‹ E-CIPM 24-126: MARGERY ›

Holdings

John Newebery , aged 60 years and more, separately examined on Margery’s age, says that she was aged 15 years and more on 20 November last. She was born at Watford and baptised in the parish church of that vill on 20 November 1417, and her godfather was Edmund Holes , brother of Thomas, and her godmothers Margery, then wife of William Hampton , and Cecily Purcell , now wife of William Neuport, esquire . Asked how he knows, he says that on the day she was born he was sent by Thomas Holes , her father, to view and inform Thomas of the furnishings. He went to the church and found it decorated, with four gold cloths around the altar and the font fittingly decorated with cloths of white silk, and spoke with Edmund Holes , brother of Thomas, and many of Thomas’ other kin. Edmund told him that all was prepared for Margery’s baptism. The other jurors, separately examined, agree and say they know for the following reasons, all referring to events that day, 15 years ago. John Stybbyng , 50 years and more, was with John Cokayn , then one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas, at Hertford, who told him that Alice, wife of Thomas, had given birth to a daughter named Margery, that Edmund Holes was godfather and Margery, then wife of William Hampton , and Cecily were godmothers. Afterwards he met the godparents coming from church... ?surrounding Margery. William Sherman , 41 years and more, rode with Edward Bensted, knight , from St Albans to Watford and heard mass with him in the church when Margery was baptised. William Gibbe , 43 years and more, carried to the church a basin and ewer of silver with water to wash the hands of the godfather and godmothers after Margery’s baptism, and he presented the water in the basin to them. Thomas Swetman , 60 years and more, paid homage to the abbot of St Albans at Watford for the holding he held there of the abbot in right of his church of St Albans, and had letters of homage made. William Smyth of Park Street, 46 years and more, purchased a messuage in St Albans from Roger Hode ... [ms faint and worn] paying the following Easter. John Warner , 42 years and more, bought from John Stybbyng, bailiff of the abbot of Westminster , 100 oaks for... growing in Aldenham in the abbot’s wood there. John Roger , 50 years and more, sold a chestnut horse for [at least] 100s. to John Hotoft, esquire , at St Albans, and John Hotoft told him that Margery was born and baptised that day. William Crissale , 44 years and more, says that Richard his son died and was buried in the churchyard of Watford church at the time of Margery’s baptism. Richard Maryon , 43 years and more, bought 20 oxen for 20 marks from William Flete, esquire , paying William the following Pentecost, and gave William then 1d. as earnest money and 1d. ?towards the debt (vnum denarium ad deu[erium]). John Smyth of Watford, 53 years and more, placed Henry his son as apprentice with William Seuenok , citizen and grocer of London, and handed over £10 in cash for trading, with half the resulting profits to be paid to John Smyth at the end of the year. John Gregory , 42 years and more, first told Thomas Holes , father of Margery, that she was born and baptised, for which report Thomas gave him a scarlet hood and a noble.