








































Purton. A Case in the Star Chamber. 151 
matters therin conteyned and mencioned sclaunderosely sett furth by the said 
e ee tyiee to the onlie entent and purpose to bring the said Defendaunt into 
yvell report and to dymynishe and take aweie thestimacion and credite that 
th e saide Defendaunt now ys with all the Kinges subiectes And for no iust 
purpose nor cawse Neverthelesse thadvauntage of the insufficencie of the 
same bill of Compleynt to the Defendaunt at all tymes savid For furder 
awnswer saith that trew it is that the late King of famose memorie Henrie’ 
the Eigth father to our most dredd soveraine Lord King Edward the sixte 
being by good and iust title seasid in his demeasne as of fee of and in the 
manor and lordship of Puryton in the said bill of Compleynt specyfied with 
the landes tenementes and hereditamentes to the same manor belonging 
parcell of the possessions and heredytamentes of the late Monasterie of 
mbesburie in the County of Wiltes mencioned in the said bill of compleynt 
And that the same late King so being seised of the said manor with all the 
landes and tenementes to the same belonging by his most gracious letters 
patentes vnder the greate seale Dated the xiiijth day of Maij in the xxxvjth 
yere of his most noble Reign [14th May, 1544] emongest other manors landes 
and tenementes in the same letters patentes conteynid gave and graunted to 
the same defendaunt and to the heirs maales of his bodie begotten the said 
manor of Puryton with the landes tenementes and hereditaments to the same 
onging with thappurtenaunces As in the said bill is alleagid byforce 
erof the said Defendaunt is seised therof in his demeasne as of Fee Taile 
is to sey to him and to the heirs maales of his bodie begotten. And the 
d Defendaunt furder saith that the xxixth daie of Januarie last past 
hh January, 1547-8] mencioned in the same bill of Compleynt by reason 
appointment of the Kinges Majesties Visitors within the said Countie of 
es one John Messenger being oue of the Wardens of the Parishe Churche 
f Puryton aforsaid with diverse of his neybours repeired to the said Church 
id ther pulled downe all Images and Idolls within the said Church according 
the commaundement in that behalf and as hit became true subiectes to 
0 which after theie soo did they didd shutt and put all the same Images in 
corner of the Churche Appoynting them to be sold and the money therof 
ming to be put into the poors mens box ther to such vsez as by the said 
tors hit was appoynted And after the said Church Wardens and Parishoners 
soe doone they departyd And within three owers then folowing certeine of 
said parishe came to the howse of the said Defendaunt he being at diner 
to him that one Browne and one Jaakes and other the seruauntes of 
id pleyntyffes had stollen (as they thought) the Image of Seint George 
zt of the Church of Puryton aforsaid desiering his ayde therin. Whervpon 
ie said Defendaunt after dyner went to the mancion howse of the said 
leyntyfes And ther in the court being desierid to speke with the said Browne 
1 other the seruauntes of the said pleyntyffes And also did sent for the 
akes being a dweller in the said Towne of Puryton and reteynour to 
Pleyntyffs and other the seruauntes of the said Pleyntyffes whoo 
e to the said Defendaunt and vpon examynacyon confessid the taking of 
sei d Image and that they had sett him vp in the house in such like soort as 
) Same stode in the Church Whervpon the said Defendaunt appoynted 
4 Besine Browne and Jaakes to carie ageine the same Image to church who 
