Ref: EDC 5/13/5
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5/13/5 – Sentence in tithe cause: Richard Grosvenor gent. farmer of tithes of Dodleston v. Humphrey Bold of Dodleston . 29 Jul. 1552
Summary:
Richard Grosvenor contra Humphrey Bold.
The depositions of the witnesses indicate that the custom of tithing lambs was to pay the tithes in kind, but Humphrey Bold was trying to substitute a money payment, which he claimed was customary. The statements of the witnesses and the personal statement of the defendant in this cause may be found at EDC 2/5, ff. 12-13v, 18-20v.
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, 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 Richard Grosvenor, gentleman, farmer of the rectory of the parish church of Dodleston of Chester diocese, the complainant on the one part and Humphrey Bold of the said parish of Dodleston, 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 Richard Grosvenor, farmer aforesaid, urgently praying and seeking that sentence is passed and that justice may be done to his party while the party of the said Humphrey Bold 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 Richard Grosvenor, farmer 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 and wool born, brought forth, arising and growing within the parish of Dodleston aforesaid and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same parish 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,
Transcript
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In dei Nomine amen Auditis visis 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 exer-
cendum 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 deputatum meritis et circumstancijs
cuiusdam cause subtractionis decimarum que coram nobis inter
discretum virum Magistrum Richardum Grosuenor generosum firmarium
<Rectorie> ecclesie parochialis de Dodleston Cestrensis diocesis partem querelantem ex
vna et Humfridum Bold dicte parochie de Doddleston partem
ream et querelatam partibus ex altera aliquandiu vertebatur et
adhuc vertitur et pendet indecisa rite et legitime procedentes partibus
predictis coram nobis in iudicio sufficienter et legitime
comparentibus parteque dicti magistri Richardi Grosvenor firmarij antedicti sententiam
ferri et iusticiam fieri pro parte sua parte vero dicti Humfridi
Bold Justiciam pro parte sua instanter postulantibus et petentibus
visis primitus per nos et diligenter inspectis omnibus et singulis
actis inactitatis, deductis, propositis, allegatis confessatis et proba-
tis in huiusmodi causa hincinde habitis et factis eisque cum maturite et
diligencia recensitis et ponderatis de consilio iurisperitorum cum
quibus in hac parte communicauimus 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 probata pariter
et confessata in dicta causa hinc inde habita et facta comperimus et
luculenter invenimus partem prefati Magistri Richardi Gravenor firmarij
antedicti intencionem suam quoad ius titulum et possessionem iuris perci-
piendi omnes et singulas decimas Agnorum et Lane
infra parochiam de Duddleton predictam finesque et limites locaque
decimabilia eiusdem parochie fetatorum enixorum 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
Original Document
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Translation
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official principal of the Chester ecclesiastical consistory 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, or any other judge whomsoever competent in this regard, the party of the distinguished Master Richard Grosvenor, gentleman, farmer of the rectory of the parish church of Dodleston of Chester diocese, against Humphrey Bold of the said parish of Dodleston 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 as here read and recorded and we wish to be held as sufficiently founded and proved while the party of the said Humphrey Bold his claim in certain exceptive material previously judicially given set forth before us in the cause aforesaid by his party the tenor of which material follows and is thus; In the name of God, Amen; in a certain pretended cause of tithes which before you, venerable Master George Wilmesley, Bachelor of Laws et cetera between Master Richard Grosvenor, pretended farmer of the rectory of the parish church of Dodleston, the pretended plaintiff on the one part and Humphrey Bold, the pretended defendant on the other part is claimed to be considered and to be depending undecided, the party of the said Humphrey Bold against the aforesaid Master Richard Grosvenor, pretended farmer aforesaid, and any other person whomsoever et cetera, which certain material we wish to hold as here read and inserted and we wish to be held as less than sufficiently founded or proved but in its proof to be deficient and to be defective in all points and nothing effectual has been and is excepted, set forth, alleged or proved on the part of Humphrey Bold which could destroy or in any way weaken the claim of the aforesaid Master Richard Grosvenor, farmer 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 Richard Grosvenor, farmer aforesaid, and of his same church of Dodleston aforesaid, in all and singular tithes and especially in tithes of lambs and wool within the said parish of Dodleston and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same howsoever proceeding and arising, born and growing; 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 Richard Grosvenor, farmer aforesaid, by right and in the name of the parish church of Dodleston aforesaid and the said Humphrey Bold subtracted or has not paid to the said Master Richard Grosvenor, farmer aforesaid, and to the church aforesaid tithes of his thirty lambs
Transcript
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curie consistorialis 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 ecclesiæ anglicane et hibernice supremi capitis fulcitum
sufficienter et legitime deputatum seu alio iudice in hac parte com-
petenti quocunque Pars discreti viri Magistri Richardi Grosvenor
generosi firmarij Rectorie ecclesie parochialis de Doddleston cestrensis diocesis
contra et aduersus Humfridum bold dicte parochie de Doddleston dicteque
diocesis necnon contra quemcunque alium seu alios coram vobis in iudicio
legitime interuenientem pro eodem <et cetera> quem quidem libellum pro hic lecto et inscripto
habemus et haberi volumus sufficienter fundasse et probasse
partem quoque dicti Humfridi bold
intencionem suam in quadam materia exceptoria alias coram nobis
in causa predicta per partem ipsius iudicaliter data deducta cuius quidem
materie tenor sequitur et est talis. In dei nomine amen. In quadam
pretensa causa decimarum que coram vobis venerabili viro magistro
Georgio Wymesley in Legibus baccallaureo etcetera inter magistrum
Richardum Grosuenor firmarium pretensum Rectorie ecclesie parochialis de doddleston
partem actricem pretensam ex vna et Humfridum bold partem ream
partibus pretensam ex altera verti pretenditur et pendere indecisa
Pars dicte Humfridi Bold contra et aduersus prefatum Magistrum
Richardum Grosuenor firmarium pretensum antedictum et quemcunque alium et cetera
quam quidem materiam pro hic lectam et insertam habemus et haberi volumus
minus sufficienter fundasse aut probasse sed in probacione sua
omnino defecisse et deficere nihilque effectuale ex parte ipsius
Humfridi Bold exceptum deductum allegatum aut probatum fuisse et
esse quod intencionem prefati magistri Richardi Grosvenor firmarij
antedicti elideret seu quomodolibet enervaret
Idcirco Nos Geor-
gius Wylmesley officialis principalis antedictus christi nomine
primitus invocato ac ipsum solum Deum pre occulis nostris habentes
pro iure titulo et possessione seu quasi dicti Magistri Richardi
Grosvenor firmarij antedicti et eiusdem ecclesie de dodleston
predicte in omnibus et singulis decimis et presertim in decimis
Agnorum et Lane infra dictam parochiam de Dodleston finesque et
limites ac loca decimabilia eiusdem qualitercunque provenientium et
contingentium fetatorum et crescentium Jus quoque percipiendi et habendi
easdem decimas omnes et singulas ad dictum Magistrum Richardum Grosvenor
firmarium predictum iure et nomine ecclesie parochialis de Doddleston
predicte spectasse et pertinisse ac sic spectare et pertinere debuisse
et debere Dictumque Humfridum Bolde decimas triginta Agnorum
Original Document
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Translation
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in the months and year libellate in that respect namely in the one thousand five hundred and fiftieth year of our Lord arising and proceeding and born within the parish of Dodleston aforesaid and the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same parish in the manner and form expressed and declared in the said libel or at least has ordered and caused this subtraction and non-payment thus done and likewise accepted and approved and approves this, and him. Humphrey Bold, 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 tithes, which tithes or tenth part we calculate at the sum or value of seven shillings of good and lawful money of England according to the proofs to be supported by law in that respect, and the said Humphrey Bold has refused and refuses to pay, make good and satisfy to the aforesaid Master Richard Grosvenor, farmer 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, Humphrey, in the said tithes (if they are in existence) otherwise in the value aforesaid of the same tithes;
and also in the lawful costs incurred and to be incurred on the part of the aforesaid Master Richard Grosvenor, farmer aforesaid, in this respect (which expenses thus incurred we tax at the sum of thirty five 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 farmer, 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 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 29th day of the month of July in the year of our Lord 1552 with these being then present there, John Grosvenor, gentleman, John Jenson, chaplain, and Randle Bradley, witnesses summoned to the premises.
Transcript
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suorum mensibus et Anno in hac parte libellatis videlicet Anno domini millesimo
quingentesimo quinquagesimo infra parochiam de Doddleston predictam finesque
et limites locaque decimabilia eiusdem parochiam prouenientium et contingentium
et fetatorum modo et forma in dicto libello expressis et declaratis
dicto Magistro Richardo Grosvenor firmario antedicto et ecclesie predicte
subtraxisse 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
pronunciamus decernimus et declaramus Ipsumque Humfridum
Bold ad solucionem prestacionem et satisfactionem decimarum predictarum
per eum vt prefertur subtractarum et non solutarum (si extent)
alioquin veri valoris earundem decimarum quas quidem decimas siue
decimam partem ad summam siue valorem septem solidorum bone et
legalis monete Anglie estimamus iuxta probata in hac parte
de iure teneri dictumque Humfridum Bold ad soluendum prestandum
et satisfaciendum prefato Magistro Richardo Grosvenor firmario predicto
prefatas decimas per eum (vt premittitur) subtractas seu non
solutas (si extent alioquin earundem decimarum verum valorem
debite requisitum id facere recusasse et recusare seu plus iuste
distulisse et differre proununciamus decernimus et decla-
ramus Et ipsum Humfridum in dictis decimis (si extent) alioquin
in earundem decimarum valoribus antedictis
Necnon in expensis legitimjs per partem
prefati Magistri Richardi Grosvenor firmarij predicti in hac
parte factis et faciendis condempnamus (quas quidem expensis sic factis
ad summam triginta quinque 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 firmario 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 declaramus per
hanc nostram sententiam diffinitiuam siue hoc nostrum finale decretum
quam siue quod ferimus et promulgamus in hijs scriptis
Lecta fuit huiusmodi sententia per iudicem antedictum xxixo
die mensis July anno domini 1552o presentibus
tunc ibidem Johanno grauenor generoso Johanno Jenson
capellano et Radulpho Bradley testibus ad premissis
[vocatis]
Original Document
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Translation
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[Endorsement]
Sentence on behalf of the farmer of the parish church of Dodleston against Humphrey Bold in a cause of subtraction of tithes.
Read and passed 28th of July in the year 1552.
[in pencil in a different hand]
/5
[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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[Endorsement]
Sententia per partem firmario
ecclesie parochialis de doddleston
contra Humfridum Bold
in causa subtractionis
decimarum Lecta et
Lata 28 Julij Anno
1552do
[in pencil in a different hand]
/5
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2025 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Richard Grosvenor – plaintiff
Humphrey Bold – defendant
John Grosvenor – witness to the sentence
John Jenson – 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 amount of the award and date for payment are entered in different writing in spaces left for the purpose.
The costs of 35s awarded to the plaintiff seem to have been punitive in the light of the assessment of tithes lost at 7s.