157 Denny v Gray

157 DENNY V GRAY

John Denny of Howe, co. Norfolk, esq v Henry Gray, gent

Before May 1637

Abstract

Denny complained that Gray had given him the lie and called him 'base fellowe, adding many grose and ignominious wordes and phrases, not decent for your petitioner, or any other of his sorte to endure, were it not in obedience of his Majestie's Edicte' for prevention of duels. No further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

EM285, Petition

'Sheweth, that whereas all words uttered to disgrace and vilify a gent in his reputacon are provocations to revenge, and by vertue of his Majestie's Edicte to receave punishment and satisfaccon from the offender for prevention of the duell.

One Henrie Graye, gent., knowing your petitioner to be a gent in his cuntrie of name and bloud, and every waye unblemisht, did without any just provocation, falsely and reproachfully not only give your peticoner the lye, but did alsoe tearme him a base fellowe, adding many grose and ignominious wordes and phrases, not decent for your petitioner, or any other of his sorte, to endure, were it not in obedience of his Majestie's Edicte.'

Petitioned that Gray be brought to answer.

No date.

No signatures.

Notes

John Denny of Howe, co. Norfolk (d.1637) was the son of Anthony Denny of Howe, co. Norfolk. He matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge in 1617 and was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1618. He married Anne, daughter of Robert Wright alias Reeve of co. Suffolk. He died in May 1637 and was buried at St Giles Cripplegate, London.

W. Rye (ed.), The Visitations of Norfolk, 1563 and 1613 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 32, 1891), p. 101; J. and J. A. Venn (eds.), Alumni Cantabrigienses from the earliest times to 1751 (Cambridge, 1922), vol. 2, p. 33.

Denny's reference to 'his Majestie's Edicte...for prevention of the duell' looked back to James's Edict of 1613-14 which accompanied his proclamation 'against private challenges and combats' of 4 February 1613-14.

J. F. Larkin and P.L. Hughes (eds.), Stuart Royal Proclamations. vol. I. James I, 1603-25 (Oxford, 1973), pp. 302-8.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition: EM285 (no date)

People mentioned in the case

• Denny, John, esq
• Gray, Henry, gent
• Stuart, James I, king
• Wright alias Reeve, Anne
• Wright alias Reeve, Robert

Places mentioned in the case

• Cambridgeshire
  • Christ's College
  • University of Cambridge
• London
  • Gray's Inn
  • St Giles Cripplegate
• Norfolk
  • Howe

Topics of the case

• denial of gentility
• giving the lie
• inns of court