Ref: EDC 5/1566/5
Catalogue Entry:
There is no catalogue entry for this cause but the papers are filed in a paper folder labelled EDC 5 (1566) NO 5 BLACKBURN
Summary:
William Farington, esquire, farmer of the rectory of Blackburn contra John Harwood.
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/5 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen; before you William, by divine permission bishop of Chester, or your commissary general or any other judge whomsoever competent in this regard, the party of the distinguished, William Farington, esquire, farmer of the parish of Blackburn of Chester diocese against John Harwood of the parish aforesaid of your diocese and jurisdiction, and against any other whomsoever lawfully intervening before you in judgement for the same by way of complaint and complaining to you in this behalf says, alleges and propounds in these writings in law in articles as follows:
1 Firstly, that the said William Farington, was and is commonly called, taken, held, named and openly, publicly and notoriously reputed as farmer of the parish church of Blackburn, and of the tithes and church rights proceeding, growing, renewing and arising within the bounds and limits and tithable places of the same parish of Blackburn aforesaid; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
2 Also, that as well by common law as by ancient laudable and lawful prescribed custom, hitherto inviolably and steadfastly used and observed from time immemorial and often upheld in judgment in a contested cause, the right of receiving and having all and singular lesser, mixed and minute tithes and other ecclesiastical dues and emoluments whatsoever within the said parish of Blackburn and the bounds and limits and the tithable places of the same, however and whenever proceeding or arising belonged and belongs and so ought also to have belonged and ought in future to the farmer of Blackburn aforesaid, whomsoever for the time being, or to his farmer or farmers; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
3 Also, that the current farmer of the parish church of Blackburn aforesaid and the tithable places of the same, and his precursors and predecessors each and every one of them in their successive times, for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years, and before and since and also from the time and throughout the time of the beginning or to the contrary of which there exists no memory of men, were, just as they should have been, in peaceful possession, or virtually so, of the right of receiving and having all and singular lesser, mixed and minute tithes, and especially tithes of lambs proceeding and arising within the said parish of Blackburn, the bounds and limits and tithable places in the same, and they themselves and their men took, had and freely disposed of them and likewise the current farmer there took, had and disposed for his whole time until the time of this grievance set out below and he thus should have taken and ought also in future; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
Transcript
[1566/5 image 1]
In dei Nomine Amen Coram vobis Willielmo permissione divina Cestrensi Episcopo vestroue commissario
generali seu alio Judice in hac parte Competenti quocunque Pars discreti viri Willielmi farrington armigeri firmarij parochie de Blackeburne Cestrensis diocesis contra et aduersus Johannem Harwod parochie predicte diocesis
et vestre Jurisdiccionis ac contra quemcunque alium coram vobis pro eodem in Judicio legitime Interuenientem per viam querele
et vobis in hac parte querelando dicit allegat et in hijs scriptis in Jure proponit Coniunctim Diuisim
atque articulatim pro vt Sequitur
1 Inprimis Quod dictus Willielmus farrington firmarius ecclesie parochialis de Blackburne ac decimarum et Jurium
ecclesiasticorum infra fines et limites locaque decimibilia eiusdem parochie de Blackeburne predicte provenientium crescentium
renouantium et contingentium fuit et est communiter dictus tentus habitus nominatus et Reputatus palam publice et notorie
[et ponit coniunctim diuisim et de quolibet]
2 Item Quod tam de Jure communi quam de antiqua laudabili legitimeque prescripta Consuetudine a [tempore immemo]-
rato hucvsque inviolabiliter et inconcusse vsitata et observata ac in contradictorio Judicio sepius obtenta J[us]
percipiendi et habendi omnies et singulas decimas minores mixtas et minutas ac cetera Jura et emolu[menta]
ecclesiastica quemcunque infra dictam parochiam de Blackeburne ac fines et limites locaque decimabilia euisdem
qualitercunque et quandocunque provenientes et contingentes ad firmarium de Blackburne predictum quemcunque pro [tem]-
pore existente eiusve firmarium siue firmarios pertinuit et pertinet ac sic pertinere debuit et debet
etiam in futurum Et ponit Coniunctim diuisim et de quolibet
3 Item Quod firmarius ecclesie parochialis de Blackburne predicte ac locorum decimabilia in eijsdem modernus eiusque
precessores et predicessores omnies et singuli eorum temporibus successiue existentes A x.xx.xxx xl l et lx annis
vltraque et citra nec non a tempore et per tempus Cuius inicij siue contrarij memoria hominum non existet
fuerunt pro vt esse debuerunt in pacifica possessione seu quasi Juris percipiendi et habendi omnies et
singulas decimas minores mixtas et minutas et presertim decimas Agnorum provenientes et contingentes
infra dictam parochiam de Blackeburne finesque et limites locaque decimabilia in eadem easque
per se et suos perceperunt et libere disposuerunt sicque percepit habuit et disposuit firmarius ibidem
modernus toto suo tempore vsque ad tempus grauaminis infrascriptis ac sic percipere debuit et
debet Etiam in futurum Et ponit coniunctim diuisim et dequolibet
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/5 image 2]
4 Also, that in a parliament of England held, had and solemnised at Westminster in the 32nd year of the reign of Henry VIII, late king of England, among other things a statute was and is ordained that all and singular persons, servants and subjects of this realm of England whatever his status, degree or condition might be, every year pays and should pay at present tithes and offerings to God and to his church due or accustomed to be paid in consequence of and in accordance with the laudable and legal use, practise and custom of the parish and places where these tithes and offerings grow and come or are owed and any of them whomsoever should pay thus at present; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
5 Also, that in a parliament of England held, had and solemnised at Westminster in the second and third years of the reign of Edward VI, of blessed memory, late king of England, in confirmation of the payment of all sorts of tithes and offerings due by law, among other statutes it was and is ordained in these words ‘And be hit Enacted by the authority aforesaid etc. yf any person carrey awaie his prediall tethes before the tethe be sett furth or willingly withdraw his tethe of the same or of suche other thinges wherof prediall tethes ought to be payd the partie so with drawinge shall pay dowble valew’ etc. just as is more fully contained in the same statute, to which and the contents of the same in total this propounding party refers himself so far as is necessary for himself and not otherwise or in any other way; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
Also, that the practice and custom of tithing or paying tithes of lambs proceeding, growing and arising within the said parish of Blackburn from the time and throughout the time of the beginning or to the contrary of which there exists no memory of men has grown up that any parishioner there whomsoever should render tithes of lambs coming, growing, arising and renewing within the bounds and limits and the tithable places of the same parish of Blackburn according to and in accordance with the laudable and lawful usage, practice and custom of the parish and places where these tithes come, or should do so; and he propounds as before.
Also, that the said John Harwood who had and has no right in the said farm of the tithes of the parish of Blackburn, or in the tithes aforesaid in any way, heedless of the welfare of his soul, being induced, as it is believed, by an evil spirit, scorning these said statutes of the realm and not fearing to fall under penalty of the law in the months of March, April, May, June, July and August namely in this present year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and sixty six, himself or his men, took, had, disposed and converted and applied to his own use tithes of lambs coming, growing and arising on his lands in the parish of Blackburn paying, rendering or tithing no tithes of the same to the present farmer there, or to any deputy of his whatever, nor otherwise compounding for the same, or any part thereof; and he propounds as before.
Transcript
[1566/5 image 2]
4 Item Quod in parliamento anglie apud Westminster Anno Regni Henrici octaui nuper regis Anglie xxxijo
tento habito et celebrato inter alia statuta fuit et est ordinatum Quod omnies et singuli persone huius Regni A[nglie]
Subditi et subiecti cuiuscunque status gradus siue condicionis fuerit decimas et oblaciones deo et ecc[lesie sue]
debitas seu solui consuetas iuxta et secundum laudabilem seu legitimum vsum morem et consuetudinem [parochie]
et loci vbi huiusmodi decime et oblationes crescunt proveniunt seu debentur quotannis persolvant et pers[olvere]
debeant aut sic eorum quilibet persoluere debeat in presenti Et ponit Coniunctim diuisim et dequolibet
5 Item Quod in parliamento Anglie apud Westminster Annis Regni Edwardi Sexti nuper felicis m[em]orie
Regis Anglie Secundo et tertio tento habito et celebrato in Corroboracionem solucionis omnium generum decimarum
et oblationem de Jure debitarum inter alia statuta fuit et est ordinatum in hec verba And be hit
Enacted by the authority aforesaid etc. yf any person carrey awaie his prediall tethes before
the tethe be sett furth or willingly withdraw his tethe of the same or of suche other thinges wherof
prediall tethes ought to be payd the partie so with drawinge shall pay dowble valeu […]
pro vt in eodem statuto plenius continetur ad quod et contenta in eodem totaliter se refert pars [ista]
proponens quatenus sibi expedit et non aliter neque alio modo Et ponit Coniunctim diuisim et
dequolibet
Item Quod mos et consuetudo decimandi siue soluendi decimas Agnorum provenientium crescentium et contingentium
infra dictam parochiam de Blackburne a tempore et per tempus cuius inicij siue contrarij memoria hominum
non existet inolevit quod quilibet parochianus ibidem redderet decimarum Agnorum provenientium crescentium contingentium et renouantium
infra fines et limites locaque decimibilia eiusdem parochie de Blackburne iuxta et Secundum laudabilem et
legitimam vsum morem et consuetudinem parochie et loci vbi huiusmodi decime proveniunt seu debentur Et ponit vt
Supra
Item Quod dictus Johannes Harwod qui nihil Juris in dicta firma decimarum parochie de Blackburne vel in
decimis predictis habuit et habet aliqualiter anime sue salutis immemor spiritu vt creditur maligno ductus
dicta statuta regia huiusmodi vilipendens et in penam Juris cadere non formidans mensis martij Aprilis
Maij Junij Julij et Augusti videlicet in instante Anno domini millesimo Quingentesimo Sexagesimo Sexto decimas Agnorum
provenientes et contingentes in terris suis parochie de Blackeburne per se et suos percepit habuit disposuit et
in proprios vsus conuertebat et applicuit nullas decimas de eijsdem firmario ibidem moderno aut suo deputato
cuicunque soluendum Reddendum aut decimandum nec aliter debite componendum pro huiusmodi vel aliqua parte
earundem Et ponit vt Supra
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/5 image 3]
Also, that the true value or valuation of the tithes or tenth part of lambs thus withdrawn, stored away and subtracted by the aforesaid John Harwood in the year libellate notoriously amounted to the value or valuation of four shillings of good and lawful English money; and this propounding party propounds of whatever other intermediate or lesser sum and also of such and so great an amount as shall come to be declared and proved in the event of this suit; and he propounds as before.
Also, that the true value or valuation of the tithes or tenth part of lambs thus withdrawn, stored away and subtracted by the aforesaid John Harwood in the year libellate notoriously amounted to the value or valuation of two shillings of good and lawful English money; and this propounding party propounds of whatever other intermediate or lesser sum and also of such and so great an amount as shall come to be declared and proved in the event of this suit; and he propounds as before.
[This is a repetition of the previous article with the value given as two shillings.]
Also, that the aforesaid John Harwood has been asked and requested often, or at least once, on behalf of the said farmer to pay, give and deliver to the aforesaid William Farington, farmer aforesaid, or to his deputy, these tithes, as thus aforesaid, subtracted, taken, had and not paid by himself and his men, or otherwise to compound duly for the same; and he propounds as before.
Also, that although the said John Harwood was thus asked and requested as in the premises or in any of them, he has not troubled to do so, but he has expressly declined and refused or at least unduly delayed and delays, and denies at present, to the grave danger of his soul, the pernicious example of other Christian faithful and to no small prejudice and grievance of the farmer there; and he propounds as before.
Also, that the said John Harwood was and is of the parish of Blackburn of Chester diocese, and for that reason notoriously subordinate and subject to your jurisdiction; and he propounds as before.
Also, that it was and is on behalf of the distinguished William Farington, esquire, current farmer of the tithes of Blackburn aforesaid that this action is rightly and lawfully brought to you, lord judge aforesaid, and to your Chester consistory court; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
Also, that each and every one of the premises was and is true, public, notorious, manifest and equally well-known, and public voice and fame were and are circulating regarding and concerning this in the parish of Blackburn and in other neighbouring and surrounding places.
Whereupon, due proof being made as required by law in this regard, the party of the said farmer aforesaid prays that right and justice may be done and administered to him with effect in all and singular the premises, and also that the aforesaid John Harwood is condemned in the tithes aforesaid subtracted by him and his men and in double the value of the same according to the aforesaid statute of the realm issued in that behalf; and in the lawful costs incurred on the part of the said farmer in this behalf, and he protests those to be incurred; and, having been condemned, that he is canonically obliged and compelled to the due and real payment of the same tithes and expenses by you and passing your definitive sentence in this behalf, lord judge aforesaid. And otherwise, that what will have been of right and reason in the premises and anything whatsoever concerning them may be done, established and decreed. The party of the said farmer propounds the premises and prays that they are done jointly and severally, not binding himself to prove all and singular the premises, nor to the burden of a superfluous proof, against which he protests, but so far as he shall prove in the premises so much may he obtain of the petitions, always reserving the benefit of law in all things, humbly imploring your office in the premises, distinguished judge aforesaid.
Transcript
[1566/5 image 3]
Item Quod verus valor siue estimatio decimarum siue decime partis Agnorum sic per prefatum Johannem Harwod in
anno libellato decisorum repositorum et subtractorum ad valorem siue estimationem quatuor solidorum bone
et legalis monete anglie notorie se extendebat Et ponit pars ista proponens de qualibet alia summa siue
valore intermedia vel minori ac de tali et tanta Summa de qua in euentu huius litis
veniet declarandum et comprobandum Et ponit vt Supra
Item Quod verus valor siue estimatio decimarum siue decime partis Agnorum sic per prefatum Johannem
Harwod in anno libellato decisorum repositorum et subtractorum ad valorem siue estimationem duorum solidorum
bone et legalis monete anglie notorie se extendebat Et ponit pars ista proponens de qualibet alia summa siue
valore inter media vel minori ac de tali et tanta Summa de qua in euentu huius litis
veniet declarandum et comprobandum Et ponit vt Supra
[This is a repetition of the previous article with the value given as two shillings.]
Item Quod prefatus Johannes Harwod ad soluendum tradendum et liberandum prefato Willielmo Farrington firmario
antedicto aut eius deputato huiusmodi decimas sic vt prefertur per se et suos subtractas perceptas habitas
et non solutas seu aliter debite componendum pro eijsdem sepius seu saltem semel ex parte dicti firmarij
requisitus et interpellatus Et ponit vt supra
Item Quod dictus Johannes Harwood licet sic requisitus et interpellatus premissa seu eorum aliquod facere non
curauit sed expresse renuit et recusauit seu saltem plus debite distulit et differt ac denegat
in presenti in anime sue grave periculum aliorumque Christifidelium perniciosum exemplum dicti firmarij ibidem
preiudicium non modicum et grauamen Et ponit vt Supra
Item Quod dictus Johannes Harwod fuit et est parochie de Blackburne Cestrensis diocesis et eo pretextu
vestre Jurisdiccionis notorie subditus et Subiectus Et ponit vt supra
Item Quod fuit et est ex parte discreti viri Willielmi farrington armigeri firmarij decimarum de Blackburne
predicte moderni ad vos dominum Judicem antedictum et ad curiam vestram consistorialem Cestrensem Rite et legitime querelatum
Et ponit Coniunctim diuisim et de quolibet
Item Quod Premissa omnia et singula fuerunt et sunt vera publica notoria manifesta pariter et
famosa atque de et super in parochia de Blackburne et in alijs locis vicinis et circumvicinis laborarunt
et laborant publica vox et fama
Vnde facta fide de Jure in hac parte requisita petit pars dicti
firmarij antedicti Jus et Justiciam sibi in premissis omnibus et singulis fieri et ministrari cum effectu Nec
non prefatus Johannem Harwod in decimis predictis per se et suos subtractis et in duplici valore earundem iuxta
predicta statuta regia in ea parte edita et in expensis legitimis per partem dicti firmarij in hac parte factis et
protestatur defiendis condempnari ac condempnatum ad debitam et realem solucionem earundem decimarum et
expensis canonice cogi et compelli per vos et vestram Sentenciam diffinitiuam in hac parte ferendam domine Judex
antedicte Vlteriusque fieri statui et decerni in premissis et ea concernentibus quibuscunque quod Juris fuerit et
Rationis Premissa proponit et fieri petit pars dicti firmarij Coniunctim et diuisim non arctans se ad omnia
et singula premissa probanda nec ad onus superflue probationis de quo protestatur sed quatenus probauerit
in premissis eatenus obtineat in petitis Juris beneficio in omnibus semper saluo vestrum officium in premissis Judex
egregie antedicte humiliter Implorando
Original Document
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Translation
[1566/5 image 4]
[Endorsement]
Libel of the distinguished William Farington against John Harwood in a cause of tithes exhibited in the year 1566.
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[1566/5 image 4]
[Endorsement]
libellus discreti viri
Willielmi farington
contra et aduersus Johannem
Harwod in causa decimarum
exhibitus Anno 1566
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Related Causes
Other tithe causes involving William Farington may be found at
EDC 5/1566/3
EDC 5/1566/4
EDC 5/1572/12 Croston
EDC 5/1576/39 Leyland