Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 35 



It is not easy to determine whether the wrath of William Darling, 

 presented at the Michaelmas Sessions, 1604, was directed principally 

 against Sir Henry Poole, who had signed a warrant for service ou 

 htm, or against William Sherborne, the Tithingman of Ashley, who 

 attempted to execute it. What Darling did was to repair to 

 Sherborne's house " in a rioutous manne' at x of the clocke in the 

 night," and there shout : — 



" Come forthe Sherborne and serve me with Poole's warrant .... further 

 saienge Come forthe I say Will Sherburne and serve me I saie yf thou darest wtn 

 Pooler's warrante and I will goo wt^ thee and spitt in his face and yf he comitt 

 me I will have better men then Poole to fetche mee forthe againe. w^li manie 

 other opprobrious speeches." 



In the adventure next narrated Sir John Dauntsey shares with 

 the Mayor of Devizes the tipsy vituperations of a party of pothouse 

 swaggerers. 



Hilary, 1604-5 :— 



" The usage and behavio' of Nicholas Provender, William Maslyn, and Thomas 

 Parre taken and comitted to warde for breakinge the Peace w'hin the Borough 

 of Devizes one Thursdaye the xitli of October 1604. 



"Edward Brockwell and .... a dier being going to dinner in the 

 house of Giles Ruddall one of the s'geants of themace of the saide Boroughe, 

 came in to the roome where they were the fores'^ ptyes, and having as it seemed 

 well dronke before, began to thrust themselves into the company of Brockwell 

 and White saying they were gentlemen and woulde drink wtn them, whoe 

 replying said they were poore neighbo" to S^ John Dauntesey and dwelt at 

 Lavington. To whome Maslyn and his company saide (namely Maslyn) that he 

 was as good a gentleman as S"- John Dauntesey was, whereat Brockwell somewhat 

 moved, rose up and took him by the shoulder, and thrust him out of the roome 

 where they were sat to Dinner. 



" Shortly after they all being in the street Maslyn and his company came to 

 the Lyon and then called for drinck, but the goodman of the house shutt the 

 doore against them and denyed to let them have any at wel* they were very angry 

 and sware they would have drinke. 



"Ymediately after, the saide p^sons and Brockwell and White also being 

 together drew their weapons and assaulting eche other, the S-'geant and Bayliffe 

 of the Towne came to appease them, but Provender Maslyn and Farre refusinge 

 to be appeased or deliver their weapons contynued in great outrage, to the dis- 

 turbance of the whole people thereabout. 



" Provender sware that he would have the blood of him that shoulde meddle 

 yj^ his weapon. 

 "Maslyn used theis words to the S'geant when he came unto them to helpe 



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