Session at Maidstone, 23rd September, 1600

21 John Foster of [Horsmonden], labourer, has built a cottage at Horsmonden for habitation on the highway, without assigning 4a. of freehold land to it, against the Act of Parliament of 31 Elizabeth.

At the session held at Maidstone on 23rd September, 1600, John Foster appears by Herbert Cadman, his attorney and claims that the indictment is insufficient in law, pleads not guilty and puts himself on the country. John Webbe, gentleman, clerk of the peace, prosecutes.

Writ of non omittas........... quin venire facias to summon a jury for the sessions at Canterbury on the Tuesday next after the feast of Epiphany [7th January, 1601]. On which day John Webbe appears in person and John Foster by his attorney but none of the jury. Therefore postponed until the Tuesday after the close of Easter next [21st April, 1601] at Maidstone. Sheriff to have the jury there and the same day is given to John Webbe and John Foster.

Badgers Authorized.

Richard Nasse of Staplehurst, yeoman, by Sir Thomas Fludd, William Sedley and Samuel Boys, esqs., justices.

Anthony Fowle of Hawkhurst, yeoman, by the same justices and Lawrence Wasshington, esq.

William Blackmore of Gravesend, yeoman, by Sir John Leveson and Sir Thomas Waller, knights, and Robert Bosville, esq., justices.

Orders made at Maidstone on 23rd September, 1600.

1 So that a new house of correction can be built at Dartford in the upper part of the lathe of Sutton at Hone, one third of the gaol and house of correction money due for Maidstone gaol from that area, to be diverted from the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist [24th June] to the maintenance of Dartford house of correction provided the arrears of the gaol and correction money are paid before the next session at Maidstone so that debts of at least £120 owing to the executors of the late receiver of the gaol and house of correction money from the lathes of Aylesford and Sutton at Hone can be paid.

2 Habeas corpora to be returnable at the next session at Canterbury to summon the juries to try the information for Savage.

3 Concerning the case of Robert Russell accused of begetting a bastard child on the body of Johanna Awborne at Staplehurst, the court is in some doubt and will be advised at the next session whether to make any alteration to their order or not, in the meantime the order of the sessions held at Easter, 1600, shall be carried out by Russell, that is he shall pay the churchwardens all the arrears due under that order before he departs from this town and pay 10d. weekly until contrary order be made. But if the court shall order it he shall have back all that he has paid to the parish of Staplehurst.

4 As it has been found by the court on examination that Charles Goodlad, late of Maidstone, blacksmith, was married about Shrovetide last, at Maidstone, to his present wife and that for five months before his marriage and also since that time he lived in Maidstone and yet he and his wife were sent from there as vagrants to Thurnham to be provided for there, it is now ordered that they shall be conveyed by the borsholder of Thurnham back to Maidstone to be set to work there and provided for as required by the statute lately made.

5 Richard Baker of Goudhurst near Flimwell not to victual any more.

6 William Yeman of Rochester, carpenter, and Thomas Fenn of Rochester shall be attached to find sureties for good behaviour.

7 Thomas Coucheman of Tonbridge, yeoman, shall be attached and brought to West Malling on Saturday next after the feast of St. Michael the Archangel [4th October, 1600] to find sureties before the justices assembled there for good behaviour.

8 Henry Hughes late of St. Mary Overy in Southwark, being committed by Robert Bosseville as a vagrant, shall be whipped and sent away.