Love Lost and Found in the Church Courts

1. Personal response of Margaret Osborne.[1] [Undated. November 1602]

L1. That about three years agone Margaret being free from all other contract of matrimony did often talk and had divers times conversations with Richard Tayler of marriage to be had betwixt him and her; and at length by the importunate suit and request of Richard, she did promise that she would hereafter become his wife and be contented to marry with him upon this condition that her father and her mother would consent thereunto. Otherwise if she could not get her parents' good will to marry with him she never would marry with him. For rest does not believe article to be true in anything.

L2. That divers times since, she hath confessed so much as in her answers unto the first article of this libel is contained before credible witnesses. For rest does not believe article to be true in anything.

L3. Does not believe article to be true in anything.

L4. Is of the Archdeaconry of Chichester and subject to the court

L5. Believes there is no ground for the allegation.

L6. Seeks authority of judge to be released from aforesaid conditional contract to Richard Tayler and to be permitted to marry with any other person with consent of her parents.

Signs with a mark.

2. Personal response of Margaret Osborne. [2] Read over 22 Jan 1602/3.

To the Additional Positions. [AP1-12]

AP1. That Thomasine Osborne and George Osborne are the parents of this respondent. For the rest does not believe anything in the article to be true.

AP2. That George Osborne would never give his consent that she should marry with Richard Tayler. For the rest does not believe anything in the article to be true.

AP3. Does not believe anything in the article to be true, saving that she believeth that both Richard and herself do well know that George Osborne would not consent that she should marry with him.

AP4. Does not believe anything in the article to be true.

AP5. Does not believe anything in the article to be true.

AP6. Does not believe anything in the article to be true.

AP7. That Richard Tayler did against her will take measure of her finger with a thread, one William Hoskin holding her hands violently and against her will; but to what purpose she cannot tell. Further she saith that Richard provided all these things mentioned in this article because he