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
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
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
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
has gone so far that at Winchester when I was there in the Circuit I was told that his Doctrine had obtained so much in that Country especially about that place whence some of his Witnesses came I mean Andover that there was a Woman that was here the other day Mrs. Drake being at Conventicle held forth that my Lord of Essex was murdered while the King was in the Tower and that God was the Avenger of Murder and had found out a proper Person for the Prosecution of it that was Mr. Bradden and this snivelling Cant prevailed at the Conventicle It is no such smirking matter as you make it Mr. Bradden I assure you Mr. Bradden My Lord if I did know my Self to be under any Guilt I would very readily and humbly acknowledge it L. Ch. Just Well I see a great many of the Party about you I can spy them out though they think they are not seen but they shall know we will not suffer such Monsters as these to go without due Punishment Mr. Just Wythins He stands upon it he is innocent still notwithstanding all that was proved and the Juries Verdict L. Ch. Just Yes alack a day he wipes his Mouth and has not so much as eaten I 'le warrant you Mr. Just Wythins I expected you would have been sorry Mr. Bradden for what you had done and expressed some Penitence but it seems you are very innocent Mr. Bradden I did not directly nor indirectly offer any thing to induce the Children to give their Testimony nor was any such thing proved I know my own Innocency Mr. Att. Gen. The Jury have found it otherwise L. Ch. Just And that upon a fair a full and a convincing Evidence and no man in the World can make any doubt of the truth of that Verdict but he that had a share in your Guilt or in that that it had a tendency towards I mean that Horrid Conspiracy And I assure you Mr. Bradden you tread upon the very heels of it smirk at it and be as merry about it as you will Mr. Bradden If I did not know my own Innocency then I had reason to be troubled L. Ch. Just Your own Innocency If you did not know your own Impudence you mean 't is that only that makes you Smirk and Smile at such things as these Mr. Just Wythins Mr. Bradden when you were advised by Sir Henry Capel to take a prudent and a good course to go and leave it with a Secretary of State you would not take that Advice but you would go your own way and you would turn Examiner and Prosecutor your self when he that was the Earls Brother and was sure more concerned than you thought it fitter to go that way L. Ch. Just We remember what Sir Samuel Bernardiston in his Letter speaks of this matter Mr. Bradden he was got off why they dare not meddle with Mr. Bradden he is such a dreadful man and his Party are so considerable that we dare not meddle with them and the TORIES are all cast down alack a day because these Fellows can't cast down the Government therefore all honest men must be cast down and not dare to meddle with them but they shall see we are not so much cast down but we are able to reach the highest of them What Condition is this man in I speak in point of Estate for his other Conditions we know what they are his Tryal will satisfie any man of that Mr. Att. Gen. He is the Eldest Son of a Father that has a good Estate Mr. Williams He is then but Heir Apparent Mr. Bradden No I am a younger Brother Mr. Williams It seems he is but the Second Son and a young Gentleman Mr. Bradden My Father has an Elder Son alive L. Ch. Just I remember particularly 't is said in one of the Letters That he was a Man of 7 or 800 l. a year Cl. of Cr. That was in Mr. Speke's Letter He says his Father had so much Mr. Bradden That is in Mr. Speke's Letter but that is not true L. Ch. Just I don't know truly that may be as false as any thing else you went about to have these Children Swear but I 'le undertake it if thou hadst told the little Girl that he had 800 l. a year she would have been as ready to have Sworn it as the other Mr. Just Wythins 'T is a wonderful thing Mr. Bradden you could bring no body to come and testify these things but those two little Children L. Ch. Just But oh what a Happiness it was for this sort of People that they had got Mr. Bradden an honest man and a man of Courage says Mr. Speke a man a propo and pray says he to his Friend give him the best advice you can for he is a man very fit for the purpose and pray secure him under a sham Name for I 'le undertake there are such Designs upon pious Mr. Bradden such Contrivances to do him a mischief that if he had not had his Protestant Flayl about him some body or other would have knocked him in the head and he is such a wonderful man that all the King's Courts of Justice must needs Conspire to do Mr. Bradden a mischief a pretty sort of a man upon my word and he must be used accordingly men that arrogate and assume to themselves a Liberty to do such kind of things must expect to fair accordingly Mr. Just Wythins Mr. Speke is not found Guilty of the Subornation Mr. Att. Gen. He is found Guilty of all but the Subornation he is found Guilty of Conspiring to spread the Report The Subornation will require another sort of Punishment L. Ch. Just Ay but there is a difference between them The Crime was very great in Mr. Speke tho' not so great as in Mr. Bradden and I am sorry that Mr Speke should be concerned in it and should take such care about such a business with all that Piety and Zeal for Religion he expresses in his Letter to Sir Robert Atkyns Mr. Justice Atkyns that was that he should recommend him to have a wonderful care of him and then thank him for his kindness shewed to Our Party So he makes himself to be of the Party and makes this the business of the Party and so makes himself to be a sharer in the business for 't is We thank you for your kindness to Vs and the Tide is strong against Vs and We hope we shall be able to bring the business of my Lord of Essex upon the Stage before they do any of those in the Tower So Mr. Speke makes himself a Party in the business And I am mighty sorry that when he comes to be asked the Question How he came to Write this Letter he should tell us He had been at the Tavern and did not know what he Writ but does not say he recollected afterwards It seems he used to be often at the Tavern and had been there when he writ this