ring
the said William Harrison on the 16th day of August, 1660. Upon the last
indictment, the judge of the assizes, Sir C. T., would not try them,
because the body was not found; but they were then tried upon the other
indictment for robbery, to which they pleaded not guilty. But someone
whispering behind them, they soon pleaded guilty, humbly begging the
benefit of his Majesty's gracious pardon and Act of Oblivion,[109] which
was granted them. But though they pleaded guilty to their indictment,
being thereunto promised (as probable) by some who are unwilling to lose
time and trouble the Court with their trial as the Act of Oblivion
pardoned them; yet they all afterwards and at their death, denied that
they were guilty of that robbery, or that they knew who did it. Yet at
his assize, as several credible persons have affirmed, John Perry still
persisted in his story that his mother and brother had murdered his
master, and further added that they had attempted to poison him in gaol,
so that he durst neither eat nor drink with them.

At the next assizes, which was held the Spring following, John, Joan and
Richard Perry were by the then judge of assize, Sir B. H., tried upon
the indictment of murder, and pleaded thereunto severally not guilty.
And when John's confession before the Justice was proved, _viva voce_,
by several witnesses who heard the same, he told them he was then mad
and knew not what he said. The other two, Richard and Joan Perry, said
they were wholly innocent of what they were accused, and that they knew
nothing of Mr. Harrison's death, nor what was become of him; and Richard
said that his brother had accused others as well as him of having
murdered his master, which the judge bidding him prove, he said that
most of those who had given evidence against him knew it, but naming
none, nor did any speak to it. And so the jury found them all three
guilty.

Some few days after being brought to the place of their execution, which
was on Broadway Hill, in sight of Campden, the mother, who was reputed a
witch and to have bewitched her sons, so that they would confess nothing
while she lived, was executed first. After which, Richard being upon the
ladder, professed as he had done all along that he was wholly innocent
of the fact for which he was then to die, and that he knew nothing of
Mr. Harrison's death, nor what was become of him, and did with great
earnestness beg and beseech his brother, for the satisfaction