That thou art negligent in repairing to the parish church of Ashton aforesaid to hear divine service… That when thou dost come to the said church to hear divine service thou doest bestow thyself in most unreverent and undecent sort sitting with thy hat and playing with a stick or such like unseemly and ungodly sort at the time as well of prayers and reading of the Gospel and of the scriptures… That thou art suspected of adultery with diverse women… That thou art a common haunter of alehouses and there in thy ale talk upon thy neighbours… That thou the said John Davies hath abused… Thomas Richardson being thy pastor and the above said John Gee being an honest neighbour and vizt did calling and terming them shitters and shitting lewd fellows and calling the said Mr Richardson dunce and ass a man of no credit or estimation with many other like words.
Depositions & Examinations
EDC 5/1590/16 (unfol.) Richardson c Davies
CRO
Immorality
1590
1590
Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, England
Plaintiff
Thomas Richardson
male
Rector of Ashton upon Mersey
Church of England clergyman
Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, England
Defendant
John Davies
male
Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, England
Event
A drunk and disorderly parishioner
1590
Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, England
Components
Abuse of clergy
Haunting, frequenting, and habitual drinking
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Gossip and slander
Swearing and cursing
Alcohol | Ale
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Statement
1590
John Davies