Crosby Son of Sir Thomas Crosby a Member of the late Kings Parliament in Ireland was educated in Dublin College and left that Society to carry Intelligence into France From thence through Flanders and England he return'd into Ireland and under the Disguise of a Williamite contributed his utmost to the Destruction of his Native Country till the Seisure of his Letters discover'd him and made him a Prisoner but being admitted to Bail he lest his Security in the Lurch and escaped into France and his former Management of Affairs gave him so much Credit at St. Germans that the Revival of the Plot for an Invasion Insurrection and Rebellion was at last solely committed to his Management November 1693 to the great Satisfaction of the Party he lands in England brings Collonel Parker again out of Lancashire to London revives their former Cabals and adds fresh Life and Vigour to their drooping Spirits Jacobite Meetings are now more frequent and numerous in order to draw up such Proposals as might satisfy the Court of France that the Conquest of England was both practicable and easy I have now shew'd you by what means they were carrying on the Invasion and must now leave Mr. Crosby at his Work in collecting the Sentiments of the Jacobites and putting them into such a Method as might perswade the French King to assist them with Men and Arms to restore the late King and return to the Assassination Plot which always preceded or kept Pace with the Invasion And this calls me back to one of the first Contrivers of it The Lord Melfort who had still some small share in the Management of public Affairs finding his Interest sinking proportionably with the hopes of conquering England resolves to recover his former Credit by pushing on the Assassination of King William by any Methods that would effect it To this end his old Confidents Collonel Parker * Vid Mr. La Rue's Depositions at Charnocks Tryal and Johnson the Priest being absent he takes to his Assistance Mr. Bromfeild and Captain Griffin who promis'd in a short time to give him a good Account of his Project from some Friends they had about Dover which it seems they had already ingaged in this wicked * Vid Lunt's Depositions in the Appendix Enterprise at the Instigation of some more conceal'd and private Person And whilst they were thus in Expectation from Dover another Occasion to strengthen the Number of those already ingaged seem'd to offer it self thus The Lancashire Gentlemen being willing to pay their Devoir to the late King and to receive his Commands as they usually did by a Messenger of their own from his Lips Mr. Lunt whose Services and Sufferings had rendred him the Confident of the Party was sent by the Lord Molyneux and others on this Errand into France July the 3d 1693. coming to St. Germans he deliver'd his Message to the late King in his Closet the Lord Melfort being present Who thinking he had now a fit Opportunity to execute his Plot and Assassinate King William he sends Lunt to Mr. Griffin telling him that Griffin had an Affair to ingage him in Captain Griffin sends him to his old Friend Mr. Bromfeild who after bewailing the ill Success that had so long attended the late Kings Affairs told Lunt they were now upon a quicker Expedient for their Masters Restoration and that was to cut off the Prince of Orange for so they call King William by any way or method the * Vid Lunt's Depositions in the Appendix Undertakers should think fit and if Mr. Lunt would make one in that Service he should have a Reward of five hundred Pounds a Year Lunt consented and after various Discourses at sundry Times upon this Subject Lunt taking his leave of the Lord Melfort his Lordship told him that if the Design that Grissin and Bromfeild had imparted to him took Effect the late King would soon be in England And Bromfeild at Lunt's departure gave him a Signet to carry to the Persons that as Bromfeild told him were in the same Design In December 1693 Lunt arrived at Dover and met with four of the sixteen Persons that were ingag'd in the Assassination of the King * See Lunt's Depositions in the Appendix viz. Captain Nowel of Dover Captain Walton of Foulston Mr. Pepper of Dover and Mr. Preston of Feversham two of which acknowledg'd that they were in the Design of killing the King and made no question but in a Month or two to Effect it Lunt travelling from Dover toward London told several Romish Priests of his Acquaintance tho' not in Plain words the Design he was ingag'd in Some of the Priests were against it as a damnable Sin and others encourag'd him to it as a meritorious Work these different Opinions and the dismal Reflections that his awaken'd Conscience made upon his ingaging in an Action so Inhuman and Barbarous gave him so much Disquiet that he resolv'd to act no further in it but had then no Intention to discover it till a good Friend made him sensible it was his Duty and then he discover'd the whole Conspriacy beginning to his Knowledge in May 1689 and continuing till June 1694 which was the time he discover'd it and now I must return to Mr. Crosby Who Having acquainted himself with the Sentiments of the Party agre'd what Proposals to make to the French King and collected the Names of those that according to his Account were to assist at the Invasion and Insurection was preparing to return to France with these Writings of which for fear one should miscarry there were two Copies One kept by himself and the other by Coll. Parker but good Heaven discover'd this Treason also and Mr. Crosby who had compleated the Work he came about and only waited for a Wind to Transport him into France was apprehended May the 9th and committed to Newgate and Coll. Parker who was defign'd to supply that Fault was taken May the 20th committed to the Tower May the 22th and by this means the Carriage of the Papers was delay'd till Parker broke Prison which was August the 12th following The next day after Mr. Crosby was apprehended the King's Messengers Mr. Legat and Mr. Hopkins search'd the Chamber where Crosby laid up his Papers In the first Room they found store but while they were there Cosen Mally * Mary Jones with another Fomale Jacobite that lodg'd in the same House ript up a Feather Bed and took out thence great quantities of written Papers and Letters directed to Mr. Crosby and that they might tell no Tales threw them into the House of Office and a Pail of Water after them but strewing Feathers in the way through the haste they made to destroy the Writings they guided the Messengers to retrieve them Now Before I produce these Papers give me leave to acquaint you that the following Papers are truly copy'd from the Originals sworn by two Witnesses * Mr. Legat and Mr.
Trenchard Lawrence Brandon 's Affidavit LAwrence Brandon of Pennington in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows William Standish of Standish-Hall in the said County Esq and his Son commonly called the Young Lord of Standish and that about May in the year 1691 this Deponent being invited by one James Leightagh to go with him and several other Persons to dine at Standish-Hall aforesaid and upon such Invitation this Deponent and the rest did go to Standish Town in the way to the said Hall and being at the said Town it was agreed on between the said James Leightagh and the rest of the Company rather to dine at the said Town of Standish then to go to the Hall because there seemed some difference like to arise between the said Leightagh and John Neyler on the one part and John Sharp Servant to the said Mr. Standish and James Hayes on the other part concerning the Places of Quarter-Master and Corporal of a Troop of Horse to be raised by the said Mr. Standish for the Service of King James which was promised to the said Leightagh and Neyler and the said Sharp and Hayes pretended unto the same Whereupon the Deponent and the rest of the Company did dine at Standish Town at the Charges of the said Leightagh and John Neyler and after Dinner they went from thence to Standish-Hall where in the Kitchen the said Leightagh and Neyler met the said Sharp and Hayes and after some Discourses on both sides concerning the Places aforesaid the said Sharp and Hayes were contented to quit their Pretensions to the same and consented that Leightagh and Neyler should have the same Upon which Agreement the said Leightagh and Neyler desired to speak with Mr. Standish and bid this Deponent and the rest of the Company to follow them which they did and were conducted into a Parlour where the Young Lord of Standish was and being told by the said Leightagh and Neyler that they had broughe Men to be Listed under his Command he wellcomed this Deponent and the rest and made them sit round the Room and made them drink and told them that the Nation had a great deal of wrong done by Banishing King James that was their Rightful King and that the design in hand was to do no Body wrong but only to bring in their lawful King and that some Aid for that purpose was shortly expected to come out of France and Ireland into England and that they did design upon the News of the Landing of any Foreign Forces to make a general Rising of such Forces as they could procure for the said Service and hoped they were willing and would be ready to serve their King and Country on this Occasion and assured them that they should go no further than he would lead them And that upon their consenting and promising to be ready at his Command the said Young Lord of Standish went out of the Room and soon after returned with a Horseman's naked Sword and bending the Blade thereof by way of Trial shewed it to the Company and told them they should be furnished with no worse than that and should have Pistols Holsters Saddles and all other Accoutrements fit for Troopers And having some farther Consultation with the said Young Lord what course they should take to provide Horses in case they should be called suddenly to meet it was agreed that such as had Horses of their own should make use of them and those that had none should take the first they could meet with and immediately upon any Alarm or notice come to Standish-Hall to rendezvous That after Directions about the Horses were given some of the Company being apprehensive that Mr. Standish the Father might be offended in case they should agree to go under the Command of his Son without his Consent desired to speak with him to be satisfied therein Whereupon they sent to speak with him and he came to them into the Hall where being asked the question aforesaid he told them all it was indifferent to him whether they choose to go under the Command of himself or his Son and such as were not willing to go with his Son should be welcome to go with him for their design was all one and that was to bring again King James or words to that effect Whereupon about twelve of the Company among whom this Deponent was one made choice to go with the Young Lord and the Remainder being to his remembrance the greater number did resolve to go with Mr. Standish the Father and then the Company divided and this Deponent and those that had made their Election went again into the Parlour to the young Lord and drank some short time and at their taking their leaves of him he gave them a word by which they should know one another which was Go thy way old Trip and then they parted from the said House to Wigan in the way whither the said John Neyler overtook this Deponent and his Company and told them he had brought some Money from Standish-Hall to be drunk by them and carried them to the House of James Green in Wigan aforesaid where he staid with them some time and drank the Health of King James and their Captains and then left them And this Deponent farther saith that at his this Deponents Return to his own House his Wife being informed that he had Listed himself a Soldier for King James would not let this Deponent rest or be at quiet until he had promised not to concern himself any farther in the matter Upon which he this Deponent never went near them any more Lawrence Brandon Jurat ' 11. Feb. 1695 Cor'me Tho. Rokeby Robert Bradley 's Affidavit RObert Bradley of Chippin in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows John Lunt and became acquainted with him about the latter end of the year 1689 by the means of one Mr. Thrillfall who brought him to his House he this Deponent keeping an Inn in Chippin aforesaid and that at that time the said Lunt went by the Name of Jackson and that about a quarter of a year afterwards there came into that Country several Irish Men who said they were sent by Lunt from London and that when they wanted Money they said they were to have Money of Lunt and amongst the said Irish there used to come to this Deponent's House several English Papists and frequently used to drink their Old Master King James's Health and threatened this Deponent being a Protestant to hang him when King James came in often affirming he would come into England at such and such times and Lunt often told this Deponent that he had Listed not only the Irish but several of this Deponent's Neighbours besides Thirty that he had Listed at Wiersdale and amongst the Neighbours named Clerkson Hodgkinson and Hearst and that one Cottam was to be Quarter-Master And this Deponent saith that Lunt desired one Sharpless where the said Lunt Tabled to be Listed as the
John Edwards George Wilson Law Brandon Robert Bradly John Wilson Anne Elliot Eliz. Hearst Edw. Browne Margin And now having so stock'd that County with Irish and other Souldiers that it became the public Discourse and Conversation of the whole Country a fresh Discovery is transmitted to the Government of the Lancashire Plot in a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl now his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State Dated from the Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden by Adjournment at Manchester the 18th of October 1689. Right Honourable WE account it our humble Duty to make his Majesty by the Favour of your Lordship's Relation acquainted that many of our Roman Catholic younger Gentry some of good Quality have for some Months absconded tho' we are sure they remain in our County We have had divers Discoveries by Information that there has been some Modelling of Officers and Men preparatory to their Hopes of an Insurrection and after several too plain Proofs tho' not affecting us yet to that Degree as to think it material enough to trouble your good Lordship with yet the Continuance of them and the Observation that spreads and becomes a Public Remark puts us upon it to present your Honour with the Account that to some of the Gentlemen now absconded there hath been sent from London Boxes with Scarlet Cloaks and Pistols and Swords directed for safer Conveyance to Protestants who knew nothing of them and by neglect of the Correspondents unintentionally delivered as directed and so came to be discovered That there hath been War Saddles bespoke and privatly conveyed to disaffected-Persons five or six Months ago and tho our Goals are full of Irish Papists yet we have frequent Accounts of many others at Popish Houses and that which gives the occasion of this is that the last day but one six new War Saddles were sent for in the night by a Popish Gentlewoman one Mrs. Culchith a Widow who hath three Brothers now absconded and we have five Persons in Prison about them all Papists and the Remour so possesses the inragêd Rabble that we are more solicitous to appease that then affraid of what the Male-contented restless Gentlemen can do for we are sufficiently able and vigilant to free our Country from danger There are some Constables and others deserve Rewards for their extraordinary Care what we shall do with these Offenders with these Saddles or with other upon the like Occasions your Lordships Appointment according to his Majesties good Pleasure will with the greatest Humility and Faithfulness be comply'd with and obey'd by Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servants H. Willoughby Ralph Ashton Ja. Holte Tho. Lever Joseph Yates Nic. Starkie Hen. Farringdon Jos Horton This Letter next to finding the Commissions in the Ship and the Depositions of Mr. Cawson and the five Seamen is the first Discovery I meet with of the Lancashire Plot. And truly it 's so full plain particular and convincing and stands upon such unquestionable Authority and Truth The Subscribers being Persons of known Honour and Integrity that 't were a Boldness exceeding all Hopes of Pardon or Belief to raise an Objection against it Having thus acquainted and I hope convinc'd my Reader that there was a dangerous Plot forming against the Government in 1688 and 1689. That they were then modelling of Officers and Souldiers to assist an Invasion and raise a Rebellion And were providing themselves with Scarlet Cloaks War-Saddles Swords Pistols and other Requisits for that bloody Enterprise my next Affairs is to acquaint you by what Persons and Methods it was transacted as well as the several Disappointments that attended it till it was more fully discovered in 1694. The Tools they wrought with were first Papists in general * See Mr. Kelly 's Mr. Dodsworth 's Robinson's Depositions who thought themselves oblig'd to restore that Prince who had sacrific'd his Crown to advance their Religion and Interests The Second were those whose Safety depended upon the subversion of the Laws and fishing in troubled Waters And the last were disbanded Irish Souldiers who look'd upon our Happiness with Envy and could no longer endure to be Subjects to those they once hop'd to Enslave And truly such Men as these were the fittest to be employ'd in a Conspiracy of this Nature And in all Probability would have prov'd if success had accompanied their Endeavours the most effectual Instruments for the Destruction of our King Religion and Country Mr. Lunt having as is before recited sent many Souldiers into Lancashire was returning thither in Company of Mr. Abbot then and now Steward to the Lord Molyneux to give an Account to his Masters of his Negotiations in London but in Coventry they were both seiz'd and imprison'd as Enemies to the Government August 1689. A while after Lunt's and Abbot's Confinement in Coventry Providence so order'd it that Charles Cawson Master of the Vessel that brought Lunt and Thrillfall out of Ireland being apprehended in Lancashire was carrying up to London a Prisoner for that Fact And lodging at Coventry was told as a piece of News that two of his Country-Men were committed to that Goal as Enemies to the King and Government Cawson desires to see them the Kings Messenger that had Cawson in Custody consents to it and walking together into the Prison Cawson knows Lunt at first sight charges him with being one of the Persons he brought out of Ireland in June last and who brought over the Commissions Declarations and other Papers which were left in his Ship and for which Cawson was now in Trouble and being examin'd in London by the Council acquaints the Government with the whole Relation of Thrillfall's going into Ireland and his and Lunt's coming back landing at Cockram leaving the Papers behind them and that Thrillfall was kill'd and Lunt in Coventry Goal Which being heard and attested by the Kings Messenger Cawson was bound over to give Evidence against Lunt and for the present discharg'd And if this and the foregoing Testimonies do not prove that Lunt was an Agent for the Lancashire Papists and his bringing over Commissions from the late King I know not what can Matters appearing so plainly against Lunt he and Abbot Steward to the Lord Molyneux were removed from Coventry to London examin'd by the Privy Council and both committed to Newgate for Treasonable Practices November 1689. Where I shall leave them and proceed to prove the Lancashire Conspiracy by other Testimonies and let the World see what little Credit is to be given to that hardy Man that with so much Confidence deny'd the whole Plot and call'd it a sham Contrivance of some little Ministers to ruin those that were accused without Cause And having already prov'd the bringing over Commissions and the delivery of them I proceed to acquaint my Reader with the Use the Papists made of those Commissions and that will appear by the Depositions of Mr. Kelly taken in November 1689. before
that never say 'T is enough away he posts from Manchester to London and there makes such a black and dismal Representation of the Kings Witnesses for forging a Plot before any could reach the Court to disprove him that the Government in Abhorrence of such a Fact as it was represented to be by Sr. W. W. immediatly order'd the Witnesses to be indicted in the Court of Kings Bench for a Conspiracy against the Lives and Estates of the Lancashire and Cheshire Gentlemen and the Witnesses at their return to London were accordingly committed to the Kings Bench Prison in order to their Tryal upon that Indictment This strange Turn being given many of the wiser Sort of those that were Friends to the accused Gentlemen and dreaded the Consequence of a melius inquirendum advis'd them to sit down quietly and leave it to the Government to punish their Accusers if they saw fit and happy had it been for the Gentlemen if their Advice had been follow'd but some Lawyers and their hot-headed Solicitors over-rule this Advice and not being contented unless some of the tallest Cedars might be rooted up and sacrific'd to their Humour or Lust of Revenge The Lancashire and Cheshire Gentlemen brought the Affair into the Honourable House of Commons And to know how they and their Solicitors manag'd the Matter there it will be worth the Reader 's Time to read over Mr. Clayton's and Brown's Informations in the Appendix which will show him by what base unjust and indirect Methods they carried on the Affair of slandering the Kings Evidences and vilely abus'd * Earl of Macclesfield a Noble Peer who for being a known Friend to the Government they thought of consequence was their mortal Enemy The Honourable House of Commons after several Hearings and long Debates which continu'd at the several appointed Times See the Journal of the House of Commons the Space of seventeen Weeks On Wednesday the 6th Day of February according to the Order of the Day proceeded further in reading the Informations and Papers deliver'd into the House by Mr. Aaron Smith touching the late Proceedings and Tryals in Lancashire and Cheshire and Mr. Lunt's Information was read through and also Mr. Wilson's and Mr. Womball's Informations and the other Papers deliver'd into the House by Mr. Aaron Smith were also read among which were several Printed Papers And it was then Resolved That it does appear to this House that there was sufficient Grounds for the Prosecutions and Tryals of the Gentlemen at Manchester Resolved That upon the Informations and Examinations before this House It does appear there was a dangerous PLOT carried on against the King and Government Neither was this all but that Honourable House after an Order of the House That Mr. Standish of Standish-hall in Laneashire should be taken into Custody and their Messenger return'd and reported he was fled addressed the Kings Majesty to issue out His Royal Proclamation for the apprehending Mr. Standish but he upon Notice of it fled into France the then Common Sanctuary for the Enemies of the English Nation This Disappointment in the House of Commons so contrary to the Expectations of the Party and the Promises they fed themselves withal tho' it was a great Mortification to the whole Party yet in hopes of better Success they lay their Complaint also before the Right Honourable the House of Peers where after examining some Witnesses and many Debates had the Question being put Whether the Government had sufficient Cause to Prosecute the Lancashire and Cheshire Gentlemen It was carry'd in the Affirmative All this while the poor Creatures who were Witnesses for the King were left in a starving Condition and under barbarous Usage four Months in the Common-side in the Kings-Bench Prison upon the Indictment of Conspiracy before named till their Councel in Hillary Term 1694 moving the Court of Kings-Bench that they might either be try'd or admitted to bayl the latter was granted them but the Time for their Tryal could not be yet ascertain'd In Easter-Term following they expected to be try'd but were not In Trinity-Term following they pressed for a Tryal and were assured by Mr. Aaron Smith they should be try'd either the last day of the Term or the Sitting after the Term and in order to their Tryal Mr. Smith call'd them together and jointly ask'd them these questions Whether Sir John Trenchard being dead they would admit of the Informations they gave before Sir John upon Oath as Evidence without further Proof of the same being so given Whether they would admit of the Tryals and Acquittals of the Gentlemen in Lancashire without producing Records Witnesses c. To which they unanimously replyed being very desirous of a Tryal That they would and for the ease of the Government saving Expence and that Truth might appear in a Legal Tryal would also be oblig'd by a Rule of Court not only to admit the Things there propounded by Mr. Smith but every Matter or Thing else that might expedite their Tryals save only owning themselves guilty Having this Assurance of a Tryal the Witnesses took out Post-Warrants bespoke Subpoenas and engaged Persons to serve them but when ready for their Journey the Defendants had notice from Mr. Attorney General Ward that he could not try them that Term it 's said he consulted with some of the Kings Councel and they for Reasons best known to themselves resolv'd they should not be try'd Now a new Scene appears and instead of trying them upon the Indictment of Conspiracy which above all things one would think the Gentlemen should have been most solicitous for The next Lancaster Assizes August 1695 the Gentlemen having a Grand-Jury wherein were four or five Persons which had never taken the Oaths of Fidelity to their Majesties * See the Pannel in the Office but were known Enemies to the Government A Sheriff and consequently a Pettit Jury for their Turn which were most of them Tenants to the Popish Gentlemen they brought on Tryals upon an Information of Perjury against three of the Witnesses without giving Notice to any of the Defendants and manag'd the Tryals with so much Scandal and so animated the Popish Mob to awe the Court by a great Concourse of disaffected Persons from all Parts of England that one of their own Party exclaim'd against it to a Person of great Quality who was then in the Country And besides all this one of the Persons which the Witnesses had Accused of High-Treason was a Witness against them upon the Indictment of Perjury and then none will scruple believing but they would acquit themselves and load their Adversaries having this advantage of being their own Compurgators And so as it was laid it happen'd the Witnesses were all found Guilty This Advantage over the Innocent Evidences so exalted the Party they could not forbear expressing their Joy at it by ungrateful Reflections upon his Majesties Government in all public Companies and because some Body in the Government
Deponent that at his Landing in Lancashire from Ireland he had lost his Linnen and several other things which if they were taken would cost him his life and then desired this Deponent to bring him some Linnen the next Morning to the Cock and Dolphin-Inn in Grays-Inn Lane and that she would enquire for him by the Name of Beunet and the next Morning she this Deponent did go to him accordingly to to the said Inn and as the said Lunt and this Deponent were there discoursing together she asked what those things were that she laid her hand upon in the said Bag the day before when they sat together in the said Coach and the said Lunt answered that they were Commissions and Declarations which he had now disposed off to several Gentlemen in and about the Town according to his Directions from the said late King James and the Lord Melfort and he then shewed this Deponent one Printed Declaration which as he said was all that he had left for that he had disposed of all the rest and he read it to her but this Deponent doth not remember the Contents but did observe it to be in the name of James Rex and about a Month or five Weeks after she heard that the said Lunt was a Prisoner in Newgate for High Treason and a little before Christmas in the year 1689 he the said Lunt came to this Deponent and told her that he was Bailed out of Prison and was then going into Lancashire And this Deponent doth believe that he did then go into that Country for within a Week or ten Days after this Deponent did receive a Letter from the said Lunt bearing date from one Mr. Tildesley's of the Lodge in Lancashire and in February next after the said Lunt returned to London and sent for this Deponent to an Ale-house in Great Queen-street known by the Name of the Hole in the Wall who did presently go there and found the said Lunt in a Room with 10 or 12 Men Strangers to this Deponent and a little while after the said Men departed and this Deponent did ask the said Lunt who they were who answered they were Irish Men and was to be Listed for King James's Service and then he desired this Deponent to bring him to the said Hole in the Wall in two or three days some Linnen which she did accordingly and when she was shewing him the Linnen the Master of the House came and told the said Lunt that there were three Men in the House thaâ— waited to speak with him and the said Lunt told him that they might come to him iâ— they pleased and then they did immediately come into the said Room to the said Lunâ— and be asked them what they came about and they told him about the Concern that he knew of and that they were sent to him by one Mr. Whitfield a Card-maker and then asked them if they were willing to serve King James their Lawful King as Soldiers and they answered they came to him for that Intent and then the said Lunt gave every one of them a Shilling and set down their Names in a Paper where there were the Names of many more two of their Names the said Deponent doth remember to be Thomas Burk and Patrick Lacy and he told them that Care should be taken of them and that they should have Money to carry them into Lancashire and when they came there all possible Care would be taken of them and that they should choose what Officers they pleased to serve under Naming Col. Tildesley the Lord Mollyneux and several others whose Names this Deponent doth not remember that as he said were to be their Officers and he then Ordered them to be there at ten a Clock the next Morning for that there was to be several of their Country-men to meet him there at that time that were to go with them on the same Account into Lancashire And in a day or two this Deponent went to the said Lunt to the Hole in the Wall aforesaid and found in his Company the said Whitfield the Card maker and several others who this Deponent did not know and when she went into the Room where they were Whitfield whispered with the said Lunt and Lunt spoke aloud and said there was no danger of her And two or three Days after this Deponent came to the said Lunt at the House aforesaid in the Evening and there found the said Lunt and another Man putting into Boxes Sword-Hilts Belts and Bagonets with Flacks and Carteridges for Powder and when they had put those things they intended into Boxes they directed three of the Boxes to Mr. Tildesley of the Lodge and to be left at Preston in Lancashire and the others to several persons that this Deponent doth not remember the Names of And the said Lunt and the other Man with him put three Boxes into a Coach that was waiting at the Door and they put into a another Coach a Hair Trunk and three other Boxes And by the said Lunt's Directions this Deponent went into one of the said Coaches to the Swan with two Necks in Lad-Lane and delivered the three Boxes that she had in the Coach to one Knowles a Carrier as sent from her self And the said Lunt and the other Man aforesaid came in the other Coach at the same time and delivered the said Trunk and three Boxes to the said Carrier and in a Week after the said Lunt came to this Deponent and told her he was going into Lancashire and she doth believe he did go accordingly for in a Month or five Weeks after she did receive a Letter from him bearing date from Lancaster Castle And this Deponent farther saith that in the beginning of the year 1691 the said Lunt did in the Presence of this Deponent list about twelve or fourteen Men for the Service of the late King James at the said Hole in the Wall by the Assistance of one Mr. Rogers a Taylor who at that time brought them to the said Lunt to be Listed as aforesaid And this Deponent further saith that in or about the Month of November in the year 1691 the said Lunt came to this Deponent's Lodging and told her That he â—as then going in all haste possible into France to his Old Master King James and that he must return in a Months time And about a Month or five Weeks after he the said Lunt returned to this Deponent's Lodging and told her He had been with the said King James and seemed to be in great hast for he said He was to be in Lancashire in two or three days and withal told her that he did not doubt but that in the Spring following she this Deponent might see him the said Lunt at the Head of a Troop of Horse of his own and this Deponent doth believe that he did then go into Lancashire for she did receive a Letter from him the said Lunt bearing date from Townley in Lancashire in a Week
or ten days after Elizabeth Langley Jurat ' 19 die Febr. 1695 6 Coram Sam. Cyre The Affidavit of Mrs. Agnes Barker WHO upon her Oath saith That in or about the latter end of the Month of February or beginning of March which was Anno Dom. 1689 Sir Rowland Stanley of Hoolton in the County of Chester Baronet bought two Horses viz. the one a Stoned Horse and the other a Gelding of this Informants Husband at the value of forty Pounds and this Informant also saith that the said Sir Rowland being a Roman Catholick and the late King James then in Ireland desired this Informants Husband to take the Horses back for a while to his own House and after this Informant's Husband had kept the said Horses a Week he sent this Informant to the said Sir Rowland at his own House to acquaint him that in regard the said Horses were troublesome desired they might be fercht away upon which the said Sir Rowland desired this Informant to use her endeavour to her Husband that be would keep the Horses a while longer because he could not with Safety keep them himself he then expressing that he expected the King speedily over which this Informant conceived to be King James and doubted not but the next light Moon would bring him over Whereunto this Informant reply'd that she thought it not convenient to move her Husband to keep the said Horses any longer for fear he should suspect any thing touching the matter this Informant being then a Roman Catholick and her said Husband a Protestant And this Informant further saith That William Gerrard Esq Son and Heir apparent of Sir William Gerrard of Garswood in the County of Lancaster aforesaid Baronet another Roman Catholick by one William Calland formerly his Servant did also buy two Horses of this Informan's Husband and upon her demanding of the said Calland what buying two or three Horses â—ould signifie he answered that they were only intoded for the Officers but as for the men meaning â—ommon Troopers as she conceived they were all â—n a readiness and would as soon as King Jame was landed take Horses where they found them foâ— his Service or words to that effect And tâ—is Informant sometime afterwards going to Gâ—rswood aforesaid he the said Mr. Gerrard chaâ—ged this Informant to be careful in avulging tâ—e matter saying to her You know Cousin since the King has been so kind to send to us who this Informant conceived to be King â—amâ—â— we cannot but put our selves in a readiness â—â— receive him which was as this Informant beâ—â—eâ—es about the same time or a little before â—hat of Sir Rowland's Business above mentioned And this Informant also saith That much about the same time before mentioned Roger Dickinson of Wrightington in the said County of Lancaster Gentleman also a Roman Catholick this Informant's Kinsman came frequently to see this Informant at her Husband's House at Hulme near Warrington in the said County of Lancaster and amongst other Discourse he the said Mr. Dickinson told this Informant that he himself had a Lieutenant's Commission from the late King James and then named what Commissions most of the Roman Catholick Gentlemen had in the said County of Lancaster the Particulars whereof this Informant hath forgotten And this Informant also saith that the said Mr. Dickinson desired this Informant to prevail with her Husband to buyor procure for him thirty or forty Case of Pistols to which she answered she durst not for fear â—er said Husband should suspect any thing by it however she prevailed with him to buy two Case of Pistols for the said Mr. Dickinson which he accepted and paid for this Informaâ—t's Husband then suspecting nothing at all And this Informant farther saith That both 〈◊〉 the time the late King James was in Ireland and also several times since she hath heard in moâ—â— Companies which she then kept being Papists of the landing of King James and buying Arms and such like Discourse the Particulars whereof this Informant doth not remember well And this Informant farther saith Tâ—â—â— when the Roman Catholick Gentlemen came doâ—â— to be Try'd at Manchester this Informant going to see Mr. William Dickinson Eldest Brother 〈◊〉 the above named Roger Dickinson she said to him Cousin I fear Taffe is come over to be 〈◊〉 your side who answered Yes Cousin I believe he is but he cost us dear or words to that effect Upon which this Informant replied She knew Taffe to be so Mercenary a Villain that he would do nothing without Money or such like words Agnes Barker Capt ' Jurat ' die 10. Febr. 1695. Coram me Ralph Egerton Mr. John Edwards's Affidavit MR. John Edwards Vicar of Redland in Flintshire maketh Oath and saith he knows George Wilson one of the Defendants in this case This was taken when Wilson was to have been tried upon the Indictment of Conspiracy and that he was an Inn-keeper in the said Town of Redland near or about the year 1685 to the beginning of the year 1689 to his Personal Knowledg That the said Wilson was a person of good repute most of the Neighbouring Gentlemen in the County using his House That the said Wilson unhappily entertaining some Irishmen after they were Disbanded and broke up from Hounslow and Salisbury contrary to the Perswasions of this Deponent and several other Friends to his Knowledge and he this Deponent hath been informed that the said Wilson assisted one Bromfield a Quaker to get Passage for Ireland to go to King James but this Deponent saith he knew nothing thereof till Bromfield was gone And this Deponent further saith that the said Wilson was at that time reputed to be of the Romish Perswasion and that this matter being known some of the Earl of Meaths Regiment came and seized several Persons in that Part of the Country for being Papists upon which the said Wilson was forced to fly and returned no more publickly to his House but whether he retired himself this Deponent knows not but this Deponent supposeth for want of time to dispose of his Concerns left several Debts to pay which if it had not been for those sad unhappy Circumstances this Deponent doth believe might have been honestly paid And this Deponent further saith that he hath had considerable Business with the said Wilson in respect of Tythes and several other matters and had very honest dealing from him Jo. Edwards Capt ' Jurat ' 8. die Febr. 1695 Coram me Tho. Rokeby The Information of John Womball late a Carrier Given the Twenty Eight of June 1694. THIS Informant saith upon his Oath that about the latter end of the year 1688 or beginning of the year 1689 he was imployed by Mr. Townley of Townley in Lancashire to carry several large Trunks and Boxes for him the said Townley from Barnet to his House in Lancashire and that several times since he this Informant hath carried several other the like Trunks and Boxes c. for him the said
to bring him back an Answer to Dungan Hall and accordingly this Informant did return with his Message to Dungan-Hall and then and there he this Informant saw in Company with Mr. Lunt viz. Mr. Charles Harris Robert Holden and several other Gentlemen that this Informant did not know and this Informant after a little stay there did see a Gentleman they call'd Mr. Walmesley come down Stairs into a Room at the foot of the Stairs where the said Lunt and the other Gentlemen were and a little time after he came into the said Room he saw the said Lunt pull a Paper out of his Pocket and deliver it to the said Walmesley who receiv'd the same which this Informant doth believe was a Roll of Men listed for King James 's Service because the next Time he this Informant met with and saw the said Lunt which was about a fortnight after he told him that the Paper he saw him deliver to Mr. Walmesley was a Roll or List of the Names as aforesaid John Wilson Jurat ' 5. die Oct. 1694. Coram me G. Eyre Ann Elliot's Affidavit ANN Elliot late of Chippin in the County of Lancaster now living in London maketh Oath that about the beginning of the Year 1691. She this Deponent then living in Chippin aforesaid knew John Lunt who then went by the Name of Jackson and this Deponent saith that about that Time there came into that Country several Irish Men who said they were come from London and sent down by Lunt and that they were listed at London by the said Lunt for the Service of King James And this Deponent saith that the said Irish Men call'd Lunt their Lieutenant and at all times when they were together that they could be free own'd him and obey'd his Commands as their Lieutenant and in this Deponents hearing promis'd to be ready to rise in Arms with the said Lunt to bring in their old Master which they said was King James And this Deponent further saith that several Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others contributed towards their Subsistence and amongst the rest this Deponent her self And this Deponent saith that Lunt receiv'd the Money for the use of the said Irish And this Deponent saith she hath heard one Mr. Lock who went under the Name of an Irish Man complain that Lunt had brought him down from London to his Prejudice because he did not find what was promis'd was perform'd Nevertheless he would be ready with the rest for the said Service And this Deponent saith she set up many Nights to wait on the said Irish Men sometimes by 12 in a Company or more And this Deponent saith she hath often question'd whence they would have all those Arms they pretended to have who answer'd we know very well whence to have them Ann Elliot Jurat ' 11. die Febr. 1695. Coram me Tho Rokeby The Information of George Wilson THIS Informant upon his Oath saith that in or about the Month of April 1689 one Doctor Bromfeild came to William Fitzherbert Esq at Wapra near West-Chester in Flintshire where he the said Bromfeild lay conceal'd for some time for a Passage into Ireland from whence he was recomended to this Informant to assist him who then liv'd near the Sea-side at a Place call'd Redland where after the said Bromfeild had stay'd about a Week this Informant did assist him in the buying of a Boat of about 25 Tun which said Boat being victuall'd and ready to Sail was seiz'd by Mr. Morston and Bromfeild escap'd to Mr. Crosby's in Lancashire from whence by the Assistance of Mr. Peirce Morston Mr. Winn of Gop Mr. Lloyd of Greith Mr. Robert Brierwood of West Chester Mr. George Pennant Mr. Pue of Pendall and this Informant he afterwards got over in a open Boat This Informant farther saith that being search'd for by Troopers from West Chester and other Soldiers and by the Civil Officers of the Country was forc'd to leave his House and Family and hid himself in the Woods for many Days and could never return to his House again but got into Lancashire whither his Wife and Family follow'd him where he this Informant was receiv'd and entertain'd by Lord Molyneux Coll. Tildesley Mr. Standish of Standish Sir Rowland Stanley Sir James Pool Sir William Gerrard Coll. Townley and others sometime at the House of one Gentleman and sometimes at anothers This Informant saith that about Midsummer 1689 he this Informant and others were ordered and directed by the Gentlemen asoresaid and others to look out about the Sea-coasts thereabouts for any Gentlemen that should arrive from Ireland for at that time he this Informant was told they expected some Friends and News from Ireland which he this Informant did and about the beginning of June 1689 Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Asheâ— in Goosner and one Mr. Lunt arrived at Cockram and came immediately to Col. Tildesley's with several Bundles of Papers where this Informant was then attending their coming c. This Informant saith that upon their coming to the said Coll. Tildesley's the said Thrillfall and Mr. Lunt immediatly open'd their Cloakbags and took out several Commissions Declarations Blanks and seal'd Papers from King James to several Persons and Gentlemen of Quality in that Country and York shire and divided them those for York-shire Mr. Thrillfall put up and undertook to deliver and had a Guide immediatly provided the others for Lancashire Cheshire Staffordshire and Parts thereabouts Mr. Lunt took to himself to deliver and had this Informant with him from Place to Place to Guide and Assist him in the Delivery of them and after they had left and deliver'd to Coll. Tildesley his Commission for being a Collonel which he the said Coll. receiv'd upon his Knees and kiss'd it with the Blanks for his inferiour Officers they proceeded and went to the Lord Molyneux his House and deliver'd one Collonels Commission to Mr. William Molyneux his Son for a Regiment of Horse with Blanks for his inferiour Officers he the said Coll. Molyneux immediatly filling that Blank for the Lieutenant-Collonel deliver'd it in the Presence of this Informant to Mr. William Gerrard who was with the said Coll. Molyneux when he this Informant and Mr. Lunt came in This Informant further saith that he this Informant was present and did see Mr. Lams deliver to Mr. Sherbourn of Stonyhurst a Collonel's-Commission with Blanks as aforesaid for a Regiment of Horse To Mr. Townley of Townley the like for Horse To Mr. Girlinton of Girlington Esq a Collonel's Commission To Mr. Westby of Mobrick Esq the like for Dragoons To Mr. Legh of Lyme Esq a Cossonel's Commission with Blanks as aforesaid To Sir Tho. Stanley of Alderley the like for Horse To Mr. Chumley of Vale Royal the like for Horse c. To Sir Rowland Stanley the like for Horse c. To Sir Robert Throgmorten the like for Horse c. To Sir Henry Titchbourn he being then at the Lord Molyneux the like for Horse To Sir Gisfard of