathewe out of the
affray, being hurt in that assault, to the house of John Grene
then Serjeant-at-Mace of that Town; and there left him to be
lodged, where he remained after that by the space of one month
or thereabouts, as this Deponent hath credibly heard; and that is
all he did do or procure or consent to be done, on the day
articulate, touching the matters in the Interrogatory mentioned, or
any of them.
8. The said John Jevan and Thomas Rosser the younger, and
others whose names he remembereth not, threw stones at the
windows of the said house, and towards the people that were thereat
and therein ; and thinketh that there were about forty persons in
the affray. They drew down all together towards the said Mr.
Mathewe's house. The names of such persons as in that affray did
fight against the said Matthewe's servants and friends were Hoell
Jeuan, William Watkin, David Hoell, Robert Howell, Watkin
Mathewe, Thomas Jones of Whitchurch, and divers others whose
names he remembereth not; some having then weaponed with pikes,
other some with long staves, and other with swords and bucklers.
10. He denieth that the said George Lewis assisted or countenanced the riot; but rather drew himself away thence, as one
disliking thereof, and went with the said Bailiff ffroude unto the
Town Hall of Cardif.
12. The said Edward Lewys, about a sennight after that such said
affray and battery of house was made, came to Cardif town; at which
time he brought with him in company abouts eight of his servants in
livery, being weaponed some of them with swords and bucklers, and
other some with swords and daggers. Their names were James ap
Richard, John Lewes, Thomas ap Rees, Howell Jeuan, Thomas Jones,
Gabriel Lewes, gent, his servant, &c. At which time the said Edward
Lewes stayed in the said town, or in "the ffryers" near there, abouts
one day and night, and not above
16. The said Edward Lewys came to the town of Cardif, as this
Deponent heard, about training and receiving of soldiers to go to
Ireland, and stayed in Sir William Harbert's house in "the ffryers"
near to Cardif town.
24. Upon report and voice given out in Cardif town, that Mr.
George Lewys was driven to take a house for safety of his life,
at Listalabowne, being pursued from Landaffe bridge by certain
persons friends of John Thomas: Thereupon divers of the servants
of Sir William Harberte, and some others of the servants of Mr.
Nicholas Harbert, together with this Deponent, forthwith thereupon
went to the said house, of mere love, to fetch home the said George
Lewes to Cardif where he then and now dwelleth; where they
found the said George, and saw eight or ten of the persons above
remembered, being near to that house, weaponed with bills and
staves; who thereupon departed thence and went away. The names
of such persons as so accompanied this Deponent, to fetch him the
said Mr. George Lewes being pursued and housed at Lystalabone,
were Sir Lewes Clerke, Jevan John, Rees Lewes, Anthony Ockfild,
William Watts, James William and this Deponent, with divers other.
32. There were musters appointed for certain Hundreds in the
County of Glamorgan, for the setting forward of men for her
Majesty's service; but whether for sea or land he cannot say, or
whether only for four of the "Esterne" Hundreds of the said
County that muster was appointed; but it was appointed and
required by warrants put forth by the "lyve tenaunts" or their
Deputies of the said County, that all persons able to serve, from the
age of 15 to the age of three-score, should appear before them on or
abouts the time articulate, at St. Lython's Downe.
35. The said Mr. Edward Lewes, esquire, hath certain tenements
or houses in Landaphe, and all the rest or most part of that town is
Mr. Harry Mathewe's.
38. At the return of the said Edward Lewes and his company
and followers, he the said Edward stayed a little while in that town to
see a kinswoman of his named Joan Button, and saluted her and drank
there with Mr. Harry Mathewe Gryffithe; and in the meantime
some of the said Mr. Edward Lewes' servants and followers drank in
that town, and some after departed thence away.
Edward Lewes of the Van, esqe, aged 36 years.
1. "Heretofore there haue byn controursies betwene this Dept's
father's srvants & followers, & the said mathewes & theire Srvants,
frends & followers; w[hi]ch after this Dept's father's deathe were
appeased & conclusion made therein by frendly or eche ptie's principall reconscilemt; & soe became frends, & contynued so vntill that
one lambert, srvant of this Dept, and one lewes Jevan higgin, vppon
private quarrell betwene themselves & one srvant of Mathewe's, to
this Dept's knowledg beganne & raysed the varyances late that
happenyd nowe in question."
2. Watkin Mathewe was this Deponent's "cate" and purveyor
for his messuages, and provisioner of house.
11. Gabriel Lewes was this Deponent's cousin.
15. This Deponent was spoken unto and moved by one John
Gwyn, esquire, Justice of Peace of the said County of Glamorgan, to
disburse for the then present despatch of the said soldiers such
money as the said Edmonde Mathewe had received as Treasurer for
the County, he being then out of the country. Whereunto this Dept
answered and said to Gwyn "I think you're a fitter man for to
disburse money for the said Mathewe, for that I do not use to lay
out any money for my enemy, whom I do account the said Mathewe
to be; but for my part I will join with the rest of the Lieutenants
and will pay so far towards such service as any other shall p' rate."
16. The reason of this Deponent's going to Cardif town on the
day articulate was to see the men furnished in all things for their
then present despatch into Ireland, touching her Majesty's service.
26. The reason of this Deponent's going to the town of
Cowbridge was to confer with the other Justices touching the
levying and disbursing of moneys to furnish certain soldiers to
Plymmouthe for her Majesty's service.
27. In the time of the Sessions, Mr. Anthony Maunsell and
Thomas Aubraye, two Justices of Peace of the said County of
Glamorgan, departed thence for the performance or doing of such
matters and things as were expedient to be done touching the foresaid service for her Majesty.
28. The Return of the Sheriff was delivered to the Bench as is
usual; when this Deponent, then disliking with one or two therein
that were special friends or kinsmen of the Mathewes, did thereupon
strike out or caused to be stricken out of that Return their names and
no other; and he thinketh that the said Sheriff after that impannelled
in their steads some that held lands of this Deponent.
31. Divers poor men, being the persons in the Interrogatory
mentioned, not caring to continue at their own habitations for fear of
their lives by the servants or followers of the Mathewes or some of
them, were thereupon enforced, for their reliefs and safeties of life,
to go to Cardif town, where they have for a long time and yet do
inhabit and continue in lamentable case; and this Depon't hath sent
about 20s. to be distributed amongst them.
37. After view taken of the Hundreds of Senghenithe and Kebor,
this Dep't went with the rest of the Deputy Lieutenants to take view
of the Hundreds of Miskin and Denys Powes; and took then with
him only two of his servants, and willed the rest of his servants
and friends to stay on the Down of St. Lython's until he came back.
Howell Jevan, of the Van, yeoman, aged 37.
2. This Deponent was in Cardif town on the day articulate and
came thither alone in the evening of that day from the Hundred of
Denys Powes, uppon occasion to do such service as was requisite
and fit for him to do touching his office of Deputy Bailiwick of the
foresaid Hundred of Denys Powes under Mr. Gabriel Lewes, Chief
Bailiff of that Hundred. This Deponent had then and there a paddle
staff and dagger, and no other weapon or armour.
"To the Sixt Interr' this Dep't sayeth: That he being in the
Towne of Cardif at the howse of Nicholas harbert, Esquior, on the
daye articulat, for a warrant from her highnes sayd Sherif to be
executed in the behalf of the said mr harbert vppon one Mayo, being
comorant within the foresayd hundred of denys powes . . . . .
and receaving that Warrant, dep'tyd thence & went towards the
highe Streete of Cardif; where he sawe dyvers p'sons assemblyd
together running towards the highe Corner of that Streete, some of
them being this Dep'ts fellowes, and other some being srvants &
frendes of the sayd Mathewes. Therevppon this Dep't then drewe
neare vnto them, being then weaponyd w[i]th a pikestaff & dagger only,
seeinge them ffyghting together, to vnderstande the cause of such
assemblye & fighting; and then he p'ceavyd that hurte had byn done,
and there sawe dyvers p'sons of the mathewes p'te runing awaye
towards the howse of mr Edmonde mathewe, and dyvers others on
the other syde pursue them To or nere to the howse of Edmonde
mathewe, fighting to gether & throwing of Stones violently eche at
other."
8. In the time of the foresaid affray and fighting he saw divers
persons, being the friends and servants of Sir William Harbert,
Edward Harbert and Nicholas Harbert and against the said
mathewes—as namedly John Jeuan & Watkin Lewes—with stones
batter the glass windows of the said house; and the same was so
done for that such persons as had hurt and wounded the said
William Lambert and Watkin Mathewe were run into that house,
and the doors thereof shut upon them that they might not be
apprehended thereupon.
Edward Stradling, of Cardif, gent, aged 26.
14. There was a rumour of a hue and cry that Mr. George
Lewes, gent, was slain at a place called Menaughtee, near Landaff.
Thereupon this Dep't and others went to that place, and finding Mr.
Lewes beset with enemies, brought him home to his house in Cardif,
and there left him.
Morgan Thomas, of Cardiff, yeoman, aged 30.
Edward Howell, servant to Sir William Harbert, knight,
aged 25.
Nicholas Harbert, Esquire, aged 53.
17, 18. The said Harry Mathewe, abouts the time articulate, sent
his man with a warrant in the said Bawdrippe's name, as it seemed,
requiring this Deponent to sign the same; and thinketh that the
same warrant was in like manner sent to Sir William Harbert, to be
by him signed, for a Special Sessions to be held for Inquiry of the
misdemeanours articulate; which to do this Deponent refused, for two
respects: The one doubting lest, in bringing of them and their
company together, greater frays or outrages might rise between them
than formerly there were; and secondly for that there were then
divers languishing and lying at the point of death, which formerly
were hurt by the servants, friends or followers of the said Mathewes
and Baudrippes, and that thereby fresh matter might arise which
easily, as he thought, would not be appeased.
John Watkin, of Cardif, gent, aged 30.
John Y'an, of Cardif, tailor, aged 28.
Was present when Charles ffrowed and Morgan Will'ms,
Bailiffs of the Town of Cardif, did cause open proclamation to be
made in her Majesty's name, that all men should lay down their
weapons and depart.
Mathew Jhones, of Lansamled, within the County of Glamorgan,
gent, aged 29.
3. Being told that one in the said Mr. Edmund Mathew's house,
namely Thomas Bawdrip, esquire, was ready to discharge a pistol,
he did throw a stone into one of the windows of the said house.
5. The said Howell Jeuan did at that time call the said Mr.
Baudrip "Pockie Raskall."
9. As he and the rest of his said company were passing along
the street, over against the house of Thomas Basset, the said John
Herbert espied the said Thomas Basset ready to discharge a pistol
out of a window; at which time the said John Herbert with his pike
or glory [?] staff did either thrust or strike at the window of the
said house, and did tear down the casement of the said window.
John Y'an, of Cardif, tailor, re-examined.
6. Upon the day in this Interrogatory mentioned, he this Deponent according to his oath did attend upon the Bailiffs of the said
town of Cardif, for the preservation of her Majesty's peace; at which
time there were assembled in the said town of Cardif divers of the
friends and followers of the said Sir William Herbert, Edward Lewes,
Nicholas Herbert and George Lewis, and divers others of the friends
and followers of the said Mr. Mathewe the Complainant, being on
both parties weaponed with pike-staves, swords and bucklers, glaivestaves and suchlike. Thomas ap John, a servant of the said Mr.
Mathewes the Complainant, and William Lambert and Watkin
Mathewe, both servants to Edward Lewis, esquire, were all hurt;
but by whom he cannot depose.
9. Mr. Bailiff ffrowde made his proclamation at a place in the
town of Cardif called the High Corner.
Being driven for safety from his dwellinghouse into the street,
and coming to the High Corner, this Deponent did there see a pike
leaning against a wall or lying in the street, and did take up the same
in self defence.
Mathew Jhones re-examined.
19. At the time mentioned, Miles Gu'll'ms, Howell Morgan and
Harry Jenkins did go from the house of Edmond Mathewe to the
house of William Wells in Cardif; at which time John Cullin came to
fetch this Deponent home, being then in the town. Thereupon he
this Dep't and the said Cullin going homewards, did see Howell
Jeuan, John Jenkins, Thomas David, with one or two others of the
servants of the said Mr. Edward Lewes, standing at the High Corner;
whom the said John Cullin called and told them that their master was
ready to go homewards; and immediately thereupon this Dep't, John
Cullin and the rest did pass along the street towards the house of Sir
William Herbert, knight, this Deponent's master, their way lying near
to the house of the said William Wells.
Thomas Davyd, of the Van, yeoman, aged 30.
William Watkins, of the Van, yeoman, aged 36.
2. This Dep't on the day articulate was sent by his master,
Edward Lewes, esquire, to Sir William Harbert, knight, with certain
warrants; and in Cardif lay that night, for that the said Sir William's
leisure would not permit him that day to despatch that business. He
and William Lambert, and Rees Thomas, clerk, were lodged that night
at the sign of the "Porcupen," at the house then of one Robert,
an Englishman; which house Anthony Attwell lately held. This
Deponent had then no weapon but a hunting staff.
Giles Morgan, of Cardif Town, yeoman, aged 40 years.
John Jenkyn, of the Vanne, yeoman, aged 32.
[Annexed is a letter to Edward Mill, esquire, about the Depositions, signed by Edmond Mathew and sealed in red wax. Arms:
Lion rampant, quarterly with three chevronels. Crest: Heathcock.
Date, 1590].
Selections from the Interrogatories.
Edward Lewis, esquire.
4. Did you, together with the said William Lambert, Watkin
Mathewe, Howell Jeuan and William Watkin, come to one Lewis
ap Jeuan Higins, as he was standing quietly at or near the house of
one Nicholas David, a haberdasher, upon the last day of January,
being Saturday, and in friendly sort desire the said Lewis ap Jeuan
Higin to walk with you into a place called the Castle Baylie?
5. Did you, after you had trained him the said Lewis ap Jeuan
Higins to go with you towards the said Castle Baylie, quarrel with
the said Lewis as he was going in at the gate of the said Castle, and
make an assault and affray upon him, and give him divers strokes
and blows upon divers parts of his body, and enforced him to take
the house of one Richard Cooke in safeguard of his life?
Do you know that within less than two hours after the return of
the said Edmond Mathew to his house in Cardif, that Howell Jeuan
& others, in all four servants of Sir William Herbert, &c, came to
the house of one Harry Ball, distant from the said Edmond Mathew's
house but a stone's cast, and there in the street called for drink, and
in view of the said Edmond Mathew's house, turning their faces
towards the same, did drink, flinging their cups into the air and
using divers words and gestures of contempt and quarrel?
Do you know that Howell Jeuan, John Hughes &c did call to
Miles Guill'ms as he was entering the house of William Wells, and
ask whether he and his said company took the house?
Whereas there was a Quarter Sessions appointed to be holden
there that day, do you know that some of the Justices refused to
accompany the said Gwill'm and Edward Lewis in the said service,
and went their ways out of town?
Do you know that Sir William Herbert &c caused divers of
their servants, tenants and friends to be returned in the Jury?
Do you know that divers of the inhabitants of the town of
Landaph took the castle of Landaph for their safety, being terrified
by the manner of the said Edward Lewis' coming? And whether did
you publish and say, that Landaph should be yours that day?
R.O. Star Chamber Proceedings. Bundle I.A., No. 10. 39 Eliz. 1597.
Atturn' Regine vrsus Mathewe et al.
[Bundle of 6 membranes, decayed at the bottom corner.]
To the Queenes moste excellent ma[jes]tie.
In all humblenes complayninge, sheweth and informeth on
Your highnes behalf Edward Coke, Esquire, Your Ma[jes]ties Attorney
gen'all: That whereas aboute the ende of November in the xxxvth
yere of yor Ma[jes]ties Reigne Edmund Mathewe of Cardiff in the Countie
of Glamorgan, Esquire, was appointed and by Yor Ma[jes]ties comission
vnder the greate seale of England aucthorized to be highe Sheriff of
yor said Countie of Glamorgan during yor highnes pleasure; Wherevppon at his firste entraunce into the said office, he the said Edmund
Mathewe did take his othe accordinge to the generall course of other
yor higness Sheriffs of this and other counties, wherein (amonge
other thinges) he did expreslie sweare that he shoulde trulie and
rightfullie treate the people of his Sheriffwick, and doe righte aswell
to pore as to riche, in all that belonged to his said office, and shoulde
doe no wronge to any man for guifte or other beheste. And whereas
by vertue of his said office the said Edmunde was accomptable to
yowre Ma[jes]ties for all manner of proffitts and comodities arisinge,
growinge and to be leuied w[i]thhin the said countie duringe the tyme of
his contynuaunce w[i]thhin the said office. The said Edmund Mathew,
after the ende of his said office of Sheriffwick, vppon his accompte
made before Thomas Handberry, Esquire, yor highnes Auditor for
yor highnes Dominion of wales, did take his Corporall othe for and
concerninge A trewe Accom[m]pte by him to be made of all the said
dueties leuied to yor Ma[jes]ties vse, As followeth, viz: He did sweare
that he woulde yelde vnto youre Ma[jes]tie A trewe and laufull Accompte
of the yssues and proffitts of his late office of Sheriffwick in the
Countie of Glamorgan, due to youre Ma[jes]ties from the feaste of Ste
Michaell the Archangell in the xxxiiijth yere of your mates reigne,
vntill the same feaste then nexte followinge in the xxxvth yeare of
yor highnes reigne, w[hi]ch is for one whole yeare. And that in the
same Accompte he shoulde charge him self w[i]th all suche somes of
moneie, as he or anie of his deputies had leuied to yor Ma[jes]tie vse.
And that in the same Accompte he shoulde make no p . . . 'con,
aske no allowaunce nor discharge, but suche as shoulde be good and
trewe, and well and trulie behaue himself in yeldinge the said
Accompte, as A trewe Accomptant oughte to doe, w[i]thoute omission
or concealmente. But so it is, maie it please yor moste excellente
Ma[jes]tie that the said Edmund Mathewe, nothinge at all regardinge his
said seuerall othes so taken by him as aforesaid, nor his dutie to
yor Ma[jes]tie nor yet fearinge the punishmte inflicted by the lawes and
statuts of this Realme vppon such grieuous offenders, but beinge
caried awaie w[i]th A corrupte and greedie mynde vnsatiablie sett
vppon gaine and lucre, vppon his firste entraunce into the said office
of Sheriffwick of the said Countie of Glamorgan, knowinge that yor
Ma[jes]tie had then som[m]oned A Parliamente to be holden and begynne at
westmr the xixth daie of ffebruarye then nexte followinge, Wherein
yor Ma[jes]tie of yor accustomed princelie and mercifull disposic'on moste
gratiouslie inclined towards yor louinge and dutifull Subjects, haue
alwaies been pleased and contented by yor gracious free and generall
pardon to discharge yor said subjects of diuers paines, penalties and
forfeytures whereinto diuers Waies theie had fallen, the said Edmunde
Mathewe then beinge Sheriffe of the said Countie, and myndinge for
his owne vnlaufull gaine to bereaue yor subiects of the said Countie
of Glamorgan of the mercie and clemencie w[hi]ch yor Ma[jes]tie intended
towardes them, and vnderstandinge that diuers ffynes, issues,
Amercyaments and forfeytures vppon diuers Inhabitants w[i]thhin the
said Countie of Glamorgan weare extreated from yor Ma[jes]ties greate
Sessions holden for the said Countie in the xxxiiijth yere of yor
Ma[jes]ties reigne, he the said Edmund Mathewe, at his firste com[m]inge
into the said office, of a corrupte minde seekinge therebie only his
owne lucre, made greate meanes to have the said extreate deliuered
vnto him, or at leaste to knowe the perticuler contents thereof;
w[hi]ch hauinge obteyned, the said Edmund Mathewe afterwarde,
before the laste daie of the Parliamte holden in the said xxxvth
yere of yor Ma[jes]ties reigne, did by waie of seazure, distreyninge and
sellinge the goodes and cattells of diuers of yor Ma[jes]ties subjects
of the said Countie of Glamorgan, leuie and receiue diuers of the
fynes, Amerciamts and forfeytures conteyned in the said extreats.
And after, whereas, in the said Parliamente holden in the said
xxxvth yere, yor Ma[jes]tie of yor moste aboundaunte mercie and priuitlie
and mercifull disposic'on, by yor moste liberall and generall pardon did
release and discharge all yor subjects of all suche Amercyamts, fynes,
penalties and forfeytures as weare conteyned in the said extreats;
Yet not w[i]thstandinge, the said Edmunde Mathewe, in the said xxxvth
yeare of yor Ma[jes]ties reigne, after the said generall pardon published,
then beinge Sheriff of the said Countie, of his corrupte and wicked
mynde, w[i]th his owne handes and by the handes of Marmaduke
Mathewe, his deputie Sheriff, and by one Will'm Mathewe, John
Thomas Griffith, Jenkyn Jeuan, Phillipp Llywellin, John Powell,
Arthur John, Reignolde Gwyn, Will'm Thomas and others his Bailiffs,
by waye of distresse, seazure and sellinge of the goodes of diuers of
yor Subiects of the said Countie of Glamorgan, and by arrestinge and
ymprisoninge of theire bodies, in moste cruell, tirranous and vnlaufull manner did leuie, receuie and take vp the residue of the said
Amerciamts, ffynes, penalties and forfeytures conteyned in the said
extreate and in truth pardoned by yor Ma[jes]ties said generall pardon, as
namelie, of Harry Edwardes, one of the Jury ympannelled to inquire
for her Ma[jes]tie wthin the said Countie of Glamorgan in the seconde
inqueste, for that he appeared not in the said xxxiiijth yere as he was
somoned, ffyve shillings. Of George Kemys for the like offence, vs.
Of John Bassett for the same, vs. Of Mathew Gibon for the same,
vs. Of Robert Cotton for the same, vs. Of Lle'n ap Rees ap Jenkin
for the same, vs. Of Will'm Powell for the same, vs. Of Howell
Mathewe pro licentia concordand', xs. Of Thomas Griffith for the
like, vjs. viijd. Of Rees ap Rees for the like, vjs. viijd. Of John
Morley, for not appearinge vppon A Jury, iijs Of Harry Morgan for
the same, iijs. Of Rees Jenkin for the same, iijs. Of Thomas Will'm
Lewis for the like, iijs. Of Will'm Griffith for the like, iijs. Of John
ap John Goughe for the like, iijs. Of Morgan Rosser for the same, iijs.
Of Rees Morgan for the like, iijs. Of Henrie Thomas Nicholas for
the like, iijs. Of Thomas Morgan Lloide for the same, iijs. Of
Giffith Lewis for the same, iijs. Of Hopkin Jenkyn for the same, iijs.
Of Jeuan Morgan Ychan for the like, iijs. Of Guill'm ap Jeuan for the
like, iijs. Of Morgan Gibon pro licentia concordand', vjs viijd. Of
John Dauid for the like, vjs viijd. Of Lewis Rees for the like, vjs. viijd.
Of John Lewis for the like, vjs viijd. Of Lison Will'm for the like,
vjs viijd. Of xtofer Richard for the like, vjs viijd. Of John Harrie
ffrancklin for the like, vjs viijd. Of Will'm Roberte and Will'm
Howell ap Rees ychan for the like, vjs viijd. Of Hughe Powell
Clarke and John Jenkin Dauid Powell for the like, vjs viijd. Of
Thomas Powell ap Morgan for the like, xs. Of Morgan Dauid for
the like, vjs viijd. Of Rees ap Rees and xtofer Dauid for the like,
vjs viijd. Of John Sherry, for not answeringe Alexander Seyse, ijs.
Of Phe' Will'm, for not answeringe Alexander Seyse in A plea of
Trespasse, ijs. Of Will'm yeuor, because he did not come to make A
certeine Jury betwene John Andrewe and John Saunders, ijs vjd.
Of Jenkin John Gitto for the same, ijs vjd. Of Will'm Rosser for the
same, ijs vjd. Of Gibon Dauid for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Lougher
for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Richard Harry for the same, ijs vjd.
Of Morgan Thomas for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Morgan Dauid for
the same, ijs vjd. Of Will'm Morgan Jones for the same, ijs vjd. Of
Lle'n Gronoughe for the same, ijs vjd. Of Trehayarne Morgan for
the same, ijs vjd. Of John Jeuan ap John Lewis for the same,
ijs vjd. Of Will'm Thomas Griffith for the same, ijs vjd. Of Jeuan
Lle'n Phe' for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Jeuan for the same, ijs vjd.
Of Thomas Hopkin for the same, ijs vjd. Of Will'm Hopkin for the
same, ijs vjd. Of Jeuan Jenkin ap Jeuan Maddock, for not coming to
make a certeine Jurie betwene John Roberts and Dauid ap Jeuan,
ijs vjd. Of Jeuan ap Jeuan for the same, ijs vjd. Of Howell Merrick
for the same, ijs vjd. Of David John Will'm for the same, ijs vjd.
Of Jeuan Watkyn for the same, ijs vjd. Of Miles Wilcock for the
same, ijs vjd. Of Dauid Harry for the same, ijs vjd. Of Griffith
John Merricke for the same, ijs vjd. Of Dauid Thomas John Roberte
for the same, ijs vjd. Of Harry James for the same, ijs vjd. Of
Morgan Lle'n, for that he came not to make A certeine Jurie Betwene
Thomas Lewis, Esquire, and John Will'm, iijs iiijd. Of Roberte
Morgan for the same, iijs iiijd. Of Will'm Craddock for the same,
iijs iiijd. Of John Harry ap Owen for the same, iijs iiijd. Of Gwill'm
Thomas Wilkin for the same, iijs iiijd. Of Jenkin ap Jeuan for the
same, iijs iiijd. Of Thomas Will'm Hopkin for the same, iijs iiijd. Of
Thomas ap Jeuan ap Rees for the same, iijs iiijd. Of Jeuan Richard
Lle'n for the same, iijs iiijd. Of Thomas Watkin for the same,
iijs iiijd. Of Phe' Rees Will'm Leya, for not comynge to make A
certeine Jurie betwene John Lewis Phillpott and John Philpott,
ijs vjd. Of Morgan Lewis Rees for the same, ijs vjd. Of Phe'
Bartock for the same, ijs vjd. Of Rees Harry for the same, ijs vjd.
Of Griffith ap John for the same, ijs vjd. Of Will'm Howell Morgan
for the same, ijs vjd. Of Lison Thomas for the same, ijs vjd. Of
Hopkin John for the same, ijs vjd. Of Merick Lle'n for the same,
ijs vjd. Of James Thomas for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Will'm
for the same, ijs vjd. Of Lle'n ap Jeuan for the same, ijs vjd. Of
John Thomas for the same, ijs vjd. Of John Dyer for the same,
ijs vjd. Of Howell ap Howell for the same, ijs vjd. Of Dauid Powell
Dauid, for that he came not to make A certeine Jurie of Lief and
deathe betwene the Queenes Ma[jes]tie and the prisoners att the barre, vs.
Of Morgan Powell Dauid for the same, vs. Of Griffith Thomas
Howell for the same, vs. Of Lewis Dauid for the same, vs. Of
Dauid John Will'ms for the same, vs. Of William Dauid Dee for the
same, vs. Of John Gibon Watkin for the same, vs. Of Morris Mors
for the same, vs. Of John Philley for the same, vs. Of Roberte
Cotton for the same, vs. Of Howell ap Owen for the same, vs. Of
Phe' Williams, bailiff of the hundred of Llangavelagh, for not cominge
before her Ma[jes]ties Justices of the said countie on mondaie, to make that
seruice and attendaunce w[hi]ch did apperteine to his office, xls. Of
Griffith ap Jeuan, keeper of her Ma[jes]ties gaole of the saide countie,
bicause he did suffer Rees ap Jeuan Morris and Thomas ap Thomas,
prisoners com[m]itted by the Courte, to goe at Libertie, contrarie to the
charge geuen him, xls. Of James John Will'm, pro licentia concordand' w[hi]ch Rees Griffith Lle'n, vjs viijd. Of Robert Maddock,
bycause he came not to her Ma[jes]ties Courte before her highnes Justices
of the greate Sessions, xxli. Of George Hopkin, one of the suerties
of the said Robert Maddock, bicause he had not the said Robert
Maddock before the Justice of the said Cessions, xli. Of John
Thomas, gent, one of the Jurors, beinge sworne in an Attainte
betwene Edward Stradlinge, knighte, and Jeuan Rosser def't, because
theie came not in w[i]th theire verditt in due time, xxs. Of Nicholas
Andrewe for the same, xxs. Of Jeuan Jenkin for the same, xxs. Of
Rees Lloide for the same, xxs. Of Ph'e Craddock for the same, xxs.
Of Jenkin Will'm for the same, xxs. Of Rees ap Jeuan for the same,
xxs. Of Thomas Watkin for the same, xxs. Of Jeuan ap Jeuan
Will'm for the same, xxs. Of Lewes Thomas for the same, xxs. Of
Jeuan Lewes for the same, xxs. Of Will'm Stephan for the same,
xxs. Of Thomas Lewis for the same, xxs. Of Rees Knapp for the
same, xxs. Of Thomas John Crooke for the same, xxs. Of Dauid
Thomas Griffith for the same, xxs. Of Morgan Trehairne for the
same, xxs. Of Eustace ap Jeuan for the same, xxs. Of Will'm
Morgan James for the same, xxs. Of Will'm Morgan for the same,
xxs. Of Jeuan Richard Lle'n for the same, xxs. Of Will'm Vaughan
for the same, xxs. Of Jenkin John ap Henry for the same, xxs. Of
John Dauid ap Hopkin for the same, xxs. Of Ph'e Will'm and Lewis
Lle'n, pro licencia concordand', vjs viijd. Of Thomas Rosser for the
same, vjs viijd. Of Will'm Lewis for the like, vjs viijd. Of John
Thomas for the like, vjs viijd. Of Thomas Morgan for the like,
vjs viijd. Of Harry Jones, gent, and Jeuan Thomas Lle'n for the
same vjs viijd. Of Edward Prichard, Esquire, for the same, vjs viijd.
Of John Tanner for the same, vjs viijd. Of Charles ffrowde, senior,
for the same, vjs viijd. Of Edward Kemys, Esquire, for the same,
vjs viijd. And whereas the said Edmund Mathewe, before the laste
daie of the saide Parliamte, had distreyned the cattell of diuers of yor
subiects, for some of the said Amerciamts, issues, fynes and penalties,
but before the said Somes weare leuied or receaued, yor ma[jes]ties said
gen'all pardon was published, Wherebie diuers of yor said Subiects
did refuse to paie the said Amerciamts, fynes and forfeytures to the
said Edmonde Mathewe, but did require theire cattell taken by him as
distresses for the same, Yet the said Edmund Mathewe woulde not
delyuer backe youre said Subiects cattell, vntill he had exacted and
extorted dyuers somes of money from them, to theire greate oppression, for composic'on bribe and Reward to haue againe their said
cattell. And the said Edmund Mathewe, not satisfied wthall the
foresaid Somes of money vniustlie exacted, extorted and leuied as
aforesaid, by coulor of the said extreats, but caried awaie more and
more w[i]th a desire of vnlaufull proffitt, in the said xxxvth yere of yor
Ma[jes]ties Reigne, and since yor Ma[jes]ties laste free and gen'all pardon, he
the said Edmond Mathewe, Marmaduke Mathewe, Will'm Mathewe,
John Thomas Griffith, Jenkyn Jeuan, Ph'e Lle'n, John Powell, Arthur
John, Reignolde Gwyn, & Will'm Thomas, by the appointmte
and procuremte of the said Edmund Mathews, did counterfeite
and fayne an extreate of diuers Amerciamts, fynes, penalties and
forfeytures assessed at the said greate Sessions holden w[i]thin
that Countie vppon diuers youre Ma[jes]ties louinge subiects in the said
Countie of Glamorgan, and by the false pretence and shewe thereof,
whereas in truthe there was no such extreate made or deliuered to
the said Edmund Mathewe; he the said Edmund Mathewe then
contynuinge sheriff of the said countie, by the said Marmaduke
Mathewe his vnder sheriff, and by Will'm Mathewe, John Thomas,
Griffith, Jenkyn Jeuan, Phe' Lle'n, John Powell, Arthur John,
Reignolde Gwyn, Will'm Thomas and others his bailiffs or som[m]e of
them, by his appointemte and direcc'on, did demaund, and by
menacinge to distreine, seize and sell the goods of diuers of yor
subiects, did leuie and receiue of yor said Subiects diuers Somes of
money, affirminge that the same Somes so demaunded and leuied
weare Amerciamts, ffynes and forfeytures imposed vppon yor said
Subiects extreated and deliu'ed to the said Edmund Mathewe as
Sheriff of the said Countie, to demaund leuie and receiue, whereas
in truthe there weare no suche Amerciamts, fynes or penalties
forfeyted or assessed, nor suche estreate made nor deliuered vnto
the said Edmund Mathewe to leuie or demaund. All w[hi]ch Somes of
moneie so had and receiued did come vnto the handes and possession
of the said Edmund Mathewe, who vppon his Accompte made before
the said Thomas Handberry, yor Ma[jes]ties Auditor for Wales, aboute
October in the xxxvth yere of yor Ma[jes]ties reigne, did not charge himself
w[i]th the said seu'all Som[m]es so by him had, taken and receyved of yor
Ma[jes]ties said Subiects as Amerciamts, fynes and forfeytures, before the
laste daie of the said Parliamte, neither any Waie accompted therefore to yor maMa[jes]tiesties vse, but vppon his said Accompte did make his
petic'on to haue allowaunce of them as thinges pardoned by Yor
Ma[jes]tie nor yet restored the same to yor pore subiects againe, but did
corruptelie and vnlawfullie reteine and converte the same to his owne
priuate vse and benefitt; wherein the said Edmund Mathewe hath
not onelie contemned his dutie to yor Ma[jes]tie and abused his said office,
but alsoe have com[m]ited manifeste, corrupte and wicked periurie,
contrarie to his said seuerall oathes taken as aforesaid, for that he
did not yelde vnto yor Ma[jes]ties A trewe and lawfull Accompte of the
issues and proffitts of his late office of Shreifwick in the Countie of
Glamorgan due to yor maMa[jes]tiestie, nor in the same Accompte charged
himself wthall such Som[m]es of monie as he or any of his deputies
had leuied to yor Ma[jes]ties use, neither yet did trulie and rightfullie
treate the people of his Sherifwick, but did iniurie and wronge to
dyuers and many of youre Highnes Subjects therebie, for his owne
wicked gaine and lucre. And moreouer so itt is, moste gracious
Soueraigne, that the said Edmund Mathewe, still persistinge in his
corrupte, greedie desire of vnlawfull gaine, and practizinge all waies
and meanes to obteyne the same, Whereas John Dauid, of Egloys
Ylan in the said Countie of Glamorgan, beinge A man suspected
w[i]th certeine felonies, aboute the xxth daie of Maye in the xxxiiijth
yere of yor Ma[jes]ties Reigne was bounde himself in the Som[m]e of Twenty
Poundes, together w[i]th one Jenkin Morgan, of Eglois y lan aforesaid,
and an other, as his sureties, in the Som[m]e of Tenne Poundes a piece,
by Recognizaunce taken to yor Ma[jes]ties use before Edward Lewes and
Miles Button, Esquiers, twoo of yor Ma[jes]ties Justices of Peace of the
said Countie of Glamorgan, w[i]th condic'on that the said John Dauid
shoulde appeare at the nexte greate Sessions to be holden for the
said Countie of Glamorgan to answere such thinges as shoulde be
obiected againste him, w[hi]ch Cessions weare after holden vppon the
xixth daie of June then nexte followinge. At w[hi]ch Cessions the said
John Dauid, being called vppon his said Recognizaunce, did not
appeare but made defaulte, wherebie the same Recognizaunce
became forfeyted to yor Ma[jes]ties. And afterward by due processe of
lawe, execuc'on oute of the said Courte was therevppon awarded
at yor Ma[jes]ties suite againste the said John Dauid and his suerties, and
the said Writt deliuered to the said Edmund Mathew to be executed
in the said xxxvth yere of youre Reigne, he then beinge Sheriff
of the saide Countie. But before any execuc'on made thereof, yor
maMa[jes]tiestie, by yor said gracious free and gen'all pardon, did discharge and
forgiue the same; But notw[i]th standinge, the said Edward Mathewe,
of A Corrupte, couetous minde, (omittinge no opportunitie, weare
it neuer so vnlaufull, to procure any gaine vnto himself), in the said
xxxvth yere after yor Ma[jes]ties said generall pardon published and made
knowen vnto him, did by some of his officers and ministers arreste the
said Jenkin Morgan by colour of the said Writt of execuc'en graunted
for yor Ma[jes]ties, and therevppon comitted him to the gaole of the said
Countie of Glamorgan; where the saide Edmunde Mathewe kepte
the said Jenkin Morgan in moste hard and extreame ymprisonmente
by the space of sixe weeks, vntill he the said Edmund Mathewe by
such rigorous meanes had vnlawfullie exacted, wreasted and extorted
from the said Jenkin Morgan the some of ffourty shillings for his
inlargemente; and also procured him to enter into an obligac'on of
A greate Som[m]e of moneie w[i]th condic'on to this effecte, That he
shoulde appeare at the nexte Auditt to be holden for the said countie;
And not therew[i]th contented, the said Edmund Mathewe, after the
saide bonde so taken, and att or before the nexte Auditte holden
in October then followinge, hee, the said Edmund Mathewe, at Cardiff
aforesaid, extorted and drewe from the said Jenkin Morgan other xls
for the deliuering vpp of the said bonde vnto the said Jenkin, and for
leauinge him at quiet, and discharginge him of the forfeyture of the
said Recognizaunce. w[hi]ch Som[m]e of ffower Poundes so vnlaufullie
exacted from the said Jenkin Morgan, hee the said Edmunde Mathewe
did reserue and emploie to his owne private vse and comoditie, and
after atthe Auditt aforesaid excused the not levyinge of the Som[m]e
conteined in the said Recognizaunce, by reason of yor Ma[jes]ties pardon.
And furthermore, whereas one Richard Edwardes, of Aberdare in the
said Countie of Glamorgan, a man of verie bad lief and one that of longe
time was had in greate suspic'on for the comittinge of diuers felonies
and for the receiuinge, harbouringe and succouringe of diuers notorious
felons, had (as by manie greate presumpc'ons appeared) then lately
comitted a felonie in the said countie of Glamorgan in the said xxxvth
yere of yor Ma[jes]ties Reigne; the said Edmund Mathewe, then beinge
sheriff of the said countie, and hauinge notice thereof, caused the said
Edwardes to be arrested for the said felonie, and comitted to the
gaole of the said countie of Glamorgan; but the said Edmund
Mathewe nothinge regardinge the dutie of the said office, the good
of his cuntrie, nor the execuc'on of Justice therein, but wholie sett
vppon private gaine and lucre, therebie to enrich himself, after he had
deteined the said Edwardes in gaole by the space of xviijteen daies or
thereaboutes, beinge offred the some of Three Poundes by the said
Edwardes or some of his friends for A bribe and Rewarde to shewe
his fauor to the said Edwardes, in the said xxxvth yere of yor Ma[jes]ties
reigne, he beinge then sheriff of the said countie, att Cardiffe aforesaid
did accepte and receiue the same bribe and rewarde, and therevppon
wthoute producinge the said Edwardes before any Justice of Peace
of yor said Countie to be examyned touchinge the said felonie, or by
any meanes takinge and retorninge his examynac'ons therevppon, did
then and there of his owne head sett the said Edwardes at libertie
w[i]ththoute baile or mayneprize, expreslie contrarie to yor Ma[jes]ties lawes
and statutes of this Realme in such cases especiallie prouided;
Wherebie the said Edwards hath euer sithence escaped the daunger
and sentence of lawe, and his notorious and grieuous offences
remayne vnpvnished, to the greate yncoraginge of like euell disposed
persons in that cuntrie. And yor said Attorney gen'all further
informeth yor moste excellente Ma[jes]tie that the said Edmund Mathewe,
beinge highe sheriff of the said countie of Glamorgan, and hauinge
late before been putt into the comission of the peace in the
said countie, by meanes of w[hi]ch office and appointmte he was
growen A man of greate power and countenaunce; whereas he
the said Edmund Mathewe shoulde, by reason of theis fauors
bestowed vppon him by Yor Ma[jes]ties haue emploied and exercised
himself in yor Ma[jes]ties sruice, and in affaires tendinge to the good
of his countrie, he the saide Edmund Mathewe, nothinge
regardinge his dutie therein, but caried awaie w[i]th A corrupte and
vnsatiable desire of private gaine and lucre, did therein (all other
duties despised) onelie seeke howe he mighte enriche and raise
greate gaine and profitt to himself, and to that ende, in the said
xxxvth yere of yor Ma[jes]ties reigne and since yor maMa[jes]tiesties laste free &
gen'all pardon, the said Edmund Mathewe, beinge then Sheriff of yor
highnes said Countie of Glamorgan, by color of his said place and
aucthoritie, did at seuerall times sende for diuers of yor Ma[jes]ties subiects
of the said countie of Glamorgan before him at Cardiff aforesaid, as
namelie, one Lewis Thomas Will'm of Llanwonno, John Dauid . . .
of Aberdare, and manie others, to the nomber of xlti and vpward, and
then and there, vppon pretence and coulor that he had then been latelie
putt to greate charges and expences in certeine sutes betwene him
and one Thomas Lewis of the Van in the said countie of Glamorgan,
deceased, he the said Edmund Mathewe did [demaunde and exacte] of
euerie of yor said subiects so broughte before him a contribuc'on and
lone of A peece of moneie to wardes his said charges, promising them
greate favor and friendshipp in his said office for the same; by meanes
whereof, but chieflie in dread and feare of the malice and crueltie w[hi]ch
the said Edmunde Mathewe [would haue] caried and shewed to yor
said subjects if they had denied him that requeste, the said Lewis
Thomas Will'm, John Dauid ap Jeuan Dee and diuers other of yor
said Subiects did then by means of that exacc'on deliuer vnto the
said Edmund Mathewe diuers som[m]es of money, some xli, some. . . .
And Whereas some of yor said Subiects, in respecte of the pouertie
of theire owne estates, vppon the perswasion and faire promises of the
saide Edmund Mathewe, did denie and excuse in respecte of theire
owne wants to deliuer him any moneie, he the said Edmund Mathewe
therevppon did . . . . . . threaten and menace yor said
Subiects that he woulde plague them for it, and cause them to spende
treble the value of that w[hi]ch he required at theire hands; As namelie,
the said Edmund Mathewe hauinge then sente for one Will'm Dauid
from his owne howse to come vnto him to Cardiff . . . . . .
and pretence aforesaid, require of him the Som[m]e of Twentie Nobles,
but the said Will'm Dauid, in respecte of his pore habillitie and greate
charge of children and housholde, excused that he was not hable to
giue or lende so grate A som[m]e, but therevppon offered the [said
Edmund Mathewe the som[m]e] of ffourtie shillinges, but the said
Edmund Mathewe not there w[i]th contented did not onelie most terriblie
rate and reuile the said Will'm Dauid w[i]th wordes not fitt to be
remembred or repeated in this honorable courte, but also the said
Edmund Mathewe in his owne house att [Cardiff aforesaid did beate]
and strike the said Will'm Dauid [in the] face, and therevppon thruste
him headlonge oute of his house. And the said Edmund Mathew
hauinge still vnnecessarie and troublesome sutes w[i]th diuers gent' of
that cuntrie, by color of his office of Justice of peace in the saide
Countie, doth dailie moste [wickedlie and wrongfullie] exacte,
demaund and leuie like [som[m]es] and contribuc'ons of yor Ma[jes]ties said
Subiects, either in moneie, cattell, parcells of wood or other like
thinges of greate value, towardes the aide and mayntenaunce of his
said sutes, to the greate oppression, hindraunce and allmoste vtter
vndoinge [of your said subiects and] . . . . . . ire not
repaid the same, neither [hath he] any meaninge that theie shoulde
haue it or any parte thereof backe againe. But by means thereof
the said Edmund Mathewe hath greatelie inriched him self, and notw[it]hstandinge his dailie sutes and greate charge therebie, doth enter
into many . . . . . exeadinge greate comoditie, althoughe [it
be] the vtter vndoinge of many other of yor Ma[jes]ties subiects. All w[hi]ch
wicked, vnlaufull, wilfull and corrupte practizes, periuries, exacc'ons,
extorc'ons, briberies and other the Abuses, misdemeanors and offences
of the said Edmund Mathewe, Marmaduke Mathewe, Will'm Mathewe,
John Thomas Griffith, Jenkin Jeuan, Phe' Lle'n, John Powell, Arthur
John, Reignold Gwyn and Will'm Thomas haue been done and
com[m]itted since youre Ma[jes]ties laste free and generall pardon, and are
contrarie to yor ma[jes]ties lawes and statuts of this Realme, and in
derrogac'on and contempte of yor highnes crowne and dignitie [and
to the the yncoraginge] of other like euill disposed persons to be
therebie encouraged to attempte and execute the like offences, if
condigne punishmente be not in this behalf inflicted vppon the said
offendors. In regarde whereof, and to thende the said Edmund
Mathewe and the residue of the saide offenders maie . . . . .
ire so grieuous . . . . . . It maie therefore please yor moste
excellente ma[jes]tie to graunte yor moste gracious Writt of Subpena to
be directed vnto the said Edmund Mathewe, Marmaduke Mathewe,
Will'm Mathewe, John Thomas Griffith, Jenkin Evan, Phe' Lle'n and
John [Powell] and euerie of them to come att a certeine daie and
vnder a certeine [pay]ne therein to be lymited, personallie to be and
appeare before yor highness in yor honorable courte of Starre
Chamber, then and there to answeare the premisses; And further
to stande to and abide such order and direcc'on [as to yor moste
honor]able Counsell shall seeme meete and conveniente. And yor
said Subiects (accordinge to theire bounden duties) shall dailie praie
to god for yor moste excellente ma[jes]tie in peace and happynes longe to
lyve and raigne ouer vs.
Edw. Coke.
[The various Answers are annexed; they are a denial of the charges in toto.]