Things were upon this Foot honest Mrs. Sarah * The Descent Dolton's Match would not be now to make See how the Jacobites are bartering with France for England and there is no Question to be made if the Charge of a Descent must be out of the F K 's Pocket all the three Kingdoms must be in his Power till the Debt is cancell'd Which will never be till our Claims are extinguish'd in our Blood and Ruin and yet upon this Foot would the Jacobites have their native Country invaded I will trouble the Reader but with one Letter more before I produce the Scheme for the Invasion and that was dated March 1694. and sent by Mr. Bolton and directed to Mr. * Crosby James Clynch I Had yours of the 26th of January and Mr. Nihil * Mr. Neale Lord Melfort's Secretary shew'd me one of yours of the same date to Mr. May * Melfort who has writ at large to you by this Pacquet we are all pleased with the hopes you give us of uniting all Interests if this could be improved to a Degree of collecting all their Sentiments from time to time into one Letter written by their Directions it would have wonderful Effects here and make all Answers expeditious and satisfactory Here are Directions how Crosby and his Accomplices are to proceed in order to form a Descent from France and an Insurrection and Rebellion in England all Parties must be cajol'd Factions humour'd and such Promises made as were never intended to be perform'd That 's the true English of the Words uniting all Interests for according to the Jacobites settled Decrees if they could Re-inthrone the late King James none but the Papists must be sharers in the Government or in their Kings Affection or Bounty for they equally hate all Protestants under what Denomination soever as I will prove by their own Words and Matter of Fact It being one of their own deliberate berate Advices at a Consult and sent to the late King James as a Rule to govern himself by viz. That he should make use of the Whigs but never trust them See Crosby's Papers they might it seems be imployed in promoting his Designs and their own Ruin but the Administration and Advantages of it must be given to the Papists Now since the Dissenters Hopes are all lopt off at one blow sure there remains great expectation of Favour and Bounty to the Church of England Men * Vid. same Paper No they were the Papists first and most formidable Enemies at the Revolution as having the Law on their side and must also be thrust behind the Door nay they so load them with Reproaches now for deserting a Popish King and their Doctrin of Passive Obedience together that they can hope for no Mercy As is plain from the Epithets given them in a Letter directed to Philips dated the 4th of May and sworn to be found in his Custody by two Witnesses which among others have these Words Let Lord Middleton Toncroft know I meant the Church of England by the pack of Rogues and the Bishop of N. the Clergy-Man that was his Enemy their Characters now I will not venture to send him being so various in their Politics This is the true and undisguised Language of Popery among themselves which I will make no other use of than to perswade all Protestants of what Denomination soever to Love fervently and Unite inseparably against these common Enemies of our Nation and Religion In the last Letter produced Crosby had Orders from France to inform himself of the Sentiments of the whole Party and digest them into one Letter For this purpose he frequented all their Meetings and was carressed and assisted in this Undertaking by all that bore a Figure or Name amongst the Jacobites both in City and Country and this great and finishing Stroke being given at their several Consults he only waited for a Wind to waft himself and his Scheme into France to be put in Practice but Heaven crost their Designs and threw into the hands of Justice both the Plotter and the Papers some of which are these that follow and contain the Scheme for an Invasion of his Majesties Dominions Why 't was fitting to be attempted then the ways of accomplishing it and the Names of some Persons from whom as the Jacobites say Assistance might be expected directed to Mr. Toncroft Lord Middleton Sir AS we are sensible of your very great Goodness and Zeal in promoting his Majesties Interest so we are in a special Manner for your Favour in opening us a way whereby we dare freely and impartially impart our Thoughts to you and that at a Time when there never yet offer'd a fairer Opportunity for his Majesties Restoration nor a greater Concurrence of Causes At a Time when the Government is under the greatest Contempt for it's Miscarriages abroad and Mismanagements at home When the Nation is fully sensible their Representatives are of a Party against them and so bribed into false Notions of their Interest that every of them seems to be at Work to dig the Kingdoms Grave When the whole Army to defend us is not above twelve Thousand and that dispers'd into the several Corners of the Kingdom so that not above seven or eight Thousand can be drawn together into the Field and the Garrisons left provided and many of them justly suspected not to be ill inclined to their Lawful Soveraign and none to be expected from abroad without eminently exposing our Allies Egregiously false in every Particular When the Fleet cannot possibly be out till the beginning of May at soonest the Preparations in order thereunto moving slowly notwithstanding the pressing Instances of the Court for want of Funds the Stores in bad Conditions and the best Ships and Seamen gon with the Merchants Fleet Convoys to the Streights The difficulty of getting other Seamen to supply their Places greater than ever from the hardships they were made to endure from ill Payment and the frequent deluding them with Proclamations of great Promises and no Performances All which may give his M. C. Ms. Fleet an Opportunity of being out earlier then ours and to profit of this our Condition by possessing himself of such a Station as may prevent the Junction of our Portsmouth and Chattam Fleets and the Transportation of Troops from Flanders if they could be spar'd from thence or what else might be thought proper What Pains the Jacobites take to perswade the French to be beaten a second Time When the Militia are in such hands as will make little Opposition and at the worst of no use in Winter The Exchequer in the lowest Ebb and very much in Debt The lendable Money of the Nation from twelve hundred thousand pounds reduced to Six and not above one in the Exchequer to answer all the Exegencies of State a great part of the Funds now to be given already anticipated and no Credit to be had till the Parliament
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
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
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
there also from England expecting to meet his Majesty and brought over with him an Account of the Condition and Readiness of his Friends the Papists and Jacobites there but more particularly in London Sussex and Kent and in Staffordshire Lancashire Cheshire and Yorkshire and from them all desired of his Majesty Commissions for the several Persons of Quality hereafter named with Blanks for their Inferior Officers which accordingly the late King caused immediately to be issued forth both for England and Scotland And because Bromfeild was so well known and it might be dangerous for him to come back himself he desired the King to advise of a proper Person or Persons whom he might trust to bring them over and distribute them here in England according to his Majesty's Orders amongst others he this Informant was recommended to him by my Lord Thomas Howard who told him the said King James he would engage Life for Life for him this Informant that he would not betray him in the Service and that if he were taken would rather die upon the spot Upon which this Informant was sent for to my Lord Melfort's Office where he found my Lord Thomas Howard Dr. Bromfeild and my Lord together in his Closet whither he was carried to them and then and there they asked this Informant Whether he would venture to undertake to carry Declarations Papers and Commissions and other things for his Majesty's Service to England They told him it was a hazardous thing that he should think well of it for if he should happen to be taken his Life was certainly gone but if he would and did escape be should be sure of and they promised him in the King's Name very great Preferments and Rewards when the King should come into England Upon which he this Informant undertook it and my Lord Melfort gave an Account of it whereupon to blind the business and to take off any Thought of his this Informant's being imploy'd or sent any where my Lord Melfort told him the King had thought fit to order the Officer of the Guards who was a Frenchman to casheer him and that he might say to any one that asked him the reason that he knew none but was resolved to get his Pass as soon as he could and go for England About a Week after this all things were got ready both for England and Scotland and one Mr. Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner in Lancashire Gentleman and this Informant were dispatched for England and one Mr. Gourdon who was this Informant's Comrade and cashiered as he was went for Scotland This Informant and Mr. Thrillfall brought with them Declarations Commissions and other Papers and Landed at Cockram within four Miles of Lancaster in or about the beginning of June 1689 upon our Landing we had like to have been wholly surprized by some Custom house Officers but we escaped and brought off the most Material of our Business only lost some Commissions Blanks and one of the King's Declarations two Case of Pistols of this Informants that the King gave him and some Clothes of this Informant's c. The greatest part of the Commissions and most of the Blanks in several Bundies were saved and this Informant delivered them as fast as he could one after another as followeth viz. in Lancashire To my Lord Molyneux's Son William a Colonel's Commission for a Regiment of Horse with Blanks for all his Inferior Officers to be filled as he should think fit To Thomas Tildesley Esq the like for a Regiment of Dragoons To Dalton of Thurnham Esq the like for Dragoons To Sherbourn of Stonyhurst Esq the like for Horse To Townley of Townley Esq the like for Horse To Girlington of Girlington Esq a Colonel's Commission To Westby of Mobrick Esq the like for Dragoons This Informant farther saith that he delivered my Lord Molyneux himself a Paper of Instructions where amongst other things He was to be Governour of Liverpool and this Informant took notice of it because my Lord Melfort and Dr. Bromfeild both told him this Informant saw and shewed it him in the Paper before they Sealed it Cheshire To Peter Legh of Lime Esq a Colonel's Commission with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Thomas Stanley of Aldersley Protestant the like for Horse To Mr. Chumley of Vale-Royal Protestant the like for Horse To Sir Rowland Stanley Protestant the like for Horse To my Lord Brudenell a Colonel's Commission for Horse with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Throgmorton the like for Horse This Informant farther saith That to these two Gentlemen last above written he delivered four other Colonel's Commissions for four Gentlemen whose Names he was not to know because as he did then conceive they were Protestants for they told him this Informant they were honest Gentlemen and Protestants Besides all these before mentioned this Informant delivered to one Mr. Jackson in Castle-street near the Meuse two Bundles of Commissions with a King's Declaration and two other Papers Sealed up with each with Orders to him to deliver one of them with a Declaration and Sealed Papers immediately to my Lord Griffin and the other to Mr. W. Pen the Quaker which this Informant supposes he did for in his sight he took Coach and said he would And besides all these which he this Informant so as aforesaid delivered Mr. Thrillfall undertook to deliver several Bundles of the same to several Gentlemen in York-shire This Informant farther saith That every Colonel had with his Commission Blanks for double his Inferior Officers and that all the Colonels had the Liberty to raise Foot Horse or Dragoons but Horse was more especially recommended This Informant farther saith That after the dispatch of these Commissions and other Business he had the ill luck to be made a Prisoner for a considerable time upon the Accusation of the Captain that brought him over out of Ireland This Informant farther saith That during the time he was a Prisoner under Bail that is to say about the beginning of the year 1691 he this Informant by the Order of Colonel Tildesley Col. Townley Col. William Molyneux Mr. Gerrard Col. Dalton and others Listed in London several Men for Soldiers to serve as Horse or Dragoons to be under the Command of the said Colonels or any other as they should dispose of them to Here he names about a hundred of the Soldiers Listed and the Pay they was to receive This Informant farther saith That being discharged of his Imprisonment in the Month of November 1691 he this Informant was desired by several of the Gentlemen that he had delivered of the Commissions aforesaid to viz. Lord Molyneux Col. Molyneux his Son Sir William Gerrard and his Son Mr. Dickinson of Wrightington John Harrington of Heightonhay Esq Col. Townley Col. Tildesley Col. Dalton and others to go into France to give King James an Account in what condition they were and to bring his Majesty's Commands how they might be serviceable to him which this Informant did
prudential Reasons 't is thought fit to conceal them at present there being other and farther Uses to be made of them by the Government here after at his Tryal whensoever he falls into the hands of Justice However that I may not be thought to impose upon my Reader if Mr. Bromfeild be told that the Proof of that Matter is contain'd in the Papers under his own hand which he sent out of Ireland by the Carver I am almost confident he will not deny it I equally abhor a false and partial Author but Mr. Bromfeild's Crimes are of themselves so heinous and execrable that his Historian need not give himself the Trouble to add to their Blackness therefore I have rather abbreviated than inlarg'd the Share he had in the Plot and made no other use of him but what serves to trace the Conspiracy from its dark Original at the late Kings going off and lets the Readers into the Methods that began the Treasonable Confederacies Here you see the Foundation of the Lancashire Plot to involve the Nation in Blood and Ruin And as if this would not prove a Tragedy deep enough * Si nequeant Superos Acheronta movebunt the Murther of the King as it has done ever since must either precede or go hand in hand with the Invasion For no sooner was King William setled on the Throne but he received Information * Vid. the History of the late Conspiracy written in French that several Persons were sent into England to Assassinate him The same Discovery was made to a great Man in Holland and to the Right Honourable the now Earl of Romney in England though Thanks be to God they found no Opportunity to execute their barbarous Design 'T is impossible for a sober Man to imagine a Provocation strong enough to excuse either the committing or incouraging such a Villany but it seems his Majesties Enemies were more afraid of the Kings single Person then of the united Strength of all the Allies And therefore resolv'd to take off his Majesty by ways peculiar to such degenerate Wretches that dare commit the basest and most unmanly Sort of Treason to advance their Interests And this I think will suffice at present to convince the Reader of what will be more plainly prov'd to him in the Sequel viz. That the Lancashire Plot and the Assassination of the King were Twins of the same Birth And agrees exactly with Mr. De la Rue's Depositions at Mr. Charnock's Tryal * Vid. his Tryal pag. 29. The Conspiracy says he to Assassinate his Majesty has been carrying on a great while for some years and it originally came from Col. Parker especially as to my knowledge of it and that was about six years ago at St. Germains when I was there he propounded it to me * Vid. Mr. Geo. Harris's Depositions as to Parker's being privy to it and said he would propound it to my Lord Melfort So that 't is clear that from 1689 till 1696 there was a Design to murther his Majesty and that Col. Parker who managed the Insurrection and Rebellion in Lancashire was one of the cheifest in the Assassination Plot also My next Work is to acquaint you how Bromfeild having agre'd the Plot when he was in Lancashire sent over Commissions from the late King to the Northern Conspirators to raise a Rebellion against their Majesties in those Parts Which was to be carry'd on after this Manner Mr. Lunt who followed the late King into France immediatly after his * Vid. Lunt's and Langley's Affidavit in the Appendix Abdication was sent from thence with the rest of his Guards into Ireland and in May 1689 renewed his Acquaintance with Mr. Bromfeild who was lately come out of Lancashire and a general Report being spread upon his Arrival that Lancashire and the adjacent Counties would rise in order to re-inthrone the late King and that they only waited for Commissions from him for that Purpose Mr. Lunt asks Bromfeild if there was any Truth in that Report Bromfeild avers it to be true and knowing that Lunt was a bold and active Fellow laid hold on this Advantage to perswade him to be one of the Persons that should carry over and deliver Commissions to some of the late Kings Friends and Confederates in England Lunt at first refus'd that dangerous Office but being further press'd and courted to it by many of his pretended Friends and particularly recommended to the late King for that Service by the Lords * Vid. Lunt's Depositions in the Appendix Thomas and George Howard and thereupon sent for by Bromfeild to the Lord Melfort's Office he was there over-perswaded to shut his Eyes against the visible Danger to which they were exposing him by ventring on such a hazardous Imployment which was no wonder for what will not Men of a Senceless Bigottry and desperate Fortune undertake who hope to raise themselves upon the Ruin of their Country The Lancashire Papists having now received the News that the late King was arriv'd in Ireland and had raised so great an Army there that as they fondly thought he would soon be Master of that Kingdom and from thence sail into Lancashire as had been concerted between Bromfeild and the Heads of the Conspiracy and not knowing what Care was taking in Ireland to send over their Commissions These Gentlemen I say growing impatient for them resolv'd to send a Messenger of their own to fetch them that they might be in a Condition to to join the late King with their Forces at his Arrival among them Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner was pitched upon for this Service and the means for his safe and unsuspected Passage into Ireland as well as his secure Returning again into Lancashire was thus contrived The Right Honourable the Earl of Derby sending every Year to fetch Cattle from the Isle of Man into Lancashire * Vid. John Cawson 's Depositions taken before John Patten of Preston Esq and John Cawson of Cockram in the County of Lancaster or his Son Charles Cawson having for some years past been imploy'd in this Service and had now leave from one of that noble Peer's Servants to enter again upon that Voyage as soon as he pleased Mr. Thrillfall treated * Vid. his Affidavit taken Jun. 17. 1689 before John Patten of Preston Esq with John Cawson for his Passage to the Isle of Man and being deny'd by the Father treats with his Son Charles who was to go Master of the Vessel and finding him more plyable trusts him with the Secret and for ten pounds in * See John Knowles's Affidavit taken before Mr. Patten hand and ten pounds more at his return hires the Master to land him at Dublin and bring him back into Lancashire but this Design was to be kept Private and none of the Ships Company were to be acquainted that they were going upon any other or farther Voyage then to fetch Cattle from the Isle
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
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.
Hopkins at Crosby's Tryal to be found either in his Pockets in his Chambers or in the House of Office and were all mark'd by the Messengers at their first Seizing the Names in Cant are explain'd by a Key found among Crosby's Papers for that purpose who seldom was call'd by his own Name in England but by these that follow viz. Philips Williamson Traveller James Clynch Thompson and Jack Crue I will next shew whither he was going the Company he kept and what he had been doing and then produce the Scheme for an Invasion Mr. Crosby had a Chamber at Mr. Pugson's house a Taylor in German-street who gave the Information following That he believes Philips Crosby was going beyond Sea and had waited some considerable time for a Wind for that he reported he was going a Journey and would be often inquiring about the Wind which was then Easterly and many that inquir'd if Philips was gone would immediatly look upon the Wind. One particularly wonder'd Philips was not gone for the Wind was then shifted from the East and fair for him The same Imformant saith that most of the Persons that visited Philips brought him letters and Pacquets Among others that came to him he remembers Mr. Simon Harcourt used to bring Writings to him pretending they concern'd a Suit of Madam Elliot's he the said Harcourt came to Philips immediatly after Sr. James Montgomery was taken and carry'd himself as if he had been stark Mad. He was also often visited by Bromfeild the Quaker Lady Slaney Daughter to Sir Patrick Trant and Lady Philips lately come out of France Sir Andrew Forrester Captain Waugh of Brentford Mr. James Urwin in Kingstreet Doctor Smith late Fellow of a Colledge in Oxford Doctor Sherridon late Bishop of Kilmore the Lady Griffin who lodg'd in Pel-Mel sent Letters often to Philips by her Yallow hair'd Boy And Coll. Oglethrop by his maid Servant An Indian Boy brought Letters often from Mr. Nay Smith Gentleman of the Horse to the Duke of Norfolk So did Captain Charnock and Penelope Higgins who this Informant believes were privy to all Philips Affairs These and Collonel James Graham come often to him and were long with him and further this Informant saith not Pugson In Mr. Crosby's Custody was found a Letter from Mr. Symon Har**â— Cl of the P for the County of Mid x. Desiring to see Mr. Philips at his House at eight this night and desires Cousin Molly an intreaguing Female to let him know so much if she can I have sent saith he also to his Coffee-house to signify so much I am Madam your most Humble Servant S. Har**t directed to Mrs. Mary Jones at Mr. Pugsons over against the Coffee-House in German-street dated 13 Ap. 94. In the same Chanber was also found a bantering Letter against the Government written by Sir John Knight of Bristol directed to Mr. Symon Harcourt and desiring him to tell Mr. Philips Crosby that he had very earnest Business with him and must of necessity speak with him at Harcourts House at his first Leisure J. Knight dated April 2d 1694. You see Mr. Crosby is invited by both these Gentlemen to a Conference the Place where and Time when but about what they met I will leave my Reader to judge when I have told him that Mr. Crosby was taken by the Kings Messengers with his Pockets full of Treasonable Papers knocking at Mr. Har**t's Door in Lincolns-Inn-Fields about eleven at Night I shall make no Reflections on it but methinks it is a Jest all over that after this and many other Instances of their Aversion such Men should still enjoy such great Places of Trust and Profit under the present Government In Mr. Crosby's Chamber was likewise found among Scores of others a Letter of the same Date directed to Mr. Hatton desiring to speak with Mr. Phillips Crosby before he took his Journey and sign'd Cl***n Another directed to Mr. * Crosby Phillips dated April 6. 1694. Mr. Cole * * Mr. Noseworthy at whose Lodgings I din'd has receiv'd several other Letters for you from Ruth Goodall * * King James's Queen and he will bring them to morrow Morning to the House where I saw you last he will be there exactly at ten I am Yours C. Temple * * Tempest To Mr. Phillips March 28. 1694. In hopes Elizabeth Franklin * * The Court of France will give her Consent to a Marriage with Peter East * * England I have sent you the Grounds on which his Relations promoted the Match with Assurance * * Money Abraham Munson shall be really to attend it and defray the Expences and Bales of Woollen * * Troopers and Linnen * * Foot-Souldiers shall not be wanting when both Parties are agreed and Writings interchanged for a Settlement However you will be so kind to send Word where the Wedding must be kept that those who have so long expected it may be all in a Readiness of which they shall have Notice from Sir Your humble Servant J. Micklethwaite * * Mollyneux Fergusen calls these Papers for which Crosby was apprehended Baggatells and Stories of Robin Hood and little John but if this be not such there is none in Prince Butler's Petition against Pamphylius but if you explain the Canting Original by the Notes in the Margin which are all taken from Crosby's Copy you will find it a plain Indication how ready the Lancashire Conspirators were for a Rebellion which was then carried on by Coll. Parker Crosby Johnson and their Accomplices I shall next present you with brief Heads of a Letter written into France in Crosby's own Hand and found in his Pockets when taken at Mr. Har**t's Door directed to the late Queen Mary Wife to the late King James which gives Assurance of his utmost Endeavours in order to accomplish the late King's Restauration complains of keeping * Melfort Mills in the Ministry who has ruin'd all the late King's Affairs in England That two of * Melfort Mills's Friends viz. My Lord Alis and Sr. Robert Ham assur'd him there was no need of it he had writ to Mills * Melfort to withdraw himself for some Time and therefore hopes the late Queen will take better Measures for the future Another Letter dated March 1694 and directed to Mr. James Clynch * Crosby says I receiv'd yours of January the 26th with that inclos'd for Mr. * Melfort May which was very full and satisfactory he order'd me to make a fair Copy of it to send to Elizabeth * The French Court. Ferguson Franklin that which our Friend * Robin writ did not a little quiet my Spirit if some Persons had not rendred every thing falsly to Mr. * French King Knowles we should not have wanted to supply all the Manufactories wherein it is as plain to him as us he could not lay out his Money to a more considerable Advantage For if
pass a Money Bill and none then if there appear the least Shadow of a Descent If the French had believ'd them or they had believ'd themselves surely we had had an Invasion or some other Disturbance from them before this time When the Nation is generally uneasy and discontented for it's great Losses the burthen and weight of Taxes and no hopes of an end of them but by the Change of Government When the whole Kingdom is divided into Parties and most against the Governors and Government and Contentions of State arise in Private Families Verdicts and Judgments found and given as the Litigant Parties exceed in strength more than by the Merits of the Cause which engages the whole People of one side or the other in every Case This Paragraph might have been spar'd till we had a Jefferys our Chancellor and a Wright Lord Chrief Justice When things frame as if it was the Design on all hands to foment and encrease our Devisions instead of pacifying them And when 't is the Opinion of the Wisest and Coolest Men amongst us that those ill Symptoms of a divided and distemper'd Kingdom can only hope for and receive a Cure from what God has put into the hands and Protection of his M. C. Majesty From a Prescription more baneful than the Malady a Cure worse than the Disease and a Physician that first beggers then murders his Patient Libera nos Domine When the most violent of his Majesties Enemies are softned and disarmed by the Promises in his late gracious Declaration others drawn off and his Friends reassured and confirmed in their Duty His Declaration was too mean for a Prince that had a grain of Courage and too condescending to be credited but this was a stroke of Flattery to the Lord Middleton who was the Author of it But on the contrary if this time and opportunity be slipt and not improved we see nothing but an Inundation of Evils breaking in upon us on all sides and no hopes of relief no remedy no stop to be put to them The King's Friends long deluded with false Alarms from St. Germains will be apt to entertain odd Notions of his Restoration to stager in their Duty and perhaps many of them close with the Government or at the best grow jealous of the Intentions of his most Christian Majesty Where pretended Friends prove false wise Men will throw themselves into the Hands of generous Enemies By sliping this Opportunity the P of Orange will become Master of such a Fleet and Army after the Supplies voted him by Parliament once begin to be returned into the Exchequer which together with his Pensions and Bribes will make him as absolute and despotic here as he is already in Holland especially if he be attended with the least good Success abroad and by his Practices in both Countries enslave both and retain them in Subjection by the help of each other The first Part of this Paragraph shews their Fears and the last proclaims their Falsehood Whereby all hopes for the future of a Restauration will become desperate by undermining the Endeavours and emasculating the Courage and Constancy of the greatest Sufferers for their Loyalty and Integrity and giving Leisure and Scope to his Enemies to make yet greater Barriers and Fences against it The hopes of a Restauration must needs be desperate when it is attempted by none but undermined and emasculated Jacobites Whereas if it shall please his most Christian Majesty by laying hold of this Opportunity to deliver us from the Calamities and Oppressions we lie under and the greater we are like to be exposed to by restoring to us our lawful Soveraign ancient Laws and Constitutions it will not only be a means to remove all Jealousie and Fears hitherto entertain'd of his Power and Greatness but beget such a Confidence in him and a mutual Love between the Subjects of both Kingdoms as may be evermore the Grounds of an everlasting solid Happiness to them both Towards the attaining of which wished-for-end in which the Peace of Europe the Happiness of our Native Country in particular is so much wrapt up in and in which the Glory Honour and Justice of his most Christian Majesty seems to be so eminently concerned We shall heartily and chearfully concur with our Lives and Fortunes in Company of a great many more of all Ranks Degrees and Professions and upon your Directions be ready to enter into Action in Conjunction with such Succours as the present Circumstances of his M. C. Majesty will permit him to furnish us This Paragraph that so loudly proclaims a Plot against the Government and humbly begs help to ruin their Native Country gives us the true Effigies of the Jacobites who represented our Affairs to the French not as they truly were but after such a manner as might tempt the French King to assist them but the French it seems had more Kindness for themselves then to be again deluded by their repeated Falsifications and therefore would neither credit their Assurances nor comply with their Requests in hazarding 30000 Soldiers and a Fleet of Ships and Seamen for Moon-shine'ith Water having lately sound by a dear bought Experience that our English Seamen and Soldiers were not so few nor so false nor the Nation so poor nor so factious but that they were always agre'd to be irreconcileable Enemies to all that were so to King William and the English Nation and being so united would exert their Courage and Fidelity and Chastise the Insolency of all that oppos'd them at their Pleasure as a late Event had already justified Now That this solemn Invitation had no Effect was not want of Will but Power in the Jacobites since they pusht it so far and made it so public and is not this Project enough to astonish all that consider the Design and its Consequences That the Jacobite having devour'd the English Man a Monster should grow up in the room of him who cares not if Great Britain might but be Lost who gains it so our Religion were but destroy'd whether Popery or Mahometism were placed in it's stead And that so England be but Invaded they are neither afraid nor asham'd to see it accompany'd with the Desolation of our Cities demolishing of our Temples converting the whole Land into one Forreign slaughter-House and leaving a rich and fertile Kingdom to be possess'd by a pack of beggarly hunger-starv'd naked Slaves and Vassals Much more might be added upon this Head if the Author could take any Pleasure in so melancholy a Subject And that it were not to make little Account of the Wisdom and Justice of English Men to whom he writes that he did not think them capable of resenting the Jacobites Treachery and were not of Ability Skill and Honesty to countermine them and all their Confederates The Second Paper follows WE no ways doubt but his Most Christian Majesty is fully informed by the King who has had laid before him the Representations of the several
Classes of his Friends in answer to his late Instructions and of many considerable Men in his Interest unknown to each other As to the properest Place the Time the Number requisite and the Concurrence to be expected from hence upon a Descent But because the best and most solid Conclusions are drawn from an Union and Harmony in Opinion we think it not amiss to explain our selves upon that Head to the end that if ours agree with those you have already before you it may have the greater weight with you First then as to the Number it 's our Opinion and that of all we converse with that 30000 Men or 25000 in England and 5000 in Scotland would carry the King through all difficulties will be a sufficient shelter for his Friends and an Encouragement to others to come into him and declare for him that such an Army or a much less according as the Army here rises or falls as the Person who conveys this and has concerted it with us will be able further to explain unto you seconded with an agreeable Ministry and the Kings late gratious Declaration would meet with little Opposition is most certain and may be intirely relyed upon but it ought not to be forgot at the same time that some particular Assurances be emitted suitable to the Constitution of some Shires as will be further explained to you and the present Condition of the Army Thirdly As to the Place proper for such a Descent that must be left to the Wind Weather and Season If it could be early the nearer London would be the better for the whole Kingdom would follow the Fate of that City which would make no manner of Resistance if a Descent were made near it and at the same time would give an Opportunity to 5000 Foot and 1500 Horse all formed Troops and Remains of the old Army to joyn the King besides what 〈…〉 would go in of the greatest Consideration we now speak within the narrowest Compass Fourthly If later then in our Opinion Bristol is the properest Place which is a great Town well affected to his Majesty lies in the heart of the Kingdom and that and the Counties about it is capable to furnish all Necessaries for such an Army as he shall think fit to bring besides a great many other Advantages which have been already explain'd to you and will be further by this Gentleman Fifthly Upon a Descent in that Place his Majesty may depend upon a great Concurrence of the Nobility Clergy and Gentry from the adjacent Counties Cities and Towns Gloucestershire Worcestershire Monmouth-shire will move with the D. of B**rt Mar**ss of W**ter his Son and my Lord N**ry who immediatly upon the Kings Direction to them will change the Lieutenancy of those Countries and bring the whole Militia into the King as is concerted and agreed upon North Wales and South Wales are honest and will be influenc'd by the D. of 〈…〉 c. It 's concerted there amongst the chief Gentry that those who were in the Lieutenancy in the late Kings Time will re-assume their Posts as before upon his Landing and bring the whole Militia to joyn him as will be further explain'd to you by the Person that conveys this to you The Gentry of Dorsetshire are the same particularly the Towns of Dorcester ond Weymouth Sommersetshire will be altogether influenc'd by my Lord P**t Lord Bishop of B. and W. Sr. Fr**s W*r Sr. Ha**ll T*t Sr. Wm. P**n Mr. A**ll Mr. L**y Mr. St'd who have concerted immediatly upon the Kings Landing to call all the Gentry of the County together and prevent them from raising the Militia and upon his Majesties Directions will re-assume their Places as before when his Majesty was upon the Throne From Devonshire his Majesty will be joyn'd by the Honourable J. Gr**ll Sir Ed. Se**r Sr. Bo. W*y Sr. Sy. Li*h Sr. P. Co***n who have great Interest in that County From Cornwall by my Lord Ar***l of Tr**e Lord Mo**n Capt. Mo**n his Uncle Lord La**n Lord Bishop of E***r Sr. Wm. Co***n Sr. J. Ar***l Sr. Jos Te***m Sr. Wm. Go***n Sr. J. St. Au**n Sr. J. M**h Sr. J. A**y In a Word that whole County is honest and intirely devoted to the King but particularly the Miners who are chiefly influenc'd by Go***n St. Au**n J. K*p H. T**n J. K*n Hen. Vi**t who may bring together a Body of 8 or 9000 of them to joyn the King upon an Occasion and if mix'd with some regular Troops and headed by a good Officer would settle that part of the Country for the King the Free-holders there are tired with Taxes no Fish taken Tin low scarce worth the working Wool and Yarn very low so that some particular Promises and Assurances to that County would have great Effects among the Tin Miners That should be his Majesties particular Care to enhaunce the Price of that Commodity c. which since his Time is fallen from 4. l. to 50. s. at which Price 't is now Wiltshire will move with my Lord We**h and Ay**y From Shropshire the King may expect to be joyn'd by most of the Gentry The City of Shrewsbury is honest From Warwickshire by my Lord Fe**s Lord B*r Lord L*h Lord D**h Lord D**y who with those that have been in the Lieutenancy will reassume their Posts and bring the Militia of that County to joyn the King Northamptonshire Lord E***e who has lately offer'd the King he will come at the Head of 3000 Horse with the chief Gentry of the County to joyn him Lord Gr**n and his Son Derbyshire and Leicestershire by Lord C***d Lord H***n Lord R**d Lord S**le Who will in that County as in others reassume the Lieutenancy upon the Kings Directions and make it serviceable to his Majesty Cheshire Sir F. E***n Sir P. E***n Mr. C**y of V*e R**ll Mr. Ro t Ch**y of H**d Sir Wm. M***ll Mr. Ar**n Mr. M**ll Mr. Lo*s M r. B*h Coll M**ll Mr. Fr***lls Mr. Br*ks of Norton Sir T. S*ley with a great many of the Clergy and City of Chester is well inclined Oxfordshire Lord A***n Lord N**s his Son Lord L**d Sir T. Cl**is Sir W. his Son Lord T***t the Honourable Henry B***s Sir E. N**s Sir E. R*d Sir Wm. W**s Lincolnshire by the Earl of L**y his Br. and the greatest Part of the Gentry So much as to the Places adjacent to Bristol now it 's most certain that while the Kings Western Friends are imployed his Northern Friends and those in London will not be Idle if his Majesty will but send them Directions There are actually in the North above 4000 Men * * Compare this account with that of the Discoverers and they exactly agree listed ready to march upon occasion and will be headed by Men of great consideration all the North being generally well inclined his Majesty has particular Assurance from thence and a true State of those Parts before him so that there is no need we should lay it down here but this it
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
Covent-Garden Square whom they should know by a white Handkercheif hanging out of his Coat Pocket and thereupon the late King James pulling a List out of his Pocket told this Deponent that when he was in England he must go by the Name of Jenkins and his Comerade Hare by the Name of Guiney and further this Deponent saith that Coll. Parker was present heard all that the late King said and went with this Informant and his Comerade to Mr. Caryl who told them that the King had order'd each of them Ten Louis d' Or 's which would be sufficient to carry them into England and if they should be Wind-bound he had writ to the President Tosse at Calais to furnish them with what they should have occasion for the rest of the Assassins were all Men of desperate Fortunes hangers-on at the Court at St. Germains or Soldiers taken out of several Regiments whose Characters render'd them fit for such an inhuman Enterprize All the Assassins being come to London that were expected from France and their Number compleated by the Addition of others that were in England the execrable Design was communicated to all the Desperados Some of which were startled and amazed with horror at the first Relation of it but all the Scruples that Conscience could raise were soon extinguish'd by the Authority of the late King James 's Commission and their Phanciful Prospects of Wealth and Honour that would attend the Action And therefore all consented to forfeit their Honours and hazard their Lives in it Now several ways are proposed by the Conspirators to execute their long design'd Attempt against his Majesties Person Some proposed the seizing his Majesty and carrying him alive into France and to that purpose a faint was made that a Castle on the Sea-side was secured to detain the King in till a Ship was ready to transport him thither but the wiser and more wicked among them that understood what was meant by seizing the King's Person laught at this as a meer Chimera Others proposed to kill his Majesty at Kensington by attaching his Guards and forcing his Pallace in the dead of the night but this upon debating was also thought wholly impracticable Some were for Murthering the King as he came on Sunday to St. James 's Chappel and for this purpose forty Men well armed were to Assault his Majesties Guards which commonly do not exceed above twenty five while six Men on Foot should shut Hide Parke-gate and the rest Assassinate his Majesty * See Mr. Fishers Deposition Feb. 25 1695. 't was agreed also to kill the Coach Horses as they were entring into the Park that the Passage being stopt the Guards might not be able to come up till they had done their Work Another Proposal was to Murther the King as he returned from Hunting in a narrow Lane by a Wood-side leading to the Thames on the other side of the Water about a hundred and fifty paces long in which there is a Gate that when 't is shut hinders Coaches or Horses from passing that way One of the Assassins was sent to view this Ground and another to view the Lane aforementioned but Sr. George Barclay who was to command this infamous Party did not approve that Lane and the Difficulties that arose in the Debate caused that Project to be rejected at last they fix upon a Place betwixt Brentford and Turnham-Green In a bottom where the Ground is moorish there is a Bridge where diverse Roads meet and cross one another on the North side there is a Road that goes round Brentford and on the South a Lane that leads to the River so that one may come thither by four several Ways After you past the Bridge the Road grows narrow having on one side a foot Path and on the other a tall and thick Hedge and this Place was pitcht upon for the Execution of their barbarous Design And truly if Heaven had not discover'd their Treasons all Circumstances consider'd a more unlucky Place and Time could not have been found out For His Majesty very often return'd late from Hunting and usually crost the Water at Queens-Ferry by Brentford with no greater Attendance than five or six of his Guards 'T was also his Majesties Custom to enter the Ferry-Boat without coming out of his Coach and as soon as he landed on this side the Water the Coach drove on without expecting the rest of the Guards who could not cross the Thames till the Boat return'd to Surry-side to bring them over and so the King must inevitably have fallen into the Hands of his Murtherers before the rest of his Guards could have come up to his Assistance Neither was the Time and Place more cunningly and devilishly contrived then their Men were disposed of for having secured several Places at Brentford Turnham-Green and in scatter'd Houses thereabouts to set up their Horses till the King should return from Hunting One of the Conspirators was order'd to wait at Queens-Ferry till the Kings Guards appear'd in sight on Surry-side of the Water and then to give speedy Notice to the rest to be ready at their respective Ports while the King was crossing the Thames For this wicked end they were divided into three Parties which were to make their Approaches by three several ways one of which was to come from Turnham-Green another from the Lane that leads to the Thames and the third from the Road that goes round Brentford One of these Parties were to attack the Guards in the Front and the other in the Rear whilst ten or twelve Men of the bloodiest Sort were to assassinate his Majesty in his Coach And put a Period to that Sacred Life whose Safety and well Being is a Terrour to the Common Enemy of Europe as well as the particular Joy Delight and Safety of England When their execrable Design was accomplish'd the Conspirators resolv'd to keep in a Body till they came beyond Hammersmith and there to seperate and by several Roads hasten to London and from thence to the Sea-side where the sudden Landing of the French might secure them from the Rage of the Multitude and the Hand of Justice Thus was the Assassination to make way for a French Invasion and the Invasion to shelter the Murtherers of our King and Country Horses were now the only necessaries wanting and Sir George Barclay * Vid. Captain Porter's Depositions in the Appendix complaining that the eight hundred Pound he brought over was already so far exhausted that he could not out of the Remainder provide so great a Number as forty they all agre'd he should find but half and the other twenty should be supply'd by Sir W. Perkins Mr. Porter and Mr. Charnock All Things being thus agreed on and the day appointed for the Execution of this inhuman Conspiracy the Duke of Berwick who came into England to countenance the Action and secure a Party among the great Ones to assist at the Invasion having been three Weeks in England
left London on Fryday the 7th of February 1695 and having a speedy Passage was posting towards Paris but meeting his supposed Father the late King James upon the Read travelling towards Calais he acquaints him that all things were so well settl'd in England for his Restoration that he would have little else to do than to take Possession of that Kingdom there being an utter Impossibility that Projects so well concerted should miscarry With this Account the late King James sends the Duke of Berwick to the who not a little pleas'd that a Design of his own Laying should succeed so luckily communicated it to the Folks about him and after some time spent in diverting themselves with the Account of the Duke of Berwick's going into England and escaping from thence the sent the Duke back to accompany the late King James into England The 15th day of February 1695. was the Day appointed to Murther the King if kind Heaven had not prevented it And now the Leaders having quarter'd the Assassines in several Parts of the Town to prevent Suspicion they all lay close and still expecting Notice from their orderly Men of the Kings being gone to Richmond but so it pleas'd God that his Majesty did not go abroad that day This Disappointment and Fears of a Discovery made Plowden Kendrick and Sherborn decline the Action and withdraw themselves but Sr. George Barclay Sr. William Perkins Capt. Porter and Mr. Goodman concluding the Design was not discover'd because they were not taken up by the Government had another Meeting February 21st and there resolv'd to execute their bloody Project on Saturday 22d of February 1695. The Forenoon of that Day was spent in a tedious Expectation of News that the King was gone abroad but instead of that Account Keyes one of the orderly Men which they lodg'd at Kensington to give them Notice when the King went out tells them that the Guards were all come back in a Foam and that there was a Muttering among the People that a damnable Plot was discover'd and this unexpected News dispers'd all the Conspirators and drove them to shift for themselves by a speedy Flight Nor were their Apprehensions of a Discovery groundless for the Plot and the Progress that was made in it from time to time had been discover'd by Richard Fisher to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland a considerable Time before any other Person discover'd it and as Things ripen'd for Action his Lordship was acquainted with the Particulars On the 10th of February he acquainted that Noble Lord how far it was advanc'd and promis'd to wait upon his Lordship with a fuller Account in a few days accordingly he did on February the 13th 1695. And then gave his Lordship a full Account of the Design it self and the Time Place and Manner of it's Execution but refusing to give to his Lordship the Names of the Conspirators made his Discovery suspected till the Addition of other Witnesses gave an unquestionable Authority to the Truth of it Mr. Pendergrass who was wholly ignorant of this barbarous Design till he was sent for to London and there acquainted with it being struck with Horror and Astonishment at the first Proposal of it even then took up a Resolution to preserve his Majesties Life and discover the Conspiracy Accordingly on February 14th 1695 he waited on the Earl of Portland at his Lordships Lodgings at Whitehall and being admitted to Privacy with his Lordship though wholly a Stranger without farther Address accosts his Lordship with this surprizing Request Pray My Lord perswade the King to stay at home to morrow for if he goes abroad to hunt he will be murther'd To this he subjoyn'd a Relation of the whole Plot as it had been communicated to him by the confederated Assassines Which he said he would have told the King himself but that he durst not go to Kensington for fear of the two orderly Men which were kept as Spies there to give Intelligence of what occurr'd in that Court He was introduc'd that Night to the King tho' very late and there in his whole Deportment shew'd himself to be a Man of Honour Neither was Mr. De la Rue short of Mr. Pendergrass in making a Discovery of the intended Assassination though his Friend Brigadier Lewson who he design'd should acquaint the King with it being then out of Town makes his Information appear somewhat latter than the former For as he is a Man of too much Honour to be engag'd in a Murther so his Concern to discover it was from the Beginning though he did not declare it till his Discovery might be serviceable to his Majesty and then as soon as he had an Opportunity to impart the Secret he did it and Brigadier Lewson much about the same time acquainted the King that Mr. De la Rue had inform'd him of a Design carrying on to assassinate his Majesty and had given him a particular Account by what Methods it was design'd to be accomplish'd and propos'd a way if the King thought fit how all the Conspirators might be taken in Arms when they thought to attempt it But that which seems strange in all these Discoverers though they punctually agre'd in the Act and in the Circumstances yet they all peremptorily refus'd to Name the Conspirators which might have been of fatal Consequence if the Earl of Portland had not found out the happy Expedient to prevent it by perswading his Majesty to give himself the Trouble of examining Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. De la Rue himself in his Closet His Majesty overcome by the Reasons alledg'd by that Noble Peer condescended to his Request and examin'd them * Feb. 21. 1695. both seperately At Mr. Pendergrass's Examination was present the Earl of Portland and the Lord Cutts and Mr. De la Rue's Examination was heard by the same Noble Earl and Brigadier Lewson After the Examination his Majesty shew'd himself extreamly well satisfy'd in the Truth of their Discoveries and in a very Obliging Manner express'd his Resentments of their Generosity in the great Care and Zeal they shew'd for the Preservation of his Life and the Safety of the Kingdom and at last gave them such unanswerable Reasons why as Men of Honour and Lovers of their Country they should compleat their Duty and Kindness in discovering the Names of the Conspirators as quite subdu'd their former Obstinacies and prevail'd upon them to make a full and true discovery of the Names of the Assassins under the Promise of not being made use of as Evidences but Mr. Pendergrass hearing that Mr. Porter who engaged him in it had discovered and accused him he thought himself discharg'd from any Obligation of Honour in concealing it and therefore afterward as an Evidence for the King freely told all he knew at Charnocks Tryal p. 40. The King having now a perfect Knowledge of the Conspiracy and the Names of the Conspirators his Majesty issues out his Royal Proclamation requiring all his loving