William Willson: The Solemn Affirmation of William Willson 12 January 1702/3

Middx Westmer Ss The solemne affirmation of William Willson of the parish of St anns in the liberty of Westmer in the county of Middx felt maker taken this 12th day of Janry 170$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$

Who saith that a certain woman whose name he this informant doth not know came unto this Informant's Shop in Lisle stree in the parish of St Anns Westmer about a month or six weeks before michaelmas last past, and bought a penny worth of Tape and gave to this informants wife a silver half crown desiring change, which she did by returning her two good shillings and five pence in copper coyn, whereupon the Said woman throws down a naughty shilling upon the compter, and said and swore that she had it from Rebecca this Informant's wife in change as afore said and she being a peaceable woman (the other continuing to make a great noise) gave her a third good shilling, and takes up the bad one tho:^ she was well assured 'twas none of hers, upon which the woman went out of the shop across the street, unto another woman who wore a riding hood, but he this Informant knowing the danger of uttering counterfeit money persued her seized her in the Street & brought her back into his shop, butt the other woman that was with her made her escape, and he this Informant did charge William Milton the then constable of that ward with her & declared to the said William Milton what had passed desiring him to search her and have her before some justice of the peace, thinking thereby some further discovery might be made, but instead of carrying her before a Justice he the Said Constable took this informants wife the beadle and the aforesaid woman to an ale house, where he talked in private with the Said woman, and at length gave sixpence to the beadle & dismissed him, and gave this Informants wife a good shilling for the bad one that the aforesaid woman imposed upon her and sent her home and likewise discharged the woman aforesaid of his own authority without bringing her before any justice of the peace to have her examined as this Informants chief design was, And he this Informant further declareth that about 10 of the clock of the same night he the said William Milton the then constable returned to this Informants house very much in drunk, and produced the counterfeit shilling and asked if that was the same, to which it was answered yea or one very like it, then he pretended to seal it up in a paper then this Informant replyed, he had made a penny on her, butt the constable answered no damn her she is poor, then this informant demanding how it came to pass that he discharged her without a justice when Milton replyed that he could answer it for that: he knew where she the aforesaid woman lived, and that she lived in some court or alley in King street Westmer or words to this effect.       W: Willson capt jur die et ann pradic: cor me J Stanly