Richard Scot the rector of
Nuthurst left Henry his " best Cloke " in 1552. Among the
witnesses were Henry, William and Thomas Patching.
Henry's name
appears as witness in a large number of wills between 1534 and 1556, he
is as described curate or parish priest of Horsham.
The Calendar of Patent Rolls records that Henry was
presented to the vicarage of Warnham, dioc. Chichester, directed to
Cardinal Pole, on the 2nd of July 1557.
On the 15th October 1560 Henry made his will, he
was buried in Warnham a month later. "the fifteenth day of November
was buryed Sur Harye Pachigne, Vicare of Warham"
Henry's appearance at the Star Court gives us an
actual quote from him regarding the case
" the evilest example that
was in the County for some long time"
It was quite a story.
Star Court Proceedings, Wynson v. Ede -W68
To The King
Complaint of John Wynson of Horsham, county Sussex,
stating that he and Joane Pilforde, the daughter of Henry Pilforde, "
for syngular love and favour the one bering the other ", were
lawfully contracted in matrimony.
In order to solemnify the same the complainant had
not only bought the apparel and necessaries but had caused the banns of
marriage to be read in Joane's parish church. Nevertheless the said
Henry, Stephen and John Pilforde and John Ede and other evil disposed
persons to the number of six, within a short time after at Horsham in a
riotous manner with bowes and arrows, bills, staves and swords,
assembled and carried off the said Joane in the night time, against her
will, and conveyed her to certain secret places, and at length brought
her to Southwark, Surrey, where for fears and threats she was compelled
against her will to marry the said John Ede.
Joane, at all times remembering her contract and
promises to the complainant was greatly grieved in her conscience and
ever weeping and lamenting. Fearing that she would repair to the
complainant Joane was conveyed back to Horsham "being her native
Countrey" in such secret wise and to such secret places where no
person can have knowledge of her.
Complainant states that he standeth in fear of his
life by reason of the said Henry and his adherents, who charge him with
having conveyed away the said Joane.
Our Henry was called to make a deposition on the
26 April 1543.
Henry Paching, clerk, Curate of the parish of
Horsham , of the age of forty-two years, deposes that, at the request of
the Complainant he thrice asked the banns of marriage between John
Wynson and Joane and they were not forbidden. He says that no banns were
asked in the church between John Ede and the said Joane, and no licence
asked for the same to be made out of the parish, and that Joane was
conveyed out of the parish, but by whom and whether willingly or not he
cannot say. He further says that the Joane Pilford was absent out of the
parish by the space of seven weeks after the banns were asked, and that
report is that the marriage between John Ede and Joane Pilford is
unlawful, and " the evilest example that was in the County for a
long time ".
Other witnesses were:
Emery Hawkins of Horsham, carpenter, aged 56.
John Monnery, husbandman, aged 40.
Ursula Duchman, servant to John Wood, aged 22.
Harry, Stephen and John Pilfold, and John Ede.
Their conflicting versions of the events suggest
that perhaps the lady in question was in fact undecided about her
admirers.
John Ede admitted taking Joane to Southwark where
they were married but he cannot tell whether he can procure her to come
to him again, for as much as he knows not where she is now.
Sadly, the book containing the details of the
judgement was last heard of in 1719. |
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