1677
10 January, 28 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Whitechappell co.
Midd. on the said day, Gerald Boarne alias Gerald Byrne, late of the
said parish yeoman, designing to bring the Most Noble James Duke of
Ormond K.G. &c. to death, in the presence and hearing of very many
of the lieges and subjects of the Lord the King uttered these malicious
and diabolical words, to wit, "If I could handsomely or conveniently
meet with or light off the Duke of Ormond, I would kill him." On
13th Jan., 1678, Gerald Boarne alias Byrne was declared 'Not Guilty.'
S. P. R., 9 Dec, 30 Charles II.
7 February, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Giles's-in-theFields co. Midd. in the night between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. of the said
day, Thomas Sadler alias Clarke, William Johnson alias Trueman and
Thomas Reneger, all three late of the said parish laborers, broke burglariously into the dwellinghouse of Heneage Lord Finch the Lord
Chancellor of the said Lord the King (Heneagii Dni Finch Dni
Cancellar' d'c'i Dni Regis Anglie) and then and there stole and carried
off "a Silver Mace gilt gold worth one hundred pounds, and two velvett
purses imbroydered with gold and silver and sett with pearles, worth
forty pounds, of the goods and chattels of the said Lord the King,
Found 'Guilty,' all three burglars were sentenced to be hanged. No
mention is made of the Great Seal. G. D. R., 7 March, 29 Charles II.
14 February, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martins-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, George Ward and Charles Michartey,
both late of the said parish, assaulted a certain Ulick Mack-Elligott, and
that the said George Ward then and there slew and murdered the said
Ulick Mack-Elligott, by giving him with a rapier a mortal wound in the
right part of his belly, of which wound the said Ulick Mack-Elligott
then and there instantly died. Charles Michartey was acquitted.
Acquitted of murder, but found 'Guilty' of manslaughter, George Ward
pleaded his clergy effectually: 'cre' resp' usq' p'x'=the branding was
deferred till the next Gaol Delivery. G. D. R., 7 March, 29 Charles II.
20 February, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Endfeild co. Midd.
on the said day, Robert Dines alias Deans laborer, William Dines alias
Deans laborer, and Margaret Dines alias Deans spinster, with the
intention of maiming and deforming Jane King lay in wait for and
assaulted the said Jane King; And That the said Margaret Dines alias
Deanes with a knife cut and disabled the right eye of the said Jane
King, with the design of disfiguring her, and that the aforesaid Robert
and William Dines alias Deans were present at the perpetration of the
said felony, and encouraged and aided the said Margaret Dines alias Deans
to commit it. Found 'Guilty,' the said Robert, William and Margaret
were all three sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R., 25 April, 29 Charles II.
15 April, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Giles's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, William Mayes alias Mace esquire
and Thomas Witherley gentleman, both late of the said parish, assaulted
one Gilbert Ward, and that the said William Mayes alias Mace slew
and murdered the same Gilbert, by giving him with a rapier a mortal
wound on the left side of his breast, of which wound he then and there
instantly died; And That the said Thomas Witherley was present at
the perpetration of the said felony, and encouraged and aided William
Mayes to commit it. On 10th Oct., 29 Charles II., William Mayes
and Thomas Witherley "po se" = put themselves Not Guilty on a jury.
The bill exhibits no clerical note touching later proceedings in the case.
G. D. R., 25 April, 29 Charles II.
4 May, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. James's Clerkenwell
co. Midd., on the said day, Roger Minsher late of the said parish stole
and carried off an English Bible worth eight shillings, a black silke hood
worth two shillings, and a cambrick handkerchief worth two shillings,
of the goods and chattels of Daniel Lathberry. Roger Minsher confessed the indictment, and was sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R.,
16 Jan., 29 Charles II.
5 June, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Mary's Savoy co.
Midd. on the said day, Alice Chilton spinster and Elizabeth Gibson
spinster, both late of the said parish, stole, took and carried away four
gold rings worth fifty shillings, a silver ring worth eighteen pence, a
gold crucifix worth eighteen shillings, a silver thimble worth twelve
pence, two silver cups worth three pounds, three silver spoons worth
twenty shillings, a serge pettycoate worth twelve shillings, a white
sarsnet hood worth three shillings, a damask napkin worth eighteen
pence, an eleven shilling peece of gold worth eleven shillings, and a
piece of coined gold called a Spanish double-pistall worth twenty-three
shillings, and nine pounds and nineteen shillings in numbered money,
of the goods chattels and moneys of a certain Anne Burton. Found
'Guilty,' Alice Chilton and Elizabeth Gibson were both sentenced to
be hanged. G. D. R., 11 July, 29 Charles II.
10 June, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Margaret's Westminster co. Midd. on the said day, Edward Warren late of the said
parish apothecary, a man diabolically affected towards our most serene
Lord Charles the Second and also towards the said King's brother
James Duke of York, maliciously and seditiously spoke and uttered in
a high voice these wicked and scandalous words, to wit, "He would
drink damnation to the King and the Duke, and also, if Charles were
there, he would fling the beer in his face;" and that in answer to a
question the said Edward Clarke said he meant "Charles the Second."
No clerical minute on the bill, touching subsequent proceedings in the
case. S. P. West. R., 9 July, 29 Charles II.
19 June, 29 Charles II.—Recognizance, taken before Thomas
Povey esq., J.P. and James Dewy esq. J.P., of John Forbuck of St.
Laurence Pountney of London priest (sacerdos), in the sum of forty
pounds: For the said John Forbuck's appearance at the next Quarter
Session of the Peace for the city and liberties of Westminster, "then
and there to prefer &c. one Byll of Indictment against Dame Katherin
Grandison and Dame Hester Webb, for that the said John Forbuck
suspects they have conveyed away John Clarke his nephew to Saint
Omer's in France, there to be brought up in the popish religion."
S. P. West. R., 9 July, 29 Charles II.
5 July, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Clement's Danes' co.
Midd. on the said day, Samuel Reynolds late of the said parish gentleman assaulted a certain James Button, and with a rapier gave him on
the left part of his breast a serious wound, half-an-inch broad and six
inches deep, of which wound the said James Button has languished
from the aforesaid 5 th July to the day of the taking of this inquisition,
to wit, the 4th of September, 29 Charles II. On 4th Oct., 1677,
Samuel Reynolds confessed the indictment, and was fined in the sum
of thirteen shillings and four pence, which he paid to the Sheriff in
court. S. P. R., 4 Sept., 29 Charles II.
7 July, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Giles's-in-the-Fields on
the said day, Cornelius Crouch and William Leader, both late of the said
parish yeomen, with the intention of defrauding William Freeman esq.
of his money, came to the dwelling house of the said William Freeman
esq. in the said parish, and told Elizabeth Goodwin spinster, one of the
servants of the said William Freeman, that they were Letter Carryers
in the service of Henry Earl of Arlington then being the Post-MasterGenerall, and delivered to her nine false and counterfeit letters marked
with a marke resembling the marke of the Post Office, and declared that
the said letters had been brought from parts beyond sea, and that the
Post-Master-Generall's fee for delivering the said letters was thirty-six
shillings and six-pence, whereupon the said Elizabeth Goodwin paid to the
said Cornelius Crouch and William Leader thirty-six shillings and sixpence of her master's money; Whereas the letters were false and spurious
and had not been brought from parts beyond sea, and were not marked with
the genuine mark of the Generall Post Office, and the two confederates,
Cornelius Crouch and William Leader were not Letter Carryers in the
service of the Post-Master-General. Each rogue confessed the indictment and was fined forty shillings. S. P. R., 4 Sept., 29 Charles II.
30 July, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields
co. Midd. on the said day, Thomas Walker late of the said parish
yeoman, a man diabolically affected towards our most serene Lord
Charles the Second, in the presence and hearing of divers of the said
king's lieges and subjects, spoke in a high voice these seditious and
scandalous words, to wit, "Hee hoped to see the Prince of Orange
King of England, and that the King (meaning our most serene Lord
Charles the Second &c.) should live no longer then hee being born
under one planet, and that if hee (meaning himself Thomas Walker)
were one of the States of Holland, hee would fight to the last drop of his
blood against all Kings." No clerical minute touching any subsequent
proceeding in the case. S. P. West. R., 1 Oct., 29 Charles II.
2 October, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Stepney co. Midd.
on the said day, James Buckle late of the said parish yeoman, assaulted
Hester Lambert and unlawfully conveyed her to a ship called The
Augustine, then lying in the river Thames, with the intention of transporting her in the said ship to a certain place beyond the sea, called Virginia,
without her consent and against her will, and selling her in Virginia to
the gain and profit of himself James Buckle. James Buckle put
himself 'Not Guilty' on a jury of the country. No clerical minute
touching any subsequent proceeding in the case. S. P. R., 4 Oct., 29
Charles II.
3 October, 29 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Richard
Downton J.P. on the said day, of Edward Furniss of Istleworth co. Midd.
carpenter, in the sum of forty pounds, and of Thomas Vincent of Istleworth shoemaker and John Cole of Twickenham shepherd, in the sum
of twenty pounds: For the appearance of the said Edward Furniss at
the next Session of the Peace for Middlesex, then and there "to answeare
the assaulting and beateing of George Beaste of East Bedfont constable,
who executed his office against the said Edward Furniss, for driveing of
sheep upon the Lordes day."—Also, similar Recognizances, taken on
the same day before the same Justice of the Peace: For the appearance
of John Smallbone of Twickenham husbandman at the same next Session
of the Peace for Middlesex, "to answeare the assaulting and beating of
George Beast of East Bedfont constable, who executed his office against
the said John Smallbone, for driveing of sheep on the Lordes day."
S. P. R., 4 Oct., 29 Charles II.
23 October, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, on the said day,
Eleanore Bonnett wife of William Bonnett late of St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. yeoman, a crafty woman intent on defrauding Alice
Challenor of St. Clement's Danes co. Midd. spinster, and cheating her
out of thirty yards of lace and two grey silke cornetts by color of a false
statement, falsely and fraudulently averred to a certain Dorothy Challenor,
servant of the aforesaid Alice Challenor, that a certain lady (quædam
domina anglice a Lady) was residing in a house called St. James's House,
situated in St. Martin's Fields, who wished to buy divers yards of lace
and two silk caps, and that if she the aforesaid Eleanore should carry
them to the Lady then living in the aforesaid house called St. James's
House, she would either restore to the said Dorothy the aforesaid thirty
yards of lace and two silk caps or pay her the money for them, whereupon Dorothy Challenor in reliance on Eleanore Bonnett's statement
delivered to her thirty yards of lace worth fourteen pounds and five
shillings, and two grey silke lace cornetts worth fifteen shillings, of the
goods and chattels of the aforesaid Alice Challenor, whereas there was
not any such Lady residing at St. James's House as the lady who had
been spoken of by Eleanore Bonnett, who thus by a falsehood got possession of the afore-described goods, which she has since converted to her
own use. Found 'Guilty' by a jury, Eleanor Bonnett was fined in the
sum of twenty-six shillings and eight-pence, which she forthwith paid to
the Sheriff in court. S. P. R., 10 Dec, 29 Charles II.
28 November, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, in the highway at St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields co. Midd. on the said day, Charles Fox late of the
said parish yeoman and his wife Anne Fox, alias Anne late of the said
parish spinster alias Anne Mooney late of the said parish spinster,
assaulted Ellen Farrell spinster, and then and there beat wounded and
maltreated her so that her life was despaired of, and then and there
unlawfully took in the aforesaid highway from the person of the said
Ellen Farrell forty shillings in numbered money, of the moneys of a
certain Margaret Murthough spinster. On 8 April, 1678, Charles Fox
and Anne Fox both pleaded 'Not Guilty,' and afterwards, to wit, on
14 May, 1678, they were both found 'Not Guilty' by a jury. S. P. R.,
10 Dec., 29 Charles II.
21 December, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Fryan Barnett co.
Midd. on the said day, William King, Henry Clayton and John
Sheppard, all three late of the said parish laborers, stole and carried off a
silver comb-box worth six pounds, two silver powder boxes worth four
pounds, "et duo ornamenta crin' pro capite muliebr' anglice vocat',
women's Tewers" worth six shillings, of the goods and chattels of a'
certain George Willoughby. At the bill's foot appears this note in the
handwriting of the draughtsman of the indictment, to wit, 'Roberia
super altam viam regiam in Com. Bucks' (sic). At the head of the bill
appears in another handwriting this clerical note over the name of
William King, to wit, 'Po se Cul ca nl' patet per evidenciam fore
Roberiam alta regia via apud Maidenhead Thickett in Com. Berks'
= "He puts himself: the jurors say that he is Guilty and has no
chattels for forfeiture: It appears from the evidence there was a
robbery on the King's highway at Maidenhead Thickett co. Berks.'
The same note appears on the face of the indictment over Henry
Clayton's name. Found 'Guilty,' William King and Henry Clayton
were sentenced to be hanged. No clerical note touching John Sheppard.
G. D. R., 16 Jan., 29 Charles II.
24 December, 29 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day and on divers other days between the
said 24th Dec. and the day of the taking of this inquisition, John White
late of the said parish butcher sold victuals, to wit, the dead bodies of
two sheep, in the King's high-way and then and there kept market (no
fair or open market being there at the said time).—Also, on the same
file, three True Bills against three other butchers of the same parish, to
wit, John Beasley, Roger Roofe, John Salter all three late of St. Martin'sin-the-Fields, for selling victuals and keeping market in the king's highway in the said parish, when there was no fair or open market there
No clerical minute touching subsequent proceedings in the case appears
on any one of the three bills. S. P. West. R., 3 April, 30 Charles II.