Ref: EDC 5/1/2

Catalogue Entry:

EDC 5/1/2 – Sentence of divorce between Elizabeth & Adam Lever 27 Jan 1525/6

Summary:

Elizabeth Levar contra Adam Levar. Separation a mensa et thoro was granted to Elizabeth because of Adam’s adultery, following which the couple had not been reconciled.

Sentence (image 1)

Original Document

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Translation

[5/1/2 image 1]

In the name of God, Amen: the merits and circumstances of a certain cause of marriage or divorce having been heard, seen and understood and fully investigated by us, the official of the lord archdeacon of Chester, between Elizabeth Levar, plaintiff and complaining party on the one part, and Adam Levar, defendant, on the other part; the party of the said Elizabeth appearing through her proctor and the said Adam appearing in person and praying definitive sentence to be made and promulgated in the said cause.

The whole and entire proceeding had and done before us in the said cause having first been examined and diligently considered by us, and having observed all and singular matters which according to law should be observed in this behalf, we have thus thought fit to proceed to making the pronouncement of our definitive sentence in the above-mentioned cause between the parties aforesaid, and we do proceed in this manner which follows;

Forasmuch as we know and clearly find by the acts and enactments set forth, propounded, alleged and confessed and equally proved had and done before us in the aforesaid cause that the claim of the said Elizabeth Levar in a certain summary petition written on record (the tenor of which is thus; On which day, etc. which we wish to hold as here read and inserted)  was sufficiently and fully established and proved, and nothing has been or is set forth, alleged and proved on the other side on behalf of the said Adam which has destroyed or in any way weakened the claim of the said Elizabeth in this behalf.

And because we clearly find the said Adam has openly publicly and notoriously sinned and transgressed through the crime of adultery within the laws of matrimony and he was and is not at any time thereafter reconciled to the said Elizabeth, therefore we separate and divorce the said Adam and Elizabeth from bed and board by this our definitive sentence, which we pass and publish in these writings.

Transcript

[5/1/2 image 1]

In dei nomine Amen. auditis visis et intellectis plenarieque discussis
per nos officialis domini Archidiaconi cestrie
meritis et circumstancijs cuiusdam cause matrimonialis seu diuorcij
que coram nobis inter Elizabeth <levar> partem Actricem et querelantem ex una
et Adam levar partem ream ex altera pars dicte Elizabeth per procuratorem
suum et dictus Adam personaliter comparentibus ac sententiam in dicta causa diffinitiuam
fieri et promulgari postulantibus

Rimato primitus per nos diligenterque
recensito toto et integro processu coram nobis in dicta causa habito et facto
ac seruatis omnibus et singulis de Jure in hac parte seruandis ad nostre
sententie diffinitiue prolacionem in memorata causa et inter partes predictas
ferendum sic duximus procedendum et procedimus in hunc qui sequitur
modum

Quia per acta et inactita deducta proposita
allegata et confessata pariter et probata coram nobis in prefata causa
habita et facta comperimus et luculenter invenimus dictam Elizabeth
levar suam intencionem in quadam summaria peticione
apud acta scripta Cuius tenor talis est Quo die et cetera quam pro
hic lecta et inserta haberi volumus sufficienter et ad plenam fundasse
et probasse Nichilque ex aduerso pro partem dicti Adam fuisse aut esse
deductum allegatum et probatum quod intencionem dicte Elizabeth in hac
parte elideret seu quomodolibet enervaret

Et quod luculenter Inuenimus
eidem Adam pro crimine adulterij in leges coniugij palam publice et
notorie peccasse et deliquisse nec vnquam postea a dicte Elizabeth
fuisse et esse reconsiliatus idcirco dictos Adam et Elizabeth ab
Invicem <a mensa et thoro> seperamus et diuorciamus per hanc nostram
sententiam diffinitivam quam ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis

Sentence (image 2)

Original Document

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Translation

[5/1/2 image 2]

 [Endorsement]

This present sentence was passed and read on the 27th day of the month of January in the year of our Lord 1525/6 in the presence of Otwell Worsley, William Pillyn and Richard Crew and others.

Sentence of divorce in the cause of Elizabeth Levar

[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]

Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved

Transcript

[5/1/2 image 2]

[Endorsement]

lata et lecta fuit hec presens sentencia xxvijo die
mensis Januarij Anno domini 1525o In presencia otueli Worsley
Willielmi pyllen et Ricardi Crew et aliorum

sentencia diuorcij in causa Elizabeth levar

[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]

Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved

People

Richard Crew – witness to sentence

Adam Levar – defendant

Elizabeth Levar – plaintiff

William Pyllyn – witness to sentence, probably proctor for Elizabeth Levar

Otwell Worsley – witness to sentence