John Yeoman, Robert Buckley and Samuel Davies: The Examination of John Yeoman, Robert Buckley and Samuel Davies 20 October 1699

<1r>

John Yeoman Robt Buckley & Sam.ll Davies all of yeSd Citty of Chest.er Ironmongers being Severally Exaied upon Oath Severally say, That between 7. & 8. a clock this Morning they were walking together beyond the New Tower of ye said Citty upon ye Sands of ye River Dee intending to See a little Ship there in building and they then and there observed a Young man (who is a stranger to them but being now present calls himself John Fallows) put his hand into a Bag lying upon ye Sands near ye Sd River, and these Exaīants asked him what was in ye Sd Bag, who made answer yt he thought there was something for coyning of Money, whereupon these Exaīants wth ye Sd John Fallows, Searched the said bag and found therein ye 5. Iron Instrum.ts now produced, One of which is a box with four Screws in it, togeather with 15. punches for letters now produced, and one of the three dyes wch are also ꝑduc'd (haveing been impressed on wax upon the other side of this paper) but these Exaīants know not wch of the said dyes was found in the said Bagg, the other 2. dyes being also there found by these Exaīants loose in the said River near the same place,, And these Exaīants and the said Fallows, looking about them farther in the said River, saw another lesser bag therein ab.t 3. Yards from the Shoar, upon wch the said Fallows <1v> Stept into ye Said River and with a Hook Stick drew the said lesser Bag out of ye said River wch being im̄ediately open'd was found to contain Two brass Instrum.ts now produced (each of them haveing Six Iron Screws) and ye other Instrum.t of Iron now also produced. And these Exaīants Severally Say that they know not where how or by whome the said Instrum.ts or any of them were conveyed into the places where they were so found as aforesaid.                               John Yeoman                               Robt Bulkley                                Sam: Davies

Capt Jurat die et an̄o Supradict coram      Wm Bennet Mayor      John Williams

                    Vera Copia                     Exam p Roger Comberbach Cler pacis &c.t