Ref: EDC 5/1566/2
Catalogue Entry:
There is no catalogue entry for this cause but the papers are filed in a paper folder labelled EDC 5 (1566) NO 2 CHESTER
Summary:
Elizabeth Wilson contra William Gooddigar of the parish of Walton.
Elizabeth, of the parish of St Mary in Chester, claimed that the couple had been married in a private house in the parish of Walton by words of present consent or words of future consent with consummation.
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/2 image 1]
In the name of God Amen: before you, William, by divine permission bishop of Chester, or your commissary general or other judge whomsoever competent in this regard, the party of the honest woman, Elizabeth Wilson of the parish of Saint Mary on the Hill within the city of Chester of Chester diocese against William Gooddigar of the parish of Walton of the aforesaid diocese and of your jurisdiction, and against any other or others whomsoever lawfully intervening before you in judgement for the same, in a certain cause of matrimony or contract says, alleges and propounds in these writings in law jointly, severally and in articles as follows:
1 Firstly, that the said Elizabeth Wilson and William Gooddigar free from and unrestricted by all matrimonial contract, and being in the same freedom and liberty, often talked of and discussed having and making a marriage between them; and he propounds as before.
2 Also, that after this talk and discussion thus had and done between the same Elizabeth Wilson and William Gooddigar they lawfully contracted together a true, unconditional and lawful marriage by appropriate words of present consent or of future espousals as expression of their mutual consent (with consenting sexual intercourse), in the house or dwelling of Robert Carver within the parish of Walton aforesaid in the months of May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December in the year of our Lord 1564 or in any of those months whatsoever, in one or another, they lawfully contracted a true and lawful marriage or sworn espousals, as aforesaid; and he propounds as before.
3 Also, that after the matters set out above, the aforesaid William Gooddigar fathered a child from the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth Wilson and maintained and loved the same Elizabeth as his wife; and he propounds jointly, severally and of every part thereof.
4 Also that the aforesaid Elizabeth and William Gooddigar were and are commonly deemed, held, called and named and reputed as man and wife and bride and groom in several parts within the parish of Walton and in other neighbouring and surrounding places; and he propounds as before.
5 Also that the said William Gooddigar was and is of the parish of Walton of Chester diocese and for that reason notoriously subordinate and subject to your jurisdiction and he propounds as before.
6 Also, that it was and is on the part and behalf of the said Elizabeth Wilson rightly and lawfully complained to you, lord judge aforesaid, and to your court; and he propounds jointly, severally and of every part thereof.
Transcript
[1566/2 image 1]
In dei nomine Amen Coram Vobis Willielmo permissione divina Cestrensi
Episcopo vestroue Comissario generali seu alio Judice in hac parte competenti quocunque Pars honeste mulieris Elizabeth Wilson parochie de sancti marie super
Monte infra ciuitatem cestrie <cestrensis> diocesis contra et aduersus Willielmum gooddigar
parochie de Walton predicte diocesis et vestre Jurisdiccionis ac contra quemcunque alium
siue alios coram vobis in Judicio pro eodem Legitime Interuenientem siue
Interuenientes In quadam causa matrimonialis siue contractus dicit
allegat et in hijs scriptis in Jure proponit coniunctim diuisim atque articulatim
pro vt Sequitur
1 In primis Quod dicta Elizabeth Wilson et Willielmus gooddigar ab omni
contractu Matrimoniali Liberi et Immunes et in eadem libertate
Immunitateque existentes de matrimonio inter eos habendo et fiendo sepius
communicauerunt et tractauerunt Et ponit vt supra
2 Item Quod post huiusmodi communicationem et tractatum sic inter eosdem Elizabeth
Wilson et Willielmum gooddigar habitum et factum Matrimonium verum purum
et Legitimum per verba de presenti siue per sponsalia de futuro (cum
Obsequenti carnali copula) ad hoc apta Mutuum eorum consensum
exprimentia in domo siue habitacione Roberti carver infra parochiam de
Walton antedictam mensibus Maij Junij Julij Augusti Septembris octobris
nouembris et Decembris Anno domini 1564 eorundemve mensium quolibet
vno siue aliquo Matrimonium verum et Legitimum vt prefertur siue sponsalia
Iurata adinvicem legitime contraxerunt ac ponit vt supra
3 Item Quod post premissa predictus Willielmus gooddigar ex corpore predicte
Elizabeth Wilson prolem suscepit ac eandem <elizabeth> tanquam vxorem aluit et
dilexit Et ponit coniunctim diuisim et de quolibet
4 Item Quod predicta Elizabeth et Willielmus gooddigar vt vir et vxor ac vt
sponsus et sponsa in nonnullus partibus infra parochiam de Walton ac in alijs
locis vicinis et circumvicinis fuerunt et sunt communiter habiti tenti dicti ac
nominati et reputati palam publice et notorie et ponit vt Supra
5 Item quod dictus Willielmus gooddigar fuit et est parochie de Walton Cestrensis
diocesis et eo pretextu vestre Jurisdiccionis notorie subditus et subiectus et ponit vt
Supra
6 Item Quod fuit et est ex parte et per partem dicte Elizabeth Wilson ad vos
domine Judex antedicte et ad curiam vestram rite et Legitime querelatum
Et ponit Coniunctim Diuisim et de quolibet
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/2 image 2]
Also, that all and singular the premises were and are true, public, notorious, manifest and equally well known, and regarding and concerning this public voice and fame were and are at present circulating in the parish of Walton and in other parishes.
Whereupon, due proof being made as required by law in this regard, the party of the said Elizabeth Wilson prays that right and justice may be done and administered to her in all and singular the premises and also that the marriage between the aforesaid William Gooddigar and Elizabeth Wilson is adjudged, decreed and declared as true, just and lawful, and that the said Elizabeth Wilson is pronounced and declared as lawful wife of the said William Gooddigar and the aforesaid William Gooddigar as lawful husband of the afore-named Elizabeth; and that he, William Gooddigar, is obliged and compelled to the solemnization of the same marriage with Elizabeth Wilson mentioned at a suitable and convenient time and place by you and your definitive sentence or final decree, reverend Judge aforesaid; and that it will be decreed as in the premises and otherwise that what will have been of right and reason may be done; not binding himself to prove all and singular but etc..
Transcript
[1566/2 image 2]
Item Quod premissa omnia et singula fuerunt et sunt vera publica notoria
Manifesta pariter ac famosa atque de et super huiusmodi in parochia de Walton et alijs parochiis Laborarunt ac in presenti laborant publica vox et fama
Vnde facta
fide de Jure in hac parte requisita petit pars dicte Elizabeth Wilson
Jus et Justiciam sibi in premissis omnibus et singulis fieri et ministrari nec
non pro vero Justo ac Legitimo matrimonio inter predictum Willielmum gooddigar et Elizabeth Wilson adiudicari decerni et declarari dictamque Elizabeth
Wilson in vxorem legitimam dicti Willielmi gooddigar ac prefatum Willielmum
gooddigar in virum legitimum prenominate Elizabeth pronunciari ac declarari
Ipsumque Willielmum gooddigar ad solempnizacionem eiusdem matrimonij cum commemorata Elizabeth Wilson pro loco et tempore congruis et oportunis cogi
et compelli per vos et vestram Sententiam diffinitivam siue finale decretum reuerende
Judex antedicte et decerni in premissis et vlterius fieri quod Juris fuerit
Et racionis <non arctans> se ad omnia et singula probanda sed et cetera
[There is an illegible doodle, which may be a signature, at the bottom.]
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/2 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Libel of Elizabeth Wilson against William Gooddigar in a cause of contact, exhibited in the year of our Lord, 1566.
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[1566/2 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Libellus Elizabeth W[ilson]
contra et aduersus W[illiam]
Gooddigar in causa
contractus exhibit[us]
Anno domini 1566
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Elizabeth Wilson – plaintiff
William Gooddigar – defendant
Robert Carver – mentioned in the libel
Officials