f. 123v
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
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