That you the said John Holden hath been for these three last years much given to bad and drunken company keeping, and have been associated with drunken company at alehouses, and have continued several times, several nights, days, and hours drinking strong beer and ale and taking tobacco with them in the same till you have been overseen to your great discredit and evil example of others… That you have within the time aforesaid publicly said that you would excuse yourself to be admitted into holy orders and would serve the Cure at Haslingden and thereupon took liberty to preach or to publicise god's holy word in an alehouse in Haslingden one Goody Jackson's house to the scandal of God's word and the Profession of a Minister… That you the said John Holden were drunk at Blackburn the first Wednesday in August last, and on the day after St Bartholomew's last in Haslingden, and the week after at Leigh, and you offered a book to pledge for… to one Robert Gregory to bring more ale.
Depositions & Examinations
EDC 5/1640/24 (unfol.) Holden c Holden
CRO
Immorality
1640
1640
Haslingden, England
Plaintiff
Robert Holden
male
Defendant
John Holden
male
Curate of Haslingden
Church of England clergyman
Haslingden, Lancashire, England
Event
The curate's habitual consumption of ale, beer, and tobacco
1637
1640
Haslingden, Cheshire, England
Components
Clerical misconduct
Haunting, frequenting, and habitual drinking
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Tobacco consumption
Company and drinking groups
Alcohol | Beer
Setting
Alehouse
Event
The curate preaches a sermon in an alehouse
1640
Haslingden, Cheshire, England
Components
Clerical misconduct
Dereliction of professional duty
Sacrilege
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Event
The curate haunts several alehouses and pawns a book for ale
August 1640 (The first Wednesday in August last)
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Components
Clerical misconduct
Haunting, frequenting, and habitual drinking
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Commercial hospitality
Payment and bills
Alcohol | Ale
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Statement
1640
Robert Holden