One day lately, and after Mrs Burganey's churching, Thomas Halliwell and Mrs Burganey and this deponent were together in this deponent's house, and Thomas Halliwell said that he was told that John Vernon should say, that if Jane Price did not own this (meaning the arlate Ellen Williams for her bastard, for they were at that time discoursing together about these differences) for her bastard he would make her find another or hang for't or to that effect… At the time predeposed when they were at this deponent's house, Mrs Burganey was wishing and moving for an agreement amongst them, and that his [Halliwell's] wife would acknowledge herself in fault for the words which she had spoke against Jane Price, but his answer was, he thought she was in no fault in it that, for that she had heard it from another, and then seemed to be willing to have all differences amongst them made away, and wished he might never see neither his wife nor children if he wished them any harm, which makes this respondent believe that he did not speak the words arlate in a malicious or defamatory way.
At Hugh Banester's house in Pulford, one day within the time arlate, and a little after this deponent was last churched, this deponent and her precontest and Thomas Halliwell were together talking of the differences that were amongst them, and Thomas then said that John Vernon had said he would either make Jane Price own yonder young woman for her bastard (meaning Ellen Williams whom they were then speaking of) or find an other child (or to that purpose) or he would hang her… She doth not believe that ever John Vernon spoke the words by her predeposed, for that she was one time by when he was taxed with them, and did utterly deny them, saying that he (meaning Thomas Halliwell) should not father his lies upon him, for he disowned it, and never said it, and also said that he would call upon as he went home and tell him so himself, and this deponent was afterwards told that he did call upon him and tell him so, and that they went to the alehouse together upon it.
At the time when Thomas Halliwell spoke the words, by her predeposed, at Hugh Banester's house, this deponent did not ask Thomas whether he had heard that John Vernon had said these words. But after he had said that John Vernon did say that he would make Jane Price own that young woman for her bastard, or find another child, or he would hang her, then this deponent did ask Thomas Halliwell whether he would hang her if he could, to which he answered not I, I wish I may never go home to see my wife and children if I wish them any harm, but if the law will force me to do it I must do it or do as well as I can, or to that purpose.
He hath known the defendants from his childhood, and was for five years together, ended about 10 or 11 years ago, tabled in the house with them, and in all that time, nor at any time else see or observed any immodest or uncivil behaviour between them...
About five or six and twenty years ago one Jane Dutton now Jane Hughs told this deponent that Bessie Harry or some one else but who he doth not certainly remember, told her that one morning early she went into Richard Halliwell's house for fire, and see Jane Price in her smock standing betwixt his legs. And about three weeks ago this deponent's maid having been at Wrexham told them she heard it there that Jane Price had had 2 or 3 shrifts, and about a week after that, Dorothy Williams (this deponent's sister in law, where this deponent's maid had had that report) came to this deponent's house, and he questioned her about it, and she told him that her husband told her that Jane had had a shrift or two, and had taken some drinks, and that he could say more if he were called in question, but what truths are in these reports he knows not.
About or above ten years ago, this deponent was by when Richard Halliwell told one Katherine Burroughs that she and her husband had in four days time drunk the drawing of three measures of malt, to which she answered, and they say that you kiss your maid, to which he made no reply but went away… It is commonly said and reported in that neighbourhood that Richard Halliwell and Jane Price have been too familiar together.