John Bate: Untitled, dated 5 & 7 October 1698
John Bate of Kings Swinford parish in Staffordshire Baker says that he has been acquainted with Henry Dixon Glassmaker near Skrews hole in Gloucestershire for about 6 or 7 years past not only in his own Countrey Staffordshire but also in Gloucestershire and that the night before last Lansdown Fair he did see the said Dixon at his own house make 22 Counterfeit shillings with Dyes by striking with a great Iron sledge belonging to the stone Quarry upon a hundred weight of Iron or cast Metall which he borrowed from the Saracens head Inn without Temple and that the pieces were cut out rounded and edged {ere} this Examinant did see them and that after Dixon had made those pieces he carryed the Dyes upstaires and that this was done about 10 a clock at night he telling this Examinant severall tymes before that he could make money and that there was good gain in it and then would shew this Examinant how it was done and that he knows not of any person in the said Dixon's house at that time besides they two and also that about a fortnight since he became acquainted with Timothy Roberts alias Lese now present James Field Engraver bringing to the said Roberts house without Lawfords gate and that yesterday {Serenight} 27 September the said Roberts shewed him as they were walking togeather in the Marsh of Bristoll a pair of money Dyes whose date were 96 telling this Examinant he could make money and the next morning Roberts did in his Lodging Chamber (to shew this Examinant his {skill}{)} make 2 Counterfeit shillings in those Dyes
John Bate
[2] <45r>John Bate being further examined sayes that the Engraver latly keeping Shop in Corne street going by the name of James Field did about a fortnight since here make one pair of Dyes for Broad pieces of the 2 xxs. and a pair of Dyes for a King William Guinea which he did (as afterwards Field told him) sell to one William Hulbert Clockmaker for a Friend of his and that Field did tell him Hulbert had also bespoke a half Crown Dye and that this Informant was munday night last at the Bores head in March street in company with Hulbert and Field and a person called Thomas Smith {useing} to be in Fields shop whom this Examinant looks on Fields brother.
And that this Examinant was at another time in company of Field and Hulbert at the sugar loage in Hallyers Lane and at another time was in company with Hulbert with one Joyce who works with him and the said Field and Tho Smith at John Webbs in Clifton parish but was not privy to discourse past between Field and Hulbert who did at such time discourse privatly But Field when single with this Examinant hath told him that he hath directed Hulbert to fetch the 2 pair of Dyes so sold from a Hay Reeke near Hony pott hill and that Hulbert mist you but instead of it pulled out Tobacco and on Hulberts going a 2d time to the Reek aving Field with him Field took forth the Dyes and delivered them him and that Field, Smith and this Examinant were on a Sunday at the Coach and horses in Gloucester Lane where Field bespoke two pair of blanks for Dyes of Timothy Roberts alias Leese now Prisoner in Newgate and some time after that this Examinant by the said Field's directions he being (as he said in Debt) did fetch the lesser pair and Roberts afterwards brought the bigger pair to the Tower on the Key and Field thinking them not safe to keep them in the house this Examinant and Smith hidd them in the Marsh last Sunday night and that the larger pair of Blank Dyes now produced and found in the Marsh is one of the two pair so hid in that marsh and the box + of a Dye also produced + found at the Golden Cross in Ballan street is part of the lesser pair of Dyes so hidd the other part thereof being engraved by Field and afterwards hidd in a Leathern chair in Mr {Luffes} house in the room where Smith lodged but what is since become of it this Examinant knows not but believes it taken thence since his apprehension
[3]John Bate
<46r>John Bate being further examined says that the Engraver latly keeping ship in Corn street going by the name of James Field did about a Fortnight since here make one pair of Dyes for broad pieces of the two and a pair of Dyes for a King William Guinea which he did (as afterwards Field told him) tell to one Willm Hulbert Clockmaker for a Friend of his and that Field did tell him Hulbert had also bespoke a Crown Dye and that this Informant was munday last at the Boar's head in Marsh street in company with Hulbert and Field and a person called Thomas Smith {illeg} isny to be in Field's shop whom this Examinant looks on Fields brother and that this Examinant was at another time in company of Field and Hublert at the Sugar loaf in Hallyers Lane and at another time was in company of Hulbert with one Joyce who works with him and the said Field and Tho: Smith at John Webbs in Clifton parish but was not privy to what discourse past between Field and Hulbert who did at each time discourse privatly but Field when single with this Examinant hath told him that he directed Hulbert to fetch the 2 pair of Dyes so sold from a Hay Reek near Hony pot hill and that Hulbert mist hem but instead of if pulled out Tobacco and On Hulberts going a 2d time to the Reek having Field with him took forth the Dyes and deliverd them to him and that Field Smith and this Examinant were on a Sunday at the Coach and horses in Gloucester Lance where Field bespoke two pair of blanks for Dyes of Timothy Roberts alias Leese now prisoner in Newgate and sometime after that this Examinant by the said Field a directions he being as he says in Debt did fetch the lesser pair + Roberts afterwards brought the bigger pair to the Tower on the Key and Field thinking it not safe to keep them in the house this Examinant and Smith hid you in the MArsh last Sunday night and the larger pair of blank Dyes now produced and found in the Marsh is one of the two pair so hid in the Marsh and the box half a Dye also produced and found at the Golden Cross in Ballan street is part of the lesser pair of Dyes so hid the other part thereof being engraved by Field and afterwards hid in a Leather Chair in Mr Luffes house in the Room where smith lodged but what is since become of it this Examinant knows not but believes it taken there since his apprehension
John Bate
[4]
