STAC 5/F9/32

STAC 5/F9/32 - B A - 42 Eliz - Sussex - Thomas Frere v Sackvyle Turner, John Turner Henry Turner Raffe Turner, [blank] Goffe, Anthony Croftes. see STAC Frere

Transcribed by Helen Good

To the Queens most excellent Majesty

In most humble wise complaining showeth unto your Majesty your humble and dutiful subject Thomas Frere of Eastgrenested [East Grinstead] in your highness county of Sussex gentlemen. That whereas about eighteen or nineteen years now last past your majesty’s said subject did marry and take to wife one Elenor Turner of Eastgrenested aforesaid late the wife of John Turner gentlemen deceased. And whereas also your said humble subject having care to the virtuous and good education and bringing up of Sackvyle Turner, John Turner, Henry Turner and Raffe Turner (sons of the said Elenor and John Turner her late husband) and to have them brought up in the knowledge of tongues, did after they had been brought up in the rules of grammar buy a schoolmaster (which your said humble subject kept in his house for that only purpose) at his great charge and in great love unto them first sent the said Sackvyle, John and Henry to Tunbridge and other schools of learning and the said Raffe to your Majesty's school of Eton; and from the said school when they the said Sackvyle, John and Henry grew fit and ready to the University of Oxford and there placed them with a learned tutor. And (at your subjects great charge) kept them there by the space of the diverse years. In hope that this his love and kindness would have drawn their hearty love and affections firmly to your said humble subject. Nevertheless so it is (if it may please your most excellent Majesty) that the said Sackvyle Turner, John Turner, Henry Turner and Raffe Turner forgetting the duty they owe unto your humble subject (in respect your said subject hath married their mother) And also forgetting the great love care and charge that your said humble subject had and was at for their virtuous and good education and bringing up in learning The five and twentieth day of December (being Christmas Day) in the two and fortieth year of your highness most happy reign being accompanied with [blank] Goff and Anthony Crofts (servants to the said Sackvyle Turner) with divers other persons unknown to your said subject, to the number of twenty persons at least, being all armed and arrayed in warlike manner with swords rapiers daggers and long staves At Eastgrenested aforesaid did lie in await for your said subject between the church gate there and your said subjects house with the intent to beat wound and evil and treat your said subject. And the said Sackvyle Turner, John Turner, Henry Turner, Raffe Turner, [blank] Goff and Anthony Crofts and the other persons unknown being all armed weaponed and arrayed as aforesaid, Upon the said of five and twentieth day of December now last past in the two and fortieth year of your highness said most happy rain Did riotously and routously make an assault and affray upon your said subject, your said subject being then in gods peace and your majesties, going from the parish Church of Grinstead aforesaid towards his dwelling house and with their swords, daggers, staves, and other weapons aforesaid did strike and give unto your said subject divers and many blows and wounds to the great danger of your said subject’s life and to the great terror and fear of the beholders and to the manifest breach of your highness peace And yet the said riotous persons not satisfied with the effussion of your subject’s blood: But intending some greater mischief if god of his mercy had not prevented their malice they said Sackvyle Turner, John Turner, Henry Turner, Raffe Turner, [blank] Goffe and Anthony Croftes upon the first day of January also last past That is to say in the said two and fortiethth year of your highness reign (being New years day) came eftsoones to the church of Eastgrenested aforesaid, all well appointed with rapiers daggers and other weapons as well defensive as invasive And there in very riotous manner. Again lay in wait for your humble subject intending again to have beaten wounded and evil entreated your said subject But missing of there prey for that your said subject by reason of the wounds which the said riotous persons had formerly given him durst not go abroad they the said Sackvyle Turner John Turner, Henry Turner, Raffe Turner, [blank] Goffe and Anthony Croftes upon the said the first day of January in the two and 40 year above said did riotouslymake an assault upon one John Thorpe and John Martyn (two of your subject’s servants) being then in the peace of God and all of your majesty coming from the church of Eastgrenested aforesaid. And riotously did beat wound and evil entreat the said John Thorpe and John Martyn and gave unto them and either of them many grievous wounds, So as of their lives they did despair, Against your highness peace, And to the great terror and fear of yours said subjects servants and all diverse of your loving subjects standing by and beholding the same. And yet not content with the several riots and misdemeanours aforesaid But continuing in their malicious purpose against your subject and his servants He the said Henry Turner being acompanied with the said Sackvyle Turner, John Turner, Raffe Turner [blank] Goffe and Anthony Croft being all armed and arrayed with swords daggers long pikes staves and other weapons as well defensive as invasive At Eastgrenested aforesaid upon the second day of January last past that is to say in the said two and fortieth year of your Highness most happy reign did riotously and with force and arms make another assault upon the aforesaid John Martin your subjects servant As he was going out in the morning of the same day (in Gods peace and your Majestys) to serve the cattle of your subject with fodder And with one great and long piked staff and other weapons which they the said riotous persons then and there held in their hands did thrust the said John Martyn into the forehead in two several places And gave unto the said John Martyn two grievous wounds, of the depth of one inch and more By means whereof the said John Martyn was overthrown and fell down to the earth And being fallen down to the ground, they the said riotous persons did yet thrust at the said John Martyn with their said weapons And then and there gave unto him divers geievous wounds in his body and hands And so left the said John Martyn as a dead man To the great terror and fear of your Majestys said subject his servants and friends. And to the breach of your Majestys peace and to the evil example of others. In tender consideration whereof And for as much as the several riots and other misdemeanours aforesaid were committed and done to the great disturbance of your highness peace: in great contempt of the laws atatutes and ordinances of this your majesty’s realm of England And do deserve very severe punishment for the example of others. And were comitted and done since your Majestys late general and most gracious free pardon May it please your most excellent Majesty to grant unto your said humble subject your most gracious writ of Subpoena to the said Sackvyle Turner, John Turner,, Henry Turner, Raffe Turner, [blank] Goffe and Anthony Croftes to be directed commanding them and every of them thereby at a certain day and under a certain pain therein to be limited not only personally to appear before you highness and your honourable Council in your highness most high Court of Starchamber Then and there to answer the premisses But also to take such order for the punishment of the several riotous misdemeanours aforesaid as to your highness and your said honourable Council in the same Court shall seem fit. And your Majesty’s said humble subject shall according to his bounden duty continually pray to god for your majesty’s long and most happy reign over us.

[Answer - transcription in progress]