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