Purton. A Case in the Star Chamber. 



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matters therin conteyned and mencioned sclaunderosely sett furth by the said 

 Pleyntyffes to the onlie entent and purpose to bring the said Defendaunt into 

 yvell report and to dymynishe and take aweie thestimacion and credite that 

 the 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 

 late parcell of the possessions and heredytamentes of the late Monasterie of 

 Maumbesburie 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 Keign [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 

 belonging with thappurtenaunces As in the said bill is alleagid by force 

 wherof the said Defendaunt is seised therof in his demeasne as of Fee Taile 

 that is to sey to him and to the heirs maales of his bodie begotten. And the 

 said Defendaunt furder saith that the xxixth daie of Januarie last past 

 [29th January, 1547-8] mencioned in the same bill of Compleynt by reason 

 of thappointment of the Kinges Majesties Visitors within the said Countie of 

 Wiltes one John Messenger being oue of the Wardens of the Parishe Churche 

 of Puryton aforsaid with diverse of his neybours repeired to the said Church 

 And ther pulled downe all Images and Idolls within the said Church according 

 to the commaundement in that behalf and as hit became true subiectes to 

 doo which after theie soo did they didd shutt and put all the same Images in 

 a corner of the Churche Appoynting them to be sold and the money therof 

 comming to be put into the poors mens box ther to such vsez as by the said 

 Visitors hit was appoynted And after the said Church Wardens and Parishoners 

 had soe doone they departyd And within three owers then folowing certeine of 

 the said parishe came to the howse of the said Defendaunt he being at diner 

 saing to him that one Browne and one Jaakes and other the seruauntes of 

 the said pleyntyffes had stollen (as they thought) the Image of Seint George 

 owzt of the Church of Puryton aforsaid desiering his ayde therin. Whervpon 

 the said Defendaunt after dyner went to the mancion howse of- the said 

 Pleyntyfes And ther in the court being desierid to speke with the said Browne 

 and other the seruauntes of the said pleyntyffes And also did sent for the 

 said Jaakes being a dweller in the said Towne of Puryton and reteynour to 

 the said Pleyntyffs and other the seruauntes of the said Pleyntyffes whoo 

 came to the said Defendaunt and vpon examynacyon confessid the taking of 

 the seid Image and that they had sett him vp in the'house in such like soort as 

 the same stode in the Church Whervpon the said Defendaunt appoynted 

 the same Browne and Jaakes to carie ageine the same Image to church who 



