That upon New Years’ Eve last past Thomas Barnes deceased John Massie and Henry Maddocks and one Stout came to this examinate’s house in Langhall and drunk there till about 10 of the clock and then Stout and Maddocks went away and none remained but Barnes and the said John Massie and Barnes… told Massie that he had made Maddocks and Stout drunk and he would make Massie drunk before he went to bed and thereupon called for drink and drunk till about 2 in the morning and then Barnes gave Massie ill language and they fell to quarrels but whether it was that began she knows not but there was no blows stricken as she remembers only they pushed one another and Massie pushed Barnes down who fell upon the floor who got up and neither then nor the next morning complained of any crush or bruise… or other hurt that he had received in the scuffle.
Saith that about two or 3 of the clock on New Year’s Day in the morning the deceased Thomas Barnes and one John Massie being at Dorothy Heylin’s house… in Langhall which is next house to this deponent’s and quarrelling about their shot this deponent hearing the noise got up and went into the house to them, and this examinate believes there had been some pushing or scuffling betwixt them before that time though he did not see any. And this examinate rebuked them for making that disturbance to the neighbourhood and told them he would fetch a Constable whereupon Barnes went to the window and shouted murder and this deponent then went for a Constable and when he returned he found them walking very friendly together and neither then or at any other time did this examinate know or hear the said Barnes say that he had received any crush hurt or bruise.
Upon his oath saith upon Friday last Thomas Barnes ordered this examinate was to send for John Massie the said Barnes being very ill and declared that he had had a quarrel… with him and one Heylin at Langhall and that Massie in that quarrel pulled him the said Barnes by the hair of his head and Heylin took him by the throat and that if he died at that time he would lay his death upon him and this examinate accordingly sent for the said Massie and when he came to Chester he came to the said Barnes and Barnes told him he had received some wrong or hurt in the quarrel and Mr Massie said he was very sorry and that he knew not how it should happen.
Upon oath saith the day after the quarrel this examinate drunk with the said Barnes in Chester and he told this examinate of the quarrel and that he had received an abuse from John Massie and one Heylin and that John Massie had hit him upon his face with his head and his face was a little [red?] under his eye and he hath heard the deposition of Henry Maddocks read and that he said it is true.