136 Covert v Cosens

136 COVERT V COSENS

William Covert of Maidstone, co. Kent, gent v William Cosens of Wouldham co. Kent, yeoman

October 1639 - January 1640

Abstract

Covert, a Maidstone physician, complained that Cosens called him 'a base rascall, a Rogue a knave', at sometime since last Michaelmas at the Star Inn, Maidstone. Cosens had allegedly said that if he had a sword he would run Covert through, and when Covert threatened him with a cause in the Court of Chivalry, Cosens replied 'that he cared not a fart for what he could doe in that kinde'. Covert entered bond to prosecute the cause on 10 October 1639 and process was apparently granted on 9 January 1640. No further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

2/69, Plaintiff's bond

10 October 1639

Bound to appear 'in the court in the painted chamber within the Pallace of Westminster'.

Signed by Tho. Farley of St Benedict's, Paul's Wharf, London, gent, acting on behalf of Covert.

Sealed, subscribed and delivered in the presence of Humphrey Terrick.

2/70, Petition to Arundel

'Your petitioner being Doctor of Physic, and a gent descended of a very ancient family of gent. beareing armes, one William Cosens of Wooldham in the aforesaid county, did, since Michaelmas last past, at the signe of the Starre in Maidstone, aforesaid vilifie and provoke to duell the petitioner, saying unto him that he was a base rascall, a Rogue, a knave, and further said that if he had a sword he would run him through. And the petitioner telling Cosens that he would convent him before the Lord Marshall for the words and threatnings, and that he should see that there would be a difference made between a gent and such a one as Cosens was. Cosens replied that he cared not a farte for what he could doe in that kinde.'

Petitioned that Cosens be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 9 January 1640.

Notes

Several William Coverts appear in the Kent Visitation of 1619-21: R. Hovenden (ed.), The Visitation of Kent taken in the years 1619-21 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 42, 1898), p. 138.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Plaintiff's bond: 2/69 (10 Oct 1639)
  • Petition to Arundel: 2/70 (9 Jan 1640)

People mentioned in the case

• Cosens, William, yeoman
• Covert, William, gent
• Farley, Thomas, gent
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Terrick, Humphrey

Places mentioned in the case

• Kent
  • Maidstone
  • Wouldham
• Middlesex
  • Westminster

Topics of the case

• denial of gentility
• physician
• scatological insult
• tavern
• threatened violence
• weapon