Thomas Yarnol Mayor of Evesham in the County of Worcester Richard Earl Bellemont Sir James Rushout William Bromly Edmund Letchmore and Richard Doldswel Esquires Justices of the Peace for the County of Worcester viz. That there was a design on foot to raise a Rebellion against the King and Queen in Lancashire That divers Persons in that and the adjoyning Counties had receiv'd Commissions from the late King to raise two Regiments of Horse two Regiments of Dragoons and three Regiments of Foot that great numbers of Irish Souldiers and Arms for them were privately kept in divers Places in that County Particularly that Mr. Thomas Tatlock of Simmondswood * Ferguson in his Letter to the Lord chief Justice Holt Printed 1694. near Sefton did harbour above threescore Men for the Service of the late King And that Arms for them were hid in that Wood. That Mr. Molyneux of Marborow did harbour above twenty Irish Souldiers for the same Service And that Arms Saddles Bridles Holsters and other Necessaries for them were hid in a Cellar under a Tower at the Entry of the House of Mr. Blundel of Ince in the Parish of Sefton That John Holland of Prescot and his Partner and a Sadler in Legh made Saddles and Holsters for them and were privy to the Design And that he saw and heard read a Letter in the Hands of the Lord Molyneux 's Son from the late King James 's Queen incouraging the Insurrection intended in Lancashire and giving Assurance of Assistance from the French King of Men and Arms. This Information caus'd many of the Lancashire Papists to be Imprison'd but others who tacitly confest their Guilt by flying and were look'd upon to be dangerous Persons absconded * See the Justices Letter from Middleton and would not be found till they had also prevented the Punishment by removing Kelly into another World I suppose by private Murther for as soon as it was known that Mr. Dodsworth had also discovered the Conspiracy that the King might not have two Witnesses to prove the Treason Kelly was made away and could never be heard off to this time His Fate continues a Mystery but whether he was kill'd or carry'd away 't is certain the Conspirators from that very time began to resume their Courage which was extreamly sunk upon the notice of Mr. Dodsworth's discovery And that these were the Artifices by which they conceal'd the Plot so long and frighted others from discovering it for fear they should meet the like Fate is too plain to he deny'd In December 1689. the Lancashire Plot was discover'd also by Mr. Dodsworth to his Kinsman Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Loinsdale Esq and Governour of Chester Castle and on the 27th of March 1690 to the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfeild which his Lordship laying before One of his Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Mr. Dodsworth was sent for to London to declare his Knowledg of the whole Matter and on May the 16th 1690. gave Information upon Oath of this Conspiracy before the Lord chief Justice Holt. And the Clamour that was made upon several Persons of Note being seised and Search made after others brought it to be examin'd before the Honourable the Commons assembled in Parliament The substance whereof was That certain Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others in the County Palatine of Lancashire and Parts adjacent of whose Names and Dwellings he gave a List into the House of Commons where the Original still remains were entred into a treasonable Conspiracy to make War against the King and Kingdom with design to reinthrone the late King James and in order to accomplish these Designs had receiv'd Commissions from the late King James brought over from Ireland by Mr. Thrillfall to raise some Regiments of Horse and Dragoons To furnish which Ammunition was provided Arms and other Necessaries bought and hid in divers Places by the confederated Collonels Which Troops were to be joyn'd by the late Kings Forces from Ireland whilst the French that were to be landed in Cornwal gave the King Diversion there and the Duke of Berwick in Scotland And all to be kept close and still till the late King arriv'd in Lancashire which according to the late Kings Promise should be in a Month or two at the farthest With this Discovery the Honourable House of Commons were so well satisfied that they recommended Mr. Dodsworth to the King for a Reward of his Service to the Public His Majesty gratify'd him with a present Reward in Money and recommended him to the Lords Commissioners of his Treasury for what Employment he was capable of but Mr. Dodsworth being a Papist and consequently uncapable of any Place under his Majesty was too long forgot and had no other Reward but what was given him by the Jacobites to stop his Mouth for ever viz. Murthered for as soon as that Party who have their Spies and Intelligencers in all Places heard there was a Correspondence between Dodsworth and Lunt and that it was whisper'd that Lunt would also discover Mr. Dodsworth was Murther'd by Mr. Deane a known and profess'd Jacobite Mr. Edward Robinson also made a Discovery of this Conspiracy on the 17th day of March 1690 before Richard Wright Esq One of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Lancaster in Substance thus That Mr. Fitzakerly at Spello House in Lancashire shew'd this Deponent a Commission from the late King James for the raising Men for his Service and Arms wrap'd up in Straw and hid under the Tyles of the House That Mr. Fitzakerly had promis'd all his Tenants that would serve under him in the Service of King James that upon the Death of any of them he would renew their Leases to their Children That they heard from the late King James very often and that he had sent them Word by a Servant of the Lord Molyneux 's that he would be with them in two Months That John Harrington of Egboth Esq told this Deponent that he also had receiv'd a Commission to be a Captain under King James and that Mr. Moore then in the House who had been a Captain of Dragoons in the late Irish Army was to be his Lieutenant Thus have I proved without any help from Mr. Lunt Mr. Wilson or Mr. Womball that there was a Conspiracy against the King and Government form'd by Mr. Bromfeild and the Lancashire Papists his Confederates as early as the latter end of the Year 1688. That Commissions were sent from the late King James to the Conspirators in June 1689. That Arms were provided and Souldiers listed and maintained by the Lancashire Papists to be ready at the Invasion in August 1690. That at the same time the Duke of Berwick was to invade Scotland and the French England and give the King Diversion in the West while the late King was doing the like in the North. And now he that disbelieves the Lancashire Conspiracy after he has seen it thus separately and singly prov'd by Persons at
left London on Fryday the 7th of February 1695 and having a speedy Passage was posting towards Paris but meeting his supposed Father the late King James upon the Read travelling towards Calais he acquaints him that all things were so well settl'd in England for his Restoration that he would have little else to do than to take Possession of that Kingdom there being an utter Impossibility that Projects so well concerted should miscarry With this Account the late King James sends the Duke of Berwick to the who not a little pleas'd that a Design of his own Laying should succeed so luckily communicated it to the Folks about him and after some time spent in diverting themselves with the Account of the Duke of Berwick's going into England and escaping from thence the sent the Duke back to accompany the late King James into England The 15th day of February 1695. was the Day appointed to Murther the King if kind Heaven had not prevented it And now the Leaders having quarter'd the Assassines in several Parts of the Town to prevent Suspicion they all lay close and still expecting Notice from their orderly Men of the Kings being gone to Richmond but so it pleas'd God that his Majesty did not go abroad that day This Disappointment and Fears of a Discovery made Plowden Kendrick and Sherborn decline the Action and withdraw themselves but Sr. George Barclay Sr. William Perkins Capt. Porter and Mr. Goodman concluding the Design was not discover'd because they were not taken up by the Government had another Meeting February 21st and there resolv'd to execute their bloody Project on Saturday 22d of February 1695. The Forenoon of that Day was spent in a tedious Expectation of News that the King was gone abroad but instead of that Account Keyes one of the orderly Men which they lodg'd at Kensington to give them Notice when the King went out tells them that the Guards were all come back in a Foam and that there was a Muttering among the People that a damnable Plot was discover'd and this unexpected News dispers'd all the Conspirators and drove them to shift for themselves by a speedy Flight Nor were their Apprehensions of a Discovery groundless for the Plot and the Progress that was made in it from time to time had been discover'd by Richard Fisher to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland a considerable Time before any other Person discover'd it and as Things ripen'd for Action his Lordship was acquainted with the Particulars On the 10th of February he acquainted that Noble Lord how far it was advanc'd and promis'd to wait upon his Lordship with a fuller Account in a few days accordingly he did on February the 13th 1695. And then gave his Lordship a full Account of the Design it self and the Time Place and Manner of it's Execution but refusing to give to his Lordship the Names of the Conspirators made his Discovery suspected till the Addition of other Witnesses gave an unquestionable Authority to the Truth of it Mr. Pendergrass who was wholly ignorant of this barbarous Design till he was sent for to London and there acquainted with it being struck with Horror and Astonishment at the first Proposal of it even then took up a Resolution to preserve his Majesties Life and discover the Conspiracy Accordingly on February 14th 1695 he waited on the Earl of Portland at his Lordships Lodgings at Whitehall and being admitted to Privacy with his Lordship though wholly a Stranger without farther Address accosts his Lordship with this surprizing Request Pray My Lord perswade the King to stay at home to morrow for if he goes abroad to hunt he will be murther'd To this he subjoyn'd a Relation of the whole Plot as it had been communicated to him by the confederated Assassines Which he said he would have told the King himself but that he durst not go to Kensington for fear of the two orderly Men which were kept as Spies there to give Intelligence of what occurr'd in that Court He was introduc'd that Night to the King tho' very late and there in his whole Deportment shew'd himself to be a Man of Honour Neither was Mr. De la Rue short of Mr. Pendergrass in making a Discovery of the intended Assassination though his Friend Brigadier Lewson who he design'd should acquaint the King with it being then out of Town makes his Information appear somewhat latter than the former For as he is a Man of too much Honour to be engag'd in a Murther so his Concern to discover it was from the Beginning though he did not declare it till his Discovery might be serviceable to his Majesty and then as soon as he had an Opportunity to impart the Secret he did it and Brigadier Lewson much about the same time acquainted the King that Mr. De la Rue had inform'd him of a Design carrying on to assassinate his Majesty and had given him a particular Account by what Methods it was design'd to be accomplish'd and propos'd a way if the King thought fit how all the Conspirators might be taken in Arms when they thought to attempt it But that which seems strange in all these Discoverers though they punctually agre'd in the Act and in the Circumstances yet they all peremptorily refus'd to Name the Conspirators which might have been of fatal Consequence if the Earl of Portland had not found out the happy Expedient to prevent it by perswading his Majesty to give himself the Trouble of examining Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. De la Rue himself in his Closet His Majesty overcome by the Reasons alledg'd by that Noble Peer condescended to his Request and examin'd them * Feb. 21. 1695. both seperately At Mr. Pendergrass's Examination was present the Earl of Portland and the Lord Cutts and Mr. De la Rue's Examination was heard by the same Noble Earl and Brigadier Lewson After the Examination his Majesty shew'd himself extreamly well satisfy'd in the Truth of their Discoveries and in a very Obliging Manner express'd his Resentments of their Generosity in the great Care and Zeal they shew'd for the Preservation of his Life and the Safety of the Kingdom and at last gave them such unanswerable Reasons why as Men of Honour and Lovers of their Country they should compleat their Duty and Kindness in discovering the Names of the Conspirators as quite subdu'd their former Obstinacies and prevail'd upon them to make a full and true discovery of the Names of the Assassins under the Promise of not being made use of as Evidences but Mr. Pendergrass hearing that Mr. Porter who engaged him in it had discovered and accused him he thought himself discharg'd from any Obligation of Honour in concealing it and therefore afterward as an Evidence for the King freely told all he knew at Charnocks Tryal p. 40. The King having now a perfect Knowledge of the Conspiracy and the Names of the Conspirators his Majesty issues out his Royal Proclamation requiring all his loving
they care not who must always be blam'd as the Cause of their Trouble some of the Party were so void of shame as after the Witnesses were convicted of Perjury to tell the Honourable Judge Turton that the Earl of Macclesfeild being Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lancashire had sent down thither great Quantities of Arms and immediatly added this malitious Innuendo and what if his Lordship designs thereby to entrap us An Inference so full of Venom and so wickedly False that nothing could be guilty of it that had a Grain of Honesty or good Manners for his Lordship was never acquainted with any thing in that Prosecution In Michaelmas-Term following the Witnesses mov'd the Court of Kings-Bench that the aforesaid Tryals might be set aside for that the Defendants had no notice of them and after very hard struggling with the Popish Gentlemen's Councel Sir Bartholomew Shower Mr. Northey Mr. Harcourt c. for four or five Days notwithstanding several odd Affidavits made and procur'd to be made by Mr. Legh and Mr. Symon Harcourt of the Crown-Office these Tryals at Lancaster upon the irregular Practices that appear'd to have been committed were set aside by the Court. The same Term Mr. Attorney General by the Kings Councel Mr. Cooper mov'd the Court of Kings-Bench that Lunt VVomball and VVilson might be try'd upon the Indictment of Conspiracy the next Term being Hillary a Rule of Court was made for it and Mr. Robert VVintour the Kings Clerk in the Crown-Office was order'd to give the Defendants notice of it and be ready for it at their own Perils The Defendants receiv'd this Notice with great Satisfaction as the only means to acquit themselves of the horrid Imputations they had long suffered under and in order to it engage all their Friends to assist them with what Money they could and at a very great Expence Subpaena'd and brought up to London out of Lancashire Cheshire and North-VVales more than twenty VVitnesses besides fifteen or sixteen more they had in or about London which would have clear'd and justifi'd every Article in their Informations against the Gentlemen The Term being come the Witnesses brought to London and no certain day appointed by the Kings Prosecutors for the Tryal Mr. Attorney General was attended and requested to name a short one in respect of the great Charge the Defendants were at in keeping so many Witnesses in Town to which his Honour was pleas'd to answer he would take care of it but three or four days after when all the Witnesses out of the Country and in or near the Town were ready and their Councel retain'd Mr. Attorney General gave notice he would not bring on the Tryals and order'd Mr. Wintour the Kings Clerk in the Crown-Office to countermand it Next day after the Defendants gave notice they would move the Court tho they were told they could have no remedy there against the King whereupon the Kings Managers in the Attorney Generals Name offer'd to pay the Defendants Costs if they would for bear the Motion but the Defendants refused the Offer and the Court was mov'd the next day and Mr. Attorney General and Sergeant Gold being sent for into Court the Court ask'd them why they refused to try the Defendants since there was a Rule of Court made the last Term for their being try'd in this Mr. Attorney and Sergeant Gold answer'd they had no VVitnesses which was not his Fault For how was it possible for Mr. Attorney to have Witnesses unless the Lancashire Gentlemen or their Solicitors furnish'd him with them and truly their refusing to do it after such timely Notice given them by Mr. Attorney's Order looks so like a Trick or an Abuse put upon Mr. Attorney by the Jacobites that he must have Abundance of good Nature if he forgive them the Court reply'd in Words to this purpose how Mr. Attorney do you indict Men for a Conspiracy keep them in Prison or under Bayl above a twelve Month move your self for a Tryal the last Term give the Defendants Notice they must be try'd in this and their Witnesses being in Town do you say you have no Witnesses against them these are very strange Proceedings and hard upon the Defendants We cannot award Costs against the King we can only recommend it to Mr. Attorney and so we do Upon which Mr. Attorney General promised to pay the Defendants Costs And here I suppose is an end of all the Gentlemen's Pretences against the Kings Witnesses for since they have declin'd their Proof and will not suffer the Law to decide it especially when all the Prosecutions were carryed on at the Kings Charge it is an evident Presumption they have no Proof to make that will bear the Scrutiny of Westminster-Hall The Lancashire Plotters and the rest of the Conspirators being thus disappointed in the Year 1694 one might reasonably expect the Jacobites would have given over a Toyl and Trouble that had so often endanger'd their Lives and Fortunes by it's ill Successes and repeated Discoveries but on the contrary they are more enrag'd at their Misfortunes grow desperate at their Disappointments and carry on both their Plots of Assassination and Invasion at the very Time when the Lancashire Gentlemen were endeavouring to prove themselves peaceable Subjects to the King and Government in both Houses of Parliament For Capt. Waugh of Brentford who was sent over by the Jacobites in November 1694 to concert their Affairs in France addresses to Coll. Parker Mr. Caryl and the other Confederates of the Party who telling him the French were not yet at Leisure to furnish the English Jacobites withso many Men as were desir'd for the Invasion fell upon what they thought would more speedily accomplish their Designs in the Restoration of their old Master and that was Murdering King WILLIAM These Persons had been so long in the Secret that they agre'd upon the Methods but because there were some Jacobites that had not yet so far extinguish'd all Sense of Honour and Conscience but that they utterly refus'd to be concern'd in such a black and horrid Enterprise as the Assassination and others scrupl'd engaging in it unless they had a Commission from the late King for that Purpose and that this Year would also be lost unless the Design were quickly put in Execution it was agre'd that Mr. Waugh should forthwith return into England and give the Jacobites Assurance that those that would engage in the Assassination should have the Commission desir'd immediatly sent them by a safe Hand and those that were for the Invasion should have their Spirits kept up with the Hopes of a Powerful Assistance from France as soon as the Blow was given and these two Things they thought would effectually employ both the Factions without clashing or intersering that both the Plots might succeed to their Wishes About the latter end of February * 1694. Mr. Waugh returns from France visits his Friends the Jacobites in London and gives them an Account
of Man About the beginning of May 1689 the Pink called the Lyon of Lancashire Charles Cawson Master being ready to sail Mr. Edmund Thrillfall and two Strangers yet unknown came on board the Vessel shew'd the Master and Marriners the Earl of Derby's Pass and then the Pink with her Passengers and five Marriners and a Boy * Jo. Preston Hen. Knowles Ja. Tompson Jo. Barrowe Ri. Whiteside in the Night time without any Cocket or Certificate from the Custom House or any Lading loosed out of Lune Road near Lancaster and as all the Saylors believed were bound for the Isle of Man * See John Preston's Affidavit sworn before the now Earl of Maclesfeild Jun. 17. 1689. but before they could compass it Mr. Thrillfall propos'd Sayling to Ireland to which the Master readily consented saying he had some Debts to get in there accordingly they went to Dublin and continued there three wekes All which is proved by the Oaths of the whole Ships Company whose Affidavits are to be found in the Appendix Now are the Commissions preparing or the Northern Conspirators Thrillfall and Lunt are brought acquainted and instructed in the Affair they were ingag'd in And Passes provided for each of them under the Hand and Seal of the Lord Melfort one of which was ready to be produc'd at the Tryal at Manchester but Sir W. W. for reasons best known to himself would not suffer it All things being ready in the three weeks time the Pink continued at Dublin Thrillfall and Lunt went aboard the same Vessel there the former carryed with him a Portmantle Trunk cover'd with Hair and a Sword and a pair of Pistols the latter only a pair of Leather Baggs and Sword and Pistols and arrived in Lune * See the Affidavit of the Ships Crew River near Cockram in Lancashire in the beginning of June 1689. As soon as the Pink came to an Anchor Lunt and Thrillfall pressed to be set on Shoar and the Master was no less concerned to be quit of them least they should be seis'd by the Officers of the Customs who come on board every Vessel as soon as it comes into Harbour To escape this Danger the Offenders make such hast that Lunt leaves his two Bags wherein were some Commissions Declarations Blanks and other written and printed Papers behind him in the Ship Which Lunt missing when he landed he desired the Boats Crew to fetch them and bring them to him at Cockram * See the Depositions of Hen. Knowles and Ri. Whitride who rowed the boat ashore but before the Cock-loat could reach the Ship the Officers of the Customs came on board the Pink seised the Papers and finding them of dangerous consequence pursue Thrillfall and Lunt but not overtaking them deliver the Commissions Declarations and the other written and printed Papers into the hand of Authority These Papers being further enquir'd into Charles Cawson conscious of his own guilt absents himself but his Father and the Ships Crew viz Preston Knowles Whiteside Thompson and Barrow being call'd to account they all of 'em deposed either in the whole or in part all that is related in the six foregoing Paragraphs This early and open Design against their Majesties and the Government making no small Noise in Lancashire the Matter came also to be examin'd at Manchester by the then Earl now his Grace the Duke of Devonshire the now Earl of Macclesfeild the Earl of Scarbrough and the Lord Wharton All these noble Peers being at that time in Lancashire to view and regulate the Army And their Lordships all agreed that the Earl of Macclesfeild as Lord Leiutenant of that County should immediatly issue out his Warrant against Lunt and Thrillfall which was done accordingly Thus far you have found Lunt's and Thrillfall's bringing Commissions into Lancashire from the late King substantially and credibly prov'd and where Interest or Prejudice can no way suspect any Collusion I shall therefore proceed in the next Place to shew you how they dispos'd of ' em Thrillfall and Lunt having escap'd the Officers of the Customs they hasten to Mr. Tildesly's of the Lodge * vid John Wilson's Depositions and there divided their Pacquets The Commissions directed to Gentlemen in Yorkshire the Bishoprick of Durham c. were taken Care of by Mr. Thrillfall Who having a Guide provided for him began his Journey thither as soon as he had refresh'd himself The rest of the Commissions appointed for Lancashire Cheshire Staffordshire c. were committed to the Care of Mr. Lunt Thrillfall pursuant to the late Kings Orders having delivered his share of the Commissions and what else he had in charge to the more Northren Gentlemen he privately returned to his own House at Goosner in Lancashire and having notice there that his treasonable Practices were discover'd by Mr. Kelly Mr. Dodsworth and the Commissions left in the Ship he took all imaginable Care to secure himself there till he could find an Opportunity of returning to the late King in Ireland But this Designincounter'd a severe disappointment and he with the Reward of his Treachery For it being whisper'd among the Party that he was return'd it quickly took Air and a Warrant as I said before being out against him from the Lord Lieutenant he was sought after by a Party of the Militia and found by the Corporal in a hollow Place made for that purpose in a Stack of Turffs As soon as he was discover'd the Corporal attempting to seize him Thrillfall violently snatcheth the Musket out of the Corporals hand and knock'd him down with it but the Corporal recovering himself and finding his own Life and the Prisoners Escape in such apparent Danger he drew his Sword and run Mr. Thrillfall through the Body of which wound he died immediatly And what but the Sense of his own Guilt and the Dread of the shameful Death that he knew must attend it could have forc'd him to such a desperate Resistance of lawful Authority For tho' we allow him to be a Man onever so great Courage yet we can not suppose he would have thrown away his Life as he did if he had not known his Crimes were so great and the Proof of 'em so plain that 't was impossible for him to escape the Punishment inflicted for Treason if he should have been apprehended and brought to a Tryal When Mr. Lunt and George Wilson his Guide had deliver'd his * Vid. Lunt's and Wilsons Depositions in the Append. share of the late Kings Commissions to the Gentlemen whose Names and Places of Abode they give you a List of in their Depositions Lunt was sent by the Conspirators to London to buy Arms list Men and send them into Lancashire to be subsisted at the Charge of the Conspirators till they had occasion to imploy them in the Service of the late King And this Lunt perform'd as appears upon the Oaths of the several Persons whose Names are in the * El. Langley Mr.
Gerrard Mr. Townley and others sometimes at one House and sometimes at another That being at Mr. Tildesly at the Lodge and the Wind fair he was commanded by the Gentlemen aforesaid to look out about the Sea-coasts for any Gentlemen that should land for they expected some Friends and News from Ireland Wilson did so and about the Beginning of June 1689 Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner Lancashire and Mr. Lunt arrived at * Vid. the Master of the Vessel 's and the Seamens Depositions in the Appendix Cockram in Lancashire and came immediatly to Coll. Tildesly's with several Bundles of Papers which they immediatly open'd and took out diverse Commissions Declarations Blanks and sealed Papers from the late King James directed to several Persons of Quality in that County and Yorkshire and divided them Those for Yorkshire Mr. Thrillfall put up and undertaking to deliver them had a Guide immediatly provided him The Commissions and other Papers for Lancashire Cheshire and Staffordshire and Parts thereabouts Mr. Lunt charg'd himself with the Delivery of and took this Informant with him from Place to Place to guide and assist him After they had deliver'd Mr. Tildesly a Commission for being a Collonel with Blanks for his inferiour Officers which he receiv'd on his Knees and kissed They went to the Lord Mollyneux's and deliver'd a Commission for a Coll. of Horse to his Son Mr. Wm. Mollyneux with Blanks for his inferiour Officers Coll. Mollyneux fill'd up the Blank for Lieutenant Coll. and deliver'd it in their Sight and Presence to Mr. Wm. Gerrard who was with Mr. Mollyneux when Mr. Lunt and Wilson came into the House and so he went on with Lunt from place to place till he had deliver'd all the Commissions and Blanks to the Gentlemen mention'd in Mr. Lunt's Depositious He further deposeth That to his own Knowledge Lunt did list Men in London and sent them down into the Country and that the Soldiers so listed and sent down were subsisted by the Lancashire Gentlemen That he did in or about February 1692 see Mr. Walmsley then newly come out of France at his dwelling House at Dungan-Hall in Lancashire and that the said Mr. Wamsley did employ this Informant in the Year 1692 and 1693 to list Souldiers under him for the Service of the late King James and had Money from Mr. Walmsley Captain Penny and Mr. Standish of Standish-Hall to maintain those Soldiers he further Deposeth That he hath seen great Quantities of Arms in the Houses of several Persons mention'd in Mr. Lunts Depositions Here are in substance the Depositions of Ten several Persons some at great distance from and utter Strangers one to another all agreing in the Lancashire Conspiracy the Time when Places where and the Persons who were to be the principal Actors in that bloody Tragedy and tho Lunt and Wilson name some more Persons to be concern'd than were nam'd by Mr. Dodsworth and Mr. Kelly being three years longer in the Conspiracy than the first Discoverers yet for so many as each of them have nam'd they exactly agree which there is no Question but the scribling Party among the Jacobites were fully possest of but finding it so directly cross their Designs in shamning the Plot and scandalizing the Government they take no more notice of Mr. Dodsworth's Mr. Kelly's Mr. Robinson's or the Master and five Seamen's Discoveries nor of the Informations that were sent to his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury from the Sessions of the Peace at Manchester than if there had been no such Persons or Things in the World which willful and design'd Omissions in Matters of Fact shews a greater Disingenuity and want of Integrity than can be equalized in other Authors Thus much for the Listing and Maintaining of Souldiers and receiving Commssions from the late King James to levy War against the King and Kingdom The next thing is providing Arms for these Souldiers and they were for the Generality bought by Lunt Righy Hatton and Minns at the holy Lamb in long-Acre by the Order of Mr. Townley Coll. Parker Mr. Standish and the rest of the Conspirators and carryed into Lancashire by several Carriers that travel from thence to London particularly by John Womball of Wiggan-Lane in that County who begun to be employ'd in this Service at the latter end of the Year 1688 and in the beginning of the Year 1689. These Arms were commonly put into large Boxes and Trunks and for fear of discovery in London they were for some time lodged for him at Barnet * Vid Oliver Pearsons Affidavit in the Appendix where he took them up and to prevent Suspition in the Country the Gentlemen commonly sent their Serviants to meet Womball or his Servant upon the Road there to receive them from him and carry them to their Masters Houses upon their own Horses When this way fail'd Womball and his Servants carryed them to the several Gentlemens Houses by Night and at other unsuspected Seasons Notwithstanding as privately as they manag'd their Design the watchful Eye of the Government discover'd their Practices and at one time in Litchfeild Vid. Oliver Pearsons and Clayton's Depositions as Womball was carrying down Arms into Lancashire the Government took from him there one hundred and two Swords which came to pass on this Manner Womball accidentally discovers his Carriage of Arms to Mr. Green of Wiggan who was at that Time in London Mr. Green apprehending that the Discovery of what Womball had told him might be serviceable to the Government repairs forthwith to the Earl of Macclesfield Lord Lieutenant of Luncashire and acquainting him with it His Lordship sends for Womball who was going out of Town that morning commands one of the Boxes to be open'd and seeing it fill'd with Horse-Mens Swords very prudently orders Womball to carry them down and in the mean Time his Lordship gave private Directions to some Friends of the Government in Wiggan to observe where these Boxes were deliver'd with these Orders his Lordship acquaints the Earl of Portland who well approv'd the Management of the whole Matter but by whose Directious these Arms were seiz'd at Litchfield that they might not be traced to the Owners in Lancashire is worth enquiring after All this was done before Wombull came into the Government and perceiving there was no further Enquiry into the Matter he renew'd his former Trade of carrying Arms and among many other weighty Burthens he received four Packs of Arms from Mr. See Womball's Depositions in the Appendix and El. Langly's 〈…〉 Lunt and deliver'd them at Preston Standish and Croxton In the Year 1691 and 1692 he carryed down great quantities of Arms in Trunks and Boxes to Mr. Standish of Standish to Mr. Tildesley of the Lodgo to Mr. Ashton Mr. Stanford Mr. Eccleston Mr. Dickinson Mr. Gradill and others but this continual carrying of Arms made so great a Noise that Womball the Confident they trusted in this great Affair was forc'd to be more
the Friends and Relations of the Prisoners and knowing Mr. Legh of Lime was reputed the richest among them Taffe was very solicitous to be acquainted with any Person that was concerned for Mr. Legh's Safety Whilst he was upon this Enquiry in the Temple-walks he meets with one Mr. Wybrand desires him to speak to Captain Cottingham to bring him acquainted with some Friends of Mr. Legh's of Lime For saith he Smith and Baker have used me barbarously and I will be even with them and spoil the Plot. * See Wybrand's Depositions in the Appendix Mr. Wybrand desires Taffe to be ingenious with him and tell him whether he was concerned in the Plot for he heard it would come to nothing Taffe replies he was no Evidence nor knew any thing of the Plot himself but he knew there was good Evidences against the Prisoners and enough as he worded it to hang them all but if he could speak with any Friend of Mr. Legh's he might get a good Summ of Money and make his fortune by telling him away how to save all their Lives but Taffe after further Discourse finding this Gentleman Mr. Wybrand not for his purpose he leaves him but gives not over his Search till he is first met by Mrs. Dickinson Wife to one of the Prisoners and afterwards by Mr. Banks and Mr. Beresford who were Freinds Relations and as they demean'd themselves were thought Solicitors for all the Prisoners Taffe no sooner acquaints them with his Designs of spoiling the Plot and saving all the Prisoners Lives but the Bargain was struck his Terms agreed to Twenty pounds is paid him in hand * Sworn in the House of Lords and Commons with assurance as it 's commonly reported of a good Annuity for Life to be settled in Lancashire and now least he should cool he is sent immediatly into the Country to be their Champion Evidence when the Tryals should commence at Manchaster This was the first Step that Taffe made towards spoiling of the Plot the greatest Part whereof was either confess'd by him or proved against him in the House of Lords and Commons But the Certainty of the Aunuity and how much it amounts to I cannot yet learn tho' I have reason to believe it is considerable since Mr. Dickinson told his Cousin Barker at the Tryal at Manchester that * See Mrs. Barker's Affidavit in the Appendix the gaining Taffe on their side had cost them very dear Here you see is a great Point gain'd tho' after a very ill Manner for the Prisoners And this Success upon Taffe so flesh'd their Solicitors that they are now fit to attempt any thing for the Service of their Friends and Kindred The next step they made is atempting upon Lunt to which end Mr. Banks counterfeits himself Drunk and afterwards by mean and little Artifices insinuates himself into a Familiarity with him squeezes out of unwary Lunt the names of the Kings Witnesses and the whole Matter of their Evidence with design to destroy it which by the way was very unfair and dangerous Practice and rather exceeds than equals Reading's Case in the Reign of King Charle's the Second and I believe if prosecuted in Westminster-Hall would there have been judged one of the highest Crimes under those that are Capital and have met with a Sentence accordingly but how great soever this Crime is it will apear a very minute and inconsiderable one when compar'd with these Gentlemens nefarious Practices when the Matter was examin'd in Parliament which shall be produc'd in due Time and Place Having thus gained Taffe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Morsel fit for the Devils Stomack into the Bowels of their Party and by the like Clandestine Methods got the Names of the Kings Witnesses and a Knowledge of what they could depose against the Prisoners the next Attempt for Shamming the whole Plot and setting the Prisoners in Statu quo prius was engaging Ferguson to write in their Defence to set up the Jacobites in general and the Prisoners in particular as an innocent and peaceable People and to render their Accusers the very dregs of Mankind To the end that People might be prepossessed with favourable Opinions of the Gentlemen accused and enraged with prejudice at the dismal Representation which Ferguson should make of the Witnesses before the Tryals could begin and this Stratagem had such a notable Effect that the Popish Mob at Manchester animated by reading Ferguson's Libel which was almost in every Hand in that Country had resolv'd to prevent the Tryals of the Prisoners by stoning the Kings Evidences to death as they came into the Town but those that knew the Scene was better and closer laid for the Acquittal of the Gentlemen than to do it by Force prevail'd with the Mob under Assurance the Prisoners would be acquitted to forbear the Execution of that inhuman Resolution till the Tryals were ended but no sooner was the Tryal over and the Witnesses leaving the Town but the Popish Mob endeavour'd to stone them to death and that in such a rude barbarous and tumultuous Manner that not only the Witnesses but an honest and worthy Gentleman of Counsel for the King the Kings Prosecutor and the Kings Clerk in the Crown Office very narrowly escap'd with their Lives and all this done too without fear or shame in the very sight of my Lords the Judges in the Town of Manchester The Tryal begun at Manchester the 16th October 1694 where the Kings Evidences prov'd * See their several Deposions in the Appendix that the Prisoners at the Bar had received Commissions from the late King James to raise War against their present Majesties and Government and to that end had bought Arms listed and subsisted Soldiers at their own Charge and had frequent Correspondence with the late King James for the carrying on an Invasion and Rebellion against King William and Queen Mary which having been already related as to the Time Manner and all other Circumstances I shall forbear a further Recital here and proceed to tell my Reader that whilst the Kings Witnesses were delivering their Evidences Sir W. W. tho he afterwards treated the Prisoners Evidences with all imaginable Respect and Civility was observ'd to brow-beat them and by cross impertinent and extraneous Questions foreign to the Matter in Hand endeavour'd to baffle puzzle confound and entrap them in what they Swore but failing in that main Point of his Skill he requires Mr. Lunt to point at the several Prisoners by Name In doing which some say he pointed at the wrong Man tho' they were so hudled and crowded together it was hard to say which was the Person he pointed at however this gratified the Popish Mob and raised a loud Laugh But their Mirth continu'd not long for one of my Lords the Judges commanding Lunt to Touch and Name all the accused Gentlemen with the Cryers Staff he named them all Right nor had it been Material in my Opinion if he had
only Witnesses enough to take away all the Prisoners Lives but these Witnesses were good ones and very Honest Men and being told by Mr. * See Mr. Wybrands Depositions in the Appendix Wybrand that it look'd like a Contradiction or an Impossibility to save Mens Lives accused of High Treason and that Treason by his own Confession proved against them by several creditable and substantial Testimonies Taffe alias O Mullen reply'd it was no matter for that if the Gentlemen would give him Money to make his Fortune he would contrive a way to do it Again if Conscience had been the Motive why did he go so far in it Why was he so active in seizing of Arms and apprehending the Conspirators If he knew it to be a Piece of Roguery he must know it to be so from the Beginning for he introduc'd Lunt to the Earl of Bellemont read Lunt's Depositions taken before Mr. Secretary Trenchard And knew the Transactions of the whole Matter why then did he not relate it before Why did he not declare it to the Lord Bellemont Mr. Secretary Trenchard Mr. Attorney General Mr. Aaron Smith or some other proper Officer This had been the honestest and easiest Way to have put a Stop to all Proceedings And had been fair candid and upright Dealing as well on the behalf of the Government as the Gentlemen But alass this would have quite spoil'd the making of his Fortune Again if what Taffe says in relation to Mr. Lunt's Evidence had any kind of Truth in it it no way answers the End for which it is design'd for the Truth of the Plot does not as I have said before depend only upon Lunt's single Evidence but upon the Discovery of Mr. Kelly Mr. Dodsworth Mr. Robinson Mr. Cawson and the Ships Company the Custom-house-Officers and several Persons of Quality and others in Lancashire whilst Lunt was acting in it nor was the Discovery from Manchester the Act of any single Person who might be liable to be impos'd upon but the premeditated Act of the whole Bench of Justices at their Sessions in Manchester as appears by the Letter to his Grace the Lord Duke of Shrewsbury which was also seconded by several others of his Majesties Justices of the Peace in their Session from other * See the Letter from Middleton in the Appendix Parts of the County as well as from many private Gentlemen So that Taffe must say something to disprove all these Matters of Fact attested by so many Honourable Persons and others of known Reputation before he or any of that Party can hope to gain Credit to what they said against Lunt But this was the subtile Trick of the Conspirators and their Multinominal Friends to leap over all former Discoveries and fall foul upon Lunt and endeavour to perswade the World that he invented and contriv'd the Plot in May and June 1694. Whereas Lunt and all the rest of the Kings Evidences depose the Plot begun in the latter end of the Year 1688 and in the Year 1689 and by several Progressions continu'd till 1694. So that what Taffe says must of necessity be false both as to the Fact and Time Besides What Taffe says without reflecting upon his former vile and lewd Conversation in being a Renegado Irish Popish Priest changing his Name and being manifestly guilty of Felony and Perjury is only his own naked Affirmation procured by Bribery but what Lunt has sworn as to the Plot in general nay almost in every Particular is confirm'd by the best and surest Testimonies in the World But since what Taffe had the Impudence to affirm has made so much Noise abroad and seem'd the only Reason why Sr. W. W threw up the Tryal I will sum up both their Evidences and leave the Reader to judge which of them is most reasonable to be believ'd among the sober and unprejudic'd Part of Mankind Father Vincent * All these Names be went by alias Thomas O Mullen alias John Taffe says but not upon his Oath There was no Truth in the Plot but that the Whole was a Contrivance between him and Lunt in or about May 1694 but has no Evidence or Circumstance to confirm what he so boldly affirms nor has any thing to say further in the Whole Mr. Lunt deposeth that he follow'd the late King James into France and from thence into Ireland and confirms it by a * Which is now among the rest of the Papers in the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliament Pass under the Hand and Seal of the Lord Melfort Lunt deposeth that in France and Ireland he was acquainted with Bromfeild who negotiated Affairs in Order to a Rebellion between the late King James and the Lancashire Gentlemen But being discover'd the Vessel he had bought taken and himself in great Danger he thought it not safe to go any more thither but having brought word that the Gentlemen had embrac'd the late Kings Commands and only wanted Commissions the Carriage of the Commissions was to be perform'd by Mr. Thrillfall and himself and this he confirms by the Oaths of Mr. John Edwards See their several Depositions in the Appendix George Wilson John Wilson Elizabeth Langley Elizabeth Hearst and the Master of the Vessel and five Seamen Lunt deposeth that in or about June 1689 he and Mr. Thrillfall of Goosner in Lancashire sailed from Ireland in Mr. Cawson's Ship landed at Cockram in Lancashire brought over several Commissions to the Lancashire Gentlemen some of which were left in the Ship and taken by the Officers of the Customs and are now in the Hands of the Government this is prov'd by Mr. Cawson the Master of the Ship that brought Lunt and Thrillfall out of Ireland all the Seamen in the Ship and by the Officers of the Customs that seized the Commissions besides the Noble Peers aforenamed that examin'd the whole Matter in Lancashire and the Commissions themselves seen by Mr. Robinson and are now in the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliament Mr. Lunt deposeth that after he delivered the Commissions above named the Lancashire Gentlemen having formed a Rebellion employ'd him and others to list Men and send them into Lancashire which he did and subsisted them at the charge of the Gentlemen accused in order to be ready for the Service of King James when called for and this is prov'd by the Affidavits of John Wilson Lawrence Brandon Robert Bradly Elizabeth Hearst Elizabeth Langley and many others as also virtually confirm'd by the Letter from the Quarter Sessions at Manchester sign'd by eight Justices of the Peace See the Letter in the Appendix dated 18th October 1689 where they desire his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury to acquaint the Kings Majesty That there hath been some modelling of Officers and Men preparatory to their hopes of an Invasion or Insurrection and tho' our Goals say they are full of Irish Papists yet we have frequent Account of many others at Popish Houses Mr. Kelly in his
apud Preston in Com' Lancast ' 18 Junii 1689 coram me T. Patten The Information of James Tomson one of the Mariners belonging to the Pink or Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is a Protestant but being Examined about several Voyages lately made by the said Vessel into Ireland as to the last saith that it was begun about five Weeks since and having heard the Information of Henry Knowles this Examinant agrees with the same in the relation thereof James Tomson Capt ' Jurat ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten The Information of John Barrow one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is an Apprentice to Mr. John Cawson and by his Order went on Board the said Vessel which about five Weeks ago sayl'd into Ireland and he hearing the Information of Henry Knowles now taken and read over this Examinant agrees with the said Knowles in the relation thereof except that this Examinant heard not what the said Lunt came over for nor the Discourses betwixt Mr. Thrillfall and Lunt and the Seamen when they set them on shore at Cockeram John Barrow Capt ' Jurat ' die lâ—câ— praed ' coram me John Patten The Information of Richard Whiteside one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT having heard the Information of Henry Knowles another of the Mariners read over this Examinant agrees with him in every particular thereof relating to the said Vessel 's last Voyage into Ireland except that this Examinant hath not heard what Mr. Thrillfall was to give for the Hire of the said Vessel R. Whiteside Capt ' Jurat ' dis loco sup ' dict' coram me T. Patten The Examination of John Cawson of Narbock within Cockeram in the County of Lancaster Merchant Who saith THAT he is half Owner of the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster and the other half belongs to this Examinant's Son Charles Cawson and to his Son in-Law Robert Curwen to wit to either of them one Quarter And that having for several years last past about May or June been employ'd to carry the Earl of Derby's Cattle from the Isle of Man to England he this Examinant did about two or three Months ago desire Mr. William Backhouse the Attorney who design'd shortly afterwards to go with Mr. Thomas Simpson to London to put the said Mr. Simpson in mind of knowing from the said Earl when he designed the said Cattle should be fetched over which Mr. Backhouse promised to do And at Mr. Simpson's Return he informed this Deponent that he this Examinant might send for the Cattle as formerly to Mr. Cockett my Lord's Servant in the said Isle And thereupon this Examinant gave consent to his said Son Charles that if he pleas'd he might fetch over the same in the Vessel aforesaid And about five Weeks ago the said Vessel loosed Anchor and went out of Lunt Water designing only as this Examinant then believed for the Isle of Man upon the Account aforesaid And this Examinant further saith that since the return of the Vessel this Examinant has been for about an hours time with his said Son to enquire about his Voyage who inform'd him that in the Voyage Mr. Edmund Thrillfall who was then a Passenger on Board the Vessel offer'd to him the said Charles Cawson ten Pounds to put him the said Mr. Thrillfall a shore in any part of Ireland and that accordingly he had set Mr. Thrillfall a shore at Dublin and that after some stay there he returned back for England bringing the said Mr. Thrillfall and another Person who his Son called Mr. Lunt hither with him And the said Charles informed this Examinant that he was detain'd and could not be admitted to return from Dublin till he brought the said Lunt and Thrillfall with him And this Examinant saith that upon Ascension day last the said Mr. Thrillfall came unto him at Garstang and treated with him about a Passage into the Isle of Man but an Embargo being then upon Vessels this Examinant told the said Thrillfall his said Vessel could not go And upon the Monday before the Vessel went from Lancaster-water the said Mr. Thrillfall came to this Examinant's House to treat with him again for a Passage to the Island but this Examinant denied him one in the Vessel having resolved to take no Passenger thither and thereupon the said Thrillfall went away from this Deponant and since then this Examinant never saw the said Mr. Thrillfall And this Examinant demanding from his Son why he called not at the Isle for my Lord's Cattle in his return from Dublin his said Son told him the said Thrillfall and Lunt who were too strong for him being armed with Pistols would not let him and that withal they promis'd him other ten Pounds for their Passage from Ireland but never yet paid it him John Cawson Capt ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten Elizabeth Engley 's Affidavit ELizabeth Langley maketh Oath That she this Deponent knows Mr. John Lunt and hath done for eight or nine years past and that in or about the Month of December 1688 a little after the late King James went into France the said Lunt came to this Deponent and desired her to take a private Lodging for him until such time as he could get a Passage out of England to follow the said King which this Deponent did accordingly and about a Fortnight after he the said Lunt acquainted this Deponent that he then had an opportunity to go over into France with the Lord George Howard and this Deponent doth believe he went accordingly for is a week or ten days after she this Deponent did receive a Letter from him the said Lunt bearing date from Calais Jan. 14. 1688 which Letter this Deponent hath yet in her keeping and about July following 1689 the said Lunt came in a Coach to this Deponent's Lodging in Castle-street by Leicester-fields so disguised that she did nor know him till he spoke and desired this Deponent to come into the Coach to him which she did and then he drew up the Glasses fearing lest any one might see him and discover who he was and as the said Lunt and this Deponent sat together in the said Coach as it stood at the door of this Deponents Lodging this Deponent laid her hand on a Green-Bag which was in the Coach and doth believe that it had Papers or Parchment-writings in it but did not at that time ask the said Lunt what they were but as they were sitting together in the said Coach he the said Lunt told this Deponent that he had been in France and that he went from thence into Ireland and that he was sent thence by King James with Commissions and Deelarations to several Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others in England and did then further tell this