A LETTER FROM A councillor at Law TO HIS CLIENT, ABOUT Purchasing some LANDS IN SHADWELL. LONDON, Printed in the Year MDCLXXXV. A LETTER from a councillor at La●… to his Client, about purchasing some Lan●… in Shadwell. Dear Sir, YOu will, I hope, forgive me, that I have not e're now return you an answer to your pressing Letter about your intend●… Purchase, if I assure you, I delayed it all this while, not th●… any neglect of your Affairs, but to inform myself of so●… things I thought very material for you to know. 'Tis true, I have some years ago been of council for the La●… ivy against Doctor Whitchcot and Sir Anthony Bateman, whi●… has given me an opportunity of knowing a great deal more of t●… matter, than otherwise perhaps I should have minded; yet t●… length of time, and multiplicity of business since intervening, ●…ving in a great measure beaten those trials out of my head, a●… some new ones happening, which did much alter the case, I w●… forced to make a further enquiry, that I might sand you some pe●…nent, though perhaps no satisfactory, answer. You tell me, you are proffered by Mr. Neal a very great Pe●… worth of his concerns in Wapping, claimed by the Lady ivy; wh●…( you say) may be had cheaper by several years purchase, than y●… can expect to meet with any where else about London. Believe 〈…〉 this is no small temptation to a man of Spirit and Money, to vent●… upon a Bargain; and if Mr. Neal will give you sufficient security make good the Title, or refund the Money in case you are evict●… I cannot well determine who is the wisest Philosopher, he for givi●… venture, and have no other security, but the could comfort of Caveat Emptor, you may even as well throw across and Pile who shall ha●… your Money, yourself, or Mr. Neal. The Gentleman I have kno●… ●… ease many years, and to tell you my mind freely, I would sooner ●… lief him very much the contrary, than think him so great a Fool, 〈…〉 to give you, or any other, such an extraordinary bargain as you ●… eak of, had his Title been any thing secure: And if you have ●… udg'dt hese 20 or 30 years to acquire some Fortune for yourself and ●… ildren, and now throw it away upon an uncertain Title, in case ●… e Lady ivy recovers it at last, you shall be laughed at by all, but ●… yed by none that hears of your folly. You cannot but have heard, that the Lady ivy,( besides one she got ●… ainst Mr. Neal in Michaelmas Term 1683.) has obtained four seve●… l Verdicts, and all upon full Hearings, and long and tedious trials ●… ainst Doctor Whitchcot and the Assignees of the Commissioners ●… on the Statute of Bankrupt, brought against Sir Anthony Fat●man, ●… out some parts of her Estate in Wapping; yet Mr. Neal labours ●… vertheless to make the World believe, her Title is not worth a ●… awe. Where then is your security to venture upon his Title, who ●… s got but one single Verdict, and that perhaps by surprise, and ●… her Arts not clear from suspicion, if so many repeated Verdicts be 〈…〉 no force or validity? But that you may learn by former contrivances, what may be ●… ought of some subsequent transactions, and to give you all the ●… ght I can at so short a warning, take this brief relation of a most ●… lanous contrivance of Subornation and Perjury, still extant upon ●… ecord, framed or rather managed by one George Johnson, in the be lf of Mr. Ireton, one of Cromwels doughty Knights, and of several ●… hers, who are now Mr. Neals great Croneys and Confederates ●… ainst the Lady ivy. Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Ireton and others of the said Assignees, see●… g themselves cast in four several trials by the Lady ivy, and there●… re despairing of any good success by fair and honest dealings, the ●… d Johnson their Attorney did lay about for Witnesses to help them ●… f at a dead lift: and finding that one Thomas Duffet had a particu●… malice to the said Lady, because she had discovered some pranks 〈…〉 his before, he gave him several Sums of Money, and promised ●… ore, in all about 500 l. to swear the Lady( right or wrong) out of ●… r Estate; as by Johns●●'s conviction of that crime in the year 77. ●… d by the Articles entered into by him and Duffet, recited as ●… lloweth in the Verdict then given against him, may fully appear. An abstract the Verdic●… ●gainst Johnso●… Whereas it is unlawful and wicked to Suborn and procure any Witnesses whatsoever by Bribes and Gifts for their Testimony; nevertheless John Ireton late of London Esq; and George Johnson Gent. one of the Attorneys of Kings-Bench, falsely, wickedly, and maliciously practising and tending the said Theodosia to molest, vex and disturb, and Title of the same Theodosia to the Tenements aforesaid to preju●… and destroy; did on the 4th. day of June in the 29th. year of h●… Majesty's Reign, wickedly and deceitfully, divers great Sums of Mo●… to one Thomas Duffe●t promise and give, and caused to be given a●… procured, that the said Thomas Duffet, or any other by his procurati●… Testimony should give when occasion should be, that the Writing afo●…said,( viz.)( Glovers Lease for 56 years) was false and counterfeit; a●… for the fuller reward of such Witness and Testimony 350 l. w●… by the said John Ireton and George Johnson put in a certain Trunk be disposed and paid according to a certain Agreement between one Jac●… Holton on the part of the said Thomas Duffet, and the said Geor●… Johnson had, for and in Reward of such Witness and Testimony manner and form following, viz. March the 17th. 1676. Midlesex. Now it appeared up●… trial, by these Letters H. G J. and G. B. were s●…nified the Names of J●… Holton, George Johnson, a●… George Benon; which Geo●… Benon nevertheless kn●… nothing of the Design, ●…ly was made use of, t●… better to hid the oth●… Combination. It is agreed between J. H. and G. J. that the Sum of 350 l. this day put into a little black Trunk, and locked up and left in the hands of G. B. the Key whereof is left in the hands of G. J. and the same 350 l. is there to remain until the several things hereafter-mentioned be performed. 1. That on or before the first day of Trinity Term next the said G. J. at his charge shall obtain a Pardon from His Majesty for such person as J. H. shall within two day●… after the date hereof, nominate, or in default thereof 50 l. of th●… said 350 l. on the said first day of Trinity Term shall be paid to th●… said J. H. for him to be disposed of as he shall think fit, and the r●… due returned to the said G. J.— 2. That an Action of Trespass, ●… r Trespass in Ejectment shall as of Hilary Term last, be brought by ●… r Robert Cotton Baronet, in the name of his nominal Lessee to ●… y the Title of several Houses and Lands, or both, lying near the ●… ld and NewGravel-Lanes in Wapping; so as a trial may be had in ●… is Majesty's Court of Kings-Bench at Westminster, in or before the ●… nd of Trinity Term next, if not hindered by the Court.— 3. That ●… t the said trial, the several Writings, and other things mentioned ●… n the Paper annexed, to be by Oath, or Oaths of one or more Wit●… ess or Witnesses to be admitted by the Judge, or Judges, before whom the trial shall be had, proved to be false, forged, and coun●… erfeited: that then, and in such case the said 350 l. to be paid and ●… elivered to the said J. H. and by him to be disposed of as he shall think fit, whether a Verdict pass for, or against the Plaintiff. 4. That within 4 days after the Pardon obtained, and shewed to the said J. H. such person, or persons, as can conscientiously prove the Writings and other things in the Paper annexed mentioned, shall make Oath thereof before one of the Judges of the said Court; and be examined upon Interrogatories to be exhibited in the High Court of Chancery, in a Cause there depending between James Bryan Esq; and Dame Theodosia his Wife Plaintiffs, and the said Sir Robert Cotton and others Defendants, to prove the said Writings to be, as in the said Paper annexed is expressed, if the said G. J. shall desire the same.— 5. That if by the means, occasion, or discovery of such person, or persons, as shall be produced at the said trial, or any other on his, or their behalf, or with his, or their assent, consent, or privity, he or they shall not be admitted to be a good Witness, or Witnesses, to prove the Deeds and Writings to be as in the said Paper ●… nnexed is expressed; that then and thereupon the said 350 l. shall be paid and delivered to the said G. J. if then living; and if dead, then to such person, or persons as he by writing under his hand in his life time shall have appointed.— 6. That if by the means, occasion, or discovery of the said G. J. or any other person, or persons interested in the said trial, or any person by, or with his, their, or any of their assent, consent, or privity, shall do, say, or commit any act, matter, or thing, whereby such person, or persons, who shall be produced at the said trial, to prove the Writings, and other things to be as in the Paper hereto affixed is expressed, having before then made Oath thereof as before is mentioned, shall not be admitted a●… a Witness, or Witnesses by the said Court; that then, and in such cas●… the said 350 l. to be paid and delivered to the said J. H. if the living; and if dead, then to such person, or persons, as he by writin●… under his hand in his life time shall have appointed. J. H. G. J. The Schedul●… Annexed to th●… Articles. 1. That a Lease for about sixty years more or l●ss upon payment of a Red-Rose each Midsummer for Lands at Wapping, be Counterfeited, and also two or three Leases more. 2. A Map of the same Lands Counterfeited by another that was a true one, wherein the Names were altered. 3. Tha●… a Bond of 10000 l. as entred into by Sir Thomas ivy to his Ladie●… Trustees, Forged, the Seal also Forged, where and by whom Cut●… with sergeant Bramston's Hand as a witness. 4. Articles of agreement between Sir Thomas ivy and a woman to Prostitute her self for some consideration, Forged. 5. Articles of agreement between Sir Thomas ivy and his Lady, forged. 6. Several Letters from Sir Thomas to his Lady, forged. 7. Seven Affidavits of several persons against Sir Thomas, with the Masters in Chancery's name before whom sworn, forged. 8. A Rent-Roll in Parchment, rolled up long and very old, of Stepkins's Estate at Wapping, wherein five pounds was made received for a Quarters Rent, and subscribed by Francis Watkins, forged. 9. The manner how all this was done, and a witness name who saw several, if not all before-mentioned whilst writing, and knows as well as the Scrivener, that it was by the advice and direction of my Lady ivy. 10. A Book of accounts of Receipts and disbursements by way of Stewardship in a little Book about half-written through, being accounts for two years or thereabouts, every quarter summed up by itself, for his Rent at Wapping, Tho' Whitfield subscribed at the making up every account, forged. 11. A Bond in a piece of Parchment, the Sum forgot, the condition( as well as can be remembered,) to pay a certain Sum to another, when the said Stepkin recovered such an Estate as before-mentioned, from a person therein name, forged. 12. The last bound Book of accounts and Rent-Roll, forged just before, or in Michaelmas Term last, By order and direction aforesaid; and the Ink with which written, produced. 13. That the person who writ some of the Deeds, was wanting that morning the trial was; and the Lady 〈…〉 ●… f he could not be found, it would be 10000 l. damage, and the trial lost. 14. That the writer of those Deeds hath been employed by this Lady to counterfeit other Deeds. J. H. G. J. Thus was the Plot laid close and deep, and the Lady ivy as like ●… hen as ever, to suffer by the Subornation and Perjury of proffligate ●… illains, had not providence very opportunely discovered the whole ●… ystery of Iniquity; Duffet was resolved like a Whirlwind, to sweep ●… ll away, and leave none of the Ladies Deeds and Evidences with●… ut the slain of his infectious breath: But the apprehension of the ●… uilt he was to wade through, and of his being catched in his own ●… nare, so daunted his resolution, that he dropped some words before ●… he Attorney-General, which occasioned the discovery of the whole ●… ombination. For Sir Robert Cotton and he drew the two following Petitions to His Majesty, in order to get the Pardon he agreed for with Johnson, which were immediately referred to Sir William Jones ●… hen Attorney-General; but Sir William, though of council at that time against the Lady ivy, yet thinking it unreasonable to grant an absolute Pardon to any, before he made appear he deserved the Kings mercy, made the ensuing Report upon the said Petitions, which spoiled the whole contrivance. To the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY, The Humble Petition of Sir Robert Cotton, Baronet. Sheweth, THat your Petitioner being Trustee for many Widows and Fatherless Children and others, the Creditors of Sir Anthony Bateman( who oweth to them, and your Petitioner above 20000 l.] hath been at two trials at Law Evicted of an Estate of the value of Five Thousand Pounds, by virtue of several Deeds and Writings forged and counterfeited by one Thomas Duffet, who being pricked in Conscience for so wicked a Fact, hath discovered the same. Therefore Your Petitioner humbly imploreth Your Majesties Gracious Pardon for the said Thomas Duffet, that he may be capacitated to discover the Truth, and do your Petitioner Right, And Your Petitioner( as in Duty bound) shall ever Pray, &c. To the Kings Most Excellent MAJESTY. The Humble Petition of Thomas Duffet Sheweth, THat Your Petitioner at the instigation of the Devil and evil disposed Persons, hath Forged and Counterfeited several Deeds, Bonds, and other Writings; whereby the Creditors of Sir Anthony Bateman and others have been and are like to be damnified in their Estates above twenty thousand Pounds. But Your Petitioner being now pricked in Conscience, and it having pleased God to make him sensible of so grand an Offence to God Almighty and Your Majesty, is willing to discover the same, To which end that Your Petitioner may be capable to do Your Majesties Loyal and Injured Subjects Right; Your Petitioner humbly imploreth Your Majesties most Gracious Pardon for the said Offence, And Your Petitioner shall ever Pr●… At the Court at Whitehall May the 4th 1677.. HIS Majesty is Graciously pleased to refer the Consideration of this Petition to Mr. Attorney General, to Report to His Majesty how he finds the matter; together with his Opinion what may be fit for His Majesty to do in it. Whereupon His Majesty will declare His further pleasure, J. Williamson. May it please Your Majesty, I Have considered of this Petition, and am humbly of Opinion, that if Your Petitioner shall make out the Forgery, and be a means by his Discovery and Confession that the Forgery be made evident, he may thereby render himself a fit Object of Your Majesties Clemency: Wherefore I think it fit that Your Majesty do grant him a Warrant for His Pardon, but that to stay and not pass the Seal, until Your Petitioner shall by his Discovery and Evidence make out the Fact by him confessed. All which is submitted to Your Majesties Royal Pleasure. May 7th. 1677. William Jones. Now Duffet very much doubting the success of his desperate undertaking, and being still apprehensive of some danger, after he owned the pretended Forgery, till he had obtained the Kings Pardon, goes with Johnson to Sir William Jones, to know what Report he had made upon his Petition; and finding there was a Block put in his way, which he could neither, remove nor leap over, no absolute Pardon to be granted till he had made out his discovery, he grew very angry with Johnson before the Attorney General, and told him, That was none of his agreement with him. Mr. Attorney startled at this and, some other expressions to the same purpose that dropped between them in their Passion, smelled there was something more than ordinary in the Case, and no doubt a great deal of Roguery in the bottom; and therefore was so just,( though engaged then against the Lady Ivye,) as soon after to give her an account of what had happened. The Lady very much surprised at the Intelligence, inquired with all possible diligence into the matter, and in few dayes found out the Combination. For Holton being asked about it by a Friend, did freely confess the whole Contrivance; and Duffet to save his own Bacon, charged it upon Ireton and Johnson; whereupon the latter was Convicted of Subornation, the other very narrowly escaping. Thus was this wicked Plot happily discovered, and thereby so great a blow given to Ireton and his Confederates, that they never since durst come to any further trial upon that Title; though Duffet's Wife, since her Husbands death, longing for the 500 l. he was so unluckily disappointed of, boldly offered to supply his place, being resolved( since all other Trades failed her,) to Swear through thick and thin to gain an Honest Livelihood, though by the Sweat of her Conscience; which to be sure is very nice and tender, and therefore cannot well be supposed capable of wilful Perjury, though perhaps she makes no great scruple to have lived many years, and with many men in Adultery. Yet Mr. Ireton, afraid it seems of being catched a second time, as a burnt child dreads the fire, durst not all this while make use of her powerful breath, and thinking perhaps that another might prove more dextrous at palming than himself; he recommends her at last, with some other Auxiliares, to our famous Groom-Porter, who has since employed her with good success to the amazement of a great many. 'Tis no wonder indeed, especially in this Swearing Age we live in, that a Lewd, Loose Woman might be found, that would Swear any thing for Bread and Revenge; but that People of Sense and judgement should conclude the Lady Ivye Guilty upon the bare Oath of such an Evidence, and with such unlikely Circumstances, is very much to be admired. For all she Swore at the trial, was, That she saw her Husband Forge for the Lady Ivye several Deeds, and among the rest, a Lease to Glover some things 〈…〉 years ago,( and to confirm the matter, added,) That the Lady her self was so dextrous at it, that she often directed Duffet, and shew'd him how to Counterfeit such Writings. But that Glovers Lease then under Examination, or any other there produced by the Lady Ivye was forged, she had not the Confidence, though Conscience large enough to Swear it; she would not be positive, no more than the Ignoramus Doctor, for fear of being catched by the Tongue. Yet Mr. Neal thinks she has done mighty matters by Swearing these Generals, without offering any particular instance; and because she chanced to gain belief at that time with People that knew her not, not her good Qualities, he is Cock-sure of the Victory, and cries, All the Lady Ivyes Deeds are sound Counterfeit. But I am satisfied, he will e're long find his mistake, and Glovers Lease made out to the full by several persons of good Credit many years before Duffet was Married, and by some before the was Born. As for the other Leases of Carter and Roper in Philip and Mary's time, which he makes such a clamour about, because they seem mis-stil'd, whether they stand or fall, is not very Material to the Lady Ivyes Title: For I find they were not made by any of her Ancestors, but by a Tenant of the Dean of St. Pauls to his Under-Tenants, and found many years since amongst their Writings; as appears by an old Manuscript of Mr. Wtnterburns own Hand-writing, wherein he mentions all the Leases relating to the Deans Lands in Wapping from the 2 d. and 3 d. of Philip and Mary to the beginning of King Charles the First, with the several Assignments from one Tenant to another, and the Butts and Bounds of every Lease, and those of Carter and Roper recited amongst the rest. And to think the Lady Ivye so notorious a Fool( let us suppose her never so wicked) as to Forge other Peoples Leases, which made little or nothing for her purpose, when she might as well, and with a prospect of far greater Advantages, have forged some of her own, is an odd sort of a fancy. For I remember soon after the Fire, she complained to have lost several Deeds and Papers of great consequence, and in vain got them cried about the Town; which, if found, I am confident, would now be very useful to her; can any man then believe, but she would rather Counterfeit those Deeds she formerly lost, which made her Title unquestionable, than Forge other Peoples Leases very im●… nt to her pretensions? Or if she was so dextrous at Forging, as this Baggage has Sworn, was she not the maddest of Mortal●…; make use of another, that could afterwards betray her, and am●… all pitch upon one she had but lately very much disobliged? A●… was it not double maddness to make Duffet's Wife privy to the w●…edness, whose help was altogether needless? But I will make no further remarks at present, only tell you 〈…〉 Rooks are often successful in their Tricks and Legerdemains; 〈…〉 when their False Dice happen to be discovered, they are forced 〈…〉 pay for all, to their great shane and confusion. Johnson contr●… his Plot with a great deal of Art and Cunning, having it seems 〈…〉 Advice of one of our Ablest Serjeants to direct him; yet he was ca●… at last, and exposed to the World, as he deserved, for a notorious●…postor. What measures others have since taken to the like purp●… is not my business to examine; only this I can say, 'tis not unrea●…able to suspect there must be something extraordinary in the ma●… when Mr. Neal refused the Fairest Offers imaginable, made to him the Lady Ivye in order to an amicable accommodation, without●…hausting each other with endless suits at Law. First, she would refer the whole controversy to the King 〈…〉 council, with Bonds from both Parties to be concluded by T●… determination, and Security of her side, to settle on Mr. Neal, 〈…〉 case Judgement was given for her.) 500 l. per annum out of 〈…〉 Lands in question. But this being rejected, to the admiration 〈…〉 great many, she offered again to refer all, upon the same terms 〈…〉 the Judges of the Common Pleas, and of the Exchequer. And 〈…〉 also being refused, she proposed at last the same Judges with 〈…〉 Lord Keeper, and the Bishops of Canterbury, London, and Winche●… with the like Bonds to be finally concluded by their judgement; 〈…〉 to give Mr. Neal, in case she got the better, the said Sum of 50 〈…〉 per annum out of the Estate recovered. But all would not do, the Referees seemed too great to be prev●… with, and too judicious to be imposed upon by little tricks and 〈…〉 not fit to be mentioned, for one of Mr. Neal's dexterity, to su●… their arbitration; and therefore nothing will serve his turn, bu●… very dint of Law, though by his own confession vastly more cha●… able, having lately declared to some Friends, that his trial with 〈…〉 Lady ivy had cost him Fifteen Thousand Pounds; whereas by 〈…〉 old honest way of proceeding, 'tis hardly credible, it could c●… ●… e Hundred; and what the rest hath been laid out for, I leave to 〈◇〉 world to Judge. Now Sir, if upon the whole matter, this seems to you a sure Title ●… ay out your Money upon, or venture in one day, what you have ●… n gathering for so many years, I have no more to say, but leave ●… to your own discretion. For my part, if I may judge by what ●… w of the Lady Ivies Deeds and Evidences, while I was of Coun●… or her, or by all that I could since learn from persons concerned in 〈…〉 business, I can hardly believe that any thing of fair and honest ●… ling can defeat her Title. And this I can assure you, that I never ●… rd of any tricks or devices made use of by the Lady ivy to sup●… t her Cause, or run down her Adversaries; but am told of seve●… contrived by the other Party to deprive her of her Right; As their ●… ainous contrivance before-mentioned, managed by their Agent ●… nson: Their keeping the Ladies Writings for several days after 〈…〉 trial was over, till they had got Copies of all: Their at●… pting to raze some of her Deeds, that they might afterwards ●… ar them forged; a plain argument they could not otherwise dis●… ve them: Their reporting that the Lady ivy had sent a present of 〈…〉 guineas to my Lady Jeffriys, in order to gain my Lord Chief ●… tices favour; which being no less an affront upon his Lordship, ●… n a malicious calumny upon the Lady ivy, I am sorry the Story ●… not been further enquired into, and the Authors punished as they ●… rv'd; for I am satisfied, and my Lord Chief Justice himself can ●… the Lady ivy never did either by her self, or by any other make such application for his Lordships favour: But as she was ever of the justness of her Cause, so she did not in the least mistrust his ●… dships Justice and Integrity; though her Adversaries were so impu●… as to report( which no doubt is but such another malicious inven●… as the former, and coined by the same Party) that they had him sure ●… heir side: And to omit several other Stratagems, their buzzing 〈…〉 King, that unless the Lady ivy be discountenanced, and her Deeds ●… ved counterfeit, she will go near to recover a Hundred Thousand ●… nds a year; whereas 'tis plain she never claimed the fifth, and I ●… onfident, would quit all for the tenth part of that Sum; besides, no honest man will think it just, to deprive any of his right, be e he has a Title to too great an Estate. But to leave these things to be examined in their proper place, t●… you may not think, instead of giving you a Friendly advice, I t●… the Ladies part, in whose Cause I am altogether unconcerned, I will 〈…〉 no more at present, but wish you prudence and caution enough 〈…〉 look to your own advantage and security; and whatever you 〈…〉 believe that I am still, what I always professed to be, December 8th. 1684. Dear Sir, Your Real Humble Servant, P. D. Reader, HAving some days since by mere accident got a sight of this L●… ter, and being extremely pleased with the Contents, because●… ving my Ears stuffed above this half year past, with Mr. Neal's clamou●… I found a great deal more in these Sheets, than I believed either the La●… her self, or any Friend of hers had to say in her behalf; I prevai●… by much ado with the Gentleman it was sent to, it being no private b●… ness, to let me take a Copy on't: And because I fancy others have b●… imposed upon as well as myself, by whispers, and and false suggestio●… to undeceive all such, and to vindicate Truth and Justice, I though●… not amiss to make the Letter public, that the World may Judge o●… as well as Yours L. T.