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ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, WORCESTER

IN connection with the suggestion that Shakespeare may have been married at the church of Saint Martin, Worcester, Mr. Richard Savage has called my attention to the fact that a part of the parish register containing the records of marriages for the year 1582 has been abstracted. On examining the register I found that the two missing leaves which contained the entries for several years, including the date of Shakespeare's marriage licence, had been cut out, the freshness of the edges of a small portion of the parchment still attached to the binding thread indicating removal at a comparatively recent date. The church officials have no information about the theft, the object of which is difficult to explain, but it has been suggested that it was the act of some person who had a mania for the possession of such memorials as the record of the poet's marriage.

The church, which was re-built in 1772, stands at the north-west corner of the Corn Market.

XXIII

LUDDINGTON

LUDDINGTON, one of the places named in connection with Shakespeare's marriage, is a small hamlet on the north bank of the Avon, about three miles below Stratford. In the time of Shakespeare it was one of the chapelries in that parish. In the Worcester Bishoprick Book,' which was compiled about 1782, Luddington Chapel is described as being then in ruins. An entry made a few years later states that "The Chapel is demolished."2 In or about 1780 John Jordan thus described the village :

"Here is nothing remarkable in this place, except the ruins of an ancient chapel, of which our records do not give us any account, more than the presentation of it was given in the reign of Henry VIII, to a priest who officiated at the altar of St. Thomas the Martyr of Stratford church, in the presence of the warden of the College. ... It appears by the Register of Stratford, that, April 2, 1612, the Rev. Thomas Hunt was curate of it." 3

4

The tradition that Shakespeare was married at Luddington may be of modern origin, as suggested by Halliwell-Phillipps; but the late Mr. Edgar Flower informed me that it was generally accepted in the neighbourhood early in the last century.

1 Worcester Diocesan Registry.

See also W. Salt-Brassington, Shakespeare's Homeland, p. 336.

3 Original Collections of Shakespeare, selected by J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps, p. 66. Outlines, ii. 364, note No. 299.

CERTIFICATES OF CONSENT

THE only certificates of consent at the Worcester Diocesan Registry consist of some fragments in a bundle of bonds which represent all that now remain of the licence documents from 1600 to 1611. The following, addressed to the Chancellor of the diocese, is the earliest and most complete of these certificates: "These are to certifie your worshipp that there is noe impedymente by reason of any precontracte consanguynytye affynytie or any other lawfull meanes but that Richard Gerrett and Alice Bradley of Barcheston may lawfullie solemnize matrimony togeather. Signifieing also unto your worshipp, that their parents on both sydes are consenteng and agreeing that a marriag should by your worships licence be had betwixt them. Dated this xvith of Aprill 1601.

16° Aprilis 1601. Juravit coram me de consensu parentum Tho. Waterman Curatus de Barcheston qui est nuncius destinatus a parietibus utriusque."

Your worships to be commanded.

Thos Watterma, Clic.

Thomas Waterman was also a surety to the bond.

In another certificate the consent of the parents of the bride is thus assured: "Know all men by theese presents that wee Richard Baylies and Joane Baylies my wyfe this the 9th day of December 1611 within the parish of Stoke Prior in the Countye of Worcester doe give our full perfect and absolute assent, consent and good will and likeing that John Garrett

the sonne of John Garrett of Bradeley Greene in ye countie aforesaid shall marie take to wyfe and live with our daughter Jane Baylies according unto God his law and ordinance."

On June 12th, 1611, Alexander Batcheler, Minister, of Stratford-upon-Avon, in a letter to Edward Traunter, one of the officials at the Worcester Registry, recommended the issue of a licence to Thomas Walker of Stratford-upon-Avon and Katheren Kirby of Warwick, and urged expedition: "There is no danger in the graunting of your licence. . . . Parents of both sides are fullye agreed."1

In a letter to Mr. William Warmstry, the Registrar, dated October 14th, 1611, Robert Gower writes: "I beseache you lett me entreate you to lett your man dyrect a licence to the parson of Wyttley, Shrawley, or Astley that yf one of them be owte of the way or nott able the other may joyne in matrimony Thomas Mounde Gent. of Newnham in this County to Elizabeth Hopton of Wick Sapie alias Gowlde Wicke in this Countie Singell woman and I as her guardian doe give my ffree consent hereunto. . . . He that shalbe her husband is of his selfe and not under government of any. I beseache you let your man make it forthwith and he shall be payed for his paynes." 2

The following examples of the various classes in the Worcester bonds referred to at page 30 are taken from Allegation Book No. 1 at the London Diocesan Registry, and they include cases in which the bride was under the immediate control of her parents, or was one who, with a parent living, resided with relatives, friends, or employers, or was under the control of a governor to whom a parent could delegate his right of consent. There are also instances in which the consent of the bride herself is certified.

On January 13th, 1598-9, a licence was granted for the marriage of Henry Archer and "Anne Crowch. . . of the age of 22 years or thereabouts dwelling in the parish of St.

1 Richard Danckes of Stratford upon Avon, Plumer, was one of the sureties to the bond.

2 These three documents are in a bundle of bonds and other documents at the Worcester Diocesan Registry.

CONSENT IN LONDON LICENCES

239

Marye Woolchurch the natural daughter of Gyles Crowch of the same parish." And one "Mr. Dodsonne, Gowldesmith exhibited a certificate under the hand of the aforesaid Mr. Gyles Crowche and offereth to make faith . . . that the said Anne Crowche marrieth with her father's consent."

On December 8th, 1597, "John Sherley of St. Michell's Cornehill Hosier alleged that he is to marry with Francys Wood maiden of the same parish dwelling with John Sandbrooke of the same parish being her unckle by marriage and she having no frend alive but her father who is a very poor minister and not able to give her anythinge, and she liveth at the charge only of her said unckle."

5th December, 1601. A licence for the marriage of Richard Debdale and Anne Brownloe, maiden, aged about 27 years, whose father was dead. In this case her brother affirmed that "his sister [the bride] was consenting to the marriage also he consented-likewise with consent of Mr. Chetherole of St. Andrews whose servant she nowe is."

11th February, 1597-8. Thomas Panton and Elizabeth Davyson Maiden "aged about 24 years . . . having neither father nor mother livinge . . . Alice Davison, widow, . the mother in lawe and sole governor of the said Elizabeth Davison testified her consent and good liking of the said intended marriage."

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December 4th, 1598. "This day appeared personally.. John Holmes to marry with one Elizabeth Brand, Widdowe... At which time also appeared Silas Tyto and testyfyeth that the sayd Elizabeth Brand is consenting unto the sayd marriage."

It is directed by the Constitutions of 1597 that when the assurance of consent of parent or governors has not been given personally, the certificate shall be conveyed by persons of honourable position and good reputation, who are to declare on oath that the certificate has been received from the hands of those entitled to give consent.

The 103rd Canon of 1603 enjoins that "before such licence shall be granted, it shall appear to the Judge by the oaths of

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