THis Informant saith, that about Seven or Eight Years since, Mr. Arthur Fox, (then Servant to the Present Lord Aston) came to him, and to another of his Friends, and told them that there was a Ba­stard-Child laid to his charge, by one of his Lords Tenants Daughters, and did acknow­ledge to them that he did several Times lie with her, and that by the best computation of Time he could make, he had just grounds to believe that she had done him no wrong in this her charge, and that he verily believed himself to be the Father of the Child, and therefore came to them as his particular Friends, for their advice in the case, how to prevent the noise and scandal and great charge that was like to ensue hereupon, and desired them to treat with the Young Womans Father and Mother about it, and to offer them a certain Summ of Mony to free him from all future charge from, or by reason of this business.

In Pursuance of this request, this Informant and his Friend addressed themselves to the Young Woman, and to her Father and Mother. The [Page 2]Young Woman with the greatest Asseverations and Protestations did affirm that she had never lain with any man whatever, but the said Mr. Fox, and that he was the real Father of the Child; then they came to a Treaty with her Fa­ther about ascertaining the charge, and agreed that Mr. Fox, should Pay Thirty Pounds, to be for ever discharged from the said Child, Part of which Summ was accordingly Paid.

When they returned to Mr. Fox, and had ac­quainted him what Agreement they had made for him, with the Father and Mother of the Young Woman, he seemed exceeding well satisfied there­with, and returned them many Thanks, owning himself very much obliged to them both, for their great care and pains in transacting this Affair for him, and bringing it to an issue, so much to his content.

Mr. Eures the Priest belonging to the Lord Aston's House, was abroad whilst this business was in agitation, but returning in few days before all the said 30 l. was paid, was informed by Mr. Fox himself what agreement was made for him by this Informant and his Friend as aforesaid.

Mr. Eures having thus understood the whole case, told Mr. Fox, that what he had done was not sufficient to take off the Scandal from their Church; for to his know­ledg this story was much talked of abroad, and that with very severe Reflections upon the Roman Catholicks in general; and there­fore [Page 3]as his Ghostly Father, he would advise him what was to be done in order to the taking off so great a scandal from their Church, and added, that he had consult­ed Mr. Peters, another Priest, about it; and that they were come to a Resolve what method should be used; and therefore required him to prepare himself for Con­fession.

Accordingly Mr. Fox came to Confession to the said Mr. Evers, and owned the whole matter as aforesaid; then Mr. Evers told him again, he still continuing upon his knees, that the Scandal that was hereby brought to their Church and Religion, was very great, and therefore for the taking it off, and preventing further scandal for the future to their Church, to my Lord Aston, or to himself, Mr. Peters and he had agreed upon this course, viz. That he should go immediately to his Lord Aston, and on his knees before his Lord and Lady, with solemn Oaths and Asseverations, deny that he ever had any thing to do with the said young Woman in that nature; and that he was altogether inno­cent of the Crime laid to his Charge; and that af­ter this he should go up to the Chapel where the Congregation was met, and there in like manner deny it, with the like Asseperations; and to con­firm them in the belief of the Truth of it, he should then before them receive the Sacrament. When Mr. Evers had finished these Instructions, he gave him Absolution before he rose from his [Page 4]knees, telling him, That if he observed these Instructions, he was absolved from the said Crime, and therefore Innocent of it altogether and might so declare himself as aforesaid. And for his further Penance, he enjoyn'd him to visit the Chappel once a day for the space of a a month next following, and to say such Prayers as he should particularly direct therein: All which Instructions in every parti­cular the said Mr. Fox punctually observed. His Friend aforesaid being in the Chappel when the things enjoyn'd were done, viz. when he disowned the Face with solemn Oaths, and received the Sacrament upon it; and did the Penance enjoyced him.

After this Mr. Forces other Friend that had assisted in composing the Affair with the Father and Mother, came to him, to know what care was taken about the Pay­ment of the Moneys, because he stood engaged for it, and supposed he should be called upon for it; to which Mr. Fox answered, That what he had done since that Agreement was by Mr. Evers his order, nor should he do any thing else but by his advice; upon which his Friend repairs to Mr. Evers, and desires to know of him what they intended to do, and when the money should be paid; Mr. Evers an­swered, That what Mr. Fox had done in reference to the denying of the Fact, was done upon nature deliberation, and good advice; and that it was the best way [Page 5]that could possibly be proposed in that Affair, and that he should not need fur­ther to concern or trouble himself about it; his Friend then told Mr. Evers, that he stood engaged for the moneys, having promised to see it paid. and that he was therefore in danger of being sued for it; to which Mr. Evers replies, that he would take such effectual care about it, with the Lord Aston, that he should not suffer thereby, and so he did, as appeared by the sequel; for the Lord Aston soon after sent for the Father and Mother of the Young Woman, and told them, that if they did not desist from spreading such a Re­port, that Mr. Fox was the Father of the said Child, he would ruine them, to which the Father answered, That it was not in his power to stop the said Report; nor was it any thing but Truth, and Mr. Fox himself had confessed, that he was the Father of the Child; at which refusal the Lord was very much incensed, and presently ordered him to be deprived of several Profits that he enjoyed, as one of his Lordships Tenants and Servants.