London Ss. The ExaiaionExamination of Lewis la Coude bookkeeper to Charles Augustine Berth Marc.tMarchant in Mark layn Lond.o taken upon Oath before The Recorder &ct. this 25. th day of July 1704.

Who saith that about last may was 3. Years he this Examinant came into England, and about 7. months after that time he entered as Bookkeeper to Mr Berth, and some few months afterwards he this Exam.tExaminant began to lodge and diet at his house, but never made any agreem.tagreement for wages with the SdSaid Mr Berth, and further saith that yethe said Mr Berth hath bought severall Quantities of Silver Ingotts of diverse persons, but cannot remember their names; But sayes that he this Exam.tExaminant did Enter the same down into abook or books, as he the aforesdaforesaid Mr Berth gave directions to him from time to time, but cannot tell whether he this Exam.tExaminant had a full and ꝑfectperfect Acco.tAccount of all the Silver Ingotts or peices of Eight, wchwhich the said Mr Berth did deale for, or that they were Enter'd by this Exam.tExaminant and further saith that the SdSaid Mr Berth did cause a Furnace to be erected in his SdSaid house in Mark layn where he togeather with one - - - - Willmore did refine Silver, wchwhich he the SdSaid Berth did cause to be drawn into Wyre (as this Exam.tExaminant beleives) which he sold to Sundry persons, wthwithout giveing the ꝑticularsparticulars to this Exam.tExaminant And further saith that about a week agoe the SdSaid Furnace was demollished, but upon what Account this Exam.tExaminant doth not know. And saith that the Latter end of last week Mr Atwell told this Exam.tExaminant that there was a report, about Town that the SdSaid Mr Berth had sold Severall Counterfeit peices of Eight (the said Mr Berck being present and Said there was nothing in it) This Exam.tExaminant further saith that he never heard any thing of yethe SdSaid report before that time, And further saith that the SdSaid Mr Berth always kept his business very private from this Exam.tExaminant and never acquainted his Exam.tExaminant with any of his Affaires he could keep from him, And further saith, that he this Exam.tExaminant did never know the SdSaid Mr Berth before he saw him in England, But thath been told ytthat yethe SdSaid Berth was a great dealer in France in all sorts of Silver, And further saith, that he the SdSaid Mr Berth did Sell Severall ꝑcellsparcells of peices of Eight, Barrs and Ingots of Silver and other foreign Silver Coynes Sometimes to Mr Atwell, to Mr Caswell, and some others, And that the SdSaid Mr Berth did keep above stares an An accompting house private to himselfe, in wchwhich he usually kept his Silver, and his Coynes and usually kept the Key thereof himselfe, But he yethe SdSaid Mr Berth being gone from home on Sunday last, Since when this Exam.tExaminant hath not seen him, nor heard where he is, nor when he will return: But yesterday in the afternoon, he this Exam.tExaminant finding the Key in the Door of the said Accompting house, went in but found nothing there as usuall; he then took the said Key into his own Custody, And further saith that he this Exam.tExaminant had the aforesaid Book or Books of Accounts in His Custody on Satturday last, but doth not now know where they now are. this Exam.tExaminant further saith that the SdSaid Mr Berth, came into the Compting house below staires on Satturday last, and did take from thence the Great book of Acco.tsAccounts wchwhich book he this Exam.tExaminant hath not Seen Since. Lewis La Coude Exam̄ Capt. et jurat anno et die Suꝑ dict coram me S: Lovell R.drRecorder