Iosiah Coram me L. Jenkins The Ioint Information of Josiah Keeling of the Parish of St. Butolph without Aldgate in the County of Middlesex Salter and of John Keeling of the Parish of St. Anne Black-Fryers Citizen and Turner June the 15th 1683. THe Informants say That being in the Company of Richard Goodenough at the Sun-Tavern behind the Royal Exchange between the hours of One and Three of the Clock on the fifteenth day of this instant Iune 1683. They asked the said Goodenough what Persons of Quality would be concerned He the said Goodenough replyed That he had discoursed William Lord Russel Son to the Earl of Bedford and that the said Lord Russel told the aforesaid Goodenough that he would be concerned in it to his utmost and that he would use all his interest to accomplish the aforesaid Design of killing the King and the Duke of York And these Informants further say That asking the said Goodenough what Collonel that was that yesterday he the said Goodenough told the Informants Iosiah and Iohn would advance eight Hundred or a Thousand pound towards carrying on the Design of Killing the King and Duke he the said Goodenough Replyed it was Collonel Romzey and the Informant Iosiah asked the said Goodenough whether it was that Romsey that Married the Lady Smith and had Commanded Forces in Portugal for his Majesty i. e. the King of England he Replyed it was Witness our hands this 15th day of June 1683. JOSIAH KEELING JOHN KEELING The Information of Josiah Keeling given upon Oath at Hampton-Court the 23d of June 1683. ANd this Informant further saith That several Gentlemen viz. Mr. Roope Mr. Fitton Gerrald and Mr. Allen and one other whose Name this Informant hath forgot who as they said came to visit their honest Wapping Men that this Informant would recommend to them for such and also to Dine with them at some Tavern which was the Fortune at Wapping where was Mr. Samuel Gibbs Mr. Edmund Hunt Mr. Robert Ferguson with several other persons that this Informant doth not remember where the aforesaid Gentlemen began to drink Healths some of which were as followeth To the Man that first draws his Sword in defence of the Protestant Religion against Poperty and Slavery Another was to the Confusion of the Two Brothers Slavery and Popery and being askt what they meant as this Informant verily believeth it was replyed The Two Brothers at Whitehal The next was to the pinning of Mackinny's Head on the Monument for burning the City in 66. And this Informant asking what was meant they said it was the Duke of York And this Informant Dining at the Horse-shoe Tavern on Tower-hill with Edward Norton Esquire Mr. Starkey Mr. Ogle Mr. Goodenough and others forgot by this Informant they drank the fore-said Healths and did explain them as the afore-said Company did And this Informant further saith that Fran. Goodenough sent a Letter to this Informant by one Cherry to acquaint the said Informant That the said Goodenough would with some other Gentlemen Dine at the End of the Town where this Informant dwelleth and that this Informant would speak to such men as he could trust to meet the afore-said persons at the Siracusa House There came with the afore-said Goodenough one Iohn Row late Sword-bearer at Bristol with a Dorsetshire Gentleman whose name this Informant hath forgot also at the same Meeting was Mr. Edmund Hunt Andrew Barber William Tomson Iames Burton as this Informant verily believes with several others forgot where it was agreed we should discourse so that it might not be understood if we were over-heard Then the question was if the Foot-ball was laid down how many we might reasonably expect would come in at first Laying of it down from our end of the Town to play at it To which it was replyed it was uncertain but as many as were there would be concerned to which it was answered by Row and Goodenough if we would not in a little time kick the Ball effectually we should be made Slaves for saith Row the Lord Mayor hath imposed Sheriffs upon you and the King will take away your Charter and then you 'l be in a fine conditâ—on and Goodenough spake to the same purpose upon which Hunt replyed That he could do as much good as any body for that Foot-ball players often got broken shins and he the said Hunt could Cure them And this Informant further saith that this Discourse was grounded upon this Foundation What Men can be raised against the Church-Warden at Whitehal which was understood the King And this Informant further saith that Richard Goodenough and Richard Rumbal told this Informant that there was a Remonstrance or Declaration ready drawn up which would be â—inted against the day that this designed Commotion was to be wherein they would ease the people of Chimney Money which seemed to be most Grievous especially to the common people and that they would lay the Kings Death upon the Papists as a continued design of the former Plot. JOSIAH KEELING Copy of a Note given in by Iosiah Keeling 23d of Iune and by him received from Goodenough From the Tower Eastward on the South-side of Rosemary-Lane to Maiden-head-lane the West-side of Maiden-head-lane the North-side of Upper Shadwel Westward to new Gravel-lane the West-side of new Gravel-lane to the Thames and by the Thames to the Tower The Streets and Allies of Note within the bounds St. Katherine's East-Smithfield Ratclift-High-way Victualling-Office Butcher-Row Redcross-street Armitage Nightingale-lane Artichoack-lane Red-Mead-lane Wapping Gun-alley Cross-alley Well-alley Warners Yard Salters-alley Green Bank Gunâ—alley Pumpâ—alley Love-lane Back-alley Meeting-horse-alley Old-Gravelâ—lane Brewer's-lane Tobacco-pipe-alley Cinamon-street Crown-street Queen-street King Edwards Street King-street Carman-Rents Crown Yard Harrow-alley Seven Star-alley Garter Yard Wests Garden Blew-gate field Fleece Yard Chamberlain's-alley Frankland-street Match Walk With all other Places within the Outbounds not Named The Information of Thomas Shepard taken by the Right Honourable the Earl of Sunderland c. June the 27th 1683. SOme time before my Lord Shaftsbury went for Holland the Duke of Monmouth Lord Gray Lord Russel Sir Thomas Armstrong Colonel Romsey and Mr. Ferguson met at my House in Abchurch-lane where the subject of their Discourse was how to seize Your Majesties Guards and in Order thereunto as I afterwards at their next Meeting was informed the Duke Lord Gray and Sir Thomas Armstrong walked about that end of the Town one night and gave an account that they found them very remiss in their places not like Souldiers and that the thing provided they could have a sufficient strength was feasibly enough but finding that failed the Project was wholly laid aside so far as I know After that Mr. Ferguson told me of a Project was on foot for Destroying Your Majesty and his Royal Highness coming from Newmarket Colonel Romsey Mr. West and as I remember Mr. Wade came to my Counting-house one Evening and began to Discourse of it upon which I told
them that supposing they should effect what they talked of it could not be expected that if the Duke of Monmouth should be Crowned but in Honour and for his own Vindication he must search out the Assassins and both Try and Execute them So that instead of expecting a Reward they must lose their Lives upon which they ceased their Discourse and went away soon after Some time after this Mr. Ferguson told me of a general Insurrection intended both in England and Scotland and in order to it that Sir Iohn Cochran Mr. Bayly Mr. Monro Sir Hugh and Sir George Cambell were come up to Treat with some of our English Men about it and that the Lord of Argile had made a Proposition That if they would Raise him Thirty Thousand pounds he would begin it in Scotland but finding no hopes of Raising that Sum the Scotch were willing to accept of Ten Thousand pounds And by means of a Letter which came as I was informed for there was no Name subscribed from one Mr. Stewart to some unknown Man which I have forgot Concluding then that it was intended to Mr. Bayly or some other of those Gentlemen having had some small acquaintance with Mr. Stewart formerly by means of his Brother who was then a Merchant in Burdeaux and one of my Correspondents I came acquainted with Mr. Bayly who told me from time to time what steps they made in 't how he Conversed with the Duke Lord Russel Major W. and as I remember Colonel Sidney and that he had divers promises of the Money and desired it might be paid into my Hands at length he told me that Five Thousand pounds they had agreed to Raise amongst themselves and that they expected the other half should be Raised in the City but finding no Monies could be got in the City that Project fell likewise and as Mr. Bayly told me all his Country-men were going beyond Sea A few days after came out the Discovery and I never saw any of them since Mr. Ferguson told me that my Lord Essex was hearty in this business and that Iohn Trenchard was a Man to be depended upon in the West They had likewise good hopes of Sir William Courtney and that my Lord Shaftsbury had sent Captain Walcot down to him who returned with a very cool Answer that he found them not what he expected but believed if it came to a Rising they would prove right enough I had almost forgot to acquaint your Majesty that both Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Bayly told me That Mr. Charleton had once promised to see the Ten Thousand pound paid Thomas Shepard Iurat coram Me June 27. 1683. SUNDERLAND The Information of Joseph How of the Parish of St. Giles's without Cripple-gate in the County aforesaid Distiller taken upon Oath before Sir Reginald Forester Baronet this 15th day of June 1683. against Thomas Lea of Old-street in the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid Dyer for speaking of Dangerous and Seditious Words THis Informant Deposeth and sayeth That the said Thomas Lea being at his House in White-Cross-street on Thursday last between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon being the 14th of this instant Iune The said Thomas Lea was discoursing with him this Informant about the loss of the City Charter and other things upon which the said Thomas Lea fell into a Passion and told this Informant that he was one of the number of Ten Thousand Men which were designed to be ready at an hours warning and in Order thereunto there was Twenty Thousand pounds in Bank to carry on the Undertaking and many more did every day subscribe mony or engage their personal assistance And the first enterprize they venture upon is to go very near Windsor and for to seize the Black-Bird and the Gold-Finch and that Three Hundred Men were designed for that Enterprize And afterwards to seize the Militia Whitehal and the Tower But this Informant answered that he judged it impossible the Tower being now so very Strong but the said Thomas Lea told him that he had been round the Tower in Company with a Captain of a Ship and had found out a place where a breach might be made which is to be done by placing some Ships on the Thames side with Mortar Pieces therein to dismount the Guns and also to bring the Major part of those Seamen which were in Arrears of Pay to perform the work they being angry and in want therefore the fitter for that purpose And that for the better carrying of the Design several Meetings are held as this day for one at the Kings-head Tavern in Athist-Ally near the Royal Exchange at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon Further Informeth not Ioseph How Regin Forester June 25 1683. The Examination of Colonel John Romsey THis Examinant saith That in October or November last there was an Insurrection intended by the Earl of Shaftsbury and That the said Earl of Shaftsbury told this Examinant that Bristol was to be his Post and the Examinant being asked what Persons of Quality or Capacity to Command as Officers were named as intended to take part in this Insurrection He Answered That he heard my Lord Russel named and complained of and Mr. Iohn Trenchard named by the Earl of Shaftsbury and this Examinant further saith that Row the Sword-bearer of Bristol told him That Mr. West had acquainted him the said Row that there was an intention to Assassinate the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last the Examinant doth not remember whether the Duke was there or no but that if he were he was likewise to have been killed as the said Row told this Examinant and this Examinant further saith That about the latter end of November or the beginning of December last this Examinant having Matters of Law depending became acquainted with Mr. Robert West and employed him as his Refereé therein That the said West acquainted this Examinant with the Design to Murther the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last and told this Examinant That though it miscarried at that time it was not to be given over so and therefore desired that he this Examinant Mr. Richard Goodenough and some others which he cannot charge his Memory withal should meet at his the said West's Chamber where this Examinant and they did meet within three or four days after to the best of this Examinants Remembrance and there Discoursed about the same Design and let it fall at that time and this Examinant further saith That about the Month of February last the above-said Persons met with this Examinant at the said Mr. West's Chamber to consider how the Design should be brought to effect at the Kings return from Newmarket and Mr. West and Mr. Richard Goodenough undertook to find out Men for that purpose And this Examinant further saith That about this time the said West and Goodenough did desire that this Examinant would be acquainted with Richard Rumball of the Rye near
Howard and Mr. Shute came to this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where the Lord Howard told this Examinant That except some effort were made by the People towards saving their Liberties and Religion all would be lost or used words to that effect And this Examinant telling his Lordship that he saw no way of doing so that did not endanger the People more in case of a miscarriage his Lordship told this Deponent he had thought of a method â—easible in his opinion and it was this to the best of this Examinants remembrance viz. That Ten men of Skill and Conduct in Martial Affairs should meet and each chuse to himself ten men whom he might use that every of these ten should raise 20 men so as to make up a Body of two thousand men that empty Houses should be taken for these men as near the several Gates of the City and other convenient Posts as could be that the night before the Execution intended the Men should be got into those Houses and acquainted with the execution such as refused should be clapt into the Cellars and the rest sally out at the most convenient hour and seize and shut up the Gates and then demand the Inhabitants Arms and he doubted not but they would deliver them and People enough come into assistance His Lordship named Col. Rumzey Col. Danvers Mr. Clare and three others whom this Examinant hath forgotten for six of the principal Ten and desired this Examinant to speak to them to consider of the Project and fill up the number of Ten but this Examinant having no mind to engage in it onely told Col. Romzey of it and none other of the Parties above-named who told this Examinant he would not meddle in it and advised this Examinant to proceed no further and when the said Lord Howard came to this Examinant for an answer this Examinant told his Lordship that he could meet with no encouragement whereupon his Lordship replied he could make as good a shift as other men and he would trouble himself no further and came not since to this Examinant And this Examinant further saith That the Lord Howard at another time told this Examinant at a Tavern in the City That he thought it no difficulty with 500 Horse to surprize the King Duke and all the Court at Newmarket by beating up their Quarters about break of day but this Examinant told the said Lord Howard it was impossible to get such a Body to so great a distance unobserved at which his Lordship seem'd convinc'd And this Deponent further saith That the said Ferguson told this Examinant That the Arms to be bought with the said 10000 l. lay ready provided in Holland to be Transported for Scotland and that the Earl of Argile would go over with them and Head the Scots in Person and that one English Lord offered to pay the whole 10000 l. by Mortgaging his Estate if the rest of the Managers would have secured him their proportions But he should not name the Lord's Name then but since the said Ferguson told this Examinant it was the Lord Grey And further this Examinant saith not Robert West 26 Iunii 83. Capt. Cognit Coram me L. Ienkins The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant saith That he was informed by Mr. Ferguson and to the best of his remembrance by Colonel Romzey likewise That the late Earl of Shaftsbury advised the Duke of Monmouth when he went into Cheshire in September last That if his Grace were attended with a good appearance of Gentlemen and Free-holders there his Grace should set up and declare for a Free Parliament And that when his Grace was taken into Custody by a Messenger the said Earl of Shaftsbury advised that the said Messenger should be killed and his Grace return into Cheshire and declare as above or else Post into the West of England and set up there But his Grace and the Lord Grey of Wark were of another opinion viz. That his Grace should Surrender himself which his Grace did accordingly And this Examinant further saith That since the Insurrection intended in November last was laid aside this Examinant was informed by Colonel Romzey that one great reason of its being laid aside was that one Mr. Iohn Trenchard on whom there was a great Reliance for a considerable body of Men in the West viz. at Taunton would not undertake to procure such a Body for which he was much reproached by the Lord Grey And this Examinant further saith That some time before Mr. Ferguson went over into Holland the said Ferguson this Examinant and one Mr. Iohn Roe late Sword-Bearer of Bristol were together at the Young Devil Tavern in Fleet-street where some Discourse was had concerning the killing the King and Duke of York and of a general Insurrection but this Examinant cannot remember any particular passages of that Discourse And this Examinant further saith That after the said Ferguson went for Holland viz. about Christmass last Colonel Romzey this Examinant Richard Goodenough and the said Roe several times met and discoursed concerning the said Design against the King and Duke as also of a general Insurrection which they distinguished by the names of the Lopping Point and General Point One of which Meetings to the best of this Examinants remembrance was at this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where were present besides Colonel Romzey this Examinant the said Goodenough and Roe Mr Ioseph Tyley Mr. Edward Norton and Mr. Richard Nelthrop And the said Mr. Nelthrop approved of an Insurrection but always expressed a Detestation of the Design to kill the King and Duke as a base ungenerous thing But the said Roe declared he would be one to execute it rather than it should fail to be done And this Examinant saith That at some or all of those Meetings it was discoursed in what place and in what manner the said Design against the King and Duke should be put in execution and it was proposed to be done either in the Play-house by planting Men in the Pit about the King's Box armed with Pistols and Pocket-Blunderbusses who between the Acts of the Play should make the Assault or in their return from the Play-house by night under Bedford Garden Wall because of the convenience for one part of the Assailants walking unsuspected in the Piaza and another walking so in the Square within the Rails and another being about the Church-Porch who upon the first Assault might prevent Assistance to the King out of Covent-Garden Or else it might be done as the King and Duke were passing down the River in a Barge either by over-running their Barge with a Hoy or else Boarding their Barge and shooting a Plank or two out of the bottom with Blunderbusses and so to sink it but both these ways were looked upon as very hazardous and probable to miscarry and therefore neither was agreed on And this Examinant further saith That in the last
Carolina but he believed that was only a pretence and that the real truth was to Concert Matters in order to some Design in Scotland for the Lord Shaftsbury had sent for him upon pretence of some Command in Carolina but when he came the Lord Shaftsbury was very cool in it And this Examinant further saith That the said Mr. Walcot refused a long time to act in any wise in the Attempt upon the King and Duke in the Newmarket Journey but at length by the perswasion of Ferguson as this Examinant believes he undertook to Command the Party who were to Fight the Guards or to be one of them but refused to act in the Assassination it self And this Examinant further saith The said Ferguson told this Examinant that when the Earl of Argâ—le was in England last Year he had offered to make a sturdy Commotion in Scotland if he might have had but 6000 l. for so low he came down from his first demand of 30000 or 40000 l. but our Great Men were jealous of him then and would not trust him though he offered that they should employ whom they would themselves to lay out the Money in Arms which he said was a great Oversight and Opportunity lost And this Examinant believes the Assassination of the King and Duke designed in October last was Projected and Abetted by the late Earl of Shaftsbury and that the Money in one of this Examinant's former Examinations mentioned to be advanced for that Design was advanced by the said Earl because this Examinant had heard but cannot say positively from whom that the said Earl complained of having been ill used in that Matter in the Money not being returned though it was not laid out Information of Carleton Whitlock 5 July 83. MR. West some time in Easter-Term last in the Court of Requests told me That some desperate Fellows had designed to have killed the King or would have killed the King as he came last from Newmarket if they had not been afraid that the Duke of Monmouth would have Hanged them Upon which I told him That it had been a villanous Action and that all Mankind would have detested the Action and the Murderers and that if it ever had been in the Duke of Monmouth's Power he would certainly have Hanged them for it if they had done it He told me afterwards That there was a Design of raising a considerable Sum of Money to buy Arms as I remember in Holland and that Major Wildman Col. Algernoon Sidney and Ferguson managed the Business and that my Lord Russel was very active in it or Words to that effect And that Writings were drawn or drawing or to be drawn for the taking up of the Money as I remember he said Ferguson was to manage on the behalf of the Scots This he told me at his House one Day when I Dined with him but upon my not Examining him to Particulars he said nothing to me but thus generally Only at his House he said That some of them were for a Commonwealth and others for Monarchy At Mr. Shute's Funeral in the publick Room Nelthorp came to me and asked me for something for poor Ferguson as he called him and told me He was doing a good Work for all Honest Men. I told him I would give nothing to any Man for doing a Work I did not know of C. Whitlock Mr. Edmund Waller's Confession I Did once meet Mr. West I do not know the certain time and he rail'd so much at those he called Protestant Lords that I asked him if he would have them be Rebels and told him That such Men as he and nothing else could ruine the Kingdom This was in the Temple before the Hall The last and only other time that I ever spoke with him in private that is alone for we walked in the Temple-Cloysters I met him there and he told me That some People not naming himself as one had had a Design to set upon the King I am not certain whether he named Newmarket but he said It was over I went from him hastily and only said These things will Hang you and undo a great many other People As I remember when he said There had been such a Design I told him I did not believe it and then he said It was to have been done as the King came from Newmarket and was going on to say more but I interrupted him and went away and I believe he was jealous of me for he called after me and said There was no Danger This was as I think the Saturday before this Conspiracy was spoke of in Westminster-Hall Iuly 6th 1683. Edm. Waller Information of Zachary Bourn RIchard Goodenough bringing Mr. Ferguson alias Roberts for that Name he used to go by to my House it was a great while ' ere I understood any thing at all of the Design but so many coming to him daily as did made me jealous I did imagine something of it Upon which he took an occasion one Day to ask What I thought about the Gentlemen that came so often to him and then says Admit there should be a Design on foot for the Good of the People of England Would you be against it To which I answer'd If I can do it with a safe Conscience I could not tell well what I should be perswaded to As to that says he I shall easily satisfie you And then went on to prove a mutual Covenant between the King and the People that his Majesty had broke it on his side so the People were again at Liberty But to the Matter says he as indeed I will be plain with you If you love your self you must come in for there is a Design on foot so laid and so far gone that it is impossible it should fail Then I desired him if he thought it convenient to let me know some Particulars which he said He would provided I would promise him Secrecy but especially I should say nothing to my Father or Wife for he thought I would not speak to any Body else Upon which I said I would And then he was plain as he said and told me as follows That there was not a County in England but had prepared for the Business less or more but especially in the North and West and that they were sure of most Places of Strength throughout the Kingdom but especially Bristol and Newcastle And that they were then a considering how to secure Portsmouth but were afraid they should not the Garrison was so strong And that the Scots were to stir at the same time we were and that we were to lend them 10000 l. to be remitted into Holland to buy Arms for them and that he was to go over with the Bills of Exchange That he found out a Person could deposite the Money upon good Security which the Lords had promised should be given That there was a Dutch-Merchant or two that he had got to provide the Arms for the English could not do
what Mr. Ferguson said for he was so willing to have the most Barbarous Murther done that he would say any thing to encourage them to do it such Discourse as this hapned several times at our meetings some saying When our Swords were in our Hands if he would not protect them that then he should be cut off too Such Hellish Discourses as these we entertained our selves with until the News of the Firing of New-Market came to Town And then Mr. Ferguson sent for most of us and was earnest that Goodenough and Rumbald should get what Men they could and that he could help them with Six and that Rumbald should attempt it with as many as could be got but it was given over for that time because neither Arms nor Horses were ready then he promised that he would immediately get the Six Hundred pounds into his own hands to provide all things in a readiness against the first opportunity whether at the Play-House between Hampton-Court or going to Winchester and said that some persons were already out to see a fit place to do it in and if it could not be done before that then all things should be ready against the King and Dukes going down to New-Market as Horses bought and kept in a readiness and Arms which Mr. West undertook to do he being acquainted with a Gun-smith and upon Mr. Ferguson's Promise that he would procure the Money Mr. West bespoke the Arms and they were ready in a very little time But when Mr. West came and told Mr. Ferguson that the Arms were ready for six Weeks now I did not see Ferguson but Mr. West acquainted me with all passed as follows he told the said West that his Friend had not brought him the Money as he promised also Mr. West was forced to pay for the Arms out of his own Money which was not repaied him as he told this Examinant not above twenty days since or thereabouts The said West told this Examinant that Mr. Ferguson told him he might send for his Money when he would by a Note to Major W. but he must tell him the Name that he would make the Note payable to that he might tell the same to Major W. the Name I have forgot In some very few days after as he the said West told this Examinant the said Ferguson told him that he must not send any Body or Note to receive the said Hundred pounds but Richard Rumbald because the said W. would not trust any body else West sent the said Rumbald very early one Morning but the said Major W. was gone out of Town before he came to the House which he went and acquainted the said Ferguson with In a few days after the said Ferguson paid the said West a Hundred pounds in Gold and as the said West then told this Examinant that the said Ferguson told him he did receive the said Hundred pounds of Mr. Charlton and about fourteen days since the said West and this Examinant going to Mr. Ferguson he told us that there was Three Thousand pounds Raised for to buy Horses and to maintain them and the Men in a Readiness that if any opportunity offered all might be ready but did not tell us from whom he was to have this Money neither did either of us ask him any question about it Further this Examinant saith That to the best of his Remembrance in Ianuary last Mr. Nelthrop told this Examinant that meeting Colonel Sidney he told him that now something would be done for that it was resolved to send some persons into Scotland to some Gentlemen there to come to Town that they might know what the Scots would do but they knew not of a Man fit to send and the said Nelthrop told this Examinant that he recommended one Mr. Aaron Smith as a fit man And further this Examinant saith That the said Nelthrop told this Examinant that the Colonel and others had sent him Aaron Smith with a Letter to Sir Iohn Cochran to advise him and his Friends to come to London about their Carolina affairs and that a good Gelding was bought for him or Money given to him to buy one as also Money was given him by Colonel Owen to pay his Expences on the Road and also that some Money was given to his Wife for her Maintenance she being in poverty Upon this Letter Sir Iohn Cochran came to London and some other Scotch Gentlemen whose Names this Examinant does not know but as the said Nelthrop and Mr. Ferguson did acquaint this Examinant they were to Treat with some of this Nation what was to be done for the Delivery of the Nations The said Ferguson told this Examinant That the Scotch Gentlemen did acquaint those they Treated with not Naming any of their Names that their people were in very great Poverty but very willing to set themselves at Liberty but they had no Arms nor Ammunition nor Money to buy any and without they could let them have Money to furnish Arms and Ammunition they could do nothing During this last Transaction of the Scots for Money I did not see Mr. Ferguson but Mr. West who went constantly to him did tell me their Discourse as that sometimes the Scotch Gentlemen were departing discontented and then again in three or four days that they were like to agree and that Money should be provided for them Often he told me of such changes as these in that Transaction and that Mr. Ferguson did assure the said West that the Money would be all paid in one week I answered the said West who would have had me gone to Ferguson that I would not see him until I was certain it was paid for the said Ferguson undertook much and did nothing but promise what he could not do There was a Debate what Declaration should be presently after the Murther of the King and Duke and amongst other things a Free Parliament was one Head Liberty of Conscience was another That those that had their Lands taken from them at the Kings Restauration should have them returned A Reformation of the Expensive part of the Law Mr. Ferguson undertook that one should be ready Mr. West did further acquaint this Examinant that my Lord Howard had been at his Chamber to Pump him the said West what we were doing and that his Lordship did desire to have a Meeting with the said West and this Examinant which neither the said West nor this Examinant were willing to and the said West did further acquaint this Examinant that my Lord Howard did propose a Council of Ten to meet but we not consenting to meet the said West did civilly put off the Proposition as he the said West did inform this Examinant And further this Examinant saith That Discoursing with Mr. West and Mr. Goodenough and others about the Scotch Affair they did tell me That the last Spring there was a Treaty with the Earl of Argile and that then without Money the Scots declared they could not begin
Examinant further saith That there was some Considerations lately had how to make an Estimate of the strength of the Protestant party in case they should be put upon their own Defence when it was agreed that the City and Subburbs should be divided into twenty parts that some person well acquainted in each Division should enquire into and make a return of the number he should find which returns are not yet made to the Examinants knowledge And more this Examinant for the present saith not Robert West 23 Die Junii 1683. Capt. Recognit coram me L. JENKINS The further Examination of Robert West Barrister at Law of the Middle-Temple the 24th of June 1683. THis Examinant saith That he was informed of the Insurrection in his former Examination mentioned to have been designed in November last by Thomas Walcot who told this Examinant that the same was projected by the late Earl of Shaftsbury and was to have been put in execution the 19 of November last but that he looked upon it as a mad thing which he had no thoughts to engage in and afterwards told this Examinant that it was wholly laid aside And this Examination further saith That to the best of his remembrance Francis Shute lately deceased was the person who acquainted this Examinant that an Assassination of the King and Duke in their return from Newmarket in or about October last had been intended and that he heard the same from Mr. Ferguson and this Examinant asking Mr. Ferguson about it the said Ferguson told this Examinant that it had not been thought of time enough and therefore could not be done or words to that effect And this Examinant further saith That he discoursing with the said Ferguson concerning the late intended Attempt upon the King and Duke in their return from Newmarket asked the said Ferguson what care was taken to justifie the same if in case it took effect for that the other party might in revenge shed a great deal of Blood and immediately proclaim the Princess of Orange which would overthrow the whole Design To which he answered me that care would be taken about it and that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs and most of the Lieutenancy should be secured But when this Examinant desired to know what persons were to be concerned he bad this Examinant ask no questions for things would be managed well as he said and that if London was secured all England would fall in And this Examinant further saith that when this Examinant asked the said Ferguson whether any Declaration was prepared to be published upon such occasion he told this Examinant that it had been considered of and was ready and would be printed ready to be dispersed but when this Examinant asked him how it should be done he answered it was assuredly so but this Examinant must ask no questions And this Examinant further saith That before this Examinant bespake the Arms mentioned in his former Examinations the said Ferguson told this Examinant that he would give this Examinant mony to pay for them for he had five or six hundred pounds at Command but he paid not the money to this Examinant till about three weeks or a month since and then paid it this Examinant in ninety three Guineys but would not tell this Examinant of whom he had the said money And this Examinant further saith That the said Ferguson told this Examinant that the Scots intended to make some Insurrection in Scotland this Summer but were not well able to do so without the assistance of ten thousand pounds or some other great sum to buy Arms for them which he had hopes of getting for them and that they expected and he hoped they would be seconded by a party in England both in London and in the Northern and Western parts And when this Examinant asked him what persons of Note would engage in it and what method they would use He answered First let us sound our strength and if there be encouragement from that you will not want men of Quality to take their Post but you must excuse me from naming of them till there be occasion And this Examinant further saith that though he frequently enquired whether any money had been paid to the Scots he could not certainly be informed that any money had been paid And further saith this Examinant that the Arms in his former Examinations particularly mentioned were directed by the Company then present to be bespoken And further this Examinant saith That he hath been often in company with Mr. Edward Norton of Dorsetshire as this Examinant doth believe with Nathaniel Wade a Barrister at Law and Francis Goodenough an Attorney at Law at the Castle-Tavern in Fleetstree and at the Green Dragon Tavern upon Snow-hill where some Discourses were held concerning an Iâ—â—urrection in Scotland and of one in England if there should be occasion or be thought requisite at which time the said Parties last mentioned declared they would not be wanting to act their parts therein And this Examinant further saith not Robert West 24 Junii Cap recognit coram me L. JENKINS The further Examination of Robert West taken by my Lord Keeper the 25th June 1683. THis Examinant further saith That Robert Ferguson in his two former Examinations named told and sent this Examinant word by a Note That if this Examinant would send to Major Iohn Wildman commonly so called he would pay a hundred pounds for the Arms in this Examinants farther Examinations mentioned to be bougth by this Examinant and this Examinant not being willing to speak with the said Wildman himself sent Richard Rumbald to receive the money but the said Wildman was gone out of Town before the said Rumbald did call at his house And this Examinant further saith That upon some discourse at one of the Meetings in his former Examinations mentioned it was proposed whether some of the chief Ministers of State particularly the Lord Keeper the Lord Marquess of Hallifax and the Earl of Rochester that now is should be killed and it was agreed that it was very necessary they should be killed but no particular persons were appointed to do it as this Examinant remembers it being thought almost impossible for any of the said Ministers to escape And further this Examinant saith not Robert West 25 Junii 1683. Cap. recognit coram me Fr. North C. S. The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law taken before Mr. Secretary Jenkins the 26th of June 1683. THis Examinant further saith That some time in the last Spring and to the best of this Examinants remembrance whilst the King was at Newmarket Francis Shute late deceas'd came to this Examinant with a Message from the Lord Howard of Escrick as he told this Examinant to this effect viz. That the Lord Howard had a Project for raising a Body of Men to make an Insurrection and desired this Examinants concurrence and assistance in it and shortly after the Lord
Christmass Holy-days Colonel Romzey invited this Examinant and several others to Dinner at his House in Kings-Square in Sohoe Fields where Dined this Examinant Mr. Richard Goodenough Mr. Francis Goodenough Mr. Roe Mr. Blaney and to the best of this Examinants remembrance Mr. Ioseph Tyley and some Discourse was then had of the said Design against the King and Duke and of a general Insurrection which this Examinant proposed to them being Lawyers to call and distinguish them in this manner The Design of Killing the King and the Duke Executing a Bargain and Sale which was a short manner of Conveyance And the general Insurrection By the executing a Lease and Release which is a longer Conveyance which Distinction was received and often afterwards made use of but the same Blaney was never afterward as this Examinant remembers at any other Meeting And this Examinant further saith That some short time after Christmas last this Examinant Colonel Romzey Mr. Walcot and Mr. Rumbold met at the Salutation Tavern in Lumbard-street where it was Discoursed that some Preparations ought to be made against the time that either the said Design against the King and Duke or a general Insurrection should be put in Execution And it was â—â—greed That Ferguson should be sent for Home and that Ludlow should be sent for if it could be and that Blank Commissions should be drawn up for Officers both Civil and Military and a Model of Government but there was some doubt in whose Names those Commissions should run and at last it was proposed but this Examinant does not remember by whom that they should run in the Name of the Conâ—ederate Lords and Commons of England After which Meeting this Examinant and Colonel Romzey went the same night to the best of this Examinants remembrance or soon after to a Coffee-House in Popes-head Alley to enquire for one Mr. Thomas Shepard a Merchant for Directions how to send to Mr. Ferguson then in Holland and there found Mr. Shepard And this Examinant by the consent of the said Colonel Romzey wrote a sort of Canting Letter to Ferguson to invite him over for his Health but there was no particular business in the said Letter and the said Mr. Shepard sent it But Mr. Ludlow was never sent for nor any Commissions prepared nor any Frame of Government drawn up to this Examinants knowledge or as he ever heard of And this Examinant further saith That about Christmass last he was informed to the best of this Examinants remembrance by Colonel Romzey that a design for a general Insurrection was carrying on and was managed by a Cabal or Council and that the said Cabal differed amongst themselves and the business was like to be at a stand but the persons of that Cabal the said Colonel Romzey did not then give this Examinant any account of But the said Colonel Romzey this Examinant and Nathaniel Wade agreed to draw up some few Fundamentals which they thought reasonable and the said Colonel Rumsey to present the same to the Lord Russel for him to present to the Managers or the Duke of Monmouth which they did accordingly but the same were rejected as the said Colonel Romzey told this Examinant and this Examinant hath no Copy of them And this Examinant further saith That about Hillary Term last this Examinant was informed by Mr. Ioseph Tyley and since by Iames Holloway of Bristol that there was a considerable Party in Bristol well provided for and almost impatient for Action and had laid a rational Design if they could be seconded in other places And this Examinant further saith That he was informed by Mr. Richard Nelthrop that Colonel Sidney had sent Aaron Smith into Scotland with Letters to Sir George Cambel and Sir Iohn Cochran or one of them upon pretence of a Purchase of Land in Carolina but in truth to get them up to London in order to settle matters for a Rising or used words to that effect and that the said Colonel Sidney gave the said Aâ—ron Smith Fourscore Guineys or some such Sum for his Charges And Mr. Ferguson hath since told this Examinant that the said Aaron Smith behaved himself very indiscreetly in the said Journey and run a hazard of discovering the Design And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Ferguson often told this Examinant that it was agreed between several Scots and several Persons of Quality here in England that the Scots should have 10000 l. from hence to buy Arms and then should Rise in Scotland and be seconded here by an Insurrection in England or if the English would help the Scots to 30000 l. they would attempt a Rising in Scotland without being seconded in or further assisted from England And that the 10000 l. was to be paid this day and that day but at length the 10000 l. sunk to 5000 l. but the Scots were resolved to Rise though they had nothing but their Claws to fight with rather then endure what they did And about three Weeks or a Month since the said Ferguson told this Examinant that Colonel Sidney and Major Wildman had used the Scots ill and broken with them after making them attend two Months and the reason they broke upon was That the Scots would not agree to declare for a Commonwealth and the extirpation of the Monarchy but that the said Ferguson had hopes of raising the Money otherwise but would not tell this Examinant how neither could this Examinant ever be certainly informed whether any part of the said Money has been paid to the Scots And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Iohn Roe hath told this Examinant that he the said Roe was acquainted with some Scotchmen here in London who informed him that there were 2000 or 3000 Scots many of them Bothwel-Bridge Men who were Journey-men and Pedlers in and about England and were under the order and management of ten or twelve Scotchmen in London who could in a Month or six weeks time draw in all up to London and that the Earl of Shaftsbury had a great command of these men And this Examinant further saith That about three Months since or thereabouts this Examinant being upon the Exchange met with Major Wildman who told this Examinant for News that the Marquess of Huntly and Earl of Dowglas two eminent Papists were reported to be made General of the Forces and Governour of Sterling Castle in Scotland and that a Resumption or Repurchase of the Abby Lands was going to be made there Whereupon this Examinant told the said Major Wildman That he this Examinant had a Plantation in America where the Churchmen never had Footing and would go thither if he was driven from hence To which the said Major Wildman replied Keep here and don 't talk of being driven out drive them out hence And this Examinant saying He did not see how that could be done The said Major Wildman returned it may be done and must be done and shall be done or used words to that effect And
in this Case And at one of the late Meetings for carrying on the last Insurrection Mr. Goodenough reported that an Engineer told the said Goodenough that he would recommend some honest stout Fellows to be Labourers and Workmen in the Tower who should be acquainted with the Design and ready to assist in it Another way proposed was to surprize it by night but that was full of difficulty and all that this Examinant remembers to have been proposed was that a parcel of Faggots should be carried down to the Gate and fired and to some other Part this Examinant thinks the Water-Gate if it were practicable and a great quantity of Faggots should be prepared to throw into the Ditch and to make up Works That which most perplexed the business was that to surprize the Tower by night was very difficult and to begin an Insurrection in the day time was as difficult and would lose many advantages that the night or break of day would afford and therefore no resolution was taken These were only the Debates of the meetings of this Examinant and the other Persons in this former Examination named but this Examinant never heard what the Principal Managers considered of or resolved on in the Case And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Ferguson used to go by the name of Roberts and told this Examinant he was to go for Holland with or soon after the Bill for the Money to be paid to the Scots and that the intention was to Land the Arms at Edinburgh-Frith to the best of this Examinant's remembrance And this Examinant further saith Mr. William Rumbald told this Examinant that after it was violently suspected that Mr. Keeling had made a Discovery but had denyed it it was proposed to Mr. Keeling for the satisfaction of his Friends that he should go into the Country for sometime where it was easie to Kill him and Bury him privately And this Examinant further saith That after it was certainly known that a Discovery was made it was said by Mr. VVade to the best of this Examinant's remembrance that if a Thousand Men could be got together it were better to venture a push here or in the West and die like Men than be hanged like Dogs To which it was answered by Colonel Romzey as this Examinant believes It is in vain to think of it the Hearts of the People are down and our Great Men are good for nothing or used expressions to that effect And this Examinant further saith That on Monday was Sennight last Mr. Ferguson perceiving this Examinant much dejected and Colonel Romzey Mr. VVade Mr. Norton Goodenough and Nelthorp in some Confusion laught and said to them Gentlemen you are Strangers to this kind of Exercise I have been used to flie I will never leave off as long as I live and I hope to see some of you at Dunbarr before Michaelmas or to that effect Robert West The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant further saith That at some meetings concerning a General Insurrection it was discoursed that a Body of Five hundred Horse would be necessary to scour the Streets to prevent the Kings Party from embodying and for Fighting the Horse Guards or for a pursuit and to that end it was proposed that some endeavours should be used to bring up a Party of Horse from the Adjacent Counties and that some means should be thought on to seize the Life-Guard Mens Horses in their Quarters and the Citizens and Gentlemens Horses in the Livery Stables and if there were success and a great Body of Horse should be necessary the great number of Hackney Coach-Horses in Town would make a good force It was further proposed that Baricadoes should be made in several great Streets and several Churches be used for lodging the men And this Examinant further saith That at some of the said meetingâ— it was reported that the Kings Regiments of Foot had not their full Compleatment of men but wanted a great number and that the Officers used to lend one another men when they went upon the Guard and therefore the Foot were not so terrible as might be apprehended And this Examinant further saith That it was intended in the beginning of the general Insurrection in the VVest to send out a Paâ—ty of Horse to seize the Marquess of VVorcester now Duke of Beaufort and his eldest Son and another Party to seize the Bishop of Bâ—th and VVells and some other eminent Men of that Party if they were â—en in those parts And this Examinant further saith That some time before Christmass last he was informed by Mr. Roe to the best of this Examinant's remembrance that the Country expected the City would have been in Arms on Michaelmas-Eve when the present Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were Sworn and that he was Credibly Informed that there were Five hundred Horse in the Adjacent Counties ready to be marched to their Assistance upon the first notice and that they continued in a readiness for two days expecting notice but this Examinant doth not remember that he named any person from whom he had this Information And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Ferguson told this Examinant that some Nonconforming Ministers had told him they suspected he was driving on a Design to Assassinate the King and Duke and beg'd of him to desist for that it would bring a Reproach upon the Protestant Religion whatsoever the event might be and that he was forced to assure them there was no such thing intended but alas said he they are weak silly men and not fit for these thing who cannot distinguish between Destroying a Prince meerly for his Opinion in Religion and Destroying Tyrants who Design to overthrow the Laws Religion and all Civil Rights and hate the Nation It is a pious glorious Action and such as will teach all Princes to use their Subjects kindly or to that effect Robert West The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant upon further Recollection saith That after Capt. Walcot had acquainted this Examinant of the Insurrection intended to have been made in November last the said Walcot came the second time to this Examinant and told this Examinant that the Lord Shaâ—tsbury had prevailed with him to engage in it and that if it proceeded he would engage in it and desired this Examinant to buy for him the said Walcot a long stiff Tuck of some Cutler this Examinant knew which this Examinant undertook and bespoke but was so long before he could procure it that the said Walcot had otherwise provibed himself and the Design was laid aside first and this Examinant was forced to keep the said Tuck the Cutler refusing to take it again And the said Mr. Walcot told this Examinant to the best of his remembrance that the Lord Shaftsbury had formerly sent for Sir George Cambel and Sir Iohn Cockran about settling a Scotch Colony or Plantation in
Examinant was of opinion that a publick Declaration of safety to their persons and Estates if they would submit was a better expedient and would win more upon the People And it was further resolved that some of the principal reputed Pentioners in the late long Parliament should be brought to Tryal and Death and that there Skins should be stuft and hung up in the Parliament House as Betrayers of the People and of the Trust. It was proposed that Bishops Deans and Chapters should be wholly laid aside but no resolution was taken concerning their Lands because the present Tenants might be induced to submit in hopes of preserving them and would be sure to struggle if they saw they must lose them and those who had those Lands in the late times would be sure to engage in Arms for us or submit in hopes of having those Lands again Some discourse was had of applying those Revenues and of one half or two thirds of the Colleges in both Universities to publick uses in ease of the People from Taxes It was further proposed that it should be publickly declared to the people that they should be eased of the Chimney Mony and have Toleration in matters of Religion which was thought would engage all the meaner people That England should be a free Port and all Strangers who would should be Naturalized which was looked upon as a means to engage Foreigners on our side that there should be no Taxes for the future buâ— the Excise and Landâ— Taxes which should be appropriated to particular uses and all forfeited Estates should be applyed so too And this Examinant further saith that this Examinant enquiring of Ferguson what Fond of Money was provided it was answered by him and Colonel Romzey that if the business were done and backt with success there could be no want of Money there would be half a years Revenue of the Chimney Money then due besides what the Excise-Office and Custom-house will afford and that there was Money and Plate enough among the Bankers and Goldsmiths which must be taken up upon Publick Faith if there were occasion and be punctually repaid again for the reputation of the Cause And this Examinant further saith that when Walcot agreed to engage in the said Action he desired his Name might be concealed whatsoever the effect of it proved whereupon Ferguson replyed no Man ought to be ashamed of it for 't is a glorious Action and such as I hope to see rewarded by a Parliament and that the Actors in it shall have Statues erected to them with Inscriptions of Liberatores Patriae And this Examinant further saith that he acquainted Mr. Thomas Shepard Merchant that this Examinant had provided Arms in his former Examination mentioned and that Ferguson promised to see for a conveniency of committing the Assassination between Hampton-court and Windsor And this Examinant further saith that Mr. Bourn a Brewer between great Queen-street and Parker-lane was acquainted with the intended Insurrections and hath talked with this Examinant about them and declared himself ready to engage in an Insurrection but not in the Assassination and the said Bourn was knowing of the Arms bought by this Examinant but was not at the Meeting when they were agreed to be bespoken and this Examinant believes he acquainted Mr. Carleton Whitlock Mr. Edmund Waller both of the Middle-Temple and Mr. Holford of Chancery-lane of the intended Assassination and Insurrection in November but he did not do so till after the time for Execution was past And further saith that in the beginning of October last this Examinant met with Colonel Sidney at Vxbridge where the said Colonel told this Examinant that many tricks had been plaid in the Scrutiny of the Poll for the Lord Mayor and that Sir William Prichard was declared though not duly chosen but said he all that I can say to it is what a Justice of Peace of Essex said lately to a Country Fellow brought before him for Killing a High-way-man that would have Rob'd him Friend says the Justice you have done well but you might have been Rob'd if you would and so we may be inslaved if we will or else need not or he used words to that purpose but this Examinant to the best of his remembrance never spake to the said Colonel since Robert West The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant upon further Recollection saith that Richard Goodenough and Francis Goodenough formerly offered to act in the intended Assassination of the King and Duke if a sufficient number of Men could not be got to do it but afterwards believing there were Men enough besides they both declined it And this Examinant further saith that at some of the Meetings concerning the said Assassination Colonel Rumzey said it would be very convenient to take off Colonel Legg the now Lord Dartmouth for he was a stout Man and of desperate Courage and believed if he could get into the Tower would in Revenge fire all the Gunpowder in the White Tower which would endanger the whole City And it was said concerning the Lady Ann Daughter to the Duke of York that it would be best to Marry her to some small Country Gentleman and have a Breed only to keep out any Forrain pretenders to the Crown and at one of the said Meetings when it was discoursed whether the King or Duke should be killed singly it was agreed that Rumbold should send out a Spye before who by some signs should give an account at a distance whether the King and Duke were both together or not and at one of the said Meetings when it was designed that it would be convenient to take off some of the Chief Ministers of State as the Lord Keeper Lord Halifax Lord Hyde Richard Goodenough said take the Keeper Prisoner and Try him at Oxford for the Death of Colledge and hang him upon the same Post on which Colledge was hanged And at one of the said Meetings this Examinant saying he was well enough Armed for one for he had a good Musket Blunderbuss and Case of Pistols the said Rumbold desired to see 'em and finding 'em very good said he believed he must use the Blunderbuss in the Assassination and told Ferguson he must Consecrate it if he should use it And this Examinant saith that at one of the said Meetings this Examinant was appointed to speak to one Captain Bon a Seaman at Ratcliff to undertake the Raising a body of Seamen to surprize the Tower in case the Assassination had been committed and this Examinant accordingly proposed to the said Bon whether he would undertake to do so but the said Bon replyed he was going to settle in America where he was born and did not care to be concerned and feared he had not interest enough amongst the Seamen if he would which this Examinant reported to the next Meeting and the said Bon is since gone to live in New-England where he was born or in
was one of the Greatest Rogues and deserved it more than any Man for he professing himself formerly of our Party knows our weakness and Divisions and hath exposed us and made the Court venture upon things which they would never have done otherwise And when Goodenough proposed that the Lord Keeper should be Hanged where Colledge was Hanged this Examinant having an Opinion that the Lord Keeper was an Enemy to this Examinant and had used him very hardly in a Cause this Examinant lately had in Chancery this Examinant desired that he might have the Custody of the said Lord Keeper a little while to make him sensible of his unkindness to this Examinant but this Examinant never designed or desired to Kill the said Lord Keeper or any other person nor would have had his Hands in any Mans Blood And this Examinant further saith that Ferguson lately told this Examinant that Mr. Cromwel Son of Richard Cromwel who usually goes by the Name of Mr. Cranbourn was so vain as to endeavour to make a Party for himself or his Father in the City and Goodenough formerly viz. about Christmass last told this Examinant that he believed the said Mr. Cromwel and Mr. Ireton the Son of Lieutenant General Ireton would assist in the intended Assassination of the King and Duke in Person And this Examinant further saith that Mr. Goodenough told this Examinant that he had spoken to one Partridge a Shoemaker and Almanack-Maker in Covent-garden to Act in this Assassination and that the said Partridge offered to joyn in it if it were to be done in Town but was not able to Ride and therefore would not joyn in the Attempt out of London And further said that the said Partridge had erected several Schemes and thereby found the Duke of York would scarce out-live March or April and that the King was under an ill Direction too and the People would be Victorious And Mr. Ryley told this Examinant the same thing as to the Schemes erected by Partridge And this Examinant further saith that Colonel Romzey told this Examinant that when Mr. Trenchard refused to go into the West and raise a Force for the intended Insurrection in November last the said Mr. Trenchard was sent for to the Duke of Monmouth's House about it and there were present the said Duke the Lord Gray and Colonel Romzey And further told this Examinant that the Lord Russel had prepared to go the then next morning to his Post which was somewhere in the West but this Examinant doth not remember the place And this Examinant further saith that after the Discovery Walcot told this Examinant Colonel Romzey Wade Norton Nelthrop Goodenough and Ferguson that notwithstanding the said Discovery he was perswaded God would yet deliver this Nation but he did not approve of the present Instruments who had undertaken it or used words to that purpose And this Examinant further saith that he having a Son lately Born desired Colonel Romzey to be Godfather who said he would not except he might name him Brutus but was afterwards prevailed with to do that Office and give the Name of Iohn to the Child being the said Colonels own Christian name Robert West The further Information of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant upon further recollection saith that Ferguson formerly viz. soon after his return from Holland told this Examinant that Dr. Owen and one Mr. Collins either and Anabaptist or Independent Preacher were the most sensible Ministers about the Town and were both of Opinion that the intended Assassination and Insurrection were both lawful and necessary and that Colonel Owen Dr. Owens Brother was Privy to them and joyned with Colonel Sidney and Major Wildman in the management of the Treaty with the Scots and that one Mr. Mead a Nonconformist Minister was zealous in the business of an Insurrection but was not for beginning it in London and Mr. Nelthrop told this Examinant the same thing of Mead and that he was able to Raise a thousand Men or more And this Examinant further saith that Mr. Nelthrop told this Examinant that in case of an Insurrection which he much desired he would go along with the Lord Russel wheresoever he took his Post and would furnish out himself and a man with able Horses and Arms and a good sum of Money And this Examinant further saith that upon a discourse with Colonel Rumzey concerning a general Insurrection the said Colonel told this Examinant that if he could have a thousand resolute Fellows to follow him and an other thousand Men to secure him at his back he would undertake to drive the King all the Court and the Guards out of Town so as they should not dare to look back till they were fled to Windsor And this Examinant further saith that the Money which this Examinant received from Ferguson amounting to something more than the Arms bought by this Examinant cost this Examinant by the direction of Colonel Romzey paid Five pounds to Mr. Wade to give to one Manning who was to have been one of the Assassinates and also in the last designed Insurrection to pay some Debts which Manning owed and the said Colonel Romzey Mr. Wade and Mr. Norton gave Manning a Guinny or 20 s. apiece more And the said Wade asking this Examinant whether he would personally engage in the last intended Insurrection and this Examinant saying his infirm Constitution was not able to bear the toyl of a Souldiers life Mr. Wade told this Examinant then he must sit out some Men that would and that this Examinant should give his Blunderbuss to Manning who was a strong stout Fellow able to carry it which this Examinant agreed to and to fit out two Foot Souldiers or do any thing else was fit for him to do And this Examinant further saith that at one of the last Meetings for Raising the three thousand Men out of the City and Suburbs Mr. Bourn reported he had communicated the business to Mr. Lobb a Nonconformist Parson who had a Congregation of poor zealous Men and that Mr. Lobb embraced it readily and promised to employ two trusty Men of his Congregation to go amongst the rest and engage as many as they could And this Examinant further saith that Ferguson had four several Lodgings during this Examinants Correspondence with him at three of which this Examinant visited him viz. at Mr. Bourns the Brewer at Mr. Owens a Lawyer living at the further end of King-street in New-Southampton Buildings and at a Cutlers over against Wills Coffee-house in Covent-garden his fourth Lodging was in St. Martins-lane in the Fields at a Dutch Doctors or German Quacks which this Examinant never was at and knows not the name of And this Examinant further saith that Colonel Romzey discoursing with this Examinant further concerning the Duke of Monmouth told this Examinant the Duke was inclinable to answer the peoples expectations and submit to be little more than a Duke of Venice but the
forfeit the opinion was had of them that I must be allowed the â—iberty to discourse with them about it and till then to suspend as well my Censure of them as the Resignation of my self to him in the matters propounded by him upon these terms I parted from him promising to see him again within a day or two The next day I went to Moor-Park where the Duke of Monmouth then was and in short acquainted him with what I had heard as well concerning himself as the Lord Russel c. He absolutely denied that he or as he believed my Lord Russel had ever made any such appointment with my Lord Shaftsbury that they were altogether Ignorant of what was doing by the said Earl who for some time upon what Capricio he knew not had withdrawn himself from them and acted upon separate Councils of his own grounded as he feared upon the hasty Conceptions of some Hot-headed Men who might lead him into some untimely undertaking which in all probability would prove fatal to himself and all the Party For prevention of which he said he would be glad if he knew where to give him a Meeting and to resettle a better understanding with him Having had this Account from the Duke I made a sâ—cond Visâ—t the next day being Thursday the 3d or 4th of October to the said Earl to whom I communicated what had passed the day before betwixt the Duke and me and thereupon took occasion to strengthen my self with Arguments of the absolute necessity of a speedy Conâ—erence betwiâ—t him and the other Lords as well for the removing the present misapprehensions they had of each other as also for the Consolidating them into such an Union and Concert of Councils as might render them all joyntly helpful to the Common Interest by an harmonious and uniform Acting to the same end in which they did all agree however they might differ in the means This I urged upon him with all the vehemency that the nature and importance of the thing required but he still persisted in a refusal of a Meeting saying with some more than ordinary warmth That he had long discovered in the Duke a backwardness to Action by which they had lost great opportunities that he had cause to suspect that this artificial dilatoriness of the Duâ—e proceeâ—ed from a private agreement betwixt his Father and him to sayâ—â—â—ne another That People so he termed that Imaginary Army in the City were impatient of longer delays having advanced so far already that they could not safely retreat The intention of an Insurrection being commnnicated to so many that it was morally impossible to keep it from taking Air if it was not speedily brought into Act that one of his Friends whom I afterwards understood to be Rombald had drawn almost an Hundred Horse into London by small and unobservable Parties a little before Michaelâ—as Day who after they had câ—ntinued here a good while at their Expence were again retired to their respective places of Abode That such frequent Disappointments would weary the Party and flat their Spirits and make them at last resolve to sit down in a total Despondency But it was much to be feared the Duke acted with a Prospect very different from theirs he designing nothing more than the Advancing himself whilst they could not hope that ever their Liberties should be well secured for the future but under the Government of a Commonwealth That for these Reasons he was fully determined to be no longer expectant upon the Duke's Motions but would pursue his former intentions of Attempting the deliverance of his Country by the help of an honest Brisk party in the City with whom if the rest of the Lords would be co-operating they might share with him in the glory of so honourable an Undertaking but if they would not he hoped he should be able to effect the Work without them Howard Iuly 11. 83. This was the Substance of the second Confereâ—ce I had witâ— him which I reported the next day to the Duke who desired me to make one Assay more to procure an Interview This occasioned my going to the said Earl a thiâ—d time upoâ— Saturday the 5th or 6th of October at which time I did prevaâ—â— with him to give me a promise of meeting the Duke and â—y â—ord Râ—ssel the next day in the Evening but in stead of coming he sent his Excuse both to the Duke and me the next Morning by Colonel Romzâ—y and streightway removed to another Lodging where he continued to secret himself till the time of his departure out of England During the time of his Concealment divers intimations were given some to me by Captain Walcot others by others to the Duke of Days appointed for their intended Insurrections One appointment was about the later end of October at which time the Kings return from Newmarket was expected but this was prevented by the Duke who prevailed with them to put it off to a longer day in expectation of a Concurrence of the Country with them This Adjournment as I remember was for a Fortnight at which time returns from the Country gave Discouragement to the proceedings After this the second of November was made a day peremptory as I have been informed but that also was put off I know not upon what Disappointmâ—â—t which often Failures caused the said Earl to take Resolutions of Conveying himself beyond the Seas which he did accordingly Whilst these things were in Agitation I have several times had some dark Hints given me from Captain Walcot from Goodenough from West from Ferguson of Striking at the Head of shortning the Work by removing two Persons by which I did apprehend that there was a design of making some Attempt upon the King and the Duke or one of them but when and where and by whom and in what manner and place this was to be acted I never saw This ends the Transactions during the Life of the Earl of Shaftsbury the rest shall be made a Second Part. Howard Iuly 11. 1683. A Continuation of my former Narrative AFter the Death of the Earl of Shaftsbury it was considered That as there had appeared both in City and Country a very prompt and forward disposition to Action so it might justly be feared that either the minds of Men might in time stagnate into a dull Inactivity unless proper Acts were used to keep up the fermentation or which was equally dangerous that the unadvised Passions of a Multitude might precipitate them into some rash and ill-guided undertakings unless they were under the steering and direction of some steady and skilful hand For prevention of both these Evils it was thought necessary that some few persons should be united into a Cabal or Council which should be as a concealed Spring both to give and to guide the motion of the Machine The persons designed to this general Care were the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Russel the Earl of Essex Mr. Algernoon Sidney Mr. Hambden Junior
that this Io. N. was a person that past under the name of Iohn Nisbet an Englishman and stayed at one Mr. Mead's in Stepney which Nisbet was an Usher of a School at Bednal-green before That the close of the Letter bearing that things were fully as high as I tell you is meant the present intended Rebellion That by the Capital Letter B. is meant one Mr. Brake a Minister in Lewarden in Friesland and the young men are some Students who are in Holland Being interrogat what he heard of the Earl of Argile's concurring or assisting in this Insurrection Answers That he heard by report in Holland that Argile had undertaken to Raise ten thousand Men to assist in that Rebellion and that he was to furnish himself with Arms in Holland and about the time of this report which he thinks was in December or Ianuary last he heard Argile was in Holland but that he did not see him and to the best of his memory Io. N. also told him of the Earl of Argiles concurring in the Rising but remembers of no other person Being interrogat upon the little Letter from Stepney which he thinks was about the beginning of May Dated Friday at seven a Clock That the Man whom he speaks of is Mr. Mead a Minister and that by the words what my Hands find to do was meant Io. N's going to Holland and that the Declarant was to meet with Mr. Mead to let Io. N. go Further declares that Iohn Iohnston was one who at other times past under the name of Murray who is a little Man Pock-marked and wears a Periwig Sic subscribitur A Gordon Linlithgow Perth Io. Edinburgen Geo. Meckenzy I. Drummond This is a true Copy of the Original Declaration and Answer made by Alexander Gordon late of Earlestoun to the Interrogators proposed to him by the Committee of Council which is attested by me William Paterson Cls. Sti. Concilij A Copy of Alexander Gordons Examination June 30. 1683. THe said Alexander being interrogate what he knew of the Author of that Letter directed to Alexander Pringle of the date 20 of March last to be left at Alexander Hopes House in Gloss-haven Rotterdam which runs upon the Metaphor of Trade answereth That the Author of that Letter seemeth to him to be one Io. Nishet with whom he conversed a year ago at London and ordered the said Alexander to direct his Letters to Bednal-Green and since to Mr. Mead in Stepney near London and that he the said Alexander had written a Letter to this Io. Nisbet challenging him why he came not sooner over to Holland as he had promised dated about Ianuary last and that he received this Letter by the Metaphor of Trade in answer thereunto and that the venturing spoke of in the Letter was to signifie a resolution of a speedy Rising in Arms and that the Factors therein mentioned signified their Agents and Emissaries who were sent out into different corners both in England and Scotland to know the Pulse of their Complices and Parties if they were in readiness to joyn and rise with them and that they brought back accounts of their willingness so to do and readiness for an Insurrection And as to the assistance they were to have from Scotland he understood it at his last coming here and some Months before he came over in May last he heard amongst the Dutch People commonly reported that there was to be very shortly a Rising in England and that the Earl of Argile was to furnish from Scotland Ten Thousand Highland-Men for their assistance and that at his coming hither last he heard that there was a Person come from England to Sir Io. Cockram alleadging he came about the Affâ—ir of Carolina but that he had discovered himself to a Servant of the Lord Treasurers that he had come to Scotland upon other matters and that the Letters for Scotland from any Correspondents of the Party in which Earlestoun was engaged was directed to Mr. Henry Emertson written in Edenburgh and that before he came last hither in May the meeting of these Phanatical People had received a Letter from England subscribed by one I. S. whom he take to be one Murray as he named himself to Earlestoun as the other forementioned person named himself Io. Nisbet in which Letter there was the Metaphor of a Marriage anent which all things were agreâ—d and the Marriage ready to be solemnized which occasioned their sending for him the said Alexander Gordon to have his mind concerning that Affair and they interpreting that Letter signed by I. S. from England to concern the seeking of their assistance in their intended Rising there he did disswade them from it and that by the Marriage they understood a Rising to be intended in England and that it was ready to be solemnized was to signifie that an Insurrection was to be very speedily on foot and declared that these with whom Earlestoun conversed here declared that they believed that the Persons who came from England to Sir Io. Cokram were sent to manage a Correspondence in order to the design of Rising in Arms. The Relation of Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun of what he was informed of and heard as followeth ABout the time of the Election of Rich and North I heard that there were some designs of Rising in Arms of some people in England and in order thereto there was some Treating with my Lord Argile but not agreeing to the terms my Lord left them and I heard it ceased for some time and went over to Holland and when he was there I was informed of the renewing of the Treaty and agreed upon the following terms viz. That the Earl of Argile should raise Seven Thousand Men and the Treators who as I was informed were English-men were to advance the said Earl Ten Thousand pound Sterling and this was agreed to in April last The persons in England were by Information the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Shaftsbury but after the said Earls decease I did not hear so much of the Duke of Monmouth I was also informed of Ford Lord Gray of Wark his being in the Design I was also informed that those concerned in Scotland most in the said Design were Sir Iohn Cockram Ierviswood Sessnock Elder and Younger and that Sir Iohn Cockram the one day kist His Majesties Hands the other day went to the Cabal anent the above-written Design I was also informed That no small number of the Gentlemen in the West and other places in Scotland upon their resentment of the present Government particularly as to the Test and other Papers put to them were not resolved to stand to them although they should take them but rise upon the first occasion This Information I heard from Murray alias Iohnstoune who as I heard was a West Country-man in Scotland who offered to take me along to their Cabals but upon my refusal to meddle in the designs kept himself and told no more than those generals I met with
Stuart Brother to the Laird of Cultness wrote a Letter to him from Holland importing that if any considerable sum of Money could be procur'd from England that something of Importance might be done in Scotland The which Letter the Deponent had an Inclination to inform Shepard in Abb-Church-lane Merchant in London of but before he could do it he wrote to Mr. Stuart above-nam'd to know from him if he might do it and Mr. Stuart having consented he Communicat the said Letter to Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent that he would Communicat the Contents of it to some persons in England but did at that time name no body as the Deponent thinks Some time thereafter Mr. Shepard told the Deponent that he had Communicat the Contents of the Letter above-named to Colonel Sidney and that Colonel Danvers was present and told the Deponent that Colonel Sidney was averse from imploying the late Earl of Argile or medling with him judging him a man too much affected to the Royal Family and inclined to the present Church-Government yet Mr. Shepard being put upon it by the Deponent still urg'd that one might be sent to the Earl of Argile but as Mr. Shepard told him he was suspected upon the account of his urging so much yet afterwards he press'd without the Deponents knowledge that the Deponent being to go to Holland however might have some Commission to the Earl of Argile which he having inform'd the Deponent of the Deponent told him that he himself would not be concern'd but if they would send another he would introduce him but nothing of this was done upon which the Deponent went over without Commission from any body to Holland never meeting with Iames Stuart above-named He was introduced to the Earl of Argile with whom he had never before convers'd and did there discourse what had past betwixt Mr. Shepard and him and particularly about remitting of Money to the said Earl from England of which the said Mr. Stuart had written to the Deponent namely of 30000 pounds Sterling and of the raising of 1000 Horse and Dragoons and the securing the Castle of Edinburgh as a matter of the greatest importance The method of doing this was propos'd by the Deponent to be one hour or thereby after the relieving of the Guards But the Earl did not relish this proposition as dangerous and that the Castles would fall of consequence after the work abroad was done Iames Stuart was of the Deponents Opinion for seizing the Castle because it would secure Edinburgh the Magazines and Arms. As to the 1000 Horse and Dragoons my Lord Argile was of Opinion that without them nothing was to be done and that if that number was raiss'd in England to the said Earl he would come into Scotland with them and that there being so few Horse and Dragoons to meet them he judg'd he might get the Country without trouble having such a standing Body for their Friends to Rendezvouz to and the said Earl said he could shew the Deponent the convenient places for Landing if he understood and as the Deponent remembers where the Ships could attend The Deponent remembers not the Names of the Places The Deponent spoke to the Lord Stairs but cannot be positive that he nam'd the Affair to him but found him shie but the Earl of Argile told him he thought Stairs might be gain'd to them And that the Earl of Lowdoun being a man of good Reason and disoblig'd would have great influence upon the Country and recommended the Deponent to Major Holms with whom the Deponent had some acquaintance before and had brought over a Letter from him to the Earl of Aâ—gile but the Deponent had not then communicate any thing to the said Holms Iames Stuart laid down a way of correspondence by Cyphers and false Names and sent them over to Holms and the Deponent for their use which Cyphers and Names are now in the hands of His Majesty's Officers as the Deponent supposesâ— and did desire the Deponent earnestly to propose the 30000 pound Sterling above-named to the Party in England and did not propose any less for as the Earl told the Deponent he had particularly calculate the Expence for Arms Ammunition c. But Iames Stuart said that if some less could be had the Earl would content himself if better might not be but the Earl always said that there was nothing to be done without the body of Horse and Dragoons above-mentioned During the time of the Deponent his abode in Holland tho he had several Letters from Shepard yet there was no satisfactory account till some time after the Deponent parted from the Earl of Argile and was making for a Ship at Rotterdam to transport himself to England Iames Stuart wrote to him that there was hopes of the Money The next day after the Deponent came to England he met with Sir Iohn Cochran who with Commissar Monro and Ierviswood was at London before he came over and depones That he knows not the account of their coming more than for the perfecting the Transaction about Carolina and having acquainted Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 with the Earls demands of the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Hoâ—s◠〈◊〉 Dragoons Sir Iohn carried him to the Lord Russel to whom the Depâ—nent proposed the Affair but being an absolute Stranger to the Dâ—ponent had no return from him at that time but afterwards having met him accidenly at Mr. Shepards house where the Lord Râ—â—sel had come to speak to Shepard about the Money above-named as Mr. Shepard told the Deponent The Deponâ—â—â— whâ—â—â— they were done speaking desired to speak to the Lord 〈◊〉 which the Lord Russel did and having reiterate the 〈…〉 for the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Horse and 〈◊〉 he the Lord Russel told the Deponent they could not get so 〈◊〉 raised at the time but if they had 10000 pound 〈…〉 would draw People in and when they were 〈…〉 soon be brought to more but as for the 1000 〈…〉 he could say nothing at the present for tha◠〈…〉 upon the Borders The Deponent made the same 〈…〉 Ferguson who was much concerned in the 〈…〉 the promoting of it This Mr. Ferguson had in 〈…〉 before as the Deponent remembers in a Conversation 〈…〉 in Cheap side or the Street somewhere 〈…〉 for the saving of Innocent Blood it would be 〈…〉 few insinuating the King and Duke but cannot be positive whether he named them or not To which the Deponent 〈…〉 for our wild People in Scotland my Conscience does not serve me for such things after which the Deponent had never any particular discourse with Ferguson as to that matter but as to the other Affair Ferguson told the Deponent that he was doing what he could to get it effectuate as particularly that he spoke to one Major Wildman who is not of the Deponent his acquaintance Fergâ—son blamed always Sidney as driving designs of his own The Deponent met twice or thrice with the Lord Melvil Sir Iohn
Cochran Ierviswood Commissar Monro the two Cessnocks Montgomery of Langshaw and one Mr. Veatch where they discoursed of Money to be â—ent to Argile in order to the carrying on the Affair and tho he cannot be positive the Affair was named yet it was understood by himself and as he conceives by all present to be for rising in Arms for rectifying the Government Commissar Monro Lord Melvil and the two Cessnocks were against medling with the English because they judged them men that would talk and would not do but were more inclined to do something by themselves if it could be done The Lord Melvil thought every thing hazardous and therefore the Deponent cannot say he was positive in any thing but was most inclined to have the Duke of Monmouth to head them in Scotland of which no particular method was laid down Ierviswood the Deponent and Mr. Veatch were for taking the Money at one of these Meetings it was resolved that Mr. Martin late Clerk of the Justice Court should be sent to Scotland to desire their Friends to hinder the Country from Rising or taking â—ash Resolutions upon the account of the Council till they should see how matters went in England The said Martin did go at the Charges of the Gentlemen of the Meeting and was directed to the Laird of Polwart and Torwoodlie who sent back word that it would not be found so easie a matter to get the Gentry of Scotland to concur But afterwards in a Letter to Commissar Monro Polwart wrote that the Country was readier to concur then they had imagined or something to that purpose The Deponent as above-said having brought over a Key from Holland to serve himself and Major Holms he remembers not that ever he had an exact Copy of it but that sometimes the one sometimes the other keeped it and so it chanced to be in his Custody when a Letter from the Earl of Argile came to Major Holms intimating that the would joyn with the Duke of Monmouth and follow his Measures or obey his Directions this Mr. Veatch thought fit to communicate to the Duke of Monmouth and for the Understanding of it was brought to the Deponent and he gave the Key to Mr. Veatch who as the Deponent was inform'd was to give it and the Letter to Mr Ferguson and he to shew it to the Duke of Monmouth but what was done in it the Deponent knows not The Deponent heard the Design of killing the King and Duke from Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent some were full upon it The Deponent heard that Aaron Smith was sent by those in England to call Sir Iohn Cochran on the account of Carolina but that he does not know Aaron Smith nor any more of that Matter not being concern'd in it Shepard nam'd young Hambden frequently as concern'd in these Matters Sign'd at Edingburgh Castle the 8th of September 1684. and renewed the 18th of the same Month. William Carstares PERTH CANCELL I. P. D. Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle September 18. 1684. MR. William Carstares being again examin'd adheres to his former Deposition in all the parts of it and Depones he knows of no Correspondence betwixt Scotland and England except by Martin before-nam'd For those Gentlemen to whom he was sent were left to follow their own Methods Veatch as the Deponent remembers stayed sometimes at Nicholson Stabler's House at London-Wall sometimes with one Widow Hardcastle in Morefields The Deponent did Communicate the Design on Foot to Doctor Owen Mr. Griffil and Mr. Meed at Stepney who all concurred in the promoting of it and were desirous it should take effect and to one Mr. Freth in the Temple Councellor at Law who said he would see what he could do in reference to the Money but there having gone a Report that there was no Money to be rais'd he did nothing in it nor does the Deponent think him any more concern'd in the Affair Nelâ—hrop frequently spoke to the Deponent of the Money to be sent to Argile whether it was got or not but the Deponent used no freedom with him in the Affair Goodenough did insinuate once that the Lords were not inclin'd to the thing and that before they would see what they could do in the City The Deponent saw Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Rumsay lurking after the Plot broke out before the Proclamation having gone to Ferguson in the back of Bishop-gate-street at some new Building whether he was directed by Ierviswood who was desirous to know how things went Rumsay was not of the Deponent his Acquaintance before but they knew as little of the matter as the Deponent This is what the Deponent remembers and if any thing come to his Memory he is to deliver it in betwixt and the first of October And this is the truth as he shall Answer to God William Carstares PERTH CANCELL I. P. D. At Edinburgh the 22d of December 1684. THese fore-going Pages subscrib'd by Mr. William Carstares Deponent and by the Lord Chancellor where acknowledged on Oath by the said Mr. William Carstares to be his true Depositions and that the Subscriptions were his in presence of us Underscribers William Carstares PERTH CANCELLARIUS David Falconer QUENSBERRY George Mekenzie ATHOL Copy of the Lord Russel's Examination in the Tower My Lord Russel Asked WHether he knows of any Consultations tending towards an Insurrection or to surprize His Majesties Guards at any time and by any persons and by whom Whether he hath ever been at Mr. Shepards House and how often and when last Whether any Lords were in company and who Whether at any time the Duke of Monmouth Lord Grey Sir Thomas Armstrong Colonel Romzey Mr. Ferguson or any of them were there and how many and which of them Whether there was any discourse concerning a Rising in the West or any parts of the West or at Taunton and what the Discourse was and by whom Whether there was any discourse concerning the surprizing the Kings Guards at any time Whether the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Armstrong did undertake to view the Guards to see if it might be done and in what posture they were Whether they gave any account that they had viewed the Guards and how they found them What did Mr. Ferguson say at any of those Meetings and by whom was he directed Whether he knows of any Design for a Rising in Scotland Whether he hath been at any Consultations for that end with any persons Scotchmen or others and with whom What Monies the Scotch demanded at first and whether they did not consent to take Ten thousand pounds and how was that or any part of that to be raised and by whom My Lord Russel's Answer to the preceding Interrogatories MY Lord knows of no Consultation tending to any Insurrection His Lordship knows nothing of any Consultation or Design to surprize his Majesties Guards at any time divers times His Lordship doth acknowledge to have been frequently at Mr. Shepard's House His Lordship cannot
precisely set down the time that he was there last To the two Articles relating to the Lords that were in company at Mr. Shepards his Lordship answers that he went thither with the Duke of Monmouth but as to the rest of the persons then present his Lordship conceives that he ought not to answer because there were ill Constructions made of that Meeting nor cannot positively remember His Lordship answers There was no discourse as he remembers concerning any Rising in the West or any parts of the West or at Taunton nor particularly of Mr. Iohn Trenchards Undertaking nor any discourse about Mr. Iohn Trenchard as he remembers His Lordship answers there was no Discourse at Mr. Shepards about surprizing the Guards nor of the Duke of Monmouth's my Lord Grey's nor of Sir Thomas Armstrong's Undertaking to view the Guards nor was there any account there given by the said persons of their having viewed the Guards nor how they found them Nor was there any such Undertaking elsewhere to his knowledge To the question what Mr. Ferguson did say at any of those Meetings his Lordship answers that he cannot tell what Mr. Ferguson did say there nor doth he own that Mr. Ferguson was there His Lordship knows of no Design for a Rising in Scotland nor knows any thing of the whole Article relating to Scotland nor any part of it His Lordship hath heard general discourses of many distressed people Ministers and others of the Scottish Nation that were fled and that it were great Charity to relieve them This Examination was taken the 28th day of Iune 1683. before Us L. Ienkins I. Ernle R. Sawyer H. Finch Notes of some things Confessed before His Majesty and the Council taken out of the Books of Minutes JOhn Rouse consest that Money was Collected in the City at the intimation or desire of some Parliament Men for the Kings Evidence that receiving that Money for that purpose from some of them he sent it to those Persons for whom it was design'd Bourn Confesses That Sir Thomas Armstrong used to come every day to Ferguson when he lay at his House that he has seen him since the discovery when Armstrong urged him to get some friends together to make a push and that it was better to dye with Swords in their hands Walcot Confesses That Aaron Smith was sent into Scotland by those Gentlemen that transacted the matter Bourn says That Ferguson Lodged at his Fathers House a Month or six Weeks That he left no Papers in his House and used to say he would never be hanged for Papers Shepard says Bayly told him Charlton had undertaken to raise the whole 10000 l. Romzey says The Lord Russel was about going away from Shepard's when he arrived there and that his Lordship said Trenchard was a Coward and that he would go down himself and begin the Rising Charlton confesses He had paid Oates 80 l. per quarter for his subsistance of which he had but 10. l. of my Lord Shaftsbury and was himself the rest out of Purse but that he was told a Parliament would reimburse him Shepard says That Ferguson and Bayly told him that Charlton would procure the 10000 l. himself and raise it upon a Mortgage Charlton further says He paid Oates about 400 l. in all The Information of John Rouse taken at his desire in Newgate the 19th of July 1683. THe Informant saith That the design of the Rebellion and seizing the King was begun by the Earl of Shaftsbury at his House in Aldersgate-street before the meeting of the Parliament at Oxford where the Duke of Monmouth Sir Thomas Armstrong Lord Russel Lord Grey Major Manly a Brewer at Whitechappel and others whom he saw there and as he was told likewise by his Servants frequently met there the foundation of all the Scurrilous Libels was laid particularly that of the Raree-shew That all those Clubs at Mile-end-green the Sun behind the Exchange at Russel's in Iron-Monger-lane and at the Salutation in Lumbard-street were to carry on that Design he cannot recollect all names but declares that he knows all those of Note that were at those Clubs were thoroughly acquainted with the Design These Clubs were divided into three Factions by reason of which division the Informant saith the Design went on so flow as it did and at last it fell between the Duke of Monmouth and a Common-wealth and the greater number carried it for the Duke of Monmouth because it was found upon his going into the West Châ—chester and Cheshire the vogue of the people went for him Those that were for a Common-wealth were absolutely resolved to have nothing to do with the Race of the Stuart's but they pitcht upon Richard Cromwel whom this Informant knows to be in England The longest day that was appointed for execution of this was at Midsummer-day last when the people should be at Guild-hall chosing Sheriffs Five hundred Horse were promised to be sent in from the Country who were to seize the Guards The pretence of the Conspirators was to secure His Majesty from being killed by the Papists that if he would not comply with His Parliament at Oxford then to set up the Duke of Monmouth That this was long design'd likewise before the meeting at Oxford The Informant saith That it was resolved by the Conspirators that when they should have accomplisht their Design and that the Tower and City of London was seized then they were to go to Whitehal and demand their Priviledges and Freedoms with their Swords in their hands He hath been present at many of these Clubs where these Designs have been consulted of and all the persons of any note Commons as well as Lords were consenting to the Conspiracy he saith he can prove it by many Witnesses He saith my Lord Shaftsbury and Oates were the Principal movers in all this business A particular Account of the Situation of the Rye-House THe Rye-House in Hartfordshire about eighteen Miles from London is so called from the Rye a Meadow near it Just under it there is a By-road from Bishops-Strafford to Hoddesden which was constantly used by the King when he went to or from Newmarket the great Road winding much about on the Right-hand by Stansted The House is an Old Strong Building and stands alone encompass'd with a Mote and towards the Garden has high Walls so that Twenty Men might easily defend it for some time against Five hundred From a high Tower in the House all that go or come may be seen both ways for near a Mile distance As you come from Newmarket towards London when you are near the House you pass the Meadow over a narrow Caus-way at the end of which is a Toll-gate which having Entred you go through a Yard and a little Field and at the end of that through another Gate you pass into a narrow Lane where two Coaches at that time could not go a-breast This narrow Passage had on the Left hand a thick Hedge and a Ditch on