Short Title: Attorney General v Fisher. [Cause code: SCEL-12189]. Documents: information,...

Short Title: Attorney General v Fisher.

[Cause code: SCEL-12189].

Documents: information, two answers both of Robert Fisher, one short, one very long.

Plaintiffs: Attorney General (Edward Coke).

Defendants: Robert Fisher, a man of notorious ill name and conversation and a great disturber of the country.

County: Hampshire, Gloucestershire, London.

Subject: the information cites Robert as threatening his father with violence in hs own house at Chilton, Hampshire; certification to the Lord Keeper by the JPs of Hampshire of his notorious behaviour and asking for help in repressing him; fleecing Archard Knight, a simple man, of the manor of Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire; forgery of an order in Chancery in a case over the said manor [C 2/Eliz/T5/55 ?]; going armed with dags and pistols; threatening Mr Crewe counsel at law in his chamber at Lincoln's Inn with a pistol; issuing a slanderous bill against Richard Fisher; forgery of an obligation.

Regnal year: 37 Eliz I.

Case report, taken from Star Chamber Reports, BL Harley MS 2143, ed K. J. Kesselring (List and Index Society, Special Series 57, 2018):

[907] Attorney Rex, plaintiff; Fisher, defendant: for forging an order in Chancery and counterfeiting the registrar’s hand thereto, alleging it to be made by the Lord Keeper in disallowing of a formal order, and for carrying of daggers and pistols, and threatening to discharge them at the counsel against him, pillory with paper, Fleet during the Queen’s pleasure, a £100 and £40 fine. Easter 38 Elizabeth fo. 164 [note: folio references are to the lost Star Chamber decree and order entry books].

Further case report, taken from Les Reportes del Cases in Camera Stellata, pp 41-2.

12 May 1596, 38 Eliz I.

The Queen's Attorney informed against Robert Fisher for unnatural usage of his father, and for heretical and execrable words ("that Christe was no savioure and the gospell a fable"), for forging an order in the Chancery to gain possession and rent to himself, and interposing defendants for plaintiffs, and [forging] the Register's hand to this, "and for wearing of dagges, and comminge to Sergeaunte Healle and Mr Crewe (beinge of counsell againste him) with dagges charged". For the forging of the order he was sentenced per totam curiam, imprisonment, till he find good sureties for his good behaviour, and £100 fine, to stand upon the pillory with a paper, his ears not nailed; and for wearing of dagges, a fine of £20; for wearing of them in terrorem populi dominae Reginae is punished by the laws, except it be the Queen's ministers. For the insolence to his father he was pardoned, otherwise it is punishable here; but for his blasphemous heresy (since this Court has no jurisdiciton in the matter) it was referred toteh Archbishop to punish severely. And although there was not much testimony, yet by his outrage and impudence he was condemned. And, as the Lord Treasurer said, He who is once evil in the highest degree is always presumed to be evil, and [this man's] previous acts and subsequent life declare his impiety.