One day about the Spring of this past year 1665, William Powdrell and Richard Smith were walking together upon Mares green towards the pump house in Lower Peover and this deponent just followed them and heard them talking of the plaintiff Mr Thomas Deane and this deponent heard Powdrell say to Smith that Deane was an old whoremaster rascal... Before the commencement of this suit, this deponent heard the plaintiff (speaking of some former and other differences that were between him and the defendant Powdrell) say that one of them before these differences were ended would sit the worse for it on Mares green, or to that effect... Excepting the late differences that have been between the plaintiff and defendant, this deponent never knew or heard to the contrary but that the said Powdrell was an honest and quiet man amongst his neighbours and was always so accounted to be. The last year he was one of the chapelwardens of Peover.

One day this summer and presently after a former suit in this court betwixt plaintiff and defendant in this cause was ended, this deponent and Powdrell walking together at Mares green and talking of and concerning Mr Deane, Powdrell said Deane was well enough known by many a long time to have been an old whoremaster but they durst not speak it but for his part he durst and would do it or to that purpose. This deponent also saith that the same night after sentence was given in this court on the behalf of Powdrell against Deane this deponent and Powdrell were drinking together at Mr Hall's, at the Black Greyhound in Chester, and Powdrell much boasted of the victory he had got against Deane and said and swore he had got orders to cast them asunder and he would ring the great bell at their parting, and further said that Deane was an old whoremaster and many had thought as much by him but no body had cleared the blemish but he or to that effect, at which time this deponent's wife was present in the house and several other persons it being an inn house... The words predeposed spoken by the party interrogant at Chester was in Mr Henry Hall's kitchen where a great many people were coming and going and the occasion of Powdrell's coming thither at that time was this deponent was about going to London and Powdrell came to see him, and this deponent's wife went home to Peover with Powdrell and he carried her behind him... Saving for the late and present differences betwixt plaintiff and defendant, Powdrell hath the repute of an honest and peaceable man amongst his neighbours and was one of the chapelwardens of Peover the last year.

One day the last summer and as to the best of her remembrance about a week before midsummer at Henry Hall's house at Chester in the kitchen there this deponent and her husband and William Powdrell were all together, and Powdrell was bragging that he had that day cast Deane in this court and now he was William the Conqueror and he had left word with his partner to have them parted (meaning Deane and his maid Elizabeth Leicester) if they did not part themselves shortly or to that purpose, and talked much more about Deane, but this deponent being busied otherwise about making her ready to go home did not take any particular notice nor doth remember what it was that he said further... Powdrell hath the repute of a good honest and peaceable man amongst his neighbours saving for the differences that have been betwixt Mr Deane and him. He was Chapelwarden of Peover the last year.

One day the last summer at this deponent's house in Chester, William Powdrell and Richard Smith and his wife were drinking together and Powdrell was railing against some person but whom this deponent did not know till she was told by their hostler who stood by that he meant it by Mr Deane and his maid who had formerly been guests at this deponent's house, whereupon this deponent asked Powdrell what he knew by Mr Deane to whom he answered that he had now got an order to part him (Mr Deane) and his huswife (meaning his maid Elizabeth Leicester) and then in a railing and reviling manner in this deponent's apprehension, uttered words as if Mr Deane and Elizabeth had been nought together... The words predeposed were spoken in this deponent's kitchen in Forrest Street, Chester, her hostler and maid and Richard Smith and his wife [being present].

The plaintiff and defendant in this cause had both of them been guests and lodged at this deponent's house which William Powdrell knowing of, came one day since the beginning of the said suit to this deponent, (her servant and now contest Ann Harding being together with her) and Powdrell took occasion to speak of the suits and differences betwixt Mr Deane and him and speaking to Ann Harding said to this effect, [Nancy], I think I had best have thee examined in this suit, it may be he hath performed thee some kindness, to whom Ann answered that she never see anything by him but what was very civil, whereupon Powdrell replied that is very strange for he hath been an old whoremaster rogue, or he uttered words to that effect... The words predeposed were spoken at the hall table of this deponent's house in Forrest Street, Chester... She believes Powdrell is a good honest man and never heard any evil by him but for his behaviour amongst his neighbours she knoweth nothing... She hath heard Powdrell say that he was a Churchwarden that year.

One day since the suits and differences betwixt the plaintiff and defendant in this cause were begun, Powdrell at this deponent's master's house, at the end of the hall table, where Powdrell and her mistress were sat together, this deponent was filling them drink, at which time Powdrell asked this deponent if Captain Dean had never offered any incivility to her, to whom she answered that she never see any incivilness by him, or to that purpose, and upon that this deponent being tapster in the house was called away and did not stay to have any reply from him, but left her mistress and him together and what further discourse passed betwixt them this deponent took no heed being called to and fro in the house and to other company... She thinks it was before the last summer that William Powdrell asked the question predeposed... William being a guest and sometimes lodging at this respondent's house she never see or knew any thing but what was civil by him.