203 Farnefold v Bonyman

203 FARNEFOLD V BONYMAN

Sir Thomas Farnefold of Steyning, co. Sussex, knt v Alexander Bonyman of Kelvedon, co. Essex, minister

November 1637 - December 1638

Abstract

Farnefold, one of the king's gentleman pensioners, complained that Bonyman, minister of Kelvedon, Essex, called his wife Elizabeth 'Goldback Jade, Mangy Jade, and feend' in church before a large congregation. Process was granted on 3 November 1637 and on the 28^th Dr Duck alleged that the words against Farnefold's wife were uttered about two years before any notice was taken of them by the court, and therefore called for the case to be dismissed. The sentence is not known, but Farnefold's case may have backfired because he was warned to pay his expenses and taxes in November and December 1638. [For another case involving Farnefold, see cause 204.]

Initial proceedings

3/95, Petition to Arundel

'Alexander Bonyman, minister of the church of Kelvedon in the county of Essex, most uncivilly and scandalously in the church before a great congregation called one Mrs Elizabeth Cadmore widow, late wife of John Cadmore esq, deceased, with whom your petitioner hath marryed, Goldback Jade, Mangy Jade, and feend, and other ill and base tearmes particularly mentioned in the petition hereunto annexed, to which your lordship gave order that process should be issued forth of the Court of Honor against the said Bonyman.'

Petitioned that Bonyman be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process, 3 November 1637.

Signed by Maltravers.

3/113, Plaintiff's bond

4 November 1637

Bound to appear 'in the Court in the painted Chamber within the Pallace of Westminster'.

Signed by Tho. Farnefold.

Sealed, subscribed and delivered in the presence of Gilbert Dethick and John Watson.

Sentence / Arbitration

13/1h, Defendant's bill of costs

Michaelmas term, 1637: £7-11s-8d

Hillary term, 1637/8: £7-1s-8d

Total: £14-13s-4d

Signed by Arthur Duck and Robert Aylett.

Taxed at £6-13s-4d.

Signed by Maltravers.

Summary of proceedings

Dr Eden acted as counsel for Farnefold and Dr Duck for Bonyman. On 28 November 1637 Duck alleged that the words against Sir Thomas Farnefold's wife were uttered about two years before any notice was taken of them by the court, and therefore he called for the case to be dismissed. The sentence is not known but Farnefold's case may have backfired because he was warned to pay his expenses and taxes in November and December 1638.

Notes

Sir Thomas Farnefold of Steyning, co. Sussex (1599-1643) was the son of Richard Farnefold (1548-1609) and Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Parson of Steyning, yeoman. His estates were burdened by wardship and in 1622 he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea after a quarrel with viscount Wallingford. He spent much of his life at court, and possibly did some soldiering on the continent. His first wife died in 1636 and the following year in London he married Elizabeth Cudmore of Kelvedon, co. Essex, the widow of John Cudmore, esq. In 1638 he was imprisoned for a fortnight in the Fleet. Royalist in his sympathies, he was M.P. for Steyning in the parliaments of 1624, 1625, 1628, 1640 but his poor health probably prevented him taking his seat in the Long Parliament.

M. F. Keeler, The Long Parliament, 1640-1641: A Biographical Dictionary of its Members (Philadelphia, 1954), pp. 173-4.

Documents

• Initial proceedings
  • Petition to Arundel: 3/95 (3 Nov 1637)
  • Plaintiff's bond: 3/113 (4 Nov 1637)
• Sentence / Arbitration
  • Defendant's bill of costs: 13/1h (Hil 1638)
• Proceedings
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: 8/30 (28 Nov 1637)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: R.19, fos. 454r-468v (6 Nov 1638)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: R.19, fos. 422r-428r (28 Nov 1638)
  • Proceedings before Maltravers: R.19, fos. 474r-484v (5 Dec 1638)

People mentioned in the case

• Aylett, Robert
• Bonyman, Alexander, minister (also Bonnyman)
• Cadmore, Elizabeth, widow (also Cudmore)
• Cadmore, John, esq (also Cudmore)
• Dethick, Gilbert, registrar
• Duck, Arthur, lawyer
• Farnefold, Dorothy (also Farnifold)
• Farnefold, Elizabeth (also Farnifold)
• Farnefold, Richard (also Farnifold)
• Farnefold, Thomas, knight (also Farnifold)
• Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
• Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
• Knollys, William, viscount Wallingford
• Parson, Dorothy
• Parson, Thomas, yeoman
• Watson, John

Places mentioned in the case

• Essex
  • Kelvedon
• London
  • The Fleet
  • The Marshalsea
• Middlesex
  • Westminster
• Sussex
  • Steyning

Topics of the case

• defendant victory
• imprisonment
• insult to a woman
• Long Parliament
• member of parliament
• military officer
• royal servant
• royalist
• sexual insult