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The National Archives dates this document to between 1580 and 1588. Because the murder of Richard Roe is stated to have taken place in October in the 20th year of the Queen's reign, this must be 20 Elizabeth I, which would be October 1579. Since the earlier attack was stated to have occurred 4 years before this document was written, this means this document must date from about 1580 or 1581.

To the Quenes most excellent ma[jes]ty

01 In most humble wise Complayninge showeth and informeth yo[u]r ma[jes]ty yo[u]r highnes true faythfull and obediente Subiect Thomas Whitney servant to the right worshippfull S[i]r James Whitney knight That [folded] r Vaughahn of [torn]

02 Kynerdsly in yo[u]r highnes County of Heref[or]d gentleman beinge a very malicious contentious and disorderely p[er]son hath of longe tyme w[i]thout any cause or occasion to him geven or offerred borne __ortall malic[folded] hatred to the s[ai]d [torn]

03 S[i]r James Whitney and yo[u]r ma[jes]ties said Subject and all other the Servantes and wellwillers of the said S[i]r James Whitney practisinge and p[ro]vokinge from tyme to tyme all wayes and meanes possible both directly and indirectly[torn]

04 to disturbe molest vex and trouble them by wrongefull sute Quarell and braules [folded] and if ability and opportunitie had served to mischief spoile and willfully to murder them as it may evidently appere by the sund[torn]

05 unlawfull attemptes and overt actes by the said Roger Vaughan of Late tyme put in ___ _____ where one Richard Roe late servant to the said S[i]r James Whitney was uppon necessary occasion of Business at the Citie of Heref[or]d withe said [torn]

06 of Heref[or]d aboute five yeres past the said Roger Vaughan havinge a sworde & dagger in his hande of a malicious mynd and p[ro]pensed malice borne to the said S[i]r James Whitney then and there made an assault and affray uppon the said Richar[torn]

07 Roe beinge in godes peace and yo[u]r ma[jes]ties and would then have slayne him if by the p[re]sent ayde of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties Subiectes he had not bin defended and Resendd? and when the said Roger Vaughan could not p[re]vayle in that lewed and wic[torn]

08 act he procured one Roger Lies a very light and desp[er]ate p[er]son beinge his servant to geve the Like attempt w[hi]ch _iest about fower yeres past at Eardesly in the said County picked a quarell w[i]th the said Richard Roe attem[torn]

09 the said S[i]r James Whitney then takinge the viewe of the M[i]n[i]sters of D___ yo[u]r ma[jes]ties subiect in those p[ar]tes by vert__ [folded] Com[m]ission to him in that behalf directed and would then p[ar]ntly have fought w[i]th the said Richard [folded]

10 Roe meaninge to have slain him if some of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties subiectes had not then s_ayed him from the same / Howe be it afterward [ folded ]rement of the said Roger Vaughan p[ro]cedinge on w[i]th a murderinge mind

11 assemblinge sent himselfe Roger Lowyd and Ievan Griffith two other of the S[er]vantes of the said Roger Vaughan the said t_ief havinge a Maynepicke Lowys? a sword & dagger & [ folded ] picke staf in riotous and disordered man[ner]

12 at Clifford in the said County about October in the xxth yere of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties most gracious raigne not havinge the feare of god before theire eyes nor regardinge theire duty to yo[u]r ma[jes]ty nor fearinge the p_____ of [blurred] highnes

13 Lawes Lay in awayte for the said Richard Roe and then and there made a cruel assault and affray uppon him and grevously wounded and murdered him for w[hi]ch murder the said Roger Lies_ was app[re]hended and co_____

14 Gaole in the said County and after _____ the Justice of Assises and Gaole Delivery of the said County a bill of Indictment was p[re]served against him for the said murder albeit there was direct and suspicious evidence geven to the greate

15 enquest there to endicte him of the said murder yet by the unlawfullmeanes and travell of the said Roger Vaughan he was endicted but of manslaughter, and he beinge there uppon arrainded before the said Justice of Assise and Gaole

16 deliv[er]y there unto pleded not giltie uppon w[hi]ch plea an Issue beinge Joyned a Jury w[folded] impanelled tried and Sworne for triall of the same, who by sinister practizes v[er]sed by the said Roger Vaughan and by reason that the said Roger Vaughan

17 entred

18 the said

19 ____ Gaole

20 convicted and attay___

21 his p[ro]mise to them

22 honorable courte

23 ___or against the said S[i]r James Whitney

24 _____ fforthe accomplishinge

25 ____ the said Charles Vaughan

26 Richard

27 armed and arrayed w[i]th Swordes and Bucklers Daggers fforest billes

28 theire dutifull

29 whitson

30 have murdered

31 and hearinge of the said

32 accomplice made the

33 greate disturbance

34 Vaughan and

35 Vaughan knowinge

36 Vaughan

37 the [ blank ]

38 ____thon and there to the number of fortie p[er]sons beinge all armed and arrayed w[i]th sworde

39 to the greate feare and terror of all other yo[u]r ma[jes]ties Subiectes the further breache of

40 say aboute August last past he the said Roger Vaughan in like unlawfull riotous reclous and

41 weaponed w[i]th Sworde and Bucklers fforest billes Longe Staves mayne pickes

42 dwelleth to p[ro]voke

43 Roger Vaughan

44 And that it may further

45 the same ffor where

46 said County of Radnor

47 of peace of the said County and thrust him from the bench settinge there

48 ____ [folded]

49 assembled and arrayed

50 gettinge and holdinge

51 County of Hered[or]d

52 Roger Vaughan did forcebly and w[i]th Stronge hand brake and enter into one messuage at Dindor

53 _____ by the Justice of peace of the said County of Heref[or]d

54 ___orders and to be

55 mainetayne

56 beinge indicted

57 master beinge Sherif that yere of the said County of Radnor

58 __dogan ap morgan

59 _atherer? John Probert

60 w[i]th

61 ____ manifest contempt of his dutie

62 All w[i]th notorious

63

64 utter salvasion of Justice and

65 ______ to all

66

67 [torn] ap Robert Thomas ap

68 [torn] at a certaine

69 [torn]

70 [torn] god for the