William Brookes: The Deposition of William Brookes 10 April 1699

William Brookes of the Parish of Moulstanton in y^e County of Stafford Taylor deposeth as followeth. That this Exam^t living near to Jn^o Sparry & Selling ale the S^d In^o Sparry came to this Exam^ts house and desiring this Depon.^t to walk with him to one Hartleys house, being near Wetley Moore which was about Michas was 12 months and this Depont accordingly went with y^e S^d Jn.^o Sparry toward the S^d Hartleys house, and the S^d Sparry desired this Depont to Stay near the Said Hartleys House till he returned thence, but y^e S^d Sparry Staying longer then he proposed this Examt went to the S^d Hartleys house where he found the Said Sparry w^th one man called Hartley, and a woman which he called Margt Lees and upon this Exam^ts appearance those ꝑsons Seemed to hide Some things from his view w^ch the Said In^o Sparry reply'd you need not Scruple at this Exam^t presence for y^t this examt he knew to be a friend and after y^t he Saw y^e S^d woman and man was {sic} boyle and finish Severall pieces into 5 Shillings pieces and $\frac{1}{2}$ Crownes Some of which were brass and which they make look like Silver many of which pieces were perfect brass but after y^t hartley and Marg^t Lees, had washed and boyld & finisht the Same they looked like perfect good Crownes and half Crownes and at y^e Same time this Examt Saw Jn^o Sparry give unto y^e S^d Hartley 40.^s of good money as this Depon^t thought and the S^d Marg^t Lees delivered to the S^d In^s Sparry 3.^££ of y^t money made at that time the Same was all Charles and Jeames's coyn

10 Ap^ll Jurat                                         the mark of           Edw^d foden                               W^m ꝫX Brookes