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
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
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
Cheshire where there were and this Informant is very confident yet are lodg'd secur'd and kept great Quantities of Arms and Warlike Equipage of all Sorts with great Numbers of Horses fit for Service And this Informant saith that if he were Authorized and Impower'd thereunto he this Informant would undertake to Seize and Secure them The Examination of John Kelly taken upon Oath the 23. and 27. days of February THIS Informant saith that he came over to England in the Irish Army about Michaelmas last was twelve Months since which time he hath wander'd up and down from one Gentlemens House to another and was entertain'd in the Lord Molyneux's House about twelve Days before Christmas during which time he was there he saw a Letter from Queen Mary which came from St. Germaint directed to the young Lord Molyneux which Letter this Informant heard read the Contents of which Letter was that with good Hopes of the Encouragement they had from other Countries and that the Queen had got from the French King a Grant of assisting them with Arms to the Number of eight or nine Thousand as near as he remembereth and my Lord Molyneux on receipt of this Letter sent to several Sadlers to prepare Saddles Bridles and Holsters and as fast as they were made this Informant saith they were convey'd to secret Places under Ground And farther this Informant saith That he was at the House of one Esq Tildesley at a Place call'd the Lodge in Lancashire near to a Town call'd Preston where he saw many Commissions which came from King James out of Ireland which said Commissions were to raise two Regiments of Horse and three of Foot which Regiments were to be at an hours warning when King James sent any Assistance out of Ireland into England or when King William should go into Scotland one of which Regiments of Horse was to be Commanded by the young Lord Molyneux another Regiment of Horse was to be Commanded by Esq Townley of Townley in Lancashire aforesaid one other Regiment of Foot was to be Commanded by Mr. Standish of Standish Hall in Lancashire aforesaid and the other Regiment of Foot was to be Commanded by Sir James Pool of Pool Hall within six Miles of West-Chester And this Informant farther saith that Mr. Standish sent one Lieut. Burke from his House with Letters to King James into Ireland who gave the said Lieut. Burke forty Guinea's which this Informant saw deliver'd to the said Lieut Burke which said Letters were sent immediately after the Receipt of the said Commissions from Ireland And farther this Informant says he was sent by the Lord Molyneux with a Letter to my Lord I**t of I**t-Hall aforesaid and also he was sent with several other Letters from Place to Place to several other Gentlemen the Contents of which Letters this Informant believes was to be in a Readiness for the rising aforesaid and they were to repair to the Castle of Liverpool which they did conceive might easily be surpriz'd where were many Barrels of Gun Powder and Arms that so thereby they might be furnish'd with Ammunition and Arms and further this Informant saith that he was sent now and then a Foot and then a Horseback from one Gentleman to another who were Confederates and was kindly receiv'd by all with Plenty of Provisions and Money and further this Informant says he knew several other Persons sent upon the same-occasion and further this Informant says that he himself does know Irish Souldiers to the Number of five Hundred now lying in Lancashire which lye to be ready at an hours warning if there should be any Insurrection to assist King James And this Informant saith Mr. Thomas Tatlock of Symons-Wood near the Parish of Sefton in Lancashire did for near a Month together harbour about three Score Irish Men who had serv'd King James and were then listed under other Gentlemen to serve King James again and that Arms and Furniture for them-were hid in that Wood. He further saith that Mr. Molyneux of Morbrow did harbour about twenty Irish Men for the Service of King James and that Arms Saddles Bridles and Holsters for them were conceal'd in a Cellar under a Tower at the Entry of the House at Mr. Blundell of Inch in the Parish of Sefton That John Holland of Prescot and his Partner made Saddles Bridles and Holsters for them and was privy to the Design and that a Sadler in Legh was imploy'd by the Popish Gentlemen for that Service That all the Officers and Soldiers were to be ready at the Time they should have Notice from King James from Ireland That Arms Saddles Bridles Holsters c. were also hid in Cellars and under Ground in the Parish of Prescot and Parish of Legh and other Parishes by Gentlemen and the Sadlers that live there J. Kelly Taken and Sworn this 27. Febr. before us whose Names are here under Written Thomas Yarnold Mayor of Evesham Bellemont James Rushout William Bromley Edmund Letchmore Richard Dodswell Mr. William Wybrants Information ABOUT the Time when the Lancashire Gentlemen were brought Prisoners to Town I met Mr. Taffe I told him I met Capt. Cottingham who hop'd that you were not concern'd in the Plot especially against Mr. Legh of Lime for he heard he was a very honest Gentleman after which Mr. Taffe pressed me two or three Times to speak to Capt. Cottingham if he could bring him acquainted with any Friend of Mr. Legh of Limes some time after I met him in the Temple where he told me he was mightily disgusted for that Mr. Baker and Mr. Smith who was then walking in the Temple did use him barbarously for they would not give him any Money not so much as would pay his Horse-hire into the Country but he would be even with them and spoil the Plot and several Words to that effect I ask'd him to be Ingenious with me and tell me whether he was concern'd in the Plot for I heard it would come to nothing He told me he was no Evidence nor knew any thing of the Plot But he knew there were very good Evidence and enough to hang them all and immediately afterward he ask'd me whether I could help him to a Friend of Mr. Legh of Lime for he was in the Tower and there was no getting to speak to him but if he could get to speak to a particular Friend of his he could make his Fortime and get a good Sum of Money by it for he could put them in a way to save their Lives I ask'd him how could that be when just before he told me the Evidence was Good and enough to hang them all he answer'd that was no Matter for he could contrive a way But when he found I was not inclinable he said now I think on it he would not be concern'd in it for it would look ill for him to be concern'd against the Government who had appear'd so much for it William Wybrant Sworn before the Houses of Lords and
their cruel Task-Masters or that they dispatch'd any of their Body to compliment the King of Egypt with a free Surrender of their Lives and Fortunes If they had been Guilty of such an unpardonable Stupidity I may be bold to say That they had been so far from deserving such a Country as the Land of Canaan that Lapland it self had been too good for them mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur I will no longer detain the Reader from the History it self wherein if he find by Undenyable Proofs That our Enemies have hitherto been continually designing upon His Majesty's Life and the Ruin of the Kingdom I hope he will agree That what has been already may be again repeated and therefore That we ought not by our own Sloth or Covetousness lead our Enemies into Temptations to attack us unprovided but that we should always have a Defence suitable to our Dangers AN ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL CONSPIRACIES AGAINST His Majesties Sacred PERSON and GOVERNMENT AS nothing of Public Concernment has been so variously discours'd of at home and abroad as the Lancashire Plot and that perpetual Train of Conspiracies that have annually succeeded it some endeavouring to sham the whole by scandalous Invectives against the Discoverers whilst others searching into the bottom of the several Designs are not only convinc'd of the Truth of them but also of the Honour and Integrity of the Government in relation to these Affairs I cannot imagin but that a True and Impartial Account of them will be equally useful and acceptable to the Public and because the Lancashire Plot has had the Honour not only to be the Parent but Companion of all the other Conspiracies I find my self oblig'd to begin tho' the Series of the Narration will not permit me to conclude with it The Contrivance then of this Plot is owing to the Politics of the late King James who finding himself utterly lost in the love and affections of his People and the Crown fallen from his Head by his own mal-Administration yet flattering himself with the vain hopes of regaining by the Sword what he had forfeited by breaking the Laws of the Land and endeavouring to subvert the Constitution He fled into France for shelter till he could put his Affairs into such a Posture as might facilitate his Return and enable him to establish Popery and Arbitrary Power in these Protestant Kingdoms But before he took his Voyage for France to gain Assistance from that potent Monarch 't was concerted by him and those Popish bigotted Friends that had espous'd his Interest that they should also endeavour at the same time to raise a Ferment in England Scotland and Ireland to concur with the Designs that carryed him into France and therefore that some Person of known Experience Courage and Secresy should be dispatch'd on that Errand to imbroyl the three Kingdoms Mr. Bromfeild a pretended Quaker and so dexterous and bold a Counterfeit that he was able to personate the the Disciple of any Sect Member of any Faction or Person of any Quality had this Office assign'd him and from the Earl of Salisbury's by the Name of Thompson advanc'd towards Scotland Not forgetting according to the Instructions given him by the late King to sow such Seeds of Discontent and Jealousy as he pass'd through the North of England as might ripen into an Insurrection and Rebellion at his Return He had not been long in Scotland before he effected his wicked Purposes in laying a Foundation for a Civil War in that Kingdom and from thence sail'd into Ireland on the same Errand Where he acquaints the Earl of Tyrconnel how successful he had been in his Negotiations in Scotland viz. That the Duke of Gourdon had garrison'd Edenbrough Castle and that the Viscount Dundee would be suddenly at the Head of a great Army there and both declare for the late King James but Mr. Bromfeild finding the Earl of Tyrconnel so zealous for the Cause that he wanted no Arguments or Preswasions to make him more active and daring in promoting the late Kings Service he sail'd from thence into Lancashire where he might be more useful intending to make that and the adjacent Countrys the Provinces he would act in When Bromfeild landed in Lancashire he intended for Croxteth the Seat of the Lord Molineux but for fear of being too much observ'd there he alter'd his purpose and took up his head quarters at Mr. Fitz Herberts of Wapra * Vid Mr. Edward's and Wilson's Depositions in the Appendix and sometimes at Mr. Wilson's in Redland where the Jacobites resorted to him in great Numbers to concert what was necessary to be done for the Restauration of their old Master From Wapra he often made Excursions into the neighbouring Countys and through by-ways to Croxteth to confer with the Lord Molineux and his Son and other considerable Persons of the Roman Character And having adjusted Matters there for an Insurrection he return'd into Ireland with his Dispatches and so backward and forward as the Emergency of his treasonable Affairs requir'd Having a safer Conveyance for his Lancashire Pacquets to and Answers from France by the way of Ireland than to hazard them through the several Post-Offices in England This treacherous Imployment was carry'd on by Mr. Bromfeild for some Months the Habit of a Quaker securing him from the Suspition of a Jacobite but at length his Visor dropt off and the trayterous half-fac'd Papist was seen through the demure Looks and canting Dialect of the Quaker The Vessel that Bromfeild bought to transport him to and from Ireland was seiz'd by Mr. Morston for the use of the Government and Bromfeild had certainly been committed to Prison and try'd for his Life had not the means of his Escape out of Lancashire * Vid Depositions pradict been contriv'd by his quondam Host and intire Friend and Confident Mr. Wilson Mr. Bromfeild and his Intelligence being once more landed in Ireland * May. 1689. where the late King James was arriv'd also he acquaints the late King with the Effects of his Travails viz. That his Friends were up in Arms in Scotland and that the Lancashire Papists and others were ready to ingage in his Quarrel in Order to re-inthrone him as soon as they were commissioned by him to undertake it Nor did he forget to acquaint the late King how narrowly he escap'd a Goal and the Gallows at his last being in Lancashire and that since he was too well known there to be sent again into that Country he begg'd some other Person might he imploy'd in carrying over the Commissions desir'd Which the late King comply'd with and as a Reward of these Services made Mr. Bromfeild one of the Commissioners of his Irish Mint in which Post he continued till the Reduction of Ireland by King William If any object that Bromfeild's Agency in Scotland has no Authorities to support it let the Reader know 't is not for want of them they are not produced but for