Ref: EDC 5/1566/7
Catalogue Entry:
There is no catalogue entry for this matter, but the papers are filed in a paper folder labelled EDC 5 (1566) No 7 –
Summary:
Ratification of the marriage of Roger Downes and Elizabeth Stanley otherwise Downes. They had been married when Roger was under the age of 12 and he was now 14. The sentence was read in Alderley parish church, probably because Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Stanley of Alderley.
Original Document
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Translation
[5/1566/7 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen: the merits and circumstances of a certain cause of ratification of marriage which was pending before us having been heard, seen and understood and fully investigated by us, Robert Leche, bachelor of laws, vicar etc., recently sitting publicly and judicially, proceeding rightly and lawfully, between Roger Downes, esquire, and Elizabeth Stanley otherwise Downes; with the parties aforesaid appearing personally before us, and because the same Roger, appearing personally before us, acknowledged of his own free will that being under age, namely of the age of about twelve, contracted and solemnised a true, unconditional and lawful marriage with the said Elizabeth Downes, then being under age, which certain marriage he has ratified before us now that he has come to mature age and more, his age being fourteen, and he prayed that he and the said Elizabeth, present in person, are adjudged as lawful man and wife in the presence of the said Elizabeth, aged [blank], on her part consenting freely and voluntarily to this ratification, and praying the same, and in addition because it appears from the testimony of trustworthy witnesses produced in this cause, sworn and examined while under oath, that this marriage as aforesaid was and is solemnised between the parties aforesaid.
Therefore we, the vicar general in spirituals aforesaid, having first called on the name of Christ, and setting God himself alone before our eyes, pronounce, decree and declare by this our definitive sentence etc. this marriage as thus aforesaid contracted and solemnised between the parties aforesaid as true, unconditional and lawful, and the said Roger and Elizabeth should be and are […] lawfully joined as lawful man and wife
This sentence was read by the judge aforesaid in the parish church of Alderley on the 12th of September in the year 1566, being then present there Robert Hyde, Jasper Worth, esquire, John Masterson, Robert Davenport, William Crewe and other witnesses etc.
Transcript
[5/1566/7 image 1]
In dei nomine amen Auditis Visis et Intellectis ac plenarie discussis
per nos Robertum Leche in legibus baccallarium vicarius et cetera Meritis et circumstantijs cuiusdam
Cause
Ratificacionis Matrimonij que coram nobis nuper Iudicaliter et pro tribunali sedenti inter Rogerum
Downes armigerum et Elizabeth Stanley alias Downes vertebatur rite et legitime procedentes
Partibus predictis coram nobis personaliter comparentibus Et quia
idem Rogerus coram nobis
personaliter comparens sua sponte confessus est se in eius Minoritatis etatis existens
videlicet circiter xij sue etatis annorum Matrimonium verum purum et legitimum cum Dictam Elizabeth Downes
adtunc in eius minoritatem Constituta contraxisse <et solempnizasse> quod quidem Matrimonium nunc ad eius
Maturam etatem <veniet et vltra> Decimum quartum <sue etatis> Annorum
coram nobis ratificavit ac petijt <se et> Dictam Elizabeth personaliter presentem pro viro et vxore
legitimis adiucari in presentiam Dicte Elizabeth <etatis> huius ratificationem <per sua parte sponte et voluntarie> consentientis et
<idem petentis> ac insuper <quia> apparet per testimonium testium fidedignorum in huiusmodi Causa
productorum ac medijs eorum Iuramentis iuratorum et examinatorum Matrimonium huiusmodi sic vt prefertur inter
partes predictas <Solempnizatum> fuisse et esse
Idcirco nos vicarius in Spiritualibus generalis
antedictus christi nomine primitus invocato ac ipsum solum deum oculis nostris preponentes huiusmodi
Matrimonium sic vt prefertur inter predictos partes contractum et solempnizatum pro vero puro
et legitimo dictosque Rogerum et Elizabeth <legitime copulatos et> pro viro
et vxore legitimis […] fore et esse debere pronuntiamus decernimus et declaramus per hanc
nostram Sententiam diffinitiuam et cetera
Lecta fuit huiusmodi sententia per Iudicem antedictum in Ec[clesia]
parochialis de Alderley xijo Septembris Anno 1566
presentibus tunc ibidem Roberto Hide Jasparo Worth armigero
Johanne Maisterson Roberto Davemporte Willelmo Crue
et alijs testibus et cetera
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[5/1566/7 image 2]
[Endorsement]
Sentence for the ratification of the marriage between Downes and Stanley.
Transcript
[5/1566/7 image 2]
[Endorsement]
Sententia pro
ratificacionis matrimonij
inter Downes et
Stanley
[in pencil in another hand]
1566 Sep 12
Original Document
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Translation
[5/1566/7 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Gowther Mossock, clerk
Roger Whittle, clerk
Rogers Downes
Roberts Adished
Randolph Stanley
William Stanley
John Knutsford
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[5/1566/7 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Galtherus Mossock Clericus
Rogerus Whitle Clericus
Rogerus Downes
Robertus Adished
Randolphus Stanley
Willielmus Stanley
Johanne Knottisford
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Roger Downes – party to the marriage
Elizabeth Stanley – party to the marriage
Robert Hyde – witness to the sentence
Jasper Worth – witness to the sentence
John Maisterson – witness to the sentence
Robert Davenport – witness to the sentence
William Crue – witness to the sentence
Officials
Related Causes