Cheshire Quarter Sessions: 1570s

Inhabitants of Rostorne. QJF 3/2/37 (1573)

To the right worshipfull Willyam Bothe
esquier on of the Quenes majesties justice
of the peasse and on of the corum in the
countie of Chester etc.

Forasmoche as yt is the dutie of every good man beinge
required to testyfye the truthe in every cause or matter. We
therfore whose names be subscrybed pretendynge the unitie and
quietnes of our poore neighbores of Rostorne. Doo of a veray
truth manifestly declare and testyfye. That one Thomas Coppocke
of Rostorne forsed on of our neighbores is a veray unquiet and
dysordered person not only in his wordes but also in his dedes
that ys a comen dronkerd a reler a swerer a brawler and
a soyer of dyssencyon amongest neybours moche lycke to set
neyboure and neiboure together by the yeares. Not onlye to the
great dysquietinge of many our seid neibors but also conterarey to
the Quenes majesties peasse and lawes. Onlesse you of youre
worshipp goodnes and justice see some spedye redresse and remedye
for the sames. In wytnesse whereof we whose names are
subscrybed have sette our handes and sealles the xxixth day of
Marche in the xv yeare of Elizabeth our Queene etc.

• John Leighes
• Hugh Meyre
• Wylliam Massy
• John Urmyston

Richard Skrymsher of Poole, gentleman. QJF 6/4/1 (1577)

To the right worshipful the Quenes majesties
justices of peas [within?] her heighnes countie of
Chester

In his most humble wiese shewth and complaynethe unto your
worships your oratour [Richard?] Skrymsher of Poole within the
countie of Chester gentleman that wheras one John Holbroke Rauf Holbroke Robert Holbroke and Piers Holbroke and divers others whose
names your oratour yet knowth not beinge light desperate and wilfull persons
and bearinge mortall malice and displeasure unto your said oratour
have by sundry indirect practizes and unlawfull wayes gon abowt
and dayly do goe abowt to murder and slay your said oratour by meanes
wherof your said oratour dare not trayvayle abrode in the
countrey abowt his necessary affayres to his grete losse and
damage for the said deffendantes contynually have upon them
bowe and arrowes gonnes and other suche like unlawfull
weapons contrary to the lawes and statutes of this realme
sekeinge therwith to deprive your said oratour of his lief and
the had most assuredly had done upon the xxith and xxiith day of
November last past had not they byn letted by sundry
persons then present (as God wold) sythence which tyme
(the said deffendantes still contynuinge in their most develishe
mynde) one Katherin Holbroke (beinge naturall mother
to the said deffendantes, hathe declared and told one Richard Raven
servaunt to the right worshipfull Sir Thomas Venables
knight that if she had not byn she [illegible] that her said sonnes
[illegible] before this tyme had slayen your said oratour with bowe and
arrowes and that she herself had divers tymes [nott?]
their bowe stringes of their bowes to prevent the develishe
enterprises and also the said Robert Holbroke at one other
tyme sithence in the hearinge of one Hughe Bristoo said
to the said Katherin his mother that his brother Rauff
wold knocke out your oratours braynes and lay them upon his
shulders and likewiese the said Rauff and the said Piers
Holbroke told one James Mynshowe that before their
mother shuld goe from her howse that they wold kyll
your said oratour, with divers and sundry suche like wordes [illegible]
spoken and uttered to sundry [other?] persons as may be
well proved. In consideracon of the premisses may it pleas
your worshippes to graunte unto your said oratour your warrant [of?]
good abearinge against the said deffendantes and every of them [to?]
thintent your oratour may be suer to lyve in [saff saveing?]
of his lief and your said oratour shall dayly pray for [the?]
preservacon of your worships longe in healthe to [contynue?]