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George Preston shall be present in the Cathedral Church of Chester within the Choir there upon Whitsunday the thirty first day of this month of May (at Morning prayers) where after the repetition of the Nicene Creed standing upon a form or eminent place near the Eagle or Reading place, being in ordinary apparel he shall audibly and in a penitential manner make this declaration following, viz. "Whereas (Good people) I have kept company with one Jane Jones Widow commonly called Little Jane at an unseasonable time and in a suspicious place and manner, and have given occasion of a common fame and suspicion in my neighbourhood that I am guilty of the sin of adultery with the said Jane, and thereby am become an infamy to this Church, and have created a just offence to good Christians, I do hereby acknowledge and declare that I am justly convened and convicted before lawful authority for my said offence and that I am heartily sorry for the same, and do promise that I will by God's grace avoid the company of the said Jane Jones and endeavour not to give occasion of such offence and censure for the future."... And of the performance hereof the said George Preston is to certify the right reverend the Lord Bishop of Chester, under the hands of one of the prebendaries and the presenter of the Cathedral Church abovesaid at or before the twelfth day of June next ensuing.
There is no credit to be given to the pretended depositions of Elizabeth Hope and Susan Ambrose pretended witnesses in this cause for that they are women of lewd lives and conversations, the first having had two bastards by her sister's husband and a third by another man and the latter being taken in the very act of adultery and notoriously reputed and known to be a common whore and have wickedly suggested and sworn in their pretended depositions things altogether false and that they came from or past betwixt them and this defendant's wife or the defendant in this cause... There is no credit to be given to the depositions of Elizabeth Swift another pretended witness in this cause for that she was and is the only fomentor and incendiary in this cause, and the occasion of this suit, by reason of her wicked and false suggestions and lies and by her industriously spreading and endeavouring to procure a report and common fame thereof being one that has industriously gone about to procure and draw in witnesses to swear what they could not justly do against the defendant in this cause, one that has endeavoured to make great mischief and discord betwixt the defendant and his wife and often told her if she would not swear against her husband she should not hold her brewhouse any longer. The said Elizabeth Swift is one of such wicked and unchristianlike temper and principal that she has and doth industriously contrive by any means to ruin the defendant not only in his good name but of late saying to this defendant's wife that he (this defendant) was a rogue or words to that effect for that the prebendaries were all willing she might have a lease which she could have but for him and has in her pretended depositions suggested and deposed that that never past betwixt her and this defendant's wife... The defendant well knowing himself to be guiltless of the horrid crime articulate especially that's said to be committed by him in the brewhouse with Jane Jones humbly begs of your Lordship that his wife may be admitted to her oath whether she ever said the things that are suggested in the pretended depositions or that she did really take the defendant and Jane Jones in the wicked act of adultery, or that your Lordship in compassion to him and his family and to prevent an extraordinary charge that will unavoidably fall upon him in the due defence of this cause be pleased to admit the defendant to his own oath wherein he can most conscientiously and justly prove he never had in all the time in the articles mentioned any carnal knowledge of the body of Jane Jones... The defendant's predecessor Robert Carter formerly a Conduct [deceased?] sold ale in the same house for 13, 14, 15, or 16 years together without any interruption or fault found by anyone especially the plaintiff in this cause that the defendant did keep an alehouse in the house arlate the better to enable him to keep his family from starving the stipend or salary in the church being so small and not out of any contempt... The Reverend Dr Arderne, Dean of Chester, well knowing the defendant to be a poor man and to have a great charge to maintain, did charitably bestow upon him a verger's place in the cathedral church he having an indubitable and sole right so to do, and permits him to execute the office by a deputy well liking and approved on by him; that the said office of verger has formerly been executed both before the wars and since by a deputy.
Whereas George Preston, one of the Conducts of the said Church for several years last past, hath been very negligent in the performance of his duty there, and particularly in the year last past ending with December last, was guilty of above three hundred absences, as appears by an account taken of them by the precentor; and upon admonitions given him by me the said Subdean instead of lessening the fault of his neglect hath aggravated it, by an obstinate persisting therein; hath for one year last past kept a tippling house or ale-house contrary to the injunctions of your Lordship's predecessors, in one of the conduct's houses (built, devoted and appropriated, by Bishop Bridgman, to the use of the Church only) where he now lives, to the scandal of the place and offence of good Christians. Hath been unduly put into one of the verger's places by Mr Dean alone without the consent of the prebendaries, the execution of which office being inconsistent with that of Conduct, he puts in a substitute, contrary also the said injunctions; and likewise hath for some months past been suspected guilty of the sin of adultery with one Jane Jones, widow (commonly called little Jane) which suspicion is become so vehement and public and the circumstances of his crime so distinctly related that his person is become very ungrateful and offensive to many, when, notwithstanding the notoriety of the matter, he has had the confidence to appear in his place in the choir. And, notwithstanding endeavours have been made to have George Preston punished and reformed in a capitular way, and to that end the Reverend the Dean has been moved and solicited to interpose his authority with the Chapter in that behalf, yet have we been discouraged in that application and find the Dean's remissness and connivance at the said faults give encouragement and occasion obstinacy in the said Preston… Therefore for the reputation of our said Church, in particular, of or religion in general, for the removing of a just offence and scandal contracted to good Christians and for the discharge of that trust, I apprehend reposed in me for the detecting and punishment of the vicious members of our society, I do present and detect to your Lordship, the said George Preston as guilty of the neglect, obstinacy and irregularity as also of being vehemently suspected of the crime of adultery (as abovementioned) desiring, invoking and petitioning your Lordship to interpose and exercise your Ordinary a Visitatorial Jurisdiction and authority, against the said George Preston to convene him before you, in your Lordship's court and proceed to bring him to canonical and [illegible] punishment. In witness whereof I the said Lawrence Fogg have hereunto subscribed my name, the twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord God 1690.
This respondent hath within the time arlate been absent some days and not done and performed his duty in the Cathedral Church of Chester as conduct there, but it was upon leave first obtained, or that it was upon the necessary concerns of the Church and the Dean and Chapter thereof… This respondent hath for the time arlate and now doth for the better maintenance of his wife and children keep an alehouse in the house he now lives in… He doth execute his part of verger by deputing a person very capable of that duty and acceptable to the Dean and Chapter.
You, George Preston are one of the Conducts belonging to the said Cathedral Church of Christ and the blessed Virgin Mary in Chester, and as such are obliged to due and constant attendance upon the prayers used there every week day as well as Sunday, at the hours of ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, unless by leave first obtained and by sickness you are detained and prevented from attending the same… You, George Preston, have been very negligent and remiss and especially in the months articulate in the discharge of your duty as a conduct by frequently absenting yourself form the prayers of the said Church and upon admonition given you by the Subdean or some of the prebendaries, you have instead of learning your fault of neglect, aggravated the same by a very obstinate persisting therein... For one year last past as now you do, you have kept a tippling house or ale house in one of the Conduct's houses where now you live, built devoted and appropriated by Bishop Bridgeman one of our predecessors to the use of the Church only, to the scandal of the place and the offence of good Christians and the violation of wholesome injunctions of our predecessors in that behalf given and established… Notwithstanding you are and were a conduct of the said Cathedral Church and the office as such be inconsistent with the office of a verger of the same church, yet you have procured yourself to be unduly and irregularly put into a verger's place or office there, which you execute or pretend to execute by a substitute or deputy, by you appointed which is also contrary to the said wholesome injunctions given and established in that behalf.
About two months before Christmas last past, George Preston came to this deponent to desire her to come to carry his wort lately brewed from the brewhouse to the Abbey Court, to his house there, which he did in earnest and importunate terms, saying that his wife had lately turned away and hardened her heart against Jane (meaning Jane Jones) who used to do that work, upon which this deponent came along with him to his house, where she stayed for some time, till his wife came in who when she saw George, in very passionate terms, called him a whore master rogue, asked him where was his whore (meaning Jane Jones) and how could he look her in the face or to that purpose. From Preston's house, this deponent in order to the business she came about went with his wife to the brewhouse where she being as this deponent apprehended in great earnest and under great concern and trouble at the occasion, shewed this deponent a suspicious place made or packed up with sacks winnow-sheet and a basket which she said was the bed or place where George and Jane had laid (or been dishonest) together, as she said, the night before. And likewise pointed at and shewed this deponent the way how the said Jane escaped out of the brew-house which was through a hole over the door adding that she took them nought together and stayed so long near 'em till her heart fried within her and she could stand no longer but after Preston her husband came home which was very late, she stept to the said brewhouse and locked Jane in it, who made her escape (as Preston's wife said) by his (Preston's) or some other person's help. This matter is publicly talked of in the Abbey Court and places adjacent from which and the behaviour of Preston's wife, this deponent believes George Preston to be guilty of the crime of adultery…. It is commonly reported and vehemently suspected in the Abbey Court and neighbourhood that George Preston and Jane Jones have committed the sin of adultery together.
This deponent having occasion to buy wort of George Preston's wife, came to her in the brew-house in the Abbey Court, where she was in a sullen humour and would not at that time sell this deponent her wort but about a week afterwards this deponent coming again to her, she by way of excuse of her former behaviour to this deponent told her that she had reason to be out of humour the time aforesaid, for that the night before she had found her husband George Preston and Jane Jones nought together in the brew-house telling also this deponent circumstances of her suspicion and how thereupon she came into the brewhouse and found them in a very dishonest manner together so that this deponent having the relation from the wife's own mouth concerning her husband doth believe that George was guilty of the sin of adultery with the said Jane.
There is and hath been... a report or rumour stirring that the arlate George Preston and Jane Jones, called little Jane, were caught naught or suspiciously together in Mrs Swift's brewhouse in the Abbey Court by Preston's wife… It being part of the business and trust committed to this deponent as precentor of the Cathedral Church arlate to take notice of the absence of the Conducts thereof, from the prayers there he hath for some time passed taken notice in particular of the absences of George Preston and upon view and computation of his notes or usual marks, taken in this case, he doth find that George Preston was absent from his duty or office in attending the prayers in the said Church 237 times in the months arlate. And this deponent believes he was exact in taking the said account or notes and that George was so many times of morning and evening prayers absent from them and did not perform his duty as a conduct there.
In the month of November last, she went one morning to George Preston's wife with purpose to buy some small beer of her and as they were together the said Preston's wife upon her own accord took occasion to tell this deponent that she took her husband George Preston and little Jane (meaning Jane Jones) nought together the night before in the brew house, and this deponent being surprised at such her saying asked her how she knew they were nought together or to that purpose, and she replied, Yes, I took them in the very act, or to that purpose. And at the audit of the Dean and Chapter which was not long after, this matter was much talked in the neighbourhood… This deponent heard it reported in the neighbourhood that George had confessed to his wife that he had been caught with Jane Jones and that he had been acquainted with her a considerable time and had been naught with her several times in the Deanery and she told this deponent she had in mind to be divorce from him and the report was very common and very offensive in the neighbourhood.
There is and hath been in the time arlate a common and public report in the Abbey Court that George Preston and Jane Jones have been naught together or committed the sin of adultery together in the time aforesaid and particularly in Mrs Swift's brewhouse in the Abbey Court, and this deponent is the rather inclined to believe the same to be true, for that one morning the last summer this deponent going on her occasions through the Abbey Court the said George met or came to her and used some motions or solicitations to her to go with him, into the said brewhouse on pretence to look at the fire under the pan, which were made in such a manner as they put this deponent into fears, and disturbance of mind, and gave her cause to suspect and conclude that he had a very lewd and dishonest design upon this deponent.
She having occasion to go to George Preston's house and coming thither his wife took occasion to tell this deponent that her father-in-law Mr Kay had taken or seen her in a passion against little Jane, whom she called jade or quean or to that purpose, and further she told this deponent that the reason she was so passionate with her was because she had caught them (George and Jane) naught together in the brew house the night before, or to that purpose. Whereat this deponent showing some surprise or admiration, Preston's wife added that as she was a Christian or as she should answer God in Heaven, or in an asseveration to that purpose they were nought together or she caught 'em nought together or to that effect. This passage happened some short time before the last audit of the Dean and Chapter and as she believes in the month of November.
For several months arlate and since, there hath been a common fame and report within the neighbourhood of this deponent and he hath heard it also in several places of the city, that George Preston and Jane Jones have kept unlawful company together and particularly that they were found in an unlawful manner and in adultery together in a brew-house in the Abbey Court by Preston's wife within the time arlate.
There has been a report raised in the neighbourhood concerning George Preston and Jane Jones as being taken naught together by Preston's wife. And Preston's wife once speaking to this deponent concerning them said, No body could have made me believe such a thing if I had not heard it myself meaning some words which she heard when she stood at the brewhouse door.
Upon or about the 26th day of November last past, this deponent being present and in company with some of the prebendaries of the Cathedral Church of Chester in the room over the Abbey Gate, Elizabeth Swift, widow, came there then and after some other discourse declared that it was reported that George Preston some short time before had lain with a dirty or scandalous woman in the brewhouse who brewed for him, and Elizabeth Swift further said that Preston's wife had peeped through the door and saw him with his breeches in his hand or to that effect. Afterwards the same day, Dr Arderne the Dean of Chester came to the place over the Gate aforesaid and some of the prebendaries then present told the Dean of the crime aforesaid wherewith George Preston was accused, and the Dean said George had acknowledged it to him and that he was penitent and sorry for it (as he believed). And the Dean further said that Preston's wife was to blame likewise, for that she had denied to lie with George for fear of having more children.
Within two months before Christmas last as this deponent believes, she being with her sister (George Preston's wife) in the Abbey Court, and having some discourse or mention of Jane Jones, this deponent asking what was the reason her maiden or servant, meaning Jane, was not there, her sister replied, she had found her husband (George) and Jane together at an inconvenient time in the brew-house, the night before, and she was jealous there was nothing that was good betwixt them or to that purpose. And therefore she turned her away.
There hath been a very infamous report and common fame labouring in the Abbey Court and places adjacent concerning the unlawful and lewd conversation of George Preston and Jane Jones, so that it is very much suspected and believed that they have been guilty of the crime within the time and this report and suspicion being common and the manner of the crime being mentioned in such particular and uncivil circumstances, this deponent apprehends a great scandal to reflect on the church thereby having heard diverse mouths opened on that behalf, the said George belonging to it as a conduct, and that a just offence is occasioned to good actions and churchmen, and this deponent the rather believes the occasion of the report to be true for that he heard the circumstances of it related by one in the neighbourhood not long after the same was said to be acted in the brewhouse in the Abbey Court, which person affirms she heard the whole matter from Preston's wife as who had taken them or interrupted them in the very act of adultery, and was come into the brewhouse before her husband George had buttoned or made up his breeches again.
This deponent coming by George Preston's cellar door in the Abbey Court, Preston's wife desired her to come in to the cellar, and she would tell this deponent which she would scarce believe, and what she herself could not have believed if she had not see it. Upon which this deponent went in and Preston's wife appearing in good earnest told this deponent that she having brewed the day or night next before had left Jane Jones in the brewhouse to finish some matter about the brewing. That George Preston being at home with her, his wife asked her what Jane (meaning the arlate Jane) was doing or what she had to do or to that purpose and she (Preston's wife) answered she would quickly have done or that she had but 2 pails of small wort to put on or to that purpose. George shewed an earnestness or desire to go thereupon to the brewhouse, saying he would go and hold the candle to Jane, or to that purpose, and thereupon went to the brewhouse to her. Some time afterwards Preston's wife being troubled in mind and very uneasy, she followed George to the brewhouse and when she came near the door she stood and listened and upon that said they were nought. She went in and saw George and Jane were naught together. Jane was shut up in the brewhouse that night, but before Preston's wife could get her sister up to go with her to the brew-house, whom she brought to that purpose, Jane was conveyed out of a hole over the brewhouse door, as she supposed by her said husband… She then further added that George had been a very bad or sad husband to her ever since the birth of their son James and especially ever since he employed or received Jane in or about his house, that she was for the said reasons resolved to be divorced from him, and for that she could swear that he and Jane had been naught together or to that purpose… And at another time about a week afterwards, Preston's wife told this deponent that Preston had told or confessed to her that Jane was an impudent or confident whore and had several times watched or followed him into the Deanery, and that for her satisfaction he would beat her and turn her away before her face, or to that purpose… Not long before they had an honest soldier quartered in their (Preston's) house, who had acquainted Preston's wife that one time when she was at the brew house, and Jane and George in the dwelling house, George seemed to be angry with storm upon the children and send them out to her at the brew-house, Jane shutting the door after them, upon which they were going to bed or to be naught together but that the soldier being in his chamber hearing the circumstances and suspecting the event came in and prevented them for that time. And further, Jane one time held the candle while George beat his wife… Further this deponent saith that sometime after the passage of the brewhouse had been talked on in the neighbourhood, Jane being at the well with this deponent took occasion to tell her she had not her pail for that Mrs Preston kept it from her and added that she, having occasion to go into the Castle Lane, and from thence going into the Castle to see Mrs Halmark, the same Mrs Halmark where her husband Mr Halmark told her he was glad to see her and thereupon acquainted Jane that he was employed by George Preston to tell that if she (Jane) would not testify or witness anything that was ill against him, she should have her pail again from his wife. And the Lord knows what or to that purpose, which words this deponent believes referred to the passage by her predeposed. From the circumstances abovementioned and especially from her acquaintance with Preston's wife and Preston's behaviour in other respects to her, she cannot but believe that Preston was guilty of the crime arlate with Jane Jones.
Upon a report in the Abbey Court (and expecially after the relation of the matter by Mrs Swift who told the story in more particular circumstances, that George Preston had been naught with an old woman (called old Jane or little Jane) in Mrs Swift's brew-house, Dr Fogg the Subdean took occasion to complain of this matter or scandal to the Dean at the audit held over the Abbey Gate, upon or about the 26 of November last, aggravating the crime and urging that Preston might be justly punished for it. Upon which the Dean answered that Preston had owned his fault to him, and he did verily believe him to be a sincere penitent and would by no means who should loose his livelihood for a fault which he had repented of, and by way of alleviation of the crime the Dean further said that Preston's wife had of late refused to lie with her husband, which might be the occasion of his transgressing in that kind. And discoursing of the same matter, the Dean said Preston might be punished or proceeded against for the crime in the Bishop's Court… Especially since the time mentioned in the foregoing deposition, there have been a common fame and report within the Abbey Court and also the city, that George and Jane were guilty of the crime of adultery and this report is attended with and delivered in such circumstances that it has occasioned a vehement suspicion that the thing is true, so the report and suspicion are become matter of just scandal and offence to good Christians… George Preston is an inhabitant (and lives in one of the conduct's houses) in the Abbey Court, and as this deponent believes is therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the Right Reverend Father in God, the Lord Bishop of Chester.