AALT Home             Marriage Arrangements, 1607


 

William Houlgate v. Robert Barres, court of common pleas, 1607




AALT images for Houlgate v. Barres
a



[Robert Barres promised to pay William Houlgate 20 marks and a cow to obtain William’s marriage to Elizabeth, one of Robert’s daughters]

London. William Houlgate cleric by his attorney presents himself on the fourth day against Robert Barres lately of Kearsley in the parish of Dean in the county of Lancaster yeoman concerning a plea why, whereas the abovesaid Robert for and in consideration that he the same William would take to wife Elizabeth Barres one of the daughters of the same Robert, on November 20 in the 42nd year of the reign of the Lady Elizabeth late queen of England [1600] at London in the parish of Blessed Mary of the Arches in the London ward of Cheap undertook on himself and then and there faithfully promised the same William both to pay to the same William 20 marks and to give and deliver to the same William one cow when thereof he should be required,


[they married a year and a quarter later]

and although the same William afterwards, scilt., on February 28 in the 44th year of the reign of the said late queen [1602] at London abovesaid in the abovesaid parish and ward, took as wife the abovesaid Elizabeth according to ecclesiastical law,


[but Robert refused to pay the money or deliver the cow]

nevertheless the abovesaid Robert, not caring at all for his abovesaid promise and undertaking but scheming hotly to deceive and defraud the same William both of the abovesaid 20 marks and of the cow abovesaid, did not pay, give, or deliver to the same William either the same 20 marks or any money thereof or that cow according to his abovesaid promise and undertaking although he was required to this by the same William on November 12 in the 4th year of the reign of the said lord king of England, France, and Ireland at London in the parish and ward abovesaid, but refused to pay, give, or deliver them to him up to this time and still refuses, to the damage of the same William of £30 etc.


[sicut pluries capias to compel the defendant’s attendance]

And he did not etc., and as before it had been ordered to the sheriff that he arrest him etc., and the sheriff now sends that he was not found etc. Therefore as many times before let him be arrested that he be here at the third week after Holy Trinity etc.