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About two years since this deponent was at the house of Mr Thomas Woodes of Caistor near Yarmouth at a dinner there where also was present Mr John Utteing clerk who after dinner having his stomach overcharged (as this deponent conceived) with excessive drinking did there in the presence of the company discharge or disgorge the same.
This deponent met with Mr Utting at the house of Mr Hacon but do not remember any such words passed between this deponent and Mr Utting... About three years since this deponent upon some occasion being absent from his house in Blundeston and coming home was told by Judith Pendleton this deponent's servant that Mr Utting had been there and slept upon a bed in one of the chambers of the said house about an hour or two, and the next day morning this deponent coming into the chamber where Mr Utting had so slept did there find the stock of Mr Utting which in the dark he had left behind him... This deponent have often observed Mr John Utting to resort to the house of John Ward of Lound and have there in the day time, and this deponent have heard it reported within the parish of Lound (but of whom or of how many he know not) that Mr John Utting clerk was suspected to have lived incontinently with the wife of the said John Ward... He hath heard Joan Underwood say that her father examining her concerning the crime articulate told her upon the counter upon the [quarter?] that if she would confess who was father of the child whereof she then was she should never want neither should ever the said Joan Underwood check her thereby.
Upon St James Day articulate this deponent being then a parishioner of Corton certainly knoweth that Mr John Utteing Clerk Vicar there omitted to read prayers in his church upon that day, and Mr Utteing of this deponent's certain sight and knowledge upon the same day continued most part of the afternoon in thee house of one the Widow Stanton in Corton being an alehouse and where this deponent did see Mr Utteing playing at shovel board with divers company and one of his pieces falling down and Mr Utteing stooping to take it up (and being as this deponent believeth overtaken with excessive drinking) fell down upon the floor and this deponent and Edmond Browne did help the same Mr Utteing up again who being not able to stand fell down to the ground again insomuch as this deponent and Edmond Browne took him up and carried him the said Mr Utteing to a bed in the said house and left him there to sleep.
This deponent have divers and sundry times heard it reported within the parishes of Corton and Lound and other towns adjoining very publicly amongst persons of credit, that Mr John Utting had... three several times attempted the chastity of Martha Langlie... and thereof there is at this present in the said parishes a common report, all which he knoweth to be true for that he have lived in Fritton by the space of a twelve month last past, it being a near adjoining town to Corton... About a year last past or thereabouts Joan Underwood being big with child did about a month before her delivery wish that if Mr John Utteing clerk had not had the use of her body three several times she might never be delivered, whereof there hath been by all the same time in the parish of Corton and other parishes adjoining a common and public fame and so is at this present... He have heard Mr John Utteing have been noted frequently to resort to the house of John Ward in Lound and hath been and is vehemently suspected to have lived incontinently with the wife of John Ward and thereof there hath been and is in the said parish of Lound and other parishes adjoining amongst persons of good credit a public voice and fame... Upon St James Day Anno Domini 1634 this deponent was a parishioner of Corton and was credibly informed by others parishioners of the said parish that Mr John Utting clerk omitted to read prayers in the church of Corton that day and as Mr Utting confessed to this deponent, and upon which day about eleven or twelve of the clock in the forenoon this deponent coming into the house of the Widow Stanton being an alehouse found Mr Utteing who had been there most part of the forenoon as this deponent was credibly informed and in the afternoon of the said day Mr Utting continued in the said house with company at play, and Mr Utting was then so overtaken with excessive drinking (as this deponent verily believeth) that he being at a game called shovel board and one of his pieces being fallen down, Mr Utting stooping to take it up fell down upon the pavements and this deponent and Robert Murrell took him up, Mr Utting up who being upon his legs fell down again not being able to stand, whereupon his deponent and his said precontest took him up... the second time and led him to a bed in the said house where he laid asleep till about seven of the clock in the evening of the said day, and about that time waking him this deponent being then present told Mr Utting in what manner he had behaved himself... in the said house and reproving him for showing so ill an example... Mr Utting gave this deponent very ill language which he cannot now remember, and this deponent then and there desired Widow Stanton not to let Mr Utting have any more drink, whereat Mr Utting being discontent took a drinking pot of earth which stood in the said house and cast it against the ground and broke off the ear of the same... This respondent had some speech with one Robert Murrell before this his examination concerning Mr Utteing and the passages at the house of the Widow Stanton and asked Murrell if he remembered the same... This respondent never had any difference with Mr Utteing otherwise than at the house of Widow Stanton... He cannot call to mind of whom he first [heard] the fame concerning the accusation of Marthey Langlie against Mr Utting but have heard after Martha was the first divulger and raiser thereof... He have heard that the wife [sic] of Joan Underwood was... upon the report aforesaid about to leave her company.
About five or six years last past this deponent was servant to Mr John Utting clerk, about which time Marthey Langlie was likewise servant and apprentice in the said house to Mr Utteing, who told this deponent that she being making up of a bed in a chamber of Mr Utteing's house, Mr Utteing did cast her upon the same and attempted her chastity but she... resisted him and much complained thereof and of this deponent's certain knowledge... Marthey said she would go and acquaint Sir John Wentworth thereof withal, but Mr Utteing to prevent her intention, gave her out her indentures whereby she was bound to Mr Utteing as apprentice, and the same being known to the wife of Mr Utteing, she the said Mrs Utteing did turn Marthey out of her service... Before the time Mrs Utteing had turned Marthey out of her service... Mrs Utteing being walked out upon some occasion and Marthey being washing up her dishes in Mr Utteing's house and Mr Utteing only present with her, this deponent standing without the door and the door being open this deponent did see Mr Utteing with one hand about her the said Marthey her waist and thother in her placard under her apron as and did kiss Marthey two or three several times, whereat... Marthey seemed discontent as it appeared by her struggling, and told Mr Utteing he would never leave his business, and that it was not the first time he had so used her... About three or four years last past the deponent lived as a servant with one Mr Melling of Somerleyton near Lound, in which time Mr Utteing for two or three years before did much frequent the house of John Ward in Lound at unseasonable times whereupon Mr Utteing was suspected to live in adultery with the wife of the said John Ward and thereof there then was in the town of Lound a common and public fame amongst the greater part of the parishioners... When this deponent lived with Mr Utteing which was for the space of two years and a half together this deponent have seen Mr Utteing sundry times come home very much disguised and as he believeth with excessive drinking and often times in such humours this deponent have seen Mr Utteing lay sleeping under hedges and bushes near his the said Mr Utteing's house many hours together... This deponent did first hear of Marthey Langlie that Mr Utteing had attempted her chastity... and believeth she did first divulge the same.
He have heard it reported by one Nicholas Sparrow that Mr Utteing had attempted the chastity of Marthey Langlie... This deponent have often seen Mr John Utteing, clerk, resort to the house of John Ward being an alehouse late in the night at unseasonable hours... insomuch as Mr Utteing... was and is vehemently suspected in the town of Lound to have committed adultery with the wife of John Ward and to have begotten her with child and thereof there was and is in the parish a common report.
In Christmas last was three years Mr Robinson and Mr Utteing being at the house of Mr Hacon this deponent's then master and some difference happening between them in words Mr Robinson speaking to Mr Utting said a plague of God on you, since I forswore myself for you I did never thrive, but what Mr Utting replied thereunto he cannot remember... This deponent have lived in Lound for most part of the time articulate where he have heard it reported of divers persons that Mr Utteing had often attempted the chastity of Marthey Langlie... This deponent have often and sundry times heard it reported within the parish of Lound and other adjoining towns very publicly that Mr John Utting had attempted the chastity of Joane Underwood and had committed adultery with her and thereof there is at this present a common fame in the town... Since the time articulate there hath been and is a common and public voice and fame within the parish of Lound and other parishes adjoining amongst persons of good credit that Mr John Utteing... did very frequently at unfitting and unseasonable hours in the night resort to the house of John Ward being an alehouse and had lived in adultery with the wife of the said John ward and unlawfully begotten her with child, and that... John Ward should report the child whereof his the said Ward's wife was about three years since delivered was none of his the said John Ward's, insomuch as this deponent heard Ward say that he would not consent the same should be baptised... This deponent have divers and sundry times heard it reported within the parish of Lound and amongst persons of good credit that Mr John Utting have often and sundry times... been much overtaken with excessive drinking and is much noted for a common frequenter of alehouses and taverns.
About four years since this deponent was servant to Mr John Utting and there lived with him the said Mr Utting by the space of two years together in which time Mr Utting often resorted to the house of one John Ward being a smith and keeping an alehouse and had occasion of business with him to have some work done by ward or otherwise but to what end otherwise Mr Utting resortred thither he knoweth not.
About a year last past this deponent meeting with Mr Robinson demanded of him whether any such difference in words were used and happened between Mr Robinson and Mr Utting... at the house of Mr Hacon, who answered this deponent there had and to this effect... Mr Robinson acknowledged that he speaking to Mr Utting said a plague of God on you, I never thrive since I swore for you, and in my conscience I was forsworn, and this deponent asking Mr Robinson why he did so swear for Mr Utting answered because Mr Utting had sworn so damnably and point blank that he thought he had sworn true... The deponent have often heard it reported publicly in Lound and other adjoining parishes that Mr Utting had attempted the chastity of Marthey Langlie... This deponent have lived in Lound for four years last past this deponent have often heard it credibly reported within the parish of Lound that Mr Utting had attempted the chastity of Joane Underwood and committed adultery with her and thereof there hath been and is within the parish and other parishes adjoining amongst persons of good credit a common and public voice and fame... By about three years last past there was and is a common report within the parish of Lound and other parishes adjoining that Mr John Utting... did often frequent the house of John Ward where this deponent have sometimes seen Mr Utting, and Mr Utting had committed adultery with the wife of John Ward and had unlawfully begotten her with child and that Ward should report after the birth of the said child that it should not christened till the father came home but who he meant thereby he knoweth not... This deponent have often within the time aforesaid seen Mr Utting resort to alehouses and tippling houses at Lound and Corton, and this deponent about two years since being at dinner at the house of one Mr Wood in Caister did there see Mr Utteing after dinner ended so distempered (as this deponent conceived) with drinking and taking tobacco that there on the sight of this deponent and others in the company did disgorge his stomach, and another time about June last was twelve months this deponent being upon the warren in Blundeston on horseback Mr Utting came staggering and reeling towards him from the house of Chencefield a miller and took this deponent's horse by the bridle and would not be satisfied till this deponent should go to the same house with him where at this deponent's coming he perceived Mr Utting had there in some company been drinking and taking tobacco in such excess that he was neither able... or to utter himself in speeches that might be well understood... The deponent was told by Mr Robinson clerk that Mr Utting had committed adultery with Joane Underwood, before Joane had publicly accused him thereof before Sir John Wentworth.
This deponent have lived in Blundeston most part of his life time and have heard it commonly reported within these two years last past in the parish of Blundeston being the next adjoining town to lound that Mr Utting had attempted the chastity of Marthey Langlie... About a year last past there was a public fame laboured in the parish of Blundeston that Mr Utting had lived incontinently with Joane Underwood, whereupon this deponent being one of the churchwardens of Blundeston did at the metropolitical visitation of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury holden at Yarmouth present Mr Utting for the same... In the month of June Anno Domini 1634 this deponent did see Mr Utting at the house of one Samuel Chancefield in Blundeston so overtaken and disguised with excessive drinking that he was neither able to speak so as he might be understood not to guide himself aright, and soon after at the same place and in the same month did there see Mr Utting again so much overtaken with excessive drinking that he laid spewing upon a bed in the said house... This respondent never saw Mr Utting in the house or company of Joane Underwood... This respondent never heard ill of Joane Underwood till the fame aforesaid arose and then her husband or soon after left her company.
In summer last was twelve month this deponent being at the house of Mr Robinson in Blundeston where Joane Underwood lived in a backhouse belonging to the house, and he going into the same there found Mr Utteing privately kissing Joane with this deponent perceiving came out again and went privately to the window of the house where he did hear Mr Utteing very importunate with Joane to have the use of her body which at first she seemed to deny telling him she wondered a man of his cloth should offer to commit such a sin, whereunto Mr Utting answered he was a man of God and could take away the sin of a woman and that which he persuaded her unto was no sin but a sweet pleasure, and immediately Mr Utteing in this deponent's sight (he looking into the window of the backhouse where Mr Utteing and Joane were) did lay his legs and so cast himself down upon the ground with her and Mr Utteing took up the clothes of Joane as she so laid, up to her waist, and laid along by her but what else he did unto her he know not... This deponent being two several times at the house of John ward in Lound about two years since did both times see Mr Utting there late in the evening in the company of Ward's wife, who Mr Utteing did often kiss in this deponent's sight, at what time there was a report in the town amongst some of the inhabitants that Mr Utteing had committed adultery with Ward's wife and unlawfully to have begotten her with child... At the times aforesaid when this deponent so saw Mr Utteing at the house of the foresaid Ward it appeared to this deponent that Mr Utteing had drunk somewhat overmuch for when he offered to rise off the seat where he sat he fell down again.
About three years since this deponent coming into the house of one John Ward situate in Lound, it being an alehouse, did there see Mr Utteing in the company of his precontest William Ward and others and believeth Mr Utteing had then drunk overmuch for that in this deponent's sight he did cast or vomit and seemed not able to drink any more.
About six years last past Marthey Langlie complained to this deponent being apprenticed of Lound that her master Mr Utting had attempted her chastity and struggled with her to have his desire of [her]... There was... in the parish of Lound and other parishes adjoining a public fame that Mr Utting had committed adultery with Joane Underwood... About three or four years ago last past Mr Utteing of this deponent's knowledge did usually at unseasonable hours resort to the house of John Ward being a tippling house where he and there spend oftentimes many days in the week insomuch as this deponent being a parishioner of his dissuaded him from that course, who accepted it kindly and for a while forbore resorting thither by the space of a fortnight but afterwards as frequently as before resorted to the house again, and thereupon there laboured a fame in the town that Mr Utteing was suspected to live in adultery with Ward's wife.