and had gotten Licence from the said Justices of the Peace which said Licence Sir Thomas read and it conteined as is below expressed The one Licence or Certificate was to permit Thomas Gascoigne Esq and his man to Travail peaceably to London for that the said Thomas Gascoigne Esq his only occasion to go to London was to decide or make an end of a Controversie then depending in Chancery between Sir Thomas Gascoigne of Barmbow his Father and James Nelthorpe Esq living in London and that Mr. John Middleton of Stockhil-Hall had likewise gotten the Justices consent to Travel into the South who pretended that his only occasion was to Receive some Rents due to him in the South parts and that the Justices upon their Oaths had given them liberty to the last day of April or last day of May but whether of the two it was this Informant does not well remember but saith he thinks they had their Licence or Certificate to Travel but until the last day of April And he saith That he did hear the said Thomas Gascoigne Esq say unto his Father that as soon as he had done with James Nelthorpe Esq and set in Order that design they had in hand he and Mr. John Middleton would then fly into France for that they were resolved not to return again but both would if it were possible Cheat the Justices and that he did hope God would help and further their design which did tend so much to the Glory of God for they both were resolved to commit the design into such hands as would not fail to do it but they would not stay to see the Execution for they were both resolved to fly with the first convenience And the said Sir Thomas Gascoigne did mightily commend Mr. John Middleton and his Sons Resolutions And the said Informant says he does not know what is become of the said Thomas Gascoigne Esq or Mr. John Middleton of Stockhil-Hall but he saith that both Thomas Gascoigne Esq and Mr. John Middleton of Stockhil-Hall did before their going to London sell or cause to be sold their Stocks from off their Grounds And that the said Mr. John Middleton did sell his very House-Hold-Goods which was only done with an intent to defraud His Majesty of them for they were in fear some Discovery should be made against them and that their Estates should be forfeited to the King This Informant further says That being with William Rushton at Confession who taking occasion to Discourse with him about this Horrid Plot as he had done several times before he the said William Rushton told him this Informant that when he heard at any time the word Design mentioned that he must understand by that word the Design they had in hand of Killing the King for Establishing the Roman Catholick Religion again in England and that except at some of their private Consults he this Informant should seldom hear mention made of Killing the King but that only they were resolved when they spoke of it to call it by the name of the word Design This Informant also saith That Sir Thomas Gascoigne with others hereafter mentioned did in the year 1677. between April and Lammas to the best of his remembrance assemble themselves together at Barmbow-Hall where was held a Conference to Establish a Nunnery which Nunnery they then agreed immediately to Establish at Dolbanck in hopes that their Plot or Design should take effect which was to have Killed the King and to alter the Government Established in England and to bring in the Roman Catholick Religion upon which account they all mutually resolved to venture their Lives and Estates 1. Whereupon Sir Thomas Gascoigne did promise to give to the Nunnery 90 l. per ann for ever upon which account the rest did agree that Sir Thomas Gascoigne should be Canonized a Saint to which they would procure the Popes consent 2. Sir Miles Stapleton promised to give 200 l. who made this Excuse that he was building his House which should be made fit for the Reception of Noble Persons according to their Degree and Quality but that in the mean time nothing should be wanting to his power for their assistance whereupon it was unanimously resolved that he should be made a Privy-Councellour to which they would procure the Dukes consent 3. Thomas Gascoigne Esq promised to give 500 l. and it was also there agreed that he should be made a Privy-Councellour to which the Duke should be intreated to give consent 4. Sir Walter Vavaser promised to give 200 l. but is since dead 5. The Lady Tempest said she would give 150 l. but promised a larger Contribution at her death 6. Sir Francis Hungate promised 50 l. who made an Excuse that he had a great many Debts to pay but that afterwards they should have more 7. Richard Sherbourne Eldest Son of Richard Sherbourne of Stonyhurst promised to give 300 l. 8. Mr. John Middleton of Stockhil-Hall yielded to give 200 l. to the said Nunnery and Plot of Killing the King 9. Mr. Charles Ingleby Lawyer concluded to give 30 l. 10. Robert Killingbeck a Romish Priest was also present at the said meeting and did promise in the name of his Master Thomas Riddal of Fenham Esq that he should Contribute Liberally for the carrying on the said Design and that his Master had given him such Instructions before he came from home but does not remember how much it was he promised for the carrying on of the said Design There was also a Letter read in the said Assembly wherein Stephen Tempest Mr. John York and Richard his Son did excuse themselves that they were not at the Meeting according to their promises and that the said Stephen Tempest was willing to give 50 l. Mr. York and his Son would give betwixt them 50 l. for the effecting of so Pious a Design and besides their well Wishes and Prayers should not be wanting for the Prosperous proceeding of so Meritorious and Pious a Design There was also present William Rushton and Thomas Thwing besides several others whose names this Informant does not know This Informant heard also that the Lord Mollyneux had given his Consent thereto but he does not know where he lives And according to the former agreement Sir Thomas Gascoigne did by Deed conveigh unto the said Nunnery a certain Estate for ever which was Purchased of Mr. Timothy Maceleverer of Arncliffe and lyes at Mauston in the Parish of Whitchurch near Leedes and is Rented of Sir Thomas Gascoigne by Alvery Lofthouse who enjoys by Lease the said 90 l. per ann And he did also in the said year between Lammas and Michaelmas Establish the said Nunnery at Dolbancke near to Ripley Broughton-Hall Hewoyth-Hall and Mistress Lashals House in York were made their places of Refuge that they might not be too great a Company together for avoiding suspition till the Plot or Design took effect Mistress Lashals was made Lady-Abbess Mrs. Beckwith her Sister and Mistress Benningfield
had not long been but he was dealt with to turn Papist by Sir Thomas Gascoigne himself and one William Rushton a Priest in that Family and that one Anthony Fulshurst was present in Parlington-Hall when Sir Thomas and the said Rushton did use Arguments to persuade him this Informant to change his Religion and to that end Sir Thomas bade him this Informant go to one Alice Carpmell a Servant in his House and to desire her to shew him this Informent his Chappel which accordingly was performed and he gave him this Informant two Books a Catechism and a Book of Saints wherein it 's shewed that Protestants hold Papists were saved but Papists declare Protestants are Damned and therefore they told him he ought to turn Roman Catholick They also declared unto him this Informant that great Miracles were wrought by their Church which the Protestants could not perform especially One Miracle said to be done at Fra. Johnsons house in the said Parish of Berwick which was told by the said Anthony Fulshurst to the Informant to persuade him to be a Romanist and is as followeth Mary Smith then a Protestant living in Garforth near to Barwick being as it was reported possessed with the Devil Mr. Lawson a Romish Exorcist was sent for to Francis Johnsons house to dispossess the said Mary Smith to which house several Protestants did come to see it done amongst which the said Anthony Fulshurst was one being a Protestant at that time and having an English Common-Prayer Book said he would not part with it for all Sir Thomas Gaseoignes Estate The Party possessed was very unruly and told the Exorcist that he could never do no good of her unless all the Protestants and Hereticks were put out of the Room which was accordingly done except the said Anthony Fulshurst who being Sir Thomas Gascoignes Steward out of Civility they would not exclude Yet after all the rest were excluded the said Mary Smith told the Exorcist that she had yet one Friend left in the Room meaning Anthony Fulshurst who blushing askt her Where or in what he was her Friend To which she answered In being of the Protestant Religion and told him several Circumstances of his life as also of his being that day in a Field and about to come over a Style that he sat down and considered with himself which she related to him again to his great astonishment and amazement as also his good opinion of that Book in his pocket which would e're long bring him to be one of them and she thankt him kindly for his kindness in propagating their Interest and of the good esteem he had for them To which the said Anth. Fulshurst replyed That since he had been so long her Friend he would be no longer of the Protestant Religion and so went home and burnt his Common-Prayer-Book which before he so highly prized and immediately turned Roman Catholick which Argument they used as a Motive to persuade him the Informant to be a Roman Catholick And the said Anthony Fulshurst added That the Exorcist told him that the said Mary Smith was possessed with four Devils three of them he quite expulst out of her the fourth he brought into her great Toe which did lie there and do the said Mary Smith no harm which afterwards was confirmed by the said Mary Smith unto him this Informant That besides the Chapel in Sir Thomas's house he the said Sir Thomas had another private Chapel in the house of William Butcher in Barmbow which said William doth not go to Church as a Protestant and the said Sir Thomas Gascoigne does keep another private Chapel at Lasingcroft and Thomas Gascoigne Esquire his Son keeps also a private Chapel at Parlington-Hall in which said Chapel this Informant was reconciled by the said William Rushton to the Romish Church and Laurence Mowbrey came to him this Informant who was then at Garforth Cole-Pits and did tell him this Informant that Sir Thomas had sent him unto him and that he must go with him to William Rushton to be taken into the Church which was accordingly done That after this Informant had changed his Religion which was about the beginning of June 1675. he married with one Mary Baker Niece to Mris. Errington then living in Sir Thomas's house whom the said William Rushton did pervet to the Roman Catholick Religion as he told him this Informant and that upon this Informants Marriage his Wifes Aunt Mris. Errington aforesaid did give this Informant a house in Shippon in Yorshire which was held by Lease of the said Sir Thomas Gascoigne That upon some of the Proclamations for Roman Catholicks to leave London and about Christmas last to this Informants best remembrance one Mary Pressicks Wife of Tho. Pressicks who was Sempstress to the Jesuits and did use to buy several things for them as also for divers Romish Persons of Quality told this Informant that upon a mans following the said Mary Pressicks in the Street to apprehend her she looking back and espying him being conscious of her being concerned in the Plot she made haste into an Alley bolting the Door after her which the Man perceiving presently cryed out Stop the Papist stop the Plotter but She got quite away from him and durst not appear publickly but soon after with her Child hasted out of London where she had dwelt several years and came to Mr. Fulshurt in Parlington in Yorkshire and there abode about a week and then Thomas Pressicks her Husband took two Rooms in this Informants house at Shippon for her and her Child where about Candlemas last as also about Easter and Whitsuntide following this Informant discoursing with her about Coleman's death and the Priests then in hold she did inform that His Majesty being beyond Seas did promise the Monks and Jesuits that he would bring in their Religion if ever he enjoyed his own again and that it was upon hopes thereof whilst the troubles were here in England that so many of that Religion did venture their Lives and Estates for His Majesty and that thereupon the Monks and Jesuits did so plentifully supply His Majesty's wants whilst beyond the Seas but His Majesty coming home again and not performing his promises thereupon Father Harcourt who lived in Wilde-street or Duke-street London but the Informant thinks the latter and other Jesuits at Father Harcourt's Chamber which was the usual place of their meeting and elsewhere contrived this Plot as Mary Pressicks told him this Informant WHICH WAS TO DESTROY HIS MAJESTY AND SVCH OF HIS SVBJECTS AS WOVLD NOT BE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICK RELIGION and to have ALTERED THE GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION established by bringing in THEIR RELIGION And that Father Harcourt being Confessor to the said Mary Pressicks did tell him this Informant that after the Discovery of the Plot she the said Mary Pressicks with several others did privately keep and secretly at several times help to convey the said Father Harcourt for fear he should be taken
did at that time know that it was but collusively and pretendedly borrowed of Sir William Ingleby for fear Sr. Thomas Gascoignes estate should be forfeited to the King but he this Informant did not then know there was a design in Agitation against the life of the King he then being a Protestant and therefore he wondred with himself how Sir Thomas Gascoigne should apprehend himself to be in so much danger none of the penall Laws being then put in execution but saies that after he had turned Roman Catholick then the misery was unfolded for William Rushton at Confession did discover to him this Informant the whole Design of the Plot and about the discovery of the Plot or presently after he this Informant did hear the said Sir Thomas Gascoigne declare unto Sir Miles Stapilton that according unto his and the Advice of other of his friends he had done very well in settling his Estate upon Sir William Ingleby as aforesaid because if they should be discovered to be engaged in the Design of Killing the King that then his Estate would have been forfeited which forfeiture by this means he had avoided if he were discovered The Particular Romish Priests known by this Informant whose names are as follows 1 WIlliam Rushton this Informants Confessor or Ghostly Father who at confession did first acquaint this Informant with the Plot of killing the King whom this Informant hath several times heard say Mass and hath administred unto this Informant above one hundred times the Eucharist having on the usuall Robes when they exercise that Function he further saies that the said William Rushton Christened this Informants two Children 2. Thomas Thwing of Heworth near York whom this Informant hath several times heard say Mass in Barmbow Chapel and give the Sacrament to several Roman Catholicks there present as also with his wife hath received the Sacrament from his hands 3. William Hardwick born at Bransby beyond York whom this Informant hath several time heard say Mass at both the Chapels in Barmbow and to give the Sacrament to several there present his usual custom is to ride from New-Hall neer Pontefract to Barmbow and usually comes once in three weeks and then rides in the night time which is commonly on the Friday night and staies till Munday and then returns back again to New Hall his sallary is allowed him by Thomas Gascoigne Esq and his office is to help the poor Catholicks near adjacent unto Barmbow for as soon as the said William Hardwick was come he sent alwaies an old woman whose name is Ellin Bellas to give notice to the rest of the Catholicks that they must come to scowre their Kettles that is come to Confession at such an hour according as the time was appointed for the poorer sort of Catholicks were not admitted to come to Sir Thomas Gascoigne's house therefore the Chapel William Butchers house in Barmbow was the place appointed for the help of the poorer sort 4. Thomas Thwing of Quosque who commonly keeps a Boarding-School for training up Children in the Romish Principles who goes commonly more like a Butcher than a Priest 5. Dr. Stapilton Brother to Sir Miles Stapilton who hath said Mass in Barmbow Chapel and hath delivered the Sacrament to several there present 6. Francis Blaxton a Romish Priest whom this Informant hath heard say Mass and administer the Sacrament in Walton Chapel his mans name is Emanuel Gascoigne and they do abide now in or about York as was told this Informant 7. John Andrews a Romish Priest whom this Informant heard say Mass at Mris. Margaret Mitcalfe's house in Rmonby near Northallerton to whom he administred the Sacrament as also to Mris. Sadler her Sister to Adrian Mitcalfe the said Mris. Mitcalfe's Son to Elizabeth Mitcalfe servant to the said Mris. Mitcalfe besides to three others who were strangers to this Informant 8. John Pand alias Cornwallis whom this Informant hath heard say Mass at Barmbow having on the usual Robes when Mass is said and hath seen him administer the Sacrament unto Sir Thomas Gascoigne and several others 9. Thomas Addingson whom this Informant see Christen a Child at Lasingcroft to whom he confessed that he was a Romish Priest and that he had received his Orders from beyond Seas and used several Arguments to perswade him this Informant to be a Papist 10. Richard Gascoigne Priest to Mr. Apleby of Lynton upon Owse who confest to him this Informant that he was a Priest and that he had received his Orders from beyond the Seas This Rich. Gascoigne being at this Informants house when Mr. George Gascoigne lived in it taking opportunity early one morning did go into this Informants Layth or Barn with a dirty Drab and had there carnal knowledge of her and another time also had dealing with her in this Informants Stable which then belong'd unto the said George Gascoigne who both times was taken in the Act yet both Mornings said Mass and administred the Sacrament to the company then present having not Absolution for his faults The true Relation of this horrible Deed he had from the Papists and the woman her self who told him this Informant that the said Priest never gave her above twice pence a time that she alwaies knew what she was to have 11. Farneby is Priest to John Middleton of Stockhall-hill Gentleman who told this Informant that he was a Priest and that he had received his Orders from beyond Seas 12. Lodge Priest to Sir Miles Stapilton whom this Informant hath heard say Mass in Barmbow Chapel and administer the Sacrament to several there present 13. Robert Killingbeck born at Moor-Town near Leeds whom this Informant hath heard say Mass in Barmbow Chapel and administer the Eucharist to several of the company there present 14. Fincham Priest to Sir John Savill of Red-hall near Barmbow where this Informant hath heard him say Mass and give the Sacrament to Sir John Savill his Lady and his Daughter as also to Mr. Abbot the said Sir John Savil's Gentleman this Fincham used to come to Barmbow to William Rushton to be confessed of his sins and likewise Will. Rushton would go to the said Sir John Savil's house to be confessed by the said Fincham 15. Mr. Ellis is Priest to Sir Walter Vavesour 16. Robert Dolman a Romish Priest who is now Priest to Sir Marmaduke Constable of Everingham and as it is told this Informant that Sir Marmaduke Constable hath petitioned His Majesties Councel for the bringing over of the said Robert Dolman whom he pretends to be his Servant 1. Francis Gascoigne Brother to Sir Thomas Gascoigne who used Arguments to perswade this Informant to change his Religion This Informant further saith That about March last to this Informant's best remembrance Sir Thomas Gascoinge and Thomas Gascoigne Esq his Son being Discoursing about their present concerns the said Thomas Gascoigne Esq did tell his Father that he and Mr. John Midleton of Stockhil-Hall had been before the Justices of the Peace