Ref: EDC 5/1580/4
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5 1580. 4. CHESTER (St John) Elizabeth Meacocke c Thomas Darcye of St Mary’s for annulment of marriage she being only ten years of age – decree.
Summary:
Elizabeth Meycock contra Thomas Davie.
Elizabeth claimed that she was less than ten years old at the time of her marriage to Thomas at the instigation of her parents, which she sought to have annulled.
Original Document
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Translation
[1580/4 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen; before you, venerable 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 Meycock of the parish of Saint John of the city of Chester against Thomas Davie of the parish of Saint Mary of the same city and of your jurisdiction 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 and propounds in these writings in law in articles as follows:
1 Firstly, namely that a certain pretended marriage was and is solemnised or, more correctly profaned, in fact but not in law between the aforesaid Thomas Davie and Elizabeth Meycock, then respectively being in their minority, at the mediation, order and instigation of their parents and friends, she, the aforesaid Elizabeth Meycock, was less than ten years of age at the time of the solemnisation of this pretended marriage; and he propounds jointly, severally and concerning any part thereof.
2 Also, that as soon as the aforesaid Elizabeth Meycock attained the age of twelve years as well as before and since, she dissented and objected to this pretended marriage before trustworthy witnesses, just at present she dissents and objects, and she did not ever corroborate, ratify, confirm or approve it by sexual intercourse, mutual cohabitation or by any other means or signs, at least lawful ones; and he propounds as before.
3 Also, that the aforesaid Thomas Davie was and is of the parish of Saint Mary in Chester and by reason thereof notoriously subordinate and subject to your jurisdiction, and he propounds as before.
4 Also, that all and singular the premises were and are true, public, notorious, manifest and equally famous, and public voice and fame were circulating, just as they are circulating at present, regarding and concerning this.
Transcript
[1580/4 image 1]
[Some words at the top of the page are now illegible.]
In dei nomine Amen Coram vobis 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 Meycock parochie Sancti Johannis Ciuitatis Cestrie
contra et aduersus Thomam Davie parochie Sancte Marie
eiusdem Ciuitatis et vestre Jurisdiccionis ac contra quemcunque
alium seu quoscunque alios Coram vobis in Judicio
pro eodem legitime intervenientem per viam querele
et vobis in hac parte querelando dicit allegat
et in hiis scriptis in Jure proponit articulatim
prout sequitur
1 Inprimis videlicet Quod matrimonium quoddam pretensum fuit et est
inter predictos Thomam Davie et Elizabeth Meycock
adtunc in eorum minoritate respectiue existentes medijs
Jussu et instigacione parentum et amicorum suorum de
facto sed non de Jure solemnizatum imo verius
prophanatum, ipsa predicta Elizabeth Meycock tempore
solemnizacionis huiusmodi pretensi matrimonij citra decimum
etatis annum constituta Et ponit Coniunctim diuisim
Et de quolibet
2 Item Quod predicta Elizabeth Meycock tam simulac duodecimum
sue etatis annum attigerit quam ante et citra huiusmodi pretenso
matrimonio coram Testibus fidedignis dissentiebat
et reclamabat prout eidem in presenti dissentit et
reclamat, nec unquam idem carnali copula,
mutua Cohabitacione alijsve modis aut Signis
saltem legitimis corroborauit ratificauit confirmauit
aut approbauit Et ponit vt supra
3 Item Quod predictus Thomas Davie fuit et est parochie
Sancte Marie Cestrie et eo pretextu vestre Jurisdiccioni
notorie subditus et subiectus Et ponit vt supra.
4 Item Quod premissa omnia et singula fuerunt et sunt
vera publica notoria manifesta pariter et famosa
Et quod de et super eisdem laborarunt prout in presenti
Original Document
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Translation
[1580/4 image 2]
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 that the pretended marriage thus, as set out above, solemnised in fact but not in law and everything following therefrom is quashed, invalidated and nullified and is pronounced, decreed and declared to have been and to be quashed, invalid and nullified by your definitive sentence, lord judge aforesaid; this party 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; and this party asserts the right of adding and correcting.
Transcript
[1580/4 image 2]
laborant publica vox et fama
Vnde facta fide
de Jure in hac parte requisita petit pars dicte Elizabeth
Jus et Justiciam sibi in premissis omnibus et singulis
fieri et ministrari cum effectu matrimoniumque
pretensum sic vt predicitur de facto sed non de
Jure solemnizatum ac omnia exinde secuta cassari
irritari et annullari ac cassum cassa irritum irrita
nullumque et nulla fuisse et esse pronuntiari
decerni et declarari per vestram Sententiam diffinitivam
domine Judex antedicte Premissa proponit et
fieri petit pars ista Coniunctim et diuisim non arctans
se ad omnia et singula premissa probanda nec ad
onus superflue probacionis de quo protestatur sed
quatenus probauerit in premissis eatenus obtineat
in petitis Juris beneficio in omnibus semper saluo
Vestrum officium in premissis humiliter implorando
Et protestatur pars ista de addendo et corrigendo
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[1580/4 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Libel on behalf of Elizabeth Meycock against Thomas Davie in a cause of divorce, 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
[1580/4 image 3]
[Endorsement]
Libellus ex parte
Elizabeth Meycock
contra Thomam
Davie in Causa
diuortij 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