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I've just come across a batch of court cases on the National Archives site dating from the late 16th and early 17th century (mostly libel cases), and some of the titles make fascinating reading. I hope I won't be modded if I post a few of them.
Some things are totally outside our experience, but many things clearly haven't changed at all.
12. BOWDEN Ellen Booth c Ann Venables wife of William Venables for calling her whore, arrant whore, wedded mans whore and William Colsolls whore who paid her 8/- - libel.
13. HALSALL Gilbert Halsall c Thomas Halsall executor of Cuthbert Halsall late rector c Edward Hulme for four years arrears of dues for flax and canabis - libel.
17. MALPAS John Kerison of Bradley son of William Kerison c Margaret John alias Kerison for nullity. He was aged 10 at the time of his marriage and so was she - decree
6. SHOTWICK Laurence Swettenham c John & Margery Carter saying he kept a whore in every town - libel.
18. CHESTER (St Bridget) Penance for Bathsheba Halton falsely accusing John Longford of adultery to get him to marry her. He was a lodger.
24. PRESTBURY (Adlington) Thomas Coughen c Thomas Lawton preacher of God's word for adultery with Mary Beech, tussling with her in a chair and for bastardy - libel, deposition.
25. PRESTBURY (Adlington) Thomas Lawton c John & Matilda Blackshaw saying he committed adultery with Beech in a chair and a barn at Adlington Hall - libel, deposition, responsions.
39. RUNCORN Elizabeth Jackson c Humphrey Johnson for divorce on grounds of frigidity, impotence, inability to copulate - libel, depositions, responsions, interrogations.
47. POULTON Anne Crane and others c Margery Taylor and others saying Ann should go to the mill and get her poake ground meaning the miller had her up against the hopper - libel, responsions, depositions.
54. HOLT Office c Richard Nowell chapelwarden for playing bowls dice cards at Evening prayer time, committing adultery with Catherine Millington and taking communion table from church to ale house to play cards on - responsions, libel.
61. BOLTON William Carliell c John Butterfield for fornication and bastardy with Alice Sweetlove - libel, depositions.
98. BLACKBURN Margaret Tomlinson c Ann Marshen calling her witch, had betwitched children, saying she would draw her blood - libel.
121. THURSTASTON Syon Venables rector c Gabriel Boardman clerk for intruding into ministers stall, appropriating church keys and preventing Venables from reading service.
122. THURSTASTON Churchwardens c Thomas Reeve for non payment of assessments and Elena saying churchwardens made her husband drunk - libel.
Some things are totally outside our experience, but many things clearly haven't changed at all.
12. BOWDEN Ellen Booth c Ann Venables wife of William Venables for calling her whore, arrant whore, wedded mans whore and William Colsolls whore who paid her 8/- - libel.
13. HALSALL Gilbert Halsall c Thomas Halsall executor of Cuthbert Halsall late rector c Edward Hulme for four years arrears of dues for flax and canabis - libel.
17. MALPAS John Kerison of Bradley son of William Kerison c Margaret John alias Kerison for nullity. He was aged 10 at the time of his marriage and so was she - decree
6. SHOTWICK Laurence Swettenham c John & Margery Carter saying he kept a whore in every town - libel.
18. CHESTER (St Bridget) Penance for Bathsheba Halton falsely accusing John Longford of adultery to get him to marry her. He was a lodger.
24. PRESTBURY (Adlington) Thomas Coughen c Thomas Lawton preacher of God's word for adultery with Mary Beech, tussling with her in a chair and for bastardy - libel, deposition.
25. PRESTBURY (Adlington) Thomas Lawton c John & Matilda Blackshaw saying he committed adultery with Beech in a chair and a barn at Adlington Hall - libel, deposition, responsions.
39. RUNCORN Elizabeth Jackson c Humphrey Johnson for divorce on grounds of frigidity, impotence, inability to copulate - libel, depositions, responsions, interrogations.
47. POULTON Anne Crane and others c Margery Taylor and others saying Ann should go to the mill and get her poake ground meaning the miller had her up against the hopper - libel, responsions, depositions.
54. HOLT Office c Richard Nowell chapelwarden for playing bowls dice cards at Evening prayer time, committing adultery with Catherine Millington and taking communion table from church to ale house to play cards on - responsions, libel.
61. BOLTON William Carliell c John Butterfield for fornication and bastardy with Alice Sweetlove - libel, depositions.
98. BLACKBURN Margaret Tomlinson c Ann Marshen calling her witch, had betwitched children, saying she would draw her blood - libel.
121. THURSTASTON Syon Venables rector c Gabriel Boardman clerk for intruding into ministers stall, appropriating church keys and preventing Venables from reading service.
122. THURSTASTON Churchwardens c Thomas Reeve for non payment of assessments and Elena saying churchwardens made her husband drunk - libel.
at number 17
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