Letter from Thomas Worswick, Stafford to Walter Bagot L.a.990

Right wo​r​shippfu​ll my verie humble dewtie remembred &c​ I doe
vnderstand by you​r​ servant Ed: watkins​ that you​r​ wo​r​shipp hath nottice of a willfull murther done by one Martin Broughes​ servant wi​th​in a Lordshi​pp​ of you​r​s, whi​ch​ murther was so sleightelie overpassed by the inhab​itantes​ thereabouts that had not my readines ben more then theres, the bodie had ben vnburied till this houre, in the meane season the murthered​r is escaped hauinge had entertainmen​t​ in Broughes​ house one that I know is a verie peevishe companion as by his answeres to me I did well per​​ceiue, w​ and for that by the evidence yt did appeare that Broughes​ people did giue entertainemen​t​ to the murtherer knowinge yt by his owne Confession, I could do no lesse then bynde him and them over, besydes that I must further signifie vnto you​r​ wo​r​shippe that vppon my certificat into the Crowne Office the towneshippes of Bagottes​ Bromley​ and Abbottes​ Bromley​ must payee​ a ffyne for thescape of the murtherer, out of whi​ch​ the queene​ allowes me xiijs​ iiijd​​ for a fee, as by the statute yt appeareth, Thus much I signified to Brough​, but he made no reckininge of me. I am verie loath to trouble the cuntrie, especiallie any that shall belonge to you​r​ selfe yett I would haue them do that whi​ch​ appurteyneth to them to doe, ffor otherwise yt is fitt the should be taught. But how so euer​ they deserue, I purpose to do nothinge that I maie know shall discontent you​r​ wo​r​shippe, And therefore what you​ would haue me doe ether towardes​ the towneshippes or Broughe​ him selfe, you​ maie saie yt shalbe so, ffor th​ wi​th​out manie wordes you​r​ wo​r​shippe shall euer​ comaund me. And there ^fore​ if yt please you​ to signifie to me what you​ wold haue done, so yt be before the assises I will per​​forme yt. And so I humblie take my leaue. Stafford​​ .23. of ffebr.​uary​ 1598 your​ wor​shippes​ euer​ much bounden to commaund​ Tho:​mas​ Worswick​