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<NAME>John Latta</NAME>
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<PB N="1" REF="1" MS="y">
<HEAD>Severall Circircum&s;tances to prove that M^r^i^s <HI>Jane Berkeley</HI> and S^r <HI>William Killi|grew</HI> have combined together to defraud me of an e&s;tate left unto me by <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> E&s;q; for payment of his debts, for which I lye now in pri&s;on.</HEAD>
<P>_ANd fir&s;t, her envying and railing on the &s;aid M^r <HI>Killigrew</HI> after his death, for his &s;ubtill and unfaithfull dealing with her, that having courted her for a long time with promi&s;ing language, and given her &s;trong hopes of leaving her &s;ole mi&s;tres of his e&s;tate, &s;hould fall off, and leave her but a part. And fur|ther, that he had cou&s;ened her of her portion, which he per&s;wa|ded her to venture in the <HI>Fens,</HI> which was now lo&s;t by rea&s;on the <HI>Fens</HI> were de&s;troyed: which language certainly &s;he would not have u&s;ed, if the whole e&s;tate had been conferred upon her; yet notwith&s;tanding &s;he po&s;&s;e&s;t her &s;elf of all his writings and evidences, and con&s;equently of his e&s;tate. And having in her hands a Will made by the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> at <HI>Exeter,</HI> (and no doubt provok't unto it by her &s;elf, in the name her brother Sir <HI>John Berkeley</HI> was then Governour there, who&s;e countenance might much further the bu&s;ine&s;s) where|by he gives her all or the greate&s;t part of his e&s;tate. By virtue of which Will &s;he makes &s;ale of a great part of the e&s;tate, though &s;he never proved the Will: And finding among&s;t the writings a deed made to me, by the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew,</HI> of the Manor of <HI>Laur ack</HI> and Bartine of <HI>Ince</HI> in the County of <HI>Corn|wall,</HI>
<PB N="2" REF="2">long before the troubles began in <HI>England:</HI> which Deed was good again&s;t all claims and delinquency, and made long before the Will, &s;o that it is evident M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> intended no|thing le&s;s then to make her his heir, though to &s;atisfie her pre&s;|&s;ing importunities he made that Will. For tis well known his affection to her was much faln of what it had been, for rea&s;ons be&s;t known to him&s;elf. Which &s;he perceiving, and that &s;he was fru&s;trated in her expectation, re&s;olves to deceive him in his intention; and &s;o goes about by all &s;ubtill and indirect ways to defraud me of the e&s;tate, to whom it was meant; And to cou&s;en him really after his death, who had deceived her expectation in his life, and &s;o ruin me an innocent per&s;on in the way to her revenge; who was ingaged in 1500 <HI>l.</HI> prin|cipal money for the onely debt of the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew,</HI> for part of which debt I lie now in pri&s;on.</P>
<P>But the Parliament &s;eizing the e&s;tate of the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> for delinquency, the Will (being made when he was a delin|quent) became invalid; By which means her &s;ales became void, which put her to a nonplus; and &s;o ca&s;ting about which way to recover her &s;elf, made choice of Sir <HI>William Killigrew,</HI> as the fitte&s;t in&s;trument for her purpo&s;e, whom &s;he well knew to have as much power and as many frequent opportunities with me, as one man could have with another; (we both lodging in a hou&s;e together, and &s;eldome out of one anothers company) and he to make good her clamorous rayles upon the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> after his death, who in his life dur&s;t not utter a word of contumely again&s;t him; accu&s;ing him of a cheat of 3 or 4000 <HI>l.</HI> in the &s;ale of his Manor of <HI>Kirton,</HI> in <HI>Devon;</HI> when he him&s;elf made choice of him for that purpo&s;e, and never was accompt more exactly given up, being control'd by <HI>Robert Long</HI> E&s;q; one of the over&s;eers of his fathers Will; and as able an accomptant as was in <HI>England.</HI> The&s;e blemi&s;hes, and many more they ca&s;t upon this poor Gentleman in his grave, and to di&s;credit and di&s;countenance me that was to enjoy the
<PB N="3" REF="2" MS="y">e&s;tate, they gave out that I was a poor indigent worthle&s;s fel|low, Ca&s;e in my brain and in deed rendred me to all tho&s;e that did not know me, no better then a mad man.</P>
<P>And further, that the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> had &s;o blinded and incumbred his e&s;tate, as none knew how to &s;et it right, when he good man, left it in good order for payment of his debts, of which I can witne&s;s how great his care was to have them &s;atisfied, and transferred the care upon me in ca&s;e he &s;hould die, of whom he had very &s;ufficient experience in the payment of &s;ir <HI>Robert Killigrews</HI> debts and legacies amounting to 27000 <HI>l.</HI> The&s;e reproaches being ca&s;t upon M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> and me, &s;he thought would &s;et off her virtues with the greater lu&s;tre, and &s;o procure favour and indulgence of &s;ome of the old Parliament, whom &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> had gotten to be of her party, with purpo&s;e to over-power me. Which men &s;he often fea&s;ted with co&s;tly entertainments, as al&s;o her Coun|cell whom &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> by his care and diligence pro|vided for her, men able to manage a bu&s;ine&s;s of this nature; and &s;o all the incumbrances and disjoyntings that could be done upon this e&s;tate, was devi&s;ed and put in practice by them and their agents, after the decea&s;e of the &s;aid M. <HI>Killigrew;</HI> to hold me in &s;uch a mi&s;t as they think and hope I &s;hall never cleer up, and thus they begin their Matachine.</P>
<P>The fir&s;t thing they de&s;ired of me was, to come before a Committee to affirm or atte&s;t a Deed &s;ealed and &s;igned by M. <HI>Killigrew</HI> and my &s;elf, that it was my hand and &s;eal, which accordingly I did. This Deed was to make over to &s;ir <HI>William</HI> and &s;ir <HI>John Berkeley</HI> (brothers to the &s;aid Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Jane Berkeley</HI>) 200 <HI>l. per Annum,</HI> during the life of the &s;aid Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Jane Berkeley,</HI> to who&s;e u&s;e it was made, for the payment of which Annuity there was tyed the Fee Farm rent of <HI>Laurack</HI> of 60 <HI>l. per Annum,</HI> the Bartine of <HI>Ince,</HI> a Mill <HI>&amp; alia.</HI></P>
<P>After this was done, they both told me that the &s;aid M. <HI>Kil|ligrew</HI> had made over a tru&s;t to me, which they believed I
<PB N="4" REF="3">would reconvey to Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Berkeley</HI> when &s;he &s;hould require it: But finding me &s;low to give an&s;wer to that, they let it &s;lac|ken a while, and did not pre&s;&s;e it any further, le&s;t I &s;hould &s;u|&s;pect &s;ome practice upon me, yet now and then &s;ir <HI>William</HI> would put me in minde of it.</P>
<P>Mean time, I chanced to come into a room where one M. <HI>Thomas Kendall</HI> and M. <HI>Edward No&s;worthy</HI> were drinking together, and &s;peaking to M. <HI>Kendall</HI> with whom I had bu&s;i|ne&s;s, he called me by my name, whereat M. <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> asked, whether I were that M. <HI>Ligon</HI> that was acquainted with &s;ir <HI>Henry Killigrew,</HI> (who was then become a Knight) he an&s;wered that I was the &s;ame man; with that M. <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> turned him about, and addre&s;t him to me, and asked whether I did not know what &s;ir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> had done for me, I de&s;ired him to tell what it was: with that he &s;poke very earne&s;tly to me, and &s;aid that he had made over all his whole e&s;tate to me; I de&s;ired him to tell me &s;ome particulars, and where, or in who&s;e hands, the deeds were, by which I might claim the e&s;tate &s;o made over to me: and as <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> had opened his mouth, with a fixt countenance upon me, to tell the whole matter, M. <HI>Kendall</HI> that knew well Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Berkeleys</HI> intent was to de|fraud me of the &s;tate, gave him a private interruption, and upon that he made a &s;udden &s;top, changed his countenance, took in his voice, and &s;poke not a word more, and &s;o they remained both out of countenance, by which I perceived a &s;elf-guiltine&s;s in M. <HI>Kendall,</HI> and &s;o after a little &s;tay I took leave and de|parted.</P>
<P>After this &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> came to me, and &s;hewed me a letter from his cou&s;en <HI>Jane Berkeley</HI> to him, to entreat a fa|vour of me, which was to make over a tru&s;t made to me by &s;ir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> in his life time; I promi&s;ed to go and &s;peak with her when he plea&s;ed: and &s;o when &s;ir <HI>William</HI> appointed me, I went with him to her lodging at <HI>we&s;tmin&s;ter,</HI> where &s;he &s;pake to me to that purpo&s;e; But I gave her a flat denial, for
<PB N="5" REF="3">the&s;e rea&s;ons, that I was ingaged in 1500 <HI>l.</HI> principall money, for the onely debt of the &s;aid &s;ir <HI>Henry Killigrew,</HI> and I told her that I did a&s;&s;ure my &s;elf that the &s;aid &s;ir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> had made over his e&s;tate to me for &s;atisfaction of tho&s;e debts, and formy indempnity, and till the&s;e were di&s;charged, I had no rea|&s;on to make over any tru&s;t. Whereupon &s;he grew angry, &amp; &s;aid that if &s;he had known my minde &s;ooner, &s;he would have com|pelled me in Chancery. To which I replied, that if &s;he could compell me in Chancery, I mu&s;t in obedience to that power do what they commanded, but till then I would not do it.</P>
<P>In this angry fit I left her, and came away with &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew,</HI> who as we returned homeward to the <HI>Savoy</HI> com|mended much my temper and calmene&s;s, that could endure &s;uch language as &s;he gave me without returning an angry word. And as we pa&s;t along, &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> asked whe|ther it were not better for me to make over this tru&s;t, (provided his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> would pay one pre&s;&s;ing debt of 300 <HI>l.</HI>) then &s;tanding out, to be lyable to the whole debt, and that he as a friend advi&s;ed me to do it: upon which &s;peech of his, we made a &s;top, (under one of the Arches be|tween <HI>White-Hall</HI> and <HI>We&s;tmin&s;ter</HI>) and turned about towards <HI>We&s;tmin&s;ter</HI> again. But before we had gone many &s;teps, I con|&s;idered that if that debt were di&s;charged, others would come in their turns, which were as ju&s;t and fit to be paid as that, and that it was unju&s;t in me to &s;light them, though the other were more pre&s;&s;ing at pre&s;ent. And &s;o fac'd about again toward the <HI>Savoy,</HI> and from that time Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Berkeley</HI> and I kept a di|&s;tance.</P>
<P>Not long after this, I met with M. <HI>No&s;worthy,</HI> (who was now come to be of Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Berkeleys</HI> party, and had bought part of the Manor of her at very ea&s;ie rates) in the company of one Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Yarner,</HI> who had bu&s;ine&s;s with him about a Statute of 500 <HI>l.</HI> upon the Manor of <HI>Laurack,</HI> whom Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Berkeley</HI> referred to this <HI>No&s;worthy;</HI> In who&s;e pre|&s;ence
<PB N="6" REF="4"><HI>No&s;worthy</HI> began to &s;light my claim to &s;ir <HI>Henry Killi|grews</HI> e&s;tate, at which I put him in mind of what he &s;aid in the pre&s;ence of M. <HI>Kendall,</HI> whereat he &s;oftly replyed, you mu&s;t not mention that.</P>
<P>About this time and long before, &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> and I lodged together in his mothers (my Lady <HI>Staffords</HI>) hou&s;e in the <HI>Savoy,</HI> where he had all opportunities with me to work his ends, for his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley,</HI> and him&s;elf; for tis evident that his &s;hare weng along in the adventure, and if they could by joining together, defeate me of this e&s;tate, they would divide it between them, for without &s;ir <HI>William Killigrews</HI> help, &s;he was hopele&s;s to prevail, and by his a&s;&s;i&s;tance, almo&s;t a&s;&s;ured; He having a prevalent power, and command over me, and all opportunities to work his ends, knowing my poverty to be &s;uch as he needed no other &s;ecurity, and he at that time owing me 52 <HI>l.</HI> would not pay any part of it, le&s;t I &s;hould commence a &s;uit in Chancery again&s;t his beloved cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley.</HI></P>
<P>I ob&s;erved him in all his conver&s;ation with me, exceeding wary how he let fall the lea&s;t word that toucht upon his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeleys</HI> bu&s;ine&s;s, for fear I &s;hould take any hint from that, to come to the knowledge of any thing &s;he was then put|ting in act; And very inqui&s;itive to know any thing of my intention, which way I would proceed again&s;t her; and hear|ing me once &s;ay that if I had money I would exhibite a Bill in Chancery to compell her to bring forth the Deed, which &s;he called a Tru&s;t: But finding that I had &s;uch an intention, would not pay me any part of my 52 <HI>l.</HI> though it were a crying debt, and had been long due; but &s;till counterfeited want of mo|ney, though I &s;aw him wa&s;tfully &s;pend and trifle away great &s;ums of money in u&s;ele&s;s things.</P>
<P>In this low and nece&s;&s;itous condition I remained in my La|dy <HI>Staffords</HI> hou&s;e, for divers moneths: about the middle of <HI>Augu&s;t</HI> 1652. my Lady <HI>Stafford</HI> being then at <HI>Greenwich,</HI> and ha|ving given order for breaking up hou&s;e-keeping at the <HI>Savoy,</HI>
<PB N="7" REF="4">I was then expo&s;ed to an uncertain condition for my diet, being utterly unprovided of money.</P>
<P>This nece&s;&s;itous time, &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> takes to tempt me in, and in as &s;mooth language as he could utter, told me that his cou&s;en <HI>Jane Berkeley</HI> was &s;orry that there was &s;uch di|&s;tance between us, and that he found her willing to a friendly agreement, and to right all differences that had formerly pa&s;t, if I were willing to it, and that &s;he was now going a plea&s;ant journey into the Countrey, to &s;ee her new purch&s;t e&s;tate in <HI>Hamp-&s;hire,</HI> and from thence into <HI>Wilt-&s;hire</HI> to Mi&s;te&s;&s;e <HI>Ayliffs</HI> hou&s;e; there to remain, till the Terme. And Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Ayliffe</HI> was to begin the journey with them, who was then in <HI>London,</HI> And three or four days after this overture, Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Ayliffe</HI> came to &s;ir <HI>William Killigrews</HI> lodging, where I was invited by &s;ir <HI>William,</HI> And upon our fir&s;t acquaintance, I found her very complay &s;ant and friendly to me, which was the fir&s;t motive that induc't me to hearken to this journey; but for all this, gave &s;ir <HI>William</HI> a flat denial; for I did a&s;&s;ure my &s;elf, the in|tent of the journey was to betray me to &s;ome great mi&s;chief. Which they had formerly tried in a rigid way, but finding that to fail, were now re&s;olved to make the experiment in a &s;moother: but all this could not prevail with me, to give my con&s;ent to go this journey; whereupon &s;ir <HI>Williams</HI> came on and gave me a &s;econd temptation, telling me that Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Ayliffe</HI> was a widow of a plentifull fortune, living alone and would be glad of one for a companion, upon whom there might be no &s;candall, and that I being an old man, not likely to give any, &s;he would &s;ooner admit of me then any other; by rea&s;on our di&s;po&s;itions &s;orted &s;o well together upon our fir&s;t acquaintance; our humors being much inclined to Mu&s;ique, painting, and &s;uch like arts, we &s;hould be the better company to one another: all this did not move me to give my a&s;&s;ent to go the journey, but &s;till held out, a&s;&s;uring my &s;elf, that though the&s;e plea&s;ures were &s;trewed in my way, yet there was
<PB N="8" REF="5">a &s;nare laid for me to fall into, and therefore gave him a down|right denial: whereupon he &s;eemed much troubled and vext, that his &s;mooth language could work no further upon me, and therefore tried a rougher way, and as he thought would concern me nearer; and wi&s;ht me not to per&s;i&s;t in &s;o froward and perver&s;e a humor, which he doubted would &s;hortly render me ridiculous to all companies, if it were known that I &s;light|ed &s;uch offers as the&s;e, e&s;pecially coming from my be&s;t friends, and in time when I wanted bread.</P>
<P>The&s;e hard pre&s;&s;ures, having &s;o much truth in them as con|cerned my poverty, cau&s;ed me to give &s;ome ear to what he &s;o vehemently per&s;waded, and knowing that it was in mine own power to deny any thing they could offer concerning making over the tru&s;t, I began a little to incline to the motion, which his accu&s;tomed power of per&s;wading and prevailing had often and frequently led me on formerly; I &s;eemed to give my con|&s;ent; but told him in how un&s;uitable a condition I was to wait on Ladies, that had not a peny in my pur&s;e, and that I had paid 20 <HI>s.</HI> aforhand for my lodging for a quarters rent, which would be lo&s;t if I went this journey. Whereupon he told me that I &s;hould not need to take care for any money, for my charge &s;hould be born, and for the 20 <HI>s.</HI> I &s;hould have it of him, and &s;o delivered me pre&s;ently 20 <HI>s.</HI> and the next day brought me five pounds from his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley,</HI> to fit me out for the journey; (but at my return to <HI>London,</HI> and that the bu|&s;ine&s;s was done for which he betrayed me out of Town) he took away the 20 <HI>s.</HI> by way of di&s;compt, and did his endevour to take away the five pound, by the like di&s;compt with his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> in the price of a Picture which was agreed on before we went the journey, though &s;he had received thanks for it as a gratuity.</P>
<P>After this, Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e <HI>Ayliffe</HI> came again to &s;ir <HI>William Killi|grews</HI> lodging, and upon our &s;econd meeting, made good what &s;ir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> had promi&s;ed touching my living with
<PB N="9" REF="5">her, upon which I re&s;olved to go the journey, a&s;&s;uring my &s;elf that without my own con&s;ent, they could work none of their ends upon me.</P>
<P>When we had pa&s;t a fortnight in the journey, and I heard no word of making over the tru&s;t, I thought I would offer &s;omewhat to them, to try how they would re&s;ent it; and told Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> in private, that when he &s;aw it conveni|ent, to let his cou&s;en <HI>Barkeley</HI> know, that I was very willing to do her any lawfull accommodation in the bu&s;ine&s;s between us, provided that I might do it &s;afely, without injuring the credi|tors or my &s;elf; and whereas &s;he had two worthy gentlemen of her coun&s;ell, Sir <HI>George Parry</HI> for the Civill Law, and M. <HI>Merifeild</HI> for the Common Law, men of whom I had a &s;trong confidence, would do nothing contrary to Law or con|&s;cience, I de&s;ired if &s;he plea&s;ed, when we came to <HI>London,</HI> that the deeds might be put into their hands, and what they thought in honour, and hone&s;ty fit to do, I would be bound up by their Act.</P>
<P>When I had acquainted Sir <HI>William</HI> with this, and wi&s;ht him to communicate it to his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> when he thought fit, there came a letter from <HI>London,</HI> which gave them to un|der&s;tand, that Ma&s;ter <HI>Par&s;ons</HI> a Coun&s;ellor, and a man upon whom Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> much relied, both for coun&s;ell and craft in her bu&s;ine&s;s, which required both in a high mea&s;ure, in who&s;e hands at that time were many of her writings, they were both (contrary to their expectation) hurried towards <HI>London,</HI> who meant not to have parted with me, till the time had been elap&s;t, for which they carried me out of Town, (be|ing the time in which I was to put in my claim to the e&s;tate that was Sir <HI>Henry Killigrewes,</HI>) of which Act of Parliament, I was then utterly ignorant; and &s;o they left me behinde with Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> at her hou&s;e in <HI>Wilt&s;hire,</HI> where I &s;tayed five dayes, and from thence went into <HI>Somer&s;et&s;hire</HI> to &s;ee &s;ome friends, where I &s;tayed till the end of <HI>October;</HI> and there re|ceived
<PB N="10" REF="6">letters from Sir <HI>William Killigrew,</HI> to keep me at Sir <HI>Hen|ry Berkeleys</HI> where I was, for there was no bu&s;ine&s;s for me at <HI>London,</HI> but the truth was, he feared I &s;hould make my return to <HI>London</HI> before the time limited in the Act was expired.</P>
<P>About the end of <HI>October</HI> I returned to <HI>London,</HI> and the next day after I went to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley,</HI> to know her plea&s;ure concerning the propo&s;all I made to Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> in the journey, whereupon &s;he &s;eemed well plea&s;ed, and de&s;ired me to invite Sir <HI>George Parry,</HI> and M. <HI>Merifeild</HI> to come and dine with her at her lodgings at <HI>we&s;tmin&s;ter:</HI> which according|ly I did; and when dinner was ended, I expected the writings to be &s;hewed to the&s;e Gentlemen, but perceiving her not to go a|bout it, I asked her what &s;he meant to do in the bu&s;inefs for which the&s;e Gentlemen were &s;ent for; &s;he winkt up on me, and an&s;wered, Come, come, you and I mu&s;t joyn to|gether to defeat the Parliament; and &s;o &s;ent away Sir <HI>George Parry,</HI> and Ma&s;ter <HI>Merifeild,</HI> without doing any thing at all.</P>
<P>A little after this, Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> told me that Ma|&s;ter <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> de&s;ired to &s;peak with me; I asked what the bu|&s;ine&s;s was, he an&s;wered that it was to atte&s;t a Deed which I had formerly &s;igned and &s;ealed to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeleys</HI> u&s;e, for 200 <HI>l. per annum</HI> during her life, and that I was to do it before the Committee of Ob&s;tructions at <HI>Worce&s;ter</HI> hou&s;e.</P>
<P>I told him that I had once already been before a Commit|tee at the in&s;tance of Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley,</HI> to atte&s;t a Deed to the &s;ame purpo&s;e, and de&s;ired to know why it was to be done a|gain; he told me that Ma&s;ter <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> would give me the rea&s;on when I came to him. The next day Sir <HI>William</HI> &s;ent me a note from <HI>No&s;worthy,</HI> which appointed me to come to him at his lodging at an houre prefixt; which accordingly I did, but found him not within; &s;o I was appointed to come the day following.</P>
<P>I knew very well that <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> &s;ought all advantages to undermine me in the carriage of this bu&s;ine&s;s; and therefore
<PB N="11" REF="6">thought good not to go alone, but brought along with me one Ma&s;ter <HI>Jep&s;on Towers,</HI> Clerk of the Warrants to my Lord chief Ju&s;tice <HI>Rolls,</HI> who had often importuned Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berke|ley</HI> and me for a debt of 300 <HI>l.</HI> due to a friend of his from Sir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> for which I was bound; but Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> as &s;he had made her &s;elf owner of the e&s;tate, was lyable in con|&s;cience to pay the debt, the Creditor being a very poor widow, ready to &s;tarve. This Ma&s;ter <HI>Towers</HI> I perceived to have a &s;u&s;picion, that Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> and I, were combin'd together, to defraud poor Creditors of their ju&s;t debts, and I thought I could not give him a better a&s;&s;urance of my integri|ty, then to call him to this meeting, partly to give his advice in the bu&s;ine&s;s (which I was totally ignorant of) as al&s;o to be a witne&s;s of what <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> would have me to do.</P>
<P>When we came into his lodging, we found a young man in his company, which &s;eemed to be a &s;ollicitor in the bu&s;ine&s;s by the manner of his &s;peech, both then and afterward as &s;hall appear; <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> then addre&s;&s;ing him to me, told me that the cau&s;e of his &s;ending for me was, to go with him to <HI>Worce&s;ter</HI> hou&s;e, to atte&s;t a Deed made to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Jane Berkeley,</HI> by one Ma&s;ter <HI>Roberts</HI> and my &s;elf; I de&s;ired him to &s;hew it me, which he pre&s;ently did; and as &s;oon as I had hold of it, I called Ma&s;ter <HI>Towers</HI> to me, (who till then &s;tood aloof as a &s;tranger to the bu&s;ine&s;s,) and we both lookt upon it, with more curio|&s;ity then Ma&s;ter <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> was de&s;ious we &s;hould, as we per|ceived by his countenance and manner of &s;peech.</P>
<P>But I little heeded to what he did or &s;aid, but looked ear|ne&s;tly upon the Deed, which &s;eemed old, rather by &s;ome art u&s;ed to it, then by time or long keeping; the &s;eal defac't &s;o as no impre&s;&s;ion to be &s;een, the hand differing from mine, and not written with that freene&s;s that originals have; rather like a Copy then an Originall, but indifferently well counterfeited, which is a very ea&s;ie thing to do, for a good penman. <HI>No&s;|worthy</HI> being much troubled at our &s;trict peru&s;all of the Deed,
<PB N="12" REF="7">grew impatient and loud in his language, and told me that I was blocki&s;h, and dolti&s;h, and that I foold my &s;elf, to think that Sir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> made over his e&s;tate to me any other|wi&s;e then in tru&s;t, and that it was a Tru&s;t, and no reall Deed to my u&s;e; and if I had a reall intere&s;t, I had lo&s;t it for not put|ting in my claim in time; and that I &s;uffered my &s;elf to be car|ried out of Town, to go a fine journey with Ladies, when I &s;hould have attended my bu&s;ine&s;s in <HI>London.</HI></P>
<P>But yet there was a help left for me, if I would &s;eal to &s;uch a Deed as he would contrive for me, which I &s;lighted, and &s;o Ma&s;ter <HI>Towers</HI> and I came away, leaving him to chafe him&s;elf in his own lodging, and as we came toge|ther, I told Ma&s;ter <HI>Towers,</HI> that I was confident the Deed was counterfeited, for the rea&s;ons I have named; and when we parted with him, he gave us leave to depart, without de&s;iring me to atte&s;t the Deed, which was the onely bu&s;ine&s;s I was &s;ent for; which argued a &s;elf-guilti|ne&s;s in him, that the Deed was not right. Be&s;ides, Ma|&s;ter <HI>Roberts</HI> was a man that I never had &s;een, and to be joyned with a man in &s;uch a conveyance that I had no acquaintance with, &s;eem'd to me impo&s;&s;ible. And Ma&s;ter <HI>Towers</HI> when he had con&s;idered, and weighed the &s;trange extravagant and cau&s;ele&s;s di&s;tempers of the man, became a little doubtfull. But when next I &s;aw Sir <HI>William Kil|ligrew,</HI> I found him very much troubled that I brought <HI>Towers</HI> to be a witne&s;s of this pa&s;&s;age, and told me that his cou|&s;en <HI>Jane Berkeley</HI> wondred that I would bring a Creditor to be a witne&s;s of any pa&s;&s;ages between us; and I per|ceived they were both &s;ufficiently troubled and vext that I had a witne&s;s of any bu&s;ine&s;s that-had pa&s;t between us, which till that time they were very carefull to have me alone in all their bu&s;ine&s;s with me.</P>
<P>A day or two after this I went in the morning early, hoping to finde <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> alone, with intention to call
<PB N="13" REF="7">him to account for the rude language he had given me, and finding him within, told him my bu&s;ine&s;s was for &s;atisfaction, for the uncivill deportment he u&s;ed to me at my la&s;t being at his lodging, and that I came there provided with a &s;word to call him out; but the name of a &s;word cau&s;ed him to fall to &s;o flat an humblene&s;s, as I was a&s;hamed to &s;ee him, and denied that he gave me any uncivill language at all, and called the Clerk to witne&s;s, who was there at our former meeting, who being in the &s;ame fear, became of the &s;ame minde, and &s;o in &s;tead of giving other &s;atisfaction then with hats off, and low cringes, beg'd that I would &s;eal to 2 Deed which they had there ready for me; but that put me clean out of patience, and &s;o in as rude a manner as I could, came out of the room, both them following me to the &s;tayre foot, with their hats in their hands, beg|ging that I would &s;tay and drink, and &s;eeing they could not prevaile with me, <HI>No&s;worthy</HI> &s;neakt away, but the other followed me in the &s;treet ten hou&s;es off, per|&s;wading me to go back and &s;eal this Deed, by which I might recover &s;omewhat that I had lo&s;t for not put|ting in my claime, but I that knew well it was but a trap to catch me, refu&s;ed to do it.</P>
<P>Another circum&s;tance is, that Sir <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> being a religious and con&s;cionable Gentleman, and ever carefull of paying his debts, &s;hould not mention his debts in his Will, nor once u&s;e my name whom he knew well &s;tood ingaged with him for fifteen hun|dred pound principall money, for which I have Coun|ter-bonds to &s;hew.</P>
<P>Another circum&s;tance and a &s;trong one is, that Mi|&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> coming before the Committee of Ob|&s;tructions to claime 200 <HI>l. per annum,</HI> by a pretended
<PB N="14" REF="8">Deed from one Ma&s;ter <HI>Roberts</HI> and my &s;elf, and find|ing that by the examination of certain witne&s;&s;es the &s;aid Committee had proved that the &s;aid Ma&s;ter <HI>Ro|berts</HI> had no right unto any part of the e&s;tate that was the &s;aid <HI>Henry Killigrews:</HI> She then relyed onely upon my hand and &s;eal, and pleaded that the &s;aid e&s;tate was made to me in tru&s;t by the &s;aid <HI>Henry Killigrew;</HI> So then the Committee asked where that <HI>Ligon</HI> was, and why he came not in to make good his claime; But ra|ther then &s;he would bring me in, or produce, or prove that tru&s;t, (being required thereunto by the &s;aid Com|mittee,) &s;he would lo&s;e her 200 <HI>l.</HI> a yeer; which &s;he hath accordingly done, but hath cau&s;ed divers other claimes to be put in, unto the &s;aid e&s;tate, and allowed by the &s;aid Committee.</P>
<P>If the e&s;tate had been left to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> be|fore the troubles in <HI>England,</HI> why did &s;he not &s;hew her Deed, and put in her claim, according to the Act? Or why does &s;he not an&s;wer to my Bill in Chancery, and bring in the Deeds, by which her title may ap|pear, but has &s;uffered her &s;elf to be &s;ued to a Writ of Rebellion?</P>
<P>Another circum&s;tance is, that Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> being a Gentlewoman born of a noble family, of a great wit, and a high &s;pirit, and one that knew well her own worth, pretending to a fortune of 20000 <HI>l.</HI> and up|wards; why &s;he &s;hould marry <HI>John Davis,</HI> a widower, a man in years, a father of many children, and a pri|&s;oner, unle&s;s it were to bring her out of tho&s;e Intrica|cies and Mazes &s;he had run her &s;elf, by his power with the old Parliament; and &s;o cunningly they contrived this plot, (as I have heard) to have the greate&s;t part of the Manor of <HI>Laurack</HI> claimed away by <HI>Roberts</HI> and
<PB N="15" REF="8">others, that &s;o little a part might remain to the Parlia|ment, as might be fit for Ma&s;ter <HI>Davis</HI> to begge, as a reward for his &s;ervice in <HI>Ireland;</HI> and they had brought their plot &s;o well onward, as of a Manor ever valued at &s;ixteen thou&s;and pound, there remaines now to the Common-wealth of <HI>England,</HI> but the value of three thou&s;and pound, and no man will purcha&s;e it at that rate. And when Ma&s;ter <HI>Davis</HI> had begged this re|mainder of the Parliament, the claimes made by <HI>Ro|berts</HI> and others &s;hould have reverted to him again, and that which his wife had &s;old in the beginning, and what he had begged in the end, &s;hould bring in the middle, which was concealed under fraudulent claimes, and the poor Creditors &s;tarved for want of bread, and I to whom the e&s;tate was made, lye and rot in pri&s;on for the debt of Sir <HI>Henry Killigrew.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="document">
<PB REF="9">
<PB N="17" REF="9">
<HEAD>Circum&s;tances concerning M^r^i^s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> to prove this combination and fraud between S^r <HI>William Killigrew</HI> and M^r^i^s <HI>Jane Berkeley,</HI> in cheating me of an e&s;tate left unto me by S^r <HI>Henry Killigrew</HI> for pay|ment of his debts, for which I now lye in pri&s;on.</HEAD>
<P>_WHen Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> perceived that neither his &s;weet nor &s;owre per&s;wa&s;ions could prevaile with me to go the journey, Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> came again to his lodging, and upon our &s;econd meet|ing, made good what Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> had promi&s;ed concerning my living with her, which was the main load&s;tone that drew me on to go this journey, for upon &s;o &s;mall acquaintance I never loved any woman more; and &s;o being all agreed, we took Coach the next day and went on our journey; and in our pa&s;&s;age, I thought it was my part to &s;peak &s;uch language to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> as would be&s;t plea&s;e her eares, and deliver my &s;elf a per&s;on fit for her conver&s;ation, that I might be the more acceptable to her.</P>
<P>Being at la&s;t arrived at Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeleys</HI> hou&s;e called <HI>Ea&s;t-How,</HI> which &s;he purcha&s;t with mine, and the poor Creditors money, I was not forbidden any opportunities to te&s;tifie my &s;ervice, and high affection to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> which I could not diffemble coming really from my heart; and a time we took to walk out together into the fields, where finding a convenient feat to re&s;t us on, we &s;at down and fell into a &s;eri|ous
<PB N="18" REF="10">di&s;cour&s;e of Marriage, and the happine&s;s of that life, and it was her plea&s;ure to &s;peak this freely to me, that if &s;he were to marry, &s;he would rather choo&s;e a man of my age, then a younger; for that &s;he found old men le&s;s &s;ubject to change, abler to give coun&s;ell; and in their loves were permanent and con&s;tant: I askt her then, if I found all the&s;e virtues which &s;he &s;o much commended in my &s;elf, why I might not make my addre&s;&s;es to her in that way; &s;he told me that if my fortune were an&s;werable to my per&s;on, there was no man &s;he would choo&s;e before me: With that I told her 'twas true that I was at pre&s;ent under a cloud, my e&s;tate being taken from me by a Riot, but I doubted not, but it would &s;hortly be re&s;etled by the Parlia|ment, and then it would be as good if not better then hers: which &s;he &s;eemed to be well &s;atisfied in, having formerly been told both of the one and of the other, whereat &s;he went on and &s;aid, that if I would &s;ettle that fortune upon her and her heires, &s;he would marry me. I gave her my faithfull promi&s;e I would do it; with that &s;he gave me her hand, and &s;aid, Upon that con|dition, I do here promi&s;e to marry you, our hands and hearts being joyned together. By this time Sir <HI>William Killigrew,</HI> who was at the di&s;tance of &s;ight, was now come &s;o neer as to hear us &s;peak one to another, and then I told him that he was come in good time, to be witne&s;s to a contract, which had now pa&s;t between Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> and me, and &s;o de&s;ired her before him to &s;ay what had pa&s;t between us; &s;he &s;aid that &s;he had promi&s;ed to marry me, upon condition I would &s;ettle my e&s;tate in <HI>Lincolne</HI> &s;hire upon her and her heires, which I pro|mi&s;ed I would do, when &s;he plea&s;ed; and &s;o &s;he pulled off her glove, and gave me her bare hand again, and before his face, and in his hearing, &s;aid the &s;ame words, to which I gave the &s;ame an&s;wer; and &s;o the contract was performed the &s;econd time, and Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> &s;aid, he mu&s;t witne&s;s this con|tract when&s;oever he was called: &amp; &s;o we walkt home together and &s;taid the remainder of the day, onely Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> and
<PB N="19" REF="10">I had &s;ome time of privacy together, to talk further of the bu&s;ine&s;s, which gave me a firmer confirmation of her unalte|rable affection to me. In the evening Sir <HI>William</HI> took occa&s;ion to talk with me about this bu&s;ine&s;s, and asked me whether this pa&s;&s;age between Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> and me were in je&s;t or earne&s;t; I an&s;wered him that nothing could be more in earne&s;t, for I had &s;ince we la&s;t parted, &s;o &s;trong a confirmation of her faith and affection as nothing could be more binding: this I delivered to him as a &s;ecret to a bo&s;ome friend, which he be|trayed to his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> after &s;upper, but in the evening, Candles being lighted, we were all four in the Parler together, where Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> began to thru&s;t forth &s;ome words of high affection to me; whereat Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> took exception, and askt her what &s;he meant to be &s;o much in earne&s;t; with that Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> replied in the&s;e words, Have you ever &s;een me do this to any man before if not, you may be &s;ure tis in earne&s;t: this was a little before &s;upper, Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> all this time knowing nothing of the former pa&s;&s;ages.</P>
<P>Next morning Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> took me a&s;ide, and told me that I was certainly mi&s;taken, to think that the contract between Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> and me was in earne&s;t, for I &s;hould perceive by her demeanure towards me, when we came toge|ther, that I was much deceived, and wi&s;ht me not to u&s;e &s;uch familiarities to her as formerly I had done, for they were things &s;he would not &s;uffer. When I perceived this abomi|nable treachery in him, and that he and his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> had an intention to ruine me in the opinion of Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> I ha&s;ted to &s;peak with her, to &s;ee what kind of face &s;he would put on to receive me; and when I came into her pre&s;ence, found her &s;o changed in her countenance, as I did not think one night could have made &s;uch an alteration; by which I per|ceived how ill a night &s;he had, and how &s;harply &s;he had been reproved for &s;etting her affection upon &s;o odious a per&s;on as no doubt they made me appear to be: which grieved me ex|tremely,
<PB N="20" REF="11">to &s;ee the &s;weet Lady, who&s;e di&s;po&s;ition was full of mirth and jollity, to &s;it now in &s;o melancholick a po&s;ture, as hardly to afford a word; and as we were &s;itting together, one gazing upon another, Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> comes in, and there foames out a &s;peech to this purpo&s;e, glancing upon my unwor|thine&s;s, that being tru&s;ted in their company with a per&s;on of quality, and their friend, &s;hould be &s;o treacherous as to at|tempt to gain the affection of a per&s;on much too worthy for me: which &s;peech of his (had not the remembrance of his Fa|ther and Grandfather whom I highly honoured, come fre&s;h into my memory) had caus'd me to have done &s;ome &s;udden act of violence upon him, &s;o treacherous and &s;o fal&s;e did this Mon&s;ter appear before me.</P>
<P>What language the&s;e two per&s;ons u&s;ed to reproach and poy&s;on me in the opinion of Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> may ea&s;ily be gue&s;s't, for Sir <HI>William</HI> told me the next day, that &s;he told him, &s;he loathed me above all men. But I &s;aw plainly the power they had over this poor Lady, and therefore thought good not to pre&s;s the bu&s;ine&s;s any further; for what affection &s;oever I could per&s;wade, they would in&s;tantly de&s;troy, and &s;o the &s;weet Lady &s;awed in pieces between us, who&s;e quiet and hap|py enjoyment of her &s;elf I valued above my own life, and &s;o I thought fit to let the bu&s;ine&s;s cool for a while, till a more convenient opportunity &s;hould happen. Four or five dayes did Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> retain her &s;evere countenance, but at la&s;t &s;eeing me carry my &s;elf in &s;o equall and indifferent a way, as I &s;eemed to do, &s;he cleered up her countenance again and be|came good company. But Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley</HI> with a &s;cornfull look like je&s;t, was plea&s;ed to tell me in earne&s;t, that I deceived my &s;elf, to aime at &s;uch great heights as the&s;e, my part being to &s;ee good &s;auce made, and the meat well dre&s;t in the Kitchin: the&s;e fromps and &s;coffs I was compelled to bear, having no meanes to free my &s;elf of their company.</P>
<P>Some dayes more we pa&s;t at <HI>Ea&s;t-How,</HI> and then to <HI>Green-ham</HI>
<PB N="21" REF="11">to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffes</HI> hou&s;e, where after three or four dayes &s;tay, the newes came of M^r <HI>Par&s;ons</HI> his death, which cau&s;ed them to ha&s;t for <HI>London,</HI> with a double pa&s;&s;ion, &s;orrow and fear, &s;orrow for the lo&s;&s;e of M^r <HI>Par&s;ons,</HI> who was the main fro&s;t naile in their &s;lippery bu&s;ine&s;s, and fear to leave me be|hinde alone with Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe,</HI> le&s;t I &s;hould replant that af|fection in her, which they had bla&s;ted with their breaths; but &s;o much they had changed the &s;oyle where my affections grew, as with the be&s;t manurings and husbandry of &s;ervice and language, I could u&s;e, I found little or no fruit to &s;pring up of that kinde which I thought I had planted deeply in her heart. Yet no civilities were wanting, but &s;o mixt with &s;trangene&s;s, as the one &s;eemed but to procure pardon for the other.</P>
<P>The next day after the di&s;turbers of our peace were depart|ed, I perceived the table in the Parler to be thru&s;t up to one corner of the room, and another brought in, of three yards long, but very narrow, which being covered a little before dinner time with a linen cloth, there was laid at the upper end, a trencher and a napkin, and a while after, another at the lower end, and when meat was &s;et on the table, &s;he &s;ate down, and pointed me to the lower end: where with as much re&s;pect as &s;he &s;eemed to look for, I &s;ate down, being then three full yards a&s;under, and the better to keep us at a di&s;tance, her Gentle|woman had a &s;tool plac't in the middle between us, of one &s;ide of the table, who &s;eemed to be the &s;tickler between my humility and her &s;corn; yet at other times &s;he would let fall &s;ome favours upon me, that became her fir&s;t profe&s;&s;ions. Be|tween this fire and fro&s;t, I linger'd out four dayes, and then took my leave, and went into <HI>Somer&s;et-&s;hire,</HI> where I remained with &s;ome good friends till the end of <HI>October.</HI> And when I came to <HI>London,</HI> went to &s;ee Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley,</HI> who told me &s;he had an intent to go and keep her Chri&s;tmas with Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe;</HI> to whom je&s;tingly I &s;aid, I hope you will ask me leave fir&s;t.</P>
<PB N="22" REF="12">
<P> Whereat &s;he took a little check, and askt whether I dur&s;t fight with a yong man that pretended an earlier intere&s;t in my Mi&s;tre&s;s then I; but I gave her an an&s;wer fit for &s;uch a que&s;ti|on, and after a while took my leave, and a little after was ar|re&s;ted, and ca&s;t in pri&s;on for a debt of his, who&s;e fortune &s;he enjoyed, and con&s;idered neither his debts, nor my impri&s;on|ment, but took her plea&s;ure in all. But between Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> and me, there pa&s;t many kinde Letters, and &s;ome of them intercepted by them or their Agents, which begat new jealou&s;ies. So that Sir <HI>William Killigrew</HI> came to me in the pri|&s;on, and told me that Captain <HI>Berkeley</HI> meant to fight with me, for making love to Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe.</HI> This I knew to be a meer fab, to try whether I could be awed by the&s;e threats. But I that knew Captain <HI>Berkeley</HI> to be my friend, and no &s;uch word to come from him, &s;lighted the others fraud, as a thing inci|dent to his nature; and as he was a cunning &s;ubtill man, no|thing &s;orted better to his purpo&s;e, then to &s;tave me off from Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ayliffe;</HI> for if I gained her love, &s;o as to take me for her husband, I &s;hould be able to appear above <HI>Hatches</HI> and call him and his cou&s;en <HI>Berkeley</HI> to account for their mo&s;t inhu|mane, and unchri&s;tian dealing with me; be&s;ides, Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Ay|liffe</HI> having lived long with Mi&s;tre&s;s <HI>Berkeley,</HI> and being able to &s;ay much of the practi&s;es and pa&s;&s;ages between them and their agents concerning the carriage of this bu&s;ine&s;s again&s;t me, could not but lay them open in all their ba&s;e de&s;ignes, and re|pair me in the wrongs I had &s;o long &s;uffered. This was in the time when M^r^i^s <HI>Berkeleys</HI> Fea&s;ts, and her now husband M^r <HI>Da|vis</HI> his intere&s;ts could carry any thing with the old Parliament, but the tide being now turned, and a new power &s;et up, who I hope intend nothing more then by their ju&s;t proceedings to relieve the oppre&s;&s;ed, and puni&s;h the cruelties, frauds, and tyrannies of the oppre&s;&s;our, they found them&s;elves de&s;erted of their &s;uccours, and therefore mu&s;t practi&s;e &s;ome new &s;tra|tagem upon me, whom they conceive to be &s;o broken and de|jected
<PB N="23" REF="12">with want and impri&s;onment, as hardly to lift my &s;elf up to di&s;cern their ayery practi&s;es, which they intended to put in act upon me, and &s;o the &s;ame hook that had formerly taken me, &s;hould be ca&s;t in with the &s;ame bait to tempt me. And in <HI>Augu&s;t</HI> la&s;t, M^r^i^s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> came to town, and &s;o con&s;equently to the pri&s;on to vi&s;it me, with as great kindne&s;&s;e as was po&s;&s;ible for any woman to &s;hew to him &s;he loved be&s;t, and brought in her company two per&s;ons of Honour, and Captain <HI>Berkley,</HI> whom &s;he could not but know I e&s;teemed very much, and &s;it|ting at the table with this company and &s;ome others, &s;he bur&s;t out with the highe&s;t expre&s;&s;ions of kindne&s;&s;e that was po&s;&s;ible, and &s;aid that &s;he was come to town to redeem me out of pri|&s;on, and to pawne body for body to fetch me out, and that &s;he intended to carry me to her hou&s;e at <HI>Greenham,</HI> there to re|main with her, and Captain <HI>Berkley</HI> &s;hould be a witne&s;&s;e how happily &s;he and I &s;hould live together. This being &s;o over|acted, and Captain <HI>Berkley</HI> mute at the delivery, whom I had been told &s;everal wayes to be my Rival, made me pre&s;ently apprehend it to be a de&s;ign upon me, as &s;hall appear by what was to follow, for M^r^i^s <HI>Ayliffe</HI> having pa&s;t that complement, had yet &s;omewhat more to &s;ay, which was the main top of the bu&s;ine&s;&s;e, which &s;he intended to deliver me in private, and as I waited on her over the Park to her boat, &s;he imparted it to me, and it was this; that &s;he had an earne&s;t reque&s;t to me, which I mu&s;t not deny her, and after a little paw&s;e, I promi|&s;ed I would deny her nothing that was in my power to grant; with that &s;he de&s;ired that I would not pro&s;ecute M^r^i^s <HI>Davis</HI> any further then by my Bill in Chancery, I promi&s;ed that if &s;he would give me a &s;peedy and a home an&s;wer there, I would not; but &s;he gives me no an&s;wer at all, and therefore I am left at liberty. If this practice would have wrought upon me, I &s;hould no doubt have been bayld out of pri&s;on, and carried down to M^r^i^s <HI>Ayliffes</HI> hou&s;e, and &s;o to have utterly quit my bu&s;ine&s;&s;e which I am to move before the Judges at Salters
<PB N="24" REF="13">Hall, and &s;lighted the Creditors whom by all means I de&s;ire to have &s;atisfied, though with much trouble and paine to my &s;elf, and when the time had been clap&s;t for negotiating their bu&s;ine&s;s, I &s;hould have been turned off, for a &s;illy weak old man, and returned to the Pri&s;on with my debts upon me, and rendred a &s;corn to all good men.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Rich: Lygon.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
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</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
