At the time when the falling out was between the parties litigant in this deponent's mother's (vizt Widow Thropp's) house in Chowbent, Edward Pomfrett was so much overseen in drink that this deponent doth conceive he was not sensible to understand and remember what words and passages were amongst the company at that time... This deponent doth well know that all the while that James Meadow and John Bradshaw were together in Widow Thropp's house as aforesaid... William Hatton was not at all in the room with them nor was he in their company while they were both together in that house... That at the time aforesaid there were some uncivil words amongst the parties arlate and amongst the rest he heard Bradshaw say that he thought James Meadow was a Cuckold, to whom Meadow presently replied that Bradshaw was a bankrout rogue and if this deponent had not held him the said Meadow would have struck the said Bradshaw... John Bradshaw is a civil peaceable man among his neighbours and of good conversation and commonly so accounted.
That at the time of the falling out between Meadow and Bradshaw at Widow Thropp's house this deponent was there, and did observe Pomfrett and Hatton so drunk both of them that he believes they could not well tell or remember what words and passages (especially for particular words) passed among them at that time... He was in the same room with William Hatton all the while that he was in Widow Thropp's house all the time predisposed, and this deponent says that the said Hatton was not in the company of the previous litigant while they were together in that house, but were in another room where they could not well hear nor understand what was spoke or said amongst them... After William Hatton was gone out of the aforesaid Widow Thropp's house this deponent went into the company of John Bradshaw and James Meadows but after he came into this company there were not uncivil words at all passed among them... John Bradshaw has a good repute among his neighbours for a peaceable man and is of good conversation and this deponent believes that he would not willingly [illegible] anyone in word or deed'.
About the 10th of October last past this deponent and John Bradshaw being drinking together in Widow Thropp's house in Chowbent within the parish of Leigh, some other neighbours that were there met and endeavoured to resolve some differences that at that time were betwixt the said Bradshaw and Meadows when and where the said Bradshaw did in a scandalous and reproachful manner say that the said James Meadows was a cuckold and that his wife Mary was a whore and used and spoke several uncivil words against the said James his wife there being then present within hearing William Hatton this deponent’s contest, James Thropp, Roger Rigby, and diverse others... He lives a mile and more from James and comes seldom in that neighbourhood.
Upon the 10th of October last past John Bradshaw did in a malicious manner at the house of Widow Thropp in Chowbent aforesaid by the fireplace in the said house within the parish of Leigh say and report that James Meadows was a cuckold and that his wife Mary was a whore, and that he would either beg him or desire him the country with several other uncivil words which he then uttered against the said James and his wife. At which time and place were present Edward Pomfrett his apprentice James Thropp Roger Rigby and many others... the words predeposed to be spoken by John Bradshaw was upon the 10th of October last past which to the best of his remembrance was a Thursday and about ten o'clock at night in Widow Thropp's house as is predeposed James Meadows and this deponent being together in the next room and hard by to the room where the said words were spoken... The words predeposed to be spoke by John Bradshaw against James Meadows and his wife were spoke upon Thursday at night the 10th October last past about 9 or 10 o'clock in the fire room of Widow Thropp's house in Chowbent the said James being at the same time in the same house also although in another room near adjoining.