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John Pryme have had communication with her this respondent concerning the obtaining of her good will and consent in the say of marriage; that she this repsondent saith that she was not at the times or at any time of such communication had with her by Prime free from all contract of matrimony, as is alleged in this article, but that she this respondent was contracted in matrimony... to one Christopher Sadler before that ever John Prime had any talk with her in this respect... She this deponent never made any recognition or acknowledging of any contract of matrimony had or made with Prime... Neither she have for him any such affection... neither have she received any tokens of him in [illegible] by pledge of her consent and agreement that way according as is mentioned in this position.
The last day of June last past before this his examination being Saturday in the evening John Pryme was in the church of Southwold helping this jurate, being clerk there, to ring a while, which done, John Pryme then requested this deponent (as he saith) that he would come in the morning next following to a certain house in Southwold where Johan Howlet dwelt to the intent to make and write the banns of matrimony betwixt John Pryme and Johan Howlet whereupon at the instant desire of John Pryme this jurat came the said morning to the foresaid house and being there in the hall with Johan making ready herself, asked her where Pryme was, who answered that he was in the parlour, into which when this jurat had entered, demanded of Pryme being there what he should do, which answered and asked him this deponent if he did see Johan, whom (as he said) he see in the foresaid hall, which came in incontinently to the parlour after this jurat has (as before) entered the same finding John Pryme with him this deponent talking together, which deponent asked then the said Johan if it were her mind that her sibred as abovesaid should be written by him and she affirmed the same, desiring him this juratto write the sibred demanding of her in the presence of Pryme if she had made any precontract to any other man and she answered no by her faith and troth, then this jurat witnessed Pryme and Johan well to prosper and perceiving them to be faithful minded the one to the other concerning matrimony did forthwith write the sibred which being written this deponent asked for the writing thereof, Johan drawing to her purse presently found therein but one penny requesting her sister Elizabeth Howlet to give her one penny, which did then same. And then immediately Johan did give both the pence to this jurat who called for a glass of ale, causing John and Johan to drink one of them to the other, who did the same, and after by and by at this deponent's request they took one another by the hands and, as he thought then, plighted their faith and troth as man and wife, and so they acknowledged themselves but what words they used he do not remember... He knoweth not whether Johan have received at any time any gift of Pryme... This deponent saith that Pryme and Howlet were commonly reputed and taken as lawful man and wife... in the towns next adjoining to Southwold.
Upon a Sunday morning being about Midsummer last past before this her examination one John Wylmet parish clerk of Southwold... came at the desire of Pryme (Johan Howlet consenting thereto) to a certain house in Southwold where she this deponent dwelt with her sister the said Johan Howlet and immediately after Wylmet's entering into the house he writ the banns of matrimony between Pryme and Howlet and after the writing thereof forthwith read the same before Pryme and Johan Howlet who this deponent said liked of that very [illegible] jurat saying further that before Wylmet [illegible] of departure out of the house he desired of Johan Howlet his fee for the writing the banns who drew to her purse presently and found therein but one penny desiring this jurat... to lend her one penny who did the same incontinently, Howlet gave to Wylmet the said two pence with her own hands desiring him to drink a cup of ale before he should depart, and requested this jurat... to fetch the same which being brought by her to Johan Howlet receiving the same and drinking lovingly to John Pryme he pledged her again and this jurat further saith that the said Sunday in the night time she heard Pryme and Johan Howlet talking together of their marriage and of their marriage apparel sitting together by [the] fire in the said house, insomuch that Pryme said that the marriage apparel would cost 13li 13s 4d and Pryme and Howlet... appointed to celebrate their marriage about a fortnight before St Batholomew last past... [she] further saith that she heard both Pryme and Johan Howlet say respectively that there was no precontract betwixt either of them to any other man or any other woman... Upon a Monday next after Midsummer last past the bailiffs of Southwold came to the foresaid house being an alehouse to drink, being an alehouse, and before them Johan Howlet declared amongst other talk, then also Pryme present and drinking with the bailiffs) that she was very well contented [to] marry with John Pryme... John Pryme did give to Johan Howlet in respect of marriage betwixt them to be had and made four pieces of gold whereof two pieces of them were two old royals and the other two rose nobles... she this jurat conferring with Johan Howlet her sister about a fortnight before Midsummer last past concerning the marriage to be solemnized betwixt the said Johan and Pryme, Johan then showed to this jurat... the two old royals... Johan Howlet a little before Midsummer Day last past showed to her this deponent all the foresaid four pieces of gold which remain still with Johan as this jurat affirmeth... John Pryme never received the four pieces again... The banns of matrimony betwixt Pryme and Howlet were asked the Sunday next after Midsummer Day last past openly in the church of Southwold, no man reclaiming or gainsaying the same although one Christopher Sadler was then there present who would have Johan Howlet now to his wife... Pryme's own mother and her own father's natural mother were sisters by the father's side... She repent her that such words were spoken by her considering they were untrue which this jurat as she say was moved to speak the said words because her sister Johan Howlet was so unconstant concerning her promise for to marry with John Pryme.