_To the right reverent fader in God, Cardynale Archebusshop of
York[271.2] and Chaunceler of Inglond._
Please it yowre gode Lordeshep to know that oon Roger Cherche, other
wyse callyd Roger Bylaugh, Roger Wryte, and Roger Baly, late[271.3] was
at a gaderyng and assemble of xv. persones in a feleshep under a wode in
the town of Possewyke, in the counte of Norffolk, which feleshep, as it
is seid be hem, was procured and gaderyd be the seid Roger Cherche and
be his councelores, the same Roger seyng to summe of the same
feleshep,[271.4] he had remembred a gode name for her capteyn, that
shuld be John Amend Alle; and the seyd Roger aftyr the seyd gaderyng
aggreyd hym self to be take and examyned be persones of his own covyne,
and be color of his seid feleshep of xv. persones be hym gaderyd,
enbilled divers gentilmen, and many thrifty and substanciall yomen, and
thryfty husbondes, and men of gode name and fame, noysyng and diffamyng
to the Kyng and his Councell that the seid gentilmen, yomen, and thryfty
husbondes, with other, to the nombre of ccc. persones, shuld have mad a
gaderyng and a risyng ageyn the Kynges peas under the seid wode,
contrary to the trought; which is veryly conceyved to be don of malyce
to put the seid gentilmen and yomen in feer and trobill that thei as
wele as alle the contre shuld not be hardy to attempt, ne lette the
purposyd malyce of the seid Cherche and his councellores in divers
riottes, extorciouns, forsibil entreys and unlawfull disherytauns of
gentilmen and other of the Kynges liege peple in the seid shire that
thei dayly use, which riottes, extorcions, aswele as the seid untrewe
diffamacions, causyth gret grudgyng, trobill, and comocyon in the seid
shire. Please it yowre gode grace, these premysses considered, not to
suffre the seid Cherche to have no pardon of the comune grace graunted
be the Kyng owre soverayn Lord un Gode Fryday last past,[272.1] un to
the tyme that he hath fownde sufficient suerte of wel namyd persones of
the seid shire of his gode beryng; and to direct a comyssion un to such
notabill persones in the seid shire as please you, to take and examyn
the seid Roger Cherche, as wele as othre that them semyth necessary to
examyn in this behalf, so that thei that be giltles in this may be so
declared, and that thei that be gilty may be ponysshed acordyng to her
demerytes; and to beseche the Kyng owre soverayn Lord in the behalf of
the gentilmen of the seid shire that his Hignesse wull not take hem,
ne any of hem, in conceyt to be of such rewle and disposicion up un
enformacion of such a mysse rewled and encredibill man as the seid
Roger. And thei shall pray to God for you.
[Footnote 271.1: [Add. Charter 17,241, B.M.] The date of this
petition will be seen by a footnote.]
[Footnote 271.2: Cardinal Kemp.]
[Footnote 271.3: Here the words ‘before Crystmasse last past’
originally stood in the text, but are crossed out.]
[Footnote 271.4: Here occurs a caret referring to some illegible
words in the margin.]
[Footnote 272.1: On Good Friday the 7th April 1452, Henry VI.
offered general pardons for offences against himself to all who
would sue them out of Chancery. --_See_ Whethamstede, 317, 319.]
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