STAC 5/C14/27
STAC 5/C14/27 - B - 27 Eliz - Cornwall - John Cowche v Robert Hawkens, Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn, Christopher Stertridge Oliver Carmyno see STAC Couch
Transcribed by Helen Good
To the Queens most excellent Majesty
Humbly complaining showeth unto your most excellent majesty your humble faithful subject John Cowche gentleman That whereas your said subject about the tenth day of November last past being in gods peace and your highness at Boddenam within your Majesty’s County of Cornewall attending his necessary business and not intending or meaning any bodily harm or hurt to any creature Upon the said tenth day of November last past or thereabouts one Robert Hawkins arrayed and armed with a sword and buckler and having then in most riotous manner procured to assemble together Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn, Christopher Stertrige, Olyver Carmyno with divers others to the number of thirty persons unto your said subject as yet unknown arrayed and furnished with weapons invasive and defensive That is to say with long forest bills, glaives, mainpikes, swords and bucklers They the said Robert Hawkins, Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn, Christopher Stertridge, Olyver Carmyno, not having the fear of god before their eyes neither yet regarding your highness laws and statutes in such cases provided upon the said tenth day of December in most riotous routous and warlike manner did wound hurt and evil entreat your said subject with great hurt and wounds in divers places of his body and had murthered and slain your said subject if he had not been then and there rescued and defended by some of your majesty’s subjects being then and there present By reason of which wound hurt and bloodshed your said subject as yet lieth languishing in great danger of recovery of his life And the said Robert Hawkens, Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn, Christopher Stertridge Oliver Carmyno and the rest of the said riotous persons not satisfied or contented with their foresaid riotous and unlawful enterprises and assaults and the grievous wounding of your said subject in manner as before is said but still persisting in their riotous and unlawful enterprises and intending to murther and slay your said subject secretly bestowed themselves in some privy corners in the evening of the same day at Bodenam aforesaid watching your said subject And your subject towards the evening of the said day travelling along that way and verily believing that the said riotous persons having before committed the riot and outrage in manner and form as before is said had departed They the said Robert Hawkyns, Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn Christopher Stertridge and Olyver Carmyno grievously assaulted your said subject then and there and wounded your said subject very sore so that your said subject very hardly by gods great good providence alike escaped In tender consideration whereof and forasmuch as the said riots routs outrage misdemeanours assaults and affrays are made contrary to your highness laws and statutes and an ill example to other such like lewd and ill disposed persons in those parts to commit and perpetrate the like if some sharp punishment be not with speed had and ministered unto the offenders May it therefore please your most excellent majesty the premisses duly considered to grant your highness most gracious several writs of Subpoena to be directed unto the said Robert Hawkens, Alexander Penkevell, Gilbert Treglyn, Christopher Stertridge Oliver Carmyno commanding them and every of them thereby at a certain day and under a certain pain therein limited personally to appear before your highness in your majesty’s most honourable Court of Starchamber then and there to answer to the premises and to abide such further order and direction therein as to the same Court shall seem most meet and convenient And your said subject according to his most bounden duty shall daily pray unto almighty god for the prosperous preservation of your highness all security long to reign.
