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 yt at the last assizes for the County of Stafford after the conviction of Iohn Bate Iudge Gold sent for the Depont and examd. him abot. the persons accused by the said Bate and after the Depont. had said that upon his Informt. Henry Dixon and Timothy Roberts were in Bristoll Gaol and Thomas Boddilly a Prisoner in Somersetsh was also charged by him and upon yt 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 Depont saith further that <104v> about 3 weeks ago he being at Stafford and there discoursing with Bate the said Bate affirmd. that wt he had formerly said about Dixon's designing to convey Dyes into andrmans house in order to wear agt. him was true And the Depont answering that the Warden of the Mint did not think him fitt to be an evidence on that accot. the said Bate replyed that he could not help that he spake the truth of him

The Depont. saith further that at the same time he askt the said Bate abot. some letters wrote by him the said Bate to one Edward Wilcox and Bate replyed wt. if I did write them I meant no harm or to that effect

Afterwards the Depont. was told by Mr. Gray of Enfield Hall in Staffordshire one of his Majtys. Iustices of the peace yt. 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 Mr Gra{illeg}y + Mr Foley of Stourbridge in Worcestrsh they advised him Not to answer it then Bate receiving no answer sent a 2d letter to the said Willcock wherein he threatned the said Willcox with the execration God Damne him that if he would not swear agt Boddily he the said Bate would swear agt. him the sd Wilcox or words to that effect and yt these lettrs. and a third wrote also by Bate to Wilcox were in my Lord Dudley's Clerks hands All this was told the Depont. by Mr Gray who added that if Bate that if Bate {sic} did swear agt. Boddily the countrey would not believe him

The Depont. saith further that abot. 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 answerd. that he had them not but did not discovr wt he had done with them      and that the said Bate proposing that the said Wilcox could be an evidence agt Iohn Harvey the said Harvey being examd abot abot it at Much Wenlock the said Harvey did possitively deny yt 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 Depont. was also told by Mr Great abovesd that ye said Wilcox being examd. before him abot. it denyd that he knew the said Iohn Harvey + offerd to take his Oath of it

Bod Rewse

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