The other day, an odd accidental discovery was made; some of the Duke’s baggage, which he did not want, was sent back from Scotland, with a bill of the contents.  Soon after, -.another large parcel, but not specified in the bill, was brought to the captain, directed like the rest.  When they came to the Custom-house here, it was observed, and they sent to Mr. Poyntz,(1185) to know what they should do:  be bade them open it, suspecting some trick; but when they did, they found a large crucifix, copes, rich vestments, beads, and heaps of such like trumpery, consigned from the titulary primate of Scotland, who is with the rebels:  they imagine, with the privity of some of the vessels, to be conveyed to somebody here in town.

Now I am telling you odd events, I must relate one of the strangest I ever heard.  Last week, an elderly woman gave information against her maid for coining, and the trial came on at the Old Bailey.  The mistress deposed, that having been left a widow several years ago, with four children, and no possibility of maintaining them, she had taken to coining:  that she used to buy old pewter-pots, out Of each of which she made as many shillings, etc. as she could put off for three pounds, and that by this practice she had bred up her children, bound them out apprentices, and set herself up in a little shop, by which she got a comfortable livelihood; that she had now given over coining, and indicted her maid as accomplice.  The maid in her defence said, “That when her mistress hired her, she told her that she did something up in a garret into which she must never inquire:  that all she knew of the matter was, that her mistress had often given her moulds to clean, which she did, as it was her duty:  that, indeed, she had sometimes seen pieces of pewter-pots cut, and did suspect her mistress of coining; but that she never had had, or put off; one single piece of bad money.”  The judge asked the mistress if this was true; she answered, “Yes; and that she believed her maid was as honest a creature as ever lived; but that, knowing herself in her power, she never could be at peace; that she knew,-by informing, she should secure herself; and not doubting but the maid’s real innocence would appear, she concluded the poor girl would come to no harm.”  The judge flew into the greatest rage; told her he wished he could stretch the law to hang her, and feared he could not bring off the maid for having concealed the crime; but, however, the jury did bring her in not guilty.  I think I never heard a more particular instance of parts and villainy.

I inclose a letter for Stosch, which was left here with a scrap of paper, with these words; “Mr. Natter is desired to send the letters for Baron de Stosch, in Florence, by Mr. H. W.”  I don’t know who Mr. Natter(1186) is, nor who makes him this request, but I desire Mr. Stosch will immediately put an end to this method of correspondence; for I shall not risk my letters to you by containing his, nor will I be post to such a dirty fellow.