That for these four years last past the arlate William Rich hath been… a poor man and of small credit or estimation within the parish of Walberswick for that he is and hath been for all the said time commonly reputed, noted, and taken to be an alehouse haunter a tippler and one that will be often overtaken with drink of the certain knowledge of this deponent being a parishioner of Walberswick… and within one year last past have seen the said Rich overtaken with drinking more than he could well bear so… he hath disgraced himself to be overtaken with drink both by his… railing as he went and also by the faltering of his tongue when he hath spoken so as he could not pronounce his words now place them so well as at other times when he hath been or more sobriety… That this deponent four years since or thereabouts.

That the arlate William Rich for four years last past is commonly accounted reputed and taken to be an alehouse haunter a common tippler and a common drunkard amongst the better and greater part of the parishioners of Walberswick of his certain knowledge being a parishioner of small credit and hath… within this two years last past seen the said Rich so drunken by taking over much drink that he could not guide himself but staggered and reeled as he went and hath in those drunken fits beaten his wife and spoiled his goods and committed many other outrageous acts to the great offence of his neighbours… That in the month of September last past in… 1604 the arlate William Rich did behave himself so unruly in the house of the arlate Thomas who kept a victualing house by throwing of pots about the house that he had a pot return thrown at him by the arlate Humfrey Thomas which lighting on his face had three or four teeth beaten out of his head for this deponent and others of the neighbours hearing what noise was raised in the house by those his troublesome actions did go unto the said Thomas his house and finding the said Rich then bleeding laboured to… having 8s awarded him to be paid by the said Thomas for that his honour was not therewith suffered but did swear that he would make business between the said Thomas and John Orwell so long as he lived and saith that by that is troublesome carriage some persons present were in danger to have been stained of the certain sight and knowledge of this deponent and being then and there present. [And] also… saying that a fortnight after that stir made the said Rich in this deponent’s sight did perceive Robert Orwell to fall out with some sailors who were drinking in the house of the same Thomas insomuch as the said Robert drawing his dagger upon them had an arm broken from an oar which he received from one of the sailors and the said Rich was so far gone with drink that this deponent was informed to lead him home to his house… That since the said Rich received the hurt aforesaid himself and Prudence his wife have been maliciously bent against the said Thomas and procured a warrant from the Justice against him for his appearance at Sessions where he was committed and fined and that notwithstanding the said Rich have not ceased to revile and call the said Thomas knave and by other names of reproach in this deponent’s hearing.

That the arlate William Rich hath for these two years last past been commonly accounted reputed noted and taken amongst the great and better sort of the parishioners of Walberswick to be a haunter of alehouses taverns and tippling houses a common brawler and wrangler and one that will be overtaken with drink of his certain knowledge… and hath often seen the said Richard bear and behave himself in very contentious manner amongst his neighbours by brawling and railing and quarrelling so that his neighbours noting his carriage have said and affirmed that he was drunken overtaken with drink.

That William Rich arlate is commonly reputed and taken to be a poor man a haunter of alehouses and tippling houses and hath been in this deponent’s sight a busy fellow… amongst his neighbours of his certain knowledge having heard diverse of the town’s men of Walberswick affirm and report… And saith that he did hear the said Rich abuse Mr Engley his contest in Walberswick in words and behaved himself in such sort as this deponent did take him to be somewhat overtaken with beer.

That the arlate William Rich for two years last past have been commonly accounted reputed and taken in the parish of Walberswick amongst the great and better sort of the parishioners of Walberswick to be a poor man… and a haunter of alehouses and tippling houses and a very contentious person amongst his neighbours and a common drunkard and for such a one he hath heard him commonly noted in the same parish and saith that he hath in the time aforesaid seen the said Rich overtaken with drink in such sort as he hath staggered as he went and staggered with such as came near him.

That the arlate Wiliam Rich… was and is commonly accounted reputed and taken to be a poor man of small credit or estimation amongst his neighbours a common drunkard a wrangler and contentious person a stirrer of discord and for such a one he is commonly reputed and taken amongst the great and better part of the parishioners of Walberswick of his certain knowledge… and this deponent hath seen the said Rich in the said time vizt within this year last past often times frequent the alehouse both upon the holiday Sundays and week days and hath seen him so drunk in the parish that he could not guide himself but hath been led home to his own house by his wife and servant. And did quarrel with Alexander Harper in the highway and did beat him in this deponent’s sight and presence by which his behaviour he is very scandalous and offensive to the best of the parishioners of Walberswick.

That for these two years last past before this his examination the arlate William Rich… hath been commonly accounted reputed and taken to be a haunter of alehouses and tippling houses a poor man of small credit and estimation a common drunkard a quarreller and contentious person amongst the great and better sort of the parishioners of Walberswick… and saith that this deponent hath often within these twelve months last seen the said Rich so disguised with drink as he could neither go well without staggering and reeling neither pronounce his words nor speak as at other times of his better sobriety and hath in these fits in this deponent’s sight fought and quarrelled with divers persons and saith that he did by his false suggestions and informations… stir upon Robert Orwell to fight and quarrel in the house of the said Thomas Walberswick and a great broil began when one sailor with an oar struck the said Orwell… he broke his arm of the sight of this deponent… and that this deponent was obliged by the said Orwell to assist him for the apprehension of the parties that had so wounded him… That two years since this deponent lodging at some times in the house of the arlate Thomas was present in the said house of the arlate Thomas was present in the said house in Walberswick when the arlate Rich came into the house and having played… would have played longer being late in the night and for that the wife of the said Thomas told him he should not play there, he said he would calling her by words of reproach and found fault with the pots and swore he would throw them against the ground by which his carriage and noise by him made the said Thomas sitting then in a chair asleep was waked and pots being thrown about the house between them the said Thomas threw one at the said Rich which lighting on his face did break out three teeth out of his head for which fault the said Rich did call the said Thomas before the Justices of the County and ever since both the said Rich and his wife have continued great adversaries unto the said Thomas of his certain knowledge.