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And that the same contract was made in Mr Barnard’s nether house in the parish of St Gregory’s after supper time about 8 of the clock to his remembrance… that Fenne was sober… and not drunk at that time… that to his remembrance Mr Barnard went out using certain speeches before his going saying he would be no witness himself… saying he hath heard Mr Barnard say that rather thn his maid should be abused by Fenne he would spend 20 nobles in her behalf.
And this deponent divers times heard speeches between them… that about Michaelmas last past the same Fenne being very earnest and what of the matter to be made an end of he caused this deponent’s husband to invite one Mr Bird the scrivener and Walter Pike the brewer one night about that time to supper minding that they should be witnesses of the matter of contract between them who being come before supper time viz Mr Bird and Mr Pike and Robert Fenne being then present; the same contract was made and passed between them the said Fenne and Dorothy Walker then and there before supper in the presence of these… parties and this deponent and her husband Mr Barnard… that the same Fenne has since that contract married the same Alice Fisher whom he before utterly renounced and denied… That the same Dorothy Walker is this deponent’s maid… That her husband told her this respondent that she must come into the court to be sworn for a witness and thereupon she came… The same contract was made in this deponent’s house below where they use to dine and… immediately before supper began, and at that time neither Pike’s wife nor Bird’s wife were come, but they came after the contract done… That the contract was done before supper as before said and the said Fenne as she saith was sober… for he had not drunk at that time within her house till he had done but afterward he was so glad of his match as a man might be and sent for a quart of wine to supper and would have been at further charge but her.
That… about Michaelmas time last past viz between St Matthew’s Day and St Faith’s Day… this deponent being requested by Mr Barnard their Master together with this deponent’s wife his neighbour Mr Bird and his wife one night to him the same Mr Barnard’s house to supper they went thither where were supped also that night the articulate Robert Fenne and Dorothy Walker was Barnard’s made so after supper ended and done… this deponent’s wife and Mr Bird’s wife having young sucking children at home went before home… immediately after supper, this deponent and his neighbour Bird staying there still, Aster whose departure the same Fenne being there present acquainted them with the matter how that he was suitor for a marriage unto the said Dorothy Walker and that they minded there to contract an affair themselves before them as witnesses whereunto Fenne requested them and hereupon Mr Bird began to examine the said Fenne whether he were clear from all other women and especially from Alice Fisher whom he hath now married, for that he had heard some matter between them and that she should sue him for some such matter, and charged him greatly as he made answer before god that there were any such matter to confess it… That he heard of a suit before depending between the said Fenne and Fisher wherein the said Alice Fisher as he heard challenged a promise of contract at the same Fenne’s hands which he utterly denied as before being charged by them… And then Mr Bird caused the same Fenne to take the said Dorothy by the hand, and so their hands being so fastened or joined, the said Fenne used and uttered their speeches or the like in effect following viz I Robert take thee Dorothy to my wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward and for better for worse for richer for poorer in sickness and in heath till death do us depart, and thereto I plight thee my troth, then they clasping hands, the said Dorothy took him the said Fenne likewise by the hand, and she holding him, the said Dorothy used the like speeches again in effect unto him… And… Fenne kissed her and drawing unto his purse (as he said he minded have given for a piece of gold but he had none in it; whereupon he gave her out of his purse then certain white money) but how much he knoweth not… Mr Barnard himself was then absent and not at it but where he was become this deponent cannot tell but was come in again before they went forth… That the contract was made in Mr Barnard’s house below in the parish of St Gregory’s where he and his household usually dine and sup and keep and by the table side and about 7 of the clock or between 7 and 8 after supper.