Touching the behsviour of Henry Crow of Harpley, we the present inhabitants of the same town during the time of his abode amongst us (viz. for the space of about three years) did never know him to be otherwise reputed than as a common drunkard, a notorious swearer and a vile and desperate fellow… Item his mother-in-law taking him into her house rent-free when elsewhere he was not able to pay his rent, he not only vexed, reviled and affrighted her continually (as before her death she made her moan to most of the town) but also did beat her in her house and yard, as Michael Griffen, Agnes Griffen and John Toll have testified under their hands, and common fame doth acknowledge… Item being lately taken in such drunken and outrageous case, as in the judgment of the constable and others required the stocks, he not only abused them with revilings and scufflings but also three his handful of gore in the constable's eyes and struck Robert Bateman while only he looked on being churchwarden: As Richard [Leemon?] and Robert Bateman have also testified under their hands… Item being admonished by his minister in private to reform his courses he divers times called him fool with other despiteful and reproachful terms: and as he was gone away being recalled and asked if he was in his right mind, he answered in these words; Aye, by God am I and parson do thy worst. Witness to this upon mine own knowledge, and to the rest in my persuasion, Edm; Gurnay… Who also heard his mother-in-law after she had last seen him say divers time (notwithstanding my rebuking her for such words) the Devil go with him: As also many other vile matters I could allege under the hands of credible persons, and how he said [struck out: 'he knew he knew well enough'] he was wise enough to speak no such words to the parson but when he had been alone: [struck out: 'But that there be many others which also crave Justice as well as our town, and therefore I must forbear… Item for the greater part of the year (betwixt times) he was [struck out: 'no man knows'] we know not where leaving his wife and four small children to shift more piteously than any amongst us.
Petitions
NRO
C S/3/23
Quarter Sessions Roll, 1621-2
Norfolk, England
24 March 1621
23 March 1622
Petition
Complaint
from 24 March 1621
Relates To
Drunkenness
Punishment
Fights and violence
Poor relief
Transcription
Petitionee
Henry Crow
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Petitioners
Richard Bulwer
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
John Martin
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
Thomas Laskey
male
[presumably Thomas Laskey, alehousekeeper, suppressed in response to another petition in the same year]
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
William Platfoot
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
Nicholas Foster
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
Robert Bateman
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Elaborate Mark
Gregory Bilden
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Elaborate Mark
Thomas Parson
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature