May 1660

Great Court Leet "of or [our] Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second, by the Grace of God Kinge of England, Scotland, ffrance, and Ireland, Defender of the ffaith, &c., holden at the Burrogh or Towne of Preston aforesaid, in the Moothall there, the Elleaventh day of May, in the Twelfth yeare [1660] of his Maties Raigne," before William Sudell (Mayor), Symon Hynd and Thomas Dewhurst (Bailiffs), and Evan Wall (Steward of the Court).

1. That whereas a Presentmt was at a Cort Leete holden for the said Burrogh the 18th day of Aprill 1654 brought in by the jury those agt. Henry Chorley and John Chorley late Baylives of the said Burrogh for not payinge into the use of the Towne the money due upon the _____ of their accompte. And afterwards at another Court holden at the said Burrogh the fourth day of May 1655 wee fynd by a presentmt at ye said Court that the said Henry Chorley did complaine of the former prsentmt and offered to Cleare himself thereof whereupon the then jury referred the same to the Consideracon of the Maior and Councell But noe further proceedinge was thereupon had. And therefore wee beinge satiffied that they have fully cleard their accompt and that there is nothinge remaininge in theire and conceive it unreasonable that any such prsentmt should stand upon record agt them and doe humbly desire that Mr Maior and his Councell will give ordr that the said sixth prsentmt may bee expunged, obliterated, or otherwise declared to be null and void to all intents and purposes whatforever.

2. That by reason of the great Misdemeanors & offences agt the publick peace, these psons followinge were bound to keep the peace and to appeare at the next Courte Leete, but at the said Court they being called did not appeare. And after their suretyes being called to bring them forth did not bringe them forth, And therefore the Bond of the parties and suretyes wee fynd to be forfeited vizt.

Thomas ffrance bound on twenty pounds hath forfeited his bonds.

George Blundell and John Anderton bound as Surety with Thomas ffrance in tenn pounds a peece have forfeited each of them tenn pounds.

Henry ffisher bound in Twenty pounds hath forfeited his xxl.

John Thorpe his surety bound in Tenn pounds hath forfeited his xl.

John Jampson bound in Tenn pounds hath forfeited his xl.

Robt Kighley bound as surety with John Jempson in five pounds hath forfeited his five pounds.

3. Ann Ingham for layinge her worthinge by the Churchgate barrs at the way syde leading through Corkerhole to the great anoyance of the said way, that shee remove it before the fifth of August or to bee fynd at the discretion of Mr Maior and his Councell, and not offend by layinge any more in that place upon paine to forfeit for every offence 3s 4d.

4. These psons hereafter followinge for makinge Tussells affrays and drawinge of Blood upon the bodyes of these psons hereafter likewise menconed and therefore to pay the amercemt to them affixed accordinge to the nature of theire offence. vizt.

Richard Masson for making an affray and drawing of blood upon the body of Oliver Hatch to pay 5s.

John Jampson for makeing an affray and drawinge of Blood on the body of Agnes Loxam to pay 5s.

Thomas Myres for makeing an affray and drawinge of blood upon the body of Thomas ffrance to pay 5s.

Nicholas Mitton for makeing and affray upon Thomas Werden and drawing of blood to pay 5s.

Nicholas Mitton for makeing and affray upon the body of Richard Wingreen and drawinge blood to pay 5s.

Henry ffisher for makeinge a Tussell upon Andrew Bowery Mr Coles servant to pay 2s. 6d.

Chrofer Santer for makeinge a Tussell upon Edward Salter to pay 2s. 6d.

John Smith for makeing a Tussell upon Thomas ffrance to pay 2s. 6d.

Thomas ffrance for makinge a Tussell upon John Smith to pay 2s 6d

Edwards Salter for makinge a Tussell upon Christopher Santer

5. Thomas Boulton made an affray and drew Blood upon the body of Edward Bell to pay 5s.

6. Edward Bell did make a Tussell upon Thomas Boulton to pay 2s 6d.

7. Richard Masson for Rescueing a Catle from Oliver Hatch wch the said Oliver had found Trespassing upon him and was leading to impound according to Lawe wee therefore amerce him 3s. 4d.

8. These psons followinge to compound with the Towne for their freedome, or to bee Stallenged at the discression of Mr Maior and his Councell.

James Sharples, George Bennet, James Short, Daniell Bulfield, Henry Gregson

9. These psons following not fitt to continue within this Towne and to be removed before the first of august or they that harbour them to pay 6s 8d a month after the said day for every Month they soe offend.

Thomas Silcocke and his wife harboured by Robert Brindle

ffrance Yate and his wife harboured by Rich: Rydinge.

10. Mary Archer for delivering flaps by weight too light and not bringing them forth when demanded by the jury that they might bee made right and therefore wee amerce her in 6s 8d.

11. Henry ffisher, Thomas ffrance, Henry Bretherton, Thomas Richardson al(ia)s Stringer whereas Mr Maior of this Towne had comitted to bee imprissoned, Henry Balshawe and Henry ffisher for their miscarriages they in a rude and violent manner did fall upon the Sgt who were conveying them accordinge to the comand, they had rec(eiv)ed. And by force rescued the said Henry ffisher from the hands of the said afferers to the great abuse contempt and indignition of Officers and good Govmt. of this Towne, and the bad Example to such whose loose and corrupt princiles may lead them to take the same course to free themselves from the due Administracon of Justice upon them for their afferers contrary to the Elleaventh Order of Mr Prestons guild and therefore to pay 6s 8d a peece for this first offence, and to receive such other punishmt as shall seeme meete to Mr Maior and the Councell of this Towne.

12. Whereas Mr Maior of this Towne had comitted sevall psons to prisson as Actors abedtors and incouragers of a violent and forcable rescueing of some prisoner or prisoners that day from the officers, that in obedience to Mr Maiors comand were conveyinge them to prisson, and that Thomas ffrance, Robert Kighley, Thomas ffisher, Henry Balshawe, Thomas Hodson did designe together with Henry ffisher and Richard Hodgkinson, and others whose names doe not appeare unto us, to release the said prisoners there inprissoned by force of Armes, and upon monday the seacond of January last in a Royetous & tumultnous manner in prosecucon of the said design with Clubs Crowes of Iron & other Instruments of force, the said Richard Hodgkinson & Henry ffisher with many others did come to the Townes hall & brake open the prisson doores and set at Liberty those that were there inprissoned with exceedinge great vilifinge contempt and dispite of the Majestary and authority of this Towne, and contrary to the 11th order of Mr Prestons guild, wee therefore doe amerce Henry ffisher & Thomas ffrance beinge their second offence in 13s 4d a peece & Robert Kighley, Thomas ffisher, Henry Balshaw, Richard Hodgkinson sonn of Luke Hodgkinson and Thomas Hodson beinge their first offfence in 6s 8d. a peece for their abuse of the Majestary of this Towne, and for what other punishments they lye open to as offenders agt any Lawe or Statute of this Kingdome or Gild ordr. of this Burrogh wee leave to bee considered by Mr Maior and his Councell that they may see the Lawe Executed and Justice administered as the Nature of the offence shall require.

13. The Bayliffs of this Towne for that they have not repaired the Cawles upon the Marsh, nor mended the Syke troughes or opened the Gripps belonginge thereto, upon spiddles Mosse, nor repaired the Goose well, nor repaired the Midespitt well, accordinge to the second, third and sixth prsentmt of the last Inquest therefore that theis sevall thinge being needfull bee done before the first of September next, accordinge to the order of the foremenconed prsentmt or in default of not repairinge any or all of them to pay xls a peece.

These psons hereunder named Stallenged in the year 1660 att ye Rates followinge