210 



Longleat Papers, A.D. 1553 — 1588. 



Furthermore, for the government and safety 

 of Subject's persons, certain offences are made 

 felony by Statute which were not felony by 

 the common law : viz : 

 The detestable vice of Rape. Stat. Westm. 2. c. 34. 



Cutting forth of men's tongues, or putting out eyes, of malice pretensed* 

 5 Hen. iv., c. 5. 



If the jailer or under jailer by distres of person do cause his prisoners to 

 approve other,* 14 E. iii., c. 10. 



Also the letting escape of prisoners wilfully. 31 Edw. iii., c. 14* 



The Breaking of Prison, being in for felony. 1 Edw. ii. 



If any person use th' art of multiplying. f 5 Hen. iv., c. 4. 



If any person do practise invocations, conjurations of evil spirits to or for any 

 intent or purpose, or practising of witchcraft, enchantment, charm or sorcery, 

 whereby any person shall be kylled. 5 Eliz., c. 16. 



Taking of maid, wife or widow against their will or receiving wittingly a 

 woman so taken and knowing the same. 3 Hen. vi., c. 2. 



The persons that call themselves Egyptians, J if they wander in that sort 

 within this Realme by one month. 1 & 2, Ph. & M., c. 4. 



Fremasons that hold congregations and chapters of their companies. 3 Hen* 

 vi., c. 1. 



If a souldier in tyme of warr depart from his captain without license. 18 

 Hen. viii., c. ultimo. 



To bring, send, dely ver, receive or procure sheep, being alive, to be conveyed 

 out of the Q,uene's Dominions, The second offence therein is felony. 8 Eliz., 

 c. 3. 



Unlawfully to keep, or to conspire to keep from the Quene's Majestie her 

 castles or fortresses, or to destroy them having municion or garde, or to be 

 ayding to it, is felony. 14 Eliz. c. 1. 



Wilfull killing by poison is wilfull murder. 1 Edw. vi., c. 12. 



A Rogue being burnt in the ear and roguing again, and so become a Rogue in 

 the second degree convicted, if he offend the third tyme, it is felony. 14 Eliz., 

 o. 5. 18 Eliz., c. 3. 



Touching Goods. 



By the common lawes of this Realme, the taking away of any man's goods 

 with a felonious intent, to the value of xii d . is felony. And taking of small 

 sums under xij d at sundry times amounting to xij d . is felony. 



• " To approve other " means probably to charge others as guilty of the same felony. 



t Multiplying, i.e. the art of increasing the quantity of gold and siiver by transmutation of other 

 metals into gold or silver. This alludes to the idle and expensive attempts that used to be made for 

 finding out the Philosopher's Stone which was to work this wonderful ehange. 



% Egyptians. These were the Gypsies, said in our old histories and law books to have been a people 

 of Egypt who in A.D. 1517, refusing to submit to the Turkish yoke, were banished, and established 

 themselves in Europe, Bringing with them a knowledge of the occult sciences or the Black Art, as 

 it was called, they gained a number of idle proselytes who imitated their language and complexion 

 and betook themselves to the same practises of jugglery and vagabondism, so as to become trouble- 

 some. They were expelled from France in 1560, and from Spain in 1591. But in England the alarm 

 had been taken much earlier, for about 1530, several statutes were passed against them ; upon which 

 as Sir Matthew Hale informs us, no less than thirteen were executed, at one Suffolk Assizes, only a 

 lew years before the Restoration of K. Charles II. 



