296 Mcdmesbury Election Petition, 1807. 



Thomas Brook, a farmer living near the borough, had a conversa- 

 tion with Spackman, the alderman, who said "Mr. Estcourt was a 

 very good kind of a gentlemen to them and would do everything for 

 them that he could in the borough,he would make as much money as 

 he could for them, and after making as much as he could, he would 

 pay his expenses, and would separate the rest among the burgesses, 

 and would not get a penny by them, and that he (Spackman) could 

 go to Tetbury bank at any time and draw money in Mr. Estcourt's 

 name whatever he wanted!!" Mind you, this witness was not 

 cross-examined for the sitting members. 



Margaret Broadway, a servant to one Newth, a capital burgess, 

 said Mr. Estcourt asked her master for his vote for the hi^h 

 stewardship and told him he was to come in on the same terms as 

 Mr. Wilkins did, and also said the last year that Mr. Wilkins lived 

 he brought Newth £30, and she took him the money about Trinity 

 time (when it was alleged the annuities under the bonds were 

 paid) . She also knew Newth was bound in a bond because she was 

 called in that there might be no dispute about the bond after his 

 death (he being ill at the time). This witness was not cross- 

 examined. 



Bishop, a burgess, corroborated as to Mr. Estcourt having the 

 borough on the same terms as Mr. "Wilkins. He had never seen 

 any candidate for whom he had voted, "Wilkins gave him a card I 

 with the names (produced), and he voted for the names (this, of 

 course, referred to a previous election). He admitted being j>aid 

 £30 a year by "Wilkins. Neither was this witness cross-examined. 



Ponting, a burgess, in answer to questions, said " He (Mr. E.) was I 

 to bring forward the gentlemen; they had no particular reason, I 

 one gentleman was as good as another to we." Q. " Did you say I 

 just now that they had thro wed up the business to Squire Estcourt?" 

 A. " Yes, we gave it in his power to bring forward the members ; I 

 one gentleman to me is as good as another, we are never biassed I 

 nor bribed to elect one in more than another : we never received I 

 nothing nor want nothing in regard to that." "Which I suppose U 

 the committee accepted. 



Tanner said " The gentlemen [i.e., members] for a good many 



