return'd home And applying my self to the Gentleman from whom I had the Pass and the hundred Pound to know the reason why I was so us'd and who the Persons were that commission'd him to transact he told me that was a secret he must keep and very much excus'd himself for having engag'd me in so much trouble and danger This was all the satisfaction I had from him The management of this Affair however mysterious it may seem may perhaps need no Oedipus to unriddle it For if we consider the time when this was done the Reason why will not be hard to be guess'd at Nor perhaps will the Persons who have presum'd to make so bold with the King's Honour as to abuse his Royal Name and Authority in this manner be so absolutely in the dark as they themselves may imagin For the very timing of this Matter shews very evidently what the Design of it was I was just then come out of the Country with a full resolution to lay my Case before the Parliament which was then sitting I had given a Petition to a Member of the House of Commons in order to have it read in the House but during the time he kept me in expectation of a proper Occasion this Gentleman was gain'd by some body whose Interest perhaps it was that these Matters should not be so publickly examined to make Overtures to me of serving abroad and became the Instrument of sending me out of the Nation under pretence of doing further Service and receiving Satisfaction for what was past That Gentleman must excuse me if I can no longer think that the King was any way privy to this Affair and that whatsoever is pretended of it is a direct Affront and Injury to his Majesty's Honour who would never have sent away a Gentleman for his Service and have left him destitute of Subsistance in a Foreign Land The hand therefore of my Adversaries appears plain enough in this Intrigue and the hundred Pound was a Bait to make me swallow the Hook For no sooner did they think me far enough remov'd and perhaps entangled beyond a probability of returning but the Masque was pull'd of and a worse Face discover'd I was bid to expect nothing more and to shift for my self as well as I could However to their great surprize I got home before the Parliament rose which put 'em upon new Measures Great pains were taken to excuse this breach of Articles and fresh Overtures made to me with which I who trusted to the sincerity and engagement of my Friend was for some time amus'd till the Parliament rising all was again let drop and I by that means let into the Drift and Artifice of the whole Matter I hope my Friend was over-reach'd and that he did not then dive into the bottom of this Mystery Altho he was to blame to be so far influenc'd by any Person how great soever as to pretend an immediate Warrant from his Majesty for what he did yet the concern he has since shew'd for it makes me hope that he did believe those other Persons to act by Commission from his Majesty and was over-perswaded to take it upon himself because he had heard me declare that I would have nothing more to do with certain Persons A List of the Persons Names to whom Warrants have been granted pursuant to the late Act of Parliament intituled An Act against Corresponding with the late King James and his Adherents Which was given to me February 1697 8. A. EArl of Antrim Charles D. of St. Albans John Alexander Eliz. Arundell Mary Audly David Arnold William Amies Sir Francis Andrew Mary Alexander B. Ann Bagnal and her five Children John Bradey Thomas Bellasis Richard Lord Bellew Dorothy de Beuclair Sir Nicholas Buttler John Brown John Bromfield John Baurk commonly called Lord Bophine Eliz. Bishop John Baker Humphry Boislace Susanna Barry Philip Bell Barbara Brown Eliz. Brown Barbara Brown Mary Brown Samuel Boulton Lyster Blunt James Butler Captain Bellew Timothy Bagne Thomas Burdin John Bellasise William Beale Robert Bodine Benedict Bambore John Blackmore Hannah Brownsworth Richard Bowers George Bradshaw Daniel Bulls William Barefoot Thomas Blake Edward Butler William Boweman Edward Buiditt Henry Barker Edmund Brown William Bland Tobias Bowles Charles Banbridg Geo. Barkas John Brodt William Barnes David Baurk Capt. James Barry Charles Berty Esq Walter Butler William Bromfield Henry Baxter John Brooks C. Margaret Chilton Thomas Clofton Col. John Corbet Benedict Leonard Calverse Anne Cane Henry Carter Robert Clark Matthew Cooper Henry Carwin Philip Conner James Coleman Adam Colehough James Chiritch Sir William Compton Francis Courson John Coleman John Connoway Henry Caps Ormitha Caps Mary Cozins John Cantrill Richard Cherry Edward Callender Eliz. Basset Coffin and Mary her Daughter Margaret Carletton Bartholomew Couley Francis Charas William Close Sir Edward Carteret Thomas Cusack Capt. Henry Courtney John Caddick Margaret Cromwell Stephen Creagh Edward Canron Charles Cross Robert Cham Garret Coshland Henry Courson William Cooke Charles Cecill Anne Compton D. John Digby Thomas Drew Henry Lord Dover John Darrell Doctor John Day Capt. Loftus Duckenfield Charles Dunster John Digby John Duddell Rob. Doudall Edmund Dalton Lieut. Col. Ar. Dilton Alexander Doyley E. John Erington Esq William Evay Major John Eames John Everse Edward Erington James Edgland Thomas Erington William Erington Philippa Elinston John Egan F. Lord Visc Fitz-Williams Richard Fitz-Williams William Farmer Robert Fielding Arthur French Robert Fagan Hon. Fitz Gerald Henry Fall Jane du Four Owen Fitz Symmons Thomas Forster Stephen Field Capt. Edmund Fitz-Gerald Edward Fenwick Capt. James Fitz-Gerald Joseph Fox John Fulham G. Doctor Samuel Garth Anthony Preston Lord Viscount Gormanston John Gazain Peter Galberry James Gough Daniel Gwin Reginald Graham Anthony Gazain Henry Gerrard Rich. Francis Griffith Geo. Toby Guigner Agatha Gillmore Caesar Gage Samuel Gawen William Goold Sir Thomas Gascoigne Edward Gibbon Edward Gifford John Gallway Thomas Guiborn Daniel Geny H. Joseph Haly Geo. Haviland Lord Geo. Howard Henry Howard Esq James Hacket Charles House Jeremiah Hollished Daniel Harvey Thomas Hawkins Eliz. Hughs William Harrald Bridget Horton Mary Hooper Walter Hastings senior Walter Hastings junior John Hambleton Richard Howard Dorothy Hurst John Henborn George Hilton Lord James Howard Eliz. Hiddinson Ralph Hardwick I. Bartholomew Isaac Mary Isaac Thomas Joy Thomas Johnston Agnes Jolly Richard Jones James Jones K. Matthew King Mary Knight Almorick Brown of Kinnule Lord Keny Lord Kenmore Danish Kelly Major Charles King Charles Knowles Esq Lord Banbury Walter Kennody Philip Kettle Anthony Kempt Capt. Edmund Keeting John L. Kingston of Ireland his Wife and 2 Children Charles Kelly L. Charlwood Lawton Esq Dr. Thomas Lone Col. Henry Lutterill Lady Barbara Leonard Lord Longdale Marmaduke Longdale Martha Lowe Richard Langhorn Edmund Loe Ann Leozonby Cornelius Lampard George Laylor Edmund Leny Lady Ann Lawson James Lorre William Long William Lavely Lieut. William Long M. George Matthews Edmund Mellone Henry Morgan John Martin James Murray Luke Matthews Donnoth Mellony William More Dominick Mown Lieut. William Mannering Richard Masey William Mortagh Sir Rich. More Bar. Peter Morris Francis Milton Henry More Thomas Murphey John Mackay Sir John Magrath N. Charles Newy Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Dr. Daniel Nolon Thomas Newgent John Nelson Matthew Norris Thomas Newcomin O. James Oswaild Capt. Darby Obrian P. Joseph Patterson Nicholas Pluncket Francis Povey Thomas Pendergrass Capt. Thomas Panton Jervis Parker William Plowden Esq John Pluncket Robert Prujen William Philips John Pulman Robert Parsons Edward Peirce James Passible and Mary his Wife James Penderick Eliz. Pluncket Jeremiah Peirce Eliz. Peirce William Pore Mary Poole Charles Parker R. Morgan Rugan Esq William Rufton Catharine Rockley Edward Robson Richard Rudyard Edward Ryce Esq Charles Duke of Richmond Felix Rouse Edward Richards Dr. Thomas Riddle Alexander Rigby William Rand Henry Rogers Thomas Rudd John Ryley Eliz. Roper Francis de la Rue William Rice S. John Smith John Shipen Sir John Southcott Charles Stourton Robert Searisbrick William South Countess of Sussex Dr. Nicholas Shee John Smith Sir Edward Southcott Robert Shaw George Smith Alicia Scott James Sloan Esq George Sheppard Philip Stapleton Dominick Shelborn William Stavely Anne Selby Edward Sommerset Henry Scudamore Michael Smith Hugh Scalby Andrew Smallwood Robert Shepheard John Stephens Thomas Sackfield Jane Stratham John Seagrave Francis Sheldon Thomas Swinborn Alexander Stratham Peter Saltmarsh John Talbot Stoner Esq T. George Talbot Mary Timperly John Lord Trimleston Francis Tenn Gent. Jeremiah Tincker James Tracy Edward Talbot Gent. Humphrey Trafford Rich. Trigeagle Thomas Taylor Geo. Throgmorton Esq Rich. Trevannian Ralph Tempest Walter Trafford Gent. Charles Trinder Esq James Tallant John Terry George Taylor V. Mary Valois Anthony Vane W. William Walsh John Williams John Wond Francis Williamson Esq George Wilson Sir Drury Wray Capt. Daniel Wood Charles Walurn Thomas Wagleck William Wood John White John Widrington and Mary his Wife William Wilmore Thomas Walsh A List of Persons to whom Warrants were order'd to stay in England and had not then taken them out c. B. Sir Henry Bond Jane Bell Capt. Tho. Bourk Owen Bonham William Bayes Capt. John Bradill C. Capt. Henry Carter Thomas Conyers Major William Crosby Sir John Colliton D. John Drake Wynn Davies E. Francis East F. William Fenwick Arthur Fitz-Patterick G. John Grace Gardiner H. Lady Hatton Widow Marbel Harding Widow Xeverius Harris George Harris I. Edward Jones Lewis Janvair Catharine Jackson Robert Inwood K. John Knight Miles Keagne L. Peter Lyon Charles Lake John Lambden John Lunt Lone M. Sir Terence Margrave John Murphey P. Francis Peirce Henry Prince John Purcell S. Thomas Smith John Spencer Charles Sherburn W. Daniel Westney John Wynal William White Tecla Whaley FINIS
more careful to give no Offence than to do any Service It is Hope only that animates 'em for action and makes 'em forward in its Service They expect that what they do for the Publick should redound in some proportion to their own particular Benefit and that themselves should be consider'd as Instruments for the Advantages that may accrue to the Publick and the fatigue or hazard they expose themselves to This is so universally true that I doubt some who pretend to have done the Nation great Service wou'd abate of their zeal if they did not find it as necessary and advantageous to their own private Fortune I say not this invidiously to lessen the Services of any man or to reproach him for the just Advantages he may make of 'em but to obviate the Objections of some of my unreasonable Adversaries who pretend my Services lose their Merit when I appear to expect any Reward It 's true some of 'em have been very bountiful in their Promises but by late experience I find that he that can't live upon Air may starve upon such Promises But this is not all the injury I receive from 'em for they endeavour to rob me of the benefit of his Majesty's Royal Word by which I am intitled to his peculiar Protection and Assistance a Title upon which no man before my self ever sued in vain If I must be the first unhappy Precedent I hope I shall be the last of this nature The Consequences of Examples of this kind are so dangerous that 't is my wish the spreading of 'em may be prevented For if Services of the highest Importance and of the greatest Hazard shall be rewarded with Contempt and those that do 'em expos'd such a prospect will cool mens Zeal and make 'em rather wish Designs that may come to their knowledg were prevented than venture to make the Discovery and meet with so discouraging a return What is now my Case may be any man's It may be his Fortune to know Secrets which he ought not to conceal and which he will be loth to discover if he expects the same usage that I have met with for it But I hope those to whose care the Nation has committed it self will take away the scandal of such an Example and in spite of all the cunning and malice of my Enemies remove those Obstacles that in a manner so unprecedented and so pernicious in its Consequences obstruct the course of his Majesty's most Gracious Favour towards me and in so notorious a manner trample upon the Honour of his Majesty's Word which He himself and all the rest of the Nation esteem so sacred A Copy of the D of S 's Letter to the House of LORDS concerning Capt. Smyth's Papers c. Eyford 13th January 1696 7. My Lord HAving receiv'd the Commands of the House of Lords to lay before their Lordships what Letters I receiv'd from one Smyth in February last or in case I had kept none then to acquaint the House with what I can remember was contained in them I am very sorry not to be able so fully to comply with their Lordships Directions as I wish I could for having heard long since that this man did pretend to great Merit for his Discoveries and had on several occasions in a very unhandsom manner complained of me I did then endeavour to collect what Letters he had sent me that I might judg how his Intelligence appear'd when put together for as it came to me I could make little of it But I found I could retrieve so few and those generally of an old Date when I had more value for his Intelligence than I had afterwards that I am almost certain I have none of those Letters left which their Lordships desire to see I shall therefore apply my self to give them the best account I can of what he did inform that is most material at this time which I am the better able to collect because several things he then mention'd fell out so true that I was surpriz'd how he could know them and not more till I understood he had his Intelligence from one Hewet a Youth that lived with Major Holmes's Brother I think and was about that time often employ'd to wait on Sir George Barclay by which means he had opportunity to guess or overhear particulars which otherwise I suppose he might not be trusted with I remember in Winter Smyth writ very positively of an Invasion intended from France which was to break out at the arrival of the Toulon Fleet and that many Gentlemen of Quality and Officers were sent from St. Germains on that Design He named Mr. Henry Brown my Lord Mountague's Brother at one time at another Sir George Barclay Holmes Counter and others Then he gave hints of some great Design which he should soon discover the bottom of and afterwards grew more particular that it was to seize the King's Person and named Barclay Charnock Holmes and others as imploy'd in the Villany and that at the same hour this was to be executed a general Rising was to be in all the Counties of England He was different in his Accounts about the manner of seizing the King Sometimes Mr. Latin's Lodg near Richmond was to be attack'd and the Walls scaled by Foot whilst he was there Sometimes an attempt of the like nature was to be made on Kensington-House and at other times the King was to be set upon going to or coming from Hunting Near to the day the Assassination was intended he was very earnest for Mony to buy a Horse and Equipage upon which I desired Mr. V n to talk with him if he knew of his own knowledg any Person engaged in such a Design for being never able to bring any thing in confirmation of what he asserted from whom he had it or at what time it was to be executed I supposed there was no truth in the Story or if there were I might possibly have set him out to be engag'd in it He gave Mr. V n no satisfaction upon discoursing with him but proceeded in his Promises to him that nothing could be attempted but he would give him or me an account of it When the whole was brought to light and it appear'd he was not enough in the Secret to have prevented it I intended notwithstanding to have done something for him and at his own desire conceal'd his Name to give him an opportunity as he pretended to apprehend Chambers In the mean time I had an account that in very publick Places he began to threaten he would complain of me to the Parliament whereupon I neither thought it safe nor decent to have any more to do with him What I received relating to the Attempt on his Majesty's Person or the Invasion I always gave the King an account of it whilst I was able to wait on him but being much indisposed I had his Majesty's leave to go into the Country for a few days where I remained till I
minute and clear They had projected their Design different ways of all which I gave his Gr Information while they were under consideration among them Some of 'em upon further canvassing were found not feizable enough and therefore were laid aside Yet that creates no perplexity nor ought to raise any doubt of my Accounts because I could not respite my Informations till all Points were exactly adjusted lest I should be prevented by an immediate Execution Such was the Project of conveying the King alive to France which as I have elsewhere hinted to his Gr may be supposed only a Pretence to gild the Pill to those whose squeamish Stomach would not so easily digest the Assassination naked which was actually projected and therefore I was oblig'd to give an Account of it as I had it from them tho I hinted my Suspicion that something else was intended by it Such likewise was the Design of attacking the King by Ambuscade in Richmond Park in which they proceeded so far as to send Captain Porter Vid. Charnock's Trial. Knightly and King to view the Ground yet afterward laid it aside And who knows whether that which now appears their last Resolution had not likewise been chang'd for some other had the Conspirators continued longer undispersed The End and Aim of all was to take away the Life of the King the manner of doing it whatever Scheme they might draw to themselves must be taken from Time and Occasion which only could suggest what was proper to be done They were all resolv'd and provided to do the thing and any convenient place or time had serv'd their turn how different soever from those they had proposed to themselves His Gr therefore very much over-shoots himself when he charges me with assigning no time for the Execution of this Design For I was as particular in the time as it was possible for any Man to be without a supernatural Prescience Mem. p. 116. I was positive that they were in a readiness to attack the King the first time he went a Hunting or Shooting and themselves could tell no more nor his Gr in reason expect more from me unless he would have me assign a time when the King should go a Hunting or Shooting I hope therefore that my Informations were full and certain enough to have satisfy'd any reasonable Man of their Truth if they did not the D I must for his Gr 's Honour suppose he has some more substantial Reason than he produces And till he does it I shall presume that nothing is wanting to the satisfaction of my Reader One thing more I must take notice of that is That tho his Gr charges me with differing in my Accounts yet he is not able to make out any Inconsistency For tho in his Letter by * Viz. The Discovery of the Arms which were seized in Warwickshire and are now lodg'd in the Tower with divers other Discoveries set forth in my Memoirs to which I refer the Reader suppressing mutilating disjoynting and altering he has given such a Draught of my Informations that were not my Name mention'd in the Letter I should not think it meant of me yet even his Account of my Services lame and defective as it is shews that I neither prevaricated nor conceal'd any thing from those Ministers with whom I corresponded Whether they can say as much for themselves I leave others to judg The third Article against me is That I was not enough in the Secret to have prevented it It is matter of Fact that his Gr is in the right of this For tho I made an ample and early discovery time has shewn that it signify'd nothing towards the preventing the Execution of that Design But whos 's the fault was and what was the Secret which he says I was not enough in his Gr can best tell It 's plain he can't mean the Plot For I gave him long before any other Discoverer came in a fuller and exacter account of that than has yet been given by any other Person Mem. p. 107 to p. 118. From the 10th of February 1695 I gave him daily an Account of what was in Agitation and of all the Moves of that party And upon the 14th 18th and 19th I inform'd him and Mr. V by his Order particularly of the Design against the King's Person and Life The latter may remember what I then said to him by a particular Answer that he made me When I had inform'd him fully of the design to kill the King the first time he went out to Hunt or Shoot and had acquainted him with the Names of the principal Persons engag'd in it I desired that the King might be intreated for some time at least to forbear those diversions He retorted What would you have the King coop'd up Mem. p. 111. This Answer I take notice of because it may give some light what was the Secret which I was not enough in And this the more surpriz'd me because I always thought it the Duty of a Servant to acquaint his Master with things of this nature and not to pretend to determine for him before his Pleasure was known in it On the 19th I wrote his Gr a full Account of the intended Assassination Mem. p. 115 to p. 118. with the Names of the principal Conspirators and the Manner Place and Time as far as time could be set which was the first time the King went out to Hunt or Shoot This was in Substance what I had told Mr. V the day before in a Personal Conference I can't tell what his Gr calls being in a Secret But if to know all be to be in the Secret I think I was sufficiently in it and his Gr and Mr. V too by my means But why my Informations were not sufficient to prevent it they only know All that appears to me to have been necessary to prevent it was that his Majesty should be acquainted with the Design and the Danger that threaten'd his Life which I had put it in their Power to do And that this was enough is apparent Vid. Charn Trial. For the Night before it was to be executed Mr. Pendergrass's going to my Lord Portland and acquainting him with the Design was sufficient to defeat it tho he refused to give any Names It may be worth our while to observe how differently his Majesty and my Lord Portland thought on this matter from his Gr Mr. Pendergrass an absolute Stranger mean both in Condition and Figure goes to my Lord Portland and acquaints him with the Design in general and refuses to name any Persons concern'd yet this does not destroy his Credit He is admitted to the King believed and press'd to discover the Persons no Vouchers are requir'd for his Credit nor Doubts or Scruples started about the reality of his Discovery tho a very obscure Man He is only urg'd to make his Discovery more ample and to inform his Majesty who the Traitors were which he
whatever Provocations I had to the contrary After I found my self slighted and had reason to suspect that my Discoveries were supprest I did then make my Applications elsewhere in order to procure that the King might be acquainted tho late with what I had done for his Service Nor ought his Gr to take that ill For if my Discoveries deserv'd no more regard than I found he had paid to 'em my applying to those Honourable Persons would only have exposed me and justify'd him But if they did really deserve to be consider'd I had no reason to lose the benefit of 'em by anothers Neglect or to have any tenderness for a Person who had used me so ill However I can appeal to those Honourable Persons whose Names are to be found in the Introduction to my Memoirs whether I reflected on his Gr or spoke unhandsomly of him What therefore could move him to think it neither safe nor decent to have any more to do with me is a mystery he can best unfold For if his Gr had done his Duty in this matter what had he to fear from me Had I ventur'd to accuse him of any thing that was false the King and even my own Letters would have justify'd him But so far was I from giving him any just Umbrage of such a thing that I purposely wav'd saying any thing more that was true of him than as I have already observ'd was extorted from me altho I had then such an Opportunity as I could never expect again which I was not ignorant of at that time As for the Point of Decency I can't see how it could be indecent unless it be one way which if he means I must agree with him that it was by no means honourable to use the Service of a Gentleman whom he was resolv'd never to consider for it His Gr at the end of his Letter says That what he receiv'd relating to the Attempt on his Majesty's Person or the Invasion he always gave the King an account of it whilst he was in Town and able to wait on him But being much indisposed he had his Majesty's leave to go into the Country for a few days where he remain'd till he was commanded back upon the happy discovery of that horrid Design If his Gr did as he says which I should be unwilling to question did not two or three Expressions in this very Letter and some in this very Paragraph give me just occasion to do so I should think he had acquitted himself at least to the King For if he had acquainted his Majesty with all that I inform'd him of in this Matter how comes he to talk of a happy Discovery made in his absence It seems absurd to say that horrid Design of which they had before been more amply inform'd was then discover'd For if there had been occasion for his assistance in Town it seems more reasonable to have staid him than to let him go and send for him back again To what end should he be recall'd to be made acquainted with what they knew he was thorowly inform'd of before and of which they had their first Advice from him But the very wording of this Paragraph looks like Prevarication by the Limitations whilst he was in Town and able to wait on his Majesty I can't tell whether he was able to wait on the King on Friday the 21st of February 1695. but he was able to go out of Town that day which was the day before the Design was to have been executed and must of necessity go through Kensington if he took the direct Road to Stoner-house But certainly if he was not able to wait on the King he was at least able to have sent my Letter which was dated Wednesday the 19th and delivered by Mr. V Thursday the 20th in the morning Mem. p. 119. and contain'd a fuller and more exact account than Mr. Pendergrass was able to give who was the happy discoverer that occasion'd him to be recall'd The Question then is What sort of Account he then gave his Majesty for if we may believe the beginning of his Letter he could make little of it I am sorry his Gr was so puzled with a plain matter for I am consident any body else that reads that Letter Mem. p. 110. and the Minutes of the 18th will presently make enough of it His Gr does not seem to consult his Honour when he so much undervalues his own Capacity Had he submitted the Letter it self to his Majesty a Prince of his acuteness and discernment would soon have inform'd him there was no Riddle in it He seems to have more tenderness for the reputation of his Courage when upon my pressing the Danger earnestly upon him he slights it so far as to send me word by Mr. V that he was going out of Town for three or four days Mem. p. 119. and thought it would be time enough to consider of my Demands at his return By which time had no collateral Discoverers come in the Business had been over But his Answer did not stop me from pressing my personal admittance to the King to Mr. V who put me off till the D 's return Mem. p. 122. And on Saturday the two and twentieth question'd me Whether I had not been already with the King or my Lord Portland And when I answer'd him No told me that the King had received notice and did not thereupon go a hunting Whereupon I concluded that this notice had been from the D But he has appeal'd to Cesar and to Cesar I leave him There remain yet two things in the Letter to be consider'd which I shall dispatch in as few words as possible One is a piece of Caution t'other of Kindness He says that near to the day the Assassination was intended I was very earnest for Mony to buy a Horse and Equipage which is very true For according to the Measures concerted betwixt his Gr and my self Mem. p. 98. I was to have made as forward an appearance in that Action as the most zealous of them all The Design of this was not only to have given information of all their Motions to a minute Mem. p. 111. but to have put it into the King's power to have seiz'd every Person appearing in the very Enterprize This he knew could not be done without shewing my self as forward and as ready to engage in that Action as the warmest of 'em whose Considence it would create And therefore he agreed that I should buy a Horse and Arms in order to be the better able to execute what we had projected as may appear by the Minutes of the 10th and 18th of February 1695. His Gr did then believe that there was truth in the Story whatever he has done since He had then no little groundless fears as if there were he might possibly have set me out to be ingaged in it For as I have already shewn it was not the Quality