and two poore Schollers and their successors for euer 3. Thomas Lord Berkley Copy of the Licence Lord of Berkley granted Licence Dated 1. Iuly Anno 8. Regni regis Ricardi 2. to the said Walter Burnell and William Pendock for erecting the said Schoole and for indowment thereof with the Lands in the same Licence mentioned for maintenance and sustentation of a Master and two poore Schollers and their successors for euer 4. That the 20. day of October in the said eight yeare of the reigne of King Richard the 2. Copy of the Grant a Grant was made by the said Walter Burnell and William Pendock at the charges and procurement of Katherine Lady Berkley for erecting the said Schoole and for indowment thereof with the Lands and Tenements in the same Grant mentioned for maintenance and sustentation of a Master and two poore Schollers for teaching of Schollers in the Art and rudiments of Grammer the Patronage of which Schoole was intayled vpon the heires males of the said Thomas Lord Berkley An exemplification of a Record and Smiths Decree in Chancery Sect. 40. Numero 7. 5. In this estate the Schoole continued for the space of 200. yeares and vntill Smith endeuoured to alter the same and the Lands belonging to the Schoole are worth 300. pound a Certificate of the Archibishop of Cant Bishops of London and Winton to his Maiestie per annum at this day 6. That Robert Coldewell was Schoolemaster of that Schoole duly presented and was in right thereof seized of and in all the lands Tenements thereto belonging and being so seized by his b Confessed by Smiths said Decree in Chancery Sect. 40. Numero 8. Indenture vnder the common Seale of that Schoole bearing date the 27. of May in the 37. yeare of the reigne of King Hen. the 8. did demise one messuage with the appurtenances called Warrens Court in North-Nibley in the said County of Glocester parcell of the said Schoole lands vnto one William Thomas his Executors Assignes from the feast of the Anunciation of the blessed Lady S. Mary the Virgin then last past for the terme of 88. yeares for the yearely Rent of fourtie eight shillings That William Thomas by his last c Confessed by the same Decree Numero 8. Will Dated Anno Domini 1556. did bequeath the said Lease and residue of the Terme of 88. yeares vnto Alice his wife and Executrix for her life and after to Grace Daughter of the said William Thomas and Alice and after to the Children of the said Alice by Iohn Moore her former Husband and to the suruiuor of them which children were Richard William Katherine Elizabeth Mary and Ioice and dyed Alice proued that d Will vnder Seale will and entred into Warrens Court as a Legacy and so left the same after her death to Grace who at the suite of the said Richard Moore and the rest of his said Brethren and Sisters being plaintiffes against the said Alice and Grace were by an e 2. Orders order in Chancery where that suite was commenced in the 26. yeare of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth compelled to bring the said originall Lease into that Court where it was by consent of Alice and all the said Legatees to f An Exemplification of the Answers of Alice and Grace remaine and safely there be kept for the vse of them all that they might take the benefit thereof one after another vntill the expiration thereof 8. That the said Lease was so kept the space of 18. yeares and vntill Smith married the said Grace which was in the 39. yeare of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth and then Smith perceiuing that all other the ancient Leases of the Schoole lands were come to an end except the Lease of Warrens Court began his endeuours and practices to get all the said Schoole lands and to that purpose did by diuers practices and vntrue suggestions in Chancery there being then none to oppose him g Order obtaine the said Lease out of Chancery vnduly and the same deteyned in contempt of the h Order Orders of that Court. 9. That Smith hauing so gotten that Lease delt and practiced with one Henry Duport that Duport should i Copy of Smiths Answer to Bishops Bill in the Exchequer and of the Bill pretend some tytle to the Patronage of that Schoole and to the inheritance of the Lands thereto belonging whereupon Smith and that Duport gaue forth in speeches that the said Duport had good tytles thereunto and Smith also practiced with Iohn Duport and Iames Duport who then had possessed themselues of the said Schoole and Lands as masters and owners thereof to set on foot another tytle and so Smith for some small matter to those three Duports got possession of all the Schoole-Lands as his owne Fee-simple and likewise the Patronage and the better to colour that his practice k Counterpart of the Conueyance razed in the summe let downe for consideration tooke conveyances from the Duports 10. That Smith Anno 6. Regni regis Iacobi vnduly placed one Edward Cowper Master of that Schoole vpon whose induction Smith caused Cowper to l Copy of Smiths Answer in the Exchequer and of the Bill conuey all the Schoole Lands in Fee to one Iohn Browning father to Smiths wife and to one Bolton which Browning and Bolton soone after conueyed the same and leuied a Fine to Smith and his heires for euer and so Cowper continued as Schoole-master but neuer exercised the place or had any thing there to doe but others as Deputies there were placed by Smith and so Smith made Cowper but as his stale 11. That Smith by colour of the said seuerall conveyances and vpon expiration of all the ancient Leases about that time viz. about Anno 6. Regni regis Iacobi worne out sauing the said Lease of Warrens Court m Copy of Smiths said Answer in the Exchequer and of the Bill entred n Smiths Patent vpon 38. Tenements belonging to that Schoole hauing possessed himselfe of Warrens Court before and did let those Tenements for long termes vpon Fines and the Tenants tooke Bonds of Smith for the quiet enioying o Witnesses and shortly after Smith p Witnesses called a Court Baron in his owne name as Lord and owner of all the Schoole lands and summoned all the Tenants of the Schoole lands as belonging to Warrens Court and kept Courts Baron in the Schoole-house 12. That the said Ioice was last suruiuor of all the said Legatees as Smith hath q Smiths Decree in Chancery confessed and the said Ioice so being lawfully intytled vnto all the remaine of 88. yeares in Warrens Court which was 21. yeares then to come did for diuers considerations duly r Assignement from â—oice to Crokey and â—â—â—â—ant of Attorney assigne the same Lease to Crokey her Nephew which Crokey was sonne of the said Katherine one of the said Legatees and dyed intestate and
Crokey Å¿ Letters of Admiâ—â—â—â—â—ation administred and this was about 12. yeares since whereupon Crokey being interessed in Warrens Court and Smith being in possession thereof and the said Grace his then late wife being dead and by her death Smiths interest in Warrens Court ending Crokey commenced a suite in Chancery against Smith and made his entry thereinto and depending the said suite in Chancery Smith still to colour his bad tytles to outface the world and to vex Crokey with suites brought an action of trespasse against Crokey for that his entry in which suite Smith proceeded to tryall without Crokeyes priuity and so that Tryall passed by default whereby Smith recouered of Crokey 7. pounds for costs though Crokey at the beginning of that suite obtained an t Order order in Chancery for stay thereof or to shew cause to the contrary which Smith did not but in contempt went to tryall as aforesaid 13. By these suites with Smith for Warrens Court Crokey tooke knowledge of the foundation and state of the Schoole and withall of Smiths said practices against the same which practices of Smith stirred vp Crokey more for defence of the Schoole then for his owne tytle as may well appeare by that which followeth 14. That there haue beene 33. seuerall u Seuerall Records exemplified and Copies of Record suites touching the said Will of the said William Thomas whereupon there were Virdicts Decrees Non-suites and Dismissions and the question in all which suites was whether that the remainder of yeares in Warrens Court should goe and be to the Legatees or to the Executors by the said Will in all which suites Iudgement was alwaies for the Legatees vnder whom Crokey claymes and Crokey hath an approued good and lawfull tytle to Warrens Court during the remainder of 88. yeares and Smith hath no right thereunto nor had since the death of Grace his said wife howbeit Smith by his vntrue reports ordinarie with him and by some false colours hath so shadowed the matter as that he hath made all men beleeue that all the said seuerall suites were in affirmation of his vniust clayme vnder a pretended tytle from one Sprint coloured by a Decree in Chancery 19. May 43. R. Regine Elizab. obteyned by Smith deceitfully as also by a dismission caused by colour of that Decree which Decree and dismission were against one Moores Tytle not against Crokeyes which Decree and dismission last spoken of or his said pretended tytle from Sprint Smith in all his suites with Crokey or in any of them could neuer make good though Smith hath laboured therein all he might but the same were alwaies held and deemed deceitfull and fraudulent 15. That Crokey for his owne right but especially in his tendernesse and zeale for preseruation of the Schoole and inheritance thereof prosecuting the before mentioned suite in Chancery against Smith Smith further to colour those his practices before spoken of for maintenance of his iniurious dealing against the Schoole and Crokey exhibited an u Exemplification of the Triall Information against Crokey and the said Ioice Crokeyes Aunt to the court of Common pleas vpon the Statute of Maintenance and Champerty which suite was commenced 20. Iuly Anno 12. Regni regis Iacobi in which x Information Information he the said Smith set forth that the first day of Ianuary in the 11. yeare of his Maiesties raigne and by the space of two yeares next before he was and then was seized in his demeasne as of fee of and in one capital messuage called Warrens Court and of and in 60. Acres of land 20. acres of meddow and 30. acres of pasture and 20. Acres of Wood scituate and lying in North-Nibley in the County of Glocester and the Rents and profits of the same Tenements with the appurtenances to his owne proper vse for all the said time of 2. yeares had and receiued Smith pretending further thereby that Ioice not hauing any right or title and notwithstanding pretending right and tytle to the premises conueyed the same to Crokey and so both Ioice and Crokey within the Statute of Maintenance and Champerty to which Information Ioice and Crokey pleaded and the cause came to tryall at the Bar. 26. April Anno 13. Regni regis Iacobi vpon full euidence Smith was y The same Exemplification nonsuited and yet vpon opening of the said suite in Chancery which was but 3. dayes after the said tryall Smith by his indirect practices procured a z Order dismission to the Law without any further hearing 16. That vpon the said Dismission in Chancery Crokey sealed a a The Lease for tryall of the tytle Lease for 5. yeares to one Thomas Bodham whereon to bring an action of eiectione firme for tryall of the tytle and thereupon Crokey commenced a suite in the Court of Common pleas against Smith In which suite the Iudges of that Court perceiuing the many vniust suites and sinister practices raised and prosecuted by Smith against Crokey against the Schoole made seueral b The Rules Rules in Court but with the assent of Smith and his Councel that if the verdict vpon that Tryall should passe for Crokey that then Crokey should forthwith haue possession and no writ of Error should be granted although the said Lease for the eiectment should be expired 17. That Smith to weary Crokey in that suite with vexations and delayes as before in the rest he endeuoured in May Anno Regni regis Iacobi 13. commenced a new suite in Chancery against Crokey for the same cause which was c Order of Dismission dismissed in Iuly Anno 15. Regni regis Iacobi And also another suite by English d Copy of Smithes Answer to the said Bill Bill in the Exchequer Chamber Termino Paso An. 14. Regni regis Iacobi in the name of one Edw Bishop a friend of Smiths and his chamber-fellow in the inner Temple which suite though it seemed to bee commenced against Smith for therein he made himselfe defendant and answered the said Bill yet that Bill was exhibited by Smith himselfe fraudulently the same Bill Smith e The said Copy of Smiths Answer answered and in that his Answer stood vpon all his fayned tytles and Smith likewise tooke out a f Order Commission for examination of witnesses and sâ—â—â—â—â—ed diuers witnesses to proue that Bill and so proued the Bill and thereby that all the lands belonging to the Schoole were concealed and within the Statute of 1. Edw 6. and so that suite ceased and all that suite was at Smiths charge for therein he made himselfe both plantiffe and defendant whereupon Smith for little or nothing bought Bishops tytle but withall tooke letters g Copy of the Letters Patents Copy of Certificate and Decree vpon the Commission for Charitable vses and Witnesses Patens thereof vpon the Commission of defectiue tytles to him and his heires for euer for which he paid to his Maiestie 5. pound
Crokey from obtayning a third Commission vpon the Statute of Charitable vses Sect. 26. 16 Smith endeuoured to get a Release from Crokeyes Lessee in the eiectment at the time when the Cause was to be tryed but not preuayling in that Smith at the tryall stood vpon all his bad Titles and aforesaid practices abusing the Lord Hobart and the other Iudges by false reports and suggestions to them and practiced with one Gayre to raze a Record which was done Sect. 28.32 17 Smith still to delay Crokey and to countenance his vniust dealings got himselfe made a Burgesse in Parliament of a Towne 130. miles distant from his habitation An. 1619. Sect. 35. 18 Smith to weary Crokey in the proceedings for the Schoole did set his agents to see Crokey arested when Crokey was going on in the execution of his Maiesties Commission by direction of the Parliament and delt vnderhand with Crokeyes Creditors to assigne Crokeyes Debts to him or to some others his Agents and Confederates and otherwise practiced whereby to keepe Crokey in Prison wherein hee hath preuayled against Crokey Sect. 37.39 2 A Summary and briefe of the seueral abuses committed by Smith against his late Majestie and against his Majesties Courts and Magistrates and Iudges 1 By surmising false matter oftentimes whereby to auoyd seueral Orders of the Starchamber for taxation of Costs there awarded against him and for increase of Costs Sect. 18. 2 By detayning the said second Commission vpon the Statute of Charitable vses and altering the Commissioners names Sect. 20. 3 By deluding his Maiestie and the Court of Exchequer vnder a shew of a pious intent Sect. 24.31 4 By surmising false matters to the Chancery to hinder Crokey for obtayning a third Commission Sect. 26. 5 By surmising false matter to the Iudges of the common Pleas that they might stay Iudgement and Execution vpon the verdict for Crokey contrary to the Rules in Court by Smiths consent which false surmises tooke effect Sect. 30. 6 By surmising false matters in a Petition to his late Maiestie whereby Smith crossed all former directions of his late Maiestie the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor and diuers Bishops and other iust and legall proceedings in behalfe of the Schoole Sect. 31. 7 By surmising false matter against the directions of his late Maiestie the Archbishop of Canterb the L. Chancellor and other Bishops for hindering of Crokey in obtayning that third Commission before granted Sect. 27. 8 By making the Court of Chancery beleeue that the Schoole Rent was brought so low as 40. shillings per annum and that he had increased it to 12. pounds per annum when as in truth the true and due Rent to the Schoole was alwayes at the least 23. pounds per annum vntill Smith began his practices to supplant it 9 By abusing the Lord Hobart and Master Attorney General by false reports and suggestions whereby they were perswaded of Crokeys double dealing in the cause of the Schoole and thereby Smith obtained an Iniunction to stay all Crokeyes proceedings in behalfe of the Schoole Sect. 33. 10 By abusing the Lord Keeper and Master Atturney General by false Informations whereby hee obtayned a Commission for a suruey of the Schoole Lands and the cariage thereof which Commission was directed to Smiths friends Sect. 38. 11 By abusing the Lord Keeper the Iudges assistants of the Chancery and Master Attorney General in drawing vp and entring a Decree in Chancery where many vntrue matters were incerted Sect. 41. Numer decret 12. By procuring 52. pounds costs to bee taxed against Crokey in the Starchamber vpon Bill and answer Crokeys suites being before stayed by Iniunction mentioned in the said Decree which Costs Smith hath charged Crokey withall in the Kings Bench. Sect. 42. 3 A Summary and briefe of the seueral Contempts cōmitted by Smith against Decrees Orders Rules Verdicts and other iust proceedings of seueral Courts in the cause of the Schoole 1. For not bringing in the said originall Lease according to an order in Chancery Sect. 8. 2. For not staying the said suite against Crokey vpon his said entry according to an order in Chancery Sect. 12. 3. For disobeying seuerall orders in Starchamber for hearing and for his boasting against the same Sect. 17. 4. For not attending the Cōmittees assigned by his Maiesties directions and References for the schoole according to their seuerall warrants Sect. 26. 5. For disobeying the Decree by direction of Parliament vpon the Commission of charitable vses and by his putting in new friuolous exceptions thereto being before waued by consent of Smith and his Councell Sect. 38. 6. For his many deuises and slights by deferring the said Fynall tryall and after the tryall the Iudgement and after the Iudgement by not yeelding possession according to seuerall Rules in Court made by consent of Smith and his Councell in contempt of that Court for procuring the Record to be razed Sect. 28 29 30 31 32 All which matters Crokey hopeth this high Court of Parliament will take into consideration and the rather when Smithes said practices abuses and contempts shall more fully by the particulars hereafter related appeare But forasmuch as vpon the whole matter there may one maine question arise which is that the now Lord Berkley being conceiued to be the heire of the Founder of that Schoole and Patrone thereof why should not his Lordship or others for him haue stirred in this cause of the Schoole and the same haue defended rather then Crokey As to that Crokey humbly desireth he may be called to answer vina voce when he doubteth not but to giue good satisfaction therein There may bee also an Objection which is That Crokey hath followed the cause of the Schoole for some particular ends of his owne and especially in respect of his tytle to Warrens Court As to that Crokey doth plainely make manifest that he hath not prosecuted the Cause of the Schoole for his owne ends but in the behalfe of the Schoole onely and at his owne charge for Crokey did well know his Title to Warrens Court to be good for the Statute of the first of Edward the 6. maintaineth all Leases whatsoeuer made before the 28. day of November in the 37. of Henry the Eight as was the said Lease vnder which Crokey claimes The particulars of the Relation are as they doe appeare by the seuerall Sections the proofes whereof are noted in the Margent 1. AN Inquisition vpon an ad quod damnum Copy of the Inquisition dated die lune proxime ante festum Assentionum Domini Anno 7. Regni regis Ricardi secundi 2. King Richard the 2. granted licence of the 16. of Iune Copy of the Licence in the 7. of his reigne to Walter Burnell and William Pendock Chaplaines for erecting of a free Grammer schoole in Wooton-vnderedge in the Countie of Glocester and for indowment thereof with the land and Tenements therein mentioned for maintenance and sustentation of a Master
the same To which Information Crokey answered n Crokeys Answer and thereby cleared himselfe of that suggestion vtterly disclayming all other interest in or to the Schoole or Lands otherwise then by his said right to Warrens Court and his zeale for preseruation of the said Schoole and possessions thereto belonging and withall by his said Answer charged Smith with his seuerall practices against the Schoole and thereby also shewed in how many cases he had defended the said Schoole against Smith and others that had gone about to supplant it But Smith by his o Smithes Answer Answer to the said Information set forth all his bad tytles herein before mentioned and thereto added many vntrue suggestions howbeit vpon the said Information 〈◊〉 an p Order Iniunction Iniunction against Crokey and thereby stopped all Crokeys proceedings in Law or Chancery in behalfe of the Schoole or in his owne behalfe euer since against Smith which Iniunction Smith himselfe serued upon Crokey and which Crokey obeying Crokey forbore any further proceeding in Law or Chancery in that behalfe and by that meanes all Crokeys endeuours which he had so faithfully and zealously followed in behalfe of the Schoole were vtterly defeated contrary to his Maiesties said directions and contrary to the Honourable and Charitable endeuours of the said Lord Archbishop the Lord Chancellour and of the Lords Bishops of London and Winton 34. That vpon the motion q Confessed Smiths Decree in Chancery Lord Hobarts Warrant of Master Attorney Generall according to the direction of the Lord Hobart the Lord Chancellour awarded a Commission vpon the Statute of Charitable vses leauing the nomination of the Commissioners to the Lord Hobart Witnesses who nominated Commissioners Crokey not assenting thereunto But that Commission though sealed was neuer put in execution for the Parliament was then at hand Not to be denyed 35. That Smith procured himselfe to be made a Burgesse in that Parliament for Midhurst in the County of Sussex 130. miles distant from his residence and this was anno 16â—0 36. That neuerthelesse Crokey presented a Bill r Bill in Parliament in that Parliament against Smith on behalfe of the Schoole and thereupon obtained an Å¿ Order in Parliament order of Parliament for another Commission vpon the Statute of charitable vses so long before sought for by Crokey to inquire according to the Statute of Charitable vses and withall ordered that the Lords Bishops of Worcester and Glocester and Bristoll and their Chancellours and others should bee Commissioners Witnesses 37. That Crokey sued forth that Commission and going on in the execution thereof and hauing 〈◊〉 before had 〈◊〉 losses at Sea and other wayes and Crokey being indebted to one Augustine Haruy 50. pound for which Haruy had Crokeyes Bond of 100. pound Crokey was arrested vpon that Bond and detained and when Crokey offered to t Witnesses satisfie the debt Haruy had made ouer that Bond to one Ashman Haruy and Ashman u Order declaring the same together had made ouer the same to one Fisher and so Crokey could not know with whom to deale which intricasie as it seemeth and as Crokey is verily perswaded came by the meanes of Smith or some of his Agents and confederates for that Smith had before by himselfe and others his confederates dealt with others of Crokeys Creditors to buy * Witnesses Crokeys debts and Crokey is the rather so perswaded for that at the time Crokey was so arrested one Bird whom Smith hath long vsed and imployed in his affaires and one Archer a seruant of Smithes were at that his arrest and for that also Smith hath beene very inquisitiue to know what matters were against Crokey in the Kings Bench and for that also Crokey hath since endeuoured by all meanes to giue satisfaction whereby to release himselfe but cannot Orders of the Chancery as may appeare by that which immediatly followeth For Crokey when he had so offered satisfaction and was notwithstanding so put off and sued at Law in the name of Haruy Crokey coÌ„mensed a suite in Chancery against Haruy and Ashman in point of equity there Crokey hauing obtained an x An Iniunction vnder Seale Iniunction to stay the said suit at Law Haruy the rest without any notice to Crokey or any for him by vntrue suggestions obtained a y Affedauit Report and so the cause was dismissed and that Iniunction was dissolued and which was at the very time when Haruy or Ashman should haue shewed cause why they should not haue accepted the 50. pound z Order principall Whereupon Crokey vpon his Petition obtained a a Petition Reference Reference from his Maiestie anno 1620. to Sir Edm Boyer and Sir George Paul Knights to mediate but Haruie though b Affedauit serued with their Warrant would not appeare Vpon that Crokey obtained an c Iniunction vnder Seale Iniunction in the Court of Requests for stay of Haruies proceedings at Law which Haruy also contemned and proceeded to a Iudgement Crokey vpon that obtained a d Protection Protection of the Parliament At which time Crokey going on in the execution of the said Commission so awarded by order in Parliament was notwithstanding his said Protection taken e Witnesses in Execution when the Iudges were gone their Circuit and the Parliament proroged And the said debt being so made ouer Crokey was so intangled as that when Crokey and his friends tendered the whole hundred pounds and 7. pound more for costs for his release of imprisonment no other matter being against him no penny would be accepted and so Crokey lay fiue moneths in Prison vntill the Parliament sate againe and then Petitioning to f Petition to the Parliament and discharge the Parliament was released And all this trouble came vpon Crokey when he was to haue followed that Commission so awarded by order in Parliament and by Smithes meanes as Crokey is verily perswaded for the reasons aforesaid yet did not Crokey neglect that Commission but to his great g Witnesses charge of threescore pounds and vpward imployed others therein And so the said Commission was executed at Glocester by the said Bishops and others and an Inquisition was found 19. Regni regis Iacobi by the oathes of 17. Iurors all substantiall and men of good estates of the County of Glocester Whereupon the said Commissioners returned the said Commission and h Copies of the Commission Inquisition Certificate and Decree Inquisition together with their Decree and Certificate thereupon the same being Dated 19. September Anno Regni regis Iacobi 19. which said Certificate and Decree was to the effect following viz. That there appeared before them aswell the said Iurors as also diuers Tenants of the said Schoole lands and diuers Witnesses to testifie on either side As also Crokey the prosecutor on behalfe of the said Schoole by his Councell on the one part And the said Smith claiming