told the Truth as I would have done long before if they asked it and desired Pen Ink and Paper to recollect my Memory and to see my Husband before a Keeper which the King said was but reasonable and bid make an Order for it which was done yet the Keeper would never let me see him in 11 or 12 weeks that I was confined after that but one quarter of an hour Yet to give him his due he was as civil to me as the strictness of my confinement would admit of and his Wife also all the time I was in their own House January 11 th I sent in my Depositions being all I then could remember but they would not let me have Paper to take a Copy of them but Truth can never be forgotten January 15 16 or 17 th I was brought before a Committee of Lords and they asked me many Trepanning Questions to insnare me Then Mr. Gadbury was called in and his Depositions read to which I only answered Cel. Mr. Gadbury I remember nothing of all this but I confess I am the unfortunate cause of your Trouble and if by ruining me you can ease your self I give you free leave Then a Lord told me there was Treason sworn against me but I might yet save my self if I would for they did not Thirst for my Blood Cel. I am glad to hear your Lordship say so for I am so simple I judge by appearances which are quite otherwise Then Dangerfield was called in and asked if I did not set him on to make a Mutiny at the Rainbow Coffee-House Dangerfield My Lord I cannot say she set me on Cel. Was not I angry with you for it and bid you be gone out of my House and caused you to be removed up into the Garret Dangerfield No that was afterwards Cel. But it was for that Cause A Lord. Do you know any thing of a walk that was upon Tower-Wharf tell us the Truth for you are upon your Oath Cel. I have often walked upon it for I lived there by A Lord. We mean a walk with the Lord Chief Justice and offering Ten Thousand Pounds concerning Sir George Wakeman tell us the Truth for the Countess of Powis has told us all Cel. Yes my Lord I read it in a Pamphlet Dangerfield I do believe it was in a Pamphlet Cel. There was two and you brought them both to me A Lord. Do you remember any more concerning Sir Robert Peyton Cel. Nothing that is fit to tell at this time A Lord. She will not tell the Kings Privy Council what she knows Cel. Not at this time at which Answer they were very angry and asked me some snaring Questions concerning my self but I have forgot what it was yet remember that I answered thus Cel. My Lord I am not obliged to Answer that Question your Lordships are none of my Judges I appeal to my equal Judges Twelve Commons of England in a Court of Judicature let them that desire my life assault it there and though I cannot defend it like a man yet I will not part with it in complement to your Lordships and I desire to be tryed as soon as may be A Lord. Your Tryal will come soon enough you will be put to death Cel. Blessed be God then I hope the Play is near an end for Tragedies whether real or fictious seldom end before the Women die A Lord. What do you make a Play of it Cel. If there be no more Truth in the whole Story than there is in what relates to me every Play that is Acted has more Truth in it A Lord. You talk very peremptorily Cel. My Lord I thank God Death is no terror to me and she that fears not to die cannot fear to speak Truth A Lord. Withdraw withdraw Mrs. Cellier Cel. Before I go I will tell you something of Sir Robert Peyton he told me that though the Earl of Shaftsbury was out of the Council yet his power was as great as ever for he had a strong Party there and he knew all Transactions as soon as the Council rose for he had a Nephew there and there was a person always ready at his House to run away with Intelligence of what passed at Council to the Earl of Shaftsbury A Lord said that was very like how else should the Examinations taken there come to the Press so soon some of Mr. Gadburies that were taken but a day or two before lying there in Print upon the Table Then one of the Lords seeming to wonder his Lordships Nephew was not there commanded me to withdraw Both in January and February I sent in the following Petition but could not possibly get it read though I sent 5 or 6 and in the whole time of my Confinement my Husband carried near 20 but they were still supprest To the Kings most Excellent Majesty and the Right Honourable the Lords of his Majesties Privy Counsel The Humble Petition of Elizabeth Cellier close Prisoner in Newgate Sheweth THAT Your Petitioner hath been thirteen Weeks close confin'd and she having had the management of her Husband's Estate with that of two Fatherless Children The most considerable Estate of which depends upon Process at Law and is to be try'd this next Term and they are wholly Ignorant of their Affairs Wherefore your Petitioner doth most humbly Pray and Beseech your Majesty and the Honourable the Lords of the Counsel that she may be Inlarged or permitted to speak to her Husband and Children before a Keeper to advise them how to proceed in their Suit and thereby prevent their ruine And your Petitioner shall pray My Husband put in several Petitions to the same effect but could get no Answer insomuch that he was forc'd to release Seven Hundred and odd Pounds for Sixty one A good Part of which Mony lay in Court of Chancery and the Master of the Rolls had made A decretal Order for us but the Defendant petitioning for another hearing my Husband and Children not being permitted to speak with me knew not which way to defend themselves There I lay close confin'd till the first of April though my Husband daily sollicited for my enlargement But about that time being dangerously sick I was allow'd the Liberty of the Press-Yard Sometime in February I was brought again before a Committee of Councel A Lord. Mrs. Cellier do you know one Mr. Pen a Quaker Cel. I never see him but once Lord. Did you not write to him and give him thanks for making so good use of the Paper you sent him Cel. Yes My Lord I did so Lord Do you use to write to Men you know not Cel. If your Lordships please to have Patience I will tell you the occasion of it About the beginning of May last 6 Copies of a Paper call'd the Danby Reflections were left at my House by an unknown Person with a Note desiring me to put them into understanding mens hands I went to Fox Hall and made a strict Inquisition into the
matter and found by the affirmation of many Persons that that part of the Story was very true and I thought I had no other reason to doubt the Truth of the rest and having heard Mr. Pen plead in the Cause of New Jersey at Sir John Churchil's chamber before the Duke's Commissioners and observ'd that he was a man of a great deal of Reason I thought I could not better comply with the desire of the Author than to send him one Lord. What made you so earnest to speak with him Cel. I heard it abroad by the name of Pen's Paper and found it spread much Lord. What had you to say to him Cel. Something relating to the same matter I suppose but I have forgot what for it is 9 or 10 months ago Lord. What did you with the rest Cel. I gave one to my Lady Powis another to Mr. Henry Nevil I sent one into France another into Flanders and got the other coppied and sent as many as I could get to my Friends and Acquaintance Lord. You have been very zealous for the Cause Cel. My Lord It is good to be diligent in all that one undertakes Which answer was the last I had opportunity to make to any in Authority until my Arraignment which in confidence of my own Innocence I continually prest for Not but that I knew the danger as to this Life of encountring the Devil in the worst of his Instruments which are PERJVRERS INCOVRAGED to that degree as that profligated Wretch was and has been since his being exposed to the World in his true colours both at mine and at anothers Tryal But the Sence that all I had done or endeavoured to do was prompted by a Disinterested Loyalty to the King and Charity to Innocence opprest without the least mixture of Mallice to any Creature breathing Made me with hopes expect the worst those Devils incarnate could do unto me And if any thing in the World could give a probable Light where the true Plot is manag'd mine and my accusers Cases would do it For Singly and Alene without the Advice or Assistance of any Catholick breathing Man or Woman I was left to study manage and to support my self in all my troubles to my Expence and Loss much above a thousand Pounds never receiving one penny towards it directly or indirectly but ten pounds given me by the hands of a condemn'd Priest five days before my Tryal nor have I since received any thing towards my Losses or the least civility from any of them Whilst Dangerfield when made a Prisoner for apparent Recorded Rogueries was visited by and from Persons of considerable Quality with great Sums of Gold and Silver to encourage him in the new Villanies he had undertaken not against Me alone but Persons in whose Safety all good Men as well Protestants as others in the three Kingdoms are concern'd For I hope no reasonable man can believe me so vain as to think my Life or Fame worth the consideration of an Industrious Faction Thus have I laid open the Truth of my Case to be believed or not believed as Reason Sence and Probability shall guide Men. And as to my own Sex I hope they will pardon the Errors of my Story as well as those bold Attempts of mine that occasion'd it since in what I meddled with as to Sir Robert Peyton and others that are yet among them undiscovered like Hushai and I hope will have as good success to confound the crafty Contrivances of all the old Achitophels and the Headstrong Ambitious Practices of young Absalom though it may be thought too Masculine yet was it the effects of my Loyal more than Religious Zeal to gain Proselites to his Service And in all my defence none can truly say but that I preserv'd the Modesty though not the Timorousness common to my Sex And I believe there is none but had they been in my Station would to their power have acted like me for it is more our business than mens to fear and consequently to prevent the Tumults and Troubles Factions tend to since we by nature are hindered from sharing any part but the Frights and Disturbances of them Which that God will long preserve these three Kingdoms from is the daily Prayers of Elizabeth Cellier AN Abstract of the TRYAL OF Elizabeth Cellier UPon the 30th of April 80. I was Arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs for High-Treason Cl. of the Crown What sayst thou Eliz. Cellier art thou Guilty or not Guilty Cel. Not Guilty C. C. Culprit how wilt Thou be Tryed Cel. By God and my Country C. C. God send thee a good Deliverance Cel. My Lord I am safe in my own Innocence as far as Innocency can make any person safe but since the most Innocent may be sworn out of their lives I desire time to send for my Witnesses some of which live very far off L. C. Just How long time will you have till next Term Cel. No my Lord I desire but a fortnight which was Granted and I remanded back to Prison that day I sent the following Petition to the Attorney General To the Honourable Sir Creswell Levins his Majesties Attorney General The Humble Petition of Elizabeth Cellier Sheweth THAT your Petitioner is to have her Tryal at the Bar of His Majesties Court of Kings-Bench for High Treason the 14 of this Instant May. Your Petitioner Humbly beseeches that you will please to let her know or otherwise to order the Clerk of the Crown to give her to understand whether she is Indicted at Common Law or upon any Statute and what Statute and that she may likewise have a Copy of Mr. Dangerfields last Pardon from his Majesty as also Subpoena's for her Witnesses That she may be somwayes enabled to make her Defence And your Petitioner shall Pray Eliz. Cellier Mr. Attorney answered that I was Indicted upon the Statute of the 25 of Edward III. and might have as many Subpoena's as I would at the Crown-Office but he knew nothing of Dangerfield 's Pardon Then I petitioned the Lord Chancellor for a Copy of the Pardon and his Lordship was pleased to Grant it May the 14. I was again brought to the Bar in Order to my Tryal but Mr. Gadbury being Sick of which Oath was made by a learned Physitian that had Visited him the Kings Council desired to put off the Tryal but I prayed to be Tryed then or some day that Term And said That I would bring my self thither the last day of the Term and hoped that according to the Law I should be Tryed or Discharged L C. J. That will do you little good for there is a Proviso in the Act if the Kings Witnesses be not sick Cel. My Lord what if they will never be well L C. J. You shall be Tryed the next Term it is but a little while to it Cel. My Lord my Husband will think it a great while at which the Court laugh'd Cel. My
he never carry'd before the Councel nor as yet restor'd though some of them be of Considerable value Next morning his Worship sent to know how I did and to tell me if I thought he could do me any service he would come and visit me I reply'd if he could I knew he would not and therefore desired him to spare his pains and my trouble Friday the last of October I brought my self to the Kings-bench Barr in hope to be Bail'd but then at the Barr Church opposed it saying His Worship had sent in an accusation of high Treason against me though I had as yet no Accuser And by the Law no person ought to be committed for Treason till accused by two honest sufficient lawful and credible Witnesses witnessing one and the same Individual Fact November the first I was examin'd before His Majesty and the Lords of the Councel where the Fable of the Husband-man and the starved Snake was proved a Truth for Willoughby accused me of all the Forged Stories he tells in his Lying Narrative and I unfeignedly told the Truth and the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth But the Lord Chancellor told me no body would believe a word I said and that I would Dye To which I replyed I know that my Lord for I never saw an Immortal woman in my life And then kneeling down said Cellier I beseech your Majesty that I may not be Tortur'd The King The Law will not suffer it Cellier Such things are frequently done in Newgate and I have more reason to fear it than any other person because of what I have done against the Keeper and therefore I beseech your Majesty If at any time I should say any thing contrary to what I have now said that you will not believe me for it will be nothing but lies forc'd from me by barbarous usage what I have now told you being the truth and the whole truth to the utmost of my knowledge Then I was sent away to Newgate and the next day was brought again before the Councel and then a Lord said Turn up your hoods Mrs. Cellier I did so The Lord Chancellor ask'd me if I had not been at the Tower to tell of Willoughby's Commitment and bring instructions for him Cellier I protest I have not been at the Tower Since Then the Lord Chancellor Interrupted me saying She cannot speak three words of Truth Cellier Pray my Lord be pleased to hear me out and do not Judge me till then I have not been at the Tower since Thursday was seven-night Lord Chan. That was the Time what did you there Cellier I Din'd there Lord Chan. Had you no talk concerning Willoughby tell us the Truth for the Countess of Powis hath told us all Cellier My Lord nothing of Truth can do me any harm and I am sure her Ladiship will tell nothing else I told her that Justice Warcup and Mansel had been at my House to demand him and my Husband had past his word for his forth-coming Then I was commanded to withdraw And understanding soon after that I should be Close Confin'd the dread of being lock'd up on the top of Newgate and attended on by Fellons as Mrs. Prescick had been though big with Child and so troubled with Fits that they came upon her every hour which caused Captain Richardson to Pitty her and take her into his own House but some had been Locked up there a full year and kept in Irons above Six months of the time the fear of this or worse usage did so oppress my spirits that though I be not the most timorous of my Sex and never had any kind of Fit before I fell into such Convulsions that I had like to have died at White-hall Gate Then I was carried to the Keepers House and laid upon a Couch and being a little come to my strength and senses I told Captain Richardson that if I should die in that desolate place as it was like I might that very Night most persons would believe that he had caus'd me to be Murthered in revenge of the Articles I put into Parliament against him whereupon he bid me be of good Comfort for I should not be carry'd to the top of the Goal but lye in his own House which promise so revived me that within an hour I was able to go up into the Garret where I had a very Good Bed and a Maid ordered to lye in the Room by me she tended me very diligently and seem'd very much to Commiserate my Condition being I suppose set on to do so that she might the more easily betray me I had brought Pen Ink and Paper from the Gate-house and easily prevail'd with her for money to carry a Note home to my House in a Bottom of Thred she carried and recarried three or four shewing them first to the Jaylors Wife and Sister and they took Copies of them and sent them to the Councel perswading themselves they should make strange Discoveries but I had Committed no Crime and therefore nothing but Innocence could be found in my Letters When they saw this share would not take then they laid another for my Life and brought Willoughby to a Window over against mine to talk with me having as I then thought and now know set another Rogue behind me to hear what I said Dangerfield Madam Madam Madam Pray Madam speak to me and tell me how you do Cellier I am Sick very Sick of the Bloody Barbarous Villain Dangerfield Pray Madam speak low and do not discompose your self Cellier Nothing you do can discompose me I despise you so much I am not Angry Dangerfield I am very glad of it for then I hope you will have patience to hear me speak Pray how do they use you Cellier Well much better than I expected Dangerfield Is any body suffered to come to you Cellier No body Dangerfield I am very sorry for your Confinement but I could not possibly help what I have done Cellier Bloody Villain I am not confin'd for Stone Walls and Iron Bars do not make a Prison but a Guilty Conscience I am Innocent and gaine that here which my Enemies did not intend me for I have now nothing to do but to serve God but you are Confin'd and one of the Devils Slaves Ah Villain for which of my Good deeds do you seek my Life Dangerfield Crying you shall not dye nor receive any other hurt Cellier Wicked Wretch I do not fear but desire to dye Dangerfield still Crying but you shall not look here how I have been used and then shewed his Arms and Howl'd saying he had been so miserably Tormented that he was not able to bear it but was forced to accuse me and others to save his own life Cellier Ah Villain will you bely the Innocent to save an Infamous Life Dangerfield I have told the King more than I could make out and was forc'd to joyn with the Confederates to get my Pardon for I have liv'd
Lord he hath a great cause to think it long for he is already a Thousand pounds the worse for my Imprisonment I have lain two and twenty weeks close confin'd During which time my Husband put in near 20 Petitions before the Lords of the Council to speak with me before a Keeper but they were all rejected and he had then a suit in Chancery to a considerable value which had been heard before the Master of the Rolls and he had made a Decretal Order for us and a good part of the Money lay in the Court of Chancery but my Adversary taking Advantage of my confinement Petitioned for another Hearing and my Husband not knowing how to defend the Cause was forced to discharge seven hundred and odd pounds for sixty one because he could not be permitted to speak with me L. C. J. You arraign the Councel Cel. No my Lord it is not to Arraign them but to make it known how I have been used and pray redress Serj Maynard Why could not your Husband follow his Law-Suit without you Cel. Because he is a Stranger and does not understand the Law Serj. Maynard Then you do Gentlewoman Cel. No Sir but I have got enough to make a Country Justice and pray that I may be tryed And if I be Guilty punished and if Innocent acquitted And that my Husband and Children may not suffer as they do by my Imprisonment L. C. J. You shall be tryed the first day of the next Term and it is in compassion to you that we appoint that day Cel. My Lord shall I be discharged if I be not Tryed then L. C. J. You shall Cel. My Lord the Laws I am to be Tryed by have sufficiently compensated their denying me other Councel by allowing me you my Lords that are my Judges for Councellors and I will depend upon your Faithful advice with confidence and humbly pray fair play for my life Judges You shall have fair play Cel. I thank your Lordships L. C. J. Keeper of Newgate take her back and use her with respect June the 11th 80. I was again brought to the Bar and the Indictment read and the eâ—â—â—ct of it was for consulting and expending Money for carrying on the Plot to kill the King raise War in the Realm and introduce Popery and for endeavouring to cast the Plot upon others and for imploying Dangerfield to kill the King and upbraiding him for losing an Opportunity c. Cel. My Lord for saving the time of the Court I pray that no Gentleman that has been on any of the former Juries and found the Indictment against any of them that lately had the like accusation may be sworn against me And in regard a great part of my Charge is for endeavouring to throw the Popish Plot upon the Presbyterians therefore I except against all those that had not lately taken the Sacrament as Persons that cannot be indifferent L. C. J. Mrs. Cellier this cannot be allow'd you must make your exceptions Cel. My Lord the Jury ought to be chose out of the unconcern'd Neighbourhood and every Dissenter from the Church of England is a party against whom the Fact is said to be committed therefore none but Church of England men ought to be of my Jury L. C. J. Mrs. Cellier make your exceptions Which I did and excepted against several that had been on the former Juries yet admitted of Sir Philip Matthews and others telling them they looked like honest men and I believ'd they would do me no wrong The Jury are as follows Sir Philip Matthews Baronet Sir John Munster Thomas Harriot Esq John Foster Esq Richard Cheney Esq Edward Draper Esq Edward Wilford Esq John Roberts Esq Hugh Squire Esq Thomas Eaglefield Esq George Read Esq Richard Parrot Esq The Jury being sworn the Kings Councel called the Witnesses and first Mr. Gadbury who attested that he knew not a tittle of the Plot one way or other except what he heard by Common Report and read in the Prints nor of any design I had against the Life of the King but acknowledges that he was Privy to and active in bringing over Sir Robert Peyton to the Kings interest at the said Sir Robert's request and to bring Sir Robert to kiss his Royal-Highness's hand by my means and said That I did always express my self with all Duty and Loyalty and that I told him I had carried the names of four Gentlemen Sir Roberts Friends to the Duke in hopes that if they were put into Commission of the Peace it might conduce much to the breaking the measures of the Factious And Mr. Gadbury further Declared that one Smith formerly a School master at Islington and another Gentleman with him came to him and desired his Advice about going to the Lords in the Tower pretending he could declare strange things against Mr. Oats which might prove advantagious to them In order to Indicting him for Perjury which he said I was forward to promote and said that I did not care if I were at Ten Pounds Charge to have it effected but he said he refus'd to advise Mr. Smith to concern him himself either with Mr. Oats or the Lords He further aver'd that I told him I heard Dangerfield talk of a Non-conformist Plot and how he frequented their Clubs and had so far insinuated into the favour of some of them that he was promised a Commission among them and that several Commissions were given out already After that Mr. Gadbury being interrogated by the Attorny General to several passages signified in an Attestation which he himself had drawn up for the Privy Council which seemed more to affect me than any thing he had hitherto said shewing the same unto him which when he had perus'd he did own to be his hand-writing and said That what was contained therein was true but when he wrote the same he confessed that he raked up all that ever he could against me aggravating every Circumstance to the utmost and that by that reason when he was in Prison some person or persons whom he did not name to avoid reflections Threatned him with Hanging c. And that they told him two Witnesses had sworn Treason positively against him and that I now accus'd him and made a third and he knowing I must swear false as the rest had done and being Menac'd as before Drew up the said Accusation against me aggravating the several expressions therein in hopes thereby to lessen my Evidence against him and thereby to save himself Then he was again interrogated whether I did not tell him I hoped to see Westminster Abby full of Benedictine Monks and the Temple with Fryers he answered That his sufferings had very much weakned his Memory but as far as he remembred I did not speak of any hope but believes it was thus What if you should see Westminster Abby filled with Monks again and that this was in ordinary Discourse as they pass'd through the Abby together And that he looked upon
over to the Bench and I paid for his Habeas Corpus Bennet Duddle was call'd He attested that he had often seen Dangerfield and I together in the Gallery at Powis-House and had seen us write but he knew not what William Woodman was call'd And said he had carried Letters for me to the Tower and else-where but none for Dangerfield An Blake was call'd Who attested that I sent her to Dangerfield in New-gate and that he cry'd and pray'd her to speak to me to send him six Pounds and that she return'd to him and told him I would send him none Then Dangerfield told her he had been rack'd and expected worse usage that night and that she should be forc'd to turn Rogue and ruin us all And that if he did not turn Rogue he should be hang'd And that I bid her hide the Papers saying they were Dangerfields and might do him good and she put them into the MEAL-TUB Then Margaret Jenkins was call'd And said she saw Dangerfield in New-gate in Irons very poor that he told her he had eaten nothing in two dayes that she carried him half a Crown and another time five Shillings and after that Mony to pay his Fees and that she saw him in the Bench. Att. Gen. Did you not carry Letters between them Margaret Yes but knew not what was in them Att. Gen. Did you not carry two Vials of Opium to him Mar. I carri'd 2 Vials which he sent for but I know not what was in them L.C.J. Who sent for them Mar. Dangerfield sent a Note for them to Mr. Blasedal and when I brought them to him he tasted of them and set them up in his room Judge Who tasted of them Mar. Dangerfield did Att. Gen. Did you ever see Mrs. Cellier in the Bench with him Mar. No I never did Att. Gen. Did you ever see them together at Powis-House Mar. Yes once at Dinner and once at Supper L.C.J. Was any body with them Mar. Yes once her Husband and the other time three Gentlewomen Att. Gen. What do you know concerning Stroud Mar. She bid me tell Dangerfield that he must get acquainted with Stroud I tould him so and he reply'd that was done already for he had been acquainted with Stroud a long time and they us'd to go a robbing together And he told me that he fear'd neither Fire Sword nor Hell and he car'd not what he said nor swore for he had studied to be a Rogue ever since he was Ten Years old L.C.J. You will make a special Witness of him by and by Then the Attorney General would not let her speak any more but call'd Susan Edwards Att. Gen. What do you know against the Prisoner at the Bar Edwards I carried two Notes from her to Mr. Dangerfield in New-gate and two Books of Accompts and a Guiney and 20 s. in Silver and she bid me tell him now was the time that her Life lay in his hands Serj. Maynard Did not you carry her a Letter from him Susan Yes Att. Gen. What was in it Susan I know not for I cannot read written-hand but he told me he must turn Rogue and ruine all the Sect. Judge What Sect Susan I know not what Sect but he said if he did not turn Rogue he should be Hang'd Ser. Main But she bid you tell him her Life lay in his hands Cel. And yours too Sir if he turn Rogue and be believ'd as others have been of late But she 's no Witness for she robb'd me and the very Heathens would not allow false Servants to swear against their Masters Cel. By the Oath you have taken Where had you the Cloaths you wear Susan Of my Father they are none of yours I never see you have but two Suits at a time Cel. Did you ever see any thing Dishonourable by me Susan Yes He went into your Chamber one Sunday Morning L.C.J. Was her Husband there Sus No He was gone to Church L.C.J. He were best take care how he goes to Church Cel. My Lord I appeal to your Conscience as you sit there whether you think any thing but Innocence durst ask that Question And to prove it is so there is a Women has served me 26 Years be pleased to examine her A Lawyer within the Bar said To me it is a plain proof of her Innocence as to that point Serj. Maynard then made some malicious reflections thereupon Cel. Pray Sir is that Treason by the Statute of the 25. of Edward III. It is not in this Innocent Age. Susan She said she doubted not but the Plot would turn to a Presbyterian one and I heard Dangerfield say so too and that he would make it his Interest to find it out And she said if he did she should see him keep his Coach and Six Horses and then he should marry her Daughter L.C.J. What would he have Mother and Daughter too Susan then prated very impertinently Judge Will that Impudent Wench never have done prating Turn her out Then she went and stood among the Clerks Prating and behaving her self impudently till they scoft at her and thrust her out of Court Then the Lord Chief Justice made an excellent Speech of what sad Consequence it would be to admit such profligated Wretches to give Evidence and that the three Kingdoms might have cause to rue such a days work and that it would be an in-let to the greatest Villanies to destroy our Lives Liberties and Estates with much more to the like purpose Judge This Fellow will come no more L.C.J. Call him shall we stay all day Cryer Dangerfield Dangerfield Dangerfield c. After he had been called five or six times the Lord Chief Justice commanded a Tip-staff to go into the Hall and look for him Which he did and after a long time Dangerfield came with a Black-Box at which the Court laughed saying here comes the Black-Box here comes the Black-Box L.C.J. You have been long in going to the Temple Dang I went to the Exchange Here is my Pardon It was observ'd that his Hands did so shake and tremble that he could not open the BOX Cel. My Lord he is not Pardon'd Fellony Burglary Perjury nor Forgery And I will prove him notoriously Guilty of all these The Clerk read his Pardon and all these Crimes were omitted Cel. My Lord he is Convict of Fellony and Out-lawed thereupon Mr. Lane bring the Chelmsford Record he produc'd and prov'd it The Clerk read it which said he was Convict of Fellony and Burglary for breaking the House of Robert Tetterson Shoe-maker of Windsmore-Hill and taking thence a linnen bag worth a Penny and Four Pounds Ten Shillings in Mony he broke Prison and was Out-law'd thereupon Kings Counsel How do you know this is the Man Cel. He is the Man and I will prove it by the party that was Rob'd and the Constable out of whose hands he broke Call Robert Tetterson and James Eaton The Cryer called but they came not Cel. My Lord I fear he has
Murther'd them for Tetterson was here yesterday and told me that Dangerfield threatned to kill him if he appeared any more and said That he went in danger of his Life L.C.J. Call them again look about the Hall for them which they did Clements My Lord I see Tetterson in Court this day Then the Cryer called them again and a person was sent to the Houses adjacent to call them but in vain Then the Kings Councel would not admit him to be the Man mentioned in the Indictment because it was there Tho. Dangerfield Labourer and the Pardon was Tho. Dangerfield Gentlemen Cel. My Lord if he be the person Pardoned he is the person Out-law'd for both are Thomas Dangerfield of Waltham Abby Judge Is there any more Thomas Dangerfields there Dangerf Yes my Father and a Cousin of mine which uses to come there sometimes Kings Councel Said I must prove him the man Lawyer within the Bar. Brother trouble not the Court for he is the Man L. C. J. Come I will not admit it could be your Father Mrs. Celliers have you a Record of Perjury Cel. My Lord I have of Forgery Judge Have you one of his being Pillory'd Cel. I have four bring the Salisbury Records They were produced and proved and one of them read which said that in the Thirtieth year of the King he was Indicted at Sarum for putting off a Gilt Shilling for a Guinney to which Indictment he Pleaded Guilty and was Condemned to stand in the Pillory three hours next Market day with a Paper on his forehead signifying his Crime and after that to pay five Pounds to the King and that he stood in the Pillory according to Sentence Cel. My Lord I have 3 Records more to the same effect to all which he Pleaded Guilty Judge No it is enough After all this Serj. Maynard and the Att. General would had him allowed a good witness saying all these Crimes are Pardoned under the Title of Offences and Transgressions Cel. A Pardon cannot make him an honest Man as all ought to be that are Witnesses in Treason Nor can the King give him an Act of Grace to my prejudice as this Pardon will be if it make him a good Witness to take away my Life Mr Langhorn desired that Mr Reading might be examined and the Lord Chief Justice North denyed it saying he had been in the Pillory and had his Testimony been allowed I doubt not but Mr. Langhorn had been alive And shall this prodigous Wretch that has been burn'd in the Hand Whipt Pillory'd Convict of all manner of Crimes and stands out-law'd for Fellony be allow'd a good Witness to take away my Life and such a Gentleman as Mr. Reading be denyed to give Evidence to save because he had been on the Pillory for endeavering to do that which if he had done it had not amounted to one of those many Crimes this Villain Pleaded Guilty to And I beseech the Court to consider That if such Witnesses be allowed Liberty and Property are destroyed Attor General Mr. Reading was not Pardoned Cel. He is not Pardoned neither for he is Out-lawed for Fellony which is not incerted in his Pardon and is otherwise notoriously infamous K. Council None but Villains are fit to be employed in such Designs L. C. J. They are fit to be employed but not fit to be believed and we ought not to hood-wink Justice for such a Stigmatiz'd Whipt Pillory'd Burnt in the hand Fellow as he notoriously appears to be Then Dangerfield submissively bowing said My Lord this is enough to discourage any one hereafter from entring into good and honest Principles L. C. J. It will discourage Rogues from daring to appear before a Court of Justice Then his Lordship told him his own in very apt words with a recapitulation of his Crimes saying he did not nor would not fear nor spare such as he was Then Judge Dolben stood up and said That no man that had any spark of Grace or Civility would dare to appear before a Court of Justice being guilty of such Crimes and that no man of common sence would take away the life of a Worm upon such Evidence Then the Lord Chief Justice gave short directions to the Jury telling them he knew nothing they had to do for that nothing material appeared against me And they unanimously cryed out Not Guilty Clerk Crown Kneel down Cel. Kneeling said God preserve the King and his Royal Highness and bless this Honourable Court. L. C. J. Dang have you any security for your Good behaviour to answer the Fellony But Dangerfield having none the Lord Chief Justice said Take him away take him away and secure him Then was Dangerfield presently disarmed who trembling and looking as if he had been just going to be Hang'd Cryed out Whither must I go whither will you carry me Then he shed Tears in the Court and was by the Officers presently conveyed to the Kings-Bench Prison with a numerous Train of Attendance where the Gentlemen Prisoners received him according to his Merit But he not liking his entertainment desired to be locked up till the Marshal came home and then for his better security was sent to the Common-Side where the Prisoners had like to have Pump'd him But his Phanatick friends bringing him good store of Mony both Gold and Silver he spent it very freely among them so by that means escap'd that Storm and there remained in the custody of the Marshal till he was brought to the Bar by order of Court and pleaded a general New-gate Pardon in which his name was inserted and so was discharged with good advice to leave off his former wicked courses and take up some imployment to live honestly for his thread of Life was so fine spun that he could expect no more favour from any Court The tryal being over the Gentlemen of the Jury sent for me up into the Room where they Din'd and told me there was a Guiny a Man due to them I Answer'd I had cost my Husband a great deal of Mony alerady much more than my Person was worth and was not willing to put him to any Charge I could avoid And I hop'd they would consider my condition and not expect Mony from me They reply'd if I had been cast the King must have paid them a Guiny a Man upon which I promis'd if it were a due Debt I would send it to Sir Philip Matthews on Munday but finding it was not I sent him this following Letter Honoured Sir I Have considered upon your demand of a Guiny apeice to each Gentleman of the Jury and find that it is in no sort due How great soever the ruin is I lie under by the villany of my accuser I would have made hard shift but I would have paid what was justly due But upon your second thoughts I am assur'd you will not forfeit your Spurs by oppressing the Distressed she Your selves and the Laws have preserv'd from a raging Dragon Pray Sir
accept of and give my most humble Service to your self and all the Worthy Gentlemen of your Pannel and Yours and their several Ladies And if you and They please I will with no less fidelity serve them in their Deliveries then You have done me with Justice in mine and thereby preserv'd Liberty and Property as much as Honoured Sir Your most Humble Servant Elizabeth Cellier Monday the 14 th of June the Jury sent one Mr. Squire a very civil and understanding Gentleman to demand the Guinies of me we argued the Case a while and he went away very well satisfied On Tuesday morning another came that was as rough and inconsiderable and among other things he told me that the D. of B. gave them two Guinies a Man I replyed If I had been a Dutchess I would have given them five But I was a poor Woman and had been much wrong'd and to prevent further inconvenience I would not injure my Innocence not their Justice so much as to give them any thing but my humble Thanks which I pray'd him to accept of and give to them all He went away in a great heat expressing his resentment in such Language as I will not spoil Paper with This is all I can call to mind of what past at my seveeal Examinations and Tryal and I hope the judicious Reader will pardon what is either forgot or not well express'd in consideration that I was forc'd to defend my Life both against the Knights and the Dragon for in this unequal Combate there was no St. George to defend me against him but Sir C Sir J Sir R and Sir George also stood by my accuser to manage his Malice against me Yet I could not but pity those learned Gentlemen one of which would have been infinitely too hard for all these together which have been accused in this accursed Plot that so many of them should come arm'd and arrayed against me and be forc'd to blush at the weakness of their Combatant But God the Protector of Innocence hath for this time delivered me from the rage of that wicked Enemy and his Fellow-plotters But how long either my self or any other Loyal Subjects shall be secure from the like Conspiracy God only knows He sent from above he drew me out of many Waters He delivered me from my strong Enemy and from them which hated me for they were too strong for me They prevented me in the day of my Calamity but the Lord is my stay Ps 18.16 17 18. Finished Fryday July the 2 d. By Elizabeth Cellier A Postscript to the Impartial Readers ON Monday the 16 th of this Instant the Sheet F was taken in the Press and my Self and the Printer brought by Messengers before Mr. Secretary Jenkins and he caus'd us to give Bonds and Security to appear before the Lords of the Council and in the mean time not to print any further On Wednesday the 18 th I appear'd before their Lordships and testified the truth of what I had written saying I publish'd it because I would come again before their Lordships and did then accuse Sir William Waller Mansel Dangerfield and their Confederates of High Treason for endeavouring to raise a Rebellion and for conspiring against the life of his Royal Highness And proffered to make good my Charge by the Testimony of persons of Honours Persons of middle Quality and unspotted Reputation and by some of their own Companions And their Lordships were pleased to promise that we should be heard Thursday the 19 th According to their Lordships order I came to Mr. Guin the Clerk then in waiting to give security for my good Behaviour and to appear at the Kings Bench-Bar the first day of the next Term and though several good Hous-keepers proffer'd themselves he would accept of none but such as himself knew which though it was very difficult for me to obtain I was forc'd to do it After Security given he would not let me depart till I had paid 3 l. 2 s. 6. d. And though I told him that two Justices of the Peace expected me at that hour to go with them to take the Examination of a Person that then lay Sick and desired him to let me go and I would send the Mony to him as soon as I came home Yet he commanded Otterbury the Messenger to take me into custody till I paid it and I was forced to stay till I sent home for Mony and by these delays lost the Opportunity of meeting the Gentlemen and could not examine the party that day and the next he was taken Speechless as he still continues By this means I lost a most material Witness Yet doubt not but to make good my Charge if the rest may be heard I hope the Readers have not forgotten that after it had been proved before the Lords of the Council that Dangerfield stood in the Pillory at Salisbury Yet upon his single Evidence the Countess of Powis the Earl of Castlemain and other persons of considerable Quality were Committed and I was close Confined two and twenty weeks and after that Tryed for my Life June the 11 th But though Treasonable Practices have been sworn against Dangerfield by Justice Foster Justice Harvey Mr. Thomas Hill and my self Yet the Gentleman walks abroad undisturbed and daily consults with his Confederates how to act new Villanies These things make me very sensible of the great Difficulties and Discouragements I am like to meet with But I hope the God of Truth and Justice will protect me and bring me through them all and pluck off the vails and discover both Truth and Frauds bare-faced And whensoever his Majesty pleases to make it as Safe and Honourable to speak Truth as it is apparent it hath been Gainful and Meritorious to do the contrary there will not want Witnesses to testifie the truth of more than I have written and Persons that are above being made The Hangman's Hounds for weekly Pentions or any other Considerations whatsoever And though I have been two and twenty Weeks confined and two and thirty Weeks a Prisoner and my Charge and Losses much exceed a Thousand Pounds I do not yet so much fear the smell of New-gate as to be frighted for telling the Truth nor is Death so great a Terror to me but that I am still ready to seal the same with my Blood August the 21 st 1680. Elizabeth Cellier THE MATCHLESS PICARO OR A short Essay of the Fortune and Virtues of Seignior Don Tomaso Ganderfieldo alias Francisco De COROMBONA Bray a Fool in a Mortar yet he will not depart from his Folly Prov. BEing importun'd by some friends to write a Narrative of the Famous Atchievements of the Virtuoso who accus'd Me I have endeavour'd their satisfaction But upon a diligent Search I find the Records of his Worth so many and so chargable to take off that neither my Pen nor my Purse are able to perform their Request But because their Expectation should not wholly be
in custody he will not impart the said matters to any person whatsoever for that he will not bring himself under Mr. Bedlows Lash May the 17. Strode did tell me that one Mr. Johnson a Servant to the Right Honourable Earl of Shaftsbury did often come to visit him and bring him Guinneyes in order to the prevailing with him for to joyn Evidence with Bedlow but Strodes answer was as he informed me that he would not perjure himself for Ten thousand worlds May the 18. Jones Strodes Bedfellow did inform me that he had this day seen in Strodes hands some papers which did contain the whole matter of the Popish Plott in a more plain manner than either Oats or Bedlow could make out And that the Earl of Shaftsbury's servant whose Name was Mr. Johnson came often to Strode to Court him to give his Testimony against the Lords in the Tower and had offered Strode most considerable sums of money if he would do the same May the 19. Jones did tell me Strode had in some discourse informed him that Bedlow in the time of his Padding was entertained at Strodes house and particularly when there had been a Robbery committed but a day before and at the same time a Hue and Cry was all over the Country to apprehend him And that it is not long since that Strode sent to his wife at Shepton Mallet in the County of Somerset for the Copies of some Writings which were in her Custody which said writings are the original of those he shewed Jones May the 20. Jones sayes Strode has often prayed his advice what to do in a matter of such weighty Consqeuence as was to be made out from the aforesaid papers Jones answered him that in regard he was in Reversion of a good Estate and had divers good and honourable Relations to support him it would perhaps be much more both for his Credit and advantage to be silent in things of such a nature than to stir unless he could make every particular thereof visible by a lively Testimony Upon which Advice Strode did promise to let it fall rather than run the hazard of disobliging his Relations and Friends and become altogether obnoxious The foregoing informations written by Willoughby's own hand were found between the Pewter in my Kitchin by Sir William Waller when he search'd my House and by him Carry'd before the Lords of the Council and as the Father of Lyes did once tell truth so he hath inserted this one truth in his lying Narative But since it is the reward of Lyers not to be believ'd when they do tell truth That he may be Credited this once I Print the Copies of the four following Depositions which with many more I have to the same purpose do all confirm it Thomas Hill Gentleman maketh Oath That William Stroud Confederate with Thomas Dangerfield did about June or July 79 very much Importune this Deponent to Joyne with him the said Stroud Oates and Bedlow to be the Kings Evidence and to swear that the Queen and their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Dutchess of York and the Lords in the Tower were Traytors and Guilty of the Plot and the said Stroud told this Deponent that it should be worth two or three Thousand Pound to him and his Liberty for so doing and the said Stroud told this Deponent and several others that the Earl of Shaftsbury sent him what money he would spend for the Carrying on of the Plot against the Duke and Lords in the Tower And that his Lordship sent a servant of his called Mr. Johnson to the said Stroud very often to Incourage and Drink with the said Stroud in the Lodge and gave him money as the said Stroud told me There also came a Steward of his Lordships called Mr. Stringer and Mr. Edward Stroud to hear what the said Stroud would swear against the Duke and the Lords in the Tower before his Lordship would procure the said Strouds Pardon Since then the said Stroud hath made Affidavit to the same purpose where he nameth his Royal Highness and the Dutchess and his Confederate Dangerfield got an order to bring this Deponent before Stephen Harvy and Thomas Poster Esq his Majesties Justices of the Peace about the 9th of December 79 to come and take an Affidavit of this Deponent saying the same would much corroborate the Evidence the said Dangerfield had given corncerning the Plot and what the said Stroud had Deposed also and that the said Dangerfield in pursuance thereof did urge and perswade this Deponent to swear to the said Strouds Affidavit and would not let this Deponent read the said Strouds Affidavit but the said Dangerfield did both read the said Strouds Affidavit and also write what this Deponent said but he omitted reading that which concern'd the Duke and Dutchess of York and so thought to put a trick upon this Deponent and bring him in as an Evidence against them but that Justice Foster did espie it and ask'd this Deponent concerning the particulars relating to the Duke and Dutchess and then this Deponent truly swore he never heard their Names so much as mentioned concerning the Plot. Since that the said Dangerfield hath set out a Narrative where he mentions this Deponents Name in several particulars which is very false he hath also sworn against Mr. Anderson in his tryal where he mentions this Deponents Name to that which is very false The 30 th of January or thereabouts William Stroud came to the Kings-Bench and told this Deponent before another Gentleman that if he had joyn'd with him Dangerfield Oates and Bedlow in giving in his Evidence against the Queen Duke and Dutchess and Lords in the Tower he had been free from all his Troubles and His Debts paid but since he did not do it he should suffer Imprisonment all his life and in a worse Place and that very night this Deponent was lock'd up in a little hole under Ground and hath ever since been much opprest and further this Deponent saith he hath been very much perswaded not to appear at Mrs. Celliers tryal and several have used means to the contrary but this Deponent being Subpoena'd thereunto is obliged to satisfie the truth therein and will swear this Affidavit before a Judge and carry it into Court it being a Brief of what he hath already sworn before Sir George Jeffreys Signed by Tho. Hill June the 10th 80 The above named Thomas Hill further Deposeth that upon a Sunday in the Afternoon a Steward of the Earl of Shaftsburys who did then live in Aldersgate-street as William Stroud told me and one Mr. Edward Stroud an Attorney in Lincolns-Inn came to the Kings-Bench to take the examination of Mr. William Stroud then a Prisoner and after they had been lock'd in a Chamber about two hours they sent for me to ask me some Questions relating to what the Prisoner had been Examin'd to but I not answering their expectation we parted And after my Lords Steward
and Mr. Edward Stroud was gone I asked the Prisoner Mr. William Stroud how he could carry it so fairly with Mr. Anderson when I knew he had given in Articles against him he told me he durst do no otherwise than what he did because if he did not do it the Earl of Shaftsbury would not get him his Pardon out he being under a Reprieve for Murther at that time Tho. Hill The 14th of July 79 I Ann Moseley do testifie that I have heard William Stroud often say that he could hang Bedlow if he would and that he was maintained by my Lord Shaftsbury to come and Evidence against the Lords in the Tower That Johnson my Lord Shaftsburys Man threatned him from my Lord Shaftsbury that his Pardon should be obstructed if he did not joyn evidence with Bedlow against the Lords although he said if he were subpoena'd in as infallibly he should he would then declare my Lord Shaftsburys proceedings with him Other times I have heard him swear that being so importuned from my Lord Shaftsbury by his man Johnson he was now resolved to stick at nothing nay for an hundred Pound he would sacrifice his own Father and Mother As for Mr. Anderson I do believe that what he alledges against him as offering him five hundred Guinneys is false for to my knowledge he always shunned him as a Devil knowing him from his first Imprisonment to be a great Rogue but Mr. Anderson being an abstimious melancholy man drank nothing but small Beer which Strode after a Debauch always Coveted threatning that he would hang him if he denied him this I have often heard Strode swear I have often seen Johnson and been in his Company with Strode as also seen monys which Johnson and Bedlow gave him to all this I am ready to swear which I gave Mr. Bedlow notice of six or seven Months since by letter though perhaps he never receiv'd it by being out of Town the Coppy of the Letter which I have by me will Evidence this that I affirm to be true Ann Moseley I John Adderley do testifie That Mr. Anderson was never much concern'd in Mr. Strodes acquaintance and the more reason I have to believe it is for that as he from the beginning of his Imprisonment had notice of Strodes being a great Rogue so was he not backward of advising me and all he had a kindness for to shun Strouds Company so that I look upon that story of Mr. Andersons offering him 500 Guinneys to take off Bedlows Evidence to be a meer fiction and revenge for dispossessing him of his Chamber and indeed Stroud is so great an abstract of Debauchery and Villany and hard always been reputed for such that no Man of any tolerable reputation ever valued his word or his oath and that this is the truth I willingly subscribe being ready to attest the same upon Oath John Adderley January 14. 1679. I being often in the company of William Strode amongst other Discourses hapning to talk of the rise of some men he the said William Strode did often say that they were beholden to their own Industry and that if he were out of Prison he would not make any scruple for an hundred Pounds to Sacrifice any Person nay his Father for a considerable Reward and that he was kept here for a Spie as he said himself and hath shewed me Silver and Gold which he said he received from one Mr. Johnson the Earl of Shaftsbury's man and of one Mr. Bedloe for such Service Likewise the Marshal finding it fit to remove Strode out of his Chamber and place Mr. Anderson in it he was so transported with Rage that he came into the Gallery to me and swore that he would be Revenged Nay that he would ruin Mr. Anderson with the first opportunity And this I took the more notice of because he hath swore to me that nothing Sacred should tie him to Truth or Lie farther than to gratifie his Gain or Revenge and gloried in other Murthers he said he had Committed besides that he had his Pardon for which is the averment of a Person of unspotted Reputation that is not willing to be expos'd in Print but is ready to make Oath of it when thereto required These Testimonies I hope may satisfie an indifferent person that Dangerfield once writ Truth After this he frequently by Margaret and others sent his humble Request to beg the Charity of his Inlargement protesting that he never would attempt an ill thing again but would get a Service and take any pains for an honest Livelihood and upon his reiterated Intreaties I collected some monys for him and did pay five Pounds to buy off the Debts he lay under and not a Penny more as appears by the General Releases from his Creditors which were taken among his Papers and carried before the Council And the day he came out of Prison I did give him not five Pounds as he says but 10 shillings that he might not steal for want of bread and at the Jesuits Tryal did employ him as a Messenger to go up and down to fetch Victuals and Drink for the Witnesses to wait on them and to help them into Court call Coaches and other such like Services which he performed so well that several persons asked me whose diligent Footman he was for indeed being in an old Frize-Coat lin'd with Blew Blew Stockings and Breeches and a Grey Hat tuckt up to prevent flapping about his Ears he could not well be taken for any other than an ill clad Footman though now he be Dubb'd Knight of the Post and wear a Pearl in his Ear to shew that the Executioners were kind to him and did not Nail his Ears to the Pillory neither at Salubury Wilton Winborne nor any of the other places where he was Mounted upon the Wooden Engine and peep'd through it like Don Quicksot through his Helmet when he was mounted upon Rosinant and going to encounter with the Windmil About that time I sent for him to Powis House and there told him in the presence of Mr. Henry Nevil alias Paine that now I would put it into his power to be an honest man if he had a will to be so and would get him either an Ensigns place under the Duke of Monmouth who was then preparing to go to Scotland or else an Imployment to go to Sea he made choice of the later which while they would enquire for my Husband having some Thousands of Pounds due to him which was so desperate that I could never make any thing of them he told me he understood such business and doubted not to get in many of them if he had but a Suit of Cloaths a Hat and some few necessaries that he might be in a condition to follow them which he promised to do very diligently I considering he could not wrong me for that no person would pay mony without my Husbands discharge And that he having no other business but to persue the
Debtors it was possible he might get in some of them I agreed with him that he should have six shillings in the Pound for what he received and did give him a Stuff Suit a Hat Shooes and Stockings and a little Linnen all which cost about 3 l. 10 s. and accordingly he proceeded and did get in some mony and Bail'd out several Prisoners and very often would bring me News of the great Designs of the Factious and that they talked Treason publickly in the Coffee-houses I encouraged him to keep them company and learn what he could of their Practices in order to discover them to His Majesty and I having heard by some very Eminent among them that heided with them only to break their Measures that they had drawn Forces into the City whilst His Majesty was sick at Windsor with intention to subvert the Government and that if His Majesty had died which at that time was the fears of the Loyal and hopes of the Factious they would have knock'd the Lord Mayor of th' head with such Aldermen as would not Conform and that by the help of their Partizans in those places they doubted not but to have been Masters of the Tower Portsmouth Dover and Hull and most places of strength within the Kingdom and that the Scots would advance to their help with much more to the same effect which I gave in my Depositions before the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council And having been inform'd by persons to whom they had been preffer'd that Mansel and Waller did both offer Commissions to disbanded Officers with promises that they should enter into present Pay and advised them and all honest fellows to linger about the Town for there would soon be hot service and having also heard that Sir William Waller said Publickly in Southwark before persons of considerable quality That there would be a Rebellion before Michaelmas These discourses being then almost General made me the easier Credit him in particulars as that in order to this design many of the Old Rump Officers were new rigg'd and had Pensions paid them by the Gentlemen of the Kings head Club and that Commissions were given out by the Relicts of the Rump under the names of the Keepers of the Liberties of England and that he was promised one among them and had seen several and that they were made of Parchment with thirteen Label Seals I incouraged him to go on and gave him money to defray his Charge and bid him observe their Actions and Designs and write down his observations that they might be made known to His Majesty and be sure to write nothing but the Truth for one Lie would discredit all the Truths he told After that he writ down at several times that which was afterwards found by Sir William Wallet in my Meal-tub and as what I did was truly in Zeal for His Majesties Service so that very night he came to Town from Windsor I went to the Earl of Peterborough and acquainted him with it and he presently handed us to his Royal Highness to whom Willoughby delivered the foresaid Paper to be given to His Majesty and His Majesty was pleased to give it to Mr. Secretary Coventry and commanded Willoughby to attend upon Collonel Halsal with what further discoveries he could make and ordered him forty Pounds the better to enable him to proceed therein About this time the transactions concerning Sir Robert Peyton happened and I believing then as I still hope that Sir Robert abhorring the disloyal Practices of those he called Friends was willing to come into the Kings Interest and help the Government against those that so subtilly sought to destroy it I then made the meeting between the Earl of Peterborough and Sir Robert Peyton at Mr. Gadburies house and did afterwards go with Sir Robert to the Duke and his Royal Highness received him kindly and Sir Robert made Protestations to serve His Majesty faithfully for the future as I hope he will For my part it was no motive but my Loyalty and Duty to His Majesty and Love to Truth and Justice that ingaged me in this affair believing I should do His Majesty good service by bringing back as many as I could of the Incensed or Misled to their Duty and I cannot yet think I erred in so doing About the later end of September Dangerfield daily brought me Stories of the great preparations of the Factious and that they publickly owned their Treasonable designs and that the Parsons Goodwin and Alsop and the rest of that Gang made great Collections amongst the Brethren in order to the carrying on their Rebellions Designs and that Sir William Waller had three hundred Horsemen privately quartered in Town that would be ready for Action in an hours warning and was the Party that should lead up the Rabble of Westminster to seize White-Hall That the City was ready to Rise and expected only the word from the Confederate Lords About this time Willoughby got drunk and pick'd a quarrel at the Rainbow-Coffee-house with one Keyniston about Sir Thomas Player and thereby made himself obnoxious to the Republicans and having lost the hopes of obtaining a Commission for himself he then sought to get one by means of other persons and then swore God Dam him now the Papists will give him no money he would go to the Presbyterians and they would give him enough but of this I then knew nothing and he strictly charged those he treated with in this affair not to tell me any thing of their Proceedings as appears by the Oath of Thomas Curtis taken before Justice Warcup vide the said Affidavit in Dangerfields first Narrative Pag. 72 73. In the beginning of October he pretended that by Information from a Person that by his order haunted Sir William Wallers Club at Westminster Market-place he understood that several Treasonable Papers importing the whole design of the Factious were kept in a house at Westminster and that if he could get a Warrant and search that House he doubted not but that he should lay open the whole Conspiracy and in order to it he went to his Majesty to pray a Warrant and was by his Majesty referr'd to Mr. Secretary Coventry but Mr. Secretaries great wisdom made him suspect him and his Shallow contrivance insomuch that he would not give him a Warrant but I as I said before being induc'd to Credit him in those things which related to the same ends others not inconsiderable among them had discours'd with me and being zealous to have the danger plainly Discovered that it might be prevented did upon his complaining that he was deny'd a Warrant advise him to go by the Custom-house way which he did and the seiz'd the Papers which I suppose were easie to be found being in all likelihood put there by himself in order to his being dignify'd with the Magnificent Title of the Kings Evidence Upon Wednesday the 22 of October 79 Willoughby was taken Examined and went upon Bail till
Truth but conceal'd that part which related to the Duke the Earl of Peterborough and Sir Allen Apsley and would not own that I understood for what reason he shewed me Gold as not thinking that a fitting time to tell such Truths I having too many Enemies already Then the Window shutters were nail'd up on that side of the Chamber and the Casement on the other side and from that time I had not a breath of Air I did but take out a Pain of Glass and they put in another and unfolded and search'd all my Linnen and cut my very Bread in pieces and search'd every thing with all imaginable strictness yet Captain Richardson let me go when I would into a Room that look'd towards the Doctors Garden where the Window was open but there was such a noysom smell in the Room that I rather chose to be lock'd up in my own alone than in that with a great deal of bold Company for the Rats and Weezles plaid at Barly-break and boldly Robb'd me before my face and did not Dance without Musick squeeking as they ran up and down And the worthy Gentleman Sir William Waller came likewise to visit me and ask'd if he could do me any Service and fawning on me with many flattering Expressions which I valued much like the Musick of my other Visitants He pretended a great deal of pity that such a Woman as I should be engaged among such a wicked and ungrateful people that Railed at me saying I was the worst of Women but if I would confess as he would have me and come to them I should be received according to my Merits Cellier I know nothing to confess At which he shook his head You know enough to save the whole Kingdom if you would tell it Cellier So I do and would be glad to tell it if Truth could be believed but I have been already told in Presence of His Majesty and His Councel that nothing I said should be believ'd And therefore I am resolv'd to tell nothing Sir William Mrs. Cellier if you will make any discovery to me I 'le ingage you shall be believ'd Then he began to ask me Questions Cellier Sir Spair your pains in Pumping for I am neither Slave nor Coward and will not be Examined in Confinement inlarge me and two days after I will tell you what I know Sir William That I cannot do Cellier Then let me speak with my Husband before a Keeper twice or thrice Sir W. Waller I cannot do that Cel. What do you come hither for then troubling me with your proffer'd Service if you be able to do nothing that I ask you Sir W. Waller If you will make any Discoveries then I will help you Cel. Sir William When I make Discoveries I am sure you will not like them Yet it is very like I may make some in time and new ones too for my Heart is too high to be zany to a fellow that went on my Errands Much such like dark discourse we had he still flattering me and telling me what high esteem he had for my Wit and Courage I told him I took his Ironical Speech as it was meant and did as much admire him for another cause and then pluckt Englands Bloody Tribunal out of my Pocket and shewed him the Murtherers of his Majesties Royal Father and many of his Loyal Peers and Gentlemen and told him that was the Game he would fain be at he denyed it after such a manner as made it visible even to the meanest capacity That he did not think it a Crime and then went away We had only such reflecting Speeches all the time of his stay for Mr. Copper the Deputy Goaler came up with him and I would not let him go away for indeed I durst not trust my self with such a Doughty Knight as Sir William was lest he should make Romances of me as he had done of others But I prayed him at parting to speak to his Majesty I might be Tryed for I was resolv'd I would not lie there idle but bring my self upon my Tryal as fast as I could The Friday after this I was brought before the Council A Lord. Turn up your Hoods Mrs. Cellier I obeyed L. Chan. Come Mrs. Cellier have you writ home since you were sent to Newgate Cel. Pray my Lord what Crime is it to write home L. Chan. It is none Cel. My Lord self-Preservation is natural to all Creatures L. Chan. How often have you written home since your Confinement Cel. Truly my Lord I know not whether it was 3 or 4 times L. Chan. How did you send it Cel. Once in a little Box and other times in Bottoms of Thread L. C. What made you so earnest to have your Husband go into the Country Cel. Because he is a man in Trouble and I thought That the best place for him L. C. Was Margaret in trouble too that you sent to her to go out of Town Cel. I did not nor had any cause so to do L. C. You did Cel. I did not L. Chan. You did we have it under your hand Cellier If I did I desire to see my hand Then a Letter was produced being a Copy of one of mine Sir Tho. Doleman read it and by Head and Shoulders thrust in these Words Send Margaret into the Country I desired to see the Letter but they refus'd it Then I own'd I did write such a Letter as that was without those words but that I had neither seen sent to nor heard from Margaret since Midsummer L. Chan. This is very strange you can remember every word of a Letter but what you should remember Cel. My Lord my Lord I can remember any thing I did but not what I never did Lord President You writ it when you were asleep Cel. No my Lord I am no Noct-ambler L. Chan. Did you write to no body else Cel. Yes to my Son and Daughter L. Chan. To no body else Cel. Yes to Mr. Gadbury L. Chan. What did you write to him Cel. Am I obliged to remember every Word I write L. Chan. No but the sense of it Cel. I called him friend and told him his last Visit would make me always esteem him so I know I am the talk of the Town but what do the Judicious say of me for it is that I value and not the prate of the Rabble Are all my Summer friends flown Is my Knight against me too When will Jupiter come into Gemini L Chan. What do you expect from Jupiters coming into Gemini do you think that Catholick Religion shall be restored Cel. No my Lord I have no reason to think so But the Planets are now in Bestial reptal Signs and produce semblable effects but when that benign Star comes into Gemini which is a Humane Sign I hope the Nation will return to their Wits for I think they are all mad now A Lord. Mrs. Cellier how long has Mr. Gadbury been a Catholick Cel. He is not
one I think I 'm sure I never took him for one nor ever heard he was L. Chan. What Religion is he of can you tell Cel. My Lord I always thought him to be a Church of England man L. Chan. Come Mr. Gadbury you said you did not speak in Astrological terms to Women But Mrs. Celier has told you all Gadbury My Lord She can say no harm of me if she tell Truth Cel. Mr. Gadbury I neither said nor know any evil of you I only said you feared the Kingdom would never be quiet till Jupiter came into Gemini Then he was commanded to withdraw Gadbury kneeling down said I beseech you let my close Confinement be taken off A Lord. No you deny'd the Truth to us Gadbury I hope your Lordship will not call such a thing as this is the denyal of the Truth Withdraw withdraw Mr. Gadbury A Lord. Are you with Child Mrs. Cellier Cel. Truly my Lord I know not certainly Same Lord. You say so in your Letter and that it will keep you from any stricter examination Cel. No my Lord I have no reason to think so this is a time in which no Compassion is shewn to Sex Age nor Condition Then the Lord Chancellor wav'd the Discourse Same Lord. Do you know one Mr. Phillips Mrs Cellier that you writ of and desir'd to go out of Town Cel. I know one Mrs. Phillips an Upholsterer but I know no reason I have to desire her to go out of Town Ld. But you did write to her to go out of Town Cel. Did I not write for every one to go out of Town I refer my self to the Letter and desire it may be read L. Chan. No no. And so put off the Discourse Same Lord. Do you know my Lord Shaftsbury Mrs. Cellier Or have you seen him lately Cel. My Lord I have been with him lately and if you please I will tell you the occasion In April last Sir W. Waller was very busie about my House insomuch as I was forc'd to leave it and I having a desire to be quiet at home writ the state of my Case to my Lord Shaftsbury and prayed his Favour He bid the person that carried the Letter send Sir W. Waller to him and from that time I had no further trouble till about ten or twelve days before Dangerfield was taken He told me that my Name was enter'd into Sir W. Waller's Black Bill and he would search my House that Week and therefore he advis'd me to write again to the Earl of Shaftsbury I told him I durst not presume to do that but I would go to his Lordship and thank him for the former favour and pray a continuance of it and desired him to go with me because being known in the House as he said and might the easier bring me to speak with his Lordship Dangerfield Madam I cannot at all advantage your Cause but injure it for I have told my Lord Lies and have been catch'd in them but if you please to let the Coach drive close to the Gate and ask for Mr. Shepard and desire him to bring you to the Figure of one he will bring you to his Lordship I did so that very night and after I had thank'd his Lordship for his former Favour and intreated him that I might not be troubled with Sir W. Waller he answered me Madam I am for the propagation of the Protestant Faith yet because I think you an excellent Woman though of another Religion I promise you I will do you all the good I can I thanked his Lordship and took my leave Upon this I was commanded to withdraw Three or four days after I was brought before their Lordships again L. Turn up your Hoods Mrs. Cellier L. Chan. Come Mrs. Cellier we have found Margaret and she has told us all the Truth comes out for all your cunning Cel. She can say no Evil of me unless she bely me Besides she is no lawful Witness for she was my Servant and turned away in Disgrace and if she accuse me of any thing it is the effect of her Malice Then Margaret was call'd in L. Chan. Come Margaret this is strange that whilst you liv'd with Mrs. Cellier you could see nothing but Vertue and Goodness by her and she can tell so much Thieving and other ill things of you Margaret She may say what she pleases of me but I will not wrong her Cellier Margaret you know we did lose a Spoon and some other things Margaret Yes but then you thought another had them Cel. Yes and I think so still but being told you accuse me I must defend my self as well as I can L. Chan. Nay Margaret we like you never the worse for her speaking against you and if you will tell us any thing of her we will believe you Margaret I know nothing but what I have told you L. Chan. Go Margaret consider of it and remember what you can against you come again Cellier Margaret have a care what you do lest you foul your hands with innocent Blood L. Chan. Hark She tutors her before us Cellier Truth may be spoken at all times and places Soon after this Sir W. Waller came to the Prison again wheedling and proffered his Service to help me to make a Discovery I answered him after the former rate Sir Will. I wonder how you that have such a fine curious House to Live in can endure to stay here and may so easily go out and be repaired all your Losses with advantage Cellier Sir Wil. I value not my Losses nor my Life I 'll stay here this twenty Years rather than Lie my self to Liberty I am Prisoner for Truth sake and that Cause and the joy I have to suffer for it makes this Dirty Smoaky Hole to me a Pallace adorned with all the Ornaments Imagination can think upon and I assure you This is the most pleasant Time of my whole Life for I have thrown off all care of Earthly things and have nothing to do but to serve God Sir Will. But for all your obstinance you will be weary of staying here e'er long and perhaps put into a more rigorous Confinement Cel. Have you ever a place to put me in where God is not Sir Will. No he is every where Cel. Is he so then do your worst I defie you all and him that sets you on Sir Will. Why are you so angry Mrs. Cellier I came hither to serve you Cel. I desire none of your Service and I cannot be angry with such a Man as you are Sir Will. I protest I have as much respect for you as if you were my Sister and had rather take your counsel than any Woman 's I know Cel. I 'll assure you Sir William I will never take yours Pray speak to His Majesty I may be tryed Sir Will. You had better stay for if you be tryed you 'll certainly be put to death Cel. Thanks be to God you must neither be Judge nor
Jury-man but I 'll venture that and bring my self to the Bar the first day of the next Term. Sir Will. You must not be tryed there you must be tryed at the Old Bayly Cel. If his Majesty bring me upon my Tryal He may try me where He pleases but if I bring my self to it it must be at the Kings-Bench Bar. Sir Will. You are deceived you cannot Cel. But I can and will to Sir Will. I 'll tell his Majesty what you say Cel. Pray do for I desire it Sir Will. Well I see you are an obstinate woman and do not understand your own good I 'll come no more to you Cel. I care not for your Company therefore pray stay away and tell Truth Once in your life As he was upon the Stairs going down I call'd to the Maid to bring me some Beer and he was willing to believe I called him and ran up in great haste asking through the Door if I had bethought my self of any thing he could do to serve me Cel. No Sir Will. I am not such a Distressed Damosel to use your Service For as the Devil can do harm but not good so though you have put me in yet it is not in your power to fetch me out of this inchanted Castle but I shall come out e'er long to a Glorious Death or an Honourable Life both which are indifferent to me blessed be God After this I was no more troubled with him That night the Duke of Monmouth came to Town from Holland I was fetched before the Council in great haste having now learn'd to turn up my Hoods without bidding L. Chan. Come Mrs. Cellier we hear of your zeal Cel. It is a Virtue to be zealous My Lord. L. Chan. The Truth comes out by little and little we shall know all Cel. My Lord I wish all the truth were known and then I should go home to my own House L. Chan. When were you in Flanders Cel. Never L. Chan. You were Cel. I never was out of England L. Chan. Do you know one Mr. Adams Cel. What Mr. Adams does your Lordship mean L. Chan. Mr. Adams a Commissioner of the Statute of Bankrupt Cel. Yes I know him well he sent John-a-Nokes to Prison and thereupon was put out of Commission L. Chan. Has he done you any personal injury Cel. Only helpt to cheat me of five Hundred Pounds L. Chan. Nothing else Cel. No my Lord but I 'll assure you he did that L. Chan. You were at the Devil-Tavern with him and Dangerfield the 24 th of September and said there was no Plot but a Presbyterian Plot and that it would appear so in a Month you tim'd it well for just then your Intrigue was found out Cel. My Lord I was at the Devil-Tavern but not within three weeks of the time you mention L. Chan. You were there at that time and said you were just come from Flanders and drank the Duke of York's Health in a Beer-glass of Claret and would not let Mr. Adams drink unless he nam'd the Health Cel. Indeed my Lord that was ill done for there was not a drop of Claret L. C. But you drank the Duke 's Health Cel. Pray my Lord what crime is it L. C. It is none Cel. Then I hope there 's no Punishment L. C. Here is nothing to be done with her call Mr. Adams He was called in and his Wise Depositions read Cel. My Lord of all this fine Story there is nothing true but that I was at the Tavern but it was three weeks before the time he mentioned and I did Pledge the D 's Health and say I believed there was a Plot among the Presbyterians to play their old Game over again but I hoped God would bless the King and his Royal Brother and that their Affairs would go well and God would destroy their Enemies and send quiet Times Adams She did say she had been beyond Sea and Mr. Petly will swear she said she had been in Flanders Cel. If I did say so I lyed L. Presid If you Lyed then how shall we know you tell Truth now Cel. My Lord there is a great deal of difference between what I say at a Tavern to a Man of his Understanding and what I say here where every Word ought to be equal to an Oath Adams Your bawdy Story I left out of the Depositions I was asham'd to speak it King What can she speak Bawdy too Adams Yes indeed she did L. C. I she 's fit for any thing Cel. My Lord I never spoke an immodest word in my Life Mr. Adams though you strive to take away my Life do not take away my Honour What did I say King What did she say come tell us the Story Adams She said She said that She said That if she did not lose her Hands she could get Mony as long as King As long as what out with it Adams made as if he were asham'd and could not speak such a word Cel. I said if I did not lose my Hands I should get Mony as long as Men kissed their Wives Adams By the Oath I have taken she said their Mistresses too Cel. Did I so pray what else do they keep them for L. Chan. That was but witty King 'T was but natural to her Practice Cel. Mr. Adams I am sorry for your Ignorance I beseech your Majesty let me be inlarged L. Chan. You are an obstinate Woman and will tell us nothing we ask you Cel. My Lord I tell Truth to all you ask L. C. Here 's no body believes you you will trifle away your Life Cel. My Lord I will not belye my self nor others to save it but I will assure your Lordships never man that came before you feared Death nor valued Life less than I do L. C. I she 's fit for them Withdraw Withdraw After that I was fetcht up once or twice again but do not remember for what Then they let me alone till the 9 th of January and then Captain Richardson went up with me and by the way told me That if now I would make an ingenious Confession I might be inlarged and the Truth found out I answered I knew nothing of all they asked me nor ever answered any thing but the Truth they do not look for Treason in the right place but when they do they may find enough Capt. Richardson But if you know any thing you are bound to tell it Cel. I am only obliged to answer Truth to such questions as I am asked and the Lord Chancellor told me he would not believe a word I said and I do not believe a word of the whole Plot further than that the Presbyterians are playing over their old Game again Capt. Richardson Well I see it is impossible to perswade you to Reason Cel. I never yet could see a Reason for lying When I came before the Council they spoke not a word of the old matter but questioned me concerning Sir Robert Peyton then present I
those Words to be no way maliciously spoken nor regarded it further than common Discourse Serjeant Maynard What Religion are you of Gadbury A Protestant according to the Church of England Serj. Maynard Such Protestants do more harm than Papists Gad. Sir I am neither Papist nor Presbyterian nor was I any of the Tribe of Forty One Then he went on with his Evidence saying That when the King was Sick at Windsor I asked him whether he thought his Majesty would live or dye supposing as he thought that he might have taken some notice of the effect by observing the beginning of the Distemper but says That I did not desire him to erect a Scheme for that purpose nor to Calculate the Kings Nativity and that he believes I had talked at this rate five or six times always expressing great fears of his Majesties Death and the Troubles that may thereupon arise through the restless Malice of the turbulent Factious Party and that he with as great Trouble told me he durst not presume to Judge of such and so weighty an Affair as that was But that he remembers he Calculated a persons Nativity for me to know whether he would be just to me in gathering in such Debts as were due to my Husband who was a French Merchant And that from thence he caution'd me to beware of him but that he knew not the said person was Dangerfield till he came before the Counsel bringing onely the time and Place of his Birth without making any mention of his Name but that the said Dangerfield thence took occasion to swear him into the acquaintance of the Countess of Powis and several Honourable Lords whose Faces he never saw This was the substance of Mr. Gadbury's Evidence L. C. J. Brother you are mistaken in your Evidence Att. Gen. We are in this but I hope we shall not be mistaken in others Then Dangerfield was call'd in Cel. My Lord I except against his Evidence as a person that has not the Qualifications the Law requires in Witnesses of Treason and I pray that I may be heard to prove it and that the Court will protect my Witnesses from his Insolence for the last time I stood here in order to my Tryal he struck one of them here in presence of His Majesty in the Face of the Court and threatned to kill others if they appear'd again L. C. J. Have you Witnesses of this Cel. Yes my Lord I will offer nothing to the Court but what I will prove by Witnesses and Records And to do this I have taken of a few of the Records of his many Crimes and but a few because I would not be chargeable to my Husband or troublesome to the Court I have but Thirteen Judge A pretty Company L. C. J. Go on then Cel. Call Mr. Pearson He appear'd I pray'd he might be sworn L. C. J. That may not be against the King Cel. My Lord it is not against the King for the King is as much concern'd to preserve me if I be Innocent as to punish me if I am Guilty And by the Statute of the Fourth of King James it is ordered that persons accus'd shall have Witnesses produc'd upon Oath for his better Clearing and Justification And the Lord Cook says That he never read in any Act of Parliament Author Book Case nor ancient Record that in criminal Cases the Party accus'd should not have sworn Witnesses And therefore there is not a spark of Law against it And the Lord Cook dyed but lately and if there was no Law against it then I desire to know by what Law it is now denyed me for the common Law cannot be altered And I pray your Lordships being of Counsel for me that you will not suffer any thing to be urged against me contrary to Law but that my Witnesses may be sworn or Counsel assign'd me to that Point of Law A Judge What would you have Counsel for This does not affect you yet Go on Cel. Mr. Pearson pray tell the Court how Dangerfield us'd you the last time I was here Pearson I stood in the Hall and he came and asked me how I durst Subpoena any man and not tell him for what and struck me on the Arm. Judge Did he so Cel. Call Mr. Barrard He appear'd and testified the same Cel. My Lord Witnesses for Treason ought to be Honest Sufficient Lawful and Credible And I will prove that he hath been Burnt in the Hand Whip'd Transported Pillorie'd Out-law'd for Felony Fin'd for Cheating and suffer'd publick Infamy for many other notorious Crimes Mr. Clements bring the London Record He produc'd it Judge Can you swear this is a true Copy Clem. Yes my Lord I examin'd it Then he was sworn and the Clark read the Record which shew'd That in the 25 th Year of his Majestie 's Reign he was Convict of Felony at the Old-Baily for stealing a Tortoice-shell Cabinet and ten pieces of old Gold out of the House of Robert Blagrave and being asked what he had to say for himself that Judgment should not pass upon him according to Law He said he was a Clark and desir'd the benefit of the Book which was granted and he read and was according to Law Burnt in the Hand A Judge Can you prove he is the man Cel. Call Mr. Ralph Briscow He appeared and testified that he was the Man and he saw him Burnt in the Hand Cel. Call Captain Richarson He appeared and testified the same Then Dangerfield offer'd to go away One of the Judges call'd to him and ask'd him whither he went a Lawyer answer'd to fetch his Pardon for he was come without it L C J. Make hast then Then there arose a Question among the Judges whether Felony was sufficient to take away his Evidence his Clergy having restor'd him And an excellent Discourse pass'd amongst them upon that Subject but I cannot remember the particulars so well as to insert it here One of the King's Counsel alledged that he was made a good Witness by his Pardon Cel. My Lord He is not Pardon'd Fellonies Burglaries nor Forgeries And I will prove him convict of all these and the King cannot give An Act of Grace to one Subject to the prejudice of another as this Pardon will be to me if this prodigious Villain be thereby made a good Witness to take away my Life Nor doth his Pardon include his Crimes Then I produc'd a Copy of his Pardon but remembring I was not oblig'd to believe that he had a Pardon till he himself had produc'd it I call'd for it back again then the Court went off the Cause and heard motions but Dangerfield staying long they began to examine Witnesses on his behalf First Thomas Williamson was call'd Who said he knew nothing of my treating with Dangerfield nor ever saw us together but that he was imploy'd in businesses of Charity by me to get Prisoners out and Dangerfield among the rest Mr. Scarlet was call'd and said he turn'd him