C2/JASI/B35/10   [IMAGE]

CHANCERY PETITION: RICHARD BANCROFT v. BONHAM NORTON, JOHN BILL, RICHARD TOMES, CHRISTOPHER WILLSON, WILLIAM HAMOND, JOHN WOLLEY, WILLIAM WRENCH AND RICHARD TAYLOR  •  DOWNLOAD PETITION (PDF 200 KB)

(1) The Petition of Richard Bancroft (executor to the late Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury)  [Endorsed] 27th January, 1615

To the Right Honble S^r Thomas Egerton Knight Baron of

Ellesmere and Lord Chancello^r of England

1.  In all Humble manner sheweth vnto yo^r Ho^ble: Lo^p: yo^r daylie Orato^r Richard Bancroft of Wilsdon Esquie^r Execto^r of the Last will and Testamen^t of the Reuerend ffather in god Richard late Archbishopp of Canterbury |

2.  deceased That whearas the said late Archb^p in his life tyme was a man well knowne throughout the wholl Cource of his life by all meanes to eschew and avoid the beinge indebted vnto any person |

3.  or persons but most espetiallye to any Bookbynders or bookesellers for any bookes whatsoeuer that he should buy here or reserve from them And that was his daylie Chardge and Comand at all tymes § |

4.  (from tyme to tyme duringe the tyme of his beinge Archb^p) to his followers and Servants attendinge vppon and about him or Imployed by him that they should not by any meanes fetch take |

5.  Buy or receive any bookes for him or to his vse but that forw^th vppon the Resceipt therof they should paye for the same, and the bette^r to observe his desire therin the said Arch^b did Contynually |

6.  deliuer mony to some or one of his men or followers before him to paye for all such bookes as should at any tyme be brought or deliuered to his vse as aforesaid, for that the said Arch^b did well knowe the |

7.  deceipt of Book sellers and booke bynd^rs in that kynde and how vsually was and had bine w^th them to demaunde great Sommes of mony after the death of some of the predecesso^rs of the said Arch^b and others |

8.  his freinds and acquaintances for bookes w^ch they did sometymes give and sometymes were seised by and vnto the said Arch^b Now so yt is maye yt please yo^r Ho^ble Lo^p that §§§§§§ Bonham Norton |

9.  and John Bill two book sellers on or about Paulles Church Yeard in London p^retendinge that the said late Arch^b: in his life tyme was indebted vnto the said Norton and Bill have Confederated and § |

10.  Combyned w^th Richard Tombes Xrofer Wilson Willyam Hamond John Wollye Willyam Wrench and Richard Taylo^r persons vnknowne to yo^r Orato^r and that were neuer servants nor followers of the § |

11.  foresaid Arch^b nor Imployed by him and they all vppon the Combynacõn aforesaid vntrulie and vnconscionablie p^retend and surmise that the foresaid late Arch^b: did owe vnto them the said Bonham |

12.  Norton and John Bill the Somme of ffower hundred fforty and eight pounds Tenn shillings and Tenn pence for Bookes whearas in truth as aforesaid the said Arch^b : did not owe vnto them |

13.  nor vnto either of them not one peney at all yet neuertheles the said defend^ts havinge a wicked intent and purpose for to par^te and share the said ffowre hundred fforty eight pownds Tenn § |

14.  shillinges and Tenn pence amongst themselves They the foresaid Norton and Bill have alreadye Comenced an Accön at the Commön Law against yo^r Orato^r for the said ffowre hundred fforty |

15.  eight pownds Tenn shillinges and Tenn pence wherof before yo^r Orato^r neuer had notice of nor did they euer Clayme or demande the sume of yo^r Orato^r but yo^r Orato^r hath lately hard that the |

16.  said Richard Tombes Xrfer Wilson Willyam Hamond John Wolley Willyam Wrench and Richard Taylo^r be the men that of late have incited the said Norton and Bill <to the said Suite and have and also Offer that they wilbe the witnesses of them the said Norton and Bill> to prove that the said |

17. Arch^b did owe the foresaid ffowre hundred ffortye eight pounds Tenn shillinges and Ten pence vnto the said Bill and Norton Now for that yo^r Orato^r hath no waye nor meanes for to be |

18.  releived at or by the Common Lawes of this Realme against the vnconscionable Confederaces and proceedinges aforesaid but hopeth that the foresaid Norton and Bill and other the § |

19.  foresaid defendan^ts will Confesse there foresaid Confederacies and Combynacõns vppon there Answeares in this Honorable Court And that the said defendan^ts may set downe vppon |

20.  there Oathes by waye of Answere whether that they any or either of them did sell and deliuer vnto the foresaid Lord Arch^b the Bookes for w^ch they do demand the ffowre hundred fforty |

21.  eight pounds Tenn shillinges and Ten pence of yo^r Orato^rs and what bookes the same were and for whose vse or for what purpose the said Bookes were and what did become or is |

22.  become of the said bookes or of either of them to there or either of the defendan^ts knowledge and whither they or either of them did like or demaund the said ffowre hundred fforty and eight § |

23.  pounds Tenn shillinges and eight pence of the said Lord Archbishop in his lifes tyme and what is the Cause that they have forborne to demand the said ffowre hundred fforty eight poundes Tenn |

24.  shillinges and Tenn pence of yo^r Orato^r and also set downe the tyme when the said bookes were sould or deliuered to the said Arch^b and the tyme when first the said Norton and Bill or any of the |

25.  defendan^ts did first demaunde or aske the said ffowre hundred fforty eight poundes Tenn shillinges and Tenn pence of yo^r Orato^r and the said Tombes Willson Hamonde Wolley Wrench and Taylo^r maye |

26.  further set downe what Bookes they or either of them had or received of the said Norton and Bill or of any other to the vse of the said late Arch^b  and what Aucthority or Comande they had from |

27.  the said Arch^b so to doe, or whither they had there Aucthoritye from any others and what others and what is or did become of the said bookes and whether they the defendan^ts or any of them have themselves or had § |

28.  themselves any or either of the <said Bookes> And that also the said Norton and Bill maye Answere directly yf they have not sayd and Confessed that yo^r Orato^r ought not to be Chardged in Conscience w^th the said |

29.  ffoure hundred fforty eight powndes Tenn shillinges and Tenn pence nor w^th any par^te therof or what words they have vsed to that effect And whither they have not demanded the foresaid ffoure hundred fforty and |

30.  eight powndes Tenn shillinges and Tenn pence of some other person and persons and of what other person and persons and also sett down how much of the said ffoure hundred ffortye eight pounds Tenn shillinges and Tenn |

31.  pence is in truthe behinde and vnpaid and that the said defendan^ts maye be Ordered in the p^remisse and the foresaid vniust Anon at the Common Law against yo^r Orato^r Commenced maye be stayed Maye yt |

32.  please yo^r hono^r to grante vnto yo^r said Orato^r his Ma^ties most gracious writt of Subpena to be directed to the said Bonham Norton and John Bill Richard Tombes Xrofer wilson Willyam Hamonde John Wolley |

33.  Willyam Wrench and Richard Taylo^r and either of them Commandinge them therby at a Certayne daye and vnder a Certeyne parlynce therin to be Lymitted personally to be and appeare before yo^r Honorable Lo^p : |

34.  Lo^p: in his Ma^tes High Court of Chancery then and there to Answere to the p^remisses and to stand vnto and abide such further Order [2 words illegible] yo^r Honorable Lo^p: shalbe thought meete for to Order in the §§ |

35.  p^remisses and yo^r Orato^r accordinge to his Bounden dewty will daylie praye for yo^r Hono^r in health and happie longe to Contynue.

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