IN May, Anno Dom. 1688. the Countess of Tyrconnel, (whose Zeal for the late King James's Cause and Service, is not un­known to the World) came from Ire­land, to England, in the Monmouth Yatch, Capt. Wright, Commander; who, be­sides her own Daughters and Servants that attended her hither, brought over Two Gentlewomen, both big with Child: The First of which, was about Thirty Years of Age, a lusty and healthful Countenanced Woman: The Second was a tall and slender Woman, darkish [Page 6] Hair'd, and something above Twenty: The First of these Women was brought to Bed at St. Albans, in her way to London: The Second, (whose Name was Mrs. Grey) was conveyed to St. James's Palace, and was Lodged in two private Rooms, over or within the Lady Strickland▪s Lodgings, in the Narrow Gallery, between the Queens's Appartment, and the great Chappel. In these Lodgings, this Young Gentlewo­man was Delivered on Sunday-Morning, the Tenth of June, the same day▪ and but a little time before the late Queen pretended to be Delivered of a Prince of Wales. About the latter end of June. this Young Gentlewoman was removed from those Lodgings to the Marchioness of Po­wis's Appartment, which was in the same Gallery; she being then Governess to the pretended Prince of Wales, and to whose Charge and Care this Lady was particularly Committed.

At that very time, was I in the Marchioness Family; and, by her special [Page 7] Commands, daily and almost hourly attended the said Young Gentlewoman; being ordered to supply her with all Necessaries, and do all other Offices of Service, during her Continuance at St. James's; her present Indisposition re­quiring a more than ordinary Assiduity and Attendance upon her.

During her said continuance at St. James's, she was very little Visited by any Person, but the Marchioness herself, excepting some of her Women in proper Occasions of Female Nursery and Service; appearing by this, to be some more than ordinary Charge of the Marchioness's: She seemed very well contented with her Entertainment, and the Marchioness's Care and Adop­tion of her: and was hardly ever, or (at least) very seldom desirous to stir over the Threshold of her own Lodgings; ex­cepting sometimes, that she exprest a desire, and that (as I observed) with a particular Zeal and Delight to go and Visit the Young Prince, which was some­times [Page 8] granted her; and whither I at­tended her by the Marchioness's Com­mand, and waited on her back again. Amongst the general Devoirs that were then publickly paid to that young In­fant, I remarkt, that nothing appeared so warmly fond as her self; and when (as a peculiar Favour) she was permitted to take him in her Arms, her Kisses and Embraces seemed more than usually Tender and Passionate.

About the middle of July following, when her Health and Strength were visibly improved, it was thought fit, by some Authority from Above, that she should be Transported into France; and accordingly one Father Sabran, and one Mrs. Jones, and my self, by Com­mand, attended her to Dover, in order to her Voyage.

Before her Departure, I observed, that she seemed mightily concerned at her leaving England; and in my hear­ing, both before, and all the way to Do­ver, exprest a great deal of Trouble [Page 9] on that account, as compelled to visit France much against her Inclination; which I the more wondred at, as be­lieving she was a Native of Ireland, and had not been two Months in this Kingdom. And before she took her leave of the Court, she desired to Pay her last Duty to the Queen; and here taking her farewel of the Young Prince, she betrayed that extraordinary Effe­minate Weakness, that she melted into down right Tears.

When she arrived at Dover, she was met by one Father Grey, (her supposed Brother, or such he pretended himself) a Secular Priest, and an Irish-man, with whom she Embarked for Calais, in or­der to be conveyed to the Convent of Benedictine Nuns in Paris; she having been in a Nunnery in Ireland, sometime before she came for England.

After the new Happy Revolution, the Winter following, and King James`s Abdication, I being at that time Servant [Page 10] to her Majesty in France, commended and prefer`d to her Majesty`s Service, by my kind Patroness the Marchioness of Powis; and the late Queen repo­sing a peculiar Trust and Confidence in my Fidelity, from the Character she had received of me from the Marchioness; I proceed to let you know, That in February 1689, I being at St. Germains, (the late Queens Court in France) was one Sunday-Night ordered to attend the Queen immediately, Her Majesty being, as was reported, Indisposed, (it seems with a Fright, which made Her keep her Chamber) where I attending Her Commands, Her Majesty told me, I must immediately prepare to go to England, with some Letters to the Lord Montgemery and Others, about extraor­d [...]arry Business. Her Majesty gave me her Letters; and that my Journey might no. be in Vain, was pleased to tell me; It was a matter that nearly con­cern [...]d the late King and her Self: And lest in my Voyage to England, or at [Page 11] my Landing, I might meet with so strict a Search, as might oblige me to fling my Letters into the Sea, or some other way dispose them to conceal them from being taken; her Majesty thought fit to give me a Ring, which I was to deliver to the Lord Montgomery in England, by way of Credentials for what I had to say to him by Word of Mouth, upon any unfortunate forementioned Miscar­riage of my Letter; and by that to tell him, That the same Woman which came from Ireland, with the Lady Tyrconnel, in May, 1688, was stollen out of the Nun­nery in Paris, where she was kept, (there having been a Breach in the Garden-Walls) and that it was the Opinion of the French Court, that she had been assi­sted by some of the Prince of Orange`s Friends in Paris, to make her said Escape from thence, in order to come for England. The late Queen farther Commanded me to tell him, That the French King had taken all possible care to prevent her going off; but least his Endeavours [Page 12] might prove Ineffectual, it was her de­sire, that immediately after my Arrival in England, the Lord Montgomery and Others, should take care to place People on the Coast of England, that might inform them when she Landed; vnd then they were positively commanded to use all En­deavours to get her Dispatcht, to prevent whatever Design she might Pretend to.

[Here the Reader may Observe, That the Queen was infinitely Zealous both for her Apprehension and Dis­patch; and that must be some very threatning Fears they Convinced from this poor Womans Escape, that could pull down all this Mortal Vengeance upon her Head. Nay, the Queen was so very solicitous for Executing the said Vengeance, that for fear of Failure, or Miscarriage of her Commands in Black and White, she trusted me with some part of the bloody Commission on that Account. `Tis true, her Furious Zeal in this Case, did nor directly tell me the very particular Crime this Offending [Page 13] Lady had committed, deserving Death; that part of my Intelligence into this Secret History, was my own Observa­tion and Discovery.]

This was the Contents of the Queens Letters, and what I had Orders to in­form the Lord Montgomery, and Others of his Party, which the Ring, as a Token was to Confirm. The late Queen gave me also another Letter to carry to Fa­ther Petre, who by the French King`s Order was constrained to live privately at Albeville, a City between Paris and Callais: Accordingly I took Post, and came to Albeville, where I was forced to tarry six Hours before I could meet with Father Petre, to give him the Queens Letter, which was to require him To go to St. Omers, to observe whether or no the Woman might come that Way, in order to her Embarking for England. Just as I came to my Inn, and was going to take Horse, there arrived one Mr. Crane, Gentleman-Usher to the Queen, from the Queens Court, to order me to [Page 14] return with him to St. Germains again, were we arrived the next Night; and then waiting on the Queen, she told me, The lost Sheep was found at a private House in Paris; and as I afterwards soon understood, was then in the same Nun­nery again, under the care of the Coun­tess of Sussex and others. But the next day following Father Sabran was to go in one of her Majesties Coaches to Paris, in order to bring the Countess of Sussex with the Woman to St. Germains; and the Queen ordered me to accompany the said Father Sabran, which I did in the Coach the next day; and coming to the Nunnery, they continued there a­bout an Hour and a half; and then the Countess of Sussex, with Sabran and my self, returned with the Woman to St. Germains, where she was conveyed pri­vately to the Queens Back-Stairs, by Father Sabran; whilst I attended the Lady Sussex, who went in to acquaint the Queen, That the Woman was come; after which, by the Queens Command, I [Page 15] went to the Back Stairs to convey the Woman to the Queen in her Bed Cham­ber, where she continued with the Queen, the Lady Powis, the Countess of Sussex, and several others, above an Hour; and was afterwards conveyed down the Back Stairs, and cross the Gallery under the Prince of Wales's Lodgings, to a private Appartment be­longing to the Lady Powis, where the said Woman continued a day or two. Af­ter which, the late Queen, with the whole Court, going to visit the French King at his Court at Marli, Three Miles from St. Germains; in the same Even­ing, the said Woman, with the Coun­tess of Sussex, Father Sabran, and my self, went in the Princes Coach with Six Horses, to the same Place; and were there convey'd to a Chamber or Room be­longing to the Arch-Bishop of Paris; where the Woman, Sabran, and my self, continued about half an Hour; whilst the Countess of Sussex went publickly to wait upon the French King, and the [Page 16] late Queen: Then the Womam, Sabran, and my self, were conducted by a Priest, a Chaplain of the Arch-Bishops, private­ly to the French King's Back Stairs: The Woman lamenting her Fate, which she said was occasioned by her last being in England; she grieved to that excess, that she Fainted several times, before they could get her up the Stairs to the French King's Apartment, whither she was conducted by a Jesuite, and conti­nued about half an Hour, with the French King, and the late Queen. During which time, I waited with Father Sabran at the bottom of the Stairs, till she came down with the Jesuite that conveyed her up; at which time she wept bitter­ly, and told Father Sabran and me, That now she must take her Everlasting Farewel of us: and so was carried away by the Jesuite, and never more seen or heard of, notwithstanding my most diligent Inquiry after her at all the English, Scotch and Irish Nunneries in Paris, and other Places, where I had great Acquaintance [Page 17] and where, led by my extraordinary Cu­riosity in this Affair, I was not a little inquisitive to learn, if possible, the Ca­tastrophe of this unfortunate Gentle­woman; as indeed, I had been all along little other than a Spy upon her, and her concerns, relating to that Young Child. I confess, I had but small occa­sion of given my self this needless trouble of making the aforesaid Inqui­ry. For Father Sabran, who (I forgot to tell my Reader) was Chaplain to the Young Prince, and is now his Tu­tour, did frankly own to me the same Evening they left her, That he believed she would not be alive the Day following, nor was it fit she should live. I might have rested satisfied with what Sabran told me, it being undoubtedly too much of Truth: However, as it could not enter into my heart, to think it possible there should be such Inhuman Barbarity in the World, as to Murder a poor Woman in cold Blood, and that too by the Commands of Crowned Heads; [Page 18] my own good Nature in Tenderness for the poor Creature, inclined me to the said inquiry about her.

Besides my own knowledge in this Affair, there have been several Letters and Papars found in Mrs. Labodies Fa­thers's Trunk, now still to be produced, Relating to this Gentlewoman; besides several corroborative Proffs from divers Persons of Quality of Ireland, and others, as also Capt. Wright, that brought her over from Ireland, and the other Capt. that carried her over into France, that are able to give a great Light into the Discovery of this Grand Imposture: Nor were the Managers of this Affair any ways wanting in provi­ding of Two Big-Bellied Women toge­ther, that if One String failed the other might hit.

As for the Child, he is a very Brisk and Airy, no ways Deformed in his Limbs, but a Ruddy Complexion, fair Hair, and Dark coloured brisk Eyes. He, when but Two Years Old, was a great lover [Page 19] of Musick▪ and could distinguish seve­ral particular Tunes when Played; he is a notable Fighter, and does not on­ly beat his young Play-Fellows on the least Distaste; But the Dauphin of France, going one Day to Kiss his High­ness, and his Welch or Irish Blood being up, he gave the Dauphin a Blow on the Face with his Hand with all his Might. None dare cross him, for he is so Re­fractory, that upon the least Occasion, he will hold his Breath to that degree, that the Queen and all about him, have thought him really Dead.

As to my first Introduction to this Trust and Knowledge into the Affairs of the late Court. I must inform my Reader, (that by Sir John Burrows, a Zealous Roman Catholick, and my particular Pa­tron, and the Marquess of Powis, (to whom by the Mother side, I had the Honour to be a little Related) I was prefered to be a Page to the Countess of Melford: From her Service, I was in­troduced into the Marquess`s Family, [Page 20] and from thence, as before mentioned, I was advanced to the late Queens Ser­vice. And here to begin with my first Trust and Commands received from her said late Majesty.

The Sunday before Christmas, in the Year 1688. I Embark'd with the late King Jame's Queen her pretended Son the Prince of Wales, the Marchi­oness of Powis, the Lady Strickland, Mrs. Labody, and Count De Lazon, with several Others, in a Barge from White-Hall. And the next Day following, ar­rived at Calais in a Yatch, where the said Queen was received by the Gover­nor and Garrison in Arms; and conti­nued there Three Days [...]takin [...] her Journey from thence to Bulloign, where she had, an Express with the News of King James's being taken at Feversham, in Kent. On which occasion, I was immediately Dispatched for England with Letters to him▪ and came to his Majesty on a Sunday Morning, just as he was ready to take Coach for Whiee-Hall, [Page 21] from whence I was sent with Let­ters back to France again the same Night and overtook the Queen Four Days before her Arrival at St. Germains, and continued there until King James's Ar­rival; immediately after which, I was sent to England again with Letters from King James, to his Friends here; and arriving safely, I was soon ordered back to France, with the Answer in the like manner: And was likewise sent betwixt France and England several o­ther times, bringing Letters not only to several Lords in England, but also for such of King James`s Friends as were in Scotland, particularly the Lord Viscount Dundee; and Commissions for several in Rebellion with him; and for Others, that promised to Joyn against the Prince of Orange on the first Op­portunity. I also brought several Bills of Exchange, for Money to be Remit­ted to the said Lord Dundee, which was performed by the care of Mr. Ashton, the late King James`s-Queens Privy-Purse. [Page 22] And during my continuance in London, I used daily to visit the Lords, and O­thers in the Tower; and being young passed freely to them unsuspected, car­rying Letters to and from them, on all occasions, relating to King James`s Af­fairs; and brought several Bills from them which was to be employed, by their ap­pointment, for Listing of Men in Eng­land, for King James`s Service, against a Descent from France, which was resol­ved on at the Court of France; and much Solicited for from England, it being the chief Subject of the Letteas I carried to King James and the Frence King to in­treat the Landing of Men in England in several places, particularly in the North; and that Five Thousand Men, some good Officers, with a Hundred Thou­sand Pound, and Thirty or Forty Thousand spare Arms would be suffi­cient to be sent` and to secure the King­dom of Scotland with the assistance of those in Arms against the Prince of Orange. For this the French Court was [Page 25] almost daily Sollicited by Letters and great Promises from England; a [...]e all possible Provision was made on each side; the French having provided a great Fleet, and Men ready to make a Descent; whilst King, James's Friends in England had according to the account they sent to France, Listed above Twen­ty Thousand Men in and about London, (January 1690. for this cause the Popes Nuncio's Chair-Man was Executed) and had provided great numbers of Horse ond Foot Accountrements, and Arms; and the like was done according to their ut­most endeavours in most Counties and Shires in this Kingdom. Here I shall omit troubling you or my self with the manner of my coming to serve King William, since 'tis known to most in­telligible Men: I propose to acquaint you that having privately Discovered all I knew to His Majesty, the now Duke of Shreswsbury, then Secretary of State, and the Earl of Rumney, then Lord Sid­ney, and the Earl of Portland; I con­tinued [Page 24] to go to France, as before, with Letters for King James his Queen▪ and the French Court, which Letters I al­ways shewed to King William before I went, or to one of the Lords before mentioned; as I did also the Answers at my Return. The last time of my coming from France was with Mr. Crone, at the beginning of Summer, in the year 1690. The French Fleet been then very numerous and ready to Sail, and all things in England and Scotland seem­ed in a posture to receive them, and a French Army on the other side, King William was almost ready to take his Journey for the Reducing of Ireland. The said Mr. Crone, with my self, was sent to England now with several Com­missions from King James by the way of France, from Ireland: The chief Commissions we brought, was for Le­vying a War against the Prince and Princess of Orange, and all such as re­sisted the Power and Authority of King James, and to Impower Persons to [Page 25] Seize and Imprison the Persons of the said Prince and Princess of Orange. By a Commission under the Great Seal, dated at Dublin, King James Autho­rized several Lords to Act as his Depu­ties, during his Absence. We likewise brought over several Commissions to constitute Commissioners of the Trea­sury, Impowering them to Raise, and Collect Moneys on King James's Ac­count; as also several Commissions for Colonels of Regiments of Foot, and Horse.

By the way, permit me to inform my Reader, That in the above-mentioned Commission for Levying of War, King James did Command and Authorize his loving Subjects by force of Arms, to seize the Persons of the present King, and his Royal Consort, Queen Mary the Second, Alive, or Dead: And Three Months before I came last from France, Colonel Parker had undertaken to Shoot King William; for which Intent he came to England, and went into [Page 26] Lancashire, there to continue until the King came that way on his Journey for Ireland, that being the place proposed to Murther King William at: And to Advise it, there was many Letters sent to the Court of France, desiring that the French Fleet might Sail at, or near the time King William set out for Ire­land.

At this last time, Mr. Crone and my self, brought over many Letters, con­taining full Instructions for the intend­ed Designs, of Killing and Imprisoning their Majesties, King William, and Queen Mary; and for the Raising of great Numbers of Men in several Places against them, for King James and the French Interest.

I will first give you a short Narrative of the Contents of a few of the Letters I carried to France, and so proceed to the Design before mentioned.

Several Letters I carried to, and brought from France, were made up as the Mould of a Button. and so work'd [Page 27] over with Silk, or Silver, and worn on my Cloaths: Others I brought over in the Pipes of Keys, and some writ Ob­scurely; which Writing was discovered by the Steem of a Compound of seve­ral Spirits, Mettals and Sulphure boyl'd together, and made Liquid; the Wri­ting was seen no longer than the said Steem was near the Paper on which it was Writ. Many of the Letters I car­ried to King James, his Queen, and the French Court, were from the chief of their Friends in England, and were full of great Promises and large Incourage­ments to the French King: But his Gallick Majesty well observed, That whilst they were daily promising great Assistance to his Army, when they Landed in Eng­land, they were for the most part un­willing to part with any Money, but continually desired Supplies from France: Some in England, to my certain Know­ledge, Writ to King James, to assure him, that they had taken the Oaths to King William, on purpose to make them­selves [Page 28] more able to serve King James`s Interest, by delaying King William`s Affairs in the Houses of Parliament; Of this, and part of which I had disco­vered to His Sacred Majesty King Wil­liam, he was pleased to acquaint his Parliament in his Gracious Speech to both Houses a short time before he went for Ireland; Adding in his Speech at the same time▪ That he spoke it, to let them, and his Enemies know, that he was not unacquainted with their De­signs. Now to return to my last Com­ing from France with Mr. Crone, I ha­ving informed His Majesty of all I knew, Mr. Crone was seized, and sent Prisoner to the Tower, the rest of the Conspira­tors and their Designs being known, and narrowly observed, His Majesty went for Ireland, committing the Manage­ment to the Queen, and the Ministers of State: Yet, although the Jacobites, and the French Court were, Blessed be Almighty God, disappointed of the Kings being Kill'd on his Journey to [Page 29] Ireland, they continued to go on with their other Designs; Colonel Parker being also order'd for Ireland, to Kill His Majesty there; But the Government knowing their Intriegues, took care to secure this Kingdom, by Raising the Militia, and securing of Conspirators, before the French Fleet came on our Coast, as they did, and lay some time expecting to hear of their Friends in England, being in Arms to receive them. At this time several Lords, and others, were sent to the Tower, and o­thers whose Intriegues were discove­red, fled from Justice, which occa­sioned several Proclamations to be Published for apprehending them; and the Tower, and all the Goals in London, and several others were filled with Con­spirators. They finding their whole Design unravelled, and that I had dis­covered all I knew, and Mr. Crone was safe, and to be suddenly Tryed, which might make him Confess, they instantly got me poysoned, in hopes to have [Page 30] prevented Crone's Tryal; but it pleasing Almighty God to restore me to my Health again, after Ten Weeks Sick­ness, I was able to come to the Old-Baily, where Mr. Crone was Tryed, and Condemned for High - Treason: He had several Reprieves from time to time, on his Promise of making a full Confession; but as he was lingring it out, about Six Months after his Conviction, I Receiv'd a Letter at my Lodgings in the Pall-mall from the Earl of Melford, King James's Secretary, in which I was promised King James's Pardon, and all the Favour I could desire from him, and the Court of France, and Five Hun­dred Pounds down, if I would return to France, and Recant from what I had done: I carried this Letter to the King, who sent me to the Lord Chief Justice Holt, for his Advice, how far I might proceed by Law, thinking thereby to discover something more; but his Lord­ship and several others were of Opinion, that it was a Trick, purely to invalidate [Page 31] my Evidence; They still being appre­hensive of Mr. Crone's Confession, which they knew must be so agreeable to my Informations, that the Heads of King James's Friends had been intirely at King William's Mercy: And this Matter highly concern'd the French Court; for, had Crone been just to Him that gave him his Life, there might have been but small Incouragement from Eng­land to the French long since; and con­sequently, no Plotting now. They of King James's. Party (as well has ap­peared to the Court) made it their In­deavour to have Crone Hang'd, to stop his Mouth; and that as I am well in­formed, occasioned his making almost a full Discovery: Though he went for France as soon as he was let out of Newgate, being invited back with great Promises, as I before had been. I must thank him for his Justice to me, in his last, and most Authentick Confession: He affirms on Oath, That all my Infor­mation was true; for the Confirmation [Page 32] of this, I can appeal to any Member of Parliament that heard Mr. Crone's, or the Lord Preston's Confessions Read, before the Honourable House of Commons. After this, it may seem strange to some, how the House came to be so angry with me: I beg leave to inform such, That the Jacobites, by Mr. Crone's go­ing off, knew they had partly secured themselves from the just Power of the Law; but were yet concern'd, if possible to make the World believe, that they ne­ver had any Design against the Govern­ment: And who can blame them for being ashamed of such a Horrid, and Bloody Design, as they had then contrived against the Government and their own Countrey, to Ruine both Church & State? To cover their Shame as much as may be, they had no way but to Invalidate me; which they set a­bout with all the Malice that the Devil, or Popish Principles cou'd incite them with; though for some time my faithful Service, and the King's large Promises [Page 33] of lasting Favours to me, was my Sup­port; and had continued so, but that the Immaturity of my Judgment was so easily impos'd upon, by Two Instru­ments sent by the French Court, to ac­complish my Ruin, viz. Colonel Tho. Dellaval, and Mr. George Hayes: They were formerly my most intimate Ac­quaintance both in England and at the Court at St. Germains, and were imploy­ed constantly' twixt England and France on King James's Account, as I was: The First of these came to me at my Lodgings in White-Hall, and told me, He desired to come and Serve the Go­vernment, as I had done, provided I wou'd intercede with the Queen for his Pardon, and make some Conditions for his coming over Honourably. I ac­quainted the Queen of it immediately, the King being then in Flanders; and Her Majesty, (whose Bounty extended to all,) did most Graciously promise to Write to the King about it; and, in the mean time, committed the Manage­ment [Page 34] of this Affair to the Care of His Grace, John Lord Arch-Bishop of Can­terbury, (my very good Friend) But before the King's Answer came from Flanders, Dalleval received a Letter from the Earl of Melfort, requiring his Return immediately to St. Germains; which Letter he shewed me, and I car­ried it to the Queen, who knowing Melfort's Hand, gave Orders, That Colonel Dalleval might go for France again, provided, that he engaged to Return when Her Majesty required him: All which he Swore, and promi­mised most Solemnly to do, and then went for France accordingly: Soon af­ter his Arrival there, he sent me several Letters writ in Characters, promising to come to King William in Flanders, and desired me to meet him there. The Arch-Bishop and my self from time to time, acquainted Her Majesty of every Particular; and I was Command­ed to go for Flanders, where I con­tinued with the King Three Months on [Page 35] this Occasion, and Receiv'd Letters from Colonel Dellaval at St. Germains Twice every Week, during the time I was there; the Contents of which Letters prov'd very true, and of some Use at that time to the King's Affairs; but this was only a Snare, the more securely to Ruin me to the Purpose: For, as soon as the King came to Eng­land, and the Parliament was Sitting, Dellaval writ to me, and Mr. Hayes like­wise, to have me get their Pardon, and Protection from the King and Parlia­ment, promising they wou'd make great Discoveries, (which His Majesty knew they might, this being the Winter be­fore the Second intended Invasion, when the Forces with the late King James lay at La Hogue, ready to Embark the latter end of April following) the Par­liament having Addressed the King, to cause the Lord Preston's, and Mr. Crone's Confessions to be laid before them; and theirs agreeing with mine, the Par­liament made an humble Address to the [Page 36] King, to add to his Bounty to me; this did more inflame Mine, and the Na­tions Enemies; and Colonel Dellaval and Mr. Hayes sent me abundance of Letters, and great Promises of perform­ing considerable Services for Their Na­jesties, and this Kingdom's Safety. At length I did Address the House of Com­mons in their Behalf, Desiring a Pardon and Passport to be given me Blank, for Two Gentlemen to come from beyond the Seas, and to Return if desired: The Honourable Honse granted my Request, on Condition I would en­gage for their Appearance, and per­forming what they promised at this time: Only their Majesties, and some of Their Most Honourable Privy-Coun­cil knew these Mens Names that I en­gaged for, lest the French Court shou'd prevent their Coming, (as my Credulity caus'd me to believe) I had the Protection of the Parliament for them, and a Pardon and Passport Sign­aed by the King, and under the Great [Page 37] Seal; it was left blank for me to fill up; and this I sent for Flanders, by a Mes­senger of my own, Recommended by some Members of Parliament: It pro­ving very cold hard Weather in those Parts, Dellaval and Hayes came to Ant­werp some time before my Messenger cou'd get there; so they went to Ostend, and came from thence to England, ha­ving heard their Pardon had passed the Seals. The Messenger heard of them at Antwerp, and other Places; and hearing they were come for England, he returned: As soon as Dellaval and the other arrived, they sent one Jones to me with a Letter, assuring me, they were coming to Town, and intended to Attend on the House of Commons the Monday following. I was extream joyful to hear of their Arrival, and im­mediately sent their Letter to the House, where the Speaker Read it; and Monday was appointed for Hear­ing them. At this Unhappy Time I was very dangerously Sick, and when [Page 38] Monday came, the Gentlemen were seen by many in the Lobby, whilst the House was at Prayers: But Prayers be­ing ended, and they call'd for, they were vanished of a sudden, which oc­casioned the House to appoint a Com­mittee to come to me, which they did, taking all my Papers, and Informations on Oath; Anthony Bowyer, Esquire, be­ing Chair-man of the said Committee I gave them an Account where Mr. Hayes had lodged formerly at a Papists in Holborn, but they were not to be sound; which occasion'd on Wedn'sday the Twenty Fourth of February to pass a Vote against me, and to address the King to order the Attorney-General to prosecute me for engaging for these Men, and that they did not appear: Now King James's Friends had their Desire, and Dellaval, with the Other, having accomplisht their Villanous De­signs, return'd for France: I was brought to my Tryal, at my own Request, at the King's-Bench, at Westminster; and [Page 39] even then these Gentlemen, Dellaval, and Hayes, sent me several Letters to excuse themselves, and promised to come and Vindicate me: And it is most certain, That even to this time, they have continued to come frequently to England about King James's Business: When I was on my Tryal, the Attorney-General, now Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal, and one of the Lords Justices of England, told the Judges and Jury, That I had performed very considera­ble Services to the Advantage and Secu­rity of the Present Government, and had discharg'd my Duty honestly; but having Engag'd for those Men, and they not Appearing, occasioned my Tryal; on which I produced a Certifi­cate, under the Hand of His Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury, that by the King's Order, and his Encouragement, I was sent to France for the Service and Secu­rity of the Present Government, as be­fore mentioned.

[Page 40]I also desired the Lord Chief Justice Holt to acquaint the Jury, (who were all Gentlemen of good Account) of what he knew, being one of His Ma­jesty's most honourable Privy-Council. And, as to the Matter relating to the Letters I had, and the Pardons, and Money which was offered me to go back for France, all which his Lordship most justly and honourably declared: There was likewise a considerable num­ber of Members of Parliament call'd; but the Men I engaged for, not appear­ing before the House, to certifie them, I was found Guilty of a Misdemeanour against them.

Having thus shewed how far their Malice extended to me, I beg you will take Notice, how Confidently King James's Friends can oppose any Truth that is against their Interest, as now their denying that the French Court, or King James's knew, of the Design of Murthering King William; when the World cannot but remember that Che­valier [Page 41] Granval was Executed in Flanders, for Endeavouring to Shoot the KING; and that, at his Death, he Confess'd the Fact: And it was sufficiently prov'd, That Colonel Parker was engag'd with him; and that Parker had Receiv'd In­structions from the Late King; and that both of Them, with Others, were En­couraged from Time to Time, by the French Ministers of State: Of This I first acquainted his Majesty, but it was further Discover'd at one of the Con­federate Prince's Courts; who earnestly pressed his Majesty to Examine the Matter; and, being done, this Granval was found Guilty, and Executed; tho' Colonel Parker made his Escape: Which may convince any thinking Man, that from the First Intended Invasion from France, that Court has studied Wayes to Kill King William, and his late Royal Consort, of ever Blessed Memory.

As for the Intolerable Injuries that I have undergone, Time, and their own [Page 42] Devices have at last Demonstrated, tho they spared for no Means, that might make me Obnoxious to all Good Men: I bless God, and must acknowledge the abun­dant Goodness of my Sovereign, for my De­liverance from their treacherous and base Villanies; and earnestly pray, that Almighty God will forgive them, as I most freely do.

Whoever shall peruse these Lines, and is not satisfied with the Truth of any Particu­lar, I shall be ready to give any Demonstrati­on, that is not too impertinent. And as I have mentioned the Names of several Great and Good Men, I dare refer any Person to them, for the Confirmation of the Truth of this Narrative.