Catalogue description LORD WYLLUGHBY to the MASTERS OF REQUESTS.

--Answer to two slanderous petitions of July 9, 1594, exhibited to her Majesty against himself and his servant, John Turpin, by Thomas Cecill and Matthew Cheeseman his son-in-law. Prays that the shameless petitioner, for his scandalous behaviour, may receive condign punishment.

Thomas Cecill's objections.--That he has been so far wronged "as toucheth not only the loss of all his goods and chattels but the deprivation of his life ; for the house wherein he hath dwelt ten years, which he held in the right of his wife, addressed to the use of four orphans," was forcibly taken from him by John Turpin and ten other armed persons, his servants driven out, and he himself, entering to know the cause of his servants' expulsion, forcibly borne out by the rioters, with threats of present death if he offered any resistance.

The Lord Willoughby's answer.--Of this house, there was an estate for life made by my father to Roger Cheeseman and his wife, both now dead ; and Cecill having greatly abused me, I commanded Turpin, my servant, to discharge him and to enter thereon to my use, who accordingly, with but two others "having nothing but their ordinary weapons, as travellers ride with," repaired to the house, and finding the doors open, and nobody there but a child of twelve years of age, took possession. After, finding Cecill in the yard, Turpin told him that he had come to discharge him, and had taken possession to his master's use. "Cecill, by pulling thatch from off the house, entered, and Turpin . . . in very mild manner, thrust Cecill out of the house, which is all the riot, outrage and rioters that were assembled."

2. Objection.--That those rioters dispossessed Cecill of all his goods, and still detain them.

Answer.--No goods of Cecill's have been taken, but he and his have full liberty to carry them away, having access thereto at all times ; neither has any distress been taken, although there is and will be owing at Michaelmas, in rents and other duties, five pounds and two shillings. But about three years since, there were two small burlings distrained for rent, prized at forty three shillings, four pence, which, because Cecill thought them not so much worth, he did not redeem them.

3. Objection.--That Turpin has seized certain sheep, beasts, horses and corn, and does still detain them.

Answer.--None of these have been seized, but they remain, like Cecill's other goods, in his own servants' keeping. Neither will he be "interrupted for his corn when shearing or mowing time cometh, but as himself, since the possession taken, hath clipped his sheep and carried the wool away, so shall [he] mow, reap and take all his corn to his own use, paying the rent aforesaid." Before Turpin's entry, Cecill had warning to leave the house, which he refused ; "whereby Turpin entered as lawful was for him to do by my commandment."

Answer to Cheeseman's petition.--"It seemeth to be framed by Cecill's procurement for my further slander, as though I should pervert or alter my father's will, which under his own hand-writing is extant, whereby the state for life to Cheeseman's father and mother is only reserved, with the ancient rent thereof, answerable to me, which albeit it seemeth that yourselves, the Masters of her Majesty's Requests, have already sufficiently allowed of, yet will not Cecill nor Cheeseman, by Cecill's soliciting, be satisfied. . . . And whereas I understand by Good, my solicitor, that Cecil and his son Cheeseman do challenge amongst other goods and chattels four oxen that should appertain to them by my father's gift, upon search of papers of my bailiff's and officers' accounts, I find as well the same oxen satisfied them as all the other goods, and for my discharge in that behalf have both the engrossed accounts and Roger Cheeseman's acquittance testifying the same. Signed.