MRS. STAFFORD--Sir John hired me for a housekeeper in London, and told me he had a great many servants, and he wanted a housekeeper. When he brought me down, he ordered me to his seat at Tockington; where, he said, he had a great deal of company frequently. When I came there, I found there was nothing in what he had told me; for, instead of a great many servants, he had but one: a poor old shattered house, ready to tumble down about one's ears, and the household goods all to pieces: he was a madman, for if I had followed his directions in any thing I should have done mischief. He hath sent me and the rest of his servants to Thornbury market, when there was none; he hath ringed the bell to call his servants to come to his bedside to him, and when we have come up to him, he hath asked us, what we did there? Sir, said I, you called me up; he hath said he did not: and after we had been there a quarter of an hour, he would take a knife, fork, glass-bottle, or anything that came in his way, to throw at us, asking of us, What did we come to rob him? And I was afraid of my life, to live with him. I do believe he was a madman, or else he would never have acted as he did; he would go into the kitchen, and take the pot, and hang it on the fire. I style him a madman by his actions. VERNON--And must he therefore be hanged himself like a mad dog, think you? MRS. STAFFORD--I know nothing of that, Sir. VERNON--How long did you live with sir John? MRS. STAFFORD--Three months, Sir. GOODERE--Call Mr. Robert Cock. THE RECORDER--What do you call him to prove? GOODERE--My lord, in order to prove sir John Dineley a lunatic. Mr. Cock, will you give an account to my lord and the jury what you know of the lunacy of sir John Dineley? _Robert Cock, sworn._ COCK--My lord, I have known Mr. Dineley at Charlton for some years; I have been several times in his company; I have seen him do several acts of lunacy, as a madman. VERNON--Where do you live? COCK--I live in Cumberland, when I am at home. VERNON--Are you of any business? COCK--I am an officer belonging to his majesty. VERNON--What kind of officer? COCK--A salt officer. GOODERE--I will not give your lordship and the jury much more trouble. I am entirely innocent; they have not proved that I was present at the death of sir John Dineley. THE RECORDER--Don't deceive yourself; though they have not proved you was actually in the cabin, when sir John was murdered, yet they have given evidence of that, which (if the jury give credit to) will amount to presence in the eye of the law. GOODERE--I shall now call some witnesses to my character, and likewise to shew how improbable it is that I should be guilty of the murder of my brother.