78 
Some Western Circuit Assize Records 
It will be remembered that under the feudal law heiresses came of 
age and could marry on attaining fourteen years. 
WILTES. 
Richard 
Assizes New Sarum March 13 26 Car. II. 
Whereas Robert Maundrell of Compton Cumberwell in this’ 
Raynsford & County Gent was at the last Assizes held at the Cittie of New 
William 
Swanston 
Esqs. 
Sarum in and for this County indicted for the unlawfull taking 
away of one Johannz Mortimore about the age of twelve years in 
the highway shee being a person of a very considerable ffortune 
against the goodwill and consent of her the said Johanna Mortimore 
w said Indictment att this present Assizes came to bee tryed 
This Cort on Ex ,,.aination of Witnesses to prove the said Indictment 
and hear Counsell on both sides concerning the premisses after a 
long debate by consent of Parties on either side doth order that 
the said Robert Maundrell shall presently enter into a recognizance: 
of eight hundred pounds with this condition followeing, That the 
said Robert Maundrell shall and doe bring Johanna Mortimore 
before Thomas Bennett,Thomas Chamberlayne,and Jeffery Daniells 
Esquires Justices of the peace of this County on Wednesday in 
Easter weeke att the signe of the Bear in Marlborough or att anie 
other tyme as they the said Justices shall appointe and not en- 
deavour to marry or permit her to bee married in the meane tyme 
before whome she shall or may freely declare wth. whome and 
where (she) shall continue untill shee attaine the age of ffourteen 
years and that shee shall or may dispose of herself accordingly 
without the interruption or hindrance of him the said Robert 
Maundrell or by his meanes or Procurement, And further doe 
and shall stand to and abide such order for or concerning the 
charges the said Robert Maundrell hath beene att concerning the 
maintenance of her the said Johanna Mortimore as by the said 
Justices of the peace shall be then and there made weh. accordingly 
hee hath donne. And what charges hee the said Robert Maundrell 
shall make appeare to the said Justices that he hath really dis- 
bursed for and towards the maintenance schooling and education 
and other necessary conveniences of and for the said Johanna 
Mortimore they the said Justices are to allow him the said Robert 
Maundrell in such order as they the said Justices pursuant to the 
said Recognizance shall make and settle to be paid in such manner, 
and forme as they shall direct andappointe. And they are hereby 
desired to [report to] this Cort att the next Assizes what they have 
donne in and about the Premisses.” 
There may be, perhaps, some romance about the custody of the 
fair Johanna, as she was “ taken ” in the highway. Eight hundred 
pounds was a large sum for bail in those days. 
The next is a sentence to death for poisoning. A similar burning’ 
