Depositions - the giving of sworn evidence by witnesses or parties to a suit - responded to the articles of libel or allegation, declarations, exceptions and interrogatories submitted as part of court procedure (and filed as 'Exhibita', see UA VCCt.III). They were taken down by the Registrary as secretary of the Court (or by another public notary), and signed by the deponents, many of whom gave their age and place of birth. A deposition given by one of the parties to a suit was called a responsio personalis.
The contents list for each book or file of depositions given below 1593-1659 (VCCt.II.1-38) names the parties to a cause and the deponents. For the nature of cause itself (injury, debt, testamentary etc.), see the very full catalogue of the exhibita (UA VCCt.III). Names are recorded in order of appearance. Surnames and place names are recorded as they appear in the documents. Where an individual is named without a place of abode, it may be assumed to be Cambridge. Where a place name appears without a county, it may be assumed to be Cambridgeshire.