461 Newman v Freeman

461 NEWMAN V FREEMAN

Edward Newman of Gray's Inn, co. Middlesex, gent v Thomas Freeman of Great Barr, co. Stafford

No date

Abstract

Newman complained that Freeman had challenged him to a duel and given him the lie over twenty times, saying, 'I am a better man then thou art, and am better borne then thou art. Thou owest more then thou art worth. Thou art no gentleman'. The petition is undated and no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

7/92, Petition to Arundel

'Your petitioner being a gent of ancient descent hath bene lately provoked, affronted and disgraced by one Thomas Freeman of Great Barre, in the county of Stafford, who not content to give your petitioner the lye above twenty tymes, reviled and debased your petitioner with most injurious language, saying to him, I am a better man then thou art, and am better borne then thou art. Thou owest more then thou art worth. Thou art no gentleman; and withal challenged your petitioner the field.'

He prayed that his cause might be dealt with in the court military.

No date.

Notes

Edward Newman of Staple Inn, gent, son of Thomas Newman, formerly of Handsworth, co. Stafford, gent, was admitted to Gray's Inn on 11 June 1611.

J. Foster (ed.), The Register of Admissions to Gray's Inn, 1521-1889 (London, 1889), vol. 1, p. 126.

Freeman did not appear in Dugdale's Visitation of Staffordshire: G. J. Armytage and W. H. Rylands (eds.), Staffordshire Pedigrees based on the Visitation of that County made by William Dugdale, 1663-4 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 63, 1912).

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition to Arundel: 7/92 (no date)

People mentioned in the case

• Freeman, Thomas
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Newman, Edward, gent
• Newman, Thomas, gent

Places mentioned in the case

• London
  • Staple Inn
• Middlesex
  • Gray's Inn
• Staffordshire
  • Great Barr
  • Handsworth

Topics of the case

• challenge to a duel
• comparison
• denial of gentility
• giving the lie
• inns of court