[Jane Thompson defamed the plaintiff between September 1669 and 20 November 1669 saying] Thou or she (Mary Mainwaring) art or is a base houswyfe [huswife] and a drunkard and I will prove it.
[Mary Mainwaring defamed the defendant between August and October 1669]
One day about a fortnight or three weeks next before Christmas last past, Mrs Mainwaring and Mrs Ridge were together in Mrs Mainwaring's house in Chester, and were talking of and concerning Jane Thompson, and this deponent came casually into the house and room to them, and amongst other words that passed betwixt the women, Mrs Mainwaring (speaking of Jane Thompson) said they might see by her mesell face what kind of liquor she loved, or she then said to that purpose, none being present but them three, and a servant of the house who was going up and down about her occasions.
She remembers that one day betwixt Michaelmas and Christmas last past, Mrs Ridge and Mrs Mainwaring in Mrs Mainwaring's house in Chester were talking something of and concerning Jane Thompson and whilst they were so talking of this deponent's precontest Thomas Green came in unto them. This deponent being (as she is) a servant in the house was going to and again in the house and sometimes out of the doors upon her occasions, and so did not heed or mind what her mistress said concerning Jane Thompson, but she doth not remember that she said any such words as are arlate or to that purpose, and the worst and all the words that this deponent remembers that her mistress said concerning Jane was what ailed her then to lose her mantle.
One day about a year and a half ago, in this deponent's next neighbour's house, she heard Mrs Mainwaring say that Jane Thompson would be drunk twice a day, other women being also in the same room, it being where an other woman at that time lay in childbed, but their names she doth not now remember it being so long ago.
One day Mrs Mary Mainwaring and this deponent were talking together in the row near to the Plume of Feathers in the Bridgestreet in Chester, and Jane Thompson (whom this deponent did not well know at that time, but is since assured that it was she) coming that way by them, took an occasion very rudely and uncivilly to interrupt Mrs Mainwaring in her discourse with this deponent, and amongst the rest called Mrs Mainwaring a base huswife and a drunken huswife, and called her so several times over, but it being on such a sudden this deponent doth not well remember what other bad words she gave her but she gave her a great many without any persuasion at all given her by Mrs Mainwaring. At which time also was present and within hearing her contest Mrs Brereton, and several others whose names this deponent knows not, but there were a great many by seeing the Mountebank that was then in the town and upon the stage at that time... She knows Mrs Mainwaring to be a woman of good repute and fame and is well accounted of in the city of Chester.
One day within the time arlate this deponent and Mrs Mainwaring were in the Row in the Bridgestreet in Chester near to the Plume of Feathers there, and Jane Thompson came that way, and gave Mrs Mainwaring some reproachful and uncivil words and though this deponent did not much mind nor can remember all yet she well remembers that slapping her hands she called Mrs Mainwaring a base huswife, and at the same time her precontest was talking with Mrs Mainwaring, and a great many other persons more also within hearing… She knows Mrs Mainwaring very well to be a woman of good repute and fame, amongst those that know her.
She well remembers that one day when the Mountebank was upon the stage in the Bridgestreet she was going through the row near to the Plume of Feathers there, and she see and heard Jane Thompson in a very angry and uncivil manner slap her hands and call Mrs Mainwaring a drunkard and a base huswife, and she would maintain her to be so, or to that purpose, and this deponent see a gentlewoman with or near to Mrs Mainwaring, and she verily thinks it was her contest Mrs Brereton, and a very great many other persons were also within hearing.