1614

1614

1. CHESTER (St John Baptist) Margaret Davies c John Williams for defamation -sentence

2. CHESTER (St John Baptist) Robert Jackson c (?) Williams for defamation - libel (very fragile)

3. CHESTER (St John) Marie Edwards c Ellen Fox of St Oswald saying she was a whore - libel (fragile).

4. CHESTER (St John) John Francis c Willins Fernall & Robert Kirkham for defamation

5. PLEMONDSTALL Thomas Case c Richard Primate impropriator c Thomas Croughton for tithes in Mickle Trafford -libel

6. SWETTENHAM Henry Mainwaring for Lawrence Brown, John Dale, Elizabeth Pursell c Thomas Gandie, Thomas Tockington, Richard Scrag, Thomas Davenport concerning their disputed seats on the south side of the nave - libel

7. RIBCHESTER Presentment against Henry Norcrosse vicar that although he is now resident and preaches yet he has intruded himself into a second living the parish of Stydd, neglecting his duties and has said no service orderly or lawfully for many years. Forbearing, either at Ribchester or elsewhere to "Reed the Latein" according to laws and canons of the Church. Counterfeiting the churchwardens hands without their consent. Too drunk on 1st May 1614 to read divine service although the great bell tolled but he was taken home by two persons being 40 roods from the church. He has married divers persons unlawfully, hath pawned the Communion cup. A carder for all on the Sabbath and working days, consorts with popish recusants for bribes. Making some men believe he churched their wives and did not do so. Keeping himself out of the way when he should have buried dead corpses of recusants. Coming into his own house as an alehouse to drink with the people. One Mr Sandes was married with a whore Ellin Tompson whom the vicar suffered to lie in his house. Asking the churchwardens not to present him. Alleging to the Justice of Peace by 1614 equivocation he did not brew himself to blind them to the true meaning that no ale or beer should be brewed in his house. In one of his sermons he slandered the 12 churchwardens and sidesmen saying the parties to be presented were not worthy of a presentment to the great grief of honest men. The vicar is an alehousekeeper contrary to law. He keeps wicked persons in his house on the Sabbath day especially 11 fidlers upon 3rd July last and keeping gaming in his house on the Sabbath, allowing tippling and drinking in his house during divine service. On 12 February the Sabbath day 34 persons played on three pairs of cards. He married the following clandestinely - George Killesborow a Yorkshireman and Jane Birches a Yorkshire woman. Thomas Bolton of Blackburn and Alice Lowd of Mitton (Yorks) also Thomas Walmisley and Dorothy Brownsley who had two bastards to him in his house. Depositions taken at Wigan by a Commission consisting of Gerard Massie DD rector of Wigan, Wm Leigh BD parson of Standish and John Morres MA parson of Blackburn. Certificate from John Morres that the vicar took recusants children into church to baptise and register them but he never baptised them but allowed the children to be baptised by popish priests. (These documents are too fragile to be used until they have been repaired.)

8. MIDDLEWICH Matthew Smallwood c Thomas Newall of Over for defamation - libel.

9. FRODSHAM Thomas Rutter c Wm Heath saying he was a cuckold - libel.

10. MANCHESTER Margaret Ashton c Isabella Barnes for slander - libel.

11. OLDHAM Thomas Scholes c Robert Ogden - costs.

12. KIRKHAM Jacob Ellis c Richard Woodcock and Agnes Kirkham of Blackburn for adultery - libel.

13. PRESCOT Office c John Fairbank & Elizabeth Fairbank alias Kemp concerning their marriage - libel, exception.

14. WARRINGTON Christopher Page c Ellen Curbisher saying his wife Joan committed adultery - libel.

15. GARSTANG Wm Anderton impropriator c Robert Clarkeson & Gabriel Whitehead for tithe barley and oats - libel.

16. MACCLESFIELD George Lowe and Hugh Clarkson c Churchwardens concerning their assessments since they live in Kettlehulme near to Taxall - interrogations.

17. WEAVERHAM Appointment of Wm Powell to be their proctor in the Consistory by the churchwardens.

18. Ralph Wilbraham c Robert Wright concerning tithe from Wolston Wood.

19. FRODSHAM DEANERY Names of persons from the following parishes who are to appear for correction; Weaverham, Lymm, Witton, Knutsford, Great Budworth, Peover Superior, Rostherne, Peover Inferior, Frodsham, Ashton on Mersey, Runcorn, Bowden, Daresbury.

English