1666
20 January, 17 Charles II.—True Bill that, at the parish (sic) of St.
Katherine's Tower co. Midd. Robert Dutch late of the said parish (sic)
yeoman, being a person greedy of gain, assaulted Ralph Bradshaw and
unlawfully and hurtfully conveyed him on board the ship The Elizabeth
and Mary then lying in the river Thames, with the intention of forcibly
and unlawfully conveying the same Ralph Bradshaw to a place beyond
the seas, called Virginia, and there selling him for the gain and profit
of him Robert Dutch. The only clerical minute on the bill's face is
"po se" = he puts himself. G. D. R., 19 Feb., 18 Charles II.
20 February, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Andrew's-inHolborne co. Midd. in the night of the said day, Henry Kempe and
Nicholas Marshall, both late of the said parish laborers, broke burglariously into the dwelling-house of William Whittaker M.D., with the
intention of stealing and carrying off the goods and chattels of the
said William Whittaker. Found 'Guilty,' Henry Kempe and Nicholas
Marshall were sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R., 19 Feb.,
18 Charles II.
28 February, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Joseph Ayloffe esq. J.P., of William Jeupe victualler and Edward
Redknappe barber, both of St. James's Clerkenwell, and John Bibby
of Duck Lane London smith, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For
the appearance of . . . . Hampson at the next S. P. for Middle
sex, "to answer for bringing a person sick of the plague into the
parish of St. James Clerkenwell out of St. Martin's Lane neere Charing
Crosse." S. P. R., 20 March, 18 Charles II.
7 March, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Hampton co. Midd.
between eleven and twelve o'clock in the night of the said day, Thomas
Goose junior and Robert Hawes, both late of the said parish yeomen,
broke into and entered the King's park called Bushey Parke, and then
and there unlawfully and injuriously broke the gates and pales of the
same park, and pulled up a wooden bridge over a certain river in the
same park, and threw the same bridge into the same river. The
clerical minute "po se" = 'he puts himself,' appears over the names of
both culprits, but the parchment tells nothing more of the consequences
of arraignment. S. P. R., 20 March, 18 Charles II.
20 March, 18 Charles II.—Order, made at Hicks Hall, referring
to Mr. Procter and Mr. Wharton (Justices of the Peace for Middlesex
inhabiting within the Holborne division of the same county) the petition of John Greene, son and administrator of John Greene deceased,
who seeks from the Court an order to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of High Holborn, for payment to his said deceased
father's estate of the sum of fifty-five pounds two shillings and sixpence,
expended during the late pestilence by the same John Greene deceased on certain of the poore of High Holborne when they were
visited by the plague; the petitioner urging in support of his prayer
that "his father dureing all the time of the late visitacion of the
plague untill his death was very vegilant and diligent in the performance
of his office of Constable of High Holborn, and to some or other of
the Justices of that division twice a weeke or oftener (as occasion
required) gave upp an account of all the visited houses, the persons
within them, how they were provided for, and the charge of maintaining
them," and that out of his own resources he expended the said money
on the visited poor, with the encouragement of the inhabitants and
Justices of the said district, and "upon promise of repayment to be
made out of the rates assessed for the visited poore of High Holborne."
S. P. Reg.
4 May, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields
co. Midd. on the said day, William Stapleton, William Legg and Alexander Innes, all three late of the said parish gentlemen, assaulted
James Somervaile gentleman, and that the said William Stapleton then
and there with a rapier gave the said James Somervaile in the left side
of his belly a mortal wound, of which he then and there died instantly,
being thus slain and murdered by the said William Stapleton, William
Legg and Alexander Innes. Found 'Guilty' at G. D. of 20 Feb.
19 Charles II., William Stapleton and William Legg gentlemen were
sentenced to be hung. The only clerical minute over the name of
Alexander Innes is "at large." G. D. R., 30 May, 18 Charles II.
14 May, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Anne's Blackfriars
in the ward of Farringdon London on the said day, John Mason late
of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West co. Midd yeoman assaulted Charles
Gerrard gentleman, and with a pewter quart pott gave the said
Charles Gerrard on the left side of his head a mortal wound, of
which he languished from the said 14th of May till the 12th of
June next following, on which last-named day he died of the same
wound, being thus slain and murdered by the said John Mason.
Acquitted of murder, but found 'Guilty' of manslaughter, John
Mason asked for the book, read it and was branded.—Also, Coroner's Inquisition for the cause of the death of the said Charles
Gerrard gentleman. G. D. R., . . . ., 18 Charles II.
21 June, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Joseph
Ayloffe esq. J.P., of Anthony Baskervile of St. Andrew's Holborne bricklayer, in the sum of forty pounds, and of Morgan Boyle chandler and
Samuel Peace plumer, both of St. Andrew's Holborne co. Midd., in the
sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of the said Anthony
Baskervile at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answer for making a
publick buriall at the interment of his wife, who died of the plague
in the said parish in April last, therby greatly indangering the spreading
the infection of the plague." S. P. R., 9 July, 18 Charles II.
1 July, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Thomas
Collett esq. J.P., of Thomas Porter of Worcester laborer, Thomas
Read of Soam co. Cambridge laborer, and Charles Wood of Stamford
co. Northampton laborer, in the sum of ten pounds each; For the
appearance of the said Thomas Porter, Thomas Read, and Charles
Wood at the next S. P. for Middlesex, then and there to frame a bill
of indictment and give evidence against Owen Bather late of St.
John's Street in Clerkenwell co. Midd. laborer and tapster, who is "by
them charged for pressing of men to serve our Sovereign Lord the
King as souldiers, hee having no commission so to do." S. P. R,,
9 July, 18 Charles II.
6 August, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, in the highway of the
parish of St. Pancras co. Midd. on the said day, John Broxholme
gentleman and Richard Wild laborer, both late of the said parish,
assaulted a certain Philip Powell and robbed him of a cloth coat worth
thirty shillings, "a paire of cisars" worth four-pence, an iron key
worth six-pence, an iron instrument called "a horsfoote picker" worth
six-pence, and four shillings in numbered moneys. Richard Wild
was found 'Not Guilty'; John Broxholme gentleman was found
'Guilty' and sentenced to be hung. G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.
8 August, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Richard
Downton esq. J.P., of Richard Bradbridge cordwainer and Jonathan
Wiman taylor, both of Istleworth co. Midd., in the sum of twenty
pounds each, and Ralph Shakespeare of Istleworth aforesaid waterman,
in the sum of forty pounds; For the appearance of the said Ralph
Shakespeare at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c. "for refusing to appeare on shipboard in the fleet, he being imprest to serve
the King in this famous expedition &c." S. P. R., 28 Aug., 18
Charles II.
2 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill against Robert Welch
late of Whitechappell yeoman, for not going to church &c. for an
entire month beginning on the said day.—Also, True Bill against
Richard Phenix, late of Whitechappell yeoman, for not going to church
&c. during one month, beginning on the said day. G. D. R., 10 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
4 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before John
Underwood esq. J.P., of Richard Robinson of St. James's Clerkenwell brewer, in the sum of twenty pounds, and of his two sureties, in
the sum of ten pounds each; For the said Richard Robinson's appearance at the next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex "to answere for the
taking away a cloath coate from the late great fire." S P. R., 4 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
4 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Richard Procter esq. J.P., of Thomas Escott in the sum of forty
pounds, and of his two sureties, in the sum of twenty pounds each;
For the said Thomas Escott's appearance at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answere his being in company with the Dutch baker of West
minster on Sunday last being the . . . . instant where these
words were spoken, that they came to see whether the ferry was on fier
or no . . . . to whom they were spoken it was unknowne."
S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.
4 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, John Hobbes late of the said parish
yeoman wilfully and maliciously set fire to his own house, by the burning of which house he wilfully and feloniously set fire to the adjoining
dwelling-house of George Grimes, and by fire destroyed the same
house of the said George Grimes. John Hobbes was found 'Not
Guilty.' G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.
5 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. James's
Clerkenwell co. Midd. on the said day, Elizabeth Shaw late of the said
parish spinster, had in her possession divers fire-balls, compounded of
gunpowder, brimstone and other combustible matter, with the intention
of placing and firing the said balls so as to set on fire and destroy the
dwelling-houses of divers of the king's lieges and subjects. Putting
herself on trial on 10 Dec., 18 Charles II., Elizabeth Shaw was found
'Not Guilty.' S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.
5 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Sepulchre's
co. Midd. on the said day, Brian Mogill of the said parish gentleman
set fire to a fire-ball, compounded of gunpowder brimstone and other
combustible matter, and then and there threw it alight into the dwelling-house of a certain man to the jurors unknown, with the malicious
intention of then and there destroying the same house by fire.
G. D R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.
6 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir
John Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London and
J.P.; For the appearance of Robert Mason of St. Buttolph's Algate
baker at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer to what "shall be
objected against him by the constable of Saint Buttolph Algate, who,
suspecting the said Mason to have a hand in the late fyer of London,
did upon search find in his house a ball and barrell of stuffe, supposed
to be in readinesse to make wild fier &c." S. P. R., 4 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
7 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizance, taken before John
Underwood esq. J.P., of John Clift of St. Bride's co. Midd. gunsmith,
in the sum of forty pounds; For the said John Clift's appearance at
the next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c., he "being suspected to be in the plott of fiering the city." S. P. R., 4 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
8 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Thomas Bales esq. J.P., of Thomas Clothier of St. Margaret's Westminster . . . . and George Greenwood of the same place grocer,
both in the sum of ten pounds; For the appearance of the said George
Greenwood at the next S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster,
"to answeare for speaking wordes the fourth of September last past
concerning the then burning of St. Paules, and that the Abbey
Church might be burnt as soone as that." S. P. West., R., 1 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
8 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before John
Underwood esq. J. P., of Fardinando D'Emassedo clerk and Mary
Wilson widow, both of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields co. Midd., in the sum of
twenty pounds each, and of Anthoney D'Elora of St. Andrew's Holborne gentleman; For the said Anthoney D'Elora's appearance at the
next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c., he "being suspected to
be in the plott of the late great fire."—Also, Recognizances, taken
before the same J.P. on 7 Sept., 18 Charles II., for the appearance of
Robert Evelin of St. Bride's blacksmith at the next G. Q. S. P. "to
answere the suspicion of being in the plott of the great fire."—Also,
Recognizances, taken before Charles Pitfeild esq. J.P., on 29 Sept.,
18 Charles II.; For the appearance of Mary Fisher, wife of Francis
Fisher, at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer "the complaint of
John Martin merchant for suspicion of stealing and carrying away
several quantities of Virginia tobacco out of Fenchurch Street and
Mincing Lane in the time of the late dreadfull fier, of the goods of the
said John Martin." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.
16 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's
co. Midd. on the said day, Robert Hubert late of the said parish
laborer, set fire to a certain fire-ball compounded of gunpowder brimstone and other combustible matter, and with it fired and destroyed
the dwelling-house of a certain man to the jurors unknown. Robert
Hubert put himself 'Not Guilty' to this indictment, process on which
ceased, because the said Robert was hung in London on another
indictment. G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.
28 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Joseph Ayloffe esq. J.P., of William Goodman of Smithfeild Barres
butcher and Thomas Richmond of Cheeck Lane St. Sepulchre's
tobacco-pipe-maker, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the
appearance of the said William Goodman and Thomas Richmond at
the next S. P. and G. D. for Middlesex, to give evidence &c. "against
Bryan Mac-Gill for throwing fire-balls on Munday the third of this
instant September in Lumbard Streete London and on Wednesday the
fifth of September in Cheeck-Lane nere Smithfeild." S. P. R., 4 Oct.,
18 Charles II.
29 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Peter Sabbs esq. J.P., of John Shadwell gentleman and George Edsall
taylor, both of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, in the sum of twenty pounds
each, and of Richard Gardiner of the same parish gentleman, in the
sum of forty pounds; For the said Richard Gardiner's appearance
at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answer for making a fyre the
fifth day of September last past about midnight, and during the time
the Citty was on fyre, at a place called Hocklee-in-the-Hole, which
fyre he made in the street neere the end of Three Salt-Peeter houses,
which (as it hath bin affirmed upon oath before me) might have bin to
the utter ruin and destruction of that part of the towne, if it had not
bin prevented." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.
2 October, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir
John Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London and
J.P.; For the appearance of Thomas Hoggeflesh of the Liberty of the
said Tower cooper, at the next S. P. and G. D. for Middlesex, to
answer to what "shall be objected against him by Mr. Corsellis of
London merchant upon suspition of feloniously taking away out of a
cellar belonging to Mr. Corsellis [a] six quarte caske (sic) of brandy."
G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.
6 October, 18 Charles II.—Recognizance, taken before Peter
Sabbs esq. J.P., of Thomas Plummer of Creed parish London gentleman, in the sum of forty pounds; For the said Thomas Plummer's
appearance at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to prosecute Edmund
Nunne and Anne his wife for imbezilling his goodes in the late fyre,
which goodes (as he hath sworne) were to the value of above thirty
pounds." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.
2 November, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir (?)
Richard Everard knt. (?) J.P., of Richard Braywood gentleman, Mary
Raven spinster and Mary Harris spinster, all three of . . . . -inthe-Fields, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of
the said Richard Braywood, Mary Raven and Mary Harris at the next
S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster, "to give evidence
against Apolonia Ha . . . . De Brill being charged for concealing of Ludlow and suspected to bee privy to the fireing of London."
S. P. West, R., 7 Jan., 18 Charles II.
20 November, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before
Francis Lucy esq. J.P., for the appearance of Francis Lane . . . .
at the next Q. S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster, to
answer the complaint of Anne, the wife of William Hamper, "for
defrauding her of certaine goods delivered to him by her in the time
of the late fire of London." S. P. West., R., 7 Jan., 18 Charles II.
. . . . November, 18 Charles 11.—Recognizances, on eight several
parchments, taken on divers days of the said month before Sir John
Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London J.P.;
For the appearance of John Lewin one of the Overseers of the Poor of
St. Katherin's, Guilford Elvee one of the Churchwardens of the hamblett of Ratcliffe, Jeffery Winthurst one of the Churchwardens of the
hamblett of Ratcliffe, Thomas Mathew one of the Overseers of the
Poor of St. Katherin's precinct, William Goodwin and John Cant and
William Browne, the three Churchwardens of Whitechappell, John
Carter the Churchwarden of the hamblett of Limehouse, and John
Case the immediate constable of the Uppe-Hamblett of Whitechappell,
to answer "for obstinately refusing to make an assessment" in their
respective hambletts or other districts "for and towards satisfying the
charges contracted in the late visitacion in maintayning the visited
poor." S. P. R., 10 Dec, 18 Charles II.
10 December, 18 Charles II.—Order that divers persons (whose
names were set forth in a schedule not copied into the S. P. Register)
forthwith depart and remove themselves out of St. James's Clerkenwell
unto the several parishes, where they were last settled before the late
great fire; the said order being made on the petition of the churchwardens and overseers for the poor of St. James's Clerkenwell, representing that the said persons were first received into the saide parish
"in obedience to His Majesties Proclamacion lately published upon
the occasion of the late calamitous fire in the City of London commanding all the neighbouring parishes to receave into their churches
and publique places the persons and goods of such whose habitacions
were destroyed by the said fire for their present releife and shelter," and
representing that divers of the persons so received "have already fallen
and more are likely to fall on the charge" of the said parish. S. P. Reg.
15 December, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Stepney co.
Midd. on the said day, knowing that Robert Stiles and Edward
Drewett had in their keeping in a boat called a hoy, at the said parish,
a certain box containing ninety paires of silke stockinges worth fiftyfour pounds, and a certain trunck containing two hundred and twentytwo paires of worsted stockinges worth forty-three pounds, of the goods
and chattels of Richard Pendarves of London merchant, about to be
transported to parts beyond sea, Thomas Pratt, Henry Duncombe and
William Barrett, all three late of the said parish gentlemen, forged a
certain false writing, running in the names of George Lawson wharfenger and Edward Drewett one of the owners of the said hoy, and
addressed to the aforesaid Robert Stiles, and being in these words, to
wit, "Robert Stiles you . . . . deliver to this gentleman Mr.
Thomas Pendarves the box covered with canvas marked with No.
D. P. 1 and alsoe the truncke . . . . a matt corded and this
shall be your discharge from your freinds George Lawson, Edward
Drewett &c. . . . ." and that afterwards on the same day, to wit,
the 15th Dec., 18 Charles II., the aforesaid Thomas Pratt, Henry
Duncombe and William Barrett delivered this writing so fabricated and
forged &c. by them to the said Robert Stiles and by colour and force
of the same spurious document obtained and received the said box
and trunk from the same Robert Stiles &c. On their arraignment
Thomas Pratt gentleman and Henry Duncombe gentleman confessec
the indictment, whilst William Barrett gentleman put himself on a jury
who found him 'Guilty.' Each of the three gentlemen was sentencec
to stand, with a paper on his head setting forth his offence, on the
pillory for two hours on two several market days between eleven and
one o'clock, to wit, on one day in Holborne street near Greyes Inne
and on the other day in the Strand near the New Exchainge, and then
to pay a fine of twenty marks, and to remain in Newgate Gaol till he
should have paid the fine, and put in sureties for his good behaviou
for a year. G. D. R., 16 Jan., 18 Charles II.
24 December, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Stepney co. Midd.
on the said day, James Barnes late of the said parish weaver, in the
presence and hearing of divers persons, spoke these malicious and
devilish words, "Heere is a health to George Mounke, and the Devill
lake the King." James Barnes was found 'Not Guilty.' G. D. R.,
16 Jan., 18 Charles II.