"Part of the 6 cavells of 102 acres upon Rosse. "Cavell D. Mrs. Mary Vernatti, 102 E. Mr. Valkenburgh, 102 "Part of the cavells of 200 acres in the Meolings. In the December following the Participants exhibited a petition to Parliament, against the perpetrators of these abominable outrages; and the Commoners also presented a counter one, which is entitled, "the great complaint and and declaration of above 1200 Freeholders and Commoners, setting forth the plot and design of Mr. John Gibbons, and his fellow projectors, to gain possession of the said Freeholders' ancient inheritance in their commonable grounds contrary to law, humbly presenteth and desireth to be perused." In this petition the Commoners endeavour to justify their proceedings in pulling up Snow Sewer, by saying that "it was done to defend the Isle from the coming of Sir Ralph Hanby, then of the King's partie;" and insinuates that the Participants were the greatest rioters, " murdering, wounding, and shooting to death the Freeholders when they first came; and accuses Mr. Gibbons* and his Participants, in those parts, of having their hands in such horrid things, they are well they have escaped the ropet." The petition then concludes in the canting phraseology of the day,-" the Lord direct your honours to hold forth the law to them, for there is nothing in this case which is not determinable by law: so shall the hearts of many thousands, men, women, and children, in the Isle of Axholme, have occasion to bless God for this deliverance, when they see that through your mercy the law of the land is become their protection in these their estates, against usurpers and wrong-doers. Prov. xxiii, verses 10 and 11, "Remove not the old land mark; enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their redeemer is mighty, he shall plead their cause with thee." It appears also, from this petition, that the Commoners had raised two companies of foot § for the Parliament, and the Participants one troop of horse for the king. It was ordered, however, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, "that the shireve of the County of Lincoln, and the Justices of the Peace" should strictly enforce the statutes made in the 13th of Henry IV, "for the suppressing * Gibbons had purchased the share of Cor. Vermuyden. + From an original document in the possession of R. P. Johnson, Esq. § I have before me an old MS. containing part of an assessment for paying these two companies of foot; and it is endorsed, "the number of soldiers is 495." There is also a muster-roll of one of the companies, Captain, Wm. Manning,-Lieut. Wm. Tule,-Ensign, Thos. Pergint,-Sergeant, Wm. Harris. On this muster-roll is endorsed,-" returned by Capt. Wm. Manning, the 18th of August, £33 16s. 8d. for the payment of the 100 soldiers and officers, which payment began the 17th and the 26th." |