WHILE I was employed as Agent at the French Court for the English Militia's Concerns, one of the Officers brought me at Paris to the acquaint­ance of my Lady Anne Gourdon, Sister to the now Marquess of Huntley in Scotland. She after about a years frequen­tation, communicated unto me certain important secrets concern­ing a Popish Plot against England.

She's a Lady of vast correspondence with the Popish Clergy and Nobility almost through all Europe; living ordinarily as a free person in Nunneries, and was then in a Convent at Paris.

At a time I surprized her with two of the chief Scotch Semina­rists of Paris, in a deep and dark discourse of the English Af­fairs; and as soon as my Lady made them understand that I was one of her privatest Friends, and Catholickly affected (it being fit she should imagine this) they begun to speak plain enough, to let me perceive that their discourse tended to some sudden de­sign for the subversion of the English Government and Gover­nour, and the setting up of Popery here in England.

But on some day of the Month of November, 1673, I enqui­red of my Lady what those mysterious discourses meaned she had with the Scotch Priest? She after long importunities and pro­testations, revealed unto me that which follows.

[Page 2] I. That there was now a grand Design on foot in England, for the setling of the Catholick Faith there publickly.

II. That there was also a project against the Parliament that made such a stir (as she spoke) and was their obstacle, either to­tally to dissolve it, or to sow some divisions betwixt the King and It; where his Majesty also should find potent Adversaries of the Romish Nobility, who would cut out work for him.

III. That there was a very considerable party in England, who laboured to make the Duke of York King, but that the Scots in­deed were more for the Duke of Monmouths being such, if means could be made to bring him over to it, wherein she conceived I might be an useful Instrument, having been employed under him. But said I, What do they mean to do with the King him­self? She answered,

I. That the now King of England would be made away, and dispatcht after his Father, so that he would not be shortly in a case to annoy any body.

Then I askt her by what means they thought to bring such mat­ters about? and who were the leading-men in the contrivance, and who the Under-agents to carry it on? She said, That all that was too much for me to know at the first time; besides, that it was then too late at night; but that at my return within three days (for avoiding of suspition) I should be fully satisfied. But I insisted, That these were grand affairs whereof she spoke, for which consequently she needed to have more than common grounds. She replied, that I ought not to doubt but that she had the best correspondency in England, Scotland, and France, as hav­ing on the one part Madam de Gourdon her Aunt, one of the chief Ladies with the Dutchess of Orleance, which was taken to be of the fittest for Intelligence and Intrigues at the French Court; and on the other side, that she received Letters almost every week from the eminentest Church-men on this and that side of the sea, as also from some of the greatest Nobility of England and Scot­land, namely, from her Brother the Marquess of Huntley, my Lord Oxenford of Scotland, Mr. Maitland (somewhat concerned, as she [Page 3] said, in the Secretaryship of Ministry of State of Scotland) and from the Earl of Roches Chancellor there; but she afterwards run out into some of his Love commerce with her; so that I leave to others to infer from the premises to which, either to Love, or the Plot-part, or all of this his Letter-Correspondency must be refer­red. And to confirm further the credit I must yeild to her words, she drew forth a Bag full of Letters, a matter of a Bushel full, and shewed some more in a Cabinet, saying, Are these all about trifles, think you? She further produced a picture in mignature of the said Chancellor, and went about to read one of his Let­ters (of a large and ill-shaped Character methought), but with­held, referring me till the fore-mentioned three days term. I in fine, asked how she could avoid suspition, if so many Letters were directed to her in her own name? She told me she had taken a good care for that, because her Correspondents writ to her un­der several names by which they called her, and part of her Let­ters were directed to Mr. Conne a Scotch-man, living at Paris as Agent for the Pope, others were addressed to Mr. Dallison her Scotch Physician there, some to Father Joseph, Prior of the En­glish Benedictines at Paris, who was her Confessor.

II. Now in the interval, having before been recommended by Dr. Brien, Dr. Molony Priests, and others, to Colonel Richard Tal­bot, and to his Brother Peter (the pretended Archbishop of Dub­lin) for a person that carried on business after the formalities of the Court of France, and the Colonel himself having made some tryal of me; he on a time desired me to be assistant to his Brother the Bishop, not long since come out of England: The Bishop desired I should go and complement on his behalf, the Marshal Bellefond (Grand Steward to the King of France), and know when he might be introduced by him to the Kings Audience a­bout the business whereof he treated with the Marshal himself while he was in England as Ambassador (in or about the year 1670.)

The Marshal being then at Court, kept at Versaile, the Bishop would have one Mr. Moore, a Priest and Philosophy-Professor at Paris, to accompany us thither on the next day, having lain that night at Versaile; and the Bishop striving to make us all merry on the good Catholick Causes success, I took that opportunity to [Page 4] enquire, whether he thought it not fit to communicate unto me the Heads and Grounds of this affair wherein he was pleased to make me his Speaker and Introducer at Court, lest, said I, any occasion might happen for me to second it. The business that I am to represent to the King of France is this:

Articles a­gainst the Talbots. I. It is a business, said he, which mightily concerns the wel­fare of the Catholicks in England, and of those in Ireland espe­cially.

II. That he was to propose ways to the King of France, where­by to relieve them in their present extremities and persecutions, and for to undertake their protection; and some of his ways was to Arm some Irish, and to secure some Sea-Port Town in Ireland for the French.

III. He said that he had a special good Warrant and Commis­sion for this his Negotiation from some of the greatest persons in England.

IV. That he was to solicit his Christian Majesty for a Pension, or the Arrears payable to himself. The next morning I went to the Kings Rising to acquaint the Marshal Bellefond, that the Arch­bishop Talbot was in Town to wait on His Majesty and Him; he wish't me to introduce him: The Marshal knew him at first sight, and imbraced him, and acquainted the King with his coming; His Majesty receiving him with great civility, led him into a pri­vate Room, where Mr. Moore and I following them, he beck'ned to Mr. Moore that had the paper, to advance: But I from the door­ward saw the Bishop present a Letter to the King, and other pa­pers, which I think were sealed. I over-heard he spoke in Italian at first entrance, their Conference lasted about half an hour; and though that King is somewhat of a Grave, and somewhat Morose temper, yet he often smiled, as at Propositions that plea­sed him.

But at our coming out from Court, I enquired of the Bishop of the good success of his Negotiation, which I told him seemed to be of other or more matters then he acquainted me with. No, said he, 'tis but of the same matter I spoke to you of last night; [Page 5] whereof he said, I should know more, seeing he must come to Court again and again about it, though the King (conti­nued he) promised all possible satisfaction and hopes of a good issue. So, not to increase suspicion by further inqui­ries, I urged him no more, but departed from him for that time to Paris. Yet note, that Mr. Moore did also generally touch unto me the Matters of the aforesaid Articles and Plot, having heard it from the said Bishop, Peter Talbot, and his papers.

And further observe, That one Mr. Conne a Scotch-man (who was formerly the Popes Nuncio, and then his Agent at Paris) had almost every day private Conferences with both the Talbots, and went betwixt them, their Nuncio, then being at Paris; and that the Talbots and this Conne came often to my Lady Anne Huntleys, though my Lady had also another pretext to see Conne. The very same night I did communicate all that past in this Peter Talbot's Nego­tiation to Sir Robert Welsh, as I had done before that other Plot of Lady Huntleys, both fearing lest this grand secret might dye with me, I having many Enemies daily threat­ning me then at Paris; and for that this Sir Robert was a man that still made much profession of his Actings, Suffer­ings, and Loyalty for the King of England, in such former discoveries; but Sir Roberts truer Character I found out too late.

However Sir Robert most unfaithfully forthwith discovered all to Colonel Talbot, both that of my Lady Huntleys, and the Talbots business; and that I intended speedily to go for England to accuse both him and his brother Peter; the Co­lonel feigning to keep his bed, desires to speak with me at his own Lodging. The Circumstances of the message with the Premisses weighed, I took one or two along with me to his very▪ Chamber door on another pretext; he presently desired to know when I intended for England, and when I had seen Sir Robert Welsh. But by this much, forthwith perceiving I was betrayed; I pretended another occasion of that voyage; for which besides I seemed not to be very earnest, if either in Paris, or with the now Dutchess of York (then at Paris) he would procure me some fit employment of Secretary, or Usher. And at first he went about to perswade me from com­ing [Page 6] over into England at all. Then began to threaten me man­fully; and if he heard I did otherwise than I said, in steal­ing away for England on such occasions against them and the Catholicks, they would infallibly procure I should be forthwith committed to the Tower of London or the Gate­house, at my arrival; which accordingly happened according to his spightful prophesie, about seven days after I arrived at London.

That seeing the effect of his threatnings fall out so pun­ctually, and not doubting thereupon, but that he, with Sir Robert Welsh, and Correspondents here, were the secret Con­trivers of my four years close imprisonment in the Tower (though a very remote surprise was put in by them for pre­text) therefore I said I was afraid to charge them much, and but warily, whilst I was in the Tower, fearing to fare the worse by the means of any secret friend of theirs.

THE true Contrivers of my Imprison­ment were the Talbots and Lady Hunt­ley, who for discovering of their Plot­ings, threatned me in express words, That if ever I came over into England, on that Design, I would be secured in the Tow­er or Gate-House; or if I remained in France, they would get me laid fast e­nough: They put these Threatnings in­to Execution, for though both they and I were seemingly re­conciled, yet they made such a Search for me in Paris, that I was faign to change Lodgings very often into remote and by-places; and when I was on my Journey for England, one or two of my own servants, whom I dismist at Paris, seeing me take Coach privately, carried them word of it, and for some pretence or other they sent one Mr. Perrig, who was their ac­quaintance and Huntley's chief friend, in post to apprehend me; whereof Sir Edward Hungerford, of this Honourable House, can testifie from a Friend of his, who heard the same from Perrig's mouth (that is now dead.) And it's to be re­mark'd, that he could not pursue or apprehend a stranger in France, but in a concern against the King of that Countrey; who rather gives protection to strangers that are pursued on any other Account. Before the Talbots fell out with me, and when I first determined in my own mind to come over privately into England, I inquired of one of the Talbot's ser­vants (who was my Countreyman) where one might take [Page 10] cheap and friendly Lodgings in London, till one were in fit Equipage (I having never been in England before) he di­rected me to one Kenedy's House at the Pall Mall, or to an­other Countreyman's House of his in St. Martin's Lane, at the Sign of the Patrick; the first night and hour I came to that House I told them my▪ Name and Imployment from the Duke of Monmouth, and that it was fit I should go and wait on him immediately, lest he should take it ill; and de­sned my Landlord to send for some Link-boy that knew his Grace's House, where I repaired forthwith; but not find­ing his Grace at home, I acquainted some of the servants of my Arrival▪ to notifie to his Grace: The next day I came, he also was abroad earlier than ordinary, on some Riding or Recreation Account: I But unto Gentlemen of his Chamber, Mr. Champins and St. Giles, I told I would gladly come to kiss his Grace's hand, and confer about Business, in what­ever company he were in; so that Captain Watson and Mr. Ver­non were not present, who were my Enemies on private Accounts, and would move his Grace doubtlesly against me, not to grant me my Request; which partly was some Arrears or an Imployment.

The next day I being ill, was let blood and kept my Cham­ber a day or two: I think the Sunday morning I went to visit Lieutenant Collonel Trelany, who meeting accidently a day or two before, I came to re-visit on this Sunday morning, who at my first sight found more than ordinarily disturbed, and courteously desired to know my Lodgings, and whe­ther I had seen the Duke? I told him of the sorry Dwelling I had taken up for a little time, and that I would gladly see his Grace without the side enemies and with him: He desired me to accompany him to Whitehall Chappel, where I might at the least be seen of his Grace. (Thither we went) But the Collonel desiring me to stay about the Chappel Door, throng­ed in with great haste, without coming out to me afterwards: In the mean time hearing of Organs and Children singing in Surplusses, as I had seen and heard in the French Kings Chappel, where I perceived some of the English Nobility come as freely as here; I did not know what to think, whe­ther I had not been too forward in speaking of any Dis­coveries against that Religion which might be perhaps of late [Page 11] changed in England: for that I had not heard or seen such things in the French Church at Charenton, where I only took my Idea of Protestanism; but this erronious state of things (that I now know to be indifferent) did however make me pause in my Discoveries; but whilst in these thoughts, Captain Watson stept out of the Chappel, who looking on me a-squint, went down the Privy Stairs in one end, and the other Watson his Nephew, speaking a word or two to me more coldly than ordinarily, went out through the Guard Hall, to the other Stairs, and presently follows in the King's company the Duke of Monmouth; who eying me only, past by: at all which passages of indifferency from former friends I was astonish'd. But I was in Scarlet Breeches and Stockings, so that I could be easily discerned and dogg'd to my Lodgings; where I went presently from Chappel.

Within two days after two men brought a Paper to my said Lodging, signed by the Secretary whereupon he said he must needs speak with me: I inquired for what? but they could not or would not tell me; but it seems by their expressions to my Landlord, they were with him the day before to inquire for me: and they could tell that I had been last Sunday at Morning Prayers at Whitehall, and there also seen the same Night amongst others: After break-fasting peaceably, I went with them to Whitehall, not thinking this any Commitment Business. I told my Landlord I thought I would be back within an hour. The Secretary at my arri­val, inquiring of my Name, told me he would go and speak with the King about me; which I know not whether he did so, or no: but returning soon after spake not one word to me, but going into his Clerk, he sent out the same Messengers, who called me into the Stone Gallery; who said they had Orders to carry me to the Tower, but for what they could not tell me.

Sir John Robinson after my Arrival entertained me to Din­ner, which continued in the company of his Lady and Solicitor, in a free and cheerful manner in Discourse of the French Customs, and of his Son, whom I knew at Paris.

[Page 12] After Dinner, and having had a Nap with his Chaplain, who came in, Sir John inquired of me, Whether I were not a Roman Catholique? I told them I had been such, but not one of late; and whether I was in Orders? I told them never▪ inquiring whether I knew for what I was committed? I told them no, no; No more do I, said Sir John, but in the general; af­terwards he sent for one Captain Cresset, the then Gentleman Goaler, he read unto me a Paper, he called his Warrant, which being but in general words, and giving me no Copy of it, made no such impression upon me, as now to remem­ber the Contents; for I thought it was but some Tower for­mality, wherewith others were served as well as I: for Sir John never explained nor insisted upon it, no more did I, but fol­lowed Captain Cresset to my appointed Lodging; which was convenient enough, as also the Diet: so that at the beginning I being not lock'd up neither day nor night, for a Month or thereabouts, and giving my self to reading an English Chroni­cle that belonged to my Landlord, I unconcernedly expect­ed a speedy enlargement, after the Duke of Monmouth should come to hear of my Imprisonment; unto whom I desired Sir John to give notice of it; but I had no return.

After some Months, Sir John sent for me, and said he had Order to examine me; he inquired, What and whom I verily thought were the Causes of my Imprisonment? I told him that the Lady Anne Gourdon, alias Huntley, with Peter Talbot, Titular Bilhop of Dublin, were assuredly the Causes of it; and might well contrive by other Instruments some false Accusa­tion against me, for to weaken the testimony I was to give a­gainst them of their plotting against England: for that the said Lady had informed me of a Design the English Catholiques had against the King's Person, his Government, and Religion; and that she had correspondency with her Brother the Marquiss of Huntley, my Lord of Rothes, my Lord of Oxenford of Scot­land, and other Catholiques and Priests, this side and beyond Seas: That the said Peter Talbot, before I brought him to the French King's presence, told me, That he was to treat with that King from soine very great Person or Persons in England, for to raise men in Ireland for the French King, and that I had declared these things in France to one Sir Robert Welsh, who [Page 13] desired me to acquaint the Duke of Ormond therewith. So Sir John being in haste to go to Whitehall, took these Heads in his Table-book, and said he would acquaint them above with it; but bid me not to mention the Duke of Ormond at all, for he was a goodman. I bring him in onely by occasion, said I. Next day Sir John sent for me, and desiring to know what other things I could say, I began to particularize the fore­mentioned relations of the Plot; but he broke me off of that, saying, That these were but trifles, and that we cared not in England what Priests and Women beyond Seas, could devise; and that he took such Stories from me but as starting-holes from the on­ly point he had to urge against me. That unless I would confess other matters against the Duke of Monmouth, he would rack me next day, and afterwards hang me. I said, He might do what he pleased, but that I neither knew or could confess any such Design: And so I was sent back to my Lodging, but my forwardness to speak ever afterwards of any Plot against England was well abated, by this Storm. I desired my Keepers Wife and Child, here present to pray for me, for that I was to be rack'd the next day. I asked my Keeper, What a Rack was? An In­strument, said he, to stretch the Body and Limbs out of all joynts, sometimes full of Needles; and that it was called the Daughter of some Duke. I do not now remember which. But this Family be­ing weak persons, were themselves frightned at this sad and terrible threatnings; alledging, That none was ever carried to be executed out of their house.

Sometime afterwards I was sent for to be examined, to Whitehall, before the Secretary, my Lord of Bath, of New­port, and some others, I never saw before: They inquired, Whether I had been imployed under the Duke of Monmouth? And whether I knew some other persons, I do not now re­member my self? with such other Questions; out of which I could not yet know certainly the Cause of my Commitment; for no body appeared against me, as I think, at that time, one only at the second time: So they in a general manner urged me still to confess, to confess, what evil Design I had in coming to England: I said still, I had none, nor could I confess any: And so was sent back to the Tower. Some Weeks or Months afterward I was sent for to Whiteball again, where one Dallison, who was formerly in France entertained by me [Page 14] for writing, appeared. He there said, That I there in France threatned some persons here in England, and that he thought that it was the Duke of Monmouth, because of non-payment of Arrears. I told him, That that was a bad inference, that be­cause I threatned some body, it must be therefore the Duke of Monmouth, who had never any ground so to do; for that he had signed an Order for payment of me; and spoke to Captain Watson and Doctor Goase for it: Though I never was yet paid.

But the pretext or ground from which they took the occa­sion of this slanderous Allogisme, was from the matters of some private quarrels, which one Mr. Hampton and the Lady Anne Gourdon would have me vindicate against some of their Rivals; which I complimentally was still wont to promise them I would do, the better to insinuate my self into their secrets, concerning the Plot and other matters.

The Lady Gourdon would have the Earl of Rothes his Lady to be made away, she being a Presbiterian, begot (as she said) a great obstacle to the Roman Catholick Religion's progress in Scotland, and her own Rival, &c.

Mrs. Wingfield, alias Hampton, a Benchers Wife of the Tem­ple, then also in Paris, went also about to all English Gentle­men there to avenge her quarrels against her Husband, who as they say (not without some good cause) has cast her off: She applied her self to me, who not approving of those vio­lent means, I obtained for her a Letter of Recommendation for Justice to be done to her, from the French King to the King of England; signed by Secretary Pompone, directed to Secretary Arlington in England: This was in 73, but she not finding any good by this Letter, she went on to propose to me her old ways; so seeing her incorrigible, fearing she would fall into worse hands, and hoping to get back the money I had lent to her and laid out for her; I kept in with her till she could get money to pay me: but finding no hopes of ei­ther the one or the other, I bid this Dallison my Man, to take her in hand, to pretend to close to her Designs, till I could get my money. I directed him to her Lodgings, but he told me that Sir Robert Welsh and himself knew her well enough: And that he would get me one Johnson a Student in [Page 15] Physick, who would act his part in the Comedy better than any. I told them I would share with them both of what was due to me by this Woman, and what besides they could get from her: She proffered to give some Hundreds of Pounds, then in the hands of Monsieur de Basti in London, and her Daughter besides in Marriage, to any that would kill her Husband by the Sword, Poyson, &c. But finding she could not perform the payment of a far less sum due to me, and that to receive into my company persons of so wicked principles in Religion and Moralities, was scandalous; I cast them all off in Paris. She some Weeks before came over un­known to me into England, but the next day after my Arrival here, I met her accidentally, and she brought me to her Lodging; having now cast of Dallison. Also he there in Paris met with the Talbots every night, and with Sir Robert Welsh; amongst them it was contrived that Dallison should come over into England, and turn these petit matters where­in I seemed to comply with these Ladies, as if I intended them against the Duke of Monmouth, for not payment of Ar­rears, &c. and by this means they thought to blast my Dis­covery of the Plot against them, when I came into England; and that I would be certainly secured when I arrived there: and they had the assurance to threaten me there-with to my face. Their threats came punctually to pass, for I was secu­red according to their Contrivance within a few days after I was in London.

Now when Sir John and the Secretary did so oft press me, What might give grounds to this Slaunder of some Design a­gainst the Duke of Monmouth, I have related these matters abovesaid, unto them concerning these Womens Proposals, which I conceived to be the only ground and pretext of that Slaunder, they made me sign it, I think; which taking but for a formality of no great importance, I did do; and though I did but out of a complemental policy hearken to these Wo­mens designs, I could not be at quiet there at the Tower with Sir John and others, till I had said, That I had a real intention to serve these Women in the premisses; though Mr. Hawkins the Tower Chaplain, and Mr. Robinson the Tower Gentleman Jaylor, may witness that I told them and others, That I dal­lied with these Ladies only. But what-ever Sir John or the [Page 16] Secretary can make of this or any other lie, the Popish plot­ters sent into their hands, to slaunder my Evidence, cannot be material to the purpose, and I will be ready to answer it. And though Sir John's ill usage and threats of Racking of me, and hearing that he was wont to give an account of me to the Duke of York (the Talbot's Master) though I say, these things did discourage me to speak further of the Plot whilst I was in the Tower, either to Sir John or the Secreta­ry, yet after I had been abroad a while, during the last Par­liaments Sitting, I went to him to the Tower, intreating him to second me in the discovering of the said Matters afore­said, for the good of the Government; John Bagot his Man I think was in hearing; but he with a Check rejected me: which discouraged me so, as almost never to speak any more of the Matter. Till a Lord of the Parliament, to whom I discovered the whole, by the means of a Friend, had re­ceived me again to make the Discovery, as I have done on the Twenty fourth of December last before the Committee of Lords upon Oath, Three Months ago before this In­formation I now do give into the Commons.