650 Trenance v Tooker

The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640.

This free content was Born digital. All rights reserved.

'650 Trenance v Tooker', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640, (, ) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/650-trenance-tooker [accessed 27 April 2024]

In this section

650 TRENANCE V TOOKER

Littleton Trenance of Bodmin, co. Cornwall, esq v Stephen Tooker of Helland, co. Cornwall, gent

December 1639

Abstract

Trenance complained that, without provocation, Tooker had called him 'a base rogue', and accused him of killing two men. Process was granted on 9 December and on the 12th Trenance entered bond; but no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

2/99, Petition to Maltravers

'The petitioner is a gentleman by blood and armes; that within three months last Stephen Tooker of Helland in the said countie, gent., without any cause given him, did much vilifie and abuse the petitioner with reprochfull and slanderous words, and said that the petitioner was a base rogue, and that the petitioner had killed two men, with other disgracefull speeches thereby provoaking the petitioner to duell.'

Petitioned Tooker be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 9 December 1639.

2/87, Plaintiff's bond

12 December 1639

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

Signed by Thomas Weoley of St Clement Danes, co. Middlesex, gent, on behalf of Trenance.

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

Notes

Littleton Trenance, esq, was the son of Thomas Trenance of Lanhydrock, and Joan, daughter of Nicholas Kendall of Pelynt. Littleton Trenance married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Roscarrock. Littleton's sister was baptized in 1569 and his eldest son, Thomas, was born c.1598, suggesting that Littleton was at least in his sixties at the time of this cause.

J. L. Vivian and H. H. Drake (eds.), The Visitation of Cornwall in the year 1620 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 9, 1874), pp. 231-2.

Documents

  • Initial proceedings
    • Petition: 2/99 (9 Dec 1639)
    • Plaintiff's bond: 2/87 (12 Dec 1639)

People mentioned in the case

  • Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
  • Kendall, Joan
  • Kendall, Nicholas
  • Roscarrock, Margaret
  • Roscarrock, Thomas
  • Terrick, Humphrey
  • Tooker, Stephen, gent
  • Trenance, Joan
  • Trenance, Littleton, esq
  • Trenance, Margaret
  • Trenance, Thomas
  • Weoley, Thomas, gent

Places mentioned in the case

  • Cornwall
    • Bodmin
    • Helland
    • Lanydrock
    • Pelynt
    • Roscarrock
  • Middlesex
    • St Clement Danes

Topics of the case

  • allegation of murder
  • denial of gentility
  • provocative of a duel