John Ellis: The Examination of John Ellis of Clarkenwell parish Taylor 8 March 1698/9

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The Examination of In^o Ellis of Clarkenwell parish Taylor 8^th. day of March 9$\frac{8}{9}$

He saith that he hath known Cornelius Dyer about 4 or 5 yeares and that since the said Dyer came of the Gatehouse which was about a quarter of a year ago he this Examinant hath lent the said Dyer several parcells of money and Comodities ammounting in the whole to about 3^ll. 10^s. and that in part of payment he hath received back from the said Dyer two parcells of counterfeit money amounting in Tale to about 3^ll. 10^s but he received <79v> it after the rate of 20^s for 10^s of good money So that in value to about 35^s. or one half of the Debt And that about 3 weeks ago Richard Lawes a Travailing Pedlar had 30^s of this Counterfeit money for 15^s of good and that           a Cooper in Newport Market a black young man desired 20^s of the same money for 13^s of good money And that Margaret Batterton, and M^rs. Smith had one parcell of this same bad on saturday last and another parcell on Munday last ammounting in all to `about 12 or 13^s. more and that yesterday the Examinant was apprehended and 30^s of the same bad money taken upon him by M^r. Rewse & M^r. Saker + a Constable and that Dyer and the Cooper abovesaid and this Examinant about a month or 5 weeks ago being togeather at an Ale house in Newport Market the said Dyer said that he wanted money to go on and another time the Examinant told the said Cooper that Dyer said that an Edger would cost 50^s. The Deponent saith further that about a month ago he did see the said Cornelius Dyer in a room up two pair of staires in a litle house near the King's head in Rosemary Lane put a reddish sort of fine earth or Mould into a pair of Iron Flasks and press it hard and when he opened the Flasks the Examinant saw in one of them several pieces of money shillings and Sixpences and a branch in the Midle running to each of them for the said Dyer after he had Prest the Flasks put them into a wooden skrew and screwed them togeather and then poured melted Metall into the Flasks and then opened them and then took out the said branch and money And the Deponent saith further that about a week after he saw the said Dyer at the same place rub over a parcell of counterfeit money with feague and then boyle it and put it into water The said Examinant saith further that the said Dyer when he was either casting or feaguing counterfeit money as abovesaid that if he should be taken he was a dead man and therefore he would not stay long in England but go into his own Countrey which was Ireland

John Ellis

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