Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 



219 



willingly be provided for of victualls and lodginge, besides many travailers 

 especiallie, that make this villadge * a place of rest in their iourney, some 

 willingly, some many tymes against their wills, looseinge their way uppon the 

 Downes in winter and sometime in somer season too ; we doubt not uppon your 

 wise consideracon of these and such like causes, your worshipps will give your 

 allowance to some on man amongest us for vitlinge, to whom such as are destitute 

 and distressed may have their recourse. And for oure part we have found the 

 bearer Robert Fay a man of fittest aptnes & readines in suche busines ; We 

 know, and your wisedomes will not denie, but that in an house that must lay 

 open to every passenger, sometimes the best host may give entertainment to, 

 very badd guests: but our perswasion of this man is this, that these beinge 

 knowne either by report from others of sufficient credit or els by their owne 

 present disorder shall not be suffered longe to rest in his house. And soe longe 

 as he shall thus honestly cary himselfe for the comfort of the distressed and not 

 for the maintenance of pott companions and such like, we trust your worships 

 will give him your approbation and allowance. And soe we shall remaine 

 thankefull unto you, praying God for all your good." 



[Nineteen signatures. Those of George Hunt, minister, Rich. Dowse 

 gentleman, and Thomas Dowse, gentleman, and one other, are in their own 

 handwriting. The other fifteen signatures are the work of a single hand.'] 



At the Easter Sessions, 1608, the matter of licensing had 

 evidently become a burning question : — 



" The busines of y e alehouses is adiourned to be reserved upon the thursday 

 in the Whitson Weeke & for f only busines ye Sessions is so longe adiorned." 



[ Sign a ture of fo ur justices. ] 



«< The business of the alehouses is adiorned to be considered upon tuesday in 

 the Whitson weeke & for that only busines the Sessions is so longe adiorned." 



[Signature of ten justices.'] 



Communications on this subject from the Privy Council had 

 plunged the magistracy into perplexity on account not only of 

 inopportune promulgation, but of inherent discrepancies. As to 

 the inconvenient season at which the royal suggestions were com- 

 municated the magistrates thus deliver themselves : — 



11 For that his Ma ts Ires were no deliv'd before the daye of 



last since w ch tyme the country could not be warned 

 soe as the Highe Constables Churchwardens and Pety Constables might make a 

 p'sentm' according to the orders neyther the Alehouses warned to bring in there 



• The appearance of the applicant in person dispelled the unceitainty which characteii 

 testimonial, as to the name of the Tillage to be blest with this model victualling house. 



