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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 1578. Since the earlier attack was stated to have occurred 4 years before this document was written, this means this document must date from about 1582 or 1583.

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 penalty 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 into a bond in a greate Som[m]e of monie & one John Thomas beinge foreman of the said enquest to save him harmelesse if they did acquite the said Roger Lies of the said felony and manslaughter gave upp theire word __ that

18 the said Roger Lies was not guilty of the said ffelony and manslaughter contrary to the confession of the prison[er] himself and very direct and p_____nant evidence to them geven for w[hi]ch false and untrue verdict the Justice of the [blurred]

19 and Gaole Delivery putt the said Jury under bondes to appeare in this honorable Courte to answere for the same w[hi]ch matter yo[u]r ma[jes]ties Subiecte did followe and solicite against the said Jury in this honorable Courte until they were

20 convicted and attay___

21 his p[ro]mise to them made to p[ro]cure them p[ar]dones at yo[u]r ma[jes]ties handes for their ...

22 honorable courte against the said Jury

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

24 _____ fforthe accomplishinge whereof they espied this opportunitie where y[ou]r highnes said Subiect uppon the munday in the Whitson Weeke last was uppon some necessary occasion of Business at the fayer [fair] of keynton [Kington] in the said

25 ____ the said Charles Vaughan Alexander Vaughan and Richard Vaughan together w[i]th James ap Robert[,] Thomas ap Richard[,] Thomas ap Owen[,] Pierre Millward[,] Humphrey Lithe[,] Howell ap John [blotched]

26 Richard Galled, Richard John Jenkyn, Morgan John Byvor[,] Howell John Byvor and Thomas ap Rece w[i]th div[erse] other p[er]sons whose names yo[u]r ma[jes]ties said Subiect knoweth not beinge very light ...

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

28 theire dutifull obedience to yo[u]r ma[jes]ty nor fearinge the pennalty of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties Lawes and

29 whitson Weeke beinge in very riotous routous and warrlike man[ner] assembled made a Cruell assault and affray uppon yo[u]r ma[jes]ties said Subiect beinge then & there in godes peace and yo[u] ma[jes]ties and him sore hurt and wounded and would

30 have murdered him if he had not bin forthw[i]th reskued by some others of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties saud Subiectes and one Roger Gittod and Jonas Graven[der] & ___other of the Servantes of the said S[i]r James Whitney beinge ...

31 and hearinge of the said

32 accomplice made the Like assault and affray as aforesaid and very grevously hurt and wounded the said Roger Gittod to the greate p[er]ill of his Lief and of thother Jonas Gravener they did ...

33 greate disturbance and terror of a greate number of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties Lovinge Subiectes beinge then and there assembled at the said ffayer and against yo[u]r ma[jes]ties peace ...

34 Vaughan and

35 Vaughan knowinge very well that they had Comitted the said offences and that yo[u]r said Subiect and Roger Gittod were then rather like to Dye then to Live [blotched] said Jonas Gravender was then dead he the said Ro[folded]

36 Vaughan relixed the said Charles and Alexander w[i]th meate Drinke & Lodginge and monie and gave unto the said Alexander Vaughan a gelldinge to ryde away w[i]th all ...

37 the [ blank ] Last the said Roger Vaughan Sekinge the further breache of yo[u]r ma[jes]ties peace and quarelinge w[i]th the said S[i]r James Whitney mo___ ...

38 ____thon and there to the number of fortie p[er]sons beinge all armed and arrayed w[i]th sworde and Bucklers Daggers Maynepickes Longe staves and forest billes against yo[u]r ma[jes]ties...

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 the said S[i]r James Whitney and his S[e]rvantes to Quarellinge and fightinge and when that _____ of _____ was not, nor would not be taken by the said [blotched] his S[e]rvates the said

43 Roger Vaughan Left the said fortie p[er]sons in the tipplinge howse [tavern] w[i]thin a mile of the Dwellinge howse of the said S[i]r James Whitney meaninge they should lye there in a wait to [blotched] S[i]r James Whitney [folded]

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 afforesaid uppon the quiet and peaceable ...

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

54 ___orders and to be

55 mainetayne those lewed wicked infamous and notorious p[er]sons for theire sundry _______ whose names doe hereafter follow ...

56 beinge indicted of felony at one another tyme and manslaughter and pled gilty of the same and saved only by the benefitt of the Clergie ...

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