A brief Relation of the Proceedings before his Highness Councel concerning the Petitioners of the Isle of Ely, against George Glapthorne Esquire; to take away the false report that is made touching the same, and that the truth may plainly appear.
WHereas George Glapthorne of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely Esquire, and chiefe Bailiff of the Liberty thereof, and Justice of Peace of the same; Hath seemed to cloud himself under this Shadow, and saith: That his Highnesse Counsell, had not heard him; And said further, Surely, they would not judg him before they heard him. Therefore to unvaile him, and take off that slander which he would seem to lay upon them, that dealt so Honourably and Honestly with him and the County: You may understand there was a Petition with about foure hundred hands to it, out of the Isle of Ely (a joyfull thing to see so many witnesses against iniquity) Their complaint was against the said Master Glapthorne, that he was a common Swearer, a common Curser, a frequenter of Ale-houses, and an upholder of those of evill fame, that he was famed to be a companion of lewd Women; therefore they thought him not fit to be a Law-maker or Parliament man for them: Upon this complaint his Highnesse Councel gave Summons for Witnesses to appear to prove this charge; which was substantially proved by severall Witnesses, and they have left their testimonies behind them upon Oath. There was examined before the [Page 2]Councel and in the presence of Mr. Glapthorne and divers other persons and Mr. Glapthorne excepted (though without cause) but against one Witnesse, who did modestly forbear: There were examined Capt. William Lane, William Head, Mr. William Marshall, George Bate of Wittlesey, and Roger Branham of Wisbich,; and there was William Manesty, and Thomus Cony came too late at that time to be examined before the Councel; but their Affidavits are here with some other of the Witnesses, which will like the Gyants foot set forth the whole stature: The Councel gave him liberty to say what he could for himself; and gave him also upon his desire a further day; but when he was called, he did not appear; he was called again the next morning, and in the afternoon, and the next day after, but, never appeared: Now let any honest man judge whether this man hath cause to complain, that he was not heard; but, he hath done like himself: When you have read these Affidavits annexed, then judge whether this man be fit to be a Parliament man or a Justice of Peace, or a chief Bailiff: for why should honest menly under the power of him thats a slave to his own lusts, an enemy to sobriety and honest living; Being the Laws are made and Justices ordained to keep men within the rules of sobriety and honesty: This is of publique concernment; For if wickednesse get into high places misery will be to the Commonwealth. Therefore it is desired some use may be made hereof, as may be to the publique good.
George Bate of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge Yeoman.
THat he hath known George Glapthorn of Wittlesey in the said Isle Esquire, for above twenty years, last past; for all which time, he hath known him to be a common Swearer and Curser, and a common frequenter of Alehouses, his usuall Oathes and Curses being, By Gods wounds, by Gods blood, by Jesus Christ, by the eternall God, God confound me body and soule, God damme me, the Devill fetch me, God refuse me: In or about August 1653. he the said George Bate heard the said Oathes and Curses: And since the said time (that is to say) the Sunday before the Election for Knights for the said Isle, he the said George Bate, heard him sweare, By God, and by Gods wounds; and the Tuesday after the Election he heard him swear and curse bitterly, (viz.) By Gods wounds, by Gods blood, God refuse him, and the like. And further, he hath heard, the said Master Glapthorne, famed to be familiar with Women of evill fame (viz.) Dorothy Fox and Anne Martin, and Elizabeth Mee.
And further saith, he hath heard the said Master Glapthorne doth usually play at Cards on the Lords Day.
The Deposition of Captain William Lane.
CAptain William Lane of Wittlesey, saith, That he hath known George Glapthorn of Wittlesey aforesaid Esquire for about 30 years, to be a common swearer, his usuall oathes being, By Gods wounds, by gods blood, god refuse my soule, and such like. And in August 1653. he that said George Glapthorne did swear the said oaths: And since the Election, which was the 12 of July 1654. he hath heard him swear by god: he hath often by diverse people heard him famed for the vse of women, namely Anne Mason and others; and that Master Robert Compton told him this examinate, that there was a wench kept for the said Mr. Glapthorn at Wisbich by one he did bestow a Bailiffs place on.
The Information of Roger Branham of Wisbich in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge this 26. day of October, 1654.
SAith, He hath known George Glapthorne of Wittlesey, in the said Isle Es1uire, about the space of of 20 years, from the date hereof; and that he hath known him all that time to be a common swearer and curser, his ordinary oaths being these, viz. Gods blood, and by the eternal god, and such like; his curses being, god refuse me, and god condemn me, and curses of that nature. And the said Roger Branham further saith, That all the aforementioned time, that he hath known George Glapthorne, he hath known him to be a frequenter of women of evil fame, as in particular, the wife of John Mason of Wisbich. And the said Roger Branham saith, he going to Wittlesey upon a time with a company of Horse, going into the house of one William Martin of Wittlesey, heard one John Norman pleasant with the wife of William Martin profering her five shillings for a good turn; but she the said Anne Martin called him Puppily-foole, and said, the old Justice Glapthorne had offered her eighteen shillings for an occupying, and promised to make it up twenty shillings when he had more money.
The Deposition of William Head.
WIlliam Head of Wittlesey aforesaid, saith, That he hath heard George Glapthorne of Wittlesey aforesaid Esquire, Swear and Curse, By Gods wounds, by Gods blood, by the eternall God, and the like; and that he hath often observed him to be in Alehouses both before and since the time of the said Election, and that he hath heard him much spoken of for Women.
William Marshall of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge, Gentleman.
SAith, That he hath known George Glapthorne Esquire, for about one year and a half last, all which time, he hath taken great notice of the said Master Glapthorne his usuall common Swearing and Cursing, (viz.) about a week before the time for the Election of Knights for the said Isle, which was on the twelfth of July 1654. By God, and by Gods blood, and such like Oaths, and the Sunday at night after the said Election, he heard him curse and swear bitterly, (viz.) God confound, the Devill fetch me, by Gods blood, and such like Oaths very grievous to be heard. And he hath heard the said Master Glapthorne reported to be a common frequenter of Women of evill fame, viz. Elizabeth Searle, whom this Deponent hath heard say, that the said Master Glapthorne had her Maiden-head. And he further saith, he hath heard the said Glapthorne doth play at Cards on the Lords Dayes.
William Manesty of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely Gentleman upon Oath, saith as followeth.
THat he hath known George Glapthorne of the same Town and Isle Esquire, for the space of twenty years last past; And that he hath known him to be a common swearer, his ordinary Oathes being, God damme me, Gods blood, by Jesus Christ, God renounce me, by the eternall God, with many other Oaths frequently flowing from him: This hath been his ordinary expressions in my hearing, at severall times in London, and in severall Alehouses in Wittlesey; as at Dorothy Harrods, Henry Atkins, William Quickloue, and other houses in the same town, and sometimes hath sworn forty of the former and the like Oaths in one hour, when he hath been gaming and at play; and likewise strange imprecations in his Cursings, using these words, God confound me body and soule, with many other such of the same nature. And this I have known to be his constant practice from the beginning of my acquaintance untill within these twelve moneths last past, since which time I have not been much in his company; but when I have been in his Company, I have heard him swear the former, or the like oaths. The said Master Manesty further saith, that hehath known the said Master Glapthorne, to be a frequenter of Women of evill fame, by their light carriage and lewd conversation, as the wife of John Fox, and the wife of Symon Mee, and others in Wittlesey. And likewise the said William Manesty going home about twelve of the clock in the night to his own house, being in his way, went to the house of one William Martin, being a common Alehouse, but at that time unlicensed, being about one year and a [Page 8]half since the said Wiliam Manesty did find the said Mr. Glapthorne and privately heard him uncivilly familiar with the wife of the said William Martin, tempting the chastity of the wife of the said William martin, with large promises of rewards, viz. that he would buy her a Roll of Tobacco, Give her Husband to Brew and sell Ale, and that he would make her Husband as rich a man as Henry Atkins, conditionally, that she would be constant and true unto him, in her affections, and to love him with greater love then that which was due unto her Husband; inticing of her also at that unseasonable time of the night to go home with him for a License; she modestly denying, fearing his incivility to her, as she told me the next morning, being taxed about it; but promised to send her Husband to him the next day. And Mr Manesty further saith, that he hath heard Elizabeth Zachary say, that the aforesaid George Glapthorne had her Maiden-head.
- Iohn Page.
- William Manesty.
Thomas Coney of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely upon Oath, saith, as followeth.
THat he hath known George Glapthorne of the same town and Isle Esquire, almost these two years, and that he hath heard him swear and curse bitterly, both at his own house and at the house of Licutenant Colonel Ʋnderwood of the town aforesaid, his Oathes were, Gods blood, and by Jesus Christ, and such like execrations, his curses were, The Devill fetch him, the Devil confound him, & such like; & that he hath set up common Ale-houses in Wittlesey aforesaid, which were formerly put down at the Sessions; That is to say, George Ground and Ed Plummer. And also further saith, he cōmonly heard him reported to be a man familiar with Women of light and loose conversations, keeping company with the-wife of John Fox, and the wife of Simon Mee, and such like in Wittlesey aforesaid. And he further saith, that it is commonly reported, that the said George Glapthorne had the Maiden-head of Elizabeth Zachary of Wittlesey aforesaid.
- John Page.
- Thomas Coney.