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Bucks Assizes, Lent 1662
National Archives, ASSI 16/4/4
These records consist of very small pieces of parchment (most of which must have been lost) recording when someone gave security to a Justice of the Peace that they would carry out a prosecution, when someone was put on bail to appear in court, or the "presentment" of the jurors at the trial. In one case the sentence has been added (photo below).
The Assizes were the predecessors of the Crown Court. They were held twice a year in Bucks, usually as the first stage of the Norfolk Circuit. They took place at Aylesbury (Lent) or Buckingham (Summer).
Punishments available were fairly restricted, and mainly involved fines, the pillory and execution. The case of Nicholas Bigg below shows that the medieval system of "benefit of clergy" was still in operation: if you could prove that you were literate by reading a passage from the Bible, you suffered a much lighter punishment, usually branding instead of hanging.
[Latin] Be it remembered that on 24 Jan 13 Charles II [1662] Thomas Saunders of Winslow tinker came before me Richard Pigott, one of the justices of the lord King for keeping the peace, and acknowledged owing to the lord King £5, to be levied if he fails in the condition on the reverse.
[English] The condition of this recognisance is such, that if the within bounden Thomas Saunders shall at ye next Generall goal delivery to bee holden for this County aforesaid on bill of inditement of felony against Richard Jeeson [Iveson?] now prisoner in ye Goal at Alesbury for ye felonious taking of certaine pewter spoons & other goods, That then this Recognizance to be void, or else to remain in force
[Latin] Be it remembered that on 5 Dec 13 Charles II [1661] Edward Glenister of Winslow butcher came before us Richard Pigott knight and John Dormer esq. the justices of the lord King for keeping the peace, and took on himself on pain of £100, and Thomas Glenister of Winslow weaver and Robert Elliot of Shipton in the parish of Winslow husbandman and Anthony Holding of Addington yeoman then mainprised for Edward Glenister, namely each of them separately on pain of £50, which separate sums each of them acknowledged he owed to the lord King to be levied from their goods and chattels, lands and holdings to the King’s use, if Edward Glenister fails in performing the condition on the reverse.
[English] The condition of this recognizance is such, that if the within bounden Edward Glenister shall make his personal appearance at the next general goal delivery to be holden for this County, then & there to make Answers to such matters of suspicion of felony as shall be obiected against him by William Izard of Ludgeshall in ye County aforesaid husbandman, Thomas Fulco[…] of Marsh Gibbon in the said county [?]hu(s)b(andman) & others That then this Recognizance to be void, or else to remaine in force.
Edward Glenister is recorded at the 1656 manor court with his wife Dorothy (nee Bird, married 1651), and appears in William Lowndes' records as active in 1665, so nothing fatal can have happened to him at the court.
[Latin] Be it remembered that on 28 Feb 13 Charles II [1661 but must mean 1662] Thomas Seayer Grocer, Robert Scot Butcher and Alice Dandridge of Winslow in their own persons came before me John Dormer, one of the justices of the lord King for keeping the peace, and each of them acknowledged owing to the King £10 to be levied from their goods and chattels, lands and holdings to the King’s use, under the condition on the reverse.
[English] The condition of this recognisance is such, that if the within Bounden Thomas Seayer, Robert Scot, and Alice Dandridge shall personally appeare at the next generall Goale delivery to bee holden in the said County of Buckingham and shall then and there present a Bill of Indictment against Nicholas Biggs for a felony which they have layd to his Charge (viz) for stealing of four pounds tenne shillings out of a Coffer, and shall then and there give evidence against the sayd Nicholas Biggs, as well to Indict as to find him guilty of the sayd felony: That then this Recognizance shall Bee void and of noe effect.
[Latin] The jurors for the lord King on their oath present that Nicholas Biggs late of Winslowe laborer on 29 Jan 13 Charles II [1662] by force & arms etc. at Winslowe £4 10s in cash from the goods chattels & coins [……] of Robert Scott then & there found he then & there feloniously stole, took & carried away, against the present lord King’s peace, his crown & dignity etc.
[added in another hand at the top, Latin] He put himself [=was found] guilty; no chattels; & he asked for the book; read; let him be branded[?].*
[reverse]
Robertus Scott
Thomas Saer
Alicia Dandridge
*The last word is not a form of cremare or combure which were normally used for such sentences, but could be ard(ea)t(ur).
Nicholas Bigg (d.1683) subsequently, assuming it's the same man, married and became a blacksmith living on the north side of the Market Square. Robert Scott (d.1695) was one of the prosecutors.