The said Robert Whitby confesseth and saith that the said Richard Hartley divers and sundry times and days before the seventh day of June mentioned… coming into the court of Exchequer at Chester in disordered fashion and much distemper with drink, did (amongst divers other misdemeanours committed in the said court) publicly piss in the said court on or near the table of the same court and upon the seventh day of June the same Richard Hartley did use divers uncivil speeches, and words of disgrace and much provocation to this effect, and (amongst other things) he… did publicly in the said court of Exchequer (sitting in the said court) call the said defendant an old doting fool and said he would go mad shortly, and then and there told the said defendant publicly, that he had been thrust out of the said court for misdemeanours, and that he would curse him to be thrust out again, and did in very scornful and disgraceful manner hold out and offer a pipe unto this defendant… And upon the rude behaviour of the said Richard Hartley the plaintiff… towards the defendant, this defendant did say the time and place arlate that he thought the said Hartley was drunk, or else he would not carry him to ill in the said court nor offer such wrong unto him this defendant… Also this defendant denieth that he called Richard Hartley a beggar or usurer.
Depositions & Examinations
EDC 5/1621/3 (unfol.) Hartley c Whitby
CRO
Defamation
1621
1621
St John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire, England
Plaintiff
Richard Hartley
male
Defendant
Robert Whitby
male
Event
Richard Hartley disgraces himself in the Court of Exchequer
7 June 1621
St John the Baptist, Chester, Cheshire, England
Components
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Urination
Swearing and cursing
Verbal abuse
Tobacco consumption
Legal proceedings
Alcohol | Unspecified
Setting
Town/village hall > Court
Location of Event
Statement
1621
Robert Whitby