Selected quad for the lemma: master_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	john_n	richard_n	william_n	14,181	5	8.7823	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53577	A true and perfect account of the examination, confession, trial, condemnation and execution of Joan Perry, and her two sons, John and Richard Perry, for the supposed murder of Will. Harrison, Gent Being one of the most remarkable occurrences which hath happened in the memory of man. Sent in a letter (by Sir Thomas Overbury, of Burton, in the county of Gloucester, Knt. and one of His Majesty's justices of the peace) to Thomas Shirly, Doctor of physick, in London. Also Mr. Harrison's own account how he was conveyed to Turky, and there made a slave above 2 years, when his master (who bought him there) dying, he return'd to England; in the mean while, supposed to be murdered by his man-servant, who falsly accused his own mother and brother as guilty of the same, and were all three executed for it on Broadway-Hills, in Gloucestershire.	Overbury, Thomas, Sir, d. 1684.; Harrison, William, fl. 1660.	1676 (1676)	Wing O614A; ESTC R223782	11,721	32

of Inkle which one of his Guard taking up he desired him to restore it saying it was only his Wife's Hair-lace but the Party opening of it and finding a Slip-knot at the End went and shewed it unto John who was then a good Distance before and so knew nothing of the dropping and taking up of this Inkle but being shewed it and asked whether he knew it shook his Head and said Yea to his Sorrow for that was the String his Brother strangled his Master with This was sworn upon the Evidence at their Trial. The Morrow being the Lord's Day they remained at Campden where the Minister of the Place designing to speak to them if possible to persuade them to Repentance and a farther Confession they were brought to Church and in their Way thither passing by Richard's House two of his Children meeting him he took the lesser in his Arm leading the other in his Hand when on a sudden both their Noses fell a bleeding which was looked upon as ominous Here it will be no impertinent Digression to tell how the Year before Mr. Harrison had his House broke open between Eleven and Twelve o'Clock at Noon upon Campden Market-day whilst himself and his whole Family were at the Lecture a Ladder being set up to a Window of the second Story and an Iron Bar wrenched thence with a Plough-share which was left in the Room and sevenscore Pounds in Money carried away the Authors of which Robbery could never be found After this and not many Weeks before Mr. Harrison's Absence his Servant Perry one Evening in Campden Garden made an hideous Out-cry whereat some who heard it coming in met him running and seemingly frighted with a Sheep-pick in his Hand to whom he told a formal Story how he had been set upon by two Men in White with naked Swords and how he defended himself with his Sheep-pick the Handle whereof was cut in two or three Places and likewise a Key in his Pocket which he said was done with one of their Swords These Passages the Justice of Peace having before heard and calling to Mind upon Perry's Confession asked him first concerning the Robbery when his Master lost sevenscore Pounds out of his House at Noon-day Whether he knew who did it Who answered Yes it was his Brother And being further asked Whether he were then with him he answered No he was then at Church but that he gave him Notice of the Money and told him in which Room it was and where he might have a Ladder that would reach the Window and that his Brother afterwards told him he had the Money and had buried it in his Garden and that they were at Michaelmas next to have divided it Whereupon Search was made in the Garden but no Money could be there found And being further asked concerning that other Passage of his being assaulted in the Garden he confessed it was all a Fiction and that having a Design to rob his Master he did it that Rogues being believed to haunt the Place when his Master was robbed might be thought to have done it At the next Assizes which were held in September following John Joan and Richard Perry had two Indictments found against them one for breaking into William Harrison's House and robbing him of 140l in the Year 1659 the other for robbing and murdering the said William Harrison the 16th of August 1660. Upon the last Indictment the then Judge of Assizes Sir Christopher Turner would not try them because the Body was not found but they were then tried upon the other Indictment for Robbery to which they pleaded Not Guilty but some whispering behind them they soon after pleaded Guilty humbly begging the Benefit of his Majesty's gracious Pardon and Act of Oblivion which was granted them But tho' they pleaded Guilty to this Indictment being thereunto prompted as is probable by some who were unwilling to lose Time and trouble the Court with their Trial in regard the Act of Oblivion pardoned them yet they all afterwards and at their Deaths denied that they were guilty of that Robbery or that they knew who did it Yet at this Assize as several credible Persons have affirmed John Perry still persisted in his Story That his Mother and Brother had murdered his Master and further added That they had attempted to poison him in the Gaol so that he durst neither eat nor drink with them At the next Assizes which were the Spring following John Joan and Richard Perry were by the then Judge of Assize Sir B. Hyde tried upon the Indictment of Murder and pleaded thereunto severally Not Guilty and when John's Confession before the Justice was proved Viva Voce by several Witnesses who heard the same he told them He was then mad and knew not what he said The other two Richard and Joan Perry said That they were wholly innocent of what they were accused and That they knew nothing of Mr. Harrison's Death nor what was become of him and Richard said That his Brother had accused others as well as him to have murdered his Master which the Judge bidding him prove he said That most of those that had given Evidence against him knew it but naming none not any one spoke to it and so the Jury found them all three Guilty Some few Days after being brought to the Place of their Execution which was on Broadway-Hill within Sight of Campden the Mother being reputed a Witch and to have so bewitched her Sons they could confess nothing while she lived was first executed After which Richard being upon the Ladder professed as he had done all along That he was wholly innocent of the Fact for which he was then to die and that he knew nothing of Mr. Harrison's Death nor what was become of him and did with great Earnestness beg and beseech his Brother for the Satisfaction of the whole World and his own Conscience to declare what he knew concerning him but he with a dogged and surly Carriage told the People he was not obliged to confess to them yet immediately before his Death said He knew nothing of his Master's Death nor what was become of him but they might hereafter possibly hear For Sir Thomas Overbury Knight Honoured Sir IN Obedience to your Commands I give you this true Account of my being carried away beyond the Seas my Continuance there and Return Home On a Thursday in the Afternoon in Harvest-time I went to Charringworth to demand Rents due to my Lady Campden at which Time the Tenants were busy in the Fields and late e're they came Home which occasioned my Stay there 'till the Close of the Evening I expected a considerable Sum but received only 231. and no more In my Return Home in the narrow Passage among Ebrington Furzes there met me one Horseman and said Art thou there and I fearing he would ride over me struck his Horse over the Nose whereupon he struck at me with his Sword several Blows and run it into my

A True and Perfect ACCOUNT OF THE Examination Confession Trial Condemnation and Execution OF Joan Perry and her two Sons John and Richard Perry FOR THE Supposed Murder of Will. Harrison Gent. BEING One of the most remarkable Occurrences which hath happened in the Memory of Man Sent in a Letter by Sir Thomas Overbury of Burton in the County of Gloucester Knt. and one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace to Thomas Shirly Doctor of Physick in London ALSO Mr. Harrison's own Account how he was conveyed to Turkey and there made a Slave above two Years when his Master who bought him there dying he returned to England being in the mean while supposed to be murdered by his Man-servant who falsely accused his own Mother and Brother as guilty of the same and were all three executed for it on Broadway-Hills in Gloucestershire LONDON Printed for JOHN ATKINSON near the Chapter-House in St. Paul's Church-Yard Licensed September 8 1676. Roger L'Estrange A True and Perfect ACCOUNT OF The Examination Confession c. of John Perry and his Mother and Brother for the supposed Murder of W. Harrison Gent. UPON Thursday the 16th Day of August 1660 William Harrison Steward to the Lady Viscountess Campden at Campden in Gloucestershire being about seventy Years of Age walked from Campden aforesaid to Charringworth about two Miles from thence to receive his Lady's Rent and not returning so early as formerly his Wife Mrs. Harrison between eight and nine o'Clock that Evening sent her Servant John Perry to meet his Master on the Way from Charringworth But neither Mr. Harrison nor his Servant John Perry returning that Night the next Morning early Edward Harrison William's Son went towards Charringworth to enquire after his Father when on the Way meeting Perry coming thence and being informed by him he was not there they went together to Ebrington a Village between Charringworth and Campden where they were told by one Daniel that Mr. Harrison called at his House the Evening before in his Return from Charringworth but stayed not Then they went to Paxford about Half a Mile thence where hearing nothing of Mr. Harrison they returned towards Campden and on the Way hearing of a Hat a Band and Comb taken up in the Highway between Ebrington and Campden by a poor Woman then leasing in the Field they fought her out with whom they found the Hat Band and Comb which they knew to be Mr. Harrison's and being brought by the Woman to the Place where she found the same in the Highway between Ebrington and Campden near unto a great Furz-brake they there searched for Mr. Harrison supposing he had been murdered the Hat and Comb being hacked and cut and the Band bloody but nothing more could be there found The News hereof coming to Campden so alarmed the Town that Men Women and Children hasted thence in Multitudes to search for Mr. Harrison's supposed dead Body but all in vain Mrs. Harrison's Fears for her Husband being great were now much increased and having sent her Servant Perry the Evening before to meet his Master and he not returning that Night it caused a Suspicion that he had robbed and murdered him and thereupon the said Perry was the next Day brought before a Justice of Peace by whom being examined concerning his Master's Absence and his own staying out the Night he went to meet him he gave this Account of himself That his Mistress sending him to meet his Master between eight and nine o'Clock in the Evening he went down Campden Field towards Charringworth about a Land's Length where meeting one William Reed of Campden he acquainted him with his Errand and further told him that it growing dark he was afraid to go forwards and would therefore return and fetch his young Master's Horse and return with him he did to Mr. Harrison's Court-Gate where they parted and he staid still One Pierce coming by he went again with him about a Bow's-Shot into the Fields and returned with him likewise to his Master's Gate where they also parted And then he the said John Perry saith he went into his Master's Hen-Roost where he lay about an Hour but slept not and when the Clock struck twelve rose and went towards Charringworth 'till a great Mist arising he lost his Way and so lay the rest of the Night under a Hedge and at Day-break on Friday Morning went to Charringworth where he enquired for his Master of one Edward Plaisterer who told him he had been with him the Afternoon before and received twenty-three Pounds of him but staid not long with him He then went to William Curtis of the same Town who likewise told him he heard his Master was at his House the Day before but being not at Home did not see him After which he saith he returned homewards it being about five o'Clock in the Morning when on the Way he met his Master's Son with whom he went to Ebrington Paxford c. as hath been related Reed Pierce Plaisterer and Curtis being examined affirmed what Perry had said concerning them to be true Perry being then asked by the Justice of the Peace How he who was afraid to go to Charringworth at nine o'Clock became so bold as to go thither at twelve answered That at nine o'Clock it was dark but at twelve the Moon shone Being further asked Why returning twice home after his Mistress had sent him to meet his Master and staying till twelve o'Clock he went not into the House to know whether his Master were come home before he went a third Time at that Time of Night to look after him answered That he knew his Master was not come home because he saw Light in his Chamber-window which never used to be there so late when he was at home Yet notwithstanding this that Perry had said for his staying forth that Night it was not thought fit to discharge him till further Enquiry were made after Mr. Harrison and accordingly he continued in Custody at Campden sometimes in an Inn there and sometimes in the common Prison from Saturday August the 18th to the Friday following during which Time he was again examined at Campden by the aforesaid Justice of the Peace but confessed nothing more than before nor at that Time could any further Discovery be made what was become of Mr. Harrison But it hath been said that during his Restraint at Campden he told some who prest him to confess what he knew concerning his Master that a Tinker had killed him and to others he said a Gentleman's Servant of the Neighbourhood had robbed and murdered him and others again he told that he was murdered and hid in a Bean-rick in Campden where Search was in vain made for him At length he gave out that were he again carried before the Justice he would discover that to him he would discover to No-body else And thereupon he was Friday August the 24th again brought before the Justice of Peace who first examined him and asking him

whether he would yet confess what was become of his Master he answered he was murdered but not by him The Justice of Peace then telling him that if he knew him to be murdered he knew likewise by whom he was so he acknowledged he did and being urged to confess what he knew concerning it affirmed that it was his Mother and his Brother that had murdered his Master The Justice of Peace then advised him to consider what he said telling him that he feared he might be guilty of his Master's Death and that he should not draw more innocent Blood upon his Head for what he now charged his Mother and Brother with might cost them their Lives but he affirming he spoke nothing but the Truth and that if he were immediately to die he would justify it the Justice desired him to declare how and when they did it He then told him that his Mother and his Brother had lain at him ever since he came into his Master's Service to help them to Money telling him how poor they were and it was in his Power to relieve them by giving them Notice when his Master went to receive his Lady's Rents for they would then way-lay and rob him And further said that upon the Thursday Morning his Master went to Charringworth going of an Errand into the Town he met his Brother in the Street whom he then told whither his Master was going and if he way-laid him he might have his Money And further said that in the Evening his Mistress sent him to meet his Master he met his Brother in the Street before his Master's Gate going as he said to meet his Master and so they went together to the Church-yard about a Stone 's Throw from Mr. Harrison's Gate where they parted he going the Foot-way cross the Church-yard and his Brother keeping the great Road round the Church but in the Highway beyond the Church met again and so went together the Way leading to Charringworth till they came to a Gate about a Bow 's Shoot from Campden Church that goes into a Ground of the Lady Campden's called the Conygree which to those who have a Key to go through the Garden is the next Way from that Place to Mr. Harrison's House when they came near unto that Gate he the said John Perry saith he told his Brother he did believe his Master was just gone into the Conygree for it was then so dark they could not discern any Man so as to know him but perceiving one to go into that Ground and knowing there was no Way but for those who had a Key through the Gardens concluded it was his Master and so told his Brother if he followed him he might have his Money and he in the mean Time would walk a Turn in the Fields which accordingly he did and then following his Brother about the middle of the Conygree found his Master on the Ground his Brother upon him and his Mother standing by and being asked whether his Master were then dead answered No for that after he came to them his Master cried Ah Rogues will you kill me At which he told his Brother he hoped he would not kill his Master who replied Peace Peace you are Fool and so strangled him which haveing done he took a Bag of Money out of his Pocket and threw it into his Mother's Lap and then he and his Brother carried his Master 's dead Body into the Garden adjoining to the Conygree where they consulted what to do with it and at length agreed to throw it into the great Sink by Wallington's Mill behind the Garden but said his Mother and Brother bad him go up to the Court next the House to hearken whether any one were stirring and they would throw the Body into the Sink And being asked whether it were there he said he knew not for that he left it in the Garden but his Mother and Brother said they would throw it there and if it were not there he knew not were it was for that he returned no more to them but went into the Court-gate which goes into the Town where he met with John Pierce with whom he went into the Field and again returned with him to his Master's Gate after which he went into the Hen-roost where he lay till twelve o'Clock that Night but slept not and having when he came from his Mother and Brother brought with him his Master's Hat Band and Comb which he laid in the Hen-roost he carried the said Hat Band and Comb and threw them after he had given them three or four Cuts with his Knife in the Highway where they were after found And being asked what he intended by so doing said he did it that it might be believed his Master had been there robbed and murdered and haveing thus disposed of his Hat Band and Comb he went towards Charringworth c. as hath been related Upon this Confession and Accusation the Justice of Peace gave Order for the apprehending of Joan and Richard Perry the Mother and Brother of John Perry and for searching the Sink where Mr. Harrison's Body was said to be thrown which was accordingly done but nothing of him could be there found The Fish-pools likewise in Campden were drawn and searched but nothing could be there found neither So that some were of Opinion the Body might be hid in the Ruins of Campden-house burnt in the late Wars and not unfit for such a Concealment where was likewise Search made but all in vain Saturday August the 25th Joan and Richard Perry together with John Perry were brought before the Justice of Peace who acquainting the said Joan and Richard with what John had laid to their Charge they denied all with many Imprecations on themselves if they were in the least guilty of any Thing of which they were accused But John on the other Side affirmed to their Faces that he had spoken nothing but the Truth and that they had murdered his Master further telling them that he could never be quiet for them since he came into into his Master's Service being continually followed by them to help them to Money which they told him he might do by giveing them Notice when his Master went to receive his Lady's Rents and that he meeting his Brother Richard in Campden Town the Thursday Morning his Master went to Charringworth told him whither he was going and upon what Errand Richard confessed he met his Brother that Morning and spoke with him but nothing passed between them to that Purpose and both he and his Mother told John he was a Villain to accuse them wrongfully as he had done But John on the other Side affirmed that he had spoken nothing but the Truth and would justify it to his Death One remarkable Circumstance happened in these Prisoners Return from the Justice of the Peace's House to Campden viz. Richard Perry following a good Distance behind his Brother John pulling a Clout out of his Pocket dropped a Ball