Saith about three of the clock this afternoon this examinate and the said John Weston were drinking together at a house without the Eastgate within this City the name whereof this examinate saith he knoweth not but saith it was near the Saracen's Head, where being in some friendly and familiar talk the said John Weston desired this examinate that he would deliver unto him the same Weston a gold ring which this examinate had on his finger which this examinate yielded unto whereupon the said John Weston took a stone cup and filled the same with beer and into the same did put this examinate's ring and so drank of the same in the name of an health, which when he had done, he told this examinate that he had swallowed down the same ring: but this examinate thinking the same was but a shift to beguile him of his ring did with impurtenance required him the said Weston to deliver unto him his ring whereupon the same John Weston replied that he this examinate should not have his ring unless he would fight with him for the same and this examinate saith that he at the first refused to fight with him alleging that he the said Weston had odds of this examinate he having a rapier and this examinate only a short sword but the said Weston seeming not so to be satisfied offered to lend this examinate his rapier and to take this examinate's sword; whereof this examinate was willing and yielded to accept thereof, but he not standing to his word therein offered the same and presently withdrew the same offer urged him in very reproachful terms to go to the field with him which this examinate at length consented to and went with him to a field called the Hadlond where they fought in which affray this examinate hath both received and given some hurt and for recompense of his wing this examinate saith that after the said Weston was hurt he this examinate took from him the same Weston his rapier and cloak.
Depositions & Examinations
ZQSE 5/126
CRO
Theft
1599
Chester, Cheshire, England
Plaintiff
John Weston
male
Defendant
Simon Phillips
male
Willey, Shropshire, England
Signature
Witness
Event
Theft of a ring during a health and resulting fight
10 April 1599
Chester, Cheshire, England
Components
Company and drinking groups: male
Cheating and dishonesty
Theft
Fights and violence
Commercial hospitality
Inferred
Alcohol | Beer
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Inferred
Statement
10 April 1599
Simon Phillips