lest the Rabble out of inveterate hatred should offer them any injury this I did and secured them so that not above one received any hurt Then I was ordered to get into Court and take some Notes of the Tryals which I did till they were over the Lady Powis read them and sent me to the Tower to her Lord with them to whom I shewed the little imperfect Remarques I had taken he seemed to like them well and to encourage me to be industrious in other business commended me highly for this though I deserv'd it not and gave me far better encouragement than I ever had either from his Lady or any body else promising on his Honour to make my fortune if I would be ruled then his Lordship sent me to shew them or rather to shew my self to my Lord Bellasis and the other Three Lords but I being a stranger and not well knowing where to find their several Lodgings took with me one John Porter the Lord Powis's Butler who went with me to each of the other Lords Lodgings to whom I privately shewed the Remarques they all desired they might be Printed and gave money towards it one a Guiney another Fifty Shillings one half a Guiney another fifteen or sixteen shillings and when I returned to my Lord Powis I told him what the other Lords had done and he also contributed and told me the Lord Castlemain should do so too and at the same time his Lordship told me some person employed by them had taken the whole Tryals and they were at one Turners a Book-Seller but a Catholick to be Printed and ordered my Notes to be compared with his and one intire Relation to be composed out of both as was afterwards done then was the Lord Arundel come to Lord Powis's Lodging and the Lord Peters desired his Lordship to come into his Bed-Chamber where I was and as soon as Lord Arundel espied me he did me the Honour to lay his hand on my head and promised I should be well rewarded for all my diligence and at the same time Lord Powis asked me whether I had a faculty of Writing abusively and like a Satyrist and was Master of such a Style as would look well in Print for said his Lordship that Sot Nevel is so very delatory it is not to be endured therefore if you dare undertake the Writing of some sound Pamphlets it might be of very great Use to us to which I replied that I was not a competent judge of my own abilities but would do my best Then Lord Powis told me Mrs. Cellier should be allowed Ten shillings per week to Dyet me and his Lordship would allow me three pound per week for my expences in business and what ever hapned to be beyond that I should put into a Bill and bring or send it to his Lordship and I should forthwith have it paid the said Three pound ten shillings per week was constantly paid me whilst I serv'd them Then I was advised by both the Lords to lodge at Powis-house which advice came very seasonably for I knew very well that I had given my Landlord just occasion to harbour strange thoughts of me and conceive suspitions to my disadvantage About the eighteenth of June the Countess who knew that I was then lodged in Powis-house and by her Lords order sent me with a Letter to the Lady Tukes Lodgings in Scotland-yard which Lady seemed to take particular notice of me and was pleased to say she liked me very well and gave me two Guineys and demanded if I durst undertake a desperate Enterprise I answered yes then she went into her Closet and wrote a Letter for the Countess of Powis and gave it me to carry her and so I took my leave In my Return I went to wait on my Lord Castlemain who asked where I had been I answer'd at the Lady Tukes and so told his Lordship how she received me at which he seemed to be well-pleased and smiled and demanded if the Countess of Powis had not delivered to me her self or caused to be deliver'd some Papers relating to a business of Oates for which one Knox and Lane were in Prison in the Gate-House To which I answer'd no Then said he I will write to the Countess about it and order you Money and give you directions how to proceed in it There I waited till his Lordship writ a Letter which I carried to Lady Powis but first being sent for up I gave her Ladyship the Letter who before she opened it told me Mrs. Cellier would give me Money to get Knox and Lane out of Prison I then asked what they were in Custody for The Lady modestly answered 't was by Oates's means but if I could get them out he should not reign long in his Roguery From thenceforth I undertook it and had all the business and Papers delivered me by one Lawson an Attorny of Clement's-Inn who had been endeavouring two Terms to remove them by Habeas Corpus but could not I forthwith went to the Gate-House and found means to supply them both with Money though they were close confin'd and by a course that I took upon advice with the Priests there they had Pen Inke and Paper conveyed to them both but especially Lane who writ the first Letter which was to this effect I will die before I will comply with that Villain Oates and if any good people will work my Liberty I will do the Catholicks the greatest Service imaginable by Discovering what I know of Oates This is from the bottom of my heart and what I will die with So help me God This Letter was taken from Lanes hand under the door by one Tempest then a Prisoner in the Gate-House and by him given to one Mrs. Ayry who brought it to me at Powis-house and I shewed it the Countess who was more transported with joy than I can express and breaking out as it were into a Rapture Has God given us this unexpected help said she Well we will God-willing employ it to the best advantage charging me to use all expedition to get them both out and then I withdrew But as I understood the next day the good Countess was the greater part of that day on her knees to render thanks to Almighty God for this new occasion of strength that she supposed he had been pleased to bless their Cause with From that time I was very industrious in this business and had several Motions in the Kings Bench before I could get either of them to the Bar but at last I brought Lane out upon Bail to the great satisfaction of the whole Catholick Party but Knox I could not get out but have since been inform'd by himself that Nevel told some Friends of his that he did it and had Money from the Lords in the Tower for that purpose Now when I had got Lane out the Countess ordered me to bring him to Powis-house and lodge him there for the present and she
The Lord Peterborough 's Depositions and Defence at the Council-Board p. 61. 62. 63. c Depositions and Examinations of several Persons relating to the New-Plot p. 45. 46. and so on to the end of the Book THE NARRATIVE OF Mr. Tho. Dangerfield ABout the latter end of March last past one Mrs. White who had been a Prisoner divers times in Newgate and Convicted was released out of Prison by one Mrs. Cellier And the said Mrs. White in regard I had been very instrumental for her Enlargement came divers times to Newgate where I was Prisoner also to visit me where she discover'd That I did profess the Roman Catholick Faith and likewise That some difference had arisen between Captain Richardson and me upon which I had sworn a Revenge From that time I began to make it my business to inspect his Usage of Prisoners where I found some ground for drawing up Articles against him which accordingly I did and acquainted Mrs. White with it who told me I did very well and That she would bring a Lady to me who would give me great Incouragement in that Affair And about two days after she brought the said Mrs. Cellier who was very friendly to me and after a strict inquiry into the Cause of my Confinement as also concerning my Religion Parentage Education and Travels demanded If I were capable of undertaking Business I answered Yes then says she For the present let me see how you can draw up those Articles against Captain Richardson and thereupon gave me some Instructions for the same in Writing But it is to be suppos'd That Mrs. Cellier and Mrs. White from whom she had taken the said Instructions had throughly consulted my Condition and Capacity before Mrs. Cellier came to me and as I was inform'd Mrs. White and Mrs. Cellier soon after they were acquainted made diligent enquiry after the Prisoners in Newgate and asked If it were not possible to find a Man of Courage amongst them and one who would Reform and the said Mrs. White having such an opinion of me made this the chief occasion of Mrs. Cellier's Visit But I drew up Articles pursuant to the Directions I had received which together with those which I had drawn from my own Observation amounted to so considerable a Charge as if the Particulars could have been sufficiently proved it must certainly have been very prejudicial to Captain Richardson The Articles are too long and not worth while to be here inserted So I refer the Readers if they desire to satisfie their Curiosity to the Coffee-houses where they are to be seen at all times At the second time of Mrs. Cellier's coming I had finished them and she perused the Papers and liked them well and express'd much sorrow for my Misfortunes saying she would use all possible means for my Enlargement and told me she had something of far greater moment for me to undertake than that but in the mean time advised me to complain to Mr. Recorder of Captain Richardson for his hard usage of me in the Prison and told me That she would immediately go to Alderman Jeffreys and make by Alderman Jeffreys his means such Interest with Mr. Recorder as Captain Richardson could not oppose and that my Request should be granted The Sunday following I went to the Recorder where I found all performed that Mrs. Cellier had promised and I no sooner moved for any favour but it was granted especially that of having better usage whilst I continued in Prison which accordingly I found The next time Mrs. Cellier sent her Maid to me who in her Mistresses Name bad me be of good courage for I should in a short time be at Liberty about two days after her Mistress came and told me Mr. Williams the Solicitor was employed to get me Let out upon Bail but in the mean time that I should want for nothing and bad me as often as I had occasion for Money or other necessaries to send to her House in Arundel-Street and I should be Furnished as I often did do and was supplied accordingly About two days after Mrs. Cellier sent her Maid to me with a Message that her Mistress was gone to Peterley in Buckingham-shire about extraordinary business but would return in a day or two which business might if I were willing be much to my advantage the said Maid came to me every day after that either to bring me Money or to enquire of my health and condition When Mrs. Cellier return'd to Town she came to see me I being still in Newgate and said within a day or two I should be inlarged and at the same time at my entreaty she gave one Godfrey a Roman Catholick and a Prisoner Money to relieve him and has ever since allowed him a weekly Pension the next day she sent her Maid with my Discharge under Mr. Recorders hand who had taken Bail for me and desired to know what the Charge of the House came to which I cast up and sent her and immediately after the Maid returned with the Money I paid the Charges of the Prison and was absolutely Discharged from thence but immediately or before I was well out of those rude limits I was Arrested and carried to the Counter which Mrs. Cellier was much troubled to hear of and the next day sent her Maid to me to know the cause of it which I told her and how much Money would purchase my Liberty with this the Maid went to her Mistress and immediately return'd with Money and this Answer That her Mistress had ordered business for me to do within two days of great consequence and if I could get out by that time she would purchase my enlargement at any rate but if not her Mistress could not tell whether ever I should be freed by her or no. Now upon these words I being as desirous of the fresh Air as any person could be who had suffered a years Imprisonment as I had done sent for a Solicitor and it being within the Term gave order for a Habe as Corpus which was prosecuted with such expedition by one Mr. Scarlet that the next being Munday morning it was allowed and I brought to the Kings Bench Bar and from thence turn'd over according to the course of that Court to the Kings Bench from whence I sent Mrs. Cellier this following Letter Madam I Am now in a greater Labyrinth than ever and am heartily sorry I have expos'd you to so much Charge that I am not capable either of congratulation or restitution wherefore I refer all to your good and charitable consideration c. Willoughby Her Answer by her Maid the same day was as followeth Sir I Suppose your expensive business has drein'd your Pockets I here send you 20 s. and promise since I have undertaken the thing I will see you at Liberty and not only so but make your Fortune if you will be ruled and in order to it I will be with you tomorrow I am E. C. By
the Maid she oblig'd me to return this Letter again and all others which I should at any time receive from her during the time of my Confinement there which I did and was much satisfied with the Contents of Mrs. Cellier's Letters The next day Mrs. Cellier came in disguise to the King's-Bench and told me I should be well provided for and gave me 20 s. and promis'd me every Week as much and that if that were not enough I should have more This as I understood by the Maid was about the time when by reason of Sir William Waller's making Search after Mrs. Cellier she was forc'd to quit her own House and retire to Powis-House in Lincolns-Inn-fields and I suppose her putting her self into that Disguise in which she came to me was upon the same occasion Then Mrs. Cellier promis'd before Mr. Bannester to provide Clothes and such other Necessaries as I should want against I came abroad and that I should not lye long there but however that I could do as much good there as if I were abroad and she walked with me in the Garden and discoursed to this purpose We are informed said she that one Stroud a Prisoner here has been a Conversant formerly of Bedlow's and that Bedlow now writes several Letters to him and sends him Money which Letters he brags much of when he is drunk and often has sworn to Mr. Munson and Mr. Kemesh That Bedlow was fearful of him and that to prevent the coming to light of something that Stroud could disclose against him he sent him so much Money per Week but Stroud swears If ever he gets abroad and that he may have any to support him he will quickly bring Matter enough to hang Bedlow nay and that he has it in his Pocket and will frequently pull out a Pacquet of Letters and sometimes pretend in passion the Lords in the Tower were much to blame to suffer such a Villain to give Testimony against them saying If they would be rul'd by him Bedlow should do them no hurt This she told me was very material and that Stroud knew much of Bedlow's Life and Conversation and that my business was to observe Stroud and get acquainted with him and that it would much conduce to the making my Fortune if I could by any means know the bottom of Stroud or if I could bring him over to be a Witness for the Lords or by any means persuade him to shew me any or all the Letters and Papers he had in his Pocket which concern'd Bedlow which I promis'd I would endeavour to accomplish and forthwith make the Attempt telling her withal that the thing was already half done for I had been familiarly acquainted with Stroud some years since and therefore had the greater hopes of Succeeding Then Mrs. Cellier recommended to me the Advice of one Mr. Munson and Kemish both Priests and Prisoners there very good religious Men as she said who would not only advise me how to proceed but give me an account more at large of the whole Design and also give me good Instructions in matters of Religion if I desired it which advice I promis'd to follow then she left me saying She would give Mr. Munson notice to speak to me and about two days after I being in the Garden Mr. Munson spoke to me privately and bid me follow him into his Chamber which I did where I found Mr. Kemish also They told me what a good Character they had received of me and that I had suffered much in Newgate for the sake of my Religion and many such like stories and that Mrs. Cellier had given them an account by Letter That I was acquainted with the said Stroud and upon that account the more fit to manage the business Then they told me Stroud had divers Letters about him that concern'd Bedlow and some which Stroud had received from him since the time of his Imprisonment and desired me to drink with Stroud but first asked me If my Head would bear Drink to which I answer'd Yes If not said Munson I will give you a Preparative that shall enable you but I did not stand in need of any such thing but treated with Stroud to very good purpose of which I will shortly give you a full Account for whatever he said at any time that was material I put into Writing Then I again went to Munson and Kemish and told them what progress I had made in the business with Stroud they seemed to be well pleased with it and highly commended my diligence and withal the better to incourage me said They had that day received a Letter from the Countess of Powis which concerned me but it was committed to the flames for they were cunning enough to keep no Papers by them of any Importance as being liable to Searches that were likely to be made there on the least suspicion but promised to shew me the next that should come which they accordingly did for there came one from the Countess about two days after and then Mr. Munson gave me a private Sign to go to his Chamber which I did and there he and Kemish read the Letter the Contents whereof were in part as followeth Sir You must persuade Mr. Willoughby to scour his Kettle and Receive which is to Confess and receive the Sacrament to be true to the Cause The residue of the Letter I cannot remember Soon after I went to Confession to Mr. Munson and went into Kemeshes Room where he was reading Mass and of him I received the Sacrament and from that time was admitted into their Church though I had for some years before professed the same Religion then I went into Munson's Chamber where I had some little Discourse not worth mentioning here after which he gave me free Toleration to drink with Stroud but I scrupled whether it were safe for me who had that day received the Sacrament to drink and perhaps be Drunk with Stroud or any other to which he repli'd that inasmuch as he had given me leave I should not sin in so doing especially since it was for the Good of the Cause And farther told me if Stroud were forward in discourse I should offer him a hundred or two hundred pounds then I ask't what the consequence of it would be if he should accept of the proposal and I not be able to make it good I said I was afraid it might spoil the whole Design nay said he let me alone for that if he can but be induced to comply with us I am sure the Lords in the Tower will perform the conditions and as convenicy offered for my next Attempt upon Stroud I took that course but to little or no effect In a day or two after this I having first given an account to Mrs Cellier of the bad success I had with Stroud and that I could gain nothing upon him worth the time and the money I spent with him one Mr. Henry Nevel alias Paine was removed
or the beginning of August did advise Mrs. Cellier to go home to her own house and as she told me the Lords gave her the same advice and for these reasons viz. First They expected Powis-house would be searched by an Order of Council and if any person more than their own Family should be found there it might be very prejudicial to the Lords Secondly That now Sir William Waller was better advised and they did believe he would be more mild for the future in his prosecutions against the Catholicks Thirdly The Current of Affairs they said was now in a manner stopt and the people began to speak favourably of their Party but in that his Lordship was much mistaken or misinform'd at least for in all my business I could not meet with any Protestants that did so Then I also removed my Lodging and a little after went to Lodge at Mrs. Cellier's house where I had been about four days where there came an express Order to Mrs. Cellier for me to disguise my self as well as I could and come forthwith to the Tower I wondred at this having been caution'd by the Lord Powis the last time I was there to the contrary but when I consider'd of it I did not believe it was about a matter of small consequence and thereupon changed my Habit as I often used to do on other occasions and went that day to the Tower and the better to avoid suspicion took my Boy with me this being the first time of his going there I went up stairs to Lord Powis by his Order and after much discourse about the Opinions I met with in Coffee-Houses with his Lordship in the Dining-Room he bid me follow him which I did into his Lordships Bed-Chamber where his Lordship also Discoursed me about my thoughts of the times and asked if I had any hope of alteration I Answered yes if the Design took such effect as I wisht it might then from the Window at the farther side of the Bed came the Lord Arundel who as I suppose had been reading a Pamphlet there or some such Book they both discoursed me above half an hour and asked If I had seen the five good men meaning the five Jesuits and Mr. Langhorn Executed I answered Yes and told them They all Died with so much constancy and courage as much amazed the Spectators in general and my self in particular who had been commanded by the Countess to go and see them die that from their Sufferings I might take the more resolution and become better setled in Matters of Religion Their Design in this was to make me espouse the Cause with the greater Zeal and certainly had I followed their Lordships Orders I had run a great hazard of suffering Martyrdom as well as they But I thank God for having by his Providence delivered me from that Destruction and I hope preserved me for better Work than I had foolishly engaged my self in Then the Lord Arundel began to discourse of Business more closely and demanded If I would do any thing to make my Fortune I answer'd Yes tho' I thought I had done enough for that already but it seems his Lordship was of another mind I would do any thing Well then said he Will you venture to Kill the King for a good Reward At that I stood amazed and my Countenance altered insomuch that his Lordship took notice of it and after I was gon told my Lord Powis I had a great deal of Grace in regard of my Blushing which seemed strange to his Lordship who used to converse I suppose with persons that could both talk of and contrive ways how to Murder Kings without Blushing My Lord said I I suppose your Lordship is but in jest No said he I am in earnest and repeated his Question I was amazed still and knew not what to say For I began to be afraid of my own Life if I should utterly reject the Proposal and at last made answer That to serve them I was willing to be the death of any person whosoever but the King and his Royal Highness When he press'd it upon me the third time I desir'd time to consider then said Lord Powis who was present all the time No no come Lord Arundel only does this to try you And pray my Lord Arundel said he what is it worth or what would you give him for doing it 'T is worth said Lord Arundel 2000 l. No more said Lord Powis Pish away if he will kill my Lord Shaftsbury he shall have 500 l. for his Reward All this while I stood mute not knowing what to say finding their Designs so bloody but at length I enquired Why they desired the Lord Shaftsbury's Life and how he might be dispatch'd they both replied The thing would be easie enough For said Lord Powis my Man Wood was there two Nights since upon pretence of an Errand but his business was to view the House and observe what convenience there was for making an Escape after the Fact done he said moreover That Wood found the thing so feasible that after he came back he said he was very sorry he had not been provided to have done it then And the reason said he why we should be glad to have him out of the way is because we take for granted if we were rid of him as they were of Sir Edm. Godfrey we should find it no hard matter to bear down all the rest of our Opposers After this with much persuasion I promised to undertake the Murthering of the Earl of Shaftsbury then Lord President of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council and immediately to perfect the Bargain Lord Powis took me by the hand and gave me Ten Guineys in earnest and wish'd me good Success but expresly commanded me not to stir in it till farther order but told me one Mr. Reagaut a Virginia Merchant of Mrs. Cellier's acquaintance should come the Sunday following to Mrs. Cellier's House to advise with me about the most dextrous way of putting the Design in Execution and to secure the Payment of the 500 l. Upon which I took my leave and went thither no more as I remember leaving the two Lords together who I believe were more concern'd at my rejecting my Lord Arundel's Proposal of killing the King than pleas'd with my embracing the Overture made by them both of Murthering the Earl of Shaftsbury and I believe some persons were employed to watch which way and whither I went from the Tower for they could not chuse but be jealous of me in regard my Colour went and came so often The next day I went to wait on the Lord Castlemain whom I found in his Study writing the Compendium and I had time to read some part of a Paragraph as it lay before him on the Table before he spoke to me at last rising in a hasty posture and casting an angry look upon me Why were you so unwilling said he to do what you were taken out of Prison for
declared himself a Papist At which words I cryed out Did not I tell you these were Treasonable Papers They ought to be secured and the person whose Chamber this is if he had been here and carryed either before the Council or a Secretary of State Stretch also Swore these to be the same Papers that were taken from behind the Beds-head and that he did verily believe they were put there by me It being late and the Council rising Mr. Justice Warcup took Bail for me to appear the next day at Four in the Afternoon Friday October 24 Afternoon at the Council Board The Council being met Mr. Mansel put in his Petition That the rest of his Witnesses might be heard upon which His Majesty was pleased to Order the Cause to be heard the next Council-Day Then I moved that till then I might be Bailed the King in Council Ordered that I should be taken into the Messengers Custody with which Order the Messenger acquainted me I stormed and said I was confident there was no such Order for I knew there were those persons that would not suffer me to be so treated But the Messenger insisted upon his Order and demanded my Sword which I refused to deliver but to another Messenger then I was conducted to the Messengers House But before my departure thence I did endeavour to prevail with Col. Warcup by offer of a reward to Bail me a third time desponding of my success in that ill affair but Mr. Justice refused my impertinent offer The Council that Night after a short Recess sate again And His Majesty was graciously pleased to appoint the business to be heard on Monday following at Four a Clock in the Afternoon And then I moved that Mansel might be Committed likewise but the Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor opposed the motion and so it fell Monday October 27. 1679. At the Council-Board About Five or Six of the Clock in the Afternoon Mr. Mansel and I were called in where after a short Repetition of the Charge against Mansel which was grounded upon those Papers I prepared to make my defence having received fresh instructions how to manage it and addressed my self to His Majesty affirming That there were in all Sixteen Papers found in his Chamber and desired to know what was become of all the rest besides those Nine And likewise what was done with the Box of Treasonable printed Pamphlets and two or three hundred Letters Adding that Mansel had got together a Company of Witnesses to disparage the Kings Evidence and to palliate his own Treasonable practices then I desired I might have leave to ask him some Questions which being granted I proceeded thus First Whether he did not frequent a Club held at one Streets House a Chandler in Westminster Market Secondly Whether he did not know one Disney Grange England Lisle and one Captain Brown Thirdly Whether he did not bring into that Club one Night a Scandalous Pamphlet called A Word without Doors and there publickly read it And Fourthly Whether after he had read it he did not utter Seditious words against his Royal Highness Mansel owned that he knew many of the Gentlemen that I had named but that they were all very honest Gentlemen and good Subjects and all of them Inhabitants in Westminster saving only Captain Brown who had been Lieutenant to Major Russel's Troop of Horse in his Royal Highnesses Regiment But all Treasonable Discourse with them or any other he did utterly disavow and was thereupon commanded to call the rest of his Witnesses Mr. Harris and Mrs. Harris first appeared who Witnessed as before that there were not Sixteen Papers but Nine only Bostock testified the same thing and further That these Papers then before the Honourable Board were the same Papers found behind the Beds-head and that he did verily believe I had placed them there Stretch being sick did not appear but his Depositions were read tending to the same effect Then Bedford was called in who gave a full relation how I came to him on Tuesday Night before to desire him to Lodge with me at some new Lodgings that I had lately taken He confirmed the Evidence of Mrs. Harris and the rest as to the manner of searching the Chamber and finding the Papers Adding further That he went to Mr. Celliers House to speak with me and told me what an ill thing I had done and how I had not only injured Mr. Mansel but himself by engaging him in so vile a business which now was so clearly laid open And therefore desired me to discover the whole truth to him and who had put me upon it To which I replyed not caring to enter into discourse with one who I knew had given Testimony against me That I doubted not but to come off for the Greatest man in England had ingaged me in it That he asked me whom I meant whether I meant the King To which I made no answer That he further told me he understood I held Correspondence with the Lord Powis in the Tower and that he had seen the Lady Powis her Coach the Saturday before standing before my Lodgings D'oiley was the next Witness that was called in who Deposed That he had prosecuted me at two several Sessions held in the Old Bayly for uttering false Guineys I was askt what I could say to that and answered That indeed I had been twice prosecuted there by D'oiley but all was out of pure malice I confessed that I had been Fined fifty pounds for the first offence and had obtained His Majesties Gracious Pardon but was acquitted the second time so that I hoped those matters would not be remembred against me now The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex demanding of me Who had sollicited His Majesty for my Pardon I answered Captain Richardson Afterwards John Cook my Boy was examined who testified That he was sent with a Message and a Note from me when I was in the Messengers hand to Mrs. Cellier desiring her to acquaint the said Lord Powis that I was taken in Custody for the old business that he knew of That two Months since I had lodged in the Lord Powis his house in Queen-street That he had several times waited on me to the Lord Powis his Lodgings in the Tower which he described to be in the Mint That he had rode behind the Coach to attend me thither That he had several times carried Letters or Papers from me to the said Lord Powis and brought me Answers back And lastly That the Lady Powis had several times been at Mrs. Cellier's and that particularly on Saturday was sevennight the said Lady had been alone with me in a lower Room in private Discourse above half an hour The Lord Chancellor was then pleased to ask me Whether I had been at the Lord Shaftsbury ' s To which I answered That I had been several times with him and had discoursed with his Lordship And I there repeated part of what passed betwixt us To which
the Plot and that it was there hatched by them and that I had Lodgings at Mrs. Celliers and lamented once unto him my wanting of Twenty Pound for some great design that I had been at the Lord Clarendon's whom I complained of as a Dilatory man That I asked Bedford if at their being together in Cliffords-Inn-Garden he did not receive from me a Gift of forty shillings and if I did not discourse to him so and so concerning the D. of York and the D. of Lauderdale and about Scotland and touching three hundred Horse that were to be raised by Sir VVilliam VValler Bedford denyed any Gift of forty shillings in the Garden but that he borrowed forty shillings at two other times That he never spake to me of either of these Dukes or of Scotland And as to the three hundred Horse he said he had given an account of it to a Minister of State I replyed That as to this of the three hundred Horse he spoke it also to Mr. Stanford the D. of Newburgh's Agent who if called upon was able to testifie the same Mr. Justice VVarcup coming in acquainted the Board that Mr. Cellier and his Son-in-Law Blazedale the Apothecary did both attend and that there were yet wanting the Examinations of some of their servants Upon which the Lord President directed him to take those Examinations Blasden called in and Sworn said That Margaret brought him a Note for Opium to cause Rest but he refusing to follow that Direction he mixed somthing that was less Dangerous which the Maid afterwards told him signified nothing and therefore ordered him to mix somwhat a great deal stronger Mr. Cellier being asked about the Paper of the Nativity saith He read it not himself but that his Daughter read it to him He remembred only somthing of Prophesie or a Man's Fortune That there were in it the words Horoscope Venus Mercury c. That the Man should be Hang'd at last but he knew no more of it or of whom it was but that he burned the Paper and Owned That he was a Roman Catholick and a French Merchant But Mr. Blasden in whose House the Paper was read said It set forth How that his Adventures should be very various and that he should come before some Judge and be in Danger in a Sea-Fight Then I asked Cellier if he did not remember when in the presence of his Wife I said I was then come from my Lord Shaftsbury This he deny'd and also that he heard any Discourse extraordinary between me and Rigaut but that Rigaut had been twice at his House and that I and he played at some Game together He denied also that he saw any Dagger in his House or that ever any was hid under his Beds-side He acknowledged to have seen the Lady Powis at his House but not six times in all But Mr. Blasden said He had seen her Ladiships Coach a dozen times which he could see plain from his Shop but did not remember to have seen her Ladiship go into Mr. Cellier's above twice The Lord Peterborough was called in and having been told what was Objected against him as having encouraged me at his Lordship's House to go again to the Lord Shaftsbury and to be sure to Dispatch him the third time His Lordship flatly denied any such thing and then in a large Discourse appealed to the known Method of his Life and Conversation his Constant Services to the Crown and how little he had been concern'd in this Matter as being known by all Good men not to be capable of such a Thing That as to the Earl of Shaftsbury he came lately Over with great Expectation of his aid and favour in Parliament touching an unhappy Difference arisen with a great Ally meaning his Son-in-law's Father And that the Earl of Shaftsbury had already testified so much Countenance in this matter that he came over full of Inclinations to do that Lord greater Services than he can well express That before his Daughter was disposed of in Marriage a very Noble Lady the Lady Powis who had testified very great Inclinations to have her Married to her Ladiship 's Nephew upon which Obligation he then grew Intimate with the said Lady and being a Person that is not wont to forget his Friends in their Afflictions had often gone to that Lady to give her the best Comfort he could That waiting on her Ladiship when he came lately from Flanders she recommended to him just at parting a very Charitable Woman one Mrs. Cellier unto whom the late Dutchess of Tork was a Debtor in 5 or 600 l. That his Lordship being one of the Duke's Commissioners did promise to further her Business That in further Recommendation of this Woman the Lady added That she was a great Servant to the Duke and also to the King And also being a Woman of great Understanding and getting Acquaintance by her Opportunity of being a Midwife into many considerable Families she had wrought about several Incensed Persons to be of better Principles and Inclinations both to the King and the Duke And more particularly that this Woman had now found out a Man who was very able to discover any dangerous Practices against the King That Mrs. Cellier came soon after to his Lodgings that she gave a great Character of one Willoughby who had much improved himself abroad in the Service of the Prince of Orange and under the Duke de Villa Hermosa that this man coming over and resorting to the Coffee-Houses was much Suprized at the Rebellious discourses that he heard but that concealing his thoughts he grew Familiar with the most Mutinous who liked him so well that they carried him to their Clubs and private meetings and being admitted to their Secrets he found that great and dangerous things were preparing against the Parliament That she desired his Lordship but to procure a Warrant for making a Search and that all the whole matter would be Plainly discovered but she desired that this Warrant might be obtained without the King's knowledge That of all this Information his Lordship gave an Account to the Duke who refused to have any thing acted therein without the King's knowledge That I came with Mrs. Cellier to his Lodgings where the Duke saw me and I was afterwards handed to the King That when I came afterwards to his Lordship I mentioned the difficulty of getting a Warrant and Complaining of want of zeal in the King's Ministers I said I would yet do my business without a Warrant and by the Custom-house way That as concerning my Lord Shaftsbury I told him that there was some Woman about the Duke that Writ to the Earl of Shaftsbury all the dangerous things she could Invent and to make proof of this came afterwards to shew two Letters which his Lordship presently saw were Written in Sir Richard Bolstrode's hand and contained nothing touching the Duke but such matters of Common Intelligence from Brussels as he himself or any other man might