Margaret Reed and Margaret Howhett
January–February 1569/70 · Latin and English
Manuscript reading with unresolved procedural signs.
Edition details and citation
Sources
Durham University Library, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, ff.144v,145v,146r; date extracts ff.143r,145r,145v
Texts included
Three entries, three explicitly partial date-heading extracts and Raine’s printed abstract.
Edition
1.0
Prepared
2026-10-25
Reading conventions
Square brackets mark expansions, missing text or editorial descriptions; question marks mark tentative readings. Original text and English readings remain separate.
Suggested citation
Witches in Early Modern England, Margaret Reed and Margaret Howhett, reading edition, 25 October 2026, section title and source folio or page.
Source rights
Repository and published-source rights remain with their respective holders; no blanket reuse licence is assigned.
Defamation entry on folio 144 verso
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.144v
Expanded manuscript transcription; unresolved readings marked.
English translation and modern reading
Margaret Reed, widow, against Margaret Howhett. In a defamation cause, namely that she was a horse goodmother water witch. The female defendant appeared and [denies?]. For proof. [Return notation unresolved.]
Original transcription in Latin and English
[Party column] margaret Red vid[ua] con[tra] margaret howhett [Main entry] in ca[us]a diffamac[ionis] viz yt sh[e] was a horse goodmother [interlinear insertion: water] wych comp[ar]uit rea et neg[at?] ad proband[um] [return notation unresolved]
Reed against Howhett on folio 145 verso
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.145v
Expanded manuscript transcription; unresolved readings marked.
English translation
Margaret Reed, widow, against Margaret Howhett. [Let it stand over?]
Latin transcription
margaret Red vid[ua] con[tra] margaret howhett st[et?]
Reciprocal listing on folio 146 recto
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.146r
Expanded manuscript transcription; unresolved readings marked.
English translation
Margaret Howhett against Margaret Reed, widow. [Let it stand over?]
Latin transcription
margaret howhett con[tra] margaret Red vid[ua] [short notation: st[et?]]
January governing date extract
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.143r
Partial manuscript date heading
English translation
Acts of the court, 31 January 1569.
Latin transcription
Act[a] Cur[ie] xxxjº Januarij 1569º
Next court date extract
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.145r
Partial manuscript date heading
English translation
Acts of the court […] 1 February in the year 1569.
Latin transcription
Act[a] Cur[ie] […] primo ffeb[ruarij] aº 1569º
February governing date extract
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, f.145v
Partial manuscript date heading
English translation
Tuesday, 21 February […] in the year of the Lord 1569.
Latin transcription
die martis xxjº ffeb[ruarij] […] aº d[omi]ni 1569º
Complete printed abstract in Raine
James Raine, ed., Depositions and Other Ecclesiastical Proceedings from the Courts of Durham, Extending from 1311 to the Reign of Elizabeth, Surtees Society 21 (London: J. B. Nichols and Son, 1845), p.91, no.CXX.
Printed abstract
Modern English reading
120. Defamation. Margaret Reed against Margaret Howhett, in a defamation cause, namely that she was a horse goodmother water witch. [B]
Original English text
CXX. Defamatio. Margaret Reed against Margaret Howhett, in causa diff. viz. that she was a horse goodmother water wych. [B]
About this case and its sources
Reference
Durham University Library, DDR/EJ/CCA/3/2, ff.144v,145v,146r; date extracts ff.143r,145r,145v
Source languages
Latin and English
Court
Durham ecclesiastical court records
Case
Defamation; a reciprocal listing is also represented
Parties
Margaret Reed or Red, described as a widow; Margaret Howhett
Record dates
January–February 1569/70; headings retain 1569 as written, with the year beginning on 25 March
Coverage
Three case entries, three partial date headings and Raine’s printed abstract
Outcome
Not established; procedural signs and a denial contraction remain unresolved
Texts in this edition
Three entries, three explicitly partial date-heading extracts and Raine’s printed abstract.
Text status
Manuscript reading with unresolved procedural signs.
Edition
25 October 2026 · version 1.0
How to cite
Witches in Early Modern England, Margaret Reed and Margaret Howhett, reading edition, 25 October 2026, section title and source folio or page.
Citations attached to the represented texts; saved repository catalogue information where explicitly identified.