I Do Appoint Thomas Cockerill and Benjamin Alsop to Print this Narrative and that no other Print the same RODERICK MANSELL Novemb. 17. 1679. An Exact and True NARRATIVE OF THE LATE Popish Intrigue TO FORM A PLOT And then To cast the GUILT and ODIUM thereof UPON THE PROTESTANTS Wherein are contained I. The Contrivance it self with the Principal Agents and Instruments viz. The Lords in the Tower Mr. Dangerfield c. II. The manner of carrying on the said Contrivance III. The Continuance of the Popish Plot to Assassinate the KING IV. The Book found in the House of Mrs. Cellier in a Meal-Tub by Sir William Waller V. The several Attempts to Murther the Right Honourable Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury VI. The manner of Conveying a List of Names and other Treasonable Papers into the Chamber of Col. Roderick Mansell VII The full Examination of the whole Affair before the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council With the Exemplification of divers Informations Examinations Depositions c. relating to the said Intrigue Faithfully Collected by Col. RODERICK MANSELL LONDON Printed for Tho. Cockerill and Benj. Alsop at the Three Legs and at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey against the Stocks-Market 1680. A Solemn ADDRESS TO All true ENGLISH PROTESTANTS BY Col. RODERICK MANSELL Most Honoured and Worthy Gentlemen WHat accursed Designs have formerly been set on foot to undermine and blow up the Religion that is The true interest of England your own Concerns therein have made you too apprehensive to need a Remembrancer and that your Enemies are no Changelings but as unwearied as pregnant and thanks be to God as unsuccessful in their malicious Contrivances as ever had you no Friends they themselves will do you that one and only friendly Office to become your faithful Monitors Some have observ'd that Quick-silver the Devil and a Jesuite can assume a thousand various shapes and yet under all those Disguises Mercury will be Mercury the Devil a Devil and a Jesuite a Jesuite when he ceases to Be he may cease to be mischievous and when he puts off his Essence may possibly put off his pragmaticalness In all their other Plots they have out-done the World in this last tryal of their skill they have out-done and we hope undone themselves for 't is a Question and must remain so for any solution of mine whether their Malice in contriving their Activity in pursuing their Impudence in denying their Fruitless Attempts for corrupting the Evidence or this their last Essay to devolve the Odium of their execrable Treason against the King and Kingdom upon the Protestants have been more though all have been beyond example Devillish I acknowledge this is no modern Artifice nor the Invention of junior Heads their Ancestors have travelled in the same Argument wrought in the same Mine for when they had formed the Powder-Plot they consulted to lay the Bastard at the Puritans Door and what they had the pleasure to beget others must have the reproach to Father though the Deformed Brat to all discerning eyes would apparently own its Sire Now although in laying the ground-work of their late Project they had a confused Idea or rude draught of that Ancient Policy yet could they not lick that unformed lump into a perfect shape till time had ripened and sharpened their Inventions Mr. Dugdale in his Evidence against Mr. Whitebread and his Accomplices pag. 25. swears That a Letter came from Paris through Mr. Harcourt 's hands into the Country to prove That it was the Opinion of them at Paris and St. Omers to fling all this upon the Presbyterians that is The death of the King that if any thing of this nature should happen they should be ready to give the first Allarm and give it out that it was the Still-King-killing Presbyterians that had done the Fact and so they thought they should bring the Protestants into their company to revenge themselves of the Presbyterians to which the Lord Chief Justice replyed It was pretty Advice indeed to have it first laid on the Presbyterians that they might get the Episcopal to joyn and cut their Throats and then their own Throats should be cut But because it was impossible and therefore incredible that ever Protestants should so grosly mistake their Interest as to conspire the destruction of their King who is the Center and Head of it they had been long preparing the People to entertain the belief of it against that happy juncture of time which should invite them openly to assert it for these Theologico-Political Quacks knew well that so great a Dose of Improbabilities would work too rigidly upon the Body Politick without due Preparatives to mittigate its surly Operation and therefore some good while before they had been slily insinuating into the credulous Brains of those whom either simplicity or a bad Interest had made capable of such Impressions That the Presbyterians were a dangerous Generation of men that their Principles and Practices were inconsistent with Government but carried a specifick malignity against Monarchy that they were certainly a brewing some desperate mischief which a little time would discover and they could have told us the time to an hour That whoever were tolerated the Presbyterians were intolerable and still with great Zeal they reminded us of forty one that we might not dream of seventy nine Marchemont Needham in his Scurrulous Advice to the men of Shaftsbury the Author of the Countermine and R. L'Estrange in their Politick Burlesques always bore hard and down-right upon the Presbyterians but what is more remarkable a day or two before the attempt to fasten this imaginary Treason upon my self the World was saluted with a Pamphlet under the name of Tom. the Joyner wherein we are gravely advised to come out from amongst them the Presbyterians and not to partake of their Sins lest we received of their Plagues which God had prepared for them for they were conscious to themselves what Plagues they had prepared for them and 't is but the priviledge of their great Familiarity with God to make him espouse their Quarrels and employ his Thunder according to the direction of the Consult but he goes on That we should not fear their Power it would be but a Summers Storm but e're long within two days if Mr. Dangerfield's Flint was but well fixed their turn of suffering would come about for God would make their Hearts to melt and their Loyns to tremble and for his part he could be content his life were given in Sacrifice that the King and his good Subjects might be preserved from the most Damnable Havock John Presbyter design'd to make amongst us but was it not easie to tell the World what the Presbyterians would do when the Papists had form'd for them a piece of Villany which they must do whether they would whether they knew it or no The Devil can certainly prognosticate those Plagues which he has Commission or Permission to execute and the Pope is
not more infallible in his Determinations de fide than John Gadbury in his Predictions de facto when he 's a part of the Confederacy and privy to the Intrigue Yet though these Pamphlets which were only the Title-Page to the Plot suggested danger only from the Presbyterians Providence having unsealed and opened the Book it self we read there that the main Body of the Protestants were to be involv'd in the design They had preferred the Right Honourable the Earls of Essex and Radnor the Lord Hallifax all Members of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council to be Counsellours in this their feigned Rebellion nay they had introduced the Lord Wharton and re-introduced his Grace the Duke of Bucks and the right honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury into the Plot they had Commissioned the Lord Gray the Lord Gerrard and his Son and Sir Thomas Armstrong to be Lieutenant Generals but above all his Grace the Duke of Monmouth was most beholden to them whom to compensate the loss of his General-ship over an Army of real men on Earth they had now created Generalissimo over an aiery Army of their own listing mustered in the Clouds and that they might not seem ridiculously contradictory to themselves to pretend a Presbyterian Plot without one Presbyterian in it they had graciously given a Commission for Major-General to Sir William Waller and sprinkled here and there a Dissenter like a Train to the Trap and so from the less part and almost no part had denominated by Jesuits Logick the whole to be Presbyterian which gave occasion to an ingenious Clergy-man to say That Mr. Dangerfield had made more Presbyterians in a day than they withal their Conventicles and preaching could make in twenty years It is a stated Maxime That Interest will not lye No man in his wits would cut down that Bough of the Tree upon which he stands nor shear asunder that single Cord upon which he hangs How then is it credible that Protestants should conspire to take away that life by which they live Can they be so vain as to promise themselves fairer Quarter under any Successor whom the Laws favour than under the Auspices of his Majesty When the combined fates of both are so interwoven that they must weep and laugh live and dye together but the Papists have drawn a Protestants face by a Jesuites heart and whatever of Devillism they find in their own breasts fancy it to be lodged in other mens brains I cannot but admire too at the imprudence of some who seem to be Protestants and of those some some are I hope really such that understand their own Interest no better than to joyn with the Papists if not directly in their Counsels yet obliquely in their Actions to ruine any who are firm to an English Interest pleasing themselves that they shall deliver up Dissenters to the Romish Polyphemus when their only priviledge must prove to become the last if the last Morsel Nor could I ever yet discern the Truth or Justice of that Charge which loud Clamour has drawn up against those who bear the name of Presbyterians that they are Enemies to Monarchy I have read that about threescore of them have openly protested against the Tryal and Execution of the late King when some others were then silent who are most clamorous That they refused the Engagement whereby the Royal Family was renounced when yet others swallowed it that many of them were sequestred for their Loyalty when some others enjoyed considerable Benefices That some of them were Imprisoned Executed for adhereing to his present Majesty's Interest when others declined it and that a considerable Army of that Perswasion asserted his Majesty's Right with their Swords and Lives in their hands when of the numerous Zealous Royalists scarce three hundred in the three Kingdoms appeared to joyn them How forward they were with the formost and actively instrumental in the restoration of His Majesty to his Crown and Throne the World remembers and his Majesty has not forgotten and how they have ever since demeaned themselves without any spot of Disloyalty that could justly be fixt upon them is so well known that their Enemies can sooner envy it than deny it Nor can I perceive that they have repented of their Loyalty though some have order'd matters so to tempt them to it They have fallen under the severities of the penal Laws even those made against Papists and yet haue suffer'd with as much chearfulness as I believe 't was possible for flesh and blood to do And that they should be brought under a suspicion of hatching Treasonable designes had been utterly unaccountable but that the Discovery of this late horrid Contrivance has convinced me that the Master-piece of Papal policy lies here To forge a false Plot against them that they might conceal a real one of their own and then to perswade the credulous world that the Protestants had forged an Imaginary Plot for the Papists last year that they might hide that which they had designed to execute this present year In which hellish Intrigue though I cannot tell whether there was a greater Mixture of Policy or folly yet this is evident there was a great Mixture of both of which with your Patience Gentlemen I will now give you some short Account that you may have a through light into this work of darkness I. The Policy of the Papists in contriving this present horrid Plot. 1. The Papists finding the Sword of Justice which so long had slumber'd in the Scabbard drawn against them for their Devillish Treason judg'd it necessary to divert the edge another way if therefore they could bring the Protestants under a suspicion of that guilt whereof they stood clearly convicted 't was hoped the Current of the peoples fury together with the just indignation of the Magistrate would turn also and not run so violently against their Party for all men naturally fortifie against the present evil and set themselves against the latest and freshest Enemy and therefore it could not otherwise fall out but that they must ease their own Shoulders whilest they loaded other mens Backs and the Fire which threatned to burn them up would slake when they had provided it other Fewel Their former Treasons would be buried in the Grave of new Protestant Rebellions and fresh Crimes would be a kind of an Act of Oblivion for their State-Villanies 2. They promis'd themselves that if their Plot had made those Impressions upon his Majesties belief as to look upon so considerable a number of his Protestant Subjects as Enemies to his Person and Government they should then be the only White-boyes and immediately jump into the Embraces of his Royal Arms for what other Consequences could follow from those Premises If the Protestants lose ground they must win it and pitch their conquering Tents upon the deserted Field 3. It must be Infinite satisfaction to their Revengeful Spirits could they once see the most Eminent Protestants drawn to Tyburn in the
the Greatest Man in England has engaged me in it To which Capt. Bedford rejoyned Whom do you mean The King Ay! said Mr. Willoughby The King And further That he understood that Mr. Willoughby held Correspondence with the Lord Powis in the Tower and that he had seen the Lady Powis her Coach on Saturday before standing before Mr. Willoughby's Lodgings Mr. Doyley was the next Witness call'd in who Deposed that he had Prosecuted the said Willoughby at two several Sessions held in the Old-Bayley for Clipping of Money and Vending of False Guinnies Mr. Willoughby being Askt what he could say to that Answered That he had been twice there Prosecuted by the said Mr. Doyley but all was out of pure malice He confessed that he had been Fined Fifty Pounds for the First Offence and for the Second had obtained His Majesties Gracious Pardon so that he hoped those Matters should not be remembred against him The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex demanding of him Who had Solicited His Majesty for his Pardon He Answered Capt. Richardson had put his Name into a Pardon for which he gave him Three Guinnies Capt. Richardson was then Examin'd who upon his Oath Witnessed That he had this Mr. Willoughby in his Custody two Sessions That the first time his Fine was remitted and he Discharged That the second time he had put his Name into His Majesties Newgate-Pardon but that he never received any Guinnies from him upon such account and indeed he believed he was then not worth a Guinney That he never had a more Notorious Rogue in his Custody who during the time of his Imprisonment was alwayes contriving Mischief and creating Disturbance amongst the Prisoners That whilst he was there he had practised Forgery That in or about last May one Mrs. Celliers a Roman Catholick and a Midwife whom he had observed to come to the Prison to Visit and Relieve the Papists then in his Custody committed upon the account of the late Plot paid Ten Pounds for the Discharge of the said Willoughby rigg'd him out in handsom Apparel and so took him away Of which he took such particular Notice That he acquainted Mr. Justice Warcub what Mrs. Celliers had done and that this Willoughby was a dangerous Person and desired him to keep an eye upon him That he had observed the said Willoughby at Sir George Wakeman's Tryal to take Notes and that he carried them to the Lord Powis in the Tower And Mr. Doyley further Witnessed that he saw the said Willoughby in the Lord Powis his Lodgings the day after the said Tryal where he heard him villifying Dr. Oates and Captain Bedlow and the rest of the King's Evidence Afterwards one Smith Mr. Willoughby's Foot-Boy was Examined who testified That he was sent with a Message and a Note from his Master then in the Messenger's Hand to Mrs. Cellier desiring her to acquaint the said Lord Powis That he was taken into Custody for the old business he knew of That for two Months before he had Lodged in the Lord Powis his house in Queens-Street That he had several times waited on his Master to the Lord Powis his Lodgings in the Tower which described to be in the Mint that he had rode behind the Coach to attend his Master thither That he had several times carried Letters or Papers from his Master to the said Lord Powis and brought Answers back again to his Master And lastly that the Lady Powis had several times been at his Masters Lodgings at Mrs. Celliers and that particularly on Saturday was seven-night the said Lady had been with his Master in a Tower-Room in private discourse with him alone above half an hour The Lord Chancellor was then pleased to ask Mr. Willoughby whither he had been at the Lord Shaftsburies To which he Answered That he had been several times with him and had Discourses with his Lordship some of which he there Rehearsed To which the Lord Chancellor reply'd You are a fine Fellow first to come to His Majesty and there to tell him one Story Then to the Lord Powis and from thence to my Lord Shaftsburies discovering to one what Discourse you held with the other And thus brought one Story to the Council another to the Earl of Shaftsbury All were commanded to Withdraw there being no need of the Testimony of the rest of the Collonels Witnesses in a Matter so plain and clear And presently a Warrant was issued out from the Council-Board to Commit the said Mr. Willoughby to Newgate where he now remains in his old Quarters and an Order was given for his Prosecution to the Mr. Attorney General VVednesday Octob. 29. 1679. THis day Sir William Waller whose known Activity and Zeal for the Service of His Majesty and the Protestant Religion did never yet abate upon some information thought it Expedient to make a through Search in the House of Mrs. Cellier if perhaps something might be further discovered to give Light to this Mystery of Iniquity where he found that Book containing the Rudiments of their designed Plot upon the Protestants which has been already Exemplifyed And I shall only now give the Copy of the Examination of a Maid-Servant in the House which was as follows The Examination of Anne Blake Servant to Mrs. Cellier taken on Oath before Sir William Waller the 29th October 1679. THis Examinant saith that Mrs. Cellier delivered into her Custody two parcels of papers desiring her to lay them up for her so as they might not be discovered or words to that effect And that in obedience to her Mistresses commands this Examinant hid one parcel of Papers behind the Pewter in the Kitchin and the other parcel wrapt up in a sheet of white paper amongst which was a little Paper-book tied with red Ribbons which for the better security was hid in a Tub of Meal both which parcels were seised by Sir William Waller This Examinant further saith that one Lane was this day at the said Mrs. Cellier's House to speak with her and further this Examinant saith not at present Cap. Jurat coram William Waller The Mark of Anne Blake Saturday November 1. 1679. At the Council Chamber in White-Hall THis day the Right Honourable the present Lord Mayor came to White-Hall and delivered to His Majesty or to His Right Honourable Privy Council the Information of Thomas Dangerfield given upon Oath before his Lordship an Extract whereof the Reader hath already had in these Papers as the Particulars referred to the matters discoursed of This day also several other Persons were examined before the Lords of the Council as followeth Susan Edwards Servant-Maid to Mrs. Cellier who lives in Arundel-Street being sworn says That she carried the two little Papers which were shewed her to Mr. Willoughby in Newgate with Twenty Shillings in Silver and a Guinney and two Books of Accounts that he might be perfect in them and that he looked on the one and not on the other and that on Tuesday Night
5000 l to which he answered I will not meddle in it it troubles my conscience and it were but treachery in me if it were done and it is to no purpose to meddle in it for there is a List found out or to that effect Jurat Die Anno supradict coram me Edm. Warcup Jane Bradley Sunday November 2. 1679. At the Council-Board 1. John Gadbury being examined saith he hath seen VVilloughby once or twice at his House with Mrs. Cellier and that he believes he may have cast his Nativity by the name of Thomas at the desire of Mrs. Cellier and two more Nativities for her two Daughters He says that looking upon VVilloughby's Horoscope it prognosticates a bold and adventurous man but does not remember that he said to Mrs. Cellier that he would be hang'd but it 's possible he might That he cast likewise the Lord Powis's Nativity as he doth that of all Persons of Quality the certain time of whose Birth he can be assured of 2. Matthew Hopkinson a Scrivener over against Somerset-House acknowledges that he transcribed a List of Names and a Letter of Mr. VVilloughby's in a Room two pair of stairs high but he does not remember that it was out of a womans hand And the List and Letter being shewed to him he owned them to be his hand-writing 3. Sir James Buttler owned the taking of an Affidavit of Lane about Buggery charg'd upon Mr. Oates and that a woman came with the said Lane to him 4. Thomas Jolly the Taylor being sworn says he carried a Letter from Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis and brought back an Answer Mr. VVilloughby being then present That he hath seen Mr. VVilloughby half a dozen times at Mrs. Celliers Upon the full hearing of these several Informations and Examinations we have this publick account of the result of the Council VVhite-Hall November 2. Mr. Thomas Dangerfield aliàs VVilloughby having been examined the 27 th past by the Lords of His Majestie 's Privy-Council concerning certain dangerous and treasonable Papers seised in Colonel Roderick Mansel's Chamber which it appeared to their Lordships had been by him conveyed thither was therupon by Order of the Board committed to Newgate and having since given in an Information to the Lord Mayor of London of several treasonable practises against His Majestie 's Person and Government and of his having been prevailed with by several of the Popish Religion to counterfeit the above-mentioned Papers and Letters by which divers Noblemen and other Protestants were to have been brought under a suspicion of carrying on a Plot against His Majestie 's Government And the said Information being yesterday morning brought to His Majesty by the Lord Mayor and by His Majesty sent to the Council-Board Mr. Dangerfield was sent for and further examined by their Lordships who thereupon the last Night committed the Earl of Castlemain to the Tower and Mrs. Cellier to Newgate and did this day likewise commit Mr. Gadbury to the Gate-house and Mr. Rigaut to Newgate several other Persons accused being in the Custody of His Majestie 's Messengers and their Lordships have appointed the further Examination of this Matter on Tuesday next Novemb. the 2d the same day 1. The Deposition of William Woodman taken upon Oath on the 2d of Novemb. 1679. before the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council Who saith That he hath known Mr. Willoughby at the Lord Powis his House for about Two Moneths time and that he hath seen him and Mrs. Cellier write there very often That he carried a Packet of Letters from Mr. Willoughby or Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis at the Tower and that her Ladyship opened the Packet and read some of the Letters and gave others to him the said Woodman who carried them to one Nevile in the Kings-Bench and that he hath carried Letters divers times between Mrs. Cellier and Mr. Willoughby and Nevile William Woodman 2. The Information of Mary Ayray taken upon Oath the 2d day of Novemb. 1679. before the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council This Informant saith upon her Oath That she went with Willoughby and Duddell to Nevile in the Kings-Bench and left Willoughby at a Coffee-house by the way and carried a Sheet of Notes taken at Langhorne's Tryal which Willoughby writ but was given her by Mrs. Cellier to carry to Nevile And she saith she carried a Letter from Nevile to Mrs. Cellier and a Letter from Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis she has also seen Singe with Mrs. Cellier and she has seen Willoughby write the Speeches of the Five Jesuites the which Mrs. Cellier did dictate to him And saith also That she has seen Lane at Powis-House who went by the name of Johnson and that Mrs. Cellier ordered him to be called by that Name This Informant also saith that she went with my Lady Abergaveny last Winter to the Earl of Shaftsbury about her being Indicted as a Popish Recusant but has not been at any other time since with the Earl of Shaftsbury but knows nothing of the Earl of Shaftsbury's being threatned to be killed by the Lady Abergaveny And saith That Mr. Nevile did bid her tell my Lady Powis that he would write to his Friend Mary Ayray 3. The Information of Bennett Duddell a Joyner Taken upon Oath before His Majesty in Council Nov. 2. 1679. The Informant saith That he hath wrought at Powis House and hath there seen Mr. Willoughby that he went with Mrs. Ayray to see one in Prison in the Kings-Bench but knew not that his Name was Nevile that Mr. Willoughby stayed in the mean time at a Coffee-house thereby He saith that when they returned they brought some Papers with them and that soon after Mrs. Ayray went to the Tower That he hath at Powis House seen Mr. Willoughby Mrs. Cellier and others often Writing He remembers that one Mr. Lane lay there in the House and that Mrs. Cellier was once in great fear when she thought that Lane was lost He doth remember that Mr. Willoughby did once ask him if he could make a Hand-Press in order to Printing and he made answer he would ask the Lord Powis and his Lady if he might make such a thing He says he went Once or Twice with Mrs. Ayray to the Gatehouse who went with money to the Prisoners But the reason of his being the more with Mrs. Ayray was by the reason of a Match proposed by Mrs. Cellier between him and her That in Powis House there is a private place made by him and by the Lady Powis Order Sworn before the King in Council Bennett Duddell Tuesday Novemb 4th 1679. His Majesty sate in Council in the Afternoon to Examine further into the Discovery made by Thomas Dangerfield alias Willoughby 1. The Lady Powis was called in to whom the Deposition of Woodman being read her Ladyship said That to her knowledge she never had Packet from Willoughby or ever sent a Packet to Nevile That she has had
Fail to be there that present Night and therefore appointed them to come thither on Wednesday Morning That at the time prefixt they came and found Mr. Willoughby with his Friend in their Chamber that Mr. Willoughby took him aside and Whispered to him that the Goods were in the Room above-head and desired him to charge himself to Assist them That after a narrow Search finding no such Goods as were informed of Mr. Willoughby pointed towards the Bed which they drew out Three Foot from the Wall and Searched with all Exactness but still Mr. Willoughby pointing to the Beds-head Mr. Stretch went once more behind the Bed with a Candle but with the same Success At last Mr. Willoughby going behind the Beds-head alone call'd to the Officers What 's that hangs there Shewing them a Packet of Papers pinned to the Beds-Head The Officer taking them down Mr. Willoughby snatch't one of them out of his Hand and ere he could Read any thing cryed out Here is Treason The Officer taking another Paper and reading it there were Words to this Purpose I wonder at your Delay and that the Four Lords have left Us for now the Old tyrant has declar'd himself a Papist At which Words Mr. Willoughby cry'd out Ay That 's the King That 's the King he means Did not I tell you these were Treasonable Papers and that you ought to Secure them and the Person too if he had been here and carry them either before the Council or a Secretary of State Mr. Stretch also swears That these were the same Papers that were taken from behind the Beds-head and that he did verily believe they were put there by Mr. Willoughby It was now late and the Council rising ordered Mr. Willoughby to be Committed to a Messenger and Collonel Mansel with his Witnesses to appear the next Day at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon Fryday Octob. 24. Afternoon at the Council-Board THe Council being met Collonel Mansel put in his Humble Petition That the rest of his Witnesses might be heard Upon which His Majesty was pleased to order That the Cause should be heard the next Council-Day Mr. Willoughby moved that till that time he might stand upon Bail but an Order was granted That he should remain in the Messenger's Custody as before With which Order the Messenger acquainted him very Civilly But he storm'd and swore He was confident there was no such Order for he knew there were those within that would not suffer him to be so treated But the Messenger insisted upon his Order and demanded his Sword which he refused to deliver to him but to another Messenger However Mr. Willoughby was safely Conducted to the Messenger's House The Council that Night after a short Recess sate again And his Majesty was gratiously pleased to appoint the Collonel's Affair to be heard on Monday following at Four in the Afternoon And then a Motion he made That Collonel Mansel should also be Committed The Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor opposed the Motion and so it fell Monday Octob. 27 1679. At the Council-Board ABout Five or Six of the Clock in the Afternoon the Collonel and Mr. Willoughby were call'd in where after a short Repetion of the Charge against the Collonel imployed in the Papers he prepared to make his Defence Mr. Willoughby having received Instructions fresh out of the Mint in the Tower addressed himself to his Majesty with a peculiar Confidence affirming That there were Sixteen of these Papers found in his Chamber and therefore he desired to know what was become of all the rest As also of the Box of Treasonable Printed Pamphlets and Two or Three hundred Letters Adding that Mansel had got together a Company of Witnesses to disparage the King's Evidence and to palliate his own Treasonable Practises And desired he might have the Leave to ask the Collonel some Questions It was granted and Mr. Willoughby proceeded Whether did not the Collonel frequent the Angel Clubb behind the Exchange and divers others in the City Whether he did not keep a Clubb of his own at one Street's a Tallow-Chandler's House in the Market-place Westminster Whether he did not know one Disney Grange England L'isle and one Capt. Brown Whether he did not bring into his Clubb one Night a scandalous Pamphlet called A Word without Doors and there publickly read it And afterwards used Treasonable Words against his R. Highness The Collonel owned that he knew many of the Gentlemen by him mentioned but that they were all very honest Gentlemen and Loyal Subjects and all of them Inhabitants of VVestminster saving only Capt. Brown who had been Lieutenant to Major Russel's Troop of Horse in his R. Highnesses Regiment But all Treasonable Discourses with them or any other he utterly disavowed and was thereupon commanded to call the rest of his Witnesses Mr. Harris and Mrs. Harris first appear'd who witnessed as before That the Number of the Papers contrary to Mr. VVilloughby's Allegation were not Sixteen but Nine Mr. Bostock confirm'd the same and further That those Papers then before the Honorable-Board were the same Papers found behind the Beds-head And that he did verily believe Mr. VVillonghby had placed them there Mr. Stretch being Sick appear'd not but his Depositions were read tending to the same Effect Collonel Mansel then produced a Record to prove That Mr. VVilloughby had been Indicted at an Assize held at Salisbury for the County of VVilts in Three Indictments for uttering Counterfeit Guinnties to three several Persons That upon his Tryal he confessed all the Indictments and was Fined Five Pound upon each Indictment and further Sentenced to stand in the Pillory he broke the Goal ran away and escaped the Execution of the Third The Lord Chancellor and the Lord President asked Mr. VVilloughby What he Could say for himself VVho denyed that ever he had been at Salisbury in all his Life His Majesty was pleased to ask him VVhether he would take his Oath that he was never there He readily answered That he would not only take his Oath but take the Sacrament upon it also The Lord President replyed What will you swear against a Record Here 's a Record brought in against you Yet he persisted to deny that he was ever there Capt. Bedford his Friend was then called in who gave a full Relation how Mr Willoughby came to him on Tuesday Night before to desire him to Lodge with him at his New-Lodgings He confirm'd the Evidence of Mrs. Harris and the rest as to the manner of Searching the Collonel's Chamber and the finding of the Papers Adding further That going to Mr. Cellier's House to speak with Mr. Willoughby he told him what an Evil Thing he had done not only to the Collonel but himself to ingage him in so vile a Business which now was so clearly laid open And therefore desired him to discover the whole Truth and who had Engaged him in it To which Mr. Willoughby replyed Pish I doubt not to come off for
the matter of Fact with the professed declared designments of it every Reader will load it with such Epithets and give it more poignant Terms than I can readily invent who am naturally barren in my Invention I am not curious in my method but have indulged my own humour in this single point to represent the whole in distinct paragraphs that so the meanest reader who deserves and may challenge an interest in these papers may more easily digest that in parcells which perhaps would overset his capacity if swallow'd in the lump and further Preface let not the Reader expect from me 1. The whole of the Intrigue was thus much That whereas the Catholicks former design upon His Majesties Person and Government and the design of that design to extirpate the Protestants and the Protestant Religion was clearly discovered and probably would now be prevented and that all their hopeful and promising attempts to corrupt the Kings Evidence had to their great surprize miscarried yet still though success were wanting to their endeavours they would not be wanting to themselves but push for it once more that if possible they might retreive the game which seem'd utterly lost to all but themselves who had great faith against great discouragements That a Plot might be contrived with such fair probabilities and presumptions having witnesses laid in at every stage to prove the particulars which being prudently fasten'd upon the Protestants might so win upon the belief of His Majesty and so approve it self to the Consciences of the Judges and Juries before whom any of the Plotters should be indicted arraign'd and tryed that the Protestants would be found guilty of conspiring against the Person and Government of His Majesty and thereupon being justly and openly sacrificed to the Justice of the Law the Catholicks might appear as they have confidently avowed themselves to be the Kings best Subjects and then it might be left to the Ingenuity of the Impartial world to draw this conclusion That it was now evident that the last years Plot which by the malicious Artifices of the Hereticks had been father'd upon the Innocent Catholicks was but a colour to take away their Lives and sieze their Estates which being considerable was sufficient to render them guilty with those whose covetousness had prepared them for the spoil And this is the substance of what in the sequel of this Narrative shall brancht out into its particulars in which the Narrator does most solemnly and religiously promise to surrender himself a slave to Truth Faithfulness and Impartiality 2. It must be observed that though the Papists were so active in forming this New Treason for the Protestants yet they had not laid aside their own but with the same Zeal press'd for the assassinating of His Sacred Majesty as before whether their rage were the more inflamed because it was restrain'd or that like losing Gamesters they were resolved to double the stake or quit all or whether thy fancied they had got better instruments to effect that out-work with which all their other designes must succeed proportionably I say whether for these any or all of these or other Reasons it was 't is none of my part to determine only that thus it was Mr. Dangerfield in his information upon Oath before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London assures us which information was taken Octob. 31. 1679. I was sent for to the Tower whither I went in disguise and after much discourse with my Lord Powis in the dining Room he took me into his Chamber and there was the Lord Arundel who first said after some discourse will you do any thing to make your Fortune I answered yes I would do any thing well then said he will you kill the King for a good Reward I was amaz'd and said Sir you jest surely then he again asked me and I said any Body but the King and His Royal Brother Nay said he I mean not so But Tell me will ye do it I again answered no! without time to consider o' nt Then said my Lord Powis No! no! come Lord Arundel does only this to try you and pray my Lord Arundel says Lord Powis what will you give him to do so 't is worth said Lord Arundel 2000 l. No! no! said Lord Powis you shall do that to my Lord Shaftsbury and shall have 500 l. for your Reward but of the Honourable Persons interest in their hatred in its proper place the same Deponent says further That when he had acquainted the Lord Peterburgh that Sir Robert Peyton would meet him at Mr. Gadburies house the next Tuesday night at 5 a Clock he went also to Mr. Gadburies and gave him notice of it who liked it well but was angry that I had displeased the Lords in the Tower and especially the Lord Castlemain who did design to make my fortune I demanded if he knew the ococcasion of their Anger he answered yes it was because I would not kill the King I wonder at you said he when you knew no way to get out of Prison whilst you lived had not good Charity done it that you should refuse it nay it might so easily have been done by your own hand that no hurt could have befallen you Why said I Mr. Gadbury can it be any other but death yes with you said he for before you were released out of Prison I had by Mrs. Celliers a true Account what time you were born and the Countess of Powis ordered me to Calculate your Nativity and it is so clear that you were adjudged by all a person allotted to that bold and daring Enterprize and in Mr. Willoughbie's further examination before the Council-board Nov. 1. 1679. he affirms That after he had been introduced to the King by Mr. Chiffinch where he had been alone with His Majesty in his Closet and told Mrs. Cellier that he had so been O said she what an opportunity have you lost and soon after the Lady Powis said the same thing in Mrs. Cellier's hearing And how bravely he might have killed the King if he had been provided 3. This Plot was unanimously agreed should in the outward and discursive part of it only touch the Presbyterians if I should adventure the credit of this one point upon Common fame it were no vain thing for the Ears of all men were alarmed with a continual noise of a Presbyterian Plot the Pamphlets rung of nothing but a Presbyterian Plot and the Coffee-houses ecchoed to the common Prints a Presbyterian Plot so that the Eyes of all who received the Impression were fixt upon that kind of men as the quarter from whence this prognosticated storm would arise but I shall not content my self much less the Reader to rest this observation upon popular outcry but shew that it was a designed and a politickly designed thing too Mr. Dangerfield in his Information of October 31. 1679. Deposes to this purpose That the Countess Powis told him he must go into Buckinghamshire to
at any rate for she had ordered business for him the Tuesday next And first she furnishes him vvith mony to remove himself to the Kings-Bench by Habeas Corpus here he is releived by her again receiving twenty shillings in hand and twenty shillings per week with promises of a speedy Release but because the good of the Catholick Cause was the main end that must overrule lesser projects she had found a notable job of work for him there which was to practise upon one Mr. Strode then and there a Prisoner whose story will he taken up in due order here a peice of service was also enjoyned him with Captain Bedlow by the Lords in the Tower as Mr. Mounson told him viz. that he should send for the Captain and pretending he knew something of the Plot when he was in Flanders that he would gladly discover it if he might be examin'd which would be a great piece of Service to the Lords first being sworn an evidence for the King and then to swear such other matters as Mr. Mounson should instruct him in but because they could not Contrive any secure footing to proceed upon in his treating with Captain Bedlow the business fell Some while after being furnisht with Money as he deposes by the Lords Powis Petre Arundel Bellasis and Stafford to Compound his Debts and Five pound given him by M ris Cellier to clear his Fees Mr. Dangerfield is fully enlarged And being at Liberty after so long durance in several Prisons he lookt on himself a competent Undertaker in the greatest Affairs and was brought by M ris Cellier to the Lady Powis who thank'd him for his diligence in the business of the Kings-bench and withall told him that his faithfulness in that Affair should make his Fortune provided he would undertake other business which he promis'd to doe But now he must come under Discipline to make him tight to the Cause and accordingly is charged to continue steadfast in his Religion what that was perhaps every body perhaps no body knows to Confess once a Week to Mr. Mounson which he promised to doe And indeed when he was in the Kings-bench he was advised to scowre his Kettle that is to Confess and Receive but because his Practices would need a little latitude he was Indulged to be drunk with Strode and told it was no sin because it was for the good of the Cause Being thus prepared it was time he should be encouraged and so he was the Countess Powis sends him with a Letter to the Lord Castlemain who received him kindly and promised to make his Fortune if he would use his endeavour to support the Catholick Cause and presently returns him with a Recommendatory Letter to the Lady Powis to this purpose This person I like well and though he be no Scholar yet he may serve to instruct the Youths according as he shall be directed and in so doing I shall be eased of much suspicion And now Mr. Dangerfield must go into Buckingham-shire to Madam or Mounsieur Jeane for it was a Priest in Womans disguise and from him he receives the Rudiments of this Presbyterian Plott and comes up to the Lords in the Tower to have it reduc'd to a consistent Form And when Mr. Dangerfield was sent with a Letter to the Lady Tuke she seem'd to like him well and sent word he was fit to be employed and gave him two Guinneys and askt him If he was one that durst do any thing of desperate consequence He answers Yes But the Lady Powis meeting with some Rub in an Affair she had with a Noble Person and not being able to procure Mr. Mounson out of Prison to be an Assistant in this grand Intrigue tells Mr. Dangerfield I thought I could have got Mr. Mounson out but since it can no better be you must do all our business and from that night by order of the Lords sent by Mris. Cellier he was to fall upon the execution of this black Design 6. Mr. Dangerfield is now Plenipotentiary to manage the whole Negotiation under the Conduct of his great Lords and Masters and that he might the better expect success they consult how to prepare the People to receive and believe a Story so incredible that the Protestants would actually Rebell Their first attempt was by dispersing several scandalous Pamphlets written by Nevill and others against the Presbyterians to refresh the Peoples Memories with any old Actions of theirs which might render it credible And the next was that by several Agents assign'd to their respective Posts the Coffee-houses might ring of the general apprehensions of some Notorious Villanies ready to break forth from the Presbyterian party This Mr. Dangerfield deposes That he gave the Papers he received from Mr. Jean in Bucks to the Lady Powis who open'd and read them to this effect That good store of Pamphlets must be writ and spread abroad against the Presbyterians and persons must be employed to goe to Coffee-houses and rail against the Presbyterians and if they met with any that offer'd to contend matters of Treason or some such thing might easily be laid to their Charge and so have them secured but there must be many persons employed in these matters and it would be great prudence not to let them know one another nor any one to know more than the part he was to act And again From that night by the Lords Order sent me I began going about to Coffee-houses and had an Account from Nevill what to goe to and I chose Farrs Coffee-house whither I went every night till Mr. Kinnaston and I differ'd And here it seems for want of other idleness his discourse was as the Lords had instructed him That Sir Edm. Bury Godfrey was Murther'd by my Lord Danby 's Order who joyn'd with the Presbyterians to overthrow the Catholicks A story so incredible as might justly shake the credit of the rest amongst considering persons Then he was sent to drop the Danby Reflections and Timothy Touchstone and divers other base Pamphlets written by Nevill in the Coffee-houses and to send them sealed up in Papers to Man's Coffee-house to Farrs and to Proctors and others Let us note by the way that this Mr. Nevill was a person great in repute for the happiness of his Pen And I have been credibly informed from the Minutes of the Council that Mr. Dangerfield before the Honourable Board affirm'd Nov. 7. 79. Fryd afternoon That Mr. Nevill by the advice of the Lords in the Tower should be again confined forasmuch as when he was formerly in that Condition he had been very industrious in writing of Papers in their business but now he was at liberty he chiefly follow'd the Play-house But the Information of Mr. Bedford Nov. 4. before the Council is very remarkable That about six weeks before he went with Mr. Willoughby to one Thompson in Fetter-lane who was then printing The Presbyterian Unmasked in which famous piece if the Reader will consult it
Mr. VVilloughby having proceeded thus far yet apprehended himself within reach of danger and therefore fearful of being suspected as soon as the Officers had seized the Papers and carried them to the Custom-house he withdraws to send word to the Tower that the Papers were seized And the Lords there were not without apprehensions that the Papers might be conveyed away and therefore immediately send him word to acquaint His Majesty how the Papers were seized who sends Mr. Dangerfield to Mr. Secretary Coventry that he should come forthwith to VVhitehall but in the mean time Mr. Dangerfield not knowing what further to say when he should attend the King goes home to advise with Madam Cellier where not long after he was apprehended but the Justice taking Bail and ordering him to attend the Council next morning the Lady Powis meets him in the Stone-Gallery encourages him to stand fast assuring him that if he were committed he should be brought off and want for nothing That night he stood again upon his Bail and was ordered to attend the Council next day at three a clock which gave him a convenient time to be better instructed And full instructions he received the next day from the Lady Powis her own hand as she met him in the stone Gallery with a strict charge to stand fast which he resolved and promised to do These Instructions he transcribed whilst in the Messengers hands and kept close to them in his pleading before the Council as by comparing his Defence with his Instructions will evidently appear a Copy whereof at the conclusion of this Paragraph shall be presented to the Reader But notwithstanding whatever defence he could make and though according to the charge of Mr. Sharp his ghostly Father he stoutly denied all that was alledged against him before the Council yet was he committed to Newgate the place as he observes from whence they had fetch'd out at first and now by these intrigues had returned him back thither at last To the Prison Mrs. Cellier sends her Maid with that old repeated charge To stand fast promising him he should want for nothing and encouraging him to hope he should be removed to the Kings-bench and the same time she sends him one Guinney and twenty shillings in silver and a of paper filled with Crosses and by the hand of Mrs. Cellier this grave sentence written I will never change but Mrs. Cellier was her self it seems got into prison too and not knowing but that if Mr. Dangerfield should find courage enough to stand fast and resolute as she enjoined him yet the wisdom of the Council might possibly entrap them in some contradictions she sends therefore her servant a second time with a Letter of advice to him which sounded to this purpose I am in custody and if examin'd how I came to know you will declare I employ'd you to gather in desperate debts I would have you say the same if you be examin'd and say also that it was you that sent me to the Lord Shaftsbury and I will say so too for this cannot worst you And with this Letter she sent him their Debt-books that he might from thence be instructed to make his tale good A true Copy of the Instructions sent to Mr. Willoughby by the hands of the Lady Powis teaching him how to make his Defence before the Council and answer all Objections FIrst I am suspected to have put the Letters behind the bed when I went to take the rooms The improbability of that is plain for I neither knew what Room Mansell would lye in nor if I my self should be entertained there But when I had been told which Rooms were to be let it plainly appears I did not desire Mansell should out of his Lodging to give me place And after I had taken the Lodgings they cannot prove that I was any more in Mansell's Lodgings till the search was made Secondly Stretch swears I at the same time that he was searching went round the bed and he believes I then put them there for the reason that I first espied the papers But 't is strange that the Mistresses Brother one Messenger more and others in the room at the same time could not see me go round the bed as well as Stretch This is twice I am suspected for that he also swears I declared the Letters to be treasonable papers before I see the inside of any one and that he never read any Letter to me To prove he did let Mr. Bedford be examined I also desired them to seize all the rest of his Letters and Pamphlets which were of great consequence and a considerable number of both and bring them immediately to the Honourable Council whither I went expecting to find them but it seems they were carried to the Lord Shaftsbury and afterwards sent to Justice Warcup when five or six of the Letters found behind the bed had been taken out and all the Pamphlets and two or three hundred Letters more and a Parchment or two with great seals to them were returned to Mr. Mansell again and only such as were thought fit to be withstood by him here produced To testifie the other Letters Mr. Bedford I also desire to know what time and where the Writings were delivered to him again and why they were not all produced as well as those that are And why they were not from that time forthwith by him carried before some Secretary of State to peruse And by what power he could examine the Boy and give him Wine And why the Boy was threatned to be sent to Bridewell or with a Constable And why he was afterwards called good Boy and told he was the prettiest Boy they ever see Now if the Boy who if asked can declare I never pre-instructed him in the least tittle would not tell the truth as they call it without being thus prompted and threatned I humbly conceive little credit can be given to what he says but if it were truth and had come freely from him as it did not he is not of age to understand an Oath Pray let Mr. Bedford be asked if this Mansell did not at any time use to go to a Factious Club in Westminster-Market or if he did not bring a scandalous Pamphlet titled The Word out of doors and there applaud the same I desire to know if he does not know Captain Brown Mr. Disney Mr. Hamey Mr. Alsop Mr. Kenniston Mr. Philips Mr. Wray Mr. Murray Mr. Pemberton Mr. Whitaker and many of the Faction about the Town and if he had not frequented their Meetings If he has then he may justly be suspected for these are most notorious persons amongst the Faction who cannot love or endure to hear any speak well of His Majesty or the present Government Now I would fain know how Doyley could be so well acquainted with me to know my name to be any other but Willoughby and by what power he examined the Boy and when he see me at the Tower
it makes it the more plain that I could not proceed in such weighty Vndertakings as I have managed without considerable Counsel and Direction which is agreeable to what I have affirmed The Narrator's Conclusion to the whole Work READER THe Net must be cunningly cast that takes all the Fish in the River and this Narrative though it can modestly mention its own industry yet dares not presume that nothing has escaped its diligence but besides it might seem uncivil to leave nothing wherein the Pen of another might travel to reap the Fields so clean that there should be no gleaning for the Poor is Cruelty to leave no Clusters after the Vintage would be interpreted Covetousness and yet I dare avow that he that complains of Penury in this Collection will hardly furnish out his Table with a more plentiful Treat But because there are some particulars which might have been crowded in before yet not without Incoherence which I thought the Reader would grudge if he knew they had escaped him I was willing to adde a few Remarkables which I rather purposely reserved for this place than carelessly omitted in the body of the Discourse § 1. Then it deserves a special Remark that this Mr. Dangerfield who whilst he was a servant to an Instrument in the carrying on their grand Intrigue was a man of great parts amongst them a gallant Gentleman as soon as he begins to be honest to reflect upon those Mazes of Villany wherein by their seduction he had trodden now all of the sudden hears nothing from them but an infamous person one of no Credit whose Testimony must not pass for any thing Strange that he who was thought a credible Witness to have fastned a Paramount Treason upon so many Noble Protestant Lords and worthy Gentlemen should lose his Credibility when he comes to recriminate and cast the Guilt where it ought to lie upon a small number of Catholicks 'T is a singular happiness that our Papists have that their Agents are all honest whilst they do mischief and presently Villains when they discover it Thus they dealt with all those whom remorse and a timely reflexion upon their own evil ways wrought upon to discover the late Plot used their Agency abased their simplicity to execute their Projects and then decryed them for debaucht Criminals when they could serve themselves and their Cause no longer of them from whence we learn that there 's no Crime so great amongst them as Repentance I will here give the Reader the Minutes of the Examinations before His Majesty in Council Tuesday November 4. 1679. relating to this one Remark 1. The Lady Powis saith She hopes the Oath of an infamous person shall not bring her in danger for that no body of common sense would ever confide any thing of Importance to such a Creature as he A very ingenuous Reflection first to make him infamous by his Ghostly Fathers Indulgence to be drunk and then to plead his Infamy to cover their own but let Mr. Willoughby answer for himself who gave this smart Repartee to her Ladiship That he was not so inconsiderable in their Opinion but that they were willing to get him out of Prison at the charge of Sixty pound which in all places it cost him as may appear by his Book which was taken out of his Closet by Sir Will. Waller 2. Mrs. Cellier to whom Mr. Willoughby was such a Croney that they were hand and glove she that used to admire his excellent parts and rare dexterity in the manage of business yet now says She never caused Willoughby or any body else to put forth Pamphlets but that indeed he did make some and put them forth which were very inconsiderable things That Willoughby did once read to her two Pamphlets wherein was no matter of hurt but the things were foolish and mere Chimaera's Then she rails at and reviles Willoughby c. And yet this good Gentlewoman when she came to introduce Mr. Willoughby to the Right Honourable the E. of P. gave a high Character of him that he had much improved himself abroad in the service of the Prince of Orange and the Duke de Villa Hermosa 3. The Lord P. called in saith That he gave his Servants charge to admit Willoughby whenever he came and that he did call him Captain Willoughby yet his Lordship tells the Board he cannot but be troubled to have his name mentioned by so infamous a person as this was 4. Mr. Nevile alias Payne called into the Council on Friday Nov. 7. 1679 saith That Willoughby had writ him a kind of a Challenge which he rejected upon knowledge of his infamous life besides that he was grown in his behaviour proud and as high as a Prince That the Commerce between Mrs. Cellier and Willoughby was very scandalous that she was suspected to defrand the Charity which came through her hands which by the collection of all sorts of Catholicks was about 22 l. per week § 2. I must apologize for the Non-appearance of the so-much-celebrated List of Names fixed or endeavoured to be fixt upon the Lodgings of the Narrator in Ax-yard which I have many cogent Reasons to conceal 1. Lest it should tempt the worthy persons therein to study some revenge upon the Catholicks which being so inconsistent with Protestant Principles those gallant Gentlemen will satisfie themselves with their own Innocency and willingly want what might have awakened even a just Indignation 2. I know not how far such a List might provoke any person against my self and yet I must say thus much I could be content to be half hang'd to save the lives or the longings of such honourable persons 3. I have a Reason worth two of these I did not because I could not publish it all my industry and interest not having been able hitherto to procure it It was once in my Chamber it seems when I was willing to be honestly rid of it but now I wish it there it will not come and I profess I will forgive Mr. Dangerfield from the beginning of the world to this day if he will once more come and pin it at my beds-head and the Key shall lie under the door against he is at leisure § 3. One particular omitted in the Information of Mr. Dangerfield must here be retrieved The next day says he I went to Lord Castlemain who demanded Why I was so unwilling willing to do that for which I was taken out of the Prison and frown'd much on me and sent his man down and I fearing his fury laid my hand to my Sword and came down stairs he not approaching and went away and told Mrs. Cellier my Lord Castlemain was angry with me Oh said she 't is his custom to fall out one hour and be good friends the next Then she advised me to go to Confession and Receive which I did of Mr. Sharp and he having notice of my Refusal to my Lord Powis and Lord Arundel would scarce let me come from him but told me I must do Penance for denying to serve God in that which the Scriptures taught Then I demanded If they taught me to kill my King He answered Yes if he were condemned thereby But I got from him and was then about to have discovered all But coming home I found the Lady Powis with Mrs. Cellier and when she saw me sent for me in and laughed I said Madam it is not a laughing matter I Then she said Know you what I laugh at I answered I did Well well said she Mr. Willoughby will be honest and do us no harm I am sure Then I sat down and had some discourse and she said The Duke of York was coming and that would somewhat qualifie the Rage of the Presbyterians What these Romish Zealots will be at next time must discover and when time shall discover it I wish the Protestants may make a good improvement of their Mercies FINIS