eglects & Delays of
the Sheriff, tho' grounded upon a single Information; as likewise
that I am made instrumental in the justifying as well as accusing
the Conduct of the Sheriff; That the complaints of the Messenger
were without any foundation; & that every thing was done by the
Sheriff that was consistent with a cautious Magistrate.

I shall in obedience to your Grace's commands return the
Examinations to you.

I am, etc.,

EDWD. PAUNCEFORT.

IX. MR. WISE TO MR. SHARPE, SOLICITOR TO THE TREASURY.

(State Papers, Dom. (George II.) Bundle 116, No. 36.)

[No date.]

Sir,--I was favoured with yr two last letters, and also with yr
answer to my letter of the 24th Novr. last, wch I acknowledged in
another letter wch I wrote to you from Mr. Aldworths at Stanlake,
wherein I gave you an Acct. of a Threatening Letter from Cranstoun
to Betty Binfield, and wch I find you had sent up to you by Lord
Macclesfield. On Receipt of your last I set out yesterday morning to
Ld. Macclesfields, where I lay, and came this day to Oxford, and
immediately on my arrival went to the Castle where I found Miss
Blandy with the very same Iron on her Leg wch I saw rivetted on
myself when last here, and wch I now believe has never been off
since, for her leg is considerably swelled, and the Red Cloth wch
was round the Iron before has been cut off to give her room, but it
is still so close, as renders it impossible to be slipt over her
Heel. I also find by what I saw myself and by the Report of a
Gentleman or two in whom I can confide, that Wisdom has kept a much
stricter Guard over Miss Blandy ever since I was here before than he
used to do, and that she has not been permitted to walk in the
Garden once since. However I repeated the contents of your letter to
him, and remonstrated how very absurd it wd be in him now, not to
continue ye strictest watch over a person whose Trial will be made a
Matter of so great Consequence to the Publick, and on whose safe
custody, for that purpose, his future character & Livelihood would
intirely depend. I also sent for Mrs. Deane (the person who is with
Miss Blandy) into the Room with Wisdom, and told her that it would
be impossible for Miss Blandy to make an Escape without her Privity
& Assistance, and that if such a thing shd happen, not only the
Goaler wd be answerable for what ever Act she did towards it, But
that she hersel