About St James' day in the year 1702, you (the aforesaid) John Cooke coming to Henry Crook's house of New-Church did see Isabel, wife of the said Henry carrying hay into their barn, and under pretence of assisting her in carrying the same did follow her into the barn and did then and there endeavour to persuade her to commit the detestable sin of adultery with you, at which she the said Isabel (being then big with child) was very angry, and made due resentments of this your wicked design and attempt, whereupon you did violently take up her clothes and discover her nakedness and by force took her by the privates, and (your breeches being down) endeavoured to have carnal knowledge of her body but upon the loud cries and shrieks you being fearful that some persons would soon come to her relief, did not complete your wicked design... You the said John Cooke have and still do sell ale or strong drink and that in some or more of the months or years pre-articulate you have been an immoderate drinker of strong drink and have suffered and encouraged persons to drink in your house even to excess at unseasonable times, and upon several Lord's days in time of divine service, more particularly upon Sunday the 16th of July last past you the said John, with Thomas Ellis your curate and many other persons, did sit drinking and tippling in your house to that excess, that at length there was quarrelling and fighting among you in such a manner that it affrighted and raised the neighbourhood thereby profaning the Lord's day to the great danger of your own souls and evil example of others.
Depositions & Examinations
EDC 5/1703/11 (unfol.) Office c Cook
CRO
Immorality
1702
1704
Newchurch, Lancashire, England
Plaintiff
Office [Not specified]
[Not specified]
Defendant
John Cook
male
Parish clerk
Alcohol Retailer: Alehouse-keeper (Inferred)
Event
Profaning the Sabbath by serving excess alcohol and provoking quarrels
Sun 16 July 1704 ('Sunday the 16th of July last')
John Cook, Whalley, Newchurch-in-Pendle, Lancashire, England
Components
Profaning the Sabbath
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Unlicensed alehouse-keeping
Inferred
Fights and violence
Arguments
Company and drinking groups
Dereliction of professional duty
Inferred
Alcohol | Spirits
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Statement
circa October 1704
Office [Not specified]