About two months since, he being at work in his shop, Blofield came to him and asked if he would mend a barrow wheel for him, which this deponent said he was willing to do as for anyone else, at which time Barbara Woods was present in and this deponent's wife at the shop door when Barbara (first blushing) said to Blofield, What did you say of me yesterday. Nothing, answered he. Yes, says she, you said I was a bastard. And don't you know that, replied he. To which the party producent said, Bear witness Mr Humphrey, what he says of me. You need not, answered Blofield, have a witness for 'tis provable to all the town and neighbourhood that you are a bastard. Thereby defaming the ashes and memory of her deceased mother (but whether her name was Faith Woods, this deponent knows not)... About a month or 5 weeks since, he was met in the place of Holt by the ministrant and his wife who asked him (this respondent) to go and drink. He went accordingly along with them then to the sign of the Bear in the said town, where they continued 3 or 4 hours. He had before been drinking very hard and was intoxicated therewith and did not well know what he said or did. He was asked by the ministrant [Blofield] if this respondent heard him call the producent bastard or say she was a bastard. At that time (by reason of his being disguised with liquor) he did own that he had not heard him say so. But notwithstanding that, this respondent has deposed in his deposition now in his cool and sober sense and upon his oath is nothing but fact and truth.
Depositions & Examinations
DN/DEP 60/64 (unfol.) Woods c Blofield
NRO
Defamation
31 May 1727
Holt, Norfolk, England
Plaintiff
Barbara Woods
female
Defendant
Robert Blofield
male
Witness
John Humphrey
male
23
Spouse
Margaret Humphrey
female
Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England
2
Signature
Event
Made drunk by defendant, Humphrey denies having heard slander
April 1627
Bear, Holt, Norfolk, England
Components
Commercial hospitality
Legal proceedings
Mentioned Only
Drunkenness and excessive consumption
Inducing drunkenness
Alcohol | Unspecified
Setting
Drinking house: unspecified
Location of Event
Statement
31 May 1727
John Humphrey