Court paper of the Manorial Court for the court leet and court baron of the manor of Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire, 1616 October 23, V.b.86

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This article features a transcription of a Folger Shakespeare Library manuscript, Court paper of the Manorial Court, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, V.b.86, (October 23, 1616 ) featured in the Age of Lawyers Exhibition, September 12, 2015-January 3, 2016.

The 12-man jury of this manorial court listed several regulations, with fines, on this court paper. These include prohibitions against stacking wood in the street, giving shelter to pregnant women without the bailiff's permission, and allowing a performance by any players, except the king's. Although Shakespeare died earlier in 1616, the exemption would have protected his old acting company, the King's Men.

Transcriptions

Below is a semi-diplomatic transcription of leaf 1 verso of Folger manuscript V.b.86. 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.

V.b.86, leaf 1 verso

Twelve men agree that none shall lay any wood or [muc]ke

in the street above a mothe moneth to the annoying of the

high way or his neighbor to forfaite iij.^s. iiij.^d

for euery default for the same

Twelve men agree that the Butchers shall kill

such meat as is good & holsom ^^ment for mans bodie: &

for not so doing for everie default to forfait. iij.^s iiij.^d

Twelve men agree that

William Smith Baly shall lay open the Horse

poole betwixt this & Christmas next or compond

with his neighbors, for not so doing to forfait x.^s

Twelve men agree that none shall put any sheepe

in to the corne ^ ^Backfield field vntill the corne be bee rid

in paine to forfeit x.^s.

Twelve men agree that Edward Goostrie shall

keep cl cleane the water course that vsually

goeth through his house from time to time, in

paine to to forfait for default iij.^s iiij.^d

Twelve men agree that none shall lay any

mucke in Bewdesert lane in paine to forfaite

for everie de fault iij.^s iiij.^d

Twelve men agree that none shall receive and

any great bellied woman or base borne child

in to for paine to forfeit wit xl. ^s .

with out the consent of Mr Bayly & his brethren

in paine to forfait xl.^s

Twelve ^^men agree that none shall ^take any tenant stranger

to be his tenant with out the consent of Mr Bailile

& his brethren in paine to forfeit xl.^s.

Twelve men agree that all the masters & other:

officers ^ ^{that have ben Baylies & constable that be of suffissient}

shall attend on Mr Bayly on the faire

day ^^{with euery one theier man} in paine to forfaite for ^^{every default} iij.^s. iiij.^d

Twelve men agree that no players shall hav

any licence of Mr Bayly to play in the towne

hall vnlesse the be the kinges players in paine

to forfait xx.^s.