In the 17th and 18th centuries cases of fornication were occasionally brought before local church courts. One such case, about an accusation of adultery in the village of Great Catworth, was brought before the Archdeacon's court in Huntingdon in 1700.
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The first page of a witness statement in the case.
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John Ingram and Elizabeth Quick were accused of having "a lewd and wicked correspondence and familiarity together" which had lasted for six years. One night towards the end of 1699 Isaac Quick, Elizabeth's husband, came home "aboute 10 a clock at night where haveing knocked at the doore some little time, his wife came to the doore, and opened the same with her clothes loose aboute her, as if she had just come out of bed." Isaac walked into the house and found John Ingram "on his bed where his wife usually lye."
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'..she woud run a knife in him'
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Isaac took Ingram's expensive hat and then went into the kitchen, where he sat smoking his pipe until 4.00am. Then his wife (who had been "in bed with the said Ingram as he supposed") entered the kitchen "and told the said Isaack Quick her husband that if he did not helpe John Ingram to his hat she woud run a knife in him, whereupon he told her where the hat was, and by and by the said John Ingram came thru the Kitchen and ask'd Isaack Qick what time of day it was, who replyed it was time for honest men to be at home..."
Source:
The original of this document is held at Huntingdonshire Archives, document reference A251/14/16.