Bodenham Rewse: The Deposition of Bodenham Rewse 10 July 1699

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The Deposicon of Bodenham Rewse Gent 10 Iuly 1699

Hee saith y^t at the last assizes for the County of Stafford after the conviction of Iohn Bate Iudge Gold sent for the Depon^t and exam^d. him abo^t. the persons accused by the said Bate and after the Depon^t. had said that upon his Inform^t. Henry Dixon and Timothy Roberts were in Bristoll Gaol and Thomas Boddilly a Prisoner in Somersetsh was also charged by him and upon y^t charge might probably be continued till the next assizes or words to that purpose the said Iudge replyed that then he ought to be reprieved— The Depon^t saith further that <104v> about 3 weeks ago he being at Stafford and there discoursing with Bate the said Bate affirm^d. that w^t he had formerly said about Dixon's designing to convey Dyes into and^rmans house in order to wear ag^t. him was true And the Depon^t answering that the Warden of the Mint did not think him fitt to be an evidence on that acco^t. the said Bate replyed that he could not help that he spake the truth of him

The Depon^t. saith further that at the same time he askt the said Bate abo^t. some letters wrote by him the said Bate to one Edward Wilcox and Bate replyed w^t. if I did write them I meant no harm or to that effe\c/t

Afterwards the Depon^t. was told by M^r. Gray of Enfield Hall in Staffordshire one of his Maj^tys. Iustices of the peace y^t. Bate in his first letter to Wilcox moved the said Willcox to be an evidence and Thomas Bodilly and that Wilcox shewing the letter to the said M^r Gra{illeg}|y| + M^r Foley of Stourbridge in Worcest^rsh they advised him Not to answer it then Bate receiving no answer sent a 2^d letter to the said Willcock wherein he threatned the said Willcox with the execration God Damne him that if he would not swear ag^t Boddily he the said Bate would swear ag^t. him the sd Wilcox or words to that effect and y^t these lett^rs. and a third wrote also by Bate to Wilcox were in my Lord Dudley's Clerks hands All this was told the Depon^t. by M^r Gray who added that if Bate that if Bate {sic} did swear ag^t. Boddily the countrey would not believe him

The Depon^t. saith further that abo^t. 3 weeks ago he askt the said Bate what was become of a pair of Dyes made for him by Iohn Harvey and the said Bate answer^d. that he had them not but did not discov^r w^t he had done with them      and that the said Bate proposing that the said Wilcox could be an evidence ag^t Iohn Harvey the said Harvey being exam^d abo^t abo^t it at Much Wenlock the said Harvey did possitively deny y^t he knew Wilcocks and drinking a Glass of ale wisht it might be his poison if he knew him and said he would take his oath upon {illeg}

The Depon^t. was also told by M^r Great abovesd that y^e said Wilcox being exam^d. before him abo^t. it deny^d that he knew the said Iohn Harvey + offer^d to take his Oath of it

Bod Rewse

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