John Ryley: The Examination of John Ryley 18 May 1704

Com Lancr. Ss. The Exaiaion of John Ryley of billington in this County Blacksmith taken 18.th day of may 14704.

Who on Exaiaion Saith that on monday ye first of this instant May he this Exai.t being at the house of Willm Winleys (an Alehouse in Billington aforesd [Editorial Note 1]) there he light on a man who call'd himselfe Christoꝑ Emerson, and falling into discourse with him over a pot of Ale, he told this Exam.t he was by trade a Whitesmith, and could also make Clocks, and enquired how far Edward Holt liv'd from thence (with whom he Sd he was acquainted) and ye Sd Emerson being Shew'd the way to his house went that night thither, and the next morning came to this Exam.ts shop, and stay'd not long but went out to Hinkleys ye Alehouse and in the afternoon came again to this Exam.ts shop and then desired this Exam.t to let him file an handvice wch he bro.t with him rough and unfinished, wch this Exam.t consented unto, and that night Emerson, wnet back to Holts house to lye, wch is ab.t a mile from this Exam.ts Shop, but that he took part of this Exam.ts dinner, wch was a veale pye brought to this Exam.ts Shopp, And on wednesday morning he came again unto this Exam.ts Shop, and continued working at his hand-vice, and that night lay at this Exam.ts house, as he did for 7.nights then next following viz.t till thursday the 11.th instant, in wch time he was till fryday morning ye 5. inst.t working at his hand-vice, promissing that for yt kindness and for meat and loging he would make this Exam.t a clock if this Exam.t would but send for some materialls to Wiggon. wch he Sd this Exam.t might buy for 10s and on Fryday the 5th Instant, the Sd Emerson (out of this Exam.ts Iron) forged Six hoops or rings in this Exam.ts Shop, wch he Sd were for some ꝑts of ye Clock this Exam.t helping him to cut the same out of the barr of Iron, & on Thursday the 11.th instant the Sd Emerson took out of this Exam.ts shop without this Exam.ts consent or knowledge the Sd Six hoops as also a melting pan or Iron of this Exam.ts and from that time this Exam.t never saw ye Sd Emerson, till last Tuesday that he came with a Warr.t in company of Henry Bracken and others to apprehend this Exam.t

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This Exam.t denyeth yt ever the Sd Emerson ꝑposed any thing to this Exam.t concerning coyning o makeing counterfeit money or any Tools or Instrum.ts for that purpose nor never apprehended ye Sd Six hoops to be of use, or intended to be used in or about makeing or casting money nor for any other use than for the clock aforemention'd.

This Exam.t also denyeth that Edw.d Holt & Tho.s Holt his son (whome this Exam.t doth very well know) or either of them, or Sam.ll Fletcher John Fletcher or Alexander Fletcher or any of them were ever at this Exam.ts house as aforesd[Editorial Note 2] but beleives the Sd Fletchers might come sometimes to this Exam.ts Shop (wch is halfe a mile distant from the house) whilst Emerson was working in the shop, they the said Fletchers being Customers to this Exam.t in his trade of a smith. And further saith that he beleives the Sd Em̄erson made no more than Six hoops or rings whilst he work't in this Exam.ts Shop, but the six hoops (own'd by the Sd Emerson) now Shew'd to this Exam.t he will not positiviely say they or any of them are the same, (thô they are like them) wch he made in this Exam.ts Shopp, neither doth he this Exam.t owne the melting pan (now Shewn to him) to be this Exam.ts melting pan or that it ever was in this Exam.ts Shopp and further saith not.                     John Ryley