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Upon Ascension day last within the time arlate, at a fair at Chapel en le Frith Hugh Davenport followed Martha Haigh (this deponent's daughter) into John Cooper's house being an inn house in that town and this deponent being in an other room there, see Hugh in a rude manner to snatch a handkerchief from Martha and put it in his pocket, and also catched at her apron and tore it and broke her strings. Whereupon with a kinswoman (an other young woman that was with her) they went into another room of the house, where Tho. Hooley and Peter Motram and other people (at that public time) were drinking. And Hugh followed them thither which this deponent observing and being troubled at it he followed them into that room and asked him why he had used her so and what he had to do with her, to which he answered that he had to do with her, and had an interest in her, and if she kept company with any man it should be with him, and laid his hands violently upon her on the other side of the table endeavouring to pull her out to him, but she shrank down so that he could not, and [Davenport] did what he could to have taken her away by force but that her father and relations hindered him, or he then said and did to this effect... By the speeches and behaviour of Hugh Davenport... this deponent was afraid that there had been some incivility betwixt Hugh and this deponent's daughter, or that he had had some engagement, or promise of marriage from her, though she was at that time under fifteen years of age... He hoped and believed her to be such as is arlate, and she is this deponent's only child, and he hoped to leave her a considerable estate both in land and otherways, but this deponent feared that the defendant so abusing of her may be a great hindrance to her in her preferment: and unless she be cleared from this scandal this deponent is resolved never to leave her above 12d.
One Fair day at Chapel en le Frith the last Summer... Martha Haigh and an other young woman with her came into a room in an inn house there where this deponent and Peter Motrom, and several other company were drinking, and presently the defendant Hugh Davenport came into the house to them and forced himself into their company ag[ainst] all their minds and endeavoured to pull Martha over the table to him, but was prevented by some friends there present. Then he publicly said that he had an interest in her and she should keep company with no man but him or to that purpose, by which words this deponent and the rest of the company understood his meaning to be that he had had some promise or engagement from her in way of marriage...
At Chapel en le Frith upon Ascension day last past being a Fair day this deponent and Thomas Hooley and some other company were drinking in one Cooper's house being an inn house in the town. Martha Haigh was with them and presently after Hugh Davenport followed there came into their company in a rude and uncivil manner against all their minds, though they bid him to leave the company, and reaching over the table where she sat next to this deponent, he endeavoured to pull her over to him but was prevented. Being asked by her father what he had to do with her, or what interest he had in her [Davenport] answered that he had to do with her, and if she kept company with any man it should be with him or to that purpose... By the defendant's words this deponent and the rest there understood his meaning to be that he had some engagement from her in the way of marriage... She [Martha] is of good repute and of very civil and modest behaviour and by all the neighbours so accounted to be, and is the only child that her parents have and she is said to have a good estate both in land and tenement, but the defendant's words and behaviour towards her has been such as may be proven much to her prejudice, and hinder her preferment in marriage.