apud Preston in Com' Lancast ' 18 Junii 1689 coram me T. Patten The Information of James Tomson one of the Mariners belonging to the Pink or Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is a Protestant but being Examined about several Voyages lately made by the said Vessel into Ireland as to the last saith that it was begun about five Weeks since and having heard the Information of Henry Knowles this Examinant agrees with the same in the relation thereof James Tomson Capt ' Jurat ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten The Information of John Barrow one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is an Apprentice to Mr. John Cawson and by his Order went on Board the said Vessel which about five Weeks ago sayl'd into Ireland and he hearing the Information of Henry Knowles now taken and read over this Examinant agrees with the said Knowles in the relation thereof except that this Examinant heard not what the said Lunt came over for nor the Discourses betwixt Mr. Thrillfall and Lunt and the Seamen when they set them on shore at Cockeram John Barrow Capt ' Jurat ' die lâ—câ— praed ' coram me John Patten The Information of Richard Whiteside one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT having heard the Information of Henry Knowles another of the Mariners read over this Examinant agrees with him in every particular thereof relating to the said Vessel 's last Voyage into Ireland except that this Examinant hath not heard what Mr. Thrillfall was to give for the Hire of the said Vessel R. Whiteside Capt ' Jurat ' dis loco sup ' dict' coram me T. Patten The Examination of John Cawson of Narbock within Cockeram in the County of Lancaster Merchant Who saith THAT he is half Owner of the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster and the other half belongs to this Examinant's Son Charles Cawson and to his Son in-Law Robert Curwen to wit to either of them one Quarter And that having for several years last past about May or June been employ'd to carry the Earl of Derby's Cattle from the Isle of Man to England he this Examinant did about two or three Months ago desire Mr. William Backhouse the Attorney who design'd shortly afterwards to go with Mr. Thomas Simpson to London to put the said Mr. Simpson in mind of knowing from the said Earl when he designed the said Cattle should be fetched over which Mr. Backhouse promised to do And at Mr. Simpson's Return he informed this Deponent that he this Examinant might send for the Cattle as formerly to Mr. Cockett my Lord's Servant in the said Isle And thereupon this Examinant gave consent to his said Son Charles that if he pleas'd he might fetch over the same in the Vessel aforesaid And about five Weeks ago the said Vessel loosed Anchor and went out of Lunt Water designing only as this Examinant then believed for the Isle of Man upon the Account aforesaid And this Examinant further saith that since the return of the Vessel this Examinant has been for about an hours time with his said Son to enquire about his Voyage who inform'd him that in the Voyage Mr. Edmund Thrillfall who was then a Passenger on Board the Vessel offer'd to him the said Charles Cawson ten Pounds to put him the said Mr. Thrillfall a shore in any part of Ireland and that accordingly he had set Mr. Thrillfall a shore at Dublin and that after some stay there he returned back for England bringing the said Mr. Thrillfall and another Person who his Son called Mr. Lunt hither with him And the said Charles informed this Examinant that he was detain'd and could not be admitted to return from Dublin till he brought the said Lunt and Thrillfall with him And this Examinant saith that upon Ascension day last the said Mr. Thrillfall came unto him at Garstang and treated with him about a Passage into the Isle of Man but an Embargo being then upon Vessels this Examinant told the said Thrillfall his said Vessel could not go And upon the Monday before the Vessel went from Lancaster-water the said Mr. Thrillfall came to this Examinant's House to treat with him again for a Passage to the Island but this Examinant denied him one in the Vessel having resolved to take no Passenger thither and thereupon the said Thrillfall went away from this Deponant and since then this Examinant never saw the said Mr. Thrillfall And this Examinant demanding from his Son why he called not at the Isle for my Lord's Cattle in his return from Dublin his said Son told him the said Thrillfall and Lunt who were too strong for him being armed with Pistols would not let him and that withal they promis'd him other ten Pounds for their Passage from Ireland but never yet paid it him John Cawson Capt ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten Elizabeth Engley 's Affidavit ELizabeth Langley maketh Oath That she this Deponent knows Mr. John Lunt and hath done for eight or nine years past and that in or about the Month of December 1688 a little after the late King James went into France the said Lunt came to this Deponent and desired her to take a private Lodging for him until such time as he could get a Passage out of England to follow the said King which this Deponent did accordingly and about a Fortnight after he the said Lunt acquainted this Deponent that he then had an opportunity to go over into France with the Lord George Howard and this Deponent doth believe he went accordingly for is a week or ten days after she this Deponent did receive a Letter from him the said Lunt bearing date from Calais Jan. 14. 1688 which Letter this Deponent hath yet in her keeping and about July following 1689 the said Lunt came in a Coach to this Deponent's Lodging in Castle-street by Leicester-fields so disguised that she did nor know him till he spoke and desired this Deponent to come into the Coach to him which she did and then he drew up the Glasses fearing lest any one might see him and discover who he was and as the said Lunt and this Deponent sat together in the said Coach as it stood at the door of this Deponents Lodging this Deponent laid her hand on a Green-Bag which was in the Coach and doth believe that it had Papers or Parchment-writings in it but did not at that time ask the said Lunt what they were but as they were sitting together in the said Coach he the said Lunt told this Deponent that he had been in France and that he went from thence into Ireland and that he was sent thence by King James with Commissions and Deelarations to several Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others in England and did then further tell this
great distance from and utter Strangers at the times of their Discoveries to one another his Incredulity carries such dangerous Symptoms with it that I despair of seeing it ever confuted by a Miracle Objection But perhaps some will object if the Discovery of the Conspiracy was so True and Manifest why was not the Prosecution and Conviction of the Offenders as Public at the same time Answer I answer because the Jacobites were too nimble for the Kings Prosecutors and Murther'd the Kings Witnesses before the Conspirators could by the Formalities of Law be brought to a Tryal Objection If the late King intended to invade England in August 1690 what was the Reason he came not All the Duke of Schombergs Forces were not able to hinder him Answer Because King William landed in Ireland * June 14. 1690. in June routed the late King James's Army at the Boyn and drove him out of Ireland in July * July 1. 1690. and that was the Reason he came not into Lancashire in August as he solemnly promis'd The News of this glorious Victory was no little Mortification to all the Jacobites as well as the Lancashire Papists Yet still persisting in their restless Designs of destroying King William and restoring the late King James the Lancashire Plot must sleep while another is devised and that was to gain Assistance from France * Vid. Lord Preston 's Tryal pag. 50. to invade England and to compass this End the Heads of the Jacobites in all Countys immediatly repair to London and there consult what new Measures were to be taken after this fatal and unexpected Disappointment by the Victory at the Boyn Now Clubs are set up in all quarters of the Town for finding they could make no Archievements in the Field of Honour like Moles they endeavour to undermine the Government by working deeper and darker And because the Conspirators were then generally speaking but of one Faction and they such as made no great Figure in England it was resolved that the Plot to restore the late King should be laid wider extended farther and more Interests be united in private Cabals of their most considerable Friends Lords and Gentlemen both Whigs and Tories * See the Result of a Controversy between some Lords and Gentlemen both Whigs and Tories in order to restore the late King Lord Prestons Tryal p. 49. and 56. and that at every Meeting they should propose and debate the most effectual ways to restore the late King and when come to a Resolution they should transmit their Sentiments to the Royal Club so called in Covent-Garden and they select the most Rational among the various Opinions and digest them into such Methods for Practice as should govern the whole Party This Stratagem gratify'd all the Jacobites by making their Persons and Opinions considerable in what they thought so Great and Glorious a Work and took so mightily that in two or three Months all were agreed to ruin their Native Country by their unanimous Consent to these two Proposals First that the Jacobites being unable to reinthrone the late King by their own strength they should endeavour to obtain Assistance from * Lord Preston's Tryal p. 49 and 60. France who had formerly made them such Promises Secondly since delays were dangerous sending Letters into France hazardous * Lord Preston's Tryal p. 50 and 56. the Court at St. Germans Factious and Treacherous that some Men of Quality and known Ability should go over into France to transact that Matter for the whole Party Now Every Cabal being Ambitious of the Honour of sending some Member of their own Club on this promising Enterprise it took up more time to adjust this particular then to agree the other Preliminaries At length viz. in December 1690 all centred in the Nomination of the Lord Preston Mr. Ashton and Mr. Elliot some would have had their number increased but were over-rul'd by this standing Maxim among them * Lord Prestons Tryal pa. 55. viz. Choose well but have to do but with a few for a Multitude may give but can never keep Counsel These Gentlemen thus appointed by the Party were not long before they were ready for their Voyage And having hired a Vessel of Mrs. Jane Pratt of Berkin in Essex to go into France * See her Depos Lord Prestons Tryal pa. 30. and 31. they went on board her near Battle Bridge in December the 30. 1690 and were all taken by Captain Billup the same day a little below Gravesend In Mr. Ashton's Bosom was found * See Cap. Billups Aiffidavit in Lord Prestons Tryal pa. 38 and 39. a Pacquet of Letters and Papers which declar'd they were going to France to promote the treasonable Designs of that Party against the King and Queen To invade the Realm subvert the Government and to restore the late King by the Assistance of French Forces So that the Invasion Plot did still continue only that from Ireland is translated into one from France which is but shifting of Hands for the Conspirators are still the same Persons In January 1690 the Lord Preston and Mr. Ashton were brought to their Tryals And being found guilty of high Treason receiv'd the Sentence of Condemnation Mr. Ashton was Executed and the Lord Preston discovering the Design upon Oath had his Life given him but how well he deserv'd that Favour let his future Demeanour justify However it quash'd the Conspiracy and all hopes of an Invasion and Insurrection are laid aside for the Present till the Jacobites could meet with a more lucky Opportunity to revive them And this concludes the Jacobites Conspiracies and Disapointments from the Years 1688 to the Year 1690. And ingages our Thanks to God and the King for our Deliverance Now who would not believe but that after all these Disappointments our Enemies should have been reconcil'd to their own Quiet and the Kingdoms Tranquility but instead of giving Demonstrations of their peacable Tempers like sworn Enemies of their own and our Happiness they begin the Year 1691 with fresh Attempts to destroy the King and subvert the Government And to accomplish these horrid Designs are continually sending Intelligence to and receive Advices from France by such hardy Persons as were thought qualifi'd to undertake it And the Courrers by the Assistance of Mr. Shelton of Canterbury Mr. Nowel and Paul Peper of Dover and Hunt of Rumny-Marsh for some time pass'd to and fro with the greatest Security Not to name every little Runner on these detestable Errands some of the chief of them were Coll. Parker Mr. Bromfield and his Son Mr Waugh Mr. Charnock both the Crosbies Johnson the Priest Mr. David Lloyd Sr. Sympson a Scotchman who pass'd by the Name of Jones Mad. Sackvile Ingram Mrs. Alred and many others of both Sexes who upon occasion can be named All which in their several Turns perform'd their Parts with great Applause of the Party By this means the Court at St. Germans kept up
Quarter of Heaven some of them were silly enough to curse it saying 't would serve them as Treacherously now as it did at the Revolution However that nothing might be omitted on their Part they send an Express to the Lord Melfort by Captain Lloyd acquainting his Lordship that they had corrupted many of our English Sea Commanders who would go over to the French and with that Notice a true List of the Number and Rates of the English Fleet and how long it would be before it was possible they could be joyn'd by the Dutch Praying his Lordship to lay it before the most Christian King and procure his Command to Mareschal Tourville to seek and immediatly sight the English before they could be joyn'd by the Dutch And now the Jacobites thought they had nothing to do but to kill and take possession And therefore were as Insolent and Unsufferable in their Behaviour before the Ingagement as their Fears ' and Cowardise were apparent after it Whilst the Jacobites were pleasing themselves with the hopes of approching Wealth and Opulence the great thing that put a damp upon their Mirth was the various Reports abōut the joyning of the English and Dutch Fleets Once they had notice they were joyn'd but being contradicted the next day least that Report should have Influence upon the French they send over Sir Adam Blaire to assure the French they were not joyn'd But so it happened before that Gentleman could reach Dover they had good Assurance that the Fleets were joyn'd indeed and therefore * Mr. Clark is now in England and I appeal to him for the Truth of it Mr. Clark better known by the nickname of Count Cl. is posted into France to acquaint them with this fatal Junction but the Count was so far from gaining Credit to his Report Sir Adam Blaire averring the contrary that Mr. Clark was imprison'd as a spreader of false News till the late King owning him and their being beaten procured his Liberty But whilst the Queen's Majesty of blessed Memory was taking such measures as might frustrate their wicked Designs and secure the Nation and all Men gazing in dubious Expectations of the Event comes the happy 20th of May 1692 with the joyful News that through the Providence of our good God and the Valour of our couragious Seamen the French Fleet was beaten off la Hogue and their Majesties victorious Navy was pursuing burning and sinking those that by flying endeavour'd to escape And not long after to make our Joy compleat was brought the Notice of Granval's Execution Both great and miraculous Deliverances For This Year the ultra Marine and English Jacobites were resolv'd to play all their Engins at once The French King was to be in Flanders Namure was to be besieged King James was to land in England and his Majesty was to be murther'd all about the same time Here are Plots with a Witness and all so substantially prov'd that the very Thought so crushes me with Horror and Amazement that I tremble to think what the Consequences of them would have been if they had succeeded for 't is much more easy to imagin then express what a dismal Scene of Barbarity and Cruelty of Blood and Horror must have follow'd in England and the greatest Part of Europe but the Snare is broken and we are delivered for which we ought to be Eternally thankful This is the fifth Disappointment of the Jacobian Plot began in Lancashire in 1688. First by Kelly's and Dodsworth's Discovery in 1689. Then by King William's Victory at the Boyne in July 1690. Next by seizing the Lord Preston and Mr. Ashton in December 1690. Fourthly by Dumont's Disappointment And Lastly by the detecting of Granvalle and beating the French at la Hogue in 1692. However that they might prove themselves such as neither Mercies not Judgments could effect about Michaelmas 1692 these Malecontents through the Clemency of the Government assum'd the Confidence to cabal again to find out some new Conspiracy or rather to revive those two old ones of Assassination and Invasion by some more secret Methods than they had hitherto found out And that they might not commit the same Solecisms again like grave Politicians they first enquire into the former Miscarriages and particularly that at la Hogue And 't was agre'd among them that Mareschal Turville's not fighting the English before they were join'd by the Dutch was the Cause of the Overthrow that happen'd afterwards That it was originally if not designedly the Lord Melfort's Fault In not giving the Notices which he receiv'd from England time enough to the French Court viz. to fight the English before they were join'd by the Dutch but suffering the Time prefix'd by his English Advices to be worn out ' ere he communicated what he had in Charge to deliver immediatly Hereupon great Complaints are made to the late King against the Lord Melfort's Ministry and in plain Terms they tell the late King unless Melfort be remov'd they will concern themselves no * Vid. Letters against Melfort in Crosby's Papers more in his Affairs The Popish Jacobites defend Melfort with their utmost Art and Interest and lay the Miscariages at la Hogue * Vid Letters on Melforts behalf upon the Protestant Compounders and so far ingage the Court of Rome in their quarrel that the late King's Pension from the Pope was taken off for siding with Heretics But the Protestants who had gain'd some Papists to their Party against Melfort making use of Sir Sympson a Scotch Knight then and still residing at St. Germans by the Name of Jones between whom and Melfort there was an old Grudg he stagger'd the Lord Melfort in the Opinion of the late King and the French Court and when Sir James Montgomery came over he threw him quite out of Favour insomuch that he was forc'd to leave St. Germans and retire to In the mean time two such strong Parties were form'd at St. Germans that the late King according to his usual Politics of altering his Measures according to the Variety of his Circumstances took the Lord Middleton into his Counsels and employ'd both him and the Lord Melfort by Turns as his Affaris requir'd And these Transactions made an end of the Year 1692. Both the Jacobite Parties being now seemingly pleas'd in having each their Favorite at the Helm for Sir James Montgomery was not yet come into France the Murther of King William and the Invasion of England are again revived The Management of the Invasion is committed to Sir Sympson Major Crosby Captain Lloyd and Mr. Walter Crosby Sympson and Lloyd came and went over several times about it in the beginning of the Year 1693 continued so doing till June following and then having laid the Plan for an Invasion return'd into France in August following Major Crosby as he was commonly call'd came into England about Michaelmas 1693 staid in London a while went down into Lancashire and from thence return'd into France Mr. Walter
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.
it was not disbelieved at Court but now quite fall'n to the ground The Jacobites say there was never a better Disposition in all generally to receive King James and give their Reasons for it Which are the same contain'd in the foregoing Papers which having briefly repeated the Letter proceeds the rest regard their own more then any King's Interest and will not hazard any thing for either if the Practice now in Design don't engage all the Presbyterians Lord Ca***n laid aside M***ne to succeed S***y solicited to be Secretary Lord Mar***h to be General of the English Foot Lord S***e ruling Minister behind the Curtain Lord B*h turn'd out of all he with many other Offenders would have King James restored if they thought their Crimes could be pardoned nothing can hinder raising Money but an Invasion Bristol declares mightily for King James Worcester disaffected but if any Disturbance should happen we have some thousands of Hugonites in this Town privately subsisted on whom we depend not a little As to what Business Mr. * K. James Vandeleur and you may have I will be deligent in it but what may relate to any of the Trading Ships being taken Prizes there is one Mr. Anselme who was Secretary to the Admirals last Year * Crosby and understands the Business very well but will not be mercenary in it and with his Help something may be done 't will therefore be necessary that he see something from Mr. Vandeleur or by his Order to that purpose Some of Mr. Anselm's Letters falling into the Hands of the Government he was sent for from on board and discharg'd The Jacobites knew him their own before but since his Discharge treat with him above-board as you may see by the foregoing Letter and another from Philips to Mr. Abraham Anselm dated May 5. 1694. I must needs see you before I go into the * Into France Country which will be to morrow you will hear of me at Barnsley's Coffee-house to night at 11 or to morrow at 7 in the morning let me see you that we may settle some Matters Philips Thus they endeavoured to corrupt the Officers of the Fleet Army and Militia and tamper'd with the Clerks and. Secretaries of those who either were or had been imploy'd in eminent Posts under the Government that by their assistance they might get Intelligence of what they wanted to know thus they obtain'd an Account of the Naval Forces of one a List of the Army of another and transmitted them into France that the Enemy might take his measures accordingly so that nothing is more apparent than that the whole Design against the Government was always carry'd on by Men of no essential Honour or Vertue but by such a confused Medley of disaffected Persons as were the Creatures of the late Reign who had lost either their Imployments or Expectations by the Revolution or Disbanded Officers and Soldiers who delight in Tumults and Insurrections I have now done with Mr. Crosby and his Papers by which the Reader will soon find that the Plot for an Invasion Insurrection and Rebellion was carryed on by the Jacobites in General in the Year 1693 and part of the Year 1694 and since the Lancashire Gentlemen instead of Blessing their Stars for so strange a Deliverance have aggravated their guilt by indeavouring to represent the legal Prosecution of some of their Party as a State-trick a Sham-Plot and the Contrivance of some little Ministers to enrich themselves by the Ruin of others I shall descend to the particular shares which they and their Friends had in the whole Conspiracy to subvert the Government to Destroy the King and reinthrone the late King James and then leave the Reader to judge what little Reason they had to raise such loud Clamours for bringing Criminals to Justice and because I have hitherto proceeded Annually and given an Account of the several Conspiracies in order of time as they were discover'd I hope the Reader will think it no impertinent Digression to refresh his Memory with a brief Rehearsal of their Proceedings till they were discover'd in 1694 as they occasionally occur in the following Depositions In June 1694 Lunt made this Discovery viz that he * Vid his whole Depos in the appendix taken before Sir John Trenchard fellowed the late King James into France thence into Ireland from Ireland was sent into England with Commissions from the late King James to certain Gentlemen in Lancashire Cheshire c. To raise War against King William and Queen Mary that he and George Wilson his Guide delivered those Commissions to whom they were directed whose Names you have in his Narrative that at the Instance and proper Costs of those Gentlemen to whom he had delivered Commissions he bought Arms and listed and subsisted many Soldiers for the Service of the late King James in order to an Invasion and Insurrection in that Country that he was twice sent by those Gentlemen into France to the late King to signify their Readiness and receive his further Commands Tho' I don't question but the Reader has had already sufficient Reason to believe what is above rehearsed I think it not amiss to shew him for confirmation sake something that Lunt discovered in 1694 that hath since proved it self he says in one part of his Depositions That when he was in London besides his Imployment of buying Arms and listing Souldiers he help'd some Jacobites over to France and secur'd others that came from thence who all of them told Mr. Lunt that generally Sr. John Friend furnished Money for those Expeditions and paid Subsistence Money to them as Souldiers Which was the Crime he dyed for in 1696. And no doubt was one of the things that enrag'd the Party so much against him knowing that that Hint might in Time be attended with a fuller Discovery George Wilson deposeth Taken before Sir John Trenchard That he keeping an Inn in Redland near the City of Chester there came a Stranger to his House whose Name he afterwards understood was Dr. Bromfeild recommended thither by Mr. Fitz Herbert of Wapra in Flintshire where Bromfeild had been conceal'd some time for a Passage into Ireland that Bromfeild bought a Vessel to transport him which Vessel was seized by Mr. Morston an Officer in the Government and Bromfeild escap'd into Lancashire and thence into Ireland He further deposeth That being known to be accessary to * See Mr. Edwards's Affidavit in the Appendix Bromfield's Escape and harbouring and furthering the Escape of many of the late King James's Friends he was sought after by Souldiers from Chester and the Civil Officers of the County insomuch that he was compell'd to fly from his own House and never durst return but after having hid himself in Woods got at length into Lancashire whither his Wife and Family followed him and was receiv'd into the Houses of the Lord Mollyneux Mr. Tildesly Mr. Standish Sr. Rowland Standley Sr. James Pool Sr. Wm.
End of June 1695 or beginning of July they had another meeting where after many public Discourses and private Whisperings Mr. Charnock desiring the Company to acquaint him whether they continu'd their former Resolutions they assur'd him they did and would meet him with the Number of Men promised at the former Meeting Upon which Mr. Charnock told them he would begin his Journey in a few days The Invasion being thus promoted by dispatching Mr. Charnock into France that the Assassination might not lagg behind it some of the Assassines calling to mind that nothing would be attempted in that kind till the Commission which Crosby said was upon the Road was come to their Hands See Goodman's Depositions taken April 24 1696 Capt. Porter and Mr. Goodman communicate the Project to Sir George Barclay who was then in England and upon his Departure for France telling him what Difficulties they labour'd under for want of it and that a longer Delay of the Commission would extreamly embarrass the Affair Sir George not only approves but commends the Design and that such a hopeful Project might not miscarry promis'd to use all his Interest when he came to St. Germains that such a Commission should no longer be wanting This Encouragement from so considerable a Favorite as Sir George Barclay whose Biggotry to the Romish Perswasion and the late Kings Interest would prompt him to any thing in favour of them employs all their Heads and opens all their Purses to contribute the last Assistance for the Accomplishment of the Assassination The beginning of August 1695 brings Mr. Charnock again to London with the unwelcome News that the French King was not in a Condition to spare the * See Charnocks Tryal Jacobites such a Number of Men as they defired which being imparted to the Chief of that unruly and blood-thirsty Faction the two Branches of the Conspiracy to overthrow the establish'd Government were both laid aside till the approaching Winter should give them another Resurrection But Notwithstanding this positive Answer to the English Jacobites our Foreign Enemies were at the same Time taking such Measures as might suit with the Request made by the Jacobites tho' they durst not trust them with the Secret For a great Politician being at Marli and considering the Posture of Affairs in England as represented to him in Crosby's Papers he thought this the fairest Opportunity he could wish for the Invading of England Whilst Mr. Caryl the late Queens Secretary Coll. Parker c. were carrying on the Plot to Assassinate his Majesty for no question but a certain great Man in the World that shall be nameless knew what they were contriving at St. Germains tho' they were utter Strangers to the Invasion-Plot that was laying at another Place which as it had the Honour of a great Man 's own contriving so it was not communicated even to the late King James himself till the Squadron of Men of War and four hundred Transport Ships were fitted and the French Army consisting of thirty Battalions were ready to embarque and Money and Orders sent him to go on Board and take possession of England In November 1695 Sir George Barclay with several Officers and Soldiers and eight hundred Pounds in Money comes into England and brings with him a Commission from King James all written with his own Hand to Seise King William which Sir William Perkins confesses to a Committee of Parliament * See the Journal of the House of Commons April 2 1696. And C. Porters Depositions in Perkins Tryal p. 14. that he saw But neither Sir George Barclay nor the Commission being yet in the Hands of the Government and the Jacobites ashamed to set up their late King and themselves under the inglorious Title of Murtherers they mince the Matter into more relishable Terms and say it was only to levy War upon the Prince of Orange and all his Adherents Others say it was to attach the Prince of Orange in his Winter Quarters which are all meer Tricks and Evasions invented by the Party to disguise the Horror of the Action for the very Gloss they themselves put upon it sets it in its true Light for all the Party knew the meaning of attaching the Prince of Orange as appears by Mr. De la * As appears by Mr. De la Rue's Oath in Charnocks Tryal Rue's Oath who deposeth that when the Muscatoon was lent by Mr. Porter to Mr. Pendergrass that would carry six or eight Bullets Mr. King desired him when he shot at his Majesty's Coach he would not be afraid of breaking the Glasses Sr. George Barclay after his Arrival at London loged in Covent-Garden and kept very private till he could speak with Sr. William Perkins Capt. Waugh and Mr. Charnock and that the two and twenty Men that were sent by King James out of France and appointed to obey his Orders were come to London also and now they endeavour to strengthen their Party by the Addition of more Friends And Mr. De la Rue Mr. Pendergrass Mr. Rookwood Major Lowick Mr. Knightly Mr. Bertram Chambers Durant Cramburne Kendrick Grimes Waugh and Goodman some of which were engag'd in the Assassination the Year before were now again confirm'd in it As for Capt. Porter who has now so Honourably and Honestly atton'd for his former Offences they were sure of already to others in whom they had not more than ordinary Confidence they discours'd of the Assassination at a distance * See Captain Blairs Depositions in the bands of the Government and if they found any Reluctancy or Indisposition to the Assassination they turn'd them over to the Invasion Plot and desired them to be ready to meet their old Master at his Landing but to those whom Wickedness had made fit for any Impression they imparted their Villany in words at length and so secured the whole Party to be either Rebels or Murderers Those that came from France knew not what Affair they were sent upon till they arriv'd at London but were kept in a blind Obedience to Sr. George Barclay's Order as appears by the Depositions of Mr. George Harris * Taken April 15 1696. who saith he was an Ensign of Foot under the late King James in Scotland and has since served his second Troop of Guards in France that about the 14 of January 1695 King James sent for this Deponent and Michael Hare his Comerade and in the Queens Bed-Chamber told him that he had an Opportunity of doing something for him as a Reward of his faithful Service that he would send him into England where he should be subsisted and that he should follow Sr. George Barclay's Orders and in so doing he would take Care of him That he had ordered them Money for their Journey which they should receive from Mr. Caryl the late Queen's Secretary and farther told this Informant that he should find Sr. George Barclay every Monday and Thursday between six and seven at night in
Cheshire where there were and this Informant is very confident yet are lodg'd secur'd and kept great Quantities of Arms and Warlike Equipage of all Sorts with great Numbers of Horses fit for Service And this Informant saith that if he were Authorized and Impower'd thereunto he this Informant would undertake to Seize and Secure them The Examination of John Kelly taken upon Oath the 23. and 27. days of February THIS Informant saith that he came over to England in the Irish Army about Michaelmas last was twelve Months since which time he hath wander'd up and down from one Gentlemens House to another and was entertain'd in the Lord Molyneux's House about twelve Days before Christmas during which time he was there he saw a Letter from Queen Mary which came from St. Germaint directed to the young Lord Molyneux which Letter this Informant heard read the Contents of which Letter was that with good Hopes of the Encouragement they had from other Countries and that the Queen had got from the French King a Grant of assisting them with Arms to the Number of eight or nine Thousand as near as he remembereth and my Lord Molyneux on receipt of this Letter sent to several Sadlers to prepare Saddles Bridles and Holsters and as fast as they were made this Informant saith they were convey'd to secret Places under Ground And farther this Informant saith That he was at the House of one Esq Tildesley at a Place call'd the Lodge in Lancashire near to a Town call'd Preston where he saw many Commissions which came from King James out of Ireland which said Commissions were to raise two Regiments of Horse and three of Foot which Regiments were to be at an hours warning when King James sent any Assistance out of Ireland into England or when King William should go into Scotland one of which Regiments of Horse was to be Commanded by the young Lord Molyneux another Regiment of Horse was to be Commanded by Esq Townley of Townley in Lancashire aforesaid one other Regiment of Foot was to be Commanded by Mr. Standish of Standish Hall in Lancashire aforesaid and the other Regiment of Foot was to be Commanded by Sir James Pool of Pool Hall within six Miles of West-Chester And this Informant farther saith that Mr. Standish sent one Lieut. Burke from his House with Letters to King James into Ireland who gave the said Lieut. Burke forty Guinea's which this Informant saw deliver'd to the said Lieut Burke which said Letters were sent immediately after the Receipt of the said Commissions from Ireland And farther this Informant says he was sent by the Lord Molyneux with a Letter to my Lord I**t of I**t-Hall aforesaid and also he was sent with several other Letters from Place to Place to several other Gentlemen the Contents of which Letters this Informant believes was to be in a Readiness for the rising aforesaid and they were to repair to the Castle of Liverpool which they did conceive might easily be surpriz'd where were many Barrels of Gun Powder and Arms that so thereby they might be furnish'd with Ammunition and Arms and further this Informant saith that he was sent now and then a Foot and then a Horseback from one Gentleman to another who were Confederates and was kindly receiv'd by all with Plenty of Provisions and Money and further this Informant says he knew several other Persons sent upon the same-occasion and further this Informant says that he himself does know Irish Souldiers to the Number of five Hundred now lying in Lancashire which lye to be ready at an hours warning if there should be any Insurrection to assist King James And this Informant saith Mr. Thomas Tatlock of Symons-Wood near the Parish of Sefton in Lancashire did for near a Month together harbour about three Score Irish Men who had serv'd King James and were then listed under other Gentlemen to serve King James again and that Arms and Furniture for them-were hid in that Wood. He further saith that Mr. Molyneux of Morbrow did harbour about twenty Irish Men for the Service of King James and that Arms Saddles Bridles and Holsters for them were conceal'd in a Cellar under a Tower at the Entry of the House at Mr. Blundell of Inch in the Parish of Sefton That John Holland of Prescot and his Partner made Saddles Bridles and Holsters for them and was privy to the Design and that a Sadler in Legh was imploy'd by the Popish Gentlemen for that Service That all the Officers and Soldiers were to be ready at the Time they should have Notice from King James from Ireland That Arms Saddles Bridles Holsters c. were also hid in Cellars and under Ground in the Parish of Prescot and Parish of Legh and other Parishes by Gentlemen and the Sadlers that live there J. Kelly Taken and Sworn this 27. Febr. before us whose Names are here under Written Thomas Yarnold Mayor of Evesham Bellemont James Rushout William Bromley Edmund Letchmore Richard Dodswell Mr. William Wybrants Information ABOUT the Time when the Lancashire Gentlemen were brought Prisoners to Town I met Mr. Taffe I told him I met Capt. Cottingham who hop'd that you were not concern'd in the Plot especially against Mr. Legh of Lime for he heard he was a very honest Gentleman after which Mr. Taffe pressed me two or three Times to speak to Capt. Cottingham if he could bring him acquainted with any Friend of Mr. Legh of Limes some time after I met him in the Temple where he told me he was mightily disgusted for that Mr. Baker and Mr. Smith who was then walking in the Temple did use him barbarously for they would not give him any Money not so much as would pay his Horse-hire into the Country but he would be even with them and spoil the Plot and several Words to that effect I ask'd him to be Ingenious with me and tell me whether he was concern'd in the Plot for I heard it would come to nothing He told me he was no Evidence nor knew any thing of the Plot But he knew there were very good Evidence and enough to hang them all and immediately afterward he ask'd me whether I could help him to a Friend of Mr. Legh of Lime for he was in the Tower and there was no getting to speak to him but if he could get to speak to a particular Friend of his he could make his Fortime and get a good Sum of Money by it for he could put them in a way to save their Lives I ask'd him how could that be when just before he told me the Evidence was Good and enough to hang them all he answer'd that was no Matter for he could contrive a way But when he found I was not inclinable he said now I think on it he would not be concern'd in it for it would look ill for him to be concern'd against the Government who had appear'd so much for it William Wybrant Sworn before the Houses of Lords and