Examined touching certain words alleged to be by him spoken against Mr Mayor: saith that as this examinate and his wife were walking into the fields upon Sunday at night last his wife going a milking there called on this examinate’s wife a woman in Dee Lane and said to her… that Goodman Tillet hath been at Mr Brock’s for Rye and Mr Brock answered him that he had sold all his Rye to Mr Mayor: which words he this examinate saith he uttered yesterday last in the cellar of John Aldersey in the presence and company of Humfrey Randle Thomas Aldersey and Robert Smith… and others whom he now doth not remember. Examined what moved him this examinate to use those speeches or to talk thereof at that time: saith for that the company then present found fault with cracknell cakes and smallness of bread: therefore then this examinate told them the speeches of the said woman.
Saith that he heard Thomas Mercer yesterday last in John Aldersey’s tavern say that it was shame for Mr Mayor to use his office as he doeth to suffer the bakers to bake after 16s the bushel or thereabouts the Chester bushel: and said that Mr Mayor had bought all Mr Brock’s corn which words this examinate saith were spake in a great heat very vehemently and said he would stand to that which he ten said which were the words aforesaid and being rebuked for those words this examinate saith that Thomas Mercer then said that Mr Mayor had done worse than that for that he had taken other men’s occupations from them.
Examined touching the words spoken in the said tavern by Thomas Mercer yesterday last saith that the same Thomas Mercer said then that Mr Mayor had bought all Mr Brock’s corn and that Thomas Mercer then also said further that Mr Mayor had done worse than that: for said he one Tillet went to Mr Brock went to buy corn and Mr Brock answered him that Mr Mayor had bought all his corn which words were spoken vehemently in a great heat and said he would stand to it.
Saith that in the said tavern the said time he heard the said Thomas Mercer say: finding fault with the cakes they then had that there were too hard for him and that they were made after the rate of 26s the bushel.
Saith that in the said tavern he heard the said Thomas Mercer say that Mr Mayor had bought all Mr Brock’s corn and that he would stand to it and then said further that Mr Mayor had done worse than that: for said he Mr Mayor hath taken other men’s occupations into his hands.