Stockwell, Sept. 7.
_Papers of Perjury_ (Vol. ii., p. 182.).--In the absence of a "graphic
account," it may interest your correspondent S.R. to be referred to the
two following instances of "perjurers wearing papers denoting their
crime." In _Machyn's Diary_, edited by the accomplished antiquary, John
Gough Nichols, Esq., and published by the Camden Society, at p. 104.
occurs the following:--
"A.D. 1556, April 28th.... The sam day was sett on the pelere in
Chepe iij. [men; two] was for the preuerment of wyllfull
perjure, the iij. was for wyllfull perjure, with _paper sett
over their hedes_."
In the same works at p. 250., we have also this additional illustration:
"A.D. 1560--I. The xij. day of Feybruary xj. men of the North was
of a quest; because they gayff a wrong evyde [nee, and] thay
ware paper _a-pon their hedes_ for perjure."