Iosiah Coram me L. Jenkins The Ioint Information of Josiah Keeling of the Parish of St. Butolph without Aldgate in the County of Middlesex Salter and of John Keeling of the Parish of St. Anne Black-Fryers Citizen and Turner June the 15th 1683. THe Informants say That being in the Company of Richard Goodenough at the Sun-Tavern behind the Royal Exchange between the hours of One and Three of the Clock on the fifteenth day of this instant Iune 1683. They asked the said Goodenough what Persons of Quality would be concerned He the said Goodenough replyed That he had discoursed William Lord Russel Son to the Earl of Bedford and that the said Lord Russel told the aforesaid Goodenough that he would be concerned in it to his utmost and that he would use all his interest to accomplish the aforesaid Design of killing the King and the Duke of York And these Informants further say That asking the said Goodenough what Collonel that was that yesterday he the said Goodenough told the Informants Iosiah and Iohn would advance eight Hundred or a Thousand pound towards carrying on the Design of Killing the King and Duke he the said Goodenough Replyed it was Collonel Romzey and the Informant Iosiah asked the said Goodenough whether it was that Romsey that Married the Lady Smith and had Commanded Forces in Portugal for his Majesty i. e. the King of England he Replyed it was Witness our hands this 15th day of June 1683. JOSIAH KEELING JOHN KEELING The Information of Josiah Keeling given upon Oath at Hampton-Court the 23d of June 1683. ANd this Informant further saith That several Gentlemen viz. Mr. Roope Mr. Fitton Gerrald and Mr. Allen and one other whose Name this Informant hath forgot who as they said came to visit their honest Wapping Men that this Informant would recommend to them for such and also to Dine with them at some Tavern which was the Fortune at Wapping where was Mr. Samuel Gibbs Mr. Edmund Hunt Mr. Robert Ferguson with several other persons that this Informant doth not remember where the aforesaid Gentlemen began to drink Healths some of which were as followeth To the Man that first draws his Sword in defence of the Protestant Religion against Poperty and Slavery Another was to the Confusion of the Two Brothers Slavery and Popery and being askt what they meant as this Informant verily believeth it was replyed The Two Brothers at Whitehal The next was to the pinning of Mackinny's Head on the Monument for burning the City in 66. And this Informant asking what was meant they said it was the Duke of York And this Informant Dining at the Horse-shoe Tavern on Tower-hill with Edward Norton Esquire Mr. Starkey Mr. Ogle Mr. Goodenough and others forgot by this Informant they drank the fore-said Healths and did explain them as the afore-said Company did And this Informant further saith that Fran. Goodenough sent a Letter to this Informant by one Cherry to acquaint the said Informant That the said Goodenough would with some other Gentlemen Dine at the End of the Town where this Informant dwelleth and that this Informant would speak to such men as he could trust to meet the afore-said persons at the Siracusa House There came with the afore-said Goodenough one Iohn Row late Sword-bearer at Bristol with a Dorsetshire Gentleman whose name this Informant hath forgot also at the same Meeting was Mr. Edmund Hunt Andrew Barber William Tomson Iames Burton as this Informant verily believes with several others forgot where it was agreed we should discourse so that it might not be understood if we were over-heard Then the question was if the Foot-ball was laid down how many we might reasonably expect would come in at first Laying of it down from our end of the Town to play at it To which it was replyed it was uncertain but as many as were there would be concerned to which it was answered by Row and Goodenough if we would not in a little time kick the Ball effectually we should be made Slaves for saith Row the Lord Mayor hath imposed Sheriffs upon you and the King will take away your Charter and then you 'l be in a fine conditâ—on and Goodenough spake to the same purpose upon which Hunt replyed That he could do as much good as any body for that Foot-ball players often got broken shins and he the said Hunt could Cure them And this Informant further saith that this Discourse was grounded upon this Foundation What Men can be raised against the Church-Warden at Whitehal which was understood the King And this Informant further saith that Richard Goodenough and Richard Rumbal told this Informant that there was a Remonstrance or Declaration ready drawn up which would be â—inted against the day that this designed Commotion was to be wherein they would ease the people of Chimney Money which seemed to be most Grievous especially to the common people and that they would lay the Kings Death upon the Papists as a continued design of the former Plot. JOSIAH KEELING Copy of a Note given in by Iosiah Keeling 23d of Iune and by him received from Goodenough From the Tower Eastward on the South-side of Rosemary-Lane to Maiden-head-lane the West-side of Maiden-head-lane the North-side of Upper Shadwel Westward to new Gravel-lane the West-side of new Gravel-lane to the Thames and by the Thames to the Tower The Streets and Allies of Note within the bounds St. Katherine's East-Smithfield Ratclift-High-way Victualling-Office Butcher-Row Redcross-street Armitage Nightingale-lane Artichoack-lane Red-Mead-lane Wapping Gun-alley Cross-alley Well-alley Warners Yard Salters-alley Green Bank Gunâ—alley Pumpâ—alley Love-lane Back-alley Meeting-horse-alley Old-Gravelâ—lane Brewer's-lane Tobacco-pipe-alley Cinamon-street Crown-street Queen-street King Edwards Street King-street Carman-Rents Crown Yard Harrow-alley Seven Star-alley Garter Yard Wests Garden Blew-gate field Fleece Yard Chamberlain's-alley Frankland-street Match Walk With all other Places within the Outbounds not Named The Information of Thomas Shepard taken by the Right Honourable the Earl of Sunderland c. June the 27th 1683. SOme time before my Lord Shaftsbury went for Holland the Duke of Monmouth Lord Gray Lord Russel Sir Thomas Armstrong Colonel Romsey and Mr. Ferguson met at my House in Abchurch-lane where the subject of their Discourse was how to seize Your Majesties Guards and in Order thereunto as I afterwards at their next Meeting was informed the Duke Lord Gray and Sir Thomas Armstrong walked about that end of the Town one night and gave an account that they found them very remiss in their places not like Souldiers and that the thing provided they could have a sufficient strength was feasibly enough but finding that failed the Project was wholly laid aside so far as I know After that Mr. Ferguson told me of a Project was on foot for Destroying Your Majesty and his Royal Highness coming from Newmarket Colonel Romsey Mr. West and as I remember Mr. Wade came to my Counting-house one Evening and began to Discourse of it upon which I told
but that the Earl of Shaftsbury broke that Designe not consenting to pay the Money This Examinant never heard any thing of this Design until the said West Norton and Goodenough did tell him thereof And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Nelthrop and Mr. Wade did always oppose the Murthering of the King and the Duke and so did Captain Walcot but at last the said Walcot consented And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Bourn and Mr. Goodenough's Brother were at some of the last Meetings about the raising of the Men This Examinant saith That to the best of his Memory he hath here set down every thing that was said or Transacted in the Debates when he was there but he was absent from some I. Romzey Colonel Romzey's further Information THis Examinant further saith That being sent by the Earl of Shaftsbury about the beginning of November last to Mr. Shepard's a Merchant near Lombard-street where was the Duke of Monmouth Lord Russel Lord Grey Sir Thomas Armstrong and Mr. Ferguson this Examinant told them my Lord Shaftsbury had sent him to tell them it was high time to come to some Resolution about the Rising They made him this Answer by Mr. Ferguson and afterwards my Lord Grey said words to the same effect that Mr. Iohn Trenchard had promised and assured them at his first coming to Town that Term that he could in four hours time have a Thousand Foot and Two or Three Hundred Horse but now they had sent to him to know the certainty he had returned to them this following answer That Men would not be got from home on two or three days warning but that when such a thing as a Rising should be he must know it sooner that he might acquaint Men to make Provision of Settlements for their Families so they could not go on at this time any further And for this reason and that they heard Sir William Courtney would not stir my Lord must be contented This Message I returned to my Lord On this my Lord resolved to leave England This Examinant further saith That there was a Project of Government drawn up by Mr. West and Mr. Wade which they delivered to this Examinant and he gave it to Mr. Ferguson who told them that he heard Colonel Sidney had drawn one that he would compare them together and reduce them into one intire one And this Examinant further saith That Mr. Nelthrop told him that my Lord of Essex my Lord Russel Colonel Sidney and young Mr. Hamden were the persons that did Treat with the Scotch Gentlemen and so did Mr. West and I think Mr. Ferguson Mr. Nelthrop and Mr. West during the time I did not see Mr. Ferguson told me that now they were resolved to raise Ten Thousand pounds for the Scots and that next week it should all be paid in that was about a Month since But they had been with Mr. Shepard the Merchant and he told them there was none paid This Money was to buy Arms in Holland Mr. Ferguson told this Examinant the Rising must be in Scotland before Harvest or else their people would not be got together and that in four days after the Scots were up we should have the first Intelligence and that then we must Rise in this Town and in Taunton My Lord Howard was at first one with my Lord Essex and the rest but he told Captain Walcot and Mr. West what passed amongst them for which reason he was lâ—fâ— out of the meetings Further this Examinant saith that Mr. Wade and Holloway told him how they had fixed the matter for Bristol that they were sure of Three Hundred Men and that they would Post them in all the cross Streets so that none of the other party should get together in a Body or out of their Houses By this means they should be Masters of the Town without spilling one drop of Blood And this Examinant further saith that Goodenough told Wade West and this Examinant that about twenty five Hundred Arms would be wanting for the Men that would Rise here for without they were Armed that were on the first to Rise here we should be beat therefore West and this Examinant did acquaint Mr. Ferguson from the rest that did meet of the necessity of having so many Arms. He replied Money should not be wanting but how so many Arms could be bought without a discovery Mr. West did undertake that if Money were given the Arms might be had and some person of the Company did name a Gun-smith that was an honest Man that might without suspition have two or three Hundred Arms and other Gun-smiths might if enquired after be found that might lodge proportionable quantities in their Shops and the Men should be led to these Shops and Armed It was said by Goodenough that six Hundred Arms were together in the Artillery Ground which might be easily seized on Many debates we had about the Tower some proposed the taking of it by day-time by sending some Men onely with Pocket Pistols and when the Sign was given they were to fall on the Guard but this was left off as not agreeing with a Rising by night and then the other way was to clap two or three hundred Fagots to the Gates and set them on Fire which would make those within surrender and that Ships should come and lie before the Tower and batter it at the same time the Fagots were on fire I. Romzey Colonel Romzeys Letter to the Earl of Rochester concerning the Scotch Pedlars My Lord WHen the Rising was to have been in November Mr. Ferguson did say that he could promise for Three Hundred Scots in this Town that would be ready at a days warning and that there was in England Twelve Hundred that might be depended upon that Three or Four Hundred did always abide here the rest were scattered throughout England with Packs on their Backs for the Maintenance of themselves that a great many of them were Gentlemens Sons and all of them had been at Bothwel-Bridge and betook them to this way to get and carry Intelligence as well as a living J. Romzey Another Letter from Colonel Romzey to the Earl of Rochester My Lord I Do not know whether I have already in any of my Papers where I mention Mr. Roe acquainted the King of one passage he told me but I think I have that Gibbons the Duke of Monmouths Footman did tell him that nothing but taking off the Two Brothers would do the business and if he would go with him he would shew him the place to do it he carried him to my Lord of Bedfords Garden where I think he told me is a Mount to look into Covent Garden and said no place can be like this to lodge Men in to do the feat and shewed him the Garden-door where they might make a Sally on the Coach if they mist with their Fire Mr. Roe asked him but how will you bring the Men in He told him my Lord was long in
Stuart Brother to the Laird of Cultness wrote a Letter to him from Holland importing that if any considerable sum of Money could be procur'd from England that something of Importance might be done in Scotland The which Letter the Deponent had an Inclination to inform Shepard in Abb-Church-lane Merchant in London of but before he could do it he wrote to Mr. Stuart above-nam'd to know from him if he might do it and Mr. Stuart having consented he Communicat the said Letter to Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent that he would Communicat the Contents of it to some persons in England but did at that time name no body as the Deponent thinks Some time thereafter Mr. Shepard told the Deponent that he had Communicat the Contents of the Letter above-named to Colonel Sidney and that Colonel Danvers was present and told the Deponent that Colonel Sidney was averse from imploying the late Earl of Argile or medling with him judging him a man too much affected to the Royal Family and inclined to the present Church-Government yet Mr. Shepard being put upon it by the Deponent still urg'd that one might be sent to the Earl of Argile but as Mr. Shepard told him he was suspected upon the account of his urging so much yet afterwards he press'd without the Deponents knowledge that the Deponent being to go to Holland however might have some Commission to the Earl of Argile which he having inform'd the Deponent of the Deponent told him that he himself would not be concern'd but if they would send another he would introduce him but nothing of this was done upon which the Deponent went over without Commission from any body to Holland never meeting with Iames Stuart above-named He was introduced to the Earl of Argile with whom he had never before convers'd and did there discourse what had past betwixt Mr. Shepard and him and particularly about remitting of Money to the said Earl from England of which the said Mr. Stuart had written to the Deponent namely of 30000 pounds Sterling and of the raising of 1000 Horse and Dragoons and the securing the Castle of Edinburgh as a matter of the greatest importance The method of doing this was propos'd by the Deponent to be one hour or thereby after the relieving of the Guards But the Earl did not relish this proposition as dangerous and that the Castles would fall of consequence after the work abroad was done Iames Stuart was of the Deponents Opinion for seizing the Castle because it would secure Edinburgh the Magazines and Arms. As to the 1000 Horse and Dragoons my Lord Argile was of Opinion that without them nothing was to be done and that if that number was raiss'd in England to the said Earl he would come into Scotland with them and that there being so few Horse and Dragoons to meet them he judg'd he might get the Country without trouble having such a standing Body for their Friends to Rendezvouz to and the said Earl said he could shew the Deponent the convenient places for Landing if he understood and as the Deponent remembers where the Ships could attend The Deponent remembers not the Names of the Places The Deponent spoke to the Lord Stairs but cannot be positive that he nam'd the Affair to him but found him shie but the Earl of Argile told him he thought Stairs might be gain'd to them And that the Earl of Lowdoun being a man of good Reason and disoblig'd would have great influence upon the Country and recommended the Deponent to Major Holms with whom the Deponent had some acquaintance before and had brought over a Letter from him to the Earl of Aâ—gile but the Deponent had not then communicate any thing to the said Holms Iames Stuart laid down a way of correspondence by Cyphers and false Names and sent them over to Holms and the Deponent for their use which Cyphers and Names are now in the hands of His Majesty's Officers as the Deponent supposesâ— and did desire the Deponent earnestly to propose the 30000 pound Sterling above-named to the Party in England and did not propose any less for as the Earl told the Deponent he had particularly calculate the Expence for Arms Ammunition c. But Iames Stuart said that if some less could be had the Earl would content himself if better might not be but the Earl always said that there was nothing to be done without the body of Horse and Dragoons above-mentioned During the time of the Deponent his abode in Holland tho he had several Letters from Shepard yet there was no satisfactory account till some time after the Deponent parted from the Earl of Argile and was making for a Ship at Rotterdam to transport himself to England Iames Stuart wrote to him that there was hopes of the Money The next day after the Deponent came to England he met with Sir Iohn Cochran who with Commissar Monro and Ierviswood was at London before he came over and depones That he knows not the account of their coming more than for the perfecting the Transaction about Carolina and having acquainted Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 with the Earls demands of the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Hoâ—s◠〈◊〉 Dragoons Sir Iohn carried him to the Lord Russel to whom the Depâ—nent proposed the Affair but being an absolute Stranger to the Dâ—ponent had no return from him at that time but afterwards having met him accidenly at Mr. Shepards house where the Lord Râ—â—sel had come to speak to Shepard about the Money above-named as Mr. Shepard told the Deponent The Deponâ—â—â— whâ—â—â— they were done speaking desired to speak to the Lord 〈◊〉 which the Lord Russel did and having reiterate the 〈…〉 for the 30000 pound Sterling and the 1000 Horse and 〈◊〉 he the Lord Russel told the Deponent they could not get so 〈◊〉 raised at the time but if they had 10000 pound 〈…〉 would draw People in and when they were 〈…〉 soon be brought to more but as for the 1000 〈…〉 he could say nothing at the present for tha◠〈…〉 upon the Borders The Deponent made the same 〈…〉 Ferguson who was much concerned in the 〈…〉 the promoting of it This Mr. Ferguson had in 〈…〉 before as the Deponent remembers in a Conversation 〈…〉 in Cheap side or the Street somewhere 〈…〉 for the saving of Innocent Blood it would be 〈…〉 few insinuating the King and Duke but cannot be positive whether he named them or not To which the Deponent 〈…〉 for our wild People in Scotland my Conscience does not serve me for such things after which the Deponent had never any particular discourse with Ferguson as to that matter but as to the other Affair Ferguson told the Deponent that he was doing what he could to get it effectuate as particularly that he spoke to one Major Wildman who is not of the Deponent his acquaintance Fergâ—son blamed always Sidney as driving designs of his own The Deponent met twice or thrice with the Lord Melvil Sir Iohn
precisely set down the time that he was there last To the two Articles relating to the Lords that were in company at Mr. Shepards his Lordship answers that he went thither with the Duke of Monmouth but as to the rest of the persons then present his Lordship conceives that he ought not to answer because there were ill Constructions made of that Meeting nor cannot positively remember His Lordship answers There was no discourse as he remembers concerning any Rising in the West or any parts of the West or at Taunton nor particularly of Mr. Iohn Trenchards Undertaking nor any discourse about Mr. Iohn Trenchard as he remembers His Lordship answers there was no Discourse at Mr. Shepards about surprizing the Guards nor of the Duke of Monmouth's my Lord Grey's nor of Sir Thomas Armstrong's Undertaking to view the Guards nor was there any account there given by the said persons of their having viewed the Guards nor how they found them Nor was there any such Undertaking elsewhere to his knowledge To the question what Mr. Ferguson did say at any of those Meetings his Lordship answers that he cannot tell what Mr. Ferguson did say there nor doth he own that Mr. Ferguson was there His Lordship knows of no Design for a Rising in Scotland nor knows any thing of the whole Article relating to Scotland nor any part of it His Lordship hath heard general discourses of many distressed people Ministers and others of the Scottish Nation that were fled and that it were great Charity to relieve them This Examination was taken the 28th day of Iune 1683. before Us L. Ienkins I. Ernle R. Sawyer H. Finch Notes of some things Confessed before His Majesty and the Council taken out of the Books of Minutes JOhn Rouse consest that Money was Collected in the City at the intimation or desire of some Parliament Men for the Kings Evidence that receiving that Money for that purpose from some of them he sent it to those Persons for whom it was design'd Bourn Confesses That Sir Thomas Armstrong used to come every day to Ferguson when he lay at his House that he has seen him since the discovery when Armstrong urged him to get some friends together to make a push and that it was better to dye with Swords in their hands Walcot Confesses That Aaron Smith was sent into Scotland by those Gentlemen that transacted the matter Bourn says That Ferguson Lodged at his Fathers House a Month or six Weeks That he left no Papers in his House and used to say he would never be hanged for Papers Shepard says Bayly told him Charlton had undertaken to raise the whole 10000 l. Romzey says The Lord Russel was about going away from Shepard's when he arrived there and that his Lordship said Trenchard was a Coward and that he would go down himself and begin the Rising Charlton confesses He had paid Oates 80 l. per quarter for his subsistance of which he had but 10. l. of my Lord Shaftsbury and was himself the rest out of Purse but that he was told a Parliament would reimburse him Shepard says That Ferguson and Bayly told him that Charlton would procure the 10000 l. himself and raise it upon a Mortgage Charlton further says He paid Oates about 400 l. in all The Information of John Rouse taken at his desire in Newgate the 19th of July 1683. THe Informant saith That the design of the Rebellion and seizing the King was begun by the Earl of Shaftsbury at his House in Aldersgate-street before the meeting of the Parliament at Oxford where the Duke of Monmouth Sir Thomas Armstrong Lord Russel Lord Grey Major Manly a Brewer at Whitechappel and others whom he saw there and as he was told likewise by his Servants frequently met there the foundation of all the Scurrilous Libels was laid particularly that of the Raree-shew That all those Clubs at Mile-end-green the Sun behind the Exchange at Russel's in Iron-Monger-lane and at the Salutation in Lumbard-street were to carry on that Design he cannot recollect all names but declares that he knows all those of Note that were at those Clubs were thoroughly acquainted with the Design These Clubs were divided into three Factions by reason of which division the Informant saith the Design went on so flow as it did and at last it fell between the Duke of Monmouth and a Common-wealth and the greater number carried it for the Duke of Monmouth because it was found upon his going into the West Châ—chester and Cheshire the vogue of the people went for him Those that were for a Common-wealth were absolutely resolved to have nothing to do with the Race of the Stuart's but they pitcht upon Richard Cromwel whom this Informant knows to be in England The longest day that was appointed for execution of this was at Midsummer-day last when the people should be at Guild-hall chosing Sheriffs Five hundred Horse were promised to be sent in from the Country who were to seize the Guards The pretence of the Conspirators was to secure His Majesty from being killed by the Papists that if he would not comply with His Parliament at Oxford then to set up the Duke of Monmouth That this was long design'd likewise before the meeting at Oxford The Informant saith That it was resolved by the Conspirators that when they should have accomplisht their Design and that the Tower and City of London was seized then they were to go to Whitehal and demand their Priviledges and Freedoms with their Swords in their hands He hath been present at many of these Clubs where these Designs have been consulted of and all the persons of any note Commons as well as Lords were consenting to the Conspiracy he saith he can prove it by many Witnesses He saith my Lord Shaftsbury and Oates were the Principal movers in all this business A particular Account of the Situation of the Rye-House THe Rye-House in Hartfordshire about eighteen Miles from London is so called from the Rye a Meadow near it Just under it there is a By-road from Bishops-Strafford to Hoddesden which was constantly used by the King when he went to or from Newmarket the great Road winding much about on the Right-hand by Stansted The House is an Old Strong Building and stands alone encompass'd with a Mote and towards the Garden has high Walls so that Twenty Men might easily defend it for some time against Five hundred From a high Tower in the House all that go or come may be seen both ways for near a Mile distance As you come from Newmarket towards London when you are near the House you pass the Meadow over a narrow Caus-way at the end of which is a Toll-gate which having Entred you go through a Yard and a little Field and at the end of that through another Gate you pass into a narrow Lane where two Coaches at that time could not go a-breast This narrow Passage had on the Left hand a thick Hedge and a Ditch on
them that supposing they should effect what they talked of it could not be expected that if the Duke of Monmouth should be Crowned but in Honour and for his own Vindication he must search out the Assassins and both Try and Execute them So that instead of expecting a Reward they must lose their Lives upon which they ceased their Discourse and went away soon after Some time after this Mr. Ferguson told me of a general Insurrection intended both in England and Scotland and in order to it that Sir Iohn Cochran Mr. Bayly Mr. Monro Sir Hugh and Sir George Cambell were come up to Treat with some of our English Men about it and that the Lord of Argile had made a Proposition That if they would Raise him Thirty Thousand pounds he would begin it in Scotland but finding no hopes of Raising that Sum the Scotch were willing to accept of Ten Thousand pounds And by means of a Letter which came as I was informed for there was no Name subscribed from one Mr. Stewart to some unknown Man which I have forgot Concluding then that it was intended to Mr. Bayly or some other of those Gentlemen having had some small acquaintance with Mr. Stewart formerly by means of his Brother who was then a Merchant in Burdeaux and one of my Correspondents I came acquainted with Mr. Bayly who told me from time to time what steps they made in 't how he Conversed with the Duke Lord Russel Major W. and as I remember Colonel Sidney and that he had divers promises of the Money and desired it might be paid into my Hands at length he told me that Five Thousand pounds they had agreed to Raise amongst themselves and that they expected the other half should be Raised in the City but finding no Monies could be got in the City that Project fell likewise and as Mr. Bayly told me all his Country-men were going beyond Sea A few days after came out the Discovery and I never saw any of them since Mr. Ferguson told me that my Lord Essex was hearty in this business and that Iohn Trenchard was a Man to be depended upon in the West They had likewise good hopes of Sir William Courtney and that my Lord Shaftsbury had sent Captain Walcot down to him who returned with a very cool Answer that he found them not what he expected but believed if it came to a Rising they would prove right enough I had almost forgot to acquaint your Majesty that both Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Bayly told me That Mr. Charleton had once promised to see the Ten Thousand pound paid Thomas Shepard Iurat coram Me June 27. 1683. SUNDERLAND The Information of Joseph How of the Parish of St. Giles's without Cripple-gate in the County aforesaid Distiller taken upon Oath before Sir Reginald Forester Baronet this 15th day of June 1683. against Thomas Lea of Old-street in the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid Dyer for speaking of Dangerous and Seditious Words THis Informant Deposeth and sayeth That the said Thomas Lea being at his House in White-Cross-street on Thursday last between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon being the 14th of this instant Iune The said Thomas Lea was discoursing with him this Informant about the loss of the City Charter and other things upon which the said Thomas Lea fell into a Passion and told this Informant that he was one of the number of Ten Thousand Men which were designed to be ready at an hours warning and in Order thereunto there was Twenty Thousand pounds in Bank to carry on the Undertaking and many more did every day subscribe mony or engage their personal assistance And the first enterprize they venture upon is to go very near Windsor and for to seize the Black-Bird and the Gold-Finch and that Three Hundred Men were designed for that Enterprize And afterwards to seize the Militia Whitehal and the Tower But this Informant answered that he judged it impossible the Tower being now so very Strong but the said Thomas Lea told him that he had been round the Tower in Company with a Captain of a Ship and had found out a place where a breach might be made which is to be done by placing some Ships on the Thames side with Mortar Pieces therein to dismount the Guns and also to bring the Major part of those Seamen which were in Arrears of Pay to perform the work they being angry and in want therefore the fitter for that purpose And that for the better carrying of the Design several Meetings are held as this day for one at the Kings-head Tavern in Athist-Ally near the Royal Exchange at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon Further Informeth not Ioseph How Regin Forester June 25 1683. The Examination of Colonel John Romsey THis Examinant saith That in October or November last there was an Insurrection intended by the Earl of Shaftsbury and That the said Earl of Shaftsbury told this Examinant that Bristol was to be his Post and the Examinant being asked what Persons of Quality or Capacity to Command as Officers were named as intended to take part in this Insurrection He Answered That he heard my Lord Russel named and complained of and Mr. Iohn Trenchard named by the Earl of Shaftsbury and this Examinant further saith that Row the Sword-bearer of Bristol told him That Mr. West had acquainted him the said Row that there was an intention to Assassinate the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last the Examinant doth not remember whether the Duke was there or no but that if he were he was likewise to have been killed as the said Row told this Examinant and this Examinant further saith That about the latter end of November or the beginning of December last this Examinant having Matters of Law depending became acquainted with Mr. Robert West and employed him as his Refereé therein That the said West acquainted this Examinant with the Design to Murther the King at His coming from Newmarket in October last and told this Examinant That though it miscarried at that time it was not to be given over so and therefore desired that he this Examinant Mr. Richard Goodenough and some others which he cannot charge his Memory withal should meet at his the said West's Chamber where this Examinant and they did meet within three or four days after to the best of this Examinants Remembrance and there Discoursed about the same Design and let it fall at that time and this Examinant further saith That about the Month of February last the above-said Persons met with this Examinant at the said Mr. West's Chamber to consider how the Design should be brought to effect at the Kings return from Newmarket and Mr. West and Mr. Richard Goodenough undertook to find out Men for that purpose And this Examinant further saith That about this time the said West and Goodenough did desire that this Examinant would be acquainted with Richard Rumball of the Rye near
the Country and he was so well acquainted with the Porter and Servants that he could have the Key at any time The said Gibbons told Sir Thomas Armstrong as if Roe had proposed it to Gibbons and Sir Thomas came to me in a great Passion and told me what I have related and bid we speak to Roe to warn him of talking of any such thing When I did speak to Roe he Confessed the thing but that Gibbons moved it to him for he knew not any thing of my Lord of Bedfords Garden or Servants This was to be done as the King came from the Play I cannot recollect whether I was twice at Mr. Shepards with the Duke of Monmouth c. or but once but if I was but once then I heard Mr. Ferguson relate to my Lord of Shaftsbury some part of their Debates at another time as that they had resolved of the 19th of November for the Rising and some Heads of a Declaration Whether I heard this Debate at Mr. Shepards or at my Lord Shaftsburies Lodgings I cannot be positive in but Mr. Shepard I believe may remember J. Romzey The further Information of Colonel Romsey THis Examinant further saith That Mr. Ferguson was at this Examinants House for seven or eight nights intermitting a night two or three which time he told me he went to his Wife During the time he was at my House the Duke of Monmouth came to see him to the best of my remembrance twice the first time I was with them and all the discourse that passed was about my Lord Shaftsburie's death and relating the Affairs of Holland and the Confederates the Duke not staying a quarter of an hour The next time I was not in the room with them Sir Thomas Armestrong came several times in a Morning to see him sometimes before I was stiring the first time I shewed him the room where he lay and did not go in with him but went to dress me I being in my shirt Andrew Barbers Informations read in Council 23 June 1683. ON Saturday morning about the latter end of March last past Mr. Keeling came to me and told me that he and some other Friends of mine would have me come to the Mitre Tavern within Aldgate because they would drink a glass of Wine with me and there I came to them and found Mr. Rumbal a one Eyed man Mr. Keeling Burton and Thompson I sate down with them and drank soon after Mr. Rumbald fell into Discourse concerning getting of Arms to his House he was speaking he thought it would be a good way to send them in a Barge but he concluded 't would not be safe but said he thought that those that would be concerned should ride with Arms themselves betimes in the Morning or in the Night and so come to his House and there they should be refreshed and their Horses till he should order them what to do Some I understand were to continue on Horseback and they that were to kill the Horses Coachman and Postillion and to shoot into the Coach were to be on foot and he would order Carts to be set cross the Road for to hinder them So then Rumbald asked if we could shoot well I told him I could not I never shot at a mark in my life the others said let them alone for that says Keeling he is a good Souldier and a lusty man what do you think of him he made no answer so I answered I was no Souldier fit for that work and said that it would be Murder to Kill and he said it would be a means not to Kill but to save many thousand mens Lives When I had done he said he would order some to bring word what Coach by the colour of the Horses that they may not be mistaken for this was to be as I understood in Rumbalds own ground for his House joyns to the Road and he said they must come by his House to come to London so he said he would ingage his Life to do it if he had but Thirty men but he expected Forty and for Horses Mr. Keeling said he would get as many as he could but it was not concluded on by reason Rumbald did expect to have seen more at that place but Mr. Keeling promised him they should be ready at the next Meeting which was to be the next Wednesday after as I remember but then I resolved never to come into their company more nor be concerned with them because I did understand there would be Murther committed nor have been in their company since nor I never saw that Rumbald before nor since Likewise I replied if you should do so how will you escape Rumbald answered he would fight his way through and separate themselves into By-roads and make what way they could for London and then they should do well enough All this time I never heard that this was intended against the King for he was never mentioned in any respect that I did understand but I did verily believe that it was meant by his Royal Highness So we paid our reckoning which was I think six pence apiece and they went towards the Exchange but I directly home and have not been in their company since nor no other tending to such evil work Andrew Barber Moreover Rumbald said that there was never above one or two that rid before the Coach and likewise if they could get to Cambridge Heath or thereabouts they should have friends enough for their help In the Gate-house the 29th June 83. Major Holmes Confessed THat in order to the late Earl of Argile's going into Scotland and raising a Rebellion there he had proposed that 30000 l. Sterling should be sent to him from hence by some great persons with whom a Treaty was held for that purpose by Ferguson but that they refused to advance so great a sum yet condescended to send him 10000 l. which Holmes knoweth not whether the late Earl hath accepted of as sufficient for effectuating that design Upon his being ask'd who were the great men by whose means the Money was to be advanced he protested that he had never conversed with any of them but that he had heard often the Duke of Monmouth and particularly the Lord Russel named and as to the Lord Grey he did not remember that his Lordship was mentioned unto him in the matter of Money but did confess that he had frequently been told of his being ingaged in and a promoter of the design in general He confessed that the Letter marked Numb 2. is from the Countess of Argile to her Husband and that he was to have sent it away by the Post last Tuesday into Holland had he not been taken into Custody That it was directed for Peter Harvie Linnen Weaver which is not a true name in Bow Church-yard and was left at one Mr. Browns House a Sider-Seller there where Holmes usually received her Letters under that borrowed name but saith that he cannot decypher this nor
any of her Letters As to the long Letter marked Numb 3. he protests he cannot Decipher it nor can positively say for whom it was to have been directed yet thinks it was to have been carried by Castarres to Fergusn and by him to the chief men concerned in the Design Upon inquiring what is become of the parcel of Books which are the Printed Case of the Earl of Argile and in what method they were brought over from Holland he confessed that they had been shipped on board of a Vessel called to the best of his memory the Success of Colchester bound for London and that Spence was afterwards to come in the Passage Boat designed to have come to Graves-end but that the wind having been very cross he came on shoar at or somewhat near Harwich from whence he came by Land to London Upon asking what was meant by the Figures 80 and 81 in the Letters marked Numb 5. he said he did not well remember but when I told him that I knew by the Cypher Money was meant by 50 and Officers by 51. he confessed that it was so whereupon I did observe to him that as the late Earl was to have had Money so he was to have been furnished with Officers for the carrying on the Rebellion in Scotland which also he confessed but said withal that this Letter was intended for his Lady which he knew by a mark on the back and shewed it to me The Examination of Robert Blaney of the Middle Temple Esq 29 June 83. THis Examinant Deposeth and saith That this Deponent was invited about Christmas last on Wednesday the 27th day of December last as near as he can remember by Iohn Row late Sword-bearer of the City of Bristol to Dine with Collonel Iohn Rumzey at his House in Soho Square where were present the said Colonel Romzey Robert West Richard Goodenough Ioseph Tyley of Lincolns Inn Esq Christopher Battiscomb Gent. and the said Iohn Row and this Examinant where being together after dinner and much Wine and other strong drink drank in the said company a Discourse was began but by whom this Examinant cannot remember about the times being very bad and dangerous for Sober Men and what Remedies were fit to redress Grievances and rid our selves of Arbitrary Power or to that effect and it was there likewise discoursed and said but by whom in particular this Examinant cannot exactly remember it being so long since that we should never be well till we were rid of two people by whom as this Examinant did apprehend were meant His Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of York And it was likewise said That if the Great People did but agree to Joyn and Rise or words to that effect it might be done for the Countries were all willing and ready then as this Examinant doth remember by some one it was in the said company proposed and as he verily believes by the said Mr. West that either a Deed of Bargain and Sale or Lease and Release one of them it was should be executed to bar both Him in Possession and Him in Remainder by which as this Examinant did then apprehend was meant the taking off His Majesty and his Royal Highness and so he believes the rest of the said company did also And a glass of Wine did pass round the said Table as a Health to the Executing of the said Bargain and Sale or Lease and Release which he cannot tell but one oâ— them it was And this Examinant further saith that he never was present at any other Consultation with the before-named persons or any others about the Death of the King or his Royal Highness or the raising of any Rebellion that this Examinant can remember except that being very frequently as a familiar Acquaintance with the said Mr. West he hath often asked him and the said Colonel Rumzey whether the great Men would do any thing and whether any business would be done or he used words to that effect but they did constantly as this Examinant remembers answer him No that nothing would be done and the said Colonel Rumzey seemed as this Examinant did apprehend to be very shy of him this Examinant and much like Discourse this Examinant hath had with the said Goodenoughs but never was as he remembers acquainted with the prosecution or particulars of such a Design in the least And one Nathaniel Wade also this Examinant hath had some such Discourse with about freeing our selves from Arbitrary Power and Popery by a general Rising but any particular ways and methods for the same or otherwise this Examinant never knew of or was privy to And further at present this Deponent cannot recollect Robert Blaney 29 Jun. 83. Iurat coram me L. JENKINS The further Examination of Robert Blaney July 1. 83. WHo saith That he saw Ferguson since the Earl of Shaftsburies death in the House of one Bourne a Brewer living in Queen-street over against the Lord Keepers that it was about a quarter of a year since that Ferguson was in a Night-gown and therefore he believes he lay in that House that the Discourse they had was about the Earl of Shaftsbury and his death This Examinant saith that about three weeks after the Earl of Shaftsbury had concealed himself he saw him at a Merchants House whose name he remembers not but the House is in Woodstreet near St. Albans Church the corner House having a little Yard before it next door to a House that was one Mr. Biddolphs He saith he knows nothing of the manner of the Earl of Shaftsburies Escape nor of Fergusons nor knows no other places but the above-mentioned where either of them were at any time concealed He remembers that he was twice or thrice at the Sign of the Sugar-loaf near the Devil Tavern with Ferguson and once with another person who he thinks was young Shute about the time the Earl of Shaftsbury absented himself but that Ferguson was not then disguised but in the Habit he used commonly to wear which was a Russet colour Campane Coat and a brown short Perewig Thomas Lee Dyer of Old-street his Confession 1 and 2 July 1685. I Having been often in the Company of Mr. Iohn Atherton he told me about May last that Mr. Goodenough must speak with me and Mr. William Thomas We went to the Salutation Tavern in Lumbard-street Mr. Goodenough came to tell us and then drew out some Papers but I saw not what was in them and there told us that our Rights and Priviledges were Invaded and that some Gentlemen had taken into consideration how to retrieve them or words to that effect and did then ask us whether we were willing to assist and then told us that the City and Suburbs were divided into Twenty parts and did desire us to see what men we could get and told us that we must discourse with them about a Forreign Invasion at first and if that took then we might know of them whether they would
Howard and Mr. Shute came to this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where the Lord Howard told this Examinant That except some effort were made by the People towards saving their Liberties and Religion all would be lost or used words to that effect And this Examinant telling his Lordship that he saw no way of doing so that did not endanger the People more in case of a miscarriage his Lordship told this Deponent he had thought of a method â—easible in his opinion and it was this to the best of this Examinants remembrance viz. That Ten men of Skill and Conduct in Martial Affairs should meet and each chuse to himself ten men whom he might use that every of these ten should raise 20 men so as to make up a Body of two thousand men that empty Houses should be taken for these men as near the several Gates of the City and other convenient Posts as could be that the night before the Execution intended the Men should be got into those Houses and acquainted with the execution such as refused should be clapt into the Cellars and the rest sally out at the most convenient hour and seize and shut up the Gates and then demand the Inhabitants Arms and he doubted not but they would deliver them and People enough come into assistance His Lordship named Col. Rumzey Col. Danvers Mr. Clare and three others whom this Examinant hath forgotten for six of the principal Ten and desired this Examinant to speak to them to consider of the Project and fill up the number of Ten but this Examinant having no mind to engage in it onely told Col. Romzey of it and none other of the Parties above-named who told this Examinant he would not meddle in it and advised this Examinant to proceed no further and when the said Lord Howard came to this Examinant for an answer this Examinant told his Lordship that he could meet with no encouragement whereupon his Lordship replied he could make as good a shift as other men and he would trouble himself no further and came not since to this Examinant And this Examinant further saith That the Lord Howard at another time told this Examinant at a Tavern in the City That he thought it no difficulty with 500 Horse to surprize the King Duke and all the Court at Newmarket by beating up their Quarters about break of day but this Examinant told the said Lord Howard it was impossible to get such a Body to so great a distance unobserved at which his Lordship seem'd convinc'd And this Deponent further saith That the said Ferguson told this Examinant That the Arms to be bought with the said 10000 l. lay ready provided in Holland to be Transported for Scotland and that the Earl of Argile would go over with them and Head the Scots in Person and that one English Lord offered to pay the whole 10000 l. by Mortgaging his Estate if the rest of the Managers would have secured him their proportions But he should not name the Lord's Name then but since the said Ferguson told this Examinant it was the Lord Grey And further this Examinant saith not Robert West 26 Iunii 83. Capt. Cognit Coram me L. Ienkins The further Examination of Robert West of the Middle-Temple Barrister at Law THis Examinant saith That he was informed by Mr. Ferguson and to the best of his remembrance by Colonel Romzey likewise That the late Earl of Shaftsbury advised the Duke of Monmouth when he went into Cheshire in September last That if his Grace were attended with a good appearance of Gentlemen and Free-holders there his Grace should set up and declare for a Free Parliament And that when his Grace was taken into Custody by a Messenger the said Earl of Shaftsbury advised that the said Messenger should be killed and his Grace return into Cheshire and declare as above or else Post into the West of England and set up there But his Grace and the Lord Grey of Wark were of another opinion viz. That his Grace should Surrender himself which his Grace did accordingly And this Examinant further saith That since the Insurrection intended in November last was laid aside this Examinant was informed by Colonel Romzey that one great reason of its being laid aside was that one Mr. Iohn Trenchard on whom there was a great Reliance for a considerable body of Men in the West viz. at Taunton would not undertake to procure such a Body for which he was much reproached by the Lord Grey And this Examinant further saith That some time before Mr. Ferguson went over into Holland the said Ferguson this Examinant and one Mr. Iohn Roe late Sword-Bearer of Bristol were together at the Young Devil Tavern in Fleet-street where some Discourse was had concerning the killing the King and Duke of York and of a general Insurrection but this Examinant cannot remember any particular passages of that Discourse And this Examinant further saith That after the said Ferguson went for Holland viz. about Christmass last Colonel Romzey this Examinant Richard Goodenough and the said Roe several times met and discoursed concerning the said Design against the King and Duke as also of a general Insurrection which they distinguished by the names of the Lopping Point and General Point One of which Meetings to the best of this Examinants remembrance was at this Examinants Chamber in the Temple where were present besides Colonel Romzey this Examinant the said Goodenough and Roe Mr Ioseph Tyley Mr. Edward Norton and Mr. Richard Nelthrop And the said Mr. Nelthrop approved of an Insurrection but always expressed a Detestation of the Design to kill the King and Duke as a base ungenerous thing But the said Roe declared he would be one to execute it rather than it should fail to be done And this Examinant saith That at some or all of those Meetings it was discoursed in what place and in what manner the said Design against the King and Duke should be put in execution and it was proposed to be done either in the Play-house by planting Men in the Pit about the King's Box armed with Pistols and Pocket-Blunderbusses who between the Acts of the Play should make the Assault or in their return from the Play-house by night under Bedford Garden Wall because of the convenience for one part of the Assailants walking unsuspected in the Piaza and another walking so in the Square within the Rails and another being about the Church-Porch who upon the first Assault might prevent Assistance to the King out of Covent-Garden Or else it might be done as the King and Duke were passing down the River in a Barge either by over-running their Barge with a Hoy or else Boarding their Barge and shooting a Plank or two out of the bottom with Blunderbusses and so to sink it but both these ways were looked upon as very hazardous and probable to miscarry and therefore neither was agreed on And this Examinant further saith That in the last
forfeit the opinion was had of them that I must be allowed the â—iberty to discourse with them about it and till then to suspend as well my Censure of them as the Resignation of my self to him in the matters propounded by him upon these terms I parted from him promising to see him again within a day or two The next day I went to Moor-Park where the Duke of Monmouth then was and in short acquainted him with what I had heard as well concerning himself as the Lord Russel c. He absolutely denied that he or as he believed my Lord Russel had ever made any such appointment with my Lord Shaftsbury that they were altogether Ignorant of what was doing by the said Earl who for some time upon what Capricio he knew not had withdrawn himself from them and acted upon separate Councils of his own grounded as he feared upon the hasty Conceptions of some Hot-headed Men who might lead him into some untimely undertaking which in all probability would prove fatal to himself and all the Party For prevention of which he said he would be glad if he knew where to give him a Meeting and to resettle a better understanding with him Having had this Account from the Duke I made a sâ—cond Visâ—t the next day being Thursday the 3d or 4th of October to the said Earl to whom I communicated what had passed the day before betwixt the Duke and me and thereupon took occasion to strengthen my self with Arguments of the absolute necessity of a speedy Conâ—erence betwiâ—t him and the other Lords as well for the removing the present misapprehensions they had of each other as also for the Consolidating them into such an Union and Concert of Councils as might render them all joyntly helpful to the Common Interest by an harmonious and uniform Acting to the same end in which they did all agree however they might differ in the means This I urged upon him with all the vehemency that the nature and importance of the thing required but he still persisted in a refusal of a Meeting saying with some more than ordinary warmth That he had long discovered in the Duke a backwardness to Action by which they had lost great opportunities that he had cause to suspect that this artificial dilatoriness of the Duâ—e proceeâ—ed from a private agreement betwixt his Father and him to sayâ—â—â—ne another That People so he termed that Imaginary Army in the City were impatient of longer delays having advanced so far already that they could not safely retreat The intention of an Insurrection being commnnicated to so many that it was morally impossible to keep it from taking Air if it was not speedily brought into Act that one of his Friends whom I afterwards understood to be Rombald had drawn almost an Hundred Horse into London by small and unobservable Parties a little before Michaelâ—as Day who after they had câ—ntinued here a good while at their Expence were again retired to their respective places of Abode That such frequent Disappointments would weary the Party and flat their Spirits and make them at last resolve to sit down in a total Despondency But it was much to be feared the Duke acted with a Prospect very different from theirs he designing nothing more than the Advancing himself whilst they could not hope that ever their Liberties should be well secured for the future but under the Government of a Commonwealth That for these Reasons he was fully determined to be no longer expectant upon the Duke's Motions but would pursue his former intentions of Attempting the deliverance of his Country by the help of an honest Brisk party in the City with whom if the rest of the Lords would be co-operating they might share with him in the glory of so honourable an Undertaking but if they would not he hoped he should be able to effect the Work without them Howard Iuly 11. 83. This was the Substance of the second Confereâ—ce I had witâ— him which I reported the next day to the Duke who desired me to make one Assay more to procure an Interview This occasioned my going to the said Earl a thiâ—d time upoâ— Saturday the 5th or 6th of October at which time I did prevaâ—â— with him to give me a promise of meeting the Duke and â—y â—ord Râ—ssel the next day in the Evening but in stead of coming he sent his Excuse both to the Duke and me the next Morning by Colonel Romzâ—y and streightway removed to another Lodging where he continued to secret himself till the time of his departure out of England During the time of his Concealment divers intimations were given some to me by Captain Walcot others by others to the Duke of Days appointed for their intended Insurrections One appointment was about the later end of October at which time the Kings return from Newmarket was expected but this was prevented by the Duke who prevailed with them to put it off to a longer day in expectation of a Concurrence of the Country with them This Adjournment as I remember was for a Fortnight at which time returns from the Country gave Discouragement to the proceedings After this the second of November was made a day peremptory as I have been informed but that also was put off I know not upon what Disappointmâ—â—t which often Failures caused the said Earl to take Resolutions of Conveying himself beyond the Seas which he did accordingly Whilst these things were in Agitation I have several times had some dark Hints given me from Captain Walcot from Goodenough from West from Ferguson of Striking at the Head of shortning the Work by removing two Persons by which I did apprehend that there was a design of making some Attempt upon the King and the Duke or one of them but when and where and by whom and in what manner and place this was to be acted I never saw This ends the Transactions during the Life of the Earl of Shaftsbury the rest shall be made a Second Part. Howard Iuly 11. 1683. A Continuation of my former Narrative AFter the Death of the Earl of Shaftsbury it was considered That as there had appeared both in City and Country a very prompt and forward disposition to Action so it might justly be feared that either the minds of Men might in time stagnate into a dull Inactivity unless proper Acts were used to keep up the fermentation or which was equally dangerous that the unadvised Passions of a Multitude might precipitate them into some rash and ill-guided undertakings unless they were under the steering and direction of some steady and skilful hand For prevention of both these Evils it was thought necessary that some few persons should be united into a Cabal or Council which should be as a concealed Spring both to give and to guide the motion of the Machine The persons designed to this general Care were the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Russel the Earl of Essex Mr. Algernoon Sidney Mr. Hambden Junior
Mr. Roe and he had been to see the Earl of Bedfords Garden and told him that was a fit place to take off the King and Duke at but in other Terms which now I have forgot Sir Thomas Armstrong did come to me the Sunday night after the Fire at Newmarket and told me that he just came from Ferguson and that notwithstanding they returned so soon Ferguson did not doubt to have Men ready by that time to do the business and desired me to go with him to Fergusons Lodging in his Coach which I did when I came there Ferguson told me the same but that they wanted Mony Mr. Charleton not being to be found upon which Sir Thomas desired me to lend some and he would see me repaid and said if he had been in stock he would have done it himself upon their perswasion I went tâ— my House I think in Sir Thomas his Coach and brought forty Guinnies he again repeated that he would see me repaid several times after he told me Ferguson had my Mony and wondred I would not go to him to receive it After the Discovery Sir Thomas came one night and told me he wondred I was not gone and did importune me to be gone with the first and in the mean time to keep close for that I was mightily hunted after I. Romzey A Letter from Sir William Stapleton Governor of the Leeward Islands to Sir Leoline Ienkins Nevis Ian. 25th 1685. Righ Honourable WHAT now offers to inform your Honours is that having seen the Kings Proclamation and a List in Print of the Conspirators in the last Most Detestable Plot I found one James Holloway Merchant therein specified fled and Indicted who went by another Name viz. John Milward whom I have caused to be secured in order to send him home by the next good opportunity which is by one Captain John Wilkinson Commander of the Ship Joseph of London a good Sailer William Stapleton The Information of James Holloway Read the 11th of April 1684. Great SIR I Your Majesties most humble but too much misâ—ed and disobedient Subject do here most faithfully according to the best of my Remembrance give you an Account of what I knew concerning the late discovered Conspiracy how I came to be concerned how far I was concerned how it was to have been carried on in Bristol why I did not come in at the first Discovery and cast my self at Your Majesties Feet for Mercy how I made my escape and where I was till taken If I shall through forgetfulness omit any thing that it may be thought I am privy to I shall be ready and willing truly to answer any question that shall be asked by Your Majesty or any Your most Honorable Privy-Council no way despairing of Your Majesties Mercy but remain in hopes that that Fountain of Mercy which hath so abundantly flowed from Your Sacred Breast ever since Your happy Restauration is not yet Dry and that there is some drops left for me who doubt not but to Serve Your Majesty both at home and abroad much more Living than my Death will That which I have cause to impute the occasion of my being Concerned was my too Publick Spirit preferring Your Majesties and my Countries Interest much before my own but especially in attending the two last Parliaments promoting an Act for the Encouragement of the Linnen Manufacture and the preventing of Frauds in Your Majesties Customs c. Which would have brought in and saved to Your Majesty near 200000 l. per An. and employed many thousands of Poor c. as is well known to many Worthy Persons about your Court and indeed proved my Ruine otherwise than in this Concern by bringing me into too great Acquaintance for one of my Capacity and by that to be concerned as I was My Attendance on those two Parliaments I doubt have been mis-represented How far I was Concerned After the Dissolution of the two last Parliaments I observed a great dissatisfaction in People in most parts where I travelled but heard nothing of any Design till Iuly 1682. when one Mr. Ioseph Tyly of Bristol came from London I meeting with him asked What News he answered to this effect All bad and if some speedy course be not taken we shall be all undone for by their Arbitrary Illegal ways and by force of Arms they have got Sheriffs to their Minds Witnesses they had before but wanted Jurors to believe them now they have got Sheriffs naming Mr. North and Mr. Rich who will find Jurors to believe any Evidence against a Protestant and so hang up all the Kings Friends by degrees I then told him that I thought it was impossible such things could be done but the King must hear of it no said he there 's none suffered to come near the King but those who have been declared Enemies to the King and Kingdom by Parliament naming some that were mentioned in the Printed Votes who to save themselves do indeavour to keep all such things from the Kings knowledge and perswade him against Parliaments with much more such-like discourse by which I found the same was discoursed throughout England Scotland and Ireland as a means to engage People At length he told me that the Protestant Gentry naming the Earl of Shaftsbury Lord Howard of Estrick and others were come to a Resolution seeing fair means would not do but all things on the Protestants side are misrepresented to the King by such great Criminals and none more in favor than those to take the King from his Evil Council and that by an Insurrection in several parts of England at once viz. London Bristol Taunton Exeter Chester New-Castle York and some other places in the North and that there would be a considerable party ready in Scotland and another in Ireland Therefore said he we must consider how to manage affairs in Bristol for if they proceed at Michaelmas in choosing Lord Mayor as they did Sheriffs and to swearing of North and Rich it must begin in October or November otherwise there will be some Sham-Plot contrived to take off most of the Stirring Men in the last Parliaments with much other Discourse to the same effect adding that Mr. Wade would come down very suddenly by whom we might expect a full Account of all About the end of August as near as I can remember Mr. Wade came down who confirmed what Mr. Tyly had said but could say little as to any farther Resolution they were come to above either of any Time or Method agreed upon but that the Design went on and men were imployed in all parts to try how people were inclined who found enough ready and that there would be no want of Men if it was once begun Then we considered how it might be managed in Bristol and what Number of men might be needful for the first Onset towards which he said We might depend on 150 Men from Taunton or thereabouts and concluded that 350 might be sufficient to secure it
without the Bloodshed of one man it being our Design to shed no Blood if possible but this we resolved not to acquaint any of our Friends with till the Day and Method was resolved of which he said we should have ten or fourteen days notice and having soon considered of a Method waited in expectation of further Advice but none came till November then we heard that some dis-appointment happening they were forced to delay it though there was more and more cause for it The end of December or beginning of Ianuary had advice that it was deferred to the beginning of March The third of March I came to London and meeting with Mr. Wade asked him how things went who answered that he could not tell what to make of it for he could find nothing done more than was nine Months before The Great Persons who were the Managers having done nothing but talkt of things but now there was some others appointed to manage it who were Men of Business naming them to me viz. The Earl of Essex the Lord Howard of Estrick the Lord Gray the Lord Russel Colonel Sidney Major Wildman Mr. Hambden the younger and Mr. Charlton who he did suppose would make something of it and not do as the others had done make a years talk to ensâ—are many thousands of people to no purpose for these had already sent Messengers into Scotland and Ireland to know their minds naming one Aaron Smith sent into Scotland and at the return of the Messengers would come to a resolution as to time and method but he was confident they could not be ready before Midsummer by reason they had done so little in order to it Mr. Wade was then design'd into the West upon the Earl of Stamford's Business and said if he could understand any thing more before he left London he would take Bristol in his way and acquaint us with it This Journey he brought me to Colonel Romzey with whom we had little discourse he being going forth with his Lady The sixth of March I left London and went directly for Bristol about the twelfth of March Mr. Wade came to Bristol but then could say no more than as above the Messengers being not come back from Scotland nor Ireland and was of his former opinion that if any thing were done it could not be before Midsummer he then expected to be about two Months in the West and said that if any thing was agreed upon sooner one Mr. West a Councellor had promised to write to him in the name of Inglestone and direct his Letter to be left at his Brothers in Bristol who Wade ordered that if any such Letter came to open it and if any thing material in it to send it by a Messenger to him into the West About the 17th of March came a Letter for him from West in the name of Inglestone which his Brother opened and not understanding the Stile brought it to me but I knew not the meaning thereof The Contents was to desire Mr. Wade to get his Clients together the next Saturday come Fortnight for that was the day appointed to Seal the Writings and neither of us understanding it his Brother sent it by a Messenger after him who found him at Taunton and his Answer by the Messenger was that he knew not the meaning of it but should be within ten Miles of Bristol the next Saturday desiring that if any other Letter came to send it to him About three days after came another Letter as above desiring him not to call his Clients together for the time of Sealing was put off which Letter was also sent to him but he understood it not saying it was some rash business or other and so went back again The fifth of April I came to London and that evening went to Mr. Wests Chamber in the Temple where I found him who then did not know me but when I told him my Name from whence I came and mentioned the two Letters Mr. Wade received from him he began to be somewhat free in Discourse with me I then told him that Mr. Wade and his Friends were surprised at the Letters not knowing what he meant by them and did desire to know concerning which he seemed a little shie but after a little Discourse began to tell me saying There was a Design to take off the King and Duke coming from Newmarket which they expected would have been that Saturday mentioned in his Letter had not the Fire happened which caused them to come sooner Nay said he had we known they would have stayed so long as they did their business should have been done I then asked him what he meant by desiring Mr. Wade to get his Clients together by that day and what he could propose they should have done to which he could say little only that they might be ready I then told him that I thought it a very rash thing and that few in England would approve of it that I was sure none about us would being a most Cowardly dishonourable action besides the basest sin of Murther Then said he what is designed by the General Design but to take them both off and if it had been done that way it would have prevented a great deal of Bloodshed in the Nation No said I no such thing is designed as I know of the General Design being only to get the King off from his evil Counsels who had advised him to put a stop to Proceedings against Popish Plotters by Dissolving of Parliaments c. and to bring all Popish Offenders to Justice and such who had betrayed the Liberty of the Subject and this I think was all the Discourse we had at that time being the first of my acquaintance with him that night I went with him to a Tavern in Fleetstreet where was Captain Norton Richard Goodenough and one Mr. Aylif who to my knowledge I never saw before nor since whilst I was with them there was no Discourse of any Business but I soon left them together The next day Mr. Roe of Bristol brought me to Mr. Ferguson at the House of one Mr. Bourne a Brewer but was not admitted to see him himself Ferguson then went by the Name of Roberts who when I had told my Name and from whence I came was pretty free in Discourse with me and told me the Design went on very well that there were some Scotish Gentlemen come up who were treating with the Managers and did hope they would agree in fews days and come to a Resolution both as to time and method of which we should have timely notice but by all his Discourse at that time I could not perceive that he knew any thing of the Newmarket Design That day I had some discourse with Colonel Romzey at his house who I found was privy to the Newmarket Business and his Opinion was that the General Design would come to nothing for he did not approve of the Managers actings and said there was
that this Io. N. was a person that past under the name of Iohn Nisbet an Englishman and stayed at one Mr. Mead's in Stepney which Nisbet was an Usher of a School at Bednal-green before That the close of the Letter bearing that things were fully as high as I tell you is meant the present intended Rebellion That by the Capital Letter B. is meant one Mr. Brake a Minister in Lewarden in Friesland and the young men are some Students who are in Holland Being interrogat what he heard of the Earl of Argile's concurring or assisting in this Insurrection Answers That he heard by report in Holland that Argile had undertaken to Raise ten thousand Men to assist in that Rebellion and that he was to furnish himself with Arms in Holland and about the time of this report which he thinks was in December or Ianuary last he heard Argile was in Holland but that he did not see him and to the best of his memory Io. N. also told him of the Earl of Argiles concurring in the Rising but remembers of no other person Being interrogat upon the little Letter from Stepney which he thinks was about the beginning of May Dated Friday at seven a Clock That the Man whom he speaks of is Mr. Mead a Minister and that by the words what my Hands find to do was meant Io. N's going to Holland and that the Declarant was to meet with Mr. Mead to let Io. N. go Further declares that Iohn Iohnston was one who at other times past under the name of Murray who is a little Man Pock-marked and wears a Periwig Sic subscribitur A Gordon Linlithgow Perth Io. Edinburgen Geo. Meckenzy I. Drummond This is a true Copy of the Original Declaration and Answer made by Alexander Gordon late of Earlestoun to the Interrogators proposed to him by the Committee of Council which is attested by me William Paterson Cls. Sti. Concilij A Copy of Alexander Gordons Examination June 30. 1683. THe said Alexander being interrogate what he knew of the Author of that Letter directed to Alexander Pringle of the date 20 of March last to be left at Alexander Hopes House in Gloss-haven Rotterdam which runs upon the Metaphor of Trade answereth That the Author of that Letter seemeth to him to be one Io. Nishet with whom he conversed a year ago at London and ordered the said Alexander to direct his Letters to Bednal-Green and since to Mr. Mead in Stepney near London and that he the said Alexander had written a Letter to this Io. Nisbet challenging him why he came not sooner over to Holland as he had promised dated about Ianuary last and that he received this Letter by the Metaphor of Trade in answer thereunto and that the venturing spoke of in the Letter was to signifie a resolution of a speedy Rising in Arms and that the Factors therein mentioned signified their Agents and Emissaries who were sent out into different corners both in England and Scotland to know the Pulse of their Complices and Parties if they were in readiness to joyn and rise with them and that they brought back accounts of their willingness so to do and readiness for an Insurrection And as to the assistance they were to have from Scotland he understood it at his last coming here and some Months before he came over in May last he heard amongst the Dutch People commonly reported that there was to be very shortly a Rising in England and that the Earl of Argile was to furnish from Scotland Ten Thousand Highland-Men for their assistance and that at his coming hither last he heard that there was a Person come from England to Sir Io. Cockram alleadging he came about the Affâ—ir of Carolina but that he had discovered himself to a Servant of the Lord Treasurers that he had come to Scotland upon other matters and that the Letters for Scotland from any Correspondents of the Party in which Earlestoun was engaged was directed to Mr. Henry Emertson written in Edenburgh and that before he came last hither in May the meeting of these Phanatical People had received a Letter from England subscribed by one I. S. whom he take to be one Murray as he named himself to Earlestoun as the other forementioned person named himself Io. Nisbet in which Letter there was the Metaphor of a Marriage anent which all things were agreâ—d and the Marriage ready to be solemnized which occasioned their sending for him the said Alexander Gordon to have his mind concerning that Affair and they interpreting that Letter signed by I. S. from England to concern the seeking of their assistance in their intended Rising there he did disswade them from it and that by the Marriage they understood a Rising to be intended in England and that it was ready to be solemnized was to signifie that an Insurrection was to be very speedily on foot and declared that these with whom Earlestoun conversed here declared that they believed that the Persons who came from England to Sir Io. Cokram were sent to manage a Correspondence in order to the design of Rising in Arms. The Relation of Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun of what he was informed of and heard as followeth ABout the time of the Election of Rich and North I heard that there were some designs of Rising in Arms of some people in England and in order thereto there was some Treating with my Lord Argile but not agreeing to the terms my Lord left them and I heard it ceased for some time and went over to Holland and when he was there I was informed of the renewing of the Treaty and agreed upon the following terms viz. That the Earl of Argile should raise Seven Thousand Men and the Treators who as I was informed were English-men were to advance the said Earl Ten Thousand pound Sterling and this was agreed to in April last The persons in England were by Information the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Shaftsbury but after the said Earls decease I did not hear so much of the Duke of Monmouth I was also informed of Ford Lord Gray of Wark his being in the Design I was also informed that those concerned in Scotland most in the said Design were Sir Iohn Cockram Ierviswood Sessnock Elder and Younger and that Sir Iohn Cockram the one day kist His Majesties Hands the other day went to the Cabal anent the above-written Design I was also informed That no small number of the Gentlemen in the West and other places in Scotland upon their resentment of the present Government particularly as to the Test and other Papers put to them were not resolved to stand to them although they should take them but rise upon the first occasion This Information I heard from Murray alias Iohnstoune who as I heard was a West Country-man in Scotland who offered to take me along to their Cabals but upon my refusal to meddle in the designs kept himself and told no more than those generals I met with
Mead at one Mr. Cooks a Merchant living near the Exchange in Austin-Fryers in London but I do not mind what he spoke of the aforesaid Design to me but thinks not for I was a stranger to him and not acquainted before that time and this I subscribe before these Witnesses Sir William Hamilton of Prestoun Master Iohn Vans Keeper of the Tolbooth of Edinburgh A Copy of the Interrogators proposed to Alexander Gordon sometime of Earlstoun in the Committee 25th of September 1683. TO Interrogate the said Alexander Gordon what Correspondence he did hold with the pretended General Convention from whom he had his Commission And if he did not write a Letter to and hold correspondence with them before he came last to Scotland and upon what account he did write that Letter to the said Convention which is mentioned in one Letter to him from one Michael Sheills bearing that the Convention had received his Letter c. And if to his knowledge the said pretended Convention General did not hold any exact Correspondence and Intelligence with the disaffected Party and other their Adherents both in England and in the United Provinces of the Netherlands and what the said Correspondence was and if it was not to the weakning and diminishing if not to the ruining and overturning of His Majesties Government both in Church and State as it is now Established within His Majesties Dominions 2. Upon what account was he moved to accept of the said Commission and what other Instructions he had from the said pretended Convention General in order to the Methods he was to take for inviting the assistance and supply of the Forreign States and Churches unto which he was Commissionate and if he had not Instructions for imploring their Aid by Supply of Money and other Necessaries for sitting and capacitating the distressed Party in Scotland to subvert and overturn at least to resist His Majesties Government in this Kingdom 3. Who were the Persons who did sit and assist in the said Convention General when his Commission was ordered and who did preside thereat And that he would declare such of the Members of the said Convention as he either knew or heard of by their proper Names and Sir-Names and place of their Residence and from whom he received the foresaid Commission and who were present at the delivery of the same to him and what a person Mr. Iames Renvicle is who subscribes as Clerk to the said Commission and if that was his own true or only a borrowed Name And if the same was borrowed that he would declare what his true Name is and where his place of Residence was and if he knows what is become of him since or where he now is and to interrogate him after the same manner in relation to Michael Sheills 4. If the said General Convention was not composâ—d of Persons sent from particular Districts within this Kingdom and how many such Districts there were and who were the leading Persons within these particular Districts and what sort of Persons they were who were Commissionate from these reserved Districts to the pretended General Convention And what farther he knows in Relation to the Government and management of Affairs within these particular Districts 5. To interrogate the said Alexander Gordon what Persons he knew either in Scotland England Ireland or in the United Provinces of the Neatherlands that did hold Correspondence with the said pretended Convention General in order to their acting and consulting of their Affairs or concerting of measures and Methods to be taken in the Prosecution of their purposes and designs c. Interrogators to be put to the said Alexander Gordon in Relation to the late Horrid Conspiracy IMprimis That the said Alexander Gordon would ingenuously declare the true and Genuine meaning and sense of that Letter written to him by Io. N. from London and would give a full and satisfactory Account thereof to the Lords of the Committee such as may satisfie rational and knowing Men conform to the meaning of the Writer who was his Correspondent and who would never have writ to him in Riddles and Mysteries seeing by the Letter it appears that he was informing Alexander Gordon with the State of their Affairs and with the measures and resolutions they had already taken And therefore to interrogate him who this Correspondent was who subscribes Io. N. and where he resided and what was his Trade and Occupation and with whom else he the said Alexander did know him to keep Correspondence and how he became to be acquainted with him and of that way and manner of writing under the Metaphor of Trade and Commerce c. Had not been conceived and agreed to betwixt the said Alexander and the said Io. N. and their party before thereby to vail and disguise their Rebellious contrivances and who were present at the contriving of such a Metaphorical way of Writing besides the said Alexander and Io. N. and if these and the like Methods were not a common Rule and Practise of these Barbarous and execrable Conspirators for disguising of their Horrid and Bloody Designs against the Person of His Sacred Majesty and Royal Brother and for rising in Arms against his Majesty and his Government 2. What he knows in relation to the said Horrid Conspiracy against His Majesties Person and the Person of his Royal Brother or of rising in Arms against His Majesty and Government and who were accessory to the said Horrid Designs either in Scotland England Ireland or any where abroad whither in the United Provinces of the Netherlands or else where and that he would give an account of them in so far as he knows by their Names Sir-Names and Places of residence and such other designs as he knew them by and likeways that he would give an account of the particular designs methods and contrivances treated upon and concerted for the rising in Arms against the King and Government either in Scotland England or Ireland and by what Persons the said Treaties and Designs were carried on as to all which he would give a particular and distinct account to the Lords of the Committee 3. To interrogate him anent the other Letter Written to him under the Name of Mr. Pringle and what was the true meaning thereof and by whom the same was written and if the Trade therein specified do not relate to the condition of the Fanatick and disaffected Party and what other import the said Letter does bear and from what place of the world the same came A Copy of the Examination of Alexander Gordon late of Earlstoun Edinburgh 25th of September 1683. The Earl of Linlithgow Lord Livingston Lord President of Session Lord Collintoun Lord Castlehil JUSTICES The Lord Pitmedden The Lord Harcarss The Earl of Linlithgow Elected President TO the first Interrogator answers That the first time he met with that pretended Convention was near the Inneâ—-Kirk of Kyle in the Fields about two years ago and there were about Fourscore persons
says laboured to undervalue the disaffected party in Scotland which he calls your Goods is the Name of Andrew Young who stays about Newcastle whom he supposes to be a suspect Person because he was feared that Colonel Struthers would apprehend him And that he supposes the way that that Letter came to his Hand was from some Persons that were at a Meeting at Midsummer about that time where was present several of those People that had Commission from the several Districts but that he himself was not at that Meeting Examination of Mr. Steil and Andrew Oliver anent Mr. Aaron Smith's coming to Scotland his going to Sir J. Cockram's House at Ochiltree Edenburgh 11th of December 1683. MR. Thomas Steil in Iedwart-Forest declares that in February last an English Gentleman coming to Iedwart being recommended to the Declarant by one David Sheriff Stabler in Newcastle only that he might direct him to Ochiltree spoke only to him of â—arolina Business anent which he was to transact with Sir Iohn Cockram and that the Declarant got him one Andrew Oliver in Iedwart-Forest for hire to be his guide to Douglass and that the said Oliver went with him from that to Sir Iohn Cockrams and declares he knew not his name and had no knowledge of him but that he was called when he was at Iodwart Clerk but afterwards heard he was called Smith Andrew Oliver in Barwick Tenant to the Marquess of Douglass being Examined declares a little before Seed-time last the Declarant met with Mr. Thomas Steil at Linalie the Marquess's House of purpose to bring hom his Wife from Douglas to Iedburgh-Forest and the Declarant being upon his way and coming to Provost Ainslie's House in Iedburgh and there being a Stranger there an English man ready to take Horse to go to the West the said Mr. Thomas Steil having told the Deponent there was a Stranger who knew not the way and would be desirous of his company and the Deponent having called for the Stranger in the House he and he took Horse together and rode to Peebles that night and the next day came to Douglas and the Stranger upon the way told his Name was Samuel Clerk which he thinks was the next day after they came from Iedburgh and the next day the Stranger not being able to get a Guide to convey him to Ochiltree at the desire of Mr. Thomas Steil's Wife did go along with him from Douglas to Ochiltree and the Stranger went into the House of Ochiltree to call for the Laird the Deponent not having gone in with him where he staid about one quarter of an Hour and came back to a House in the Town where the Deponent was to Lodge That de Deponent heard from the Stranger that his business with the Laird of Ochiltree was concerning Carolina business and of their design to send Families there in the Spring to Plant and that he commended the Country And. Oliver Io. Edenburgen Edenburgh Sederunt and Iournals of Council 20 Dec. 1683. MR. Thomas Steil Chamberlain to the Marquis of Douglas being Prisoner as alleadged Entertaining and Corresponding with Aaron Smith when he was in Scotland and providing him a Guide to Sir Iohn Cokram's House of Ochiltree who being Examined with the said Guide and all that appears is That the said Aaron Smith under the Name of Clark was Recommended by one David Sheriff Inn-keeper and Stabler of Newcastle to Steil as being his Acquaintance when he came to Iedburgh to help him to one that should guide him the way being a Stranger without any suspition or knowledge of his being a person guilty of any Crime or evil Design The Lords upon consideration of the Bill appoint a Letter to be written to the Secretaries to cause Examine Aaron Smith upon the time of his coming to Iedburgh and what past betwixt him and Steil and any other Interrogator proper seeing it 's said that the said Aaron Smith denied he was ever in Scotland and that another Letter be written to the Mayor of Newcastle to Examine the Inn-keeper and in the mean time allows Steil to be at liberat on Caution to appear when called under the penalty of 2000 Marks and that he shall not go off the Country without Licence to prevent any practizing with the Inn-keeper Alexander Gordon of Earlston his Deposition before a Committee of His Majesties Privy-Council and two of the Iustices Edenburgh the 25th of September 1683. ALexander Gordon being further interrogate upon the Interrogators given in anent the Conspiracy in England declares That the first time he heard of any Design of rising in Arms was at the time when the competition was anent the Sheriffs at Midsummer was a year and then he heard the Duke of Monmouth was to head the Rebels and this he had from Iohn Nisbet and one Mr. Murray a Scotch-man then at London and declares That in Ianuary last the Declarant being in Holland he heard by general report that the late Earl of Argile was to raise some thousands of Highlanders to assist the Rebels in England by making a diversion and was to get a sum of money for that effect and that in March last he having received a Letter in Holland from Iohn Nisbet then in London he came over to London where he met with the said Nisbet and Murray who told the Declarant they designed to rise presently in England and to Rendezvous in six or seven places at one time particularly at Coventry and London and that they computed several thousands in Yorkshire who where to joyn with them That Murray desired the Declarant to go along with him to meet with the late Lords Russel and Gray and the Lord Wharton but of Wharton they said they were not very sure being a fearful man and with Mr. Ferguson and spoke of several old Officers of Cromwels that were to be there but the Declarant not being for the present rising shunned to meet with these persons or any of them and both Nisbet and Murray told the Declarant that Sir Iohn Cochran was with them and heard from these two persons that both the Cessnocks were concerned in that Business As to the Letter written by Io. N. of the 20th of March and directed for the Declarant at Rotterdam declares that Iohn Nisbet wrote the said Letter and that under the Metaphor of Trade throughout the whole Letter is meaned the design of rising in Arms and a Rebellion and that by the word Dispatching the old rotten stuff is meaned either the excluding the Sectaries from joyning with them or destroying the Government both Civil and Ecclesiastical which last the Declarant supposes rather to be the meaning of the words and that by the Factors are meaned their Emissaries for carrying on the Rebellion And for that strange thing that was to fall out that Week or the next the Declarant thinks is meaned the sudden muster of the Rebels In the close of the Letter which says Things are full as high
of that name but Major Holms to the best of his knowledge And this is the Truth as he shall answer to God Sic subscribitur W. Spence The Information of Robert Smith formerly of the Parish of Dunscore in the Sherifdom of Dumâ—reis in the Kingdom of Scotland AT all the Conventicles for near two years before the Rebellion in the year 1679. There were great Contributions of Money which were chearfully given under the pretence of a Subsistance for their Ministers and the Poor of their Perswasion the only design that was known to the meaner sort of People but the greatest part of the Money was employ'd for Arms and Ammunition for a General Rising In order whereunto the Phanaticks in the Months of April May and Iune 1679. were preparing themselves by keeping several great Field-Conventicles both in the West and South in which were considerable Numbers of Armed Men. And although they were generally very fond and forward to put their design in Execution yet it was hastned a Month sooner then was intended by the Skirmish that happened about the middle of Iune within two Miles of Lowdon-hill between a Party of his Majesties Forces under the Command of Captain now Colonel Graham of Claverhouse and a strong Field-Conventicle in which I was my self with a Party of a Troop of Horse levyed in Nithâ—dale in the end of May and beginning of Iune whereof I was Cornet under Mr. William Ferguson of Caitlock Captain and Iohn Gibson of Auchinchein Lieutenant The same Night after that Skirmish I was at the Earl of Lowdon's House with Robert Hamilton Iohn Balfour and David Haxton both Murderers of the late Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews Iohn Ker in Minebole and several others in number about Twenty Seven Horse The Earl himself was in the House and I saw him pass into the Garden but I did not perceive that he came into our Company though I have reason to believe that Robert Hamiliton was with his Lordship and his Lady in some of the Chambers because I saw him leaving us all of his Company in the great Hall and going into the private Rooms where I am sure was my Lady as I do not doubt but my Lord was also for it was from thence that I saw him pass into the Garden But my Lady did publickly that Night entertain and loâ—ge all the Company The next morning at four of the Clock we came from that Earls House and made all the haste we could to Hamilton in order to joyn the Body that we had parted with the day before and the next day we all Marched to Glasgow where the morning after we were beaten by some Troops and Companies of the King's Forces and thereupon returned to Hamilton From thence I went in Company of Mr. David Williamson who was a Preacher and a Captain with Sixscore Horse to the Shire of Galloway where we met and joyâ—ed Six Troops of Horse and about as many Companies of Foot that were Levyed in that Country and Nithsdale for our Assistance Thereafter we went into Dumfreis where we stay'd a night and had notice of the Kings Forces coming to the Kirk of Shotâ— whereupon we march'd with all possible Diligence to joyn the rest of the Rebels at Hamilton seizing all the Arms and Horses that we could find by the way especially at Drumlanriq Thorn-hill Sanebar Cumnock Cesnock Newmills and Strevin but at Cesâ—ock we received four hundred Lances which we were told were the free and voluntary Gift of Sir Hugh Campbell the Father and Sir George the Son There was one passage in this maâ—ch which I cannot forbare to relate viz. That as we were passing by the old Castle of Treve where his late Majesty of blessed Memory had a Garrison in the beginning of the unhappy Troubles of his Reign Old Gordon of Earlstown who in few days after was killed at Bothwell-Bridge in my hearing spoke to the Officers that were about him as followeth Gentlemen I was the Man that commanded the Party which took this Castle from the late King who had in it about 200 of the Name of Maxwell of whom the greatest part being Papists we put them all to the Sword and demollish'd the Castle as you see it And now though an Old Man I take up Arms against the Son whom I hope to see go the same way that his Father went For we can never put trust in a Covenant Breaker So Gentlemen your Cause is good ye need not fear to fight against a forsworn King Upon Saturday the 21st of Iune 1679. the main Body of the Rebels came to Hamilton and lay encamped betwixt that place and Bothwell-Bridge until Sunday the 29th when we were defeated by the King's Forces During which time there came to our Camp great store of Provisions and Arms from Glasgow Hamilton Lanrick Lesmahago New-mills and several other places in Clisdale and the parts adjacent but I do not know the particular Persons from whom they were sent save only what I have said concerning our receiving the 400 Lances at Cesnock But about a week before our coming to that Place as we were passing by the Earl of Galloway's House of Garlis his Brother the Laird of Rymstone came to see some of the Gentlemen that were of our number and accompani'd us Ten or Twelve Miles returning aftewards to his House but before his going he gave Assurance that both his Brother the Earl of Galloway the Lord Kenmore and himself were our Friends And I did hear him giving great Incouragement to the meaner sort of People that were in Arms with us by bidding them to be Chearful and Couragious for he did assure them that they had very good Friends in the Country and we did believe that within few days thereafter as well the Earl of Galloway and Lord Kenmore as the said Laird of Rymstone would come and joyn with us and had we been able to continue some time longer together in a considerable Body and had given the least fail to the King's Forces we expected that many Persons of great Quality and Interest would have joyn'd with us Whereof a perfect Account can be given by Earlstown now a Prisoner in Edinburg if he will but ingenuously declare what he knows The Night before the Fight the Rebels one Hamilton Moor held a Council of War consisting of Robert Hamilton David Haxton of Rathillett Iohn Balfour Major Ledmont Mackcrellan of Barscob Gordon of Home Mr. William Ferguson of Caitloch my Captain aforesaid Gordon of Craig Gorton of Newtoun Gordon of Earlstone Elder Gordon of Earlstone Younger Gordon of Craichlaw Captain Mackculloch Macdougall of Freugh Captain Iohn Smith Captain Home Mr. William Clelaud a Captain of Horse Mr. Iames Fowler a Captain of Foot Andrew Story a Captain of Foot and several other Gentlemen and Officers whose Names I do not at the present remember but do well know the Places of their abode There were also several of the Ministers in this Council of War viz. Mr. Iohn Welch