7a. Maud Langford defames Eleanor verch Howell
Examinations of witnesses concerning a cause of defamation arising from a conflict between Eleanor verch Howell and Maude (Matilda) Langford, in which Eleanor accuses Maud of sending her husband to kill Eleanor's master, and Maude using colourful language that reflects some tension between the Welsh and English, comments publicly on Eleanor's unchaste comportment.
People
f. 308r
[Beginning mid page]
19 January 1599
Francis Beuans
On the part of verch Howell[1] against Langford concerning the libel.
John Hurt, husbandman, of the parish of Leominster in the county of Hereford where he has lived for the space of one year now passed and before that born in the parish of Almeley in the aforesaid county, aged twenty-one years or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article he says the same is true.
To the second and third articles, he says that the said articles contain in themselves the truth referring in addition to the same articulate laws.
To the third article he says and deposes that on the morrow next after the Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle last past, this examinate going in the company of the articulate Maude Langford the defendant, into a field near adjoining to Brierley in the parish of Leominster aforesaid did there by chance meet with the plaintiff, Elinor verch Howell, which Elinor then demanded of the said Maude Langford whether she, the said Maude, had sent her husband to
[1] verch Howell = daughter of Howell
Transcript
[Beginning mid page]
xix Ianuarij
1599
ffranciscus Beuans
Ex parte verch howell contra langford
super libello.
Iohannes hurte parochie de leompster
in Comitatu hereford husbandman vbi moram
fecit per spatium vnius anni iam \vltimo/ elapsum
et vltra natus in parochia de Almely in Comitatu predicti ætatis xxj annorum aut eo circiter
testis productus iuratus et examinatus dicit et
deponit vt sequitur.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
Ad secundum et tertium articulos, dicit quod credit dictos
articulos continuere in se veritatem referendo se insuper
ad easdem leges articulatas.
Ad tertium articulum dicit et deponit That one the morowe
next after the feast of saint peeter the apostell last past
This Examinate going in the compane of the articulate
maudle langford the defendant, into a field nere adioyning
to Brierley in the parishe of leompster aforesaid did
there by chance meete with the plaintiff Eliner verch howell
which Elianer then demaunded of he said maude langford
whether she the said maude had sent her husband to
f. 308v
kill her, the said Elinor’s master. And the said Maude Langford replied and answered in these words (speaking to the said Elinor verch Howell) “thou lies like a Welsh whore.” None being present but this examinate and the said parties. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fourth he says that he believes the same is true.
To the last he says that his depositions made above were and are true.
Signed [by] John Hurt
Transcript
kill her the said Elianors mayster. And the said maude
Langford replied and answered in these wordes
(speaking to the said Elianor verch howell) thow liest like
a welsh hoore with none being present but this
Examinate and the said parties Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quintum dicit quod credit eundem esse verum
Ad vltimum dicit predeposita sua fuisse et esse
vera etc.
Signatum Iohannis hurte.