Deposition 1
Wiltshire
The examination of Robert Hayward (alias Sims) of Newton Tony in the county
aforesaid,
weaver, taken before Thomas Sadler,
esquire, and Thomas Jay, two of his Majesty's
Justices of the Peace for the county aforesaid the 27th of May 1622.
Who says that John Smith of the parish of Woodborough,
weaver, kept him this examinant company
in their Master Hapgood's house in Newton Tony in the county aforesaid both day and night
lodging
in one bed together, and taking their meat and drink together in the same Hapgood's house all this last week from
Sunday till Friday night last. At which time and a little before sunset, this examinant and the said Smith took their journey from thence and went to the
said Smith's house in Woodborough aforesaid, being about 14 miles between and they came there on the next Saturday in the morning
even a very little before the sun was up. And being demanded which way they went there, he says they kept the next way over the plain, and came not at any house
or village at all till they came into Manningford common and so to Woodborough, and there was no body else in their
company all the way but themselves. And when they were come to the said Smith's house, they found there his wife and three of his children viz. two boys and a little
girl of three years old, which said children were all in bed and his the said Smith's wife went presently away to Marlborough. and this examinant and
the said Smith betook themselves to their rest, lying down upon the bed in a little low chamber within the hall. And within an hour after,
certain
people, officers and others came there and did beset the house, calling upon the said Smith diverse and sundry times with a loud voice to open the doors and
let them in, but the said Smith like as this examinant lay still and made them no answer. Howbeit, this examinant for his part was willing (as he says) to have
opened the door but the said Smith would not suffer him, fearing (as he said) lest they had been some bayliff or officers that came there with process to arrest him
the said Smith. By means whereof this examinant and the said Smith would neither show themselves nor open the said doors. In which manner they so continued, and
the said people kept continual watch over them, till about one or two of the clock in the afternoon, what time they having got Mr Jeyes' warrant, broke open the doors
of the said Smith's house, came in and apprehended both the said Smith and him this examinant. And this examinant being demanded how often beside that time he had
been at the said Smith's house, he says never but twice which was once as he now remembers about a month or three weeks before, and another time before that
upon Shrove Sunday last. At which time he went there to know of the said Smith when he would come again to work at his Master Hapgood's house
in Newton Tony aforesaid because he had absented himself from there about the space of a month or three weeks before. And the other second time when he went there he went
in the company of the said Smith from Hapgood's house of purpose to have hired his brother Henry Smith's shop in Botwell a little
reaper from the said John Smith's house, but he did not then bargain with him for it. He utterly denies that ever he was an actor
or an accessory to the said John Smith in doing any such unlawful act of
pilling of sheep as they are accused, neither had they any such intent
or purpose for his part so to do.
Tho. Sadler
Deposition 2
Wiltshire
The examination of John Smyth of Newton Tony in the county aforesaid,
weaver,
taken as above.
He says that
he is a poor man and so much indebted as that he dares not tarry at home in his own house at Woodborough
with his wife and children, but was driven to seek abroad for work being a weaver by his trade; and being demanded where he was all this last week, he says
that upon Monday last, a little before night, he went
from his Mr William Hapgood's house of Newton Tony to speak
with his wife's brother, one Gilbert Townsend of Lymington, dwelling with Mr Button of Buckland farm there. And when he came there, his brother
was not there, wherefore he returned back again to his said Master Hapgood's house at Newton aforesaid upon the Friday following about noon where he stayed an hour
or two, and then went away with his fellow Robert Hayward home to his owne wife and house at Woodborough. And being demanded which way
they went, he says they kept the plain still till they came to Manningford, and there going through the town, the dogs barked very
much at them, wherefore they made haste home to his house and wife aforesaid. And when they came there it was about sunrise, and his wife was up and ready
to go to Marlborough market and there she went presently and this examinant having a purpose to return back
with the said Robert to his Mr Hapgood as soon as they had eaten somewhat but
sending his boy to buy them a halfpenny worth of milk who locking
the door and carrying the key with him, this examinant and the said Robert, laid them down on the bed in his said house thinking to take a little rest because they
were weary. Within a while after, his house was beset with officers and people he knows not how many, nor who they were, and although they knocked and called very much,
yet this examinant, partly because the boy was gone with the key but chiefly
fearing that they had been bayliffs or officers to have apprehended him,
he neither showed himself nor spoke to them but kept himself and the said Robert as close and as obscurely as they could. In which manner they continued and
the watch still guarded the house till about 12 of the clock that day and then they broke up the door upon them, and came in asking what other company he had with him,
to whom he answered that there was one more besides his children. Then they took them both and put them in the stocks till they brought them here this day. And this
examinant further says that
he has made his abode at Newton Tony aforesaid more then a
piece working all that time for the most part
at his weavers trade with the said Hapgood, saving in the harvest time and then he wrought with Mr Simon West. And saving that sometimes he went to his wife home to his house at
Woodborough and sometimes he went down to Cirencester market and
bought wool for his wife,
sometimes a weight at a time, sometimes more, sometimes less, sometimes flice and sometimes
fell wool and still he brought it home at his back, sometimes in a bag and
sometimes in a sheet as his wife would give him to carry it in. And being demanded how often the said Robert Hayward went with him from his Mr Hapgood's he says he knows
not but has forgotten it. Nevertheless, he thinks he was there with him two or three times but he answers not when nor about what time, he says the first occasion of their
acquaintance was upon the said Haywards coming to the said Hapgood's
about Christmas last to seek work, having wrought there
before (as his Master said) before this examinant's first coming there. He utterly denies that ever he
pulled or pilled any wool from any
sheep's backs, neither was he ever acquainted with any such dealings.
Tho. Sadler
Thomas Jeaye
