127 Cooper v Billops

The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640.

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Citation:

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, '127 Cooper v Billops', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640, ed. Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/127-cooper-billops [accessed 31 October 2024].

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, '127 Cooper v Billops', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640. Edited by Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online, accessed October 31, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/127-cooper-billops.

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper. "127 Cooper v Billops". The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640. Ed. Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online. Web. 31 October 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/127-cooper-billops.

In this section

127 COOPER V BILLOPS

Christopher Cooper of Beverley, co. York, gent v Christopher Billops and his son Robert Billops of the same

November 1639 - January 1640

Abstract

Cooper, a lieutenant in Lord Strange's regiment in the royal army during the First Bishops' War, accused Christopher and Robert Billops of scandalizing him in his absence. Cooper claimed Christopher Billops had said that he 'had better kindred and better bloud in his veynes' than Cooper, 'or any of his kindred', and that he was a better gentleman than Cooper and that 'he could buy a coate of armes for 40s or five markes', adding that Robert Billops had called him 'a base, cowardly fellow'. Process was granted on 1 November 1639, but Cooper and Christopher Billops then agreed a settlement, brokered by their neighbours in Beverley, on 28 January 1640.

Initial proceedings

2/147, Petition to Arundel

'One Christopher Billops of Beverley hath exceedingly vilified your petitioner with scandalous language, being a Lieftenant under the Regiment of the Lord Strange in the late expedicon for Scotland, as by his commission under your lordship's hand and seale may appeare; and particularly that Billops had better kindred and better bloud in his veynes then your petitioner or any of his kindred; and at another time said that he was a better gent then your petitioner, and that he could buy a coate of armes for 40s or five markes.

That likewise Robert Billops, sonne of Christopher, did in the absence of your lordship's petitioner (being in his Majestie's service as aforesaid), before divers sufficient witnesses, publish that your petitioner was a base cowardly fellow, and divulged divers other disgracefull speeches to the great disparagement of your lordship's petitioner.'

Petitioned that Christopher and Robert Billops be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 1 November 1639.

Sentence / Arbitration

11/9, Certificate of arbitration

'Whereas there was a complaint made in the Court of Armour by me Christopher Cooper of Beverley against Christopher Billop of the same towne, for having referred the decision of the business betwixt us to our good neighbours, by mutuall consent chosen, who have proposed such conditions of peace to us as we both yeeld and agree to. In testimony whereof we have both subscribed Januar 28 1639/40.'

Signed by Christopher Billops and Christopher Cooper.

Notes

For another account of the case, see G. D. Squibb, Reports of Heraldic Cases in the Court of Chivalry, 1623-1732 (London, 1956), p. 42

Although there is no evidence that this case was related to the politics of the war, there was considerable anti-war sentiment in Yorkshire as the civilian population suffered increased taxation, impressments and billeting. There were even a number of cases where officers in the royal army during the Bishops' Wars were assaulted or abused by their own men. Although Cooper and Billops settled the cause by arbitration, Robert Billops was commissioned as captain by Sir John Hotham in the parliamentarian garrison of Hull from June 1642. He was later granted the estates of William Langdale, a sequestered recusant, where Billops rack-rented the tenants, who soon complained that 'they are in as hard bondage under his burden as ye Children of Israell were under ye hands of pharoe'.

M. C. Fissel, The Bishops' Wars (Cambridge, 1994), pp. 243, 292; D. Scott, ' "Hannibal at our Gates": Loyalists and Fifth-columnists during the Bishops' Wars- the Case of Yorkshire', Historical Research , 70 (1997), pp. 271, 292; The National Archive, State Papers 138/4; 23/99/299-319.

Documents

  • Initial proceedings
    • Petition to Arundel: 2/147 (1 Nov 1639)
  • Sentence / Arbitration
    • Certificate of arbitration: 11/9 (28 Jan 1640)

People mentioned in the case

  • Billops, Christopher
  • Billops, Robert
  • Cooper, Christopher, gent
  • Hotham, John, baronet
  • Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
  • Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
  • Langdale, William
  • Stanley, James, baron Strange

Places mentioned in the case

  • Yorkshire, East Riding
    • Beverley

Topics of the case

  • allegation of cowardice
  • arbitration
  • Bishops' Wars
  • coat of arms
  • comparison
  • denial of gentility
  • military officer
  • Roman Catholic
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