508 Pearse v Steward

508 PEARSE V STEWARD

Vincent Pearse of Wangford, co. Suffolk, D.D. v William Steward of Lakenheath, co. Norfolk, gent

December 1637

Abstract

Pearse complained that Steward had given him the lie in the presence of several gentlemen, and had said 'a turd in thy teeth'. Pearse entered bond to prosecute Steward on 4 December 1637, but no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

3/34, Petition to Arundel

'The petitioner being a gent of armes and antient descent was in July last before divers gentlemen much abused by many evill and base words given him by William Steward of Lakenheath in the countie of Norfolk, gent. Mr Steward amongst other base speeches in a very opprobrious manner giving the petitioner the lye, and farther saying a turd in thy teeth a turd in thy teeth and pick it out, without any provocation.'

Petitioned that Steward be brought to answer.

Signed Thomas Eden.

Duck desired Dethick to grant process.

Signed by Arthur Duck, 4 December 1637.

3/33, Plaintiff's bond

4 December 1637

Bound to appear 'in the Court in the painted Chamber within the Pallace of Westminster'.

Signed by Vincent Pearse.

Sealed, subscribed and delivered in the presence of Humphrey Terrick.

Notes

Pearse did not appear in the 1664-8 Visitation of Suffolk: W. H. Rylands (ed.), The Visitation of Suffolk, 1664-1668 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 61, 1910).

On 17 March 1634 Vincent Pearse was presented to the rectory of Withersfield, co. Suffolk. On 17 June 1636 he was granted dispensation to hold the rectory of Withersfield with that of Wangford. On 1 September 1633 Pearse and his wife Katherine were licensed to alienate land in Camberwell, co. Surrey to Sir Edmund Bowyer.

J. Broadway, R. Cust and S. K. Roberts (eds.), A Calendar of the Docquets of Lord Keeper Coventry, 1625-1640 (List and Index Society, special series, 34 and 36, 2004), part 1, pp. 110, 154; part 3, p. 642.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition to Arundel: 3/34 (4 Dec 1637)
  • Plaintiff's bond: 3/33 (4 Dec 1637)

People mentioned in the case

• Bowyer, Edmund, knight
• Dethick, Gilbert, registrar
• Duck, Arthur, lawyer
• Eden, Thomas, lawyer
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Pearse, Katherine
• Pearse, Vincent, D.D. (also Pearce, Peirce)
• Steward, William, gent
• Terrick, Humphrey

Places mentioned in the case

• Middlesex
  • Westminster
• Norfolk
  • Lakenheath
• Suffolk
  • Wangford
  • Withersfield
• Surrey
  • Camberwell

Topics of the case

• giving the lie
• insult before gentlemen
• scatological insult