but such things I am now Treated and admired by all Companies that I come into Congratulating me with Thanks for my Service done to the Protestants I told him I was glad to hear that and that I my self wanted nothing by the Blessing of God and Mr. Loman's assistance and others belonging to the Prison who supply'd me with what I desired or Moneys could procure without Imbrewing my hands in Blood which I never had nor would do at which he went away in a Huff And about a Week or a Fortnight before Christmass 1680. Mr. John Cooms who bought Lewis's and several other such like Narratives came to the Marshalseas and Mr. Lewis with him where he the said Mr. Coombes engaged to Mr. Loman the Keeper for what I owed him upon which I had my Liberty After that time I took Lodging in the City where I became acquainted with several Citizens at Mr. Coombs's and the Amsterdam Coffee-Houses both of them I daily frequented and several Persons ask'd me whether I had any Allowance from the King according to the Address made by the House of Commons to His Majesty on my behalf I reply'd I had not received any they answered It was very hard measure further adding That if the King took no care of the Evidence they knew no reason to the contrary but that They might and thought themselves bound to do it for those who had preserved their Lives and Liberties from the Blood-thirsty Papists And this or to the like effect was their common Discourse in all publick places where I was amongst them for four or five Months together And about the Parliament at Oxford Mr. Lewis told me That he had occasioned another great Discovery I ask'd him what it related to he said I should know as soon as he had fully accomplished it also telling me He wanted but one Witness to effect it and then he could Print a Narrative that should far exceed his first which would be great satisfaction to the Parliament and what they had long expected to be discovered He also said That had he an Order for the same he would have it in Print with all Expedition further declaring to me That if he should Print it without an Order the Press being free any person may Reprint the same which would be a great loss to him And about a day or two after I met with one Mr. Edward Ivy in Moor-fields who ask'd me Where I had been all that time he had not seen me I reply'd It was not so long since I saw him Oh said he but you lie still and let Mr. Lewis find out all the great Discoveries I desired to know of him what new things were on foot now At which he told me That Mr. Lewis had brought his Brother in to Swear that he went with great sums of Money to Sir William Scroggs late Lord Chief Justice from the Portugal Embassador I said that was great Service indeed if it were true and sometime after there was a Common-Councel call'd in the City at which time some of the Evidence had prepared a Petition to be preferred to the said Common-Councel to make their Condition known to them of their great wants of Moneys or to that effect as Mr. Lewis told me I reply'd Do you think that they will supply us with Money Yes said he those that have signed the Petition will be supplyed I ask'd him why I was not one that sign'd it Because said he you have not made a large Discovery of the Popish Plot And the same day that the Common-Councel sat I had Moneys before any of them for Mr. Kidd at the Amsterdam Coffee-House in Bartholomew-lane the same day in Guild-hall did slide a Crown into my hand and also the same day in the said Hall I ask'd Colledge the Protestant-Joyner how he thought things would go He reply'd Very well he did not doubt further saying That he had made several of the Common-Councel of the Witnesses side in order to their Supply with Moneys further adding If that will not take we will find out some other way to Supply you But said he why do you not Swear positively that you know Mrs. Celier that she might be brought to a Tryal and then you shall not want Moneys All which he bid me consider of And I should find it would be for my good I promised him I would and so we parted Soon after I came acquainted with one Mr. Rowse belonging to Sir Thomas Player who told me That he had undertaken to raise Moneys for the Supply of the Evidence until a Parliament should be call'd And upon the Tuesday in Whitson-week 1681. I being in the Amsterdam Coffee-House Mr. Rowse came to me and desired me to go and Drink Glass of Wine with Mr. Kidd and himself and to the best of my knowledge there was a person or two with them who were altogether strangers to me we went to the Crown Tavern behind the Royal-Exchange where after a little time Mr. Rowse gave me a Guiney telling me withall That that was the first but should not be the last that I should have from him if he lived and did well And then they ask'd me many questions viz. Whether I had Printed any Narrative or not I reply'd I had not They ask'd me the reason why I told them it was for want of Money to get out the Copies of my Papers that then lay in the hands of Mr. John Coombs the Coffee-man in Bartholomew-lane at which Rowse and Mr. Kidd both reply'd You shall not want Moneys nor Friends to assist you in this Affair Mr. Rowse also told me That my best way would be to go to the Earl of Shaftsbury and desire his Lordships advice They also desired to know If I had Accused the Duke of York or not I told them I had though really I had not at which they reply'd It was pity that such a Discovery as mine should lie hid and not published for the satisfaction of all True Protestants Then Mr. Rowse pull'd out his Pocket-Book and declared that he had gotten above 30 eminent Citizens to Subscribe their Names to his said Book for the Supply of the Evidence and that some of them had subscribed to give 20 Guineys and some 30. He further declared He did not doubt but to have as many more Hands before the Saturday night following He again advising me to go to the Earl of Shaftsbury concerning getting my Papers out of the hands of Mr. Coombs and so for that time we parted And soon after I went to the said Earl's to know how I should get the Copy of my Informations out of his hands His Lordship sent me out word That I should go to Sir Thomas Player in his Honours Name who would direct me what to do in that matter Which accordingly I did and coming to Sir Thomas's House I sent him word up that I came from the Earl of Shaftsbury to him about earnest business upon which he immediately
had a Dinner and there he told his Wise with great rejoycing that we had done our business For saith he We have been with the Earl of Shaftsbury and Doctor Oates and in the Afternoon Mr. Zeale must attend his Lordship at his House by his own order Towards the evening I went to his Lordship's House but Mason could not go with me by reason of some extraordinary occasions of his own that hindred him and coming to his Lordships House I had not been long there but Doctor Oates and Collonel Mansel came in the Doctor seeing me went in to his Lordship as I imagine and soon after came out to me and told me his Lordship was very busie And therefore said he I would have you come again a day or two hence and then you 'l be sure to speak with my Lord But said Doctor Oates cannot you get one more that was of Sir Francis Radcliffe 's Family to Swear to the said Paper I told him I thought I could though really I could not He reply'd If you could do that it would be excellent Service And so I took leave of him and repaired again to Mason's House who was very earnest to know how I had proceeded I told him I could not speak with the Earl of Shaftsbury for Dr. Oates said to me he had so much company with him that it was impossible to speak with his Lordship that evening desiring me to come a day or two hence at which Mason swore Damn him he believed I had received Money of his Lordship and would not tell him Upon which I protested to him I had not but must attend a day or two hence He not believing it said I will see the truth of this for I will go with you my self I reply'd with all my heart and the Saturday following we both went into Aldersgate-street and coming to his Lordships House he was not within so we went to an Ale-house hard by and tarried till we understood his Lordship was come in when going to his House I sent up my name and was immediately conducted into his Lordships presence up one pair of stairs where he ask'd me several questions viz. What Religion I was of I answer'd a Protestant He also ask'd me What Friends I had in Town I told him my Father To which his Lordship reply'd bring him to me and then I will discourse You further After which I took my leave and was conducted down stairs by a Gentleman Mason standing all the while at the Chamber-door and seeing me discourse with his Lordship When we came out of the House Mason asked me what News I told him his Lordship had order'd me to bring my Father to him He reply'd I will perswade your Father to go with you and will tell him that you will have twenty Guineys of the Earl of Shaftsbury and this said he will certainly induce him to go with you Being come to Mason's House he there openly declar'd we had been at the Earl of Shaftsbury's and that I was lighted up stairs to his Lordship as if I had been a Person of Quality and he would warrant I should have Money plenty as soon as I was sworn telling his Wife that he would have his Room two pair of stairs hang'd for me and that I should both Lodge and Dyet in his House or words to that effect This being Saturday-night we desisted until Monday following when we both went over towards my Fathers Lodgings near St. George's Fields and as we went along he told me that after I had begun with Sir Sir Francis Radcliffe I should accuse the Duke of York and the Lords in the Tower and said he let me alone to contrive and draw up such Informations against them as shall bring you into great favour with the next Parliament or words to that effect So drawing near my Fathers Lodgings Mason desired me to walk in the Fields whilst he went in and discoursed my Father which I did but whether I went in or not I cannot well remember however Mason tarry'd a considerable time with him as he informed me though I judg'd he would have but an indifferent answer to what he proposed At length he came and told me my Father had promised to be at his House that day or speedily after that being all the discourse we had at that time we parted I going towards London and he towards his own House Some days after I saw my Father who ask'd me what was the reason I sent that fellow to him naming Mason upon such accounts as he offered telling me moreover that if I did not refrain Mason's company and evil practices he would never look upon me Mason said my Father was so impudent in the hearing of my Landlady to desire me to perswade you to swear against Sir Francis Radcliffe telme you should have Twenty Guineys of the Earl of Shaftsbury as soon as you are sworn In answer to all which I told my Father that I had left the said Mason's house and also refrained his company which in truth I had done And this to the best of my knowledge was the sole contrivance of the said Mason All the before-mentioned Information I had drawn up against the said Mason with an intent to have discovered it during the sitting of the last Parliament but was perswaded to the contrary by one Mr. William Lewis and one Mr. John Haytor then both Prisoners in the Marshalsea for Debt as well as my self who both told me tho' the thing was really true and that Mason had endeavoured to suborn me yet the Parliament would take no notice of it because it was in vindication of a Roman Catholick whereupon I burnt the said Information and desisted until now only I declared in general to Justice Rich and Justice Reading above two years since that Mason had endeavoured to suborn me but did not declare to them in what nature or particular About Christmas following my Father had a Warrant granted him to be Purser to one of His Majesty's Ships at Chatham to which Imployment he repaired and took me down with him where I continued for some months but having no likelyhood of getting any Preferment there and hearing of the Earl of Ossory's going as General for Tangier I got leave of my Father to go to London and make what interest I could to go with his Honour in that Expedition and thereby endeavour to raise my Fortune there being no probability of Action here To which my Father consenting I accordingly came to Town about the latter-end of June or beginning of July but I had not been long here e'r the ill News of the Earl of Ossory's death was generally confirmed which put me to as great a loss as ever for having contracted some Debts I was arrested for the same and thrown into the Marshalsea where I became acquainted with the before-mentioned Mr. William Lewis who understanding how I had been tamper'd with to swear High-Treason against Sir Francis Radcliffe
confinement I writ to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey declaring my condition who was my very good Friend as I can very plainly prove he came to me in Prison to whom I declared my condition upon which he was pleased to give me some Money and told me withal that if I could procure Bail he would send me my Discharge which I did do and he accordingly sent it me by a Gentleman a Friend of mine and my Friends not being then in Town to supply me with Moneys I was forc'd to tarry till the Sessions because I had not wherewithal to pay my Fees at the Sessions following I was Indicted for High Treason with Mr. Dangerfield of which I was acquitted and at the same time was also Indicted for a misdemeanour with Dangerfield of which I was found Guilty and Fined Twenty Pounds Sterling and Dangerfield was Fined Fifty Pounds After my Tryal Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was pleased to come to me to the Press-yard and told me That he appeared upon the Bench in my behalf and that he had spoke favourably of me to the then Recorder Dalbin Besides Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was also pleased to tell me That he had saved my Friend Dangerfield from standing in the Pillory for that Offence in speaking well of me And afterwards Captain Richardson the Keeper having received a Letter frome one Mr. Penn to desire him to be kind to me during my Confinement I being of an Honest good Family c. telling him also what kindness he shewed to me he would take it as done to himself for my Families sake or words to that effect Upon which Captain Richardson was so kind as to get my Fine remitted in the Kings most Gracious Pardon and also took my own engagement for my Fees Lodging and other Subsistance at which the Attorney-General was pleased to tell me that my Evidence was good by vertue of the Kings General Pardon if I never had suffered for any other Crimes which I declared I never had then his Honour ask'd Mr. Lewis whether he had ever stood on the Pillory or not Mr. Lewis changing his Countenance reply'd he had Mr. Attorney-General also ask'd him for what He answered that it was for a Forg'd Bill of Exchange some other such like questions were ask'd him which I cannot well remember all this was in the hearing of one Mr. Beal a Messenger belonging to the Marshalseas who was at that that time my Keeper From thence I return'd back to the said Prison where I told the before-mentioned Haytor what had passed before Mr. Attorney-General that Afternoon and how Mr. Lewis had confessed that he had stood on the Pillory Then Haytor reply'd that he took him to be a very ill man ever since he writ his Informations for which he promised him a Beaver-Hat But said Haytor He was so dirty as to go away and not perform his Promise nor so much as return me Thanks for the same but said he I will do him as good a kindness to the Earl of Shaftsbury which shall be more than ten such Hats out of his way And on the other side if you 'l be rul'd by me I will make your Interest great with his Lordship I ask'd him how or which way He told me That he would make an Addition to my Narrative that it should far exceed Mr. Lewis 's And finding his Inclinations I promised I would then Haytor desired me to insert in Informations and Swear to it That the King would have seized the City-Treasury by force of Arms and that the Earl of Feversham was the Person designed to command the Guards to effect the same He also told me That if I would publish the same it would be the only means that he knew to Incense the Parliament against the King so that they should not consent to give His Majesty any Moneys until he had signed the Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York I reply'd I had no Order for the Printing my Informations Oh said he let me alone for that I will engage the Earl of Shaftsbury to get you an Order as soon as he understands by me what great consequence you have to discover He the said Haytor further declaring That his Lordship had a great influence upon the House of Commons who were rul'd much by his perswasions and that nothing of Moneys would ever be granted by them to the King until the Duke of York was totally excluded from ever inheriting the Imperial Crown of England He further adding That his Lordship was the greatest Opposer that his Highness had in Parliament and that his Lordship never took any thing in hand though of the greatest moment but he went through with it He also told me That had it not been for the Bishops the Bill had past the House of Lords against the Duke the last Parliament at Westminster saying That he hoped to see the time again that there should be no such persons as Bishops in England And that himself did not doubt but to have as good an Imploy as ever he had in a short time by the Earl of Shaftsbury 's means And about that same time he had drawn up Papers of his own Contrivance and went to one Mr. Combs the Coffee-man and in my hearing desired him to get them published but he refused so to do I cannot say whether it was inserted in his Papers that which he put me upon Swearing or not but Lewis hath several times told me That he had urg'd him to Print the same in his Narrative about seizing the City-Treasury Mr. Haytor several times told me That he was Scout-Mr -General in Cromwel 's Army and how in those days persons of good Quality came Cap in hand to him He hath sent several Letters to the Earl of Shaftsbury from the Marshelseas by one Mr. Hind and one Mr. Beale both Messengers to the said Prison the import of the said Letters I knew not but the said Persons can give a more perfect account thereof who promised me the same upon the 17th day of December 1681. if they should be called thereunto by Authority And this Information against Mr. Haytor I gave into the hands of one Mr. J an Attorney of the Kings-Bench at his Chamber in Cliffords-Inn about the time of the said date All this Villainous contrivance of Haytor's was about the time of the Lord Stafford's Tryal at which time I being Sick Mr. Lewis came to see me and sitting upon my Bed-side told me That I must own I knew Celier else the City would not look upon me when I came abroad For said he they are for hanging her out of the way for several of them have been with me to know if you have Sworn positively against her I ask'd Mr. Lewis what made him so Fine He told me I might be as Fine if I would do as he had done What 's that said I Accuse one of the Lords in the Tower as you have Yes by God for nothing takes with the Parliament
I was born and brought up on purpose to incense the factious sort of people against the King's proceedings and stir them up to a Rebellion telling me That he would go into Wales and do the like there and also supply me with moneys for my journey in order to the same But I refused to meddle in any such matter Moreover Mr. Lewis hath divers times told me That if ever the Court should take away his life by Law he would kill more at his death than ever he could living I ask'd him why he should fear his life being taken away unless he had deserved it Oh said he there is stout swearing on all sides I reply'd You know that by experience at which he said It was as impossible for a man to swear any thing that did not please the Parliament as it was to row a Boat through London-Bridge against Tide tho' a man discovered nothing but the real Truth and again on the other side if the greatest Rogue in England should come in and discover any thing against the Papists though it be never so false he shall be believed and accounted an honest man You may see it by Mr. Turbervile when he accused the Lord Stafford he was accounted a Demy-God in the City but when he came to accuse the Earl of Shaftsbury they bespatter'd him in a most odious manner He has also told me That if his Perjury should be found out he knew the worst of it which was but suffering what he had done before viz. stand in the Pillory Many other Treasonable Practices I have known by Lewis but they are too long here to insert About the beginning of October last I was sent for to the Greyhound-Tavern in Fleet-street where a Constable told me He had a Warrant against me which I willingly obey'd there being Mr. Smith and several in the Company that said Mr. Lewis was at the same time committed close Prisoner in the Gate-house I declar'd it was nothing but what he deserved And that I my self deserved Imprisonment for concealing his Treasonable Practices yet notwithstanding I told them that if they had but sent a Porter or Note I would have come and declared what I knew against him That night I was committed to Wood-street-Compter where I told the Keepers that I was committed for concealing the Villainies of an ill man and desired them if Sheriff Rich came there in the morning that they would call me down to him and he accordingly coming sent for me into the Lodg asking me what I was committed for I told him for no offence of my own that I knew of but for concealing Mr. Lewis's evil Practices which I will now no longer do The Sheriff ask'd me if he were an evil man or no and whether that which he swore against the Lord Arrundel of Warder was true or false I told him it was all false and that I would make it out so plain that the whole World should be satisfy'd Upon which Sheriff Rich departed and presently after I was carried before Sir William Turner who ordered me to be carried before Major Parry at Hicks's-Hall which was done where the Major desired me that if I knew any ill of Mr. Lewis I would discover it or give it him in writing which accordingly I did Notwithstanding which I was committed by the said Major Parry to New-Prison where I remained almost ten weeks and at last was discharged by Law During my Confinement there Mr. Lewis's Welsh Wife came to me and told me that her Husband was inform'd I had sworn against him I declared I had not Then she reply'd He did not fear what any person could do unto him provided I stood his Friend telling me that he owned to her that his life lay in my hands and if I could get my self bail'd out he would raise money for me to pay my Fees and carry me over to Holland to the Club whither he advised me to go she also declared that he would get me Letters of Recommendation to some persons in Holland by whom I should be very well received and that he also hoped he should be with me in a short time She also said that she had several times told him as she met him in the streets that his Plotting and Contriving would bring him to the Gallows Two or three times she came and finding nothing would work upon me left off coming During my Confinement Balron's Wife in the hearing of one Mrs. Thomas came to me and told me Mr. Zeale you need not tarry here a day longer if you will but draw up an Information against the Earl of Shaftsbury you will be soon fetch'd out in a Coach and be supply'd with moneys And Balron himself told me That he would prove when a Parliament sate that the Lords in the Tower sent Instructions and Dictates how and what the Witnesses should swear against the Earl of Shaftsbury and others in the City All which Balron said he would swear and also produce a Letter from-under one of the Lords hands to that effect I ask'd him why he would swear it he answer'd it would be a means for him to gain the favour of a Parliament since he was dismiss'd at Court This he told me a little before I was committed to New-Prison After my enlargement I met with Major Parrey's Clark the day before Christmas-day last who told me that his Master desired me to go to Sheriff Rich and give him a true account of Lewis's Villainies and that his Master had received a Letter from the said Sheriff in behalf of Lewis The same day I went but not finding the Sheriff at his House I was directed to Fishmongers-hall where I found him He very courteously received me being glad to see me at liberty and desired me to stay and dine with him which I did and at the Table I told him I came by the request of Major Parrey to give him an account of the ill practices and contrivances of Mr. Lewis there being one Mr Stiles as I think at Table who reply'd he always took him to be a very ill man After some other discourse about him I took leave But I had almost forgot one passage that Sheriff Rich ask'd me if Mr. Lewis had served Sir John Moreton faithfully I told him I was informed by his Brother that he had Robb'd Sir John of a considerable value for which he endeavoured to hang him at which Sheriff Rich said That he did ask Sir John Moreton how Lewis behaved himself in his Service this was ask'd in the House of Commons the same day Mr. Lewis gave in his Information to which Sir John reply'd as the Sheriff told me That he served him Faithfully At which I replyed Mr. Lewis had declared as much to me that he saw Sir John in the House and that he heard him not speak one word of him For said he Sir John is a great Shaftsburian and if I discover'd any thing that had been contrary to
by the Votes of that day There came up several persons and desired of me If I could not call to mind the Duke's coming to the Crown suddenly Which in my apprehension was putting men in mind what they would have them to Swear But I do declare that I never spoke one word to his Royal Highness in my life notwithstanding I have been put upon so often to Accuse him And before the last Dutch-War I was preferred to Sir George Downing as one of his Pages who then went Ambassador to Holland for which I had his Certificate which is as followeth viz. March the 3d. 1672 3 THese are to Certify whom it may concern that Mr. John Zeale served me Faithfully as a Page during my late Embassage in Holland George Downing The Testimonies of several Credible Persons in the Confirmation of many Remarkable Occurrences mentioned in this Narrative The Confirmation of Mr. William Banks MR. Zeale came one day to my House and told me That there were some person or persons that were Tampering with him to give Evidence against Sir Francis Radcliffe of High Treason and that he was to have a sum of Money for the same Besides he desired me To inform Sir Francis of the same which I did This is the whole Truth and nothing but Truth as witness my Hand and that it was about the time Sir Francis was last in Town William Banks The Confirmation of Mr. John Smith AT the Request of Mr. John Zeale I do herein declare that the said Zeale about two years agoe told me That one William Lewis who was a Prisoner in the Marshalsea and at Newgate Pillored and Burned in the Hand for his Generous Exploits was the worst of men to his knowledge which he in time would convince the World of his Wicked and Treacherous Practices adding That he verily believ'd the said Lewis exceeded all mankind in Villany and wicked Contrivances against the King's Interest The said Zeale also told me in the presence of Justice Warcup Mr. John Macknamarra and Mr. Stephen Dugdale That the said William Lewis when he was a Prisoner in the Marshalsea taking upon him the Title of Lord Chancellor there contrived and framed a most horrid Design against the Lord Arundel of Warder viz. How the said Lord would Suborn him to Swear many things against the Kings Interest and also Engage him to Murder the King for which he was to have 1500 l. from the said Lord Arundel The said Zeale also told me How the aforesaid Lewis prevailed with his Brother who was a Footman to the Portugal Embassador to Swear against the Lord Chief Justice Screggs that he received several Thousands of Guineys from the aforesaid Ambassador to save Sir George Wakeman's Life and that to his knowledge the said Lewis had a Pension from the City for giving them Intelligence of what he could learn at Court though at the same time he pretended to Inform the Court of what passed in the City All this Mr. Zeale told me in presence of many John Smith The Confirmation of Mr. Robert Elmes I Robert Elmes doth declare That upon the third day of February last past being at the Bufflers-head-Tavern near the Gate-house Westminster John Hankyson one of the Turn-Keys of the said Prison brought one Mr. Lewis to me who desired me To go and Arrest a person who was then at the St. Johns-head-Tavern commonly called Heaven in the Old-Pallace-yard I demanded of the said Lewis if he had any Writ or Warrant against him whether it was his own Debt or not he answered No telling me Any piece of Paper will afright him and if I would undertake it he would give me a good Gratuity The said Turn-key also perswaded me to undertake it telling me That he was a Friend of his and would not put any thing upon me but what he would bear him out in or to that effect I ask'd the Persons Name whom they would have Arrested they told me One Mr. John Zeale a person who I never saw in my life to my knowledge till that time I told them I would not undertake it assuring them that I never did any thing in that nature without a Lawful Warrant neither would I then begin And finding nothing would prevail upon me they departed I perceived it was a piece of Malice and Roguery I sent my Man to the said St. Johns-head Tavern to acquaint the above-mentioned Mr. Zeale of the design there was against him least any other Officer should undertake it Robert Elmes The Confirmation of Mr. John Harris ON the 23d day of March 1682 3 Mr. John Zeale being very sick and not expecting to live he sent for me and told me He did not know whether he should live or die and desired me if it should please God to take him out of the World that the Papers which he did intend to publish was all true as he might answer before the great God He also desired me to get them printed to satisfie the World what Roguery there has been acted I told him That it was a Justice of Peace's business and if he thought convenient I would go to one and get him to come and give him his Oath but he recovered of that Sickness which prevented my bringing a Justice of the Peace to him All which I am ready to make Oath if it shall be required John Harris FINIS