Modernized Spelling Transcription
23 June 1592
On the libel given on the part of
Anne Smyth against Jacob (James) Guy.
Deposition 1.1
Jacob Shackleford of Bradley,
weaver, where he was born, around 50 years old.
Free witness etc. who says that he knows the litigant parties well.
To 1 he refers himself to the law.
To 2 he deposes and says that upon the Friday
before Whitsunday last past (he recalls and otherwise he does not recall the time)
this deponent by occasi brought home to the said Ann Smith's
dwelling house in Preston Candover a piece of cloth which he w
had weaved for her.
And the said Ann Smith was not within, but her maid went to her presently and advertised her of this deponents
being there. And in the time whilst this deponent tarried there for her coming, he did look out
at the window and there p did see the said James Guy
being at hedging in his ground
over right the vicarage gate. And did hear him, the said James, in earnest communication and chiding with ann
the said Ann Smith (as this deponent verily believes) it was the said Ann Smith, for he did not see
her till she came into her house. And amongst other speeches this deponent did then hear the said Guy
utter and speak to the said Ann Smith as he believes and as he has before said, S the term and
word
'Strumpet'. But he cannot tell whether he said 'Thow art a
strumpet' or 'go like a strumpet',
he gave no great heed thereto because he was not desired to bear witness thereto. And then
immediately she, the said Ann Smith, came into this deponent's her house and told
this deponent unto her maidens that she was
called
'strumpet' by the said Guy and was never so called before. And was she then asked this
deponent by her if he heard not him say so. And this deponent answered her 'Indeed such a word I heard'. But
he believes that the said chiding and words from the said Guy to the was so uttered unto the said Ann
Smith For which he remembers knows by that he well did know the manner of her speech and
otherwise he cannot depose.
To 3 he cannot depose.
To 4 he says it is true.
To 5 he refers himself to the law.
To the final he says that what he has already deposed is true etc.
H ^his mark^
Deposition 2.1
Christian Marten alias Capper of Chilton Candover, around 20 years old, free born in
Hyde Street near Winchester. Free witness etc. who says that she knows the litigant parties well.
To 1 she refers herself to the law.
To 2 she deposes and says that upon
Easter eve about two days before
either the feast of Easter or Whitsontide last
past, she recalls and otherwise she does not recall the time, the said James Guy
being at hedging at his meadow over right
the vicarage gate, and the said Ann Smith then being in her garden near unto that place, she the said
Ann Smith used these speeches in effect to the said Guy, viz: 'how chance you have burst my sow's leg?' used some speeches of her
mislike with the said Guy about the breaking of her sow's leg, wherewith she charged him. And at length said unto him: 'you are an honest man, I warrant
you'. Whereupon the said Guy replied unto her, the said Ann Smith, and said 'I will have 20 honest men to say
for me and thow shall go like a
strumpet.' Then said the said Ann Smith to the said Guy: 'Wilt thow say
those words again?' Thereto the said Guy presently replied unto her 'I that I will, thow art a
strumpet' in the
presence and hearing of this deponent and her
contest Ann Edwards, who then were
scouring of a glass window
of the vicarage house there [...] near unto and in sight of the said
parties as she deposes and otherwise she cannot depose.
To 3 she cannot depose.
To 4 she says it is true.
To 5 she refers herself to the law.
To the final he says that what he has already deposed is true etc.
O ^her mark^
Deposition 3.1
Agnes Edwards of Preston Candover where she was born, around 40 years old. Free witness etc. who says that she knows the litigant parties well.
To 1 she cannot depose.
To 2 she deposes and says that
upon Easter eve last past (he recalls and otherwise she does not recall the time) the said Ann Smith being in her
garden of the vicarage house at Preston Candover, and the said Guy
at hedging in a close hard by,
the said Ann Smith had communication with the said Guy about the breaking of her sow's leg, wherewith she charged him. And at
thereupon said to him: 'you are an honest man, I warrant you.' Whereunto the said Guy presently said to the said
Ann Smith 'I will have 20 honest men shall account me to be an honest man, and thow shall go like a
strumpet'.
Then the said Ann Smith asked of the said Guy 'Will thow say those words again?' 'Yea, that I will' said the said
Guy 'Thow art a
strumpet', in the presence, sight and hearing of this deponent then also being in
[...] the said garden
and r[...]
scouring of
the glass windownext opening into the said garden and her
contest Christian Marten was on the
inside of the house at that window, helping this deponent about the
scouring of the window as she deposes and otherwise she cannot depose.
To 3 she cannot depose.
To 4 she says it is true.
To 5 she refers herself to the law.
To the final she says that what she has already deposed is true etc.
I ^her mark^
Deposition 1.2
The Interrogatory of the above Jacob Shackleford
To 1 he responds that
he is a poor weaver of little or small ability and has already responded to the rest.
To 2 de he responds as above to the libel and otherwise he cannot depose.
To 3 he responds that the said words by him testified were so spoken in the afternoon towards the evening, and
then were both his
contests scouring of the glass window in the par of the said vicarage towards the
garden, one of them on the inside of the window and the other on the garden side. And he has already responded to the rest.
To 4 he responds as above to the libel. And otherwise he cannot respond.
To 5 he responds that she is indifferent to the parties.
To 6 he responds as in his above deposition and otherwise cannot dep respond
To the final he has already satisfied this in his deposition.
H ^his mark^
Deposition 2.2
The Interrogatory of the above Christiana Marten
To 1 she responds that
she is [...] a poor maid servant and
that is her maintenance and has already responded to the rest.
To 2 she responds as above in her deposition to the libel and otherwise she cannot of respond.
To 3 she responds that the time of the day was about the afternoon and that her
contest James Shackleford was in the hall
of the vicarage house at that time having then brought home a piece of cloth for
Mrs Smyth which
he had
weaved for her, she responds.
To 4 she responds as she has already deposed viz.: that she being
scouring the glass window in the
[...] hall looking into the
garden next the orchard, did through the glass window see the parties aforesai articulate and hear the words before by her
deposed, she de responds.
To 4 5 she responds that she wishes victory to whoever has the right.
To 6 she responds that she heard no other unseemly speeches spoken by
Mrs Smith to the said James Guy than those which she
has already deposed. And to this Interrogatory she cannot otherwise respond.
To the final she has already satisfied this in her deposition.
M ^her mark^
Deposition 3.2
The Interrogatory of the above Agnes Edwards
To 1 she responds that
she is a poor labouring maiden servant and lives by her labour, and has already responded to the rest.
To 2 she responds to the libel and otherwise cannot depose.
To 3 she responds to the time that she cannot certainly tell whether it was tw
within two days
before Easter or Whitsontide last,
but she says that she is answered that the time was one of those two times as she recalls about the afternoon and the said
Shackleford her const
contest then was in the hall of the said vicarage house, and the rest she has satisfied in what she has already deposed.
To 4 she responds to the libel and otherwise cannot respond.
To 5 she responds that she wishes victory to whoever has the right.
To 6 she responds as she has already deposed and otherwise she cannot respond.
To the final she has already satisfied this in her deposition.
J ^her mark^
