Court Case Concerning A Dancing Master

single sheet

Francis Hamlin has been attached to answer to Henry Fissher concerning a plea of offence on the case, and in respect whereof the same Henry Fissher through John Morne his attorney complains that, whereas the same Francis Hamlin, by his craft which he employs, was employed in the making and adjusting of stringed instruments, in English, fiddles or viols, and whereas the same Francis Henry was and is a pedotribe, in English, one who teaches children how to dance or exercise their bodies, and whereas on the twentieth day of August in the fifth year of the reign of our lord, King Charles, now of England, etc, here at the city of Winchester within the jurisdiction of this court, in consideration of 20d of legal English money paid by the same Henry to the same Francis in advance, and 7s to be paid by the same Henry to the same Francis after the making of two stringed instruments, in English, of two fiddles or viols, to be made for the same Henry by the same Francis, he undertook, and to the same Henry then and in the same place promised faithfully, that he himself, the same Francis, would make and adjust the two stringed instruments, in English, two fiddles or viols, for the same Henry within the fifteen days, in English, within the fortnight then next following. However, the aforesaid Francis, caring little for his aforesaid promise and undertaking, but contriving and intending deceitfully to cheat and defraud cunningly and wickedly the same Henry Fissher in this matter, did not make and adjust the two stringed instruments according to his aforesaid promise and undertaking. By which cause the same Henry Fissher has been deprived of and lost no small amount of profit and benefit in the profession of pedotribe, in which he was then employed and is still employed. Wherefore the same Henry says that he is damaged and has loss to the value of forty shillings, and in respect thereof he presents his suit, etc.