The Notorious Impostor and Diego Redivivus Part 3

_Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the presence of us, with the words_ (Will. Wickham) _being first interlined_, Rob. Smith, Jo.

Chapman, Rich. Chapman, Mart. Pinckard.

_I, the above-named_ Humphrey Wickham, _having omitted out of my Will above-mentioned, the Disposition of my Estate in_ Huntingtonshire, _do hereby make this Addition to, and part of my said Will, in manner following: I give and bequeath all my Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, called_ Pryor'_s Farm, and all other my Estate in_ Holly-well _and_ Needingworth, _unto the above-named_ John Brooking, William Davis senior, _and_ Tho. Cullin senior, _and the Survivor of them, and their Heirs, and the Heirs of the Survivor of them, under this special Trust and Confidence, that the said_ Jo. Brooking, William Davis, _and_ Thomas Cullin, _shall sell and dispose of the same; and out of the Moneys thereby raised, pay, or cause to be paid the respective Legacies hereafter named_; viz. _I give and bequeath to_ Humphrey Longford _the sum of six hundred pounds, and to his Sister_ Mary Longford _the like sum of six hundred pounds_.

Item, _I give and bequeath unto the said_ Tho. Cullin _Sen. the further Sum of_ 800 l. _and all the Remainder of the Moneys thereby raised, I give and bequeath unto the said_ Will. Davis _Sen. and_ Jane _his Wife, and the Survivor of them_.

Item, _Whereas I have by Will above-said, given unto_ John Cullin, _Son of the said_ Thomas Cullin, _the impropriated Parsonage of_ Sowgrave; _my true meaning is, That I do give and devise the same to the said_ John Cullin, _and his Heirs for ever. In Witness whereof, I the said_ Humphrey Wickham _have to this Codicil Addition, or further part of my said Will, set my Hand and Seal, this Twenty eighth Day of_ December, _Anno Dom._ 1691.

Humphrey Wickham.

_Signed, Sealed, Published, and Declared, in the Presence of us_, Robert Smith, John Chapman, Rich. Chapman, Martin Pinkard. Probatum fuit, _&c._

This stupendious confidence of a dying man is very amazing, nay he drove on the Masquerade at that strange rate, that he may be truly said to have ended as he began, having received the blessed Sacrament, pretended the settlement of his Conscience, and making peace with Heaven with that seeming sincerity, as if he had resolved to prevaricate with G.o.d with the same a.s.surance he had all along done with Mankind. The credulity of these deluded persons his Landlord, and the rest, is not much to be wonder'd at, when the last Gasps of Death could carry so fair an Hypocrisie, and their Transports for his extravagant Legacies bequeathed 'em are rather to be pittied then rediculed. And if they have been faulty in any little over-fondness of their imaginary good fortune, the Jests and Gibes they have received, have been their sufficient punishment; besides Mr. _Cullin's_ being run out of above 30_l._

After his Death care was taken to provide him a Coffin of about 10_l._ value, and the Embalmers were paid for some of their Office of preserving him sweet, till preparations for a solemn and sumptuous Funeral could be made, suitable to the remains of the honourable Deceased. And this Letter was sent as follows.

_Sir_,

These serve to inform you that _Humphrey Wickham_ Esquire of _Swaclift_ in the County of _Oxon_ died this morning at my House where he has been about ten days; He has made his Will, and you are one of his Executors with me and others; A very great share of his Estate is given to you; therefore pray Sir speed to _London_, that we may take care of his Funeral and other matters necessary to be done upon this occasion.

I think it may not be amiss that you keep this private, lest any thing may be Purloyned or Imbezelled by any of the deceaseds Servants, or any else at his Seat at _Swaclift_, which is all given to you, some Legacies thereout to be paid; I am, Sir,

_Your Servant_

Tho. Cullin.

London 3. January 169-1/2. From my House at the Wheat-sheaf near St. _Clements_ Church over against _Arundel_ Street. _Strand_.

To Mr. _William Wickham_ of _Gazington_ inquire at the Blew Boars Head in _Oxon_.

_These following Lines were inclosed from the aforesaid Executors in the said Letter being left by the deceased._

Whereas, I _Humphrey Wickham_ Esquire, in Company with my own man _John Harbert_, _and John Austin_, Son of _Nich. Austin_, did carry a black Hoggs Skin Trunk, marked with the Letters

_H. W._ 1688.

Wherein are the Deeds of my Estate at _Sowgrave_ and _Apple-tree Ducy_; these are to desire you to deliver them to the Executors, signed with his own Name, thus

_Humphrey Wickham_

_Memorandum_, there are two Mortgages in the hands of _Austin_, the one for 1400_l._ and the other for 400_l._ In the name of _Oliver Charles_, in the hands of Mr. _Ambrose Holbech_.

In answer to this Letter came a Gentleman from _Oxford_ to tell Mr.

_Cullin_, that the Christian name of this Mr. _Wickham_ of _Gazington_ was mistaken, which gave the first Alarm of an Imposture, otherwise Horse and Mourning had been provided to have carried him down to _Swackley_ for his Interment there.

Mr. _Cullin_ being not over apt to believe himself cheated, but more to satisfie the rest of the World, sent down a Messenger to _Swackley_, with fifteen shillings in his Pocket, mounted upon a poor Hackney, but ordered to return upon the Bright Bay Gelding bequeathed him in his Will; being not convinced of the Delusion till his Messengers Return notwithstanding several persons of Reputation had declared him a counterfeit; & Major _Richardson_ and Mr. _Compton_ had both inspected the Corps, and averred him to be the very man formerly Judged for six Wives as before mentioned, and more than once their Prisoner in Newgate.

The Messenger returning _Tuesday_ the 12th of _January_ he brought a Compliment to the Executors from Captain _Wickham_, (who had treated the Messenger very civilly,) to this effect; that he gave 'em his hearty thanks for their intended kindness to him, and if they would please to come to _Swackley_ for a Month or more they should be very welcome, and have the use of all the Geldings, _viz._ the Black, the Bright Bay, and Dapple Grey, tho he could not well part with 'em for good and all.

Upon this full satisfaction received, about three the next Morning with no more than a Watchman and a Lanthorn in a Coffin of four shillings price, he was laid in Earth in a Nook of St. _Clements_ Churchyard.

Postscript.

The Nurse and a.s.sistants that attended him in his sickness now call to mind, that they once or twice observed him to laugh to himself very pleasantly, which they suppose proceeded from the pleasure he took in cheating the World he was then just upon leaving.

_FINIS._

_DIEGO REDIVIVUS:_

or the

Last WILL

AND

TESTAMENT

Of the Pretended

_Humphrey Wickham_, Esq;

Alias WILLIAM MORREL, alias BOWYER, &c.

WITH A Full RELATION of his Notorious CHEATS and IMPOSTURES: Who dyed at Mr. _Cullins_ House, the Third of this Instant _January_, in the Parish of St. _Clement Danes_, &c.

_LICENSED and Entred in the REGISTER-BOOK of the Company of Stationers._

_LONDON_, Printed for _Abel Roper_, at the _Mitre_ near _Temple-Bar_.

1692.

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT.

This is to give notice, That the Fine COFFIN, mentioned in the following Relation, is to be sold in _Shipyard_, without _Temple-bar_.

_The Last_ Will _and_ Testament _of the pretended_ Humphrey Wickham _Esq_; _alias_ William Morrel, _alias_ Bowyer, _&c. with Annotations thereupon_.