‹ E-CIPM 22-358: JOHN MITFORD ›

The jurors say that John Mitford was born at Newcastle upon Tyne and baptised at St Nicholas’s church there, and was aged 21 years on 8 April last. They know because of the following recollections. John Broun , 45 years and more, on the day of John’s birth saw John Wedryngton, chevalier , and Robert Lisle, chevalier , in the church negotiating an agreement regarding disputes between them. An indenture dated the same day recording the agreement was given to him as trustee, at the same time, to be kept on certain conditions and it still remains in his keeping. John Cotom , ‘barker’, 48 years and more, bought 4 unfinished cow-skins from Robert Flesshewer the same time John was carried to the church for baptism. John Parlebyn , 50 years and more, that day sold to William Mitford an ell of light cloth (vna vlna panni leuij) called ‘Clathe of lake’ for a ‘Crissomcloth’ to be made for John Mitford. John Colman , 44 years and more, saw John Wedryngton , the godfather, give John Mitford a silver gilt goblet after he was baptised. Thomas Fox , ‘skynner’, 47 years and more, the day that John was baptised sold to Robert Lisle, chevalier , grandfather of John, at Newcastle upon Tyne for 100s. a fur of pure grey in which John was wrapped when carried to church for baptism. Robert Vere , 53 years and more, that day, after John was baptised, met Henry Percy, knight , at the door [? of the church] [ms worn], who asked him who was that infant then at the font, and he told him that it was the son of William Mitford , at which Henry was exceedingly joyful. John Talbot , 51 years and more, saw Thomas Galon, parish priest, baptise John. William Gray , 53 years and more, the day that John was baptised heard Robert Kirkeby, chaplain , celebrating a mass of St Mary at the Holy Trinity altar in the church. Immediately after this mass he and Robert Kirkeby , talking together at this altar, saw John Mitford carried to the font for baptism. Robert Kirkeby asked him whose son this was, to which he responded that it was the son of William Mitford . The priest said to him ‘Deo gracias because now William Mitford has an heir of his name.’ John Dunstan , 46 years and more, the day that John was baptised saw John Mitford, knight , John’s grandfather, meet a woman in the churchyard carrying John Mitford , the son, to church for baptism, and he said to the woman ‘May I ask you to show me the infant?’, which she did, and he kissed him and said ‘God bless you, my son, and may He give you health and strength on earth’ (dixit ei filii mi deus te benedicat et det tibi et bonam vigenciam in terra). John Scaleby , 49 years and more, carried a basin and ewer of silver from William Mitford ’s house in ?... Joncher in Newcastle upon Tyne to the church, to provide water for John’s godfather and godmother to wash their hands after John was baptised. Thomas Hautewesyll , 48 years and more, was in church when John was baptised and saw a chaplain called Thomas Galon baptise John in the font. John fell from the chaplain’s hands into the font and John Wedryngton, knight , John’s godfather, then said to this chaplain, ‘Prest, prest, fond be thi hened’. William Stodhyrd , 44 years and more, coming towards the church the day that John was baptised, met many men and women joyfully coming from church and among them there was a woman carrying John. He asked them who that child was and they reported that he was the son of William Mitford .