This is a tale of two Joan Hancoks, sisters-in-law, who appear to have been mistaken for one another several times. The testimony is not entirely clear, but the situation seems to have gone like this: Joan Hancok the elder, who was married to Christopher Hancok, was summoned at least three times before one of theContinue reading “Joan Hancok c. Master Henry Aprece”
Tag Archives: Ecclesiastical court officials
William Ely c. Master Richard Draper
In theory excommunication – expulsion from the community of the faithful – was a drastic measure in medieval Christianity. In late medieval England, however, it was most often used for relatively mild rather than terrible sins, particularly for the failure to obey summonses, orders, and sanctions issued by church courts. This may have dulled itsContinue reading “William Ely c. Master Richard Draper”
Office c. Henry Newlond and Joan Gardyner
This was a disciplinary case: Henry Newlond and Joan Gardyner had gone ahead and formalized their marriage despite Henry having been strictly forbidden from entering into any marital contracts while another case against him was pending. There are some interesting aspects of his brief examination. First, it is odd that Newlond claimed not to knowContinue reading “Office c. Henry Newlond and Joan Gardyner”
Office c. Master John Asshwell
Master John Asshwell – tangentially involved in two other Consistory cases over previous months in 1494, Laurence c Jaco and Unknown c Eve and Hayward – was the curate of Chelmsford parish church; this meant that he had “cure of souls” for his parishioners, that is acted as their parish priest, though he was notContinue reading “Office c. Master John Asshwell”
Consistory 