Precept issued by John Shakespeare, justice of the peace, to arrest Richard Walker and bring him before the next sitting of the court of record to answer to a plea brought against him

This precept, issued by John Shakespeare in his capacity as justice of the peace, concerned William Shotteswell's suit against Richard Walker for a debt of £10. It should have been preceded by an initial hearing, but of this there is no surviving record. The case came to court on December 15 when Richard Walker was summoned to respond to Shotteswell’s declaration (Minutes and Accounts, ii, p. 19). At the next meeting, on January 26, the sergeant-at-mace submitted a formal excuse (a customary delay tactic) for Walker’s non-attendance and a marginal note indicates that the parties had settled out of court (Minutes and Accounts, ii, p. 23).

Shotteswell’s guarantor that he would proceed with the case was Edmund Barrett (written above a deleted name, perhaps the fictitious “John Doe”), and Alderman William Brace stood surety for Walker. The precept was signed by the steward of the court, Henry Higford.