Part 14 (1/2)
LORD HIGH STEWARD--While this witness gets round, if your lords.h.i.+p has any other witness ready to stand up, pray let him be called.
EARL OF WARWICK--To prove the kindness between capt. Coote and me, I desire col. Blisset may be called. [Who stood up.]
LORD HIGH STEWARD--What is it your lords.h.i.+p asks this witness or calls him to?
EARL OF WARWICK--To testify what he knows of any kindness or unkindness between capt. Coote and me; whether he has not been often in our company?
LORD HIGH STEWARD--Have you been often in company with my lord of Warwick and capt. Coote?
COLONEL BLISSET--Yes, my lord, I was very well acquainted with both of them for a twelve-month past before this accident and I have often been in their company, and always observed that there was a great deal of friends.h.i.+p and kindness between them.
EARL OF WARWICK--My lord, I desire he may tell any particular instance that he knows or can remember.
COLONEL BLISSET--I remember when capt. Coote had his commission in the regiment of guards, he was complaining of the streightness of his circ.u.mstances; he was to pay for his commission 400 guineas, and said he had but 300 for to pay for it: and my lord of Warwick did then say to him, do not trouble yourself about that, or let not that disturb you, for I will take care you shall have 100 guineas, and he said he would give order to his steward to pay him so much; and I was told afterwards that he did so.
EARL OF WARWICK--I desire he may tell, if he knows of any other particular instances of my friends.h.i.+p to Mr. Coote?
COLONEL BLISSET--Once when he was arrested by his taylor for 13, my lord lent him five guineas, and used very frequently to pay his reckoning for him.
EARL OF WARWICK--I desire he may tell, if he knows any thing else; and whether he has not lain at my lodgings, and particularly but some small time before this accident happened.
COLONEL BLISSET--About ten days before this unhappy accident happened, I was at my lord of Warwick's lodgings, and when I came there I found capt. Coote a-dressing himself; and I asked him how that came to pa.s.s, and they told me they had been up late together, and that he had sent home for his man to dress himself there, upon which I did observe that they had been a-rambling together over night; and there was a very great familiarity between them.
EARL OF WARWICK--Did you observe any quarrel between us?
COLONEL BLISSET--No, none at all; I never knew of any quarrel between my lord of Warwick and capt. Coote, but I observed there was a particular kindness between them; and a great deal of friends.h.i.+p I know my lord of Warwick shewed to him, in paying of reckonings for him, and lending him money when he wanted.
EARL OF WARWICK--My lord, I desire he may be asked, whether he does not know that capt. Coote was straitened for money?
COLONEL BLISSET--I did hear capt. Coote say, that he had not received any thing from his father for 13 months, and his father was angry with him, and would not send him any supply, because he would not consent to cut off the entail, and settle two or three hundred pounds upon a wh.o.r.e he had.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray, Sir, will you consider with yourself, and though you are not upon your oath, answer the questions truly, for you are obliged to speak the truth, though you are not sworn, whenever you come to give your testimony in a court of judicature; pray, acquaint my n.o.ble lords here, whether you did never hear my lord Warwick complain of capt. Coote?
COLONEL BLISSET--No, I never did hear him complain of him.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Did you never hear the least word of any quarrel between them?
COLONEL BLISSET--No, indeed, I did never hear of any quarrel between them.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Did you never hear of any unkindness at all?
COLONEL BLISSET--No, indeed, my lord, not I: I never so much as heard of the least unkindness whatsoever.
LORD HIGH STEWARD--Well then, my lord, who do you call next?
EARL OF WARWICK--Now colonel Stanhope is here, I desire he may be asked the same question, whether he does not know the particular friends.h.i.+p that was between capt. Coote and me, and what instances he can give of it?
LORD HIGH STEWARD--You are to consider, Sir, though you are not upon your oath you are in a great court, and under no less restriction to testify the truth, and nothing but the truth: You hear what my n.o.ble lord asks you.
COLONEL STANHOPE--My lord, I have known my lord of Warwick and capt Coote for about a twelve-month, and I did perceive that they did always profess a great kindness for one another.