that this Io. N. was a person that past under the name of Iohn Nisbet an Englishman and stayed at one Mr. Mead's in Stepney which Nisbet was an Usher of a School at Bednal-green before That the close of the Letter bearing that things were fully as high as I tell you is meant the present intended Rebellion That by the Capital Letter B. is meant one Mr. Brake a Minister in Lewarden in Friesland and the young men are some Students who are in Holland Being interrogat what he heard of the Earl of Argile's concurring or assisting in this Insurrection Answers That he heard by report in Holland that Argile had undertaken to Raise ten thousand Men to assist in that Rebellion and that he was to furnish himself with Arms in Holland and about the time of this report which he thinks was in December or Ianuary last he heard Argile was in Holland but that he did not see him and to the best of his memory Io. N. also told him of the Earl of Argiles concurring in the Rising but remembers of no other person Being interrogat upon the little Letter from Stepney which he thinks was about the beginning of May Dated Friday at seven a Clock That the Man whom he speaks of is Mr. Mead a Minister and that by the words what my Hands find to do was meant Io. N's going to Holland and that the Declarant was to meet with Mr. Mead to let Io. N. go Further declares that Iohn Iohnston was one who at other times past under the name of Murray who is a little Man Pock-marked and wears a Periwig Sic subscribitur A Gordon Linlithgow Perth Io. Edinburgen Geo. Meckenzy I. Drummond This is a true Copy of the Original Declaration and Answer made by Alexander Gordon late of Earlestoun to the Interrogators proposed to him by the Committee of Council which is attested by me William Paterson Cls. Sti. Concilij A Copy of Alexander Gordons Examination June 30. 1683. THe said Alexander being interrogate what he knew of the Author of that Letter directed to Alexander Pringle of the date 20 of March last to be left at Alexander Hopes House in Gloss-haven Rotterdam which runs upon the Metaphor of Trade answereth That the Author of that Letter seemeth to him to be one Io. Nishet with whom he conversed a year ago at London and ordered the said Alexander to direct his Letters to Bednal-Green and since to Mr. Mead in Stepney near London and that he the said Alexander had written a Letter to this Io. Nisbet challenging him why he came not sooner over to Holland as he had promised dated about Ianuary last and that he received this Letter by the Metaphor of Trade in answer thereunto and that the venturing spoke of in the Letter was to signifie a resolution of a speedy Rising in Arms and that the Factors therein mentioned signified their Agents and Emissaries who were sent out into different corners both in England and Scotland to know the Pulse of their Complices and Parties if they were in readiness to joyn and rise with them and that they brought back accounts of their willingness so to do and readiness for an Insurrection And as to the assistance they were to have from Scotland he understood it at his last coming here and some Months before he came over in May last he heard amongst the Dutch People commonly reported that there was to be very shortly a Rising in England and that the Earl of Argile was to furnish from Scotland Ten Thousand Highland-Men for their assistance and that at his coming hither last he heard that there was a Person come from England to Sir Io. Cockram alleadging he came about the Affâ—ir of Carolina but that he had discovered himself to a Servant of the Lord Treasurers that he had come to Scotland upon other matters and that the Letters for Scotland from any Correspondents of the Party in which Earlestoun was engaged was directed to Mr. Henry Emertson written in Edenburgh and that before he came last hither in May the meeting of these Phanatical People had received a Letter from England subscribed by one I. S. whom he take to be one Murray as he named himself to Earlestoun as the other forementioned person named himself Io. Nisbet in which Letter there was the Metaphor of a Marriage anent which all things were agreâ—d and the Marriage ready to be solemnized which occasioned their sending for him the said Alexander Gordon to have his mind concerning that Affair and they interpreting that Letter signed by I. S. from England to concern the seeking of their assistance in their intended Rising there he did disswade them from it and that by the Marriage they understood a Rising to be intended in England and that it was ready to be solemnized was to signifie that an Insurrection was to be very speedily on foot and declared that these with whom Earlestoun conversed here declared that they believed that the Persons who came from England to Sir Io. Cokram were sent to manage a Correspondence in order to the design of Rising in Arms. The Relation of Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun of what he was informed of and heard as followeth ABout the time of the Election of Rich and North I heard that there were some designs of Rising in Arms of some people in England and in order thereto there was some Treating with my Lord Argile but not agreeing to the terms my Lord left them and I heard it ceased for some time and went over to Holland and when he was there I was informed of the renewing of the Treaty and agreed upon the following terms viz. That the Earl of Argile should raise Seven Thousand Men and the Treators who as I was informed were English-men were to advance the said Earl Ten Thousand pound Sterling and this was agreed to in April last The persons in England were by Information the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Shaftsbury but after the said Earls decease I did not hear so much of the Duke of Monmouth I was also informed of Ford Lord Gray of Wark his being in the Design I was also informed that those concerned in Scotland most in the said Design were Sir Iohn Cockram Ierviswood Sessnock Elder and Younger and that Sir Iohn Cockram the one day kist His Majesties Hands the other day went to the Cabal anent the above-written Design I was also informed That no small number of the Gentlemen in the West and other places in Scotland upon their resentment of the present Government particularly as to the Test and other Papers put to them were not resolved to stand to them although they should take them but rise upon the first occasion This Information I heard from Murray alias Iohnstoune who as I heard was a West Country-man in Scotland who offered to take me along to their Cabals but upon my refusal to meddle in the designs kept himself and told no more than those generals I met with
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
but that the Earl of Shaftsbury broke that Designe not consenting to pay the Money This Examinant never heard any thing of this Design until the said West Norton and Goodenough did tell him thereof And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Nelthrop and Mr. Wade did always oppose the Murthering of the King and the Duke and so did Captain Walcot but at last the said Walcot consented And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Bourn and Mr. Goodenough's Brother were at some of the last Meetings about the raising of the Men This Examinant saith That to the best of his Memory he hath here set down every thing that was said or Transacted in the Debates when he was there but he was absent from some I. Romzey Colonel Romzey's further Information THis Examinant further saith That being sent by the Earl of Shaftsbury about the beginning of November last to Mr. Shepard's a Merchant near Lombard-street where was the Duke of Monmouth Lord Russel Lord Grey Sir Thomas Armstrong and Mr. Ferguson this Examinant told them my Lord Shaftsbury had sent him to tell them it was high time to come to some Resolution about the Rising They made him this Answer by Mr. Ferguson and afterwards my Lord Grey said words to the same effect that Mr. Iohn Trenchard had promised and assured them at his first coming to Town that Term that he could in four hours time have a Thousand Foot and Two or Three Hundred Horse but now they had sent to him to know the certainty he had returned to them this following answer That Men would not be got from home on two or three days warning but that when such a thing as a Rising should be he must know it sooner that he might acquaint Men to make Provision of Settlements for their Families so they could not go on at this time any further And for this reason and that they heard Sir William Courtney would not stir my Lord must be contented This Message I returned to my Lord On this my Lord resolved to leave England This Examinant further saith That there was a Project of Government drawn up by Mr. West and Mr. Wade which they delivered to this Examinant and he gave it to Mr. Ferguson who told them that he heard Colonel Sidney had drawn one that he would compare them together and reduce them into one intire one And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Nelthrop told him that my Lord of Essex my Lord Russel Colonel Sidney and young Mr. Hamden were the persons that did Treat with the Scotch Gentlemen and so did Mr. West and I think Mr. Ferguson Mr. Nelthrop and Mr. West during the time I did not see Mr. Ferguson told me that now they were resolved to raise Ten Thousand pounds for the Scots and that next week it should all be paid in that was about a Month since But they had been with Mr. Shepard the Merchant and he told them there was none paid This Money was to buy Arms in Holland Mr. Ferguson told this Examinant the Rising must be in Scotland before Harvest or else their people would not be got together and that in four days after the Scots were up we should have the first Intelligence and that then we must Rise in this Town and in Taunton My Lord Howard was at first one with my Lord Essex and the rest but he told Captain Walcot and Mr. West what passed amongst them for which reason he was lâ—fâ— out of the meetings Further this Examinant saith that Mr. Wade and Holloway told him how they had fixed the matter for Bristol that they were sure of Three Hundred Men and that they would Post them in all the cross Streets so that none of the other party should get together in a Body or out of their Houses By this means they should be Masters of the Town without spilling one drop of Blood And this Examinant further saith that Goodenough told Wade West and this Examinant that about twenty five Hundred Arms would be wanting for the Men that would Rise here for without they were Armed that were on the first to Rise here we should be beat therefore West and this Examinant did acquaint Mr. Ferguson from the rest that did meet of the necessity of having so many Arms. He replied Money should not be wanting but how so many Arms could be bought without a discovery Mr. West did undertake that if Money were given the Arms might be had and some person of the Company did name a Gun-smith that was an honest Man that might without suspition have two or three Hundred Arms and other Gun-smiths might if enquired after be found that might lodge proportionable quantities in their Shops and the Men should be led to these Shops and Armed It was said by Goodenough that six Hundred Arms were together in the Artillery Ground which might be easily seized on Many debates we had about the Tower some proposed the taking of it by day-time by sending some Men onely with Pocket Pistols and when the Sign was given they were to fall on the Guard but this was left off as not agreeing with a Rising by night and then the other way was to clap two or three hundred Fagots to the Gates and set them on Fire which would make those within surrender and that Ships should come and lie before the Tower and batter it at the same time the Fagots were on fire I. Romzey Colonel Romzeys Letter to the Earl of Rochester concerning the Scotch Pedlars My Lord WHen the Rising was to have been in November Mr. Ferguson did say that he could promise for Three Hundred Scots in this Town that would be ready at a days warning and that there was in England Twelve Hundred that might be depended upon that Three or Four Hundred did always abide here the rest were scattered throughout England with Packs on their Backs for the Maintenance of themselves that a great many of them were Gentlemens Sons and all of them had been at Bothwel-Bridge and betook them to this way to get and carry Intelligence as well as a living J. Romzey Another Letter from Colonel Romzey to the Earl of Rochester My Lord I Do not know whether I have already in any of my Papers where I mention Mr. Roe acquainted the King of one passage he told me but I think I have that Gibbons the Duke of Monmouths Footman did tell him that nothing but taking off the Two Brothers would do the business and if he would go with him he would shew him the place to do it he carried him to my Lord of Bedfords Garden where I think he told me is a Mount to look into Covent Garden and said no place can be like this to lodge Men in to do the feat and shewed him the Garden-door where they might make a Sally on the Coach if they mist with their Fire Mr. Roe asked him but how will you bring the Men in He told him my Lord was long in
and another whose Abilities and Qualifications did in no degree fit him for such a Province The first Meeting of these Six was about the middle of Ianuary at Mr. Hambdens House at which Consultation there was only propounded some General Heads which were afterwards upon more mature thoughts to be Debated viz. Where the Insurrection should be first made whether in the City or in the more remote parts of the Country or in both at the same instant what Counties were thought to be best disposed to and best fitted for this enterprize what Persons in the respective Counties were the most useful and most ready to be engaged what Towns easiest to be gained and the most proper for a general Rendezvous what Arms were necessary to be provided how to be got where to be disposed what sum of Money was of absolute necessity to answer publick occasions how and by what Methods such a sum of Money was to be raised so as not to draw into observation nor to administer occasion of jealousie And lastly which was the principal and thought to challenge the chiefest Care how Scotland might be drawn into a Concert with England and which Persons there fittest to be Consulted withal about this Matter This was the sum of that days Conference The second Meeting was about 10 days after at the Lord Russels House where were present every one of the foresaid Six At this Meeting it was propounded that a speedy understanding should be settled with the Lord Argyle and that in order thereunto some fit Person or Persons should be thought of to be sent to him and to be a constant medium of Correspondence betwixt him and them that care should be taken to be rightly informed of a true state of Scotland of the general Bent and Inclination of the People of the Capacities or Incapacities they were under and that some trusty Messenger should be forthwith dispatched thither to invite two or three of the most valuable Gentlemen of that County into England to the end they might be advised with about the general Design The Persons nominated to be called into England were the Lord Melvin Sir Iohn Cockran and I remember another Gentleman of the Family and Alliance of the Lord Argyle who if I mistake not was of the same Name also and a Knight but of this I retein but an indistinct remembrance Some other things were considered of but of no great moment At the Conclusion of this Meeting it was agreed that there should not be any other Meeting of this Cabal unless in case of some extraordinary Emergency until the return of the Messenger sent from hence and the arrival of the foresaid Gentlemen out of Scotland This affording a kind of Vacation I soon after went into Essex whether I was called by the Concerns of my Estate after that I went to Bath whither I was enforced to go by the Infirmity of my health so that what was done or argued on after this I can give no account but by hearsay Howard Iuly 11. 1683. A Supplement of some things which upon recollection have occurr'd to my memory since my former Information I Remember that my Lord Shaftsbury complaining of divers persons who had deserted him and fell short of their Engagements to him amongst the rest named his Cousin Charleton meaning Mr. Charleton of Totteridg who he said had promis'd and was able to bring in great assistance to him upon which he did much rely but was quite fallen from him and had so wholly attacht himself to the Duke of Monmouth and my Lord Russel that he would act only by their measure Speaking also of Major Wildman He said that he was very forward in the Work and very active in it And being told by me that amongst other things which were wanting in such Enterprize the want of some Great Guns seemed to me not to be the least He told me that they should be furnished with two Drakes by a Friend whom he did not name which two Drakes I have since thought may be those two small Pieces found with Major Wildman The Person mentioned in my former Narrative who as my Lord Shaftsbury said had offered to kill the Duke with his own hands I do now distinctly remember to be Mr. Iohn Ayloffe to whom he Answered No Jack thou shalt not kill him till we have an Arm'd Force to Iustifie it About the 10th or 12th of October after a stop put to the then intended Insurrection the Duke of Monmouth told me that he had seriously thought of it meaning the Insurrection and that after divers ways proposed and seriously considered of he was clearly of Opinion that there was nothing so easie to be accomplished nor so probable to do the Work effectually as to fall in upon the King at Newmarket with a smart party of Horse of about Forty or Fifty which he said he could soon have in a readiness To which I answered That I was of the same opinion but whether or not it would be decent for him to appear in person in an Attack to be made when the King was in Person deserved his consideration Two days after I spoke to him of it again and ask'd him what thought he had of it He answered me that it could not be brought about soon enough After which I never Discoursed more with him about it but upon reflection I am apt to think that from this time and not before the Design of Way-laying the King in his return to London was first meditated and I am the more confirmed in this Opinion from the Consideration of the behaviour of the Duke of Monmouth and Lord Grey who seemed to be very big of Expectation of some great thing to be attempted upon the day of the King 's coming from Newmarket upon which day as I have before observed Sir Thomas Armstrong was not to be found till the King's Coaches were come into Town and I do verily believe he was to have headed the Party To this also may be added That the Duke of Monmouth within few days after told me that he had that day given order to have his Horses carried into London to have been in a readiness to have Mounted upon any Emergency I do further call to mind That there is a considerable Person living in Spittle-Fields whom I very well know and have often been in his Company but cannot remember his name distinctly this Man I have been told did undertake to bring in two or three Hundred Men upon the strength of his own Interest when occasion should require He is well known to Mr. West Howard Further Information of Colonel Romzey June the 11th 1684. SIR Thomas Armstrong was at the Meeting at Mr. Shephards when I was there and was one that undertook to view the Savoy and Mâ—ws to see in what posture the Soldiers were and how easie or difficult it would be to surprize them Sir Thomas Armstrong did tell that Gibbons came to him and acquainted him that
Stuart Brother to the Laird of Cultness wrote a Letter to him from Holland importing that if any considerable sum of Money could be procur'd from England that something of Importance might be done in Scotland The which Letter the Deponent had an Inclination to inform Shepard in Abb-Church-lane Merchant in London of but before he could do it he wrote to Mr. Stuart above-nam'd to know from him if he might do it and Mr. Stuart having consented he Communicat the said Letter to Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent that he would Communicat the Contents of it to some persons in England but did at that time name no body as the Deponent thinks Some time thereafter Mr. Shepard told the Deponent that he had Communicat the Contents of the Letter above-named to Colonel Sidney and that Colonel Danvers was present and told the Deponent that Colonel Sidney was averse from imploying the late Earl of Argile or medling with him judging him a man too much affected to the Royal Family and inclined to the present Church-Government yet Mr. Shepard being put upon it by the Deponent still urg'd that one might be sent to the Earl of Argile but as Mr. Shepard told him he was suspected upon the account of his urging so much yet afterwards he press'd without the Deponents knowledge that the Deponent being to go to Holland however might have some Commission to the Earl of Argile which he having inform'd the Deponent of the Deponent told him that he himself would not be concern'd but if they would send another he would introduce him but nothing of this was done upon which the Deponent went over without Commission from any body to Holland never meeting with Iames Stuart above-named He was introduced to the Earl of Argile with whom he had never before convers'd and did there discourse what had past betwixt Mr. Shepard and him and particularly about remitting of Money to the said Earl from England of which the said Mr. Stuart had written to the Deponent namely of 30000 pounds Sterling and of the raising of 1000 Horse and Dragoons and the securing the Castle of Edinburgh as a matter of the greatest importance The method of doing this was propos'd by the Deponent to be one hour or thereby after the relieving of the Guards But the Earl did not relish this proposition as dangerous and that the Castles would fall of consequence after the work abroad was done Iames Stuart was of the Deponents Opinion for seizing the Castle because it would secure Edinburgh the Magazines and Arms. As to the 1000 Horse and Dragoons my Lord Argile was of Opinion that without them nothing was to be done and that if that number was raiss'd in England to the said Earl he would come into Scotland with them and that there being so few Horse and Dragoons to meet them he judg'd he might get the Country without trouble having such a standing Body for their Friends to Rendezvouz to and the said Earl said he could shew the Deponent the convenient places for Landing if he understood and as the Deponent remembers where the Ships could attend The Deponent remembers not the Names of the Places The Deponent spoke to the Lord Stairs but cannot be positive that he nam'd the Affair to him but found him shie but the Earl of Argile told him he thought Stairs might be gain'd to them And that the Earl of Lowdoun being a man of good Reason and disoblig'd would have great influence upon the Country and recommended the Deponent to Major Holms with whom the Deponent had some acquaintance before and had brought over a Letter from him to the Earl of Aâ—gile but the Deponent had not then communicate any thing to the said Holms Iames Stuart laid down a way of correspondence by Cyphers and false Names and sent them over to Holms and the Deponent for their use which Cyphers and Names are now in the hands of His Majesty's Officers as the Deponent supposesâ— and did desire the Deponent earnestly to propose the 30000 pound Sterling above-named to the Party in England and did not propose any less for as the Earl told the Deponent he had particularly calculate the Expence for Arms Ammunition c. But Iames Stuart said that if some less could be had the Earl would content himself if better might not be but the Earl always said that there was nothing to be done without the body of Horse and Dragoons above-mentioned During the time of the Deponent his abode in Holland tho he had several Letters from Shepard yet there was no satisfactory account till some time after the Deponent parted from the Earl of Argile and was making for a Ship at Rotterdam to transport himself to England Iames Stuart wrote to him that there was hopes of the Money The next day after the Deponent came to England he met with Sir Iohn Cochran who with Commissar Monro and Ierviswood was at London before he came over and depones That he knows not the account of their coming more than for the perfecting the Transaction about Carolina and having acquainted Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 with the Earls demands of the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Hoâ—s◠〈◊〉 Dragoons Sir Iohn carried him to the Lord Russel to whom the Depâ—nent proposed the Affair but being an absolute Stranger to the Dâ—ponent had no return from him at that time but afterwards having met him accidenly at Mr. Shepards house where the Lord Râ—â—sel had come to speak to Shepard about the Money above-named as Mr. Shepard told the Deponent The Deponâ—â—â— whâ—â—â— they were done speaking desired to speak to the Lord 〈◊〉 which the Lord Russel did and having reiterate the 〈…〉 for the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Horse and 〈◊〉 he the Lord Russel told the Deponent they could not get so 〈◊〉 raised at the time but if they had 10000 pound 〈…〉 would draw People in and when they were 〈…〉 soon be brought to more but as for the 1000 〈…〉 he could say nothing at the present for tha◠〈…〉 upon the Borders The Deponent made the same 〈…〉 Ferguson who was much concerned in the 〈…〉 the promoting of it This Mr. Ferguson had in 〈…〉 before as the Deponent remembers in a Conversation 〈…〉 in Cheap side or the Street somewhere 〈…〉 for the saving of Innocent Blood it would be 〈…〉 few insinuating the King and Duke but cannot be positive whether he named them or not To which the Deponent 〈…〉 for our wild People in Scotland my Conscience does not serve me for such things after which the Deponent had never any particular discourse with Ferguson as to that matter but as to the other Affair Ferguson told the Deponent that he was doing what he could to get it effectuate as particularly that he spoke to one Major Wildman who is not of the Deponent his acquaintance Fergâ—son blamed always Sidney as driving designs of his own The Deponent met twice or thrice with the Lord Melvil Sir Iohn
Howard and Mr. Shute came to this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where the Lord Howard told this Examinant That except some effort were made by the People towards saving their Liberties and Religion all would be lost or used words to that effect And this Examinant telling his Lordship that he saw no way of doing so that did not endanger the People more in case of a miscarriage his Lordship told this Deponent he had thought of a method â—easible in his opinion and it was this to the best of this Examinants remembrance viz. That Ten men of Skill and Conduct in Martial Affairs should meet and each chuse to himself ten men whom he might use that every of these ten should raise 20 men so as to make up a Body of two thousand men that empty Houses should be taken for these men as near the several Gates of the City and other convenient Posts as could be that the night before the Execution intended the Men should be got into those Houses and acquainted with the execution such as refused should be clapt into the Cellars and the rest sally out at the most convenient hour and seize and shut up the Gates and then demand the Inhabitants Arms and he doubted not but they would deliver them and People enough come into assistance His Lordship named Col. Rumzey Col. Danvers Mr. Clare and three others whom this Examinant hath forgotten for six of the principal Ten and desired this Examinant to speak to them to consider of the Project and fill up the number of Ten but this Examinant having no mind to engage in it onely told Col. Romzey of it and none other of the Parties above-named who told this Examinant he would not meddle in it and advised this Examinant to proceed no further and when the said Lord Howard came to this Examinant for an answer this Examinant told his Lordship that he could meet with no encouragement whereupon his Lordship replied he could make as good a shift as other men and he would trouble himself no further and came not since to this Examinant And this Examinant further saith That the Lord Howard at another time told this Examinant at a Tavern in the City That he thought it no difficulty with 500 Horse to surprize the King Duke and all the Court at Newmarket by beating up their Quarters about break of day but this Examinant told the said Lord Howard it was impossible to get such a Body to so great a distance unobserved at which his Lordship seem'd convinc'd And this Deponent further saith That the said Ferguson told this Examinant That the Arms to be bought with the said 10000 l. lay ready provided in Holland to be Transported for Scotland and that the Earl of Argile would go over with them and Head the Scots in Person and that one English Lord offered to pay the whole 10000 l. by Mortgaging his Estate if the rest of the Managers would have secured him their proportions But he should not name the Lord's Name then but since the said Ferguson told this Examinant it was the Lord Grey And further this Examinant saith not Robert West 26 Iunii 83. Capt. Cognit Coram me L. Ienkins The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant saith That he was informed by Mr. Ferguson and to the best of his remembrance by Colonel Romzey likewise That the late Earl of Shaftsbury advised the Duke of Monmouth when he went into Cheshire in September last That if his Grace were attended with a good appearance of Gentlemen and Free-holders there his Grace should set up and declare for a Free Parliament And that when his Grace was taken into Custody by a Messenger the said Earl of Shaftsbury advised that the said Messenger should be killed and his Grace return into Cheshire and declare as above or else Post into the West of England and set up there But his Grace and the Lord Grey of Wark were of another opinion viz. That his Grace should Surrender himself which his Grace did accordingly And this Examinant further saith That since the Insurrection intended in November last was laid aside this Examinant was informed by Colonel Romzey that one great reason of its being laid aside was that one Mr. Iohn Trenchard on whom there was a great Reliance for a considerable body of Men in the West viz. at Taunton would not undertake to procure such a Body for which he was much reproached by the Lord Grey And this Examinant further saith That some time before Mr. Ferguson went over into Holland the said Ferguson this Examinant and one Mr. Iohn Roe late Sword-Bearer of Bristol were together at the Young Devil Tavern in Fleet-street where some Discourse was had concerning the killing the King and Duke of York and of a general Insurrection but this Examinant cannot remember any particular passages of that Discourse And this Examinant further saith That after the said Ferguson went for Holland viz. about Christmass last Colonel Romzey this Examinant Richard Goodenough and the said Roe several times met and discoursed concerning the said Design against the King and Duke as also of a general Insurrection which they distinguished by the names of the Lopping Point and General Point One of which Meetings to the best of this Examinants remembrance was at this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where were present besides Colonel Romzey this Examinant the said Goodenough and Roe Mr Ioseph Tyley Mr. Edward Norton and Mr. Richard Nelthrop And the said Mr. Nelthrop approved of an Insurrection but always expressed a Detestation of the Design to kill the King and Duke as a base ungenerous thing But the said Roe declared he would be one to execute it rather than it should fail to be done And this Examinant saith That at some or all of those Meetings it was discoursed in what place and in what manner the said Design against the King and Duke should be put in execution and it was proposed to be done either in the Play-house by planting Men in the Pit about the King's Box armed with Pistols and Pocket-Blunderbusses who between the Acts of the Play should make the Assault or in their return from the Play-house by night under Bedford Garden Wall because of the convenience for one part of the Assailants walking unsuspected in the Piaza and another walking so in the Square within the Rails and another being about the Church-Porch who upon the first Assault might prevent Assistance to the King out of Covent-Garden Or else it might be done as the King and Duke were passing down the River in a Barge either by over-running their Barge with a Hoy or else Boarding their Barge and shooting a Plank or two out of the bottom with Blunderbusses and so to sink it but both these ways were looked upon as very hazardous and probable to miscarry and therefore neither was agreed on And this Examinant further saith That in the last
Carolina but he believed that was only a pretence and that the real truth was to Concert Matters in order to some Design in Scotland for the Lord Shaftsbury had sent for him upon pretence of some Command in Carolina but when he came the Lord Shaftsbury was very cool in it And this Examinant further saith That the said Mr. Walcot refused a long time to act in any wise in the Attempt upon the King and Duke in the Newmarket Journey but at length by the perswasion of Ferguson as this Examinant believes he undertook to Command the Party who were to Fight the Guards or to be one of them but refused to act in the Assassination it self And this Examinant further saith The said Ferguson told this Examinant that when the Earl of Argâ—le was in England last Year he had offered to make a sturdy Commotion in Scotland if he might have had but 6000 l. for so low he came down from his first demand of 30000 or 40000 l. but our Great Men were jealous of him then and would not trust him though he offered that they should employ whom they would themselves to lay out the Money in Arms which he said was a great Oversight and Opportunity lost And this Examinant believes the Assassination of the King and Duke designed in October last was Projected and Abetted by the late Earl of Shaftsbury and that the Money in one of this Examinant's former Examinations mentioned to be advanced for that Design was advanced by the said Earl because this Examinant had heard but cannot say positively from whom that the said Earl complained of having been ill used in that Matter in the Money not being returned though it was not laid out Information of Carleton Whitlock 5 July 83. MR. West some time in Easter-Term last in the Court of Requests told me That some desperate Fellows had designed to have killed the King or would have killed the King as he came last from Newmarket if they had not been afraid that the Duke of Monmouth would have Hanged them Upon which I told him That it had been a villanous Action and that all Mankind would have detested the Action and the Murderers and that if it ever had been in the Duke of Monmouth's Power he would certainly have Hanged them for it if they had done it He told me afterwards That there was a Design of raising a considerable Sum of Money to buy Arms as I remember in Holland and that Major Wildman Col. Algernoon Sidney and Ferguson managed the Business and that my Lord Russel was very active in it or Words to that effect And that Writings were drawn or drawing or to be drawn for the taking up of the Money as I remember he said Ferguson was to manage on the behalf of the Scots This he told me at his House one Day when I Dined with him but upon my not Examining him to Particulars he said nothing to me but thus generally Only at his House he said That some of them were for a Commonwealth and others for Monarchy At Mr. Shute's Funeral in the publick Room Nelthorp came to me and asked me for something for poor Ferguson as he called him and told me He was doing a good Work for all Honest Men. I told him I would give nothing to any Man for doing a Work I did not know of C. Whitlock Mr. Edmund Waller's Confession I Did once meet Mr. West I do not know the certain time and he rail'd so much at those he called Protestant Lords that I asked him if he would have them be Rebels and told him That such Men as he and nothing else could ruine the Kingdom This was in the Temple before the Hall The last and only other time that I ever spoke with him in private that is alone for we walked in the Temple-Cloysters I met him there and he told me That some People not naming himself as one had had a Design to set upon the King I am not certain whether he named Newmarket but he said It was over I went from him hastily and only said These things will Hang you and undo a great many other People As I remember when he said There had been such a Design I told him I did not believe it and then he said It was to have been done as the King came from Newmarket and was going on to say more but I interrupted him and went away and I believe he was jealous of me for he called after me and said There was no Danger This was as I think the Saturday before this Conspiracy was spoke of in Westminster-Hall Iuly 6th 1683. Edm. Waller Information of Zachary Bourn RIchard Goodenough bringing Mr. Ferguson alias Roberts for that Name he used to go by to my House it was a great while ' ere I understood any thing at all of the Design but so many coming to him daily as did made me jealous I did imagine something of it Upon which he took an occasion one Day to ask What I thought about the Gentlemen that came so often to him and then says Admit there should be a Design on foot for the Good of the People of England Would you be against it To which I answer'd If I can do it with a safe Conscience I could not tell well what I should be perswaded to As to that says he I shall easily satisfie you And then went on to prove a mutual Covenant between the King and the People that his Majesty had broke it on his side so the People were again at Liberty But to the Matter says he as indeed I will be plain with you If you love your self you must come in for there is a Design on foot so laid and so far gone that it is impossible it should fail Then I desired him if he thought it convenient to let me know some Particulars which he said He would provided I would promise him Secrecy but especially I should say nothing to my Father or Wife for he thought I would not speak to any Body else Upon which I said I would And then he was plain as he said and told me as follows That there was not a County in England but had prepared for the Business less or more but especially in the North and West and that they were sure of most Places of Strength throughout the Kingdom but especially Bristol and Newcastle And that they were then a considering how to secure Portsmouth but were afraid they should not the Garrison was so strong And that the Scots were to stir at the same time we were and that we were to lend them 10000 l. to be remitted into Holland to buy Arms for them and that he was to go over with the Bills of Exchange That he found out a Person could deposite the Money upon good Security which the Lords had promised should be given That there was a Dutch-Merchant or two that he had got to provide the Arms for the English could not do
or thereby and that he was brought there from his own House by one Io. Nisbet whom the Declarant knows not further than that he is a West-Country-man about Glasgow and that Io. Nisbet is another Io. Nisbet that wrote a Letter to him to Holland under the notion of Trade relating to the Rising and Rebellion in England And farther That about a year and half ago he met with another Convention consisting of fourscore persons or thereby in the Fields within five miles of the former place near Inner-Kirk and that very few of them had Swords to which Meeting he was advertised to come by a Letter sent to his House subscribed by Mr. Iames Kennick who is Clerk to the Convention and heard of no Ministers being amongst them at either of these times and says there were people there from all the Districts in the several Shires of the Kingdom which Districts he was informed were fourscore and that he knew none of the persons in either of these Meetings except Mr. Iames Kennick the Clerk the said Io. Nisbet who came from a District besides Glasgow and William and Iames Stewarts who came out of Galloway and Robert Speir who came from the Lothians and one Forrest who came from the Upperward of Cluyd and that at these general meetings they produced their Commissions from the several Districts to the Clerk that it might appear that they were commissionate to get relief for the distrest in their bounds that the business of the Convention was to provide for those amongst them were in want and for their own security against the dangers they were in being denounced Fugitives from the Laws and in hazard to be catcht by the Governours and that he heard nothing treated or spoke amongst them as to rising in Arms nor knows of any Correspondence these of the Convention had with any in Ireland and as to England he supposes there was a Correspondence there but knows not these that managed it except the said Io. Nisbet he having shewn the Declarant a Letter he had from Michael Sheills one of the Clerks of the Convention which he saw in the end of March or beginning of April last To the second Interrogator the reason why he accepted of the Commission produced declares He accepted it upon the account to see if there could be a way found for the distrest Brethren to go abroad or to have something from abroad to maintain them there To the third Interrogator declares He remembers no more persons were present but these condescended upon in the first Interrogator which he says was occasioned by his being so long abroad and although upon seeing their faces he might know several of them yet knows not their Names nor the places of their Residence To the fourth declares The said general Conventions were composed of persons sent from the several Districts of which there were as he heard about fourscore in number in which fourscore Districts he was told there would have been six or seven thousand men but knows not of any Gentlemen or leading Men amongst them As to the Commission it was sent him to Newcastle by a common Receiver whom he knows not directed to him at his Lodging at the Sign of the Vine in the Gateside in Newcastle his Landlords Name being George Marshal a publick Inn-keeper and addrest to him under the Name of La Graveil being the Name he went by and that the same was under a Cover of Iames Kennick their Clerk who subscribed it To the last Interrogator repeats his answer made to the first Interrogator and knows no further Being further interrogate upon the Interrogators given in anent the Conspiracy in England declares The the first time he heard of any design of rising in Arms was at the time when the Competition was anent the Sheriffs at Midsummer was a year and then he heard the Duke of Monmouth was to Head the Rebels and this he had from Io. Nisbet and one Mr. Murray a Scotch-man then at London and declares That in Ianuary last the Declarant being in Holland he heard by general report that the late Earl of Argile was to raise some thousand Highlanders to assist the Rebels in England by making a diversion and was to get a Sum of Money for that effect and that in March last he having received a Letter from Io. Nisbet in Holland he came over to London where he met with the said Nisbet and Murray who told the Declarant they designed to rise presently in England and to Rendezvous in Six or Seven places at one time paâ—ticularly at Coventry and London and that they computed several Thousands in York-shire who were to joyn with them That Murray desired the Declarant to go along with him to meet with the late Lord Russel and Gray and the Lord Wharton but of Wharton they sayed they were not very sure of him being a feared Man and with Mr. Ferguson and spoke of several old Officers of Cromwels that were to be there but the Declarant not being for the present Rising shunn'd to meet with these persons or any of them and both Nisbet and Murray told the Declarant that Sir Iohn Cokram was with them and heard from these Two Persons that both the Cessnocks were concerned in that business As to the Letter written by Io. N. of the 20th of March and directed for the Declarant at Rotterdam Declares that Io. Nisbet sent the said Letter and that under the Metaphor of Trade throughout the whole Letter is meant the design of Rising in Arms and a Rebellion and that by the Words dispatching the old rotten Stuff is meant either the excluding the Sectaries from joyning with them or destroying the Government both Civil and Ecclesiastick which last the Declarant supposes rather to be the Words and that by the Factors are meant their Emissaries for carrying 〈◊〉 the Rebellion and for that strange thing that was to fall out that â—eek as the next the Declarant thinks is meant the suddain Muster of the Rebels In the close of the Letter which says things are full as high as I tell you is meant that the Rebellion was instantly to break out and having met with Io. Nisbet after his coming from Holland the said Nisbet explained to him that the sense of the said Letter was as is abovesaid As to a Letter direct to the Declarant under the name of Pringle of the 2 May 1683 declares That the Name of the Subscriber which is blotted out was so blotted before it came to his Hand but by the Contents of it he knows its from one Rob. Iohnston a Tenant or Vassal to the Lord Gray on the Border and that the Traders and Trading there spoke of is the designed Rebellion and that the said Robert Iohnston offered to come to Scotland with the Declarant to have seen some of our disaffected people here and to have met with them And that A. T. mentioned in the said Letter which the Letter
says laboured to undervalue the disaffected party in Scotland which he calls your Goods is the Name of Andrew Young who stays about Newcastle whom he supposes to be a suspect Person because he was feared that Colonel Struthers would apprehend him And that he supposes the way that that Letter came to his Hand was from some Persons that were at a Meeting at Midsummer about that time where was present several of those People that had Commission from the several Districts but that he himself was not at that Meeting Examination of Mr. Steil and Andrew Oliver anent Mr. Aaron Smith's coming to Scotland his going to Sir J. Cockram's House at Ochiltree Edenburgh 11th of December 1683. MR. Thomas Steil in Iedwart-Forest declares that in February last an English Gentleman coming to Iedwart being recommended to the Declarant by one David Sheriff Stabler in Newcastle only that he might direct him to Ochiltree spoke only to him of â—arolina Business anent which he was to transact with Sir Iohn Cockram and that the Declarant got him one Andrew Oliver in Iedwart-Forest for hire to be his guide to Douglass and that the said Oliver went with him from that to Sir Iohn Cockrams and declares he knew not his name and had no knowledge of him but that he was called when he was at Iodwart Clerk but afterwards heard he was called Smith Andrew Oliver in Barwick Tenant to the Marquess of Douglass being Examined declares a little before Seed-time last the Declarant met with Mr. Thomas Steil at Linalie the Marquess's House of purpose to bring hom his Wife from Douglas to Iedburgh-Forest and the Declarant being upon his way and coming to Provost Ainslie's House in Iedburgh and there being a Stranger there an English man ready to take Horse to go to the West the said Mr. Thomas Steil having told the Deponent there was a Stranger who knew not the way and would be desirous of his company and the Deponent having called for the Stranger in the House he and he took Horse together and rode to Peebles that night and the next day came to Douglas and the Stranger upon the way told his Name was Samuel Clerk which he thinks was the next day after they came from Iedburgh and the next day the Stranger not being able to get a Guide to convey him to Ochiltree at the desire of Mr. Thomas Steil's Wife did go along with him from Douglas to Ochiltree and the Stranger went into the House of Ochiltree to call for the Laird the Deponent not having gone in with him where he staid about one quarter of an Hour and came back to a House in the Town where the Deponent was to Lodge That de Deponent heard from the Stranger that his business with the Laird of Ochiltree was concerning Carolina business and of their design to send Families there in the Spring to Plant and that he commended the Country And. Oliver Io. Edenburgen Edenburgh Sederunt and Iournals of Council 20 Dec. 1683. MR. Thomas Steil Chamberlain to the Marquis of Douglas being Prisoner as alleadged Entertaining and Corresponding with Aaron Smith when he was in Scotland and providing him a Guide to Sir Iohn Cokram's House of Ochiltree who being Examined with the said Guide and all that appears is That the said Aaron Smith under the Name of Clark was Recommended by one David Sheriff Inn-keeper and Stabler of Newcastle to Steil as being his Acquaintance when he came to Iedburgh to help him to one that should guide him the way being a Stranger without any suspition or knowledge of his being a person guilty of any Crime or evil Design The Lords upon consideration of the Bill appoint a Letter to be written to the Secretaries to cause Examine Aaron Smith upon the time of his coming to Iedburgh and what past betwixt him and Steil and any other Interrogator proper seeing it 's said that the said Aaron Smith denied he was ever in Scotland and that another Letter be written to the Mayor of Newcastle to Examine the Inn-keeper and in the mean time allows Steil to be at liberat on Caution to appear when called under the penalty of 2000 Marks and that he shall not go off the Country without Licence to prevent any practizing with the Inn-keeper Alexander Gordon of Earlston his Deposition before a Committee of His Majesties Privy-Council and two of the Iustices Edenburgh the 25th of September 1683. ALexander Gordon being further interrogate upon the Interrogators given in anent the Conspiracy in England declares That the first time he heard of any Design of rising in Arms was at the time when the competition was anent the Sheriffs at Midsummer was a year and then he heard the Duke of Monmouth was to head the Rebels and this he had from Iohn Nisbet and one Mr. Murray a Scotch-man then at London and declares That in Ianuary last the Declarant being in Holland he heard by general report that the late Earl of Argile was to raise some thousands of Highlanders to assist the Rebels in England by making a diversion and was to get a sum of money for that effect and that in March last he having received a Letter in Holland from Iohn Nisbet then in London he came over to London where he met with the said Nisbet and Murray who told the Declarant they designed to rise presently in England and to Rendezvous in six or seven places at one time particularly at Coventry and London and that they computed several thousands in Yorkshire who where to joyn with them That Murray desired the Declarant to go along with him to meet with the late Lords Russel and Gray and the Lord Wharton but of Wharton they said they were not very sure being a fearful man and with Mr. Ferguson and spoke of several old Officers of Cromwels that were to be there but the Declarant not being for the present rising shunned to meet with these persons or any of them and both Nisbet and Murray told the Declarant that Sir Iohn Cochran was with them and heard from these two persons that both the Cessnocks were concerned in that Business As to the Letter written by Io. N. of the 20th of March and directed for the Declarant at Rotterdam declares that Iohn Nisbet wrote the said Letter and that under the Metaphor of Trade throughout the whole Letter is meaned the design of rising in Arms and a Rebellion and that by the word Dispatching the old rotten stuff is meaned either the excluding the Sectaries from joyning with them or destroying the Government both Civil and Ecclesiastical which last the Declarant supposes rather to be the meaning of the words and that by the Factors are meaned their Emissaries for carrying on the Rebellion And for that strange thing that was to fall out that Week or the next the Declarant thinks is meaned the sudden muster of the Rebels In the close of the Letter which says Things are full as high
was addressed to Major Holms and marked Number 3. Iune 21. THough I cannot by this Post send you a full account of your Affairs yet I send you as much as may make you take measures what Bills to draw upon me which I hope you will fully understand by Mr. B's help the whole account amounted to several Paâ—es but I onely give you one to total as sufficient I gone so I and refuse object first you time much is way the our would of altogether concerned do upon absolutely do to do effectually as that it be to is at all be 335759424244575769 money 36 47575657 of and to 69224736535657 and they have is at be that no some their 2345535958 c. 50000 4548464758 part as against the but concurrence from be less nor like place and interest is small and power against need do bring which Birch that cannot time are out upon an 324753235657 to 56444256594858444367 projected meat very may little done the been Purse I to shall my lists I to great venture they prospect provided have can willing God given conferrence week Brown I of things said some the now their my head guard mention 324344675748465257 things which to your hope some ago as over some if do spoke for of know and encouragement confer have and self be order resolve and to reckon all and undertake honest or was far be Shooes undertaking many of to for purchase was as is the a possibly us of by force it 〈◊〉 so how the credit for time Birch and some greatest them concerned will for and to and 404843 slation good may onely the if more will if should expect tollerably standing and by and necessar the the more the hazarded to it 8 and think urge so necessar I the that so affairs have business very I possible of I send here against my till what little upon know not which mony 25405748575840524244 I service any what shall resolve thee at did least effectually thought and far if business reckoned for still the there I or stuck you upon money by first sum if then Bills 26435640465359 52 5769455356424457 well that 3841444058 51595058458594357 need trouble something very a frighten the probably not 2000 the tho the once for and 575942 4244575735 will 4057 5748575840524244 and to money could foolish Browne many the not to Gods Brand besides stay Ioâ— seat yet to proposed 322240565157 a deal the things as all once less any drink well on know I as pay whether never the received to any calculate about to that that the such with you I other II for considerable be particular add I are of leâ—t I but all have it Enemies to cannot to Friends made part I writ wish may be service Mr. an whole there consider persons it when knowing any and payments to I it low shall little little meaning Intelligence thing out had which Tents usual whole with 673151485048584840 and by the more of if but the that blessing raise a 5456538445758405258 4753565744 can Virgins supply to call 485650405243 not keep imaginable tho them 4853485244 standing many number 25 4753565733 onely at standing a 5159505848585943 first considerable with more can them Countrey 425351514052434443 in and there 40565157 it was Weeks half I so to at 600 think needs precise I the the it a within what requisite not Sum truly this grounds to say Mr. thing nor know they as hath the grounds occasioned I they both do is Red only let I distance in I half in I the little would 4057485758405242 first shall number very 1000 and the consider small confess them work proposed pleased cannot are 2000 Brand it 544453545044 the be 40565157 then be 4044440564852464604â—84744564443 little 4553564244575758445650485244 have the but it will 455356574457 and as we yet together onely it for buy it consider imploy better Interest small so to some 47535657 a future the to total the absolute of and designed and Waggons are but of proposed or and because what add as out meddle touch of I knowing Merchant there is that what is 404540485644405844515458 Red I not but I of expect of up I enforce at be that should a is in considerable put I done this all have by the not to had before able will I if and a they have will is for 5753504348535956 shall necessars the or of if is is they very incident for the dayly not Cloaths necessar to there the necessar best of the 60405639 events little to hope 5644564457 many Sum were for so in we them more will in and it had any many yet be may all 51485048584840 and will it without and not but more got triple on is very 45535959 now be God and but is what a if odds it as near named not brush of not less power proposed an of thought my and go you in or resolved so I intend hear them our 45564844524357 to neither to will much till any the know on in proposition could what other I of could be the and be but that easie were I all differ was absolutely soon more to sent above at well right foot their together Provisions the suddenly that 404258485352 will take will of the be unwilling the will can at is get Brand not 40565157 no should the much their not and men the are be while do to advantage the husbanding for number is be for 5747534457 only to whole Provisions Charges good can to II my meddle Money as freely for the and be estates do project all after see be I it such you all 47535657 the yet I distance to dare them direction Gods hands in on not prevent and have some help may from a a be pray very II Necessars and that to a occasion prices the submit they but not own had made be do men some of Sum be necessar 47535657 such bestowed nothing they one it Money of Brand not to sent engaged whole with a concerned own Money next prove Money far then but some impossible first be be most to of 4744564858535657 20000 to up do tho there done case and yet number without hard appointed lest 1200 like give will after necessar proposed as should leave hard had number I peremptor I 673347535657 stood possibly those thought juncture I do mention this as as mean other I as neither give know offer have Adieu  Gil. St. The total Sum is 128 8. which will be payed to you by Mr. B. Follows in plain writing on the back of the Letter I have found two of the Books I wrote to Mr. B. were lost I believe he hath the blew one we have received his Letter I have nothing more to say to him at present I hope he knows how to write to me and understands my Address and to instruct you if he do not I have lost six hours work Adieu The Decypher of the said Letter as it was done in England Sir June 21. THough I cannot by this Post send you a full account of your Affairs yet I send you as much as may make you take measures what Bills to
the Churches where the Sermons for Oath to bring up their Children in the true Protestant Faith and in the Discipline and Doctrine of the Kirk of Scotland according as they are obliged by the Solemn League and Covenant and at their Communions debarring always from their Sacrament all such as have not taken the Covenant and do not adhere to it But of all the Fugitive Preachers lately gone over from Scotland into Holland none is more perversely violent against the Government than Mr. Iohn Sinclair who for many years was Minister and kept a Boarding School at Ormiestoun whom about twelve Weeks ago I heard preach in the Scotch Church at Rotterdam and a great part of his Sermon was railing against the Duke and the Privy Council of Scotland saying That he meaning his Royal Highness was a Rebellious Enemy of God and had got such a Hand over those perjur'd Rogues meaning the Lords of the Privy Council as they all intended to overturn the Protestant Religion and to introduce Popery which he further said could very easily be done considering the small Difference that is betwixt them since Episcopacy was re-established and in his Prayer after Sermon I heard him pray earnestly That God might open the King's Eyes to let him see the Evil of his Ways and turn from it otherwise That God might take him out of this World from being a Curse and a Scourge to his Holy People And further prayed That God would turn the Counsels of his Councellors as he did that of Achitophel into nothing The late Earl of Argile lives now in the Province of Frisland where he has a small Estate purchased partly by his Father and partly by himself upon one of their Family or Tenants foretelling many years ago that they should be driven from their Estate in Scotland as I was often told in Holland particularly by Mr. Iohn Hog Minister of the Scotch Church in Rotterdam and Mr. Iohn Pitcairne who keeps a Meeting-house at Vtrecht The Earl of Lowdon with two Servants only and Sir Iames Dalrymple of Stair with his whole Family live at Leyden besides Mr. Douglas a Minister and some few more whose names I do not remember There are many Phanatick House-keepers in Rotterdaâ— who harbour the Rebels and Fugitives that come over from Scotland Viz. Robert Gibs Mr. Livistoune Iohn Gibbs Mr. Russell Iames Delapp Iames Thomson Iohn Greirson Iames Nory Iohn Iack George Weir all Merchants and the Widdow of the lately Deceased Iames Gordon Merchant whose House was the Common Receptacle of the chief of those Rebels and Fugitives The Gentlemen that I left at Rotterdam are Mr. Denham of Westsheills with his Family Captain William Cleland Iohn Belfour with his Family Captain William Ferguson of Caitloch with his Family Captain Andrew Story The Ministers there are Mr. Iohn Hog Mr. Robert Fleeming setled Preachers of the Scotch Church Mr. Iohn Harraway Mr. Thomas Forrester Mr. Alexander Hasty Mr. Patrick Vernat Mr. Iohn Blakater Mr. Gordon Mr. George Barclay and Mr. Iohn Sinclair aforesaid who is now settled a Preacher in the English Church at Delfe At Vtrecht I left Mr. Iames Stewart the Lawyer with his Family and his Elder Brother the Laird of Coldnesse Mr. Cochran Sir Iohn's Second Son the Lady Kersland and her Son and Six Ministers Viz. Mr. Thomas Hogg Mr. Iohn Pitcairne Mr. Iohn Ogilvy Mr. Iohn Veitche Mr. Robert Ker and Mr. Robert Menteath besides some others of less Note whose names I do not remember I left at Vtrecht three English Gentlemen who lived there for some time before and go by the Names of Esquire Packwood Mr. Smith a Merchant of London and Mr. Iones a Welsh-man but I do not believe that these are their true Names for they fled from England upon the Discovery of the late Plot as did likewise several other Englishmen whom I did often see there but could not learn their Names I did also see and speak with Sir Iohn Cochran but he and 7. or 8. Scotchmen more whose names I know not went two days after my Arrival there to Gilderland where a great many of the Rebels and Fugitives live as they think most safe and at ease amongst the Bores for they were afraid of Staying at Vtrecht as some of themselves told me by reason of the Spies that they were informed were sent thither from England to make enquiry after such of his Majesties Subjects as lived there And Mr. Cochran and Captain Cleland told me as their Friend that the report amongst our Countrymen was that I likewise was sent thither as a Spie which although they did not believe yet they advised me to be gone away privately assuring me withal that I was every hour I stayed there in hazard of losing my Life Upon this I returned to Rotterdam where my Credit with that Party continued about a week untill I was suspected by my old Captain and three of the Ministers Viz. Harraway Forrester and Sinclair who about 7 or 8 Weeks ago carried me with them to Church and there proposed as a Test of my Sincerity to the interest of the good Cause as it was commonly called that I should take the Covenant and the Sacrament with a Solemn Protestation that I am still as I have been in former times an Enemy to the King and the present Government All which I refused to do and then they debarred me for ever from their Meetings and Company Nevertheless I did often thereafter insinuate my self into both though without any Success for I could not recover their good opinion but on the contrary was daily threatned with the severest effects of their revenge White-hall 24 Feb. 1683 4. Robert Smith The Information of Zachariah Bourne taken the 5th of December 1683. THat Mr. Bayly sat up one night if not two with Mr. Ferguson and went several times in the Evening with him to the Duke of Monmouth and the cheif managers of the Conspiracy Ferguson told me he was the Cheif man for the Scots next the Lord Argile The Night he sat up with Ferguson I believe it was about the Declaration for the next day he was going to shew it me but some body came up to him and hinder'd him Mr. Bayly's great business to meet the Cheif Conspirators was as Ferguson told me to get the 10000. l. for the buying of Arms for the Insurrection in Scotland Carstares I saw often come to Ferguson but for any Discourse he had with him he never told me of or with any other but Mr. Bayly as I can at present remember Zac. Bourne The Deposition of Mr. William Carstares when he was Examined before the Lords of Secret Committee given in by him and renewed upon Oath upon the 22d of December 1684. in presence of the Lords of His Majesty's Privy-Council Edinburgh-Castle September 8. 1684. MR. William Carstares being Examin'd upon Oath conform to the Condescention given in by him and on the Terms there-in-mention'd Depones That about November or December 1682. Iames
Cochran Ierviswood Commissar Monro the two Cessnocks Montgomery of Langshaw and one Mr. Veatch where they discoursed of Money to be â—ent to Argile in order to the carrying on the Affair and tho he cannot be positive the Affair was named yet it was understood by himself and as he conceives by all present to be for rising in Arms for rectifying the Government Commissar Monro Lord Melvil and the two Cessnocks were against medling with the English because they judged them men that would talk and would not do but were more inclined to do something by themselves if it could be done The Lord Melvil thought every thing hazardous and therefore the Deponent cannot say he was positive in any thing but was most inclined to have the Duke of Monmouth to head them in Scotland of which no particular method was laid down Ierviswood the Deponent and Mr. Veatch were for taking the Money at one of these Meetings it was resolved that Mr. Martin late Clerk of the Justice Court should be sent to Scotland to desire their Friends to hinder the Country from Rising or taking â—ash Resolutions upon the account of the Council till they should see how matters went in England The said Martin did go at the Charges of the Gentlemen of the Meeting and was directed to the Laird of Polwart and Torwoodlie who sent back word that it would not be found so easie a matter to get the Gentry of Scotland to concur But afterwards in a Letter to Commissar Monro Polwart wrote that the Country was readier to concur then they had imagined or something to that purpose The Deponent as above-said having brought over a Key from Holland to serve himself and Major Holms he remembers not that ever he had an exact Copy of it but that sometimes the one sometimes the other keeped it and so it chanced to be in his Custody when a Letter from the Earl of Argile came to Major Holms intimating that the would joyn with the Duke of Monmouth and follow his Measures or obey his Directions this Mr. Veatch thought fit to communicate to the Duke of Monmouth and for the Understanding of it was brought to the Deponent and he gave the Key to Mr. Veatch who as the Deponent was inform'd was to give it and the Letter to Mr Ferguson and he to shew it to the Duke of Monmouth but what was done in it the Deponent knows not The Deponent heard the Design of killing the King and Duke from Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent some were full upon it The Deponent heard that Aaron Smith was sent by those in England to call Sir Iohn Cochran on the account of Carolina but that he does not know Aaron Smith nor any more of that Matter not being concern'd in it Shepard nam'd young Hambden frequently as concern'd in these Matters Sign'd at Edingburgh Castle the 8th of September 1684. and renewed the 18th of the same Month. William Carstares PERTH CANCELL I. P. D. Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle September 18. 1684. MR. William Carstares being again examin'd adheres to his former Deposition in all the parts of it and Depones he knows of no Correspondence betwixt Scotland and England except by Martin before-nam'd For those Gentlemen to whom he was sent were left to follow their own Methods Veatch as the Deponent remembers stayed sometimes at Nicholson Stabler's House at London-Wall sometimes with one Widow Hardcastle in Morefields The Deponent did Communicate the Design on Foot to Doctor Owen Mr. Griffil and Mr. Meed at Stepney who all concurred in the promoting of it and were desirous it should take effect and to one Mr. Freth in the Temple Councellor at Law who said he would see what he could do in reference to the Money but there having gone a Report that there was no Money to be rais'd he did nothing in it nor does the Deponent think him any more concern'd in the Affair Nelâ—hrop frequently spoke to the Deponent of the Money to be sent to Argile whether it was got or not but the Deponent used no freedom with him in the Affair Goodenough did insinuate once that the Lords were not inclin'd to the thing and that before they would see what they could do in the City The Deponent saw Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Rumsay lurking after the Plot broke out before the Proclamation having gone to Ferguson in the back of Bishop-gate-street at some new Building whether he was directed by Ierviswood who was desirous to know how things went Rumsay was not of the Deponent his Acquaintance before but they knew as little of the matter as the Deponent This is what the Deponent remembers and if any thing come to his Memory he is to deliver it in betwixt and the first of October And this is the truth as he shall Answer to God William Carstares PERTH CANCELL I. P. D. At Edinburgh the 22d of December 1684. THese fore-going Pages subscrib'd by Mr. William Carstares Deponent and by the Lord Chancellor where acknowledged on Oath by the said Mr. William Carstares to be his true Depositions and that the Subscriptions were his in presence of us Underscribers William Carstares PERTH CANCELLARIUS David Falconer QUENSBERRY George Mekenzie ATHOL Copy of the Lord Russel's Examination in the Tower My Lord Russel Asked WHether he knows of any Consultations tending towards an Insurrection or to surprize His Majesties Guards at any time and by any persons and by whom Whether he hath ever been at Mr. Shepards House and how often and when last Whether any Lords were in company and who Whether at any time the Duke of Monmouth Lord Grey Sir Thomas Armstrong Colonel Romzey Mr. Ferguson or any of them were there and how many and which of them Whether there was any discourse concerning a Rising in the West or any parts of the West or at Taunton and what the Discourse was and by whom Whether there was any discourse concerning the surprizing the Kings Guards at any time Whether the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Armstrong did undertake to view the Guards to see if it might be done and in what posture they were Whether they gave any account that they had viewed the Guards and how they found them What did Mr. Ferguson say at any of those Meetings and by whom was he directed Whether he knows of any Design for a Rising in Scotland Whether he hath been at any Consultations for that end with any persons Scotchmen or others and with whom What Monies the Scotch demanded at first and whether they did not consent to take Ten thousand pounds and how was that or any part of that to be raised and by whom My Lord Russel's Answer to the preceding Interrogatories MY Lord knows of no Consultation tending to any Insurrection His Lordship knows nothing of any Consultation or Design to surprize his Majesties Guards at any time divers times His Lordship doth acknowledge to have been frequently at Mr. Shepard's House His Lordship cannot