A brief Relation of the Proceed before his Highness' Council concerning the Petitioners of the Isle of Ely, against George Glapthorne Esquire; to take away the false report that is made touching the same, and that the truth may plainly appear.  
WHereas George Glapthorne of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely Esquire, and chief Bailiff of the Liberty thereof, and Justice of Peace of the same; Hath seemed to cloud himself under this Shadow, and saith: That his Highness' Counsel, had not heard him; And said further, Surely, they would not judge him before they heard him. Therefore to unveil him, and take off that slander which he would seem to lay upon them, that dealt so Honourably and Honestly with him and the County: You may understand there was a Petition with about four hundred hands to it, out of the Isle of Ely (a joyful thing to see so many witnesses against iniquity) Their complaint was against the said Master Glapthorne, that he was a common Swearer, a common Curser, a frequenter of Alehouses, and an upholder of those of evil fame, that he was famed to be a companion of lewd Women; therefore they thought him not fit to be a Lawmaker or Parliament man for them: Upon this complaint his Highness' Council gave Summons for Witnesses to appear to prove this charge; which was substantially proved by several Witnesses, and they have left their testimonies behind them upon Oath. There was examined before the Council and in the presence of Mr. Glapthorne and divers other persons and Mr. Glapthorne excepted (though without cause) but against one Witness, who did modestly forbear: There were examined Capt. William Lane, William Head, Mr. William Martial, George Bate of Wittlesey, and Roger Branham of Wisbich,; and there was William Manesty, and Thomus Coney came too late at that time to be examined before the Council; but their Affidavits are here with some other of the Witnesses, which will like the Giant's foot set forth the whole stature: The Council gave him liberty to say what he could for himself; and gave him also upon his desire a further day; but when he was called, he did not appear; he was called again the next morning, and in the afternoon, and the next day after, but, never appeared: Now let any honest man judge whether this man hath cause to complain, that he was not heard; but, he hath done like himself: When you have read these Affidavits annexed, then judge whether this man be fit to be a Parliament man or a Justice of Peace, or a chief Bailiff: for why should honest menly under the power of him that's a slave to his own lusts, an enemy to sobriety and honest living; Being the Laws are made and Justices ordained to keep men within the rules of sobriety and honesty: This is of public concernment; For if wickedness get into high places misery will be to the Commonwealth. Therefore it is desired some use may be made hereof, as may be to the public good.  

George Bate of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge Yeoman.  
Saith,  
THat he hath known George Glapthorn of Wittlesey in the said Isle Esquire, for above twenty years, last passed; for all which time, he hath known him to be a common Swearer and Curser, and a common frequenter of Alehouses, his usual Oaths and Curses being, By God's wounds, by God's blood, by Jesus Christ, by the eternal God, God confound me body and soul, God dam me, the Devil fetch me, God refuse me: In or about August 1653. he the said George Bate heard the said Oaths and Curses: And since the said time (that is to say) the Sunday before the Election for Knights for the said Isle, he the said George Bate, heard him swear, By God, and by God's wounds; and the Tuesday after the Election he heard him swear and curse bitterly, (viz.) By God's wounds, by God's blood, God refuse him, and the like. And further, he hath heard, the said Master Glapthorne, famed to be familiar with Women of evil fame (viz.) Dorothy Fox and Anne Martin, and Elizabeth Me.  
And further saith, he hath heard the said Master Glapthorne doth usually play at Cards on the Lord's Day.  
George Bate his mark. Sworn the 27. of October 1654. before me.   

The Deposition of Captain William Lane.  
CAptain William Lane of Wittlesey, saith, That he hath known George Glapthorn of Wittlesey aforesaid Esquire for about 30 years, to be a common swearer, his usual oaths being, By God's wounds, by god's blood, god refuse my soul, and such like. And in August 1653. he that said George Glapthorne did swear the said oaths: And since the Election, which was the 12 of July 1654. he hath heard him swear by god: he hath often by divers people heard him famed for the use of women, namely Anne Mason and others; and that Master Robert Compton told him this examinate, that there was a wench kept for the said Mr. Glapthorn at Wisbich by one he did bestow a Bailiffs place on.  
W. Lane.   

The Information of Roger Branham of Wisbich in the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge this 26. day of October, 1654.  
SAith, He hath known George Glapthorne of Wittlesey, in the said Isle Es1uire, about the space of of 20 years, from the date hereof; and that he hath known him all that time to be a common swearer and curser, his ordinary oaths being these, viz. God's blood, and by the eternal god, and such like; his curses being, god refuse me, and god condemn me, and curses of that nature. And the said Roger Branham further saith, That all the aforementioned time, that he hath known George Glapthorne, he hath known him to be a frequenter of women of evil fame, as in particular, the wife of John Mason of Wisbich. And the said Roger Branham saith, he going to Wittlesey upon a time with a company of Horse, going into the house of one William Martin of Wittlesey, heard one John Norman pleasant with the wife of William Martin proffering her five shillings for a good turn; but she the said Anne Martin called him Puppily-foole, and said, the old Justice Glapthorne had offered her eighteen shillings for an occupying, and promised to make it up twenty shillings when he had more money.  
Roger Branham his mark. Sworn the 27 of October 1654. before me. Bent.   

The Deposition of William Head.  
WIlliam Head of Wittlesey aforesaid, saith, That he hath heard George Glapthorne of Wittlesey aforesaid Esquire, Swear and Curse, By God's wounds, by God's blood, by the eternal God, and the like; and that he hath often observed him to be in Alehouses both before and since the time of the said Election, and that he hath heard him much spoken of for Women.   

William Marshal of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge, Gentleman.  
SAith, That he hath known George Glapthorne Esquire, for about one year and a half last, all which time, he hath taken great notice of the said Master Glapthorne his usual common Swearing and Cursing, (viz.) about a week before the time for the Election of Knights for the said Isle, which was on the twelfth of July 1654. By God, and by God's blood, and such like Oaths, and the Sunday at night after the said Election, he heard him curse and swear bitterly, (viz.) God confound, the Devil fetch me, by God's blood, and such like Oaths very grievous to be heard. And he hath heard the said Master Glapthorne reported to be a common frequenter of Women of evil fame, viz. Elizabeth Searle, whom this Deponent hath heard say, that the said Master Glapthorne had her Maidenhead. And he further saith, he hath heard the said Glapthorne doth play at Cards on the Lords Days.  
William Martial. Sworn the 27. of October 1654. Bent.   

William Manesty of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely Gentleman upon Oath, saith as followeth.  
THat he hath known George Glapthorne of the same Town and Isle Esquire, for the space of twenty years last passed; And that he hath known him to be a common swearer, his ordinary Oaths being, God dam me, God's blood, by Jesus Christ, God renounce me, by the eternal God, with many other Oaths frequently flowing from him: This hath been his ordinary expressions in my hearing, at several times in London, and in several Alehouses in Wittlesey; as at Dorothy Harrods', Henry Atkins, William Quicklove, and other houses in the same town, and sometimes hath sworn forty of the former and the like Oaths in one hour, when he hath been gaming and at play; and likewise strange imprecations in his Curse, using these words, God confound me body and soul, with many other such of the same nature. And this I have known to be his constant practice from the beginning of my acquaintance until within these twelve month's last passed, since which time I have not been much in his company; but when I have been in his Company, I have heard him swear the former, or the like oaths. The said Master Manesty further saith, that hehath known the said Master Glapthorne, to be a frequenter of Women of evil fame, by their light carriage and lewd conversation, as the wife of John Fox, and the wife of Simon Me, and others in Wittlesey. And likewise the said William Manesty going home about twelve of the clock in the night to his own house, being in his way, went to the house of one William Martin, being a common Alehouse, but at that time unlicensed, being about one year and a half since the said william Manesty did find the said Mr. Glapthorne and privately heard him uncivilly familiar with the wife of the said William Martin, tempting the chastity of the wife of the said William martin, with large promises of rewards, viz. that he would buy her a Roll of Tobacco, Give her Husband to Brew and sell Ale, and that he would make her Husband as rich a man as Henry Atkins, conditionally, that she would be constant and true unto him, in her affections, and to love him with greater love than that which was due unto her Husband; enticing of her also at that unseasonable time of the night to go home with him for a Licence; she modestly denying, fearing his incivility to her, as she told me the next morning, being taxed about it; but promised to send her Husband to him the next day. And Mr Manesty further saith, that he hath heard Elizabeth Zachary say, that the aforesaid George Glapthorne had her Maidenhead.  
Sworn the 26 of August 1654. 

john Page.  
William Manesty.     

Thomas Coney of Wittlesey in the Isle of Ely upon Oath, saith, as followeth.  
THat he hath known George Glapthorne of the same town and Isle Esquire, almost these two years, and that he hath heard him swear and curse bitterly, both at his own house and at the house of Licutenant Colonel Underwood of the town aforesaid, his Oaths were, God's blood, and by Jesus Christ, and such like execrations, his curses were, The Devil fetch him, the Devil confound him, & such like; & that he hath set up common Alehouses in Wittlesey aforesaid, which were formerly put down at the Sessions; That is to say, George Ground and Ed Plummer. And also further saith, he commonly heard him reported to be a man familiar with Women of light and lose conversations, keeping company with thewife of John Fox, and the wife of Simon Me, and such like in Wittlesey aforesaid. And he further saith, that it is commonly reported, that the said George Glapthorne had the Maidenhead of Elizabeth Zachary of Wittlesey aforesaid.  
Sworn the 26. of August 1654. 

John Page.  
Thomas Coney.    
Finis.