Matthew Herivel wastes his time and money, 1685

More amorous antics from the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Court, transcribed by Edith Carey, Library 41B. He got her in the end!

4 February, 1685/6.

Sieur Matthew Herivel complained to the Court that Marie La Paire, who was betrothed to him by verbal promise in the most solemn way possible according to the rules of the island, had broken her faith. She and Thomas De Jersey had sneaked out of the island and gone to Jersey, where they had shown letters and a forged certificate they claimed was signed by the Guernsey minister Jacques Guille; and by these means they had got married there. What is more, Sieur Herivel complained, he had come back from Newfoundland, wasting thus a great deal of money and time, not only because he had wanted to keep his promise and get married to the girl he was engaged to, but because he had actually been begged to return as quickly as possible in letters from Marie's father and brother. And in addition to that, Marie had kept items that he had given to her as engagement presents (gages). De Jersey and La Paire were ordered to appear before the Court.

18 February 1685/6.

Before Sieur Thomas De Jersey and Marie La Paire would engage in defending themselves against Matthew Herivel's accusations, they brought a complaint against the Vice-Dean, on account of his family relationship with their accuser, and, taking into account that their marriage had been solemnized in another Dean's jurisdiction, the Court ordered that Matthew Herivel address his complaints to the Bishop of Winchester. De Jersey and La Paire to face charges of incontinence.

18 November 1686. Sieur Thomas De Jersey and his wife brought before the Court by the officials of the Castel parish for incontinence and for having married without permission. However, since they expressed remorse, and their wish to be received back into the Church, the usual punishment was commuted to a fine to be paid to the poor of the parish. [EC: This is the first occasion of commutation in favour of a fine I have noticed. Pierre Etienne of same date is the second. EC also remarks that Marie eventually married Matthew Herivel as her second husband. See Mariage encombré, No. 74] [Original in French.]