Anne Cooke and Jane Kay — CP.H.1505
CP.H.1505 · Latin and English
Nicholas Daniell gives evidence on 5 July 1622
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; image 2
English modern reading and translated Latin formulas
Nicholas Daniell of Dringhouses, about 40 [exact jurisdiction/office wording unresolved], produced, admitted, sworn and examined on additional allegations for Jane Kay, does not know Anne Cooke or Jane Kay. [The complete Latin introduction remains partly unread.] Around Candlemas last, Peter Bateman and Martin Coake, husband of the woman called Anne Coake in this testimony, had this witness summoned to a house [house of Christopher Cawood at Dringhouses; some linking words unresolved]. Bateman told him of an ecclesiastical suit by Anne Coake against Jane Kay concerning slanderous words said by Kay against Coake. They wanted him to be a witness and depose that he had heard Kay call Coake a witch, offering to compensate him. He answered that he knew neither the parties nor the place where the words were alleged to have been spoken, having never been to Almondbury, and refused involvement. Bateman said they had three sworn witnesses but lacked two others. He further says that in June, two or three weeks before his deposition, Christopher Cawood said he had been asked by Bateman and Coake to dissuade the witness from coming to court, offering twenty shillings [the remaining exact proposal, threatened testimony and altered wording remain unread]. He affirms his evidence and gives credibility answers [Latin partly unresolved].
Original Latin and English expanded transcription
Quinto Julij 1622. Chr: Holdsworth. Nicholaus Daniell de Dringhouses [contracted jurisdiction/office words] aetatis suae xl annorum [contracted admission and allegation wording] ex parte Janae Kay contra Annam Coake [partly unread] [admitted, sworn and examined; several Latin contractions remain unread] [contracted clause] quod dictam Annam Coake nec dictam Janam Kay [deleted word] novit. Super eadem allegatione examinatus haec sibi fore [unread contraction] that at or aboute Candlemas now last past Peter Bateman Martin Coake husband of the articulate Anne Coake [deleted phrase: were in the ...] [... mentioned in this allegation were in the house of one] Christopher Cawood situate at the Dringhouses [remaining wording partly unread] [contracted clause] to which place then the said Peter Bateman & Martin Coake caused this examinate to be sent for who came accordingly some short while comming thither the said Bateman began to acquaint this ex[amina]te that there was a suite commenced in the ecclesiasticall Courte by the articulate Anne Coake against one Jane Kay touching some slaunderous speaches which were spoken by the said Jane Kay against the said Anne Coake as they affirme to this examinate and desired this examinate [deleted words] to be a witness [insertion:] and depose that he heard the said Jane Kay call the said Anne Coake witche and said that they would content him for his paynes Whereupon he this ex[amina]te answered & told them that he neither knew the parties nor the place where the wordes alledged by them should be spoken for that he never was at Almondbury at any tyme this ex[amina]te [unread contraction] denied to have any dealing in that busines the said Bateman then affirmeing to this ex[amina]te that they had three sworne witnesses to depose therein but lacked other two. And he further saith that in June last aboute a fortnight or three weekes since the articulate Christopher Cawood but for his [contracted clause] [deleted phrase] [inserted phrase] said that he was intreated with the said Bateman & Coake to disswade this ex[amina]te from comming to the Courte and offered him [insertion unread] this ex[amina]te xx s[hillings] to [unread] & told him that if he should be called he would testifie the [unread word] that & there [unread words] this ex[amina]te [deleted words] & [unread words] Et aliter nescit deponere Et ulterius dicit quod praedeposita sua sunt vera quod non est doctus instructus aut salariatus nec consanguineus aut affinis [contracted ending] [damaged bottom ending unread].
Christopher Cawood gives evidence on 7 July 1622
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; image 3 left
English modern reading and translated Latin formulas
Christopher Cawood [contracted Latin forename provisionally expanded], of Dringhouses, about 36 [precise office and introduction partly unread] does not know the parties. In June last, Martin Coake, husband of Anne Coake, came to him and said Nicholas Daniell was to come to court as a witness against Anne Coake. Coake asked this witness to dissuade Daniell and persuade him to stay away from home that day. He asked the witness to give Daniell twenty shillings, which he offered accordingly, but Daniell refused. [Several contracted linking words and the precise Latin credibility ending remain unresolved.]
Original Latin and English expanded transcription
vij Julij 1622 Chr: Holdsworth [Christoferus?] Cawood de Dringhouses diocesis Ebor [contracted forename expansion provisional; surname compared with catalogue] aetatis suae xxxvj annorum [contracted admission words] [contracted clause] dictam Annam Coake [partly unread] dictam Janam Kay non novit. Super eadem allegatione examinatus [contracted words] dicit That in June now last past a more certaine tyme he remembreth not Martin Coake husband of the articulate Anne Coake came to this ex[amina]te [place unread] and told him that Nicholas Daniell mentioned in this allegation was to come to this Courte to be a witness against the said Anne Coake as [unread] the day mentioned in this allegation for avoiding which this said Martine Coake desired this examinate to dissuade him the said Nicholas and to intreat him to absent himselfe from home that day and for that purpose & desired this ex[amina]te to give him xx s[hillings] as he offered to give him accordingly but he refused to accept it Et [contracted clause] praedeposita sua sunt vera quod non est doctus instructus nec consanguineus aut affinis [contracted clause] nec [contracted clause] inimicus [contracted ending].
Docket identifying the witness papers
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; image 4 left
English modern reading and translated Latin formulas
Docket: witnesses; Cooke and Kay. Repository marks are later archival additions, not a judgment.
Original Latin and English expanded transcription
testes Cooke & Kay [repository stamp and pencil shelfmark]
Kay’s allegation concerning attempts to procure testimony
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; image 4 right
English modern reading and translated Latin formulas
The pleading alleges that Bateman and Martin Coake, Anne Cooke's husband, combined to procure witnesses by improper indirect means to testify against Kay. Around February last, they allegedly sent for Nicholas Daniell near York and tried to procure him to say he heard Kay call Anne Coake a witch, offering payment. Daniell allegedly replied that he knew neither parties nor place and had never been to Almondbury. The pleading says Bateman replied that it did not matter, the suit was of little weight, and they already had four witnesses but needed two more. That number differs from the first officer's reported three; retain the discrepancy. The pleading further alleges they feared discovery of this conduct and asked Christopher Cawood to persuade Daniell to absent himself; an offered sum and some of the words remain unread. [The complete opening and closing Latin clauses remain untranslated.]
Original Latin and English expanded transcription
[Opening Latin, approximately five lines, concerning credibility and production of witnesses; partly unread] [clause naming Peter Bateman and Martin Coake, husband of Anne Coke; surrounding contractions unread] [approximately three further lines introducing combination to procure testimony] that the said Peter Bateman [together with] Martin Coake husband of the articulate Anne Coke these divers and sundry times plotted and combined together to procure their witnesses by sinister and indirect dealing to depose in this cause on the behalfe of the said Anne Coke against the said Jane Kay and to say that they did heare her the said Kay call the said Coake witch Nam [unread Latin linking words] [insertion partly unread] that the said Peter Bateman together with the said Martin Coake in or about the moneth of Ffebruarie nowe last past came to the Dringhouses neare to the Cittie of yorke and sent for one Nicholas Daniell to come to the house of one Christopher Cawood situate in Dringhouses aforesaid and in a most [unread word] and unchristian manner did indeavour to corrupte and procure him to come and be a witnes in the said cause and to say that he had heard the said Jane Kay call the said Anne Coake witch and that they would content him for his paines whereunto he answered that he did neither knowe the parties nor the place where the wordes should be spoken for that he never was at Almondbury whereupon the said Bateman replied and said that there was noe matter if he would goe he should be contented for it was a suite of noe great weight and then said that they had procured fower witnesses to depose therein but lacked other two [Latin clause partly unread] in the moneth of June nowe last past the said Peter Bateman and Martin Coake fearing that their wicked and ungodly practises should be discovered did send unto Christopher Cawood of Dringhouses aforesaid and intreated him to perswade the aforesaid Nich[olas] Daniell to absent himselfe upon hearing [unread phrase] of the said moneth of June last past least he should be examined to speake a truth and discover their wicked practises and that the said Cawood did thereupon send for the said Daniell and offered him a given sum [altered phrase unread] if he would [unread] whereunto he refused [contracted words] [four-line Latin prayer/reservation unread].
Request to compel the two witnesses
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; image 5 left
English translation
The request asks that Nicholas Daniell and Christopher Cawood be compelled to testify. [The contracted Latin terms and reservation concerning fees remain partly unread; this is a partial rendering, not an actual court order.]
Original Latin expanded transcription
Nicolaum Daniell [contracted words] per vos [unread] et offici[unread] [approximately eight lines requesting an order compelling Daniell and Cawood, with a fee reservation, not fully read].
Additional articles dated 12 April 1622 and concluding prayer
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, CP.H.1505; images 5 right–7
English modern reading and translated Latin formulas
Opening and article 1: Kay advances additional objections to the credibility of Peter Bateman, Richard Wood, Anne Crosland and Thomas Candie, produced for Cooke. [The full Latin grounds and procedural recital remain unread; this is a description of the scope, not their full translation.] Article 2 alleges Bateman lives at Holmfirth, [distance from Almondbury cancelled and revised; replacement partly unread]; is poor, disreputable and a hired bailiff; and fosters disputes among neighbours. [A few words describing conduct and the closing formula remain unread.] These are a party's hostile allegations, not independently verified biographical facts. Article 3 alleges hostility, threatened speech involving Kay's husband, intimacy with Cooke's cause and repeated offers to testify if she commenced the suit. [The altered clauses and opening words remain partly unread.] Article 4 alleges Wood is Cooke's father, dependent on Cooke and her husband, weak in understanding and hearing, of bad behaviour and suspected misdemeanours. [One behavioural descriptor and contractions remain unresolved.] The father relationship is pleaded here; it requires corroboration before a firm person-relationship assertion. Article 5 alleges Thomas Candie is a stranger in Almondbury, living at Wakefield, poor, disreputable and liable to be induced to depose falsely. These characterisations remain hostile allegations, not established biography. Article 6 alleges Bateman and Candie did not know Kay by face or see her at the alleged utterance, and that both, with Wood, were in another house some twenty yards away. This is an objection to their ability to identify/hear the exchange, not proof of where each stood. Article 7 denies admitting the alleged defamatory words and alternatively pleads provocation: Cooke called Kay a witch and accused her of bewitching Parkin's wife in Anne Crosland’s presence. [The precise Latin reference to the earlier deposition/interrogatory remains unread.] Article 8 alleges the four opposing witnesses testified falsely that Kay called Cooke a witch or said 'go witch as ye are' [one alternative word unresolved]. It says the exchange occurred once, with other men and women of good standing closer to Kay, who would have heard her. It presents her actual reply as 'go, thou looks more like a witch than I,' following Cooke's accusation about Parkin's wife. [The concluding proof formula is not fully read.] Article 9 alleges public notoriety and fame of the foregoing in Almondbury and nearby places. Image 7 concludes with a request concerning rejection of the opposing evidence and admission of these matters [full legal wording unresolved and not fully translated].
Original Latin and English expanded transcription
12o Aprilis 1622. [approximately nine-line Latin opening, partly unread: additional matter for Jane Kay concerning witnesses produced for Anne Cooke; links to interrogatories and previous exceptions] 1. Imprimis [contracted formula] Quod Petrus Bateman Ricardus Wood Anna Crosland et Thomas Candie testes [contracted clause] per partem dictae Annae Coke in hac causa [contracted oath and examination clauses] [approximately ten lines of Latin alleging unworthiness of credit, poverty and discrepant evidence, partly unread]. 2. Item [contracted formula] that the aforesaid Peter Bateman a pretended witnes in this cause as aforesaid at the time of his production swearing and examination therein and before and since did and [unread word] doth dwell at Holmfirth [deleted: xx myles; revised distance partly unread] distant from Almondbury, a very poore man of lewde and disorderly life and conversation and a [deleted word] man of noe credit or reputation [unread word] mercenarie baliff hired only to serve proces a man much addicted to some [unread word] and disputation and to breed and maintaine quarrells amongst neighbours Et [contracted ending]. 3. Item [contracted formula] that the said Peter Bateman was and is [unread] [altered clause alleging hostility and threatening speeches to Kay's husband] [unread words] and an intimate of the said Anne Cooke in the prosecution of this suite and did divers times [unread word] offer himselfe to be deposed therein if the said Anne Cooke would [image 6 left:] begin the same and [unread word] divers and sundry times sollicited this cause [unread] [approximately one further line, unread] Et [contracted ending]. 4. Item [contracted formula] that the said Richard Wood a pretended witnes in this cause produced sworne and examined was and is father of the said Anne Cooke, a very poore man kept & maintained by the said Anne Cooke and her husband being altogether infirme and weake in his understanding and hearing [a man of noughtie and lewde [unread word] and one that hath beene] vehemently suspected of divers misdemeanours Et [contracted ending]. 5. Item [contracted formula] that Thomas Candie another pretended witnes in this cause was and yet a stranger in Almondbury Dwelling in Wakefield far distant from thence, a very poore [man?] of lewde [unread] and disorderly life and conversation and one that may easely be drawne to depose an untruth Et [contracted ending]. 6. Item [contracted formula] that the said Peter Bateman and Thomas Candie pretended witnesses aforesaid in this cause produced sworne and examined at the supposed time of speaking the pretended wordes diffamatorie in this cause mentioned and likewise at the time of their production swearing and examination therein were and yet are meere strangers to the said Jane Kay neither did they nor yet doe knowe her so much as by face neither they the said Bateman or Candie see her the said Jane at the supposed time of speaking the pretended wordes diffamatorie in this cause by them deposed [unread phrase] them but both they and the foresaid Richard Wood were in another house distant the space of twentie yardes from the place where the pretended wordes diffamatorie were spoken Et [contracted ending]. 7. Item [contracted formula] that in case the said Jane Kay did or spoke [unread phrase] wordes diffamatorie in this cause mentioned quod non fatetur pars ista sed [Latin denial/reservation partly unread] yet notwithstanding the said Jane Kay was fowly provoked thereunto by divers opprobrious scandalous and diffamatorie speaches uttered by the said Anne Cooke against her the said Jane Kay [contracted continuation] that at the time of speaking [image 6 right:] the pretended wordes diffamatorie [insertion unread] by her the said Jane Kay, the said Anne Cooke had fowly called her the said Jane Kay witch and charged her that she had bewitched one Parkins wife in the presence of Anne Crosland a pretended witnesse produced in this cause on the behalfe of the said Anne Cooke prout [Latin reference to Crosland's deposition/interrogatories partly unread] [three further Latin lines referring to the relevant answer and its scope, partly unread]. 8. Item [contracted formula] that the said Peter Bateman Richard Wood Anne Crosland and Thomas Candie pretended witnesses as aforesaid in saying and deposing that the said Jane Kay called the said Anne Cooke witch or said unto her goe witch as ye are [unread word] witche have therein deposed most falsely and untruly Nam [unread Latin words] pars ista [unread] at the supposed time and place of speaking the pretended wordes diffamatorie mentioned in the depositions of the said pretended witnesses there was only one and not oftener at which time and place there were divers other persons both men and women of good accompte conversant with this Jane Kay and standing much nearer unto her then all or any of the said pretended witnesses who did well note and marke what wordes the said Jane then did then utter and speake to the said Anne Cooke and coulde not but have heard what wordes were then uttered by her which were these following and noe other viz the said Anne Cooke calling the said Jane Kay witche and telling her that she had bewitched one Parkins wife she the said Jane Kay replied and said, goe, thou lookes more like a witche then I [Latin proof and time-place formula, about four lines, partly unread]. 9. Item [contracted formula] Quod praemissa omnia et singula [unread] sunt vera publica notoria manifesta [unread] et famosa in dicta parochia de Almondbury alijsque locis vicinis Et [contracted ending]. Quare [contracted words] et [unread] non obstantibus [contracted clause] hinc facta fide ex parte praedictae Janae Kay [contracted words] petitioni [unread] obstacione et [unread] dictae Annae Cooke [contracted words] [approximately three further lines, partly unread, asking rejection/admission of matter as law requires].
About this case and its sources
Reference
CP.H.1505
Repository
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York
Court
York ecclesiastical cause; catalogue court field undefined
Case
Witchcraft defamation; witness objections and alleged interference
Record dates
12 April, 5 July and 7 July 1622; catalogue range 12 April–5 July 1622
Surviving material
Three catalogued pieces, seven images; depositions, allegation, request and additional articles. No original libel or sentence recorded.
Languages
Latin and English
Parties
Anne Cooke [Coake; Coke] and Jane Kay [Key]. Manuscript describes Anne’s underlying action and Jane’s objections; catalogue party list labels Jane plaintiff and Anne defendant, conflicting with its abstract.
Other people
Nicholas Daniell and Christopher Cawood, deponents; Martin Coake, named as Anne’s husband; Peter Bateman, Richard Wood, Anne Crosland and Thomas Candie, challenged witnesses; Chr: Holdsworth, subscription; Parkin and unnamed wife; Jane’s unnamed husband
Outcome
Unknown; no surviving sentence
Coverage
Seven images represent three catalogued pieces. Six paired units cover two July depositions, docket, allegation, compulsion request and nine additional articles with prayer. Contracted legal clauses and altered wording remain partly unread; English renderings of gaps are partial. No libel or sentence survives. Reciprocal proceedings, catalogue role conflicts and 5/7 July date discrepancy remain visible.
Edition
27 October 2026, version 1.0; available-source edition for review
Reading conventions
English precedes the original Latin or mixed-language text. Source spelling is retained. Square brackets mark expansions, uncertainty, cancellations and unread writing; gap descriptions are not manuscript wording. English readings are partial where the underlying clauses remain unread. Image positions are not folios. Allegations, denials and reported testimony remain distinct from findings.
Suggested citation
Kay–Cooke witness-objection proceedings, CP.H.1505, reading edition version 1.0, 27 October 2026; Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York.