LR70 - National Archives - Town Depositions of the Court of Chancery - C 24/497, 80, fols. 1, 2, and 16

Jonson 's deposition at the law-suit of Elizabeth Lady Ralegh (d. 1647, widow of Sir Walter)   against Sir Peter Vanlore (1547-1627, banker and moneylender)   , 20 Oct. 1623 . The deposition describes Jonson as being of Gresham College, which was set up to provide free public lectures in subjects including rhetoric. The document, comprising a bundle of 18 loose sheets, is gathered with several other chancery suits from Hilary Term 1623. The interrogatories are on a large vellum sheet, occupying pp. 1-2, and an additional set of interrogatories (which Jonson answered) are on a small second sheet, occupying p. 3. Jonson 's deposition occupies p. 31.
Eugene Giddens

[fol. 1]
Interrogatories to be ministred to wittnesses to be produced on the behalfe of dame Elizabeth Rauleigh widdow Complainant against Sir Peeter Vanlore knight defendant. 17. Junij. 1623


[fol. 2]
Beniamin Iohnson iurator 20 October 1623
Ro Riches

Interogatoris to be ministred one the behalf of the Lady Elizabeth Ralegh plainant against Sir Peter Vanlor knight defendant

1 Imprimus doe you knowe [the] parties plainant and defendant.

5 Item ys not this note ʌ ⎡or notes⎤ nowe shewed vnto yow subscrybed with the hand wrytinge of the saide Sir Peter Vanlore and with whose hand wrytinge els ys yt subscrybed, ys not parte of the saide note ʌ ⎡or notes⎤ wrytten with the pro perhand wrytinge of the saide Sir Waltor Raleghe and what parte thereof is soe written


[fol. 16]
xx^o die Octobris 1623 anno Regni Regis Iacobi 2j
[Trans.: in the 21st (2j) year of King James 's reign]

Beniamin Johnson of Gresham Colledge in London gentleman aged 50. yeares & vpwardes sworne &c by direccion, vpon the 1 & 5 ^th Interrogatories. 1. Interrogatory. That he very well knoweth [the Lady Elizabeth ] Ralegh widowe named for the complainant in this Suyte: And by sight doth knowe Sir Peter Van Lore knight named for the defendant.

5. That he is not acquainted with the handwryting of sir Peter van Lore the now defendant But was & is very well acquainted with the handwryting of Sir Walter Ralegh knight late husband of the now complainant And so well acquainted therwith and with the tract of his handwryting, by reason of the diuerse lettres of the proper handwryting of the said Sir Walter, directed vnto this deponent, and now < . . . . . . > remayning in this deponentes custody, And ʌ ⎡as⎤ that he this deponent is as peremptoriely as perswaded as a man may be that sawe not the wryting therof, That the Note in paper beginning in theis wordes, videlicet, The debtes conteyned in a Note, which I haue signed & diliuered to John Shelbury &c and now shewed vnto this deponent at the tyeme of his examinacion, is wholly ofthe proper handwryting of the said Sir Walter Ralegh. And concerning theis wordes, videlicet & the 185li. of the 785li so assured to be accompted for if mr Peter be payd the 785li vnder wrytten the ʌ ⎡cancelled⎤ note indented, pasted on another paper, with theis wordes at the head therof, videlicet The 8 ^th day of december 45 ^th Elizabethe Reigne, and now also shewed vnto this deponent at the tyme of his examinacion, this deponent sayth therof as hee hath sayd before, of the Note formerly deposed of, And for ye name W Ralegh subscribed vnto yat this new pro duced Note this deponent sayth, he is very confident, That It is of the proper handwryting of the said Sir Walter Ralegh, And the like this deponent sayth in all thinges, touching the name W: Ralegh, subscribed vnto the now produced cancelled Bonde in parchement, of a thowsand poundes penalty dated the tenth day of may, in the fortieth fower yeare of the Reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth of happy memorie. 1602 . And more, further or otherwise, for Satisfying th' contentes of this Interrogatory this deponent sayth, he canott materially depose. Nor more &c.

Ben: Jonson . [ Jonson 's signature.]

Bibliography
H&S, 11.582-3
Sisson (1951), 604