Journal of the House of Lords
Volume IV
p236

Die Mercurii videlicet 5 die Maii

Upon information given to this house, by reading of 3 affidavits concerning the Tumult of People in Huntingdonshire, assembled together to throw down the banks and ditches on new improved grounds, belonging to the Queen’s Majesty and Her Tenants and thereby have disquieted the Possession thereof, contrary to the order of this House. It was ORDERED That the Gentleman Usher attending this House shall attach, or cause to be attached and brought before this House forthwith, the bodies of Richard Legerton, Robert Jones, John Botiler and John Papaworth of Somersham, Thomas Reeves of Earith, Robert Jermine of Colne, John Farrowe and Thomas Purcas of Bluntisham in the County of Huntingdon, principal Actors in this business, to answer the said Misdemeanours and complaints against them in this house.

Volume IV
p 252

Die Lunae videlicet 17 die Maii

Wheras several orders have issued out of this House for quieting the great Tumult, Disorders and Unlawful Association which have lately been made, within the several manors of Somersham, Needingworth and St Ivesand other towns of the Soake, adjoining in the County of Huntingdon, and the Hedges and Ditches of the said improved Grounds in those Manors should not be cast down or destroyed, which orders have not only been disobeyed, but contemned and rudely dispised, by many of the inhabitants of those manors; which the Lords assembled take for a great Affront and Dishonour; and when, for quieting thereof, certain Messengers and Servants of this House were sent down to apprehend and bring up some of the said rude and riotous Malefactors, the said Messengers have become so ill treated, assaulted, and set upon, as that they hardly escaped with their lives from amongst the said riotous Persons; and the said insolent and outrageous Courses as it is informed, grow daily worse and worse, and the said Malefactors, being sent for, withdraw and hide themselves, and set on their Wives and Servants in their absence to do the like; now for as much as, if these Tumults and riotous Courses should go unpunished such like people might take Boldness to do worse. It is therefore ORDERED that the High Sheriff and Under Sheriff of the said County and likewise some of the Justices of the Peace of that County, shall repair to the Places where these Riots and Disorders have been; taking with them for Assistance, such Number of the Trained Bands of that County as they shall think convenient; and not only to take and apprehend such of the said Malefactors as they shall find or be informed of to have been Actors or Abettors in these unlawful Courses, but also to make Enquiry upon them, and certify up their names who have been Actors or Abettors in these Courses, and because the Persons hereafter named are know to be Offenders herein the said Justices of the Peace, Sheriff and Under Sheriff or some of them, shall, by the Power aforesaid, forthwith apprehend or course to be apprehended and brought to this House the bodies of Richard Legerton, Robert Jones, John Botiler and John Papaworth of Somersham, Thomas Reeves of Earith, Robert Jermine of Colne, John Farrowe and Thomas Purcas of Bluntisham principal offenders in the said late Tumults and Disorders; together with such others as the said Justices, Sheriff or Under Sheriff shall find to be most faulty in the said late Tumults and Actions in the Places aforesaid or in the said late assault of the Messengers and Servants from this House.