ff 153–3v (14 November)
...
contra Robertum
Ricottes de Coxwell magna
perquisitus Comparuit.
iuratus et monitus &c Ad
articulum obiectum
respondet et negat that he hath
at anie tyme had carnall knowledge
⸢of the⸣ bodie of one Iane
Ricattes Druet named in
the bill of presentment negat
attemptum in ea parte
fatetur tamen that he hath heard that the
said Ianes Child being a man Child is Registred in
the Register booke of the parish Church
of Coxwell magna as the Child of him this
examinate And vnder by the name of this examinate
Ricattes et submisit se &c
quam Confessionem eius
dominus acceptavit quatenus &c. And
farder this examinate saith that the Chirchwardens of Coxwell aforesaid have left
other matters that are apparent and notorious
vnpresented, viz that the Chirch porch of the
said Chirch/ is vtterly decayed in the Walles
thereof, and that one Iohn Cotterill of
Colshill played, as a musition or minstrell all the
d tyme of divine service, at Evening
prayer in the howse of one Thomas Ogborne in
Coxwell vppon the Sunday next before Alhollausday last, and that the day
tyme and place aforesaid there were divers of the
| parish of
Coxwell dauncing viz one Edward Perkins the
younger, Iohn Coates
Thomas Iackson and Katherine Iackson the
sonne and daughter of Richard Iackson
Et
dominus monuit eadem ad
Comparendum in
proximo per 3es hebdomadas loco &
hora quibus supra
vlteriorem domini
processum in hac parte
visurum &c/ nisi interim purget se in
quindeciam
cum senia manu
suorum parium emanta
proclamacione in eundem
diem pro obijcere volentis
contra purgacionem
suam/
...
ff 174–4v
...
contra
Iohannem Cotterell de Coulshill
perquisitus domo solite
Commoracionis sue viz
domo matris sue infra Coulshill die
dominica
predicta, vnde facta fide
per
Bilson
apparitorem dominus
decrevit Citandum
personaliter si &c alioquin
vijs et modis in proximo/
Comparuit iuratus et
monitus &c Ad articulum
obiectum respondet et
fatetur that vppon Sonday next
before Alhollauday last past all the tyme of
divine Service at Evening prayer he played as a
musition or a minstrell in the howse of one Thomas
Ogburne in great Coxwell by reason that he heard
not nor knew that the Bell had rung to Evenning prayer
where and when were present Edward
Perkins the younger Iohn Coates Thomas Iackson and
katharine Iackson dauncing and were all absent
from Evening prayer and so was Thomas Ogburne in
whose howse they then were/ Et submisit se
correccioni domini
quam Confessionem
dominus acceptavit
quatenus etc. Et iniunxit eidem
publicam
penitenciam in ecclesia
parochiali de Coulshill die
dominico proximo
per hebdomadam et monuit eum ad
sic peragendam sub
manibus
vicarij et Gardianorum ibidem die
iuridico extunc proximo
sequenti alioquin ad
Comparendum eodem
seipsum excommunicari vi
summaria et ad
solvendum 12 d. gardianis
ecclesie de Coulshill ad vsum
pauperum ibidem et ad
Certificandum &c vt supra./
contra Thomam Ogburne de Coxwell
magna
perquisitus domo solite
Commoracionis sue viz
domo cuiusdam Thome Lewes heri sui
contra Edwardum Perkins iuniorem
de eadem
Comparuit iuratus
et monitus &c respondet
per omnia vt Thomas Iackson
pagina sequenti excepto
quod negat that he did daunce, or that he can directly say
whether Elizabeth hickes
Roger Gwinne and Elizabeth more did
daunc and were there in Evenning prayer tyme yea
or no. Et submisit se et
dominus acceptavit et
iniunxit et monuit per omnia vt
contra Thomam Iackson./ |
contra Iohannem Coates de eadem
perquisitus domo solitȩ
Commoracionis sue, viz
domo Thome Lewes heri sui infra Coxwell
magna die dominico
vltimo
vnde facta fide per Bilson
apparitorem dominus decrevit Citandum
personaliter alioqui vijs et
modis in proximo./
Comparuit iuratus et
monitus &c Respondet
per omnia vt Perkins
excepto that he was not dauncing in the
tyme of Evenning prayer the said Sonday. Et
addendo dicit that Katharine Perkins and
Thomos Perkins hir
husband of great Coxwell were absent from Evening
prayer afforesaid./ Et
submisit se &c Et dominus
acceptavit quatenus et iniunxit
et monuit &c per omnia vt
contra Thomam Iackson./
contra Thomam Iackson de eadem
Comparuit iuratus et
monitus &c Ad articulum
obiectum respondet et
fatetur that in the tyme of
Evenning prayer vppon Sonday next
before Allhollauueday Last past he was
daun<..>ng in the howse of one Thomas Ogburne
in great Coxwell when and where were
present and likewise dauncing Edward
Perkins the younger Iohn Coates Katherine Iackson
this examinates Sister Elizabeth
Hickes and Roger Guinne the
servantes of Mr Morres of Coxwell
Elizabeth More the servant of Thomas Coules
of great Coxwell and others whose names he
knoweth not one John Cotterill of Coulshill then
and there playing as their Minstrell or Musition.
Et submisit &c quam
Confessionem eius dominus
acceptavit &c et iniunxit et monuit
per omnia vt supra
contra Iohannem Cotterill.
contra Katharinam Iackson filiam
Ricardi Iackson de eadem
Citata personaliter
domo solite
Commoracionis sue viz
domo Richardi Iackson patris sui infra
Coxwell magna die dominico
vltimo vnde facta fide
per Bilson
apparitorem trinaque
preconizacione
pro eadem non
Comparenti
dominus
pronunciavit
contumacem reservata pœna in
proximo./
contra Ricardum Iackson et ffraunciscum
Britaine
gardianos ibidem
Comparuerunt iurati et
moniti &c Ad articulum
obiectum respondent et negant in
vim iuramenti per eos
prestiti that they did know
that Iohn Cotterell Edward Perkins the younger,
Iohn Coates Thomos Iackson Katharine Iackson
Thomas Ogburne or anie other of their
parish were absent Evenning prayer vppon
Sonday next before Allhollauday day last vntill since that
they were out of their office of
Chirchwardenshippe
f 194
...
contra
Iohannem Cotterell Edwardum
Perkins Iuniorem Iohannem Coates
Thomam et Katherinam Iackson de
Coxwell magna
habet ad solvendum 12
d. quilibet eorum gardianis
Ecclesiȩ parochialis
ibidem Citra Dominicum
vltimum et ad Certificandum
proxime post in hunc
diem Alioquin &c .
Solverunt
2 s. 10
d.
2 s. 9
d.
2 s. 9
d./
2 s. 9
d.
2 s. 10 d.
2 s. 11 d.
2s 10d
2s 9d
2s 9d
2s
11d
ff 153–3v (14 November)
...
Against Robert Ricottes of Great Coxwell.
Having been summoned, he appeared. He has been sworn and warned, etc. To the article charged he responds and denies (English) he denies the offence in that regard; however, he confesses (English) and he submits himself, etc, and the lord (judge) accepted this his confession in so far as, etc. (English). And the lord (judge) warned the same (man) to appear at the next (session) within three weeks at the place and time for which further additional proceedings of the lord (judge) will be held regarding this matter, etc, unless he clears himself within a fortnight with the hand of six of his peers with a proclamation issued on the same day for those wishing to object to his compurgation.
...
ff 174–4v
...
Against John Cotterill of Coleshill.
Summoned from the house of his usual dwelling,
that is to say, his mother's house in Coleshill on
the aforesaid Sunday
wherefore, the oath having been sworn by the
summoner, Bilson. The lord decreed that he
be cited personally if, etc, otherwise by ways and
means on the next (court day). Having been sworn
and warned he appeared, etc, to the article
charged he responds and confesses
(English). And he submitted himself to
the correction of the lord (judge), and the lord
(judge) accepted the confession in so far as, etc.
And he enjoined him to public penance in the
parish church of Coleshill on the Sunday next for
a week, and he advised him to so perform under the
hands of the vicar and the wardens there on the
next court day following, otherwise to appear on
the same to be excommunicated himself by summary
force and to pay 12s to the wardens of the church
of Coleshill for the use of the poor there and to
certify, etc, as above.
Against Thomas Ogburne of Great Coxwell.
Summoned at the house of his usual dwelling, that is to say, the house of a certain Thomas Lewes, his lord.
Against Edward Perkins, the younger, of the same.
Having been sworn and warned, he appeared, etc, he responds to all (charges) as Thomas Jackson (did) on the following page except that he denies (English). And he submitted himself, and the lord (judge) accepted (his confession) and enjoined and warned (him) in all matters as (he did in the case) against Thomas Jackson. |
Against John Coates of the same.
Summoned from the house of his usual dwelling,
that is to say, the house of Thomas Lewes his lord
within Great Coxwell, on last Sunday
wherefore, the oath having been sworn by the
summoner, Bilson the lord (judge)
decreed that he was to be cited in person,
otherwise by ways and means on the next (court
day). Having been sworn and warned he appeared,
etc. He responds to all (charges) as Perkins (did)
except (English). And additionally he
said (English). And he submits himself,
etc. And the lord (judge) accepted (his
confession) in so far as, and he enjoined and
warned, etc, in all matters as (he did in the
case) against Thomas Jackson.
Against Thomas Jackson of the same.
Having been sworn and warned he appeared, etc. To the article charged he responds and confesses (English). And he submitted, etc. And the lord judge accepted his confession, etc. And he enjoined and warned in all matters as (he did) above (in the case) against John Cotterill.
Against Katherine Jackson, daughter of Richard Jackson of the same.
Cited in person at the house of her usual dwelling, that is to say, the house of Richard Jackson, her father, within Great Coxwell on last Sunday. Therefore, the oath having been sworn by the summoner, Bilson, and (after) a threefold summoning for the same (defendant), who was not appearing, the lord (judge) pronounced her contumacious, the punishment being reserved for the next (court day).
Against Richard Jackson and Francis Britaine, churchwardens there.
Having been sworn and warned they appeared, etc. And to the article charged they respond and deny by virtue of the oath taken by them (English).
f 194
...
Against John Cotterill, Edward Perkins, the younger, John Coates, Thomas and Katherine Jackson of Great Coxwell.
Each of them has to pay 12d to the
churchwardens of the parish church there since
last Sunday and to certify next after
on this day, otherwise, etc. They paid.
The case against Robert Ricottes for fornication seems suddenly to have been interrupted by a counter accusation by Ricottes against the churchwardens of Great Coxwell over several matters including the dancing during service time in the house of Thomas Ogburne of Great Coxwell (ff 153–3v). This issue seems to have exploded in the court catching the clerk by surprise. He had apparently set out his book for the day's court session ahead of time with the proper formulae for the cases that he expected to be heard. The testimony in the dancing case caused him to write in the margins and around the already entered notes for other cases. As a result the entries on the page are somewhat jumbled. The clerk uses a variety of methods to direct the reader around other unrelated entries, and these are explained in the footnotes where they occur.
'purgacionem' (ff 153–3v) here refers to the legal practice of compurgation, that is, exoneration by the oaths of a specified number of respectable parishioners having acquaintance with the accused.
Record title: Archdeaconry of Berkshire Act Book
Repository:
BRO
Shelfmark: D/A2/c42
Repository location: Reading
1599–1600; Latin and English; paper; 290 leaves (including end-papers); modern pencil foliation; 285mm x 190mm; original parchment front cover used as front end-paper, original back cover missing. Now bound into dark-brown-cloth–covered boards with light brown leather spine and binding, title stamped in gold on spine: 'LIBER | ACTORUM | 1599–1600 | Berks c.42.'