has happen'd about my detaining of you yet you had better make use of and depend upon me who will be bound for you as far as a hundred pounds goes For that person which you intend for your Bayl is a Presbiteryan and will do both you and himself much prejudice should he appear in this Affair Now as for my friends being of any other perswasion than that of the present Church of England as it is Estabish'd by Law I knew to be most notoriously false and had sufficient reason to think my friend the Constable as great a Rogue as any of the rest whoe 's best principles are all sorts of Debaucheries and therefore I thought my self so much the more oblidg'd to have a friend Because I saw all they drove at vvas to triumph and rejoyce at my Committment to Prison After this vve set forth tovvards the Justices vvhoes habitation vvas about four miles from Waltham vvho hath formerly been best knovvn by the name of Mad Wroth A person as fit for the purpose as my accusers and the Constable vvere Before him the Woman testified vvhat the Troopers and she had agreed upon before the heads of her Information being here set dovvn as they vvere taken by that Officious Just'ass vvho out of his abundant care and Zeal but for vvhat he hardly knevv himself took the pains to ride over to Whaltham that very same day to take fresh examinations or rather to temper vvith suborn vvitnesses against me as perhaps he may one day be sencible off Lucy French made Oath before Squire John Wroth the 15th day of August 1681. That Thomas Dangerfield drew his Sword and Pistol at her and swore he would kill her That he told her she must take leave of her Husband for she should see him no more that he told her the Subpena which he had served upon her Husband was in favour of my Lord of Shaftsbury that he did give her Husband instructions what to say when he came to Oxford on the behalf of Colledge That he the said Dangerfield did swear he would dye upon his sword point if he did not ruin both her and her husband before he went out of their house that he came not out of kindness to the house but to do them hurt that he would cause her Husband to be put in the Garet that he would procure their Lycence to be taken away in a months time c. With this and such kind of stuff did our Justice make shift to patch up an Information which vvhen it vvas taken and as I thought all things over as to that I desir'd my Defence might be heard to which he replied The Law did not allow such Rascals as I was any defence And besides I stood there charg'd with Subornation and had taken part with my Lord Shaftsbury whom he said was the greatest Traytor in the Nation That I had refused to drink the Duke of York's health because he was a Papist But then he swore Damn him he knew the Duke to be a better Protestant than I was with a great deal more of such like impious Riff Raff Then I told him I thought the rest of the Justices of the Peace would scarce be of his opinion at the Quarter Sessions To which he swore Damn him but he was sure they would However Sir said I you are not Parliament Proof With that he swore Damn him he vallued not a Parliament a Fart for a Parliament Then I held up my Finger and bid him have a care upon which he became somewhat mild and offered to let me go upon Bail which I had ready and so the heat was over But just when I was coming away says he to me pray Sir let me desire you to inform your self well about the persons which put you upon serving of this Subpena for your cannot chuse but find they had a design to embroyl you by it and to leave you in the Bryers whereby your prossecuting and detecting of Papists and the Popish-Plot might be rendred useless Pray says he again take my advice and sift it to the bottom And if you find it as I say make use of me to represent your discovery to the King vvhich shall serve to restore you to my good opinion again which you have at present lost by appearing in so foul a thing as serving the Subpena Now let all the world judge whether or no this Gentleman had not a design to suborn me to charge Mr. Colledges Friend from whom I had the Subpena with a design to destroy my Evidence in the Popish-Plot And whither or no the overflowing of his Gall has not carried him so much beyond the sedate and mild behaviour of a Civil Magistrate that I had just cause to think him as bad a person as the Woman who had sworn so falsely against me For how likely a thing is it that I who never knew the Woman nor spoak to her in my life before nor had ever heard of any the least injury either her self or any thing relating to her had done me should attempt to kill her to threaten either her or her Husbands Life or Ruine as she had sworn But now to shew you what became of this affair which Mr. Justice Overdo by his double dilligence had taken no small pain to Nurss into a Subornation I shall tell you in a few words Being bound over to the Quarter-Sessions which opened at Chelmsford the 4th of October I attended and the Evidence being heard against me and my Defence against that the thing I stood charg'd with seem'd so improbable that the Court not being of Squire John's opinion though he had pawn'd his Soul upon it by their great Justice and Honour discharg'd both me and my Bail leaving those malicious Prosecutors to my course at Law which I soon made use of for I straight vvay procur'd a Bill to be dravvn up against Slouch the Quartermaster for the assault and preseuted it to the Grand Jury vvho upon direct Evidences found it Billa vera upon the knovvledg of vvhich the Bacchanalian Svvash-Buckler notvvithstanding all his health-drinking leaving fearing the process of the Courr vvould reach him flead but our Justice remain'd behind biting and punishing his Lips that had so unadvisedly published his Ignoronce in the Law his contempt of Heaven and slght of Salvation finding himself not only liable besides to a just complaint in Parliament but in the Interval obnoxious to several Informations in the Crovvn-Office not only for his misbehaviour in this single affair but for several most notorious misdemeaners by him committed at a Special Sessions held at Epping in the Month of September vvhich he may be sure to hear of on both sides his Ears As also hovv basely he hath represented the Kings Person to the vvhole Country That which follows now is such a piece of unparralel'd Impudence as nothing but a Devil in that horrible Shape of a Papist would be guilty of The Copy
About a day or two after this French having some extraordinary business to London in a Coach upon the Road and within the County of Middlesex met Ohara and Haines who imediately seaz'd and carried him before Mr. Raynton one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace who upon what the Warrant imported committed French to Newgate French thus took up before th time of Prosecution Ohara desires to withdraw his Information but being told how Villanous such practices were and how liable he had made himself to an Indictment of Perjury better consider'd of the matter and going to Newgate to French sell upon his knees before him and with an Irish Ohone besought his pardon offering to repair all the damages he had suffered by that Imprisonment withall declaring that what he had â—worn against him was all false that he was made Drunk and put upon it by that Villain Haines for so he call'd him and promised to take care about his discharge at the next Sessions which was accordingly done Upon this relation which is verbatim as I had it from French I serv'd him with a Subpena whereupon he demanding my name I told it him This being over French leaves me saying he would acquaint his Wife with it whom he promis'd to bring up and intreated me to rightly inform her about it being big with Child least she might possibly be too much concern'd for the absence of her Husband and going away leaving the Subpena upon the Table but before he saw his Wife he went into the next Room in which was a Quartermaster belonging to one of my Lord of Oxford's Troops who goes by the name of Bruff and four or five Troopers more who had been tossing the Glasses about all that day as French inform'd me and to them he makes his complaint swearing he had been serv'd with something call'd a Subpena to go down to Oxford to be a witness for one Colledge upon which Bruff desir'd to see the Warrant which French fetch'd him He upon perusal swore Damn him that could not force him to go because there was neither Hand nor Seal to it that it was a new design to draw him into trouble by making of him be a Witness against the King that it was a piece of Forgery c. and then asked French who gave it him He answer'd one Dangerfield Presently says the Coxcombly pollitician of a Quartermaster do you go and tell him here are four or five Gentlemen would be glad to drink a Glass of Wine with him to have an oppertunity of acknowledging the good services he has done by his discovery to the King and Countrey for if I get but once into his Company let me alone to affront him Upon which French returning to my Chamber door made a stand and there related the desire of the aforesaid Company Bruff all the while standing behind him I answer'd French I was a little disturb'd with riding and was so unfit either to take or make a visit that I did intend so soon as I had sup'd to go to Bed Upon which Bruff forc'd himself into my Room swearing Damn him the Company were honest drunken fellows and that they were resolv'd to drink a Glass of Wine with me and then he sate down Whereupon I demanded if he or any of his company knew me or if he thought I knew any of them to which he answer'd no. Then I told him my circumstances would not allow me to be in company of persons I knew not withall excusing to him what rudeness I could not avoid being then guilty of for that I could not allow him to stay longer than the drinking of one Glass of Wine then he swore Damn him he did not intend to stay any longer with me and desired me to drink any health to him what I pleased which he promised to pledge and be gone To this I answered I did not accustom my self to drink healths in regard it was the only promoter of quarrels He replied that was only about the healths of women and then pressed me to drink the Kings health I told him I was unwilling to drink any health at all for many reasons some of which were these First the Lords day was not expir'd Secondly that the King had caused a Proclamation to be published shewing His Majesties dislike about drinking of any health And thirdly It was not visible to me wherein I could in the least measure contribute to the Kings service by the drinking of his health but if he would undertake to make out that it did I should think my self as much oblig'd as he seem'd earnest to have it done and that with a heart as full of Loyalty as he or e're a man living Upon which he took upon him to make me understand how it would be serviceable to the King for me to drink His Majesties health by this Interpretation For says he To drink a health does imply the honour good-wishes and highest obligations to service imaginable and in fine after one man has drunk anothers health 't is to be understood from that very time that he becomes his Slave and Vassal and therefore in such a time of distinction as this is he thought every loyal hearted man that lov'd his King as he ought to do oblidged to that interpretation is an argument prevalent eenough to drink the Kings health To this I replied the King I humbly conceived only expected a peaceable and quiet obedience from his People whom His Majesty calls good Subjects not Slaves or Vassals and I could not hold my self oblig'd to take any notice of his interpretation Then he pressed me in the Common Dialect of Civility intimating how much I was oblig'd to answer the request of a Gentleman and a Stranger and in my own Room too To that I reply d that he was only a presumtive guess that had by his carriage rendred himself more bold than welcome because not invited but yet since he had put the thing by the way of Common Civility I would not be behind hand with him and then I promis'd to drink the Kings provided he would not impose any other health upon me Upon which he let fall a Rapsodie of Oathes and Curses wherein I thought he had bound himself as fast as that sort of Troopery engagement could hold him But he little regarded those ties For I had no sooner fill'd his Glass but he begins the D. of Yorks health upon me Whereupon I stood up and declar'd I would not drink it because of the interpretation which he himself had made but just before of health drinking and for that I had a Thousand reasons best known to my self besides as many well known to the world why I would not engage my self to be his Highnesses Slave or Vassal and so I refused his health Then he began to catch at the expression Reasons best known to my self and said he would give me one convincing argument for my drinking that health
me Was not his Honour sufficent enough for me to depend upon He as he said then himself had fought divers Prizes at the Bear-Garden had been in divers Land and Sea-Fights And should such an Eternal Son of a Bitch as I was question his Honour Upon this I resolv'd upon the considerations aforesaid not to fire and so turning the Muzles of my Pistols outwards not having time to uncock them to prevent Mischief I surrendred my self to this man of Honour which I had no sooner done but as soon the Quartermaster catches hold of my Pistols and turns the Muzels of 'em to my Brest strugling to trip up my Heels at which time I being somewhat stronger in my left Arm than he was in his right with which he held my hand I forc d the Muzle of the Holster-Pistol by the hollow of my Body and pass'd it under my Arm believing it their secure But having been wounded several times in my right Arm and Shoulder I wanted strength to secure the small Pistol as I had done the other upon which Bruff pressed so hard that my Thumb which was on the top of the Cock and my fore-Finger which was at the Tricker fly'd off then down went the Cock giving fire to the Powder that was in the Pan. However by the Infinite goodness of that God who knew the Innocency of my Cause the Pistol did not Discharge which had it done it must undoubtedly have kill'd me for it was Loaden with a Bullet sru'd on and the Muzle was exactly at the middle of my Brest Now that I might be so much the more induced to admire and value that infinite goodness of God which had so miraculously deliver'd me I have made tryal of the same Pistol divers times since exactly as it vvas then and it never faild to discharge this being the second deliverance of that kind vvhich hath hapened to me vvithin this six Months for all vvhich I bless that God vvhom I serve that he hath made me knovv 't is he only is able to deliver for all vvhich I submit my self to his infinite Grace and Goodness and novv return to our Quartermaster vvho by this time vvith the help of his Fellovv Ruffiains having gotten the Pistols out of my hands fell upon me with a most outragious Violence Toar all my Linnen and Cloaths not vvithout some remembrances of the Womans Malice vvho vvould novv and then lend her helping hand vvith some small Cuffs at my Face and because their usage to me was too soft she would often cry to them Damn him Murder him Kill him Kill the Dog And indeed I expected no other for they drew me by force out of my own into their Room where under pretence of searching for small Arms in my Pockets they intended to take my money But my telling rhem it would make 'em liable to Indictments for Robbery they desisted in that but not in their blows upon my head and face till the Constable come who was no sooner entred the Room but the Quartermaster not giving me leave to speak commanded the Constable to secure me till the morning that I might be brought before a Magistrate telling him how he had been forc'd to keep the peace upon which this being the very Constable which my man brought whose name is Thomas Vines he took me back into my own Room where I had the oppertunity of informing him what had hapned to me which he little regarded but still suffered the Quartermaster and his train to come into the Room and abuse me By this time it was near one of the Clock so that I resolv'd not to go to Bed but when it was day to take my Horse and make my complaint to some Justice of the Peace little dreaming that the Constable for whom I sent only to keep the Peace for the safety of my life vvould have had the impudence to detain me longer than I had pleased so that about Five a Clock in the morning I vvas preparing to be gone and thanked the Constable for his care about me but he svvore he vvould not suffer me to go untill I had been before a Magistrate I demanded if he understood the duty and office of a Constable or if he thought himfelf safe to detain me vvithout a Warrant there being not the least appearance of injury that had been done to any but my self or if he look'd upon the Quartermasters command to be as vvarrantable to them both as if it had been given by a Civil Magistrate to vvhom such matters only belong To all which he replied he well understood his business and so ' t vvas a sign and vvould not suffer me to stir from my Room Nevertheless the Constable thinking I had touch'd him to the quick by vvhat I had said goes into the Tovvn to advise as I since understood with one Tho. North the High Constable of that Hundred to whom he stated the Case fearing that what he had done in detaining me was not warrantable it being only the command of a Millitary person To which the High Constable who was either as much Knave or Fool as any of 'em replied that he would justify him in what he had done and ordred him if I did attempt to be gone he should knock me down or use any other violence what he pleased Upon this the Constable returned and told me he had very well considered his business and found himself justifiable though he kill'd me if I offered to be gone Whereupon I submitted only demanding what Magistrate he intended to have me before and when His answer was whom he pleased and his own time When I found him so huffy I gave him to understand how much he was mistaken in that point for that the Law did allow me the liberty of chusing my Justice provided it were in the same County and I were not taken upon a special Warrant but it was all one to him for he little regarded what I said only in a short time after he gave me notice to prepare my self But I was more surprised when I understood what they intended and had contrived to swear against me For I had overheard the Quartermaster who told the Woman of the House they were all undone if she did not stand their Friend for they could not justify what they had done unless she would swear the Peace against me That she soon promised to do And that made me consider of taking some friend along with me to be my Bail and I accordingly sent for one that came and upon my relation of the business was as willing to go as I was to desire him being well satisfied how much I had been abused My Friend being gone before the Constable whispers me to this effect Sir I believe you are doubtful of what is intended to be sworn against you and least there should be occasion for Bail have sent for that Friend which I do assure you need not have been For notwithstanding what