MarginaliaKatherin Cauches Paratine Masse Guilemine Gylberd and a Childe new borne.The. xxvii. day of May, anno. 1556. in the Isle of Gernsey, whiche is a member of England, in a place there called S. Peters porte, was a noughty woman named Vincent Gosset, who being euil disposed, went (the sayde day) to the house of one Collas Conron, of the town aforesaid, about. x. of the clock at night, and toke the key of the said house (which was vnder the doore) and therby entring in, went into a chamber toward the strete, where she espieng a cup of syluer within a cupbord, tooke it awaye, and so conueyed her selfe out of the house agayne. Now, after this euyll act thus done, the naughty woman (whether by counsel or by what occasion I cannot tel) brought the said cup to one Paratine Massye, a very honest woman, dwelling in the sayd towne, and desired to lend her. vi. d. vpō the same. Nowe when the said Paratine vnderstode her sute, she suspected the cup to be stollen, & therefore did refuse to take it: Neuertheles vnderstanding (as doth appere) the right owner therof, bethinking w^t her self what to do. In thend she toke it, to deliuer agayn the next morning to him, to whom it dyd appertaine, and gaue her for her necessity. vi. d. The meane time the said Collas Conron missed his cuppe: wherevpon immediatelye he tached the said Vincēt Gosset for the dede, and vpon due examination therof, she confessed the troth, desiring to haue one to go with her, and she would fetch the said cup vnto him againe. Then was ther sent with her one Collas le Lontre: vnto whō the said good Paratin deliuered the cup right gladlye, and so was it brought vnto the sayde Conron without knowledge of the kings officers againe. After which thinges so don, the day following þ^e said officers were informed of the premisses, by one Nicholas Carye, Constable of s. Peters porte: which vnderstanding a truth therof, assembled iustices to enquyre of that, and other euyll dedes done by the sayde Vincent Gosset at tymes before. In whych sitting the said Constable did relate to the Iustices, that he found certayne vessel of tyn, in the house where the sayde Paratine dwelled with her mother Katherin Cawches, and her sister Guyllemyne Gylbert, which vessell hee said had no marke, and that also there was an eared dish of tinne, which mark was put out, & therefore thoughte it the more suspitious. Which report when the Iustices heard, they immediatly cōmitted the said Katherin Cawches, Paratine Massye, and Guyllemyne Gilbert to prison in the Castel, and so toke an Inuentory of al such their goods and moueables as they could finde within the sayd Towne of saynt Peters Porte. And the sayd women seing this iniury done to them, after a time made supplication to the Iustices to haue iustice ministred vnto them, videlicet: Yf they haue offended the lawe, then to let them had

the lawe: if not, beseching to graunte them the benefite of subiectes. &c. Which supplycacion put vp, there vpō were they appointed to come to theyr answer þ^e. v. day of Iune, in the yere afore sayd. Vpō which day, after straight examining of the matter, and the honest answering of the cause by the sayde good womē, at the last they submitted them to the reporte of theire honest neighbours, that they were no theues, nor euil disposed persones, but lyued truely and honestly, as became christian women to do, the false and vntrue reporte of theyr accusers notwithstanding. So the cause being thus debated, after þ^e enquirie made by the kinges officers, MarginaliaParatine Masse is cleared by her neighbours.they were found by theyr sayde neighbours not gilty of that they were charged with, but had lyued alwayes as honest women emonge them: sauing to the commaundementes of holy churche they had not bene obedient. &c. Now when þ^e Iustices hard that, they sent them prisoners to the Castel agayne. Where as the sayde Vincēt Gousset, being plainely attainted of fellony, and for þ^e same condempned, was not withstanding (after she was whipt & her eare nayled to the pillory) banished out of the yle, and had the liberty of her body without further punishmēt. MarginaliaBarrabas let goe and Christ crucified.So cruel aduersaries were they to the truth, that Thefte was more bolstered & mainteined by them, thē those that professed the gloriouse gospel of Iesus Christ, or semed to beare anye good wyl þ^t way: but to returne to our matter agayne. The first day of Iuly next following the examining of the sayd good women, the Lieutenaunt, Balyefe, & Iurates of the sayd place wrote their letters vnder theire signes to the Deane & Curates of the sayd Ile, of the information þ^t was giuen of them, and of the desire they had they should procede w^t them, þ^e tenour of which letter hereafter followeth.

MarginaliaA letter.MAister Dean, and Iustices in your court and iurisdiction, after all amyable recommendations, pleaseth you to knowe that we are informed by the deposition of certaine honest men, past before vs in maner of an inquery: in the which inquiry Catherin Cawches and her. ii, daughters haue submytted thē selues for cause of crime. Wherefore we haue bene informed that they haue bene disobedient to the commaundements, and ordinaunces of the church, in contempning and forsaking the masse and the ordinaunces of the same, agaynst the will and comaundemente of our soueraign Lorde the Kinge and the Quene. Wherfore we send you the sayd mater, for asmuch as the matter is spiritual, because that they may procede after your good discretions and as briefly as you can possible, and also that it perteyned to your office, recommendinge you to God, the which geue you grace to do that pertaineth to the ryghte and iustice. Written the first daye of the moneth of Iuly, the yeare of our lord. 1556.