thousand Pounds and send thee to my Son Tom if in London or else to others concerned therein But he refusing to have his Hands in Blood Sir Thomas pray'd him to keep it secret and he promis'd it Bolron being ask'd by the Lord Chief Justice when he first discovered this to any body he said that about a week or a fortnight after he went to Mr. Tyndal and upon Oath in writing inform'd him that Sir Thomas offer'd him a thousand Pounds to kill the King and that Mr. Tyndall said he would give the Council an account thereof and issued out his Warrant against Pressick but not against Sir Thomas Whereat his Lordship seem'd to wonder yet more as well he might That in the latter end of June he should have said the beginning of July he came to London and was examin'd by Sir Robert Clayton and carried to the Lord Shaftsbury the fourth ditto and there he might have told how that he then made a full Information upon Oath and that upon the 29th he made the amendment both which he hath now united into one as he had done in his Narrative lest he should offend the Criticks with his humane frailty and want of memory in so fresh a matter but he thought better on 't and that it would be a discovery of his chiefest Master-piece Maybury being next sworn deposed That he came to Sir Thomas's Service in 1674. and liv'd with him till January 1676. that divers Priests came to Sir Thomas's and he serving at the Altar was permitted to be with them That 1676. he heard them discoursing of bringing in Popery by Fire and Sword if it could not be done by fair means That York and London should be fired and the King kill'd for a Heretick That Rushton said so Sir Thomas not being present but Sir Thomas and his Son Thomas and the Lady Tempest and Stephen Tempest received first the Sacrament of Secrecy and then were made acquainted with it who all agreed to kill the King and he the said Maybury received the Oath of Secrecy also That about Michaelmas 1676. he saw a List with 500 Names that the Title of it was The Names of them engaged in killing the King and setting up the Popish Religion that Sir Thomas Gascoigns Name was to it with his own Hand as also the Lady Tempest Mr. Thomas Gascoign Mr. Stephen Tempests Sir Walter Vâ—â—â—souâ—â— Sir Francis Hungates the Townleys and several others That they discoursed of Commissions Indulgences and Pardons from the Pope for it That about Michaelmas 1676. Sir Thomas his Son Thomas the Lady Tempest Sir Miles Stapleton and Rushton in the Dining-room at Barmbow declared they would do their utmost to kill the King and would venture their Lives and Estates therein That Doctor Stapleton coming from some other part of the House went in and told them that he the Deponent was at the door that thereupon the Lady Tempest bade him go down and entertain Sir Miles his Servants Being ask'd why he discover'd it not long before he answered That about Michaelmas 1679. he discover'd it to Mr. Tyndal but durst not do it of three years before for fear that Papists should kill him He further added That he turn'd Protestant about the time that the Plot first came out which occasioned the greater wonder in the Auditory considering him a twelve-month silent when Oates and the rest had broken the Ice with such success and encouragement and a whole Nation with their Representative standing at his back Several of Sir Thomas his Almanacks which were taken from him were produced also against him and there it appear'd by his own writing that from the 21st of July 1678. Mr. Corker had received from him 900 l. and directions were there also how to send Letters to Mr. Harcourt and about buying Heworth and likewise about buying the Reversion of Heworth for his Niece Thwing as also a Memorandum to acquaint Thomas Thwing with his design and other Notes as also a Paper of the 9th of June 78. which had been taken out of Sir Thomas's Chamber was produced against him likewise being a Letter from John Prasset and a Paper to Mr. Benefeild with a Proviso that if England should be converted then the whole 90 l. per Annum should be applied to purchase Heworth and the Writing to be made without any alteration Moreover the word Yes on the side of the said Paper was written by Sir Thomas himself There was also a Letter of the 24th of May last from Mr. Prasset produced wherein he he declared the taking of the Oath as now worded damnable but some Letters that were for Sir Thomas his advantage and would plainly have made appear some of Bolrons Informations to be most insulse and inconsistent were suppressed and kept from the Prisoner and from the view of any After this Richard Fishwick was sworn who declar'd that he had serv'd Sir Thomas about six years and a Writing was shewn which gave an account of his returning in six years 6000 l. to London This the said Fishwick own'd and that part thereof was Sir Thomas his own Money part of it was Mr. Thomas Gascoignes and the Lady Tempests and that Mr. Thomas Gascoigne had 4 or 500 l. per Annum and the Lady Tempest 3 or 400 l. per Annum Mr. Attorney General produc'd an Account out of Mr. Mawson's Book That from March 1674. to December 1677. there was return'd from him to Sir Thomas 2500 l. and that several Sums thereof were paid to Mr. Corker which Sum was taken as part of the 6000 l. return'd from York-shire as before mentioned And here Mr. Attorney ended saying that he would give no further evidence at present till he heard what the Prisoner would offer in his defence Sir Thomas who all this while understood not one syllable from the Witnesses themselves of what they had sworn against him but having by his Solicitors hollowing in his Ear an imperfect apprehension of some Particulars prayed the Court after he had a little considered his Breviate that the Witnesses following might be examin'd who being call'd testified to this purpose Mr. James Babington testified and offered to depose That he was and for several years had been Attorney at Law to Sir Thomas Gascoigne and by his direction sued Bolron in May last upon his two Bonds of 20 l. and 28 l. and that Bolron desired him to forbear suing him for a fortnights time and promised to pay the Money due upon the said Bonds or to secure the same That Bolron also offer'd afterwards to make a Mortgage of his House at New-Castle for Sir Thomas his security but that his Wife refused to joyn therein unless the Bonds were cancell'd That on or about the 13th of June last he by Sir Thomas his direction delivered Bolron a Declaration in Ejectment for the Farm he liv'd in and told him that he had Orders from Sir Thomas to proceed against him and Bolron
Thomas for 21 years and he produced the Deed in Court and said that 4 or 500 l. thereof being in arrear Sir Thomas commenc'd a Suit in Chancery and the Arrears were thereupon paid him and the 900 l. aforesaid which were sent to Mr. Corker were part of the said Mary's Portion who is now in a religious Convent beyond Seas and were return'd by him to her for no other purpose whatsoever he the Deponent having drawn the Acquittances for the same that he was privy thereto and constantly entred the same in his Account-Books That the other Sister Helena was disposed in Marriage and 2000 l. of her Portion was likewise paid not long after That he was likewise privy to Sir Thomas returning 1988 l. to Mr. Mawson and that the same was paid to Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Mauleverer for the Purchase Sir Thomas made of an Estate at Manstone in York-shire that he was at Mr. Trumbulls executing the Conveyance thereof and drew the Acquittance for the said Money That 200 l. more of the said Purchase-money was paid to William Errington and 80 l. more thereof to Widow Coston in pursuance of directions from Sir Thomas That he the Deponent had several Letters by him directing Payments to several of Sir Thomas his Brothers Sisters Children and Grand-children abroad which Payments to his knowledge were made accordingly and that the same amounted to no less than the 6000 l. which Mr. Fishwick deposed he had return'd in so many years and that the said Moneys were paid to no other use than as he had before declared Sir Thomas had many more Protestant Witnesses in and about the Court but by his not hearing from the Mouths of the Parties themselves what had passed either for or against him and especially the interlocutory discourses which in a false accusation ever afford main advantages and by his being dim-sighted so that he could not readily nor methodically follow his Breviate as also tyr'd with long standing and stun'd too with the often hollowing in his Ears he became so amaz'd and confounded that he was wholly unable to help himself Nor was any body suffer'd to call his Witnesses till he had named them and therefore several never appeared Nay the hurry was at length so great in Court that some of them were dismiss'd before they had half done some being call'd too quick after the others that the latter got in first and the former call'd lost admission which the Prisoner not perceiving and his Friends not permitted to re-mind him was a great disappointment in many material occurrences amongst other things those Witnesses which happened to be omitted stood ready to testifie and make out the Thefts of Maybury Others his Cheats and manner of living at London Others the Gold and Medals sold and changed by him Others the ill opinion Sir Thomas and his whole Family had of him and Bolron also especially after their departure much encreased Others how the said Bolron threatned his Wife if she would not joyn to accuse Sir Thomas Others how much he fear'd to be sued and arrested hy his Bonds-men And others of Mr. Thomas Gascoignes being constantly at Paris or on his Journey thither from the 7th of April which was almost two Months before the aforesaid 30th of May till that day of the Tryal which was wholly inconsistant with a moral possibility of Sir Thomas his directing Bolron to his Son Thomas then to assist him in the pretended Proposition of killing the King as Bolrons first Information sworn to did run Those that were called by Mr. Attorney in behalf of the Kings Evidence were first Bolrons Wife who said That her Husband never threatned or endeavoured to force her to swear any thing against Sir Thomas Secondly Bolrons Grand-mother who witnessed that he was a very honest good Man And lastly Fishwick who declared That whilst he the said Fishwick liv'd with Sir Thomas he knew no dishonesty by Bolron Now it seems Fishwick had left Sir Thomas his Service long before the Examinations of Bolrons Accounts and the other matters afterward laid to his Charge were made Mr. Justice James by reason the Lord Chief Justice was gone to try Causes in London summ'd up the Evidence and having done it with the usual Tope of shewing not only the Principles and Practises of the Papists generally supposed to be believed but the positiveness of the two Witnesses Oaths for the King and then discending to some Particulars in behalf of the Prisoner he left the whole matter to the Jury After Mr. Justice Dolbin had remembred him of a thing forgotten in the re-capitulation very considerable viz. That Sir Thomas as had been prov'd by Protestant Witnesses did sue Bolron not only before the 30th of May but just after also and yet he had then as Bolron swore propos'd the killing of the King to him But in Counterpoise to Justice Dolbins Remark Mr. Justice Pemberton offer'd the great tye of Sacramental Secrecy which he said as if neither Life nor Death Heaven nor Hell nor any other provocation could move Catholicks to break or to that effect This done the Jury withdrew being as the Law intends Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood and therefore knowing not only Sir Thomas but his Accusers also they considered that the said Accusers were decayed and necessitous Persons who had left their Master as the whole Country knew upon very ill accounts That they tim'd the Fact in a very unlikely season seeing the Protestants of England were not only long alarm'd and upon their guard against so small naked and distracted a Party but that most of the considerable Papists were retir'd beyond Seas and the rest which were but a handful disarm'd or in Prison or in as low and dejected condition as could be well imagin'd That a Pardon of all past Crimes and an assurance of future Rewards were great temptations to Men of an ill repute That no body of those since accus'd by Bolron and Maybury had ever fled or absconded unless Rushton the Priest who had refus'd to lend Bolron five Pounds in his necessities and was obnoxious to the Law purely on account of his being in Orders and in common sense ought not to appear That Bolron was indebted to Sir Thomas and others of his Family as also sued by him both before and after the 30th of May That he was at the Afternoon till ten at night on the said 30th of May at Shippens House for fear of Bailiffs and yet pretends that at six that afternoon he had the treasonable proposition made him by Rushton and Sir Thomas That both Bolron and Maybury had declared an ill will to their Master and that they would be reveng'd on him and his Daughter Tempest That their very confederacy procuring to make them guilty of the Plot was over-heard by two Protestant Witnesses That they had not only accused all Sir Thomas his Family and near Relations Friends and Servants to render him destitute of all help
of a desperate resolution That his Heart was Loyal and true to the King but confess'd that through Rushtons perswasions he himself had subscribed to this wieked Design and now was forced by his Loyalty to his King and to clear his stain'd Conscience to reveal it That he would endeavour to procure a List of the Conspirators which he had seen and subscribed to That he was certain Mr. Ingoldsby Sir Thomas Gascoigne Thomas Gascoigne Esq Sir Miles Stapleton with many others had subscribed it and were great promoters of this Act and are still providing Force and Arms to carry on this Design That he begg'd his Lordships pardon for this boldness and intreated him to communicate this to whom he thought fit That at present he durst not subscribe his Name being within the Claws of the Papists but upon protection from them he would acknowledge the Hand and Mark subscribed ☞ York 1. January 1677 8. yet sent from Leeds as a few Lines before he had deposed This is the effect of the pretended Letter which forsooth never came to the Dukes Hands and yet I etters we find do as seldom miscarry here as in any place of the World but the whole design is Reader so vain that one would wonder how a Man could fancy such a childish Fable would take and salve his not discovery of the Plot before for he not only lay dormant three whole quarters of a year I mean the whole time between the date of his wifes Letter and T. O. his appearing in the World but almost a year after the full discovery of the Plot notwithstanding the encouragements the Witnesses had by the Kings Royal Proclamations and the misery of the Catholicks in England were in But to be short it appears by what is already said and shew'd that this Maybury was so far from writing any such Letter at that time from York or Leeds and he swears both that he was then actually at London as several Protestants here are ready to testifie So that his design and ambition was not only to equalize but also to exceed and out-go those of the Kings Evidence that had got the start of him in the supposed Discoveries Sir Thomas Gascoigne being committed to the Tower as has been mentioned an Indictment was preferr'd at Leeds before especial Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer on the 7th of November against him and Sir Miles Stapleton for that they with several others on the aforesaid 30th of May 1679. at Barmbow contriv'd to kill the King c. and that Sir Thomas then solicited Bolron to 't and promised him a thousand Pounds for 't upon the Evidence of Bolron and Maybury it was found and Bolron being then ask'd if Maybury had not been suspected of stealing Money and Jewels he said No and that the things supposed to be stoln were his the said Bolrons so that the denial is a new escape and directly contrary to what he found by his Copies he had sworn before the Council of the said Maybury parting from Sir Thomas on suspition of Theft The Prisoner was under infinite disadvantages he being about 85 years of age he had of late years almost totally lost his Hearing his Memory was mightily decay'd his Sight bad his Hands shaking his Body crazy his Mind so little intent to publick business that he was not in London but once in thirty years and that was in passing to France and back which happened about 14 years ago This poor Gentleman now finding that these Persons had sworn positive Treason against him and understanding by some who were intimate with them and had had a sight of their Papers that they had positively contradicted themselves in their several Informations he thought fit to petition for Copies of the said Informations but was denied them so that all his dependance under God was his Innocency and in the assistance of Mr. Charles Ingoldsby a Lawyer and his near Kins-man and therefore to him he committed all the management of his Affairs On the 24th of January he was arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar where first crossing himself with his Hand he answered In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Not Guilty Now he prayed the Court some of his material Witnesses being at Paris that his Tryal might not be till they could conveniently be sent for for he feared the day appointed for them was of the soonest and so it prov'd for they came not till a day or two after Bolron finding that Sir Thomas rely'd wholly on Mr. Ingoldsby as has been said what does he but informs against him as a Conspirator and so got him seiz'd by a Messenger which fell out whilst he was actually penning Sir Thomas his Breviate which amaz'd not a little every body for Mr. Ingoldsby had not only openly frequented London and the Kings-Bench Bar every Term since the Plot was first talk'd of but was at home in York-shire when Sir Thomas was accus'd and taken with the rest nay he was publickly at York Assizes as Mr. Justice Dolbin acknowledged when Bolron came thither with Commissions to apprehend whom he pleased Nay yet more was in a Room where Bolron came to search and yet took no notice of him there neither The 11th of February Sir Thomas was brought to his Tryal Serjeant Maynard and Mr. Attorney Mr. Solicitor and Mr. Recorder being of Counsel against him and there Bolron swore that he came to his Service in the year 1674. That a Deed of Trust was executed to Sir William Ingoldsby by Mr. Ingoldsby's advice about April 1675. and that Sir Miles S. said it was well done That in 1676. Sir Thomas said that he would send 3000 l. to the Jesuits at London for carrying on the Design but if sent or not he knows not That in 1677. Sir Thomas Mr. Thomas Gascoigne Mr. Ingoldsby Lady Tempest and others met at Sir Thomas's and agreed to establish a Nunnery That Sir Thomas was to give 90 l. per An' towards it and be Canonized his Son Thomas to be made a Privy-Councellor c. That they were six hours in consultation to carry on the Design That in March last Mr. Thomas told his Father he had gotten a Licence to go to London That he would fly into France and commit the Design to those would not fail to do it And Sir Tho. approv'd it That on the 30th of May he went into Sir Thomas his Gallery and Rushton chid him for taking the Oaths of Allegiance and told him it was meritorious to kill the King and he would assist in 't but he Bolron would have no hand in it That having staid by Sâ—r Thomas his order till he returned Sir Thomas took him into his Chamber about six a Clock that night and having ask'd him the discourse between him and Rushton which was so contrary to the present purpose yet said if thou wilt undertake to assist to kill the King I will give thee a
peaceably away Sir Thomas like a good Christian being desirous he might amend and do better in another Service Mr. Thomas Gascoigne Sir Thomas his eldest Son having resolved by reason of the troubles to those of his Church or in general to Catholicks to go beyond Seas as many others did took leave of Sir Thomas in order thereunto at the end of March and having obtain'd his Majesties Pass-Port on the 4th of April following he went from London to Dover the 7th of that Month and Letters were received from him in his way to Paris and as by a publick Testimonial since sent he setled himself there the first of May following New Stile or 20 April Old Stile and was not yet departed thence as many Witnesses now in England can testifie About a year after his the said Bolrons departure from Sir Thomas he being still indebted to Sir Thomas and also to others of the Family viz. to Mr. Thomas Gascoigne and his Sister the Lady Tempest and being now become insolent by his own ill government he declares himself a Protestant and accordingly takes the Oaths at Pontefract Sessions being also call'd upon for the aforesaid Payments he earnestly press'd one of Mr. Thomas his Servants with whom he thought he was intimate to assist him to steal a Hundred Pound from his Master or otherwise to acquaint him where his Masters Money lay that he might do it himself but not prevailing therein he importun'd him at least to steal from Sir Thomas the Bonds for which he promised to reward him Sir Thomas observing Bolrons declining condition sent a Servant for him whereat Bolron seemed much concerned and amongst other things told the Messenger that he had been reading the Printed Tryals and that he had learn'd T. O. his way of witnessing so exactly that he did not doubt to hang any Man whom he pleased but upon the 29th of May he came to Sir Thomas to tender a Mortgage of a poor House his Father left him at New-Castle which Sir Thomas then slighted having several others bound with him for the Debt the next day being the remarkable 30th of May last and on which day Bolron had laid the ground of his Principal Accusation Sir Thomas stir'd not from about home and about six of the Clock that evening one of Sir Thomas his Servants went to the House of Nicholas Shippen not a quarter of a Mile from Bolrons House and there found Bolron who said he had lain private there most part of that day for fear of the Bailiffs and moreover that he would now keep himself conceal'd and get into the Cole-pit at Castleforth not far off where he was sure the Bailiffs should not find him Bolron having by his Wife who was formerly a Servant in the Family gotten into one of Sir Thomas his Farms and being in arrear of Rent also a Declaration of Ejectment was ordered by Sir Thomas to be delivered him and on the 4th of June following the abovesaid 30th of May Bolron had notice thereof about which time Bolron went to Sir Thomas his House and slipt up to Mr. Rushtons Chamber but at his coming down seem'd much in passion and told one of Sir Thomas his Servants that he had been with Mr. Rushton to borrow 5 l. but was refused it and with a great Oath vow'd to be reveng'd on him going away without speaking to Sir Thomas Bolron having now resolved revenge told his Wife he would now pay Sir Thomas all by Mortgaging his House at New-Castle wherein she had her Joynture if she would give consent to it she consenting at length he brought her a Writing to Sign purporting her consent as he pretended to her He likewise pretended to Sir Thomas his Attorney that he had gain'd his Wives consent to Mortgage or sell the said House and pray'd him to prepare a Deed of Mortgage thereof to Sir Thomas and he did so having perswaded Sir Thomas to accept it but it proved ineffectual Bolron being become more and more enraged and having studied the several Proclamations which had come forth since T. O. supposed discovery of the Plot goes to Broderton Tyndal Esq Justice of the Peace and informs him several things against Rushton and that Mrs. Mary Presseck Wife to Sir Thomas his Servant had spoken several strange words concerning his Majesty Afterwards he gave his Information to William Lowther Esq another Justice of the Peace After that he attended Mr. Lowther Mr. Tindal and Mr. Francis White Esq a third Neighbouring Justice of the Peace and there likewise confirm'd to them what he had said the two former days and then desired four or five days to give them a further account Bolron attending them accordingly requested that the former Information he had given them might be return'd to him but 't was told him that the Informations he had given them were sent up to London and thereupon he resolved to follow them and prayed them to lend him a little Money for his Journey for he was grown very low and he said they gave him 8 s. 6 d. towards it and Mr. Tyndal gave him a Letter of Directions and Assistance to his Brother in London but another of them a Neighbour of Sir Thomas's gave him something more to make quicker expedition but he perceiving that most of the Justices would give little faith to his Informations they being made up of hear-says contradictions and improbabilities and Mr. Thomas Gascoigne whom he involved being gone beyond Sea near two Months before the time hinted of the 30th of May and that therefore they would issue out no Warrants against any whom he had accused but a Servant which otherwise as the whole Country knows they would most readily have done he resolved to mend his Error when he came to London and so by becoming a Kings Witness to be above all wants and also be reveng'd on Sir Thomas and secur'd from him and all other his Creditors and in order to those good ends he gave out in the Country he would go to New-Castle and sell his House but in stead thereof he hasted to London immediately At Ware upon the Road he lost Justice Tyndal's Letter but getting to the Green-Dragon in Bishops-gate-street upon the third of July following he immediately acquainted the Land-lord with his errand and by his directions goes in all hast to Sir Robert Clayton and the next day viz. the 4th of July he attended the Right Honourable the Lord President Shaftsbury and the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council and positively upon Oath accuseth Sir Thomas and others of Consultations in relation to the Kings death for he swore that upon the 30th day of May he being at Sir Thomas his House Sir Thomas bade him go into the Gallery where Rushton though he were so angry with him the said Bolron as Bolron swore for taking the Oath of Allegiance that he was ready to have strucken him nevertheless tempted him in express terms to kill the
that 30th of May with His Majesties Licence or Pass-Port and had continued there ever since in much company Bolron was extreamly surprized in having so unluckily named Mr. Tho. Gascoigne to be his assistant to kill the King at a time when he was not upon the Land nor of so many weeks before had been and which his former Deposition implyed and as he had assured the Lords on Oath and they had found it different Bolron was at a loss but his Brethren had bethought them of a Salvo he confided the Point to others also shews them Copies of all and it was resolved the Redress should be by a second additional Information given in about the end of the said July to reconcile the former and to cover the Artifice of it by a latter Superfoetation of such old and new things as might be proper and seem natural but it 's plain the drift of the said Addition was to make Sir Thomas have spoken to him in these different words from his former viz. If thou wilt undertake to assist to kill the King I will send thee to my Son if in Town who with the rest that are concern'd shall instruct thee how thou shalt assist in it and thou shalt have 1000 l. reward Having sworn thus in his second Deposition and composed the Matter as he thought the Consult advised him to apply now to the greatest difficulty which was to get a second Witness who might confirm what he had already sworn Therefore about the beginning of August he sets out for York-shire and pretending he had many Priests and others concerned in his Plot he obtained Moneys and Commissions to seize and secure all such Papists as he found obnoxious and under this pretence going to Leeds he wonderfully caressed his old Fellow-servant Maybury informs him of the several Proclamations Narratives and other Transactions at London shews him how much the World was mended with him tells him how easie it is not only to get a Pardon for any former Felony Forgeries c. but to make ones Fortunes for ever and also to be reveng'd on all Enemies And that certainly the Lady Tempest Daughter to Sir Thomas Gascoigne could not be deem'd his Friend who had so defam'd him and blasted his Reputation in her noise about her Trunk and the Moneys taken from the Family which in time might have a worse effect and he suffer for 't when too late to repent the loss of this Golden opportunity to destroy her and secure himself Maybury thus won in few days declares himself a Witness notwithstanding he had few days before protested to several who were amaz'd at Sir Thomas his Charge that he believ'd him to be most unjustly accused nay Bolron was so pleased with his new Conquest that he tells a young Woman whom Maybury courted that she might marry him now with satisfaction for that he had ingaged him the said Maybury in a Business against Sir Thomas and that he should be well rewarded out of his Estate and come to great preferment Methods and Circumstances being now fully setled and agreed upon by them Maybury goes to Mr. Tyndal and Lowther Justices of the Peace and acquaints them in short of his business whereupon the 16th of August the said Maybury informs thâ—m upon Oath and as it appears in his Narrative more at large That Sir Thomas Gascoigne and Sir Miles Stapleton had made Deeds of Trust of their Estates and that about Michaelmas 76. Sir Thomas his Son Mr. Thomas the Lady Tempest and Mr. Rushton being in Barmbow Dining-room he heard them holding several discourses concerning killing the King and firing of London and York c. That there was in the House one Doctor Stapleton who coming from another Room and finding him at the Door went in and in a low Voice desired them to forbear their discourse for there was one at the door And thereupon her Ladiship call'd him in and sent him down to entertain some Strangers and that he heard several discourses from Sir Thomas and Rushton about a Nunnery to be establish'd at Dolebanke and of Sir Thomas his selling 90 l. per Annum for maintaining it Whilst Maybury was hugging himself with Bolron that this Information would suddenly be at the Council-Board he found more than a fortnight passed and no manner of notice taken of him his impatience prompts him the last of that Month to write to Sir John Nicholas that there were divers material Circumstances relating to his Discovery which were not inserted in his first Information before the Justices which should be declared when the Council should command a full account from him Upon this he had a Summons by a Messenger sent him on purpose and a Letter superscrib'd To Mr. Lawrence Mowbray at his House in York-shire and so repairing to London on the second of October following he inform'd Justice Warcup by Order of Council upon Oath that he had not discovered all he knew of the horrid Plot for fear of York-shire Papists whom he was to detect but now would do it conceiving himself under the Protection of the Council and hoping that they would intercede for his Pardon Then he said That in the Year 1674. he came to Sir Thomas and was with him in his Service till January 1676 c. That waiting on Rushton at the Altar he was permitted to be in his private Chamber when other Priests were consulting with him c. as appears more at large in his Narrative and Informations That he took the Sacrament of Secrecy from Rushton and well remembers that about Michaelmas 1676. there was an Assembly of many Priests and others at Rushtons Chamber when they all agreed and declar'd that the King should be kill'd and then Fire and Sword were to be imploy'd against the Opposers of the Catholick Religion and all or most Catholicks were engaged therein That Rushton then produced to the Priests a List of 4 or 500 Names engaged in the Design and he had read many of them and remembers very well that Sir Thomas Gascoigne Sir Miles Stapleton Mr. Thomas Gascoigne the Lady Tempest Thomas Pressick and many others were in the List That Moneys and Arms were collecting and that on the first of January 1677. he wrote a Letter for so he swore and confirms in his Narrative to the Duke of Monmouth at Whitehall which he sent that day by the Post from Leeds to London declaring therein not in hopes of Reward God forbid but as a true and Loyal Subject to the King that some Papist-Conspirators had a wicked and desperate Design against the King and by an immediate Insurrection to proceed with Fire and Sword till they had altered the Government or setled the Crown upon the Head of some other Person So that by consequence the Death of the King was conspired and sought for That this Conspiracy was to his knowledge contriv'd almost three years ago and now was at the height
comfort Witnesses and defence but had now just before the Tryal most unreasonably and impudently seiz'd upon his Cousin and Counsel Mr. Charles Ingoldsby who was publick even at York Assizes in Court and never was touch'd though Bolron came then with Authority to apprehend whom he pleased and was often in Court also where as well as in other places Bolron might have secur'd him That as for Maybury he had been suspected in the Country of the aforesaid Thefts that he had long been forbidden Sir Thomas his House which could not be imagin'd had he been a Conspirator That the List of the 500 Persons and the improbable Title to it viz. A List of those that are ingaged to kill the King was so extravagant and foolish that 't was sufficient of it self to invalidate all his Testimony That his lying still so long after the Proclamations and known Encouragements to all Witnesses in relation to the Plot shew'd his idle Letter and all he had now said to be an invention and of a late date also That Sir Thomas had above a dozen Protestant-witnesses who proved most important matters in his defence and had evidently made out the Uses for which he had return'd the 6000 l. to London and that as for Dolbank it might have been bought with the Money and Portions of some Nuns for they are known sometimes when they have it to lay out their Money in this manner that so they and their Community may be maintained abroad with an Annual Income and consequently have always some Relation or other for their Trustee who acts as they direct Besides they considered that a positive Oath by blasted Men without any material Circumstances proved effectually or produced is of little force That the very neighbouring Justices did not issue Warrants against Sir Thomas though Bolron had accused him of Treason That Bolron had mended and altered his first Deposition most corruptly And lastly That to swallow this Evidence might be of a most pernicious consequence and would settle such a stock of Credit and Belief on these vile Persons as might after the destruction of the Gascoigne Family extirpate Root and Branch many others in their List of 1500 in reserve whose Loyalty to their Prince hath been eminent in the memory of the Living and was not at all doubted of hitherto The Jury declared Sir Thomas not Guilty and accordingly he was acquitted There wanted not several of different Conceptions who on occasion of the imperfect and defective management of this Tryal by reason of the Prisoners being decay'd as well in Mind as Body did speak and vote variously of the Success so that some of the Jury mov'd at it did give out Minutes of the Tryal and the Reasons which led them to their Verdict to many of their Acquaintance and in reality who conversed the Prisoner more intimately did perceive he was become very uncapable and unfit for such a performance being dosed with Years his Sence decayed and his Mind disused and abstracted of late from Conversation The Pamphlets of the Age have made him since his Tryal a Fugitive beyond Seas but his unsatiable Prosecutors have him in fresh pursuit here on new pretences and have wearied the Attorney General with search and exposition of the Laws to bind and fasten him on some new Tenter yet the old Gentleman prays for them and the Nation his Life is at the Kings Service and his Soul travelling to his Creator who hath also witnessed for him giving him length of days on the Land a Blessing promis'd of old to those who honour and obey their Superiors as he professes to have done and hopes it will appear better when some of those Persons come upon their last Pillow where God grant them his Grace and true Repentance Magna est veritas praevalebit FINIS An Attestation of a certain Intercourse had between Robert Bolron and Mr. Thomas Langhorne mistaken by Bolron for Mr. Ja. Corker wherein is manifested the Falshood and Perjury of the said Bolron ON the 22d of July 1679. there came to the Press-yard adjacent to Newgate two Persons the one called himself by the Name of Baker and the other called himself by the Name of James Baker declared he was the Man who had accused Mrs. Preswike and Mr. Thwing and is now known to be Bolron These Persons told the Turn-key they came to speak with Mr. Corker Hereupon they were lead into a Drinking-Room and Mr. Corker was called but he having experienc'd the falsified Oaths of others who had never seen him and happily reflecting these might be such desired Mr. Thomas Langhorne who was by chance there to go down and see who they were the which Mr. Tho. Langhorn did and coming into the company of Bolron this discourse followed Mr. Langhorn said Would you speak with me Bolron answered Your Servant Mr. Corker Mr. Langhorn said Do you know me Bolron answered Yes I know you well you will not deny your self to be Mr. Corker Mr. Langhorn said Deny my self what are you what is your Name Bolron answered You know my Wife well and I know you well and I have known you several years and seen you in such and such Places which Places he named After some time spent in discourse to this and the like effect Mr. Corker himself together with an under Clerk of the Press-yard came into their Company but Bolron neither owning nor knowing Mr. Corker the discourse continued amongst other things Bolron still addressing himself to Mr. Langhorn affirmed several times That he knew him to be Mr. Corker and confirmed it by often calling him Mr. Corker and saying to him I have seen you sometimes in the company of Mr. Hubbert and sometimes in the company of Mr. Pepper in the company of Mr. Haskit and several others I have seen you in London and in the Country in York-shire Using further expressions of a long indeared familiarity with him At length Mr. Corker wearied with his impertinences going out of the Room Bolron inquired who that Gentleman was Soon after the Turn-key coming by chance in with Wine and Tabacco Bolron in the presence of the said Turn-key Mr. Thomas Langhorne and the said under Clerk called Mr. Langhorne by the Name of Mr. Corker and said he knew 〈…〉 and being 〈…〉 of him he again possitive 〈…〉 he knew him and added in the presence of the aforesaid Witnesses 〈…〉 know â—ou to be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have 〈…〉 The under Clerk admiring the impudence of Bolron herein jestingly told 〈…〉 he pretended so much friendship and acquaintance with Mr. Corker he would do 〈…〉 do him a kindness in not revealing what he knew and if you do him a Peny-worâ—◠〈◊〉 kindness said the said Clerk Mr. Corker will give you a Pound for it Bolron answered Aye then something may be done Mr. Langhorne who all this while was supposed by the said Bolron to be Mr. Corker replyed I will give nothing by way of Bribe Bolron answered No I