Francis ap Humphrey, slander

Denbighshire, 1681

NLW Chirk

Castle MSS B37 Quarter Sessions files: witness examinations

c.29
[Richard Francis of Ruabon says]... that one Gwen Williams came to him and told him, that she was sorrie to heare that Francis ap Humphrey of the same had reported up and downe the countrey that one Morris Wynne of Erbistock had been naught with his wife or words to that effect; and the said Richard Francis further saith that as he was passing by the dwelling house of Francis ap Humphrey, the said Francis told him, that he was sorrie for him, for that he nursed other peoples children, and said that the foresd Morris Wynn and his wife had been naught together... [mark]

[Evan David of Morton Anglicorum says]... that he has been aquainted with Frances ap Humphrey about twenty yeares & yt he has had an ill reputation from his childhood, and he never cared what he said of any of his neighbours, & has frequently made diffirences amongst them, the said Evan David alsoe saith that he has knowne Richard Frances wife about five & twentye yeares, & that he never heard any ill report of her, till the sd Frances ap Humphrey gave it out, that he saw one Morris Wynne of Erbistock in a familiar manner with the sd Richard Frances wife who as he has reported had her back against a wall & the [said] Morris Wynne had taken up her cloathes soe as he saw her leggs & thighes the sd Evan David alsoe saith yt Morris Wynne is seaventie yeare old or thereabouts & yt he has known him about twentye yeares and he never [heard] that he ever was inclined to lewdnesse... [mark]

[William Rees says]... that he has heard a report goeing up and downe the countrey, that Morris Wynn of Erbistock had been naught with Richard Frances wife and that Frances ap Humphrey was the author of it, the sd William Rees alsoe saith that he has knowne Richard Francis wife for a long time, and that she lived one yeare with him as a hired servant; and he never knew any ill of her; but he knoweth very little of Francis ap Humphrey... [mark]

[David Jones of Ruabon says]... that he has heard up and downe the countrey that Francis ap Humphrey had reported that one Morris Wynne of Erbistock had been naught with Richard Fracis wife; and alsoe saith that he has knowne both Morris Wynn and Richard Francis wife about ten yeares, and never before this time heard any ill report of them, but saith that Francis ap Humphrey has a quarrelsome character... [autograph]

[John Edwards of Ruabon says]... he has heard the report abovementioned of Richard Francis wife and Morris Wynne, and that he never before heard any ill character of either of them, but saith that Francis ap Humphrey leades an idle life and will not be beleeved in any thing he saies; and that he and his wife have the worst reputation of any persons of his acquaintance within the said parish... [autograph]

[Examinations before Edward Brereton JP, 24 April 1681]