Trenchard Lawrence Brandon 's Affidavit LAwrence Brandon of Pennington in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows William Standish of Standish-Hall in the said County Esq and his Son commonly called the Young Lord of Standish and that about May in the year 1691 this Deponent being invited by one James Leightagh to go with him and several other Persons to dine at Standish-Hall aforesaid and upon such Invitation this Deponent and the rest did go to Standish Town in the way to the said Hall and being at the said Town it was agreed on between the said James Leightagh and the rest of the Company rather to dine at the said Town of Standish then to go to the Hall because there seemed some difference like to arise between the said Leightagh and John Neyler on the one part and John Sharp Servant to the said Mr. Standish and James Hayes on the other part concerning the Places of Quarter-Master and Corporal of a Troop of Horse to be raised by the said Mr. Standish for the Service of King James which was promised to the said Leightagh and Neyler and the said Sharp and Hayes pretended unto the same Whereupon the Deponent and the rest of the Company did dine at Standish Town at the Charges of the said Leightagh and John Neyler and after Dinner they went from thence to Standish-Hall where in the Kitchen the said Leightagh and Neyler met the said Sharp and Hayes and after some Discourses on both sides concerning the Places aforesaid the said Sharp and Hayes were contented to quit their Pretensions to the same and consented that Leightagh and Neyler should have the same Upon which Agreement the said Leightagh and Neyler desired to speak with Mr. Standish and bid this Deponent and the rest of the Company to follow them which they did and were conducted into a Parlour where the Young Lord of Standish was and being told by the said Leightagh and Neyler that they had broughe Men to be Listed under his Command he wellcomed this Deponent and the rest and made them sit round the Room and made them drink and told them that the Nation had a great deal of wrong done by Banishing King James that was their Rightful King and that the design in hand was to do no Body wrong but only to bring in their lawful King and that some Aid for that purpose was shortly expected to come out of France and Ireland into England and that they did design upon the News of the Landing of any Foreign Forces to make a general Rising of such Forces as they could procure for the said Service and hoped they were willing and would be ready to serve their King and Country on this Occasion and assured them that they should go no further than he would lead them And that upon their consenting and promising to be ready at his Command the said Young Lord of Standish went out of the Room and soon after returned with a Horseman's naked Sword and bending the Blade thereof by way of Trial shewed it to the Company and told them they should be furnished with no worse than that and should have Pistols Holsters Saddles and all other Accoutrements fit for Troopers And having some farther Consultation with the said Young Lord what course they should take to provide Horses in case they should be called suddenly to meet it was agreed that such as had Horses of their own should make use of them and those that had none should take the first they could meet with and immediately upon any Alarm or notice come to Standish-Hall to rendezvous That after Directions about the Horses were given some of the Company being apprehensive that Mr. Standish the Father might be offended in case they should agree to go under the Command of his Son without his Consent desired to speak with him to be satisfied therein Whereupon they sent to speak with him and he came to them into the Hall where being asked the question aforesaid he told them all it was indifferent to him whether they choose to go under the Command of himself or his Son and such as were not willing to go with his Son should be welcome to go with him for their design was all one and that was to bring again King James or words to that effect Whereupon about twelve of the Company among whom this Deponent was one made choice to go with the Young Lord and the Remainder being to his remembrance the greater number did resolve to go with Mr. Standish the Father and then the Company divided and this Deponent and those that had made their Election went again into the Parlour to the young Lord and drank some short time and at their taking their leaves of him he gave them a word by which they should know one another which was Go thy way old Trip and then they parted from the said House to Wigan in the way whither the said John Neyler overtook this Deponent and his Company and told them he had brought some Money from Standish-Hall to be drunk by them and carried them to the House of James Green in Wigan aforesaid where he staid with them some time and drank the Health of King James and their Captains and then left them And this Deponent farther saith that at his this Deponents Return to his own House his Wife being informed that he had Listed himself a Soldier for King James would not let this Deponent rest or be at quiet until he had promised not to concern himself any farther in the matter Upon which he this Deponent never went near them any more Lawrence Brandon Jurat ' 11. Feb. 1695 Cor'me Tho. Rokeby Robert Bradley 's Affidavit RObert Bradley of Chippin in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath that he knows John Lunt and became acquainted with him about the latter end of the year 1689 by the means of one Mr. Thrillfall who brought him to his House he this Deponent keeping an Inn in Chippin aforesaid and that at that time the said Lunt went by the Name of Jackson and that about a quarter of a year afterwards there came into that Country several Irish Men who said they were sent by Lunt from London and that when they wanted Money they said they were to have Money of Lunt and amongst the said Irish there used to come to this Deponent's House several English Papists and frequently used to drink their Old Master King James's Health and threatened this Deponent being a Protestant to hang him when King James came in often affirming he would come into England at such and such times and Lunt often told this Deponent that he had Listed not only the Irish but several of this Deponent's Neighbours besides Thirty that he had Listed at Wiersdale and amongst the Neighbours named Clerkson Hodgkinson and Hearst and that one Cottam was to be Quarter-Master And this Deponent saith that Lunt desired one Sharpless where the said Lunt Tabled to be Listed as the
to bring him back an Answer to Dungan Hall and accordingly this Informant did return with his Message to Dungan-Hall and then and there he this Informant saw in Company with Mr. Lunt viz. Mr. Charles Harris Robert Holden and several other Gentlemen that this Informant did not know and this Informant after a little stay there did see a Gentleman they call'd Mr. Walmesley come down Stairs into a Room at the foot of the Stairs where the said Lunt and the other Gentlemen were and a little time after he came into the said Room he saw the said Lunt pull a Paper out of his Pocket and deliver it to the said Walmesley who receiv'd the same which this Informant doth believe was a Roll of Men listed for King James 's Service because the next Time he this Informant met with and saw the said Lunt which was about a fortnight after he told him that the Paper he saw him deliver to Mr. Walmesley was a Roll or List of the Names as aforesaid John Wilson Jurat ' 5. die Oct. 1694. Coram me G. Eyre Ann Elliot's Affidavit ANN Elliot late of Chippin in the County of Lancaster now living in London maketh Oath that about the beginning of the Year 1691. She this Deponent then living in Chippin aforesaid knew John Lunt who then went by the Name of Jackson and this Deponent saith that about that Time there came into that Country several Irish Men who said they were come from London and sent down by Lunt and that they were listed at London by the said Lunt for the Service of King James And this Deponent saith that the said Irish Men call'd Lunt their Lieutenant and at all times when they were together that they could be free own'd him and obey'd his Commands as their Lieutenant and in this Deponents hearing promis'd to be ready to rise in Arms with the said Lunt to bring in their old Master which they said was King James And this Deponent further saith that several Roman Catholic Gentlemen and others contributed towards their Subsistence and amongst the rest this Deponent her self And this Deponent saith that Lunt receiv'd the Money for the use of the said Irish And this Deponent saith she hath heard one Mr. Lock who went under the Name of an Irish Man complain that Lunt had brought him down from London to his Prejudice because he did not find what was promis'd was perform'd Nevertheless he would be ready with the rest for the said Service And this Deponent saith she set up many Nights to wait on the said Irish Men sometimes by 12 in a Company or more And this Deponent saith she hath often question'd whence they would have all those Arms they pretended to have who answer'd we know very well whence to have them Ann Elliot Jurat ' 11. die Febr. 1695. Coram me Tho Rokeby The Information of George Wilson THIS Informant upon his Oath saith that in or about the Month of April 1689 one Doctor Bromfeild came to William Fitzherbert Esq at Wapra near West-Chester in Flintshire where he the said Bromfeild lay conceal'd for some time for a Passage into Ireland from whence he was recomended to this Informant to assist him who then liv'd near the Sea-side at a Place call'd Redland where after the said Bromfeild had stay'd about a Week this Informant did assist him in the buying of a Boat of about 25 Tun which said Boat being victuall'd and ready to Sail was seiz'd by Mr. Morston and Bromfeild escap'd to Mr. Crosby's in Lancashire from whence by the Assistance of Mr. Peirce Morston Mr. Winn of Gop Mr. Lloyd of Greith Mr. Robert Brierwood of West Chester Mr. George Pennant Mr. Pue of Pendall and this Informant he afterwards got over in a open Boat This Informant farther saith that being search'd for by Troopers from West Chester and other Soldiers and by the Civil Officers of the Country was forc'd to leave his House and Family and hid himself in the Woods for many Days and could never return to his House again but got into Lancashire whither his Wife and Family follow'd him where he this Informant was receiv'd and entertain'd by Lord Molyneux Coll. Tildesley Mr. Standish of Standish Sir Rowland Stanley Sir James Pool Sir William Gerrard Coll. Townley and others sometime at the House of one Gentleman and sometimes at anothers This Informant saith that about Midsummer 1689 he this Informant and others were ordered and directed by the Gentlemen asoresaid and others to look out about the Sea-coasts thereabouts for any Gentlemen that should arrive from Ireland for at that time he this Informant was told they expected some Friends and News from Ireland which he this Informant did and about the beginning of June 1689 Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Asheâ— in Goosner and one Mr. Lunt arrived at Cockram and came immediately to Col. Tildesley's with several Bundles of Papers where this Informant was then attending their coming c. This Informant saith that upon their coming to the said Coll. Tildesley's the said Thrillfall and Mr. Lunt immediatly open'd their Cloakbags and took out several Commissions Declarations Blanks and seal'd Papers from King James to several Persons and Gentlemen of Quality in that Country and York shire and divided them those for York-shire Mr. Thrillfall put up and undertook to deliver and had a Guide immediatly provided the others for Lancashire Cheshire Staffordshire and Parts thereabouts Mr. Lunt took to himself to deliver and had this Informant with him from Place to Place to Guide and Assist him in the Delivery of them and after they had left and deliver'd to Coll. Tildesley his Commission for being a Collonel which he the said Coll. receiv'd upon his Knees and kiss'd it with the Blanks for his inferiour Officers they proceeded and went to the Lord Molyneux his House and deliver'd one Collonels Commission to Mr. William Molyneux his Son for a Regiment of Horse with Blanks for his inferiour Officers he the said Coll. Molyneux immediatly filling that Blank for the Lieutenant-Collonel deliver'd it in the Presence of this Informant to Mr. William Gerrard who was with the said Coll. Molyneux when he this Informant and Mr. Lunt came in This Informant further saith that he this Informant was present and did see Mr. Lams deliver to Mr. Sherbourn of Stonyhurst a Collonel's-Commission with Blanks as aforesaid for a Regiment of Horse To Mr. Townley of Townley the like for Horse To Mr. Girlinton of Girlington Esq a Collonel's Commission To Mr. Westby of Mobrick Esq the like for Dragoons To Mr. Legh of Lyme Esq a Cossonel's Commission with Blanks as aforesaid To Sir Tho. Stanley of Alderley the like for Horse To Mr. Chumley of Vale Royal the like for Horse c. To Sir Rowland Stanley the like for Horse c. To Sir Robert Throgmorten the like for Horse c. To Sir Henry Titchbourn he being then at the Lord Molyneux the like for Horse To Sir Gisfard of
there also from England expecting to meet his Majesty and brought over with him an Account of the Condition and Readiness of his Friends the Papists and Jacobites there but more particularly in London Sussex and Kent and in Staffordshire Lancashire Cheshire and Yorkshire and from them all desired of his Majesty Commissions for the several Persons of Quality hereafter named with Blanks for their Inferior Officers which accordingly the late King caused immediately to be issued forth both for England and Scotland And because Bromfeild was so well known and it might be dangerous for him to come back himself he desired the King to advise of a proper Person or Persons whom he might trust to bring them over and distribute them here in England according to his Majesty's Orders amongst others he this Informant was recommended to him by my Lord Thomas Howard who told him the said King James he would engage Life for Life for him this Informant that he would not betray him in the Service and that if he were taken would rather die upon the spot Upon which this Informant was sent for to my Lord Melfort's Office where he found my Lord Thomas Howard Dr. Bromfeild and my Lord together in his Closet whither he was carried to them and then and there they asked this Informant Whether he would venture to undertake to carry Declarations Papers and Commissions and other things for his Majesty's Service to England They told him it was a hazardous thing that he should think well of it for if he should happen to be taken his Life was certainly gone but if he would and did escape be should be sure of and they promised him in the King's Name very great Preferments and Rewards when the King should come into England Upon which he this Informant undertook it and my Lord Melfort gave an Account of it whereupon to blind the business and to take off any Thought of his this Informant's being imploy'd or sent any where my Lord Melfort told him the King had thought fit to order the Officer of the Guards who was a Frenchman to casheer him and that he might say to any one that asked him the reason that he knew none but was resolved to get his Pass as soon as he could and go for England About a Week after this all things were got ready both for England and Scotland and one Mr. Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner in Lancashire Gentleman and this Informant were dispatched for England and one Mr. Gourdon who was this Informant's Comrade and cashiered as he was went for Scotland This Informant and Mr. Thrillfall brought with them Declarations Commissions and other Papers and Landed at Cockram within four Miles of Lancaster in or about the beginning of June 1689 upon our Landing we had like to have been wholly surprized by some Custom house Officers but we escaped and brought off the most Material of our Business only lost some Commissions Blanks and one of the King's Declarations two Case of Pistols of this Informants that the King gave him and some Clothes of this Informant's c. The greatest part of the Commissions and most of the Blanks in several Bundies were saved and this Informant delivered them as fast as he could one after another as followeth viz. in Lancashire To my Lord Molyneux's Son William a Colonel's Commission for a Regiment of Horse with Blanks for all his Inferior Officers to be filled as he should think fit To Thomas Tildesley Esq the like for a Regiment of Dragoons To Dalton of Thurnham Esq the like for Dragoons To Sherbourn of Stonyhurst Esq the like for Horse To Townley of Townley Esq the like for Horse To Girlington of Girlington Esq a Colonel's Commission To Westby of Mobrick Esq the like for Dragoons This Informant farther saith that he delivered my Lord Molyneux himself a Paper of Instructions where amongst other things He was to be Governour of Liverpool and this Informant took notice of it because my Lord Melfort and Dr. Bromfeild both told him this Informant saw and shewed it him in the Paper before they Sealed it Cheshire To Peter Legh of Lime Esq a Colonel's Commission with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Thomas Stanley of Aldersley Protestant the like for Horse To Mr. Chumley of Vale-Royal Protestant the like for Horse To Sir Rowland Stanley Protestant the like for Horse To my Lord Brudenell a Colonel's Commission for Horse with Blanks for his Inferior Officers To Sir Throgmorton the like for Horse This Informant farther saith That to these two Gentlemen last above written he delivered four other Colonel's Commissions for four Gentlemen whose Names he was not to know because as he did then conceive they were Protestants for they told him this Informant they were honest Gentlemen and Protestants Besides all these before mentioned this Informant delivered to one Mr. Jackson in Castle-street near the Meuse two Bundles of Commissions with a King's Declaration and two other Papers Sealed up with each with Orders to him to deliver one of them with a Declaration and Sealed Papers immediately to my Lord Griffin and the other to Mr. W. Pen the Quaker which this Informant supposes he did for in his sight he took Coach and said he would And besides all these which he this Informant so as aforesaid delivered Mr. Thrillfall undertook to deliver several Bundles of the same to several Gentlemen in York-shire This Informant farther saith That every Colonel had with his Commission Blanks for double his Inferior Officers and that all the Colonels had the Liberty to raise Foot Horse or Dragoons but Horse was more especially recommended This Informant farther saith That after the dispatch of these Commissions and other Business he had the ill luck to be made a Prisoner for a considerable time upon the Accusation of the Captain that brought him over out of Ireland This Informant farther saith That during the time he was a Prisoner under Bail that is to say about the beginning of the year 1691 he this Informant by the Order of Colonel Tildesley Col. Townley Col. William Molyneux Mr. Gerrard Col. Dalton and others Listed in London several Men for Soldiers to serve as Horse or Dragoons to be under the Command of the said Colonels or any other as they should dispose of them to Here he names about a hundred of the Soldiers Listed and the Pay they was to receive This Informant farther saith That being discharged of his Imprisonment in the Month of November 1691 he this Informant was desired by several of the Gentlemen that he had delivered of the Commissions aforesaid to viz. Lord Molyneux Col. Molyneux his Son Sir William Gerrard and his Son Mr. Dickinson of Wrightington John Harrington of Heightonhay Esq Col. Townley Col. Tildesley Col. Dalton and others to go into France to give King James an Account in what condition they were and to bring his Majesty's Commands how they might be serviceable to him which this Informant did
Gerrard Mr. Townley and others sometimes at one House and sometimes at another That being at Mr. Tildesly at the Lodge and the Wind fair he was commanded by the Gentlemen aforesaid to look out about the Sea-coasts for any Gentlemen that should land for they expected some Friends and News from Ireland Wilson did so and about the Beginning of June 1689 Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner Lancashire and Mr. Lunt arrived at * Vid. the Master of the Vessel 's and the Seamens Depositions in the Appendix Cockram in Lancashire and came immediatly to Coll. Tildesly's with several Bundles of Papers which they immediatly open'd and took out diverse Commissions Declarations Blanks and sealed Papers from the late King James directed to several Persons of Quality in that County and Yorkshire and divided them Those for Yorkshire Mr. Thrillfall put up and undertaking to deliver them had a Guide immediatly provided him The Commissions and other Papers for Lancashire Cheshire and Staffordshire and Parts thereabouts Mr. Lunt charg'd himself with the Delivery of and took this Informant with him from Place to Place to guide and assist him After they had deliver'd Mr. Tildesly a Commission for being a Collonel with Blanks for his inferiour Officers which he receiv'd on his Knees and kissed They went to the Lord Mollyneux's and deliver'd a Commission for a Coll. of Horse to his Son Mr. Wm. Mollyneux with Blanks for his inferiour Officers Coll. Mollyneux fill'd up the Blank for Lieutenant Coll. and deliver'd it in their Sight and Presence to Mr. Wm. Gerrard who was with Mr. Mollyneux when Mr. Lunt and Wilson came into the House and so he went on with Lunt from place to place till he had deliver'd all the Commissions and Blanks to the Gentlemen mention'd in Mr. Lunt's Depositious He further deposeth That to his own Knowledge Lunt did list Men in London and sent them down into the Country and that the Soldiers so listed and sent down were subsisted by the Lancashire Gentlemen That he did in or about February 1692 see Mr. Walmsley then newly come out of France at his dwelling House at Dungan-Hall in Lancashire and that the said Mr. Wamsley did employ this Informant in the Year 1692 and 1693 to list Souldiers under him for the Service of the late King James and had Money from Mr. Walmsley Captain Penny and Mr. Standish of Standish-Hall to maintain those Soldiers he further Deposeth That he hath seen great Quantities of Arms in the Houses of several Persons mention'd in Mr. Lunts Depositions Here are in substance the Depositions of Ten several Persons some at great distance from and utter Strangers one to another all agreing in the Lancashire Conspiracy the Time when Places where and the Persons who were to be the principal Actors in that bloody Tragedy and tho Lunt and Wilson name some more Persons to be concern'd than were nam'd by Mr. Dodsworth and Mr. Kelly being three years longer in the Conspiracy than the first Discoverers yet for so many as each of them have nam'd they exactly agree which there is no Question but the scribling Party among the Jacobites were fully possest of but finding it so directly cross their Designs in shamning the Plot and scandalizing the Government they take no more notice of Mr. Dodsworth's Mr. Kelly's Mr. Robinson's or the Master and five Seamen's Discoveries nor of the Informations that were sent to his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury from the Sessions of the Peace at Manchester than if there had been no such Persons or Things in the World which willful and design'd Omissions in Matters of Fact shews a greater Disingenuity and want of Integrity than can be equalized in other Authors Thus much for the Listing and Maintaining of Souldiers and receiving Commssions from the late King James to levy War against the King and Kingdom The next thing is providing Arms for these Souldiers and they were for the Generality bought by Lunt Righy Hatton and Minns at the holy Lamb in long-Acre by the Order of Mr. Townley Coll. Parker Mr. Standish and the rest of the Conspirators and carryed into Lancashire by several Carriers that travel from thence to London particularly by John Womball of Wiggan-Lane in that County who begun to be employ'd in this Service at the latter end of the Year 1688 and in the beginning of the Year 1689. These Arms were commonly put into large Boxes and Trunks and for fear of discovery in London they were for some time lodged for him at Barnet * Vid Oliver Pearsons Affidavit in the Appendix where he took them up and to prevent Suspition in the Country the Gentlemen commonly sent their Serviants to meet Womball or his Servant upon the Road there to receive them from him and carry them to their Masters Houses upon their own Horses When this way fail'd Womball and his Servants carryed them to the several Gentlemens Houses by Night and at other unsuspected Seasons Notwithstanding as privately as they manag'd their Design the watchful Eye of the Government discover'd their Practices and at one time in Litchfeild Vid. Oliver Pearsons and Clayton's Depositions as Womball was carrying down Arms into Lancashire the Government took from him there one hundred and two Swords which came to pass on this Manner Womball accidentally discovers his Carriage of Arms to Mr. Green of Wiggan who was at that Time in London Mr. Green apprehending that the Discovery of what Womball had told him might be serviceable to the Government repairs forthwith to the Earl of Macclesfield Lord Lieutenant of Luncashire and acquainting him with it His Lordship sends for Womball who was going out of Town that morning commands one of the Boxes to be open'd and seeing it fill'd with Horse-Mens Swords very prudently orders Womball to carry them down and in the mean Time his Lordship gave private Directions to some Friends of the Government in Wiggan to observe where these Boxes were deliver'd with these Orders his Lordship acquaints the Earl of Portland who well approv'd the Management of the whole Matter but by whose Directious these Arms were seiz'd at Litchfield that they might not be traced to the Owners in Lancashire is worth enquiring after All this was done before Wombull came into the Government and perceiving there was no further Enquiry into the Matter he renew'd his former Trade of carrying Arms and among many other weighty Burthens he received four Packs of Arms from Mr. See Womball's Depositions in the Appendix and El. Langly's 〈…〉 Lunt and deliver'd them at Preston Standish and Croxton In the Year 1691 and 1692 he carryed down great quantities of Arms in Trunks and Boxes to Mr. Standish of Standish to Mr. Tildesley of the Lodgo to Mr. Ashton Mr. Stanford Mr. Eccleston Mr. Dickinson Mr. Gradill and others but this continual carrying of Arms made so great a Noise that Womball the Confident they trusted in this great Affair was forc'd to be more
the Friends and Relations of the Prisoners and knowing Mr. Legh of Lime was reputed the richest among them Taffe was very solicitous to be acquainted with any Person that was concerned for Mr. Legh's Safety Whilst he was upon this Enquiry in the Temple-walks he meets with one Mr. Wybrand desires him to speak to Captain Cottingham to bring him acquainted with some Friends of Mr. Legh's of Lime For saith he Smith and Baker have used me barbarously and I will be even with them and spoil the Plot. * See Wybrand's Depositions in the Appendix Mr. Wybrand desires Taffe to be ingenious with him and tell him whether he was concerned in the Plot for he heard it would come to nothing Taffe replies he was no Evidence nor knew any thing of the Plot himself but he knew there was good Evidences against the Prisoners and enough as he worded it to hang them all but if he could speak with any Friend of Mr. Legh's he might get a good Summ of Money and make his fortune by telling him away how to save all their Lives but Taffe after further Discourse finding this Gentleman Mr. Wybrand not for his purpose he leaves him but gives not over his Search till he is first met by Mrs. Dickinson Wife to one of the Prisoners and afterwards by Mr. Banks and Mr. Beresford who were Freinds Relations and as they demean'd themselves were thought Solicitors for all the Prisoners Taffe no sooner acquaints them with his Designs of spoiling the Plot and saving all the Prisoners Lives but the Bargain was struck his Terms agreed to Twenty pounds is paid him in hand * Sworn in the House of Lords and Commons with assurance as it 's commonly reported of a good Annuity for Life to be settled in Lancashire and now least he should cool he is sent immediatly into the Country to be their Champion Evidence when the Tryals should commence at Manchaster This was the first Step that Taffe made towards spoiling of the Plot the greatest Part whereof was either confess'd by him or proved against him in the House of Lords and Commons But the Certainty of the Aunuity and how much it amounts to I cannot yet learn tho' I have reason to believe it is considerable since Mr. Dickinson told his Cousin Barker at the Tryal at Manchester that * See Mrs. Barker's Affidavit in the Appendix the gaining Taffe on their side had cost them very dear Here you see is a great Point gain'd tho' after a very ill Manner for the Prisoners And this Success upon Taffe so flesh'd their Solicitors that they are now fit to attempt any thing for the Service of their Friends and Kindred The next step they made is atempting upon Lunt to which end Mr. Banks counterfeits himself Drunk and afterwards by mean and little Artifices insinuates himself into a Familiarity with him squeezes out of unwary Lunt the names of the Kings Witnesses and the whole Matter of their Evidence with design to destroy it which by the way was very unfair and dangerous Practice and rather exceeds than equals Reading's Case in the Reign of King Charle's the Second and I believe if prosecuted in Westminster-Hall would there have been judged one of the highest Crimes under those that are Capital and have met with a Sentence accordingly but how great soever this Crime is it will apear a very minute and inconsiderable one when compar'd with these Gentlemens nefarious Practices when the Matter was examin'd in Parliament which shall be produc'd in due Time and Place Having thus gained Taffe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Morsel fit for the Devils Stomack into the Bowels of their Party and by the like Clandestine Methods got the Names of the Kings Witnesses and a Knowledge of what they could depose against the Prisoners the next Attempt for Shamming the whole Plot and setting the Prisoners in Statu quo prius was engaging Ferguson to write in their Defence to set up the Jacobites in general and the Prisoners in particular as an innocent and peaceable People and to render their Accusers the very dregs of Mankind To the end that People might be prepossessed with favourable Opinions of the Gentlemen accused and enraged with prejudice at the dismal Representation which Ferguson should make of the Witnesses before the Tryals could begin and this Stratagem had such a notable Effect that the Popish Mob at Manchester animated by reading Ferguson's Libel which was almost in every Hand in that Country had resolv'd to prevent the Tryals of the Prisoners by stoning the Kings Evidences to death as they came into the Town but those that knew the Scene was better and closer laid for the Acquittal of the Gentlemen than to do it by Force prevail'd with the Mob under Assurance the Prisoners would be acquitted to forbear the Execution of that inhuman Resolution till the Tryals were ended but no sooner was the Tryal over and the Witnesses leaving the Town but the Popish Mob endeavour'd to stone them to death and that in such a rude barbarous and tumultuous Manner that not only the Witnesses but an honest and worthy Gentleman of Counsel for the King the Kings Prosecutor and the Kings Clerk in the Crown Office very narrowly escap'd with their Lives and all this done too without fear or shame in the very sight of my Lords the Judges in the Town of Manchester The Tryal begun at Manchester the 16th October 1694 where the Kings Evidences prov'd * See their several Deposions in the Appendix that the Prisoners at the Bar had received Commissions from the late King James to raise War against their present Majesties and Government and to that end had bought Arms listed and subsisted Soldiers at their own Charge and had frequent Correspondence with the late King James for the carrying on an Invasion and Rebellion against King William and Queen Mary which having been already related as to the Time Manner and all other Circumstances I shall forbear a further Recital here and proceed to tell my Reader that whilst the Kings Witnesses were delivering their Evidences Sir W. W. tho he afterwards treated the Prisoners Evidences with all imaginable Respect and Civility was observ'd to brow-beat them and by cross impertinent and extraneous Questions foreign to the Matter in Hand endeavour'd to baffle puzzle confound and entrap them in what they Swore but failing in that main Point of his Skill he requires Mr. Lunt to point at the several Prisoners by Name In doing which some say he pointed at the wrong Man tho' they were so hudled and crowded together it was hard to say which was the Person he pointed at however this gratified the Popish Mob and raised a loud Laugh But their Mirth continu'd not long for one of my Lords the Judges commanding Lunt to Touch and Name all the accused Gentlemen with the Cryers Staff he named them all Right nor had it been Material in my Opinion if he had