38 Extracts from the Records. 



Michaelmas, 1609:— 



"To the Kinges Mat'" Justices of the Peace in their p'sent Sessions at 

 Marleborongh. 



In most humble manev sheweth and complaineth unto yo'' Worshippes Will™ 

 Kenne and Andrewe Weston late constables of the Towne of Ramsburie that 

 whereas wee the said constables accordinge to our office upon the fifteenth day 

 of September last past about tenne of the clocke in the night visiting the alehouses 

 of the saide towne and comming to the house of John Emmettes there wee found 

 one Daniel Porter of Marleborough coming forth in the entry of the said bowse 

 as wee were going in : and wee asking of him Who is there ? he answered, A 

 drunken man, counterfaiting his speech. Whereupon wee laid handes on him, 

 and examined him concerning his late being in that place, in that unseasonable 

 time of the night. And in the ende wee willing him to repaii-e to his lodging, 

 he demaunded of us whether we hadd any lodging for him : who told him, that 

 excepte bee repaired the sooner to his lodging, wee would provide lodging for 

 him. And so bee went out ymmediately to the house of Edward Rickettes, who 

 also sold ale all the day before, it being the f aire day . Whither we followed 

 him, and demaunded of him whether he would lodge there, and then Edward 

 Eickettes told us he should lodge there with him. Then we commaunded him to 

 bed : but he would not, but abused us with manie opprobrious termes. And 

 after that Edward Rickettes had given his worde unto us that bee should trouble 

 us no more that night, we de'pted toward the Inne And as we were in the streete 

 standing there, forthe he came after us and p'ceaving that wee stoode there, he 

 came very neere unto us [then Daniel Porter behaved in speech and manner in a 

 distressingly disrespectful manner and concluded his remarks with something 

 about] .... twoo constables and twoo fooles And so went in and boasted 

 thereof to the companie there who laughed and rejoiced at it. And then came 

 forth one W" Ricketts swearing and crying pettitt treason .... All which 

 p'mises we refeerre to yo' worshippes .... and so much the rather because 

 he threatened in a revenging maner to meete w*'' us when we were out of our 

 office." 



The next complaint is against a peace officer, and that not for 

 interference with other men's chattels, but for a disregard of his 

 own. 



Michaelmas, 1608. Hundred of Elstub and Everley. Present- 

 ment of jury : — 



" It we p'sent Henrie Wats of Pewsie Inkeper for letting some of his gesse 

 goe being tithingman and had stollen one of his own pegges [i.e., had one of his 

 pigs stolen] the xxiij day of August last past to the value of xvj or xviij pence 

 and yet had warning by some of his neibors and yet he would never pursue after 

 them." 



(To he Continued.) 



