them that supposing they should effect what they talked of it could not be expected that if the Duke of Monmouth should be Crowned but in Honour and for his own Vindication he must search out the Assassins and both Try and Execute them So that instead of expecting a Reward they must lose their Lives upon which they ceased their Discourse and went away soon after Some time after this Mr. Ferguson told me of a general Insurrection intended both in England and Scotland and in order to it that Sir Iohn Cochran Mr. Bayly Mr. Monro Sir Hugh and Sir George Cambell were come up to Treat with some of our English Men about it and that the Lord of Argile had made a Proposition That if they would Raise him Thirty Thousand pounds he would begin it in Scotland but finding no hopes of Raising that Sum the Scotch were willing to accept of Ten Thousand pounds And by means of a Letter which came as I was informed for there was no Name subscribed from one Mr. Stewart to some unknown Man which I have forgot Concluding then that it was intended to Mr. Bayly or some other of those Gentlemen having had some small acquaintance with Mr. Stewart formerly by means of his Brother who was then a Merchant in Burdeaux and one of my Correspondents I came acquainted with Mr. Bayly who told me from time to time what steps they made in 't how he Conversed with the Duke Lord Russel Major W. and as I remember Colonel Sidney and that he had divers promises of the Money and desired it might be paid into my Hands at length he told me that Five Thousand pounds they had agreed to Raise amongst themselves and that they expected the other half should be Raised in the City but finding no Monies could be got in the City that Project fell likewise and as Mr. Bayly told me all his Country-men were going beyond Sea A few days after came out the Discovery and I never saw any of them since Mr. Ferguson told me that my Lord Essex was hearty in this business and that Iohn Trenchard was a Man to be depended upon in the West They had likewise good hopes of Sir William Courtney and that my Lord Shaftsbury had sent Captain Walcot down to him who returned with a very cool Answer that he found them not what he expected but believed if it came to a Rising they would prove right enough I had almost forgot to acquaint your Majesty that both Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Bayly told me That Mr. Charleton had once promised to see the Ten Thousand pound paid Thomas Shepard Iurat coram Me June 27. 1683. SUNDERLAND The Information of Joseph How of the Parish of St. Giles's without Cripple-gate in the County aforesaid Distiller taken upon Oath before Sir Reginald Forester Baronet this 15th day of June 1683. against Thomas Lea of Old-street in the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid Dyer for speaking of Dangerous and Seditious Words THis Informant Deposeth and sayeth That the said Thomas Lea being at his House in White-Cross-street on Thursday last between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon being the 14th of this instant Iune The said Thomas Lea was discoursing with him this Informant about the loss of the City Charter and other things upon which the said Thomas Lea fell into a Passion and told this Informant that he was one of the number of Ten Thousand Men which were designed to be ready at an hours warning and in Order thereunto there was Twenty Thousand pounds in Bank to carry on the Undertaking and many more did every day subscribe mony or engage their personal assistance And the first enterprize they venture upon is to go very near Windsor and for to seize the Black-Bird and the Gold-Finch and that Three Hundred Men were designed for that Enterprize And afterwards to seize the Militia Whitehal and the Tower But this Informant answered that he judged it impossible the Tower being now so very Strong but the said Thomas Lea told him that he had been round the Tower in Company with a Captain of a Ship and had found out a place where a breach might be made which is to be done by placing some Ships on the Thames side with Mortar Pieces therein to dismount the Guns and also to bring the Major part of those Seamen which were in Arrears of Pay to perform the work they being angry and in want therefore the fitter for that purpose And that for the better carrying of the Design several Meetings are held as this day for one at the Kings-head Tavern in Athist-Ally near the Royal Exchange at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon Further Informeth not Ioseph How Regin Forester June 25 1683. The Examination of Colonel John Romsey THis Examinant saith That in October or November last there was an Insurrection intended by the Earl of Shaftsbury and That the said Earl of Shaftsbury told this Examinant that Bristol was to be his Post and the Examinant being asked what Persons of Quality or Capacity to Command as Officers were named as intended to take part in this Insurrection He Answered That he heard my Lord Russel named and complained of and Mr. Iohn Trenchard named by the Earl of Shaftsbury and this Examinant further saith that Row the Sword-bearer of Bristol told him That Mr. West had acquainted him the said Row that there was an intention to Assassinate the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last the Examinant doth not remember whether the Duke was there or no but that if he were he was likewise to have been killed as the said Row told this Examinant and this Examinant further saith That about the latter end of November or the beginning of December last this Examinant having Matters of Law depending became acquainted with Mr. Robert West and employed him as his Refereé therein That the said West acquainted this Examinant with the Design to Murther the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last and told this Examinant That though it miscarried at that time it was not to be given over so and therefore desired that he this Examinant Mr. Richard Goodenough and some others which he cannot charge his Memory withal should meet at his the said West's Chamber where this Examinant and they did meet within three or four days after to the best of this Examinants Remembrance and there Discoursed about the same Design and let it fall at that time and this Examinant further saith That about the Month of February last the above-said Persons met with this Examinant at the said Mr. West's Chamber to consider how the Design should be brought to effect at the Kings return from Newmarket and Mr. West and Mr. Richard Goodenough undertook to find out Men for that purpose And this Examinant further saith That about this time the said West and Goodenough did desire that this Examinant would be acquainted with Richard Rumball of the Rye near
Brother of the said Richard Rumball to whom a Paper was offered but he would not meddle In each Division there was to be one Principal Man to take to his assistance eight or nine more as he thought convenient but he Named none of them to this Informant This Informant further saith That on Thursday last he going into the Salutation-Tavern in Lumbard-street was told there were above-Stairs some Acquaintance of his he going up found the said Goodenough there together with one Wade Nelthrop and the aforesaid West all Barristers at Law they called this Deponent in Jest by the Name of Gulick and he asking them what they meant by it they told him Gulick was a brave Fellow and headed the People at Cologne and they hoped to see this Informant do the same at Wapping and they asked how their Friends did in Wapping and what Strength they could make there The Informant answered They would do well enough there and concluded they were privy to the Design In this Company was one they called Captain Walcot who went over with the Earl of Shaftsbury and came back with his Corpse as also one they called Colonel whose Name this Informant does not know This Informant further saith That the said Richard Rumball in the Conversation above-mentioned with the said Burton Thompson and Barber and this Deponent affirmed That to take off the King and the Duke would be a Keeping of one of the Ten Commandments since it would prevent a Rebellion whereby abundance of Bloud must be shed This Informant further saith That he asking West and Goodenough on the Thursday above-mentioned what Care was taken for Arms he was answered That he need not take Care of that for there was Provision already made and that the said West recommended Secrecy above all things to this Deponent otherwise the present Design miscarrying they should never be able to Retrieve it West further told this Deponent on Easter-Eve That since the Design to be executed upon the King 's Return from Newmarket had failed they intended to take the King and Duke off between Windsor and Hampton-Court Iosiah Keeling 12 Die Junii 1683. Iosiah Keeling Iuratus fuit Coram me L. JENKINS The Ioynt Information of Josiah Keeling of the Parish of St. â—utolph without Aldgate in the County of Middlesex Salter and of John Keeling of the Parish of St. Anne Black-Fryers Citizen and Turner taken the 14th of June 1683. THese Informants being in Company with Richard Goodenough this 14th day of Iune between the hours of Twelve and One at the Dolphin-Tavern behind the Exchange and the said Iosiah Keeling asking him what account he had of those Twenty Divisions that he had made of the City or to that effect He answered That he had an account of Lee a Dyer in Old-street Middlesex and that he could raise him 500 Men And the said Goodenough being asked by the said Informants where those Men should have Arms and Ammunition and also where other men that were designed to be Raised should have the like It was Replyed by the said Goodenough That there were Twenty Thousand Pounds already promised which should be had upon Demand and that the said Money was to be distributed to the Twenty Principal Undertakers proportionably to the Lists of Men they brought in or the said Goodenough Replied to that effect The said Goodenough further adding That the Duke of Monmouth and all his Friends would be concerned in raising the said Money and that the said Duke would be at the Head of the said Party which they propounded to be Four Thousand in number and that many more would quickly fall in And the said Goodenough further said that a certain Colonel whom the Informant takes to be Colonel Romsey would advance Eight Hundred or a Thousand Pounds towards Paying for Arms. And the said Goodenough further said that Wade the Counsellor of Bristol or thereabouts kept in Town two or three hundred pounds towards paying for Arms. And the said Goodenough being asked what he would Contribute towards the carrying on of the said Design he being a Rich Man he answered that he had about threescore pounds in Plate and fifty or threescore pounds in Gold and had he more it should all go to the same use And the said Iosiah asking him what Provision of Horse there was the said Goodenough answered that there were a hundred ready and Men to Mount them and if occasion be there should be more in readiness and the said Informants further say that the said Iosiah being asked by the said Goodenough what Progress he had made upon those Papers he had entrusted with him and Iosiah shewing him the Paper of Number Three which Goodenough owned to have been delivered by him to the said Iosiah with two Papers more and telling him all was well enough with us but asking him withal what we should do for Arms and Ammunition he the said Goodenough answered that if there was Faith in Men Money should not be wanting to buy Arms and Ammunition and that he was to meet this night them that were principally concerned And these Informants say that the said Iosiah being desirous to pry into the secrets of their design against the Tower propounded to the said Goodenough that a Person with the Staff of a Constable should bring in a Man bound as an offender before the Lieutenant or Major Roe and that at the same time another Person should be brought in upon the same Coulour and by that means secure the Guard at the Gate till such time that a Body of Men which was to be lodged in the Corner-house of Thames-street or the next to it should come to their help For which proposal the said Goodenough applauded the said Iosiah very much clapping him upon the back And the Informant Iosiah asking what to satisfie our People we should do for a few Arms he answered that the said Iosiah should have Money to buy them Iosiah then askt him what Gun-smith he would recommend him to adding whether he had not best deal with Mr. West's meaning Mrâ— West the Lawyer 's Gun-smith Whereto the said Goodenough answered that Gun-smith was a very honest Fellow and that he need not distrust him The said Iosiah further askt him saying you must have some Arms Are those disposed that were to be sent to Rye Whereto Goodenough answered they were not Then the said Iosiah askt him if they were at West's House or at the Gun-smiths Whereto Goodenough answered they were at the Gun-smiths who lived in Sheer-lane on the left hand as one goes from Fleet-street And the said Iosiah asking the said Goodenough whether they went on with their Design of Killing the King and the Duke between Windsor and Hampton-Court he the said Goodenough replyed No because they did not usually go together but they would do it at the Bull-Feast in Lyon fields And these Informants further say Not. Iosiah Keeling Iohn Keeling 14 Die Junii 1683. Iurati Pradicti Iohan.
Iosiah Coram me L. Jenkins The Ioint Information of Josiah Keeling of the Parish of St. Butolph without Aldgate in the County of Middlesex Salter and of John Keeling of the Parish of St. Anne Black-Fryers Citizen and Turner June the 15th 1683. THe Informants say That being in the Company of Richard Goodenough at the Sun-Tavern behind the Royal Exchange between the hours of One and Three of the Clock on the fifteenth day of this instant Iune 1683. They asked the said Goodenough what Persons of Quality would be concerned He the said Goodenough replyed That he had discoursed William Lord Russel Son to the Earl of Bedford and that the said Lord Russel told the aforesaid Goodenough that he would be concerned in it to his utmost and that he would use all his interest to accomplish the aforesaid Design of killing the King and the Duke of York And these Informants further say That asking the said Goodenough what Collonel that was that yesterday he the said Goodenough told the Informants Iosiah and Iohn would advance eight Hundred or a Thousand pound towards carrying on the Design of Killing the King and Duke he the said Goodenough Replyed it was Collonel Romzey and the Informant Iosiah asked the said Goodenough whether it was that Romsey that Married the Lady Smith and had Commanded Forces in Portugal for his Majesty i. e. the King of England he Replyed it was Witness our hands this 15th day of June 1683. JOSIAH KEELING JOHN KEELING The Information of Josiah Keeling given upon Oath at Hampton-Court the 23d of June 1683. ANd this Informant further saith That several Gentlemen viz. Mr. Roope Mr. Fitton Gerrald and Mr. Allen and one other whose Name this Informant hath forgot who as they said came to visit their honest Wapping Men that this Informant would recommend to them for such and also to Dine with them at some Tavern which was the Fortune at Wapping where was Mr. Samuel Gibbs Mr. Edmund Hunt Mr. Robert Ferguson with several other persons that this Informant doth not remember where the aforesaid Gentlemen began to drink Healths some of which were as followeth To the Man that first draws his Sword in defence of the Protestant Religion against Poperty and Slavery Another was to the Confusion of the Two Brothers Slavery and Popery and being askt what they meant as this Informant verily believeth it was replyed The Two Brothers at Whitehal The next was to the pinning of Mackinny's Head on the Monument for burning the City in 66. And this Informant asking what was meant they said it was the Duke of York And this Informant Dining at the Horse-shoe Tavern on Tower-hill with Edward Norton Esquire Mr. Starkey Mr. Ogle Mr. Goodenough and others forgot by this Informant they drank the fore-said Healths and did explain them as the afore-said Company did And this Informant further saith that Fran. Goodenough sent a Letter to this Informant by one Cherry to acquaint the said Informant That the said Goodenough would with some other Gentlemen Dine at the End of the Town where this Informant dwelleth and that this Informant would speak to such men as he could trust to meet the afore-said persons at the Siracusa House There came with the afore-said Goodenough one Iohn Row late Sword-bearer at Bristol with a Dorsetshire Gentleman whose name this Informant hath forgot also at the same Meeting was Mr. Edmund Hunt Andrew Barber William Tomson Iames Burton as this Informant verily believes with several others forgot where it was agreed we should discourse so that it might not be understood if we were over-heard Then the question was if the Foot-ball was laid down how many we might reasonably expect would come in at first Laying of it down from our end of the Town to play at it To which it was replyed it was uncertain but as many as were there would be concerned to which it was answered by Row and Goodenough if we would not in a little time kick the Ball effectually we should be made Slaves for saith Row the Lord Mayor hath imposed Sheriffs upon you and the King will take away your Charter and then you 'l be in a fine conditâ—on and Goodenough spake to the same purpose upon which Hunt replyed That he could do as much good as any body for that Foot-ball players often got broken shins and he the said Hunt could Cure them And this Informant further saith that this Discourse was grounded upon this Foundation What Men can be raised against the Church-Warden at Whitehal which was understood the King And this Informant further saith that Richard Goodenough and Richard Rumbal told this Informant that there was a Remonstrance or Declaration ready drawn up which would be â—inted against the day that this designed Commotion was to be wherein they would ease the people of Chimney Money which seemed to be most Grievous especially to the common people and that they would lay the Kings Death upon the Papists as a continued design of the former Plot. JOSIAH KEELING Copy of a Note given in by Iosiah Keeling 23d of Iune and by him received from Goodenough From the Tower Eastward on the South-side of Rosemary-Lane to Maiden-head-lane the West-side of Maiden-head-lane the North-side of Upper Shadwel Westward to new Gravel-lane the West-side of new Gravel-lane to the Thames and by the Thames to the Tower The Streets and Allies of Note within the bounds St. Katherine's East-Smithfield Ratclift-High-way Victualling-Office Butcher-Row Redcross-street Armitage Nightingale-lane Artichoack-lane Red-Mead-lane Wapping Gun-alley Cross-alley Well-alley Warners Yard Salters-alley Green Bank Gunâ—alley Pumpâ—alley Love-lane Back-alley Meeting-horse-alley Old-Gravelâ—lane Brewer's-lane Tobacco-pipe-alley Cinamon-street Crown-street Queen-street King Edwards Street King-street Carman-Rents Crown Yard Harrow-alley Seven Star-alley Garter Yard Wests Garden Blew-gate field Fleece Yard Chamberlain's-alley Frankland-street Match Walk With all other Places within the Outbounds not Named The Information of Thomas Shepard taken by the Right Honourable the Earl of Sunderland c. June the 27th 1683. SOme time before my Lord Shaftsbury went for Holland the Duke of Monmouth Lord Gray Lord Russel Sir Thomas Armstrong Colonel Romsey and Mr. Ferguson met at my House in Abchurch-lane where the subject of their Discourse was how to seize Your Majesties Guards and in Order thereunto as I afterwards at their next Meeting was informed the Duke Lord Gray and Sir Thomas Armstrong walked about that end of the Town one night and gave an account that they found them very remiss in their places not like Souldiers and that the thing provided they could have a sufficient strength was feasibly enough but finding that failed the Project was wholly laid aside so far as I know After that Mr. Ferguson told me of a Project was on foot for Destroying Your Majesty and his Royal Highness coming from Newmarket Colonel Romsey Mr. West and as I remember Mr. Wade came to my Counting-house one Evening and began to Discourse of it upon which I told
it without Suspicion Then I asked him Who the Lords were He told me There was the Duke of Monmouth Lord Grey Lord Russel and Major Wildman and Col. Sidney I told him I wondred the Duke would be perswaded to take up Arms against his Father for my part I should be very unwilling to trust him He answer'd me That he had the greatest Assurance in the World of him and that I need no more be afraid of the Duke than of him He told me The Lord Argyle who was to command the Scots was of my Opinion too for he had a few days before sent a Letter to him to be well satisfied in the Point and that he had sent him such an Answer as he did not doubt would satisfie him He told me The Duke of York had Fourteen thousand Men in half pay about the Town And for his part he thought we ought to defend our selves for we could not tell but our Throats might be cut every Night I asked him How he could tell all this He told me That they had a great deal of Intelligence from the Tory Party for there were some that were willing to play a sure Game and so keep in with both Sides Some little time after this there came one Mr. Iohn Row that was Sword-bearer of Bristol with one Iames Holloway of the same Place a Merchant to enquire for Ferguson but he was unwilling to see them Then Row asked me to go and give him a Dish of Coffee which I did And Iames Holloway gave me an account of the Posture of Affairs at Bristol which I wondred at being the first time that ever I saw him viz. That they had been ready this two or three Months that there was but Eight in Bristol that knew of it that he had had some Cannon he had taken out of some Ships he was concerned in had lain there so long he was afraid they would mistrust something That he had great plenty of Powder and Bullet in his own House and that they had a couple of Ships there that would carry forty Guns a piece which they intended to seize the first Rising and fit out to Sea And then their manner of getting together was thus Some of those Eight had Houses out of Town where they would get all of the Town they thought were for their Purpose The Dissenters under pretence of a Meeting and the Others under some Colour or other And then tell them the Design and if they would not go with them they would secure or force them and that they would seize all the Head Men of the Contrary Party which were not above Thirty in all And that they would post Men at the Corner of every Street so that there should not a Man stir without they pleased And that to their Assistance they should have some Colliers out of King-Road and some Scotch Pedlers that were about the Country many of whom were of Bothwel-Bridge He said further That the King would have by the Time they begun a great many Thousand Pounds that they should seize and that there was a great many of the Tory Party that had a great Summ of Money by them which they must borrow And that there was not a good Horse within Five Miles about them but they knew where to have him That they wanted but two hundred Musqueâ—s for they thought they should have more Men than Arms which he was come up about which he hoped the Lords would help them to But if they could not Mr. Wade would lend them the Money to buy them and that he should pack them up in Parcels of Goods and send them by the Carrier to his House Mr. Wade told me himself He would do it that is lend the Money but it was some time after this Mr. Row sate by and approved what Holloway said to be true After this I went down to the Wells and staid about a Fortnight When I came Home again Mr. Wade came to me and told me I must promise Secrecy and then he had something to say me which was That Affairs were settled every where very well but in London And though the Lords had a Design to let London alone yet they saw there was a necessity that the Business must be done effectually in London for if they let that alone it was enough to maintain a War against the whole Kingdom and that their Friends here would be all ruined and that in order to the securing of it they had taken this Method by which they might know their Strength They had divided the Town into so many Divisions and had got honest Fellows to consult what Men they might expect out of every Division and that they had no Body about me that they thought could serve them and therefore desired me to think if it was not possible to get about an hundred and sixty Men out of Bloomsbury St. Giles's St. Iames's and Soho and that I might by way of Discourse ask some of my Acquaintance If there should be occasion to defend our selves whether they could not find out Ten or Fifteen or Twenty Men that would assist That they should have a Meeting again in Two or Three Days and then he would give me an Account of it and I should go to them And accordingly on Friday following being the Eighth of Iune towards Evening he came and fetcht me out and carried me to the Dragon-Tavern on Snow-Hill where I met Collonel Romzey Mr. Robert West Captain Walcot Mr. Norton Mr. Wade Richard and Francis Goodenough Then I was asked If I could not do what Mr. Goodenough had spoke to me about and was desired not to say any thing about the Business to any Body in direct terms but especially to any of the Ministers for West said They were a parcel of Rogues that had ruined the People ever since Constantine I told them I thought Mr. Mead and Mr. Lobb might be trusted and that they were if they would capable of serving them very much But they would not hear it then but the next Meeting which was on Monday the 11th Ditto at the Salutation in Lumbard-street they did think it was necessary Mr. Lobb should be spoke to but not directly which I did For the next Day I went to him and talking of the badness of the Times I said There was but one way to help our selves and that was by Arms and if we should have occasion to do so I asked him where he could find a good Parcel amongst his People that he thought would stir He told me That the Spirits of the People were low but he did believe there was a pretty many of them that would make use of an Opportunity if it was put into their Hands But he could see no Hopes of such an Opportunity as yet we were too great Cowards But I bid him not be out of hopes And so our Discourse ended for his Wife came in The next Meeting which was on Thursday the 14th Ditto
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