2a. Mary Angel defames Elizabeth Whitton
Examinations of witnesses concerning a cause of defamation arising from accusations made by Mary Angel with respect to Elizabeth Whitton's chaste character. Elizabeth (wife of Francis Whitton) was defamed in the presence of her family and her children's teacher (Thomas Lane). The allegations suggest a previous relationship between William Whitton (Francis's brother) and Elizabeth; also more recent rumours of adultery with the teacher Thomas Lane. It is notable that Elizabeth Whitton is reported to suffer from seizures, possibly due to epilepsy.
See Cause 2b for Elizabeth Whitton's exceptions to this cause. See Cause 3 for a related cause.
People
| Name | Date of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eleanor Meredith | Spinster, living in Burford, Shropshire. Cause 2a (1598): witness. |
|
| Elizabeth Whitton | Wife of Francis Whitton, the elder. Mother of Francis, Susan, and Whorwood Whitton. Cause 2a and 2b (1598): Whitton sues Mary Angel for defamation. Cause 3 (1598): mentioned. Other documents: Marriage settlement. Covenant that Whorwood, son of Francis and Elizabeth Whitton shall marry Elizabeth daughter of Richard Tompkyns before the feast of the nativity of St John Baptist next. 28 April 1599. Mentions second son Edmund. X11/1/2/1/10 10/11. https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X11_1_2_1_10 |
|
| Francis Whitton, the elder | Husband of Elizabeth Whitton. Brother of William Whitton. Father of Whorwood, Susan, and Francis Whitton, the younger. Resident at Burford Cause 2a (1598): mentioned. Cause 3 (1598): mentioned. Other documents: Mortgage of Faintree Manor to Frauncis Whitton and Elizabeth 1602. https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X11_1_2_2_15 Marriage settlement. Covenant that Whorwood, son of Francis and Elizabeth Whitton shall marry Elizabeth daughter of Richard Tompkyns before the feast of the nativity of St John Baptist next. 28 April 1599. Mentions second son Edmund. X11/1/2/1/10 10/11. https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X11_1_2_1_10 |
|
| Francis Whitton, the younger. | 1580 | Son of Elizabeth Whitton and Francis Whitton, the elder. Brother to Susan and Whorwood Whitton. Cause 2a (1598): deponent and listed as 18 years old. |
| Susan Whitton | Sister of Francis Whitton, the younger and Whorwood Whitton. Daughter of Elizabeth Whitton and Francis Whitton, the elder Cause 2a (1598): mentioned. |
|
| Thomas James | 1558 | Yeoman, born and lived at Caynham, Shropshire. Cause 2a (1598): deponent. |
| Thomas Lane | 1558 | Yeoman, teacher at Whitton Chapel, born in Tenbury ca. 1558, resident of Burford. Cause 2a (1598): deponent, described as yeoman, 40 years of age, and resident of Burford in Shropshire for seven years. Prior to that he lived, where he was born, in Tenbury, an adjoining town in Worcestershire. Cause 2b (1598): described as living in the Whitton household, teaching their four children as well as others in the chapel at Whitton (poss. St. Mary’s Church, Whitton). Cause 3 (1598): sues William Whitton for Defamation. Disambiguation: Someone called Thomas Lane was rector at Burford 1567-69 and priest 1569-1587 but this could not be the same person. (If this record is correct the Thomas Lane mentioned in this case would only have been 9 at appointment.) The rector and priest were almost certainly this Thomas Lane's father which is suggested by the 1605 lease to "Thomas Lane, his wife Anne, and his son Thomas." Other documents: Clergy records, 1567-87. Rector and priest at Burford. Person ID: 65140. https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/persons/index.jsp Lease to Thomas, mentions job as yeoman, wife Anne, & son Thomas, 1605. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/9c44e6f6-a51c-46c9-9ca3-0439852b4a29 Indenture to Francis Whitton in 1595. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4951304 |
| William Whitton | 1535 | Brother of Francis Whitton, the elder. Moved to Coreley 1596. Prior to this lived at Chetton. Cause 2a (1598): deponent, described as 63 years of age and having lived in the parish of Coreley/Coreldy for two years prior to which he lived at Chetton. Cause 3 (1598): sued for defamation by Thomas Lane. |
f. 123v
Upon the libel
16 June, 1598
Repeated before magistrate.
Jacob Ballard
Examinations of the witnesses on behalf of Elizabeth Whitton, gentlewoman, against Mary Angel in a cause of defamation or insult follow.
Thomas Lane, yeoman, of the parish of Burford in the county of Shropshire where he has lived for seven years or thereabouts, born in the parish of Tenbury in the county of Worcester, aged forty 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 article he says that he refers to the articulate constitution etc.
To the third article he says and deposes that he refers to the articulate royal laws etc.
To the fourth article he says and deposes that about the feast of the Nativity of Christ last past – the precise time he does not otherwise recall – this examinate being at Whitton in the parish of Burford articulate in the house of Master Francis Whitton, husband of the articulate Elizabeth Whitton, the said Elizabeth Whitton called this examinate to her and told him that the articulate, Mary Angel, had reported unto her, the said Mistress Whitton, that William Whitton did make his boast unto the said Mary Angel, that he the said William Whitton might have had the use of the body of the said Elizabeth Whitton carnally at his pleasure when she the said Elizabeth Whitton dwelled at Faintree. Whereupon this examinate answered, “No, by the grace of God, that old man is not so lusty.” Then the said Mary Angel, being then and there present, replied in these words, “Yes, faith, he spoke the very same words to me at Tenbury in one Watie’s house that he might have had the use of her body at Faintree at his pleasure,” which words were so uttered by the same Mary Angel [at] the time and place afore specified in the presence of this examinate, Francis Whitton the younger, and Susan Whitton. And otherwise, he knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth he says it is true.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true. Also, regarding and concerning these same things, public voice and fame are circulating, etc.
[Signed] by me Thomas Lane
Transcript
Super libello
xvj Junij 1598
repetito coram magistro
Iacobo Ballard
Examinaciones testium ex parte Elizabeth Whitton generosa
contra Mariam Angell in Causa diffamationis
siue Convicij sequntur videlicit.
Thomas Lane parochie de Burford in Comitatu Salopie
yeoman vbi moram fecit per vij annos aut
eo circiter, et antea natus infra parochiam de
Tenburie in Comitatu pre wigornie, ætatis xlta
annorum aut eo circiter Testis productus iuratus
et examinatus dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
2 Ad secundum articulum dicit quod refert se ad
Constitucionem articulatum etc.
3 Ad tertium articulum dicit et deponit quod refert se ad
leges regias articulatas etc.
4 Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit. That aboutes
the feaste of the Nativitie of Christe last past
tempus certum aliter non recolit. This examinate being
at whitton in the parishe of Burford articulate in the
howse of master ffraunces whitton husband of the articulate
Elizabeth whitton, the said Elizabeth whitton called
this examinate to her and told him that ye articulate marie marie
Angell had reported, and vnto tha s her the said
mistres whitton that william whitton did make his boaste
vnto the said marie Angell, that he the said william
whitton, mighte haue had the vse of the bodie
of the said Elizabeth whitton carnally at his pleasure
when she the said Elizabeth dwelled at ffaintree
wherevppon this examinate answered noe by the grace of
god that old man is not soe lustie, Then the
said Marie Angell being then and there present, replied
in these wordes, yes faieth he spake the verie
same wordes to me at Tenbury, in one waties
howse that he mighte have had the bodi the
vse of her bodie at ffaintree \at his pleasure/ which wordes were
soe vttered by the said mary Angell the time and
place afore specified in the presence of this examinate, In
ffraunces whitton the yonger, and Susan whitton
Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quintum 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.
per me Thomam Lanem
f. 124r
Francis Whitton the younger of the Whitton [family], gentleman, from the parish of Burford in the county of Shropshire where he has lived for most of his life of eighteen years or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows, namely:
To the first article he says and deposes the same is true.
To the second and third article he says and deposes that he refers it to the articulate laws and constitutions etc.
To the fourth article he says and deposes that about the feast of the Nativity of our Lord – the precise time he cannot otherwise remember – the articulate Mary Angel at Whitton in the parish of Burford articulate in the house of Francis Whitton, gentleman, this examinate’s father, did utter and report openly in the hearing and presence of this examinate, Thomas Lane his previous fellow witness, and Susan Whitton this deponent’s sister, that William Whitton articulate told her, the said Mary Angel, that he the said William Whitton might have carnally to deal with the body of the articulate Elizabeth Whitton, this examinate’s mother, at his pleasure when she, the said Elizabeth Whitton, dwelled at Faintree. And otherwise, he knows nothing to depose as he says
To the fifth he says it is true etc.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true. Also, regarding and concerning these same things public voice and fame are circulating, etc.
Francis Whitton.
William Whitton, gentleman, of the parish of Coreley in the county of Shropshire where he has lived for two years or thereabouts and before at Chelton in the aforesaid county, aged 63 years or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows, namely:
To the first article he says the same is true.
To the second and third articles he says and deposes that he refers to the articulate laws.
To the fourth article he says and deposes that he never heard Mary Angel speak the words articulate and being further examined whether he spoke any of the words recorded in the libel to Mary Angel, he utterly refused to answer the same.
Transcript
ffranciscus whitton \iunior/ de Whitton parochie
de Burford in comitatu Salopie generosus
vbi moram fecit per maximum tempus vite
sue, ætatis xviij annorum aut eo circiter. Testis
productus iuratus et examinatus dicit et deponit vt
sequitur videlicet.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit et deponit eundem articulum esse
verum.
2 3. Ad secundum et tertium articulos dicit et deponit quod
refert se ad leges et constituciones articulatas etc.
4. Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit That aboutes
The ffeaste of the Nativitie of our lord last past tempus
certum aliter non recolit Thes examinate articulate Marie
Angell, did at whitton in the parishe of Burford articulate
in the howse of ffraunces whitton gentleman this examinates father
did vtter and reporte openly, in the hearing and presence
of thes examinate, Thomas Lane his preconteste, and Susan
whitton this deponentes Sister, that william whitton articulate
told her the said Marie Angell, that he the said william
whitton mighte have Carnally to deal with the bodie
of the articulate Elizabeth whitton this examinates mother at his
pleasure when she the said Elizabeth whitton dwelled
at ffainetree. Et aliter nescit deponere vt dicit.
5. Ad quintum dicit eundem esse verum etc.
6. 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.
ffrances Whitton
willelmus whitton parochie de Coreley
in comitatu Salopie generosus, vbi
moram fecit per 2 Annos elapsos aut
eo circiter, et antea apud Chetton in comitatu
predicto, ætatis lxviij aut eo circiter. Testis
productus iuratus et examinatus dicit et
deponit vt sequitur videlicet.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum
2 3 Ad secundum et tertium articulos dicit et deponit
quod refert se ad leges articulatas etc.
4 Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit q That he neuer
heard Mary Angell speake the wordes articulate, And
being further examined whether he spake any
of the wordes libelate to mary Angell, he vtterly
refuseth to answere the same.
f. 124v
To the fifth he says that he knows nothing to depose.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true etc.
Jacob Ballard
Thomas James, yeoman, of the parish of Caynham in the county of Shropshire where he has lived from the cradle aged forty 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 he refers to the articulate laws etc.
To the fourth articles he says and deposes that since the entrance of this cause now in question, he, this examinate, by chance meeting with the articulate Mary Angel and conferring of diverse matters, amongst other words passed between them, the said Mary Angel questioned with this examinate for what cause Mistress Whitton articulate should sue her at Hereford. Whereupon this examinate answered that the suit was for slanderous words and that some of the words were [slanderous], for that the said Mary Angel should say that William Whitton, also named in this article, might have had carnally the use of the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth Whitton when he would [i.e., whenever he wanted] when she dwelled at Faintree. Then the said Mary Angel answered, “If that be all I care not, for when I spoke these words there was nobody by but Thomas Lane, Francis Whitton, and Susan Whitton, and they cannot be witnesses.” And otherwise he knows nothing depose.
To the fifth he says it is true.
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true etc.
Thomas James
Transcript
Ad quintum dicit quod nescit deponere
Ad vltimum dicit omnia et singula per eum
predeposita fuisse et esse vera etc.
Iacobus Ballard
Thomas Iames parochie de Cayneham
in comitatu Salopie yeoman vbi
moram fecit a cunabulis, ætatis xlta
annorum aut eo circiter. Testis productus
iuratus et examinatus dicit et deponit
vt sequitur
Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum etc.
Ad secundum et tertium articulos dicit quod refert se
ad leges articulatas etc.
Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit That
sithence the enteraunce of this Cause now in
question, he this examinate by chaunce meeting with
the articulate Marie Angell, and conferring of diuers
matters, Amongst other wordes passed betweene
them, the said Marie Angell questioned with this
examinate, for what cause mistres whitton articulate sholde
sue her at hereford, wherevppon this \examinate/ answered that
the suite was for slaunderouse wordes. and that some
of the wordes were, for that the said Marie
Angell should saie that william whitton allsoe named
in this article, mighte haue had \carnallie/ the vse of the bodie
of william the foresaid Elizabeth \whitton/ when he would
when she dwelled at ffaynetree, Then the said
Marie Angell answered if that be all I care not
for when I spake those wordes there was noebody
by but Thomas Lane, ffraunces whitton, and Susan
whitton, and they cannot be wittnesses. Et aliter nescit
deponere.
Ad quintum dicit eundem esse verum.
Ad vltimum dicit omnia et singula per eum predeposita
fuisse et esse vera etc.
Thomas Iames
f. 128r
Upon the libel.
On the part of Whitton against Angel.
Eleanor Meredith, spinster, of the parish of Burford in the county of Shropshire, aged fifty or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows, namely:
To the first article she says the same is true.
To the second and third articles she says that she refers to the articulate laws, etc.
To the fourth article she says that she knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth, that there is much speech in the country concerning this cause. And otherwise, she knows nothing to depose.
To the last she says the depositions made above are true, etc.
Transcript
Super libelo
Ex parte whitton contraLane Angell.
Elenora Meredith parochie de Burford in Comitatu
Salopie spinster vbi ætatis l annorum aut
eo circiter testis producta iurata et examinata dicit
et deponit vt sequitur videlicet.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
2. 3. Ad secundum et tertium articulos dicit quod refert se
ad Consticiones et leges regias articulatas etc.
Ad 4 articulum dicit quod nescit deponere.
Ad 5 dicit that there is much speach in the
Cuntry concerning this Cause. Et aliter nescit deponere
Ad vltimum dicit predeposita esse vera etc.