272 Halfehide v Sprigg

272 HALFEHIDE V SPRIGG

Jeremy Halfehide of Ordsall, co. Nottingham, gent v Robert Sprigg of the same, yeoman

June 1639 - Hilary term, 1640

Abstract

Halfhide complained that Sprigg had called him 'a rogue and a base fellow', provoking him to duel. Process was granted on 6 June 1639 and the libel was heard on 12 October 1639. No sentence survives, but Sprigg faced a bill of costs totalling £11-13s-4d.

Initial proceedings

6/119, Petition to Maltravers

'The petitioner is a gentleman by blood and armes, and that within three months last past, one Robert Sprigg of Orteshall, yeoman, did much abuse and vilifie the petitioner with words. and Sprigg said that the petitioner was a rogue and a base fellowe, with many other opprobrious speeches, thereby provokinge the petitioner to enter duell with him, the petitioner giving him noe provocation thereunto.'

Petitioned that Sprigg be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 6 June 1639.

6/120, Plaintiff's bond

25 June 1639

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

Signed by John Pickering of St Michael's, Bassishaw, London, gent, on behalf of Halfehide.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of Humphrey Terrick.

2/148, Defendant's bond

12 [month left out] 1639

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

Signed by Robert Sprigg [his mark].

Sealed, subscribed and delivered in the presence of John Rainshaw and John Watson.

17/5j, Libel

2. Between February and May 1639, Sprigg said: 'That I was a base rogue and a base fellow'.

No date but filed under 12 October 1639.

Signed by Clere Talbot.

Sentence / Arbitration

15/3g, Defendant's bill of costs

Michaelmas term, 1639: £3-13s-4d

Hilary term, 1639: £8-0s-0d

Total: £11-13s-4d

Taxed at £5.

Signed by Just. Lewin and Maltravers.

Notes

Neither party appears in the Visitations of Nottingham of 1614 or 1662-4: G. W. Marshall (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Nottingham in the years 1569 and 1614 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 4, 1876); G. D. Squibb (ed.), The Visitation of Nottinghamshire begun in 1662 and finished in 1664 (Publications of the Harleian Society, new series, 5, 1986).

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition to Maltravers: 6/119 (6 Jun 1639)
  • Plaintiff's bond: 6/120 (25 Jun 1639)
  • Defendant's bond: 2/148 (1639)
  • Libel: 17/5j (12 Oct 1639)
• Sentence / Arbitration
  • Defendant's bill of costs: 15/3g (Hil 1639/40)

People mentioned in the case

• Halfehide, Jeremy, gent
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Lewin, William lawyer
• Pickering, John
• Rainshaw, John
• Sprigg, Robert, yeoman
• Talbot, Clere, lawyer
• Terrick, Humphrey
• Watson, John

Places mentioned in the case

• Middlesex
  • Westminster
• Nottingham
  • Ordsall
• London
  • St Michael's, Bassishaw

Topics of the case

• denial of gentility
• provocative of a duel