Verdict in the matter of Nicholas Warren (1701)

UK National Archives PROB 11/462, pp. 348-349.

Transcript and translation by John W. McCoy (RealMac[at]aol[dot]com), November 1, 2013.

Provided by Carol Gertner

Verdict in the matter of Nicholas Warren

(Margin: Sententia pro confirmationem testamenti Nicholai Warren defuncti.)

In Dei nomine Amen, auditis visis et intellectis ac plenarie et mature discussis per nos Richardum Raines militem et legum doctorem Curiae Prerogativae Cantuariensis magistrum costodem sive commissarium legitime constitutum, meritis et cirsumstanciis cuiusdam negotii probationis per testes veri et ultimi testamenti sive ultimae voluntatis Nicholai Warren nuper de Rew in comitatu Devoniae senioris defuncti habentis dum vixit et mortis suae tempore bona jura sive credita in diversis dioecesibus sive peculiaribus jurisdictionibus sufficientia ad fundandum jurisdictionem Curiae Praerogativae Cantuariensis quod coram nobis in judicio inter Joannam Warren viduam et relictam et executricem in eodem testamento nominatam dicti defuncti partem huiusmodi negotium promoventem ex una, et Nicholaum Warren consobrinum et proximum consanguineum dicti defuncti partem contra quam idem negotium promovetur parte qui prefatae Joannae Warren per eius procuratorem coram nobis in judicio legitime comparentibus et sententiam ferri et justitiam fieri pro parte sua prefato vero Nicholao Warren citato intimato trino vice preconizato ? et nulle modo comparente sed se contumaciter absentente et pro contumacia pronunciata, Rimatoque primitus per nos toto et integro processu coram nobis in hujusmodi negotio habito et facto ac diligenter recensito, servatisque per nos de jure in hac parte servandis ad nostrae sententiae diffinitivae sive nostri finalis decreti in hoc negotio ferendum prolationem sic duximus procedendum fore et procedimus in hunc qui sequitur modum, Quia per acta inactitata deducta allegata exhibita proposita pariter et probata in huiusmodi negotio comperimus luculenter partem prefatae Johanna Warren intentionem suam in quibusdam Allegatione articulata et testamento alias ex eius parte in hoc negotio datis exhibitis et admissis et penes registrum huius Curiae remanentibus deductam, qua quidem allegationem et testamentum pro hic lectis et insertis habemus et haberi volumus sufficienter et ad plenum quoad hic inferius pronunciandum ? fundasse et probasse, idcirco nos Richardus Raines miles et legum doctor judex antedictus Christi nomine primitus invocato ac ipsum solum Deum oculis nostris praeponentes et habentes de que et cum consilio jurisperitorum cum quibus in hac parte communicarimus mature que deliberavimus praenominatum Nicholaum Warren defunctum dum vixit mentis compotem et in sua sana existentem testamentum suum in huiusmodi negotio ex parte prefata Joanna Warren ut prefertur exhibitum gerens datum undecimo die Novembris Anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo suam in continens ultimam voluntatem rite et legitime fecisse condidisse et declarasse ominaque et singular voluisse legasse dedisse et disposuisse in omnibus et per omnia prout in eodem testamento continentur ac eiusdem sui testamenti prefatam Joannam Warren execturicem constituisse et fecisse proque viribus valore et validitate dicti testamenti ad omnem juris effectum pronunciamus decernimus et declaramus necnon probatione in dicti testamenti dicti Nicholai Warren defuncti nomine dictae Johannae Warren executricis in eodem testamento nominatae in communi forma facti ad omnem juris effectum ratificamus et confirmamus per hanc nostram sententiam diffinitivam sive hoc nostrum finale decretum quam sive quod ferimus et promulgamus in his scriptis.

Lecta lata et promultaga fuit haec sententia diffinitiva teria sessione termini Pascuam die Jovis vicesimo secundo die mensis Maii Anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo primo per venerabilum et egregium virum dominum Richardum Raines militem legum doctorem Curiae Praerogativae Cantuariensis magistrum custodem sive commissarium legitime constitutum in aula communi Hospitii dominorum advocatorum de Arcubus London ad petitionem Magistri Thomae Tyllott notarii publice procuratoris originalis supranominatae Joannae Warren ac in poenam supranominati Nicholai Warren citati intimati trina vice preconizati et nullo modo compartulis sed se contumaciter absentantis et pro contumace pronunciati super cuius sententiae prolatione dictus Tyllott requisivit me Thomam Welham notarium publicum dictae Curiae Registrarii deputatum tunc et ibidem presentem unum vel plura instrumentum seu instrumenta exinde conficere ac testes inferius nominatos eorum testimonium de super perhibere presentibus tunc et ibidem venerabilibus viris Richardo Pagitt et Nathaniele Lloyd legum respective doctoribus dictae Curiae advocatis necnon Magistris Johanne Hill Francisco Nixon et Petro Barrett notariis publicis dictae Curiae procuratoribus testibus super prolatione sententiae praedictae.

Translation:

(Margin: Verdict for the confirmation of the testament of Nicholas Warren deceased.)

In the name of God, Amen. We, Richard Raines, knight and doctor of laws of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Magistrate Guardian or Commissar legitimately constituted, having heard, seen, and understood, and fully and in a timely manner investigated the merits and circumstances of a certain matter of the probate of a true and ultimate testament or last will of Nicholas Warren recently of Rew in the County of Devon senior deceased, while he lived and at the time of his death of good reputation and credit in divers dioceses or peculiar jurisdictions sufficient to require the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, such that before us in judgment between Joan Warren widow and relict and the executrix named in that testament of the said deceased, the party moving this matter of the first part, and Nicholas Warren first cousin and next of kin of the said deceased, the party against whom the same matter is moved, the party of the said Joan Warren by their attorney appearing before us in lawful Court and calling for a verdict and that justice be done in favor of her party by the said same Nicholas Warren summoned three times by the crier and not appearing, but by his absence in contempt and ruled in contempt, and we having first examined the whole and entire process before us in this matter and having diligently reviewed it, and having observed the law applicable to our definitive verdict or our final decree to be made in this matter, have thus proposed to proceed and do proceed in the following manner, That by the things enacted, dealt with, alleged, exhibited, proposed, proved, and also confessed in this matter, we conclude decisively for the party of the said Joan Warren in their intention in a certain allegation and testament previously presented and exhibited before us in this matter, and remaining in the possession of the Registrar of this Court, the which certain allegation and testament, here read and inserted, we hold and we wish to hold sufficiently and in full to have been in like manner established and proved, as here below to be pronounced, whereupon we Richard Raines, knight and doctor of laws, judge, having first beforehand invoked the name of Christ and placing and having God alone before our eyes, and by and with the counsel of experts of the law with whom in this regard we have fully communicated and deliberated, that the above named Nicholas Warren deceased, being while he lived of sound and settled mind, made his testament, by the party of the said Joan Warren in this matter previously exhibited, bearing the date of November 11, 1700, containing his last will, duly and legally made, composed, and declared, and he willed, bequeathed, and disposed in all and for all that may be contained in the same testament, and as well in his same testament constituted and made the said Joan Warren the executrix, because of which we pronounce, discern, and declare for all the worth and validity of the said testament to all effect of law as well as the probate of the said testament of the said Nicholas Warren deceased in the name of the said Joan Warren executrix name in the said testament made in the usual form to all effect of law, and we ratify and confirm by this our definitive verdict or this our final decree, which we present and publish in these writings.

This definitive verdict has been read, reported, and published in the third session of the Easter term, Thursday, May 22, 1701 by the Venerable and Honorable Lord Richard Raines, knight, doctor of laws of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Magistrate Guardian or Commissar legitimately constituted in the common hall of Doctors' Commons, London, upon the petition of Magistrate Thomas Tyllott notary public original attorney of the above named Joan Warren and in penalty of the above named Nicholas Warren summoned three times by the crier and not appears but by his absence in contempt and declared in contempt, upon which pronouncement of verdict the said Tyllott requested me Thomas Welham notary public of the said Court, deputy Registrar, then and there present to prepare one or more instrument or instruments and and further from the witnesses named below to obtain their testimony upon this matter, present then and there the Venerable Richard Pagitt and Nathaniel Lloyd respectively doctors of laws, attorneys of the said Court, as well as Magistrates John Nill, Francis Nixon, and Peter Barrett notaries public attorneys of the said Court, witnesses for the pronouncement of the said verdict.

Brian Randell, 2 Nov 2013