Archdeacon Wills 1645,

Presentment of Mrs. Margaret Calcott als Quayle, 8 November 1645, for slandering the dead mother of Mr. James Banks:

"([page] 3), At a Court holden at Douglas ye 8^th of 9ber [November]1645: Whereas it doth appeare unto this Court yt Mrs. Margrett Calcot als Quaile did scandalously traduce ye good name of ye dead in calling Mr. James Bankes ye sonn of a whore, wch xxxx xxx & alsoe xxx xxx xxxxxx acknowledged by ye sd Margrett in ye face of Court. Therefore in dei nominee, It is decreed that the said Margrett shall doe penance in penitential habit to aske ye sd James forgiveness & that a publication be made yt no manner of person or persons liable to spirituall interdicthon[?] shall speake ye aforesaid aspersion against the sd James or any of ye aforesd’s children or kindred in payne of 3 pounds ad u--- day & further Church censure at ye Courts discrecione.

Feb 17: 1645/6: I do hereby approve this sentence, as just, & legall, yet if the said Mrs Calcotts will be willinge to aske forgiveness of the children: I doe remitt the penitential habit. Sa. Rutter, Archd. To the reverend and religious clergy, viz.: Sir Hugh Cannell, & Sir Robt: Parre: The humble petition of Mrs. Margrett Calcott: Humbly Sheweth, that whereas there is a controversy depending betwixt ye -----trix &: James Bankes which belongeth to ye Court[?], and in regards the Archdeacon of this Isle is not in Court to heare ye sd controversy: Therefore ye xxxxxxxx appeals, from the censure of this Court, until such as ye sd Archdeacon be in Court, or give xx xxxxx xxxxxx. The xxxxx of tyme is referred to Archdeacon himself to consider of to which tyme ye proceedings is deferred.

([page] 5) Feb 17: 1645/6: At a Court of Convocation holden at Castletown this question was propounded unto the Clergy: Whether a man, or woman speakinge any thing to the disgrace of the dead, though the dead had in their lifetime been guilty of that crime, or fault, be censurable in the Spiritual Court; they answered according to their several subscriptions. That such a one is censurable for speaking evill of the dead in a matter of truth is the opinion of these that follow: William Oates, Robt Norris, John Keig, Tho: Parre, Ed: Crowe, Char: Coole, Ja: Moore, Wm Crowe. I have xxxx seene ye pet---[?, parti---] of ye Church to come[?] xxxx xxx xxxx as above written, Patr: Thompson. I am not as yet acquainted with any Law or costume in this Isle that can make any man or woman censurable for speaking xxxx of the dead if they can make good thir report. Saml: Hinde. I doe hold it very unfitting or under xxx to xxxxxx speachees[?] to speake yt wch is true xxxxxxxx for speaking truth. S-----[too dark to read signature]. This I fynde in recrde[?] yt several persons for uncharitable speackinge of the Dead hath been censured some to one punishment & some to another viz, a fine ad xxxxxxx[Latin] whether the xxxxxx was true or false. Joh: Harrison.

([page] 10) To the xxxxx Officers Spirituall, the most humble petition of James Bankes: Sheweth that whereas Mrs Margreatt Calcott als Quayle dayly and constantly out of a malicious disposition call your petitioner by no other name than the sonn of a whore: Whereby she lays an aspersion not only one the living but also on the dead; And xxxxxxxx she xxxxxxx your petitioner a Judas; Therefore he humbly craveth this xxxxx Court to grant ther Authoritie to convent[?] the sd Margreatt and such xxxxxxxx as he shall produce: that justice may proceed: & he as xxxx xxxx shall pray etc."