Ref: EDC 5/1/3
Catalogue Entry:
Sentence of divorce between Margery Thornycrofte & John Cokke alias Stokes. 30 Nov. 1527
Summary:
Margery Thornycrofte contra John Cokkes alias Stokes. The marriage between Margery Thornycrofte and John Cokkes was declared to be invalid because John was found to have been previously married to Joan Cheryngton who was still living.
Original Document
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Translation
[5/1/3 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen: the merits and circumstances of a certain cause of marriage and divorce which is disputed and still depending undecided having been heard, seen and understood and fully investigated by us, official of the lord archdeacon of Chester, between Margery Thornycrofte, plaintiff and complaining party on the one part, and John Cokkes otherwise Stokes, defendant and party complained of, on the other part; the parties aforesaid appearing before us, namely the said Margery in person and the aforesaid John through his proctor and seeking definitive sentence to be passed and promulgated in the said cause, and justice to be done in that behalf with no little urgency.
Having observed all and singular matters which according to law should be observed by us, we have thus thought fit to make the pronouncement of our definitive sentence in the above-mentioned cause and between the parties aforesaid, and we do proceed in this manner which follows;
forasmuch as we know and clearly find by the acts enacted, set forth, propounded, alleged, confessed and proved had and done before us in the said cause that the aforesaid John Cokkes otherwise Stokes contracted a true and unconditional marriage by words of present consent with Joan Cheryngton who is still living, and that was duly solemnised and confirmed by sexual intercourse before any marriage was solemnised, or, more correctly, profaned, between the parties aforesaid
therefore we, the official aforesaid, having first called upon the name of Christ, and from the counsel of the learned in the law with whom we have consulted promptly in this behalf, decree and declare that all and whatever marriage between the said John and Margery, as is thus aforesaid, contracted and profaned took place de facto and not in law and was and is […] and invalid by reason of the premises, and we separate and divorce John and Margery from each other. The marriage between the aforesaid John Cokkes otherwise Stokes and Joan Cheryngton hitherto […] as is thus aforesaid contracted, solemnised and confirmed we declare and decree as a true, unconditional and lawful marriage by this our definitive sentence which we thus pass and promulgate in these writings.
This sentence was issued and read in the collegiate church of Saint John of Chester on the penultimate day of November in the year of the Lord 1526, in the presence of Sir William Case, chaplain, and […]
Transcript
[5/1/3 image 1]
In dei nomine Amen Auditis visis et intellectis plenarieque discussis <per nos officialem domini archidiaconi cestrie> meritis et
circumstancijs cuiusdam cause matrimonialis et diuorcij que coram nobis inter Margeriam
thornycrofte partem actricem et querelantem ex una Et Johannem cokkes alias
stokes partem ream et querelatam partibus ex altera vertitur et pendet adhuc indecise
partibus prefatis coram nobis videlicet dictam Margeria personaliter ac prefato Johanne per
suum procuratorem comparentibus ac sententiam diffinitiuam in dicta causa fieri et promulgari
Justiciamque in hac parte fieri cum instancia non modica postulantibus
servatis per nos
omnibus et singulis de Jure servandis ad nostre sententie diffinitiue prolacionem [in]
memorata causa et inter partes predictas ferende sic duximus procedendum et in hunc qui
sequitur procedimus modum
Quia per acta inactita deducta proposita allegata
confessata et probata coram nobis in prefata causa habita et facta comperimus et lucu[lenter]
Invenimus prefatum Johannem Cokkes alias stokes verum ac purum [matrimonium cum]
Johanna cheryngton <adhuc superstite> per verba de presenti contraxisse illudque debite sol[emnisatum]
ac per carnalem copulam confirmatum fuisse Ante quodcunque matrimonium [inter]
[partes predictas] solemnisatum seu verius prophanatum
Idcirco nos officialis an[tedictus]
christi nomine primitus Invocato de consilio iurisperitorum cum quibus mature in ha[c parte]
communicauimus omne et quodcunque matrimonium inter dictos Johannem et M[argeriam]
sic ut premittitur contractum et prophanatum de facto et non de Jure processisse […]
et invalidum fuisse et esse premissorum occasione decernimus et declaramus Ip[sosque]
Johannem et Margeriam abinvicem separamus et diuorciamus Matri[monium]
inter prefatos Johannes Cokkes alias stokes et Johannam cheryngton adhuc […]
sic vt premittitur contractum solemnisatum et confirmatum pro Vero puro et [legitimo]
matrimonio declaramus et decernimus per hanc nostram sententiam di[ffintivam]
quam ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis
Lata et lecta fuit hec sententia in ecclesia collegiali [Sancti]
Johannis cestrie penultimo die mensis Nouembris Anno [domini]
mo cccccmo xxvjo in presencijs domini Willelmi Case <capellani> et […]
Original Document
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Translation
[5/1/3 image 2]
[Endorsement]
There follow the definitive sentences issued by Master Adam Beconsall, bachelor of canon law, official of the venerable Master William Knight, doctor of both laws, archdeacon of Chester; in the presence of Richard Wydhope, notary public, general scribe of his acts and registrar as is made fully clear below.
Sentence of Margery Thorneycrofte
[in pencil in a different hand]
1527
/3
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[5/1/3 image 2]
[Endorsement]
Sequuntur diffinitive sententie per Magistrum Adam becansaw in decretis baccallarium
Officialem Venerabilis viri Magistri Willelmi <knyght> vtriusque Juris doctoris Archidiaconi
cestrie In presencia Ricardi Wydhope notarij publici Actorum suorum scribe generalis
et registrarij prout inferius patet late
Sentencia Margerie Thornycrofte
[in pencil in a different hand]
1527
/3
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Margery Thornycrofte – plaintiff
John Cokkes – defendant
Joan Cheryngton – lawful wife of defendant
William Case – witness to sentence
Officials
Adam Beconsall – archdeacon’s official
William Knight – archdeacon of Chester
Richard Wydhope – registrar