APPENDIX 1
THE IMPRECATION OF EDWARD BROUGHTON, ESQ.
From Thomas Pennant's "Tours in Wales in 1773" - 2 Vol.
Pages 323-324
MARCHWIEL HALL is at a small distance from the church. It was long possessed by a younger branch of the Broughton of Broughton. Just before the restoration, Edward Broughton Esq. happened to be confined in the Gare-house for his loyalty. He fell in love with the daughter of the keeper, one Wike, and bound himself to her by a bond* of most uncommon imprecations. He married her, and dying without issue, bequeathed his estate to his wife's brother, the descendants of whom enjoyed it till within these twenty years.
*See Appendix
Page 486 ADDITIONS No. VI
Imprecation of Edward Broughton Esq. (see page 323).
"I EDWARD BROUGHTON, for love, in ye presence of ye great
God of heaven and earth, who knows the secrets of all hearts, and
the sincerity of mine at this time, I doe, upon premeditation,
and not rashly, implore the God of spirits to power down his
vengance upon me and my posterity for ever, not in any ordinary
manner, but in the highest nature, in giving the divell power
over our souls and bodyes, and that we consume upon the earth,
rott away alive, and be damned; and yet my name and person shall
stinck upon earth and molest ye nostrills of men; and that I may
be a fearful spectacle to all perfidous men; and that I may never
walk upon the earth, but with dreadful hideous shapes about me,
& terrified conscience; and that I may linger and not die,
but, as Cain, may have a mark sett upon me that men may shun me
& that I may outlive all my posterity; & that they may be
all extinct and damn'd; and that the divell may have a good tytle
to my body and soule; and take possession of me heare on earth,
& carry me away alive; and that I may never appear before
God, but to receive ye dreadfull sentence, Depart from me you
cursed, into everlasting fire, to be tormented by the divell
& his angels. "If I do not utterly forbear all rash
swearing, & all manner of drinking, and all manner of
debauchery whatsoever; of it ever I am guilty fo finding fault
with anything my intended wife doe or say; or if ever I undertake
any business, or any thing, how great a concern soever, or small,
without the knowledge, assent, consent, advice of Mary Weeks, mu
intended wife, and is to be Mary Broughton when this shall
effect; or if she shall make any request unto me in her
life-time, it shall be of force never to be violated by me,
although I surviving her, concerning body & soule, Life or
fortune, children or friends, how unreasonable soever; or if
there shall happen any difference betwixt her and me, as there
has been between me and my first wife, then, if I am the cause of
it, lett these and all the plagues imaginable fall on me, &
all the plagues God can inflict; or if should arise any quarrell,
and she the only cause, yet, when I remember hereof, or she these
vows, I most heartily pass by, forgive, and endeavour to pacifie,
& use all the art imaginable to please here, & if she
could impose more, I would most willingly doe it; or else, may
all those plagues, if there were greater curses or imprecacons, I
heartily pray that they may be powered downe, as the fail fall on
the thirsty ground, and upon my posterity for ever: & this I
doe heartily and voluntarily, and with serious consideration and
premediation, having taken a long time to consider this; and most
readily sign it with my owne hand, & seal it with my own
seale.
April 12, 1660. 'EDWARD BROUGHTON' "
If you have comments, alterations, corrections, amendments etc. you can contact me by using the feedback form which you can access from the Home Page.
