The Lodger Shakespeare
Page 31
5. To the ffyfte Interr this deponnt sayth that after the plaintiffes marriadge wth the said Marye, he this deponent went to see them, And the plaintiff vppon some speeches betweene this deponent and the plaintiff the plaintiff tould him that the defendant had geuen him wth his daughter in marriadge the some of ten poundes and Certayne houshould stuffe, but the valewe of the houshould stuffe he knoweth not./ And more he Cannott depose./
Nouel Montioi
c. Third session, 23 June 1612 [ibid./3]
Interrogatories to be ministred vnto witnesses produced on the parte and behalf of Christopher Mountioy defendant to the bill of Complaynt of Stephen Bellott Comp.lt./
1. Inprimis whether do you knowe the parties plaintiffes and defendt./
2. Item whether did you not heare or knowe that Mary the late wief of Christopher Mountioy the deft did in her life tyme vrdge the said defendt to give somthinge more vnto Bellott the plt./ and his wief then he had donn, and did not the said Mountioye the defendt aunswere her that he would never promise them anie thinge: because he knewe not what he should neede himselfe? or what other speaches to that purpose did you heare her or anie other speake and when were they spoken declare the whole truth therein accordinge to yor remembrance
3. Item have you not heard the late wief of Christopher Mountioy the defendt declare what her then husband the said Christopher Mountioy and shee had given the said Complt and his wief after theire Marriage and that shee would have had the said Christopher Mountioy her then husband to have given them more but he vtterly refused and would not or what other speaches have you heard her say touchinge that matter declare the whole truth in particuler as you remember?
4. Item do you knowe or haue you heard of anie monie or other goodes wch the said Comp.lt Bellott hath receaved of the said Christopher Mountioy the defendt or his late wief and whether were those sommes of monie or other goodes delivered to them and what was the vallewe of them declare yor whole knowledge herein?/
5. Itm hath not the Complaynant Stephen Bellott vrdged or perswaded yòu to Conceale yor knowledge or otherwise to depose or speake somthinge Concerninge the matter nowe in question betweene him and the said Mountioy the defendt wch you knowe not to be truee and what speaches hath he lately vsed, or spoken vnto you to that or anie such purpose and when did he speake them declare the premisses hereof according to yor knowledge?/
6. Item whether did you heare or knowe that the said Christopher Mountioy the defendt did by himselfe or anie from him desire the said Stephen Bellott the Complt to reccon wth him about the monie and other things due betweene them and what aunswere did the said Bellott make therevnto and whether do you knowe or haue heard that the said Bellott hath Confessed that he did owe the said Mountioy anie monie or other thinges and what was that monie and other thinges and when did he Confesse it and what speaches have you heard the said Bellott speake Concerninge the Reconinge or difference betweene the said Mountioy and him and when did he speake them declare yor whole truthe herein?/
7. Item did not you of yor voluntary will and disposition to make the plt. and defendt frendes goe to the plt. about three weekes since and tould the pl.t that he tooke a wronge Course to sue his Father in Lawe And that it weare better they weare kinde and Lovinge frendes and what aunswere made the plantiff vpon yor Conference wth him thereabout declare yor knowledge?/
SECOND DEPOSITION OF CHRISTOPHER WEAVER
Christopher Weaver of the parishe of Sct Olaves in Sylver Streete London mercer of the Age of thirtye Syxe yeres or thraboutes sworne and examyned the daye and yere abouesaid deposith and saythe
1/ To the ffirste Interr this deponent sayth he knoweth the plaintiff and defendant./
2/3/4/5 To the ij.d iij.d iiij.th v.th and vjth Interr this deponent is not examined at the Request of the deft
7/To the vijth Interr this deponent sayth that about three weekes synce he this deponent wishinge well to bothe the plaintiff and deft went of his owne voluntary will and disposition to talke wth the plaintiff and to see yf he could bringe them to be frindes And Questioninge wth the plaintiff About the same vnkindnes and shewinge him that he tooke A wronge Course to sue his ffathr in Lawe, the plaintiff Answered him this deponent that he would never haue sued his ffathr in Lawe yf his ffathr in Lawe would haue bene willinge to haue hadd his Companye in ffamilliar mannr as at his table./ And said further he Could be contented the matter should be Ended betwixte them, so that his ffathr would lett him dwell in one of his houses, woh was nexte to his owne dwellinge house payinge some Rent for yt, And furthr said he could leave his wyffe in better estate then he ffound her whensoeuer god should be pleased to calle him, vnto woh this deponent said he was gladd of yt, And said he this deponent would make yt knowne to the deft his father. And do what he could to make them ffrindes or woordes to that effecte And so did, but the deft yt seemed had taken such an vnkinnes at his sonne in lawes vsage towardes him that he said he would never geue him Any more, As before he hath deposed in his Answeare to the pltes Interr. And more he Cannott depose.
Chr: Weauer
SECOND DEPOSITION OF NOEL MOUNTJOY
Nowell Mountioy of the parishe of Sct: Olaves in Sylver Streete London Tyremaker of the Age of thirtye yeres or thraboutes sworne and examyned the daye and yere abouesaid deposeth and saythe
1/To the ffirste Interr this deponent sayth he knoweth the plaintiff and defendant./
2/3/ To the seconde and third Interr this deponent Can saye nothinge touchinge any parte of the same Interr
4/To the iiijth Interr this deponent sayth that the plaintiff since his marriadge wth the deftes daughter Marye tould this deponent that the deft had geuen them the plaintiff and his wyffe the some of ten poundes in monney and Certayne houshould stuffe but the valewe of the houshould stuffe he cannot declare, for that he did not see the househould stuffe deliuered./ And more he Cannott depose
5To the ffyfte Interr this deponent sayth that the plaintiff sent for him this deponent about A yere since wch he thinketh is neere about or synce this suyte beganne. And asked this deponent yf he knewe of the tenn poundes the deft his ffathr in lawe gaue him and his wyffe synce there Marriadge./ And this deponent tould the plaintiff he did knowe of yt, wherevppon the plaintiff tould him this deponent that yf when he was called to Answeare wherefore yt was geuen them, he this deponent might doe him the plaintiff good yf he this deponent would Answeare that he the plaintiff Receaved yt of the deffendant for woorke donne for him, sayinge to this deponent that he the plaintiff was lykelie to be A better ffrind to this deponent then the deft would be, vrdginge that the deft was all for him selfe./ And furthr that synce that tyme the pltes mayd lykewise vrdged this deponent that shee herd him saye that he herd the deft saye that he gaue the plaintiff that ten poundes aforesaid for woorke: wch was ffalse: ffor wch this deponent Rebuked the mayde. And more he Cannott depose./
6/ To the vjth Interr this deponnt sayth that the plt tould him that the deft came vnto him And desired him to Reccon wth him About monney And other thinges betweene them/ And the plaintiff tould this deponent that he Answeared him the deft that he would not Reccon wth him any thinge, sayinge he was sorry he hadd not more in his handes to Reccon wth him for then he hadd sayinge he saies I owe him three poundes, & he oweth me fforty shillinges, yf all come to all tis but twenty shillinges difference./ And more he cannott depose touchinge the said Interr to his Rememb eraunce./
7/ To the vijth Interr this deponent is not examyned at the Requeste of the defendant
Nouel Montioi
DEPOSITION OF THOMAS FLOWER
Thomas fflower of the parishe of Sct Albans in Woddstreete London merchaunttaylo r of the Age of thirtye Eight yeres or thraboutes sworne and examed the daye and yere abouesaid deposith and saythe/
1. /To the ffirste Interr this deponent sayth he knoweth the plaintiff and deft
2. /To the seconde Interr this deponent sayth that he hath often herd Marye the defendtes wyffe did often in her lyffe tyme vrdge her husbond the deft to geue somthynge more vnto the p
laintiff and his wyffe then he had donne before wherevnto the deft Mountioye would comonlye answeare her that he would not promise them any thinge because he knewe not what he should neede him selfe./ And soe he hath herd the deft often saye he would promise nothinge for feare of wantinge him selfe or woordes to the lyke effecte./ And more he Cannott depose./
3. /To the third Interr this deponent sayth he hath herd the deftes wyffe in her lyffe tyme saye that her husbonde and shee hadd geuen her daughter Marye and her husbond the plaintiff synce there marriadge togeathr the some of ten poundes in Monney And Certayne Implemtes of houshould stuffe, And that shee would haue had her husbond Mountioye haue geuen them more./ but he would not sayinge he knewe not what he him selfe might want or wordes to the lyke effecte. And more he Cannott depose/
4. To the iiijth Interr this deponent sayth that he herd as aforesaid that the plaintiff Receaved of the deft ten poundes in monney and Certayne househould stuffe./ but the valewe of the houshould stuffe he knoweth not./ And furthr sayth that synce the plaintiffes goinge from the deft the deft sent this deponent to the plaintiff to desire him to Reccon wth him for some Monney and other thinges wch he had takne wth him when he went Awaye./ And the plaintiff did answeare this deponent that he had but some fewe trifles of his wch he would not confesse in particuler nor deliuer. And more he Cannott depose/
5. To the vth Interr this deponent sayth the plaintiff hath not at any tyme vrdged nor perswaded this deponent to conceale his knowledge nor otherwise to depose and speake Any thinge concerninge the mattr nowe in Question betweene them./ And more he cannot depose./
6. /To the vjth Interr this deponent sayth that by him this deponent the defendt did longe synce desire the plaintiff to Reccon wth him the defendant about monney And other thinges due betweene them, wherevppon this deponnt moved him to A Recconinge, who Answeared in mannr ffollowinge vz wheare I haue a penniwoorth of Any thinge, I would I hadd more of his. I haue nothinge but that wch I will keepe And yf I owe him Any monney lett him com by yt as he Can./ wch Answeare this deponent retorned the deft. And more he cannot depose.
7. To the vijth Interr this deponent is not examned at requeste of the defendant./
Thomas fflowers
3. ARBITRATION
a. Referral from the Court of Requests to the French Church, 30 June 1612 [TNA Pro REQ 1/26, fol. 421]
In the matter of varyance brought before the Kinges matie and his highenes Counsaill in his mates ho: Court of Whitehall by Stephen Bellot complainant against Xpofer Mountioy deft, the said complainant by his bill seeking to be releived touching A promise supposed by the said bill to be by him the said deft Mountioy made for the payment vnto the said complainant of the somme of threescore poundes or theareaboutes vpon the day of the said complainantes marriage wth Mary Mountioy daughter of the said deft & now wief of the complt, And for the leaving to the said complainant & Mary his wief the some of CCl more at the tyme of his the said deftes decease, As in & by the said bill of complaynt more at lardge appeareth. Vnto wch bill the said deft appeared & answered, witnesses on both partes were examined and A day of hearing appoynted. Vpon opening whereof It is by his mates said Counsaill of this Court in presence of the said parties and of Counsaill learned on both sydes ordered by and wth the full consent of the saide parties, that the same matter shalbe referred to the hearing ordering & finall determinacion of the Reverend & grave overseers and Elders of the french Church in London aucthorising them hereby to call before them both the saide parties, And vpon consideracion had of the state of the same cause & the circumstances of the same, to heare Order & finally determine the said matter touching the promise as to their discrecions & wisdomes shall seeme convenient, And such order as shalbe herein determined by the said Committees this court will confirme establishe & decree./
b. Entries in the Act-book of the French Church, 1612-14 [Les Actes du Consistoire de l’Eglise Franc¸oise de Londres, 1589-1615; FPC Ms 4]
30 July 1612 [fol. 495]. Cretophle Montioye ayant esté mis en proces par son gendre Etiene Belot, pour q1qe argent de son mariage qe pretendoit luy deuoir vz: 10. li. dont n’ auoit preuve, ne tesmoings. La Court par lettre nous pria de le mettre en Arbitre, ce qui fut fait, dont furent elleus, Abraham Hardret, Gedeon de Laune, pour Monioye: Et Dauid Carperau & Pierre Beauuais pour Belot. tous 2. pere & gendre desbauche’z.
(Christopher Montjoye having been sued by his son-in-law Etienne Belot for a certain marriage portion which he claims is owed to him, viz. £10, for which he has neither proof nor witness, the Court requested us by letter to put the case to arbitration, which was done, for which purpose were elected Abraham Hardret and Gideon de Laune for Monjoye, and David Carperau and Pierre Beauvais for Belot. Both the father and son-in law are debauched.) 13 September 1612 [fol. 498]. Etienne Belot, redemandant le mereau, dont il s’est absteint de long temps a raison de atroverses [?] auec son beau pere, Cretophle Montioye. On veillera sur luy. & la Cene de 10-bre. &-c. (Etienne Belot asking for the sign [i.e. the sacrament] again, from which he has long abstained because of his quarrel [?] with his father-in-law, Cretophle Montioye, we will watch over him at the Communion of October)
6 May 1613 [fol. 501]. Cretophle Montioye, entré, fut censuré de ce ql ne payoit les 20. Nobles a son gendre, ordonné par les Arbitres, plaida pourete’, bien qe luy baillera des dettes, pour les receuoir. Et d’auoir eu 2. bastards. de sa seruante, a quoy il ne respondit pertinamt Aussi Michel Art son Ancien Leuicta de sermt faux en la Court spirituelle ql n’auoit couche’ avec elle. Ne se trouua preuue suffisante. Suspendu. (Cretophle Montjoye, coming before us, was censured for not paying his son-in-law the 20 nobles ordered by the Arbritators; he pleaded poverty, although he will find the money by borrowing it. And [sc he was censured] for having had two bastards by his maidservant, to which makes no pertinent response. Also Michel Art, his elder, convicted him of falsely swearing in the Spiritual Court that he had not slept with her. There was not sufficient proof. Suspended.)
2 September 1613 [fol. 505].d Cristopher Monjoie ha estes appelles 2 fois et ha dict qu’l ne setient point des notres partant de aduiser en plus grande Compaingnie de sa rebellion. (Cristopher Monjoie has been summoned twice, and has said that he does not recognize our authority. We intend to advise the full Company [i.e. congregation?] of his rebellion.)
27 February 1614 [fol. 511]. Cretophle Montioye, ayant souuent esté exhorté, en particulier & Consistoire d’estre pieux, de sa vie desreglée, & desborde’e, & suspendu sans fruict, estant endurci, ayant este’ tiré au Magistrat pour ses paillardises, & adulteres; N’ayant voulu venir au Consistoire y estant appelle’. Ne fréquantant ceste Eglize, suspendu publiquemt pour ces scandalles. Exhortons de prier Dieu pour luy, de luy toucher le coeur, luy donant vraye rescipiscence.
(Cretophile Montjoye, having often been exhorted both in private and in the Consistory to be pious, because of his irregular and outlandish life; and having been suspended without any effect, becoming more hardened; and having been brought before the Magistrate for his lewd acts and adulteries; and having not wished to come to the Consistory when summoned; and not frequenting the church, was publicly suspended for these scandals. Let us pray for him, that God may touch his heart and give him true repentance.)
4. OTHER DOCUMENTS
a. Will of Christopher Mountjoy, 26 January 1620 [Peculiar Court of the Dean & Chapter of St Paul’s, Registrum Testamentorum 1608-33; gl Ms 25626/4, fol. 179]
In the name of God Amen, the Six & twentith day of January Anno Dm secundum computacionem Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1619 [i.e. 1620] ... I Christopher Mountjoy of London, Marchant, beinge sicke & weake in body but of perfect mind & memory (thankes bee given to almightie God therefore) doe make & ordeyne this my last will and Testament in manner & forme followinge (that is to say): ffirst I give & bequeath my soule unto almightie God my maker and Creator, trustinge & assuredly beleivinge yt by the merritte of Jesus Christ my Saviour I have and shall have free & cleire remission of all my sinnes & that after this transitory life ended I sha
ll be pertaker of that heavenly rest wch God hath prepared for his elect. Item I will my body to be Christianlike buried at the discrecon of myne Executrix herein after named. Item my will and minde is that all such Goods & Chattells as God hath bestowed upon mee shall, after my debtes paid & funeralls discharged, bee given & disposed of in manner & forme following (that is to say) Three Third partes of my goods & Chattells (the whole being devided into ffower Third partes) I give & bequeath unto my welbeloved wief Isabell. And one other thirde part of the said ffower Third parts I doe hereby give & bequeath unto my daughter Mary Blott the wief of Stephen Blott. And my will & minde is that all & everie my said goods and Chattells shall, assoone after my decease as conveniently may bee, bee equally devided betweene my said wife & daughter accordinge unto my severall bequests herin before menconed by two indifferent persons to be nominated & elected betweene them. And I doe hereby make & appoint the said Isabell my wief the full & sole Executrix of this my last will & testament. In witness whereof I the said Christopher Mountjoy have to this my last will & testament sett my hande & seale the daie & yeares first above written. Par moy Christopher Mountjoy. Sealed & delivered by the said Christopher Mountjoy & by him published & pronounced in the presence of Raphe Merifeild Ed: Dendye Thomas Seman Robert Walker.