432 Molins v Waters

432 MOLINS V WATERS

William Molins of St Andrew's, Holborn, co. Middlesex, gent v John Waters of the same

January 1636

Abstract

Molins complained that on 1 October 1635 Waters came to his house in St Andrew's, Holborn, and in his absence defamed him, saying 'he was no gent, that he never had the breeding of a gent, but was a base condicioned man and came from a dunghill'. Waters was required to attend the court on 30 January 1636, but no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

7/87, Petition to Arundel

'Your petitioner being descended of the ancient family of the Molins of Westhall in the countie of Dorset, and having bene trained up both in the universitie and Inns of Court, and lived as a housekeeper above 16 yeares in the parish of St Andrews Holborne, in a civill and peaceable way... one John Waters one of the scavengers of the same parish, a person of meane birth and condition, having conceaved some causeless displeasure against your petitioner and in revenge thereof resolving to offer unto him some publique affront and disgrace, did upon the first day of October last past come to your petitioner's dwelling house in St Andrews, and in the absence of your petitioner and in the presence and hearing of many of your petitioner's neighbours and others did in most railing manner utter these scandalous words against your petitioner, viz. That he was no gent., that he never had the breeding of a gent., but was a base condicioned man and came from a dunghill, with many other fowle and ignominious words. And then also threatned your petitioner to lay him safe enough, or to that effect.

For which scandalous and most undeserved language your petitioner humbly prayes that your lordship of your wonted nobleness wilbe pleased to call John Waters before your honour and to take such course for reparation of your petitioner as your lordship in your great wisedom shall think fitt.

And according and c.'

No date.

7/91, Warrant

January 1635/6

Warrant in Latin for John Waters of St Andrew's Holborn to attend the court in the Palace of Westminster on 30 January next. Blank space left in manuscript to insert the day of January to date the document.

Notes

The Dorset Visitation of 1677 mentioned an Edward Molins, perhaps a relative to William.

G. D. Squibb (ed.), The Visitation of Dorset, 1677 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 117, 1977), p. 12.

John Waters of London, merchant, was mentioned in the London Visitation of 1634.

J. J. Howard (ed.), The Visitation of London, 1633, 1634 and 1635, vol. II (Publications of the Harleian Society, 17, 1883), p. 329.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition to Arundel: 7/87 (no date)
  • Warrant: 7/91 (30 Jan 1636)

People mentioned in the case

• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Molins, Edward
• Molins, William, gent
• Waters, John

Places mentioned in the case

• Dorset
  • Westhall
• Middlesex
  • St Andrew's, Holborn
  • Westminster

Topics of the case

• denial of gentility
• inns of court
• scatological insult