STAC 5/T25/2
STAC 5/T25/2 - B A - 35 Eliz - Yorkshire WR - John Taylor v William Copley, Richard Copley, William Leak, Thomas North, Elizabeth Pearson, Alice Storres, Elizabeth Sweetinge
Transcribed by Helen Good
To the Queens most excellent majesty
Complaining sheweth unto your majesty’s faithful and obedient subject John Tayler of Wisto [Wistow] within your majesty’s county of York
That whereas heretofore your highness said subject brought an action upon his case against William Copley of Dancaster gentleman for most malicious slanderous false and untrue speeches uttered and spoken by the said William Copley against your highness said subject not being decent to be remembered in this honourable court if your said subject were not constrained and forced thereunto, and yet for which for the most part your majesty’s said subject must needs for his duty to your majesty and this court conceal and refer himself to the declaration in the said action In which words the said William Copley as more fully and odiously may appear by the said declaration affirmed that your majesty’s said subject was burned by one Elizabeth Levett bring the wife of Richard Levett of Dancaster whom the said William Copley termed maliciously and untruly a whore And further alleged that your majesty’s said subject had the pockes [pox] meaning the French pockes and was laid in them And the said William Copley most maliciously and untruly justified the speaking also other words in the same action which he affirmed he heard upon the report of your said subject his son being more slanderous than the former speeches and for which your majesty’s said subject refereth himself wholly to the plea of the said William Copley remaining of record in your highness bench and will not hear [ ] the same being unfit any way to be spoken of in this honourable court and the said William Copley traversed and denied the speaking of the words in the said declaration of your majesty’s said subject set down and containing the two slanders in effect and substance mentioned before in this bill in terms and manner of speaking were more shameful and reproachful than your said subject dare be bold or presume here to set down but for the same refereth himself to the said declaration against the said William Copley
Whereupon your majesty’s said subject and the said William Copley in the same suit came to a perfect issue And the matter was tried by writ of Nisi Prius before your majesty’s justices of assize in summer last at your majesty’s city of York where your majesty’s said subject produced divers and sufficient witnesses to prove that the said William Copley spoke the said false slanderous and reproachful words tending to the discredit of your majesty’s said subject which were so false and shameful as the said William Copley himself neither could durst nor would justify knowing that he could never prove the same or give any colour of the verity and truth thereof
Yet not withstanding the said William Copley most maliciously and devilishly suborned hired and produced one William Leak at the said assizes when Mr Justice Clench had willed the jury to go together after they had heard full proof for your said subject to prove the said William Copley guilty to come into the court there before your majesty’s said justices of assizes and the jury at bar impaneled to try the said issue and caused and procured one of the Counsel of the said William Copley to move the court that the said Leake might be deposed and examined and heard And when the said Mr Clenche demanded of the Counsel of the said William Copley to what purpose, yet the said counsel modestly and discreetly knowing that the said Copley truly upon malice against your said subject and not for any matter produced the said Leake told the said Mr Justice Clench he knew not for what end the same was but that his client meaning the said Copley desired it and might be satisfied whereunto the said Mr Justice Clench did grant that said William Leake should take his corporal oath before god to testify the truth and so caused him to be sworn and after examined him upon his oath what he could say touching the matter in question which said William Leake so being sworn and being produced [hudd] and suborned by the said Copley to to testify an untruth not having the fear of God before his eyes [nor having regard of conscience or religion] [ ] and naughty person and an [ostler ?] then and there most falsely slanderously corruptly wickedly wilfully and voluntarily deposed and said that he and one Thomas North came into chamber or parlour of the house of one Mr Mapples of Dancaster who was an innholder and found your said subject and said Elizabeth Levett in bed together In which said deposition the said William Leak by by the procurement and subornation of the said Copley committed most wicked wilful voluntary and corrupt perjury and is perjured and forsworn for your majesty’s said subject saith That he never was in bed with the said Elizabeth Levett in the said parlour chamber neither did ever the said Leake or North find him so there or in any other place as God shall save his soul and as he is a Christian by reason of which said deposition your highness said subject sustained no small loss and damage as well for that the said Leake was brought into the court in very good apparel so as many of the jury thought and were induced to think that he was an honest man and one that feared God and testified the truth and thereupon gave less damages to your said subject in the said action where he the said Leake was and is a very lewd and naughty fellow and of no value or worth and neither hath the fear of God before his eyes or any regard of honesty as by his said deposition may appear as also for that it is not a thing unknown that the malice of many is such that where a false rumour is once raised be it never so false or slanderous yet many will give credit to the report and speak of it to the discredit of any be he never so free or clear of the least spark of suspicion
And your highness said subject further saith that Richard Copley gentleman Thomas Northe Elizabeth Pearson Alice Storres and Elizabeth Sweetninge of Dancaster aforesaid did not only in the said suit maintain the said William Copley against your said subject But also being moved with great yet causeless hatred and malice against your Majesty said subject not only procured and got the said William Leak to the said assizes to testify against your said subject But also after the said assizes knowing the said Leak his disposition to be most false have given out in speeches that the same was very true and that he had done very well and continually seek to deprave the credit good name and fame of your highness said subject for which said subornation perjury malice and used means aforesaid have not been only hurtful to your said subject but are very offensive and dangerous and give great encouragement to your to your majesty’s subjects to commit the like if severly they should not be punished in this honourable court
May it therefore please your highness to grant onto your said subject your majesty’s most gracious writ of subpoena to be directed to the said William Copley Richard Copley William Leak Thomas North Elizabeth Pearson Alice Storres and Elizabeth Sweetinge commanding them and every of them thereby at a certain day and under a certain pain therein by your Majesty to be limited to be and personally appear before your highness and your majesty’s most honourable council in your highness court of Star Chamber then and there to answer the premises and further to stand to and abide such further order and direction touching the same as to your majesty and the same Court shall seem to stand with equity and good conscience
And your said subject shall according to his bounden duty pray unto god for the prosperous estate and long continuance of your Majesty long to reign over us
[Signed] H Tophane
