"Chaloner's Letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon"

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Chaloner's Letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon

Sir About 4 or 5 months ago Mr. Carter called me into his Lodging where he shewed me a Copper Plate which he had reversed upon and had begun to grave it I was surprised at his shewing me such a thing and I askt him what he meant by shewing me such a thing and he said why you fool there's no harm in it for I do it but for an experiment to shew one to get a litle money out of him I told him that if he had not a care such experiments would bring him into Newgate againe about a fortnight after I met him and he had this plate in his Grove and shewed me how he had graved the knott I then told him that I did not desire to see any such things for nothing but trouble attended such things and pray not to meddle nor tell me any thing about it about a month after I comeing home about 10 at night James the young man of the house told me mr. Carter had left a letter for me I not knowing any thing of it opened it before some people that was in the house and in it I found a piece of Copper graved and 10 blank Notes I was surprized at it the people that see me open it and sudenly surprized at it askt me what was the matter so said I this is left to trap me into some mischiefe so before them all I took a pair of scissors and cut the plate in two and the Tickets also and went in the fields and put them in some Rubish next morning Mr. Carter come early to my lodging and askt me for what he left last night I askt him why he left it with me did he intend to trapan me into some mischief he said that he had heard that Sellinger and the Messengers was after him and they came into a house where he was so he left it hear for hear of them I told him that I had thrown it away at which he fell in a great rage and swore I did intend to keep it for my selfe and if I discovered it so I told him I had hid it and would let him have it again for I durst not tell him I had cut it lest he should do me some mischief so it rested ever since about this time one FitzGerall and Carter came me and told me that they had been with of Dick (as they called him) who lives with Sir Johnson who doth his buisines in the Exchequer and that he had given them 20 Guineas to shew him the water how to take out writing and that he offered to put off Bills or Tickets for them and if I would be concerned I should But I told them I would not so Carter told me that Fitzgarrall <60v> had got a bill and pawned it and had told Dick Sir John's man that he had given it to me to grave a plate by at which I was angery at them for making their Cheats upon me and lay it on me so they promised they would go to Dick and undeceive him that I had none of his bill but that Fitzgarrall had pawned it which somedaies after they told me they had done and Fitzgarall had shewn Dick one of blank Tickets that Carter had made by had it again and Carter told me he never had nor would put off any so I never see Fitzgarrall since so all this matter lay dead till about a fortnight before Carter was taken and I never see none of them for about 3 months last past but a fortnight before Carter was taken he came to me and said that now he could get a great deal of money by his Plate soe I told I had given one that was gone into the countrey because I had cut it and I was afraid to tell him so for fear he should e in a rage for my cutting his plate so I perswaded him to let me cut it and barn the Tickets so he told me I should go a fourth share with him and have my 4th. share in good bells when delivered and 200ll advance but I told him it was a Nonsenceicall project of him for bills must be traced from the originall and it was imposible but who ever undertook it must be found out and Price and the rest were and I would not be concerned in any such thing if I might have the Table full of Gold and that I had wife & Children that could not goe away so I desire him to let it be cut and the Tickets burnt so he bid me ring them cut to him that day he was taken at 3 of the clock at the Red Lyon in Hangerford Market at Mr Collier's now if he denys one word of what I have here writt he is the greatest villain in the world but I can prove I cut the plate and Tickets about 3 months ago that he brought them in a letter and left it at any lodgings that he can grave and did grave it and there I did refuse to be concerned in it and hindred from going on so I hope that your honour will not be opinion that I have done any ill to the Government in this matter but have prevented an ill thing from being done Your honour desires me to send the plate and Tickets which Sr I will do if it may not turn to my hurt but here is a man that would put his own roguery upon me saying that I graved it which is false and I can prove it so. Now Sir I have been ingenious with you in giving you a whole relation of all that I know of this matter I hope you will not turn it to my disadvantage as you promised you would not and that if you desire me to give you the plate and bills that you will give one some assurance that I shall not be put to trouble but if you intend to try one for this matter I not knowing what this ill man will say against me I hope your Honour <61r> not be angery with me if I do all I can for my defence for I have such a man to be evidence against me that will not stick at any thing to swear to get his own liberty for he was once taken for coyning and stealing horses and put in Warwick Gaol so he made a formall Information against a great many persons in London but there was no such persons in the world so the Keeper of the Gaol came up to London with him where he made his escape from —    prove by a Certificate from thence

Hee has been 6 times in the Pillory in London and one in the Countrey for forgery and perjury,    Hee robb'd his Master was put in the Counter and got out in woman's Clothes he has gone by severall names but his name it trot. He has been in most Gaols in England I discovered and convicted him of forgery and at work a coyning his Companion was handed that was taken with him but he got out of Gaol so reseapt so I know he will do me all the hurt he can     He is now outlawed for high Treason so I hope your honour will believe him before you see whether I can clear my self and not this ill man put his own roguery upon me to clear his self

Bit if it shall ever appear otherwise that I am guilty I desire no favour or if there by any bills Tickets et that I know of have any hand in them    But since I have done all that lay in my power to prevent others from doing an ill thing to the Government and refused all offers made to my self to do it I hope your honour will not put me to further trouble if I send these things in my posession since I am not guilty of doing any harm thereby but prevented harm being done by my having them I am.

your Honours most humble servant

W Chaloner