6. Anna Collins defames Marie Kyntom
Examinations of witnesses concerning a cause of defamation relating to allegations made by Anne Collins about one of the household maids (Mary Kyntom) of Nathaniel Hereford, who Anne claims was pregnant and used herbs to terminate the pregnancy.
People
f. 266v
27th day of July 1599
Jacob Ballard
Examinations of the witness on the part and behalf of Mary Kyntom against Anna Collins in a cause of defamation or insult follow, namely:
Thomas Wield, butcher, of the parish of Bosbury in the county of Hereford where he lived for four years now fully elapsed or thereabouts in the parish of Fownhope in the county aforesaid, aged thirty 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 he says and deposes that he refers to the laws articulate. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fourth article he says and deposes that about a fortnight after Easter last past, this examinate being in his shop in Bosebury articulate, the libellate Anne Collins came into his said shop to buy meat. And falling into conversation with this deponent asked him how Master Nathaniel Harford of Bosbury his maids did. To whom this deponent answered they do very well. And then the said Anne Collins said “I have heard it other of them.” "But so did not I" answered this examinate "in all my life." And the said Anne Collins replied again “I have heard it otherwise for I heard say that Marie, Master Nathaniel Hereford his maid," meaning the plaintiff, "was with child and
Transcript
xxvij die Iulij 1599
Iacobus Ballard
Examinaciones testium ex parte
et per partem marie Kyntom
contra Annam Collins in Causa
diffamacionis siue Convicij sequ[u]ntur
videlicet.
Thomas wield parochie de Bosebury
in Comitatu hereford Butcher, vbi moram fecit
per 4 annos iam vltimo elapsos eo circiteret antea in natus in parochia de ffownehope
in Comitatu predicti ætatis xxx annorum aut eo circiter
testis productus iuratus et examinatus dicit et deponit
vt sequitur.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
2.3.Ad tertiumsecundum et 3 dicit et deponit
quod refert se ad Constituciones et leges articulatas
Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit that
aboutes a in the \a fortnigt after ester/space of a moneth last
past, this examinate being in his shopp in
Boseburie articulate, the libellat Anne Collins
cam into his said shopp to buy meate. And
falling into Conuercacion with this deponent
asked him howe master Nathaniel harford of
Boseburie his maides did To Whom this deponent
answered they doe verie well And then
the said Anne Collins said, I haue heard it
otherwise of them. But soe did not I [expunged letters]
answered this examinate in all my lief, And
the said Anne Collins replied againe I
have heard it otherwise for I heard say
that marie master Nathaniel hereford his maid
meaning the plaintiff, was with Childe and
f. 267r
that she took medicines to spill her said child.” Whereupon this examinate answered “I will tell her what you said.” And then presently she went away from this examinate’s shop to Master Nathanial Harford his house and there sat talking with him and his wife in his, the said Master Harford’s, porch being not past a stones throw from the said shop. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth he says that the good name and fame of the said Marie (being a single woman) is impaired and hurt by speaking of the said words, and she hindered by expenses and charges in this matter. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose/
To the last he says that all and singular deposed above by him were and are true.
N
Jacob Ballard
Margaret Bailey alias Williams of the parish of Bosbury in the county of Hereford, wife of John Bailey of the same, aged thirty-four or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article she says the same is true.
To the second and third she says that she refers to the constitutions and laws articulate.
To the fourth article she says and deposes that between Easter and Whitsuntide last past, the certain time otherwise she remembers not, the defendant Anne Collins, being in a parlor within the house of the articulate Nathaniel
Transcript
that shee tooke medecynes to spill her said Child
wherevpon this examinate answered, I will
tell her what you said Et aliter nescit deponere
And pre then presentlie she went w awaie
from this examinates shopp to master Nathaniel hereford
his \howse/ and there sate talking with him and his
wief in his the said master harford his porch
being not past a Coytes Ca stonnes throwe
from the said shopp Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quintum dicit that the good name and
fame of the said marie (being a singlwooman)by is impayred and hurte by speaking of
the said wordes and \she/ hindred by expences
and Chardges in this matter Et aliter nescit
deponere.
Ad vltimum dicit omnia et singula per eum predeposita
fuisse et esse vera etc.
N
Iacobus Ballard
Margareta Baylie alias williams parochie
de Boseburie in Comitatu hereford vxor
Iohannis Baylies de eadem ætatis xxxiiij
annorum aut eo circiter testis producta iurata
et examinata dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
1.Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
2. 3. Ad 2 et 3 dicit quod refert se ad Constituciones
et leges articulatas.
Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit that betwixt
Easter and whitsontide last past the time
certaine otherwise she Remembreth not, The
defendant Anne Collins being in a Parlor
within the howse of the articulate Nathaniel
f. 267v
Harford in Bosbury articulate. Amongst other speeches used by her in the presence of the said Master Harford, Marie (his wife), Jane Glasier, and this examinate, she the said Anne Collins uttered these words following or the like to them in effect, namely: “I have heard it said and reported" (speaking to the said Master Harford and his wife) "that your servant Marie Kyntom" (meaning the plaintiff in this cause) "was with child and that she had taken medicines of herbs to be delivered of the child.” And said further that she heard it spoken and reported that the said Marie Kyntom was two days and two nights away out of the said Master Nathaniel Harford his house and that nobody for that space knew what was become of her. And otherwise she knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth she says and deposes that by reason of the speaking of the said slanderous words, the good name and fame of the said Marie Kyntom (she being a virgin) is impaired and she scandalized and defamed, and that she is thereby put to charges and troubles. And otherwise she knows nothing to depose.
To the last she says that all and singular deposed above by her was and is true. Also regarding and concerning these same things public voice and fame are circulating.
M
Transcript
Harford his howse in Boseburie articulate
Amongst other speeches vsed by her
in the presence of the said master harford
marie his wief Iane Glasier and
his examinate, she this this the said
Anne Collins vttered these wordes
following or the like to them in effect
videlicet I have heard it said \and reported/( speaking to
the said master harford and his wief)
that your servant marie kyntom (meaning
the plaintiff in this Cause) was with Child
and that she had taken medecines of herbes
to be deliuered of the Child. And said further
that she heard it spoken and reported that
the said marie kintom was twoo daies
and twoo nightes awaie out of the said
master Nathaniel harford his howse and that
noe bodie for that space knewe what
was become of her. Et aliter nescit
deponere.
Ad quintum dicit et deponit that by reason
of the speaking of the said slaunderous
wordes the good name and fame of the said
marie Kyntom (she being a virgin) is impayred
and she scandalized and defamed, and
that she is thereby put to chardges and
troubles Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad vltimum dicit omnia et singula per eum predisposita
fuisse et esse vera etc. ac de et super eisdem laborant publica vox et fama etc.
M
f. 268r
Jacob Ballard
Jane Glasier, wife of Thomas Glasier of Bosbury in the county of Hereford, aged forty or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article she says the same is true.
To the second and third she says that she refers to the articulate constitutions and laws.
To the fourth article she says and deposes that between Easter and Whitsuntide last past, the precise time she does not otherwise recall, the articulate, Anne Collins, the defendant being in the house of the articulate Master Nathaniel Harford in Bosbury, in a parlor of the same house, uttered these words following or the very like in effect in the presence of the said Master Nathaniel, Marie his wife, Margaret Williams alias Bailey, and this examinate namely: “I have heard it said and reported" (speaking to the said Master Harford and his wife) "that your servant, Marie Kyntom" (meaning the plaintiff) "was with child and that she had taken medicines of herbs to be delivered of the child.” And furthermore, she said that she heard it spoken and reported that the said Marie Kyntom was two days and two nights away out of the said Master Harford’s house, and that nobody for that while knew what was become of her. And otherwise she knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth article she says and deposes that the credit and estimation of the articulate, Marie Kyntom, by reason of prolation of the said slanderous speeches is impaired and lessened, and that she is thereby much slandered and defamed
Transcript
Iacobus Ballard
Iana Glasier vxor Thome Glasier de
Boseburie in Comitatu hereford ætatis xlta
annorum aut eo circiter testis producta iurata
et examinata dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
1 Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum.
2. 3. Ad 2 et 3 dicit quod refert se ad
Constituciones et leges articulatas.
Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit That betwixt
Easter and whitsontide last past tempus certum
aliter non recolit The articulate Anne Collins the defendant
being in the howse of the articulate master Nathaniell
hereford in Boseburie in a parlor of the same
howse vttered these wordes following or the
verie like in effect in the presence of the said
master Nathaniel marie his wief margaret williams alias
Baylie and this examinate videlicet: I haue heard
it said and reported (speaking to the said master
harford and his wief) that your servant mari<e>
kyntom (meaning the plaintiff) was with Childe
and that she had taken medecines of herbes
to be deliuered of the Child. And further more
she said that she heard it spoken and reported
that the said marie kintom was twoo daies
and twoo nightes awaie out of the said
master herfordes howse and that noe bodie for
that while knewe what was become of her
Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quintum articulum dicit et deponit that the
Credit and estimacion of the articulate marie kyntom
by reason of prolacion of the said sclaunderous
speeches is ympaired and lessened, and that
she is thereby much sclaundered and defamed
f. 268v
and put to expenses and charges.
To the last she says her depositions made above were and are true.
[Mark in lieu of signature]
Jacob Ballard
Nathaniel Harford of the parish of Bosbury in the county of Hereford, prebend in the cathedral church of Hereford, aged sixty years or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows, namely:
To the first article he says that same is true.
To the second and third he refers to the articulate laws.
To the fourth article he says and deposes that between Easter and Whitsuntide last past, the precise time he does not otherwise recall, the defendant Anne Collins, being at this examinate’s house in Bosbury articulate. He heard her utter these words following or the like in effect namely: “I have heard it said and reported" (speaking to this examinate) "that your servant, Marie Kyntom" (meaning the plaintiff) "was with child and that she had taken medicines of herbs to be delivered of the child.” And that she heard it reported that the said Marie Kyntom was two days and two nights away out of this examinate’s house and that nobody for that space knew what was become of her, the said Marie, which words she
Transcript
and put to expenses and chard[g]es.
Ad vltimum dicit predeposita sua fuisse
et esse vera etc.
[Mark in lieu of signature below "Ia. Ballard"]
Iacobus Ballard
Nathaniel harford parochie de
Boseburie in Comitatu hereford
prebendarius in ecclesia Cathredralis
hereford, ætatis lxta annorum et
aut eo circiter testis productus iuratus
et examinatus dicit et deponit vt sequitur
videlicet
Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum
2. 3. Ad secundum et tertium refert se
ad leges articulatas.
4 Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit
that betwixt Ester and whitsontide
last past tempus certum aliter non recolit
the defendant Anne Collins being at this
examinates howse in Boseburie articulate, withina par he heard her vtter these wordes
following or the like in effect videlicet: I haue
hard it said and reported (speaking to this
examinate) that your servant marie kintom
meaning the plaintiff was with Child and
that she had taken medecines to be deliuered of
the Child and that, she hard it reported
that the said marie kintom was twoo
daies and twoo nightes awaie out of
this examinates howse and that noe bodie
for that space knewe what was becom
of her the said marie which wordes she
f. 269r
did repeat and vary by and by after in a parlor of this examinate’s said house in the presence of this examinate himself, Marie his wife, Jane Glasier, and Margaret Williams. And otherwise he knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth he says that he knows nothing to depose.
To the last he says that his depositions made above were and are true etc.
Nathaniel Harford
Jacob Ballard
Marie Harford, wife of Nathaniel Harford of the parish of Bosbury in the county of Hereford, aged sixty-six years or thereabouts. The witness, produced, sworn, and examined, says and deposes as follows.
To the first article she says the same is true.
To the second and third, she says and refers to the articulate laws.
To the fourth article she says and deposes that between Easter and Whitsuntide last past, the precise time she does not otherwise recall, the defendant Anne Collins being in the house of Master Nathaniel Harford, this examinate’s husband, in Bosbury articulate in a parlor of the same house and in the presence of this examinate’s said husband, this deponent herself, Jane Glasier, and Margaret Williams alias Bailey, she the said Anne Collins uttered these words following or the like to them in effect namely: “I have heard it said and reported" (speaking to this examinate’s husband and herself) "that your servant, Marie Kyntom
Transcript
did repeate and verie by and by after in
a parlor of this examinates said howese in the
presence of this examinate him self marie his
wief Iane Glasier and margaret williams
Et aliter nescit deponere.
5 Ad quintum dicit that in quod nescit
deponere.
Ad vltimum dicit predeposita sua fuisse et esse
vera etc.
nathaniell harford
Iacobus Ballard
Maria Harford vxor Nathanielis
harford parochie de Boseburie in comitatu
hereford ætatis lxvj annorum aut eo
circiter testis productaiurata et examinata
dicit et deponit vt sequitur.
1. Ad primum articulum dicit eundem esse verum
2. 3. Ad secundum et tertium dicit quod refert se ad
leges articulatas etc.
Ad quartum articulum dicit et deponit That betwixt
Ester and whitsontide last past tempus certum
aliter non recolit The defendant Anne Collins
being in the howse of master Nathaniel hereford
herford this examinates husband in Boseburie
articulate in a Parlor of the same howse and
in the presence of this examinates said husband this
deponent her self Iane Glasier and margaret
williams alias Baylie, she the said Anne Collins
vttered these wordes following or the like to them
in effect videlicet I have heard it said and
reported (speaking to this examinates husband and
her self) that your servant marie kyntom
f. 269v
(meaning the plaintiff) "was with child and that she had taken medicines of herbs to be delivered of the child.” And furthermore said that she heard it spoken and reported that the said Marie Kyntom was two days and two nights away out of the house the said Master Harford, this deponent’s husband, and that for the said space nobody knew what was become of her. And otherwise she knows nothing to depose.
To the fifth she says that the good name, credit, and estimation of the said Marie Kyntom (being a single woman) is by speaking of the said words much impaired and hurt, and she thereby much slandered and defamed and vexed with troubles, charges, and expenses. And otherwise she knows nothing to depose.
To the last she says that her depositions made above were and are true, etc. Also regarding and concerning these same things public voice and fame are circulating.
[Mark in lieu of signature]
Transcript
meaning the plaintiff was with Child and that
she had taken medecynes of herbes to
be deliuered of the Child. And furthermore
said that she heard it spoken and reported
that the said marie kyntom was twoo
daies and twoo nightes awaie out of
the howse the said master harford this deponentes
husband and that for the said space
noe bodie knewe what was become
of her Et aliter nescit deponere.
Ad quintum dicit that the good name
Credit and estimacion of the said mary
kintom \being a singlwooman/ is by speaking of the said wordes
much impayred and hurte, and she thereby
much sclaundered and defamed, and vexed
with troubles chardges and expences
Et aliter nescit deponere
Ad vltimum dicit sua predisposita fuisse et
esse vera etc. ac de et super eisdem
laborant publica vox et fama etc.
[Mark in lieu of signature]