Chillington the like for Horse To Sir James Symmons of Ashton in Staffordshire the like for Horse This Informant saith that be also saw Sir Robert Throgmorton fill up a Lieutenant Collonel's Commission to his own Regiment and deliver it to one Sir Charles Neale who accepted the same and kiss'd it upon his Knees And that he this Informant also was present and saw Sir James Symmons deliver a Captains Commission to Mr. William Fowler of St. Thomas near Stafford And also when Sir Thomas Gifford deliver'd a Captains Commission to Mr. Augustin Gifford and also to Capt. Gowre the like Captains Commission and to Bazil Brooks Esq the like Captains Commission and to Mr. John Pursel a Cornet's Commission and to Thomas Pursell a Warrant for Quarter Master and to several other inforiour Officers and the several Collonels aforesaid This Informant saith that all these Collonels Commissions with the Blanks as aforesaid were deliver'd by Mr. Lunt in the presence of this Informant And this Informant saith he knows they were such Commissions because he saw them and heard most of them read at the time of the delivery to them And for the Lieutenant Collonel and other inferiour Officers Commissions he this Informant saw most of them fill'd up by the Superiours and deliver'd to the inferiour Officers as aforesaid And this Informant further saith that at the same time aforesaid he this Informant saw the aforesaid Mr. Lunt deliver to my Lord Molyneux a seal'd Paper which he this Informant saw him the Lord Molyneux open and read which to the best of this Informants Memory was purporting a Commission and Instructions for the Care and Government of Liverpoole This Informant also saith that he was at a Meeting at Sir John Lawsons in York shire about the Month of March then next following with Mr. Lunt where were the Gentlemen Mr. Lunt names in his Information where he this Informant then heard most of them publickly own that they had receiv'd Commissions by Mr. Thrillfall some time before from King James and would then have oblig'd this Informant and Mr. Lunt to have engaged with them the Gentlemen of the Country c. This Informant further saith that about the beginning of the Year 1691 he this Informant heard that Mr. Lunt was employ'd in and about London to list Men And this Informant saith that some short time after several Men came into Lancashire as from London and said they were listed by the said Mr. Lunt and sent down to serve under the Command of some of the Officers aforesaid and he this Informant saith that as fast as they came down he was order'd by my Lord Molyneux Sir Thomas Clifton Coll. Molyneux Coll. Tildesley Coll. Townley Sir William Gerrard and his Son and several ther 's the Officers aforesaid to take Care of them and prouide Quarters or Lodgings for them which the said Informant did accordingly and that at several Times this Informant had and did receive Money from my Lord Molyneux Coll. Tilâ—desley Coll. Townley Sir William Gerrard and sime others to pay the said Souldiers for their Subsistance And this Informant saith he did pay and distribute the Money he so receiv'd amongst them which this Informant saith in the whole did amount to to the best of his Mneoy about 3 or 400 l. the Names of many of the Soldiers this Informant yet remembers and a List of them was deliver'd into the House of Commons when the Plot was examin'd there And this Informant saith that he is very well assured that the said Mr. Lunt did at several other times before and after List a great many more than those named in the List aforementioned This Informant further saith that about the Month of February 1691 he this Informant was at a general Meeting of several Gentlemen at Coll. Walmesley at Dungan-Hall in Lancashire many of whom he yet remembers viz. Coll. Townley Coll. Tildesley Coll. Molyneux Coll. Dalton Sir William Gerrard Mr. Gerrard Mr. Dickingson Mr. Stanley Mr. Shuttleworth Mr. Tildesley of Stansare Mr. Massey of Buddington Mr. Langton of the Loe Mr. Gerrard of Inch Sir Thomas Clifton Mr. Blundell of Crosby Coll. Westby of Mobrick Coll. Parker and others the said Coll. Walmesley being then lately come out of France he the said Coll. then produc'd publickly in the said Meeting several Commissions Declarations Grants or Patents that he had then lately brought from King James of several Gentlemens Estates of that Country to other Gentlemen there that were King James 's Friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coll. Tildesley Lord Molyneux Coll. Westbey of Mobrick Coll. Townley of Townley Sir Thâ—â—as Clifton Sir William Gerrard Coll. Molyneux Mr. Gerrard of Inch Mr. Langton of Loe and sâ—â—e others This Informant further saith that above a Fortnight after he this Informant was at the like Meeting at Philip Draycots of Painesley-Hell in the County of Stafford Esquire of most of the aforesaid Gentlemen and others as Mr. Bazill Brooks Sir James Symonds Sir Richard Fleetwood and his Sons William and Rowland Cary of Cary Esquire and others where were produc'd several of the like Grants and Patents as aforesaid brought over by the Lord Stafford and there also given out to those they did belong to this Informant further saith that at this Meeting aforesaid Coll. Parâ—â—â— being also there and was then also lately come out of France he the said Coll. did then publickly produce and deliver to one Capt. George Penny then in the Company a Commission from King James for the said Penny to be a Major of Horse which he said Capt. Penny accepted of with many Thanks and promis'd to do the King the best Service be could And this Informant further saith that at another Time being at a Meeting with the said Coll. Parker at the Sign of the Star an Inn in Holywell in Flintshire and about twenty Gentlemen more he this Informant there saw the said Parker deliver one Commission from King James to one Mr. Pew of Pendrell to be a Captain of Horse and at the same time he the said Parker deliver'd in the presence of this Informant to one Mr. George Davies of Treloughnel and to several others and that the said Parker did there and at several other times as well as at the aforementiond Meetings order direct and desire all the Officers to take Care to have their Men ready at an Hours warning with a Pound of Powder and Ball proportionable to each Man for that he expected News of the Kings Landing every day c. This Informant saith that about the beginning of the Year 1689 he this Informant was order'd and employ'd by Mr. Massey Sir James Symonds Sir Thomas Gifford and Capt. Fowler to List as many Men as be could in Staffordshire and North-Wales for King James's Service under their Command and that he this Informant had Money of the aforesaid Gentlemen for that Purpose and this Informant saith that he did at that Time that is to say within the space of three
And this Deponent farther saith That at the time he was in the Lobby of the House of Commons as aforesaid the said Mr. Shackerley and Beresford came to him and urged him to say in the House of Commons That be knew Mr. Lunt 's Father though this Deponent never did and that his Father should tell him this Deponent that his Son the said John Lunt had four Wives and that he was a very wicked Fellow and did not care what he either said or swore or words to that effect But desired him to say nothing of the matter to any out of the House of Commons till the Business was over for if he did it mould certainly be carried against the Gentlemen and then this Deponent would lose what they intended to give him Tho. Clayton Jurat ' 11 die Febr 1695 Coram Tho. Rokeby Oliver Pearson 's Affidavit OLiver Pearson of Longridge in the Parish of Ribohester and County of Lancaster maketh Oath that about Christmas last was three years he this Deponent being a Servant to John Womball of Wigan-Lane Carryer was imployed as his Servant to manage his Affairs he this Deponent went to meet his said Master's Pack-horses loaden with Goods from London and coming through Wigan Lane aforesaid at an Ale-house formerly known by the Sign of the White Bull adjoyning to the way-side Mr. Standish of Standish-Hall in the said County and Mr. Standish his Son came out of the said House and they knowing this Deponent called for a Pot of Ale and gave it him and this Deponent going a little further in Wigan-Lane aforesaid with the said Pack horses to a Pool or Pond where Horses used to wash and water a Mare with her Pack by accident was thrown down and after she was recovered he drove the Horses home to his said Master's house and there he uncorded the Pack that was upon the said Mare and in the mean time came Mr. Standish the youngeâ— aforesaid and asked for this Deponent's Master and this Deponent answered he left him at Wigan then the said Mr. Standish said he had some Goods brought from London upon those Pack-horses that were directed to Blackbourn and told this Deponent the Marks of the Goods but to whom they were directed or the Marks of those Goods this Deponent cannot remember then the said Mr. Standish desired he might have the said Goods brought home that same night which this Deponent promised should be done and when this Deponent's Master came home he told him of it and likewise told him what a Misfortune had happen'd to the Mare in the Pond as aforesaid and desired his Master to look upon the Goods that were in that Pack to see if they were not spoiled and his said Master going into the Barn where all the Packs lay he opened the Boxes that were in the said Pack and found in them Pistols for Horsemen and when he saw that they were Pistols he threw straw ever them that they might not be seen and this was upon a Saturday night And this Deponent farther saith that upon the Sunday night following about Twelve a Clock his said Master ordered him to Saddle a good Gelding and a Mare and to take two Corn-Sacks into the Barn and there this Deponent and his Master filled those Sacks with the Pistols as full as they could well be carried on Horseback then his said Master opened other Packs and found two Kettle Drums the Kettle Drums were in a Cask made for the purpose which be whelved upon this Deponents bead as he sat on Horseback upon one of the Sacks of Pastols and when this Deponent began to ride forward the Kettle Drums made a noise by ratling one against another and so frighted the Horse that this Deponent was thrown and with the Fall wounded his head upon a Scone Afterwards this Deponent and his Master went to the said Standish-Hall with the said Pistols and Kettle-Drums and delivered them to Thomas Hatton the said Mr. Standish's Steward upon the Bowling Green belonging to Standish-Hall and that done the said Thomas Hatton took this Deponent and his said Master into the House and gave them some drink and likewise gave this Deponent a Shilling and then this Deponent went home with his Master And this Deponent farther saith that his Master did usually go to the said Bowling-Green upon publick Bowling-days if he was not abroad upon Business and he the said Womball did very often stay longer than ordinary when he went to Standish Hall upon Bowling-days and when his said Master did stay longer than ordinary this Deponent did go to fetch him home and one time amongst the rest his said Master told him that he had been with viz. Mr. Dickinson Mr. Townley and a great many more whose Names he has forgot but these he remembers and likewise told him that these Gentlemen promised to give him a considerable Sum of Money for what Losses and Trouble he had been at upon their Account And the said Old Mr. Standish in Discourse said that he would gratifie him himself And this Deponent farther saith that before and after the Kettle Drums and Pistols were carried to Standish Hall as aforesaid his said Master brought several Boxes in Packs from London the Boxes being like those the Pistols were in and had the same marks as they had to his own House and afterwards carried them to Standish Hall And his said Master often times told him that he believed these Boxes were full of Pistols or other Arms. And this Deponent farther saith that about seven years ago he called at a House within a Mile of Blackbourn aforesaid where some Gentlemen were drinking in an Inner Room and the Room door being open this Deponent enquired of some of the People of the House who these Gentlemen were and Answer was made that one of them was Mr. Walmesley which said Walmesley this Deponent took particular notice of because there was then a great talk in the Country of Mr. Walmesley's of Dungan-Hall his Coming to his Estate and about four years ago this Deponent met the same Mr. Walmesley in Church-Parish about three quarters of a Mile from his House called Dungan-Hall on Horse-back with two or three Men in his Company And this Deponent farther saith that between three or four years since one Thomas Clayton then a Carryer called at Thomas Smith's House in the said Wigan-Lane and there he began to rail against this Deponent's said Master for carrying of Arms and said he would Hang him for doing it whereupon the said Smith who was also a Carryer and all inning at the Castle-Inn in Woodstreet London rebuk'd the said Clayton for his so railing against this Deponent's Master saying that he would ruin both himself and other People and by Perswasions made him hold his peace Oliver Pearson Jurat ' 15. die Febr. 1695. Coram me Tho. Rokeby The Information of Robert Dodsworth of Crosby Ravenswith in the County of Westmorland Gentleman THIS Informant upon his Oath saith
prudential Reasons 't is thought fit to conceal them at present there being other and farther Uses to be made of them by the Government here after at his Tryal whensoever he falls into the hands of Justice However that I may not be thought to impose upon my Reader if Mr. Bromfeild be told that the Proof of that Matter is contain'd in the Papers under his own hand which he sent out of Ireland by the Carver I am almost confident he will not deny it I equally abhor a false and partial Author but Mr. Bromfeild's Crimes are of themselves so heinous and execrable that his Historian need not give himself the Trouble to add to their Blackness therefore I have rather abbreviated than inlarg'd the Share he had in the Plot and made no other use of him but what serves to trace the Conspiracy from its dark Original at the late Kings going off and lets the Readers into the Methods that began the Treasonable Confederacies Here you see the Foundation of the Lancashire Plot to involve the Nation in Blood and Ruin And as if this would not prove a Tragedy deep enough * Si nequeant Superos Acheronta movebunt the Murther of the King as it has done ever since must either precede or go hand in hand with the Invasion For no sooner was King William setled on the Throne but he received Information * Vid. the History of the late Conspiracy written in French that several Persons were sent into England to Assassinate him The same Discovery was made to a great Man in Holland and to the Right Honourable the now Earl of Romney in England though Thanks be to God they found no Opportunity to execute their barbarous Design 'T is impossible for a sober Man to imagine a Provocation strong enough to excuse either the committing or incouraging such a Villany but it seems his Majesties Enemies were more afraid of the Kings single Person then of the united Strength of all the Allies And therefore resolv'd to take off his Majesty by ways peculiar to such degenerate Wretches that dare commit the basest and most unmanly Sort of Treason to advance their Interests And this I think will suffice at present to convince the Reader of what will be more plainly prov'd to him in the Sequel viz. That the Lancashire Plot and the Assassination of the King were Twins of the same Birth And agrees exactly with Mr. De la Rue's Depositions at Mr. Charnock's Tryal * Vid. his Tryal pag. 29. The Conspiracy says he to Assassinate his Majesty has been carrying on a great while for some years and it originally came from Col. Parker especially as to my knowledge of it and that was about six years ago at St. Germains when I was there he propounded it to me * Vid. Mr. Geo. Harris's Depositions as to Parker's being privy to it and said he would propound it to my Lord Melfort So that 't is clear that from 1689 till 1696 there was a Design to murther his Majesty and that Col. Parker who managed the Insurrection and Rebellion in Lancashire was one of the cheifest in the Assassination Plot also My next Work is to acquaint you how Bromfeild having agre'd the Plot when he was in Lancashire sent over Commissions from the late King to the Northern Conspirators to raise a Rebellion against their Majesties in those Parts Which was to be carry'd on after this Manner Mr. Lunt who followed the late King into France immediatly after his * Vid. Lunt's and Langley's Affidavit in the Appendix Abdication was sent from thence with the rest of his Guards into Ireland and in May 1689 renewed his Acquaintance with Mr. Bromfeild who was lately come out of Lancashire and a general Report being spread upon his Arrival that Lancashire and the adjacent Counties would rise in order to re-inthrone the late King and that they only waited for Commissions from him for that Purpose Mr. Lunt asks Bromfeild if there was any Truth in that Report Bromfeild avers it to be true and knowing that Lunt was a bold and active Fellow laid hold on this Advantage to perswade him to be one of the Persons that should carry over and deliver Commissions to some of the late Kings Friends and Confederates in England Lunt at first refus'd that dangerous Office but being further press'd and courted to it by many of his pretended Friends and particularly recommended to the late King for that Service by the Lords * Vid. Lunt's Depositions in the Appendix Thomas and George Howard and thereupon sent for by Bromfeild to the Lord Melfort's Office he was there over-perswaded to shut his Eyes against the visible Danger to which they were exposing him by ventring on such a hazardous Imployment which was no wonder for what will not Men of a Senceless Bigottry and desperate Fortune undertake who hope to raise themselves upon the Ruin of their Country The Lancashire Papists having now received the News that the late King was arriv'd in Ireland and had raised so great an Army there that as they fondly thought he would soon be Master of that Kingdom and from thence sail into Lancashire as had been concerted between Bromfeild and the Heads of the Conspiracy and not knowing what Care was taking in Ireland to send over their Commissions These Gentlemen I say growing impatient for them resolv'd to send a Messenger of their own to fetch them that they might be in a Condition to to join the late King with their Forces at his Arrival among them Mr. Edmund Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosner was pitched upon for this Service and the means for his safe and unsuspected Passage into Ireland as well as his secure Returning again into Lancashire was thus contrived The Right Honourable the Earl of Derby sending every Year to fetch Cattle from the Isle of Man into Lancashire * Vid. John Cawson 's Depositions taken before John Patten of Preston Esq and John Cawson of Cockram in the County of Lancaster or his Son Charles Cawson having for some years past been imploy'd in this Service and had now leave from one of that noble Peer's Servants to enter again upon that Voyage as soon as he pleased Mr. Thrillfall treated * Vid. his Affidavit taken Jun. 17. 1689 before John Patten of Preston Esq with John Cawson for his Passage to the Isle of Man and being deny'd by the Father treats with his Son Charles who was to go Master of the Vessel and finding him more plyable trusts him with the Secret and for ten pounds in * See John Knowles's Affidavit taken before Mr. Patten hand and ten pounds more at his return hires the Master to land him at Dublin and bring him back into Lancashire but this Design was to be kept Private and none of the Ships Company were to be acquainted that they were going upon any other or farther Voyage then to fetch Cattle from the Isle
of Man About the beginning of May 1689 the Pink called the Lyon of Lancashire Charles Cawson Master being ready to sail Mr. Edmund Thrillfall and two Strangers yet unknown came on board the Vessel shew'd the Master and Marriners the Earl of Derby's Pass and then the Pink with her Passengers and five Marriners and a Boy * Jo. Preston Hen. Knowles Ja. Tompson Jo. Barrowe Ri. Whiteside in the Night time without any Cocket or Certificate from the Custom House or any Lading loosed out of Lune Road near Lancaster and as all the Saylors believed were bound for the Isle of Man * See John Preston's Affidavit sworn before the now Earl of Maclesfeild Jun. 17. 1689. but before they could compass it Mr. Thrillfall propos'd Sayling to Ireland to which the Master readily consented saying he had some Debts to get in there accordingly they went to Dublin and continued there three wekes All which is proved by the Oaths of the whole Ships Company whose Affidavits are to be found in the Appendix Now are the Commissions preparing or the Northern Conspirators Thrillfall and Lunt are brought acquainted and instructed in the Affair they were ingag'd in And Passes provided for each of them under the Hand and Seal of the Lord Melfort one of which was ready to be produc'd at the Tryal at Manchester but Sir W. W. for reasons best known to himself would not suffer it All things being ready in the three weeks time the Pink continued at Dublin Thrillfall and Lunt went aboard the same Vessel there the former carryed with him a Portmantle Trunk cover'd with Hair and a Sword and a pair of Pistols the latter only a pair of Leather Baggs and Sword and Pistols and arrived in Lune * See the Affidavit of the Ships Crew River near Cockram in Lancashire in the beginning of June 1689. As soon as the Pink came to an Anchor Lunt and Thrillfall pressed to be set on Shoar and the Master was no less concerned to be quit of them least they should be seis'd by the Officers of the Customs who come on board every Vessel as soon as it comes into Harbour To escape this Danger the Offenders make such hast that Lunt leaves his two Bags wherein were some Commissions Declarations Blanks and other written and printed Papers behind him in the Ship Which Lunt missing when he landed he desired the Boats Crew to fetch them and bring them to him at Cockram * See the Depositions of Hen. Knowles and Ri. Whitride who rowed the boat ashore but before the Cock-loat could reach the Ship the Officers of the Customs came on board the Pink seised the Papers and finding them of dangerous consequence pursue Thrillfall and Lunt but not overtaking them deliver the Commissions Declarations and the other written and printed Papers into the hand of Authority These Papers being further enquir'd into Charles Cawson conscious of his own guilt absents himself but his Father and the Ships Crew viz Preston Knowles Whiteside Thompson and Barrow being call'd to account they all of 'em deposed either in the whole or in part all that is related in the six foregoing Paragraphs This early and open Design against their Majesties and the Government making no small Noise in Lancashire the Matter came also to be examin'd at Manchester by the then Earl now his Grace the Duke of Devonshire the now Earl of Macclesfeild the Earl of Scarbrough and the Lord Wharton All these noble Peers being at that time in Lancashire to view and regulate the Army And their Lordships all agreed that the Earl of Macclesfeild as Lord Leiutenant of that County should immediatly issue out his Warrant against Lunt and Thrillfall which was done accordingly Thus far you have found Lunt's and Thrillfall's bringing Commissions into Lancashire from the late King substantially and credibly prov'd and where Interest or Prejudice can no way suspect any Collusion I shall therefore proceed in the next Place to shew you how they dispos'd of ' em Thrillfall and Lunt having escap'd the Officers of the Customs they hasten to Mr. Tildesly's of the Lodge * vid John Wilson's Depositions and there divided their Pacquets The Commissions directed to Gentlemen in Yorkshire the Bishoprick of Durham c. were taken Care of by Mr. Thrillfall Who having a Guide provided for him began his Journey thither as soon as he had refresh'd himself The rest of the Commissions appointed for Lancashire Cheshire Staffordshire c. were committed to the Care of Mr. Lunt Thrillfall pursuant to the late Kings Orders having delivered his share of the Commissions and what else he had in charge to the more Northren Gentlemen he privately returned to his own House at Goosner in Lancashire and having notice there that his treasonable Practices were discover'd by Mr. Kelly Mr. Dodsworth and the Commissions left in the Ship he took all imaginable Care to secure himself there till he could find an Opportunity of returning to the late King in Ireland But this Designincounter'd a severe disappointment and he with the Reward of his Treachery For it being whisper'd among the Party that he was return'd it quickly took Air and a Warrant as I said before being out against him from the Lord Lieutenant he was sought after by a Party of the Militia and found by the Corporal in a hollow Place made for that purpose in a Stack of Turffs As soon as he was discover'd the Corporal attempting to seize him Thrillfall violently snatcheth the Musket out of the Corporals hand and knock'd him down with it but the Corporal recovering himself and finding his own Life and the Prisoners Escape in such apparent Danger he drew his Sword and run Mr. Thrillfall through the Body of which wound he died immediatly And what but the Sense of his own Guilt and the Dread of the shameful Death that he knew must attend it could have forc'd him to such a desperate Resistance of lawful Authority For tho' we allow him to be a Man onever so great Courage yet we can not suppose he would have thrown away his Life as he did if he had not known his Crimes were so great and the Proof of 'em so plain that 't was impossible for him to escape the Punishment inflicted for Treason if he should have been apprehended and brought to a Tryal When Mr. Lunt and George Wilson his Guide had deliver'd his * Vid. Lunt's and Wilsons Depositions in the Append. share of the late Kings Commissions to the Gentlemen whose Names and Places of Abode they give you a List of in their Depositions Lunt was sent by the Conspirators to London to buy Arms list Men and send them into Lancashire to be subsisted at the Charge of the Conspirators till they had occasion to imploy them in the Service of the late King And this Lunt perform'd as appears upon the Oaths of the several Persons whose Names are in the * El. Langley Mr.
only Witnesses enough to take away all the Prisoners Lives but these Witnesses were good ones and very Honest Men and being told by Mr. * See Mr. Wybrands Depositions in the Appendix Wybrand that it look'd like a Contradiction or an Impossibility to save Mens Lives accused of High Treason and that Treason by his own Confession proved against them by several creditable and substantial Testimonies Taffe alias O Mullen reply'd it was no matter for that if the Gentlemen would give him Money to make his Fortune he would contrive a way to do it Again if Conscience had been the Motive why did he go so far in it Why was he so active in seizing of Arms and apprehending the Conspirators If he knew it to be a Piece of Roguery he must know it to be so from the Beginning for he introduc'd Lunt to the Earl of Bellemont read Lunt's Depositions taken before Mr. Secretary Trenchard And knew the Transactions of the whole Matter why then did he not relate it before Why did he not declare it to the Lord Bellemont Mr. Secretary Trenchard Mr. Attorney General Mr. Aaron Smith or some other proper Officer This had been the honestest and easiest Way to have put a Stop to all Proceedings And had been fair candid and upright Dealing as well on the behalf of the Government as the Gentlemen But alass this would have quite spoil'd the making of his Fortune Again if what Taffe says in relation to Mr. Lunt's Evidence had any kind of Truth in it it no way answers the End for which it is design'd for the Truth of the Plot does not as I have said before depend only upon Lunt's single Evidence but upon the Discovery of Mr. Kelly Mr. Dodsworth Mr. Robinson Mr. Cawson and the Ships Company the Custom-house-Officers and several Persons of Quality and others in Lancashire whilst Lunt was acting in it nor was the Discovery from Manchester the Act of any single Person who might be liable to be impos'd upon but the premeditated Act of the whole Bench of Justices at their Sessions in Manchester as appears by the Letter to his Grace the Lord Duke of Shrewsbury which was also seconded by several others of his Majesties Justices of the Peace in their Session from other * See the Letter from Middleton in the Appendix Parts of the County as well as from many private Gentlemen So that Taffe must say something to disprove all these Matters of Fact attested by so many Honourable Persons and others of known Reputation before he or any of that Party can hope to gain Credit to what they said against Lunt But this was the subtile Trick of the Conspirators and their Multinominal Friends to leap over all former Discoveries and fall foul upon Lunt and endeavour to perswade the World that he invented and contriv'd the Plot in May and June 1694. Whereas Lunt and all the rest of the Kings Evidences depose the Plot begun in the latter end of the Year 1688 and in the Year 1689 and by several Progressions continu'd till 1694. So that what Taffe says must of necessity be false both as to the Fact and Time Besides What Taffe says without reflecting upon his former vile and lewd Conversation in being a Renegado Irish Popish Priest changing his Name and being manifestly guilty of Felony and Perjury is only his own naked Affirmation procured by Bribery but what Lunt has sworn as to the Plot in general nay almost in every Particular is confirm'd by the best and surest Testimonies in the World But since what Taffe had the Impudence to affirm has made so much Noise abroad and seem'd the only Reason why Sr. W. W threw up the Tryal I will sum up both their Evidences and leave the Reader to judge which of them is most reasonable to be believ'd among the sober and unprejudic'd Part of Mankind Father Vincent * All these Names be went by alias Thomas O Mullen alias John Taffe says but not upon his Oath There was no Truth in the Plot but that the Whole was a Contrivance between him and Lunt in or about May 1694 but has no Evidence or Circumstance to confirm what he so boldly affirms nor has any thing to say further in the Whole Mr. Lunt deposeth that he follow'd the late King James into France and from thence into Ireland and confirms it by a * Which is now among the rest of the Papers in the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliament Pass under the Hand and Seal of the Lord Melfort Lunt deposeth that in France and Ireland he was acquainted with Bromfeild who negotiated Affairs in Order to a Rebellion between the late King James and the Lancashire Gentlemen But being discover'd the Vessel he had bought taken and himself in great Danger he thought it not safe to go any more thither but having brought word that the Gentlemen had embrac'd the late Kings Commands and only wanted Commissions the Carriage of the Commissions was to be perform'd by Mr. Thrillfall and himself and this he confirms by the Oaths of Mr. John Edwards See their several Depositions in the Appendix George Wilson John Wilson Elizabeth Langley Elizabeth Hearst and the Master of the Vessel and five Seamen Lunt deposeth that in or about June 1689 he and Mr. Thrillfall of Goosner in Lancashire sailed from Ireland in Mr. Cawson's Ship landed at Cockram in Lancashire brought over several Commissions to the Lancashire Gentlemen some of which were left in the Ship and taken by the Officers of the Customs and are now in the Hands of the Government this is prov'd by Mr. Cawson the Master of the Ship that brought Lunt and Thrillfall out of Ireland all the Seamen in the Ship and by the Officers of the Customs that seized the Commissions besides the Noble Peers aforenamed that examin'd the whole Matter in Lancashire and the Commissions themselves seen by Mr. Robinson and are now in the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliament Mr. Lunt deposeth that after he delivered the Commissions above named the Lancashire Gentlemen having formed a Rebellion employ'd him and others to list Men and send them into Lancashire which he did and subsisted them at the charge of the Gentlemen accused in order to be ready for the Service of King James when called for and this is prov'd by the Affidavits of John Wilson Lawrence Brandon Robert Bradly Elizabeth Hearst Elizabeth Langley and many others as also virtually confirm'd by the Letter from the Quarter Sessions at Manchester sign'd by eight Justices of the Peace See the Letter in the Appendix dated 18th October 1689 where they desire his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury to acquaint the Kings Majesty That there hath been some modelling of Officers and Men preparatory to their hopes of an Invasion or Insurrection and tho' our Goals say they are full of Irish Papists yet we have frequent Account of many others at Popish Houses Mr. Kelly in his
Weeks List about sixty Men whose Names this Informant hath by him ready to produce as he then took them This Informant also saith that he hath been since employ'd to List Men several Times in the latter end of the Year 1691 and in the beginning of the Year 1692 by several other Gentlemen as Coll. Walmesley Capt. Penny Mr. Standish of Standish Mr. Morstâ—n of Delakerey and Capt. Pennant of Baggal And this Informant saith he did at these Times by the order and directions of those Gentlemen last above mention'd List about the number of Sixscore and had Money of the said Captain by the Hands of Capt. Pennant for that Purpose And this Informant further saith that he did several Times after he had so listed the said Soldiers pay them subsistance Money by order of Penny and Pennant from whom he had the some And this Informant further saith that he has several Times seen great quantities of Arms in the Houses of the Gentlemen hereafter mention'd in North-Wales Cheshire Staffordshire and Lancashire viz in the House of Mr. Massey of Puddington Capt. Penny Capt. Pennant Sir James Symonds Sir Thomas Giffard Mr. Fowler Mr. Draycott Sir William Gerrard Mr. Walmesley Mr. Standish of Standish-Hall and in some other Houses that he cannot at present remember In the whole this Informant verily believes that there were in the several Houses abovesaid that he this Informant saw Arms for at least a Thousand Men and that it is not above two years at the most since he this Informant saw them there George Wilson Jurat ' 27. die Junii 1694. Coram me J. Trenchard Elizabeth Hearst 's Affidavit ELizabeth Hearst of the Hough in the County of Lancaster maketh Oath That last Summer was twelve Months in the year 1694 when John Womball and others were seizing of Horses in the said County she this Deponent desired the said Womball to go no longer abroad upon that account and also to leaâ—â— any further prosecuting the matter against the Gentlemen in the said County and she this Deponent would give him the said Womball One hundred Pounds and moreover that he the said Womball should never want and that 't was the only way to prevent a distraction amongst the Gentlemen but that he the said Womball refused so to do and that after the late Trials at Manchester when the General Voice of the Country went that Womball was to be set on the Pillory she this Deponent went to one Houghton a Romish Priest and told him that she heard Womball was whipt and Pillored he advised her to go home and be satisfied for there was no such thing and that Womball had sworn nothing but what was Truth and the Gentlemen were satisfied in it But that the Gentlemen were Men of great Estates and would do what in them lay to save themselves for Life was sweet Some time before which one John Brown menial Servant to William Standish of Standish Esq lay all Night at her House and told her that if Womball would have been content to have left off the Prosecution of the Gentlemen aforesaid his Master speaking William Standish Esq would have settled One hundred Pounds a year upon him And also this Deponent saith that one Cuthbert Thrillfall Son of Edmund Thrillfall of the Ashes in Goosher in the said County and one Bacon that was with him said that John Lunt came over with Edmund Thrillfall Father of the said Cuthbert and brought over Commissions with them from King James then in Ireland and that both Father and Son were to be Captains and that this Deponent knew the said Lunt and that he the said Lunt went from place to place as this Deponent was informed to Gather Money and that she this Deponent Contributed thereunto El. Hearst Jurat ' 8. die Febr. 1695. Coram Tho. Rokeby Thomas Clayton 's Affidavit THomas Clayton maketh Oath that in or about October 1694 when the Proceedings and Trials of the Lancashire and Cheshire Gentlemen was under Examination before the House of Commons he this Deponent being then a Servant at the Swan-Inn at Holborn-Bridge was then and there in Company with one William Ashton a Lancashire Man and one of this Deponent's former Acquaintance and as they were sitting together in the Tap-house of the said Inn this Deponent asked the said Ashton in what Country he had been this Deponent being before that time informed that the said Ashton had been in the Country who told this Deponent that he had been in Lancashire and this Deponent asking him what business he had in that Country he answered he had been there as an Evidence for the Gentlemen that were Tried at Manchester And this Deponent asking him the said Ashton what he knew of that Affair He smiled and said that be knew little or nothing of it but that the Gentlemen had given him at the Blew Boar in Holborn the Sum of Ten Pounds before he went down into the Country as an Evidence for them and that since his Return from thence Madam Legh Mr. Legh of Lime's Mother had given him Five Pounds more and then told this Deponent that if he would but say any thing in the House of Commons for the matter was to be Examined there that would vilifie John Womball or blacken the Reputation of the King's Evidences that Mr. Legh of Lime and the rest of the Gentlemen concerned in that Affair would be very kind to this Deponent And a little after this Discourse the said Ashton parted and left this Deponent and about two days after the said Ashton called again on this Deponent at the said Swan-Inn and told him that Sir Gilbert Clark and Mr. Peter Shackerley desired him this Deponent to go to Sir Gilbert Clark's House in Red Lyon Square but this Deponent answered the said Ashton that if they had any Business with him they might come where he was for he had no Concern with them so the said Ashton went away immediately and about two hours after the said Ashton came into the Yard to this Deponent and told him that Sir Gilbert Clark and Mr. Shackerley were now come themselves and desired him this Deponent to go to them into the Tap house of the said Inn and this Deponent went accordingly and after his fitting down as they desired the said Sir Gilbert Clark going then by that Name and Mr. Shackerley whom this Deponent did know asked this Deponent if he knew Womball and he answered that he knew him very well for that he had been his Fellow-servant for several years and then they asked this Deponent if Womball had not pressed him or sollicited him to swear That he this Deponent had being formerly a Lancashire Carrier carried Arms for those Gentlemen that had been accused by the said Womball and others But this Deponent told them that the said Womball never did sollicite him to any such thing but the said Sir Gilbert Clark and Mr. Shackerley did then tell this Deponent that they would take
that about August last he went to Mr. Tho. Carus of West-Hall in the County of Lancaster and the said Mr. Carus told this Informant that he could do him a kindness and get him a Commission from his Cousin Tildesley meaning Col. Thomas Tildesley of the Lodg in the said County of Lancaster Esq who had a Commission from the late King James to be a Collonel of Dragoons And this Informant deposeth that about a Month after came Edward Tildesley to Mr. Girlingtons at Thurland Castle in the said County of Lancaster where Mr. Henry Butler and Mr. Thomas Carus desir'd him to speak to the said Thomas Tildesley the next time he saw him for a Commission for this Informant and a little time after the said Thomas Tildesley and one Thrillfall who went by the Name of Capt. Brown came over to Thurland Castle where this Informant did speak to the said Thomas Tildesley for a Commission and the said Tildesley told this Deponent that care should be taken that this Informant should have a Commission and one Thomas Ducket told this Informant that the said Thrillfall alias Brown had brought Commissions from the late King James And it was reported amongst them that the said King James would Land in a Months Time and some short time after the said Tho. Tildesley came again to Thurland Castle and there this Informant ask'd him for a Captains Commission and the said Tildesley said they were all disposed of but told this Informant he would put him into a Post. At the same time Mr. George Carus of Halton in the said County of Lancaster came to this Informant and said that he had been order'd a Month before to ask this Informant if he would accept a Lieutenants Place of Horse to which this Informent gave his Consent and therewith acquainted the said Thomas Tildesley who told this Informant that if he would bring a Troop of Dragoons â—e should have an Independent Troop for his Regiment being full he could give out no more Commissions for Captains without Order from his Master meaning the late King James and most of the Discourse between this Informant and the said Thomas Tildesley George Carus of Halton Henry Butler Thomas Ducket Thomas Carus aâ—d John Girlington was hoping for the speedy Return of the said King James And this Informant further deposeth that some time after which was in Christmas last this Informant went to Manchester and carry'd a Letter from George Carus to Christopher Carus his Father who read the same and ask'd this Informant if he the said Christopher was a Captain whether he would go under him to which this Informant answer'd with all his Heart then the said Christopher Carus said he had a Commission under Coll. Molyneux and had Power to choose his own Lieutenant and Cornet only the Coll. desired to put in the Quarter-Master And then the said Mr. Christopher Carus told this Informant that he should be his Lieutenant and desir'd him to keep it private This Informant further deposeth that at Christmas last at his return from Manchester he came to Mr. Standish at Standish in the said County of Lancaster who ask'd this Informant if he was nam'd for a Commission and the Informant told him that he was a Lieutenant under Capt. Christopher Carus and after Supper the said Mr. Standish went with this Informant into his Chamber and having call'd for some Drink he drank the Healths of Coll. Molyneux and Coll. Townley and Lieutenant Coll. Gerrard Sir William Gerrard 's Son then Mr. Thomas Ducket a Relation of the said Mr. Standish drank a Health to the Lieutenant Collonel to Mr. Townley this Informant ask'd who that was the said Mr. Ducket reply'd there he is pointing to the said Mr. Standish which said Mr. Standish reply'd yes for want of a better or to that Purpose and further said he thought he might have been Lieutenant Collonel to Mr. William Molyneux because their Acquaintance had been so great but since he was not he was satisfi'd with that Post under Coll. Townley This Informant further deposeth that the next day the said Lieutenant Collonel Standish Mr. Thomas Ducket one Dr. Worton and this Informant din'd together at Standish-Hall and the said Mr. Standish bid this Deponent take notice of the said Dr. Worton for that he was or was to be Doctor to the Regiment and after Dinner this Informant went to Preston and the next day to Halton near Lancaster to the House of the said Christopher Carus where was George Carus his Son who was to be Cornet to that Troop and there the said George Carus and this Informant did confult about procuring Men and securing what Horses they could but were to meddle with none until they had Orders from the late King James And this Informant further deposeth that about a Month after the said Christopher Carus who then was and had been for some time a Prisoner at Manchester had leave to come to his own House at Halton where this Informant met him and there he told this Informant that he had receiv'd a Letter from Mr. William Molyneux which intimated that he had dispos'd of the Lieutenant's Place but he would provide as well for this Informant whereupon this Informant finding himself to be at an uncertainty went to the said Mr. Molyneux with Mr. Richard Woolfall of Highton and then this Informant and the said Woolfall went to Mr. Harrington's being a Captain to Mr. Molyneux who told this Informant that he had more then his Complement and the said Capt. Harrington nam'd one Protestant who this Informant knoweth not who offer'd himself to be a Soldier then this Informant said to the said Harrington I hope you have not told him to which the said Harrington answer'd no but said that the said Protestant told him that he knew that there was a Design on Foot and that he would sooner serve under him the said Harrington than under any other Man then the said Captain shew'd this Informant his fine Laces and said that all his Arms were in a readiness and that some of them were at Home and the rest at London and he further said he had twelve Pair of Gloves coming down which he would give to the first twelve Men that came in to him then the said Capt. Harrington and this Informant had Discourse of how many Troops Coll. Molyneux's Regiment consisted and the said Capt. Harrington told this Informant how many there were but this Informant cannot tell whether he said thirteen or fifteen And the said Mr. Harrington nam'd these Officers following viz. Coll. William Molyneux Lieutenant Coll. Gerrard Capt. Penny Capt. Robert Mobneux Capt. Westby of Mobrick Capt. Massey of Puddington Capt. Harrington Capt. Christopher Carus all of Coll. Molyneux his Regiment besides some Officers in Staffordshire and several others engag'd at London and as for the Majors they were all to come out of Ireland Then this Informant ask'd the said Harrington who was his Lieutenant he answer'd he
Thomas Fox a Servant to the said Mr. Standish was appointed to go with the said Rigby as a Guard to the said Mr. Townley's of Townley And this Informant further saith that about the Year 1691 or beginning of the Year 1692 there came to the said Standish-Hall one who went by the Name of Mr. Green in public Company but privately in the said Mr. Standish's Family was call'd Coll. Parker who kept two Servants his Gentleman who went by the Name of Gandy a French-Man and one Thomas Merrick his Groom and further saith that he hath several times seen in Company together at the said Standish Hall the Lord Molyneux's Son Sir William Gerrard's eldest Son William Dickinson of Wrightington Esq Mr. Blundell of Crosby Mr. Townley of Townley the said Mr. Green or Coll. Parker the said Mr. Standish and divers others and heard it discours'd amongst them that they would all be ready upon King James 's landing in England with Men and Arms to serve him And this Informant further saith that he knows John Womball very well and hath seen him several times at Standish-Hall aforesaid amongst the Gentlemen last mention'd who seem'd to be very familiar with him and hath heard it discours'd at the said Standish-Hall that the said Womball us'd frequently to carry Arms from London to the said Standish-Hall for the Roman Catholic Gentlemen in Lancashire And this Informant further saith that the said John Sharp Servant to the said Mr. Standish was imploy'd by his said Master Standish and others to list Men for the late King James 's Service and the said Sharp in pursuance of his said Orders did List several Men for the said Service at Preston Legh Wiggan the said Standish Town and other Places gave them one Shilling to each Man listing Money and promis'd them half a Crown a Day when they serv'd under the respective Officers they were listed under and the Men so listed us'd frequently to meet the said Sharp at the said Standish Town And this Informant further saith that about the 24th June 1695 one Roger Emer of Standish told this Informant that he had then in his Custody several Swords Pistols and Saddles and two Kettle Drums which Drums were brought to the said Emer by Thomas Smith of Park Brooke in the said Parish of Standish all which Arms Saddles and Kettle Drums were Mr. Standish's of Standish aforesaid and remov'd from Standish-Hall for fear of being seiz'd by some of the Kings Messengers when the Lancashire Gentlemen were taken up about two Years since And this Informant further saith that in or about November last a little after he had given in an Information before Coll. Kirby and two other of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County of Lancaster the said John Sharp came to this Informant who was then a Prisoner in Lancaster-Castle and seem'd to be very angry with him and told this Informant that he had discover'd some of their Designs to a deal of Rogues but before May last either the late King Jam's or some one else would come into England and then this Informant and all the Rogues else should be cut off And this Informant further saith that in August 1695 at the Assizes then held at Lancaster-Castle at which Assizes Mr. John Lunt Wilson and Womball were try'd upon an Information of Perjury and this Informant seeing one Thomas Hatton in the said Castle-Yard a little before the said Tryal ask'd him how he thought the Tryal would go Who answer'd that all Things would go very well for that Sir John Fenwick who as this Informant was told was then in Lancashire would take Care that Lunt Wilson and Womball should all be convicted of Perjury and the Lancashire Gentlemen all clear'd And this Informant further saith that within 3 or 4 Days after he had given in his Information before three Justices of the Peace as aforesaid there came to him into Lancaster-Castle he being then a Prisoner there for Debt one John Rigby an Inhabitant of the said Parish of Standish and told this Informant that the Gentlemen naming no particular Person had taken Care that his Debts should be Paid and be released out of Prison provided he would go with him to such a private Place as the Gentlemen would appoint where this Informant his Wife and Children might privately live out of the Way and the Gentlemen would take Care they should be well maintain'd to the intent he might not be found by the Government to justify what be had upon his Oath deposed in the said Information And that he had brought a Horse for this Informant for that purpose aforesaid And this Informant further saith that the said Rigby further told this Informant that he had a Letter from one Mr. John Haddock a Rich Quaker in the said Standish Parish who us'd to supply the said Mr. Standish and others with several Sums of Money upon Purchase and Mortgages to his Friend one Henry Coward a Shop-keeper in Lancaster the Purport of the Letter as the said Rigby told this Informant was to let Rigby have what Money he pleas'd in order to give this Informant in case of his Acceptance of the Gentlemens said Offer but this Informant denying to go with the said Rigby who staid three Days in Lancaster for the said purpose within two Hours was immediately after his so denying put in Fetters by the Gaoler of the said Lancaster-Castle that now is And this Informant further saith that in December 1694 when the Lancashire Conspiracy was under Examination before the House of Commons he was sent for by the said Mr. Standish of Standish who desir'd this Informant to go to London with some of his Servants who were to be Evidence in the said Affair before the Parliament to the intent he might Coroberate what they said Withal telling this Informant that he needed not be any ways afraid what he said in the House of Commons in the said Matter for that he was not to be upon his Oath And this Informant further saith that a little after the House of Commons sent a Messenger for the said Mr. Standish he the said Standish told this Informant that his Wife had given the said Messenger a Mare and Money so that the said Messenger was return'd to London without effecting his Message Edward Brown The Information of Mr. John Lunt given the Fifteenth Day of June 1694. THIS Informant upon his Oath saith That when King James left the Kingdom upon the Arrival of the Prince of Orange in the Year 1688 he this Informant went then immediately after him into France and upon his Arrival at St. Germains was introduced to kiss his the said King James's Hand in his Closet by the Lords Thomas and George Howard that from thence he was about the beginning of March then next following ordered with the rest of his Guards to go for Dublin that immediately upon his Arrival there about the latter end of May 1689 one Dr. Bromfeild came