Part 37

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Let him but tell the truth, and I shall be satisfied.

DUNNE--Sure my lord, I never entertained these men a night in my house in my life; but this Hicks sent that man to me to go to my lady Lisle's, to know whether she would please to entertain him; and when I came my lady asked me whether he had been in the army or no? I told her I could not tell, I did not know that he was. She then asked me if he had nobody else with him? I told her I believed there was. This is the very truth of it, my lord. I asked her might the men be entertained? She said they might. So when we came to my lady Lisle's on the Tuesday night, somebody took the two horses, I cannot tell who if I were to die; the two went in; and after I had set up my horse, I went in along with Carpenter up into the chamber to my lady, and to this Hicks and Nelthorp; and when I came there, I heard my lady bid them welcome to her house; and Mr. Carpenter or the maid, I cannot tell which, brought in the supper, and set it on the table.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--And didst thou eat or drink with them in the room or not?

DUNNE--My lord, I will tell everything that I know; I confess I did both eat and drink there in the room.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--I pity thee with all my soul and pray to God Almighty for thee, to forgive thee, and to the Blessed Jesus to mediate for thee; and I pray for thee with as much earnestness, as I would for my own soul; and I beg of thee once more, as thou regardest thy own eternal welfare, to tell all the truth.

DUNNE--My lord, I did never know these men were in the army when I carried the message to my lady Lisle's, nor never did entertain them in my house in my life time, so much as one night.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Prithee, I do not ask thee what thou didst not, but what thou didst?

DUNNE--My lord, I will tell all I know.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--What discourse had you that night at the table in the room?

DUNNE--I cannot tell what discourse truly, my lord, there was.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Was there nothing of coming beyond seas, who came from thence, and how they came? Come I would have it rather the effect of thy own ingenuity, than lead thee by any questions I can propound; come tell us what was the discourse?

DUNNE--I do not remember all the discourse.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Prithee let me ask thee one question, and answer me it fairly; didst thou hear Nelthorp's name named in the room?

DUNNE--My lord, I cannot tell whether he were called Nelthorp, but it was either Crofts or Nelthorp, I am sure one of them.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Prithee, be ingenious, and let us have the truth on it.

DUNNE--My lord, I am ingenious and will be so.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--I will assure you Nelthorp told me all the story before I came out of town.

DUNNE--I think, my lord, he was called Nelthorp in the room, and there was some discourse about him.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Ay, there was unquestionably, and I know thou wert by, and that made me the more concerned to press upon thee the danger of forswearing thyself.

DUNNE--My lady asked Hicks who that gentleman was, and he said it was Nelthorp, as I remember.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Very well, and upon that discourse with Nelthorp, which I had in town, did I give particular direction, that the outlawry of Nelthorp should be brought down hither, for he told me particularly of all the passages and discourses of his being beyond sea: I would not mention any such thing as any piece of evidence to influence this case, but I could not but tremble to think, after what I knew, that any one should dare so much to prevaricate with God and man, as to tell such horrid lyes in the face of a Court.

DUNNE--What does your lordship ask me?

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Come I will ask thee a plain question; was there no discourse there about the battle, and of their being in the army?

DUNNE--There was some such discourse, my lord.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Ay, prithee now tell us what that discourse was.

DUNNE--My lord, I will tell you, when I have recollected it, if you will give me time till to-morrow morning.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE--Nay, but we cannot stay so long, our business must be dispatched now; but I would have all people consider, what a reason there is, that they should be pressed to join with me in hearty prayers to Almighty God, that this sin of lying and perjury may never be laid at thy door. What say'st thou? Prithee, tell us what the discourse was?

DUNNE--My lord, they did talk of fighting, but I cannot exactly tell what the discourse was.