He never saw Robinson beat his wife but hath heard so from her own mouth but he once heard Robinson threaten to beat his wife, she being at this deponent's house, he threatened to pluck her out in case she did not come out of the house. And this deponent further saith that the producent [Hannah Robinson] hath come to his house and desire him to give her victuals she being almost starved as she told him and that she had no beer to drink but was forced to drink water and once upon a Sunday she came to the deponent's house to dine with him having no victuals at home, whereupon this deponent did always relieve her necessities, she being his mother. And that he hath seen the doors locked by the articulate [John Robinson] where his victuals lay. And that she had only one linsey-woolsey gown to wear and no other clothes to her back and that she was forced to wear her husband's old shoes having no other to her feet.
She was servant to and lived with John Robinson and Hannah his wife from Michaelmas 1693 until Michaelmas 1694, during which time John Robinson did often beat, kick, and abuse his said wife in a cruel and malicious manner and one time above the rest when he was so beating his said wife, and she crying out murder, one Mrs Cooke the next neighbour hearing her came to the window and asked this deponent why was there in the house what do you stand there and see your Mrs knocked on the head to which she this deponent replied that her master had threatened in case she stirred to open the door which was then shut he would either cut her throat or run his knife into this deponent whereupon Mrs Cooke told Robinson that he was a very ill man to beat his wife at that rate to which he replied what is that to you if I kill her I can but be hanged for her. The producent did not then give him any cause or provocation for such his beating her, she being a woman of a quiet temporament. He would encourage his son to call his mother whore. John Robinson did eat wheat bread himself during the time this deponent lived with him but for half the said year allowed his wife and this deponent only barley bread and barley dumplings and locked up the other from her and that if this deponent had not begged for victuals for her self and mistress they must have been starved, and that her apparel was very mean and ordinary he not buying her any while this deponent lived with them.
In the year 1694, the producent Hannah Robinson did often come to this deponent's house for relief... [and] would often show her arms and legs which have been black and blue by her husband's beating and kicking her.