708 Whorwood v Longmore

708 WHORWOOD V LONGMORE

John Whorwood of Stourton Castle, co Stafford, esq v Thomas Longmore of Kinver, co. Stafford, yeoman

June - November 1637

Abstract

Whorwood, a Staffordshire justice of the peace, complained that Longmore had called him a 'base gent and a jack'. Process was granted on 24 June 1637 and Whorwood entered bond in July. On 14 October 1637 Longmore petitioned that Whorwood had failed to prosecute and by the end of the month the case had been dismissed, with Whorwood ordered to pay 30 shillings expenses. [For another case against Longmore brought at the same time by William Vincent, gent., which was also dismissed, see cause 664].

Initial proceedings

15/1b, Citation

Longmore to appear at the suit of Whorwood for scandalous words provocative of a duel.

Dated: 4 June 1637

By special direction of Gilbert Dethick, registrar.

Introduced before 14 October 1637.

3/153, Petition to Arundel and Maltravers

Whorwood was 'one of his Majestie's justices of peace for the countie of Staff.'.

'Thomas Longmore of the parish of Enveild in the countie of Staff. hath much abused the petitioner in calling him base gent. and a jack.'

Petitioned that Longmore be bought to answer.

Maltravers granted process, 24 June 1637.

3/154, Plaintiff's bond

4 July 1637

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

Signed by Thomas Richards of Walsall, co. Stafford, gent, on behalf of Whorwood.

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

Summary of proceedings

Dr Lewin acted as counsel for Whorwood and Dr Duck for Longmore.On 14 October 1637 Thomas Longmore attended in person and petitioned that Whorewood had not duly prosecuted the cause. Longmore gave oath that he had been summoned by the order of the court. Dr Lewin referred to the bailiffs of Wolverhampton. On 31 October the cause was dismissed and the court moved to hearing the plea concerning expenses. Sir Henry Marten taxed the cause at 30s. On 15 November Dr Lewin porrected a schedule on behalf of Whorewood for 30s which Whorewood was warned to pay.

Notes

A John Whorwood (b. c. 1565) was the son of Thomas Whorwood of Crompton, co. Stafford, and Magdalene, daughter of Rowland Edwards of London. John Whorwood, esq, was appointed to the Staffordshire commission of the peace in July 1634.

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), p. 243; J. Broadway, R. Cust and S. K. Roberts (eds.), A Calendar of the Docquets of Lord Keeper Coventry, 1625-40 (List and Index Society, special series, 34, 2004), part 1, p. 70.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Citation: 15/1b (4 Jun 1637)
  • Petition to Arundel and Maltravers: 3/153 (24 Jun 1637)
  • Plaintiff's bond: 3/154 (4 Jul 1637)
• Proceedings
  • Proceedings before Arundel: 8/26 (14 Oct 1637)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: 8/27 (14 Oct 1637)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: 8/28 (31 Oct 1637)
  • Proceedings before Marten: 7/20 (15 Nov 1637)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: 8/29 (18 Nov 1637)

People mentioned in the case

• Dethick, Gilbert, registrar
• Duck, Arthur, lawyer
• Edwards, Magdalene
• Edwards, Rowland
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Lewin, William, lawyer
• Longmore, Thomas, yeoman
• Marten, Henry, knight
• Richards, Thomas, gent
• Vincent, William, gent
• Watson, John
• Whorwood, Magdalene (also Horwood)
• Whorwood, Thomas (also Horwood)
• Whorwood, John, esq (also Horwood)

Places mentioned in the case

• Middlesex
  • Westminster
• Staffordshire
  • Crompton
  • Enville
  • Kinver
  • Stourton Castle
  • Walsall
  • Wolverhampton

Topics of the case

• defendant victory
• denial of gentility
• justice of the peace