S
r William Bowes's letter to
yethe L.
d High
TrearTreasurer June 15.th 1702
My Lord.
Haveing for some time observed ytthat diverse false Guineas and
counterfeit Crown P.espeices & Crowns, were put forwards in paym.tspayments & being Sencible of the ill consequences to the publique, therefrom, I apply'd my selfe wthwith all diligence to detect the Artifixers, and yretheir corespond.tscorespondents in ytthat mischievous Trade and haveing (my L.d) made use of proper persons for such Intelligence I have so far succeded in the Discovery, as to apprehend and com̄it to Durham Goale, two notable Artists, James Blades and Joseph Thompson, & haveing caused them to be strictly searched, some papers concerning yethe mixing Metalls for counterfeiting Gold and Silver were found in private pockets about 'em, as also 4. bad Crown peices in Blades's Stockes 'twixt that and his foot.
On ExaiaionExamination of Blades he confest (my Lord) where some Instrum.tsInstruments for Coyning were hid, wchwhich I caused to be Seiz'd, & have now by me, a Dye or Stany for Guineas, and Some Stamps for the Silver coyn, with some peices of MixtMetall, and many Instrum.tsInstruments for impressing Letters, the Arms of Englnd &c.t and indeed my Lord they are borh so conscious of their Guilt that they offer to discover all they know if they might but hope for any punishm.tpunishment less than ytthat of death. There are my Ld two Witnesses agtagainst em as to the
as to the fact of Coyning Henry Smithson & Jonathan his Brother the former my Lord came in voluntarily on the EncouragemtEncouragement of the Late Act of Parliament, has made a very large discovery and pursuant thereunto, has been very faithfull and diligent, in the Apprehending divers Coyners, and Utterers of their false moneys, in the Counties of Durham, Yorksh Westmorl.d & Northumberld (as your LordP.Lordship will find by the inclosed InformaionInformation, wchwhich menioningmentioning some facts Subsequent to the date thereof, yor L.dPyour Lordship I hope will Excuse on my Intention to give yor L.dPyour Lordship a further Acco.tAccount in a short time, haveing this day sent him into Lancashire to apprehend (if possible) the cheife Artificer Button alsalias Broadley menion'dmentioned in his InformaionInformation as for Jonathan Smithson the other Evidence, he was committ'd last year by me to Durham Goale, for uttering bad money, he was convict thereof last Assises and fin'd 100£ for wchwhich he hath layn in that prison ever Since. And now my Lord he begs to be admitted to Serve her Ma.tyMajesty in discovering and Evidencing all he knows.
I have reason my Ld to beleive that neither of these Smithsons Thô they have been concern'd in Uttering bad moneys, have any Skill in counterfeiting it. And must not om̄it to represent to yor L.dPyour Lordship that Will Robson whose InformaionInformation I likewise transmitt, was the first that gave me intimaionintimation of this matter, and is I beleive as unskilfull as yethe Smithsons are. I would not trouble yor L.dPyour Lordship wthwith a particular account of all those, who, on suspicosuspicion I have bound over to answer at York & Durham Assises, but hope I may assure your L.dPLordship I shall not be wanting to discharge my duty in this this concern, and have the like confidence that those I have thought proꝑproper to imploy in this Service may receive Encouragement as they shall appear to deserve it . Upon the whole Matter my L.d thô I dare scarce preSume to intimate my poor thoughts, yet I humbly conceive, if my L.ds the Judges that come this Circuit may receive your LdpsLordships InstruionsInstructions on this Occasion, I doubt not these Northern Counties, may in a great measure be freed from that dang'rous Evill, which was like to over Spread'em I am Sencible my Lord, I have drawn out this letter to, too great a length, and have not Room for the distance of respect, wherewthwith I shud subscribe my selfe. My Lord yor L.dPsyour Lordships most ob.tobliged humble ServtServant Will Bowes.