After this Mr. Braddon as it appears did nevertheless pursue this business L. C. J. Pray only tell what you know of your own knowledg both before and after Mr. Blathwaite I know my Lord that Mr. Braddon having been in the Country came afterwards before the King and was again Examined upon this matter by which it appeared that he did continue in his pursuit though he was always informed of the denial the Boy made and that it was understood to be a Lye by the whole Family of the Edwards's as well as from the denial of the little Boy for they did confess that the Boy used to tell Lyes and one of the Sisters said he had denied it at first but afterwards was brought to say it And if I remember right the words of one of the Sisters were BRADDON COMPELLED THE BOY TO SIGN IT Those are the words in the Minutes that I took at the Examination therefore I believe it was so that the Boy had denyed before to sign it But this I only mention as what the Sister said L. C. J. Have you any more questions to ask Mr. Blathwaite Gentlemen Mr. North. Because we will not trouble Mr. Blathwaite to call him again pray produce the Letter Mr. Att. Gen. Pray Sir will you look upon that Letter and tell the Court what you know of it and whose hand it is Mr. Blathwaite My Lord this is a Letter that was produced before the King when Mr. Speke attended there It was then put into my hands and I do well remember and likewise I have written upon it that Mr. Speke owned it to be his Letter L. C. J. Did he own it to be his Letter Sir Mr. Blathwaite Yes he did own it to be his Letter Mr. Att. Gen. That is all we have to trouble you with at present Sir We will now call Mr. Mon-Stevens who standing up by the Cryer was sworn And we call him to prove That Mr. Braddon had notice the Boy had disowned this Matter Mr. Sol. Gen. You hear the Question Sir pray acquaint my Lord and the Jury what you know of this Boys Examination before the Council and this Gentleman 's having notice the Boy disowned the thing Mr. Monstevens My Lord About 5 or 6 days after my Lord of Essex had murdered himself in the Tower I saw Mr. Braddon at the Secretary's Lodgings my Lord Sunderland's Lodgings at White-hall with a young Woman and a Boy about 12 or 13 years old The Boy was just now in Court I saw him there He came to me and told me he had earnest Business to speak with my Lord Sunderland That he came from Sir Henry Capel and he told me he came with an Information That the Boy had given relating to the Earl of Essex's death The Information I believe is in Court. He gave me the Information and I read it and I remember there was something in the Information of a Razor thrown out of a Window a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord Essex's Window and after I had read the Information I told Mr. Braddon I wonder Sir Henry Capell had not appeared himself in a Matter of that moment wherein the Reputation of his Family was so much concerned and I took the liberty to tell him That I believed if Sir Henry Capell had thought that to be true that was contained in that Paper he would doubtless have came to my Lord Sunderland himself Thereupon he told me That Sir Henry Capell had not been well and did not stir abroad Then I told Mr. Braddon again as I very well remember That I was confident he had been abroad lately and had been to wait upon the King since the death of my Lord of Essex Then my Lord he had little or nothing to say to that but he said what he did he was obliged to do in Conscience and out of the Duty he owed to the Memory of my Lord of Essex Upon that my Lord Sunderland came by and I went with him to my Lord Sunderland and he gave him that Paper as I suppose which I read and my Lord Sunderland took the Information and afterwards Mr. Braddon was committed in Custody and then the thing was brought before the King and the Lords of the Council which Mr. Blathwaite has given you an accompt of Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord I pray that a word of the Information may be read we will first prove the Information taken by him and then call Sir Henry Capell who will prove that he never had any Order from him as he said he had but it was only his own busy Inclinations Cl. of Cr. This is Subscribed William Edwards L. C. J. Call the Boy in again Mr. Braddon May I ask Mr. Monstevens a Question My Lord L. C. J. Ay ask him what you will Mr. Braddon Sir Did not I come to you the Thursday Evening and waited at the Dutchess of Portsmouth's Lodgings before I brought the Boy and the Girl to White-hall Mr. Monstevens No I did not see you there Mr. Braddon You are positive in that Sir Mr. Monstevens Yes I will take my Oath again of it if you will Mr. Braddon Then I will prove I was and that I saw you at Ten of the Clock that Morning Mr. Monstevens I remember my Lord very well That I was surprized to see him at the Lodgings at White-hall I never saw him to the best of my remembrance but once in my life Mr. Braddon What time was it pray you first saw me Mr. Monstevens It was in the Afternoon as I remember L. C. J. Hark you young Man do you know my Lord Gerard Wil. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Which Lord Gerard do you know Wil. Edwards My Lord Brandon Gerard. L. C. J. How came you to know him Wil. Edwards By sight I know him L. C. J. Do you know where he lodged in the Tower Wil. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Where Wil. Edwards At one Mr. Sam 's L. C. J. Was you ever in his Lodging Wil. Edwards No. L. C. J. Never at all Wil. Edwards No. L. C. J. Did you never tell any body you were in my Lord Brandon Gerrad's Lodgings Wil. Edwards Never in my life L. C. J. Did you never tell Braddon that you went to see his Lodgings Wil. Edwards Into the House I never went L. C. J. Did you never tell Braddon That you went to see my Lord Brandon Gerard's Lodgings Never in your life Wil. Edwards No Sir L. C. J. Now read it Cl. of Cr. Reads The Information of William Edwards second Son to Thomas Edwards of the Parish of Allhallowes Barkin London taken the 18 th day of July in the 35 th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the 2 d. Anno 1683 says That this Informant on Friday the 13 th of this instant July as he was going to School with his Brother Edward he heard that his Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of York were going to the Tower Whereupon
this Informant left his Brother and went to the Tower to see his Majesty and his Royal Highness And when this Informant had seen his Majesty and his Royal Highness this Informant about Nine of the Clock in the Morning of the same day went to see my Lord Brandon Gerard's Lodgings and as this Informant was standing almost over against my Lord Gerard's Lodgings between the Lord Gerard's and the late Lord of Essex's Lodgings this Informant saw a Hand cast out a bloody Razor out of the said Earl of Essex's Lodgings And this Informant was going to take up the said Razor which he saw on the Ground to be bloody but before this Informant came to the Razor there came a Maid running out of Captain Hawley's house where the said Lord of Essex lodged and took up the said Razor which he carryed into the said Captain Hawley's House And this Informant believes that it was the said Maid who he first heard cry out Murder And this Informant further saith That he heard the said Maid say to some which were about the Door after the Murder was cryed That she did hear the said Lord of Essex to groan three times that Morning The Father three Sisters and Brother will swear That the said William Edwards did declare the substance of this Information to them on Friday the 13 th instant and never in the least denyed it till Tuesday after when being chid and threatned by the elder Sister he did deny it but soon after confessed it and signed it in the presence of five or six Witnesses Mr. Just Wythins Thus you see he perswaded him to tell a fine Story of going to see my Lord Brandon Gerard's Lodgings but the Boy never told him any such thing L. C. J. No he never told him a word of it he swears Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord your Lordship has heard from Mr. Monstevens That this Gentleman Mr. Braddon made use of the Name of an honorable Person Sir Henry Capell and so at the Secretarys and at Edward's house made use of the Name of my Lady Essex We shall now call Sir Henry Capell who was Sworn Sir Henry Capell Will you please to give an accompt Whether ever you employed this Gentleman Mr. Braddon about any such business as he has here undertaken Sir H. Capell I hope you will give me as short a dispatch as you can Sir for 't is very uneasie for me to be here in this Crowd Mr. Sol. Gen. We give you some trouble Sir Henry but indeed 't is not we but this Gentleman that has been pleased to use your Name has necessitated it Mr. Att. Gen. We ask you a short Question whether you employed Mr. Braddon to go to Mr. Edward's House or to the Secretarys or any where else to prosecute this matter of your Brothers death Sir H. Capell My Lord I know very little of Mr. Braddon He was to speak with me twice The first time he took me in very great disorder both as to the circumstance of Time and Place which are so tender with me that truly I cannot express nor do I very well know what I did say or what he said to me but the Second time he came to me I do very well remember what I did say And that which I did say the Second time is the most material Thing I have to say in the matter He came to me and spake of such a business as the Court is well apprized of already I hope you will pardon me if I do not repeat it I made answer to him Mr. Braddon I am under great grief and under a great burthen of Business in my private Family whatsoever you have to say in the matter I desire you would go to a Secretary of State and acquaint him with it This is the most material Thing that was said that I remember Mr. Att. Gen. But you never imployed him to go about to prosecute any such thing Mr. J. Withins Sir Henry Pray answer me Did you desire him to go to Edward's House and ask him any Questions about it Sir H. Capell I know nothing of Edward's nor his House at all Mr. Braddon Sir H Capell will you please to let me ask you one Question Do you not remember I came to Essex House on the Monday night and that I came and told you of such a Report and that I had not been with the Father of the Boy as yet but if you would then send one with me I would go and in his presence examine the Boy and you Sir promised me that you would and whether you did not appoint me to tarry at such a Place where you promised to send one to go along with me Sir H. Capell My Lord I have a gross Idea of that which he speaks of concerning his having one to meet him and that I told him such an one should meet him and the person did desire to be excused and I did excuse him and so he did not go upon which this Gentleman Mr. Braddon came to me the Second time which was after Dinner and I directed him to go to a Secretary of State and acquaint him with what he had to say in the business Mr. Braddon Did not you promise Sir to send one to me to go with me and desired me to meet at such a place Sir H. Capell I remember no more but what I have said Mr. Braddon Upon the Oath you have taken Sir Henry Capell I desire you would recollect your Memory whether you did not promise me in the Morning to meet at such a Place and was not I twice with you that day Sir H. Capell Sir I know no more Mr. J. Withins Do you think Sir Henry Capell would forswear himself Mr. Braddon Mr. Braddon My Lord I only desire him to recollect his Memory Sir H. Capell Only I do farther remember He seemed to be very willing to go to the Secretary of State Mr. Att. Gen. And if he had acquiesced there he had done very well and there had been no farther trouble Mr. Jones But that was not the way he intended that would not do his Work Mr. Sol. Gen Pray Mr. Blaithwaite do you give my Lord and the Jury an accompt whether this Information was ever carried before any Justice of Peace in order to have it sworn before him and the circumstance of it Mr. Blaithwaite My Lord I do very well remember when this Information was before the King and was shew'd to Mr. Braddon he there confessed That he had gone about to find some Justice of Peace to take it upon Oath He named Sir Robert Clayton and Sir John Lawrence And I do very well remember and 't is upon my Minutes That he confessed That Sir Robert Clayton being asked by him to take the Information in private alone without Company being by Sir Robert Clayton refused to take it unless he might take it more publickly and Sir Robert Clayton refusing to take it alone in private he would
being thus in the Tower killed himself Mr. Sol. Gen. Shew the Inquisition Where is Mr. Farnham Mr. Farnham Here I am The Inquisition is returned here and is upon Record Cl. of Cr. Here it is Number 11. He reads London ss An Inquisition indented taken at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex the 14th day of July in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. the Thirty Fifth before Edward Farnham Esquire Coroner of our said Lord the King of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid upon view of the Body of Arthur Earl of Essex then and there lying dead by the Oaths of Samuel Colwel Esquire William Fisher Thomas Godsel Esquire Thomas Hunt Nathaniel Mountney Esq Thomas Potter William How Robert Burgoine Eleazer Wickins Thomas Hogsflesh Henry Cripps Richard Rudder William Knipes John Hudson John Kettlebeter Lancelot Coleson Morgan Cowarn Thomas Bryan William Thackston Richard Cliffe Zebediah Pritchard William Baford and Theophilus Carter good and lawful Men of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid who being charged and Sworn to enquire for our said Lord the King when by what means and how the said Arthur Earl of Essex came to his Death upon their Oaths do say that the said Arthur Earl of Essex the 13th day of July in the Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King aforesaid at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid about the hour of Nine in the Forenoon of the same day not having the fear of God before his eyes but being seduced and moved by the Instigation of the Devil of his Malice aforethought at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County aforesaid then and there being alone in his Chamber with a Razor of the value of one Shilling voluntarily and feloniously did cut his Throat giving unto himself one Mortal Wound cut from one Jugular to the other and by the Aspera Arteria and the Wind-Pipe to the Vertebres of the Neck both the Jugulars being throughly divided of which said mortal Wonud the said Arthur Earl of Essex instantly died And so the Jurors aforesaid say upon their Oaths that the said Arthur Earl of Essex in manner and form aforesaid then and there voluntarily and feloniously as a Felon of himself did kill and Murther himself against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity In Witness whereof as well I the Coroner aforesaid as the Jurors aforesaid to this Inquisition have Interchangeably put our Seals the day and year abovesaid Mr. Att. Gen. Call Mr. Evans and Mr. Edwards After this my Lord we shall shew you that Mr. Braddon went about the Town and declared the Earl was Murthered and he was the Prosecutor There is Mr. Evans Swear him which was done Pray will you give an account to my Lord and the Jury what you know of Mr. Braddon's going about and declaring he was the Prosecutor of my Lord of Essex's Murther Mr. Evans My Lord All that I know of this matter is this About the 17th of July last L. C. J. When is the Inquisition Cl. of Cr. It is the 14th of July L. C. J. Well go on M. Evans The 17th of July last I was at the Custom-House Key shipping of some Lead and the Person that brought me the Warrant I told him I could not Execute it without one of the Commissioners Officers and I bid him go to Mr. Edwards who was the next Officer adjoining to the Key and he went to his House and told him I was at the Water-side and had a Warrant which I desired him to be present while I Executed it Mr. Braddon it seems was then present in the place with Mr. Edwards when this was told him and hearing my Name Mr. Braddon came down with Mr. Edwards and found me then at Smith's Coffee-House and Mr. Edwards told me Mr. Braddon had been with him examining his Son in relation to a matter of a Razour that was thrown out of my Lord of Essex's window and I presently replied I desired they would not speak of any such matter to me for I had seen the Coroners Inquisition upon Oath where it was declared the thing was so and so and two Persons had Sworn what seemed to be contrary to this and therefore I desired they would forbear any such discourse to me L. C. J. Who they Mr. Evans Braddon and he were together L. C. J. Who he Man Mr. Evans Mr. Edwards And withal I made my application to Mr. Braddon and I desired him he would not meddle with such a matter for I thought it might be prejudicial to him and Mr. Edwards too Mr. Braddon made me no answer but went directly out of the Room L. C. J. What do you mean by so and so and a Razour thrown out of a window We do not understand your So and So. Mr. Evans Relating to a matter of a Razour L. C. J. Prithee we don't know what that matter of a Razour is Mr. Evans A Razour that was said to be thrown out of my Lord of Essex's Window L. C. J. Tell us what the Story was man Mr. Evans Mr. Edwards told me that Mr. Braddon was with him to examin his Son relating to a matter of throwing a Razour out of my Lord of Essex's Window This is that he said to the best of my remembrance Mr. Sol. Gen. Was Braddon present there Mr. Evans Yes Mr. Braddon and Mr. Edwards were both present L. C. J. Well what was the discourse between you Tell us plainly Mr. Evans Says Mr. Edwards to me Mr. Braddon has been to examin my Son about such a matter so I desired he would not discourse any thing of that matter to me and I told him I advise you not to proceed for I told him it would be prejudicial both to him and Mr. Edwards too L. C. J. What is meant by this matter He examined my Son about a matter and I desired him he would not discourse of this matter What is all that matter Mr. Just Holloway What did you apprehend by it Mr. Evans I apprehended that Mr. Braddon had been to examin Mr. Edwards's Son about such a matter L. C. J. What matter man Mr. Evans His dispersing of any such Report L. C. J. What Report Mr. Evans A Report of throwing a Razour out of my Lord of Essex's window L. C. J. Here is a Razour thrown out of a window and a matter of I know not what Mr. Just Withins Suppose a man should throw a Razour out of a window what signifies that L. C. J. Where had he heard of that matter Mr. Evans This is all I heard my Lord I am upon my Oath L. C. J. But I wish thou wouldest let us know what it is thou didst hear Mr. Jones Was there no talk of a bloody Razour Mr.
the Custom-House and the Coffee-House again and I know not where Mr. Freke What discourse was there at your Table Sir the immediate Monday after the Earl of Essex's death concerning a Razour thrown out of a window Mr. Evans My Lord this to the best of my remembrance is what I have to say and remember of the thing that a Gentleman being with him L. C. J. Who Mr. Evans Mr. Braddon Mr. Wallop Where was this Mr. Evans In the Country Mr. Wallop Where in what Country Mr. Evans In Essex Mr. Wallop What was the place's name Mr. Evans At Wansted my Lord and being there and he plucking out a paper L. C. J. He who Mr. Evans A Brother of mine that that Gentleman came down with to see me L. C. J. What is his name Mr. Evans His name is Mr. William Hatsell L. C. J. With whom did he come Mr. Evans With this Person L. C. J. With this Person who is this Person Mr. Evans Mr. Braddon L. C. J. Why canst thou not name him without this wire-drawing Thou art a most exact Custom-House Officer I 'l warrant thee thou canst not make a plain answer to a plain question Mr. Evans My Lord I beg your pardon I do not know the methods of Court L.C.J. Prithe I care not for thy methods nor thy matter but deal plainly with us Mr. Evans My Brother Mr. Hatsell came down along with Mr. Braddon to my House at Wansted in Essex on the Monday after my Lord of Essex's death and coming down my Brother Mr. Hatsell pulled out the Coroners Inquest upon Oath that was printed and shewing of it to me I read it and as soon as ever I had read it said I Mr. Edwards that was at the Custom-House that very morning when the E. of Essex's Throat was cut did declare to me upon the Custom-House Key That his Son did declare that the Razour was thrown out of the window which seems to contradict this Paper that says it was found lying by him Mr. Freke Was this before Mr. Braddon was with Mr. Edwards Mr. Evans I can't tell that Mr. Freke Was it before Mr. Braddon and Mr. Edwards came to you to the Coffee-house Mr. Evans Yes I believe it was Mr. Att. Gen. You say Mr. Braddon came with Mr. Hatsel to your House at Wantstead Mr. Evans Yes Mr. Att. Gen. Who was the Person that told this Story Mr. Evans He brought down the printed Paper with him and upon plucking out that Paper and reading of it the Story was told Mr. Att. Gen. Pray who was the Person that told him it was so reported at the Custom-house Mr. Evans I made that Answer my self immediately upon reading the Paper for I observed what the Coroners Inquest had returned and upon that I made this Observation That it seemed to contradict what was declared at the Custom-house that morning my Lord of Essex cut his Throat Mr. Att. Gen. Pray who declared there that the Razor was thrown out of the Window Mr. Evans It was Mr. Edwards told me L. Ch. Just Why consider with your self now You say first of all Edwards and Braddon came to me to the Coffee-house Mr. Evans That was at another day L. Ch. Just I am sure you swore so at first Mr. Evans With your Lordships Favour L. Ch. Just And with your Favour too Sir Pray will you hear me I have heard you a great while I am sure to no purpose But consider with your self and pray be pleased to reconcile what you say now with what you said at first if you can You say first of all Edwards and Braddon came to me to the Custom-house and found me out at the Coffee-house and that Edwards should say Some body had been with his Son in order to examine him about a Razor that was thrown out of my Lord of Essex's Window and that you immediately cried out Have a care of that for that contradicts the Inquisition that I have seen in Print which declares as though the Razor was found in the Room And after that you say It was that you saw the Inquisition when Hatsel came down with Braddon and you told him of the Report at the Custom-house How came you if you had not seen the Inquisition till then to give out such words at the Custom-house Have a care of medling with that because that contradicts the Inquisition Mr. Evans My Lord This was several days before that Mr. Att. Gen. Yes my Lord this Discourse at Wantstead was before that at the Custom-house Mr. Wallop This that he now speaks of is an Answer to Mr. Braddon's Question which was about a Discourse that passed before this other at the Custom-house This that he speaks of the Discourse at a Coffee-house was afterward but indeed he first spake of it but these were two distinct matters at several times This last of the Custom-house was when he had made the Examination of the Boy as that Witness says L. Ch. Just Therefore I think it was fit to explain it for it looked very inconsistent before what thou saidst at first and what thou saist now but if thou tellest me thy Essex matter was before thy Coffee-house matter it is well otherwise the matter I assure you looked very ill Mr. Evans This is the truth my Lord and I can tell no more Mr. Att. Gen. Take the Times my Lord and you will see he does speak very notably The 13 th of July my Lord of Essex murdered himself the 14 th of July the Inquisition was taken before the Coroner pray what was the day that Hatsel and this Gentleman came down to you to Essex Mr. Evans I can't tell that Sir truly but it was before this matter of the Examination of the Boy L. Ch. Just But pray let me ask you one Question If your matter about the Inquisition in the Countrey was before the matter of your cautious Discourse at the Custom-house how came you to tell them I heard this Report of a Razor thrown out of the Window that morning the Earl of Essex cut his own Throat Mr. Evans Mr. Edwards reported this same thing that very same morning to me and several others at the Custom-house-Key L. Ch. Just Why did you not tell us this before Mr. Evans I beg your pardon my Lord I do not understand the methods of the Court. Mr. Wallop Mr. Hatsel gave the occasion by pulling out the Inquisition L. Ch. Just Pray Sir make your Observations anon let the King's Councel go on with their Evidence Mr. Att. Gen. What Discourse had Mr. Braddon with you then at that time when Hatsel came down with him to your House you say and pulling out the Inquisition you read it and made Answer You heard at Custom-house-Key such a Report that very morning the Earl murdered himself Mr. Evans Mr. Braddon was walking up and down the Room I did not speak it to him but I spake it to Mr. Hatsel but I believe Braddon over-heard and took
notice of it Mr. Just Withins Did he concern himself about it Mr. Evans No not much I did not hear him say any thing but he walked up and down the Room L. Ch. Just Now after all this Discourse of the matter for ought I can understand the matter is but this He says Edwards before the meetings either at his House in Essex or at the Coffee-house by the Custom-house reported to him as tho' the Earl of Essex had not murdered himself but some body else had done it for him And this was reported at the Custom-house that morning the Earl of Essex cut his own Throat and he hearing this Report at the Custom house at that time afterwards comes Braddon and Hatsel to his House into Essex and after Hatsel had shew'd him the Paper of the Inquisition in Print he said I heard some Discourse from Mr. Edwards at the Custom-house of a quite other nature and then he says Braddon and Edwards came to the Coffee-house and there it was he desired them not to talk of that matter for said he that contradicts the Inquisition I saw before This is the substance of what he said Mr. Att. Gen. And hereby it does appear that Braddon and Evans and Edwards and Hatsel are all of a Gang. L. Ch. Just Have you the Information he gave in to the Secretary Mr. Att. Gen. That that was given before the Councel Mr. Att. Gen. Yes 't is much the same with what he hath said now Mr. Evans Yes my Lord 't is verbatim as I have declared now Mr. Att. Gen. Only this other part of Hatsel and the meeting in Essex was spoken of since that was not declared before Mr. Evans No my Lord that I did not speak of because I was not examined about it Mr. Att. Gen. That was part of the Secret Mr. Evans No it was common Discourse with me And I did not think any thing of it what Mr. Edwards said at the Custom-house was spoken to a great many others as well as me and the people seemed to be surprised with an accompt of the thing at the first news of my Lord of Essex's death And if I had thought it material I could have brought a great manny that were by then but Mr. Edwards is here brought himself I suppose he will not deny it Mr. Sol. Gen. Look you Sir you say that very morning my Lord of Essex killed himself Mr. Edwards discoursed and made this Report to you at the Custom-house pray tell what the discourse was what he said to you and then tell us what time of day it was Mr. Evans To the best of my remembrance it was about eleven a Clock there were several persons standing together among the rest Captain Goodland and some of the Searchers and Mr. Edwards was there and said he I am informed from home That my Boy has been at home and given an accompt to my Wife that being in the Tower he saw a hand throw a Razor out of a Window and he named my Lord of Essex's Window and this Mr. Edwards did not only tell me but to a whole Coffee-house of people this matter of fact Mr. Just Holloway Did not Mr. Edwards tell you That some body had been examining his Boy about that Report Mr. Evans That was the second time when Mr. Braddon and Mr. Edwards came together Mr. Just Holloway Who was it had been examining his Boy did he say Mr. Evans Mr. Braddon he said had been to examine his Son Mr. Just Holloway That was after the discourse at Essex that Braddon came to examine his Son concerning the Razor Mr. Wallop Yes it was after the discourse at Essex where Hatsel plucking out the Paper Evans told Mr. Braddon first of this Razor L. Ch. Just Well make your defence by and by Mr. Wallop Do not make your Remarks now Mr. Att. Gen. Come Mr. Edwards Cryer swear him which was done L. Ch. Just What do you ask him Mr. Attorney Mr. Att. Gen. Mr. Edwards Pray will you give the Court an account of this business for I don't know whether you heard what that Gentleman that went out last said he says you raised this Story Pray give an account what you know of it Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray tell what you know of Mr. Braddon's coming to your Son and what discourse he or you had about the murder of the Earl of Essex Mr. Edwards The Report that Mr. Braddon came to enquire after was with us some three days before It was in our Family three days before and upon the 17. of July L. Ch. Just What was the Report Mr. Edwards before Mr. Braddon came to you Mr. Edwards The Report I have already declared before the Council L. Ch. Just But you must tell us too what it was Mr. Edwards The Report of the Boy the 13. of July about 10 a Clock as I was informed by my Family and by the Boy afterwards by word of mouth was this He comes in about 10 a Clock says he I have been at the Tower to one of his Sisters and have seen his Majesty and the Duke of York and the Earl of Essex has cut his throat and I see an hand throw a Razor out of the Window and one came out of the house a Maid or a Woman in a white Hood and a Stuff Coat and took it up and went in again and then I heard a noise as of murder cryed out This was the Boys Report and more than as his Report I can't speak to it L. Ch. Just This was your Son was it not Mr. Edwards Yes the younger of them The two Boys were that morning going to Merchant-Taylors School together as they used to do and by the way hearing the King was in the Tower this younger Boy that was well acquainted with the Tower gave his elder Brother the slip and went into the Tower and rambled about from place to place Mr. Att. Gen. Did not you examine him Mr. Edwards Ay I did examine him Mr. Att. Gen. Did not you find that he denyed it again Mr. Edwards No I did examine him and I found no denyal of any thing at all that he had reported till Mr. Braddon came to make enquiry Assoon as he came to make the enquiry and I understood what Mr. Braddon's business was I begged of him that he would not insist upon it by no means I begged of him as if I had begged for my life but he was so zealous in the business that nothing would satisfie him And after I had told Mr. Braddon that which I could not deny which was the Boys Report I left him and went down to the Custom-house and some of my Family discoursed the Boy at that rate that he began to deny it and in less than half an hours time recollected himself and began to own it again and so the Boy was off and on till the time he was before the Council and to this day he seems to stand in the denyal whether he
will do it now or no I cann't tell Mr. Att. Gen. Did you acquaint Mr. Braddon That you had found this Boy to be a lying Boy and detected him in Lyes several times Mr. Edwards May it please you Sir I acquainted him with thus much Said I Mr. Braddon As I have dealt ingenuously with you to let you know what the Boy 's Report was so I must likewise tell you that I cannot nor will undertake to assert the truth of it and presently upon that my Daughters told me the Boy had many times excused his playing Truant by false Stories Mr. Att. Gen. Did you acquaint Mr. Braddon that your Boy was a lying Boy at that time Mr. Edwards I think I did not at that instant of time L. Ch. Just How old is this Boy you talk of Mr. Edwards About 13 years of Age my Lord. Mr. Att. Gen. What do you know of Mr. Braddon's forcing your Boy to sign any thing that he had prepared after this Mr. Sol. Gen. When you told him your Boy had deny'd it what did he say was he pleased and satisfied Mr. Edwards He was not told it by me but some of my Family Mr. Sol. Gen. How did he behave himself Mr. Edwards At the same time they told him he denied it at the same time they told him he owned it again Mr. Sol. Gen. How did Mr. Braddon behave himself Mr. Edwards Like a civil Gentleman I saw nothing else by him but that he was very zealous in the Business that is the truth of it nothing could perswade him to desist Mr. Just Holloway Pray did you ask Mr. Braddon or did he tell you what was the reason that he was so inquisitive about this Razor and the Report of the Boy Mr. Edwards As to that he told me he would let me know the reason of it which was out of conscience Mr. Jones Did not Mr. Braddon carry your Son before several Justices of Peace Mr. Edwards Before none as I know of not one truly to my knowledge Mr. Att. Gen. Did you understand he had taken your Boy from your House in a Coach Mr. Edwards Never till he carried him into his Majesties presence before the Council and I knew not that till the Boy came home Mr. Thompson Mr. Attorney Have you done with him May I ask him a Question Mr. Att. Gen. Ay ask him what you will Mr. Thompson If I understand you right Sir this Report of the Boys was that morning that the Earl of Essex was murdered L. Ch. Just Was murdered murdered himself man Mr. Thompson My Lord I mean the day of his death Now I would ask you Sir when that was Mr. Edwards The Boy 's Report was this Sir Mr. Thompson I ask you not what his Report was but when what day it was Mr. Edwards The 13 th of July That day the Earl of Essex cut his Throat Mr. Thompson How many days after that was it when Mr. Braddon came to you Mr. Edwards It was not till the 17 th of July Mr. Thompson Had you discoursed of the Report of your Boy at the Custom-house or any where else that same day he came to you Mr. Edwards I cannot say that Mr. Thompson Had you discoursed it before Mr. Braddon spake to you upon your Oath Mr. Edwards Yes I believe I had Mr. Sol. Gen. Had you discoursed it before your Boy told you Mr. Edwards I should then indeed have been the Contriver of the Story Mr. Att. Gen. So it is like enough you were Mr. Sol. Gen. Had you discoursed it to any body before you went home to your own House upon your Oath Sir Mr. Edwards Upon my Oath then I discoursed nothing of that nature not a tittle of it nor knew nothing of it till I had it from my own Family Mr. Sol. Gen. Did you not discourse of it before you went home Mr. Edwards No when I came home they told me of it L. Ch. Just I ask you again Sir Did not you tell it before you came home Mr. Edwards About 10. a Clock I having heard the News of the Earl of Essex's cutting his Throat at the Custom-house I stepped home being very near to my own House and as soon as I came in at the Door the Family began to give me an account what News the Boy brought in L. Ch. Just That was the first time you heard of it Mr. Edwards Yes that was the first time I heard of it L. Ch. Just And did not you discourse of it till after that Mr. Edwards No. L. Ch. Just Call Mr. Evans Let him come in again then Mr. Att. Gen. Let Mr. Evans come in again L. Ch. Just Mr. Evans I would ask you this Question There was three times that you say I think that you had discourse with Edwards about the Matter as you call it once at Essex and twice at the Custom-house Mr. Sol. Gen. No not in Essex it was Hatsel and Braddon my Lord that came to him there Edwards was not there L. Ch. Just When you first had a Discourse with Edwards about this Matter what was it that Edwards did say to you Mr. Evans Being upon Custom-house-Key and Captain Goodland and several others standing upon the Key that very morning my Lord of Essex's Throat was cut about 11. a Clock Mr. Edwards came to us being standing upon the Key and told us That he was informed his Boy had been at the Tower and came home and told his Mother He saw a Hand throw a Razor out of a Window and that he went to take it up and a Maid or a Woman came and took it up and went in again L. Ch. Just Evans did he tell you this as if he had been at home Mr. Evans No I think it was that he had it from home by some Hand or other Mr. Edwards I was at home Mr. Evans My Lord at two a Clock in the afternoon when he came again to the Custom-house he did tell us he had been at home and his Boy had told him the same Story L. Ch. Just But when he told you before he had dined did he say He had been at home Mr. Edwards My Family can testifie I was at home between 10. and 11. a Clock Mr. Evans To the best of my remembrance he told me he heard so from home L. Ch. Just Before he went home you say he told you of this and that was 10. a Clock in the morning and about 2. of the Clock in the afternoon he said he had been at home and it was true Mr. Evans Yes my Lord. Mr. Edwards My Lord I was at home L. Ch. Just Mr. Edwards did you tell him so or did you not Mr. Edwards It is like I might say so about 10. a Clock but not before I had received the Report at home Mr. Evans I understood it so my Lord That he had heard from home L. Ch. Just I ask you this upon your Oath mind the Question and answer me plainly Did
or 3. times there as I have heard it was not tendred the first time he came L. Ch. Just I wonder how thou hast escaped 39. years with such a Reputation Mr. Edwards My Lord I never was thought otherwise nor I hope never gave any occasion for such a Thought L. Ch. Just. I 'le assure thee I do not nor can take thee for one Mr. Edwards I hope I have done nothing to make your Lordship think the contrary L. Ch. Just Yes thou hast Thou didst nothing but shuffle up and down thou art to consider thou art upon thy Oath and must answer Questions plainly Mr. Edwards My Lord I do answer as truely as I can Mr. Att. Gen. Heark you then Mr. Edwards answer me L. Ch. Just Speak the truth and nothing but the truth that is all that is required of thee no Court of Justice ought to be afraid to hear truth Let truth come out of Gods Name Mr. Att. Gen. Did Mr. Braddon ever tell you That he had other Evidence besides your Son Mr. Edwards I do not remember he said any such thing at his first coming L. Ch. Just. How thou dost shuffle again Answer plainly Mr. Att. Gen. I ask you whether ever he did say it Mr. Edwards Yes he did say so afterwards Mr. Sol. Gen. I must ask you one Question more for I see 't is very difficult to get it out of you Pray did he tell you that he had other Evidence besides your Son before he signed the Paper or after Mr. Edwards It was before as I take it I speak to the best of my knowledg my Lord I can say no more L. Ch. Just If thou hast a mind to continue the Reputation thou hast got as thou saist the way is to answer Questions and speak the truth plainly let it concern whom it will Mr. Edwards I labour to do it my Lord to the best of my Understanding and Capacity L. Ch. Just I would not have thee say a tittle more than the truth but let the truth come out Mr. Freke Now Sir I would ask you if they have done with you Did you ever know Mr. Braddon before the 17 th of July Or did you ever see him before Mr. Edwards No I never had any knowledge of him nor ever heard a word of him Mr. Wallop Mr. Edwards The Question was asked of you Whether Mr. Braddon did say There was other Evidence besides your Son pray when was that Mr. Edwards He did not at the first time but afterwards he did Mr. Wallop That was a good while after he had been with the Boy first L. Ch. Just Make your Observation by and by Mr. Wallop This is not a time for them Mr. Att. Gen. Then where is Edwards the Boy who was brought forthwith into Court. Mr. Edwards I charge you in the presence of Almighty God speak truth Child Mr. Sol. Gen. And so should you too Mr. Edwards Be sure to say nothing but the truth L. Ch. Just And Child turn about and say Father be sure you say nothing but the truth Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord This is the Boy he is very little and very young will your Lordship have him sworn What Age are you of William Edwards I am 13 my Lord. Mr. Att. Gen. Do you know what an Oath is Will. Edwards No. L. Ch. Just Suppose you should tell a Lye do you know who is the Father of Lyars Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just. Who is it Will. Edwards The Devil L. Ch. Just And if you should tell a Lye do you know what would become of you Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just What if you should swear to a Lye if you should call God to witness to a Lye what would become of you then Will. Edwards I should go to Hell-fire L. Ch. Just That is a terrible thing And therefore Child if you take an Oath be sure you say nothing but what is truth for no Party nor Side nor any thing in the World for that God that you say will call you to account and cast you into Hell-fire if you tell a Lye and witness to a Falshood knows and sees all you do therefore have a care the truth you must say and nothing but the truth Cryer Pull off your Glove and hearken to your Oath Then he was sworn Mr. Sol. Gen. And now remember you call God to witness to the truth of what you say Mr. Att. Gen. Young man look upon that Paper is that your Hand Will. Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. Did you sign that Will. Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. Prithee tell the Court how thou camest to sign it L. Ch. Just Ay Child be not afraid Tell the truth for if thou tellest the truth thou needest not be afraid but if thou tellest a Lye thou hast need to be afraid let no body whatever has been said to thee affright thee from telling the truth Mr. Sol. Gen. Don't be afraid of thy Father or any body but tell plainly what thou knowest and speak only the truth Mr. Att. Gen. How come you to sign that Paper Will. Edwards Mr. Braddon bid me sign it when he had writ it L. Ch. Just Heark thee Child Did he take it from thee what he writ or did he write it from himself Come hither Child be not afraid no body here will do thee any hurt Then the Boy was lifted up upon the Table before the Judges L. Ch. Just Look upon that Paper didst thou put thy Name to that Paper Child Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Whose Hand-writing is that Paper besides thy Name Will. Edwards Mr. Braddon's L. Ch. Just Did he bring it ready written Will. Edwards He writ in our Parlour L. Ch. Just How came he to write it Will. Edwards He said it was for the Earl of Essex to give to his Wife L. Ch. Just And what did he ask thee before he writ that Will. Edwards He asked me whether I saw any thing at the Tower and so I told him Yes L. Ch. Just Ay tell us what you told him and be not afraid Child but tell the truth Will. Edwards I told him I was in the Tower and saw a Razor thrown out of a Window L. Ch. Just. You told him so and then what said he to you Will. Edwards He bid me speak the truth L. Ch. Just Was that all the words you had Will. Edwards I afterwards went with my Brother into the Tower and I shewed my Brother the Place and then afterwards Mr. Braddon writ this and he said it was to give to the Countess of Essex Mr. Just Holloway Did he read it to you after he had writ it Will. Edwards Yes Mr. Just Holloway And did he ask thee whether it were true Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And didst thou tell him it was true Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And didst thou tell him all that was in that Paper was true Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Did you tell him all that was writ in that Paper
c. All which Mr. Braddon that you are to call Johnson whilest he is with you at your house will give you a true Relation of Mr. Braddon hath been at a great Trouble and Charge already about it I know few that would have ventured to have undertaken this Affair besides himself as times go I received yours this day with the great pains you took and the Letter to the Lady Russel which finding unsealed I sealed without looking into it and carried it my self she returns you ten thousand thanks and says she knows not what return to make you for your most extraordinary kindness I have not time to write any more at present by reason that Mr. Braddon alias Johnson stays only for this my Letter I am Sir Your most obliged Friend and most humble Servant Hugh Speke I am Writing a Letter to send to you by the Carrier Mr. Att. Gen. This Gentleman brings in Mr. Speke to be the Author of all this Contrivance But we shall prove to you That at the same time this Letter was taken about him this Gentleman had others that were likewise taken These Examinations which I desire may be likewise read Mr. My Lord I came lately from Sir Robert Atkyns He is an utter Stranger to all this he is now in the Country and knows nothing of it L. C. J. If they will use his Name I can't help it Mr. My Lord I would not have any Reflection upon him for he knows nothing at all of this matter Mr. Sol. Gen. The Letter was never received by Sir Robert Atkyns but taken before it came to him Mr. Att. Gen. All the matter is 't is an unhappy thing to be thought well of by such sort of people L. C. J. I see nothing of Sir Robert Atkyns in the Case but only his Name is used and notice is taken of the great Obligations some People have to him for his great kindness to his Friends Cl. of Cr. Here is an Information L. C. J. Was this found about him too Mr. Beech. Yes I believe that is the very Paper I have no Copy of that Paper but I well remember the Contents of it Mr. Att. Gen. Did you sign it or mark it L. C. J. He may believe it to be without signing Mr. Beech. I presume Mr. Braddon will own it Cl. of Cr. The Information of Mrs. Edwards Wife to Tho. Edwards saith That about 10 of the Clock in the Morning on Friday the 13 th of this Instant July this Informants youngest Son William Edwards aged about 13 years came trembling to this Informant and in great amazement and horror told this Informant that the Lord of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower and further said That he the said William Edwards in the Morning about 9 of the Clock did see a hand cast out a Razor out of the said Lord of Essex 's Lodging Window which Razor he saw on the Ground to be bloody And the said William Edwards was going to take up the said Razor but before he came to it there came a Maid running out of Captain Hawley 's House where the said Earl of Essex lodged and took up the Razor which she the said Maid forthwith carried into the said Captain Hawley 's House and soon after he the said William Edwards heard her as he the said William Edwards did believe cry out Murder And this Informant further saith That the substance of which the said William Edwards hath sworn in this Information he the said William Edwards on Friday last did declare to this Informant and her whole Family several times attesting it to be true and several times since Cl. of Cr. Here is the Information of William Edwards second Son of Thomas Edwards Mr. Att. Gen. That is the same with what was read already L. C. J. Ay that is the Boys Information Cl. of Cr. Here is another 't is Dated August the 8 th 1683. The Information of Jane Lodeman aged about 13 years did in the presence of these whose names are here under written declare as followeth That the said Jane Lodeman was in the Tower on Friday Morning the 13th of July last and standing almost over against the late Earl of Essex 's Lodging Window she saw a hand cast out a Razor out of my Lord's Window and immediately upon that she heard Shrieks and that there was a Souldier by my Lords door which cryed out to those within the house that somebody should come and take up a Razor which was thrown out of the Window whereupon there came a Maid with a white Hood out of the house but who took up the Razor she can't tell This is Subscribed John Boom and William Smith Cl. of Cr. Here is another Paper August the 8 th 83. Mr. William Glasbrooke does declare That one Jane Lodeman aged about 13 years inhabiting in the same house where he the said William Glasbrooke lodged did on Friday the 13 th of July last past between the hours of 10 and 11 in the Morning in the presence and hearing of him the said William Glasbrooke declare to her Aunt That the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat upon which her Aunt was very angry with her whereupon she the said Girl did declare that she was sure of it for she saw him throw the Razor out of the Window and that the Razor was bloody and that she heard two Groans or Shrieks which of the two words she used he the said William Glasbrooke is not certain of this he the said Glasbrooke is ready to make Oath This is Subscribed William Glasbrooke Margaret Smith Mr. Att. Gen. He carried his Stuff about him it seems wherever he went L. C. J. 'T is Stuff indeed Good God what an Age do we live in Mr. Att. Gen. It is not taken upon Oath before any Magistrate but cooked up to amuse the Country as if they were formal Informations Here is another Letter Mr. Beech was this Letter found about him Mr. Beech. Yes this Letter was found about him Mr. Att. Gen. It is from one Burgis a man of the same Kidney Cl. of Cr. This is directed for Mr. Cumpen at the Dolphin at Frome and 't is Subscribed Jeremiah Burgis and dated Marleb Oct. 21. Mr. Cumpen MY kind love to you These are to desire you to call to mind that I was in Frome the 6tâ— of July being Friday where I heard the Report that the Earl of Essex had cut his own Throat I would desire you to inquire into it to know who first reported it and give this Gentleman the truth of it And in so doing you will oblige me who am Your Friend Jeremiah Burgis Mr. Beech. Under favour my Lord This Letter talks of a Report that was the 13th day the very day the Earl of Essex murdered himself I went directly to Frome and spake with this Cumpen and he told me he did not speak with Burgis nor see him nor was there any such Report before the
Lord Keeper he had it in writing I gave him an accompt in writing Mr. Braddon But you are now called upon your Oath and are to speak the Truth and must give an accompt to his Lordship and the Jury upon your Oath what it was the Boy told you Mrs. Edwards What was it Sir he came and told me why the Boy told me Mother says he I have been at the Tower and seen the King's Majesty and his Royal Highness and says he the Earl of Essex has cut his Throat and Lord Mother says he and wept Lord Child said I I am afraid you are going to make some excuse to me that I should not beat you being you have play'd Truant no mother says he I did not He continued in this for a little while and then afterwards did deny it Mr. Braddon What did he deny Mrs. Edwards What he had said to me Mr. Braddon Did he deny that he had been at the Tower Or that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat Mrs. Edwards No he denied what he said he saw Mr. Braddon What was that Mrs. Edwards He said he saw an hand out of a Window and a Razour fell down and he went to take it up and there came out a Woman or a Maid a short fat Woman came out and took it up and went in again Mr. Wallop And he said this crying and weeping you say Mrs. Edwards Yes he did so Mr. Braddon Did he deny it before such time as I had been there Mrs. Edwards No you was once at my House before and spake to my Husband and then you came the same day again Mr. Braddon Pray what was the discourse your eldest Daughter had with the Boy between the time of my first coming and the time of my second coming L. C. J. 'T is impossible for her to answer any such Question what discourse two other people had Mr. Att. Gen. Bring the Daughter her self and let her tell L. C. J. Hark you Mrs. Edwards before you go The Boy denyed it it seems in two or three days after he had given out such a Report Mrs. Edwards Yes my Lord he did L. C. J. How came he to deny it Mrs. Edwards I will tell you how When this Gentleman came and acquainted my Husband with his business it put us all into a great damp and my Husband said now both my Boys were gone to School and says he after the Gentleman was gone to my Daughter Sarah Don't you say any thing to your Brother when he comes in but let him alone and we will talk to him So with that she was so grievously affrighted and so amazed that as soon as he came in she said prithee Billy deal truly and don 't you tell any lie to save your Breech for here has been a Gentleman to inquire some thing about what you said why Sister says he will any thing of harm come truly Child says she I don't know and upon that he did deny it L. C. J. Did you tell Mr. Braddon he had denied it Mrs. Edwards He was told he had denied it L. C. J. Did you tell Mr. Braddon before the Paper was signed that he did deny it Mrs. Edwards Yes my Lord he knew that before the Paper was signed Mr. Braddon Mrs. Edwards Did not the Boy come to you and cry out he should be hang'd and then did deny it Mrs. Edwards Yes that he did Mr. Braddon From whence did he come that he was in such a fright Mrs. Edwards I can't tell that Sir Mr. Braddon Did not your eldest Daughter chide him and threaten him Mrs. Edwards Yes she did bid him speak the Truth Mr. Att. Gen. And then he denied it Mrs. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Ay says she to him Billy do not to save thy Breech tell a lie but speak the Truth why then says he the Truth of it is there was no such thing Mr. Braddon My Lord she says it was after his Sister had Chid and threaten'd him Mr. Sol. Gen. You are a little too fierce upon the Woman Mr. Braddon you do not Observe what she says L. C. J. Yes he is wonderful zealous flourishing his hands Mr. Sol. Gen. She says the Daughter did tell the Son that he must speak the Truth and not tell a lie to save his Breech for there had been a Gentleman to inquire about it why says the Boy will there come any harm of it I don't know says his Sister why then says he I tell you the Truth there was no such thing L. C. J. Ay when she ingaged him to tell the Truth and not tell a lie to save his Breech then the Truth comes out Mr. Braddon Pray call Sarah Edwards the Daughter My Lord they told me in the House that she had frighted him into a denial L. C. J. Pray good Sir how came you to be a Justice of peace And to turn Examiner You live in the Temple or belong to the Temple how come you to take Examinations here in London but that some people are so very zealous and officious in matters that concern them not on purpose to raise a dust Then Sarah Edwards the younger was sworn Mr. Braddon Did not your Brother deny what he had said by your means L. C. J. Pray ask a fair Question Mr. Braddon Mrs. Pray tell your Knowledge of what the Boy declared L. C. J. Ay Ay Tell what you know what your Brother said concerning his seeing a Razour and his denying of it afterwards Tell all from the beginning to the end and tell Truth in Gods name and nothing but the Truth We desire the Truth may come out let it be of which side it will Sarah Edwards My Brother came home and said he had been at the Tower and that he had seen his Majesty and his Royal Highness and the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat and that he saw an hand fling out a Razour out of a Window and that a Maid or a Woman came out and took it up and went in again and presently after he heard the noise of murder cryed so I knowing he was very apt to tell lies I did not believe it Mr. Braddon Pray Mrs. did you prevail with him to deny it afterwards L. C. J. You are so wonderful full of Zeal and heat in this matter you cannot let your own Witnesses tell their own Story but you must interrupt them You have been bred to the Law and you have been before here present I suppose at many Tryals and what pretence can you have to be more indulged in an extraordinary way of proceeding than others 't is not for the integrity of your Conversation I am sure that you ought to have it but only because you have more impudence Mr. Braddon My Lord I have nothing of confidence but what is grounded upon innocence L. C. J. I tell you you are too confident and pray know where you are and behave your self as you ought Mr. Braddon My Lord I
hope I do no otherwise L. C. J. We must give such liberty and toleration because of the extravagance of his confidence as to let him break in upon all rules and methods When you behave your self as you ought to do the Court will indulge you and give you all just liberty but don't expect for your Zeal-sake and the flinging of your hands to do what you list Go on Mistriss Sarah Edwards So Sir this Mr. Braddon came on Tuesday following about one or two of the Clock and asked for my Father and coming my Sister Mary went to the door and called my Father out to him When my Father came to him he told my Father he came from Sir Henry Capell and the Countess of Essex to know the Truth of my Brothers Report So my Father told him the Boy had reported such a thing but he would not assert the Truth of it for he had been informed by us that the Boy was apt to tell lies to excuse his playing Truant so the Child was gone to School when Mr. Braddon came and when he came home from School they went to the Child said I Billy will you be sure to tell me the Truth of this Report why Sister said he will any harm come of it Nay said I I do not know for there has been a Gentleman to inquire about it So then the Child denied it L. C. J. Did he know this before he made the Boy sign the Paper Sarah Edwards Yes this was on the Tuesday after Mr. Braddon had been first there And I spake to him said I Billy say nothing but the Truth be sure and don 't tell a lie to save your Breech So Sir as soon as ever the Child denied it Mr. Braddon came in again the same day and coming in found us my Mother and all of us daunted hearing the Boy deny it but he asked the Child and bid him speak the Truth and told him it was a dreadful thing to be a Liar and bid him read the fifth of the Acts telling him he would find there two were struck dead for telling of a lie and several other such expressions that I cannot remember Upon Wednesday about noon he comes again and then my Brother did own it again and he writ down what the Boy owned and went away saying he would go to Sir Henry Capell and the Countess of Essex And on Thursday he comes again and brings a Paper written over again not the same he writ at our House and then the Child set his hand to it The Child was something unwilling so says he to him it will be no harm to you if any danger does come of it it will come to me and not to you L. C. J. The Child was unwilling to sign it you say but by his perswasion Sarah Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon told him it would be no harm to him all the harm would come to himself Mr. Braddon When the Child had owned to me what he first said and upon your saying that he denyed it I asked him the reason why he denyed it pray will you tell what answer he made to that question Pray tell the truth and nothing but the truth Sarah Edwards Upon my word Sir I can't recollect that Mr. Braddon Pray Mistress what answer did he make Sarah Edwards I have told you what I know to the best of my remembrance Mr. Braddon Did not you hear your Brother run to his Mother and cry out I shall be hanged Sarah Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon What was the reason of his crying out so Sarah Edwards Why the Child had that fear and dread upon his Spirits knowing it was a Lye I suppose he had told Mr. Braddon What was the reason of his fear L. C. J. She tells you it was the falshood of the story Mr. Wallop Mistress did not you tell him that his Father would be in danger of losing his Place Sarah Edwards Yes Sir we did Mr. Wallop Did you tell him the King will Hang your Father if you do not deny it L. C. J. Why you have a mind to have it believed that it was true then Mr. Wallop Mr. Wallop My Lord the Boy best knows that L. C. J. But do you believe that if it had been true that the King would Hang his Father or turn him out of his Place if he did not deny it as though the King would force people to deny the truth Mr. Wallop My Lord I do not say nor believe any such thing L. C. J. But your question seems to carry it so Mr. Wallop My Lord I ask the Question of her whether she did not say so to him I ask Questions according to my instructions L. C. J. Nay Mr. Wallop be as angry as you will you shan't Hector the Court out of their understandings We see plainly enough whether that question tends You that are Gentlemen of the Robe should carry your selves with greater respect to the Government and while you do so the Court will carry themselves as becomes them to you Mr. Wallop I referr my self to all that hear me if I attempted any such thing as to Hector the Court. L. C. J. Referr your self to all that hear you referr your self to the Court 't is a reflection upon the Government I tell you your Question is and you shan't do any such thing while I sit here by the Grace of God if I can help it Mr. Wallop I am sorry for that I never intended any such thing my Lord. L. C. J. Pray behave your self as you ought Mr. Wallop you must not think to huff and swagger here Mr. J. Withins Mr. Braddon you hear what the reason was of his crying out so She said he was afraid because he knew he had told a Lye Mr. Wallop Pray Mistress who told him the Family would be ruined by it Mr. J. Withins Mr. Wallop I asked this Gentlewoman whether she did say it and she said she could not tell Sarah Edwards Indeed I cannot tell my Lord. Mrs. Edwards She did indeed say so my Lord. Mr. Wallop Pray let it go my Lord as it is what was it she said Did she speak about turning her Father out of his place Mrs. Edwards I cannot say that but she said when the Boy asked whether there would be any harm by it she could not tell but it may be her Father and Family might be ruined L. C. J. And is not this reflection upon the Government to say the King would Ruine any one if they did not tell a Lye Mr. Wallop My Lord for a false Report he might be Ruined but it seems upon this saying he did deny it Mr. J. Withins Was there a word said of his being turned out of his Place Mrs. Edwards I cannot say there was L. C. J. No not a word but only Mr. Wallop is so impetuous in the worst of Causes Mr. Wallop I am in the judgment of the Court whether I do any thing but what becomes an Advocate for
Mr. Braddon What was that tell the Court. Mrs. Smith I chid her because she had been playing That is all I can say Mr. Justice Withins Did she tell you the Soldier cried out for some body to come and take up the Razor Mrs. Smith I cannot say that Mr. Just Withins Did she say she saw a Razor thrown out of my Lord of Essex's Window Mrs. Smith She said she saw a Razor thrown out of a Window I can't tell whether she said out of my Lord of Essex's Window Mr. Freke Did you set your hand to that Paper L. C. Just Were you a Witness to that Paper Mrs. Smith There were others heard what the Girl said as well as I. L. C. Just Who desired you to sign it Mr. Freke Who writ that Paper Mrs. Mrs. Smith Pray excuse me Sir I do not know Mr. Freke Did you see it writ Mrs. Smith No. L. C. Just No it was one got ready drawn by Mr. Braddon Mr. Just Holloway Pray let the Boy 's Information be read again for I observe there is a difference she says the Razor fell within the Pales the Boy says it fell without L. C. Just Ay ay the one says it was the inside the other the outside of the Pales Then the Information was read L. C. Just Go on now and ask your Questions Mr. Braddon Did the Girl say That after the Razor was thrown out the Soldier cried to some body to take it up Mrs. Smith Sir I can say no more than what I have said Mr. Braddon Did she or did she not Mrs. Smith Pray Sir excuse me I have spoken what I know Mr. Att. Gen. You may see how he has managed this matter my Lord by his urging the Witnesses with Questions they know nothing of L. C. Just Yes yes we see he would fain put words into their mouths Mr. Att. Gen. Mrs. Did you send to Mr. Braddon to inform him of what the Girl had said or did he come to you Mrs. Smith Sir I never saw him before in my days Mr. Att. Gen. He came first to you then Mrs. Smith Yes he hearing of it came as a stranger to me Mr. Braddon Did I directly or indirectly offer you or your Neece any thing Mrs. Smith No never in this World Mr. Braddon Did I ever desire her or you to say any thing but what was true Mrs. Smith No Sir You ever encouraged the Girl to speak truth and bid her speak nothing but what was truth Mr. Att. Gen. You need not pay dear for a Lie you are like to pay dear enough before you have done Mr. Braddon My Lord As to personal knowledg I am as much a stranger to this matter as any body here and in all my Concern in it I have done nothing but what was very fair L. C. Just. Mind your Defence Mr. Braddon and leave commending your self or if you will rather commend your self by your Actions than your Expressions One good Action is worth Twenty good Expressions Mr. Braddon Swear William Glasbrook which was done L. C. Just Well what do you ask him Mr. Freke My Lord We desire to know of him whether he was by on the 13 th of July when the Girl gave this Report Mr. Glasbrooke I was up two pair of stairs when she came in L. C. Just What is your Name Sir Mr. Glasbrooke William Glasbrooke Cl. of Cr. Ay here is his Information among those that were taken about Braddon Mr. Glasbrooke She came in to her Aunt that went out just now before me and I heard her very loud with her Aunt saying the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower Her Aunt chid her upon it and her Aunt chiding her she said she was sure it was true for she saw a bloody Razor with a bloody hand thrown out of the Window Mr. Freke Was this the day of my Lord of Essex's Death Mr. Glasbrooke It was the day the King was in the Tower and as was reported the day he was killed Mr. Braddon Were you present when I first discoursed the Girl Mr. Glasbrooke Yes Mr. Braddon Had you ever seen me before or no Mr. Glasbrooke No. L. C. Just Did she say my Lord of Essex cut his Throat at that time Mr. Glasbrooke Yes L. C. Just Are you a Witness to this Paper Did you set your hand to this Paper Mr. Glasbrooke To the Paper Mr. Braddon writ I did I am a Witness to that L. C. Just. Then read his Information Cl. of Cr. Reads Mr. William Glasbrooke does declare That one Jean Lodeman aged about Thirteen years inhabiting in the same house where he the said William Glasbrooke lodged did on Friday the 13th of July last past between Ten and Eleven in the morning in the presence and hearing of him the said William Glasbrooke declare to her Aunt That the Earl of Essex had cut his throat upon which her Aunt was very angry with her whereupon she the said girl did declare That she was sure of it for she saw him throw the Razor out of the Window and that the Razor was bloody and that she heard two groans or shreeks which of the two words she used he the said William Glasbrooke is not certain Of this he the said William Glasbrooke is ready to make Oath L. C. Just. Now my Lord of Essex cut his own Throat and after threw the Razor out of the Window Mr. Glasbrooke 'T is what the Girl did declare Mr. Att. Gen. Does not this Girl usually tell Lies Mr. Glasbrooke I have before that time taken her in a Lie Mr. Att. Gen. Did you acquaint Mr. Braddon with that Mr. Glasbrooke I cannot tell that I did Mr. Att. Gen. Do you remember that you told Mr. Braddon That she was a Girl that told Truth Mr. Glasbrooke No I never did that for I was always of another perswasion about her Mr. Sol. Gen. He never was of that Temper to praise her he was always of a contrary perswasion L C. Just. I 'le assure him that I am of his Opinion too I do believe she is a lying Girl and hath told us a company of Lies now Mr. Braddon These Two Children told me they never saw one another till they were examined at Council L. C. Just. Well well go on with your Witnesses Mr. Braddon Where is William Smith who appeared and was sworn I desire to know of you Mr. Smith what you heard the Girl say when I was there Mr. Smith I heard the Girl tell us That she saw a hand cast out a Razor and either the hand was bloody or the Razor I can't tell which but she said it was out of the Window where she said the Earl of Essex lodged L. C. J. Did she say the Earl of Essex did it himself Mr. Smith She said she saw an Hand cast out a Razor L. C. J. Did she tell you it was the Earl of Essex's Lodging-Window Mr. Smith She said it was that Lodging L. C. J. Ay but
I Do appoint Benjamin Tooke to Print the TRYAL of Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke and Order that no other Person presume to Print the same Geo. Jeffreys THE TRYAL OF LAVRENCE BRADDON AND HVGH SPEKE Gent. Upon an INFORMATION OF High-Misdemeanor Subornation and spreading false Reports Endeavouring thereby to raise a Belief in His Majesties Subjects that the late Earl of ESSEX did not Murther himself in the TOWER contrary to what was found by the Coroners Inquest Before the Right Honourable Sir George Jeffreys KNIGHT and BARONET Lord Chief Justice of His Majesties Court of KINGS-BENCH and the rest of the Reverend JUDGES of that Court holden at Westminster on Friday the 7th of February 1683. LONDON Printed for Benjamin Tooke at the Ship in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1684. THE TRYAL OF Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Gent. On Thursday the Seventh of February Anno Dom. 1683. Annoque Reg. Caroli Secundi xxxvi A Tryal was had at the Kings Bench Bar in a Cause between our Sovereign Lord the King and Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Gentlemen upon an Information exhibited against them the last Term by his Majesties Attorney General for an High Misdemeanor and to which they the same Term pleaded Not Guilty and the Tryal proceeded in this manner Cl. of Cr. CRyer call the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Cryer Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke come forth or else this Inquest shall be taken by your default Mr. Wallop They appear Cl. of Cr. Gardez votrez Challenges Swear Sir Hugh Middleton which was done and there being no Challenges the Twelve Gentlemen sworn to try this Cause were these Sir Hugh Middleton Jur. Thomas Harriott Jur. Thomas Earsby Jur. Joshua Galliard Jur. Richard Shoreditch Jur. Charles Good Jur. Samuel Rouse Jur. Hugh Squire Jur. Nehemiah Arnold Jur. John Bifield Jur. William Wait and Jur. James Supple Jur. Who being counted Proclamation was made in usual form for Information Cl. of Cr. Gentlemen you of the Jury hearken to the Record His Majesties Attorney General in this Court has exhibited an Information against the Defendants by the Names of Laurence Braddon of the Middle Temple Gentleman and Hugh Speke of Lincolns Inn Gentleman And the Information sets forth That whereas Arthur Earl of Essex the 12 th of July in the Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. was committed to the Prison of our Lord the King in the Tower of London for certain High-Treasons by him supposed to be committed And the said Arthur Earl of Essex being a Prisoner in the Tower of London aforesaid for the High-Treason aforesaid the 13 th day of July in the aforesaid Thirty Fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King that now is not having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the Instigation of the Devil at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid himself feloniously and as a Felon of himself did kill and murther as by an Inquisition taken at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid the 14 th day of July in the year aforesaid befor Edward Fernham Esquire then Coroner of our Lord the King of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid upon the view of the Body of the said Arthur Earl of Essex and now in this Court remaining of Record more plainly does appear They the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke not being ignorant of the Premises but contriving and maliciously and seditiously intending the Government of our said Lord the King of this Kingdom of England into Hatred Disgrace and Contempt to bring the 15th day of August in the aforesaid Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King that now is and divers other dayes and times as well before as after at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex with force and arms c. falsly unlawfully maliciously and seditiously did conspire and endeavour to make the Subjects of our said Lord the King of this Kingdom of England to believe that the Inquisition aforesaid was unduely taken and that the said Arthur Earl of Essex by certain Persons unknown in whose Custody he was was Killed and Murthered And to perfect and bring to effect their malicious and seditious Contrivances aforesaid they the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex aforesaid the 15th day of August in the Thirty Fifth year aforesaid falsly unlawfully unjustly maliciously and seditiously did conspire to procure certain false Witnesses to prove That the said Arthur Earl of Essex was not a Felon of himself but that the said Earl of Essex by the said Persons unknown was killed and murthered And to perswade other Subjects of our said Lord the King to believe this to be true they the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke falsly maliciously and seditiously then and there in writing did declare and cause to be declared the said Laurence Braddon to be a Person that would prosecute the murther of the said Earl of Essex to the great Scandal and Contempt of the Government of our Lord the King of his Kingdom of England to the evil example of all other in the like case offending and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity To this Information the Defendants have severally pleaded Not Guilty and for their Tryal have put themselves upon the Country and His Majesties Attorney General likewise which Country you are Your Charge is to enquire whether the Defendants or either of them are Guilty of this great Misdemeanour whereof they are Impeached or Not Guilty If you find them or either of them Guilty you are to say so if you find them or either of them Not Guilty you are to say so and no more and hear your Evidence Then Proclamation was made for Evidence Mr. Dolben May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen that are Sworn this is an Information preferred by Mr. Attorney General against the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke and the Information does set forth That whereas Arthur late Earl of Essex the 12 th of July last was committed to the Tower of London for certain Treasons supposed to have been by him done And the said Earl being so committed Prisoner to the Tower for Treason not having the fear of God before his eyes feloniously and as a Felon did kill and murther himself as by an Inquisition taken before the Coroner of the Tower-Liberty may more fully appear yet the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke not being ignorant of the Premisses but designing to bring the Government into Hatred and Contempt the 15 th day of August last at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in this County with force and Arms falsly unlawfully maliciously and
you speak to him that you had such a Report from home or did you not Mr. Edwards When I told it him I had it from home for I brought it from home L. Ch. Just Nay did you tell him you had such a Report from home at 10 a Clock or no Mr. Edwards I told him that I had met with such a Report L. Ch. Just From whom Mr. Edwards From my Family at home for the Boy came not to me to tell it· L. Ch. Just Then did you see Mr. Evans about 2 a Clock that afternoon Mr. Edwards 'T is probably I did L. Ch. Just Did you or did you not Mr. Edwards Yes I believe I might I beseech your Lordship give me leave to speak Mr. Evans and I am conversant forenoon and afternoon every day we have Business together Mr. Evans We have Business my Lord about shipping off Goods Mr. Edwards But my Lord if you please I will tell you that is the occasion of our being together L. Ch. Just Answer me my Question Did you or did you not tell him so Mr. Edwards I did not acquaint him with it before I had been at home and received it from my own Family L. Ch. Just Look you Sir Don't you go about to evade the Question nor trifle with the Court you must answer me my Question directly and upon your Oath Did you tell him you had notice from home of such a Report or no Mr. Edwards I did not receive notice from home but I brought it from home L. Ch. Just Did you tell him you had it from home Mr. Edwards I told him I had it from my Family who told me the Boy had made such a Report L. Ch. Just Did you tell him you had it from your Boy or received notice from home about it Mr. Edwards I did not tell him any thing before I had been at home L. Ch. Just Well then answer me this question Did you tell him in the afternoon at two a Clock Now I have been at home and examined my Boy and find it so as I told you Mr. Edwards I examined my Boy at Dinner and I found the Boy agreed with the Report of my Daughter and confirmed it L. Ch. Just I ask you what you told Mr. Evans not what your Boy or your Daughter told you Mr. Edwards It is probable I might tell Mr. Evans the same story after dinner at Two a Clock that I did before L. Ch. Just Now tell us the passage again Mr. Evans as you heard it Mr. Evans To the best of my remembrance at two a Clock in the Afternoon Mr. Edwards came and told us he had examined the Boy and says he the Boy has confirmed all that I told you L. Ch. Just But before that in the Morning what did he say Mr. Evans I cannot say exactly the time but I think it was about 10 a Clock There were four or five more besides my self standing at Custom-house Key and Mr. Edwards came to us and told us says he I am informed from home as I understood it not that he had been at home but that he heard it from home that his Boy being at the Tower had seen an hand throw a Razor out of a Window L. Ch. Just What said he at two of the Clock Mr. Evans He said he had examined his Boy and he said the same thing that he had told us he had heard in the morning Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord we are now but upon the Entrance of our Evidence to shew upon what slender grounds how slight a foundation there was for this Gentleman to undertake this Prosecution Mr. Sol. Gen. Mr. Edwards pray let me ask you a question Did Mr. Braddon tender any Paper to your Son to sign Mr. Edwards I was informed he did do it afterwards but I saw him not do any such thing Mr. Sol. Gen. Did you never say that Mr. Braddon had tendred a Paper to your Son to sign Mr. Edwards I do not believe I ever did say so I do not remember any such thing Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray recollect your memory and tell us whether you did or did not Mr. Edwards I thank God Sir that he has given me my memory and my understanding I bless him for it Mr. Att. Gen. But it were well if thou hadst any honesty too Mr. Edwards And honesty too Sir I have not lived these 39 years at the Custom-house without honesty I never had my honesty questioned to this day I am sure no body can tax me with dishonesty Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray Mr. Edwards let your anger alone for a while and answer the question that I shall ask you Did your Son refuse to sign that Paper Mr. Edwards He did sign it at last Mr. Sol. Gen. Did he refuse to sign it Mr. Edwards I do not know whether he refused it or no. Mr. Just Withins Did you hear that your Son refused it Mr. Edwards I did hear that he had signed it Mr. Just Withins But did you hear that he refused to sign it Mr. Edwards The Boy did not tell me he had refused to sign it I did not hear him refuse it L. Ch. Just Thou dost prevaricate very strangely I must tell thee that notwithstanding thy reputation of 39. years of honesty Prithee answer plainly Did you hear at any time that your Son had refused to sign it Mr. Edwards No my Lord I did not to the best of my remembrance L. Ch. Just That is a plain answer man But thou dost so shuffle up and down one cannot tell what to make of what thou sayst Mr. Thompson Sir I desire to ask you one question Whether ever Mr. Braddon and you had any former acquaintance Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray stay Sir and if you please spare your Question a little for we have not yet done with Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards pray swer me Did Mr. Braddon ever tell you that he had other Informations to confirm this Report of your Son from others Mr. Edwards Truly I do not remember he said any such thing Mr. Sol. Gen. Did you ever say he told you so Consider of it and remember your former Examination Mr. Edwards 'T is like since he may have said so but not at his first coming Mr. Sol. Gen. At his first coming did your Son sign his Paper then Mr. Edwards No he did not as I am informed I saw it not Mr. Sol. Gen. But afterwards you say Mr. Braddon did tell you He had other Evidence to confirm it Mr. Edwards It may be he might I can't say it positively Mr. Att. Gen. You say he did not sign the Paper at his first coming Mr. Edwards No I am informed he did not Mr. Sol. Gen. How do you know he did sign it at last Mr. Edwards My Wife and Daughters information L. Ch. Just But how then can you say that you never heard he did refuse it Mr. Edwards My Lord he did not tender a Paper to him to sign till he had been 2.
before he writ it down Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Prithee mind the Question and speak truth Didst thou tell him all that was in that Paper before he writ it down Will. Edwards Yes I told him and so he writ it down Mr. Just Holloway You heard it all read to you you say Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Then I ask you again Did you tell him all that was in that Paper that was read to you before he writ it down Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And after you had told him he writ it down Will. Edwards I told him as he writ it down L. Ch. Just And after such time as he had writ it down did he read it to you Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And then you put your Name to it Will. Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. I pray my Lord he may be asked this Question Whether or no when he first brought it in the Boy did not deny to sign it L. Ch. Just Did he bring the Paper thither before thou signedst it Will. Edwards It was upon the Table L. Ch. Just Didst not thou refuse to put thy Name to it Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Why Will. Edwards I was afraid L. Ch. Just Why Will. Edwards For fear of coming into danger L. Ch. Just Why what danger could there be There was no danger if it was truth Will. Edwards That was not the truth L. Ch. Just Which was not the truth Was not the Paper that he had written truth Will. Edwards No. L. Ch. Just How so Child Was not that thou toldest him the truth Will. Edwards No. L. Ch. Just Tell the truth now then Will. Edwards So I do Mr. Sol. Gen. Then he offered it first to you and bid you sign it and you denied to put your hand to it because it was not true Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And how long after did he offer it to you again Will. Edwards A little while after L. Ch. Just But did you tell Mr. Braddon it was not true when you refused to sign it Will. Edwards No I did not L. Ch. Just Why didst thou refuse to sign it then Will. Edwards I was afraid because it was not true L. Ch. Just Didst not thou tell Mr. Braddon it was not true Will. Edwards I did not tell Mr. Braddon it was not true L. Ch. Just Why then wast thou afraid to sign it because it was not true at one time and yet didst sign it tho' it was not true at another time Mr. Sol. Gen. Child Didst thou give Mr. Braddon any reason why thou didst not sign it at that time Will. Edwards No Sir Mr. Sol. Gen. How didst thou come to sign it Did any body speak to thee between that first time thou refusedst to sign it and the second time thou didst sign it Will. Edwards He would fain have got my Aunt to have signed it L. Ch. Just Thou sayst thou didst first refuse it because it was not true Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And then afterwards thou didst sign it Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Then I ask thee who perswaded thee to sign it after that time that thou first refusedst it Will. Edwards My Mother was afraid to have me sign it L. Ch. Just Who perswaded you to sign it Will. Edwards Mr. Braddon said there was no harm in it so I did it L. Ch. Just Did Mr. Braddon then perswade you to sign it Will. Edwards He said there was no harm in it that was all L. Ch. Just Did you do it at his desire Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just And you refused it at first when he desired it Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just What because it was false Will. Edwards Yes L. Ch. Just Why then wouldst thou sign it afterwards if some body did not perswade thee to it Will. Edwards He told me there was nothing of harm in it Mr. Att. Gen. Hadst thou any money offered thee by Mr. Braddon Will. Edwards No. Mr. Att. Gen. Hadst thou any money promised thee Will. Edwards No. Mr. Att. Gen. Hadst thou any thing else offered or promised thee Will. Edwards No nothing at all L. Ch. Just You have heard what he has said Gentlemen Jury No my Lord we have not heard a word L. Ch. Just Then I will tell you what he has said exactly He says that Mr. Braddon writ it from him that he writ it in the Room while he was there that after such time as he had writ it Mr. Braddon read it to him He says that he had carried his Brother to shew him the place where he assigned that the Razor was found in the Tower he says that after such time as the Writing was finished Mr. Braddon offered it him to sign and he refused to sign it and I asked him the reason why and he says because it was false he says some short time afterwards Mr. Braddon came to him again Will. Edwards No Sir it was the same time L. Ch. Just Well the same time Braddon was at him again and told him there was no harm in it and therefore desired him to sign it and because he would not he would have had his Aunt to have signed it and he says that Braddon telling him there was no harm in it he did sign it Mr. Sol. Gen. But withal he says that it is false L. Ch. Just Ay he swears now 'tis all false Mr. Freke Did you tell Mr. Braddon it was false L. Ch. Just No he says he did not Mr. Freke Did your Sister at all discourse with you after you had dictated to Mr. Braddon Pray what discourse had you with her after Mr. Braddon writ that Paper before you refused to sign it L. Ch. Just Do not ask any leading Question Sir but propose a fair plain Question Mr. Freke Did you discourse with your Sister at all after Mr. Braddon had been at your house Will. Edwards Yes I had been at School and when I came home they said that a Gentleman that came from the Earl of Essex's Brother had been to inquire of the truth of the Report I had raised Mr. Freke What did your Sister say to you Will. Edwards That was all Mr. Sol. Gen. Did she name the Gentleman and did you see him afterwards Will. Edwards Yes Mr. Sol. Gen. Who was it Will. Edwards That Gentleman Mr. Braddon Jury My Lord We don't hear a word he says L. Ch. Just He says he had been at School and when he came home they told him a Gentleman came from the Earl's Brother to inquire of the truth of what he had reported It was asked him who the Gentleman was and he says it was that Gentleman Mr. Braddon Mr. Thompson Before such time as Mr. Braddon came to you what did you tell your Father about this Razor and when Will. Edwards Sir I told him the King and Duke of York were at the Tower and while I was there I said I saw a Hand cast out a bloody Razor
and a Maid come out and take it up and go in again Mr. Thompson Did you see any such thing as a Bloody Razor cast out Will. Edwards No. L. Ch. Just What a dust has such a trivial Report made in the world Admit the Boy had said any such thing what an Age do we live in that the Report of every Child shall blow us up after this rate It would make a body tremble to think what a sort of people we live among To what an heat does Zeal transport some people beyond all reason and sobriety If such a little Boy had said so 't is not an half-penny matter but presently all the Government is to be libell'd for a Boy which whether he speaks true or false is of no great weight and he swears 't is all false Mr. Sol. Gen. My Lord We shall next call Dr. Hawkins's Son of the Tower Where is Thomas Hawkins who was sworn Mr. Att. Gen My Lord Agreeable to what the Boy has now said to shew you that what Mr. Braddon got him to sign was all false here is the young man that truanted with him the same morning that was with him all the time the whole morning that says there was no such thing and he saw no such thing and how could it enter into the Boys head such a malicious lye if it had not been dictated Pray Mr. Hawkins will you acquaint my Lord and the Jury whether you play'd Truant that morning with this other Boy and where you were L. Ch. Just Ay Tell the truth in Gods name Young Man be it one way or t'other let the truth come out Hawkins In the morning Sir I met with him at the Tower going round with the King and we walked round the Tower as long as the King walked and then the King going into the Constables house we and some more Boys were playing L. Ch. Just Prithee speak out as though thou wert at play at Chuck-farthing Hawkins After we had been at play I went home and after I had been there a little while news was brought to my Father that the Earl of Essex had killed himself My Father went down and I followed him and after I had been there a little while William Edwards came home and there we stood looking up at the Window an hour or two at least and after we had tarried there a great while I went out of the Tower Gate a little after 11. Mr. Att. Gen. Was there no Razor thrown out of the Window Hawkins No there was no Razor thrown out L. C. J. Didst not thou see a Razor thrown out of the Window and a Maid come and take it up Hawkins No there was no such thing L. C. J. Were you there before Edwards came Hawkins Yes L. C. J. And you went out with him Hawkins Yes L. C. J. Did you and Edwards go away together Hawkins Yes Mr. Thompson Did he tell you of any such thing Hawkins No. Mr. Sol. Gen. What time of the day was it that you went out of the Tower Hawkins Almost 11 a Clock Mr. Wallop The Boy does say he did tell his Father and Mother and all the Family of it And 't is plain by the Father that it was known in the Family by 10 of the Clock Mr. Att. Gen. Was this young man with you all the time that you was there Edwards William Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. Did not you tell your Father of this Story when you came from the Tower William Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. And that was the same time you came out of the Tower with Hawkins William Edwards Yes Mr. Att. Gen. And you Hawkins was this young man with you all the time you were at my Lord Essex's Window Hawkins He came thither while I stood there Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord This is but the beginning of our Evidence your Lordship sees what a fine Case it is and how all this noise and bustle has come to be made in the World The Rumour first did arise in a Fanatick Family and was propagated by that Party Mr. Jones Ay 't is easily known whence it came L. C. J. Gentlemen pray will you go on with your Evidence and make no descants Mr. Freke You Hawkins when you came from your Fathers house did you find that Boy in the Tower Hawkins Yes Sir a going round with the King L. C. J. That was before this thing happened Mr. Freke Were you with him all the while he was in the Tower Hawkins Just before my Lord Essex cut his Throat I went home Mr. Freke Were you with him all the time or no And how long were you with him Hawkins I went with him round the Tower with the King And after we were at play and then I went home and then when I had been at home a little time the rumour and noise came that the Earl of Essex had killed himself so I went with my Father and stood before the Window and I tarried there a while before he came home and I stayed with him looking at the Window a great while and we went out of the Tower together Mr. Freke You little Boy Edwards was this Mr. Hawkins with you all the time that you were in the Tower William Edwards Yes but only a little while that I was at the Mills Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord We had not laid so much weight upon Mr. Braddon for this matter but that he could not be quiet but must inform the King of it and this matter was all examined before the King the Boy was sent for and before his face the Boy declared it was a Lye And after he knew this and after the Boy had twice in the presence of the King denied it yet notwithstanding all this then was the Project between him and Speke We shall first prove the Examination of this matter before the Council and how he was acquainted with it Pray call Mr. Blathwaite and Mr. Mon-Stevens Mr. Blathwaite was Sworn Mr. Att. Gen. Pray Mr. Blathwaite will you give an account whether you were present at the Council when Mr. Braddon brought this Information and how the matter was Examined there and what was done Mr. Blathwaite My Lord It was on the 20 th of July that Mr. Braddon came to White-hall he may remember I was there for he could not but see me attending on the King This little Boy was brought before his Majesty and was asked what Information he had given Mr Braddon And whether the Matter of the Information was true The Boy said it was a Lye and that upon his faith it was not true Mr. Braddon knew all this for he was called in and informed of it and I believe Mr. Braddon will remember that he heard the Boy deny it The whole Examination could not but shew that it was an Invention of his as he said it was to excuse himself for having plaid Truant that day and that because he was afraid to go home he invented that Lye
his Clyent according to my instructions L. C. J. Yes you are so and shall know that you are under the Correction of the Court too Mr. Wallop My Lord I know where I am L. C. J. Ay you know well enough but you would do well to carry your self as you should do Mr. Wallop With humble submission my Lord I appeal to all that hear me L. C. J. Appeal to whom you will I know the business of the Barr is to appeal to the Court. Mr. J. Withins What is the matter with Mr. Wallop that makes him so earnest in this Cause L. C. J. There is such an heat in this Cause I wonder whence it should come I am sure 't is not from the honesty of it Mr. Braddon Young Mrs. Edwards if I suffer any thing by reason of the falsity of your Testimony it will return upon you Sarah Edwards Sir I do tell you all I know Mr. Braddon Then I desire you to answer me this Question whether or no when the Boy did own what he first said and I asked him the reason of his denyal whether the falsity of the thing or fear caused him to deny it did not he say it was fear through your discouragements and threatnings Sarah Edwards No he did not say it did he Mother L. C. J. Why we are got into a way of appealing and appealing here is appealing to the people and appealing to the Witness pray keep to the business and within the bounds of decency Before such time as the Boy denyed it did you desire him to speak truth Sarah Edwards Yes I did Mr. Thompson And when Mr. Braddon Examined him did he desire him to speak truth Sarah Edwards Yes he did L. C. J. But he knew before he Examined him that he had denyed it did not he Sarah Edwards Yes the Second time before he came into the House Mr. Braddon I desire the old Gentleman may be asked this Question Mr. Thompson Call Mr. Edwards again L. C. J. The Spirit of the Clyent was got into the Counsell I think just now and now 't is got into the Clyent again 'T is an hard matter to Lay it I perceive Mr. Wallop My Lord I am here of Counsell for Mr. Braddon and I only ask Questions as they are in my Breviate L. C. J. But Sir if you have any thing in your Breviate that reflect upon the Government you ought not to vent it nor shan't be permitted to vent it as long as I sit here Mr. Wallop My Lord with submission I hope I never did nor never shall let any such thing come from me L. C. J. Nay be as angry or as pleased as you will 't is all one to me you shall not have liberty to broach your Seditious Tenets here Mr. Braddon Mr. Edwards pray will you answer this Question Did not your Son when he was asked why he denyed it say that it was fear and discouragement through his Sisters Threats was the cause Pray speak the truth Mr. Edwards I cannot tell whether the Child did say so something of that nature he did say Mr. Thompson Call Anne Burt. L. C. J. We have got such strange kind of notions now a days that forsooth men think they may say any thing because they are Counsel I tell you Mr. Wallop your Questions did reflect upon the Government as though the King had a mind to turn a man out of his employment if he did not swear a falsity What can be a greater reflection than that But all the matter is what has been done must be avouched and justifyed though it be never so ill But we plainly see through all This was the design from the beginning the King and the Duke of York were in the Tower at that time and it must be thought and believed that they had designed this matter and so then all people must be ruined in case they would not say the Earl murdered himself tho indeed others had done it Mr. Wallop Mr. Edwards did not delight to have such a Report as might create trouble first come out of his House Mr. Braddon My Lord As to the making such an inference or any reflection as your Lordship mentions I am as far from it as any body here L. C. J. We must give a wonderful deal of countenance to such barbarous and horrid practises and I warrant you must suffer the Government to be reflected upon at the will and pleasure of every man No let us hear the Truth but not in the face of a Court permit men to asperse the Government as they please by asking such Questions Mr. Att. Gen. And the Witnesses say nothing to it neither L. C. J. No nothing at all like it but 't is aspersion for aspersion sake And we must sit still and hear it Mr. Wallop My Lord I think 't is for the honour of the Government to have all things fairly inquired into L. C. J. And 't is for the honour of all Courts of Justice not to suffer reflections upon the Government let them be by whom they will And in Gentlemen of the Bar 't is worse than others Mr. J. Withins Truly I do not see where there is any countenance for asking such a Question L. C. J. No but some people are so wonderful Zealous Mr. Wallop My Lord Zeal for the Truth is a good Zeal L. C. J. It is so but Zeal for faction and sedition I am sure is a bad Zeal I see nothing in all this cause but villany and baseness And I believe no man that has heard it but will readily acknowledge that it appears to be an untoward malicious ugly thing as bad as ever I heard since I was born on purpose to cast an indignity upon the King and Government and set us all in a flame Then Anne Burt appeared and was Sworn Mr. Braddon Mrs. Burt I desire to know what discourse you had with Mrs. Edwards and that Family Mr. Att. Gen. I beg your pardon for that Here Mrs. Edwards is her self to tell what she has said Mr. Braddon I desire to know what discourse she had with any of the Family Mrs. Burt. I went to make a visit to Mrs. Edwards and I had not been there half an hour but in comes this Gentleman now I had asked no Questions about the business but in he comes and desired to speak with Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards was called and when he came in with Mr. Edwards the Gent. sat down in the Room and told Mr. Edwards he had heard a Report of something his Son had spoken but he desired to have it from his Sons own mouth and the Boy was called in this is a real Truth Sir for I do not know whether I may stir from this place where I am alive or no And when the Boy came in the Gentleman said to him if it be true that you have reported own it if not do not own it for said he 't is a dreadful thing to be found in
a lie I would have you Read the fifth Chapter of the Acts where a man and a woman were struck dead for telling a lie Sir said the Boy 't is true and what I said I will speak it before any Justice of peace in the World And then he asked him what he had reported and the Boy made a Repetition of what he had seen and said before that he went into the Tower and came to the first Row of Houses that goes along And at the first House he saw no body look out at the Window nor at the second House but he looked up at the third House and he took his hand and shewed thus said he I saw a man's hand he did not say but an hand throw a Razor out of this fashion and he imitated it with his hand Said the Gentleman was it not the wrong Window or the wrong House I will not take the thing upon this credit take your other Brother down that was a bigger Boy than this and says he go down to the House and shew your Brother the Window where you saw this The two Boys went down and he shew'd his Brother the place where he saw the hand L. C. J. Were you present at his shewing Mrs. Burt. Will your Lordship please to give me leave L. C. J. And pray give me leave too I ask you Were you present for you tell it as if you knew it your self Mrs. Burt. Both the Boys came up and said so L. C. J. You should have said so then that they told you it for you are upon your Oath and must affirm nothing but your own knowledge Mrs. Burt. If I do misplace my words I cannot help that L. C. J. You misplace your Evidence woman you must not swear that to be true that you don't know to be true Mrs. Burt. My Lord I heard what I say with my own Ears L. C. J. But you talk of a thing you did not see with your own Eyes as if you had seen it Mrs. Burt. I beg your pardon my Lord I can't tell how to place my words so exactly L. C. J. I care not now thou placest thy words tell thy own knowledge Mrs. Burt. I tell what is Truth what I heard and saw for said Mr. Braddon I believe it was not the right window when the Boys came up and said he had shewed the window And this Gentleman I cannot hit his name right he is a stranger to me he and Mr Edwards went down with the Boy to see whether it were the right window of the House where my Lord died which where it is I cannot tell any otherwise than has been reported or whether there be one room or two of a floor I don't know and when he came up again he called for a Sheet of Paper that he might write from the Boys mouth and that he might not differ one word from what the Boy had said himself And when I saw Mr. Braddon begin to write I went away for I thought it may be the Gentleman might expect I should set my hand to it as a Witness and I did not desire any trouble Mr. Braddon I desire this Question may be asked her my Lord do not you remember it was said the Boy denied it Mrs. Burt. Yes it was said The Boy did deny it Mr. Braddon What did his Sister say was the reason of his denying it Mr. Thompson Ay what did you hear the Sister say L C. J. I told you before that was no Evidence what another body did say Mr. Wallop Mistress the Boy denied it for what reason Mrs. Burt. Because his Sister as his mother told me had been talking to him L. C. J. As his mother told you prithee woman speak your own knowledge and not what another body told thee Mrs. Burt. Pray give me leave my Lord. L. C. J. I tell thee I will not give thee leave to say what thou shouldest not say Mrs. Burt. I heard his Sister say L. C. J. It is not Evidence if thou didst hear never so many people say it Mrs. Burt. My Lord I speak nothing but the Truth L. C. J. Shall we allow that in this Case for Evidence that we allow in no other Case for what reason pray I do not see it deserves any such extraordinary favour Mr. J. Withins Mr. Wallop we must not hear what another said that is no party to this Cause You know it is no Evidence therefore doe not press it Mrs. Burt. My Lord I have done if that will satisfy you L. C. J. Prithee satisfy thy self good woman Mrs. Burt. My Lord I have done I come here to speak the Truth and so I do L. C. J. Nay prithee be not so full of Tattle so full of Clack Then a little Girl came into Court. L. C. J. What age is this Girl of How old art thou Child Girl I was thirteen last Saturday L. C. J. Do you know the danger of telling a Lye Girl Yes L. C. J. Why what will become of you if you tell a Lye Girl The Devil will have me L. C. J. Give her her Oath What is thy Name Child Girl Jean Lodeman Then she was Sowrn L. C. J. Child do not be afraid of any thing in the World but only of telling any thing but what is true be sure you do not tell a Lye for if as you say you shall be in danger of Hell-fire by telling a Lye much more will you be in danger if you swear to a Lye Now what do you ask her Mr. Braddon What did you see in the Tower that Morning the Earl of Essex dyed Lodeman I saw a Hand out of a Window but I cannot tell what Window it was but it was a hand throw out a Razour Mr. Braddon And what did you hear after that Lodeman I can't well remember but it was either two shricks or two Groans that I heard presently after L. C. J. What time of the day was it Child Lodeman It was between Nine and Ten of the Clock L. C. J. Who was with you besides your self there Lodeman There were more besides me but they went away L. C. J. Who were they Child Lodeman A great many that I did not know L C. J. And how came you to take notice of it Lodeman And there was a Coach stood just at the door L. C. J. Tell us some of them Child that were there besides thy self speak the truth be not afraid Thou sayâ—st a great many People were there and all the people must necessarily see it Lodeman They were people I did not know L. C. J. But they all saw it as well as you Lodeman So I suppose they did L. C. J. And you heard a shriek or two you say Lodeman Two shrieks or two groans I can't well remember which L. C. J. How high was the Window Lodeman Not above one pair of stairs high L. C. J. How high from the Ground might it be Lodeman Not above one Story Mr. Thompson
Gentlemen in what Strain it runs We and We He makes himself a considerable Party in the Design L. Ch. Just Ay We thank you for your kindness towards Vs and We hope to bring on the Tryal of the Earl of Essex before they can any of those in the Tower Mr. Speke He told me Sir Henry Capel said it was a thing too great for him to meddle with And I knew nothing but what I had from him L. Ch. Just He was a man of Integrity and could tell you nothing but what was true Mr. Speke Mr. Wallop My Lord All I can say for Mr. Speke is this He did believe Mr. Bradden's Grounds as he told him were probable to go upon but he knew nothing himself and concerned himself no further I hope the Jury will consider of it that there is no contrivance proved against him L. Ch. Just Nay Mr. Wallop tho' we interrupted you in making Remarks upon every Witness yet now make what Remarks upon what hath been said that you will Mr. Wallop My Lord I shall leave it to your Lordship and the Jury how far they think the Defendant Guilty of this Information Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord We have indeed given as great an Evidence as ever was given I think of any Offence But to clear up the matter that it was impossible for any man unless the most maliciously and villanously inclined against the Government and Peace of the Kingdom that can be to imagine such a thing much less spread such a Report we will call you two or three Witnesses to prove that the Earl of Essex Murdered himself L. Ch. Just 'T is necessary Mr. Attorney I think for you so to do to satisfie the World tho' to a discerning Eye there is enough given from the Evidence this day to make it appear to be a most Malitious and Scandalous Contrivance to hawke about for every idle Rumor to pick up Children of such tender years and make them swear any thing to serve a turn Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord We do not call these Witnesses as if there were any doubt of it in the World L. Ch. Just But we live in an Age when Truth passes for nothing in the World and Swearing and Forswearing is taken for a thing of course Had his Zeal been half so much for Truth as it was for Falshood it had been a commendable Zeal But when men are so zealous and fierce for such vile things as these are 't is time of my word for the Government to interpose Mr. Att. Gen. 'T is not to satisfie the Court nor the Jury who I believe are all of them already sufficiently satisfied but 't is to satisfie the World that may have entertained some prejudices from this Conspiracy Call Mr. Bomeney in Mr. Sol. Gen. Not as if there were any doubt whether Mr. Bradden were the malicious Inventor of this Report at the beginning and went down into the Country to spread it The Evidence has been full and by his own management of his Defence he has proved it himself and seems by his Confidence to justifie it But we shall to give the World some satisfaction call some that waited upon the Earl in the Tower and others that saw him when dead that will give a plain Confutation to any thing that could be supposed as if my Lord of Essex had not Murdered himself Then Bomeney was sworn L. Ch. Just Did you waite upon this unfortunate Gentleman my Lord of Essex Mr. Bomeney Yes my Lord. L. C. Just Well what do you know of his Death Mr. Bomeney I went with him from White-Hall and I stayed with him all the while he was in the Tower L. Ch. Just How came he by that unhappy End pray Mr. Bomeney When we were at his Lodging my Lord used to call for a Pen-knife to cut his Nails of his Hands and Feet and he then had long Nails and said he to me give me your Pen-knife to cut my Nails said I My Lord I have none I came in haste but I will send to morrow for one and therefore I sent our Footman one William Turner to whom I gave a little Note for Provisions and among other things which I writ directions to the Steward to send there was a little line Pray send a Pen-knife for my Lord. He brought some Provisions but he did not bring a Pen-knife on the Thursday because he said he had none but he would send one the morrow after I sent William Turner the Morning after very early and gave him another little Note for Provisions and among other things I writ in the Note Do not forget the Pen-knife for my Lord. He went and when he was in the way my Lord sent the Warder to me to call me I came to my Lord and my Lord asked Is the Footman come Has he brought the Pen-knife No my Lord said I but I hope he will not stay long because I sent him early Then I was turning to come down from the Chamber and I saw my Lord walking in the Room and picking of his Nails with the Pen-knife L. Ch. Just How with a Pen-knife Mr. Bomeney No with the Razour that I gave him For I went to my Lord and when my Lord asked me if I had gotten him a Pen-knife I said the Footman was not come but I hoped it would come immediately because I sent him early And I was turning from the Chamber thinking I had done with my Lord and my Lord called me again Harke you Bomeney said he I can do it with one of your Razours My Lord said I I will fetch one so I went into my Closet and fetched one And I went to my Lord and when he had it he did as if he picked his Nails with it and was walking in the Chamber I looked a little while upon him and turned out of the Chamber into the Passage where I talked with the Warder Russel his Name was and when I looked out of the Window His Majesty was in the Tower and there was a great bustle in the Street and when I had talked a little with the Warder I went down into my Closet again and at the same time that I was in my Closet there came the Footman and one with him that brought the Provisions and he gave me the Pen-knife and gave me a little Note that he had brought with the Provisions which he said Mr. Billingsly that was our Steward bid me to shew that to my Lord. I took it and went up to shew it to my Lord I found no body in my Lords Chamber There was a Closet there in which was a Close Stool and that I found shut and thinking my Lord was there I would not disturb my Lord but came down again and stayed a little while in so much as I thought my Lord by that time might have been come out I went up again and found no body in the Chamber but the Closet Door shut still I went against the Door and
the greatest Lye if it makes for the advantage of their party but not the greatest Truth if it thwarts their Interest But because Mr. Attorney has produced his proofs to manifest that this Lord murdered himself I will take notice a little of it because it may have some good effect to undeceive some that have been imposed upon Not for my own satisfaction I thank God I am satisfied and so I believe are most honest men but that silly people may not be imposed upon by every busie fellow for the future that takes the liberty to run about and spread false News and that men may be aware of such fellows and may not be decoyed any more by such false pretences it was therefore fit that Evidence should be given of the truth of the Fact that that Gentleman did murder himself And the Evidence is this Besides the Inquisition which was taken upon the Oaths of several persons of Quality as you hear upon the reading their Names several of them were Esquires and men of Note 't is here also proved by the Testimony of his Servant that attended him how he came to his untimely end And Gentlemen I would observe 't is Sworn by his Servant one that had lived six years with him not an upstart or a wandring fellow but one whose integrity and fidelity to my Lord was confirmed by six years experience of his service Then here is the Wardour that was at the Door here 's the Souldier here 's the Master of the House who are all the persons that probably can give any account of the matter and they tell you positively that no one did go up and down but this Frenchman who was his Valet de Chambre And the Wardour tells you that he coming to the Door and knocking at the Door and hearing no one Answer did endeavour to open the Door but it was so fast by my Lords feet that he could open it but a little and looking in discerned blood and that made him make Acclamations as the Wardour calls it Orations which brought all the people in the house thither and they gave the same account that he does And 't is likewise fit to be taken notice of that the window of this Closet looks into a private Yard where no strangers usually come and where no Coach could come and that the Pales were so high that in case a Man were desirous to throw any thing out it were impossible to cast it above three Foot And if there could no Coach at all come into the Yard as it is plain there could not for there is no door save only a back house door then this must needs be a lie that was spread abroad And 't is beyond all peradventure true that my Lord of Essex did murder himself Now to have so great a truth as this to be perverted and to reproach the Government with falsities is the most malicious thing in the World If in case the Law has made it penal for any man to scandalize any one private person as it has and if it be by Law much more penal to scandalize a Noble Man how much more ought it to be when the King and the whole Government is thus scandalized Now to come to the Fact as near as I can recollect I will give you an account of what Evidence has been given of the one side and of the other But this I thought fit to premise because there will some Circumstances fall out fit to be taken notice of in the Evidence especially about the Window in Captain Hawleys Yard and House which may be cleared this way In the first part of the Evidence for the King they call a Witness to prove the Earl of Essex's Commitment which is part of the Inducement in the Information But for the Information it self there is this Evidence First Evans he comes and tells you how that he had heard at the Custom-house from Edwards the Father of this Boy as though there had been a report came to him from home at ten a Clock that morning my Lord of Essex cut his Throat of a Razour thrown out of my Lord of Essex's Window That he came to him in the afternoon again and in the afternoon told him He had examined the matter further and his Boy confirmed the truth of it He says that after this Mr. Bradden and another man one Mr. Hatsell if I am not mistaken in his name came to the place where he was in Essex and there they had some discourse about my Lord of Essex's death and there Hatsell took out of his Pocket a printed Copy of the Inquisition and Mr. Bradden was then in the Room but he says he thinks Mr. Bradden at that time took no manner of notice of it but walked about the Room But he saies the Inquisition was read while he was in the Room and Evans said something about the report he had heard which did seem to contradict that Inquisition But some time after he saies that he being at the Coffee house Bradden and Edwards came to him into the Coffee-house and there they began to talk Edwards said that Bradden had been with his Child to examine him to bear Testimony about flinging the Razour out at Window He was very full of the word Matter and tossed that to and fro but at length the Substance of his Matter was that Report of the Boys and he advised them to forbear talking any farther to him about the Matter for it might do Edwards and Bradden both an injury and he had read the Inquisition which was quite contrary That was all he could say Then comes Edwards and the Substance of what he says is this That he first heard it from his Family and afterwards the Boy confirmed the truth of it but then afterwards he heard he had denyed it which was after Bradden had been there to inquire about it And then he says Bradden came to him again and then he had got a Note dictated by himself and not by the Boy but at first he tendred it to the Boy and the Boy refused to put his hand to it and Mr. Bradden came again another time though he was told the Boy had denyed it as he heard and then the Boy did set his Hand This is the Substance of what Edwards says He does say indeed the Boy used to tell lies very often to make excuses when he played Truant and that his Family told him the Boy was often guilty of telling of lies Then the next Evidence is the Evidence of the Boy himself He it seems is thirteen years of Age certainly any man that had been of an upright mind and Conscience as Mr. Braddon pretends to be and would have you Gentlemen think him so would have it thought that he was full of honesty and integrity to the Boy when he baited his Hook with a Text of Scripture about the danger of telling a Lye and Have a care Child of telling a Lye
the same as you make use of all sorts of ridiculous and shamming stories to set us together by the ears and rake into all the Dunghills that can be to pick up matter to put us into confusion Mr. Williams But my Lord if there was such a report so long before L. C. J. Mr. Williams you were here in Town at that time I am sure Mr. Williams My Lord I heard it at Eleven a Clock that day that is the soonest I heard it L. C. J. What an Age do we live in what stuff is here picked up on purpose to kindle the Fire and set us all into a flame Mr. Att. Gen. What day of the Month was it Fielder upon your Oath Mr. Fielder I did not mind the day of the Month I can't tell that Mr. Att. Gen. How do you know it was that Week Mr. Fielder Because on the Saturday night that Week we had the certain News of it Mr. Sol. Gen. You say somebody told you then of it on Saturday Mr. Fielder Yes on Saturday we had certain News of it Mr. Sol. Gen. Who gave you the certain Intelligence Mr. Fielder Some Clothiers Mr. Williams Was Gadbury your Country-man L. C. J. Ay prithee ask him that whether Gadbury told it him or Erra Pater if you will Mr. Att. Gen. From what Market-people was it reported Mr. Fielder Some Women Mr. Sol. Gen. It was only Womens stories then Mr. Fielder Yes they talked of it among themselves Mr. Att. Gen. Was it the Forenoon or the Afternoon Mr Fielder The Wednesday and Thursday both it was the common talk of the Town all day long Mr. J. Withins Name one that spake it to you Mr. Att. Gen. Ay name one of any credit if you can Mr. Fielder I cannot it was the Women as they came in and out of my shop and as they went up and down the Town Mr. Wallop My Lord we leave it with your Lordship and the Jury He swears he then heard such a Report Mr. J. Withins Do you believe this Mr. Wallop your self You are a man of Ingenuity I appeal to you Mr. Wallop I believe that Mr. Braddon in his Prosecution of this matter went upon the ground of this Report for he had heard the like Evidence was given in my Lord Staffords Tryal about the News of Sir Edmondbury Godfreys being killed before it was known here what was become of him and that perhaps might mislead him if he be mislead Mr. J. Withins Do you believe that this man can speak truth when he says it was Reported all about their Town for two days before it was done and yet can't name one person that spake it Mr. Fielder I keep a publick shop and don 't take notice of every one that comes in and out to remember particularly Mr. J. Withins You heard it up and down the Town you say surely you might remember some-body Mr. Wallop He might hear it and not take notice of one but it was the common same at Andover Mr. Williams Let it go as it will Your Lordship and the Jury hear what he says L. C. J. But under favour Mr. Williams it ought not to pass so easily 't is a contrivance to deceive the King's Subjects and shews a design to pick up Evidence to amuse the unwary and fill their heads with fears and jealousies of I know not what Mr. Wallop My Lord I would excuse my Client from malice as well as ever I can and therefore we produce these Witnesses to shew what grounds he had for what he did Mr. Williams We will next call some Women that live near the Tower that might give him some occasion for his concerning himself in this business Jane Lodeman and Margaret Smith This voice and rumor in the Country made him to go into the Country but it shews he was no contriver of the Report Mr. Att. Gen. I would feign know of Fielder when he told Mr. Braddon of this Mr. Braddon My Lord I desire the family of the Edwards may be called L. C. J. Name them Who are they How can we tell who your Witnesses are Mr. Braddon Cryer call them Mrs. Edwards and her Daughter Will your Lordship give me leave to make my own defence L. C. J. Ay if you will but then take notice your Council are discharged from making any defence for you Mr. Braddon May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen of the Jury These were the inducements following that put me upon engaging in this matter Mr. Att. Gen. Call your Witnesses first and then speak Mr. Braddon Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Edwards who came into Court Mr. J. Withins Pray Mr. Braddon answer me this one Question What was the matter that incouraged you to proceed after you knew the Boy had denyed it and said it was all a lye Mr. Braddon I was bound to answer to an Information after I had been examined at the Council I had not otherwise stirred in it again L. C. I. Well what do you ask Edwards Mr. Braddon What day was the first day I saw you and had discourse with you and what was the discourse I had with you Mr. Edwards It was the seventeenth of July Mr. Braddon What did you tell me then that your Boy reported Mr. Edwards I told you what I acquainted the Court withal before that the Boy had brought home such a Report Mr. Braddon Had the Boy ever denied it before I saw you Mr. Edwards That day you came to speak with me about it as I was informed by my Wife and my Daughter the Boy did deny it Mr. Braddon Was it before I came or after I came that he denied it Mr. Edwards It was after you came Mr. Braddon What were the inducements that made him to deny it L. C. J. He tells you himself because it was false Mr. Braddon I desire the elder Sister Sarah Edwards may be called Mr. Wallop It is apparent the Boy did first affirm it L. C. J. I thought Mr. Braddon would have made his defence himself Mr. Wallop but you will be breaking in upon him with your Remarks Make your Remarks by and by this is a time for Evidence Mr. Wallop My Lord I only say this 'T is apparent the Boy did first affirm it and we shall shew how he came to deny it L. C. J. 'T is not proper for you to make Remarks when you are examining your Witnesses but when you sum up You may take what notes you will and reserve them till that time but do not break in upon the Evidence Cryer Here is Sarah Edwards now who was sworn Mr. Att. Gen. This is not the Sister this is the mother of the Boy L. C. J. Well what do you ask her Mr. Braddon What discourse had you with your Boy about Ten of the Clock that Friday morning I met you Mrs. Edwards I had no discourse but what my Child told me Mr. Braddon What did your Child tell you Mrs. Edwards I gave an accompt to my