=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. i., No. 201.
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These be divers of the riots and offences done in the hundred of
Blofeld in the county of Norfolk, and in other towns by Robert Ledham,
of Wytton by Blofeld, in the county of Norfolk.
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_In primis_, on the Monday next before Easter day and the shire day,
the thirtieth year of our sovereign lord the King, ten persons of the
said rioters, with a brother of the wife of the said Robert Ledham, lay
in wait in the highway under Thorpe wood upon Phillip Berney, esquire,
and his man coming from the shire, and shot at him and smote the horse
of the said Phillip with arrows, and then overrode him, and took him
and beat him and spoiled him. And for their excuse of this riot, they
led him to the Bishop of Norwich, asking surety of the peace where they
had never warrant him to arrest. Which affray shortened the life-days
of the said Phillip, which died within short time after the said affray.
Item, three of the said riotous fellowship the same day, year, and
place, lay in wait upon Edmond Brown, gentleman, and with naked swords
and other weapons fought with him by the space of one quarter of an
hour, and took and spoiled him, and kept him as long as they list, and
after that let him go.
Item, forty of the said riotous fellowship, by the commandment of the
same Robert Ledham, jacked and saletted, with bows and arrows, bills,
and glaives upon Maundy Thursday, at four of the clock at afternoon,
the same year, coming to the White Friars in Norwich, and would have
broken their gates and doors, feigning them that they would hear their
evensong. Where they were answered such service was none used to be
there, nor within the said city at that time of the day, and prayed
them to depart; and they answered and said that afore their departing
they would have some persons out of that place, quick or dead, inasmuch
the said friars were fain to keep their place with force. And the mayor
and the sheriff of the said city were fain to arraign a power to resist
the said riots, which to them on that holy time was tedious and heinous
considering the loss and letting of the holy service of that holy
night. And thereupon the said rioters departed.
Item, the said Robert Ledham on the Monday next after Easter day, the
same year, took from one John Wilton four cattle for rent arrear as he
said, and killed them, and laid them in salt, and afterwards ate them.
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Item, in likewise the said Robert Ledham and his men assaulted one
John Coke of Witton, in breaking up his doors at eleven of the clock
at night, and with their swords maimed him and gave him seven great
wounds, and took from him certain goods and chattels, of which he had,
nor yet hath, no remedy nor restitution.
Item, the same day and year they beat the mother of the same John Coke,
she being four score years of age and more, and smote her upon the
crown of her head with a sword; of which hurt she might never be healed
to the day of her death.
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Item, on Mid Lent Sunday, the thirtieth year of our sovereign Lord the
King that now is, Robert Dallyng, Robert Church, Robert Taillor, Henry
Bang, Adam at More, with others unknown, by the commandment and assent
of the said Robert Ledham, made affray upon Henry Smith and Thomas
Chamber at South Birlingham, the said Henry and Thomas at that time
kneeling to see the using of the mass, and then and there would have
killed the said Henry and Thomas at the priest's back, unless they had
been prevented.
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Item, the said Robert Ledham, continuing in this wise, called unto him
his said misgoverned fellowship, considering the absence of many of
the well-ruled of the said hundred, of afore-cast malice concocted,
purposed and laboured to the Sheriff of the shire that the said Robert
Church, one of the said riotous fellowship, was made baillie of the
hundred; and after caused the same Roger to be beginner of arising
and to take upon him to be a captain and to excite the people of the
country thereto. And thereupon, by covin of the said Robert Ledham, to
impeach all these said well-ruled persons, and as well other divers
substantial men of good fame and good governance that was hated by the
said Robert Ledham, and promising the said Roger harmless and to sue
his pardon by the men of Danyell; to the which promise the said Roger
agreed, and was arrested and taken by the said Ledham by covin betwixt
them, and impeached such persons as they list, to the intent that the
said substantial men of the country should be by that means so troubled
and endangered that they should not be of power to let and resist the
misrule of the said Ledham and his misgoverned fellowship, the which
matter is confessed by the said Robert Church.
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Item, six or seven of the said Ledham's men daily, both work day and
holy day, use to go about in the country with bows and arrows, shooting
and playing in many closes among men's cattle, going from alehouse
to alehouse and menacing such as they hated, and sought occasion to
quarrel and debate.
Item, notwithstanding that all the livelihood that the said Ledham hath
passeth not £20, besides the repairs and out-charges, and that he hath
no cunning nor true means of getting of any good in this country, as
far as any man may conceive, and yet keepeth in his house daily twenty
men, besides women and great multitude of such misgoverned people as
[have] been resorting to him, as is above said, to the which he giveth
clothing, and yet beside that he giveth to others that be not dwelling
in his household; and of the said men there passeth not eight that use
occupation of husbandry; and all they that use husbandry, as well as
other, be jacked and saletted ready for war, which in this country is
thought right strange, and is verily so conceived that he may not keep
this countenance by no good means.
Item, the said Ledham, hath a _supersedeas_ out of the Chancery for
him and divers of his men, that no warrant of justice of peace may be
served against him.
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