Ref: EDC 5/13/3
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5/13/3 – Sentence in tithe cause: Robert Asheton rector of Middleton co. L. v. Giles Johnson of Middleton. 21 Jul. 1552.
Summary:
Robert Assheton, rector of Middleton, contra Giles Johnson.
It seems that Robert Assheton brought two tithe suits at this time as the sentence in this cause was passed at the same session as that in another cause he brought against John Aspenhawlgh, John Alens and John Bradley (EDC 5/12/1). The sentence in the case of John Aspenhawlgh, John Alens and John Bradley relates to barley, oats and wheat. Both sentences were passed on 21 July 1552 (as recorded in the Court Book EDC 1/13 f. 74v).
Original Document
Translation
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In the name of God, Amen: the merits and circumstances of a certain cause of subtraction of tithes which has been disputed for some time and is still disputed and depending undecided having been heard, seen and understood and fully investigated by us, George Wilmesley, Bachelor of Laws, appointed official principal of the royal Chester ecclesiastical court by the right reverend father in Christ, John, by divine permission lord bishop of Chester sufficiently and lawfully deputed for the exercising of spiritual and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in and throughout Chester diocese by the supreme authority of the most illustrious Prince in Christ and our master, lord Edward the sixth, by the grace of God king of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and on earth supreme head of the English and Irish church under Christ, rightly and lawfully proceeding, between the distinguished Master Robert Assheton, rector of the parish church of Middleton of Chester diocese, the complainant on the one part and Giles Johnson of the same parish of Middleton and Chester diocese aforesaid, the defendant and party complained of on the other part; the parties aforesaid appearing sufficiently and lawfully before us in judgement; and the party of the aforesaid Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, urgently praying and seeking that sentence is passed and that justice may be done to his party while the party of the said Giles Johnson urgently praying and seeking justice for his party.
All and singular acts, enactments, deductions, propositions, allegations, confessions and proofs had and done by all sides in this cause having first been examined and diligently considered by us, and having reviewed and weighed them with promptness and diligence, from the advice of those learned in the law with whom we have communicated in this behalf, and matters which according to law should be observed in this respect having been observed by us, we have thus thought fit to proceed to making the pronouncement of our definitive sentence or our final decree in the said cause, and we do proceed in this manner which follows:
Forasmuch as we know and clearly find by the acts enacted, set forth, exhibited, propounded, alleged, proved and equally confessed in the said cause, had and done by both sides, that the party of the aforesaid Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, has sufficiently established and proved his claim as to the right, title and possession of the right of having all and singular tithes of grain and crops coming and growing within the parish of Middleton aforesaid and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same church in his libel previously given and offered before us by his party in the cause mentioned (the tenor of which libel follows in these words; In the name of God, Amen; before you, the venerable Master George Wilmesley, Bachelor of Laws, official principal of the royal Chester ecclesiastical court
Transcript
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In dei nomine amen Auditis visis et intellectis ac plenarie discussis
per Nos Georgium Wymesley in Legibus baccallaureum curie Regie
ecclesiastice <consistorialis> Cestrensis officialem principalem per Reuerendum in christo patrem et dominum
dominum Johannem permissione diuina Cestrensem episcopum ad exercendum iurisdictionem spiritualem et
ecclesiasticam in et per totam diocesem cestrensem auctoritate suprema Illustrissimi
in christo principis et domini nostri domini Edwardi sexti dei gracia Anglie
Francie et hibernie Regis fidei defensoris et in terris ecclesie Anglica-
ne et hibernice sub christo capitis supremi fulcitum sufficienter et
legitime deputatum meritis et circumstancijs cuiusdam cause subtracti-
onis decimarum que coram nobis inter discretum virum Magistrum
Robertum Asheton rectorem ecclesie parochialis de Myddleton cestrensis diocesis partem querelantem ex vna et Egidium Johnson eisudem parochie de Mydle-
ton et diocesis cestrensis predicte partem ream et querelatam ex altera
parte aliquandiu vertebatur et adhuc vertitur et pendet indecisa
rite et legitime procedentes partibus predictis coram nobis sufficienter et legitime
in iudicio comparentibus parteque prefati Magistri Roberti Asheton rectoris antedicti
sententiam ferri et iusticiam fieri pro parte sua parte vero dicti
Egidij Johnson iusticiam pro parte sua instanter postulantibus
et petentibus,
visis primitus per nos et diligenter inspectis omnibus et
singulis actis inactitatis, deductis propositis allegatis confessatis et
probatis in huiusmodi causa hincinde habitis et factis eisque cum maturite
et diligentia recensitis et ponderatis de consilio iurisperitorum cum
quibus in hac parte communicauimus servatis per nos de iure in hac parte
servandis ad nostre sententie diffinitiue siue decreti nostri finalis in dicta
causa ferendum prolacionem sic duximus procedendum et procedimus in hunc
qui sequitur modum
Quia per acta inactita deducta exhibita
proposita allegata probata pariter et confessata in dicta causa
hincinde habita et facta comperimus et luculenter invenimus partem
prefati Magistri Roberti Ashton rectoris antedicti intencionem suam
quoad ius titulum et possessionem iuris percipiendi omnes et
singulas decimas granorum et segetum infra parochiam de
Myddleton predictam finesque et limites locaque decimabilia
eiusdem ecclesie prouenientium et contingentium in libello suo alias per partem
suam coram nobis in causa memorata dato et oblato deductam
cuius quidem libelli tenor sequitur in hec verba In dei Nomine
Amen coram vobis venerabili <viro> Magistro Georgio Wymesley in
Legibus baccallaureo curie regie ecclesiastice <cestrensis> officiale
Original Document
Translation
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[appointed] by the right reverend father in Christ, John, by divine permission lord bishop of Chester sufficiently and lawfully deputed for the exercising of spiritual and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in and throughout the whole Chester diocese by the supreme authority of the most illustrious Prince in Christ and our lord, Edward the sixth, by the grace of God lord king of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and on earth supreme head of the English and Irish church under Christ, or any other judge whomsoever competent in this regard, the party of the distinguished Master Assheton, rector of the parish church of Middleton of Chester diocese, against Giles Johnson of the hamlet of Ainsworth of the parish of Middleton and of the said diocese and also against any other person or persons whomsoever lawfully intervening before you in judgement for the same etc. which certain libel we hold and we wish to be held as here read and recorded and nothing effectual has been or is set forth, alleged or proved on the part or behalf of the said Giles Johnson which could destroy or in any way weaken the claim of the aforesaid Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid.
Therefore we, George Wilmesley, official principal aforesaid, having first called upon the name of Christ, and having God himself alone before our eyes, pronounce, decree and declare for the right, title and possession, or quasi-possession, of the said Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, and of his parish church of Middleton aforesaid, in all and singular tithes of grain and crops within the said parish of Middleton and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same howsoever proceeding and arising; likewise the right of receiving and having all and singular the same tithes belonged and appertained and thus should have and should belong and appertain to the said Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, by right and in the name of his said parish church of Middleton and the said Giles Johnson subtracted or has not paid to the said Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, and to his parish church of Middleton aforesaid respectively or at least has ordered and caused these tithes written below arising and proceeding in the months and year libellate within the parish of Middleton aforesaid thus to be subtracted or not paid in the manner and form expressed and declared in the said libel and approved and approves this subtraction and non-payment thus done and likewise accepted this, and he, Giles Johnson,
Transcript
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principali per Reuerendum in christo patrem dominum dominum Johannem permissione diuina
cestrensem episcopum ad exercendum iurisdictionem spiritualem et ecclesiasticam in et per
totam diocesem cestrensem auctoritate suprema Illustrissimi in christo princi-
pis et domini nostri domini Edwardi sexti dei gracia Anglie francie et
hibernie Regis fidei defensoris et in terris ecclesie anglicane et
hibernice sub christo capitis supremi fulcitum sufficienter et legitime
deputatum seu alio iudice in hac parte competenti quocunque Pars
discreti viri Magistri Asheton rectoris ecclesie parochialis de Myddleton
cestrensis diocesis contra et aduersus Egidium Johnson hameleti de
Aynsworth parochie de Myddleton et dicte diocesis necnon contra quemcunque
alium seu alios coram vobis in iudicio legitime intervenientem pro eijsdem
et cetera quem quidem libellum pro hic lecto et inscripto habemus et haberi
volumus sufficienter fundasse et probasse nihilque effectuale ex
parte aut per partem dicti Egidij Johnson deductum allegatum
aut probatum fuisse et esse quod intencionem prefati Magistri
Roberti Assheton rectoris antedicti elideret seu quomodolibet enervaret
Idcirco Nos Georgius Wylmesley officialis principalis
antedictus christi nomine primitus invocato ac ipsum solum Deum pre oculis
nostris habentes pro iure titulo et possessione seu quasi dicti Magistri
Roberti Asheton rectoris antedicti et ecclesie sue parochialis de Myddleton
predicte in omnibus et singulis decimis granorum et segetum
infra dictam parochiam de Middleton finesque et limites locaque
decimabilia eiusdem qualitercunque prouenientium et contingentium Jus quoque
percipiendi et habendi easdem decimas omnes et singulas ad dictum
Magistrum Robertum Asheton Rectorem antedictum iure et nomine dicte
ecclesie sue parochialis de Myddleton spectasse et pertinisse ac sic
spectare et pertinere debuisse et debere dictumque
Egidium Johnson decimas huiusmodi infrascriptas mensibus et Anno libellatis
in hac parte, infra parochiam de Myddleton
predictam contingentium et provenientium modo et forma in dicto libello
expressis et declaratis dicto Magistro Roberto Asheton rectori antedicto
et ecclesie sue parochiali de Myddleton predicte respectiue subtraxisse
aut non soluisse seu saltem sic subtrahi aut non solui man-
dasse et fecisse necnon subtractionem et non solucionem huiusmodi
sic factum ratas et gratas habuisse et habere pariter et acceptum pronunci-
amus decernimus et declaramus Ipsumque Egidium Johnson
Original Document
Translation
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to the payment, making good and satisfaction of the tithes aforesaid, by him (as is aforesaid) subtracted and not paid (if they are still in existence) otherwise in the true value of the same, namely in the tenth part of one hundred and fifty riders[1] of oats, in English ‘of Cl Ryders of ootes’ and nineteen riders of barley, in English ‘of xix Ryders of barly’ (each rider of grain or this crop containing ten sheaves in English ‘x sheves’ of this crop) respectively coming and arising in and from certain farms and fields of his within the said hamlet of Ainsworth in the one thousand five hundred and fifty-first year of our Lord and within the parish of Middleton aforesaid and the tithable places of the same taken and kept by him or by others in his name or by his order which certain tenth part we calculate at the sum or value of five shillings and seven pence of good money of England according to the proofs to be supported by law in that respect, and the said Giles Johnson has refused and refuses to pay, make good and satisfy to the aforesaid Master Robert Assheton, rector aforesaid, the aforesaid tithes (as is aforesaid) subtracted or not paid (if they are in existence) otherwise the true values of the same tithes, as duly requested, or at least, he has delayed and is delaying; and he in the said tithes (if they are in existence) otherwise in the value aforesaid of the same tithes and in triple the value of the same tithes (which triple value we calculate at the sum or value of sixteen shillings and 9d of good and lawful money of England, according to the rate aforesaid in accordance with the rate fixed by the party principal and proved in that respect)
and also in the lawful expenses incurred and to be incurred on the part of the aforesaid rector in this respect (which expenses incurred we tax at the sum of forty shillings of lawful money of England) and that he ought to be obliged and compelled to the due payment of the premises by legal remedy of law and with effect the same is thus obliged and compelled to the payment of the aforesaid expenses to the aforesaid rector, or his assignee, taxed by us as is aforesaid, before the next feast of Archangel Michael next coming under pain of excommunication then and thenceforward, if he does not obey our warnings to him, which we pass and publish in these writings, we pronounce, decree and declare that he is peremptorily warned by this our
[1] A rider was a stook of cereal, generally made up of ten sheaves, four on each side and two covering sheaves. (Robert Holland (ed), A Glossary of Words used in the County of Chester (1885)).
Transcript
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ad solucionem prestacionem et satisfactionem decimarum predictarum per
eum (vt prefertur) subtractarum et non solutarum (si extent) alioquin
veri valoris earundem videlicet in decima parte
Centum et quinquaginta acervorum Auenarum anglice
of Cl Ryders of ootes et novendecim Acervorum hordei anglice
of xix Ryders of barly (quolibet acervo granorum seu segetum
huiusmodi continens decem garbas anglice x sheves segetum huiusmodi)
in et ex <quibusdam> predijs et campis suis infra dictum hameletum de
Aynsworth respectiue prouenientium et contingentium Anno domini millesimo
quingentesimo quinquagesimo primo infraque parochiam de Myddleton
predictam et loca decimabilia eiusdem per eum seu alios eius
nomine aut iussu perceptarum et habitarum quam quidem decimam partem ad
summam siue valorem quinque solidorum et septem denariorum bone monete
Anglie <estimamus> iuxta probata in hac parte de iure teneri dictumque
Egidium Johnson ad soluendum prestandum et satisfaciendum prefato
Magistro Roberto Asheton rectori antedicto prefatas decimas per eum
(vt premittitur) subtractas seu non solutas (si extent) alioquin
earundem decimarum veros valores debite requisitos id facere
recusasse et recusare seu plus iuste distulisse et differre
proununciamus decernimus et declaramus Et ipsum in dictis
decimis (si extent) alioquin in earundem decimarum valoribus antedictis
atque in Triplici valore earundem decimarum (quam quidem Triplicem
valorem ad summam siue valorem sexdecim solidorum et ixd bone et
Legalis monete anglie iuxta ratam predicte sortis principali
et probata in hac parte estimamus)
Necnon in expensis legitimis
per partem prefati Rectoris in hac parte factis et faciendis condempnamus
(quas quidem expensis factis ad summam quadraginta solidorum
Legalis monete Anglie taxamus) et ipsum ad debitam solucionem
premissorum per legitima iuris remedia cogendum et compellendum fore
debere et cum effectu sic cogi et compelli eundemque ad soluendum
prefato Rectori siue eius assignato expensas predictas per nos vt
premittitur taxatas citra Festum michaelis arcangelis proximum
iam proximum futurum sub pena excommunicacionis quam in ipsum monicionibus
nostris non parens exnunc prout extunc et extunc prout exnunc
ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis peremptorie monendum fore
pronunciamus decernimus et declaramus per hanc nostram
Original Document
Translation
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our definitive sentence or this our final decree which we pass and publish in these writings.
This sentence was read by the judge aforesaid on the 21st day of the month of July in the year of our Lord 1552 with these being then present there Sir Nicholas Harwarr, chaplain, John Barnes, gentleman, and Randle Bradley, witnesses summoned to the premises.
[in pencil in a different hand]
/3
[written the other way up]
sentence on behalf of the rector of Middleton against Giles Johnson, read and passed on the 21st day of the month of July in the year 1552
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2025 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
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sententiam diffinitiuam siue hoc nostrum finale decretum quam siue quod
ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis
Lecta fuit huiusmodi sententia per iudicem antedictum
xxjo die mensis July anno domini 1552o
presentibus tunc ibidem domino Nicolao Harwarr
capellano Johanno Barnes generoso et Radulpho
Bradley testibus ad premissis vocatis
[in pencil in a different hand]
/3
[written the other way up]
s[ententia] per par[tem rectoris]
de Myddle[ton contra]
Egidium Johnson
Lecta et lata xxjmo
die mensis Julij Anno
1552do
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2025 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Robert Assheton, rector of Middleton and Radcliffe – plaintiff
Giles Johnson – defendant
Nicholas Harwarr – witness to the sentence
John Barnes – witness to the sentence
Randle Bradley – witness to the sentence
Officials
George Wilmesley – official principal
Related Causes
EDC 5/12/1 – Robert Assheton, rector of Middleton, contra John Aspenhawlgh, John Alens and John Bradley (libel).
Notes
This sentence is in the format of the earlier surviving sentences from the Chester Consistory Court. It includes a longer extract from the libel than later sentences and also gives the value of the tithes lost and due date for payment of the award as determined by the court.
There was agrarian unrest in the area at the time of this suit, fuelled by religious change and rampant inflation between 1547 and 1551. There was also a marked rise in the number of Lancashire tithe causes heard at Chester during those years. (Christopher Haigh, Reformation and Resistance in Tudor Lancashire (Cambridge, 1975), p. 152).