Humane Law reach him not the Divine Law-giver will one day lay it to his charge as consenting to this Blood. G. This Doctrine I do not well understand L. The Doctrine I think is both true and plain and I will give you an instance somewhat like this A Gentlman such a day very early in the morning was found Murdered between London and Highgate with one Glove lying by the Body and not any Person at the first by his Relations particularly suspected for the Murderer at length upon diligent Inquiry it was found out about Two Months after the Death that a certain Gentleman had sworn he would Murder the Deceased if he could ever meet with an opportunity Upon this suspition he was taken up the Prisoner denies the fact and in particular saith that he could make it appear by two then present how that two days before this Murder he went to Salisbury and tarried there till Ten days after and such a day he with his Two Friends return'd to London which Two Friends being then there declared they were ready to Depose the same A Gentleman just then coming in who knew and was very well acquainted with the Prisoner having been inform'd of his Defence immediately reflected upon this Defence and knew it to be false for this Gentleman with three others all knowing the Prisoner very betimes the very morning the Murder was committed which was of a remarkable day were walking out in Lambs-Conduit Fields there and then met the Prisoner with another Person a Stranger to them to whom they spoke and he to them and a little after the Prisoner was his Spaniel running with a Fringe Glove in his Mouth this Gentleman being well known to the Dog calls the Dog and takes from him the Glove puts it in his Pocket and carries it home This Gentleman therefore knowing this Defence to be false concluded as he naturally might that the charge was true and hereupon though with some reluctancy because the Prisoner was his acquaintance but not dearer to him then his love to Justice declares what you have before heard and fetches the Glove and his two Friends and all depose in contradiction to the Prisoners Defence what you have before heard related and the Glove appeared to be the Glove of the Person Murdered and Fellow to that found by the Body And now I desire to know of you what you think of this Gentleman who thus falsified the Defence did he do the duty of an honest man. G. Truly I believe he did and was to be commended for so doing though the Prisoner was his Acquaintance for Justice obliged him to it and Iustice knows neither Acquaintance Relation or Friend T. But do you not think that this Gentleman in foro Conscientiae had been consenting to this Murder had he suffered the Prisoner by such a forged Defence which he well knew to be false to baffle the Prosecution G. By his silence he would have consented to the Murder and negatively at least protected the Prisoner from that just Punishment which both the Law of God and Man justly inflicts for such an offence T. Upon the whole matter I think you have rather lost then got any ground by those Depositions upon which you so much rely'd to falsify D. S. Testimony and that which you have brought to destroy hath strengthened her Evidence and consequently gives credit to the truth of that most Barbarous Murder L. For my own part I am very well satisfied that D. S. hath deposed the truth for how can it be thought that she should declare so long since that she knew of this Consult if she had not indeed heard it her very saying it would have gone nigh as it would then have been managed per fas aut nefas to have cost her life and to believe that she would hazard her life to a Lye can't enter into my thoughts And therefore I am verily perswaded that nothing but the power of truth made her speak in this matter G. It appears sworn by Hewit that D. S. threatned Mrs. Holmes with Revenge when she was turned away L. For this you have the Oath of one who is sufficiently detected of a falsity in two other particulars and therefore not in this or any thing else to be credited T. Had she designed any Revenge she would have sworn more home upon Mr. Holmes for when she was asked whether she did remember that Mr. Holmes was in the Room either of the Two Meetings before my Lord's Death she declared she would not swear it because she remembred not that she had heard him there but all that she could positively swear against him was what passed after my Lord's Death viz. When Mr. Holmes came into the Room about Three of the Clock that day my Lord dyed one strikes him upon the Back and crys we have done the feat upon which Mr. Holmes said What is the Earls Throat cut to which the other replied yes and further said he could not but laugh to think how like a Fool the Earl looked when they came to cut his Throat upon Holmes's Question it was plain he well understood the meaning of that expression the Feat was done or otherwise he could not so readily have hit the thing G. Can it be supposed Mr. Holmes would at Three of the Clock that day my Lord Dy'd ask whether my Lord's Throat was cut when it had been from Eleven of the Clock that day in every mans mouth and consequently Holmes could not but believe without any further inquiry at that time of the day L. What Holmes here spoke by way of Interrogation might be intended as a strong affirmation of what seemed to be asked and this you can't wonder at Have you forgot that common Figure Quaerit Erotesis c. Is not this the Carpenters Son Is not this he speaking of St. Paul that destroyed them which called on his Name at Jerusalem c. in both these the thing is most strongly affirmed A Thousand such instances might be given Or it 's possible that D. S. might mistake for whereas she saith that Holmes said What is the Earls Throat cut which makes it an Interrogation the Expression might be What the Earls Throat is cut and this makes it a positive Affirmation Here the words are the very same only in the first the Copula is placed before the Subject and in the last just before the Predicate G. I must confess if either of these have sworn true or the dying man spoke truth this truth is a very strong confirmation of her Testimony and I cannot well disbelieve these Five seeing they do all so well agree in their Evidence for Five swear Smith was there about Peas time which must be after April I shall detain you no longer upon this particular but desire you to proceed T. Secondly the many reports in several parts of England before the Earls Death that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower. This
but one Evidence T. It will be proved as far as a Negative can be proved That this Boy and Girl never spoke to each other till some time after the Earl's Death and the Relations of the Boy and Girl were altogether strangers to each other having never to their Remembrance heard or seen one another which might be well supposed for their Habitation was some distance from each other Mr. Edwards and his Son and Family living in Mark-Lane the Girl and her Relations at St. Katherines besides you may observe the Girl stood upon the high Ground over against the Earl's Chamber Window and the Boy in the lower Ground where the Girl stood she being but short could hardly see the Ground where the Razor fell but she declared she saw the Maid in the white Hood come thereupon out of Major Hawley's House which Description agreed exactly with that Description the Boy gave of the Maid L. Their Evidence thus agreeing can't well be doubted G. I have been informed this Maid is now reputed of a loose Character T. Admit it true she could not be so thought when she was but just past twelve Years of Age and it was then she first declared it and six Years since and more swore it Therefore her now Character can't in common Reason prejudice her then Testimony given in her innocent Chilhood and her now Testimony is but a Repetition of her former Oath Besides had this Fact been told by Persons of never so great Infamy that did appear to be altogether strangers to each other their Agreement in their Relations had given Credit to their Testimony ☜ being first reported when as is before observed there could be no end proposed by telling this Lie seeing when it was first declared it appeared not in the least inconsistent with the pretended Truth of my Lord's Self-Murder because this Razor after the Discovery out of Indignation might have been thrown out of the Window by some attending on my Lord. Now had this been sworn the next day after my Lord's Death which at the time it was first told by this Boy and Girl could not appear otherwise then this Story of the Razor 's being thrown out of my Lord's Chamber Window had fallen to the Ground and no way useful to prove the Murder But this I have already more at large insisted upon L. It 's an old and true Proverb Children and Fools tell Truth the Reason of this saying is because Children and Fools not being capable of that Invention which such as are of Years and Understanding may be supposed to have speak without design the naked Truth of the Fact. T. A farther Argument of the Truth of this is the Relation of R. and M. the two Souldiers before mentioned both which the very day of my Lord's Death declared in this particular the same with the Boy and Girl as appears by these Informations following Pray read them G. E. G. and S. H. further declare That about 11 of the Clock the very day my Lord dy'd the aforesaid R. did further say That my Lord was murdered but before his Death was discovered to any out of the House there was a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window and that a Maid took it up and carry'd it into my Lord's Lodgings J. B. and his Wife do both further declare That the aforesaid R. M. the very day of my Lord's Death did further say That after my Lord's Murder and before his Death was known there was a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window which a little Boy endeavoured to take up but there came a Maid out of Capt. Hawley's House and took it up and run with it into Capt. Hawley's House and then the Maid was the first that discovered my Lord's Death L. These two Witnesses agree with the Boy not only in the Main as you call it but in several Circumstances of the Story with the Boy 's Relation First in the Main that there was a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window before his Death was known Secondly Meake agrees with the Boy that the Boy did endeavour to take up this Razor but was prevented by the Maid who forthwith carried it into Major Hawley's House And Thirdly that this Maid was the first discovered my Lord's Death G. I must confess their Agreement in their Relations gives great Credit to the Truth of their Testimony L. Was it ever yet known that four Persons ☞ some very Young and others of Riper Years and all Strangers to one another should give the same Account of a Fact in all its Circumstances and the Fact not True T. For the farther Confirmation of this Truth I shall prove by three Witnesses more it was a general Report in the Tower that morning my Lord died That the Razor was as before related thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window Pray read these three Papers G. I. S. declareth That this Informant was a Souldier in the Tower that very morning the late Earl of Essex died in the Tower and about eight of the Clock in the same morning this Informant was sent as one of the Guards upon the Honorable Lord Russel to the Old Baily and as this Informant was returning to the Tower with several of this Guard one in great haste from the Tower met them and said the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat and thrown the Razor out of the Window Upon which it was Answered the Earl of Essex had great Courage first to Cut his Throat and then to throw the Razor out of the Window This Informant further saith That after he came into the Tower that very morning he heard it declared by several that there was a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window before my Lord's Death was known R. G. Declareth That he was a Souldier in the Tower that very morning the late Earl of Essex dy'd and after the Earl's Death this Informant heard it discoursed that very morning in the Tower that there was a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window before my Lord's Death was known and it was further said That the Razor was much broken and notched which some then attributed to the fall out of the Window but others said it might be against the Neckbone L. Against the Neck-bone That 's a pretty Business indeed that my Lord should so hack the Neck-bone as to break the Razor according to the description you have before given us of the Razor T. So Ridiculous as you make this it was the very same that the Surgeon the next day said to the Jury as you will anon find L. A Surgeon either Knave or Fool a Knave if he told them what he did not himself believe and nevertheless endeavoured when upon his Oath to speak the Truth to impose upon the Jury and a Fool if he did believe it But pray read the Third Information G. R. B. declareth That he this Informant was in the Tower that very
kenew as aforesaid being willing the Mischief as above-designed might be prevented Whereupon she went to a Friend of hers to advise with viz. one Mr. B. since dead who bfore that time had been her Master who lived not far from Mr. Holmes's House and informed him as before set forth Whereupon the said Mr. B. did advise her to be silent for the Papists carrying all before them she was ruined if she spoke of it Upon which she did not to her remembrance then reveal it to any other This Informant further saith That the very day of my Lord's death she was not long before Dinner at a Chandlers not far from the said Holme's House viz. one Mrs. Hinton's in Leather-lane where there then came some who declared That the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat in the Tower upon which she went home to Mr. Holmes's and was extreamly troubled and immediately taken with Fits having as before heard their Resolution to cut the Earl's Throat This Informant further declareth That about two or three of the Clock the same day the Earl died some of the aforesaid Consult met again at her Master Holmes's House and she heard them leap about the Room and one of them struck him upon the Back and cry'd The Feat was done or we have done the Feat Whereupon the said Mr. Holmes replied Is the Earl's Throat cut To which the other answered Yes and further said he could not but laugh to think how like a Fool the Earl of Essex looked when they came to cut his Throat The said Mr. Holmes did then say Was his Highness there To which the other Papist replied Yes This Informant further saith That she did about four Years since discover to one Mr. R. with whom she then lived as a Servant his Wife and Daughter That she had heard at Mr. Holmes's House aforesaid some Papists several days before my Lord's Death declare That the Earl's Throat was to be cut but her said Master R. commanded her to hold her peace and not to tell him such dangerous things lest as he said being over-heard she should ruine him and all his Family or Words to that effect G. It 's improbable that any should discourse a matter of this Consequence and Secrecy thus to be over-heard by the Servant T. I do hardly know any House more convenient for a secret Meeting provided all the Family be true to the Design and it 's probable these Men did not know that this Maid was a Protestant or that upon the Stairs in the Kitchin their Discourse could be over-heard but indeed it could be there heard almost as plain as in the very Room it self unless you whisper L. Besides consider the Circumstances of Time when this Consult was held This was when our Government in its Corruption was grown to such a pitch that some People were Loyally mad and through blind prejudiced Obedience I hope more than Malice were offering up as Sacrifices to the Court Popish and Arbitrary Interest the Blood of those brave Men who did zealously oppose those cursed Designs the Popish and Arbitrary end whereof we then saw through a Glass but since to our Cost face to face Should therefore this poor Maid have revealed what she heard it 's ten thousand to one but this Truth would have met with such a Disbelief in some and such Hatred in others that through both it would have been severely punished for be sure these bloody Men would have deposed and in probability by others of their Party proved that they at that time were somewhere else and without all doubt our then Juries would sooner have credited the many oaths which would though falsely have contradicted her Testimony than her own single Evidence And therefore I think Mr. Billinger's Caution as before given this Maid was grounded upon great Reason and what would have proved too true should it have been put to the Tryal G. Hath this Woman been sworn T. Yes and as I have been told deposed the same in Substance before the Lords G. She here speaks of several that she long since informed of this matter is there any that have or will depose the same for otherwise I shall look upon it as a new contrived Story maliciously to traduce the most unhappy crowned Head in Christendom King James the Second I mean and therein to serve a present Interest L. I should agree with you in the same Opinion if it were not nor could be proved by those to whom she revealed it but to satisfie you that it both can and hath been proved long since to be discovered by this D. S. pray read what Mr. R. his Wife and Daughter before-mentioned in Smith's Informamation do declare and are teady to depose G. Mr. R. his Wife and Daughter do declare and are ready to depose That about four years since the aforesaid D. S. did declare that she had heard a Consult by Papists several days before the Earl of Essex's Death wherein it was declared the Earl's Throat was to be cut And the said Mr. R. further saith that he did check the said D. S. for speaking of it and would not hear her freely declare what she would have said in that matter because it would have been of dangerous Consequence to himself and Family should such her Discourse be over-heard as it easily might by any that might have listned at the Window And the said Mrs. R. further saith That the said D. S. about four Years since did declare That she could say much more than she had to them revealed and that she did hope she should live to see that day wherein she might with safety speak the Truth in this matter L. Have either of those there been sworn before the Lords T. Yes Mr. R. and his Daughter and they have declared to me they have deposed the same in substance before the Lords L. How long hath Mr. Braddon known of this Evidence T. No longer than about February last G. How doth that appear T. By those two Informations following by the first of which you will perceive that what this D. S. knew in this matter she was much afraid to reveal to every one L. She had great reason so to be for had it been long since known to some that she knew so much in all probability she would not now have been in the Land of the Living to have given this Information T. The Information you may read G. R. M. of London Goldsmith deposeth That some time after the Death of the late Earl of Essex observing D. S. to be very melancholy and much concerned and troubled in mind the said R. M. desired the said D. S. to tell the reason of such her Dejection but the said D. S. at first was very unwilling saying She was afraid to reveal her mind to any Whereupon the said R. M. advised her to discover it to some particular Friend whom she could safely confide in Upon which the said D. replied That somewhat
which she knew with relation to the Death of the late Earl of Essex was the cause of her trouble and it was not safe for her to reveal it or words to that effect whereupon the said R. M. advised her not to reveal it to any one till she might with safety The said R. M. farther saith that about February last the said R. M. finding it safe to ask and no danger to the said D. S. to reveal what she knew with relation to the said Earls Death he then desired her to inform him what she knew with relation thereunto Whereupon the said D. S. told him she had heard a Consult before my Lords Death to cut his Throat and that some great Person was named at that meeting as concerned in contriving the said Earls death or words to that effect upon which this Deponent without being very inquisitive into particulars spoke to one Mr. T. to acquaint Mr. Braddon whom the said R. M. knew not nor to his knowledge ever saw and sometime after the said Mr. T. told the said R. M. that he had spoken to the said Mr. Braddon about it and that the said Mr. Braddon did desire him the said R. M. to bring the said D. S. to the Cross-Keys in Watling-street where this Depondent and the said D. S. with one Friend of hers more met the said Mr. Braddon and Mr. T. and then the said D. S. gave the said Mr. Braddon a particular account of what she knew with relation to the Earls death And this Deponent doth verily believe that before that time the said D. S. never saw the said Mr. Braddon or Mr. T. W. T. Gent. deposeth that about January last discoursing with one R. M. concerning the death of the late Earl of Essex the said R. M. told this Deponent that he knew one D. S. which could say what was material with relation to the death of the late Earl of Essex whereupon this Deponent declared that he would inform Mr. Braddon of the same of which the said R. M. seemed very willing and desirous This Deponent did so accordingly but the said Mr. Braddon spoke to this effect viz. That he did believe the Papists did endeavour to put sham-Evidence upon him which they being able to detect would from thence argue against the truth of all that should be said And therefore the said Mr. Braddon declared that unless the said D. appeared to be of good reputation and that she had some years since discovered what she knew in this Case to some Friends so that it did appear that it was not a new contrived Story either to serve the present Interest or to baffle what else should be sworn he would not believe whatsoever she should say neither would he have her Sworn whatsoever she declared unless it appeared as above confirmed by those to whom she revealed it This Deponent told the said Mr. Braddon that he knew not the said D. S. neither to his remembrance had ever seen her But if the said Mr. Braddon would appoint some time and place he might discourse the said D. S. and hear what she could say which the said Mr. Braddon declared he would do if he knew where to speak with her upon which this Deponent went to the said R. M. and desired the said R. M. to bring the said D. S. to the Cross Keys in Watling Street such a day and hour for there the said Mr. Braddon and this Deponent should then be This Deponent further deposeth that the said R. M. D. S. and another met this Deponent and the said Mr. Braddon accordingly and this Deponent saith that he this Deponent the said R. M. and another Person were present when the said Mr. Braddon discoursed the said D. S. who then gave the said Mr. Braddon a particular account of two meetings of Papists several days before the Earl of Essex's Death wherein it was declared how the Earl of Essex's Throat was to be cut and by whom ordered and likewise of what passed the day the Earl dyed at the same house where they met before his Death This Deponent further deposeth that the said Mr. Braddon then spoke to the said D. S. to this effect That unless she could produce Persons of very good Reputation to whom she had some years before revealed it he would look upon it as a new contrived Story either to serve the interest of the Government or invented to baffle what else should be sworn for though it was of very dangerous consequence to reveal it yet he could not believe she had been so secret in it as not to reveal it to any and thereupon this Deponent heard the said D.S. declare she had revealed it to several which she named but she was by all cautioned to Secresy as she valued her safety The said D. S. did then further declare to the effect following viz. That for some time after my Lord's Death it did extreamly trouble her and she went to a Divine for his Advice in the matter for she was extreamly concern'd to think that the Papists should lay the Earls death to his own charge when she had as before heard how they themselves had resolved to cut his Throat but the said Divine told her as she then said she must be quiet and silent in the matter till such times should come wherein she might with safety reveal it This Deponent farther deposeth that he to his best remembrance never saw the said D. S. before this Meeting And this Deponent doth verily believe that the said Mr. Braddon never saw the said D. S. till as before at the Cross-Keys in Watling Street And this Deponent farther believeth that the said Mr. Braddon never did hear of the said D. S. or R. M. before this Deponent had as above deposed given him Information of them T. I have often heard Mr. Braddon declare that he never heard of the said D. S. before Mr. T. as before Informed him of her and this he would Depose if thereto called L. I think that matter is as plainly proved as the thing is capable of for no man can Swear possitively besides Mr. Braddon that Mr. Braddon never heard of or saw the said D. but through the Information of Mr. T. but by all circumstances as before deposed by Mr. M. and T. he never did G. Mr. M. deposeth that about February he did inform Mr. T. and Mr. T. deposeth it was about January here seems some variation T. None I think for when a man is to be examined to a Fact about six Months after the Fact done the certain time whereof he did not set down he may be well uncertain as to a week or much more Now neither of these Informants being positive as to the time but Mr. T. being more inclin'd to believe it to be in January and Mr. M. thinking it was the beginning of February each being to Swear as himself believeth as to the time thus came the seeming difference Besides when a
that Bloody Party which Murdered him both in Person and Reputation and the manner how the place wher◠and the forged Reason wherefore agreed in These Bloody minded men would without doubt from the same motives and to carry on the same end destroy as many more were it once again as much within their power as it then was only they would do it with this difference that whereas therein they did act clandestanly we must expect that hereafter they would do it in the face of the Sun and justify it But from their Cruel Power and Bloody Malice Good Lord deliver us G. I desire not to detein you any longer on this particular for I am herein well satisfied and therefore pray proceed T. I am now come to the second general head viz. what passed the day my Lord Died you may observe it was denied by Bomeny Monday and Russel the three that attended on my Lord at the time of his Death the first as his Servant and the two others as his Warders that there was any man let into my Lord's Lodgings before my Lord's Death that Morning my Lord Died the like did John Lloyd the Sentinel that Morning my Lord Died at the door of Major Hawley's House wherein my Lord lodged I shall now prove that there were some Ruffians let into my Lords Lodgings a little before his Death to Murder my Lord. Pray read this Information G. S.S. Linnen-Draper declareth and is ready to depose that the 21th of January last this Informant was at the Goat Alehouse in the Minories where John Lloyd Sentinel upon the late Earl of Essex at the time of his Death as this Informant then was informed was that day brought Prisoner being taken up as suspected privy to the Death of the late Earl of Essex This Informant further saith that he this Informant discoursed the said Lloyd concerning the said Earl's Death and the said Lloyd did for some short time often deny that he had let in any men into the Earl of Essex's Lodgings that Morning the Earl dyed This Informant perswaded the said Lloyd to discharge his Conscience to God and Man and tell what he knew with relation thereunto lest by his denial or silence he should draw the guilt of that Innocent Blood upon himself but the said Lloyd for sometime persisted in his denial and whilst the said Lloyd was denying his letting in any men into my Lord that Morning my Lord Died before his Death there was brought into the Room one Major Webster as this Informant afterwards understood him to be then Prisoner for the same matter This Informant did thereupon ask the said Lloyd whether he knew the said Webster which the said Lloyd denied and said he never saw him before in his life upon which this Informant said it was very much that the said Lloyd should not know or remember to have seen the said Webster who was his Neighbour and very notorious in the place where he lived But the said Lloyd persisted for some short time in his denial of any knowledge of the said Webster but soon after the said Lloyd took this Informant by the hand and wringing this Informant's Hand with Tears in his Eyes spoke to this effect Master I give you a Thousand thanks for your good Advice ☞ and I do now remember by special order of Major Hawley I did let in two or three men but to the best of my remembrance three into my Lord's Lodgings that morning my Lord dyed and a very short time before his death and that man pointing to Webster was one of the three Men I did so let in upon which this Informant told the said Lloyd it was very strange he should pretend that Webster was one of three Men he had let into my Lords Lodgings just before his death when the said Lloyd had a little before pretended that he never saw the said Webster before that time This Informant further spoke to the said Lloyd to this effect That as the said Lloyd was consenting to my Lords Death in case he did endeavour to stifle any truth which might tend to the Discovery of my Lords Murder so would the said Lloyd be guilty of Webster's Blood if he should charge him in this particular with a Lye for what Jury soever should believe that Webster was one of those let into my Lord just before his Death it having been by all deny'd that any were so let in would likewise believe that Webster was one of the Ruffians that Murdered his Lordship and therefore this Informant advised the said Lloyd to be very careful in the matter Whereupon Lloyd replied that he could be very positive in the Man and if he were even then to dye he could safely and truly charge him upon his Oath with it This Informant further saith that Lloyd did then further declare that as soon as he had let in those men into my Lords Lodgings he did hear several and he did suppose them to be those he so let in go up Stairs into my Lord's Chamber where there immediately ensued a very great noise and trampling and thereupon somewhat thrown down like the fall of a Man not long after which it was cried out that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat Lloyd did further declare that he did not remember that he saw those men go out of Major Hawley's House but he did believe they might tarry some time in the House till the Croud came in upon the Discovery of my Lord's Death and then went out with the Croud L. Did any others besides Mr. S. hear this Lloyd thus confess the letting in these men T. Yes Besides Lloyd before the Justice confessed the letting in Two men into my Lords Lodgings a little before his Death as appears by the Coppy hereof The Examination of John Lloyd of Goodmans-yard in Aldgate Parish without in London Clothworker taken before John Robins Esq one of the Justices of Peace for the County of Middlesex the 22th day of January Anno Domini 1689. THis Examinant saith on the day whereon the Right Honourable the late Earl of Essex was found dead upon the suspition of having been Murdered in his Lodgings in the Tower of London he then being a Soldier was standing Sentinel at the Door of the said Earl's Lodgings and had order to let no body go up Stairs to the said Lodgings without leave from Major Hawley or the Warder then in waiting on the said Earl and that about half an hour after Eight of the Clock in the Morning of the said Day two Men to this Examinant unknown knocked at the Hatch-door belonging to the said Lodgings and by permission of the said Warder entred the said Lodgings but when they came out he can give no account and that about Nine a Clock he heard a struggling on the said Morning and a little time after heard a Crying my Lord is dead T. Read this likewise G. C. T. of the Minories Butcher declareth and is
proper place G. How very improbable is it that the King and Duke should talk so loud concerning the Earl of Essex as that a Souldier should hear them This seems to carry its own Confutation T. If you consider it I think there is very little if any probability in this Evidence for you may observe that R. declared the King and Duke stood a little way off from those who attended them and they discoursed in French. Now there is not one common English Souldier of a thousand who doth understand French the Odds was then so great that this Souldier knew not what they said therefore it 's not so improbable as at first you may think it G. Can it be thought that the Duke admit he was so wicked as to be concerned in such a Fact would be so very foolish as to send the Ruffians so that any People might see their Mission and their Return T. Pray consider this Murder in all its Circumstances and then tell me whether those bloody Varlets had not all Reason in the World to have all the Security could be expected or desir'd you well know that my Lord of Essex was deservedly very popular and therefore a Parliament that should have had the least Information of this treacherous and bloody Murder would have prosecuted the Matter with all the Diligence and Vigor that such a piece of Barbarity deserved Now should they in such their Inquisition have detected those treacherous Villanes these bloody Men must have expected no Mercy And should the Duke have imployed them in his Closet only and they could not by any Circumstance have given Satisfaction that they were his hired Journey-Men in this piece of great Service their Evidence against him had not been the tenth part so credible as it would have been could they have proved that they were sent by his Highness towards the Earl's Lodgings just before his Death and soon after returned to his Highness before others knew that this cruel Tragedy was finished This Circumstance I say would have so corroborated their Evidence against their Master that none could in the least have doubted of the truth of their being so imployed that were once satisfied they were as before sent by and returned to his Highness This then obliged his Highness under no less Obligation than Self-Preservation to skreen those his faithful and ready Servants from any Prosecution well knowing that his own Interest and indeed Life was wrapt up in theirs Wherefore I think this matter was very cunningly managed as to the Security of these Cut-throats from the Hands of Justice either in their Punishment or Prosecution and it could not possibly have been done with greater Safety to the Persons of those that did it L. What is become of this honest brave English Souldier T. We have reason to believe he was taken off by way of Prevention as you will hear in its proper place L. I have heard of others that have fallen Sacrifices to the damned Secrecy of this Villanous Murder T. I shall immediately inform you of one here is the Information of two much of the same with the former G. J.B. and his Wife both declare That about one of the Clock the very day the late Earl of Essex died in the Tower one R.M. that Morning a Souldier in the Tower came to these Informants House and these Informants desired the said M. to give them the best Account he could how the Earl of Essex cut his own Throat to which the said M. with some Earnestness and Passion answered that the said Earl did not cut his own Throat but was barbarously murdered by two Men sent for that purpose by his Royal Highneses to the Earl's Lodgings just before his Death T. What M. did further declare and what was since his Fate you will hear in its proper order G. These four are but hear-say Witnesses T. It is very true but seeing we have great reason to believe that the addition of more Blood was the occasion of the Removal of these two especially the latter as you will hereafter find I think such Informations ought not to be slighted for after that rate it 's but taking off such as knew any thing with relation to a Murder and you are very secure from any Discovery tho never so many upon Oath give an Account of what those Men whose Mouths have been by bloody Men stopt from giving their own Relation have declared in the Matter these two Souldiers related the same as to the sending the Men into my Lord's Lodgings in two Houses as far distant as Dukes-place and Baldwin's Gardens and I am verily perswaded that neither H. nor G. ever spoke to B. and his Wife in their Lives for neither two remember to have seen or heard of the other Informants L. Who could imagine that two Souldiers should declare with such Concern and Earnestness that which was so very dangerous to be spoken if their love to Truth and their hatred of such a Treacherous and Bloody Murder had not even forced it from them to the hazard of almost their Lives by such their Relation G. No Man in particular ought to suffer upon hear-say Evidence T. 'T is true no Man ought to suffer barely upon a hear-say Evidence but such Testimony hath been used to corroborate what else may be sworn and of it self may in some Cases be enough to give Satisfaction in the general of the Truth of a matter and no further is it here used But the next Account of these two Mens being sent as before by his Highness shall be from the first hand Read this G. Mr. P.E. declareth That he this Informant was in the Tower that Morning the late Earl of Essex died and about a quarter of an hour before the said Earl's Death was discovered this Informant observed his Highness to part a little way from his Majesty and then beckned to two Gentlemen to come to him who came accordingly and this Informant did observe his Highness to send them towards the Earl's Lodgings and less than a quarter of an hour after this Informant did observe these very two Men to return to his Highness and as they came they smiled and to the best of this Informant's hearing and remembrance said The business is done upon which his Highness seemed very well pleased and immediately thereupon his Highness went to his Majesty soon after which News was brought to the King that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat L. This is no hear-say Evidence and compared with what the two poor unfortunate Souldiers the day of my Lord's Death as before related I think is very material and ad Hominem G. I must confess that Expression viz. The business is done looks with an ill face especially considering the Glee with which it was spoken Vile Imps of Hell that shall rejoyce in having done the most Treacherous Murder this Age or Nation ever heard of T. You find by D. S's Evidence That after they
Earl had cut his Throat and that he should add the throwing out of the Razor when as before observed there could be no use thereof made towards the proof of my Lord's Murder is such a Suggestion as can't be supposed But as a clearer Answer to this I will now tell you how the Boy came first to deny that he saw the Razor thrown out and secondly what made him forswear it As for the first What occasioned the Boy 's first denial When Mr. Braddon went first to Mr. Edward's House which was Tuesday morning next after the Earl's Death he asked Mr. Edwards Whether his Son had seen a Bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber-Window just before the discovery of my Lord's Death Mr. Edwards at first was surprised with the Question and wept saying He was undone if he should be turned out of his Place in the Custom-House but being pressed to speak according to the Truth he did declare what you have before heard the like did the Mother and two of the Sisters Upon this Mr. Braddon desired to see the Boy for before this Mr. Braddon never saw Mr. Edwards or his Son or any of his Family to his knowledg the Father answered He was gone to School but if Mr. Braddon would come in the Afternoon the Boy should be kept at Home and he might then discourse him which Mr. Braddon promised to do And accordingly about two of the Clock in the Afternoon went. When he came to Mr. Edwards he was told by the Mother and Sisters that the Boy had denied he ever saw any Razor thrown out Upon which Mr. Braddon inquired Whether the Boy had ever deny'd it before he the said Mr. Braddon had been there that morning To which it was answered He had not Whereupon Mr. Braddon did further enquire Whether the Boy voluntarily deni'd it or what made him do it Upon which the Mother delared That his Eldest Sister being afraid of the Consequence of this Story as soon as the Boy that day came from the School ran to him in great fury and in a threatning manner told him That several People would be hanged for what he had said and that he himself might be hang'd likewise Upon which the Child came running to her and cried out The King would hang him and immediately thereupon denied what he had before declared and so often repeated without any the least Contradiction Hereupon Mr. Braddon desired the Boy might come into the Parlour where before his Relations and others present he might discourse the Boy At first the Child could not be perswaded being afraid but at last came into the Room where Mr. Braddon before six or seven then present none of which before that day he had to his knowledg ever seen before ever he did ask the Boy whether what he had as before declared were true or false spoke to the Child to this Effect viz. Mr. Braddon Can you read William Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon Did you ever read the 5th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles William Edwards Yes Don't you there find that there were two struck dead upon the Place for telling a Lie. W. Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon God is still the same God of Truth and a God of the same Power likewise and he knowing all things knows better than you your self whether what you declared were True or False Wherefore if it be indeed a Lie notwithstanding you have so often declared it to be true now deny it and never more own it lest for your saying that which is false God execute the same Judgment upon you and immediately strike you dead But if it be true be neither afraid or ashamed to own it Immediately hereupon the Boy confessed it was true and then declared as before related Being asked what made him deny it he answered His Eldest Sister threatned him and said the King would hang him which the Sister then likewise confessed You have here a large Account how this Boy came first to deny it and what was the Reason thereof and likewise upon what Arguments he retracted his Denial and stood to his first Confession all which will be fully proved by many Witnesses when the Matter comes under a Judicial Determination G. I am herein satisfied But how came it to pass that the Boy forswore it at Mr. Braddon's Trial T. That is the second thing to be answered This Boy was subpoena'd on the behalf of the King as well as by Mr. Braddon And as William Edwards was going into Westminster-Hall that morning Mr. Braddon was tried and before he was sworn Major Hawley at whose House my Lord died meets him and in a threatning manner told him That if he had the management of him he would have him whip'd once a Fortnight on Monday morning for seven Years together for what he had said This Child not being then above 13 Years of Age was extreamly frighted with this Threat and being so very young was more sensible of the Pain of such a Punishment than of the Sacred Obligation of an Oath and deni'd what was true to avoid what he feared he might otherwise have suffered L. It 's very natural to suppose a Child of his Age might be frighted into a false Oath being of such Years as he can't well be supposed to have that Notion of an Oath which People of riper Years may and ought to have But this argues Major Hawley to be a very ill Man thus to threaten the Boy out of his Evidence G. I have heard that this Major Hawley is a very honest Man sure he was ever heretofore esteemed very Loyal T. I have reason to believe that his old Loyalty and somewhat else hath run him into such Service as argues him not of that Character some would have him thought and of my Opinion you will be when you have heard what is said against him in this Case But as a farther Argument of this Razor 's being thrown out of my Lord's Chamber Window Pray read this Information G. J. L. aged about 18 Years declareth That as she was standing upon the high Ground almost over against the Earl of Essex's Lodgings that Morning the Earl died and a little before the Discovery of his Death she saw a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord's Chamber Window and just before the Razor was thrown out she heard two Shreeks T. That this Girl discovered this to her Aunt the very Morning my Lord died proved by Mrs. G. and others are ready to attest the same At Mr. Braddon's Trial the Girl 's Aunt and one Mr. G. then a Lodger in her Aunt 's House deposed the same L. You have here three Witnesses sworn that this Child related this Story to her Aunt as soon as she came from the Tower. Do you doubt the Truth of what these three Persons have sworn G. I am very well satisfied these three depose the Truth but it may be this Boy might tell the Girl what he saw and so it is
my Lord's Provisions that were brought and therefore begged her to go to her Master Mr. Hawley the Gentleman-Porter to desire him to go to the Warder that kept the Gate and order him to let in the Provisions L. It 's much the Footman himself could not go to Major Hawley for certainly the Major well-knowing whose Footman he was would soon go and give Orders to let in the Provisions upon the Footman's request as his Maids unless the Maid had some collateral consideration besides that of a Servant which might influence her Master T. There was no need of eithers going as you will immediately hear Upon this she declares She did accordingly go to her Master who thereupon ordered the Warder to let in my Lord's Provisions and as they viz. my Lord's Footman Will. Turner and one Sam. Peck and a Porter were bringing the Provisions a Sentinel told them They were come too late upon which this Maid declares she was surprised and asked Will. Turner what should be the meaning of that Expression You are come too late for she did not understand it Whereto Turner answered that he did suppose the Sentinel believed those Provisions to be my Lord Russel's who being gone to his Trial this Souldier might think he would never return again to the Tower and so the Provisions were brought too late This she declares she then believed but as soon as they came in sight of her Master's House they admired to see so great a Croud about the Door but were soon too well satisfied in the occasion for it was just before discovered that my Lord of Essex had cut his Throat G. This looks as a made Story for can it be thought that the Warder would not let in my Lord's Provisions T. It is indeed a forged Lye throughout for William Turner Samuel Peck and the Porter do all three declare that the Maid was not with them whilst they were bringing in the Provisions neither did the Warder that kept the Gate in the least scruple the letting in my Lord's Provisions this they all say they are ready to depose G. Then this Maid is a Confederate for otherwise she would speak the Truth T. Surely she that endeavours by such a false villanous Invention to evade the Truth becomes consenting to my Lord's Murder and at the last day shall answer it L. Nay she may answer it before if it be once plainly made appear that she did carry up the Razor and was the first that discovered my Lord's Death for by what she then saw and hath since heard sworn by those who attended on my Lord she could not but be well satisfied my Lord was murdered and endeavouring thus to stifle it by her false Evasions T. To which she saith she did swear before the Secretary of State. L. That adds Perjury to the first Guilt Without doubt her endeavouring by Perjury to conceal and stifle the most perfidious and barbarous Murder our Nation ever knew shall render her culpable in no small degree T. Just as the Maid cried out My Lord had cut his Throat one Mr. B. then an Ensign ran into the House and was the first Man in my Lord's Chamber after my Lord's Death was known the Blood then seeming almost reeking hot this Mr. B. declared that as he ran in he did observe this Maid whose Name he knew to be Alice standing at her Master's Door wringing her Hands and crying and N. who saw the Maid run into her Master's House and up Stairs and then heard her cry out Murder and likewise in her hand the Razor declares that was the very Maid which stood at the Door when Mr. B. went into the House L. By all Circumstances this must be the Maid for had not this Wench been some way concerned she would never have invented this Lie for Innocence flies not nor needs a Lie for its Defence but is always supported by Truth and Innocence it self becomes justly suspected for Guilt when it makes use of a false Defence the Law and the natural Reason of the thing presuming that every one will use the best and consequently the truest Defence in Protection of his Innocence Pray proceed T. The Circumstances of the Razor in the top's being so broken and the many other Notches as before appears by the Razor are natural self-Evidence of the Truth of the Razor 's being thrown out of the Window for my Lord in cutting his Throat could not so do it notwithstanding an old Chirurgion to the Jury declared otherwise for the Jury asking him Whether my Lord in cutting his own Throat could so break and notch the Razor The Chirurgion answered that it was possible for my Lord to do it against his Neck-bone occasioned by the Tremefaction of my Lord's Hand when the Razor came to the Neck-bone L. Certainly there was a Tremefaction in the Chirurgion's Understanding or Honesty when upon Oath he gave this Answer for I do suppose he was sworn T. He was so As a further Argument against my Lord's cutting his Throat in the Closet the Circumstances of the Closet as found when my Lord was first found dead appear in Evidence You may observe the Closet is but three Foot and one Inch wide and seven Foot long in one side and about five Foot long in the other now it 's declared by those attending on my Lord that there was no Blood against the Wall a foot higher than the Floor nor any upon the Cloose-stool or any of the Shelves of the Closet whereas had my Lord cut his Throat standing on the Closet the Blood would have immediately gushed out of so large an Orifice five Foot at least wherefore that part of the Wall over against his Throat must have been very bloody but in this case there was none at all and therefore it could not be done standing neither did his Lordship do it kneeling for there was no Blood as high as his Throat as in that Posture would have then been and that his Lordship did it not lying along appears from the Position of the Razor for the Wound beginning on the left side and ending on the right the Razor must have been on the right side of the Body whereas it lay about fourteen Inches or more from the left G. All these self-Evidences might have appeared to the Jury upon their view and it 's very much they did not observe them T. What the Jury did and how they were managed you shall soon hear But I shall First take notice of the many Irregularities with respect to the Management of my Lord's Body the Chamber and Closet after my Lord's Death Secondly The false and malicious Suggestions by Major Hawley to the Jury to hinder the Discovery of the Truth and to influence them to the belief of my Lord's self-Murder And Thirdly The Oppressions Threats and Severities since used to avoid a Detection of this unparalled bloody Treachery First The Irregularities with relation to the Body Room and Closet after my Lord's
Interest in England would Ruin him for rifling into the Business or words to that effect and thereupon Mr. Braddon was perswaded to desist but it was answered That the Ruin he did expect he did not fear neither would by those Threats be deter'd from the Prosecution L. Had his Royal Highness been indeed Innocent of this Murder there had been few things more serviceable to His Highness than a full and clear discovery of the Truth in this matter for had the Earl been a Self-murderer by a thorough Examination and strict Scrutiny the Truth would have plainly appeared and all Objections would have been answered and vanished so that there would not have remain'd the least Colour for a Reflection on His Highness or had the Earl of Essex been Murdered by such as did it without His Highness Consent or Privity upon a diligent and judicious Examination and Prosecution these vile Varlets that perpetrated this hellish Fact being detected and punished according to their Demerit as it had been both His Majesty's and Royal Highness's Interest as well as Duty they should His Highness and all that were Innocoent would hereby have been effectually vindicated from all Colour of Guilt for the Conviction and Punishment of the Guilty are Vindications of the Innocent Whereas the Cause was so managed as gave all the World just reason to suspect the very truth of the Matter was of so deep a Dye that it could not endure the Touch-stone of a strict and diligent Inquisition lest it should then appear as without doubt it would in its true Sanguine Colours wherefore this Cause still shun'd the Light because its Deeds were Evil. Sed veritas non quaerit Angulos Truth seeks no Corners T. To be short For it would be very tedious to tell all this Gentleman hath done and suffered upon this Account In Hillary Term Mr. Bradden and Hugh Speake Esq were try'd upon an Information exhibited against them by the then Attorney General The chief thing laid to these Gentlemens Charge was a Conspiracy to procure false Witnesses to prove the late Earl of Essex Murdered by Persons unknown contrary to the Coroners Inquest c. Mr. Speake was Acquitted of the Conspiracy ☞ and Mr. Braddon only found Guilty L. Who can Conspire alone A sole Conspirator is a Contradiction T. Such a Contradiction the Jury made and my Lord Chief Justice Jefferies approved of the same When Mr. Braddon appeared in Court to be Tried Sir R. S. he that was not the least concern'd in the Prosecution told him before the Information was read That he would do his Business for him Upon which Mr. Braddon desired this Gentleman to have Patience to tarry till the Jury had done it to his hands to which it was replied I do not doubt that The Oppression of the then times was still sure of both Judg and Jury This Tryal was carried on with all the Fury and Malice imaginable and this pretended Crime made worse than a common Theft or Robbery for that tended to a private Mischief but this to a general Confusion c. When my Lord Chief Justice Jefferies at this Tryal was thus representing Mr. Braddon's Crime as one of the highest that could be committed exposing it as much worse than Burglary Robbery or the like in the midst of his Lordship's Railing Mr. Braddon smil'd and it was as I after heard him often declare upon this Story coming into his mind A Neighbour of his an illiterate plain Country-Farmer had a Wife of as violent a Spirit as liv'd and one day She comes into the Room where her Husband was with several Neighbours as soon as She came tho there was not or it seems had been the least Colour for a Provocation for he still carried himself well towards her she flies into the greatest Rage imaginable calling him all the Names that Malice could invent or Rage could utter and had she not been prevented might have done him some mischief The Husband in the midst of this great Storm well knowing all to be false which the Fury of his Wife charged him with stood as a Man altogether unconcern'd under this Provocation but rather appeared very pleasant One of his Friends asks him how it was possible for him with that Temper to receive the scurrilous and unjust Railing of that furious Woman to which the Husband smiling calmly replied That his Wife talked of a Man he did not know for he was altogether unrelated to and unacquainted with that Person she so railed against and therefore what reason had he to be concern'd when he was not the Person she spoke of Mr. Braddon asked his own Conscience an infallible Evidence according to truth to condemn or acquit whether he was this villanous Criminal his Lordship was so furiously Railing against and he found that Judg by which at the last day he shall be tryed did acquit him from that Crime which his Lordship's Corruption against his belief unjustly charged him with and therefore he stood very much unconcern'd at all that his Lordship 's corrupt Violence falsely and maliciously without the least appearance of a Crime applied to him who tho the Person highly accused was altogether Innocent either of the Offence or those far-fetched strained and groundless Aggravations L. If Mr. Braddon was well satisfied in his Innocence he had good reason not to be discouraged For tho the wicked flee when no man pursues yet the righteous are as bold as a Lyon. G. No Terrors ought to affright or discourage the Innocent Integer vitae scelerisque purus Non eget c. Hor. Od. 22. Lib. 1. L. We have a much better Author who speaks much to the same effect and assures us That to the oppressed God is a refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore need they not fear tho the earth be moved and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea Tho the waters thereof roar and be troubled tho the mountains shake with the swelling thereof c. Psalm 46.1 2 c. G. Nothing gives a man that Satisfaction of mind under an unjust Accusation as his Innocence and I am verily perswaded that an innocent Man hath greater quiet even under an unjust Condemnation than the Guilty can have tho here acquitted for tho the Corruption of a Judge or Jury may protect the greatest Criminal from that legal humane Punishment which the Law would inflict yet the Guilt of his own Consciene still haunts him like or rather much worse than a Ghost and therefore is he like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt for there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isa 57.20 21. T. No Man ought to Condemn or Acquit himself by the Opinion of others for Men may be led by Misinformation or Prejudice but his own Conscience when faithfully observed will do him the greatest Justice and when he stands acquitted in his own mind he ought not
in some heat he told them It was the Body and not the Cloathes they were to sit upon the Body was there and that was sufficient One of the Jury then said My Lord of Essex was esteemed a very Sober Sedate and Good Man which Bomeny then confirmed saying His Lord was a very Pious Man and therefore it was improbable so Good a Man should be Guilty of the worst of Actions Upon which M. Hawley told the Jury They were misinformed in my Lord's Character for every Man that was well acquainted with my Lord well knew that it had ever been a sixed Principle in my Lord that any Man might cut his Throat or any otherwise dispose of his Life to avoid a dishonourable and infamous Death wherefore this Action which they thought unlike his Lordship was according to my Lord 's avowed and fixed Principles This made the Jury the more easie believe that my Lord had indeed done it Some of the Jury were for Adjourning their Inquisition to some further day and in the mean time to send notice to the Earl's Relations so that if any thing appeared on my Lord's behalf it might be produced Hawley hereupon assured the Jury That they could not adjourn their Inquiry for His Majesty had sent one for their Inquisition and would not rise from Council till it was brought him This the Jury believing immediately made all haste possible whereas otherwise they might have been more strict and particular in their Examinations Hawley ☞ in answer to this totally denies all and protests that he was not nigh the Jury in the Victualling-house all the time the Jury sate though most of the Jury can say the contrary and as for the suggesting Self-murder to be my Lord's Principle he did protest he did never hear it said to be my Lord's Principle till their Lordships in this Committee told him it had been so declared ☞ This clearly proves that the pretended Principle of Self-murder was a Forgery of that Bloody Party which murdered my Lord and Hawley pitched upon as the most proper Person to corrupt the Jury with the belief of it The backwardness of the then Government from examining into this Matter and their unjust Proceedings against the Prosecution for they Discouraged Prosecuted and Ruined him who did humbly offer the Matter to a Judicial Consideration though no Crime or Colour of Offence was proved against him is farther Evidence of this Murther The Government turned the Old Edwards out of his place for what his Son said in this Matter and hereby inverted the old Proverb For here the Son 's eating Sower Grapes had set the Father's Teeth on edge A poor Soldier was barbarously Whipt after he had been cruelly managed in Prison for only saying That he would not say he did believe the Earl of Essex cut his own Throat But a more barbarous Cruelty is justly suspected to have been committed in the After-murther of several viz. of Meake and Hawley c. to prevent a Detection of this Though the Government heretofore had received private Intimations and in Print publick Applications for a Pardon and thereupon a Promise of a full Discovery and in both these the Duke of York particularly charged as the chief Contriver of this Horrid Cruelty yet the then Government would never permit such an Inquisition to be made but punished those that dispersed those publick Challenges Had His Highness been really Innocent none would have been more Zealous for such a Proclamation of Pardon For Innocence desires a Tryal and it 's only Guilt that flies from Justice Another Argument of this Murder and likewise of Major Webster's Guilt therein is Webster's producing my Lord's Pocket-handkerchief all Bloody to some of his Neighbours rejoycing at the Blood of a Traytor and the very next day to some of the same Persons he produced part of the Price of Blood viz. a Purse of Gold wherein there was 49 Guinea's and a Pistole which he shewed in great Ostentation but all this was but a small part of that Villainous Reward for some time after my Lord's Death when his Wife was upbraided with her Husband's Poverty she replied Her Husband long since was not so poor for he had 500 Guinea's at which the other being startled answered most certainly he could not come by them Honestly To which it was said That he got them by his Trade But to that it was replied That his Trade could hardly get Bread Therefore there must be some other way L. The Wife might speak truth for his Trade viz. Murther in which it is supposed he hath been more than once concerned might get it which Trade the Wife might mean though the other misunderstood her T. That his Wife was not a Stranger to his Guilt appears by her often telling him upon her hard usage That he was a Fool as well as a Rogue to use her so very ill within whose power he well knew it was to Hang both him and another in the Tower. Another Instance of this kind there happened when Homes and his Wife some time after my Lord's Death quarrelled Homes abusing her she told him He was a murderous Rogue and he must well know that she could at any time hang him for it To which Homes answered with his usual Scurrilous Language You Bitch you Whore you of all the World have no reason to speak for do not you remember I bought you a good Sattin Gown and Petticoat Whereupon the Wife replied You are a murdering Rogue for all that G. When Thieves fall out Honest Men know what is become of their Goods L. We not this Woman of a loose Character and bigotted to that Bloody Religion which in such Cases esteem Murder Meritorious this Gown would have been a constant Memento of that Blood for the Concealment whereof this Garment in part was given T. Sir I have as briefly as I well could complied with your request and I hope you are now convinced of your former Mistake G. I do assure you I am and I give you many thanks for this great Satisfaction and I shall endeavour what in me lies to rescue the Memory of this Right Honourable Lord from that dishonourable undeserved Imputation of Self-murder by laying the Guilt at that door which seems most deserving and though herein I may displease some of my most intimate Acquaintance yet I think in Justice I stand bound to undeceive many of their mistake in this Self-murder Especially when these through what I have declared have been deceived in this Matter and whatsoever my former opinion may have been through Misinformation it is now such that none living shall more cordially Pray That the God of Justice who hath so many times remarkably appeared in the Detection and Punishment of Blood may eminently manifest himself in the full Discovery and just Punishment of all Contrivers Actors Aiders and Abettors herein and likewise that all Concealers of what they know in this matter and all such as endeavour to stifle or frustrate this Just Prosecution may be made exemplary in this World in order to which may that only Just and Wise God whose are every good and perfect Gift pour down upon our Senators such a Spirit of Wisdom as may conspicuously detect every Arcana of this Blood-thirsty and most barbarous Murder with all its vile and astonishing Dependences L. Amen FINIS