528 Pomeroy v Furseman

528 POMEROY V FURSEMAN

Hugh Pomeroy of Tregony, co. Cornwall, esq v George Furseman of London, gent

May 1636 - January 1637

Abstract

Pomeroy, a sergeant major of foot in the regiment of Colonel Charles Trevanion, complained that Furseman, a London tailor, gave him the lie in the presence of his colonel, calling him 'base fellowe, base villaine and roague', and saying, 'Thou darest not fight with me.' The libel was given in May 1636 and in June a commission headed by Bernard Tanner, gent., was appointed to examine Pomeroy's witnesses 7-9 August at the Hare and Hounds Inn, at Tregony, Cornwall. In November 1636 Dr Eden was due to respond to the libel. Furseman had begun a counter suit in May 1636, but no indication of sentence survives in either case [see cause 232].

Initial proceedings

3/10, Petition to Maltravers

'The petitioner beinge captayne of a company of foote on the countie of Cornwall and serjeant major of the regiment of Charles Trebannon, esquire, collonell, hath bine insufferably abused by one George Fursman of London, tayler, in the presence and hearing of his collenell and others, Fursman calling him Base fellowe, base villaine and roague, and sayinge to him, Thou liest baselie. Thou darest not fight with me.'

Petitioned that Fursman be brought to answer.

Summary of proceedings

Dr Duck acted as counsel for Pomeroy and Dr Eden for Furseman. In proceedings before the earl of Arundel in May 1636 Furseman was required to appear, the libel was given, and Furseman entered a bond of £100 to the king. In June 1636 the commissioners Bernard Tanner, John Vivian, John Cooke, and John Tremaine, gents, and also Henry Locket, Professor of Theology, Thomas Burrell, gent, and John Tredinham, gent, were appointed to examine Pomeroy's witnesses from 7 to 9 August 1636 at the Hare and Hounds Inn, at Tregony, co. Cornwall. On 8 November 1636 Dr Eden had to respond to the libel and admitted that Pomeroy was a sergeant major and captain. On 28 January 1637 Pomeroy was required to prove the libel and send to the commissioners.

Notes

Hugh Pomeroy (b. c.1602) was the son and heir of Henry Pomeroy of Tregony, co. Cornwall, and Elizabeth, daughter of John Bonythan of Kewry. Hugh Pomeroy was a sergeant major of foot in the regiment of Colonel Charles Trevanion. Pomeroy was knighted and a royalist in arms during the civil wars, while Trevanion became a leading royalist regimental commander.

J. L. Vivian and H. H. Drake (eds.), The Visitation of Cornwall in the year 1620 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 9, 1874), p. 177; P.R. Newman, Royalist officers in England and Wales, 1642-1660: A biographical dictionary (London, 1981), p. 300; M. Stoyle, West Britons: Cornish Identities and the Early Modern British State (Exeter, 2002), p. 126.

George Furseman did not appear among the 1633-5 nor 1664 Visitations of London.

J. Jackson Howard and J. L. Chester (eds.), The Visitation of London, 1633, 1634 and, 1635, vol. I (Publications of the Harleian Society, 15, 1880); J. Jackson Howard (ed.), The Visitation of London, 1633, 1634 and, 1635, vol. II (Publications of the Harleian Society, 17, 1883); J. B. Whitmore and A. W. Hughes Clarke (eds.), London Visitation Pedigrees, 1664 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 92, 1940).

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition: 3/10 (no date)
• Proceedings
  • Proceedings before Arundel: College of Arms MS. 'Court of Chivalry' (act book, 1636-8) [pressmark R.R. 68C] (hereafter 68C), fos. 89r-100r (May 1636)
  • Proceedings before Sir Henry Marten: 68C, fos. 84r-88v (9 May 1636)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: 68C, fos. 112r-121v(Jun 1636)
  • Proceedings: 68C, fos. 105r-110v (8 Nov 1636)
  • Proceedings before Arundel: 68C, fos. 51r-59r (28 Jan 1637)

People mentioned in the case

• Bonythan, Elizabeth (also Bonython)
• Bonythan, John (also Bonython)
• Burrell, Thomas, gent
• Cooke, John, gent
• Duck, Arthur, lawyer
• Eden, Thomas, lawyer
• Furseman, George, tailor
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Locket, Henry, Professor of Theology
• Marten, Henry, knight
• Pomeroy, Elizabeth
• Pomeroy, Henry
• Pomeroy, Hugh, esq
• Stuart, Charles I, king
• Tanner, Bernard, gent
• Tredinham, John, gent
• Tremaine, John, gent
• Trevanion, Charles, esq (also Trevannyon)
• Vivian, John, gent

Places mentioned in the case

• Cornwall
  • Tregony
  • Kewry

Topics of the case

• allegation of cowardice
• civil war
• denial of gentility
• giving the lie
• insult before gentlemen
• military officer
• royalist