Short title: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster v Barber. Plaintiffs: Attorney...

Short title: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster v Barber.

Plaintiffs: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster [at the relation of Peter Bradshawe and Francis Bradshawe].

Defendants: Thomas Barber, Charles Ashton and George Ward.

Documents: depositions concerning Chinley, Derbyshire.

Taken 1 October, 3 Charles I.

Deponents for plaintiffs: Thomas Bowden of Cotebank, yeoman, aged 44, [he was shown an agreement signed by the neighbours regarding the land known as Maystonfield, alias Chinleys]. He deposed that he heard that Thomas Barber had since consented to the agreement since the beginning of the suit. He believes that the enclosing of Maystonfield and its conversion into arable land will be good 'for the common wealth'; Thomas Yeaveley of Whitehanghead, yeoman, aged 30, deposed that he wrote the agreement signed by the neighbours; Raphe Gee of Lydgate, yeoman, aged 45; Thomas Carsington of Bugsworth, gentleman, aged 46; James Carsington of Bugsworth, yeoman, aged 30; William Andrew of Beard, tanner, aged 50; George Bowden senior, of Bowden, gentleman, aged 80; Robert Rollenson of Gibhey, yeoman, aged 50; Thomas Kerke of Whitehaugh, yeoman, aged 50; William Carrington of Bugsworth, yeoman, aged 56; Charles Kerke of Shyrocks, yeoman, aged 71.

Deponents for defendants: Peter Kerke of Chinley, husbandman, aged 72, whose memory goes back 60 years [to 1567], deposed that from Mayday to Michaelmas the land was summer pasture and from Michaelmas it was a common to 'digge or delve upon' [dig or delve upon]. The herbage is to be divided into 4 parts and especially to Charles Ashton and George Ward and will prove costly; Godfrey Redfearne of Brownside, husbandman, aged 75, deposed that the division of the herbage will be 'generallye hurtful' [generally hurtful] to the inhabitants of Chinley. There are already 15 cottages erected on the herbage; George Shalcrosse of Ford in Chapel-en-le-Frith, yeoman, aged 73, deposed that every year the neighbours have chosen 4 men to keep Maystonfield and to punish trespasses. His grandfather informed him that the enclsoed ground called the Mille Marsh and the Brecke are parts of the King's wastes and bade him 'to take notice therof' [to take notice thereof]; Robert Dollinson of Gibney, yeoman, aged 54, signed his own name; Thomas Kirks of Whitehough, yeoman, aged 50, signed his own name; George Kirks of Shireokes, yeoman, aged 72; Thomas Kirks of Shireokes, aged 40, described the charge on the township for poor relief and that the poor population would be icnreased if the land was to be enclosed.