Modernized Spelling Transcription
Witness depositions and statements concerning the libel on the part on the part of
Richard Meredith of the city
of Bath against Alice Morgan of the same city in a certain case of defamation, given and offered in manner following:
Repeated before Mr Methwin, clerk etc. on 3 June 1607.
Deposition 1
[...]Stevens of the city of Bath,
tapster, where he has lived for 30 years, age 39,
test test and born in Corsley in the county of Wiltshire. The witness produced and first examined says that he has known
Richard Meredith for about six years and Alice Morgan for about 30 years and knows them well.
To the first and second articles of the libel aforementioned he deposes and believes that the contents of the articles are true and refers himself to the law.
To Articles 3 and 4 he deposes and says that upon a certain Saturday night in
the Lent season now last past and as he believes
and now remembers it was on the Saturday night next going
before Mid Lent Sunday last, this examinant being at the house of
the articulated Alice Morgan in St Michael's parish near Bath with the said Alice
to whom he then had brought
certain herbs (she being an
herb gatherer for the apothecaries) she asked of this examinant how Henry Moore and
his wife did agree. To whom this examinant replying said 'well, God be thanked.' Then said she: 'I thought Richard Meredith (meaning and naming
Richard Meredith articulated) had used my house in good will towards me, but now I perceive it is not so, it was more for love of my sister-in-law Moore, than for any love towards me.
I have entertained them (meaning the said Meredith and Moore's wife) here at my house many times, and they have had my house, and my
victuals at commannd.
And I have been their
bawd (the Lord forgive me for it) many times, and I have penned them up into my chamber together and they have been
naught together there many times. And now I will no longer forbear it, I will tell my brother of it and will make him carry her coat and make her waistcoat of
another colour before Wednesday next'. And (said she further) 'when my brother has come into my house and asked for them whilst they have been in the said chamber together, I have sent
him away, poor fool, as he came, and told him they were not there'. This, he says and deposes, he saw, heard and understood of the perpetrator. Present none but herself and a
maid servant of hers of [...] In this deponent's understanding, the said Alice Morgan by her above recited speeches
(which were delivered with great vehemence and in angry spirit) did mean that the said Richard Meredith had
lived an
incontinent or adulterous life with her sister-in-law, the said Henry Moore's wife named Joan Moore. And that
she had been their
bawd. By which words he holds the said Richard to be much grieved, discredited and slandered. And otherwise he knows nothing.
To 5 he refers to the law.
To Article 6 he says it is true.
To the final he deposes and says that what he has already deposed is true.
^his mark^
Deposition 2
Repeated before the Vicar General viz. Mr Anton Methwyn, clerk. on 23 June 1607.
On the above libel.
John Sage of Stanton Drew in the county of Somerset,
husbandman, where he has lived since birth and was born, age 59.
The witness produced and first examined says he has known the litigant parties for one year and more and knows them well.
To the first and second article he deposes and believes the same is true and refers to the law etc.
To the third article of the libel on oath examined and deposes that this examinant being an acquaintance of the articulated Alice Morgan, was upon a certain day happening
about
the feast day of the annunciation of our Lady last past, upon some occasion of business at the house of the said Alice, situated without the North Gate
in Bath as he sat eating and drinking in her house, happened to ask of her where Richard Meredith was and how he did (meaning and
naming the articulated Richard Meredith). Who answered in effect as follows viz: 'It is no matter where he is'. 'Why?' said this examinant, then said she
'he was wont to come to my house but it was more for love of my brother Moore's wife (meaning [...] Henry Moore's wife) than of me, she has been often
sent for to my house by his [...] procurement, but I perceive it was
more for her sake than for mine, and there they have been as I think
naught together' (meaning by those her words as this examinant
did then understand them that they the said Richard Meredith and Henry Moore's wife [...]
had lived
incontinently together in her house). He testifies to his own sight, hearing and understanding. Present then and there in the said house, hearing
and noting the premises, Joan Baylie, an inhabitant in Bath and neighbour of the said Alice Morgan's. And otherwise he knows nothing.
To 4 he believes that the said words do tend to the discredit of the said Richard Meredith.
To Article 5 he refers to the law.
To Article 6 he says it is true.
To the final he deposes and says that what he has already deposed is true. And otherwise he knows nothing.
John Sage
Deposition 3
On the above libel
Joanna Stanton (alias Baylie) of the parish of St Peter of the City of Bristol,
wife of John Stanton
(alias Baylie) of the same,
currier, where she has lived for six days, and before that in Bath in the county of
Somerset for the space of two years and before in Bristol for 12 years. And she was born in the parish of St Michael's in the county
of Herefordshire, around 30 years old. The witness produced, admitted and sworn and first examined says she knows the litigant parties, the said Richard Meridith, the party producing her,
for about one year and Alice Morgan, the party against whom she is produced, she has known for the same time.
To the first article of the libel or the said articles she deposes and says that it is true and refers to the law.
To the second article she deposes that she refers to the law and the articles established.
To Article 3 on her oath she deposes and says that upon a certain day happening about
sennight before
the feast of the feast of the
Annunciation of our Lady the Virgin Mary last past before this her examination as she remembers (the time otherwise she cannot call to mind), this deponent having an occasion to go
to the house of the said Alice Morgan in the forenoon chanced to find one Sage, her
precontest, in the said house and the said Alice
Morgan talking together when this examinant came in unto them. [...] time and place this examinant says
she heard the said Alice Morgan to say that, said she, 'Richard Meredith came to my house and resorted here as though he had come for the love of me. But I perceive he came for the love
of my sister, Joanne Moore and I am made a cloak for them both', meaning thereby, as this deponent construes it, as though the said Richard Meredeth and the said Joan Moore lived
incontinently and the said Alice Morgan being a widow woman had been a
bawd to cloak their lewdness, in suffering
them to keep company in her house. And this was spoken in the presence, sight and hearing of this deponent and the said Sage, her
precontest, maliciously and
angrily against the said Richard Meredith and the said Joan Moore. And otherwise she knows nothing.
To Article 4 she deposes it is true.
To Article 5 she deposes she refers to the law.
To Article 6 she says it is true.
To the final she deposes and says that what he has already deposed is true etc.
Joane ~ Stanton alias Baylie her sign ^her mark^
