John Pithall: The Deposition of John Pithall of Norwich Court against the May Poll in East Smithfield 9 July 1698

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The Deposicon of In^o. Pithall of Norwich Court {e}ver ag^t. the May poll in the Strand East Smithfield taken this 9^th. day of Iuly 1698

He saith that he hath known F:rdinando Croudson these 5 yeares and y^t. abo^t. 4 yeares ago he saw the said Croudson at Eggermond abo^t 4 miles from Whit:haven, and that he the said Croudson had yn counterfeit money (atlest {sic} 5^s) newly cast in imitacon of old hammer^d money And y^t. abo^t. a fortnight ago the said Croudson came to the Depon^ts. house being latly come fro Holland and had then Two Counterfeit Dollaws and two counterfeit English shillings mill'd money, and acknowledged to the Depon^t that he made them himselfe and put severall Mixtures into them And that on Thursday was a Fortnight he came againe to the Deponent's house, and on Saturday following being the 25^th. day of Iune he sent the Depon^t. to the Black Lyon in Foster Lane to buy a pair of Iron Flasks for which the Depon^t. gave 1^s. 6^d. and that the night before the Deponent fetcht abo^t. 2 quarts of sand to cast in from M^r. Scotts the Corner house going into S^r. William Warren's square near King Edward stairs in Wapping And that on the said Saturday was a fortnight he melted down a small parcell of Dutch money and cast five English counterfeit Milld shillings. And the same night he sent y^e Depon^t. to a pewterer to buy half a pound of Block Tinn and a quart^r. of a pound of Tin-glass and melt:d the same in a Crucible and poured the metal into a Mold made with the Flasks and sand above menconed and that he thus cast at lest {sic} 4 times making 6 counterfeit shillings at a time and y^e Depont saw him cast and edge the said Counterfeit shillings and Mold the Flasks in which he cast them and that he also saw him case the 5^s. above menconed and that he edged the sd counterfeit money with a File

The Depon^t. sayth also that on W:dnesday was {Tonnight} he saw the said Croudson wash over with Aqua Fortis a Silver Ginea {sic} which he said he brought from Holland and then ruff it over with Quick Silver and dry it upon charcole fire and the Ginea {sic} turned yellow like good gold and that he took the Quick silver out of a Chest which he said he brought from Holland <3r> He saith also y^t. the said Croudson told the Depon^t. y^t. he had been Prisoner in Chester, and made his escape by giving the Keeper a Br{i}{ck} of 30 Gineas {sic}

He saith also y^t. a Chest and portmanue found in y^e Depon^ts house with files Metalls and other things things in them belong^d. to y^e said Croudson and that he saw the said Croudson put into y^t. chest y^e File with which he edged the false money above menconed

He saith also that a counterfeit shilling which he dropt in the hosue of S^r. Rob^t. Ieffreys was made by the said Croudson

He saith also y^t abo^t. 3 yeares ago he received counterfeit mony of Thomas Pithall of Broughton beyond Cartnall Sands in Lancashire and y^t. the said Tho Pithall and Croudson were Fellow Shop Keepers at the said Broughton near Dutton Bridge

The Depon^t. saith also that a green bagg of Coyning Tooles found by Chest:r Castle the said Croudson did own to be his and y^t if he had b::n there he would have thrown them into the Ditch of the castle

The Depon^t saith also y^t he hath heard the s^d. Croudson speak of one Thomas Nelson as a coyner who is now in custody to be tryed next assizes at Lancaster

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