upon the Scots and us too that he had laid out a parcel of Money for Arms and that he could not get it again which I told Ferguson when I saw him but he said he should have it Some time after I met him in Lineolâ—s-Inne-Fields and he told me that he had a Note to one Major Wildman for the Money and that he 'd go for it next Morning which he did but the Major was gone out of Town Some time after I went to Mr. Owen's in Bloomsbury where Ferguson then Lodged and there I asked him about West's Money he told me he had given it himself for that it was sent to him just before Mr. West came in and he had given it him On Monday they met at Captain Tracy's Mr. West gave a Note to one Tottle to go to the Gunsmith to fetch the Arms he had bought lest they should be found there and carry them with him to one of the Plantations I think New York which Tottle did then profer if they would push for it he would not go his Voyage though I think he said his Ship was at Gravesend nor would he come alone but undertake for a Hundred Sea-men and others presently The persons that used to come to Ferguson were Sir Thomas Armstrong very often sometimes two or three times a day Colonel Romzey Captain Walcot Mr. Wade Mr. Norton Richard Goodenough Richard Nelthrop Mr. West Mr. Charleton with a wooden Leg Mr. Iohn Freak Mr. Blaney once or twice Mr. Thomas Shepard Merchant Sir Robert Rich Iohn Starkey Mr. Baily a Scotch-man and Sir Camel and a great many more of his Country-men and several from Wapping all whom I know when I see also Mr. Iohn Ayloff used to come when he was in Town Ferguson told me of a certain person of Quality in that part of Ireland next Scotland that could raise Twenty thousand Men and that he had promised it I asked his Name but he would not tell me he told me it was Aaron Smith was sent to Scotland about this business and that he had like to have spoiled all but that the person to whom he carried the Letter went to the Council and shewed them a Letter he had about some business of Carolina and asked leave to come to London about it and so got off this suspition Zec. Bourne Iuly the 6th 1683. Zec. Bourne's further Information THat Mr. Baily the Scoth-man sate up one night with Mr. Ferguson and he went several times with him to the Duke and the other Lords that Ferguson Lodged at several places a few nights at a time and so to my House again at one Mr. Bickerstaff a Sword-Cutler in Covent-Garden at a German Doctors at the Green Posts in St. Martins-Lane and Mr. Owens in King-street in Bloomsbury That we met at the Salutation in Lombard-street by the perswasion of Captain Walcot for he said Mr. Thomas Shepard would meet us there he went out of Town every night and so could not come further that I have often carried Letters to the Exchange to Mr. Shepard from Ferguson that he used to come often to my House to him that I believe him to be the Man was to return the ten thousand pound for Ferguson told me he had a great Correspondence with several Merchants in Holland and that he did return my Lord Shaftsbury's Money when he went over That Captain Walcot would have spoke to one Mr. Collins an Anabaptist Preacher he Preaches somewhere in Moor-fields that could assist us greatly but they would not hear of it being a Parson Mr. West told me that Mr. Ayloff was at the buying the Arms in Shear-lane and if at the buying I suppose at the contriving the use for them that two or three days before the Discovery was made by Mr. Keeling thinking the business was pretty ripe Mr. Norton was desired to write to Mr. Ayloff to come to Town which he did That Ferguson desired me to tell them one night when we met that he must have a party to seize Mr. L'Estrange for he should find strange Papers and that great care must be taken to secure the Paper-Office at Whitehal Zec. Bourne THat Ferguson told me that one Mr. Owen of Grays-Inn would give a hundred pound towards the Design and further he told me that he was the Author of those two Libels viz. A Letter about the Black-Box And a Letter concerning His Majesties Declaration that as he walked in the Fields at that time the Discourse was about the Black-Box it came into his mind to write about it which he did in an Ale-House in Chancery-lane and that afterwards when His Majesties Declaration came out concerning the Duke of Monmouth he finding no body took notice of it in Print he resolved to write an Answer to that which he said he did as he lay in his Bed one Morning and further told me he got one thrown on His Majesties Hat as he walked on the Tarras Walk at Windsor and another laid under his Pillar but would not tell me who it was had so disposed of them two for him and farther told me that the Duke of Monmouth gave him fifty Guinies for that piece of service and so hath done every year since Mr. Bethel that was Sheriff of London was once at my House with Ferguson and had some private Discourse with him Zec. Bourne The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant upon further Recollection saith That at the Meetings for carrying on the Assassination of the King and Duke it was resolved that Sir Iohn Moor the late Lord Mayor of London should be killed as well as the present Lord Mayor and Sheriffs and that if the people did not pull him in pieces his Skin should be stead off and stuft and hung up in Guild-Hall as one who betrayed the Rights and Priviledges of the City And it was further resolved that Mr. Papillion and Mr. Dubois should be declared Sheriffs and Sir Thomas Gold or Alderman Cornish but this Examinant thinks Alderman Cornish was pitch'd on as the brisker Man to be Lord Mayor and that they should be forced to take those Offices upon them and if they refused should be knocked on the head And Sin Robert Clayton and Sir Patience Ward who had behaved themselves like Trimmers in their Mayoralty and neglected to repeal several By-Laws whereby they might have prevented Sir Iohn Moor from being Lord Mayor should be forced to appear publickly and own the fact or else be knockt on the Head And it was further proposed that most of the Judges should be killed or brought to Tryal for their Arbitrary Judgments and their Skins stuft and hung up in Westminster-Hall It was further said by Colonel Rumzey to the best of this Examinants remembrance that though he was not for shedding much blood there would be a necessity of taking off some of the chief Abhorrers and Addressers in most Counties otherwise they would be making head but this
New-Iersey And this Examinant further saith that Richard Goodenough told this Examinant that he had spoken to one Mr. Grange a Brewer in Westminster to try what Men could be Raised in Westminster for carrying on the last Design of Raising three thousand Men out of the City and Subburbs and also spoken to one Barnes a Hatter in Fleetstreet to try what Men might be raised thereabouts but this Examinant never spake to either of the said Parties about it neither doth this Examinant know nor hath heard what other Persons were employed by Goodenough or any other Person in that Design and further saith not Rob. West The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant upon further Recollection saith that when the Insurrection intended in November last was resolved on and Walcot agreed to engage in it the said Walcot desired this Examinant to lend him some of this Examinant's Suit of Silk Armour viz. a Back Breast and Head piece and afterward asked this Examinant to take some Command of Horse under him and to engage some young Men of the Temple telling this Examinant he could make this Examinant a sufficient Officer in two or three days time but this Examinant refused to engage himself or his Friends either though he offered the said Walcot the use of his Armour And this Examinant further saith That when the Arms in his former Examinations mentioned were ordered to be bespoke it was also proposed that Ferguson should provide the 600 l. he pretended to have ready for that purpose to buy Horses which should be kept at Livery-Stables in the names of private Gentlemen and be always in a readiness to be made use of as an opportunity for any Assassination or other Occasion should offer and the night or two before they were to be used should seemingly be brought out of the Livery-Stables by men to be employed for that purpose but Ferguson not bringing the Money no Horses were bought And this Examinant further saith That after the Treaty with the Sctos seemed to be at an end and the 10000 l. not like to be had Ferguson told this Examinant that the Duke of Monmouth was willing to speak with this Examinant and Goodenough to consider what ought to be done in the City and Suburbs and to leave the Lords and other people by which this Examinant supposes he meant the Lords Grey and Russel Sidney and Wildman but this Examinant refused to go to the Duke or to Sir Thomas Armstrong and knows not whether Goodenough went to the Duke though he did go to Armstrong And Ferguson likewise told told this Examinant That if the English would not agree to stir it was his opinion and the opinion of many of the Duke's Friends and of the Scotch Gentlemen that were here that the Duke should go to Scotland and head the Scots there whereupon Mr. Wade who was then present said If the Duke did go thither he would wait upon him in the Expedition as a Voluntier And this Examinant further saith That at some Meeting for the carrying on the intended Assassination Ferguson said the King went frequently in the night cross St. Iames's Park in a Chair without any Attendance and that it would be easie for Two Men with Swords barely to dispatch him and make their Escape whereupon Colonel Romzey said it was a strange thing to him that the great Men who were so desirous to have the business done should not make a Purse and buy some good Office at Court for some Man whom they could trust who should roar loud of the Duke of Monmouth and the Wiggs and by that means get into reputation and trust and should observe and give an account of the King 's and Duke's Walks and Hours and any Journeys they designed and the said Colonel said he had told Armstrong so and bad him tell his Lords And this Examinant further saith that about the time the Insurrection intended in November last was carrying on this Examinant observed the Lord Howard of Escrick and Walcot to be very intimate and often together and the said Walcot told this Examinant that the Lord Howard was as right as any Man for the business and as forward to engage but this Examinant doth not remember that he ever spoke with the Lord Howard himself about that Insurrection And further saith Mr Roe told this Examinant that Gibbons the Duke of Monmouth's Servant offered to be one to commit the Assassination of the King and Duke And further saith not Rob. West The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant further saith That after Ferguson had told this Examinant that a Sum of Money for carrying on the Assassination of the King and Duke in October last was paid to a certain Person who never returned it of which the Lord Shaftsbury complained The said Ferguson at another time a little before the Discovery told this Examinant that Richard Goodenough was the person to whom that Money was paid and that he called Ferguson Fool for returning some Money he had received for the same purpose and Colonel Romzey told this Examinant that Mr. Charleton paid that Money And this Examinant further saith that when Mr. Goodenough told this Examinant that he would speak to Hone the Joyner to be one of the Assassinates he said he would first try him whether he would undertake an Attempt upon the Duke of York before he would break the whole Business to him and as he found him willing to that he would proceed And this Examinant believes Mr. Goodenough did accordingly for that the said Hone coming to this Examinants Chamber soon after and being asked by this Examinant whether he had lately seen Mr. Goodenough The said Hone answered he had and talked with him about a Jobb upon the Duke of York And this Examinant asking him whether they were agreed Hone replyed yes but this Examinant doth not remember that Hone then mentioned the King or any Name or description implying the King And about five or six weeks since the said Hone came to this Examinants chamber about a small alteration this Examinant designing to make in his Chamber and then the said Hone asked this Examinant Master will nothing be done To which this Examinant answering he believed not the said Hone replyed if this Duke of Monmouth would be true and appear openly I could bring fifty or sixty honest Fellows from our side of the Water meaning Southwark who would be ready for business as well as my self and this Examinant asking him what business Hone replyed any business either a brisk push by which this Examinant supposed he meant a General Insurrection or the other Trick or Jobb of taking off the two Brothers the Captain and Lieutenant which were two Names used for the King and Duke And this Examinant further saith that when the Discourse was had concerning the Killing the Ministers of State Colonel Romzey said the Lord Halifax
precisely set down the time that he was there last To the two Articles relating to the Lords that were in company at Mr. Shepards his Lordship answers that he went thither with the Duke of Monmouth but as to the rest of the persons then present his Lordship conceives that he ought not to answer because there were ill Constructions made of that Meeting nor cannot positively remember His Lordship answers There was no discourse as he remembers concerning any Rising in the West or any parts of the West or at Taunton nor particularly of Mr. Iohn Trenchards Undertaking nor any discourse about Mr. Iohn Trenchard as he remembers His Lordship answers there was no Discourse at Mr. Shepards about surprizing the Guards nor of the Duke of Monmouth's my Lord Grey's nor of Sir Thomas Armstrong's Undertaking to view the Guards nor was there any account there given by the said persons of their having viewed the Guards nor how they found them Nor was there any such Undertaking elsewhere to his knowledge To the question what Mr. Ferguson did say at any of those Meetings his Lordship answers that he cannot tell what Mr. Ferguson did say there nor doth he own that Mr. Ferguson was there His Lordship knows of no Design for a Rising in Scotland nor knows any thing of the whole Article relating to Scotland nor any part of it His Lordship hath heard general discourses of many distressed people Ministers and others of the Scottish Nation that were fled and that it were great Charity to relieve them This Examination was taken the 28th day of Iune 1683. before Us L. Ienkins I. Ernle R. Sawyer H. Finch Notes of some things Confessed before His Majesty and the Council taken out of the Books of Minutes JOhn Rouse consest that Money was Collected in the City at the intimation or desire of some Parliament Men for the Kings Evidence that receiving that Money for that purpose from some of them he sent it to those Persons for whom it was design'd Bourn Confesses That Sir Thomas Armstrong used to come every day to Ferguson when he lay at his House that he has seen him since the discovery when Armstrong urged him to get some friends together to make a push and that it was better to dye with Swords in their hands Walcot Confesses That Aaron Smith was sent into Scotland by those Gentlemen that transacted the matter Bourn says That Ferguson Lodged at his Fathers House a Month or six Weeks That he left no Papers in his House and used to say he would never be hanged for Papers Shepard says Bayly told him Charlton had undertaken to raise the whole 10000 l. Romzey says The Lord Russel was about going away from Shepard's when he arrived there and that his Lordship said Trenchard was a Coward and that he would go down himself and begin the Rising Charlton confesses He had paid Oates 80 l. per quarter for his subsistance of which he had but 10. l. of my Lord Shaftsbury and was himself the rest out of Purse but that he was told a Parliament would reimburse him Shepard says That Ferguson and Bayly told him that Charlton would procure the 10000 l. himself and raise it upon a Mortgage Charlton further says He paid Oates about 400 l. in all The Information of John Rouse taken at his desire in Newgate the 19th of July 1683. THe Informant saith That the design of the Rebellion and seizing the King was begun by the Earl of Shaftsbury at his House in Aldersgate-street before the meeting of the Parliament at Oxford where the Duke of Monmouth Sir Thomas Armstrong Lord Russel Lord Grey Major Manly a Brewer at Whitechappel and others whom he saw there and as he was told likewise by his Servants frequently met there the foundation of all the Scurrilous Libels was laid particularly that of the Raree-shew That all those Clubs at Mile-end-green the Sun behind the Exchange at Russel's in Iron-Monger-lane and at the Salutation in Lumbard-street were to carry on that Design he cannot recollect all names but declares that he knows all those of Note that were at those Clubs were thoroughly acquainted with the Design These Clubs were divided into three Factions by reason of which division the Informant saith the Design went on so flow as it did and at last it fell between the Duke of Monmouth and a Common-wealth and the greater number carried it for the Duke of Monmouth because it was found upon his going into the West Châ—chester and Cheshire the vogue of the people went for him Those that were for a Common-wealth were absolutely resolved to have nothing to do with the Race of the Stuart's but they pitcht upon Richard Cromwel whom this Informant knows to be in England The longest day that was appointed for execution of this was at Midsummer-day last when the people should be at Guild-hall chosing Sheriffs Five hundred Horse were promised to be sent in from the Country who were to seize the Guards The pretence of the Conspirators was to secure His Majesty from being killed by the Papists that if he would not comply with His Parliament at Oxford then to set up the Duke of Monmouth That this was long design'd likewise before the meeting at Oxford The Informant saith That it was resolved by the Conspirators that when they should have accomplisht their Design and that the Tower and City of London was seized then they were to go to Whitehal and demand their Priviledges and Freedoms with their Swords in their hands He hath been present at many of these Clubs where these Designs have been consulted of and all the persons of any note Commons as well as Lords were consenting to the Conspiracy he saith he can prove it by many Witnesses He saith my Lord Shaftsbury and Oates were the Principal movers in all this business A particular Account of the Situation of the Rye-House THe Rye-House in Hartfordshire about eighteen Miles from London is so called from the Rye a Meadow near it Just under it there is a By-road from Bishops-Strafford to Hoddesden which was constantly used by the King when he went to or from Newmarket the great Road winding much about on the Right-hand by Stansted The House is an Old Strong Building and stands alone encompass'd with a Mote and towards the Garden has high Walls so that Twenty Men might easily defend it for some time against Five hundred From a high Tower in the House all that go or come may be seen both ways for near a Mile distance As you come from Newmarket towards London when you are near the House you pass the Meadow over a narrow Caus-way at the end of which is a Toll-gate which having Entred you go through a Yard and a little Field and at the end of that through another Gate you pass into a narrow Lane where two Coaches at that time could not go a-breast This narrow Passage had on the Left hand a thick Hedge and a Ditch on
any of her Letters As to the long Letter marked Numb 3. he protests he cannot Decipher it nor can positively say for whom it was to have been directed yet thinks it was to have been carried by Castarres to Fergusn and by him to the chief men concerned in the Design Upon inquiring what is become of the parcel of Books which are the Printed Case of the Earl of Argile and in what method they were brought over from Holland he confessed that they had been shipped on board of a Vessel called to the best of his memory the Success of Colchester bound for London and that Spence was afterwards to come in the Passage Boat designed to have come to Graves-end but that the wind having been very cross he came on shoar at or somewhat near Harwich from whence he came by Land to London Upon asking what was meant by the Figures 80 and 81 in the Letters marked Numb 5. he said he did not well remember but when I told him that I knew by the Cypher Money was meant by 50 and Officers by 51. he confessed that it was so whereupon I did observe to him that as the late Earl was to have had Money so he was to have been furnished with Officers for the carrying on the Rebellion in Scotland which also he confessed but said withal that this Letter was intended for his Lady which he knew by a mark on the back and shewed it to me The Examination of Robert Blaney of the Middle Temple Esq 29 June 83. THis Examinant Deposeth and saith That this Deponent was invited about Christmas last on Wednesday the 27th day of December last as near as he can remember by Iohn Row late Sword-bearer of the City of Bristol to Dine with Collonel Iohn Rumzey at his House in Soho Square where were present the said Colonel Romzey Robert West Richard Goodenough Ioseph Tyley of Lincolns Inn Esq Christopher Battiscomb Gent. and the said Iohn Row and this Examinant where being together after dinner and much Wine and other strong drink drank in the said company a Discourse was began but by whom this Examinant cannot remember about the times being very bad and dangerous for Sober Men and what Remedies were fit to redress Grievances and rid our selves of Arbitrary Power or to that effect and it was there likewise discoursed and said but by whom in particular this Examinant cannot exactly remember it being so long since that we should never be well till we were rid of two people by whom as this Examinant did apprehend were meant His Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of York And it was likewise said That if the Great People did but agree to Joyn and Rise or words to that effect it might be done for the Countries were all willing and ready then as this Examinant doth remember by some one it was in the said company proposed and as he verily believes by the said Mr. West that either a Deed of Bargain and Sale or Lease and Release one of them it was should be executed to bar both Him in Possession and Him in Remainder by which as this Examinant did then apprehend was meant the taking off His Majesty and his Royal Highness and so he believes the rest of the said company did also And a glass of Wine did pass round the said Table as a Health to the Executing of the said Bargain and Sale or Lease and Release which he cannot tell but one oâ— them it was And this Examinant further saith that he never was present at any other Consultation with the before-named persons or any others about the Death of the King or his Royal Highness or the raising of any Rebellion that this Examinant can remember except that being very frequently as a familiar Acquaintance with the said Mr. West he hath often asked him and the said Colonel Rumzey whether the great Men would do any thing and whether any business would be done or he used words to that effect but they did constantly as this Examinant remembers answer him No that nothing would be done and the said Colonel Rumzey seemed as this Examinant did apprehend to be very shy of him this Examinant and much like Discourse this Examinant hath had with the said Goodenoughs but never was as he remembers acquainted with the prosecution or particulars of such a Design in the least And one Nathaniel Wade also this Examinant hath had some such Discourse with about freeing our selves from Arbitrary Power and Popery by a general Rising but any particular ways and methods for the same or otherwise this Examinant never knew of or was privy to And further at present this Deponent cannot recollect Robert Blaney 29 Jun. 83. Iurat coram me L. JENKINS The further Examination of Robert Blaney July 1. 83. WHo saith That he saw Ferguson since the Earl of Shaftsburies death in the House of one Bourne a Brewer living in Queen-street over against the Lord Keepers that it was about a quarter of a year since that Ferguson was in a Night-gown and therefore he believes he lay in that House that the Discourse they had was about the Earl of Shaftsbury and his death This Examinant saith that about three weeks after the Earl of Shaftsbury had concealed himself he saw him at a Merchants House whose name he remembers not but the House is in Woodstreet near St. Albans Church the corner House having a little Yard before it next door to a House that was one Mr. Biddolphs He saith he knows nothing of the manner of the Earl of Shaftsburies Escape nor of Fergusons nor knows no other places but the above-mentioned where either of them were at any time concealed He remembers that he was twice or thrice at the Sign of the Sugar-loaf near the Devil Tavern with Ferguson and once with another person who he thinks was young Shute about the time the Earl of Shaftsbury absented himself but that Ferguson was not then disguised but in the Habit he used commonly to wear which was a Russet colour Campane Coat and a brown short Perewig Thomas Lee Dyer of Old-street his Confession 1 and 2 July 1685. I Having been often in the Company of Mr. Iohn Atherton he told me about May last that Mr. Goodenough must speak with me and Mr. William Thomas We went to the Salutation Tavern in Lumbard-street Mr. Goodenough came to tell us and then drew out some Papers but I saw not what was in them and there told us that our Rights and Priviledges were Invaded and that some Gentlemen had taken into consideration how to retrieve them or words to that effect and did then ask us whether we were willing to assist and then told us that the City and Suburbs were divided into Twenty parts and did desire us to see what men we could get and told us that we must discourse with them about a Forreign Invasion at first and if that took then we might know of them whether they would