Archdeaconry of Berkshire Act Book

BRO: D/A2/c42

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

  • Marginalia
    • 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
  • Footnotes
    • acceptavit: a has been struck through
    • that the: words separated by five lines of previously written text; see endnote
    • Iackson: son has been struck through
    • Richard Iackson: words separated by five lines of previously written text, signalled by //; see endnote
    • monuit: 6 minims in MS
    • eadem: for eundem
    • quindeciam: for quindecia
    • senia: forsena
    • emanta: for emanata
    • Bell had: words separated by two lines of previously written text, signalled by #; see endnote
    • whose: w of whose written over h
    • pauperum: um of pauperum written over another letter no longer visible
    • Sister Elizabeth: Sister is followed by a //, which leads to a corresponding // in the left margin and is followed by Elizabeth; see endnote
    • Coxwell: the last word in the left margin
  • Record Translation

    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.

  • Glossed Terms
    • alhollauday n All Hallows' Day; alhollausday; all hallodaye; allhollauday; allhollauueday; all holloday
    • perquisitus, -a, -um pfp summoned [DML perquirere]
    • quindecia, -ie n f literally, a period of fifteen days; likely a fortnight [DuCange]; quindena, -e
  • Endnote

    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.

  • Document Description

    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.'

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