Women’s Worlds in Seventeenth-Century England by Patricia Crawford & Laura Gowing

Author:Patricia Crawford & Laura Gowing
Language: eng
Format: epub

RAPE, ASSAULTS, AND ATTEMPTS

5.16 ‘A simple body’: Agnes Clement, 1609

Agnes Clement, a husbandman's wife from Midsomer Norton in Somerset, reported her assault by a man she knew to the quarter sessions in April 1609. A note at the foot of the document recorded: ‘he hath attempted other women for the like: which shall be proved’.

Somerset Quarter Sessions Rolls, Somerset Archives, Q/SR 3/1/10 (19 April 1609).

The examination of Agnes Clement the wife of John Clement of Midsomer Norton in the county of Somerset husbandman

Who saith that between Midsummer and St James tide last, John Peyrce thelder of Midsomer Norton aforesaid, sent for this examinant by a boy of his to request her to come presently to his house to winnow whilst that the wind did serve which she then refused. Whereupon the said John Peyrce sent for her again, within a quarter of an hour after. At which time, she this examinant went presently to his dwelling house, where the said Peyrce was, she saying unto him I am now come to winnow your corn. But the said John Peyrce, then presently took his privy parts in hand, and informed her to take the same in her hand, striving with her, for the use of her body. And further this examinant saith that the said John Peyrce was too strong for her, and with long striving did with force use her body against her will, throwing her against a board, in such violent manner, that he brake the skin of her hand. And this examinant crying out, that he was the utter undoing and spoil of her, she saying that she was but a simple body for any such matter: Who answered that he did account of her to be as fit for such a purpose, as the best lady in the land and willed her to hold her peace, and said, thou durst not know what is good for thine self, who hath to do with me, and also further saith that the said John Peyrce sent for her again within some fortnight or three weeks after, by the same boy, that she this examinant should come again unto his uncle Peyrce, who would be very angry, he said, if she came not. But this examinant refused to go, her husband demanded of her, why she went not, who answered she would not go any more unto him, but the cause wherefore, she was loath to discover. And being troubled in mind and conscience, did afterwards confess it, first to a friend of hers, named goodwife Miller, desiring to know of her, what was left to be done in it, who advised her to speak the truth and no more. But afterwards this examinant saith, she could not choose but make it known to her husband how wickedly the said Peyrce had used her and taken her against her will.

5.17 Resistance with all her strength: Joan Brown, c. 1601

Joan Brown testified in the prosecution of Thomas Hellyer for illicit sex with a number of unmarried women in Lottisham, near Datchett, Somerset.

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