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 ye libty: 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 Informtts Shop in Lisle stree in the parish of St Anns Westmer about a month or secret six weeks ago 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 ye Sd woman throws down a naughty shilling upon the compter, and said and swore yt she had it from Rebecca this Informtts 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 the woman went out of the shop across ye street, unto another woman who wore a riding hood, but he ys Informt knowing the danger of uttering counterfeit money perswadedued her seized her in the Street & brought her back into his shop, butt ye other woman that was with her made her escape, and he this Informant did charge William Milton the then constable of that yward 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 Sd Con:ble took this informants wife ye beadle and the aforesd woman to an ale house, where he talked in private with the Sd woman, and at length gave sixpence to ye beadle & dismissed him, and gave this Informants wife a good shilling for ye bad one that the aforesaid woman imposed upon her and sent her home and likewise discharged the woman aforesd 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 Informt further declareth that about 10 of the clock of ye same night he ye said William Milton ye then consable returned to this Informants house very much in drunk, and produced ye counterfeit shilling and asked if that was ye 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 ye conble 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 yt he wcould answer it for yt: he knew where she the aforesd 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