Ref: EDC 5/9/3
Catalogue Entry:
EDC 5/9/3 Sentence of divorce: William Renshere of Ashton-on-Mersey v. Clemente Bent alias Renshaye of Eccles co. L. 2 Jun. 1548 (?).
Summary:
William Renshaye contra Clement Bent alias Renshaye
Original Document
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Translation
[5/9/3 image 1]
In the name of God, Amen: the merits and circumstances of a certain cause of divorce
having been heard, seen and understood and fully investigated by us, George Wilmesley, Bachelor of Laws, in this respect sufficiently and lawfully appointed vicar general in spirituals of the right reverend father in Christ, John, by divine permission lord bishop of Chester, and lawfully deputed official principal of the consistory of the same reverend father by the authority of the most illustrious lord Prince in Christ and our master, Edward the sixth, by the grace of God King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and on earth supreme head of the English and Irish church under Christ, which was disputed for some time and is as yet disputed and pending undecided, between William Renshaye of the parish of Ashton on Mersey, the party plaintiff and complainant on the one part, and Clement Bent, otherwise Renshaye, of the parish of Eccles of Chester archdeaconry and the same diocese and of your jurisdiction, the defendant and party complained of on the other part rightly and lawfully proceeding; the parties aforesaid appearing before us sufficiently and lawfully, through their proctors; and the party of the said William Renshaye praying that sentence is passed and that justice may be done to his party and the party of the said Clement Bent urgently seeking justice for her party.
All and singular acts, enactments, deductions, propositions, allegations, confessions and proofs had and done by all sides in this cause having first been examined and diligently considered by us, and having reviewed and weighed them with promptness and diligence, and matters which according to law should be observed in this respect having been observed by us, we have thus thought fit to proceed to making the pronouncement of our definitive sentence or our final decree in this cause, and we do proceed in this manner which follows:
Forasmuch as we know and clearly find by the acts enacted, set forth, exhibited, propounded, proved and equally confessed in the said cause, had and done by both sides, that the party of the said William Renshaye has sufficiently and fully established and proved his claim in a certain libel previously judicially given and offered before us by his party (the tenor of which libel follows in these words; In the name of God, Amen; before you, the venerable Master George Wilmesley etc., the party of the distinguished man etc., which certain libel we hold and we wish to be held as here read and inserted) and we find that that nothing effectual has been or is excepted, set forth, alleged or proved on behalf of the said Clement Bent which could destroy or in any way weaken the claim of the said William Renshaye.
Forasmuch as we know and clearly find by the acts enacted, set forth, exhibited, propounded, proved and equally confessed in the said cause, had and done by both sides that the said Clement Bent, about the feast of the assumption of the blessed virgin Mary in the one thousand five hundred and 37th year of our Lord, before all and any pretended marriage begun, held and entered into, contracted with a certain George Haryson, by appropriate words of present consent before trustworthy witnesses, and had carnal knowledge of the said George and from this had and gave birth to a male child.
Transcript
[5/9/3 image 1]
In dei Nomine Amen auditis visis et intellectis plenarieque discussis per nos Georgium Wilmysley in legibus baccallarium per reuerendum in Christo
patrem et dominum dominum Johannem permissione Diuina Cestrensem Episcopum Auctoritate illustrissimi in Christo principis et domini nostri Edwardi
sexti dei gracia Anglie frantie et hibernie regis fidei defensoris et in terris ecclesie
Anglicane et hibernice sub Christo capitis supremi
in hac parte sufficienter et legitime fulcitum vicarium in spiritualibus generalem
et Consistorij eiusdem reuerendi patris officialem principalem legitime deputatum
meritis et circumstantijs cuiusdam cause diuortij que coram nobis inter Willielmum Renshae parochie de Asshton on Merseybanke partem
Actricem et querelantem ex una et Clementem Bent alias Renshaye parochie de Eccles archidiaconatus Cestrensis <et eiusdem> Diocesis et vestre Jurisdictionis par-
tem ream et querelatam ex parte altera aliquandiu vertebatur et adhuc vertitur et pendet indecisa rite et legitime procedentes partibus
predictis sufficienter et legitime per eorum procuratores <coram nobis> comparentibus parteque dicti Willielmi Renshae sententiam ferri et Justiciam fieri pro
parte sua postulanti parteque dicte Clementis bent Justiciam fieri pro
parte sua instanter petenti
Visis primitus
per nos atque diligenter inspectis omnibus et singulis actis inactitatis deductis propositis allegatis confessatis et probatis
in huiusmodi causa hincinde habitis et factis eisque cum maturite et diligentia recensitis et ponderatis ac seruatis per nos de Jure in hac
parte seruandis ad nostre sententie diffinitive siue decreti nostri finalis in dicta causa ferendum prolationem sic duximus procedendum et
et procedimus in hunc qui sequitur modum
Quia per acta inactita deducta exhibita propopsita probata pariter et confessata in dicta
causa hincinde habita et facta comperimus et luculenter Invenimus[1] partem dicti Willielmi Renshaye intensionem suam in quodam
libello alias per partem suam coram nobis Judicaliter dato et oblato cuius quidem libelli tenor
sequitur in hec verba In dei nomine Amen
coram vobis venerabili viro magistro Georgio Willmysley et cetera Pars discreti viri et cetera quem quidem libellum pro hic lecto
et inserto habemus et haberi volumus sufficienter et ad plenum fundasse et probasse nihilque
effectuale ex parte dicte Clementis
bent fuisse aut esse exceptum deductum allegatum seu probatum quod intentionem dicti Willielmi Renshaye elideret seu
quomodolibet enaruaret
Videlicet quia per acta inactita deducta exhibita propopsita probata pariter et confessata in dicta
causa hincinde habita et facta comperimus et luculenter Invenimus dictam Clementem bent circiter festum assumptionis beate marie
virginis anno domini millesimo quingentesimo xxxvijmo ante omnem et quodcunque pretensum matrimonium inter dictum Willielmum Renshaye et Clementem
bent initum habitum et inceptum <cum> quodam Georgium Haryson per verba de presenti ad hoc apta coram testibus fide dignis [contrax-]
isse ac in consumationem huiusmodi contractus dictum Georgium carnaliter cognouisse et ex eodem quendam prolem mastulinum
habuisse et peperisse
[1] There is an extensive section here which has been crossed out and there may have been something inserted above the erased section, but if so, it is no longer legible.
Original Document
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Translation
[5/9/3 image 2]
Therefore we, George Wilmesley, official principal aforesaid, having first called upon the name of Christ, and having God himself before our eyes, of the advice of the learned in the law with whom we have communicated promptly in this respect nullify, invalidate and annul all and any type of pretended marriage contracted de facto since it would have been and was invalid in law between the aforesaid William Renshaye and Clement Bent by occasion and reason of the said … carnal copulation … aforesaid, and we pronounce, decree and declare that it is and was null, invalid and void and we separate and divorce them, William and Clement, from each other and from any bond of this marriage by this our definitive sentence which we pass and publish in these writings.
This sentence was read by the aforesaid Master before witnesses set out in the record on the second day of the month of June in the one thousand five hundred and 48th year of our Lord.
Transcript
[5/9/3 image 2]
Idcirco nos Georgius Wylmyley <officialis principalis> antedictus Christi nomine primitus invocato ac ipsum deum
pre occulis nostris habentes de consilio Jurisperitorum cum quibus mature in hac parte communicauimus omne et quodcunque pretensum matrimonium inter
prefatos Willielmum Renshae et Clementem bent de facto contractum cum de Jure nullum fit et fuerit < racione et occasione dicte … carnali copula … predicta … > cassamus irritamus et
annullamus cassumque irritum et nullum fuisse et esse pronuntiamus decernimus et declaramus Ipsosque Willielmum et Clementem ab invicem
et a quocunque vinculo <huiusmodi> matrimonij seperamus et divortiamus per hanc nostram sententiam diffinitivam quam ferimus et promulgamus in hijs
scriptis
Lecta fuit huiusmodi sententia per dictum dominum antedictum coram testibus in actis redactis secundo
die mensis Junij Anno domini millesimo quingentesimo xlviijo[1]
[1] It is not clear how many minims follow the number ‘v’, there may be one or two before the final ‘j’.
Original Document
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Translation
[5/9/3 image 3]
Sentence of William Renshaye against Clement Bent in a cause of divorce; it has been registered.
[in pencil in a different hand]
? 1548
\3
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Translation copyright ©2023 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
Transcript
[5/9/3 image 3]
Sententia Willielmi Renshae contra Clementem bent in causa divortij
Regestratur
[in pencil in a different hand]
? 1548
\3
[Produced with the permission of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.]
Transcript copyright ©2023 P J Cox All Rights Reserved
People
William Renshaye – plaintiff
Clement Bent otherwise Renshaye – defendant
George Haryson – lawful husband of defendant
Officials
George Wilmesley – official principal