In the beginning of hayseel last past Anno Domini 1635 one Thomas Hodgekyn of Newton Flotman told this deponent that not long before Mr Sherwood and he the said Hodgekyn had met at Bungay and played at tables for 12d a game and Mr Sherwood having the fortune to lose was desirous to play with the same Hodgekyn three games for 5s, to which Hodgekyn agreed and having won one 5s. and gotten two played once for the other 5s and very fair for the third Mr Sherwood snatched for the money and said he would make [illegible] Wolmer's wife lay her legs wider [than?] ever they were.
In the month of May last past or soon after one Thomas Hodgekyn of Newton Flotman being at this deponent's house then told his precontest William Frauncis that he the said Hodgekyn had not long before played at tables with Mr Sherwood at Bungay and had gotten 5s. of him the said Mr Sherwood and that thereupon Mr Sherwood said that he would lay Mother Wolmer's legs wider than ever he did.
This deponent by all the time articulate have lived and so do at this present to the next adjoining house of the articulate [Joseph] Estowe it being an alehouse in Bungay, to which house this deponent have divers and sundry times... observed Mr Sherwood to go unto and there to remain [illegible] some hours playing at tables and in that his place this deponent have often him swear by the name of God and divers other oaths which he cannot now remember... And more especially upon Good Friday last past when this deponent was in the company of Mr Sherwood at the house of Estowe and likewise observed Mr Sherwood to continue there by the space of two or three hours in the afternoon of the said day, Mr Sherwood for the most part playing at tables for drink; and there continued so long at that his play that this deponent believeth he resorted not to his parish church to read divine prayers that afternoon, he's being then and there upon the said Good Friday and in Mr Sherwood's company, his contest Mr Simon Selling and others.
Upon the third or fourth day of May last past this deponent being at the house of one John Pomfrett in Bungay, being an alehouse, did there see Mr Sherwood play two or three games at tables for money with one Thomas Hodgekin and there continued at play about half an hour or thereabouts.
This deponent have many and several times within the time articulate observed Mr Sherwood to resort to divers tippling houses and inns within the town of Bungay both early and late and more especially to the houses of Estowe and Pomfrett being both tippling houses in the town of Bungay where this deponent have often and sundry times been in Mr Sherwood's company and have observed him to have continued in the said houses at several times playing at tables by the space of the whole afternoon and often times two or three hours together and at such times in that his place have usually heard him swear by God and by his faith, those oaths being at such times very usual with him... And this deponent have often heard in the time aforesaid heard Mr Sherwood when he have been at play at Estowe's house in some chamber next the street and this deponent have been in the market place and on the other side of the street and so have divers others passing by have seen his earnest thereat and his loud talking... Upon Good Friday last past 1635 Mr Sherwood of this deponent's certain sight was the most part of the afternoon playing at tables and observing several others as players in the house of the foresaid Estowe being an alehouse, and continued there so long till the evening that he believeth he omitted to read prayers in his parish church... There was present in Mr Sherwood's company upon the said Good Friday with this deponent his contest John Dowsing and others... Joseph Estow and his wife... have and do keep an alehouse in Bungay to which Mr Sherwood [do] very frequently resort have been often and sundry times drinking and playing as predeposed and is so well affected to Estowe and his wife that this deponent about half a year since have heard him say that in the said house he would keep his shop or uphold the said house or words to that effect.