Mr. Tho. Dangerfeilds PARTICULAR NARRATIVE OF THE LATE Popish DESIGN To Charge those of the Presbyterian Party WITH A PRETENDED CONSPIRACY AGAINST His MAJESTIES PERSON AND GOVERNMENT Written by Himself LONDON Printed for Henry Hills John Starkey Thomas Basset John Wright Richard Chiswell and Samuel Heyrick 1679. TO THE READER HAving Lately been Engaged through the Wicked and Malicious Instigation of the Countess of Powis the five Popish Lords in the Tower and their Accomplices in a horrid and damnable Design of Charging the Presbyterians with a Pretended Plot against the Present Government and Religion by Law Established And through God's great Mercy to my Self and to many Hundreds in this Kingdom and I hope to the whole Nation in General coming to have a true sense of the Guilt that I had thereby contracted I resolv'd to make a full and perfect Discovery of whatsoever I had been made Privy to in order to the same and accordingly with my own hand did freely and voluntarily Write a True and Faithful Account thereof without being Allur'd or Threatned so to do or Prompted in the doing of it by any person whatsoever And to prevent all Suspicion of any such thing I desir'd to be and was accordingly confin'd to an Apartment and there kept without Conversing with any person till I had finish'd the same which was on Fryday the last of October at which time I desir'd to be brought before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London before whom I Exhibited what I had so Written and in the presence of his Lordship the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridge-Water and other worthy Magistrates of the City I did attest the same upon Oath Since which time some others have undertaken without my privity to Publish Relations of what I then Deposed In which upon perusal of the same I find some things omitted others mistaken or not so fully and particularly related as I could wish And so resolving with my self that since I was the first and am hitherto the sole profess'd Discoverer of the said Design and Conspiracy it would be very Satisfactory to all Protestants to receive a particular and exact Relation of the Designs that were Formed against themselves from my own hand I set pen to Paper and digested what I then Deposed into this ensuing Discourse in which I have not omitted any thing that is material of what I was ingaged in or otherwise admitted to the knowledge of but have given a faithful Relation of things as they followed in course of time to the end that all such as are concern'd for the Welfare and Prosperity of their Religion and Country may be the more fully convinced how much it is for their interest to endeavour the disappointing all future Contrivances of that Party that is so active and industrious to promote their own interest under a pretence of Religion which is the benefit that I hope will accrue by the Publishing of this Narrative to all English men and Protestants In vain is the Net spread in the sight of any Bird. Thomas Dangerfeild The Contents of the ensuing Narrative MIstress Cellier undertakes to procure Mr. Dangerfield his Liberty in order to the employing him in some matter of great Concern pag. 2. 3 Mr. Dangerfield at the Instigation of Mrs. Cellier Mr. Munson and Mr. Kemish two Priests treats with one Stroud a Prisoner in the Kings-Bench to overthrow Bedlow 's Testimony and lay heinous Crimes to his Charge p. 3. 4 A device to have Mr. Dangerfield Examin'd as a Witness for the King and in his Depositions to disclose such matter as should be Evidence for the Lords in the Tower p. 7 Mr. Dangerfield is furnished with Money by the Lords in the Tower to Compound his Debts and get out of Prison p. 7 Mr. Dangerfield is sent into Buckinghamshire to one Mr. Web 's House with a Letter to a Priest that lay conceal'd there and went by a Womans name and returns with Directions for the Fathering a Plot upon the Presbyterians p. 9. 10 A Conspiracy to procure an Indictment of Perjury against Dr. Oates p. 14. 15 Mr. Dangerfield and others sent about to several Coffee-Houses to spread a Rumour of a Plot carried on by the Presbyterians and to disperse Libells p. 16. 17 Counterfeit Letters fram'd by Nevel and Persons employed to Transcribe and disperse them in order to the giving false Allarms of a Presbyterian Plot. p. 17. 18. 19 The manner of Sir George Wakeman 's making his escape into Flanders p. 19. 20 Mr. Dangerfield sent for to the Tower and there dealt with by the Lord Arundel to kill the King for a Reward of 2000 l. and by the Lord Powis to kill the Earl of Shaftsbury for 500 l. The former of which Proposals he rejects but embraces the latter p. 21. 22. 23 The Lord Castlemain Author of the late Book call'd The Compendium p. 23 Mr. Dangerfield enjoyn'd Penance for refusing to kill the King p. 23. 24 Mr. Gadbury assures Mr. Dangerfield upon the Calculation of his Nativity That he might kill the King without any danger to himself p. 25. 26 Sir Robert Peyton at Mr. Gadbury 's Perswasion treats with the Lord Peterborough in order to a Reconciliation with the Duke of York and is by him introduced to his R. H. p 24. 25. 28. 29. 34. c The Lady Aburgaveny 's Project for Mr. Dangerfield to procure access to the Earl of Shaftsbury p. 28 A summary account of the Book together with the List of the four Clubs found in the Meal-Tub p. 31. 32 Mr. Dangerfield being introduced by the Lord Peterborough to the D. of Y. and by him ordered to go to the King acquaints them both with a Plot carried on by the Presbyterians to alter the Government p. 34. 35 The Countess of Powis gives Mr. Dangerfield Instructions how to behave himself and frame his Discourse when he should be brought to his Majesties Presence to give an account of the new Plot. p. 35 Mr. Dangerfield Confesses and Receives the Sacrament in order to his Murdering the Earl of Shaftsbury p. 37 Mr. Dangerfields first and second Attempt to Murder the Earl of Shaftsbury at his House in Aldersgate-Street p. 37. 38. 39 The Lord Peterborough 's Encouragement of Mr. Dangerfield to go on p. 40. Mr. Dangerfield by the Countess of Powis 's order lodgeth treasonable Papers in Mansell 's Chamber p. 41. 42 Mr. Dangerfield endeavours twice to obtain a Warrant from Mr. Secretary Coventry to search Mansell 's Lodgings which Mr. Secretary refuseth p. 40. 42. 43 Mansell 's Lodgings are search'd by Customhouse-Officers and the Papers found p. 43 Instructions given to Mr. Dangerfield by the Countess of Powis how to clear himself from the suspition of having lodged the Papers in Mansell 's Room p. 49. 50. 51 The Examination of Anne Blake Servant to Mrs. Cellier p. 51 The Examination of Mrs. Cellier p. 52. 53 The Examination of the Countess of Powis p. 53. 54
whereupon not knowing what his Passion might transport him to I laid my hand upon my Sword His Lordship made no Approach towards me but his Passion seeming to continue I thought it best to retire and accordingly went down stairs and in a rude manner left him and went home and told Mrs. Cellier the Lord Castlemain was very angry with me and that I would never come at him more Oh said she 't is his manner to be angry one hour and reconcil'd the next and Men of that Temper are generally the best and most fit for Business Then Mrs. Cellier advised me to go to Mr. Sharp the Priest at Wild-house and Confess and Receive for then my Kettle wanted scouring more than ever in regard of my late Promise in the Tower I went to him accordingly the next Morning where I Confess'd and received the Sacrament but as I was coming away the said Mr. Sharp who it seems had been informed how I behaved my self to the said Lord Powis and Lord Arundel and had heard of my refusing to kill the King would scarce suffer me to depart on those terms but told me I ought to do Penance for refusing to serve God in what the Scriptures taught me was my Duty whereupon I desired to be informed Whether or no they taught me any such thing as to kill my King He answered Yes if he were first Excommunicated and Condemned by the Church Then he made me kneel down the 2d time where he gave me an Admonition of half an hour long and enjoyned me for my Penance that every Night twice for 5 Nights following I should walk bare-footed at a certain time of night fit for the purpose from Powis-house in Lincolns-Inn-Fields to Lincoln's-Inn-Back-Gate and back again which I did accordingly and that every Morning for five Mornings I should discipline my naked Shoulders with some Franciscan-Cords which he then gave me and bid me be sure to follow his direction if I were minded to escape Damnation then I took my leave of him being extreamly confounded in my thoughts and at a loss how to behave my self in this Affair for now I saw through all their Designs and found both their Principles and Practice to agree with the Account which Protestants give of them I was then about to go directly to his Majesty and discover all I knew or had been privy to but when I debated the Matter within my self the Devil prevail'd and I went home where I found the Countess of Powis and Mrs. Cellier when the Lady saw me she sent for me in and laughed but I being then more serious than I had been for some years before told the Countess 't was not a laughing Matter Why said she do you know what I laugh at I told her I supposed I did then her Ladyship entered into some Discourse not worth the rehearsing but e're long turning her face towards Mrs. Cellier Well well said she Mr. Willoughby will be honest and do us no hurt I am sure By this I found I was liable to some suspicion for the clearing of which I was forced to make a small Apology for my self we entred into other Discourse the Lady bidding me sit down and amongst other things her Ladyship told me His Royal Highness would be in Town speedily which would help to qualifie the Rage of the Presbyterians and produce another face of things And said she there 's one Sir Robert Payton who intends to come over to the Duke's Interest and asked me If I knew him I answered No then the Countess told Mrs. Cellier she must take some care to provide a place for Sir Robert Peyton to treat with the Lord Peterborough about his coming over for so they termed it Mrs. Cellier answered That no place was so fit as Mr. Gadbury's House because he was the person who had first proposed the matter to Sir Robert Peyton and did from time to time use all his Endeavours to effect it So that said she we seem for ought appears as yet to owe Sir Robert Peyton's coming over chiefly to Mr. Gadbury's Persuasions and Solicitations The Countess was well pleas'd with Mrs. Cellier's Proposal and order'd me to go the next day to the Lord Peterborough and acquaint his Lordship with this business of Sir Robert Peyton I replied His Lordship knew me not and so perhaps might not be apt to give credit to what I should say To make sure the Countess replied she would go home and write a Letter to the Lord Peterborough and send it by one of her Servants for the Lord Peterborough was return'd from Brussels and was then in London or at lest aboutthe Town then the Countess took Coach and left us Now in the Afternoon of the next Day I went to Mill-Bank at Westminster where the Lord Peterborough's House is to wait on his Lordship but being informed by the Servants that his Lordship Dined that Day either at Lockets or Lambs which are both Eating-Houses at Chearing-Cross I went thither and found his Lordship having first sent up word by his Page that there was one to wait on his Lordship from the Lady Powis Then I was brought into the Room and there gave his Lordship an account of my Business and also told him that Sir Robert Payton would meet his Lordship at Mr. Gadbury's House on Tuesday next at Five a Clock in the Evening His Lordship was very well pleased and promised to be there at the time and place appointed And he farther told me One of the Countesses Servants had just before I come brought his Lordship a Letter to the same effect of which his Lordship shewed me the Superscription So I took my leave and went directly to Mr. Gadbury at his House in Westminster for so Mrs. Cellier advised me to do that he might also have Notice of this Meeting and let Sir Robert Payton know that the Lord Peterborough would not fail to be there according to appointment Which Mr. Gadbury did and seem'd to be very well pleased Then he and I entring into discourse I perceived his Countenance change and looking very angerly on me he told me That he wondred I would offer to displease the Lords in the Tower and especially the Lord Castlemaine who was then out upon Bail who designed to advance me in the World and help me to make my Fortune I was not a little surpriz'd to hear such Words from him and asked him If he knew the ground of their displeasure He reply'd Yes yes he did And falling into a great passion said 'T was because I would not Kill the KING I admire said Gadbury at your Ingratitude that when you could not propose to your self any possible way of getting out of Prison and were like to have continued there as long as you lived had not the Charity of good People reliev'd ye you should notwithstanding offer to refuse it Telling me withal 'T was to engage me to make that Attempt that I was helpt out of Prison
as I suppose and when she went from home desired me to call at Gadbury's for her that we might go together to Mr. Stamfords Accordingly I went to Mr. Gadbury's where I found her and from thence we went to the place beforementioned where Mr. Stamford told us he had been informed from very good hands that Dr. Tongue had at that time employed a considerable number of Writers to describe the whole manner of the Plot but said he I will acquaint the King with it and tell His Majesty my thoughts which are That the design of it is to direct Oats and Bedloe and the rest how to proceed and carry on the present Plot meaning I believe their own against the poor Catholicks but I do not know whether he informed his Majesty of it or not From thence Mrs. Cellier and I went home and the next morning she sent me to Gadbury's to enquire how the Lord Peterborough and Sir Robert Peyton entertained each other At their meeting Gadbury told me they agreed very well and stayed there several hours but what they treated on he did not yet know for he withdrew and left them together Then I returned and told Mrs. Cellier what he said who was very well pleased that their endeavors seem'd to succeed so well Soon after I met the Countess at Mrs. Celliers house who acquainted me that the Lord Peterborough had given her Ladiship an account of all that had passed between him and Sir Robert Peyton and also told me there were great hopes of him but at the same time she said I must go forwards with all speed to set some Intrigue on foot against the Presbyterians for his Royal Highness either was already come to Town or would be here the next day and something must be done to make his Royal Highness believe the Presbyterians were carrying on a Design against the King and Government Then we considered what course to take in order thereunto but could not agree without better Judgments or at least then mine was So the Countess went away and the next day sent for Mrs. Cellier to the Tower who when she returned told me the Lords had ordered that I should use all the speed I could to find out some idle persons that appeared well in apparel and give them Money to go to the Coffee-houses and make enquiry of all the Clubs and Meetings that were about the Town and get the names of such as frequented them and endeavour to learn how things went in all parts of the Town This I promised to do but not being acquainted with many such persons whom I durst trust in such an Affair I employ'd only two or three of whom I had a better opinion then of the rest viz. One Bedford by some called Captain though he never was in Commission to him I gave 40 s. in Cliffords-Inn Garden and endeavoured to make him sensible what it was for and he was to proceed He entred into a solemn Promise to use his utmost endeavors to give me satisfaction Soon after I employed one Curtice and gave him Ten Shillings Earnest and told him his business who also promised to use his utmost Endeavour Then was I my self very busie in visiting most Coffee-Houses about Town where I found all things very suitable to our Interests and Designs and many Persons very hot against the Presbyterians some saying The Plot was now most apparently discovered to be theirs This Rumour was very industriously spread about by all our Accomplices as Wood Dormer the Virginia Merchant my self and many others perhaps unknown to me By this time his Royal Highness was returned from Flanders and the Lord Peterborough sent for me to give the Duke an account of this New Plot by which it appears that his Lordship had heard something of it before And his Lordship has since declared to the King and Council That Mrs. Cellier had given him an account of one Willoughby as also of his behaviour in Flanders and some part of a Presbyterian Design that was then on foot But at that time when his Lordship sent for me I was unprovided and sent the Countess word of it who appointed me to wait on her at Powis House that Night at Four a Clock which I did and found her Ladyship there who bid me sit down and write which having done she dictated and I writ and this which follows is the Abbreviation of that which was found by Sir William Waller in the Meal-Tub for that was the Original and what the Countess dictated REMARKS c. Four Clubs or Meetings viz. Sir Robert Peyton at the Kings Head Tavern Mr. Bennet's at the Green Dragon Sir Francis Clark's at the Sun Tavern Colonel Blood 's at Westminster Market The three first being the Council Meetings and the last the Messengers for the Countries at present but when occasion shall require they are to be Field-Officers Mr. Gooding's promise to support D. M. if Banished Major Alsop's promise to me for a Commission Friday the 12th of September M. went to Sir Thomas Player The manner of sending Messengers to all parts of England The Manner of all their several Meetings and how the Converse with one another for the concurrence of matters The manner of their Contributing and to what purpose money is raised The posture they were in for a Rising if His Majesty had died and how they had a considerable Army posted in and about the Town for that purpose The Contrivance of the Bill against The Design to rise in the North in order to join with an Army of Scots commanded by Goodine's and others Accounts about their Government Lord Hallifax Lord Shaftsbury Lord Radnor Lord Essex Lord Wharton Duke of Buckingham and others for Counsel Duke of Monmouth to be General Lord Gray of Warke Lieutenant-General Lord Gerrard and his Son Lieutenant-Generals Sir Thomas Armstrong Lieutenant-General Colonel Blood Sir William Waller and others to be Major-Generals Colonel Mansel Quarter-master General Most of the Field-Officers meet at Bloood's Club and others at Cities and great Towns in the Countries The Detachment to be made from His Majesties Guards c. and also from the Trained-Bands and Militia both in City and Country Alsop's promise to bring me to my Lord Shaftsbury to be employed for an Intelligencer and to have his promise for a Commission Now I must obsrve to the Reader That though most of these Particulars were Dictated by the Countess yet I had them not all of her but some from Bedford Curtice Woods c. the which being by me afterwards abbreviated and the Lists of the persons named who I was informed met at the aforesaid Clubs being added to it Each of these Clubs consist of at least 200 persons all of good Estates and Substance These that follow are Lists of particular persons viz. At the Kings Head Tavern in Fleetstreet LOrd Howard Sir Robert Peyton Sir John Duke Sir Philip Matthews Sir Henry Blount Mr. John Gibson Mr. Charles Umphreville Mr. John
Freake Sen. Mr. Richard Goodenough Mr. John Trenchard Mr. Henry Trenchard Mr. William Trenchard Mr. Claypole Mr. Griffith Mr. Joseph Clarke Mr. Richard Spicer Mr. Freake Jun. Dr. Harrington Mr. John Aylif Mr. Percival Mr. Overton Mr. Hutchinson Mr. Starkey Mr. Bugdel Mr. Howard Mr. Thompson Mr. Gibson Mr. Waller Mr. Combe Mr. Ireton Mr. Whitlock Sen. Mr. Rey. Mr. Coxlow Mr. Whitlock Jun. Mr. Merry Mr. Chettwyn Mr. Bethal Mr. Speake Sen. Mr. Speake Jun. Mr. Trinder Mr. Littleton Mr. West Mr. Smith Mr. Harbert Mr. Aron Smith Mr. Blount Mr. Washenden Mr. Potter And others whose Names I know not At the Green Dragon Tavern in Fleetstreet MR. Bennet Mr. Chaire Mr. Baker Mr. Chumley Mr. Young Sir William Hartop and his Son Mr. Hartop Mr. William Campion Mr. Appesley Mr. Bowles Mr. Roger Pope Mr. Kent Captain Fitz-Williams Mr. Robert Reeves Mr. Hodges Mr. Minns Mr. Barrel Mr. Isted Mr. Mazemore Sir Edm. Bacon Mr. Jennings Lord Lovelace Mr. Bainton Sir John Wild Mr. Robert Creswel Sir Richard Atkins Mr. George Long. Mr. Holeman Mr. Villers Mr. Ashburnham Mr. George Pitt Mr. Barth Ashburnham Mr. Daniel Osborne Captain Bennet Mr. Henry Harris Mr. Blithe Mr. Henry Wynne Mr. Natchpole Mr. Edw. Dering Mr. Sandes Mr. Hubbert Besides many others whose Names I know not At the Sun Tavern behind the Royal Exchange ALderman Bence Alderman Booth Sir Francis Clarke Mr. Saunders Mr. Twisdel Mr. Stavely Mr. Cowel Mr. Parker Captain Collier Mr. Phelps Mr. Davis c. In Westminster-Market at a Chandlers House COlonel Blood Sir William Waller Colonel Mansel Colonel Browne Colonel Barrington Colonel Hart. Colonel Jenks Major Coult. Then the Lady Powis the next Day by Mrs. Cellier recommended me to the Lord Peterborough and desired him by a Letter that Mrs. Cellier carried then as she told me to take me to his Royal Highness In order whereunto Mrs. Cellier and my self were commanded to go directly to his Lordships Lodgings in the Stone-Galery at Whitehal where we were told he would come to us as he did and told me I should presently see the Duke But in the mean time asked me What I would say to his Royal Highness Or if the Lady Powis or any Person else had instructed me what to say We were carried then into his Lordships Closet where I shewed him my Business in Writing and told him what I had to acquaint his Royal Highness with by word of mouth which his Lordship well approved of and highly commended me Which gave me great encouragement to proceed For had his Lordship not been too Credulous of the said Story it must certainly have been discovered long before it was for as I suppose his Credit and good Character of me to his Royal Highness brought me to the Honour of Communicating the whole matter to His Majesty to whom I did deliver it as a Real thing though indeed it was an absolute falshood and only a Story contrived and consented to in general by the Popish Party and intended for a Mask hoping whil'st the King if His Majesty should believe it was preparing for the safety of His Sacred Person and the Government against the pretended Conspiracy of the Presbyterian Party that they might have the more time to move on with their own Plot which was still to possess the the King with the real belief of the said Sham-Plot There we waited till his Royal Highness came from Supper for 't was that time of Night then the Lord Peterborough bid us follow him where we were brought into his Royal Highness's Closet and immediately the Duke came in and had some discourse with Mrs. Cellier whose Business was to acquaint his Royal Highness about Sir Robert Payton then turning to me I fell on my Knee and had the Honour to Kiss his Royal Highness's Hand I presented the Duke with the Paper of my Business and to the Questions which his Royal Highness asked me I returned such Answers as I was directed Then the Duke told Mrs. Cellier he would stay there till Sir Robert Payton came whereupon we both withdrew and returned to the Lord Peterborough's Lodging where we waited till his Lordship came which was not till above an hour after When we left his Royal Highness the Lord Peterborough introduc'd Sir Robert Payton to the Duke where as his Lordship told us afterwards Sir Robert Payton did behave himself much to the Duke's satisfaction He told me likewise That his Royal Highness liked me well and had promised his Lordship I should be Encouraged and then he told Mrs. Cellier Sir Robert Payton had promised upon his Troath to employ all his Interest for the Duke's Service And that his Lordship had moved her Business to his Royal Highness which was That his Royal Highness would grant an Order for the Payment of some Money due to her Husband which Order soon after was granted and at Sir Allen Apselyes Mrs. Cellier and her Husband received One hundred Pounds part of the said Debt Then turning again to me his Lordship also promised to assist me in the making my Fortune for the good Service I had done and was still like to do and he bid me proceed in the said Discovery and from that time his Lordship called me Captain Willoughby And as Mrs. Cellier and I were coming away his Lordship called in some of his Servants and ordered that at what time soever either of us should come to enquire for his Lordship they should be sure to let him know it forthwith which they promised to do and we returned home where Mrs. Cellier could not rest till she had seen the Countess to let her know what had hapned and how we were received And in order to it the next morning early she went to the Tower and related the whole matter to the Lords as at her return she told me who were extreamly satisfied and some of them were pleased to say They hoped to find me an honest and an active Person Soon after this the Lord Peterborough told me I must go again to the Duke to whom I was again brought by his Lordships means and his Royal Highness told me I must wait on the King to whom he had delivered the Paper I had before presented him with and gave His Majesty an account more at large of the Contents thereof and his Royal Highness then told me the King would order me money to proceed in the said Discovery of that new Plot and then with his own hand gave me twenty Guineys to encourage me and also promised provided I could produce a clear proof to make good the account I had given of it to make my Fortune And I did really think that his Royal Highness did believe there was truth in this Sham-Plot Then I returned home and told Mrs. Cellier I had been with the Duke wereupon she perswaded me forthwith to send the Lord Powis word of it for 't would be great satisfaction to him and the rest of the Lords Accordingly I dispatcht my
Boy to the Tower with a Letter that contained the whole Relation and likewise desired that since I was to wait upon His Majesty the next day their Lordships would be pleased to give me some Directions how to behave my self there That night I received no other answer then that the Lady Powis would be with me the next day at three a Clock in the afternoon So she was at Mrs. Celliers house where I received from her these following Directions viz. That I should be sure to lay all the burthen I could upon the Presby terians but particularly upon the Lord Gray Lord Howard of Eserick Duke of Monmouth Duke of Buckingham Sir William Waller Colonel Blood and some others and that I should explain to His Majesty the meaning of the several contents of the Paper I had before presented to the Duke and how the Presby terians were resolv'd to use their utmost endeavors for the reducing the present Government and setting up a Commonwealth once more and setling the Duke of Monmouth in it and that the Lord Shaftsbury and other Persons of Quality were issuing out Commissions to that purpose and had promised some to divers persons This was the Story I was to tell the King as I did and then I thought His Majesty believed the same to be true but His Majesty has since been pleased to declare in Council he did not give Credit to it for that it was so impossible a thing but yet to shew that he would not wholly slight it till better satisfaction was pleased to order me money by Mr. Secretary Coventry to encourage me in the farther discovery thereof and soon after I received from Colonel Halsel 40 l. but when he paid it me he told me I must endeavor to make things a little more plain or the King would not be well pleased which I promised to do and took my leave Then I came home and told Mrs. Cellier what had passed who went immediately to the Tower to let the Lords know I had not only given His Majesty a satisfactory Account but had likewise received 40 l. by His Order to encourage me which they were glad to hear and then I suppose thought fit to prepare something that might induce a stronger belief and gain more credit to the discovery but desired me to go no more to Colonel Halsel for it should seem they had some reason to be afraid of him lest he might trace the Business till he had discovered it This Order I followed for I went no more to Colonel Halsel though I had been commanded by the King as often as I made any new progress in the Business to give Colonel Halsel an account of it When His Majesty was at Newmarket I was advised to send an account of some new Discovery made since the former and this I was to deliver to Colonel Halsel to be sent for it was before I had received the 40 l. from him and an Order from the Lords to apply my self to him no more The Paper I sent was to this Effect viz. SIR May it please Your most Sacred Majesty I Have discovered a great Correspondence between the Presbyterians and the Dutch and believe at your Majesties return to give a good Account of the same by God's help till which time I shall use my utmost endeavor to approve my self Your MAJESTIES Most Faithful and Obedient Subject WILLOVGHBY Soon after the King returned from New-market which when the Lords heard of they ordered me to wait on His Majesty with a supplemental Story but much to the same effect with my former and to apply my self to Master Cheffinch to be brought to His Majesties presence Col. Halsel being the person that had brought me to him before which I did and His Majesty ordered Mr. Cheffinch to bring me to Him where I related my business and withdrew then I met the Countess again at Mrs. Celliers house and gave her an account of my having been with His Majesty To which She answered The next time I should carry something of greater moment but that in the mean time she ordered me to make diligent enquiry after one Colonel Mansfield for so she said his Name was which I did and with some difficulty found by Curtice where he lodged and sent word by Mrs. Cellier of it to the Tower who when she came back told me The Countess ordered I should be at home in the Afternoon and her Ladiship would come to me but in the mean time that I should go to Mr. Sharp to Confession and receive the Sacrament which is a custom the Roman Catholicks constantly practise either before the undertaking or after the effecting some damnable enterprise and sometimes both that their Father Confessor may palliate the thing to them under a colour of Religion so as to make it appear meritorious be it never so criminal for the next Orders I should receive would be for the putting in execution what had been resolv'd on with relation to the Lord Shaftsbury on this I took some time to pause but at last did go to Father Sharp and Confess and Receive after which according to his usual custom he conjured me by all that was good to use all the possible speed to stabb the said Lord after I had received Orders from the Lords so to do I promised I would and so left him About three dayes after that Mrs. Cellier had received a Letter from the Lady Powis which made mention that that very night I should make my self ready and go to Lord Shaftsbury's house in Aldersgate street and desire to speak with him privately but from Mrs. Cellier her self I received a particular charge not to enter into any discourse with my Lord when I had him alone but after a little Apology for my coming to his Lordship though an absolute stranger to him and neither sent nor introduced by any other person and desiring to know whether if it should fall out to be in my power to serve him I might have his Lordships favour c. to do my business and come away Then she gave me a short French Dagger as I suppose 't was by the make I asked whence she had it she answered that on Sunday last the Virginia Merchant had brought her three or four such and out of a Cubbord in the same room took the rest and bid me chuse which I liked best but I kept that which I had already and made no further choice and went directly to Lord Shaftsbury's house where I was admitted but there being divers persons in the Room where his Lordship was I desired privacy lest some of them might know me and I be discovered then his Lordship sent me with one of his Gentlemen up stairs whither his Lordship came to me in a little time I repeated my story to him and his Lordship seemed desirous to have entred into some farther discourse but I was not willing to engage my self in any neither had I opportunity to do
Secretary Coventry with the thing and said he would make me out a Warrant so I went to Mr. Secretary Coventry and acquainted him with it and told him 't was the Kings pleasure that I should wait on him for a Warrant but Mr. Secretary refused to grant one unless I would make Affidavit that there were such Papers and whaâ— the Contents of them were which I could not do for I knew not of any Papers in his Chamber then for I suppose they were to have been put there after the Warrant granted and if the Papers had been there at that time and I had been able to swear the Contents it would have been plain that they were of my putting there for else how was it possible for me to know the Contents of Letters in a Gentlemans Chamber whom I never exchanged two words with in all my life so that I concluded the safest way for me was to let it alone Then I returned home where I found Mrs. Cellier who sent me to the Lord Peterborough's to let him know what had happened and how I had been twice at Lord Shaftsbury's who had received me kindly and told me he would take some care of me I went accordingly to his Lordship and acquainted him who seemed to be well pleased that I had been with Lord Shaftsbury and his Lordship told me When any Forces were raised he would put in for a Regiment of Horse and would give me a Troop in the same but withal his Lordship bid me be sure to do his business the third time meaning the Lord Shaftsbury's Whereupon I went home and just as I came in Mrs. Cellier came from the Tower and told me Some Persons had been with the Duke to destroy my credit with him by giving him an Account of my Life but said she That storm is over for the good Lady Powis and Lord Peterborough have both waited upon the Duke and not only perswaded his R. H. not to believe it but prevailed with him not to speak of it to the King which Mrs. Cellier told me his R. H. had promised not to do By this time Lord Peterborough had been divers times with Sir R. P. at Gadbury's and once at least if not oftner at Mrs. Cellier's and Sir R. P. had seen and spoke with his Royal Highness the second time and Lord Peterborough told me the Duke had promised Sir R. P. to treat with the King about putting Sir R. P. and some others into the Commissions for the Peace again which they had been formerly put out of by His Majesties Order Then the Countess of Powis came to Mrs. Cellier's and desired to speak with me which I hearing of came down out of my Chamber expecting to be chid severely but the Lady was very mild and only enquired how His Majesty resented my going a second time to the Lord Shaftsbury's and of bringing the Letters from thence and if I had gotten a Warrant I told her The King I thought was well pleased with me but I could not by any means get a Warrant unless I would make Affidavit that I had seen the Papers in Mansfield's Lodging and knew the Contents of them which I said I could not do Then the Countess and Mrs. Cellier were both very angry with me for refusing to make oath that there were Papersthere and the Contents of them such as that the Secretary might think fit to issue a Warrant to search for them And began to argue the case with me according to the usual equivocating way of that Party First telling me that I might have saved my Oath for that I had formerly seen and been at the writing of some of them Secondly It could be no Perjury if Oath were not made in'Court of Record And lastly That I was by my Religion obliged to part with my life for the good of the Cause and much more to swear a thing that was not inconsistent with truth Then the Countess endeavoured to perswade me to go the third time to the Lord Shaftsbury which I refused telling her that I had such a discomposure in my mind for having been there twice already that I should not be easie in a little time then Mrs. Cellier being present the Countess struck me gently over the hand with her Fann and said Away cowhearted Fellow I my self will go No Madam said Mrs. Cellier that shall not be for I will go and let the World know that some of our Sex are brave and more daring than the men and promised to do the Work the first time or dye upon the Spot At the same time the Countess complain'd that all their Men of Courage were sent out of the World or secured in order to be so Then the Countess asked me If I knew where Mr. Mansfield's Lodging was I answered Yes and that I had been much troubled to find it out then said She You timorous Person here will you take these Papers and convey them privately into some part of his Cloaths or into his Coat Pockets or into any part of his Room or his Trunks I answered 'T was impossible for me to do that because I knew him not The Countess told me I must find some way to be acquainted with him and take him to a Tavern and drink smartly and then take an opportunity to lodge the Papers in some part of his Cloaths and immediately upon pretence of his having spoke Treason or some such thing call a Constable and have him apprehended and search'd and carry the Papers to the King and Council and so have him committed For this was to be the Introduction to their real Plot. If this had been done the whole Plot had gone on and I was to have moved the King and Council to have impowered me to make Search in many other Gentlemens Lodgings and Houses both in City and Country Then the Countess advised me to go and take a Lodging some where near his and endeavour to insinuate my self into his acquaintance and take my own way for the management of the business Then 't was that her Ladyship gave me fifteen Letters and a List of Names one of which Letters and the List being writ by her own hand She desired they might be transcribed which I offered to do But She told me that must not be for the King had some Remarks already under my hand and would know it again and so we might be discovered for these must be brought to the King and Council Then She gave me order to go to a Scrivener over against Somerset-house because I had no person that I durst make privy to such a Secret and bid me to leave them with him and pay the person for writing them then She went away and I went to the Scrivener and got the Papers transcribed and brought them back and finding Mrs. Cellier and Mr. Webb together by the fire I took the Letters out of my pocket and shewed 'em them telling them those were the papers I
the Plot and that it was there hatched by them and that I had Lodgings at Mrs. Celliers and lamented once unto him my wanting of Twenty Pound for some great design that I had been at the Lord Clarendon's whom I complained of as a Dilatory man That I asked Bedford if at their being together in Cliffords-Inn-Garden he did not receive from me a Gift of forty shillings and if I did not discourse to him so and so concerning the D. of York and the D. of Lauderdale and about Scotland and touching three hundred Horse that were to be raised by Sir VVilliam VValler Bedford denyed any Gift of forty shillings in the Garden but that he borrowed forty shillings at two other times That he never spake to me of either of these Dukes or of Scotland And as to the three hundred Horse he said he had given an account of it to a Minister of State I replyed That as to this of the three hundred Horse he spoke it also to Mr. Stanford the D. of Newburgh's Agent who if called upon was able to testifie the same Mr. Justice VVarcup coming in acquainted the Board that Mr. Cellier and his Son-in-Law Blazedale the Apothecary did both attend and that there were yet wanting the Examinations of some of their servants Upon which the Lord President directed him to take those Examinations Blasden called in and Sworn said That Margaret brought him a Note for Opium to cause Rest but he refusing to follow that Direction he mixed somthing that was less Dangerous which the Maid afterwards told him signified nothing and therefore ordered him to mix somwhat a great deal stronger Mr. Cellier being asked about the Paper of the Nativity saith He read it not himself but that his Daughter read it to him He remembred only somthing of Prophesie or a Man's Fortune That there were in it the words Horoscope Venus Mercury c. That the Man should be Hang'd at last but he knew no more of it or of whom it was but that he burned the Paper and Owned That he was a Roman Catholick and a French Merchant But Mr. Blasden in whose House the Paper was read said It set forth How that his Adventures should be very various and that he should come before some Judge and be in Danger in a Sea-Fight Then I asked Cellier if he did not remember when in the presence of his Wife I said I was then come from my Lord Shaftsbury This he deny'd and also that he heard any Discourse extraordinary between me and Rigaut but that Rigaut had been twice at his House and that I and he played at some Game together He denied also that he saw any Dagger in his House or that ever any was hid under his Beds-side He acknowledged to have seen the Lady Powis at his House but not six times in all But Mr. Blasden said He had seen her Ladiships Coach a dozen times which he could see plain from his Shop but did not remember to have seen her Ladiship go into Mr. Cellier's above twice The Lord Peterborough was called in and having been told what was Objected against him as having encouraged me at his Lordship's House to go again to the Lord Shaftsbury and to be sure to Dispatch him the third time His Lordship flatly denied any such thing and then in a large Discourse appealed to the known Method of his Life and Conversation his Constant Services to the Crown and how little he had been concern'd in this Matter as being known by all Good men not to be capable of such a Thing That as to the Earl of Shaftsbury he came lately Over with great Expectation of his aid and favour in Parliament touching an unhappy Difference arisen with a great Ally meaning his Son-in-law's Father And that the Earl of Shaftsbury had already testified so much Countenance in this matter that he came over full of Inclinations to do that Lord greater Services than he can well express That before his Daughter was disposed of in Marriage a very Noble Lady the Lady Powis who had testified very great Inclinations to have her Married to her Ladiship 's Nephew upon which Obligation he then grew Intimate with the said Lady and being a Person that is not wont to forget his Friends in their Afflictions had often gone to that Lady to give her the best Comfort he could That waiting on her Ladiship when he came lately from Flanders she recommended to him just at parting a very Charitable Woman one Mrs. Cellier unto whom the late Dutchess of Tork was a Debtor in 5 or 600 l. That his Lordship being one of the Duke's Commissioners did promise to further her Business That in further Recommendation of this Woman the Lady added That she was a great Servant to the Duke and also to the King And also being a Woman of great Understanding and getting Acquaintance by her Opportunity of being a Midwife into many considerable Families she had wrought about several Incensed Persons to be of better Principles and Inclinations both to the King and the Duke And more particularly that this Woman had now found out a Man who was very able to discover any dangerous Practices against the King That Mrs. Cellier came soon after to his Lodgings that she gave a great Character of one Willoughby who had much improved himself abroad in the Service of the Prince of Orange and under the Duke de Villa Hermosa that this man coming over and resorting to the Coffee-Houses was much Suprized at the Rebellious discourses that he heard but that concealing his thoughts he grew Familiar with the most Mutinous who liked him so well that they carried him to their Clubs and private meetings and being admitted to their Secrets he found that great and dangerous things were preparing against the Parliament That she desired his Lordship but to procure a Warrant for making a Search and that all the whole matter would be Plainly discovered but she desired that this Warrant might be obtained without the King's knowledge That of all this Information his Lordship gave an Account to the Duke who refused to have any thing acted therein without the King's knowledge That I came with Mrs. Cellier to his Lodgings where the Duke saw me and I was afterwards handed to the King That when I came afterwards to his Lordship I mentioned the difficulty of getting a Warrant and Complaining of want of zeal in the King's Ministers I said I would yet do my business without a Warrant and by the Custom-house way That as concerning my Lord Shaftsbury I told him that there was some Woman about the Duke that Writ to the Earl of Shaftsbury all the dangerous things she could Invent and to make proof of this came afterwards to shew two Letters which his Lordship presently saw were Written in Sir Richard Bolstrode's hand and contained nothing touching the Duke but such matters of Common Intelligence from Brussels as he himself or any other man might
fitly write Whereupon he said I pretended to him that there was a third Letter of greater Importance which he had lost but as to those two Letters his Lordship said they were given to the King Soon after this I came to him at Midnight and said I was going to Prison To which his Lordship could only say That if I were guilty of any Crime he knew not how to help me but if I were to suffer by mistake the King's Ministers would soon discover it and set me again at Liberty His Lordship upon my question owned That he being at Dinner at Lamb's I came there to him about a Meeting to be had at Mr. Gadburies with Sir Robert Peyton and perhaps it might be upon a Letter from the Lady Powis as I had affirmed His Lordship did acknowledge That he gave his Servants charge to admit me when ever I came And that he did also call me Captain Willoughby but the occasion was that I telling his Lordship that I hoped his Majesty would gratifie and provide me as good an Imployment as I had refused from the other side his Lordship did say Doubtless His Majesty will provide for you and that when ever any Forces were sent abroad I should not neer to fear but that I should have a Company That he did not wonder at all at my confident Words since they had been the best Cards I had to play for my Life but that his Lordship's actions have been such as will except him from any shadow of reflection that can happen by such a Creature as I. As to the business of Sir Robert Peyton he would conceal nothing that the Council desired to know And first he said he knew not that Sir Robert was Privy to any thing relating to me but that Mrs. Cellier telling him as he said before the good Offices she had done the King and Duke with some that were Inflamed against him she named Sir Robert Peyton for One who told her That if he could be forgiven what was past he would come in and help the Government but that his greatest fear was from the Duke who was thought to be a Person of Animosity that could not Forgive That when his Lordship assured Mrs. Cellier of the contrary she told him that Sir Robert would not be willing to meet at any Publick Place but at Gadburies he would where accordingly they met where Sir Robert Peyton declared He would come into the Kings Service to all Purposes that he seem'd to complain of some hard Measure and doubted much of the Duke's reconciliation but his Lordship going far towards Sir Robert's satisfaction he afterwards met the Duke at his Lordship's Lodgings and had all the Assurance he could desire which is all that he knew or could say concerning Sir Robert Peyton Here I did acknowledge That I told his Lordship of an Ill Woman in the Duke's Family that corresponded with the Lord Shaftsbury and I had lost one of the Letters His Lordship told the Board That he could not but be troubled to have his name mentioned by such a Person as I was but yet if any whoever should come to morrow to him again and tell him of any dangerous Practices against the King and the Government whether by the Lord Shaftsbury or any other Lord whatsoever he should hold himself bound in duty to Hearken to any such Person and to Indeavour to discover such danger by all the waies he could Mr. John Webb of Missenden in the County of Bucks being call'd in said He knew me but remembred not when I went down to his House but that I was sent by Mrs. Cellier and not by my Lady Powis That he knew nothing of any Letters sent down by me or of one Mr. Jean or any other Priests at his House that I only went down to fetch up a Child Then I Objected That he knew Jean so well that at his last coming from home he brought him a Letter from Jean being then at Mrs. Cellier's Webb denying this the very Letter found by Sir William Waller was produced and read upon which Mr. Webb said It was possible but he had forgot it And I saying That Mrs. Celliers was by when that Letter was delivered to him Cellier denied it But I replyed That Webb knew all as well as what he would now excuse The Copy of the aforesaid Letter from H. Jean to me SIR I Received yours on Monday last and think my self much obliged to you for that you remember your Captive Friend it is some divertisment to my retired life to hear somtimes how affairs stand both that I may the better know how to set my steps that are laid for Innocent Men and learn also how to value an Innocent Solitude more than the Tumults of a confused World I perceive by yours the old Sticklers are still busy and strive to blind the peoples eyes with a Popish Plot that there own may not be seen When was there ever Mischief or Treason hatcht against Monarchy but under the Cloak of Religion and Zeal against Popery Things are so plain that who are not wilfully blind must needs see the good old Cause taking life again God bless the King and direct his Council That we may live in Peace and Justice under him This is the Prayer of SIR Your very humble Servant H. Jean Pray present my humble service to Mounsieur Cellier and his Lady John Porter Butler to my Lord Powis being sworn saies That he is a Protestant that he hath seen me at Powis-House several times and that I lodged there but not by the Knowledge of the Lord or Lady he remembred that Lane was also there by the name of Johnson He did confess he gave me a Bottle of Sherry at the Tower but not by the Lord's Order and that I dined there another day and that he did lead me to the Lodgings of the Lord Arundel and the Lord Bellasis John Lane being called in said That he lay at Powis-house for a Month or six Weeks by my Order and Mrs. Cellier's from whom he had his diet that he went by the Name of Johnson fearing to be arrested by Mr. Oates for what he had testifyed against him and in that fear he went down to Grayes near Graves-End and had a pair of Shoes given him by me who also got him out of Prison which was a chargeable work he said he made an Affidavit before Sir James Butler And being askt by one of the Lords Whether he had not before the house of Lords made two contrary Affidavits he acknowledged That out of fear he had done so but that the first drawn by me as Mr. Nevil had directed was true and the other false Mr. Knox being called in said He knew me from the time we met at Powis house going there in search of Lane who was to give the Evidence for him That the Examinant knowing in whose house he had been was much troubled in as much as he is a