I Do appoint Benjamin Tooke to Print the TRYAL of Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke and Order that no other Person presume to Print the same Geo. Jeffreys THE TRYAL OF LAVRENCE BRADDON AND HVGH SPEKE Gent. Upon an INFORMATION OF High-Misdemeanor Subornation and spreading false Reports Endeavouring thereby to raise a Belief in His Majesties Subjects that the late Earl of ESSEX did not Murther himself in the TOWER contrary to what was found by the Coroners Inquest Before the Right Honourable Sir George Jeffreys KNIGHT and BARONET Lord Chief Justice of His Majesties Court of KINGS-BENCH and the rest of the Reverend JUDGES of that Court holden at Westminster on Friday the 7th of February 1683. LONDON Printed for Benjamin Tooke at the Ship in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1684. THE TRYAL OF Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Gent. On Thursday the Seventh of February Anno Dom. 1683. Annoque Reg. Caroli Secundi xxxvi A Tryal was had at the Kings Bench Bar in a Cause between our Sovereign Lord the King and Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Gentlemen upon an Information exhibited against them the last Term by his Majesties Attorney General for an High Misdemeanor and to which they the same Term pleaded Not Guilty and the Tryal proceeded in this manner Cl. of Cr. CRyer call the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke Cryer Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke come forth or else this Inquest shall be taken by your default Mr. Wallop They appear Cl. of Cr. Gardez votrez Challenges Swear Sir Hugh Middleton which was done and there being no Challenges the Twelve Gentlemen sworn to try this Cause were these Sir Hugh Middleton Jur. Thomas Harriott Jur. Thomas Earsby Jur. Joshua Galliard Jur. Richard Shoreditch Jur. Charles Good Jur. Samuel Rouse Jur. Hugh Squire Jur. Nehemiah Arnold Jur. John Bifield Jur. William Wait and Jur. James Supple Jur. Who being counted Proclamation was made in usual form for Information Cl. of Cr. Gentlemen you of the Jury hearken to the Record His Majesties Attorney General in this Court has exhibited an Information against the Defendants by the Names of Laurence Braddon of the Middle Temple Gentleman and Hugh Speke of Lincolns Inn Gentleman And the Information sets forth That whereas Arthur Earl of Essex the 12 th of July in the Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. was committed to the Prison of our Lord the King in the Tower of London for certain High-Treasons by him supposed to be committed And the said Arthur Earl of Essex being a Prisoner in the Tower of London aforesaid for the High-Treason aforesaid the 13 th day of July in the aforesaid Thirty Fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King that now is not having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the Instigation of the Devil at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid himself feloniously and as a Felon of himself did kill and murther as by an Inquisition taken at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid the 14 th day of July in the year aforesaid befor Edward Fernham Esquire then Coroner of our Lord the King of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid upon the view of the Body of the said Arthur Earl of Essex and now in this Court remaining of Record more plainly does appear They the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke not being ignorant of the Premises but contriving and maliciously and seditiously intending the Government of our said Lord the King of this Kingdom of England into Hatred Disgrace and Contempt to bring the 15th day of August in the aforesaid Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King that now is and divers other dayes and times as well before as after at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex with force and arms c. falsly unlawfully maliciously and seditiously did conspire and endeavour to make the Subjects of our said Lord the King of this Kingdom of England to believe that the Inquisition aforesaid was unduely taken and that the said Arthur Earl of Essex by certain Persons unknown in whose Custody he was was Killed and Murthered And to perfect and bring to effect their malicious and seditious Contrivances aforesaid they the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex aforesaid the 15th day of August in the Thirty Fifth year aforesaid falsly unlawfully unjustly maliciously and seditiously did conspire to procure certain false Witnesses to prove That the said Arthur Earl of Essex was not a Felon of himself but that the said Earl of Essex by the said Persons unknown was killed and murthered And to perswade other Subjects of our said Lord the King to believe this to be true they the said Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke falsly maliciously and seditiously then and there in writing did declare and cause to be declared the said Laurence Braddon to be a Person that would prosecute the murther of the said Earl of Essex to the great Scandal and Contempt of the Government of our Lord the King of his Kingdom of England to the evil example of all other in the like case offending and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity To this Information the Defendants have severally pleaded Not Guilty and for their Tryal have put themselves upon the Country and His Majesties Attorney General likewise which Country you are Your Charge is to enquire whether the Defendants or either of them are Guilty of this great Misdemeanour whereof they are Impeached or Not Guilty If you find them or either of them Guilty you are to say so if you find them or either of them Not Guilty you are to say so and no more and hear your Evidence Then Proclamation was made for Evidence Mr. Dolben May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen that are Sworn this is an Information preferred by Mr. Attorney General against the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke and the Information does set forth That whereas Arthur late Earl of Essex the 12 th of July last was committed to the Tower of London for certain Treasons supposed to have been by him done And the said Earl being so committed Prisoner to the Tower for Treason not having the fear of God before his eyes feloniously and as a Felon did kill and murther himself as by an Inquisition taken before the Coroner of the Tower-Liberty may more fully appear yet the Defendants Laurence Braddon and Hugh Speke not being ignorant of the Premisses but designing to bring the Government into Hatred and Contempt the 15 th day of August last at the Parish of S. Clement Danes in this County with force and Arms falsly unlawfully maliciously and
being thus in the Tower killed himself Mr. Sol. Gen. Shew the Inquisition Where is Mr. Farnham Mr. Farnham Here I am The Inquisition is returned here and is upon Record Cl. of Cr. Here it is Number 11. He reads London ss An Inquisition indented taken at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex the 14th day of July in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. the Thirty Fifth before Edward Farnham Esquire Coroner of our said Lord the King of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid upon view of the Body of Arthur Earl of Essex then and there lying dead by the Oaths of Samuel Colwel Esquire William Fisher Thomas Godsel Esquire Thomas Hunt Nathaniel Mountney Esq Thomas Potter William How Robert Burgoine Eleazer Wickins Thomas Hogsflesh Henry Cripps Richard Rudder William Knipes John Hudson John Kettlebeter Lancelot Coleson Morgan Cowarn Thomas Bryan William Thackston Richard Cliffe Zebediah Pritchard William Baford and Theophilus Carter good and lawful Men of the Liberty of the Tower of London aforesaid who being charged and Sworn to enquire for our said Lord the King when by what means and how the said Arthur Earl of Essex came to his Death upon their Oaths do say that the said Arthur Earl of Essex the 13th day of July in the Thirty Fifth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King aforesaid at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid about the hour of Nine in the Forenoon of the same day not having the fear of God before his eyes but being seduced and moved by the Instigation of the Devil of his Malice aforethought at the Tower of London aforesaid in the County aforesaid then and there being alone in his Chamber with a Razor of the value of one Shilling voluntarily and feloniously did cut his Throat giving unto himself one Mortal Wound cut from one Jugular to the other and by the Aspera Arteria and the Wind-Pipe to the Vertebres of the Neck both the Jugulars being throughly divided of which said mortal Wonud the said Arthur Earl of Essex instantly died And so the Jurors aforesaid say upon their Oaths that the said Arthur Earl of Essex in manner and form aforesaid then and there voluntarily and feloniously as a Felon of himself did kill and Murther himself against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity In Witness whereof as well I the Coroner aforesaid as the Jurors aforesaid to this Inquisition have Interchangeably put our Seals the day and year abovesaid Mr. Att. Gen. Call Mr. Evans and Mr. Edwards After this my Lord we shall shew you that Mr. Braddon went about the Town and declared the Earl was Murthered and he was the Prosecutor There is Mr. Evans Swear him which was done Pray will you give an account to my Lord and the Jury what you know of Mr. Braddon's going about and declaring he was the Prosecutor of my Lord of Essex's Murther Mr. Evans My Lord All that I know of this matter is this About the 17th of July last L. C. J. When is the Inquisition Cl. of Cr. It is the 14th of July L. C. J. Well go on M. Evans The 17th of July last I was at the Custom-House Key shipping of some Lead and the Person that brought me the Warrant I told him I could not Execute it without one of the Commissioners Officers and I bid him go to Mr. Edwards who was the next Officer adjoining to the Key and he went to his House and told him I was at the Water-side and had a Warrant which I desired him to be present while I Executed it Mr. Braddon it seems was then present in the place with Mr. Edwards when this was told him and hearing my Name Mr. Braddon came down with Mr. Edwards and found me then at Smith's Coffee-House and Mr. Edwards told me Mr. Braddon had been with him examining his Son in relation to a matter of a Razour that was thrown out of my Lord of Essex's window and I presently replied I desired they would not speak of any such matter to me for I had seen the Coroners Inquisition upon Oath where it was declared the thing was so and so and two Persons had Sworn what seemed to be contrary to this and therefore I desired they would forbear any such discourse to me L. C. J. Who they Mr. Evans Braddon and he were together L. C. J. Who he Man Mr. Evans Mr. Edwards And withal I made my application to Mr. Braddon and I desired him he would not meddle with such a matter for I thought it might be prejudicial to him and Mr. Edwards too Mr. Braddon made me no answer but went directly out of the Room L. C. J. What do you mean by so and so and a Razour thrown out of a window We do not understand your So and So. Mr. Evans Relating to a matter of a Razour L. C. J. Prithee we don't know what that matter of a Razour is Mr. Evans A Razour that was said to be thrown out of my Lord of Essex's Window L. C. J. Tell us what the Story was man Mr. Evans Mr. Edwards told me that Mr. Braddon was with him to examin his Son relating to a matter of throwing a Razour out of my Lord of Essex's Window This is that he said to the best of my remembrance Mr. Sol. Gen. Was Braddon present there Mr. Evans Yes Mr. Braddon and Mr. Edwards were both present L. C. J. Well what was the discourse between you Tell us plainly Mr. Evans Says Mr. Edwards to me Mr. Braddon has been to examin my Son about such a matter so I desired he would not discourse any thing of that matter to me and I told him I advise you not to proceed for I told him it would be prejudicial both to him and Mr. Edwards too L. C. J. What is meant by this matter He examined my Son about a matter and I desired him he would not discourse of this matter What is all that matter Mr. Just Holloway What did you apprehend by it Mr. Evans I apprehended that Mr. Braddon had been to examin Mr. Edwards's Son about such a matter L. C. J. What matter man Mr. Evans His dispersing of any such Report L. C. J. What Report Mr. Evans A Report of throwing a Razour out of my Lord of Essex's window L. C. J. Here is a Razour thrown out of a window and a matter of I know not what Mr. Just Withins Suppose a man should throw a Razour out of a window what signifies that L. C. J. Where had he heard of that matter Mr. Evans This is all I heard my Lord I am upon my Oath L. C. J. But I wish thou wouldest let us know what it is thou didst hear Mr. Jones Was there no talk of a bloody Razour Mr.
notice of it Mr. Just Withins Did he concern himself about it Mr. Evans No not much I did not hear him say any thing but he walked up and down the Room L. Ch. Just Now after all this Discourse of the matter for ought I can understand the matter is but this He says Edwards before the meetings either at his House in Essex or at the Coffee-house by the Custom-house reported to him as tho' the Earl of Essex had not murdered himself but some body else had done it for him And this was reported at the Custom-house that morning the Earl of Essex cut his own Throat and he hearing this Report at the Custom house at that time afterwards comes Braddon and Hatsel to his House into Essex and after Hatsel had shew'd him the Paper of the Inquisition in Print he said I heard some Discourse from Mr. Edwards at the Custom-house of a quite other nature and then he says Braddon and Edwards came to the Coffee-house and there it was he desired them not to talk of that matter for said he that contradicts the Inquisition I saw before This is the substance of what he said Mr. Att. Gen. And hereby it does appear that Braddon and Evans and Edwards and Hatsel are all of a Gang. L. Ch. Just Have you the Information he gave in to the Secretary Mr. Att. Gen. That that was given before the Councel Mr. Att. Gen. Yes 't is much the same with what he hath said now Mr. Evans Yes my Lord 't is verbatim as I have declared now Mr. Att. Gen. Only this other part of Hatsel and the meeting in Essex was spoken of since that was not declared before Mr. Evans No my Lord that I did not speak of because I was not examined about it Mr. Att. Gen. That was part of the Secret Mr. Evans No it was common Discourse with me And I did not think any thing of it what Mr. Edwards said at the Custom-house was spoken to a great many others as well as me and the people seemed to be surprised with an accompt of the thing at the first news of my Lord of Essex's death And if I had thought it material I could have brought a great manny that were by then but Mr. Edwards is here brought himself I suppose he will not deny it Mr. Sol. Gen. Look you Sir you say that very morning my Lord of Essex killed himself Mr. Edwards discoursed and made this Report to you at the Custom-house pray tell what the discourse was what he said to you and then tell us what time of day it was Mr. Evans To the best of my remembrance it was about eleven a Clock there were several persons standing together among the rest Captain Goodland and some of the Searchers and Mr. Edwards was there and said he I am informed from home That my Boy has been at home and given an accompt to my Wife that being in the Tower he saw a hand throw a Razor out of a Window and he named my Lord of Essex's Window and this Mr. Edwards did not only tell me but to a whole Coffee-house of people this matter of fact Mr. Just Holloway Did not Mr. Edwards tell you That some body had been examining his Boy about that Report Mr. Evans That was the second time when Mr. Braddon and Mr. Edwards came together Mr. Just Holloway Who was it had been examining his Boy did he say Mr. Evans Mr. Braddon he said had been to examine his Son Mr. Just Holloway That was after the discourse at Essex that Braddon came to examine his Son concerning the Razor Mr. Wallop Yes it was after the discourse at Essex where Hatsel plucking out the Paper Evans told Mr. Braddon first of this Razor L. Ch. Just Well make your defence by and by Mr. Wallop Do not make your Remarks now Mr. Att. Gen. Come Mr. Edwards Cryer swear him which was done L. Ch. Just What do you ask him Mr. Attorney Mr. Att. Gen. Mr. Edwards Pray will you give the Court an account of this business for I don't know whether you heard what that Gentleman that went out last said he says you raised this Story Pray give an account what you know of it Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray tell what you know of Mr. Braddon's coming to your Son and what discourse he or you had about the murder of the Earl of Essex Mr. Edwards The Report that Mr. Braddon came to enquire after was with us some three days before It was in our Family three days before and upon the 17. of July L. Ch. Just What was the Report Mr. Edwards before Mr. Braddon came to you Mr. Edwards The Report I have already declared before the Council L. Ch. Just But you must tell us too what it was Mr. Edwards The Report of the Boy the 13. of July about 10 a Clock as I was informed by my Family and by the Boy afterwards by word of mouth was this He comes in about 10 a Clock says he I have been at the Tower to one of his Sisters and have seen his Majesty and the Duke of York and the Earl of Essex has cut his throat and I see an hand throw a Razor out of the Window and one came out of the house a Maid or a Woman in a white Hood and a Stuff Coat and took it up and went in again and then I heard a noise as of murder cryed out This was the Boys Report and more than as his Report I can't speak to it L. Ch. Just This was your Son was it not Mr. Edwards Yes the younger of them The two Boys were that morning going to Merchant-Taylors School together as they used to do and by the way hearing the King was in the Tower this younger Boy that was well acquainted with the Tower gave his elder Brother the slip and went into the Tower and rambled about from place to place Mr. Att. Gen. Did not you examine him Mr. Edwards Ay I did examine him Mr. Att. Gen. Did not you find that he denyed it again Mr. Edwards No I did examine him and I found no denyal of any thing at all that he had reported till Mr. Braddon came to make enquiry Assoon as he came to make the enquiry and I understood what Mr. Braddon's business was I begged of him that he would not insist upon it by no means I begged of him as if I had begged for my life but he was so zealous in the business that nothing would satisfie him And after I had told Mr. Braddon that which I could not deny which was the Boys Report I left him and went down to the Custom-house and some of my Family discoursed the Boy at that rate that he began to deny it and in less than half an hours time recollected himself and began to own it again and so the Boy was off and on till the time he was before the Council and to this day he seems to stand in the denyal whether he
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
After this Mr. Braddon as it appears did nevertheless pursue this business L. C. J. Pray only tell what you know of your own knowledg both before and after Mr. Blathwaite I know my Lord that Mr. Braddon having been in the Country came afterwards before the King and was again Examined upon this matter by which it appeared that he did continue in his pursuit though he was always informed of the denial the Boy made and that it was understood to be a Lye by the whole Family of the Edwards's as well as from the denial of the little Boy for they did confess that the Boy used to tell Lyes and one of the Sisters said he had denied it at first but afterwards was brought to say it And if I remember right the words of one of the Sisters were BRADDON COMPELLED THE BOY TO SIGN IT Those are the words in the Minutes that I took at the Examination therefore I believe it was so that the Boy had denyed before to sign it But this I only mention as what the Sister said L. C. J. Have you any more questions to ask Mr. Blathwaite Gentlemen Mr. North. Because we will not trouble Mr. Blathwaite to call him again pray produce the Letter Mr. Att. Gen. Pray Sir will you look upon that Letter and tell the Court what you know of it and whose hand it is Mr. Blathwaite My Lord this is a Letter that was produced before the King when Mr. Speke attended there It was then put into my hands and I do well remember and likewise I have written upon it that Mr. Speke owned it to be his Letter L. C. J. Did he own it to be his Letter Sir Mr. Blathwaite Yes he did own it to be his Letter Mr. Att. Gen. That is all we have to trouble you with at present Sir We will now call Mr. Mon-Stevens who standing up by the Cryer was sworn And we call him to prove That Mr. Braddon had notice the Boy had disowned this Matter Mr. Sol. Gen. You hear the Question Sir pray acquaint my Lord and the Jury what you know of this Boys Examination before the Council and this Gentleman 's having notice the Boy disowned the thing Mr. Monstevens My Lord About 5 or 6 days after my Lord of Essex had murdered himself in the Tower I saw Mr. Braddon at the Secretary's Lodgings my Lord Sunderland's Lodgings at White-hall with a young Woman and a Boy about 12 or 13 years old The Boy was just now in Court I saw him there He came to me and told me he had earnest Business to speak with my Lord Sunderland That he came from Sir Henry Capel and he told me he came with an Information That the Boy had given relating to the Earl of Essex's death The Information I believe is in Court. He gave me the Information and I read it and I remember there was something in the Information of a Razor thrown out of a Window a bloody Razor thrown out of my Lord Essex's Window and after I had read the Information I told Mr. Braddon I wonder Sir Henry Capell had not appeared himself in a Matter of that moment wherein the Reputation of his Family was so much concerned and I took the liberty to tell him That I believed if Sir Henry Capell had thought that to be true that was contained in that Paper he would doubtless have came to my Lord Sunderland himself Thereupon he told me That Sir Henry Capell had not been well and did not stir abroad Then I told Mr. Braddon again as I very well remember That I was confident he had been abroad lately and had been to wait upon the King since the death of my Lord of Essex Then my Lord he had little or nothing to say to that but he said what he did he was obliged to do in Conscience and out of the Duty he owed to the Memory of my Lord of Essex Upon that my Lord Sunderland came by and I went with him to my Lord Sunderland and he gave him that Paper as I suppose which I read and my Lord Sunderland took the Information and afterwards Mr. Braddon was committed in Custody and then the thing was brought before the King and the Lords of the Council which Mr. Blathwaite has given you an accompt of Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord I pray that a word of the Information may be read we will first prove the Information taken by him and then call Sir Henry Capell who will prove that he never had any Order from him as he said he had but it was only his own busy Inclinations Cl. of Cr. This is Subscribed William Edwards L. C. J. Call the Boy in again Mr. Braddon May I ask Mr. Monstevens a Question My Lord L. C. J. Ay ask him what you will Mr. Braddon Sir Did not I come to you the Thursday Evening and waited at the Dutchess of Portsmouth's Lodgings before I brought the Boy and the Girl to White-hall Mr. Monstevens No I did not see you there Mr. Braddon You are positive in that Sir Mr. Monstevens Yes I will take my Oath again of it if you will Mr. Braddon Then I will prove I was and that I saw you at Ten of the Clock that Morning Mr. Monstevens I remember my Lord very well That I was surprized to see him at the Lodgings at White-hall I never saw him to the best of my remembrance but once in my life Mr. Braddon What time was it pray you first saw me Mr. Monstevens It was in the Afternoon as I remember L. C. J. Hark you young Man do you know my Lord Gerard Wil. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Which Lord Gerard do you know Wil. Edwards My Lord Brandon Gerard. L. C. J. How came you to know him Wil. Edwards By sight I know him L. C. J. Do you know where he lodged in the Tower Wil. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Where Wil. Edwards At one Mr. Sam 's L. C. J. Was you ever in his Lodging Wil. Edwards No. L. C. J. Never at all Wil. Edwards No. L. C. J. Did you never tell any body you were in my Lord Brandon Gerrad's Lodgings Wil. Edwards Never in my life L. C. J. Did you never tell Braddon that you went to see his Lodgings Wil. Edwards Into the House I never went L. C. J. Did you never tell Braddon That you went to see my Lord Brandon Gerard's Lodgings Never in your life Wil. Edwards No Sir L. C. J. Now read it Cl. of Cr. Reads The Information of William Edwards second Son to Thomas Edwards of the Parish of Allhallowes Barkin London taken the 18 th day of July in the 35 th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the 2 d. Anno 1683 says That this Informant on Friday the 13 th of this instant July as he was going to School with his Brother Edward he heard that his Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of York were going to the Tower Whereupon
Lord Keeper he had it in writing I gave him an accompt in writing Mr. Braddon But you are now called upon your Oath and are to speak the Truth and must give an accompt to his Lordship and the Jury upon your Oath what it was the Boy told you Mrs. Edwards What was it Sir he came and told me why the Boy told me Mother says he I have been at the Tower and seen the King's Majesty and his Royal Highness and says he the Earl of Essex has cut his Throat and Lord Mother says he and wept Lord Child said I I am afraid you are going to make some excuse to me that I should not beat you being you have play'd Truant no mother says he I did not He continued in this for a little while and then afterwards did deny it Mr. Braddon What did he deny Mrs. Edwards What he had said to me Mr. Braddon Did he deny that he had been at the Tower Or that the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat Mrs. Edwards No he denied what he said he saw Mr. Braddon What was that Mrs. Edwards He said he saw an hand out of a Window and a Razour fell down and he went to take it up and there came out a Woman or a Maid a short fat Woman came out and took it up and went in again Mr. Wallop And he said this crying and weeping you say Mrs. Edwards Yes he did so Mr. Braddon Did he deny it before such time as I had been there Mrs. Edwards No you was once at my House before and spake to my Husband and then you came the same day again Mr. Braddon Pray what was the discourse your eldest Daughter had with the Boy between the time of my first coming and the time of my second coming L. C. J. 'T is impossible for her to answer any such Question what discourse two other people had Mr. Att. Gen. Bring the Daughter her self and let her tell L. C. J. Hark you Mrs. Edwards before you go The Boy denyed it it seems in two or three days after he had given out such a Report Mrs. Edwards Yes my Lord he did L. C. J. How came he to deny it Mrs. Edwards I will tell you how When this Gentleman came and acquainted my Husband with his business it put us all into a great damp and my Husband said now both my Boys were gone to School and says he after the Gentleman was gone to my Daughter Sarah Don't you say any thing to your Brother when he comes in but let him alone and we will talk to him So with that she was so grievously affrighted and so amazed that as soon as he came in she said prithee Billy deal truly and don 't you tell any lie to save your Breech for here has been a Gentleman to inquire some thing about what you said why Sister says he will any thing of harm come truly Child says she I don't know and upon that he did deny it L. C. J. Did you tell Mr. Braddon he had denied it Mrs. Edwards He was told he had denied it L. C. J. Did you tell Mr. Braddon before the Paper was signed that he did deny it Mrs. Edwards Yes my Lord he knew that before the Paper was signed Mr. Braddon Mrs. Edwards Did not the Boy come to you and cry out he should be hang'd and then did deny it Mrs. Edwards Yes that he did Mr. Braddon From whence did he come that he was in such a fright Mrs. Edwards I can't tell that Sir Mr. Braddon Did not your eldest Daughter chide him and threaten him Mrs. Edwards Yes she did bid him speak the Truth Mr. Att. Gen. And then he denied it Mrs. Edwards Yes L. C. J. Ay says she to him Billy do not to save thy Breech tell a lie but speak the Truth why then says he the Truth of it is there was no such thing Mr. Braddon My Lord she says it was after his Sister had Chid and threaten'd him Mr. Sol. Gen. You are a little too fierce upon the Woman Mr. Braddon you do not Observe what she says L. C. J. Yes he is wonderful zealous flourishing his hands Mr. Sol. Gen. She says the Daughter did tell the Son that he must speak the Truth and not tell a lie to save his Breech for there had been a Gentleman to inquire about it why says the Boy will there come any harm of it I don't know says his Sister why then says he I tell you the Truth there was no such thing L. C. J. Ay when she ingaged him to tell the Truth and not tell a lie to save his Breech then the Truth comes out Mr. Braddon Pray call Sarah Edwards the Daughter My Lord they told me in the House that she had frighted him into a denial L. C. J. Pray good Sir how came you to be a Justice of peace And to turn Examiner You live in the Temple or belong to the Temple how come you to take Examinations here in London but that some people are so very zealous and officious in matters that concern them not on purpose to raise a dust Then Sarah Edwards the younger was sworn Mr. Braddon Did not your Brother deny what he had said by your means L. C. J. Pray ask a fair Question Mr. Braddon Mrs. Pray tell your Knowledge of what the Boy declared L. C. J. Ay Ay Tell what you know what your Brother said concerning his seeing a Razour and his denying of it afterwards Tell all from the beginning to the end and tell Truth in Gods name and nothing but the Truth We desire the Truth may come out let it be of which side it will Sarah Edwards My Brother came home and said he had been at the Tower and that he had seen his Majesty and his Royal Highness and the Earl of Essex had cut his Throat and that he saw an hand fling out a Razour out of a Window and that a Maid or a Woman came out and took it up and went in again and presently after he heard the noise of murder cryed so I knowing he was very apt to tell lies I did not believe it Mr. Braddon Pray Mrs. did you prevail with him to deny it afterwards L. C. J. You are so wonderful full of Zeal and heat in this matter you cannot let your own Witnesses tell their own Story but you must interrupt them You have been bred to the Law and you have been before here present I suppose at many Tryals and what pretence can you have to be more indulged in an extraordinary way of proceeding than others 't is not for the integrity of your Conversation I am sure that you ought to have it but only because you have more impudence Mr. Braddon My Lord I have nothing of confidence but what is grounded upon innocence L. C. J. I tell you you are too confident and pray know where you are and behave your self as you ought Mr. Braddon My Lord I
hope I do no otherwise L. C. J. We must give such liberty and toleration because of the extravagance of his confidence as to let him break in upon all rules and methods When you behave your self as you ought to do the Court will indulge you and give you all just liberty but don't expect for your Zeal-sake and the flinging of your hands to do what you list Go on Mistriss Sarah Edwards So Sir this Mr. Braddon came on Tuesday following about one or two of the Clock and asked for my Father and coming my Sister Mary went to the door and called my Father out to him When my Father came to him he told my Father he came from Sir Henry Capell and the Countess of Essex to know the Truth of my Brothers Report So my Father told him the Boy had reported such a thing but he would not assert the Truth of it for he had been informed by us that the Boy was apt to tell lies to excuse his playing Truant so the Child was gone to School when Mr. Braddon came and when he came home from School they went to the Child said I Billy will you be sure to tell me the Truth of this Report why Sister said he will any harm come of it Nay said I I do not know for there has been a Gentleman to inquire about it So then the Child denied it L. C. J. Did he know this before he made the Boy sign the Paper Sarah Edwards Yes this was on the Tuesday after Mr. Braddon had been first there And I spake to him said I Billy say nothing but the Truth be sure and don 't tell a lie to save your Breech So Sir as soon as ever the Child denied it Mr. Braddon came in again the same day and coming in found us my Mother and all of us daunted hearing the Boy deny it but he asked the Child and bid him speak the Truth and told him it was a dreadful thing to be a Liar and bid him read the fifth of the Acts telling him he would find there two were struck dead for telling of a lie and several other such expressions that I cannot remember Upon Wednesday about noon he comes again and then my Brother did own it again and he writ down what the Boy owned and went away saying he would go to Sir Henry Capell and the Countess of Essex And on Thursday he comes again and brings a Paper written over again not the same he writ at our House and then the Child set his hand to it The Child was something unwilling so says he to him it will be no harm to you if any danger does come of it it will come to me and not to you L. C. J. The Child was unwilling to sign it you say but by his perswasion Sarah Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon told him it would be no harm to him all the harm would come to himself Mr. Braddon When the Child had owned to me what he first said and upon your saying that he denyed it I asked him the reason why he denyed it pray will you tell what answer he made to that question Pray tell the truth and nothing but the truth Sarah Edwards Upon my word Sir I can't recollect that Mr. Braddon Pray Mistress what answer did he make Sarah Edwards I have told you what I know to the best of my remembrance Mr. Braddon Did not you hear your Brother run to his Mother and cry out I shall be hanged Sarah Edwards Yes Mr. Braddon What was the reason of his crying out so Sarah Edwards Why the Child had that fear and dread upon his Spirits knowing it was a Lye I suppose he had told Mr. Braddon What was the reason of his fear L. C. J. She tells you it was the falshood of the story Mr. Wallop Mistress did not you tell him that his Father would be in danger of losing his Place Sarah Edwards Yes Sir we did Mr. Wallop Did you tell him the King will Hang your Father if you do not deny it L. C. J. Why you have a mind to have it believed that it was true then Mr. Wallop Mr. Wallop My Lord the Boy best knows that L. C. J. But do you believe that if it had been true that the King would Hang his Father or turn him out of his Place if he did not deny it as though the King would force people to deny the truth Mr. Wallop My Lord I do not say nor believe any such thing L. C. J. But your question seems to carry it so Mr. Wallop My Lord I ask the Question of her whether she did not say so to him I ask Questions according to my instructions L. C. J. Nay Mr. Wallop be as angry as you will you shan't Hector the Court out of their understandings We see plainly enough whether that question tends You that are Gentlemen of the Robe should carry your selves with greater respect to the Government and while you do so the Court will carry themselves as becomes them to you Mr. Wallop I referr my self to all that hear me if I attempted any such thing as to Hector the Court. L. C. J. Referr your self to all that hear you referr your self to the Court 't is a reflection upon the Government I tell you your Question is and you shan't do any such thing while I sit here by the Grace of God if I can help it Mr. Wallop I am sorry for that I never intended any such thing my Lord. L. C. J. Pray behave your self as you ought Mr. Wallop you must not think to huff and swagger here Mr. J. Withins Mr. Braddon you hear what the reason was of his crying out so She said he was afraid because he knew he had told a Lye Mr. Wallop Pray Mistress who told him the Family would be ruined by it Mr. J. Withins Mr. Wallop I asked this Gentlewoman whether she did say it and she said she could not tell Sarah Edwards Indeed I cannot tell my Lord. Mrs. Edwards She did indeed say so my Lord. Mr. Wallop Pray let it go my Lord as it is what was it she said Did she speak about turning her Father out of his place Mrs. Edwards I cannot say that but she said when the Boy asked whether there would be any harm by it she could not tell but it may be her Father and Family might be ruined L. C. J. And is not this reflection upon the Government to say the King would Ruine any one if they did not tell a Lye Mr. Wallop My Lord for a false Report he might be Ruined but it seems upon this saying he did deny it Mr. J. Withins Was there a word said of his being turned out of his Place Mrs. Edwards I cannot say there was L. C. J. No not a word but only Mr. Wallop is so impetuous in the worst of Causes Mr. Wallop I am in the judgment of the Court whether I do any thing but what becomes an Advocate for