The Free and Voluntary Confession and Narrative OF JAMES HOLLOWAY Addressed to His Majesty Written with his own hand and Delivered by himself TO Mr. SECRETARY JENKINS AS ALSO The Proceedings against the said James Holloway in His Majesties KINGS-BENCH COURT Westminster And his Petition to His Majesty TOGETHER With a particular Account of the Discourse as passed between the Sheriffs of London and the said James Holloway at the time of his Execution for High-Treason at Tyburn April 30. 1684. With his Prayer immediately before and the true Copy of the Paper Delivered them at the same Time and Place The Confession or Narrative Great SIR I Your Majesties most humble but too much â—…lled and disobedient Subject do here most faithfully according to the best of my Remembrance give you an Account of what I knew concerning the late discovered Conspiracy how I came to be concerned how far I was concerned how it was to have been carried on in Bristol why I did not come in at the first Discovery and cast my self at your Majesties Feet for Mercy how I made my escape and whore I was till taken If I shall thro forgetfulness omit any thing that it may be thought I am privie to I shall be ready and willing truly to answer any question that shall be asked by your Majesty or any your most Honorable Privy-Council no way despairing of your Majesties Mercy but remain in hopes that that Fountain of Mercy which hath so abundantly flowed from your Sacred Breast ever since your happy Restauration is not yet dry and that there is some drops left for me who doubt not but to Serve your Majesty both at home and abroad much more Living than my Death will That which I have cause to impute the occasion of my being Concerned was my too Publick Spirit preferring your Majesties and my Countries Interest much before my own but especially in attending the two last Parliaments promoting an Act for the encouragement of the Linnen Manufacture and the preventing of Frauds in your Majesties Customes c. which would have brought in and saved to your Majesty near 200000 l. per An. and employed many thousands of Poor c. as is well known to many Worthy Persons about your Court and indeed proved my Ruino otherwise than in this Concern by bringing me into too great Acquaintance for one of my Capacity and by that to be concerned as I was My Attendance on those two Parliaments I doubt have been mis-represented How far I was Concerned After the Dissolution of the two last Parliaments I observed a great dissatisfaction in People in most parts whore I travelled but heard nothing of any Design till July 1682. when one Mr. Joseph Tyly of Bristol came from London I meeting with him asked what News he answered to this effect all bad and if some speedy course be not taken we shall be all undone for by their Arbitrary Illegal ways and by force of Arms they have got Sheriffs to their minds Witnesses they had before but wanted Jurors to believe them now they have got Sheriffs naming Mr. North and Mr. Rich who will find Jurors to believe any Evidence against a Protestant and so hang up all the Kings Friends by degrees I then told him that I thought it was impossible such things could be done but the King must hear of it no said he there 's none suffered to come near the King but those who have been declared Enemies to the King and Kingdom by Parliament naming some that were mentioned in the Printed Votes who to save themselves do indeavor to keep all such things from the Kings knowledge and perswade him against Parliaments with much more such-like discourse by which I found the same was discoursed throughout England Scotland and Ireland as a means to engage People At length he told me that the Protestant Gentry naming the Earl of Shaftsbury Lord Howard of Estrick and others were come to a Resolution seeing fair means would not do but all things on the Protestants side are misrepresented to the King by such great Criminals and none more in favor than those to take the King from his Evil Council and that by an Insurrection in several parts of England at once viz. London Bristol Taunton Exeter Chester New Castle York and some other places in the North and that there would be a considerable party ready in Scotland and another in Ireland therefore said he we must consider how to manage affairs in Bristol for if they proceed at Michaelmas in choosing Lord-Mayor as they did Sheriffs and to swearing of North and Rich it must begin in October or November otherwise there will be some Sham-Plot contrived to take off most of the Stirring Men in the last Parliaments with much other ' Discourse to the same effect adding that Mr. Wade would come down very suddenly by whom we might expect a full Account of all About the end of August as near as I can remember Mr. Wade came down who confirmed what Mr. Tyly had said but could say little as to any farther Resolution they were come to above either of any Time or Method agreed upon but that the Design went on and men were imployed in all parts to try how people were inclined who found enough ready and that there would be no want of Men if it was once begun Then we considered how it might be managed in Bristol and what number of men might be needful for the first Onset towards which he said We might depend on 150. men from Taunton or thereabouts and concluded that 350. might be sufficient to secure it without the Bloodshed of one man it being our Design to shed no Blood if possible but this we resolved not to acquaint any of our Friends with it till the day and method was resolved of which he said we should have ten or fourteen days notice and having soon considered of a Method waited in expectation of further advice but none came till November then we heard that some disappointment happening they were forced to delay it tho there was more and more cause for it The end of December or beginning of January had advice that it was deferred to the beginning of March The third of March I came to London and meeting with Mr. Wade asked him how things went who answered that he could not tell what to make of it for he could find nothing done more than was nine Months before The great Persons who were the Managers having done nothing but talkt of things But now there was some others appointed to manage it who were men of Business naming them to me viz. The Earl of Essex the Lord Howard of Estrick the Lord Grey the Lord Russel Coll. Sidney Major Wildman Mr. Hampden the younger and Mr. Charlton who he did suppose would make something of it and not do as the others had done make a years talk to ensnare many thousands of people to no purpose for these had already sent
from New-Market in order to which he had provided Arms for fifty men Pistols Carbines and Blunderbusses and that they were promised the House of one Rumbald a Maltster which lay in the Road and the King must come by his Door there the men should have been Lodged Then we asked who was to have acted it to which he could give but a slender Answer and could or would name but two men who were Rumbald and his Brother saying if they could have raised six or eight hundred pounds to have bought Horses and something to encourage men they should have had men enough so that we found they had few men if more than two and no Horses only a parcel of Arms which afterwards he shewed us at a Gun-smiths House in a little Lane near Temple-Bar Then we asked him what they designed if it had taken effect to which he answered that the men should have come up with all speed to London and dispersed themselves immediately declaring for the Duke of Monmouth and that the King and Duke being dead no opposition could be made then we asked who were for this Design he named Collonel Rumsy and Richard Goodenough and as far as I can remember no more so we found it was carried on by them contrary to the knowledg or approbation of those who managed the General Design then we declared our great dislike of it telling him it was a base Dishonourable and Cowardly Action and would seem odious to all the World that any pretending themselves Protestants should be concerned in such a Bloody Action and that we thought it was his Cowardize put him upon it to which he said that he could not Fight but would be as forward with his Mony as any one of his Capacity Then we went to Collonel Rumsy who we found to be wholly of West's Opinion saying that except something be done that way I know nothing will be done at all for he knew the other Managers would do nothing so we had little Discourse at that time After this we went to Ferguson who told us how things stood we then found that he knew of both Designs but was only for the Insurrection and told us that the Managers had been Treating with some Scotch Gentlemen that they were almost agreed and that the Mony they were to be supplied with would be ready in three or four days being ten thousand pounds which was to be returned to Holland to buy Arms c. for Scotland He also told us that the Scotch Gentlemen had made another Proposal to the Managers thus if they would supply them with thirty thousand pounds they would begin it in Scotland first which they could soon have and then would Invade England desiring the Managers only to get a Party in the North of England ready to oppose any Force from coming out of England against them before they had setled Scotland but this was not approved of the Managers chusing rather to supply them with 10000 l. and to begin it in England the same time Then we daily expected to hear when the Mony would be paid but still found nothing but delays the Managers not agreeing how to raise the Mony and that if the Mony had been ready they were come to no Conclusion as to any method more than they were nine months before having done nothing but talked to ensnare people reporting about in all parts how the Liberties of the people were daily more and more infringed and that Arbitrary Government and Popery was coming in apace which incensed people very much and made such a grumbling in all parts that we fear'd longer delays would make the common people in many parts mutiny it being as we thought so gen'rally known except something was suddenly done it was impossible it should remain undiscovered so the next time we met with Rumsy and Ferguson tho never together we declared our dissatisfaction by Reason of such long delaies and spoke it so as that it might come to the managers Ears as we suppose it did being to this effect That we thought they had only a designe to betray people drawing many thousands into a snare for their actions shewed little otherwise being so long discoursing a thing of that nature and done so little towards it few daies after meeting with Rumsy again he told us they were of different opinions concerning a method some for beginning the Insurrection only in London and Scotland some for it in all places at once as at first proposed others for leveral places in England and Scotland and not in London saying that if it was not begun in London but in other places there would be forces raised in London to send out against them which would take out most of their strength and that then London might be casily secured somtimes they were for beginning it only in London and Scotland and to have people come up to London from all parts of England to which we answered that we thought no way better than what was first proposed viz. the beginning of it in many places at once as before mentioned for although we had engaged none in or about Bristol nor should not endeavour it till all things were concluded yet with the assistance we were promised from Taunton did not doubt but to get men enough to secure it and that we knew not where to get ten men that would come for London and supposed it might be so in other places men might be willing to secure their own Countrey who would not be willing to leave all and come for London Rumsy then said if he knew where to get at the head of 1000 men he would begin it presently and desired that we might meet the next night with some others and consider of things so the next afternoon we met at Richard's Coffee-House near Temple-Barr and from thence to a Tavern near I think called the little or young Devil Tavern were met eight persons viz. Collonel Rumsy Robert West Capt. Norion Capt. Walcot Richard Goodenough Francis Goodenough Nathaniel Wade and my self this was the first time I knew Walcot When we were all sit Collonel Rumsy spoke to this effect as near as I can remember the same words Gentlemen if we can raise three thousand men in and about London there is a person of Honour will appear at the head of them and begin the business which we supposed to be the Duke of Monmouth and do not well remember whether he mentioned his name or not Which proposal much surprized Mr. Wade and I that he should then question the raising of 3000 men whereas when it was first mentioned to us we thought they had been sure of many thousands in London at an hours warning Then it was considered how 3000 men might be raised and how they might do something to the purpose then we declared what method we had concluded on for the management of Affairs in Bristol which was as followeth and they could think of no better way so
Corpus Returnable this day directed to the Keeper of his Majesties God of Nowgate to bring thither the Body of James Holloway then in his Custody to shew Cause why Execution should not be awarded upon an Outlawry for High Treason against him The Keeper of Nowgate according to the Command of the Writ brought him this day to the Bar of the said Court where he was proceeded against in this manner The Return of the Writ of Habeas Corpus was first Read Cl. of Crown James Holloway hold up thy hand which he did Thou hast been Indicted in London by the Name of James Holloway late of London Merchant for High Treason by thee committed touching the Kings Majesties Person and the Government of this his Kingdom of England and for not appearing and answering that Indictment by due Process of Law upon the Indictment thou standest Outlawed and upon that Outlawry thou standest Attainted of the same High Treason What hast thou to say for thy self why Excecution should not be awarded against thee upon that Attainder by this Court according to Law Holloway My Lord I have been a great while Absent and know not what hath been done in this matter or proved against me L. Ch. Just Yes you have been Absent so long it seems that you now stand Outlawed and thereby Attainted of High Treason there is nothing now remains with the Court but only to make a Rule for your Execution Holloway If an ingenuous Confession of the Truth will merit the Kings Pardon then sure I have done it L. Ch. Just For that matter we are not to dispose of the Kings Mercy he will dispose of his own Mercy as he shall think fit Is Mr. Attorney in the Hall Cryer Yes my Lord he is L. Ch. Just Then pray send for him Which was done and in a little time after he came into Court. L. Ch. Just Mr. Attorney here is the Prisoner at the Bar Holloway Mr. Att. Gen. Yes my Lord I see he is Sir Samuel Astry have you the Record there Cl. of Cr. Yes Sir L. Ch. Just It has been read to him Mr. Attorney Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord I would know what he saith that Execution should not be Awarded L. Ch. Just He talks of Discoveries and Confessions which we you know we cannot take any notice of Ask him again Cl. of Cr. Hast thou any thing to say for thy self why Execution should not be awarded against thee according to Law Holloway My Lord I know not what hath been proved against me but I have made such an Ingenuous Confession to his Majesty of what I know L. Ch. Just Proved against you You are Outlawed upon an Indictment for High Treason what can you say against the Courts awarding Execution Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord has he heard the Indictment upon which the Outlawry was grounded Cl. of Cr. No Sir only the Substance was told him That he was Indicted of High Treason and Outlawed for it and stands Attained by that Outlawry Mr. Att. Gen. If your Lordship please the Indictment may be read to him that he may understand what it is and may not go blind to Execution L. Ch. Just Ay Mr. Attorney if you please let it be so Cl. of Cr. Reads The Jurors being Sworn to enquire for our Sovereign Lord the King and the Body of the County of the City of London upon their Oaths present That and so the whole Indictment was Read Cl. of Cr. That is the Indictment Mr. Attorney and upon this he is Outlawed Mr. Att. Gen. And so stands Attainted What hath he to say to it L. Ch. Just Ay why should not we award Execution against him according to Law Cl. of Cr. Have you any thing to say Holloway I have said what I have to say Mr. Att. Gen. Pray what is that my Lord that he has said for I was not here Holloway I beg his Majesties Mercy Mr. Att. Gen. If the King be so Gracious as to admit you to your Tryal can you make a defence against the Indictment Have you any thing to say that you can defend your self by if the King do admit you to be tryed and that is a Mercy and a Grace for at Law you are gone L. Ch. Just It is so indeed Mr. Attorney if von will on the Kings behalf indulge him so far as I suppose you have Authority from the King to Coâ—…nt unto that if he has a mind to try the Fact and can defend himself he shall have that Liberty that is a great Mercy I assure you Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord That is the only reason why I did cause the Indictment to be read that he might hear it that supposing he were not Outlawed but that were out of the Case if he hath any thing to say that could defend him from it the king would not exclude him but admit him to his Tryal and extend his Mercy so far to him L. Ch. Just Mr. Attorney it is exceeding well Now you understand what is said by the Kings Attorney you have heard the Indictment read it is an Indictment of High Treason that you with other false Traytors Hone Ramball the Goodenought and the rest did Conspire the Death of the King Now though you are in Law actually Attâ—…d as much as if you had been Tryed and Convicted and received Judgment of Death upon that Conviction to all intents and purposes and there is no more for the Court to do but to award Lâ—…on upon this Attainder and be dealt with as a false Traytor Yet however in as much as you have heard the Indictment read if you think you have any thing to say that would satisfie the World or a Jury that you are not Guilty of what you are Indicted and Accused of it seems the King is pleased to signifie his Gracious Intenton towards you by Mr. Attorney General that he is contented to Wave that other part the Attainder by Outlawry and you shall have the Liberty to try it if you think you can defend your self Holloway My Lord I cannot undertake to defend my self for I have Confessed before his Majesty that I am Guilty of many things in that Indictment and I throw my self on the Kings Mercy L. Ch. Just Then he Confesseth it and will not undertake to defend himself as for the Kings Mercy that we must leave to his Majesty who is the Dispenser of his own Grace we are to execute his Justice and must give a Rule accordingly Mr. Just With. But I hope every body here takes bonce of his open Confession when he might try it if he would Surely none but will beneve this Conspiracy now after what this man hath owned L. Ch. Just We were well enough satisfied about it before and so was every he rest man I dare say Mr. Just With. Yet perhaps though he saith it and others have Confessed it and the Evidence hath been made Publick there are many People that say they will not believe it L. Ch.
that were concerned in it Mr. Sh. Dashwood But did they not tell you at some one time they were concerned in such a thing Holloway Yes Sir they did so They told me more than once Mr. Sh. Daniel In Bristol or in London Holloway In London Mr. Sh. Dashwood Mr. Holloway you have a Liberty to say any thing you have a mind to Holloway I have little to say more upon that Account I am sorry I was concerned in that way to do such a thing as to take up Arms. But as to the Design I had and the PLOT I was acquanted with it was nothing against the Kings Life Cap. Richardson Sure at was the same PLOT while there was a Design to seize the King and take him from evil Company Holloway We had a Design to take them that were Guilty of the Popish Plot and were Enemies to the Privileges and Liberties of the Subject Mr. Sh. Daniel And as a thing that tended to that the King was to be seized till he consented to these things Holloway It was supposed by them that told me of it that many things that have been acted of late were done contrary to the Kings knowledge and that the King knew nothing of it and I am perfectly of that belief too That many things are done contrary to the Kings knowledg And I was farther informed That if the King could be but once acquainted with these things that the King would presently come in to those that should stand for his assistance and give up all those Offenders to Justice Mr. Sh. Daniel And if you could not tell him otherwise you would take him first and tell him afterwards Holloway You may interpret it how you please Sir It was that all such Differences amongst the Kings Subjects might be prevented for the future for I believe there were never greater Differences in the Spirits of men though some think the Times were never better than now because all things go according to their own humour but I suppose many in the Nation are satisfied that many things have been done contrary to Law Mr. Sh. Daniel Was it sit you should set up for a Politician or a Statesman Holloway No Sir I did not take it upon me that was for the Scriblers that write News I do not reckon my self worthy to direct in such a Case Mr. Sh. Daniel Mr. Holloway you don't remember to give the Names of those Persons you spake of Holloway It would be a folly for me Sir to go to abuse men that I did not know whether they would be concern'd or no. Mr. Sh. Dashwood But that there were Persons that would be concern'd you say Holloway That we did think so and if we should name every one that we thought would be concerned I believe we might name three parts of London Cap. Richardson I hope you are in a great mistake there Holloway For that Design I believe above three parts would be for I never had any Design but for the King and the Kingdoms Interest though I know that Design that was carried on by Ramsey and West was a very heinous Design but I believe they would not have found many in England that would have been for it I never heard of above Five foâ—…t Mr. Sh. Daniel Were you acquainted with Waleâ—t Holloway I was in his Company once or twice but I heard him speak against it Mr. Sh. Daniel Was you ever with my Lord Shaftsbury Holloway No Sir I was never with my Lord Shafisbury but once and that was about a Design I was promoting in Parliament about the Linnen Manufacture Mr. Sh. Daniel Was you ever with my Lord of Essex Holloway Never but once and that was about that business Mr. Sh. Daniel Were you ever acquainted with my L. Russel Holloway Never with him at all Mr. Sh. Dashwood You were saying you knew the Names of Five Who were they that were to be concern'd in that matter Holloway I have declared them to His Majesty Mr. Sh. Daniel Did you know Ferguson Holloway I knew him Sir but I know Ferguson to be against any such Design and indeed we did look upon it to be a thing that would come to no effect Mr. Sh. Dashwood Do you mean the Seizing the King Holloway I mean the Insurrection Mr. Sh. Daniel Did you know of any Mony raised or promised to buy Arms Holloway No Sir never I heard of Mony that was to be raised but I did not know who was to raise it Mr. Sh. Daniel It is not our business to ask you many Questions if you have any thing to say you may Mr. Sh. Dashwood If you have any thing to say for the discharge of you Conscience do it Holloway I thank God I never had any Design against His Majesties Person what I intended was only for the good of the King and Kingdom and I did take it that it would have been so and I am very sorry that any things should have gone contrary to Law as they have done and I hope care will be taken to prevent any such things for the future Mr. Sh. Dashwood The King hath said he will govern according to Law he hath done so and will do so Holloway That I leave to the Judgment of all many know better than I. Mr. Sh. Daniel Such Glossy Pretences are very strange to carry on such a Design for the Seizing a Sovereign Prince that you have Sworn Allegiance to or ought to have done Holloway I think those Pretences the Grounds that we went upon were no Glossy Pretences at all Mr. Sh. Daniel I think it is that when things are not done as you would have them you must immediately Rebel Holloway No Sir not that we did not design a Rebellion Mr. Sh. Daniel The seizing the King is certainly a Rebellion and one of the highest steps of Rebellion Holloway We say this that all ways were used against Protestants several Sham-Plots but no justice could be had against Papists Mr. Sh. Daniel Several of them were Executed here Holloway There were some Executed at first Sir but afterwards when so many great Persons came to be concerned there was nothing could be had against them Mr. Sh. Daniel There were mighty searches made about London for that great number of Papists talkt on Holloway There were a great many seized Sir but what became of them Mr. Sh. Daniel Generally Tryed and brought to condign Punishment You would not have had every Irish man believed against honest men Some people were called Papists in Masquerade Holloway Irish men were believed against Protestants after they had turned about and had Sworn against Papists they were believed then It was well observed that while the Irish Evidences did continue in the first Discourse of the Popish Plot and in the first Evidence then it is well known they were slighted and all cried out against but when they came to Swear against Protestants then things were altered presently Mr. Sh. Dashwood I Pray God all mens
him a sense of his Sins and a sense of whose Servant he is Lord make him thy true and faithful Servant Lord bless all thy People wheresoever they are and continue thy Gospel every where let it not be rooted out O Lord thou knowest what Contrivances have been made against it Lord continue it here let it Flourish more than ever it hath done Lord make England a Place thou wilt delight to dwell in and make them know than hast not dealt so with overy Nation Lord hear the Prayers of all thy People Lord continue the Gospel in England Let not Popery let not Arbitrary Government come in O Lord there are good Laws in England Lord let them be put in Excecution Lord hear me for thy Mercies sake I am now â—…ing unto thee Lord I have but a minute or two to be here let thy Spirit receive me to thee I commit my Spirit Lord hear me and answer me for thy Sons sake who is at thy right hand interceeding for me to whom with thee and thy Eternal Spirit be al Honour and Glory and Praise both now and evermore Then being asked who was in Council at the delivery of the Letter he answered Holloway There was the Duke of York and the Lord Keeper I did not deliver it It was intercepted in a Letter or given iâ— I did not know how it was for I have been kept so that I had not the Liberty to see any Friend till yesterday in the afternoon I had the Liberty of 2 or 3 hours with my Wise Cap. Richardson You had your Wife with you before and your Sister and some other Friends Holloway But that was never without a Keeper Sir Cap. Richardson You are in the right Mr. Sh. Daniel They do not use to allow men under you Circumstances such a Liberty as you talk of Holloway I Pray God that no other people may concern themselves with publick Affairs out of their own way and that the Scriblers might be put down for they do more hurt to the Kingdom than any thing else Mr. Sh. Daniel Have you any thing more to say Holloway No Sir Mr. Sh. Daniel Then God have Mercy upon your Soul The PAPER delivered to the Sheriffs APRIL 26. 1684. TO stop the Mouths c. of all Pamphleteers and News-Scriblers who have done more Prejudice to his Majesty and Kingdoms by their Impudent endeavours to Sham all Plots and to fill the Country with False News than they will ever be able to Retrieve and to satisfie all I leave behind me I thought good to draw up a short Account of what I knew of the Late Protestant Plot how I came to be Concerned what Induced me to it and how far I was Concerned also my now Opinion of it c. It was my Unhappiness to have too Publick a Spirit for one of my Capacity and as soon as I came to be a Free-man to prefer the Kings and Kingdoms Interest before my own for having some knowledg in Linnen Cloath upon the Prohibition of French Linnens c. I thought the Linnen Manufacture might be brought to Perfection in England to the very great advantage of the Poor and so made some tryal of it in Warwickshire where I employed some Hundreds of Poor and in about Eighteen Months time brought it to such Perfection that I could make as good Cloath as the French and so well Imitate it that few could know it from French but the Prohibition being not so strict as at first seemed to be French Cloath was brought in Cheaper than ever so that I was forced to leave off with loss but considering that by an Act of Parliament for its encouragement in a method I had thought upon it might be setled much to the Kings and Kingdoms Interest advancing the Kings Revenue near two hundred thousand Pounds a Year and would have employed about 80 Thousand Poor people and about 40 Thousand Acres of Land concerning which I was about June 1680. brought acquainted with the Earl of Essex to whom I related the business who immediately had me to the now Earl of Rochester then President of the Treasury and he had me to Sir Edward Deering who when they understood my Proposals gave me something to bear my Charges and encouraged me to attend the next Parliament to endeavour the Promotion thereof which I did almost the whole Session and brought to the Speakers Chamber some of the Cloath which was compared with French c. and the Design well approved of by all which brought me into too large Acquaintance for one of my Capacity from whom I heard too much as hath proved for my Interest of things that were then in hand concerning the Popish Plot which prevented the doing any thing as to my Design So after that I was encouraged to attend the Oxford Parliament which I did and was desired there by the Earl of Clarendon and others to prepare a Bill the Heads of which I drew up though it proved to no purpose but my Ruin I wish my King and Country might reap the Benesit of what I pay so dear for The more I knew during my Attendance on those two Parliaments the more was desirous to know and did by some Scriblers and News-mongers constantly know most Publick Assairs that were Acted which they undertake to represent according to their own homour many Actions being represented very Illegal much against the Protestant Interest in favour of Papists c. Shamming the Popish Plot and laying Sham-Plots upon Protestants abusing the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject the Truth of which I leave to the Judgment of all but hearing many such like things was easily prevailed with to be Concerned in the PLOT according as it was proposed to me viz. About July 1682. I met with a Person who then being come from London gave me a Relation at large concerning the Election of Sheriffs that had been in June the manner of which is well known to all he represented it to me as a very Illegal Action and that there was a Devilish Design of the Papists in it to Cut off the Kings Friends the Stirring men in both the last Parliaments as to the Prosecution of the Popish Plot who I always took to be both the Kings and the Nations Friends That there was Witnesses had been ready a long time to Swear against them but they could not get Jurors to believe them but now they had by force of Arms c. got Sheriffs who would find Juries to believe them and so Hang them up at their Pleasure that there was none but bad Counsel about the King who kept all Ill Actions from his knowledge and if they proceeded to Swear North and Rich at Michaelmas and to chuse Lord Mayor as they had done Sheriffs the Protestant Gentry were resolved naming some to remedy what was Designed by an Insurrection in several parts of England and if possible to get the King off from his Evil Counsel and bring all