1. Alice Fletcher defames Eleanor Greenly
Examinations of witnesses concerning a cause of defamation arising from a conflict between Eleanor Greenly and Alice Fletcher. Deponents report that Alice impugns Elinor's chaste character using colourful language reflecting some tension between the Welsh and English.
People
| Name | Date of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Fletcher | Cause 1 (1597): Eleanor Greenly sues Alice Fletcher for defamation in the parish of Staunton on Arrow. |
|
| Eleanor Greenly | Cause 1 (1597): Eleanor Greenly sues Alice Fletcher for defamation in parish of Staunton on Arrow. |
|
| John ap Lewis | 1557 | Born in Llandigte (Wales). Resident in Pesteigne from 1593. Cause 1 (1597): deponent, 40 years old. Takes place in Staunton on Arrow. |
| John Williams | 1557 | Resident in Knill. 40 years old in 1597. Cause 1 (1597): deponent concerning events in Staunton on Arrow. |
f. 96v
13 January, 1597
Concerning the libel
Jacob Ballard
Examinations of the witness on behalf of Elinor Greenly against Alice Fletcher in a cause of defamation or insult follow.
John Williams, husbandman, of the parish of Knill in the county of Hereford where he has lived since his birth aged forty years and more. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article, he says the same is true.
To the second article, he says that he refers to the articulate laws .
To the third article he says and deposes that in harvest last past in the current year of our Lord 1597--he does not otherwise recollect the time--this examinate being reaping in a field within the parish of Staunton on Arrow articulate. The articulate Alice Fletcher and Elinor Greenly were at very hard words and foul speeches one with the other, not far from the place where this examinate was at work. And amongst diverse words then and there passed between them, this examinate did hear the said Alice Fletcher speak and utter these words following unto the said Elinor Greenly, namely (speaking unto the said Elinor) [she] said, "You are a whore, an errant whore, a rotten whore, a tilitadown[1] whore, and a Welsh goat," and many other unseemly words tending to the great defamation of the said Elinor. And moreover, [he] sayeth that the said words were so spoken by the said Alice Fletcher in the hearing of this examinate [himself], John ap Lewis, and diverse others whose names this examinate does not now remember. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fourth article he says it is true.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true. And regarding and concerning these same things public voice and fame are circulating.
Signed [by] John Williams.
John ap Lewis, husbandman, of the parish of Presteigne in the county of Radnor where he has lived for about four years, born in the parish of Llandovery in the county of Radnor aforesaid, aged around forty years. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article he declares the same is true.
[1] On f. 97v this is spelled "tiltadown." Evidently, the term means falling down or downfallen.
Transcript
xiijo Ianuary 1597
Super libello/
Iacobus Ballard
Examinaciones testium ex parte Elinore
Greenely, contra Aliciam ffletcher
in causa diffamacionis siue convitij
sequu[n]tur.
Johannes Williams parochie de Knill in comitatu hereford
husbandman vbi moram fecit a nativitate sua ætatis
xlta annorum et vltra testis productus iuratus et
examinatus dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
Ad secundum articulum dicit eundem esse ve quod refert se ad
Leges articulatas etc.
Ad tertium articulum dicit et deponit, That in harvest last
past in Anno domini 1597 iam currente tempus certum aliter non
recolit. This examinate being reaping in a field within
the parishe of Staunton vppon Arrowe articulate the
articulate Alice ffletcher and Elinor Greenelie, were
at varie harde wordes and foule speeches one with the
other not farre from the place where this examinate was at
worke. And amongst divers wordes then and there
passed betweene them, this examinate did heere the said
Alice ffletcher speake and vtter these wordes following
vnto the said Elinor Greenelie videlicet speaking vnto
the said Elinor said, thowe arte a hoore an arrand
hoore, a rotten hoore, a tilitadown hoore, and a
welshe goate, and manie other vnseamelie wordes
tending to the greate diffamacion of the said Elinor
And moreouer saieth that the said wordes were
soe spoken by the said Alice ffletcher, in the
hearing of this examinate John Bevan ap lewes and
diuers others whose Names this examinate doeth not
nowe remember Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quartum articulum dicit eundem quod credit eundem esse
verum.
Ad vltimum dipcit omnia et singula per eum predeposita fuisse
et esse vera etc. ac de et super eisdem laborant
publica vox et fama etc.
Signatum Iohannes williams[1]
Iacobus Ballard
Johannes ap lewes parochie de presteigne in
Comitatu Radnor husbandman vbi moram
fecit per quatuor Annos aut eo circiter
natus in parochia de llandigte in Comitatu Radnor
praedicti ætatis xlta annorum aut eo circiter
testis productus iuratus et examinatus dicit et
deponit vt super sequitur.
Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
[1]It appears that the scribe has written this above two marks made in lieu of a signature by the examinate John Williams.
f. 97r
To the second article he says that he refers to the articulate laws.
To the third article he says and deposes that in harvest last past in the current year of our Lord 1597--he does not otherwise recollect the time--this examinate being reaping in a field within the parish of Staunton on Arrow articulate, not far from the place where this examinate did reap, the articulate Elinor Greenly and Alice Fletcher were at hard wordes and unseemly speeches one with the other. And also [he] sayeth that then and there, amongst other words passed between them, this examinate did hear the said Alice Fletcher speak and utter these words following unto the said Elinor Greenly, namely she (speaking unto the said Elinor Greenly) said, "You are a whore, an errant whore, a tiltadown whore, and a Welsh goat," and other indecent speeches tending to the discredit of the said Elinor. And moreover [he] sayeth that the said words were so spoken by the said Alice Fletcher in the hearing of this examinate and John Williams and diverse others whose names he does not now remember. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fourth article he says the same is true.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true. And regarding and concerning these same things public voice and fame are circulating, etc.
Signed [by] John Lewis.
Transcript
Ad secundum articulum dicit eundem esse ve quod refert se ad
leges articulatas etc.
Ad tertium articulum dicit et deponit That in harvest
last past in Anno domini 1597 iam currente tempus certum
aliter non recolit This Examinate being reaping in a field
within the parishe of Staunton vppon Arrowe articulate
not farre from the place where this examinate did reape
the articulate Elinor Greenelie and Alice ffletcher were
at harde wordes and vnseemelie speeches one with
the other. And allsoe[1] saieth that then and there
amongst other wordes passed betweene them this examinate
did heare the said Alice ffletcher speak and
vtter these wordes following vnto the said Elinor
Greenelie videlicit. shee speaking vnto the said Elinor
Greenelie said thowe arte a hoore an arrand hoore
a tiltadowne hore and a welshe goate and other
vndecent speeches tending to the discredit of the said
Elinor. And moreouer saieth that the said wordes were
soe spoken by the said Alice ffletcher in the hearing
of this examinate and John williams and diuers others whose
Names he doeth not nowe remember. Et aliter
nescit deponere.
Ad quartum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
Ad vltimum dicit omnia et singula per eum predeposita fuisse et
esse vera etc ac de et super eisdem laborant publica
vox et fama etc.
[Mark in lieu of signature]
Signatum Iohannes lewes[2]