STAC 5/W67/11

Court of Star Chamber:

Henry Wooderington of Swynburne Castle, Northumberland, Deputy Warden of the Middle Marches & Keeper of Redesdale v William Brownles, Robert Hodgeson, Robert Hall, Nicholas Spurnell, Francis Trolloppe, William Horsley, John Lowson, John Morwyn and Willm Slater et al

Transcript: Dave King

Bill of Complaint:

The Bill contained in this package is damaged. Fortunately, another copy (probably the original) is found & transcribed in STAC 5/W77/19

The Answers of the defendants:

The ioynt & sev[er]all answeres of Willm Browneleyes, John Marwyn Robt Hall Nicholas Spurnell Frances Trollopp & Robert Hodgson upon their severall oathes

The saide defendantes savinge to them & to ev[er]ye of them at all tymes hereafter all advantages of excepcon to the insufficiencye & inc[er]taintie of the saide bill for full & true answere to the materiall contentes of the saide bill they these defend[ants] doe saye & ev[er]ye of them for himselfe sayeth as to the combinacon by oathes and otherwise to take awaye the lyfe of the complayn[an]t in his saide journey in the bill named and to the arminge themselves w[i]th cruell & offensive weapons to the ende in the bill named & to the concludinge & settinge themselves in the complts waye in his ioyrney in the bill menco[n]ed of purpose to surprise the complaynante in some secrett plaice at unawares & to murder & slaye him yf they coulde and to all unlawfull complottes practizes confederaces combinacons ryottes rowtes unlawfull assemblyes Lyinge in wayte to murd[er] the complt and all other the misdemeanours in the bill menco[n]ed wherw[i]th these defendts are charged and w[hi]ch are determynable in this honourable courte That they these defendts and ev[er]ye of them ... is not guyltie therof in suche manner & forme as in the saide bill is most falselye untruly & slanderously surmised & alleaged , All w[hi]ch these defendts are & ev[er]ye of them is reddye to averr and prove as this honourable courte shall awarde, And humblye praye to be dismissed w[i]th there costes & charges in this behalfe most wrongfully susteyned &c./

Interrogatories to be administered to the defendants:

Intergatories to be ministred to Willm Browneles, Robert Hodgeson Robert Hall, Nicholas Spurnell, Francis Trowloppe, Willm Horsley John Lawson, John Morwynn & Willm Slaiter defendantes upon their Answers to the Bill of Complainte of Henry Witherington Esquier Complainant

1. Impr[im]is whether do you knowe this saide Complainant & whether did you knowe [tha]t he was at London in Trenitye Tearme was a Twelvemonthe, & that he meant to come downe into Northumberland aboute Julye then nexte after, & whither had you any certaine Intellegeance of the Tyme when he determyned to set forthe from London, & by whome had you Notice theireof & what is theire names that tolde you

2. Item whither did you aboute Julye laste was a Twelvemonth consulte, conspire, & practice w[i]th the reste of the defendantes, or w[i]th any other to lye in waite for the meetinge of the saide Complainant in his returne into the Countree from London, & theire to assaulte the saide Complainant, & then to beet wounde or take awaye his life if you coulde, or any others in his companye, what is theire names w[i]th whome you did so consulte practise & conspire & of every of them that was in your companye sett them downe p[ar]ticularly upon your oathe & the true manner theireof

3. Item by whose appointement, or commandement did you so gather your selves to gither to consulte conspire & practise the Complainantes deathe: or anie others of his freindes in Companye & whither had you anye private Quarrell your selfe againste the complainant & who was the drawer & complotter of the saide gatheringe to gither & consultacon of the conspiricie & upon what occasion was it done & by whose meanes.

4. Item where was the saide Conspiricie firste moved & practised & whither did you consulte theireof firste at Witton Hall in the Bushopbrig of Durham, or at Mawton in the Countie of Yorke or els where did you firste consulte & at whose house & what p[er]son or p[er]sons were present at the Consultacon besides your selfe & what is theire names that did so consult w[i]th you & where do they dwell, & whither do they retaine, or belong to any man & b[y] whome & what do you further knowe theireof expresse it upon your oathe./

5. Item whither was your consultacon & combinacon by oathe or otherwise & who was the man t[hat] ministred the oathe to you & the reste, & by what aucthority did he so minister an oathe to you & what was the effect of the oathe & whither was it agreed amongst you that you should all lye in waite for the Complainant in the hie waye ... the ... by severall companyes from London to Northumberland & there to assaulte him, & whether was it also agreed amongst you that every one of you should conceale his owne name & his fellowes & to stick to gither till you had kylled cruelly beaten wounded or kylled the complainant if you o... could or what was the effect thereof./.

6. Item whither upon your consultacon for this conspiricie did you appointe anye place or Tyme certaine for your meetinge w[i]th the rest of your companye, & what place was so appointed & by whome was the place appointed, & after what manner & w[i]th what weapons, & at what tyme, & whither did you & the rest of the consulters plotters & conspiritors meet at the Tyme & place appointed or nigh there unto accordinge to your agreementes yea: or noe. whoe mett you theire what were theire names & howe were they furnished w[i]th weapons & what manner of weapons had they declare the Truthe upon your oathe./.

7. Item whither was your lord & maister privie to your practice conspiricie or consu[l]tinge togither whither did you make him acquainted, or anye others, who mighte commande you, w[i]th your iorney & intent & asked his leave to goe, whither went you by his direction & appointment or volentarylie of your selves speake the truthe herein./.

8. Item what weapons did you ryde w[i]th at the Tyme appointed for the attempting of this conspiricie & whither had you a longe Gunne, a Case of pistols or a horsmans p[ie]ce & rap[er] & dagger: or sworde & dagger; & what other weapons had you, & whither do you usually ryde w[i]th suche weapons as then you did ryde w[i]th yea or no

9. Item howe manye were you of your whole companye & conspiricie, & into howe manye companyies did you devide your selves, & howe manye was in everye companye & howe farr did one of your devided companie goe from an other, & for what cause did you so devide your selves, & who was the appointer of that division./.

10. Item whither did all the divided companies meet every nighte, & whither did you every morneing appointe the order of your companyes for their travell for that daie, & the place where to meet at nighte, & by whose devise was the Companie soe divided./.

11. Item whither was their a Speciall charge given to everye one of the divided Companies that if they could meet w[i]th the complainant, or git any certaine Notice of his coming downe, they should furthw[i]th in all speed possible give Intellegence theireof to the rest of their Consortes & fellowes, & for what cause did you so appointe./.

12. Item From whence did you begin your Jorney, whither did you Ryde from Maulton to Yorke, to Shereburne, to Powmefret, to Waikefeild, to Doncaster, & so to Bawtree ... ... ... or further after the conclusion of this conspiricie, & howe farr is it betwene the first place you so concluded of it, & Maulton, or Bawtree, & howe manye daies were you travellinge from thence & betwene Maulton & Bawtree, & what was the reason you maide suche shorte Jorneyes, & what businesses had you in every one of theise places howe manye were you togither & for what purpose, & what are theire names & where do they dwell & to whome do they belonge./.

13. Item whither did you in you[r] Travell duelye enquire of suche as seamed to travell from London or of any others, whither they did se or here any thinge of the Complainantes cominge downe from London, & whither he was cominge on the waye or noe, & whither he did not lodge the nighte before in suche place as they lodged the same nighte & for what ende or purpose did you so enquire after him./.

14. Item whither did you aboute the same monnth of Julye in the Bill mencyoned ryde from Bawtree throughe Barneby in the moore & so into the Forest of Sherewoode in the said County of Nottingham & what p[er]son or p[er]sons did you theire meet & what speaches did you use to suche p[er]sons upon your meetinge

15. Item whither did you Ryde close to one of the companye who had a cloake bagge or mayle behind him & whither did you fall in into some talkes w[i]th him & what did you saye to him & whither did you Jumpe your knee against the ende of his cloake Bagge & whither was it to knowe if theire were anye money in yt or for what other cause was it.

16. Item whither did you enquire one of his companye howe far he traveled that nighte & what was his answer & whither was his determinacon to goe to Doncaster that night as he tolde you, & whither did you saye you would beare him companye & howe manye was in the forrest at this Tyme of your company & what occasion had you then to be theire?

17. Item whither did you & the rest of your companye drinke in Bawtree & at what place & whither did theise thre w[hi]ch you had mett w[i]th in the Forrest passe by you whilst you were drinking theire, & whither did one of the Companye for feare of some charge which he had in his cloake bagge take uppe his lodgeing at one Cades his house in Bawtre & whither do you thinke he would have rydden further that nighte yf he had not been affraide of you?/.

18. Item whither did you pusue him so hotely when you did se him ryde into the yarde there that he was glad to breake his cloake bagge stringes & git his money w[i]thin the house into his chamber & whither did you followe him into the same yarde where he alighted haveing but newly drunk in the same towen & theire alighted & what was the cause of your sudden alteracon of your purpose?.

19. Item whither upon your alightinge from your horse at Bawtree did you call for some Bere & a coole chamber at the house of the saide Cades & whither did you presently walke f...the into the towen & then meet w[i]th the Constable & required the constable to borrow you some bowes & arrowes, longe staves or Gunnes or some other weapons to ryde w[i]th bicause you saide you had some charge of money, & whither had you then any charge of money yea, or noe, & to what sume.

20. Item whither upon your earnest intreatie did the Constable of Bawtre or any other for him, or any other p[er]son in the towen, lende borrowe or p[ro]vide for you bowes & arrowes or other weapons, & what weapons did he so lende, borrowe, or p[ro]vide for you & for what intent & purpose did you so deale w[i]th him or the Constable to p[ro]vide suche store of weapons & upon what occasion?

21. Item whither did you afterwardes mete w[i]th a gentleman in the towen that did aske you for what purpose you carryed suche weapons, what was his name yt did so aske you what did you answer him, & whither did you saye you had a charge of money & whither had you any suche charge, or noe. & for what cause did you make anye suche reporte

22. Item whither did this same gentleman offer to conducte you safe to Doncaster w[i]th tenn or twentie men if you would make him privie that you had anye suche charge of money & whither did you refuce t[o make] him privie to yt, what was his ... ... to you & whither did the townesme[n] who had lent you weapons begin to mislike you & to call for them backagaine of you, yea or noe.

23. Item whither upon some evill or hard speaches given you by the Gentleman did you denye that w[hi]ch you had formerly affirmide tuchinge the haveing of anye charge of money & saide you [had] enemyes that laye in waite for you betwene that towen & ...sington bridge & whether had you any suche enemyes, & whither did you meane the complaynant when you tearmid your enemyes yea or noe.

24. Item whither did the Townesmen & others who had lente you weapons upon your evill behavior conceave an opinion that you were very suspecious p[er]sons, & thereupon did take from you suche weapons as they had formerly lent you, & whither did they or some of them saye that you meant some hurte either to some in the towen, or neare theire aboutes & wither did you afterwardes sodenly departe forthe of the towen, & howe far did you ryde that nighte & where did you lodge?

25. Item howe longe were you in travelling from Bawtree to Wetherbye & howe many myles distant ys the one from the other & whether did you travell on the direct hie way or by Ponnefray & what occasion of busines had you theire, & whether did you there enqurire of the complainant & of whome & for what cause or purpose?

26. Item whether were you in an Ailehouse in Wallshforth at suche tyme as the Complainant & his company came rydeinge throughe the towen from London towardes Northumberland & whither did you or anye other by your meanes, or privitye enquire of any that rode in the complainantes company, where he ment to Lodge that nighte, & whether was it saide that he ment to ryde to Northallerton that nighte & by whose meanes did you knowe it

27. Item whether did you and the rest of your companye ryde after the complainant, that night towardes Northallerton, & howe many were in your companye & what was their names & whether did you ryde throughe Northallerton in the nighte yea or no, or at what houre of the daie, & what consultacon had you & your fellowes as you rode, & where did you determyne to sett upon the Complainant?

28. Item whether did you lodge that nighte in the Feildes or upon the moore betwene Lousebushe & Smeton, & what was the cause you stayed their all the nighte & howe far is that place from Northallerton & what was the cause you would not stay in Northallerton but lye in the Feildes that night, & whether were you affrayed that the complainant should passe bye you w[i]thoute your privitye?

29. whether did you that nighte or at any other Tyme before after you had certaine notice of his cominge sende to Witton or to any place thereaboutes for some more company to come to you, & whether did you send & to whome & who was the messenger that went for them, & where did you appointe them to meet you or to staye for you & howe manie did come to you upon that message & what is their names that did so come or stay in any other place for you & what weapons had they declare the truthe

30. Item whether did you the next morneinge goe to Neasome & their stayed in an ailehouse expecting the complainantes cominge & what company had you then, & what is their names, & whether did anye more of the Lord Ewries men repare unto you or any otheirs & whether had you or any in your company any Gunns, or pistols, & who was it that carryed the saide Gunne, gunns, or pistols, & upon what occasion was it or they brought thither & whether were you demannded by Mr James Lawson of Neasome or by any other theire whether you did belonge to my Lord Ewrys or noe, & whether did you answer & saye, no truly I knowe not the Lord Ewry, or what other answer did you then make.

31. [in margin: this p[ar]ticularly to Browmeles & to Robt Hodgson] Item whether upon notice that the complainant was cominge did you or some of your company saye. they are cominge, they are cominge, or wordes to that effect, & thereupon suddenly departed furth of Neasome towardes Darlington, & howe many were then in your company & what were their names, & howe far rode you beyonde Neasom before you returned, & what weapons had you & whether did you borrowe, or endevor to borrowe any weapons in Neasome or theireaboutes

32. Item whether did you w[i]thin a litle while after your departure furth of Neasom, returne backagaine in great haiste into the said towne & what was the cause of your so haistie returne & whether intended you to goe from thence: or whether was it bicause you thought the Complainant had gone some other way, & for that you were afrayed you should mis him or what other Intent or purpose had you therein/

33. Item what other company did you knowe to lye ryddie Betwene Darlington & Neasome other then suche as had been at Neasome w[i]th you before, howe many were there what were theire names, & to what purpose were they theire, & whether had you assured knowledge that they were theire or noe, & by whome.

Jo: Jackson

Examinations of the Defendants, 17 March 1600:

[Bi]shop Awklande vijth of March 1600 ... Eliz xlij

The Examinations of these p[er]sons following sworne and examined upon Interrogatories herew[i]th inclosed ministred on the p[ar]tie and behalf of Henry Woddrington Esquier Complainant against them & others defendantes before us Tobie L[ord] Bushop of Duresme, William James doctor of divinitie deane of the Cathedrall Churche of Duresme, Thomas Calverley Esquier Channcelor of the Countie Palatine of Duresme, and Marmaduke Blakiston Clerk Prebendarie of the saide Church of Duresme, by vertue of her Ma[jesties] Comission heerinclosed/

Deposition of William Brownles:

Willm Brownles Servant to the R[ight] honorable the Lo[rd] Eure, of the age of xxviij yeres or thereabout, sworne & examined upon Interrogatories aforesaid deposeth as followeth/

1. To the first Interrogatorie he saieth, That he doth knowe the Complt and hath hearde that he was at London in Trinitie Terme was Twelvemonethes, But did not knowe, that he ment to come downe in Julie than next after into Northumberland, neither had any intelligence what tyme he determined to sett out of London, And further he cannot depose/

2.3. To the seconde & thirde he saieth, That he did not Consult, conspire or practise w[i]th the defendts or any other to lye in wayte to beate, wounde or take awaye the life of the said complt or any of his frendes in Companie in his retorne from London, And denieth that there was any such Consultacon Conspiracie or practise for the Compl[ts] deathe, or that he had any private quarrell himself to the Complt & utterly denieth the rest of these Articles, to his knowledge./

4.5. To the fourth & fifth he can depose nothing at all of the place of any such Conspiracie mooved or practised of the Complts death, at Witton Hall, Maulton, or elswhere by any p[er]son or p[er]sons either by oath or otherwise, neither doth knowe any thing conteyned w[i]thin the said Interrogatories to be true./

6. To the sixt he anns[were]th as before That there was no Consultacon or Conspiracie for the purpose aforesaid to his knowledge; but confesseth that in Julie aforesaide or thereabout he mett w[i]th Willm Horsley, John Morwyn, Willm Slator, Nicholas Spurnell, Francis Trollopp, & Robert Hall (Servants to the said L[ord] Eure) at Shereborne in Yorkshire in an Inne, the signe whereof he doth not remember; Neither he nor they having any other weapons, but swordes & daggers, or Rapers & daggers, saving that onely Willm Horsley had a pistoll, as he thinketh./

7. To the vijth he doth utterly denie that his Lo[rd] & m[aster] was prevy to any such Conspiracie as herein is mentioned, or that he this ex[aminan]t was directed or appointed to any such purpose; But saieth that he asked leave of his L[ordshi]p to goe about some of his owne private affayres, (as he had somtymes done before) w[hi]ch was grannted unto him./

8. To the viijth he saieth That there was no tyme appointed for any such attempt, And that he nor any other named in the sixt A[rticle] had any other weapons then is therein expressed, and that he this ex[aminant] doth usually ryde with a rap[ier] and a dagger, and no other weapon./

9.10.11. To the nynthe, tenthe & xjth he saieth That their Companie (but w[i]thout any Conspiracie as is aforesaid) was never above seaven before named, or viij at the most at any tyme, And that some of them did now & then dep[ar]te from the rest about their private occasions, But how many of them were alwayes togeather, or for what p[ar]ticuler Causes he cannot depose, Or that any man did appoint them to devyde themselves to this ex[aminants] now remembrance; Or that they did meete ev[er]y night in any certayne plan appointed, or in the mornings give order to any p[er]sons to travaile in the daie tyme: Or that any such speciall Charge or notice was given to any supposed divided Companies of meeting, as in conteyned in the xjth Ar[ticle], Or that there were any such divided Companies, as in the said Article is alleadged to this deponents knowledge./

12. To the xijth he saieth, That he did ryde from Maulton to Yorke, from thence to Shereborne, then to Pomfrett, and thence to Wakfeild, But denieth that he went to Doncaster or Bawtrie & still denieth any such Conspiracie: And as to the shortnes of their iorneyes, they were, as their business or their lyking [?semed?] them, but to no such intent as is surmised in this Interrogatorie, And that at York, their was this ex[aminant], and other three, vizt Nicholas Spurnell, Robert Hall and Francis Trolloppe; And that they w[i]th the other three before named mett all at Shereborne to make merrye./

13.14. To the xiijth and xiiijth he saieth That he for his owne p[ar]te did not make any such Inquirie for the retorne of the said Complt to his remembrance; nor doth not knowe that any of his saide Companie so did: And utterly denieth the rest of that Ar[ticle] togeather w[i]th the wh... xiiijth Interrogatorie./

15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24. To the xvth, xvjth, xvijth, xviijth, xixth, xxth, xxjth, xxijth, xxiijth & xxiiijth Interr[ogatries] he cannot depose./

25.26. To the xxvth and xxvjth he saieth That he and his said Companie to the nomber of sixe travailed from Pomfrett to Wakfeild, and there did make merry w[i]th their frendes vizt Mr Richard Blande Mr Thomas Woodrof and others of their acquaintance, where they staied one night, and from thence to Weatherbie, and staide another night there, & untill ten of the Clock of the next daie, & from thence they travailed through Wandisford bridge (but came in no house there) where they heard that the Complt and his Companie were passed from London northward, being xvj in Companie some of them armed w[i]th guns and pistolls, But saieth that he did not inquire (nor any of his Companie to his knowledge) where the Complt did meane to lodge that night, nor that it was saied there to this ex[aminants] remembrannce, that he ment to ryde to North Allerton that night./

27.28. To the xxvijth & xxviijth he saieth, That he togeather w[i]th Willm Horsley, Robert Hall, John Morwyn, and a servant of the said Horsley, did that night about ten or xj of the Clock in the night ryde throughe the backside of North Allerton upon purpose to avoyde to meete w[i]th the Complt & his Companie, being so many and so well appointed, otherwise having ment to have lyen there that night: But upon Consultacon among themselves, thought it not best to abyde there, but travailed forwarde untill some of their horses being weary, they bayted them in the feild about Smeaton, and there rested themselves some fewe houres, being about foure myles from Allerton; Intending rather to escape, then to assault the said Complt Theire nomber & furniture considered as aforesaid./

29. To the xxixth he saieth That he did not send to any place for any more Companie, but saieth That Francis Trolloppe & Nicholas Spurnell before they came to Allerton went from the rest of their Companie to Witton, as they saied, but whether for more Companie or no this ex[aminant] knoweth not And appointed that they and he should meete at Nesham the next morning whither they came, but this ex[aminant] and they did scarsly meete or speak togeather; This ex[aminant] going on toward Darlington, and they dep[ar]ting homewarde to Maulton, as this ex[aminant] thinketh w[i]th none other but w[i]th their ordinary weapons./

30.31. To the xxxth and xxxjth he saieth That Willm Horsley and this ex[aminant] staied at Nesham that morning & there brake their Fast at one Gowlands house where hearing that the Complt was coming that waie w[i]th a strong Companie This ex[aminant] & Horsley roade out of the Towne, and sundred themselves the one one waie and thother another waie, to avoyde the meeting of them; And saieth That one Clement Pearson servant to the saide L[ord] Eure came thither having a gune, but w[i]thout this ex[aminants] privitie or p[ro]curement. And after that this ex[aminant] was taken by the Complt he sawe Robt Hodgson another Retayner to the saide L[ord] Eure there w[i]th a long staffe in his hande, but who procured him to come thither this ex[aminant] knoweth not, nor of any other guns or pistolls brought by them, or any other: And that being demannded by James Lawson whether he did knowe the L[ord] Eure or did belong unto him he, not lyking of that manner of question, did anns[wer] him somwhat crosly that he could not tell, or in some such like manner, w[hi]ch now he doth not remember: And that two of their Companie vizt Morwyn and Hall, did dep[ar]te from them before they came to Nesham about a myle, And that this ex[aminant] sawe them no more in that iorneye; And confesseth that he and Horsley would have gotten two Staves at Nesham for their better strengthe if they should fortune to have been assaulted by the Complt or his Companie./

32.33. To the xxxijth & xxxiijth he saieth That he purposed at his retorne into Nesham to have rydden homeward alone, not knowing of any Companie betwene that & Darlington layed or ... to offer any vyolence to the ... Complt or any of his Companie

[Willm] Brownles

Deposition of Robert Hall:

Robert Hall, servant to the said L[ord] Eure of the age of xxxvth yeres or thereabout sworne & examined as aforesaid./

1.2.3.4.5.6. To the first Interr[ogatorie] he saieth That he p[ar]tly knoweth Henry Woddrington Esquier the Complt: And to the rest of that Ar[ticle] as also to the second, thirde fourth fifth & sixt Interrogatories he cannot depose/

7.8. To the vijth & viijth he saieth That his L[ord] and m[aster] was not privy to any such practise or Conspiracie, as in the same Interr: is supposed; And that he had leave onely to goe and visitt his frendes of his Ladie & mistris; And saieth that he did not then, nor usually doth, ryde w[i]th any other weapon then w[i]th a sworde and a dagger./

9.10.11 To the ixth, xth & xjth he saieth That they were not above viij in Companie, and that they usually kept togeather after that they mett at Shereborne; From whence they went to Pomfrett, and so to Wakefeild, & thence to Weatherby; And there sev[er]ed themselves some to have gone into the Bushoprick, and the rest home; Untill that about Wandisford bridge, they heard that the Complt was coming northward w[i]th a Companie armed w[i]th guns, pistolls, bowes & arrowes; whereupon they ioyned in Companie againe, untill they came unto North Allerton, and so passed on the backside of the Towne in the night, doubting least if they had lodged there some quarrell might have risen; w[hi]ch night they baited their horses nigh Smeaton, and in the morning earely they went altogeather, untill they came w[i]thin a myle of Nesham or thereabout; This ... & Nicholas Spurnell going to Maulton, and Brownles, Horsley and his man tow[ards] the Bushoprick; But whether Morwyn, Trollop & Slator p[ar]ted from them h[e] remembreth not; And denieth that there was any division in their Companie ... to travaile to div[er]s places in the daie tyme, & to meet all at the night or to give intelligence one to another of the Complt coming downe./

12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26 To the xijth xiijth xiiijth xvth xvjth xvijth xviijth xixth xxth xxjth xxijth xxiijth xxiiijth xxvth & vvxijth he saieth That they took their iorneye as in the said Interr: is mentioned; Saving that he nor any of the rest was at Dancaster, Bawtrie, Barneby Moore or the Forrest of Sherewood; And that they made so short iorneyes from place to place for that it was onely to see their frendes, and to make merry neither did he in their travaile make inquirie for the Complts retorne northward, nor where he would or did lodge, and further he cannot depose./

27.28. To the xxvijth & xxviijth he cannot depose further then is expressed before in his annswere to the nynth tenth & xjth Interrogatories./

29.30.31.32.33. To the xxixth xxxth xxxjth xxxijth & xxxiijth Interr[ogatories] he cannot depose otherwise then as aforesaid./

Robt Halls m[ar]ke

Examinations of the Defendants, 28 March 1600:

The examinacons of these p[er]sons following defendts as aforesaid sworne & examined upon the said Interrogatories before us the Commission[er]s aforesaid by vertue of the said Commission. At B: Awkland the xxviijth daie of March 1600 RR Eliz xlij/

Deposition of John Morwin:

John Morwin, servant to the said Lo[rd] Eure, of the age of Thirty yeres, or thereaboutes sworne & examined as aforesaid/

1. To the first Interr[ogatorie] he saieth That he knoweth the Complt And did heare that he was at London in Trinitie Terme was Twelve monethes; But did not knowe of his meaning to come downe in the Julie after, nor had any intelligence of the tyme of his setting out of London by any man.

2.3.4.5.6. To the second, third, fourth, fifth & sixte he cannot depose./

7.8.9.10.11. To the seaventh, viijth ixth, xth and xjth he denieth utterly that his Lo[rd] & m[aster] was privy to the said supposed Conspiracie, or could possibly be, For that their was no such practize intended to this ex[aminant's] knowledge; And saieth That he did aske no leave, for that he is no servant to his l[ordship] in ordinary, but cometh and goeth as his businesses requireth; And that at the tyme supposed, he went not by appointment of any, but volentarily to make merry w[i]th his fealowes and his frendes; And had no other weapons, but onely his Raper and his dagger, w[hi]ch he usually weareth; And saieth that they were vij or viij in Companie and never moe, Who did not divide themselves in their iorneye, or take any order ev[er]y morning to travaile a sunder in the daie tyme, & to meete at night, or to gett notice of the Complts coming downe, & thereof to give intelligence to the rest of his fealowes./

12.13. To the xijth & xiijth he saieth That the first daie of their iorneye, he went from his owne house at Wharram g...nge to Shereborne, where he mett his feallowes vizt Willm Horsley, Wn Brownles, Franncis Trollop, Robt Hall Nicholas Spurnell, Wm Slator, & a servant of the said Horsley, called Lowson, The next daie to Pomfrett, & thence to Wakefeild the same night: where they had the Companie of Mr Thomas Woodrof, Richard Bland & some others at Supper, whose names he remembreth not, And the next daie to Weatherby and laie there that night, And there did purpose to have p[ar]ted themselves, (But were not at Doncaster, nor at Bawtrie) & two of them did dep[ar]te towards Mr Goodrickes vizt Robt Hall & Nicholas Spurnell; who by the waie hearing that the Complt was passed by throughe Weatherby w[i]th xvj or xvij in his Companie armed w[i]th guns, pistolls, bowes & arrowes, came back againe to their fealowes, to accompanie those that had occasion to goe into the Bushoprick, for feare least the Complt should have assaulted them by the waie; And so they all travailed by the back side of North Allerton in the night, where they would not lodge, least the Complt and his Companie should have quarrelled w[i]th them: And baited their horses about Smeaton, for that some of them were wearie, and in the morning this ex[aminant] & Robt Hall dep[ar]ted homeward, leaving the rest ryding northward, after that they had brought them w[i]thin a myle or lesse of Nesham, And that they made so small iorneyes for no other Cause (for that they had no other businesses) but to see their frendes & to make merrie togeather, Not making any inquirie of the Complt coming from London, or his lodging on his waie, And more he cannot depose./

14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26. To the xiiijth, xvth xvjth xvijth xviijth xixth xxth xxjth xxijth xxiijth xxiiijth xxvth and xxvjth he cannot depose, For that neither he, nor any of his said Companie was at Bawtrie./

27.28.29.30. 31.32.33. To the xxvijth xxviijth xxixth xxxth xxxjth xxxijth & xxxiijth, he cannot depose, otherwise then he hath saied to the xijth and xiijth Interrogatories./

John Morwin

Deposition of Francis Trolloppe:

Francis Trolloppe, servant to the saide Lo[rd] Eure, of the age of xxvjtie yeres or thereabotes sworne & examined as aforesaid/

1. To the first he saieth That he knoweth the Complt And further saieth as his p[re]contestis John Morwin hath deposed.

2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26. To the second, third fourth fifth sixt, vijth, viijth, ixth, xth, xjth, xijth, xiijth, xiiijth, xvth, xvjth, xvijth xviijth xixth xxth xxjth xxijth xxiijth xxiiijth xxvth & xxvjth he doth agree in effect in all things w[i]th the said John Morwyn; And further saieth That soone after that he and his fealowes were passed Allerton he this ex[aminant] & Nicholas Spurnell traveiled to Witton upon Weire, not to call for any ayd or more Companie to encounter the said Complt or his Companie, as in the xxixth & xxxth Interrogatories is surmised, but onely to borrowe a little money of Raph Grene there, who lent him Ten shillings; whereupon this ex[aminant] retorned, & the saide Spurnell overtook him about Houghton in the side, and so roade togeather purposing to have gone home to Maulton, And upon the waie betwene Darlington & Nesham, they two p[ar]ted, Spunell going homewarde to Maulton, and this ex[aminant] torning to Hurworth, where he dined w[i]th a kinsman of his called Robt Wormeley, By whom hearing that Wm Brownles, one of his fealowes was that morning taken & assaulted by the Complt & his Companie, and his weapons taken from him; he this ex[aminant] roade theare directly to Duresme where he found the said Brownles comitted to the gaole there upon the Informacon of the said Complt And so then this ex[aminant] retorned home to Maulton./

27.28.29.30.31.32.33.- To the xxvijth xxviijth xxixth xxxth xxxjth xxxijth & xxxiijth he cannot depose otherwise then he hath as aforesaid./

Francis Trolloppe./

Deposition of Nicholas Spurnell:

Nicholas Spurnell, servant to the said Lo[rd] Eure, of the age of fortye yeres or more sworne & examined as aforesaid

To the first, second, third, fourth, fifth vjth vijth viijth ixth xth xjth xijth xiijth xiiijth xvth xvjth xvijth xviijth xixth xxth xxjth xxijth xxiijth xxiiijth xxvth & xxvjth he saieth in effect in all thinges as the foresaid John Morwin hath deposed, And also to the xxvijth, xxviijth, xxixth xxxth xxxjth xxxijth & xxxiijth Interr[ogatories] he saieth That Franncis Trolloppe & he did dep[ar]te from the rest of their fealowes betwene Allerton & Smeaton in the night, and roade togeather to Witton, This ex[aminant] going into the Castle for certayne apparell of his w[hi]ch he brought w[i]th him & Francis Trolloppe to Raphe Grene as he said but for what business he knoweth not; And denieth that he this ex[aminant] did travaile thither to cause any more ayde to encounter or assault the Complt or his Companie And saieth That in his waie homeward toward Maulton yt morning he overtooke Francis Trolloppe about Broughton in the side, & travailed togeather untill they came w[i]thin a myle of Nesham, where Francis Trolloppe tooke his waie to Hurworth (as he said) to a kinsman of his, & this ex[aminant] kept the highe streete th[roughe] Nesham where he sawe Willm Brownles in an Ailehouse, & there one of the same ... gave this ex[aminant] drinck, and so he roade the waithe, And in the loning p[er]ceyved a Companie ... men to the nomber of xvj or thereaboutes coming towardes Nesham (whome he supposed to be the Complt and his Followers) he retorned w[i]th speed thither againe, and adv[er]tized the said Brownles thereof, that he might looke to himself; And so this ex[aminant] went awaie by Sockborne toward Maulton, & laie at Stoksley that night (where his Father dwelleth) & the next night to Maulton.

Nicholas Spurnell

Deposition of Robert Hodgson:

Robert Hodgson, servant to the saide Lo[rd] Eure, of the age of Thirty yeres or thereaboutes sworne & examined as aforesaid.

To the first he saieth he knoweth the Complt: For that he was taken by him about Nesham, & brought to Duresme to be examined by the Justices; And he heard that the said Complt was at London upon a fraie there made w[i]th Sir Wm Eure knight, & further he cannot depose unto that Interrogatorie, or to any other of the xxxiijth Interr[ogatories] ministred unto him. Saving that he coming to Darlington to the m[ar]kett on Mondaie the xxiiijth daie of Julie was twelve monethes, & bringing his brother Raphe Hodgson, whome he mett there, on his waie into Yorkshire, as they were ryding into Nesham loning, some of the Complts Companie did challenge this ex[aminant] to be one of the Lo[rd] Eures mens Companions, For that he roade w[i]th a pyk staffe in his hand; & questioning w[i]th him, & finding that he did serve his L[ordship] They took awaie his staffe & brought him togeather w[i]th Willm Brownles to Duresme as aforesaid; But he utterly denieth that he was appointed by any man to be there or thereaboutes, or to bring any weapon w[i]th him or that he did knowe that Wm Brownles, Wm Horsley, John Morwyn, Francis Trollopp, Nicholas Spurnell, Robt Hall, or any other of his fealowes were at Nesham or thereaboutes Or that there was any purpose to meete w[i]th the said Complainant or any of his Companie

Robt Hodgsons m[ar]ke

Itm all the saide deponents affirme that Anthony Besson as their Attorney in the high Court of the Star Chamber

Capt coram nobis Tobie Duresme W: James Tho Calverley Marmaduke Blakiston