Being examined saith and utterly denieth that every he spoke any such words as is informed against him.
Informeth upon his oath and saith, that upon Friday at night last being the 14th day of this April he this informer was in the house of Widow Hyde in Wigan, where he was in company with Henry Reynolds of Wigan aforesaid, who being in talk with this informer concerning saltpetre; said that the king was no wise man to grant a commission for the making of saltpetre; and that there was none else present but only one man, whose name he knoweth not; which man was in a grey suit, and was an ancient man, and had grey hairs, and that he hopeth to find him out.
Being examined deposeth and saith that upon Friday at night being the 14th day of this instant April he this informer about ten of the clock in the said night came into Widow Hyde's kitchen in Wigan where he found Henry Reynolds of Wigan aforesaid and William Gibson saltpetre maker talking, and there heard the said Henry Reynolds reprove the said William Gibson for that he came not to the church nor received the Communion and further saith that he heard not the said Henry Reynolds say that the king was a fool to grant a commission for making of saltpetre; and further saith the said Henry Reynolds said that the king and the Council were fools to make him the said William Gibson a saltpetre man, and further saith that he verily thinketh the said William Gibson was in drink.