Description:The Sutherland Papers include a large number of legal papers from the late sixteenth century relating to cases involving Sir Walter Leveson. Many of these documents relate to legal actions brought against Sir Walter by people trying to recover money which he owed to them. However, some documents relate to cases concerning criminal activity involving Sir Walter, including documents such as depositions, examinations of witnesses, copy petitions and papers from counsel.
A particularly intriguing case involves an action in the High Court of Admiralty brought by a man called Peter Paille who was acting as an agent for Dutch fishermen. Documents relating to the case suggest that Paille had charged Sir Walter Leveson with using two ships — the Golden Dragon and the Hare — which he believed were owned by Sir Walter, to seize a number of fishing boats.
A document written by Charles Howard the ‘Lord highe Admirall of England’ dated 1588 names Sir Walter as the defendant in the case, stating that Peter Pallie was ‘the partie complaynante’. The document states ‘that the controversie nowe moved betwyxte the saide parties shalbe referred unto the…hearinge of examination..the firste of Februarie nexte, that then the saied parties shall stand unto the umpirage of the righte honourable the Lord Highe Treasoner and me the Lord Admirall’.
To learn more about the court case, click on the images on the left.