78 



Some Western Circuit Assize Records 



It will be remembered that under the feudal law heiresses came of 

 age and could marry on attaining fourteen years. 



Wiltes. Assizes New Sarum March 13 26 Car. II. 



Richard Whereas Robert Maundrell of Compton Cumberwell in this 

 Raynsford & County Gent was at the last Assizes held at the Cittie of New 

 William Sarum in and for this County indicted for the unlawfull taking 

 Swanston away of one Johanna Mortimore about the age of twelve years in 

 Esqs. the highway shee being a person of a very considerable ffortune 

 against the goodwill and consent of her the said Johanna Mortimore 

 w ch said Indictment att this present Assizes came to bee tryed 

 This Cort on Examination of Witnesses to prove the said Indictment 

 and hear Counsell on both sides concerning the premisses after a 

 long debate by consent of Parties on either side doth order that 

 the said Robert Maundrell shall presently enter into a recognizance 

 of eight hundred pounds with this condition followeing, That the 

 said Robert Maundrell shall and doe bring Johanna Mortimore 

 before Thomas Bennett, Thomas Chamberlayne.and Jeffery Daniells 

 Esquires Justices of the peace of this County on Wednesday in 

 Easter weeke att the signe of the Bear in Marlborough or att anie 

 other tyme as they the said Justices shall appointe and not en- 

 deavour to marry or permit her to bee married in the meane tyme 

 before whome she shall or may freely declare wth. whome and 

 where (she) shall continue untill shee attaine the age of ffourteen 

 years and that shee shall or may dispose of herself accordingly 

 without the interruption or hindrance of him the said Robert 

 Maundrell or by his meanes or Procurement, And further doe 

 and shall stand to and abide such order for or concerning the 

 charges the said Robert Maundrell hath beene att concerning the 

 maintenance of her the said Johanna Mortimore as by the said 

 Justices of the peace shall be then and there made wch. accordingly 

 hee hath donne. And what charges hee the said Robert Maundrell 

 shall make appeare to the said Justices that he hath really dis- 

 bursed for and towards the maintenance schooling and education, 

 and other necessary conveniences of and for the said Johanna 

 Mortimore they the said Justices are to allow him the said Robert 

 Maundrell in such order as they the said Justices pursuant to the 

 said Recognizance shall make and settle to be paid in such manner 

 and forme as they shall direct and appointe. And they are hereby 

 desired to [report to] this Cort att the next Assizes what they have 

 donne in and about the Premisses." 



There may be, perhaps, some romance about the custody of the 

 fair Johanna, as she was " taken " in the highway. Eight hundred 

 pounds was a large sum for bail in those days. 



The next is a sentence to death for poisoning. A similar burning 



