Ref: EDC 5/13/4
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5/13/4 – Sentence in tithe cause: Nicholas Hareward vicar of Weaverham v. Edward Walker of Weaverham. 28 Jul. 1552.
Summary:
Nicholas Hardware, vicar of Weaverham, contra Edward Walker.
The sentence in this cause relates only to tithes of lambs, although the Court Book indicates that proceedings had begun as a suit against Edward Walker for tithes of hay and lambs and Henry Heye for tithes of hay (EDC 1/13, ff. 6v, 23v, 78). In the course of the proceedings it seems that the personal answers of the defendants and depositions by witnesses were accepted as proof that while the tithes of hay had been paid correctly, custom had not been followed in the tithing of lambs and Edward Walker was thus found to have subtracted due tithes of lambs. The statements in this cause may be found at EDC 2/5, ff. 32v-35v, 90-93v.
Original Document
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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 Sir Nicholas Hardware, clerk, perpetual vicar of the parish church of Weaverham of Chester diocese aforesaid, the complainant, on the one part and Edward Walker of the said parish of Weaverham, the defendant and party complained of on the other part, proceeding rightly and lawfully; with the party of the aforesaid vicar [by] before us by Tristram Swadaill, substitute of Robert Bower, clerk, sufficiently and lawfully constituted, while the party of the said Edward Walker appearing personally; and the party of the aforesaid Nicholas Hardware, vicar aforesaid, urgently praying and seeking that sentence is passed and that justice may be done to his party while the said Edward Walker 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 Nicholas Hardware, vicar 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 lambs within the parish of Weaverham aforesaid and the bounds and limits and tithable places
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 anglicane et hibernice sub christo capitis supremi fulcitum suffi-
cienter et legitime deputatum meritis et circumstancijs cuiusdam cause
subtractionis decimarum que coram nobis inter discretum virum dominum Nicholaum Harewarde clericum vicarium perpetuum ecclesie parochialis de Weuerham cestrensis diocesis
predicte partem querelantem ex vna et Edwardum Walker dicte parochie
de Weuerham partem ream et querelatam ex altera parte aliquan diu
vertebatur et adhuc vertitur et pendet indecisa rite
et legitime procedentes parte predicti <vicarij per> coram nobis
per Tristramum Swadaill substitutum Roberti Bower clerici
procuratoris sufficienter et legitime <constituti> parte vero dicti Edwardi
Walker personaliter comparenti
Parteque prefati Nicholai harware vicarij antedicti sententiam ferri
et iusticiam fieri pro parte sua dictus Edwardus Walker
Justiciam pro parte sua instanter postulantibus et petentibus,
visis primi-
tus per nos et diligenter inspectis omnibus et singulis actis inactitatis
deductis, propositis allegatis confessatis et probatis in huiusmodi causa hinc-
inde habitis et factis eisque cum maturitate et diligentia recensitis et
ponderatis de consilio iurisperitorum cum quibus in hac parte communicaui-
mus servatis per nos de iure in hac parte servandis ad sententie nostre
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 pro–
bata pariter et confessata in dicta causa hincinde habita et facta comperimus
et luculenter invenimus partem prefati Nicholai harwarre
vicarij antedicti intencionem suam quoad ius titulum et possessionem
[iuris perci]piendi omnes et singulas decimas Agnorum infra p[arochiam
de Weuerham predictam finesque et limites locaque decimab]ilia
Original Document
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Translation
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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 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 Sit Nicholas Hardware, perpetual vicar of the vicarage of the parish church of Weaverham of Chester diocese, against Edward Walker of the parish of Weaverham aforesaid 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 Edward Walker which could destroy or in any way weaken the claim of the aforesaid Sir Hardware, vicar 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 Sir Nicholas Hardware, vicar aforesaid, and of his parish church of Weaverham aforesaid, in all and singular tithes of lambs brought forth, born and arising within the said parish of Weaverham and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same; 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 Sir Nicholas Hardware, vicar aforesaid, by right and in the name of his said parish church of Weaverham and the said Edward Walker subtracted or has not paid to the said Sir Nicholas Hardware, vicar aforesaid, and to his church aforesaid or at least has ordered and caused these tithes written below arising and proceeding in the months and years libellate within the parish of Weaverham 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 him, Edward Walker, to the payment, making good and satisfaction of the tithes aforesaid, by him (as is aforesaid) subtracted and not paid namely the tithes or tenth part of ten lambs of his within the said parish of Weaverham and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same in the one thousand five hundred […] years of our Lord
Transcript
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[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 principali 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 anglicane et hibernice sub christo capitis
supremi fulcitum sufficienter et legitime deputato seu alio iudice in hac
parte competenti quocunque Pars discreti domini Nicholai Hareware
vicarij perpetue <vicaragij> ecclesie parochialis de Weuerham cestrensis diocesis
contra et aduersus Edwardum Walker parochie de Weuerham predicte dicteque diocesis
necnon contra quemcunque alium seu alios coram vobis in iudicio legitime inter-
venientem pro eodem 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 Edwardi Walker deductum allegatum aut probatum
fuisse et esse quod intencionem prefati domini Harewarre
vicarij 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 domini Nicholai Harwarre
vicarij antedicti et ecclesie sue parochialis de Weverham predicte in omnibus et
singulis decimis agnorum infra dictam parochiam de Weuerham finesque <et> limites
locaque decimabilia eiusdem parturitarum setatarum et contingentium Jus quoque
percipiendi et habendi easdem decimas omnes et singulas ad dictum dominum Nicholaum
Harwarre vicarium antedictum iure et nomine dicte ecclesie sue parochialis de
Weuerham spectasse et pertinisse ac sic spectare et pertinere debuisse et
debere dictumque Edwardum Walker decimas huiusmodi infrascriptas
mensibus et annos libellatis in hac parte infra parochiam de Weuerham predictam contingentium et provenientium modo et forma in dicto libello expressis et decla-
ratis dicto domino Nicholao Harwarre vicario antedicto et ecclesie sue
predicte subtraxhisse aut non soluisse seu saltem sic subtrahi
aut non solui mandasse et fecisse necnon subtractionem et non solucionem
huiusmodi sic factum ratas et gratas habuisse et habere pariter et acceptum pronu-
ciamus decernimus et declaramus Ipsumque Edwardum Walker ad
solucionem prestacionem et satisfactionem decimarum predictarum per eum vt
prefertur subtractarum et non solutarum videlicet decimarum siue decime partis decem
Agnorum suorum infra dictam parochiam de Weuerham finesque et limites ac loca
decimabilia eiusdem annis domini millesimo quin[gen]tesimo quinquagesimo
[…]
Original Document
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Translation
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to be bound by law, and the said Edward Walker has refused and refuses to pay, make good and satisfy to the aforesaid Sir Nicholas Hardware, vicar 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 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 and […] pence 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 obliged and compelled to the payment of the aforesaid expenses to the aforesaid vicar, or his assignee, taxed by us as is aforesaid, before the feast of All Saints 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 definitive sentence or this our final decree which we pass and publish in these writings.
This sentence was read and passed by the judge aforesaid on the 28th day of the month of July in the year of our Lord 1552 with these being then present there Robert Maynwaring, John Cowper, gentleman, and Randle Bradley, witnesses summoned to the premises.
Transcript
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de iure teneri dictumque Edwardum Walker ad soluendum prestandum
et satisfaciendum prefato domino Nicholao Harwarre vicario 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 iusto distulisse et differre
proununciamus decernimus et declaramus Et ipsum in dictis
decimis (si extent) alioquin in earundem decimarum valoribus
antedictis Necnon in expensis legitimis per partem prefati vicarij in hac
parte factis et faciendis condempnamus (quas quidem expensis factis
ad summam quadraginta […] solidorum <… denariorum> Legalis monete Anglie
taxamus) et ipsum ad debitam solucionem premissorum per legitima
iuris remedia cogendum et compellendum fore debere et cum effectu
cogi et compelli eundemque ad soluendum prefato vicario siue
eius assignato expensas predictas per nos vt premittitur taxatas
citra festum omnium sanctorum 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 declara-
mus per hanc nostram sententiam diffinitiuam siue hoc nostrum finale
decretum quam siue quod ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis
Lecta et lata fuit huiusmodi sententia per iudicem antedictum
xxviijo die mensis July anno domini 1552
presentibus tunc ibidem Roberto maynwaring
Johanno cowper generoso et Radulpho Bradley
testibus ad premissa vocatis
Original Document
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Translation
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[Endorsement]
Sentence on behalf of […] vicar of Weaverham against Edward Walker.
Read and passed 28th of July in the year of our Lord 1552.
[in pencil in a different hand]
/4
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2025 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[5/13/4 image 4]
[Endorsement]
Sententia per partem […]vicarium de Weuerham contra
Edwardum Walker
Lecta et lata xxviijmo
Julij Anno domini
1552do
[in pencil in a different hand]
/4
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2025 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Nicholas Hardware, vicar of Weaverham – plaintiff
Edward Walker – defendant
Robert Maynwaring – witness to the sentence
John Cowper – witness to the sentence
Randle Bradley – witness to the sentence
Officials
George Wilmesley – official principal
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.
The complicated customary method of calculating the tithes due on lambs is explained by witnesses for the plaintiff (see EDC 2/5, ff. 90-93v). It seems that the defendant had attempted to make a cash payment instead. Lambs were calculated to be worth 2s each at this time. The costs of more than 40s awarded for the plaintiff seem to have been punitive.