John Ryley: The Examination of John Ryley 18 May 1704

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 15/17/482, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  - 5 August 2019
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|Com Lanc^r. Ss.| The Exaiaion of John Ryley of billington in this County Blacksmith taken 18.^th day of may 14|7|04.

Who on Exaiaion Saith that on monday y^e first of this instant May he this Exai.^t being at the house of Willm Winleys (an Alehouse in Billington afores^d ^{[Editorial Note 1]}) there he light on a man who call'd himselfe Christoꝑ Emerson, and falling into discourse with him over a pot of Ale, he told this Exam.^t he was by trade a Whitesmith, and could also make Clocks, and enquired how far Edward Holt liv'd from thence (with whom he S^d he was acquainted) and y^e S^d Emerson being Shew'd the way to his house went that night thither, and the next morning came to this Exam.^t^s shop, and stay'd not long but went out to Hinkleys y^e Alehouse and in the afternoon came again to this Exam.^t^s shop and then desired this Exam.^t to let him file an handvice w^ch he bro.^t with him rough and unfinished, w^ch this Exam.^t consented unto, and that night Emerson, wnet back to Holts house to lye, w^ch is ab.^t a mile from this Exam.^t^s Shop, but that he took part of this Exam.^t^s dinner, w^ch was a veale pye brought to this Exam.^t^s Shopp, And on wednesday morning he came again unto this Exam.^t^s Shop, and continued working at his hand-vice, and that night lay at this Exam.^t^s house, as he did for 7.nights then next following viz.^t till thursday the 11.^th instant, in w^ch time he was till fryday morning y^e 5. inst.^t working at his hand-vice, promissing that for y^t kindness and for meat and loging he would make this Exam.^t a clock if this Exam.^t would but send for some materialls to Wiggon. w^ch he S^d this Exam.^t might buy for 10^s and on Fryday the 5^th Instant, the S^d Emerson (out of this Exam.^t^s Iron) forged Six hoops or rings in this Exam.^t^s Shop, w^ch he S^d were for some ꝑts of y^e Clock this Exam.^t helping him to cut the same out of the barr of Iron, & on Thursday the 11.^th instant the S^d Emerson took out of this Exam.^t^s shop without this Exam.^t^s consent or knowledge the S^d Six hoops as also a melting pan or Iron of this Exam.^t^s and from that time this Exam.^t never saw y^e S^d Emerson, till last Tuesday that he came with a Warr.^t in company of Henry Bracken and others to apprehend this Exam.^t

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This Exam.^t denyeth y^t ever the S^d Emerson ꝑposed any thing to this Exam.^t concerning coyning o makeing counterfeit money or any Tools or Instrum.^ts for that purpose nor never app^rehended y^e S^d Six hoops to be of use, or intended to be used in or about makeing or casting money nor for any other use than for the clock aforemention'd.

This Exam.^t also denyeth that Edw.^d Holt & Tho.^s Holt his son (whome this Exam.^t doth very well know) or either of them, or Sam.ll Fletcher John Fletcher or Alexand^er Fletcher or any of them were ever at this Exam.^t^s house as afores^d^{[Editorial Note 2]} but beleives the S^d Fletchers might come sometimes to this Exam.^t^s Shop (w^ch is halfe a mile distant from the house) whilst Emerson was working in the shop, they the said Fletchers being Customers to this Exam.^t in his trade of a smith. And further saith that he beleives the S^d Em̄erson made no more than Six hoops or rings whilst he work't in this Exam.^t^s Shop, but the six hoops (own'd by the S^d Emerson) now Shew'd to this Exam.^t he will not positiviely say they or any of them are the same, (thô they are like them) w^ch he made in this Exam.^t^s Shopp, neither doth he this Exam.^t owne the melting pan (now Shewn to him) to be this Exam.^t^s melting pan or that it ever was in this Exam.^t^s Shopp and further saith not. John Ryley

^{[Editorial Note 1]} See Deposition No. 481.

^{[Editorial Note 2]} See Deposition No. 481.