A DERBYSHIRE BRAWL IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. 79 



William were riding friendlily together from the town of Chester- 

 field to the town of Holme, when a quarrel arose between them, 

 and some opprobrious words passed, and the said Robert 

 wishing to put an end to the quarrel said to the said William : 

 ' Friend, you well know that we are kinsmen, and called honest 

 men, and therefore it is disgraceful for us to fight, and for the 

 whole country to hear us quarrel.' On which the said William 

 got off his horse, drew his sword, and struck the said Robert 

 on the back part of his head, and would have killed him but 

 for a large red handkerchief which was tyed several times 

 round his head ; and the said Robert being in fear of death 

 retreated to a hedge, and when he could get no further, in 

 order to save his life, he drew his sword to defend himself, 

 and struck the said William on the head, of which wound he 

 languished without speaking till the second day, and then died 

 " The jury found the said Robert Not Guilty of the death of 

 the said William, but said upon their oaths that one Peter 

 Swordman, of Brecknock, in Wales, labourer at Holme afore- 

 said, the day and year aforesaid the said William feloniously 

 did kill. 



" Thereupon the said Robert was thereof quit, and the said 

 Peter Swordman taken. 



" Names of the jury between the 

 King and the said Robert Eyre. 



" Henry Langford, of Chesterfield, Esq. ; 



" Roger Wolley, of Derby ; 



" John Stokkeley, of Derby ; 



" William Bate, of Sallowe ; 



" John Elton, of Ashbourne ; 



" William Orme, of Derby ; 



" John Tytchet, of Chesterfield ; 



" Thomas Calcroft, of Chesterfield ; 



" John Taillour, of Chesterfield ; 



" John Carre, of Chesterfield ; 



" John Forthe, of Calbrook ; 



" John Halok, of Calbrook ; 



" John Coteler, of Chesterfield ; 



