Sworn and examined deposeth and saith that upon Friday was fortnight last at night one Worthington being a messenger of his Majesty’s Exchequer at Weston as he called himself being at supper at this examinate’s dwelling house in Burton within the County of Chester asked this examinate how she liked of the Mayor of Chester and this examinate answered him that she like him very well, whereupon he saith that it was belike because he had nothing to do with them there in the Country but said that if she dwelled in Chester he (meaning Mr Robert Whitby then and now Mayor of Chester) would have forty shillings of her as he had of the alesellers of Chester, and said further that he the said Mayor was as wise a man as any was in his the said Worthington’s pocket, and that he the said Worthington had brought a commission to him from… His Majesty’s Privy Council and that Mr Mayor would not accept of the same but said her should answer it when he was out of his Mayorship and said further that Mr Mayor would have his son (meaning Mr Edward Whitby) to be Recorder, but said he was fitter to drive a cart than to be Recorder and this examinate saith further that she this examinate this day meeting with the said Worthington in this City told him that she was like to be questioned concerning the said words by him spoken against Mr Mayor who answered her that if he had spoken any such words he had forgotten the same whereunto this examinate answered again that… she could but remember them and would testify the same.
Sworn and examined deposeth and saith that yester evening this examinate being in company of the said Worthington at the house of Richard Johnson without the barres and this examinate saying to the said Worthington that he the same examinate heard that he had spoken very hard words of Mr Mayor at Walter Hynde’s house in Wirral and entreating his patron and that he would tell him this examinate whether the same were so or no, the said Worthington said Mr Mayor was an idle fellow and bade this examinate tell him so and said further that he was Mayor but for a short time and that afterwards he the said Worthington might speak with him and this examinate saith further that he declaring to the said Worthington that he was a free man and sworn to Mr Mayor and that he could not conceal the matter from him the said Worthington bade this examinate go tell Mr Mayor that night if he would.
Sworn and examined deposeth and saith that he the same examinate being present with the former examinate Robert Thornton at the house of the said Richard Johnson heard the said Worthington speak the said words of Mr Mayor which the said Thornton hath deposed to be spoken.
Sworn and examined deposeth and saith that the said Worthington being yesternight at this examinate’s dwelling house and Robert Thornton demanding of him what words he had spoken at Walter Hynde’s house of Mr Mayor the said Worthington answered that Mr Mayor had taken two prisoners from him whom he had taken by force of the Council’s warrant naming the same to be Mr William Gamull and Mr Robert Berry and said that Mr Mayor was but an idle fellow in doing so.
Sworn and examined saith she was present and heard the said Worthington say to Robert Thornton that Mr Mayor was an idle fellow and bade the said Robert Thornton tell Mr Mayor so that night if he would.