Royal Word and Promise for my Reward and Sufferings After this Discourse Mr. Graham came in who told me the same things as above and that I might be assured of those things from the King also that he had an Order to carrie me to his Majestie I told him I could say nothing neither would I go to Whitehal for I had taken a Resolution against going to Whitehal it was hard pressed for my going thither I desired to be excused for if I could say any thing I must be guiltie my self But he told me Whether I was or not I might be recompenced for my Sufferings Upon which I took my leave and went away not well pleased that for my requital I should be thought an ill man or a Traitor That on October the Fourteenth 1681. Mr. Booth came to me about eleven a clock to the Kings-bench We walk'd in the Garden about an hour His business was to know my mind whether I would go voluntarily to the King or not He also told me that Mr. Wilson my Lord Shaftsbury's Secretarie that was in the Gatehouse had sent to the Council to inform them That if he might have his Pardon he would come in and declare his Knowledge and therefore he would have me to have the honour to be the first Discoverer I told him I had no business at Whitehal Then he told me it was intended that Mr. Graham should be at his Lodging this Afternoon to see if I would go to the King if not my Lord Chief Justice Warrant would be sent to compel me to appear at his Chamber where there would be some of the Council to examine me and swear me He also told me that the Duke of York had a great Estate in Ireland and that he would give me five hundred pounds per Annum there besides all former Promises to be setled upon me and my Heirs if I would come in a Witness against my Lord Shaftsbury I told him they might meet with many persons in this Age that would accept of such Offers I told him if I had any thing to say it was the most proper time in Court for me and Witnesses to speak their Knowledge I told him I did not know but the presence of a King and his Promises might make a man say more than what was true or than he could say fairly in a Court Mr. Booth ask'd me if I did not ride with my Sword and Pistols out of Town with my Lord Shaftsbury when he went to Oxford I told him I did I could not do less than wait upon him out of Town who had been so kind with the rest of the Lords Proprietors to do me the honour to make me their Governour for the Countrie of Carolina He then told me I must needs be privie to this That if his Majesty would not pass three Acts One for Excluding the Duke of York the next for making void the Act of Queen Elizabeth against Recusancy and a third for Vniting Protestant Subjects then by force of Arms he was to be compelled He told me all the Council was satisfied I knew this and as much as any person in regard that both my Lord Shaftsbury and my self was disgusted at Court He said the Council knew I was a Souldier and was satisfied I was to act in that Concern I begun now to consider what a Fortune was now promis'd and what a good Addition this five hundred pounds Additional from the Duke of York would make to the former Promises And after he was gone I acquainted my Wife and told her how great a person she was like to be But this was no News to her for Mr. Booth had often been desiring her for her own good to engage me in this honourable Service Thus these things in our Troubles served us to be merrie with to consider how easily we were like to leap into an Estate But all this time we was not without fear and danger of enjoying it or any part of it much less of intailing it upon our Posteritie Octob. 15. 1681. This day about eleven a clock Mr. Booth came again to me to the Kings-bench to know if I yet would go to Whitehal I demanded For what He told me To Evidence against the Earl of Shaftsbury I told him I had nothing to say against him He importuned me not to lose this great Opportunity I now had Before we parted Mr. Baines came to us I desired to know why they should be so urgent to have me a Witness He told me there were none but Irish Witnesses yet to come against my Lord Shaftsbury and they were not Persons of Credit but if I would come in although I had been unfortunate in my Private Concerns yet I was not blemish'd in my Credit Mr. Baines told me if I would not go to Whitehall the Marshal had a Habeas Corpus from my Lord Chief Justice Pemberton to carry me So we parted About Four a Clock in the afternoon the Marshal came with Mr. Booth and Mr. Baines to require me to go along with him I demanded Whither He told me to Whitehall I demanded to see his Warrant He shew'd it me Now I was forced to obey After my comming thither in a little time I was called in to Mr. Secretary Jenkins's Office where he and my Lord Conway was who strictly but very fairly and honestly Examined me about my Lord Shaftsbury and what I knew of any Design against his Majesty I told them as I did to the former Attackers I knew nothing Great Arguments were used but I could give no satisfactory Answer as was I conceived expected After this His Majesty came into the Office When He saw me He was pleased to do me the Honour to say He knew me well and that I had served His Father and His Majesty faithfully and He hoped I would not decline my Obedience To which I answered I never deserved to be suspected His Majesly was pleased to tell me He had not had the Opportunity to serve His Friends but hoped He might He was pleased to promise to consider for me my Sufferings Then His Majesty began to Examine me if I had been exhorted by the best Divine in England he could not have said more than His Majesty in telling me what Kindness was intended me was not with a design to invite me to speak a Word but Truth itself and that if He knew I did or any Person His Majesty would never endure them Then His Majesty demanded What I knew of a Design against His Person and Government I truly told His Majesty That I knew nothing of any Plot or Design against His Majesty or Government That I admired why I should be suspected that had served His Majesty and His Father in England and beyond-Sea and was as Instrumental as any Person in His Majesties Restoration But some Persons had possessed His Majesty I was deep in some Design against the Government and knew much of my Lord Shaftsbury So His
towards God and towards Man and would ship himself and Family with what number of Servants he could Which Proposals being early did encourage me to hire the said Ship sooner than otherwise I intended he promising to put on board to the number of sixteen persons of his own Family By which means and others failure together with some difficulties which I met with the said Ship lay in the River so long with such Servants and Passengers aboard her at my sole charge as forced me to contract more Debts than I expected Also I was in great trouble and was much detain'd by reason of some Debts I was bound for and fell upon me And intending just and full satisfactiou to all men and to supply my self with all things necessary in order thereto was the occasion of my having the said Ship so long upon charges viz. from the month of April until August following at which time having gone through most of the difficulties I strugled under I resolved to sail in three or four days But a Gentleman who was one of the Freightors and a Passenger looking upon himself injur'd by the long demurrage of the Ship arrested me and next day after several others did the like which threw me into the Compter in Wood-street where I made fair and reasonable offers of satisfaction but through the stubbornness of the persons concern'd the said Proposals proved ineffectual Upon which my Servants on board though in Covenant and long maintain'd at my Charge went from the said Ship as did also the Passengers with their persons and Goods to my exceeding great loss besides that of my Place and Passage and besides the loss of all my own Goods and Estate That being under these unhappy complicated Misfortunes I removed my self by Habeas Corpus to the Prison of the Kings-Bench on or about the 17th day of September last HENRY WILKINSON The Information of Capt. Henry Wilkinson c. IMprimis I the said Henry Wilkinson do declare and am ready to swear That on Saturday Octob. the 8. 1681. about five a Clock in the Evening one Mr. Walter Bains came to Mr. Adams Cellar in the Kings-bench Prison and sent for me out of the Garden in the Kings-Bench who upon sight told me he way sorry to see me in that place afterwards engaged me to accept of a Pot of Beer or Ale In the time of its drinking Mr. Baines shewed and expressed the greatest Kindness that could be expected from a Brother which made me believe he had some design Then he desired to know what sort of Wine I would drink I told him not any besides the Cellar had none but he called then for Brandy which we had Then he told me Mr. Brownrig was sent Prisoner to York Castle for Treason and for appearing for my Lord Shaftsbury And also the said Baines said he had sent a Note to my Lord Shaftsbury to demand Fifty shillings for Service and Charges that was due to him done for the Lord Shaftsbury at my request as he pretends and that my Lord sent him word it was a sham and a cheat put upon him therefore would pay him no such Bill At the same time he told me I could not but know much of the Lord Shaftsbury's Designs against the King and that I might do well to discover it to him who was ready to do me any kindness and desired an opportunity Also that he had been lately with Mr. Graham And that he hath great interest with my Lord Hyde all this time I understood what was designing for my kindness I constantly and truly told him I knew nothing of my Lord Shaftsbury's designs against his Majesty onely this I did know formerly from Mr. Baines about three Months ago that he was then of an opinion that Mr. Brownrig could discover some unlawful practices against the Lord Shaftsbury which I confess I did wish might be discovered for although I have served his Majesty in England and beyond Sea and no other interest and as instrumental in his Majesties Restauration as any person of my fortune could be so I am for his continuance by all lawful means and never to study the destruction of his Friends or Enermies by unjust designs I have cause to believe my Lord Shaftsbury loves his Majestie for he always was pleased to shew me respect for that I had served his Majestie Now night drew on for Mr. Baines to be gone all the time he staid was spent with a great deal of Zeal upon me on the same Subject He told me I should have a Pardon and need not to fear it I would not deny his profer But he further told me I should be considerably rewarded neither did I deny that but told when I was requited for my former I would serve his Majestie in what I could I see here was a Design laid although I had reason to take it unkindly to have any thing fixt upon me or to make me an instrument beyond my knowledge yet I was resolved to humour the business Upon which Mr. Baines took his leave this night and told me at parting he would in a few days see me again but left me with such promises as at present I cannot express not much questioning my Knowledge Item That on Tuesday October the 11th 1681. I was sent for to Mr. Weaver's house near the Kings Bench to Mr. Booth who told me he was glad to see me but sorry to see us both in that condition for he was a Prisoner as I was he told me he had removed himself last night from one of the Compters I required of him how he came to be at a Waiters house He told me it was not denied him although I could not be admitted one night I understood he was engaged in the Design I considered he had been a man of bad Principles therefore was resolved to sland upon my guard Presently he told me he was to tell me I had an opportunity to be a better man in my fortune than ever I was before and that now I had an opportunity to make my Fortune And that I might have Five hundred pounds per Annum setled upon me and my Heirs or Ten thousand pound in Money which I pleased if I would discover what I knew of my Lord Shaftsbury and his design in changing the Government to a Commonwealth and witness against him I replied and told him no body would believe I should be made privie to such a Design if such a thing was being I had served his Majestie in England and beyond Sea He answered I was the likeliest man to know for he knew I had served the King and had been slighted and neglected I told him that was true I answered him again I never desired any thing of his Majestie for my Service but that which would cost him nothing but onely have the preference of others that never had been concerned in his Majesties service by way of farm on part of his Majesties Revenues He
told me his Majestie knew me and that he was sensible of my Service and Sufferings and desired to gratifie me for he often told me now was the time to do something which would advance me for it must now be a King or a Commonwealth For the Earl of Shaftsbury's Party would but onely make use of me to slight me when their business was done I told him I was with my Lord Shaftsbury the night before he was apprehended and that Sir Thomas Armstrong was there a person I knew out of favour on purpose that he might speak out his full mind but still told him I knew nothing of any design I also told him I would say nothing nor appear at Court until I was considered for my sufferings a thing I never expected and as for going to Court I never intended it but the more I told him I knew nothing of a Design the more he put me in mind of what Reward I might have in such words that I ought to Swear it whether I knew any thing or nothing of the business Now I fully saw the Design and although I staid late at my return I began to consider who I should make this business and design known to being a stranger in the Kings Bench I observed one who appeared to me to be a sober and sensible person that night I repaired to him and lest I should be tempted with what offers were made I told him that I had a design to commit a Secret to him Whereupon I told him and desired him to put the same in Writing and that if ever I declared more than what I did then to him that was That I know nothing of any Plot or Design against his Majestie intended by my Lord Shaftsbury I told him this and declared it in the presence of God and if ever I should be tempted to Swear more than this at any time it was for Reward and that I desired him to witness the truth of this against me and that I would daily give him an account of what passed for the future which I desired him every day to put down in Writing which I belive he hath done as also the the constant Invitations abroad and the Visits they gave me here which were so frequent to me as nothing could be more Mr. Booth told me I must appear at Court and I should have an assurance of my Reward from some persons of Honour I told him I would not trust any Courtier I knew for a Groat I am satisfied he was put upon this but by whom God knows I am assured not by his Majestie That on Wednesday Octob. the 12th 1681. I was invited by Mr. Booth to dine with him that day at Mr. Weaver's house which I refused although he sent a Waiter and promised him satisfaction for his attendance After Dinner he sent again I went and found Mr. Baines with him both rising from Dinner I was most kindly received with Wine and good words working upon me to come in a Witness against my Lord Shaftsbury's designing to change the Government declaring I had an opportunitie to make my Familie and Friends as they had exprest formerly I told them as I had done before Until I was satisfied for by-past Services I would not be concerned any way at Court They told me I might be assured of what I would desire from my Lord Hallifax and my Lord Hyde Mr. Booth required what would satisfie me I told him If they would give me two thousand Guineys towards the injurie I had received and my Friends upon my account I would discover what I knew Mr. Booth told me a greater thing was intended me for I was intended five hundred pounds per Annum or ten thousand pounds in money But I still told them I knew nothing of any Designe by my Lord Shaftsbury The more I declared I knew nothing the more Mr. Booth urged the Reward I told him when he was so earnest when I had the money and a general Pardon I would then do any service I could but I would not trust the promises of Courtiers Mr. Baines told me As to a Pardon I might have it in two or three days He desired to know my Christian name which I conceived was with an intention to get a Pardon a thing never in my thoughts but Mr. Baines formerly mentioned it to me and truly I did not know what I might stand in need of or what they would fix upon me in our discourse Mr. Baines told me he had the night before been with my Lord Hallifax and Lord Hyde now they thought they had prevailed with me and were mightie chearful Before I parted from them my Wife coming to me told me Mr. Booth had been mightie urgent with her to engage me to come in a Witness and then told her I should have five hundred pounds per Annum settled upon me But what grounds he had for this I know not for all persons that know her know her to be a person of unquestionable Repute Nor did I question the performance for I thought what I could say would not deserve it neither could I tell why they should think me such a man as they would have me to be for I ever hated to be a Witness or a Jurie-man all my time I conceive Mr. Booth thought I might be wrought upon because I had great misfortunes and that this was a readie way to repair me Octob. the 13th 1681. This day I had a Waiter sent me about eleven a clock to desire me to go to Mr. Weaver's house which I did There was Mr. Booth and Mr. Baines who told me they sent for me to dine with them I had no desire to have any Table-talk with them I desired to be excused and also promised to see them after dinner Mr. Baines told me Mr. Graham was not far off and would be there and that he was sent by some of the Council to discourse me Mr. Baines told me on Tuesday-night he was at Court with my Lord Hallifax and Lord Hyde and the two Secretaries of State and that they enquired who knew me He replied Mr. Graham who was sent for they askt him as to my Reputation they askt him if he knew me and how long He said About twentie years They enquired of him concerning me He told me Mr. Graham answered I had served his Majestie and his Father in England and beyond Sea faithfully and that I was a very honest man and also that I was a great Sufferer and that I had received great Disappointments and had been ill dealt with by some that belonged to the Court as in particular Mr. Edward Progers and that they engaged Mr. Graham to come over to the Kings-bench and to assure me that I should be requited for my Sufferings Also to take me over with him to the King where I should have the Promise of his Majestie for the same and the opportunitie to declare my former Grievances and receive his