STAC 5/H77/5

Court of Star Chamber:

Reignold Hearon of Chipchase, Northumberland v John Pygott of Ovingham, gentleman, Willm Halsey, Roger Halsey, John Nycholson, Alexander Errington, Robt Procter, Henry Ladley, Cuthbt Ladley, Martin Clerke, Ralph Newton et al

Transcript: Dave King

Bill of Complaint:

dated on reverse:

Venuti Tricesimo Novembris Anno xlij Elizabeth Regine

Willm Mill

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To the Quenes moste excellent ma[jestie]

In most humble wyse showeth unto your most excellent ma[jestie] your trew faythfull and obedient subiect and dayly orator Reignold Hearon of Chipchace in the Countye of Northumberland gentleman, that whereas your sayd subiect the second day of October in the one and fortyth yeare of your gratious reigne, was in peacible and quiet manner rydinge and travelinge about his necessarye and lawfull affayres, and busynesses at Ovingham in the sayd Countye of Northumberland, not ...sdeaminge or suspectinge any violence or outrage to be offered unto him. And your sayd Orator soe rydinge and travellinge as afforsayd one John Pygott of Ovingham aforsayd gentleman, Willm Halsey, Roger Halsey, John Nycholson, Alexander Errington, Robt Procter, Henry Ladley, Cuthbt Ladley, Martin Clerke, Ralph Newton w[i]th others whose names as yet your sayd orator knoweth not to the number of xxxtie p[er]sons armed arayed and weaponed w[i]th pistolles longe speares drawne swordes guns and such other unlawfull weapons all gathred and unlawfully assembled together in the towne gayte and open street of Ovingham aforsayd, to the great affryght and terror of your subiectes their the sayd second day of October in the afforsayd one and fortyth yeare of your hignes reaigne, in most ryotous unlawfull and warlyk manner some w[i]th their pistoles Charged w[i]th powder and shott the cocke redy bent to shoot, some w[i]th long speares and others w[i]th drawne swordes guns and other weapons did sett upon and assault your sayd orator, one of them crying aloud, wher ys he, kill him, kill him, and did soe farr fourth indanger your sayd orators lief, he beinge not able any way to mayk resistance, to their great and violent outrages, and assaultes that your sayd orator was forced for the sayfgard of his lyef, too leave and forsake his horse, wherupon he then rood and to betayk himself to his feet, and w[i]th much adoe and w[i]th great p[er]ill and danger of his lyef he recov[er]ed and gott into a house, in Ovingham afforsayd, and w[i]th some ayd and assistance that he found their, shutt fast and barred the doors of the sayd house, whether when the sayd John Pygott, Willm Halsey, Roger Halsey, John Nycholson and the other ryotous p[er]sons abovesayd p[er]ceaved and se that your sayd Orator was gotten, they purposing and intendinge upon some former wicked malice and grudge agaynst your orator conceaved, to murder and kill your sayd orator did immediately inviron and besett the house wherto your sayd orator fled for refuge as aforsayd, and wherin he then remayned and beseiged and watched the same by the space of four houres together, vowinge and swearinge w[i]th great & horrable othes, that your sayd orator should never scape ther handes thence alyve, by reason of w[hi]ch horrable outrage, and unlawfull assembly dyvers and sundry your highnes subiectes in the sayd towne of Ovingham then beinge, were dreven into great terror and feare of their lyves, And very lykly yt was (the Inhabytantes and people their aboutes in the sayd Cuntry of Northumberland, beinge too apt and forward of them selves to uncyvill uprores and mutynies) that great blodshed and murder should have insewed ther upon. And by reason also of the sayd ryotous assault unlawfull assembly threates and mynaces, your sayd orator was sore and grevously affryghted and dismayed, and dreven for the sayftye of his lief in the night tyme about the middest of the night then next followinge to fly out of the sayd house and towne of Ovingham, and to leave his sayd busynesses and affayres their unfynished and undispatched May yt ther for please your most excellent ma[jestie] in tender consyderacon of the p[re]myses, and for that all such ryotes unlawfull assemblyes outrages and other misdemeanours, or mearly contrary to your ma[jesties] lawes and deserve very grevous punishm[en]t and yf these offenders above sayd should escape condigne punishm[en]t for their soe heanous offences, yt would incurrage others of lyke bad disposition to comitt and p[er]petrait the lyke offences, to grant unto your sayd Orator your gratious wrytt of suppena to be dyrected to the sayd John Pygott Willm Halsey Roger Halsey John Nycholson Alexander Errington Robt Procter Henry Ladley Cuthbt Ladley Martin Clerke Ralph Newton Theirby commandinge them and every of them at a certayn day and under a certayn payne to appeare before the Lordes of your highnes p[ri]vye counsell in your high court of starr chamber then and their to answere the p[re]myses and to stand to and abyde such further order theirin as to their lordships shalbe thought mete and convenient. And your sayd Orator shall dayly pray for your highnes prosperous and happye reaigne over us longe to contynew/

Wyllm Smyth

Appended: John Pigott John Nicholson Rog Halsy Will Halsey

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