Margaret Niter and Agnes Skern c. Piers Curtes

This is a juicy case that brought in some of the highest in the land to pressure a reluctant man to go through with a marriage. In January 1488, widows Agnes Skern and Margaret Niter both sued Piers Curtes, each claiming that he had made a contract of marriage with them. Curtes was an important official in the royal household, as keeper of the king’s wardrobe; Skern, too, had influential connections through her previous husband, including the Earl of Oxford, the king’s right hand man. Other records indicate that Agnes Skern won her case, though she and Piers Curtes were not destined for a happy marriage. See the article, Shannon McSheffrey, “A Remarrying Widow,” for more details on the ins and outs.

LMA, MS DL/C/A/001/MS09065B, fols. 1r-2r, 4r-4v

Testimony of Ralph Riplingham, Witness for Plaintiff Margaret Niter, 19 Jan. 1488

19 January, the year of the Lord 1487*

On behalf of Margarete Niter c. Piers Curtes

Ralph Riplingham of the parish of St. Pancras in Cheap,London, where he has lived for twenty years, literate, of free condition, fifty-eight years old, as he says. Inducted as a witness etc., he says that he has known Margaret Niter for almost half a year, and Piers Curtes for sixteen years. To the first and second articles of the libel, he says that on the vigil of last feast of the exaltation of the holy cross [13 Sept. 1487], he was present in the dwelling-house of Thomas Clarell, the father of Margaret, in the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, London. There and then, many things having been discussed between Piers and Margaret concerning contracting marriage together, Piers, in the presence of this witness and Thomas Clarel, took Margaret by the right hand and said to her, “I, Piers, take thee Margaret as my wedded wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and therto I plight thee my troth.” And Margaret took Piers by the hand and said to him, “I Margaret take you Piers to my wedded husband, and therto I plight you my troth.” And they unclasped their hands and kissed one another. This witness deposes these things from his own sight and hearing, as he says. To the third article, he says that after the contract, this witness at Piers’s request gave a gold ring on Piers’s behalf to Margaret and three bent pennies, which she received on occasion of marriage as he believes. And similarly he received from Margaret a gold ring and gave it to Piers, and Piers gratefully received it from him. To the fourth article, he says that its contents are true [……..] have contracted marriage with her before the lord Official. [……….] To the fifth [article], he says that the things he said above are true [………] to depose.

[*Up until the mid-18th century, the calendar year changed on 25 March rather than 1 January; the dates here in the headings are converted to modern style.]

Testimony of Thomas Clarell, Witness for Plaintiff Margaret Niter, 21 or 22 Jan. 1488

[..] January

Thomas Clarell, grocer, of the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, London, where he has lived for thirty years and more, literate, of free condition, sixty-six years old, as he says. Inducted as a witness etc., he says that he has known Margaret Niter, this witness’s daughter, from the time of her birth, and Piers Curtes for half a year. To the first and second articles, he says that on the vigil of the exaltation of the Holy Cross [13 Sept.] last past, in this witness’s dwelling-house, in the presence of Ralph Riplingham, Piers said to this witness that he had come there for the sake of having Margaret Niter his daughter as his wife and this witness thanked him. And then Piers took her by the hand and said to her, “I, Piers, take you, Margaret, to my wedded wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and therto I plight you my troth,” and taking a gold ring from his finger and kissing it, he put it on one of Margaret’s fingers, but what sort of words Margaret said to Piers this witness does not know. And he said that he wished to give to Margaret’s two children lands and tenements to the value of forty pounds. To the third article, he says as he said above, and otherwise he knows nothing concerning its contents from his knowledge. To the fourth article, he says as he said above, and that often Piers in the presence of this witness said that Margaret was his wife. And otherwise he knows nothing concerning its contents. To the fifth article, he says that the things he said above are true, and he knows nothing concerning the fame because he does not leave his house.

Testimony of Beatrice Stoughton, Witness for Plaintiff Agnes Skern, 24 Jan. 1488

On behalf of Agnes Skern c. Curtes

[2]4 January, before Master Thomas Ian, in Beatrice Stoughton’s home, [in my,] Spencer’s, presence

Beatrice Stoughton, widow of the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, where she has lived for the greater part of her life, sixty-three years old. She has known Agnes Skern, this witness’s daughter, from the time of her birth, Piers Curtes for twenty years. To the first and second articles of the libel, she says that many times between the feasts of Easter and the feast of St. Denis last past a year ago [9 Oct. 1486], the aforesaid Piers Curtes had frequent recourse to the house of this witness and he had many and diverse discussions with this witness and Agnes Skern about contracting marriage between him and Agnes. And Agnes referred herself to this witness’s will. And finally around the feast of St. Denis this witness, in the presence of Piers and Agnes in her dwelling-house, said to Piers, “Ye have made labour many days to have my daughter. She hath put her will to mine.” And thus she said in the same place, “Be ye the man that intend to have my daughter to your wife?” And he said, “Yea, by my faith.” And similarly this witness said to her daughter, “Intend you to have this man to your husband?” And she said, “Ye, forsooth.” This witness said, “I pray God give you joy together.” Then Piers gave to Agnes a ring saying, “I give you this by way of matrimony.” And Agnes gave to Peter another ring saying, “I give you this by way of matrimony.” And he kissed her twenty times and said, “Ye be my wife before God.” And she said, “Ye be my husband before God.” And that night Piers spent the night in this witness’s house and wanted to have Agnes in his bed, saying, “Ye be my wife before God,” but this witness forbade it and separated her from him through the whole night. To the third article, she says as she said above. And she says that both before and after that day Piers gave to Agnes several rings. And Agnes, in return, gave Piers rings. To the fourth article, she says that on several occasions since that said day Piers named Agnes as his wife and laboured diligently to recuperate certain lands and tenements belonging to the late Skern, the husband of Agnes. To the fifth article, she says that the things she said above are true and that she heard from many people that they were and are husband and wife. To the first interrogatory, she says as she said above. And to its other contents she responds negatively. To the second interrogatory, she says that the conversation and the giving of the rings took place in the chamber over the kitchen, none others being present but the three. And otherwise she has nothing to depose concerning its contents. To the third interrogatory, she responds negatively to all its contents. To the fourth interrogatory, she says that she heard from another that the same Margaret has prosecuted Piers in the Consistory of London, and she cares not about the victory but wishes justice to be done and not otherwise.

Testimony of Ann Frisell, Witness for Plaintiff Agnes Skern, 24 Jan. 1488

Ann Frisell of the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, where she has lived for eight years, of free condition, thirty-six years old, as she says. Inducted as a witness etc., she says that she has known Agnes Skern for sixteen years, and Piers Curtes for twelve years. To the first and second articles, she says that on the Thursday after the feast of St. Denis last past a year ago [12 Oct. 1486], in a certain storeroom called a buttery within Beatrice Stoughton’s house, in the afternoon of that day, this witness was present together with Piers and Agnes Skern and none others, when and where Piers took Agnes by the hand and said, “I Piers take thee Agnes to my wife, and thereto I plight you my troth.” And Agnes took Piers by the hand and said to him, “I Agnes take thee Piers to my wedded husband, and thereto I plight thee my troth.” And the same Piers kissed her and asked this witness not to tell Agnes’s mother about the contract. To the third article, she says that before that day, this witness brought a ring to Piers, and conversely to Agnes another one on Piers’s behalf. And otherwise she knows nothing. To the fourth article, she knows nothing. To the fifth article, she says that the things she said above are true and that public voice and fame circulated and circulate concerning them in the parish of St. Nicholas. To the first interrogatory, she says that she is a blood relative of Agnes. And she responds negatively to its other contents. To the second interrogatory, she came to give truthful testimony at Piers’s request. And she says as she said above, and she responds negatively to its other contents. To the third interrogatory, she responds negatively to all its contents. To the fourth interrogatory, she says that she does not care about victory as long as justice is done. And she responds negatively to its other contents.

Testimony of Piers Curtes, Defendant, 26 Jan. 1488

Personal responses made by Piers Curtes, 26 January, in the home of the lord Official, in my, Richard Spencer’s, presence

Piers Curtes sworn etc. on the positions etc. To the first and second positions, he believes their contents. And he says that he contracted around the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross [14 Sept.] in the house of Margaret’s father. But he admits nevertheless that he previously contracted that is around the feast of St. Denis [9 Oct.] a year ago he contracted marriage with Agnes Skern in the presence of Ann Frisley and Beatrice Stoughton and afterwards in the presence of the Earl of Oxford, his lady wife, James Blount, William Noris, Philip Lewis, and others.* To the third position, he admits all its contents. To the fourth position, he admits its contents. To the fifth position, he believes what is believed and he believes the fame.

[*This sentence was written in the margin, suggesting it was added later.]

Testimony of Robert Say, Witness for Plaintiff Margaret Niter, 26 Jan. 1488

Further on behalf of Niter c. Curtes

26 January in the house of the lord Official

Robert Say of the parish of St. Alphage, London, where he has lived for eight years, literate, of free condition, fifty-four years old, as he says. Inducted as a witness etc., he says that he has known Margaret Niter for twenty years, Piers Curtes for eight or nine years. Questioned further, this witness says that he knows only that around the feast of St. Michael [29 Sept.] last year, there was fame in the parish of St. Alphage, near the parish of St. Giles, and it still circulates that the parties had contracted marriage and were husband and wife.

Testimony of Richard Dungan, Witness for Plaintiff Margaret Niter,26 Jan. 1488

Richard Dungan of the parish of St. Alphage, brewer, fifty-one years old, of free condition. He says that he has known the parties for twelve years. Questioned further he says that public voice and fame circulated and circulate in the parish and other places that she and a certain Curtes whom he otherwise cannot specify had contracted marriage together and the fame began to circulate around the feast of All Hallows [1 Nov.].

Testimony of John Snoryng, Witness for Plaintiff Agnes Skern, 27 Jan. 1488

Further on behalf of Skern c. Curtes

[2]7 January, in the home of the lord Official, in Spencer’s presence

John Snoryng of the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, city of London, fishmonger, forty years old, literate, of free condition. He says that he has known both parties, that is Agnes Skern and Piers Curtes, for 20 years. This witness, questioned further about and on all the articles in the libel, says that he knows only that for the last year and more, public voice and fame circulated and circulate in the parish of St. Nicholas that Piers and Agnes were affianced and are reputed as man and wife, and that many have wondered that marriage had not been solemnized between them. To the first interrogatory, he says as he said above. And he responds negatively to its other contents. To the second interrogatory, he says as he said above, and he says that he was asked by Agnes Skern to come and give testimony of the truth, and he responds negatively to its other contents. To the third interrogatory, he says that since the beginning of the present case he has heard that Piers contracted marriage with […deposition does not follow onto next folio, which is blank].

---