Ref: EDC 5/4/1
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5/4/1 Libel in defam. cause: Petronelle Danyell v. Joan Walton of Lower Knutsford. 1543.
Summary:
Pernell Danyell contra Joan Walton
Depositions in this cause may be found at CALS EDC 2/2 ff. 530v-531 (taken on 16 October 1543) and ff. 544v-545 (taken on 26 October 1543). The witnesses are not questioned as to the truth of the allegation, but only whether the defendant made the alleged statement.
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[5/4/1 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen: before you, venerable Master George Wilmesley, Bachelor of Law, by the authority of the most illustrious Prince in Christ and our master, Henry the eighth, by the grace of God King of England and France, Defender of the Faith […] and of Ireland and on earth supreme head under Christ […] lawfully appointed by the reverend in Christ, John, by divine permission bishop of Chester, to decide ecclesiastical causes within the diocese of Chester, by the same authority vicar general in spirituals, or any other lawfully deputed judge competent in that behalf; the party of the honest woman Pernell Daniel against Johanna Walton of the parish of Knustford of the archdeaconry of Chester of Chester diocese and of your jurisdiction, and against any other whomsoever lawfully intervening before you in judgement for the same says, alleges and propounds in these writings in law jointly, severally and in articles as follows:
1 Firstly, that all and singular subjects and subordinates of this realm of England who for the sake of gain, hatred or favour or any other […] speak, express, proffer or utter abuse, disparagements or calumnious or contumelious words sounding or tending to the discredit, blackening, injury or diminution of the good fame of any person against good morals, whereby among good and serious people […] should be, were and are to be canonically punished and are to be obliged and compelled to desist from these abuses and these other words.
2 Also, that the aforesaid Joan Walton not being ignorant of the premises but forgetful of the welfare of her soul, being induced, as it is believed, by an evil spirit, defamed the said Pernell Danyell, previously in no way defamed among good and serious people, in the township of Bexton, of and upon the crimes set out below in the months of January or February in the one thousand five hundred and 42nd year of our Lord and also around the feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist[1] […] in June or July in the present and current one thousand five hundred and 43rd year of our Lord, in one or other of the aforesaid years and months in the township aforesaid she expressed, spoke, uttered and declared the following scandalous, disparaging, calumnious, injurious words […] trustworthy and honest people of and upon the crime of incest or fornication, in the common tongue ‘Parnell and hyr brother Robert Danyell dyde lye to gether and dolt carnally[2] or bodily to ge[ther …] Parnell hade a childe beffor Cristmase a more or a lesse’ or by other defamatory words importing […]; and he propounds jointly and severally and concerning any part thereof.
3 Also, that by occasion and reason of this defamation and the aforesaid imposition of a crime, and the utterance and declaration of the aforesaid words, the standing and good fame of the said Parnell are injured and also she and her reputation are burdened, blackened and diminished and she, Parnell, was and is at no little expense and otherwise and elsewhere wearied, vexed, burdened, oppressed and perturbed in many different ways, and among and between good and substantial people she is of less reputation and favour and good and substantial people have ascribed and given, and ascribe and give, less trust and favour to the same Parnell by reason of the premises; and he propounds jointly and severally and concerning any part thereof.
4 Also, that before this defamation and the aforesaid crime and injury and the aforesaid imposition, utterance and declaration of the abusive insulting, scandalous and calumnious words and until then, the aforesaid Pernell was a woman of good fame, unblemished reputation and honest conversation, and previously in no way defamed among and between good and substantial people; and he propounds jointly and severally and concerning any part thereof.
5 Also, that the aforesaid Joan Walton was and is of the parish of Knutsford of the archdeaconry of Chester of Chester diocese and notoriously subordinate and subject to your jurisdiction, and she is had, held and openly, publicly and notoriously known and reputed as such and for such; and he propounds as before.
Also, that all and singular the premises were and are true, public, notorious, flagrant and well-known and public voice and fame were circulating of and upon the same, just as they are circulating at present, in the parish of Knutsford and other parishes, townships and places neighbouring the same.
Whereupon, due proof being made, as is required in that respect upon all and singular of which matters the libelling party aforesaid prays for right and justice in the premises and that the aforesaid Joan has culpably sustained and incurred the sentence of excommunication by reason of the premises and that she will be excommunicated […] and should denounced as such and for such and will be pronounced, decreed and declared and for her imposition and assertion should be punished and duly punished according to the due requirement of law, and that she, Joan, will be obliged and compelled that she will desist from these disparagements, abuses, calumnies, dishonesties and injuries and these injurious, defamatory words; and also will be condemned in the lawful costs incurred on the part of the aforesaid Pernell Danyell in this matter, and he protests those to be incurred, and, having been condemned, will be canonically obliged and compelled to the real payment of the same by you and your passing your definitive sentence in that behalf, lord judge aforesaid; and furthermore that what may be of law and reason in the premises and matters concerning them may be done, established and decreed; this party propounds the premises and prays that they are done jointly and severally, not obliging himself to prove all and singular the premises, nor to the burden o a superfluous proof, concerning which he protests, but so far as he has proved in the premises thus far may he obtain in the petitions, always reserving the benefit of law in all things, humbly imploring your office in the premises, distinguished judge aforesaid.
[1] This feast is observed on 24 June.
[2] carnal dole = sexual intercourse
Transcript
[5/4/1 image 1]
In dei nomine Amen Coram vobis venerabili viro Magistro Georgio Wilmysley in legibus baccallario Auctoritate Ill[ustrissimi in Christo]
principis et domini nostri Henrici octaui dei gracia Anglie et Francie Regis fidei defensoris ac et in terris […]
et Hibernie sub Christo capitis supremi ad causas ecclesiasticas decidendum infra diocesis Cestrensis per reuerendum [in Christo]
Johannem permissione diuina Cestrensis episcopum eandem auctoritate vicario in spritualibus gen[erali legitime]
fulcito seu alio Judice in hac parte competenti quocunque legitime deputato Pars honeste
mul[ieris Petronelle Danyell]
contra et aduersus Johannam Walton parochie de knottisforth Archidiaconatus Cestrie Cestrensis diocesis ac vestre Jurisdi[ccionis ac contra quemcunque alium]
coram vobis in Judicio legitime intervenientem pro eadem dicit allegat et in hijs scriptis
in Jure proponit coniunctim et diuisim atque articulatim prout [sequitur]
1 Inprimis quod omnes et singuli huius regni Anglie subditi et subiecti qui gratia lucri odij vel fauoris seu quacun[que …]
convicia vituperia verba ve calumpniosa aut contumeliosa ad infamiam denigracionem lesionem vel diminusionem [bone fame]
sonancia vel tendencia contra bonos mores de aliquo dicunt emittunt proferunt seu predicant vnde apud bonos [et graves …]
fit fuerunt et sunt canonice puniendi ut ab huiusmodi convicijs et alijs verbis huiusmodi desistant cogendi et compellendi
2 Item quod prefata Johanna Walton premissorum non ignara Imo salutis anime sue Imemor spritu ut creditur maligno [ducta dictam Petronellam Danyell]
de et super criminibus infrascriptis apud bonos et graues per prius minime diffamata in villa de Bexton [mensibus]
Januarij siue februarij Anno domini Millesimo quingentesimo xlijo Necnon circiter festum Nativitatis sancti Johannis Bapt[iste …]
Junij seu Julij presenti et currenti anno domini Millesimo quingentesimo xliijo In villa predicta siue vno vel [alio predictorum annorum]
et mensibus verba scandalosa vilipendiosa calumpniosa Iniuriosa sequentia protulit dixit emisit et predicant […]
fidedignis et honeste personas de et super crimine incestus seu fornicacionis diffamauit prout in vulgari[s …]
Parnell and hyr brother Robert Danyell dyde lye to gether and dolt carnally or bodily to ge[ther …]
Parnell hade a childe beffor Cristmase a more or a lesse seu per alia verba diffamatoria hijs similia […]
importancia et ponit coniunctim et diuisim et de quolibet
3 Item quod pretextu et occasione huiusmodi diffamacionis ac criminis predicti imposicionis prefatorumque verborum prolacionem et [emissionis status]
et bona fama dicte Petronelle leduntur necnon ipsa et eius opinio grauantur denigrantur et attenuantur ipsaque [Petronella fuit et]
est in nonnullis expensis ac alias et aliunde mulipliciter fatigata vexata onerata grauata et perturbata ac a[pud et inter bonos et]
graues minoris reputacionis bonique et graues adhibuerunt et dederunt adhibentque et dant eidem Petronelle [minorem fidem atque]
favorem pretextu premissorum et ponit coniunctim et diuisim et de quolibet
4 Item quod prefata petronella ante huiusmodi diffamacionem et criminium ac conviciorum verborum contumeliosorum scandalosorum [et]
calimpniosorium predictum Imposicionem assercionem et predicacionem predictum et vsque ad eas fuit mulier bone fame op[inionis illese et]
conuersacionis honeste ac apud et inter bonos et graues pro prius minime diffamata Et ponit coniunctim et diuisim et de q[uolibet]
5 Item quod prefata Johanna Walton fuit et est parochie de knottisforth Archidiaconatus Cestrie Cestrensis diocesis ac [vestre Jurisdiccioni notorie] subdita et subiecta ac pro tali et ut talis habita tenta ac palam publice et notorie cognita et reputata et ponit [ut supra]
6 Item quod premissa omnia et singula fuerunt et sunt vera publica notoria manifesta et famosa ac de et super omnib[us et singulis]
in dicta parochia de knotisforth alijsque parochiis villis et locis eidem convicinis laborarunt prout in presenti laborant [publica vox et fama]
Vnde facta fide que requisitur in hac parte super quibus omnibus et singulis pars libellans predicta petit Jus et Justiciam [sibi in premissis]
ac predictam Johannam in excommunicacionis sententiam dampnabiliter incedisse et incurrisse premissorum pretextu atque excommunicatum [fuisse …]
pro tali et ut talis denunciandum fore debere pronunciari decerni et declarari ac pro imposicionem et assercionem suis [iuxta Juris]
debitam exigentiam puniendum fore et debite puniri ac ipsam Johannam ut ab huiusmodi vituperijs convicijs calumpn[ijs …]
vilipendosis inhonestis Iniuriosis verbisque diffamatorijs desistat cogi et compelli Necnon in expensis le[gitimis per partem]
prefate petronelle Danyell in hac parte factis et protestatur de faciendis insuper condempnari ac condempnatam ad [realem]
solucionem earundem canonice cogi et compelli per vos et vestram sententiam diffinitiuam in hac parte ferendam domine Judex a[ntedicte Vlteriusque]
fieri statui et decerni in premissis et ea concernentibus quod Juris fuerit et racionis 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 prot[estatur Sed quatenus]
probauerit in premissis eatenus obtineat in petitis Juris beneficio in omnibus semper saluo vestrum officium in [premissis humiliter]
implorando Judex egregie antedicte
Original Document
Click to view fullscreen
Translation
[5/4/1 image 2]
[Endorsement]
Libel of Pernell Danyell against Joan Walton in a cause of defamation.
[in pencil in a different hand]
/1
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[5/4/1 image 2]
[Endorsement]
libellus Petronelle Danyell contra Johannam
alton in causa diffamacionis
[in pencil in a different hand]
/1
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2022 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
Pernell Danyell – plaintiff
Joan Walton – defendant
Robert Danyell – brother of the plaintiff; named in the libel
Officials
George Wilmesley – chancellor of the diocese of Chester