or, the Story of the Marlborough Pin-Maker. 378 
Butcher, also of Marlborough, and a grazier by trade, called upon 
him and told him there was a gentleman [Braddon] come from 
London about the Earl of Essex’s affair, and desired his attendance 
at the White Hart Inn (the principal posting house in Marlborough) 
to state what he had heard at The Dolphin, at Frome. He accord- 
ingly waited upon the stranger, and at his request wrote the fol- 
lowing letter to Mr. Compton, of Frome, to induce him to recall to 
remembrance the conversation said to have taken place at his 
(Compton’s) house on the 13th July, the very day of Essex’s death. 
‘Mr. Compton, 
‘‘My kind love to you. These are to desire you to call to mind that I was 
in Frome the 6th of July, being Friday, where I heard the report that the Earl 
of Essex had cut his own throat. I would desire you to enquire into it, to know 
who first reported it, and give this gentleman the truth of it. And in so doing 
you will oblige me who am your friend, 
‘¢ JEREMIAH BurczEss.” 
‘* Marlborough, 21 August, 1683.” 
Burgess’s Examination continued.—In this letter he had inadver- 
tently written 6th of July for 18th of July, which Braddon per- 
ceiving, requested him to correct on the spot.—He could not say 
for certain whom he had heard utter the report at Frome. Mr. 
Compton was certainly not present himself, yet might, very possibly, 
remember the company in his house speak of it. Mr. Braddon did 
not dictate the letter to him, but perused it at his house after it was 
written, and having caused the erroneous date to be corrected, put 
it in his pocket and departed for Frome.—Had never sent a letter 
to Braddon directing him to come to Marlborough.—Did not know 
that his friend Butcher had sent for him either :—Or that a non- 
conformist parson had been the means of his coming. 
Mr. Butcher does not appear to have been examined. Mr. 
Fielder, of Andover, proved that the Earl of Essex’s suicide was 
the town talk at his residence on the Wednesday and Thursday 
before the Friday on which it happened; and another Marlborough 
witness, named Lewis, was then brought forward for a similar 
purpose; but he was no friend to the accused, as the following 
dialogue will shew : 
Crier : Lay your hand on the book. 
Lewis : My lord, I desire my charges may be paid before I swear. 
