STAC 5/N6/18
Court of Star Chamber:
Henry Earl of Northumberland v John Parker, George Morton, Willm Metcalf, Robert Gibson, Roger Gibson & Robert Waller
Transcript: Dave King
Bill of Complaint:
dated on reverse: Mercur 27 Octobr Ao 33 Elizabeth Regine Willm Mill
To the Queenes moste excellent ma[jestie]
In humble wise shewethe and informethe your ma[jestie] your moste faiethefull and obedient Subiect Henrie Earle of Northumberland That whereas the late righte hon[or]able Henrie earle of Northumberland deceassed Father of your said Subiect was in his life time lawfullie seised to him and the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten emongst diverse mannors lordeships landes tenementes and hereditamentes in the Countie of Northumberland of and in the free Fishinge in and of the water or river of Cockett in the Countie aforesaid[1] And the said late Earle so beinge seised aswell of the saide mannors lands tenementes and hereditamentes as also of the saide Fishinge in the water of Cockett aforesaid did for manie yeres together next before his deceasse quietlie and peaceablie receive perceive and take the yssewes and proffittes of the saide waters and Fishinge and uppon the Eleventh daie of June in the Seaven and Twentithe yeare of your ma[jesties] raigne died so seised of the saide Fishinge, By and after whose deceasse the said Fishinge in the water of Cockett aforesaid did discend and come unto your said Subiect as sonne and heire male of the bodie of the saide Earle his Father By force whereof your subiect entered into the saide free fishinge and was thereof seised accordinglie and did peaceablie and quietlie by his servanntes and Fermors take fishe in the said water w[i]thout contradicon of anie person or persons by the space of five yeres together or thereaboutes untill of late that is to saie in or aboute the seaventhe daie of Aprill in the three and thirtythe yeare of your heighnes raigne at a place called Weales Newke[2] beinge a parte of the saide water or River called Cockett or els a peece of grounde of your Subiectes thereto adionynge one John Parker, George Morton, Willm Metcalf, Robert Gibson, Roger Gibson, Robert Waller w[i]th div[er]se others to the nomber of Eighte persons as yet unknowne to your Subiect did unlawfullie assemble themselfes in warlike manner w[i]th weapons as well invasive as defensive, That is to saie w[i]th pistolls gonnes dagges swords daggers longe piked staves and other weapons and did then and there consulte and confederate together w[i]th force and stronge hande contrarie to your ma[jesties] peace and the lawes of this your heighnes Realme to expell and remove your Subiect out of and from his said quiet and lawfull possession of and in the saide free fisshinge in the water or river called Cockett aforesaid and to take the proffitt and benefytt thereof to themselves againste all righte and iustice, yea the saide John Parker and other the persons aforesaide beinge so as is aforesaid unlawfullie assembled at the time and place aforesaid, That ys to saie at Weales Newke aforesaide uppon the said Seaventhe daie of Aprill in the three and Thirtythe yere of your ma[jesties] raigne put in practise theire saide unlawfull entente and purpose, that ys to saie they did then and there rioutouslie assault and beate w[i]th theire weapons aforesaide Willyam Lightley and Allan Hall being then your Subiectes servantes and being then takinge Fishe w[i]th nettes and otherwise in the saide River or water in the righte and for the behoff of your Subiect and by such force violence and stronge hande in riotous and warlike manner did drive awaie and expell the saide Willm Lightelie and Allan Hall from the saide River or water of Cockett, and thereby expelled your Subiect from his lawfull Seisin and possession of the saide free fisshinge in the saide river or water of Cockett takinge awaie a boate and Fisshinge nettes and also one Fishe called a Salmon from the saide Willm Lightlie and Allan Hall contrarie to the lawes and statutes of this your heighnes realme. In consideracon whereof and for that the unlawfull assemblies riottes and misdeameanors aforesaid be not onelie heighe contemptes againste your ma[jesties] Crowne and dignitie but also be verie evill and moste pernicious ensamples to other your heighnes lovinge and obedient Subiectes and mighte encowrage some of your righte faiethfull and well disposed people to committ the like offences contemptes owtrages and misdeamenors aforesaid if this shoulde not receive some severe and condigne ponishment yt maie please your moste royall ma[jestie] of your aboundant and gracious clemencie, in zeale of Justice to grannte unto your said Subiect your ma[jesties] moste gracious writtes of Subpen[a] to be directed unto the saide John Parker George Morton, Willm Metcalf, Robert Gibson, Roger Gibson and Robert Waller comanndinge them and ev[er]ie of them by vertewe thereof at a certen daie and under a certeine paine therein to be limitted p[er]sonallie to appeare before your ma[jesties] moste hon[or]able Counsell in your heighnes Courte of Starr Chamber to answere the p[re]misses and further to receive and suffer such sharpe and condigne ponishm[en]t as by the grave wisedom and discrecon of your ma[jesties] moste hon[or]able Counsell shalbe thoughte requisite to theire offences to be inflicted uppon them And your said Subiect as his moste bounden dewtie ys Shall praie for the happie estate of your moste Royall ma[jestie] graciouslie and moste p[ro]sperouslie longe to raigne over us
Fra: Moore
- ↑ John and Elizabeth Finch were farmers of the Coquet fishery in this period, paying the considerable sum of £20 per annum (Surtees Society vol 163, Northumberland Estate Records, p.8). This must have been in the Finch family for many years, as a William Finche was the plaintiff in an exchequer suit re the Coquet fishery about 50 years earlier (E 321/14/73 & E 321/29/54)
- ↑ The exact location is unclear, but would appear to have been between Warkworth and the sea. A grant of 1550/51 (C 147/322) includes a fishery in the Coquet called Wellsnewke, and in the sea adjacent
