or, the Story of the Marlborough Pin-Maker. 369 
great care of himself. Seeing he came into these parts, I thought it not amiss 
_ to go and advise with you how he had best proceed in it, and I did charge him 
not to let any body know who he was, that it might not be known he had been 
with you: for I would not for the whole world that you should come to any pre- 
judice in the least for your kindness towards us. For we labour under many 
difficulties as the tide runs at present. 
‘Pray call Mr. Braddon by the name of Johnson when he is with you. I 
have given him the same item. We hope we can bring the Earl of Essex’s 
murder on the stage before they can any of those in the Tower toa trial. He 
being in great haste, I have not time to write more, but to assure you that Mr. 
Braddon is a person of that integrity and courage that nobody need fear to 
trust him. I was very willing that he should take your advice in this case 
which is of so great moment, sceing he came within twenty or thirty miles or 
thereabouts of your house. He will give you a full and clear relation of every- 
thing in that affair, and how hard they have been upon him. Sir Henry Capel 
[brother to the deceased Earl] told him that it was a thing too great for him, 
&e. All which, Mr. Braddon (that you are to call Johnson whilst he is with 
you at your house) will give you a true relation of. Mr. Braddon hath been at 
a great trouble and charge already about it. I know few that would have ven- 
tured to undertake this affair besides himself, as times go. 
“‘T received yours this day, with the great pains you took; and the letter to 
the Lady Russel, which finding unsealed, I sealed without looking into it and 
carried it myself. She returns you ten thousand thanks, and says she knows 
not what return to make you for your most extraordinary kindness. I have 
not time to write any more at present, by reason that Mr. Braddon, alias John- 
son, stays only for this my letter. I am, Sir, your most obliged friend and 
most humble servant, 
“‘Huen SPexe.” 
« Lincoln’s Inn, 15 August, 1683, 
Wednesday night, ten o’clock.”’ 
Having possessed himself of the above document, Mr. Braddon 
may as well describe, in his own language, his progress into the 
West. At the time of calling on Speke he had just been down to 
Tunbridge to verify a report similar to those circulated in Wiltshire, 
but the witness, it appears, was shy and unwilling to be made con- 
spicuous. “I had no sooner returned” he says “ to London, but I 
was told the same report was at Marlborough, in Wiltshire, about 
70 miles from London on the very morning of the Earl’s death. 
Whereupon I rode to Marlborough resolving to trace the report as 
near as I could to the author. When I came to Marlborough I 
met with one Jeremiah Burgess, whom before this I never to my 
remembrance saw or heard of; who declared,—that, the very 
morning my Lord died, he was at Frome, in Somersetshire, about 
3D 
