Ref: EDC 5/1580/1
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5 1580. 1. CHESTER (St Oswald) Elizabeth Cowley alias Johnson wife of Richard Cowley in a divorce cause.
Summary:
Elizabeth Cowley alias Johnson, wife of Richard Cowley alias Johnson, contra Richard Cowley alias Johnson.
Year
1580
Type of Cause:
Matrimonial – separation from bed and board (adultery and cruelty)
Cause Papers:
Libel
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[1580/1 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen; before you, the worshipful Master Robert Leche, Doctor of Laws, lawfully deputed official principal of the Chester consistory court, or any other judge whomsoever competent in this regard, the party of the honest woman, Elizabeth Cowley otherwise Johnson, wife of Richard Cowley otherwise Johnson, of the parish of Saint Oswald of the city of Chester against the same Richard, and against any other person or persons whomsoever lawfully intervening before you in judgement for the same, by way of complaint and complaining to you in this behalf says and alleges that:
although a true, unconditional and lawful marriage was contracted in the face of the church between the aforesaid Richard and Elizabeth, and confirmed and ratified by sexual intercourse and mutual cohabitation, however the same Elizabeth is not by law to be compelled to cohabit with the same Richard or to perform or provide marital duties to the same, inasmuch as after and since the solemnisation of the same marriage he has raged beyond measure at his wife aforesaid and many times has treated her cruelly by beatings and has committed abominable adultery with a certain Elizabeth Davies, to the grave displeasure of God, most good, most great;
Whereupon, due proof being made as required by law in this regard, the party of the said Elizabeth prays that right and justice may be done and administered to her with effect in all and singular the premises and anything whatever concerning them and that she will be pronounced and declared to be divorced from bed, board and cohabitation with the aforesaid Richard and free and exempt from performing and providing other marital duties to the same by you and your definitive sentence, lord judge aforesaid etc. this party propounds the premises and prays that they are done jointly and severally, not binding himself etc. but so far as etc. and he asserts the right of adding etc.
[In a different hand on a separate paper pinned to the libel]
Divorce Elizabeth Cowley alias Johnson wife of Richard Cowley alias Johnson of the parish of St Oswald’s Chester v. the said Richard Cowley alias Johnson
1580
Transcript
[1580/1 image 1]
[In dei] nomine Ame[n Coram v]obis venerabili viro [magistro Roberto Leche legum] doctore Curie Consistorialis Cestrensis officiali principali legitime deputato aut alio
Judice in hac parte competenti quocunque Pars honeste mulieris
Elizabeth Cowley alias Johnson vxoris Ricardi Cowley alias
Johnson parochie Sancti Oswaldi Ciuitatis Cestrie contra et aduersus
eundem Ricardum ac contra quemcunque alium seu quoscunque alios
Coram vobis pro eodem in Judicio legitime intervenientem per viam
querele et vobis in hac parte querelando dicit et allegat quod
licet matrimonium verum purum et legitimum fuit inter predictos
Ricardum et Elizabeth in facie Ecclesie solemizatum et carnali
copula ac mutua Cohabitacione confirmatum et ratificatum
eadem tamen Elizabeth cum eodem Ricardo cohabitare aut
obsequia Coniugali eidem prestare vel impendere non est
de Jure compellendam pro eo videlicet et ex eo Quod predictus Ricardus
post et citra eiusdem matrimonij Solemnizacionem in vxorem suam
predictam preter modum seuijt eamque verberibus ad modum inhumaniter
multoties tractauit et Adulterium nefandum cum quadam
Elizabeth Davies in dei optimi maximi offensum gravem commisit
Vnde facta fide de Jure in hac parte requisita petit
pars dicte Elizabeth Jus et Justiciam sibi in premissis omnibus
et singulis et ea concernentibus quibuscunque fieri et ministrari
cum effectu Seque a mensa thoro cohabitacione predicti
Ricardi ceterisque obsequijs coniugalibus eidem impendendis
et prestandis diuortiari ac liberam et immunem esse
pronuntiari et declarari per vos et vestram Sententiam
diffinitivam domine Judex antedicte et cetera Premissa proponit
et fieri petit pars ista Coniunctim et diuisim non arctans et cetera
sed quatenus et cetera Et protestatur de addendo et cetera
[In a different hand on a separate paper pinned to the libel]
Divorce Elizabeth Cowley alias
Johnson wife of Richard Cowley alias
Johnson of the parish of St Oswald’s Chester
versus the said Richard Cowley alias Johnson
1580
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[1580/1 image 2]
Endorsement
[…] Elizabeth Cowley otherwise Johnson against Richard Cowley otherwise Johnson in a cause of divorce from bed and board 1580
[in pencil in a different hand]
Chester
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[1580/1 image 2]
[Endorsement]
[…]
[Elizabeth Cowley]
alias Johnson contra
Ricardum Cowley alias
Johnson in Causa
diuortij a mensa
et thoro 1580
[in pencil in a different hand]
Chester
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Elizabeth Cowley alias Johnson – plaintiff
Richard Cowley alias Johnson – defendant
Elizabeth Davies – accused of adultery with defendant