Letter from Sir John Popham to Robert Redmayne, copy, 1599 June 20, L.d.477

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This article features a transcription of a Folger Shakespeare Library manuscript, Letter from Sir John Popham to Robert Redmayne, L.d.477, (June 20 1599) featured in the Age of Lawyers Exhibition, September 12, 2015-January 3, 2016.

More manuscripts from this collection can be found in Guide to the Bacon-Townshend collection, 1550-1640

Law and religion mixed closely in the early modern age. This letter from John Popham, the chief justice of King's Bench, orders justices of the peace in Norfolk to imprison a list of "dangerous recusants" at Wisbech Castle until the next assizes—the county-level courts held twice a year. Recusants were Catholics, or non-conforming Protestants like Puritans, who did not attend Church of England services, as required by law.

Transcription

Below is a semi-diplomatic transcription of Folger manuscript L.d.477. The transcription below was created by the Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO) project. To access an image of the original leaf, click on each transcription's heading.

L.d.477, 1r

With my very harty commendacions I haue herinclosed

sent you the names of diuerse very dangerous recusantes

dwelling neare vnto wisbitch castell whome I praie you

to take some course for either by your self or some other

Iustices of the peace thereabowtes That they maie be bownde

over to appeare at the next assizes to be holden for the

Cowntie of Norffolk to answere vnto such matters as shalbe

obiected against them on her maiesties behalf And even

so I bid you very hartely farewell; At Sergeantes Inn

this xxth of Iune 1599

Your very loving frende

Iohn Popham

Theise are the names I ment

Henry Bedingfeild of wearham gentleman

Martin Moundeford of the same gentleman

Guiles Townshend of westdereham gentleman

Thomas Lovell of Bicham west gentleman

Henrye Lawes of the same yeoman

Richard Atkyns of Owtwell yeoman

John ffyncham of Martyn

Rowland Twaytes of Bodney

John Paynter of Holme hall

Evans ffludd of Breckles gentleman

Thomas Harman of Oxburrough

Richard Browne of Easton

Thomas Bromull of St Maries

Raphaell Willowghby of Mawdelyn gentleman

George Norton of Hindringham