By C. E. Long, Esq. 



205 



man of considerable position in his county, who died in 1574, and 

 was connected with Darell by his marriage with a Hungerford. 



[ Wm. Forster, Esq. to Sir James Croft, written 26 December, before 1574. 

 but the year not named. ,] 



" Right honorable in most humble wise, my comendations pmised. Under- 

 standing by Thomas Hewse servaunte to William Darrell, esquier, that youer 

 pleasuer is to be advertised of the dealinges that happined at Nubery the twen- 

 tithe of December against the saide William Darrell and John Whithed his 

 servaunte by one George Essex, gentleman, and Mr. Cater, towching a murther 

 that sholde be doon abowt three yeares past by the said John Whithed, nowe 

 servaunte to thafore named William Darrell, and at the time of the murther 

 doen servaunte to one George Darrell, gentleman, dwelling in Kentte. Maye 

 hit please yo r honor, the sixtinthe of December by vertue of comition owt of the 

 right honorable and highe courte of Staroke chamber, directed to S r Henry 

 JSTevell, * Mr. Anthony Bridgis,f Mr. Roger Younge,! and my selfe for the exami- 

 nations of causisse in controversie betwene the aforsaide William Darrell of the 

 one ptie, and Mr. Hide of Denchwoorth on thother ptie, upon interogatorisse 

 and Witnicisse of both ptes, produced after the most pte of those caucisse hardde 

 and the comitionerse in good hope the varience sholde be appeased beetweene 

 the ptise greeved, yet whilse we were sitting in examination, Mr. Essex and 

 Mr. Cater aforsaide desired to speake w th the comitionerse. Wheruppon verry 

 earnestly they did shewe unto us that thaforenamed, John Whithed, had com- 

 itted a murther and did disier that he might bee apprehended and putte to his 

 answeare : So hit was thought good by S r Henry Nevell and the rest of the 

 J ustices that the saide Whithed sholde be attached and brought beefore us to 

 answere to thatlawe, required by the bailye of the towne. Who after he had doon 

 his best to searche the ptie to be chardged, signified that he colde not finde him. 

 Wheruppon for the dischardge of the dewtise of the Justices aforsaide, hit was 

 thought good that Mr. Younge and my selfe sholde gooe to a house in the towne 

 where Mr. Darrell laye, to see what we might dooe for thapprehenmentte of the 

 ptie accused. And after ower comminge thether imparting to Mr. Darrell the 

 cause of ower comminge, presently he used such diligence as by his good 

 meandes the ptie accused was brought before us and putte under arest, at whiche 

 time and place thafore named George Essex and one Mr. Edmunde Essex his 

 brother did verry muohe misuse in woordes Mr. Darrell, who with greate 

 patience endured the same, and in thend Mr. Edmunde Essex served him -with a 

 writte called a supind, and so for that time we departed and signified to S r 

 Henrv Nevell ower dooings, and theruppon hit was thought good that Mr. 

 Essex and Mr. Cater sholde charge the prisoner in what they colde saye in the 

 princisse behalfe, and therfore Mr. Younge, Mr. Bridgisse, my selfe with many 

 others wentte backe againe to Mr. Darrell's lodginge, and called the prisoner 

 beefore Mr. Essex and Mr. Cater, both which gentlemen did arest thafore named 

 Whithed of the murtheringe of one Bloutte, wherwithall Mr. Cater stepping 

 forth, verily to my remembraunce, and if I sholde be deposed I thincke saffly 

 with my consience, I maye afferme saiinge these woordes I arrest Mr. Darrell 

 his M 1 . as accessarie to the same. Wheruppon hit was thought good that he 



• Sir H. NeTill of Oaksoy, died 1593. t Of Great Shefford, Berks. JProbably of Basilden, 

 Berks, died 1589. 



