Chillington the like for Horse To Sir James Symmons of Ashton in Staffordshire the like for Horse This Informant saith that be also saw Sir Robert Throgmorton fill up a Lieutenant Collonel's Commission to his own Regiment and deliver it to one Sir Charles Neale who accepted the same and kiss'd it upon his Knees And that he this Informant also was present and saw Sir James Symmons deliver a Captains Commission to Mr. William Fowler of St. Thomas near Stafford And also when Sir Thomas Gifford deliver'd a Captains Commission to Mr. Augustin Gifford and also to Capt. Gowre the like Captains Commission and to Bazil Brooks Esq the like Captains Commission and to Mr. John Pursel a Cornet's Commission and to Thomas Pursell a Warrant for Quarter Master and to several other inforiour Officers and the several Collonels aforesaid This Informant saith that all these Collonels Commissions with the Blanks as aforesaid were deliver'd by Mr. Lunt in the presence of this Informant And this Informant saith he knows they were such Commissions because he saw them and heard most of them read at the time of the delivery to them And for the Lieutenant Collonel and other inferiour Officers Commissions he this Informant saw most of them fill'd up by the Superiours and deliver'd to the inferiour Officers as aforesaid And this Informant further saith that at the same time aforesaid he this Informant saw the aforesaid Mr. Lunt deliver to my Lord Molyneux a seal'd Paper which he this Informant saw him the Lord Molyneux open and read which to the best of this Informants Memory was purporting a Commission and Instructions for the Care and Government of Liverpoole This Informant also saith that he was at a Meeting at Sir John Lawsons in York shire about the Month of March then next following with Mr. Lunt where were the Gentlemen Mr. Lunt names in his Information where he this Informant then heard most of them publickly own that they had receiv'd Commissions by Mr. Thrillfall some time before from King James and would then have oblig'd this Informant and Mr. Lunt to have engaged with them the Gentlemen of the Country c. This Informant further saith that about the beginning of the Year 1691 he this Informant heard that Mr. Lunt was employ'd in and about London to list Men And this Informant saith that some short time after several Men came into Lancashire as from London and said they were listed by the said Mr. Lunt and sent down to serve under the Command of some of the Officers aforesaid and he this Informant saith that as fast as they came down he was order'd by my Lord Molyneux Sir Thomas Clifton Coll. Molyneux Coll. Tildesley Coll. Townley Sir William Gerrard and his Son and several ther 's the Officers aforesaid to take Care of them and prouide Quarters or Lodgings for them which the said Informant did accordingly and that at several Times this Informant had and did receive Money from my Lord Molyneux Coll. Tilâ—desley Coll. Townley Sir William Gerrard and sime others to pay the said Souldiers for their Subsistance And this Informant saith he did pay and distribute the Money he so receiv'd amongst them which this Informant saith in the whole did amount to to the best of his Mneoy about 3 or 400 l. the Names of many of the Soldiers this Informant yet remembers and a List of them was deliver'd into the House of Commons when the Plot was examin'd there And this Informant saith that he is very well assured that the said Mr. Lunt did at several other times before and after List a great many more than those named in the List aforementioned This Informant further saith that about the Month of February 1691 he this Informant was at a general Meeting of several Gentlemen at Coll. Walmesley at Dungan-Hall in Lancashire many of whom he yet remembers viz. Coll. Townley Coll. Tildesley Coll. Molyneux Coll. Dalton Sir William Gerrard Mr. Gerrard Mr. Dickingson Mr. Stanley Mr. Shuttleworth Mr. Tildesley of Stansare Mr. Massey of Buddington Mr. Langton of the Loe Mr. Gerrard of Inch Sir Thomas Clifton Mr. Blundell of Crosby Coll. Westby of Mobrick Coll. Parker and others the said Coll. Walmesley being then lately come out of France he the said Coll. then produc'd publickly in the said Meeting several Commissions Declarations Grants or Patents that he had then lately brought from King James of several Gentlemens Estates of that Country to other Gentlemen there that were King James 's Friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coll. Tildesley Lord Molyneux Coll. Westbey of Mobrick Coll. Townley of Townley Sir Thâ—â—as Clifton Sir William Gerrard Coll. Molyneux Mr. Gerrard of Inch Mr. Langton of Loe and sâ—â—e others This Informant further saith that above a Fortnight after he this Informant was at the like Meeting at Philip Draycots of Painesley-Hell in the County of Stafford Esquire of most of the aforesaid Gentlemen and others as Mr. Bazill Brooks Sir James Symonds Sir Richard Fleetwood and his Sons William and Rowland Cary of Cary Esquire and others where were produc'd several of the like Grants and Patents as aforesaid brought over by the Lord Stafford and there also given out to those they did belong to this Informant further saith that at this Meeting aforesaid Coll. Parâ—â—â— being also there and was then also lately come out of France he the said Coll. did then publickly produce and deliver to one Capt. George Penny then in the Company a Commission from King James for the said Penny to be a Major of Horse which he said Capt. Penny accepted of with many Thanks and promis'd to do the King the best Service be could And this Informant further saith that at another Time being at a Meeting with the said Coll. Parker at the Sign of the Star an Inn in Holywell in Flintshire and about twenty Gentlemen more he this Informant there saw the said Parker deliver one Commission from King James to one Mr. Pew of Pendrell to be a Captain of Horse and at the same time he the said Parker deliver'd in the presence of this Informant to one Mr. George Davies of Treloughnel and to several others and that the said Parker did there and at several other times as well as at the aforementiond Meetings order direct and desire all the Officers to take Care to have their Men ready at an Hours warning with a Pound of Powder and Ball proportionable to each Man for that he expected News of the Kings Landing every day c. This Informant saith that about the beginning of the Year 1689 he this Informant was order'd and employ'd by Mr. Massey Sir James Symonds Sir Thomas Gifford and Capt. Fowler to List as many Men as be could in Staffordshire and North-Wales for King James's Service under their Command and that he this Informant had Money of the aforesaid Gentlemen for that Purpose and this Informant saith that he did at that Time that is to say within the space of three
there also from England expecting to meet his Majesty and brought over with him an Account of the Condition and Readiness of his Friends the Papists and Jacobites there but more particularly in London Sussex and Kent and in Staffordshire Lancashire Cheshire and Yorkshire and from them all desired of his Majesty Commissions for the several Persons of Quality hereafter named with Blanks for their Inferior Officers which accordingly the late King caused immediately to be issued forth both for England and Scotland And because Bromfeild was so well known and it might be dangerous for him to come back himself he desired the King to advise of a proper Person or Persons whom he might trust to bring them over and distribute them here in England according to his Majesty's Orders amongst others he this Informant was recommended to him by my Lord Thomas Howard who told him the said King James he would engage Life for Life for him this Informant that he would not betray him in the Service and that if he were taken would rather die upon the spot Upon which this Informant was sent for to my Lord Melfort's Office where he found my Lord Thomas Howard Dr. Bromfeild and my Lord together in his Closet whither he was carried to them and then and there they asked this Informant Whether he would venture to undertake to carry Declarations Papers and Commissions and other things for his Majesty's Service to England They told him it was a hazardous thing that he should think well of it for if he should happen to be taken his Life was certainly gone but if he would and did escape be should be sure of and they promised him in the King's Name very great Preferments and Rewards when the King should come into England Upon which he this Informant undertook it and my Lord Melfort gave an Account of it whereupon to blind the business and to take off any Thought of his this Informant's being imploy'd or sent any where my Lord Melfort told him the King had thought fit to order the Officer of the Guards who was a Frenchman to casheer him and that he might say to any one that asked him the reason that he knew none but was resolved to get his Pass as soon as he could and go for England About a Week after this all things were got ready both for England and Scotland and one Mr. Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner in Lancashire Gentleman and this Informant were dispatched for England and one Mr. Gourdon who was this Informant's Comrade and cashiered as he was went for Scotland This Informant and Mr. Thrillfall brought with them Declarations Commissions and other Papers and Landed at Cockram within four Miles of Lancaster in or about the beginning of June 1689 upon our Landing we had like to have been wholly surprized by some Custom house Officers but we escaped and brought off the most Material of our Business only lost some Commissions Blanks and one of the King's Declarations two Case of Pistols of this Informants that the King gave him and some Clothes of this Informant's c. The greatest part of the Commissions and most of the Blanks in several Bundies were saved and this Informant delivered them as fast as he could one after another as followeth viz. in Lancashire To my Lord Molyneux's Son William a Colonel's Commission for a Regiment of Horse with Blanks for all his Inferior Officers to be filled as he should think fit To Thomas Tildesley Esq the like for a Regiment of Dragoons To Dalton of Thurnham Esq the like for Dragoons To Sherbourn of Stonyhurst Esq the like for Horse To Townley of Townley Esq the like for Horse To Girlington of Girlington Esq a Colonel's Commission To Westby of Mobrick Esq the like for Dragoons This Informant farther saith that he delivered my Lord Molyneux himself a Paper of Instructions where amongst other things He was to be Governour of Liverpool and this Informant took notice of it because my Lord Melfort and Dr. Bromfeild both told him this Informant saw and shewed it him in the Paper before they Sealed it Cheshire To Peter Legh of Lime Esq a Colonel's Commission with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Thomas Stanley of Aldersley Protestant the like for Horse To Mr. Chumley of Vale-Royal Protestant the like for Horse To Sir Rowland Stanley Protestant the like for Horse To my Lord Brudenell a Colonel's Commission for Horse with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Throgmorton the like for Horse This Informant farther saith That to these two Gentlemen last above written he delivered four other Colonel's Commissions for four Gentlemen whose Names he was not to know because as he did then conceive they were Protestants for they told him this Informant they were honest Gentlemen and Protestants Besides all these before mentioned this Informant delivered to one Mr. Jackson in Castle-street near the Meuse two Bundles of Commissions with a King's Declaration and two other Papers Sealed up with each with Orders to him to deliver one of them with a Declaration and Sealed Papers immediately to my Lord Griffin and the other to Mr. W. Pen the Quaker which this Informant supposes he did for in his sight he took Coach and said he would And besides all these which he this Informant so as aforesaid delivered Mr. Thrillfall undertook to deliver several Bundles of the same to several Gentlemen in York-shire This Informant farther saith That every Colonel had with his Commission Blanks for double his Inferior Officers and that all the Colonels had the Liberty to raise Foot Horse or Dragoons but Horse was more especially recommended This Informant farther saith That after the dispatch of these Commissions and other Business he had the ill luck to be made a Prisoner for a considerable time upon the Accusation of the Captain that brought him over out of Ireland This Informant farther saith That during the time he was a Prisoner under Bail that is to say about the beginning of the year 1691 he this Informant by the Order of Colonel Tildesley Col. Townley Col. William Molyneux Mr. Gerrard Col. Dalton and others Listed in London several Men for Soldiers to serve as Horse or Dragoons to be under the Command of the said Colonels or any other as they should dispose of them to Here he names about a hundred of the Soldiers Listed and the Pay they was to receive This Informant farther saith That being discharged of his Imprisonment in the Month of November 1691 he this Informant was desired by several of the Gentlemen that he had delivered of the Commissions aforesaid to viz. Lord Molyneux Col. Molyneux his Son Sir William Gerrard and his Son Mr. Dickinson of Wrightington John Harrington of Heightonhay Esq Col. Townley Col. Tildesley Col. Dalton and others to go into France to give King James an Account in what condition they were and to bring his Majesty's Commands how they might be serviceable to him which this Informant did
and gave his Majesty the said Account He the said King James commanded him to return for England and then amongst other things that he this Informant should tell them from him that he did not doubt but in the Spring following to be in a condition to come for England And at this Informant's coming away he was ordered by my Lord Melfort himself to go to Captain Griffith in the Meuse as soon as he this Informant should come to London and deliver him the said Griffith a Paper from his Lordship it was Sealed this Informant did not know what it was and to advise and receive Orders from him the said Captain Griffith This Informant saith that he arrived in London about the latter end of December 1691 and that he went immediately to Captain Griffith and delivered him the said Paper and that the said Griffith read the said Paper and told him this Informant he did not question but this Business meaning that in the Paper mentioned as this Informant then supposed will be accomplished in a little time and then he disclosed to this Informant what it was he meant which was the cutting off of the Prince of Orange at some proper time when he was a Hunting and then he put it to this Informant Whether he was willing to make one and be concerned in it This Informant first desired to know the Persons engaged in it He the said Griffith then told him he was not to tell him their Names but he would at any time bring this Informant into the Company of several of them that were engaged in it and about two days after this Informant came to him again and went with him into the Company of several Gentlemen at the Queens-head in White-Hart-Yard in the Strand where and with whom the said Captain Griffith and this Informant discoursed the Method of doing it and all agreed it was to be the easiest done when he should be a hunting or some time late when he went to or come from Kensington This Informant saith there was in Company at that time about Nine or Ten three or four or more of them this Informant knew three of which are since dead Captain Griffith then told this Informant and the Company he had about Sixty brave Fellows engaged in the Business who he did not at all doubt but would one way or other effect it Several of the principal of them as Whitney the High-way Man and several others happened to be sometimes after taken and secured which was the only reason that this Informant knows of that it was not attempted This Informant farther saith That about the same time abovesaid that he this Informant came last out of France viz. about the latter end of December 1691 there came several English Gentlemen of Quality viz. Lord Stafford Mr. Stafford Col. Parker Col. Walmesley a French Lieutenant-General whose Name this Informant doth not remember and others with Commissions Declarations Grants and Patents for themselves and others and for their Inferior Officers from King James This Informant farther saith that in the Months of March and April 1692 he this Informant was imployed by and assisting to several private Gentlemen and Tradesmen in or about London to list Men buy Horses Arms and Sadles and that the said Men Horses and Arms were to be imployed in the Service of the late King James And this Informant farther saith That by the Defeat of the French Fleet their design of Rising being wholly disappointed they fell upon other measures and this Informant remained in several Parts of this Kingdom and was at several of the like Meetings as aforesaid until the last Summer and then about July 1693 was desired with some others to go to France by several of the Gentlemen that this Informant has before mentioned to have delivered Commissions to in Lancashire that is to say by my Lord Molyneux Col. Molyneux Sir William Gerrard Mr. Gerrard Mr. Standish Mr. Dickinson Col. Townley and several others of that Country to give the King an Account of the Condition they were in and to bring them back an Account of what hopes and when he thought he should be in a condition to come for England and this Informant went accordingly to St. Germains and spake with the King and delivered him what he had in charge from the Gentlemen in England and my Lord Melfort being at that time with the King in his Closet bid him this Informant go to Captain Griffith who was then at St. Germains the Captain ordered him this Informant to speak with Dr. Bromfeild who told him this Informant when he came to him that if he would undertake to carry a Signet with him into England and show it to such Persons as he would direct him this Informant to that were concerned in a Design and would engage to make one with them in the same he this Informant should receive the same Reward that was intended for them which design he then told him this Informant was to cut off the Prince of Orange by any such way or means that the Vndertakers amongst themselves when they came together should agree upon Whereupon he this Informant promised and engaged to them the said Bromfeild and Griffith to make one in the Business and was then forthwith dispatched with the Signet and other Matters for England where he arrived and landed at Dover in December last and there he this Informant met with those that the said Dr. Bromfeild and Captain Griffith had directed him to which were viz. Captain Nowell Captain Walton Mr. Pepper Mr. Preston and Captain Roberts who were in the Design of cutting off the Prince of Orange as this Informant was told and that there were in all Sixteen Persons concerned but there he this Informant met Four of them only who were as followeth Captain Nowell Serjeant of the Admiralty and one of the Principal Gunners as this Informant was told who told him this Informant He had his Son and two more ready for the occasion Captain Walton of Foulston a Custom house Officer there who told him this Informant he had Six more engaged in the Business who with us together he said Walton was very confident might in a Month or two's time do the Business effectually with little hazard Mr. Pepper of Dover a Custom house Officer as this Informant was told or some place there worth about Three hundred Pounds per Annum and Mr. Preston of Feversham one of the Militia Officers were the other Two of the Four before mentioned This Informant farther saith That the said Dr. Bromfeild and Captain Griffith did order this Informant to assure the said Nowell Walton Pepper and Preston from them and in the Kings Name that every one concerned in the Action should have the Reward of Five hundred Pounds per Annum each which was the same made to him at St. Germains by the said Dr. Bromfeild and Captain Griffith and my Lord Melfort told him this Informant after he had kissed
in Flanders who had their good Wishes while they were busying themselves about what was to follow namely the Invasion The Scheme of this Descent was laid in France and Parker and others sent over to communicate it to the Party here * Vid. Captain Blaire's Depositions before the Councel This he did by calling their General Officers and Collonels together and acquainting them but very privately That their old Master had now obtain'd * of the most Christian King thirty thousand effective Men and that when the Spring was a little more advanc'd the late King who was already marching into Normandy would be wafted over with them into England with Assurance * Vid. Blaire's Dopositions in the Secretaries Office that if that Number was not great enough to reduce his rebellious Subjects France would spare him thirty thousand more Therefore desir'd all to be in Readiness with the greatest Speed and Secresy imaginable To Captain Blaire he address'd himself more particularly at the Instance of Johnson the Priest telling him he was going to his Command in Lancashire but intended to move Southward at the late Kings Landing and therefore desir'd Capt. Blaire to join him in Regard his own Men were raw and the Captains for the most part were all old Officers and Souldiers When Parker went into Lanashire he took with him Blaire's Depositions in the Secretaries Office several good Officers some of which stay'd with him in Lancashire and others he dispos'd of in Yorkshire and the Bishopric of Durham His head Quarters were at Mr. * Vid. Depositions of Geo. Wilson and Oliv. Pearson Walmsley's at Dungan-hall and from thence issued out necessary Ordens for that County And because their Arms were for fear of Discovery hid in Woods and Grounds buried between Walls and in Cellars and Out-houses he order'd them all to be taken out and forthwith distributed * Jo. Womball's Affidavis in the Appendix among their Officers For now the late King and his Army of English Scotch Irish and French Papists * Ap. 1692. were at la Hogue imbarking for England This Allarm being early given among the Party all the Officers are rallying together the Souldiers they had under Subsistence and listing others Among the rest Mr. James Fountain as Lieutenant Coll. to the Lord Montgomery had rais'd a Regiment of Horse in London and was ready to have join'd the late King if he had landed His usual listing Places were three Ale-houses in Fullers Rents and at Redman's at the Bottle in Devoreaux Court near the Temple To the Truth of which tho I need call no other Witnesses than Mr. Day Mr. Cousins Mr. Willoughby Mr. Holmes the Japanner and Mr. Symms who were all Officers under him and brought Men to him to be listed yet having by me an Authentic Affidavit be pleas'd to take the Contents of it as followeth M. Seaton maketh Oath That James Fountain was Captain in the Lord Montgomery's Regiment of Foot and thereafter Major to the said Regiment At the Revolution he follow'd the late King James into France thence into Ireland where he was made Lieutenant Coll. to Coll. Cannons Regiment From Ireland he went into Scotland and joyn'd the Viscount Dundee and a little after the Highlands were reduc'd he came to London and lived Incognito but when the French were at la Hogue in order to invade England Fountain did buy a considerable Number of Horses and Accoutrements for Horses and Riders he had provided for them and did keep the said Riders under Pay and Subsistence to serve King James and joyn him and the French at their Landing Jurat 2 Julij 1694. Coram me James Vernon M. Seaton Collonel Holman was at the same time raising and had almost compleated another Regiment to joyn the French at their Landing And to subsist those that were actually listed he paid fifty Pounds one Week fifty Pounds the next Week and thirty Pounds the Week following to Captain Brice Blaire * See Mr. Blair's and Mr. Bertram's Depositions in the Secretaries Office who distributed it among the Souldiers by the Hands of Mr. Bertram as appears by their Depositions in the Hands of the Government but after the Defeat at la Hogue Mr. Holman would pay no more To these Instances of the Jacobites Attempts to ruin the Government add but the Share that Sir John Friend Sir William Perkins and the Persons of Quality in other Parts of the Kingdom mention'd in Crosby's Papers had in it * See Crosby's orginal Papers page and then tell me whether the Enemies of the Government and their repeated Conspiracies ought to be so much flighted and despis'd and reckoned so inconsiderable in their Numbers and weak in their Power and Interests as some out of no good design I fear would have them thought to be For all these wicked Confederacies and those mention'd by Crosby are but Branches of the Lancashire Conspiracy which at first was thought but the Capricio's of light Heads but you now see it spread almost over the whole Kingdom And justly rous'd the Government to prosecute the first Contrivers of so much intended Mischief to the King and Kingdom Nor were these Preparations for the Invasion the only part of the Plot against England for whilst the English Jacobites are bandying together to joyn their old Master at his Landing the Kings Enemies beyond-Sea are as hot and forward in their cursed Design to Murther his Majesty in Flanders that so the Invasion might find us all in a Confusion and for want of a King and a Government scatter'd like Sheep without a Shepherd and consequently the easier Prey to our Foreign and Intestine Devourers For now Granvalle returning from Paris where he had ingag'd one Leefedale to joyn with Dumont in the Murther of King William appoints a Meeting at Uden whither Dumont was to come from Hanover and both to go from thence into Flanders Where as soon as the Murther was committed Mounsieur Chandlois with a Party of 300 Horse from the Duke of Luxemburg's Army was to be posted at the advanc'd Guards to rescue the Murtherers and perswade the World the Assassination of King William was a Stratagem of War but God Almighty confounded their hellish Politics Dumont and Leefedale discover'd the Conspiracy Granvalle was taken and receiv'd the Reward of his Villany after he had made without being put to the Torture a full Confession of his Crimes At his Execution he seem'd very Penitent and declar'd with some Resentment that he was ruined by the Authors of that detestable Project Matters being thus setl'd by the Kings Enemies on the other side of the Water for his Assassination in Flanders and the Invasion carrying on by the Conduct of Collonel Parker and the rest of the confederate Collonels and other Officers in England and every one acquainted with the Design all Jacobite Eyes were fixt upon the Weather-Cocks and the first Salutation was how 's the Wind which standing long in a Protestant
Thomas Fox a Servant to the said Mr. Standish was appointed to go with the said Rigby as a Guard to the said Mr. Townley's of Townley And this Informant further saith that about the Year 1691 or beginning of the Year 1692 there came to the said Standish-Hall one who went by the Name of Mr. Green in public Company but privately in the said Mr. Standish's Family was call'd Coll. Parker who kept two Servants his Gentleman who went by the Name of Gandy a French-Man and one Thomas Merrick his Groom and further saith that he hath several times seen in Company together at the said Standish Hall the Lord Molyneux's Son Sir William Gerrard's eldest Son William Dickinson of Wrightington Esq Mr. Blundell of Crosby Mr. Townley of Townley the said Mr. Green or Coll. Parker the said Mr. Standish and divers others and heard it discours'd amongst them that they would all be ready upon King James 's landing in England with Men and Arms to serve him And this Informant further saith that he knows John Womball very well and hath seen him several times at Standish-Hall aforesaid amongst the Gentlemen last mention'd who seem'd to be very familiar with him and hath heard it discours'd at the said Standish-Hall that the said Womball us'd frequently to carry Arms from London to the said Standish-Hall for the Roman Catholic Gentlemen in Lancashire And this Informant further saith that the said John Sharp Servant to the said Mr. Standish was imploy'd by his said Master Standish and others to list Men for the late King James 's Service and the said Sharp in pursuance of his said Orders did List several Men for the said Service at Preston Legh Wiggan the said Standish Town and other Places gave them one Shilling to each Man listing Money and promis'd them half a Crown a Day when they serv'd under the respective Officers they were listed under and the Men so listed us'd frequently to meet the said Sharp at the said Standish Town And this Informant further saith that about the 24th June 1695 one Roger Emer of Standish told this Informant that he had then in his Custody several Swords Pistols and Saddles and two Kettle Drums which Drums were brought to the said Emer by Thomas Smith of Park Brooke in the said Parish of Standish all which Arms Saddles and Kettle Drums were Mr. Standish's of Standish aforesaid and remov'd from Standish-Hall for fear of being seiz'd by some of the Kings Messengers when the Lancashire Gentlemen were taken up about two Years since And this Informant further saith that in or about November last a little after he had given in an Information before Coll. Kirby and two other of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County of Lancaster the said John Sharp came to this Informant who was then a Prisoner in Lancaster-Castle and seem'd to be very angry with him and told this Informant that he had discover'd some of their Designs to a deal of Rogues but before May last either the late King Jam's or some one else would come into England and then this Informant and all the Rogues else should be cut off And this Informant further saith that in August 1695 at the Assizes then held at Lancaster-Castle at which Assizes Mr. John Lunt Wilson and Womball were try'd upon an Information of Perjury and this Informant seeing one Thomas Hatton in the said Castle-Yard a little before the said Tryal ask'd him how he thought the Tryal would go Who answer'd that all Things would go very well for that Sir John Fenwick who as this Informant was told was then in Lancashire would take Care that Lunt Wilson and Womball should all be convicted of Perjury and the Lancashire Gentlemen all clear'd And this Informant further saith that within 3 or 4 Days after he had given in his Information before three Justices of the Peace as aforesaid there came to him into Lancaster-Castle he being then a Prisoner there for Debt one John Rigby an Inhabitant of the said Parish of Standish and told this Informant that the Gentlemen naming no particular Person had taken Care that his Debts should be Paid and be released out of Prison provided he would go with him to such a private Place as the Gentlemen would appoint where this Informant his Wife and Children might privately live out of the Way and the Gentlemen would take Care they should be well maintain'd to the intent he might not be found by the Government to justify what be had upon his Oath deposed in the said Information And that he had brought a Horse for this Informant for that purpose aforesaid And this Informant further saith that the said Rigby further told this Informant that he had a Letter from one Mr. John Haddock a Rich Quaker in the said Standish Parish who us'd to supply the said Mr. Standish and others with several Sums of Money upon Purchase and Mortgages to his Friend one Henry Coward a Shop-keeper in Lancaster the Purport of the Letter as the said Rigby told this Informant was to let Rigby have what Money he pleas'd in order to give this Informant in case of his Acceptance of the Gentlemens said Offer but this Informant denying to go with the said Rigby who staid three Days in Lancaster for the said purpose within two Hours was immediately after his so denying put in Fetters by the Gaoler of the said Lancaster-Castle that now is And this Informant further saith that in December 1694 when the Lancashire Conspiracy was under Examination before the House of Commons he was sent for by the said Mr. Standish of Standish who desir'd this Informant to go to London with some of his Servants who were to be Evidence in the said Affair before the Parliament to the intent he might Coroberate what they said Withal telling this Informant that he needed not be any ways afraid what he said in the House of Commons in the said Matter for that he was not to be upon his Oath And this Informant further saith that a little after the House of Commons sent a Messenger for the said Mr. Standish he the said Standish told this Informant that his Wife had given the said Messenger a Mare and Money so that the said Messenger was return'd to London without effecting his Message Edward Brown The Information of Mr. John Lunt given the Fifteenth Day of June 1694. THIS Informant upon his Oath saith That when King James left the Kingdom upon the Arrival of the Prince of Orange in the Year 1688 he this Informant went then immediately after him into France and upon his Arrival at St. Germains was introduced to kiss his the said King James's Hand in his Closet by the Lords Thomas and George Howard that from thence he was about the beginning of March then next following ordered with the rest of his Guards to go for Dublin that immediately upon his Arrival there about the latter end of May 1689 one Dr. Bromfeild came
apud Preston in Com' Lancast ' 18 Junii 1689 coram me T. Patten The Information of James Tomson one of the Mariners belonging to the Pink or Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is a Protestant but being Examined about several Voyages lately made by the said Vessel into Ireland as to the last saith that it was begun about five Weeks since and having heard the Information of Henry Knowles this Examinant agrees with the same in the relation thereof James Tomson Capt ' Jurat ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten The Information of John Barrow one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT he is an Apprentice to Mr. John Cawson and by his Order went on Board the said Vessel which about five Weeks ago sayl'd into Ireland and he hearing the Information of Henry Knowles now taken and read over this Examinant agrees with the said Knowles in the relation thereof except that this Examinant heard not what the said Lunt came over for nor the Discourses betwixt Mr. Thrillfall and Lunt and the Seamen when they set them on shore at Cockeram John Barrow Capt ' Jurat ' die lâ—câ— praed ' coram me John Patten The Information of Richard Whiteside one of the Mariners belonging to the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster Who upon Oath saith THAT having heard the Information of Henry Knowles another of the Mariners read over this Examinant agrees with him in every particular thereof relating to the said Vessel 's last Voyage into Ireland except that this Examinant hath not heard what Mr. Thrillfall was to give for the Hire of the said Vessel R. Whiteside Capt ' Jurat ' dis loco sup ' dict' coram me T. Patten The Examination of John Cawson of Narbock within Cockeram in the County of Lancaster Merchant Who saith THAT he is half Owner of the Vessel called the Lion of Lancaster and the other half belongs to this Examinant's Son Charles Cawson and to his Son in-Law Robert Curwen to wit to either of them one Quarter And that having for several years last past about May or June been employ'd to carry the Earl of Derby's Cattle from the Isle of Man to England he this Examinant did about two or three Months ago desire Mr. William Backhouse the Attorney who design'd shortly afterwards to go with Mr. Thomas Simpson to London to put the said Mr. Simpson in mind of knowing from the said Earl when he designed the said Cattle should be fetched over which Mr. Backhouse promised to do And at Mr. Simpson's Return he informed this Deponent that he this Examinant might send for the Cattle as formerly to Mr. Cockett my Lord's Servant in the said Isle And thereupon this Examinant gave consent to his said Son Charles that if he pleas'd he might fetch over the same in the Vessel aforesaid And about five Weeks ago the said Vessel loosed Anchor and went out of Lunt Water designing only as this Examinant then believed for the Isle of Man upon the Account aforesaid And this Examinant further saith that since the return of the Vessel this Examinant has been for about an hours time with his said Son to enquire about his Voyage who inform'd him that in the Voyage Mr. Edmund Thrillfall who was then a Passenger on Board the Vessel offer'd to him the said Charles Cawson ten Pounds to put him the said Mr. Thrillfall a shore in any part of Ireland and that accordingly he had set Mr. Thrillfall a shore at Dublin and that after some stay there he returned back for England bringing the said Mr. Thrillfall and another Person who his Son called Mr. Lunt hither with him And the said Charles informed this Examinant that he was detain'd and could not be admitted to return from Dublin till he brought the said Lunt and Thrillfall with him And this Examinant saith that upon Ascension day last the said Mr. Thrillfall came unto him at Garstang and treated with him about a Passage into the Isle of Man but an Embargo being then upon Vessels this Examinant told the said Thrillfall his said Vessel could not go And upon the Monday before the Vessel went from Lancaster-water the said Mr. Thrillfall came to this Examinant's House to treat with him again for a Passage to the Island but this Examinant denied him one in the Vessel having resolved to take no Passenger thither and thereupon the said Thrillfall went away from this Deponant and since then this Examinant never saw the said Mr. Thrillfall And this Examinant demanding from his Son why he called not at the Isle for my Lord's Cattle in his return from Dublin his said Son told him the said Thrillfall and Lunt who were too strong for him being armed with Pistols would not let him and that withal they promis'd him other ten Pounds for their Passage from Ireland but never yet paid it him John Cawson Capt ' die loco praed ' coram me T. Patten Elizabeth Engley 's Affidavit ELizabeth Langley maketh Oath That she this Deponent knows Mr. John Lunt and hath done for eight or nine years past and that in or about the Month of December 1688 a little after the late King James went into France the said Lunt came to this Deponent and desired her to take a private Lodging for him until such time as he could get a Passage out of England to follow the said King which this Deponent did accordingly and about a Fortnight after he the said Lunt acquainted this Deponent that he then had an opportunity to go over into France with the Lord George Howard and this Deponent doth believe he went accordingly for is a week or ten days after she this Deponent did receive a Letter from him the said Lunt bearing date from Calais Jan. 14. 1688 which Letter this Deponent hath yet in her keeping and about July following 1689 the said Lunt came in a Coach to this Deponent's Lodging in Castle-street by Leicester-fields so disguised that she did nor know him till he spoke and desired this Deponent to come into the Coach to him which she did and then he drew up the Glasses fearing lest any one might see him and discover who he was and as the said Lunt and this Deponent sat together in the said Coach as it stood at the door of this Deponents Lodging this Deponent laid her hand on a Green-Bag which was in the Coach and doth believe that it had Papers or Parchment-writings in it but did not at that time ask the said Lunt what they were but as they were sitting together in the said Coach he the said Lunt told this Deponent that he had been in France and that he went from thence into Ireland and that he was sent thence by King James with Commissions and Deelarations to several Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others in England and did then further tell this
Trenchard Lawrence Brandon 's Affidavit LAwrence Brandon of Pennington in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows William Standish of Standish-Hall in the said County Esq and his Son commonly called the Young Lord of Standish and that about May in the year 1691 this Deponent being invited by one James Leightagh to go with him and several other Persons to dine at Standish-Hall aforesaid and upon such Invitation this Deponent and the rest did go to Standish Town in the way to the said Hall and being at the said Town it was agreed on between the said James Leightagh and the rest of the Company rather to dine at the said Town of Standish then to go to the Hall because there seemed some difference like to arise between the said Leightagh and John Neyler on the one part and John Sharp Servant to the said Mr. Standish and James Hayes on the other part concerning the Places of Quarter-Master and Corporal of a Troop of Horse to be raised by the said Mr. Standish for the Service of King James which was promised to the said Leightagh and Neyler and the said Sharp and Hayes pretended unto the same Whereupon the Deponent and the rest of the Company did dine at Standish Town at the Charges of the said Leightagh and John Neyler and after Dinner they went from thence to Standish-Hall where in the Kitchen the said Leightagh and Neyler met the said Sharp and Hayes and after some Discourses on both sides concerning the Places aforesaid the said Sharp and Hayes were contented to quit their Pretensions to the same and consented that Leightagh and Neyler should have the same Upon which Agreement the said Leightagh and Neyler desired to speak with Mr. Standish and bid this Deponent and the rest of the Company to follow them which they did and were conducted into a Parlour where the Young Lord of Standish was and being told by the said Leightagh and Neyler that they had broughe Men to be Listed under his Command he wellcomed this Deponent and the rest and made them sit round the Room and made them drink and told them that the Nation had a great deal of wrong done by Banishing King James that was their Rightful King and that the design in hand was to do no Body wrong but only to bring in their lawful King and that some Aid for that purpose was shortly expected to come out of France and Ireland into England and that they did design upon the News of the Landing of any Foreign Forces to make a general Rising of such Forces as they could procure for the said Service and hoped they were willing and would be ready to serve their King and Country on this Occasion and assured them that they should go no further than he would lead them And that upon their consenting and promising to be ready at his Command the said Young Lord of Standish went out of the Room and soon after returned with a Horseman's naked Sword and bending the Blade thereof by way of Trial shewed it to the Company and told them they should be furnished with no worse than that and should have Pistols Holsters Saddles and all other Accoutrements fit for Troopers And having some farther Consultation with the said Young Lord what course they should take to provide Horses in case they should be called suddenly to meet it was agreed that such as had Horses of their own should make use of them and those that had none should take the first they could meet with and immediately upon any Alarm or notice come to Standish-Hall to rendezvous That after Directions about the Horses were given some of the Company being apprehensive that Mr. Standish the Father might be offended in case they should agree to go under the Command of his Son without his Consent desired to speak with him to be satisfied therein Whereupon they sent to speak with him and he came to them into the Hall where being asked the question aforesaid he told them all it was indifferent to him whether they choose to go under the Command of himself or his Son and such as were not willing to go with his Son should be welcome to go with him for their design was all one and that was to bring again King James or words to that effect Whereupon about twelve of the Company among whom this Deponent was one made choice to go with the Young Lord and the Remainder being to his remembrance the greater number did resolve to go with Mr. Standish the Father and then the Company divided and this Deponent and those that had made their Election went again into the Parlour to the young Lord and drank some short time and at their taking their leaves of him he gave them a word by which they should know one another which was Go thy way old Trip and then they parted from the said House to Wigan in the way whither the said John Neyler overtook this Deponent and his Company and told them he had brought some Money from Standish-Hall to be drunk by them and carried them to the House of James Green in Wigan aforesaid where he staid with them some time and drank the Health of King James and their Captains and then left them And this Deponent farther saith that at his this Deponents Return to his own House his Wife being informed that he had Listed himself a Soldier for King James would not let this Deponent rest or be at quiet until he had promised not to concern himself any farther in the matter Upon which he this Deponent never went near them any more Lawrence Brandon Jurat ' 11. Feb. 1695 Cor'me Tho. Rokeby Robert Bradley 's Affidavit RObert Bradley of Chippin in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows John Lunt and became acquainted with him about the latter end of the year 1689 by the means of one Mr. Thrillfall who brought him to his House he this Deponent keeping an Inn in Chippin aforesaid and that at that time the said Lunt went by the Name of Jackson and that about a quarter of a year afterwards there came into that Country several Irish Men who said they were sent by Lunt from London and that when they wanted Money they said they were to have Money of Lunt and amongst the said Irish there used to come to this Deponent's House several English Papists and frequently used to drink their Old Master King James's Health and threatened this Deponent being a Protestant to hang him when King James came in often affirming he would come into England at such and such times and Lunt often told this Deponent that he had Listed not only the Irish but several of this Deponent's Neighbours besides Thirty that he had Listed at Wiersdale and amongst the Neighbours named Clerkson Hodgkinson and Hearst and that one Cottam was to be Quarter-Master And this Deponent saith that Lunt desired one Sharpless where the said Lunt Tabled to be Listed as the
the King's hand and was coming down Stairs That if the Design that Griffith and Bromfeild had engaged him this Informant in took effect the King would soon be in England Upon this he this Informant came for England and in travelling being somewhat troubled in his thoughts with what he had undertaken he called upon several Priests that were his Friends and Acquaintance and Relations in France as he came along and did tho' not in plain terms acquaint them with what he this Informant was engaged in some were positively against it as damnable and others for it as meritorious which difference amongst them gave him this Informant more disturbance so that as soon as he came into England he resolved not to be one in it and to prevent it if he could but this Informant did not resolve then to discover it until he was perswaded thereunto by a Taffe Friend by whom after he had often times discoursed the Matter with him he this Informant was at length prevailed with to discover it This Informant further saith that being at Sr. Germains in the Months of October and November 1693 the Lord Melfort Capt. Griffith and some others then told him this Informant that there was a Design laid by their Friends the Protestants engag'd with the Roman Catholics there for the seizing the Tower of London Tilbury Fort Sherness the Ports and Coasts c. the Manner viz. That some of the Officers within the Tower who were sure and firm to King James's Interest whose Names this Informant knoweth not they being kept as a Secret to the Chiefs only were to be ready to receive several Gentlemen and others that were to pass as private Persons some in the Habit of private Gentlemen with good private Arms others with the same Habit as the Horse Guards do wear and others in the Habit of Foot-Soldiers all arm'd accordingly and some like plain Country-Men until there was a sufficient Number with the help of those within to have secur'd the Gate and Brig when on a Signal given those without who were in great Numbers to have been lodg'd about the Tower-Hill St. Katherines East-Smithfield Thames-Street and Places adjacent a great many that were to be walking carelesly about the Gates and upon the Wharf provided for that Purpose who were to have made to the Gates secured the Guns and all within by cutting them off and making them Prisoners and for Tilbury Fort by the help of some within much after the same Manner and that for Sherness they did not doubt but to have secured by some Officers of the Fleet and for the Ports of Dover and Foulston and the Coast upon Rumney Mash those they said were undertaken to be made theirs by those Officers of King William that this Informant hath named above viz. Nowell and the rest with the Correspodents they pretended to have in those Parts and that Hull also and all those Parts in the North were at the same time provided for in the like Manner This Informant farther saith that some time after his Arrival at London which was in December 1693 he was at a Meeting at the Queens Head in white Hart-Yard in the Strand where was the Lord Griffin the Lord Baltimore the Lord F was gon before this Informant came there the rest this Informant saw there and Capt. Tozier Mr. Whitefield Mr. Tasbrough Mr. Kingsley and some other Gentlemen told this Informant they had consulted and agreed of the Method abovesaid with those Lords for the securing the Tower and the other Places and that there would be no doubt of accomplishing it c. with a great deal of case but still that they the said Lords and Gentlemen had a great dependence and assurance from those Gentlemen and others in Commission as aforesaid for that they were well assur'd they had an Army listed and Officer'd and ready well Arm'd and Accoutr'd at all Points at twenty four Hours warning to the Number of at least thirty Thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons in the North Parts besides those here in and about London and Parts adjacent which were under the Command Care and Conduct of Lord Fe***m Lord Griffin Coll. Griffin his Son Col. Porter Col. Holman Coll. Sir William Go**g Coll. Bernard H**d Coll. T**n Lieut. Coll. B*s and some others This Informant farther saith that in March last about the middle or latter end of that Month he this Informant was at a Meeting at my Lord Str e's of about twelve or sixteen Protestant and Popish Gentlemen some of which this Informant knew as Mr. Basteen of Dover Capt. Roberts Dr. Clark Mr. Lee Capt. that lives two Miles from Sir Bazill Dixwells The Meeting was to consider and agree to be all ready for securing that Country and the Ports and Coasts there upon any Occasion for the Kings Landing or otherwise and to compute what their Strength they might depend upon might amount unto and it was then agreed amongst themselves that they had between five and six thousand Men well Arm'd and Disciplin'd besides what they might reasonably expect would come in upon their rising whose Numbers they did not doubt would be very considerable This Informant further saith that in his frequent passing to and again from the Ports to and from London at his Inn in Rochester kept by one Alderman Cross of that City he was well known to him the said Cross who several Times and Nights that he has lain in his House did introduce him this Informant into the Company of several Commanders who being by him the said Cross satisfy'd what this Informant was were extreamly civil and kind to this Informant entertaining him and inviteing him Aboard their Ships and otherways And this Informant saith that in December last he did bring from my Lord Melfort a Paper seal'd to that Inn-Keeper this Informant did not see what was in it but he the said Cross told this Informant that it was for some honest Gentlemen that did belong to the Sea This Informant further saith that about six Weeks since Capt. Tozier and Mr. Kingsley a Gentleman that then lately came from St. Germains told him this Informant Mr. Whitfield and another Mr. Kingsley being present that since there was an Account given there that the late Kentish Design upon the Life of King William was by some Traytor or other prevented it was there resolv'd to try another way upon him in Flanders which was by causing several resolv'd Gentlemen and others of the English Scotch and Irish Nations and some French of seeming Quality to desert from the French Army in Flanders as early this Campaign as they could that would undertake to watch and take the first Opportunity they could in their several Posts to attempt upon his Life This Informant further saith that he is very sure that he this Informant can point to and carry and Body to the very Place some he believes in or near the Town but more particularly in several Parts of Yorkshire Lancashire Staffordshire and