Glamorgan Calendar Rolls and Gaol Files: 1595-1702

Kalendar. 37 Eliz. 1595. Part 1.

Coroner's Inquest found that Llewelyn Dauid was murdered by Rise Wastell, of Cardiff, baker. (Pardoned).

39 Eliz. 1597. Part 1.

Twelve prisoners died in Cardiff gaol. The Coroner's Inquest returned a verdict of death "by the visitation of God."

Ib. Part 2.

Twenty-one prisoners died. Verdict as before.

40 Eliz. 1598. Part 1.

Fourteen prisoners died; one of them was James Turbervill of Newton Nottage, gentleman, committed for recusancy.

Presentments.

Thomas Moote, of Cardyff, for suffering butter to be transported out of England.

John Tanner and others, "for transportynge butter unto forreyn countryes.

"Griffin ap Ieuan de Cardyff Taylor for engrossynge butter.

"Joh'es Jeuan de Cardyff for vsynge vnlawfull weights & regratyng com[m]odyties.

"Jevan Rithergh de Cardyff for kepyng ill rule in his house.

Lodovicus Jeuan de Cardyff for keping an Alehouse & not being free.

Will'us myrick de Cardyff for kepyng of a leman."

Ib. Part 2.

Four prisoners died in Cardiff gaol; one of them was Lewis Turbervill of Llysfronydd, gentleman, committed for recusancy. (The County Gaol at this time was crowded with Catholics.)

Presentments.

The inhabitants of Cardyff, for nuisance of the river Taff.

Robert Adams and John ffrowen, of Cardyff, for suffering nuisances in Cardyff &c., they being the Bailiffs thereof.

41 Eliz. 1599. Part 2.

Elizabeth Squyer, of Castel cogh, spinster, was convicted of felony.

42 Eliz. 1600. Part 1

Morgan Richard, otherwise Sprygyn, of Llanyssen, yeoman, was indicted for being a trespasser and common barettor.

The inhabitants of Llandaff were presented for the bridge on the river Taff and for the bridge on the river Ely.

43 Eliz. 1601. Part 1.

Rice David and other Cardiff shoemakers were indicted for trespass and assault.

Gaol File. No. 12. 44 Eliz. 1602.

William Wastell was presented for assaulting Ann David at Cardiff on 29 April.

John David, Katherine his wife and Ann their daughter were presented for that they on 4 April did unlawfully enter and take possession of the shop of Charles Riccards at Cardiff. (Forcible entry. Writ of restitution.)

"The names of the Recusants within the County of Glamorgan and diocese of Landaphe before the Ordinarie &c." (presented for not attending church.)

The list contains 19 names of Catholics of both sexes, from Saint Bride's Major, Colwinston, Penllyn, Newcastle, Llysfronydd, Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Newton Nottage, Margam and Tythegston. Among them are several members of the Turbervill family; two of whom, however, had previously died in gaol, as above recorded.

Maurice David, of Cardiff, sadler, pleaded guilty to a charge of murdering Lewis Edmond, of Cardiff, by stabbing him with a rapier, at "the green betwene the two briges."

No. 15. 2 Jac. I. 1605.

Hugh Lewis and Margaret Williams were indicted for stealing a sheet from around the dead body of Thomas ap Morgan who was buried in Neath church.

Inquisition on a view of the body of one Moses Morgan. The Jurors say that Morgan Dirick, of Cardiff, yeoman, by chance touched the cock of a certain fowling-piece, at Cardiff, of the price of 5s., upon the breast of one David Morgan, being in the house of one Anthony Ockwell, loaded with powder and leaden bullets, by force of which contact the fowling-piece aforesaid discharged itself and accidentally pierced and wounded the left thigh of the aforesaid Moses Morgan; by reason of which perforation and wound the aforesaid Moses Morgan died. (Verdict of death by misadventure.)

No. 16. 2 Jac. I. 1605.

Thomas Davys committed by Thomas Mansell on suspicion of felony.

In two cases the indictment is marked by the Clerk:—"Pleads not guilty; asks for a book, and does not read. A pauper."

Jasper Williams, committed by the bailiffs of Cardiff for felony, pleads not guilty; asks for a book, and reads like a clerk.

No. 20. 11 Jac I. 1614.

Thomas Davyes, of Cardiff, yeoman, was presented for assaulting and wounding John ffruen, one of the Constables of Cardiff, in the execution of his said office.

Pentyrch. Coroner's Inquest, on a view of the body of Margaret Williams, late of Pentyrch, widow, found that Jenkin Roberts, of Llantwit Vaerdre, yeoman, and Morgan Jenkin, of Eley, yeoman, brake the neck of the said deceased with their hands.

John Tanner and Rice Roberts, Bailiffs of Cardiff, Coroners, and their Jury, found that Richard Williams, of Cardiff, labourer, fell off his horse into the river Taff and was accidentally drowned.

Elisha Rossiter, of Cardiff, sailor, with another man and twelve women, were drowned in the river Taff at Cardiff, by the capsizing of a boat.

Tamosine Wastell, wife of William Wastell, of Cardiff, yeoman, was charged with stealing certain corn called rye, the property of Thomas Warden, of Bristol, merchant. John Wastell, of Gelligaer, bailed her. The rye was taken by her and others from Warden's storehouse at Cardiff.

No. 21. 12 Jac. I. 1615.

Lewis Howell was indicted for that he, at Cardiff, by force and arms did shear a certain sheep belonging to Cradock Sherrey and appropriate the wool.

Henry Edwards of Rothe, gentleman, was indicted by the Cardiff Borough Jury for that he, on the 27th day of August in the 12th year of the reign of King James the First, did grievously assault Rice Roberts, one of the Bailiffs of Cardiff. Rice Roberts and David Lloyd, Bailiffs of Cardiff, sign the Jury's Presentment of the offender.

The Jury present that Edward Collines, of Cardiff, cordiner, having, by a Writ unto him directed by Bailiff Rice Roberts, attached the body of George Morgan, of Cardiff, mercer, to find a sufficient bail that he would present himself in person before the Bailiffs to answer for certain offences by him committed against our Lord the King and his whole people, and especially against John Roberts, junior, of Cardiff aforesaid; the said George Morgan, not regarding that warrant and command, by force and arms at Cardiff aforesaid did assault and ill entreat the said Edward Collins, being in the King's peace; and the said George Morgan did then and there escape, to the evil example of others the King's lieges and contrary to the statutes in that case made and provided.

The same Jury present that, whereas Edward Collins, of Cardiff, serjeant at mace for the aforesaid town, by virtue of a certain warrant unto him directed at the Guild Hall of Cardiff by the Bailiffs of the same town, for collecting a certain sum of money from the inhabitants of the said town, by virtue of which warrant the said Edward Collins took unto his custody a certain felt of the goods and chattels of one John Chambers, of Cardiff; whereupon the said John Chambers assaulted the said Edward Collins, and took out of his custody the aforesaid property. (At foot is written in Latin:—"Reversed by the Court, for insufficient indictment." The insufficiency doubtless lay in the false composition of the document, which will have struck the reader.)

N.B.—This bundle of parchments is in very bad condition, and the writing almost illegible.

Bundle 21. No. 1. 13 Jac. I. 1616.

Nicholas Spencer of Cardiff, gentleman, having been committed to the Cardiff gaol for recusancy, died there 2 December 1615.

(Those claiming benefit of clergy have now to sign their names in writing, as well as read.)

Bundle 21. No. 2. 14 Jac. 1. 1617.

Chistopher Hawkins, of Fairwater, yeoman, was indicted for assaulting Lewis John in the exercise of his office of Constable of Fairwater.

Glamorgan to wit. The Jury for our Lord the King upon their oath present that William Prichard, formerly of the town of Cardiff in the county aforesaid, labourer, on the sixth day of November in the fifteenth year of the reign of our said Lord James, by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c., and of Scotland the fifty-first, was and continually thereafter and hitherto is a common barettor and a constant and public disturber of the peace of our said Lord the King, as also a common and troublesome slanderer and a consorter with prize-fighters and a sower of strifes between his neighbours; insomuch that he hath begun, procured and excited divers strifes and quarrels, brawls and fights then, there and elsewhere in the said county of Glamorgan, between divers our said Lord the King's liege subjects, to the great trouble of our said Lord the King's people, and against the form of divers Statutes and the order of this his realm of England in like case published and provided, and against the peace of our said Lord the now King, his crown and dignity.

John Powell, clerk, pros:

"True Bill. Let Summons issue."

Twenty-three persons were prosecuted by the Crown for recusancy, including a Turberville of Sker.

John Watkin, riding one evening from Cardiff to Cefn Mably in the parish of Llanfedw, on a horse of Mr. David Kemeys, rode into the river Rhmney at Llanfedw and was drowned; as also was Mr. David Kemeys, at the same time. (Inquests at Cardiff.)

Miles Edwards was this year in the County Gaol, committed on a charge of clipping coin. He was condemned to death, but reprieved.

John Thomas, condemned for escape, and reprieved.

Rice Edwards, indicted and outlawed for divers felonies.

John Philips, committed for feloniously stealing a cow. Being convicted, he asked for a book, but could not read. Was sentenced to be hanged.

The like in the cases of John ap Owen, for manslaughter, and David John for burglary.

Elizabeth Gunter, committed for theft, pleaded guilty to the value of 10d. Sentenced to be flogged.

John ap Jevan, of Cardiff, to be flogged for stealing a ewe.

Bundle 21. No. 3. 16 Jac. I. 1619.

Nicholas Jenkins, of Cardiff, labourer, by command of Robert Heyman, his master, had taken three geldings (belonging to Watkin Reece) to the common pinfold of Cardiff, because they had been feeding on the grass of the said Robert Heyman. Thomas David, labourer, and John Watkins, labourer, both of Cardiff, assaulted the said Nicholas Jenkins in a house at Cardiff. (On 9 August, Watkin Reece assaulted Robert Heyman at Cardiff, and was therefor indicted.)

George Brodley, sailor, was summoned for unlawfully selling beer in a tavern at Penarth.

Walter Mathew, Thomas Mathew, James Mathew, Morgan Mathew, of Caerau, gentlemen; John ap John, of the same place, yeoman; Mathew James Robin of Caerau, gentleman; and William Llewelyn, of Caerau, yeoman, on 29 August at St. Nicholas, riotously assembled and made affray, and assaulted Roger Williams, Nicholas Jones, Elizabeth Basset otherwise Williams, William John, Philip Thomas, Eleanor Williams, Cycill Hawkins, John ap John, and Nicholas Jones.

Two men were charged with stealing a salmon and a codfish, of the value of 3d. each, from the butt of Hugh Fettiplace at Llandaff.

John David, of Tythegston, was indicted "for cutting or gelding the privie members of John W^m a chield of abouts x^en yeere oulde."

Bundle 21. No. 4. 19 Jac. I. 1622.

Twenty-seven persons of both sexes were prosecuted for recusancy. They belonged to Newton Nottage, Cadoxton-juxtaNeath, Colwinston, Ewenny, Margam, Pyle and Kenfig, Gellygaer, Eglwysilan, Llanfabon and Llanblethian. The list is headed by the names of Mathew Turbervile of Newton Nottage, gentleman, and Alice Turbervile, of the same place, spinster. (The Turbervilles of Sker were staunch Catholics, and one or other member of the family was almost continually in prison for his religion during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.)

Bundle 21. No. 5. 22 Jac. I. & 1 Car. I. 1625.

In 22 Jac. I. there were nine Inquests, with verdict "by the visitation of God," on the bodies of persons who died through disease at Cardiff; two of these were deaths in the gaol. (The gaols at this time were loathsome hotbeds of fever, and imprisonment for any considerable length of time practically meant death. Contagion sometimes spread from the prisoner's dock to the Judge on the bench.)

The Cardiff Grand Jury presented that Thomas William, of Colwinston, yeoman, uttered these treasonable and seditious Welsh words, namely: Mae dy vrenyn yn drewy ger bron Duw yn y bechod val ddoyt tithe William hoell; (fn. 1) in English, "Thy king doth stincke before God in his sin as thou dost, William Howell." (22 Jac. I.)

N.B.—Indictments for libellous, slanderous and treasonable writing or speech are almost the only class of public records which furnishes specimens of the Welsh language. It was necessary to set forth the precise words complained of, hence the employment of the vernacular in these documents; which thus possess a peculiar value for students of Welsh, and all the more so because the Welsh they contain is often remarkable for interesting dialectic forms.

Arnold Thomas, of Cardiff, tailor, in endeavouring to ford the Taff on horse-back, was thrown into the water and drowned. (1 Car. I.)

John Crabb, of Pentyrch, was drowned in crossing the Taff.

Bundle 21. No. 7. 4 Car. I. 1629.

Forty-eight persons were presented for recusancy, at Bettws, Margam, Eglwysilan, Llysfronydd, Llanishen (Margaret Thomas), Newton Nottage (three Turbervilles), Tythegston, Pyle (sixteen Turbervilles and Begans), St. Mary's-juxta-Cowbridge, Whitchurch (Miles David, yeoman, and Katherine Thomas, widow), Cadoxtonjuxta-Neath, Llanblethian and Colwinston.

Bundle 21. No. 8. 11 Car. I. 1636.

Forty-six persons were summoned for recusancy. Besides the places last above mentioned, the following now presented Catholic parishioners for this offence: Llanedern (William Morgan James), Tilston, Llangeinor, Sker (6 Turbervilles), and Llancarfan.

Bundle 21. No. 9. 17 Car I. 1642.

The Royal Court of the Most Noble Philip, Earl of Pembrocke and Mountgomery, Lord of the aforesaid Town, held in the Guildhall of the same Town on the thirtieth day of December in the seventeenth year of the reign of our Lord Charles, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith and soforth, before Nicholas Wastell and Miles Morgan, Esquires, Bailiffs of the Town aforesaid, according to the custom of the said Town.

To this Court cometh Morgan Gwyn and complaineth against Griffin Oliver, of the Town of Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan, "worsteedcomber," in a Plea of Debt upon demand of 20s., and findeth pleaders for the present plaint in the plea aforesaid, to wit John Doe and Richard Roe; and craveth process therein to be made for himself against the aforesaid Griffin Oliver. And hereupon, according to the custom of the aforesaid Town, there from a time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary used and approved in the same, it is a precept unto Richard Archer, one of the Serjeants at Mace in the aforesaid Town and a minister of this Court, that &c. &c. (a suit for debt in the Town Court, with fictitious forms of procedure.) Aaron Price, clerk there.

Bundle 21. No. 20. 13 Car. II. 1661. English.

Glam' ss. The Presentm^t of the Second Inquest at the Great Sessions held at Cardiffe in the s'd Com' the twentie ninth day of Aprill in the thirteenth yeere of his Ma'ties Raigne 1661.

The s'd Inquest upon their Oath say and Present:—

3. That the Persons hereinafter named, that is to say [here follow the names of 18 Catholics, in the parishes of Cadoxton-juxtaNeath, Llanharry, Llanharan and Llancarfan] Haue absented themselues from their respectiue p'ish churches or chappells to heare diuine seruice & p'forme their duties there vpon Sundayes & other holy dayes for the space of these three moneths last past contrary to the Lawes & statutes in that case made and p'uided.

(Among the recusants at Cadoxton-juxta-Neath is Watkin Richard, harper. Even widows and labourers are included in the list, together with Mathew Gibbon and Hugh Jones, both of Llancarfan, gentlemen. The others are yeomen. This document, the Grand Jury Presentment for the County, is the only one for this year, and consists of one skin of parchment.)

King Charles II. and his Court were by no means ill-disposed towards the Catholics; but when money had to be raised to pay for his public and private extravagances, the "Merry Monarch" was always willing to propitiate the Puritans by a fresh persecution of the unfortunate "Papist Recusants." The next Bundle will furnish us with some melancholy memorials of the bogus "Popish Plot" invented by Titus Oates, when Protestant England went mad with terror over imaginary conspiracies and shed the blood of the hated Catholics like water. Bundle 21, No. 17, consists almost entirely of the documents in connection with the trial of two Catholic priests, Father Philip Evans, a Jesuit, and Mr. John Lloyd, a secular, both Welshmen. For an account of their origin, adventures, trial and heroic deaths the reader is referred to the "Oates Plot" volume of Brother Foley's "Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus." These two priests were executed as traitors at Cardiff, 22 July 1679, the mode of execution being as follows: First they were dragged on hurdles to the gallows. Then they were hanged for a few moments. Before they were dead they were cut down, disembowelled alive, and dismembered. Although these men underwent the terrible punishment of high treason, it is important to learn, from the Indictments, that what they were charged with was simply that they, being Catholic priests, "came, were and remained" in this country, against the form of the statute. The simple addition of the word proditorie, "treasonably," made the priests traitors. No attempt was made, at their trial, to convict them of actual treason, their "proditio" was purely constructive and technical.

Bundle 21. No. 17. 30 Car. II. 1679.

[Two Indictments combined.]

Glamorgan to wit. The Jury for our Lord the King upon their oath present that John Lloyd, of Penlline [Philip Evans, formerly of Sker] in the county aforesaid, clerk, born within our said Lord the King's Principality and Dominion of Wales, on the twentieth day of November [fourth day of December] in the thirtieth year of the reign of our said Lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and soforth, he then being seminarius sacerdos, in English "a seminary priest," made, ordained and professed by the authority and jurisdiction derived, claimed and pretended by the Roman See, on the said twentieth day of November [fourth day of December] in the thirtieth year abovesaid, within the Principality and Dominion aforesaid, to wit at Pelline [Sker] aforesaid in the county aforesaid, treasonably came, was and remained, against the form of the Statute in the like case lately published and provided, and against the peace of our said Lord the King that now is, his crown and dignity.

Rickards. examined.

proceed to Justice.

[Endorsed.]

"Grand Jury. True Bill."

Then follow, in each case, the names of the witnesses for the Crown, and the Recognizances entered into by them for their due appearance to give evidence against the accused. The following may serve as an example:—

Glamorgan to wit. Recognizances taken and cognised at Tithegston on the first day of May in the thirty-first year of the reign of our Lord Charles the Second, that now is of England, &c., before Richard Lougher, Esquire, one of the Justices assigned for the preservation of the Peace of our said Lord the King, &c. . . . .

"The Condic'on of this Recognizance is That the said Anne Richard and Margarett John al's Lewis, Mary Lewis and David Yorath doe and shall personally appear before his Ma'ties Justices on Monday next being the first day of the next great sessions to be held and kept in and for the said County then and there to certifie and declare the trueth of their severall knowledges in such matters as shall be demanded of them on his Ma'ties behalfe against one Mr. Phillip Evans now a prisoner in his said Ma'ties Gaole at Cardiffe in the said County who standes there Comitted vpon suspic'on of being a Popist [sic] priest or lesuitte; and thence not to departe w'thout licence of the Courte there, That then &c; or else &c.

Rich. Lougher."

Among the witnesses against Father Philip Evans, sworn before John Arnold, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, at Abergavenny, was Mayne Trott, who tendered the most important evidence of the accused's having exercised the functions of a Catholic priest. This man was deformed, and had been successively Court Dwarf to the Kings of Spain and England. He had professed himself a Catholic and married a relative of the Jesuit Father David Lewis, who, principally on his evidence, was hanged, drawn and quartered at Usk, this same year. Trott was a tenant and servant of Justice Arnold, who was a restless priest-hunter, and supplied his master with the needful information as to the private affairs of the Catholics in South-East Wales. Shortly after the execution of Father David Lewis, Mayne Trott fell dead in a street in London, a circumstance which the Catholics did not fail to ascribe to a Divine judgment on the dwarf for his large share in the death of their priests.

Gaol Calendar.

Glamorgan to wit. Kalendar of all the prisoners remaining in the Gaol of our Lord the King aforesaid, returned to the Court of Great Sessions of our said Lord the King, held at Cardiff in the county aforesaid, on Monday (namely) the fifth day of May in the 31^st year of the reign of our said Lord the King, before Owen Wyn, esquire, one of the Justices of the Great Sessions aforesaid, by Thomas Gibon, esquire, Sheriff.

"John Lloyd cl'icus comitted for a suspected Papish recusant or Jesuit, by Richard Bassett Esquire." (Pleads not guilty. Judgment that he be reprieved until the Court shall otherwise order.)

"Phillip Evans gent. comitted for beinge a suspected Jesuit or papish Priest, by humphrey wyndy and Richard Loughor Esquires." (Pleads not guilty. Judgment that he be reprieved until the Court shall otherwise order.)

"Charles Howell comitted for carieinge seu'all lr'es very suspicious Towards the Manadgem't of the horrible plott, by W^m Herbert & Beniamin Browne Esquires.

"Susan Evans and Ann Thomas comitted for refuseinge to take the Oath of Supremacy, by Edw. Stradlinge Bar', Richard Bassett and John Avan Esquires.

"Christopher Turbervill gen', Howell Carne gen,' Evan Thomas, david William, Richard Thomas and Gwillim Thomas comitted for refuseinge to take the Oathe of Supremacy, by the Court of the last gen'all Sessions of the peace held att Cowbridge 29^th of April last."

Lastly come the Jury Panels.

Bundle 21. No. 19. 31 Car. II. 1680.

Inquest held at Cardiff Guildhall, on the body of Thomas Bades, of Kevenmably, found that, being in the dwellinghouse of Alderman Henry Draper, at Cardiff, he fell down a ladder (or staircase) of nine steps and broke his neck.

Inquisition taken at Whitchurch on a view of the body of Richard Jones, late of Vaynor in the county of Brecon, yeoman; the Jurors say that the aforesaid Richard Jones at the parish of Merthirtidvill, working in a certain coal-pit, a large portion of the aforesaid coal fell upon him so that he then and there by misadventure came by his death.

Bundle 21. No. 24. 2 Jac. II. 1686.

Inquisition on a view of the body of one Robert Thomas, who was killed by a bell in the belfry of the parish church of Saint Andrew's, when the ringers were ringing the three bells.

Bundle 22. No. 1. 1 W. & M. 1688.

Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King and Lady the Queen upon their oath present that Edward Llewelin, formerly of Newton Nottage in the county of Glamorgan, gentleman, being a malicious and seditious man and designing and maliciously and seditiously intending, not only to bring our Lord William the third, now King of England, into hatred and contempt, but also to bring this present Parliament of England, assembled for difficult and urgent business greatly concerning the good estate and common weal of this realm of England, into hatred, scorn, infamy and contempt with all the faithful subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen that now are, and also to bring into contempt and infamy the gentry inhabiting within the county aforesaid, on the twenty-seventh day of July in the first year of the reign of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, at Newton Nottage aforesaid in the county aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers liege subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, who then well understood the Welsh tongue, maliciously and seditiously concerning the same King that now is said, asserted and published these malicious and seditious and contumelious Welsh words following, namely, Na fu yr yod swd ffol o frenin ag yew hwn. (fn. 2) Which said Welsh words in English speech signify and have the same sense as these English words following, namely, "There was never such a foole of a king as this" (meaning our said Lord William that now is King of England). And also on the day and year abovesaid, at Newton Nottage aforesaid in the county aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers of the subjects abovesaid, of his further malicious and seditious mind and design abovesaid, concerning the aforesaid Parliament these malicious and seditious Welsh words maliciously and seditiously said and uttered, namely, Y may y Parliament yn gwnythyr y peth nad oes genthyn power am dano (fn. 3) Which said Welsh words last mentioned in English speech signify and have the same sense as these English words following, namely, "The Parliament is doeing a thing they have no power to doe" (meaning the Lords and Commons in the Parliament aforesaid). And also then and there lastly said and published these other scandalous and malicious English words following, namely, I (meaning himself the said Edward Llewelin) hope in a short time to have my Will of all the Gentlemen of this County (meaning the gentry aforesaid within the county of Glamorgan aforesaid) for that they (meaning the aforesaid gentry) have spunn & twisted a halter for themselves (again meaning the aforesaid gentry). To the great contempt and scorn as well of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen that now are, as of the aforesaid Parliament, and to the evil and harmful example of others in like case offending, and against the peace of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen that now are, their Crown and dignities.

x^d Wynne.

Grand Jury.

"True Bill."

Ann David pros:

(The accused was bailed at the next Sessions.)

John Williams died in Cardiff gaol.

The Grand Jury Panel contains the name of Vaughan Edwards of Landaffe, gentleman, "a promiseing voluntary Juror of Kibbor Hundred." His name was struck out.

Bundle 22. No. 4. 2 W. & M. 1689.

Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King and Lady the Queen upon their oath present that William Bew, formerly of Roath in the county of Glamorgan, gentleman, on the twenty seventh day of May in the second year of the reign of our Lord [sic] William and Mary, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, and soforth, at the borough of Cardiff in the county aforesaid, in the presence of several of the subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, published and uttered (inter alia) certain false and scandalous words concerning William Richards, of the borough aforesaid in the county aforesaid, and unto the said William Richards, then being one of the Bailiffs of the said borough and also one of the Justices of the peace of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen for the peaee [sic] within the borough of Cardiffe aforesaid in the county aforesaid, as also appointed for the hearing and determining of divers felonies, trespasses and other misdemeanours in the said borough committed, to wit, Thou (meaning the said William Richards) art a Pitifull fellow, and it is a Scandall that the kinge (again meaning our said Lord the King) should have such a fellow as thee art (again meaning the said William Richards) a Justice of the peace. And lastly the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid say that the aforesaid William Bew, on the said twenty seventh day of May in the aforesaid year, at the borough aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of several of the subjects of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, published and uttered certain other false and scandalous words concerning the aforesaid William Richards and unto the said William, as follows: If I (the said William Bew) had a limner here I (the said William Bew) would have his Picture drawen (again meaning the said William Richards) and would hang it in my house of office (meaning the privy of the said William Bew); to the great depravation of the authority of the Bailiffs of the borough aforesaid, and of the Justices of the Peace aforesaid within the borough aforesaid, and to the manifest [sic] of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, as well against their peace and laws and [sic] against the peace of our said Lord the King and Lady the Queen, their Crown and dignity.

(In spite of the careless drawing of the above Indictment, the accused William Bew was bounden in 40li, and William Morgan junior, of Lanedarne, in 20li, that the said William Bew should appear, &c., and meantime be of good behaviour. Before William Herbert, esquire, at the Whitefriars, Cardiff, Constable of the Castle of Cardiff and Mayor of the said Town, and [as such] Justice of the Peace.)

Bundle 22. No. 5. 3 W. & M. 1690.

Mark Jenkin, of Llantrissent, yeoman, was presented for uttering these treasonable words: "It was ffitter for one of King James' men to ride a stone horse then such a rouge, declaring he was one of King' James' men, and that it might happen ere Long that he should ride the said stone horse."

Bundle 22. No. 6. 5 W. & M. 1692.

Evan Reece, of Coychurch, yeoman, with help of other persons, seized at Cardiff and abducted a girl named Mary Taynton, of the age of ten years, and forcibly married her in a house at Neath, she being seised in her demesne as of fee of lands and tenements to the clear yearly value of 20li and more, against the form of the statute.

Bundle 22. No. 7. 6 W. & M. 1693.

William Thomas, of Llanishen, labourer, was indicted for stealing 38 pieces of gold, called broad pieces, worth 23s. 6d. apiece; and two gold guineas worth 21s. 6d. apiece; and a golden half-guinea worth 10s. 9d.; and another piece of gold called a Spanish piece, of the value of 100s., of the goods and chattels and moneys of Grace Lewis, of Llanishen, widow.

Bundle 22. No. 9. 7 Wil. III. 1695.

Edward Carne of Cowbridge, gentleman, was bound in 20li, and his friend Edward Powell of the same place, gentleman, in 10li, for Carne's appearance to answer a charge of speaking contemptuous words against his Majesty and the Government to Miles Thomas, of Llancarfan.

Bundle 22. No. 10. 10. Wil. III. 1698.

Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors for our Lord the King upon their oath present that whereas, from a time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, there was and still is a certain watercourse at the parish of Saint John in Cardiffe, and the parish of Llandaffe, in the county of Glamorgan aforesaid, which continually every year and at all times in the year, when and so often as the river commonly called the Taffe, by Cardiffe in the county aforesaid, flowed and was used and ought to flow, without any hindrance or any obstruction of the same watercourse, from the aforesaid river called the Taffe through and across the highway there, as far as a certain ditch between a certain close of land of one Henry ffox, gentleman, called the White-house meade, on the west, and a several close of land in the possession of one Nicholas Greene, of Cardiffe in the county aforesaid, butcher, and another close of land called Taffesmeade, on the east and south, and through and across the said ditch to the river aforesaid; nevertheless the aforesaid Nicholas Greene, well aware of the premisses, but designing and wickedly minding not only to vex and oppress the aforesaid Henry ffox in divers ways, but also to bring and put all the liege subjects of our Lord the King that now is, going, returning, riding and journeying in, through and across such highway aforesaid, in danger to lose their lives, on the first day of March in the tenth year of the reign of our said Lord William the Third, &c., by force and arms, &c., at the parish aforesaid, erected and built a certain mound or bank across the aforesaid water-course, near the highway aforesaid, at the entrance thence into the aforesaid ditch, and raised it so high, that he then and there so obscured the aforesaid water-course, with the mound and bank aforesaid, that the said water overflowed into the dwellinghouse and garden of the aforesaid Henry ffox, and remained in such great quantity on the highway aforesaid, that divers liege subjects of our said Lord the King now cannot go, cross, &c., the aforesaid highway as they were wont and ought to do.

Bundle 22. No. 12. 10 Will. III. 1698.

Mary Griffiths, spinster; John ffeildust, ironmonger; and Barbara, the wife of Philip Tanner, grocer, all of Cardiff, were prosecuted for using false weights.

(N.B.—The old practice of setting forth in the list of Justices all the Ministers of State who were Justices in every county by virtue of their offices, has now been abandoned; and the lists commence with the Judges of Great Sessions for the County and District. The roll of Justices is also much increased in number for the County.)

Bundle 22. No. 13. 10 Will. III. 1698.

William Jenkins of Llandaff, gentleman, was prosecuted for practising in the Bishop's Court without being duly qualified.

Glamorgan to wit. The Jurors of our Lord the King upon their oath present that William Morgan, formerly of Neath in the county aforesaid, gentleman, being an impious, profane and irreligious person, and not having the fear of God in his heart, but moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil and designing and intending to scandalize and vilify the true Christian religion within this realm of England received and publicly professed, as also to blaspheme the wisdom and majesty of Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and of this world, and to subvert and withdraw the subjects of our said Lord the King from the Christian faith, as also to vilify and mock the holy scriptures, on the 31^st day of December in the eleventh year of the reign, &c., at Neath aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of divers of the liege subjects of our said Lord the King that now is, who well understood the English tongue, said and uttered these false, impious, blasphemous and heretical English words of and concerning the creation of this world and the holy scriptures: This world was not made by God, but was made before there was a God; nor do I believe the Scripture (meaning the holy scriptures of the old and new Testament) which is an old booke; for we are not to believe old books. And Moses (meaning Moyses, a great prophet named in the holy scriptures) was either a fool or a liar, and he made the scripture, which is but a fable, to the grievous scandal of the profession of the true Christian religion and the great dishonour and displeasure of Almighty God, and to the great scorn and contempt of the holy scriptures. In contempt of our said Lord the King that now is, his laws, &c., &c.

Inquest at Cardiff on the body of Oliver David, of Llanedern, a boy aged twelve years, who riding on a mare from Cros-ych-Adam towards New Forge in the parish of Llanedern, was thrown and his neck broken.

Bundle 22. No. 17. September 1702.

William Holley, of Llandaff, was committed for the wilful shooting and wounding of William Turbervill of Radyr, gentleman.