STAC 5/E9/4

Court of Star Chamber:

Marke Errington & William Fenwick v Regynald Heron et al

Transcript: Dave King

Interrogatories:

Interrogatoryes exhibbited on the parte and behalf of Marke Erington and Willm Fenwick gentlemen complaynantes unto Reignald Heron and others defendantes

[1 Imp]rimis whether was Henrye Earle of Northumberland seised of a good estate yet induringe of and in the tithe corne of Harlaw in the saide countye of Northumberland

2 Itm whether do you knowe or have you heard that duringe all the one and Thirteth yere of her maiestyes raigne or anye parte therof ther were anye Comyssioners of the saide Earle which had good and lawfull authoritye to demyse the saide tithes and other landes and tenementes with in the saide countye att ther discrecon yea or no, and what were ther names to your remembrance

3 Itm whether do you knowe or have you heard that the saide comyssioners about Martynmas in the same yere did demyse the saide tithes in Harlaw aforesaide unto the saide Marke Erington and Willm Fenwick to have and to hold the same from thence forward unto the Feaste of Sainte Martyn then nexte and imediatlye followinge and howe muche moneye did the saide Marke and Willm pay for the same unto the saide Earle or his Comyssioners

4 Itm whether aboute October last past or att anye tyme before or after did Reignald Heron, Gilbart, Swynburne, Edward Marshall, Ouswold Heron, John Robson, and Andrewe Yeldert or anye of them with divers other persons assemble themselves in Harlaw corne feald in the saide towne of Harlaw aforesaide

5 Itm whether were they or any of them then and there armed and arrayed in warlike maner with swordes dagges gunes callevers pistols speares lannces pitchforks steelecappes or any other warlike weapons eyther invasive or defensive

6 Itm they beinge so armed whether then and there did they or anye of them marche and muster with there swordes in maner of battaell array like men of warr readye preste to battaell

7 Itm beinge so armed what number of parsons came with them or anye of them with waynes or suche other like thinges to carye awaye the saide tithes in Harlaw aforesaide beinge then devided from the ninthe partes, and whether were suche persons as came with them or anye of them by them or anye of them with there saide weapons garded untill the saide corne by them was conveyed foorth of the saide feald

8 Itm whether were the saide tithe corne of Harlaw which they could not carye awaye geven to there horses and oxen and scattered abroad throwghout all the saide feald of Harlaw./

Deposition of Regynald Heron:

Cap xvto dei Junij Ann xxxij Eliz Regine

Ad .... Mark Erington et al quer

Regynald Heron of Chipchase w[i]thin the County of Northumberland gen sworne etc

To the first 2 & 3 Interr this deft saethe That he Cannott make any .... or dyrecte annsweare, & moreover syethe That he takethe he ys not compellable to answere to the sd Interr for that the same Interr doe not to his understanding so conc[er]ne the matters of [?offence] wherewith this deft is charged by the Complts bill as this deft ought to answer therunto.

To the iiijth Interr this deft sethe that he this deft, Gilbt Swynburne, Edw Marshall & Ouswold Heron were together in Harlawe Corne filde in the Towne of Harlawe aforesaid/. But the other p[er]sons in the Interr named were not at any tyme there in company of this deft [to the remembrance] of this deft

To the vth Interr this deft sethe that he this deft had a sword & acase of pystolls about him att the tyme of his being in the said fildes And he s[ai]th that Gilbert Swynburne had then & there allso a shorte piked staffe, Oswould Heron a sword & dagger, And as touching what weapons Edw Marshall then had he doth not re[mem]ber Butt this deft doth denye that he this deft or to his knowledge any of the p[er]sons before named had then & there any gonnes Callyvers, speares lannces or steelecappes as is supposed

To the 6 Interr this deft doth denye that he or any of his Company did marche & muster w[i]th their wepons in manner of battle aray like men of warr reddy [prest] to battle as is supposed

To the vijth Interr this deft sethe that dyvers of the Tenantes of Harlaw came w[i]th their waynes or draughtes to feche away the tythe Corne in Harlaw fildes afores[ai]d as they used to doe in tymes paste But the said Tenantes w[hi]ch so came to the s[ai]d fildes w[i]th the sayd waynes or draughtes were not accompanied thither by this deft, neyther were the same tenantes or any of them by this deft or to his knowledge by any of the p[er]sons aforenamed garded w[i]th wepons untill the s[ai]d Corne were by the s[ai]d Tenantes Conveyed fourth of the s[ai]d fild as is supposed

To the viijth Interr this deft sethe That there was not any of the s[ai]d tythe Corne [geven] to horses & oxen or willfully scattered abrode throwghout the s[ai]d filde as is supp[osed] to the knowledge of this deft