140 



"Justice in Warminster in the Olden Time" 



which prohibited such erections. These are for Wilts. Dorset is 

 lax in Church-going, and Queen Elizabeth's fine — Is. for each 

 offence — must be carefully levied. There is a great name from 

 Warminster at this time, Edward Cromwell (no relation, I expect, of 

 the Protector), in gaol for killing Robert Long, of Warminster. 

 As there is no prosecution against him, " let Dr. Chafyn inquire and 

 bail him to next assize if he see cause." Warminster inhabitants 

 much troubled about their highways. 1639, presented both at 

 sessions and assizes. Some of the dwellers, who had been at charges 

 and paid, pray that the expense may not light altogether on them; let 

 the recusants contribute. 1640, the Judges " take it ill n that War- 

 minster has so slighted their orders about the roads ; order for general 

 rate, and warrants for the disobedient. But the difficulty was not 

 readily settled, for nearly seventeen years later — 1657 — Chief Justice 

 Glynn refers the raising and payment of this rate to two justices, 

 Messrs. Watchell and Redout, as the overseers (Messrs. Thomas 

 Butcher, Will. Chaundler, Christ. Willoughby, and Humfry Buckler) 

 cannot get their money ; they have paid it out of their own purses ; 

 yes, the workmen and the ploughs to repair. 1 



There are orders which show that which I can find no allusion to 

 in any history, viz., the prevalence of the plague at Fisherton Anger, 

 Salisbury, in 1646. At the summer assize of that year there was 



1 The original petition of the overseers is as follows : — " That being chosen 

 overseers for the amendment of the highwayes within in the parish aforesaid did 

 according to the late ordinance receive a rate from the said parish confirmed and 

 allowed by the Justices of this county for the repaire of the highwayes aforesaid 

 whereupon they employed ploughes and workemen to doe the said service many 

 persons w ch yor petitioners paid out of their purses expectinge to receive againe 

 from the parties w ch promised to pay the same But since the settinge of the 

 Parleyam* they have refused to pay what they promised expectinge to be freed 

 from the same because that the ordinance for the amendment of the highwayes 

 was not putt into an act." There may be a doubt whether "ploughs" indicates 

 teams of horses. But there is no mention of stone or other material. Wiltshire 

 folk then travelled on horseback, ladies on pillions. Carriages rare. The grass 

 roads, where furrowed by carts or waggons, could be turned in by the plough ; but 

 there would be stone used in the streets of towns, and thus ploughs here may 

 have the prior meaning. Note here, too, the ordinance of His Highness compared 

 with the Act of Parliament. 



