f. 230v
vo die
May 1598
Iacobus Ballard
Examinaciones testium ex parte et pro
partem Marie Angell contra Elizabeth
Whitton in causa diffamationis super
ex[c]eptionibus sequuntur.
Edmundus Shermane parochie de
Ludlowe in comitatu [Salopie] generosus ætatis xxta annorum
et vltra. Testis productus iuratus et examinatus
dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
Ad primum articulum dicit et deponit That
this examinate one a time cam to visit the articulate
Elizabeth Whitten whoe then lay extreeme sicke
And at his coming to the said Elizabeth found
her lieng sicke in her bed; at what time
this examinate did se the said Thomas Lane
lie vpon the one side of the said bed by
the said Elizabeth Whitton vnder the
Coverlette in his Clothes, and and one
ffraunces Inkes sate vnder her heade
wich thinge ther vsed accustomably (as this
examinate did then was then given to vnderstand)
to keape the said Elizabeth downe in her fittes
And further he saieth the fame of the
Countrey is \and hath beine for three yeres last past/ that the said Thomas Lane
and Elizabeth Whitton have lived incontinently
together Et aliter nescit deponere
2. Ad secundum articulum dicit quod nescit deponere.
3 Ad tertium articulum dicit et deponit that
the articulate Thomas Lane as this examinate
hath heard hath had his meate drinke
and lodging in the howse with the articulate
Elizabeth Whitton and her husband for seaven
yeres last past or thereaboutes Et vlterius
dicit that he this examinate at hath seene
the said Thomas Lane at Sundrie tymes
within the said space at or somwhat before
at dynner and supper in the said howse with
5th of
May 1598
Jacob Ballard
Examinations of the witnesses on the part and behalf of Mary Angel against Elizabeth Whitton in a cause of defamation upon the exceptions[1], as follow.
Edmund Sherman, gentleman, of the parish of Ludlow in the county of Shropshire, aged twenty years or more. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article he says and deposes that this examinate on a time came to visit the articulate, Elizabeth Whitton, who then lay extremely sick. And at his coming, to the said Elizabeth, found her lying sick in her bed, at what time this examinate did see the said Thomas Lane lie upon the one side of the said bed by the said Elizabeth Whitton, under the coverlet in his clothes and one Frances Inkes sat under her head. Which thing they commonly did (as this examinate was then given to understand) to keep the said Elizabeth down in her fits. And further he said the fame of the country is (and has been for three years last past) that the said Thomas Lane and Elizabeth Whitton have lived incontinently together. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the second article he said he knows nothing to depose.
To the third article he says and deposes that the articulate, Thomas Lane, as this examinate had heard, had had his meat, drink, and lodging in the house with the articulate, Elizabeth Whitton, and her husband for seven years last past or thereabouts. And finally he says that he, this examinate, has seen the said Thomas Lane at sundry times within the said space or somewhat before at dinner and supper in the said house with
[1] Term means formal objections or challenges to inadequate testimony. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “exception (n.)” nos. 4 and 5. June 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/2700665522.