551 Pygott v Sherriffe

551 PYGOTT V SHERRIFFE

Edward Pygott of St Dunstan-in-the-West, London, gent v William Sherriffe of the same

January 1636

Abstract

Pygott complained that Sherriffe had called him 'a base rogue and rascall, and cozening knave', and said that he 'lived by cheating and cozening', in the presence of several gentlemen in St Dunstan-in-the-West, London, thereby intending to provoke Pygott to a duel. The libel was dated 30 January 1636, but no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

18/1g, Libel [damaged]

Pygott's family had been gentry for up to 200 years and were descended of the ancient gentry family of Pyggott of Denbigh, whereas Sherriffe and his family were plebeians. Sherriffe said of Pygott in the presence of several gentlemen in St Dunstan-in-the-West parish, 'that I was a base rogue and rascall and cozening knave, ... and that I lived by cheating and cozening'. Sherriffe had intended to provoke Pygott to a duel.

Dated 30 January 1636.

Signatures [damaged].

Notes

Neither party appeared among the 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
  • Libel: 18/1g (30 Jan 1636)

People mentioned in the case

• Pygott, Edward, gent (also Piggott, Pigot, Pigott, Piggot)
• Sherriffe, William

Places mentioned in the case

• London
  • St Dunstan-in-the-West
• Wales

Topics of the case

• allegation of cheating
• denial of gentility
• insult before gentlemen
• provocative of a duel