This deponent hath known Peter Bell about six or seven months last past and knoweth that in the said time he was and is now commonly reputed Vicar of Great Finborough in Suffolk... Mr Peter Bell came to his this deponent's house in Old Newton in the county of Suffolk about six or seven weeks before last Lammas day... in the evening about the shutting in of the day, and that Peter Bell told this deponent that he was going to Mr Gibson's at Stowmarket (where his usual abode then was but could not find the way being about three miles distant and therefore desired to have lodging at this deponent's house, and this deponent saith that he seeing Peter Bell much in drink (as he conceived) gave leave that he should lodge at his house and did lead Peter Bell up to the chamber, undressed him and put him to bed, Peter Bell then to be so much drunk or overtaken with wine or beer that he could not well go or undress himself. And this deponent saith that soon after Peter Bell was in bed, his this deponent with his maid servant went to put out the horse of Mr Bell to grass, but being gone no further than his stable he heard his children shrieking, whereupon returning into his house he found his wife in her shift being out of her bed holding of the snack of the door which parted the chamber and the chamber where Mr Peter Bell lay who, as his wife told him, did ask her to come to him, but she telling him that no such thing was to be done, he then swore by his God that he would come to her, and that Peter Bell did rise out of his bed and tried to force open her chamber door, but that she hearing him went out of her bed and held the snack of the door and hindered him from coming in: and being affrighted at Mr Bell's carriage had caused her children to cry out to call him this deponent to her rescue; and this deponent saith that his wife was very much affrighted thereat and would not venture to lie in that chamber that night for fear Mr Bell should make a further attempt upon her (as she feared) intending to be unchaste with her, and thereupon caused her bed to be removed into a low chamber and laid on the ground and laid there that night... whereupon she got great hurt (as this deponent believeth by the fright and and is since dead) and this deponent saith that he this deponent after this relation of the premises by his wife, went to Mr Bell to his bedside and charged him with such his rudeness and expostulated with him but that Mr Bell made as if he had been in sleep and gave no answer to what was said to him but that by the disorder of the clothes this deponent did believe Mr Bell had been out of his bed, but Mr Bell did not then confess anything to this deponent: and this deponent further saith that in the morning following which was on the Thursday he this deponent charged Mr Bell with such his disorders and miscarriages, to which Mr Bell made answer to this deponent that he did confess he the said Peter was much overtaken with drink the night before and what he did do he did not well know, but if he were faulty in anything and did behave himself unseemly he did beg this deponent's pardon; but he this deponent told Mr Peter Bell that he would not excuse for his misdemeanours and the mischief he might have done to his wife by the fright he put her in for ten pounds, to which Mr Bell replied, Come to me at Mr Gibson's house in Stowmarket and we will agree and I will give you satisfaction; and that thereupon this deponent did go to Mr Peter Bell the Thursday following to Mr Gibson's house, and in a chamber in Mr Gibson's house he this deponent and Mr Bell did agree that Mr Bell should pay this deponent fifteen shillings and that upon consideration thereof he this deponent should not further prosecute Mr Bell for the said misdemeanours in his house, to which agreement being drawn by Mr Bell in writing Mr Bell set to his hand and this deponent set to his mark, and received the note that Mr Bell did afterwards pay this deponent the said fifteen shillings. whereupon this deponent gave the note to Mr Bell, which note having this deponent's mark to it as Mr Bell read it to this deponent in Mr Gibson's house (there being then none present but Mr Bell and this deponent) doth contain the aforesaid agreement and nothing else, and that Mr Bell hath no other note signed with this deponent's mark... Peter Bell by such his miscarriages predeposed of and others hath gotten an ill name and lessened his good reputation in the parish of Great Finborough and the neighbouring parishes amongst the soberest sort of persons... His debts paid he is worth £200... He set his mark to no note which Mr Bell hath but that before mentioned in his deposition, which as Mr Bell read it to this deponent (they being then alone) did contain the before mentioned agreement and nothing more.
She hath known Mr Peter Bell for about seven months since and saith that he hath been all the said time and now is commonly reputed Vicar of Finborough... She this deponent did live with William Turner as a hired servant for two years and a half from Michaelmas last past, and that she remembreth that some time before hayseal last past... Mr Peter Bell came to the dwelling house of William Turner situate in Old Newton in Suffolk about three miles distant from Stowmarket where Mr Bell then boarded with one Mr Gibson, that the day he came was on the Wednesday about the close of the day, and she saith that Mr Bell enquired the way to Stowmarket and said he could not find the way thither, and this deponent saith that Mr Bell was so drunk or overcome with drinking strong liquors that he could not well set his horse or keep himself right on his back, nor go without staggering, and that Mr Bell's clothes were dirty which was done as this deponent believeth by a fall from his horse, which she believeth for that one John Squire of Newton told and spake in this deponent's hearing that Mr Bell called him that evening to help him up of his horse being then down of his horse and not able to get up and that Jo: Squire did help him up upon his horse: and she further saith this deponent's master William Turner and his wife seeing Mr Bell so overcome with drink did at his request give him leave to come into their house and lodge there: and that Mr Bell did soon after his coming in tell where he had been and what company he had been drinking with; and this deponent saith that soon after her master and dame did lead Mr Bell (being not able by his having drunk too much to go) up to a chamber in their house, and her master did undress him and lay him into bed and put up the clothes about him: and this deponent saith that then William Turner and this deponent went to put out the horse of Mr Bell to grass, and soon after their being out of the house this deponent heard the children of William Turner shrieking out that their father should come to their mother, who going to her found his wife in a great fright saying to her husband that Mr Bell did ask her to come to him to his bed which when she denied Mr Bell did swear by his God that then he would come to her and did come out of his bed and try to open her chamber door but that she held the snack, and this deponent saith that William Turner going into the chamber of Mr Bell found Mr Bell in bed but his clothes on his bed disordered as he had been out of bed, and that William Turner told Mr Bell he thought he had taken a civil person into his house but he see it was otherwise to which Mr Bell said, What's the matter, I know nothing. And made as if he settled himself to sleep and thereupon no more was said to him that night: but that in a great fright the beds wherein William and his wife lay and children and this deponent were removed from the chamber next him and the doors barred from him: and this deponent saith that on the Thursday the day following in the morning William Turner told Mr Bell that he had rather have given him ten pounds than to have had the fright he put his family into the night before by his uncivil carriages, to which Mr Bell answered that he was then in drink and if he did anything uncivil he was sorry for it: and this deponent further saith that after Mr Bell was convented before the Lord Bishop of Norwich for these things vizt about a week after Michaelmas last this deponent did hear Mr Bell persuade the wife of William Turner at her house in Newton not to appear and witness his miscarriages at her house against him for that if she did he should lose his living and be undone, and that Anne the wife of William Turner replied, If you... go on in such courses you will not only lose your living but your soul too; and that the said Anne is since dead; and further saith that she hath heard William Turner say that he had 15s. of mr Bell to conceal or not to prosecute him for such his misdemeanours, and further saith that she doth believe Mr Bell hath much lessened his reputation amongst sober persons for these his miscarriages... She hath little but her work to live on and what her father or friends will give her.
In the month of May last past... Anne the wife of William Turner of old Newton came to the house of him this deponent in Stowmarket on a Thursday and told this deponent that the night before she had a parson lay at her house, one Mr Bell of Finborough, who came to her house so drunk and overcome with strong liquors that he could not go but they were forced to help him up to his chamber and put him to bed and that soon after Peter Bell (her husband being gone out to put Mr Bell's horse to grass) called to her the said Anne to come to him, which she denying he then swore that then he would come to her and that Mr Bell forthwith get out of his bed and attempt to come to her but that she hearing him did get out of her own bed and hold the snack of the door against him, and that he also mistaking and going to the hinges of the door instead of the forepart did not get into her chamber, and that her children shrieking out her husband came to her rescue and so Bell went to his bed again Anne told the same story the week following to this deponent and the producent and also again to the producent and this deponent at this depoennt's house the 18th of October last past, where and when she also said that her husband and she were so much affrighted at Mr Bell's carriages that they removed their beds that night and lay in their parlour being remote from the chamber Mr Bell lay in... On Friday the 26th of October last past about 3 of the clock in the afternoon he this deponent had occasion to go to the King's Arms in Stowmarket to speak with one Mr Bixleye who told this deponent that he had been drinking with one Mr Bell ... and this deponent saith that presently after he saw Mr Peter Bell come out of the inn called the King's Arms in Stowmarket and that he had a very great colour in his face so much overcome with drink that he could not go right or without much reeling and staggering in the streets... This deponent doth know that Peter Bell by reason of his loose and debauched carriage is very scandalous and hath given great offence to all sober persons in the parish of great Finborough, Stowmarket and the parishes adjacent.
She this deponent was sister to Anne the wife of William Turner... and doth remember that about six months since... Anne Turner came to the house of this deponent and amongst other discourse asked this deponent whether she had heard the news, the deponent asked what news, Anne answered, I had a parson lay at my house some while since... who i thought had been a civil person but it proved otherwise; he was very much overtaken with drink when he came in so that we were forced to lead him to his bed and undress him, he being not able to help himself; but that after he had been a small time in bed (my husband and maid being gone out) Peter Bell called to me to come to him, and swore that if I would not come to him he would come to me; and Anne further said that Mr Peter Bell did rise out of his bed and came to her the said Anne's bedchamber door and attempted to come into her chamber but that she held the snack of the door and he the said Peter also went to the hinges instead of the forepart of the door. But that Anne shrieking out her husband and maid came to her rescue which Mr Peter bell perceiving returned to his bed again; and that they were very much affrighted thereat and to secure themselves were forced to remove their beds into the parlour.
This deponent was upon the watch in Stowmarket with his contest Robert Syer one night about a month before Michaelmas last past... and that about ten of the clock the same night they see a light in the public house or inn called the Greyhound in Stowmarket, whereupon to see what orders were kept there and having a desire to ddrink, they went into the said house, and that then and there in the parlour of the said house he this deponent did see Mr Peter Bell leaning on the table and vomiting and spewing up what was in his stomach, which said vomiting or spewing this deponent doth believe was caused by his excessive drinking of strong liquors; and this deponent saith, that he left mr Bell in the inn being then a little past ten of the clock at night, which this deponent knoweth the clock striking that number whilst they were in that house... For the before mentioned and other his disorders Mr Bell hath a very bad report amongst all his sober neighbours... He is worth £40 in goods, his debts deducted.
He this deponent with Henry Theobald were upon the watch in Stowmarket about a month before Michaelmas last past, and that about ten of the clock at night the same night he this deponent with Henry Theobald went into the inn or tavern commonly called the Greyhound Inn in Stowmarket and that then and there he this deponent see Mr Bell sitting in the parlour in the said house or inn; and this deponent saith that he this deponent following Henry Theobald out of the hall towards the parlour to satisfy Mr Bell what was the time of the night, Henry being at the parlour door turned back to this deponent and told him that the parson... is felling oaks or used some such expression, and turned this deponent aside and they both went out of the house, when Henry told this deponent plainly that Peter Bell was spewing... By reason of the scandalous courses of Mr Bell and his ill life he leads this deponent doth know that the report is very bad of him amongst all his sober neighbours and that he hath given great scandal to his Christian neighbours... He is worth in goods £30, his debts deducted.
He this deponent doth keep the inn or alehouse commonly called the White Horse in Haughley and hath kept it ever since Our Lady Day last past... In the spring time last on the day the Reverend the Archdeacon of Sudbury kept his general court at Woolpit in the evening of the same day about seven of the clock there came into this deponent's house in Haughley one Francis Ralph of Stowmarket who told this deponent that he had been that day along with Mr Peter Bell to the court at Woolpit and had been drinking with Mr Bell and had fallen off his horse and had broken his collar bone: and this deponent... then asked Francis Ralph where Mr Bell was, who replied as I think behind with the horses; and soon after Mr Bell came riding on one horse and brought the other with him... and he this deponent called to Mr Bell to take his companion along with him, whereupon Mr Bell came into this deponent's house and asked Francis Ralph for his cloak bag, Ralph answering he had it not but that he had tied it behind Mr Bell: Mr Bell affirming that Ralph had the cloak bag and brought it to this deponent's house and that this deponent should answer for it; whereupon this deponent did tell Mr Bell that he was drunk and did not [illegible] consider of things for that Francis Ralph had broken his shoulder and came to this deponent's house on foot and therefore could not bring the cloak bag... Mr Bell was at the said time much intoxicated with strong drink so that he could neither go right or give rational answer to a question: and his clothes were almost everywhere besmirched and daubed with dirt and mire... Soon after his coming in Mr Bell departed from this deponent's house and as he hath heard afterwards the cloak bag was found on Woolpit Heath by one Robert Beverlye his precontest... He doth know that Peter Bell by his evil life and scandalous conversation, hath given great scandal to his profession and is very ill thought of by his honest, sober and Christian neighbours... This respondent was tenant to Mr [Richard] Osborne till St Michael last past... He is worth £10 his debts paid.
He this deponent did live in Haughley New Street for nine months from Michaelmas last past and that he doth well remember that on the day the Reverend the Archdeacon of Sudbury kept his last general court at Woolpit in Suffolk being in the spring time last past he this deponent in the evening of the same day see one Francis Ralph of Stowmarket at his contest's house John Francis of Haughley being the inn or alehouse called the White Horse: and this deponent saith that Francis Ralph had broken his collar bone by a fall from his horse (as he said in coming from Woolpit to Haughley, where he saith he the said Ralph had been to wait on Mr Peter Bell; and this deponent saith that soon after Mr Bell came by the said house riding on one horse and leading another and that John Francis calling to Mr Bell to take his companion with him (meaning Francis Ralph) Mr Bell did alight there, and had much discourse with Francis Ralph and John Francis about a portmantle which was lost, and did belong to Mr Bell and which Mr Bell charged Francis Ralph and John Francis to have; and this deponent saith that Mr Peter Bell did behave himself very rudely in the said house being much overcome or disguised with drink and that Peter did swear twice by the holy names of God; and also saith that he well remembreth that the clothes of Peter Bell were very much... besmirched with dirt... He doth believe that by these and several other his disorders in his life Mr Bell have made himself very scandalous and an offence to many of his sober Christian neighbours... He is worth £40 his debts paid.