Manuscripts and Special Collections
AN/PN 352/20: Penance of Margery Billage of Car Colston for fornication with William Sommer (1591, English)
Transcript
A declaracion to bee made by Margerie Billadge of
the parish of Carcolston
The said Margerie shalbee presente in the church of Carcolston of
at morninge prayer upon the xxiijth daie of May 1591 and
havinge a white sheete aboute her and a white rod in her hande
bareheaded s barefooted barelegged shall kneele in the sight of
the congregation till the gospell bee redde and then standinge on some
forme or deske before the pulpit shall say after the minister as
followeth viz./
Good people wheras I not havinge the feare of god before my eyes
nor regardinge my soules health have committedthe filthie synn of
fornication with William Sommer to the greate displeasure of
almightie god the daunger of my soule and evill example of others
I am nowe come hither to knowledge my falte and am right hartilie
sorie for the same, besechinge god and yow all whome I have ther
by offended not onelie to forgeue mee and to take example by my
punishmente to leade a chaste and a godlie lief: but also to
ioyne with mee in hartie prayer to the throne of the almightie
for the assistance of his holie spirite that I never fall into the
like againe sayinge as our sauiour Christe hath taughte us:
Our Father which arte in heauen etcetera
Shee is to do the like penance in Screaton church on trinitie
sondaie next And in Carcolston church in sondaie sennixt
followinge.
Hoc vestrum mandatum Executum est
per predictam Margartam Billage
[Se]cundum formam et Effectum presentium
[In c]uius Rei testimonium Nomen meum
[present]ibus Apposui per me Robertum Winter
Concordat cum decreto Johanum Martiall
Vestrum mandatum executum est
in predictam Margartam Billage
Secundum Formam et effectum
presentium in cuius rei testimonium
nomen meum presentibus Apposui
per me Johanum Cantrell
Translation
A declaration to be made by Margery Billadge of the parish of Car Colston.
The said Margery shall be present in the church of Car Colston at morning prayer upon the 23rd day of May 1591, and having a white sheet about her and a white rod in her hand, bareheaded, barefooted, barelegged, shall kneel in the sight of the congregation until the gospel has been read, and then standing on some form or desk before the pulpit shall say after the minister as follows, that is to say:
Good people. Whereas I, not having the fear of God before my eyes, nor regarding my soul’s health, have committed the filthy sin of fornication [sex outside marriage] with William Sommer to the great displeasure of Almighty God, the danger of my soul, and evil example [to] others, I have now come here to acknowledge my fault and am right heartily sorry for the same, beseeching God and you all whom I have thereby offended not only to forgive me and to take example by my punishment to lead a chaste and a godly life, but also to join with me in hearty prayer to the throne of the Almighty for the assistance of his holy spirit, that I [shall] never fall into the like [sin] again. Saying as our saviour Christ has taught, that is to say:
Our Father which art in Heaven etc.
[In the hand of John Martiall, Deputy Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham]: She is to do the like penance in Screveton church on Trinity Sunday next, and in Car Colston church a week on Sunday following. This agrees with the decree. [Signed] John Martiall
[In the hand of Robert Winter, vicar of Car Colston from 1570 to 1614]: This your mandate was executed by the aforesaid Margaret Billage according to the form and effect of these presents. In witness of which I have placed my name to these presents. By me Robert Winter.
[In the hand of John Cantrell, parson of Screveton from 1572, resigned in 1601]: Your mandate was executed as above by Margaret Billage, according to the form and effect of these presents, in witness of which I have placed my name to these presents. By me John Cantrell.
