A.

It's plain enough, that this Letter was written from Lon­don.I Have had none from you since the 5th. of this In­stant, your stile; so that my Payn. Friend grows very im­patient; but I have sent your last with that of Melfort's Letter to Payn was delivered by Mr. James Smith, Son to Mrs. Smith. David's, and by this time I suppose he is satisfied; for I am inform­ed all mine came safe to him. But I have sent you his to let you see what he says in his Phanatick Humour, for I know he is troubled he has no Answers for his Friends here, that write to him constantly by me; and I am assured they take it very ill, and think him or me in fault that sent them. Therefore I ear­nestly beg of you to sollicite [Page 3] David to say something, for they are good Friends of your The late King. Brothers, and not to be slighted. My old Who she is, is no My­stery. Countess also writ you her self, but I never heard whether you received it, and every week I have her duty to your Brother and Queen. Sister, and Service to you; and al­ways says, she lives no long­er than she hears your good Family is in Health; and I am indeed very much con­cerned lest I hear you are ill since your last, in which you assure of the pain in your head, which grieves me to the heart: For I prefer it be­fore my own. Therefore for God's sake let me have the satisfaction of hearing from you as often as you can: I have not failed a Post since my Friend went, and all double. I have very little News, but This Paragraph, and the enclosed Letters, show the time in which this Letter was written, tho it be not dated. one [Page 4] thing I cannot omit to tell you, that one Payn a mad Ja­cobite, is removed to the Ca­stle of Stirling, and that the Lord Seaforth is to be tried for his life, and many more such as these are likely to have their due reward. As to our Parliament, Seymore made a Speech, and told them of the House, That the French was making great Preparation, which must be provided a­gainst, both with a Fleet and Money; but this is thought was only to press for raising Money; so that I think, to comfort you, we have no Because the Fleet only, and not Money alone, could hinder a Descent in Scotland. fears of that. Dear Aunt I have sent you That is the Letter C, which is from the Nephew Mr. Payn, whose Letter is to his Aunt too. one of Nephews, and beg you to do what you can for one in his Circumstances; for I cannot chuse but love him. I am told that Mrs. It appears elsewhere who Mrs. Mowet is, and that it is a man, and no mean man. Mowet cannot be long out of the That is, in Prison; see the beginning of the Letter C. Doctor's hands, so [Page 5] very ill she is. But more of this from my That is one under the Name of Gray the Writer of the Letter B, and of the Let­ter D and E, apparently an English-man. Friend that I hope will be here ere this come to your hands, if his health will permit; so that if you write, yours will meet him in Town, if it please God, to whom I resign all my Friends and Affairs: I was to see for Answer of Mr. Iske for whom I left the Letter of Money Business, to get An­swer, but could not light of him, but he had your Letter, but I will by the next Post; Pardon this long Scroll, and give me leave to continue my humble Thanks, and be honoured with the Title of, Madam, your most Grateful, Humble Servant, That is Mary Brown, as will appear by the Cover to to the Letters D and E. Mary B.

There is found among Mrs. Smith's Papers, a Letter dated the 4th-of February, the Direction of it is torn, but so much remains — Son to the — Robert Jameson in Edinburgh. It is writ­ten by the same Hand with the Letter A, and [Page 6] Signed M. B. instead of Mary B. It is plain, that this M. B. is at London, and manages the Correspondence betwixt Aunt at Paris, and Nephew Payn here, with the assistance of Mrs. Smith. The Letter is thus; the Blanks are Words that cannot be read.

The Secretary was obliged at London to re­store the Originals of the Letters D and E, of which he produced the Copies in Parliament; but when he had them, they appeared to him to be writen by the same Hand with the Letter B, (of which he has the Original); And there­fore by one under the Name of Gray, for so the Letter D is signed, it is evident by the Letters themselves that this Gray is an English­man, and the Concerter and Manager of the whole Business; it seems he was lurking in the North of England when he wrote the Letters B, D, E, for they are dated the 4th and 25th of [Page 9] December, that is on Sundays, which is the day after the Post-day at Edinburgh, which is Saturday. It is evident by the Letter B that he was going into Scotland; and by the Letters D and E that he actually went to Scotland. It is otherwise known that an English-man of such a Character came to Edinburgh about the time here spoke of, and that he keeped no mean Company there.

B.

I Had yours this morn­ing, with That is, it seems one to himself. one to Mr. Gray, I am strangely amazed I have none from your It is plain the Letter has been written to Mary Brown. Aunt, I cannot find the meaning on't, and never man had more need of Comfort than my self at this time; I have Letters from your That is, Mrs. Smith, Ma­ry Brown's loving Mother. Mo­ther [Page 10] and Macgill my Lord Melfort's Page confesses that he brought Letters from his Master to two Noblemen under the Name of Balfour: Mrs. Ford owns that she received the Letters from him, and delivered them to Mrs. Smith who absconds. It seems too otherwise clear e­nough who Balfour is, and that he and Mrs. Mowet are one. Balfour which would strike That is the News men­tioned in the Letter A. and the putting in of the new Agents mentioned in the Letter C. to wit, the Advocate and Justice Clerk, which was done in the end of Mr. Jonstoun's Month, a Week or two before the date of this Letter. Terrour into any man, but I'm re­solv'd what will be fate, to enter into that Cursed That is Scotland, which shews he was then in the North of England. Countrey, and put my luck to the last tryal. I do not know what can be the meaning of those I wish so well to teaze me at such a distance, it shall not break the Respect I have for those I'm obliged to. Your Friends favouring me at this distance, and so little Merit of mine, all Obliga­tions being on that side, makes me the unhappiest man in the World, I only wish it were in my power, my Life should not be too dear a Sacrifice. You may assure your self I am ever your Servant, and you tell me you have not seen my Wife, nor heard [Page 11] from her Brother, 'tis no matter, I care not how few you see of my Ac­quaintance, and pray tell all I am still in That is in London. Town. Be sure you write to your and my That is their common Aunt at Paris. Complaint that she may be sensible how I resent not hearing from her, and that I do not altoge­ther deserve ill usage after the Charges I have under­gone, and the Hazards I have risqu'd for their sakes; once more I am for ever yours.

C.

I Am forced in ill for want of better Paper Payn writes to the same Aunt. dearest Aunt to let you know that I am obliged to Change That is, change his open Prison of Blackness for close Pri­son in Stirling Castle. The King had ordered this on the 14th of November. The Councils Order is on the 29th, and was given out on the 1st of Decem­ber, two days before the date of this Letter, he was actually sent to Stirling on the 6th. my bad Lodg­ing for worse, being re­lapsed into my old He had been close Priso­ner before in Edinburg Castle. Di­stemper again, my Physici­ans being resolved not to let any Breathing visit me till it please God to restore me to my perfect Health, they alledging that my keeping too much Com­pany doth great mischief. All my Consolation in this miserable Condition is, that Mrs. This Name is in several other Letters. Friend is just come [Page 13] into the Neighbourhood; and though I fear I shall not be so happy to see her, yet my Dearest Cou­sin, I doubt not, will do it speedily: For so it is contrived to be by my dear and diligent Friend's Ne­gotiation, who is the very Life and Vigour of all your The late King. Brother's Affairs here, and the prop of his Family, running, going, and spend­ing her self to the last penny in his Service. And but for her's in the first place, and Mrs. Mowat's in the second, your poor He himself, for he writes to his Aunt. Nephew might have perisht long ere this for mere It's known they neglect­ed to send him money. want, to no great Credit no more than Advan­tage of your Brother; for tho he may have many more a­ble, he has not a faithfuller Servant in the World. Oh His Phanatick Humour, in Letter A. God! how can he be so [Page 14] despised amongst his Relati­ons, when their Enemies con­sider him so much, and all their honest Acquaintance that knew him, have some esteem at least for him. This is all I will, and less I cannot say, for all the strange regard­less usage he has met withal from It's known that in the late Reign Melfort was his E­nemy. David; and let it stand as it doth, since Mrs. Mowat This word is thus spel­led in other Papers of Payn's Hand-writing, lately seized in his Chamber. Wrights me word she and Mrs. Mowet and Melfort begin to be reconciled, and so Payn hopes to be reconciled with Melfort too. It's plain Mowet is a man, and a man of Note. him begin to un­derstand one another better, and are like to be perfect Friends, which for your Bro­ther's sake I hope will conti­nue real on that side, as I am sure it is on this. She and Mowet and Little-John here, are Balfour and Little-John in Letters D. E. and their recon­ciliation there as here, is the foundation of all. Its known who among the disaffected Par­ty were reconciled this last Winter. Littlejohn has had a meet­ing too, where all things have been so explained be­tween them, that I hope will produce a lasting Concur­rence in diligence for your Brother's Service, to which [Page 13] sole end all my Endeavours therein have tended; and now I assure you See in Letter E. I thank God, &c. all things here are in perfect order for bringing on the That is the Invasion, see trade Letter E. Trial, as speedily as your Brother pleases, and the sooner the better I am sure, for his The King. The Com­missions for the new Advocate and Justice Clerk were signed on the 28th. of November, that is six days before the date of this Letter. Adversary is very diligent in searching out new Agents, that are like to be more able and faithful to him, than those he has hitherto employed; and I assure you succeeds extreme­ly in his design, and has in a manner united all the Presbyterians. It's known that by the Changes made in the Spring before, they were somewhat cooled in their zeal, which this new change revived again. Mechanicks, by this means to be entirely his, so the Cause may grow worse, but cannot mend by delay of the Trial. And as It seems he is answering Letters. for Compositi­ons and Bargains with parti­culars, it is of little or no im­portance, since mens several Interests and Designs are so different, that they are im­possible [Page 16] to be reconciled before the Restoration. Cause be ended, and he walk the Exchange again. In the mean time care must be had that his The known Cant for a Declaration. Letters of At­torney be fairly and fully drawn, as methinks is ea­sy to be done; and I would have sent a Draught as I told you in my last, but that I cannot with all my Dili­gence procure a Copy of the last to make a true Judg­ment why it is so universal­ly cried out upon by those of the Creditors have seen it. But now I must to To close Prison, and so have no more an opportunity to tamper. Bed, and mind no more Business perhaps while I live, but yet cannot die an honest man, if I do not with all the Ear­nestness of my The Word Sole for Soul is written so too in the Papers that were seized in his Cham­ber. Sole re­commend to your The late King, Queen, and Melfort. Bro­ther, The late King, Queen, and Melfort. Sister, The late King, Queen, and Melfort. and David, the diligent No doubt Mrs. Smith, who has all along taken care of him, and is an active stir­ring Woman. Gentlewoman [Page 17] I mentioned before, as the most useful Person beyond all Compa­rison of any Body they have here. The four Persons mentioned may well be supposed to be two No­blemen with the late Archbishop of Glasgow, and a Lord the known Friend and Correspon­dent of the Nurse, that is, of the Countess of Errol, now Governess to to the pretended Prince of Wales at Paris. This Mrs. Mowat Littlejohn the sick Minister, and Nurses Friend, nay, all our Relations here, not only continually allow, but by daily Proofs will testify. This makes me beg, that since there is the That is, Sir James Rochied, Town-Clerk of Edinburgh, who died a­bout a week before the Date of this Letter. Clerk of the Town she Mrs. Smith lives in Edinburgh. lives in is newly dead, the Place may be procured for her Mr. Patrick Smith Advocate, who abscon­ded. Hus­band or Mr. James Smith her Son. Son, It appears not to whom the late K. James was to write, but the Magistracy only can put in the Clerk. The stand­ing Magistracy was then under Process, and in a few days after thrown out: The Letter then was to come to those who could influence the new intended Magistracy. a Line from your Brother doth it, and I am very sure it is impossible for him to employ his Pen more The Town-Clerk's Place is one of the most beneficial Places in the Kingdom, and is during Life. de­servedly; the Motion I assure you comes not in the least from her, she being the most disinterest Crea­ture breathing, but was of her own accord proposed by Mrs. Mowat, who also said she would write to secure the Favour for fear of some­bodies [Page 18] It is evident the late King's Friends here were in Factions amongst themselves about the dis­posing of the Clerk's Place, and that Payne finding his Party not strong enough to carry it for his Friend, would have Assistance from France, and would have it early, lest some other Pretenders should worst him there also. interposing between your Brother and David, to prevent so just a Request in her behalf as this is. For God's sake propose it earnestly in Mrs. Mowet's and my Name, to your Brother and David, and interest too therein your That is, the late Queen, see incomparable Lady, in Letter E. ex­cellent Sister, and if ever I was so happy to do or endeavour any thing was It's known that in the late Reign the Queen reckoned her self obliged to Payne, and protected him. acceptable to her, may her Memory thereof plead for me in this Request. Dear Aunt, lay all nice or timerous Reserves by, and press it home as an honest Matter,Mel­fort and the Countess of Errol. and the most earnest De­sire of your dutiful Nephew. A­dieu. My Service to L. David, and L. Nurse, join her in the matter I beseech you for her Friends sake and mine.

It's plain that the Letter C. is written by Mr. Payne, by the Declarations of those that know his Hand-writing, of which some have seen him write, and by comparing it with other Letters and Papers written and signed by his own Hand, nor does he deny it in private to his Friends.

[Page 19]To show that Payne is capable of the Folly of writing such a Letter, it can be proved by the Persons Oaths to whom he spoke, and who told it at the time, that on the 5th of December, which was two days after the Date of his Letter, he said to one whose Office as well as his Allegiance, obliged him to a Discovery that an Invasion was designed. That the late King James had his Officers ready both in England and Scotland, and that the Invasion would be certainly some time in the Spring, and possibly sooner than was ap­prehended.

To show too that Payne was in use to borrow such Names as Aunt Mowet, Cousen, or Brother, &c. There follows the beginning of a Letter of his written by his own Hand, and in all Appearance to Madam Smith, for the Letter was found a­monst her Papers, it's dated the 26th of Fe­bruary last.

D.

I Had a It seems Mrs. Lit­tle is my Lady Melfort, and that she writ the whole Letter, to which this is an Answer, but that David her Husband dictated the half of it. Letter half from you and half David as I take it, tho written with your own Hand. I sent Dowglas seems to be Payne, see the begin­ning of the Letter A. Dowglas his from David, and am much obliged for my own. I have perfectly cured the Disease be­tween Balfour and little John, and shall work on till I find the bottom of my The late King, the same with Brother in Payne's Letter, to Aunt, and with Cousin in his other Letter to Madam Smith. Cousens Affairs. I fancy I shall meet with things as I would wish, but I wonder I hear not offer from you, Mr. A Earl well known. Courtney writ to Mr. Tate, so did my Patient and her Son. I'm surprized there should be no Return, 'twill discourage the like Practice, and I can assure you Courtney is troubled at it, and with Reason, for he is both con­siderable and has He has been some­time in Prison. suffered much; so pray consider this, for the Ex­ample is of importance: as for my self I am over-whelmed with Grief for the loss of poor Mrs. Probably an Earl who died much about the time of this Letter. Gypps, to whose Family I owe so much. I have writ several to David, and one to Mr. Tate since I came here. [Page 22] I The reason of the Complaints here and elsewhere, that Answers came not, seems to be Mogal, Melfort's Page his slowness, who was long on his way from Paris with a great number of Letters. beg where I make any De­mand in mine, I may have either a condescending or a refusing Answer. Pray let me know how my Under­takings are relish'd, and how I stand with my Couzen; my Service to Balby. I am yours, Gray.

I wish you a merry Christmass.

The Leter E. enclosed in the Letter D. was directed for Mr. Ford, and of the same Date and Hand-writing. The Secretary declared that he had seen Letters signed David Ford, written by my Lord Melfort's own Hand.

E.

I Had yours for James Balfour and Gray the Writer, as hath been said, seems to be in the North of England, and therefore upon the Receipt of Mel­fort's Letter for Balfour, was obliged to send an Express to Balfour, who lives in Scotland. sent it express to him, when the Return is made you shall have it with all imaginable Care. I have, I thank God, perfectly cemen­ted the Difference between Balfour Pain, Mowet and little John. and little John, having both their Engagements solemnly made mu­tually and with a joint Pain lasting Con­currence. Concur­rance to Pain your Brothers Service. serve my Cousen, to the [Page 23] last Last drop of their Blood. Penny of their Stock, and their Opinions and Demands under their Hands, which I thought the surest way of dealing: I Pain, all things here are in perfect order. thank God your Estate in these Parts is in very good condition, and the Of Men of Inte­rest or Courage. Generality of all that have Stock, or dare any way venture, are resolved to join you, so that An Invasion. Pain Trial. Trade is in a fair way of succeeding here. I have now at this time a Messenger with James Balfour, after whose return I shall make little stay in these Parts, you shall know by me what you may rely on, where the The Cant is Trade Money, and Pay-masters is Men and Officers. Money shall be raised, and who the chief Pay-masters, which is all I can do.

I wonder you do not make Returns to Court­ney, my Patient and her Son, since they are con­siderable enough to deserve it, for God's sake give no cause of Disgust, but let the Labourers be encouraged, since a bare acknowledgment of their Service will do it.

A Cor­respon­dence be­twixt London and the North. Correspondence is desired from hence with Bristol, and 'tis left to my management to settle, 'tis of too great Importance for me to take upon me; therefore I humbly desire your Advice and my Cousen's Orders, whom I shall trust with it at that place, and to whose Hands it shall be com­mitted.

[Page 24]I was It's plain he had been in Scot­land. received by James Balfour and little John with all the Demonstrations of Friendship possible, placing an entire Trust in me as to the Managements of my Cousens Affairs, and by all their Adherents, they express a very great sense of your past Services, and Ability to serve my Cousen in the future: But you This as well as his Stile shows he is no Scotch­man. know the Hu­mours of that Country-People better than I.

Let me hear from you if you please, how I shall proceed at my return to Bristol, I dare not appear here for their Creditors; for those that arrested my Father, lie still in wait for me. My humble Duty to my Cosen and his incomparable Lady, and let them know I shall never fail to serve them with my Life and Fortune. Sir, I am very much your Servant, and sensible of the Favours you have done me. Adieu.

The Secretary declared in Parliament, that he was obliged at London to restore the Originals of the Letters D. and E. but that he was ready to at­test upon Oath, that the Copies produced were true Copies of the Letters shown to him as Origi­nals, and which he indeed believed to be Originals. And for a Confirmation of the Truth both of the Originals and Copies of the Letters D. E. he offered to have the following Matter of Fact [Page 25] verified upon Oath by the Persons concerned who had indeed been examined by the Com­mittee.

The Matter of Fact is this; Upon Informa­tion given at Edinburgh in December last, that one Captain Maire, who has lived for the most part in England, was going thither upon some unaccountable Design, four Officers were pri­vately ordered to catch him, and search him for Letters; which they accordingly did, on the 26th of December, seising on him not far from the Borders: They found on him only one Letter, which they read, and finding no­thing in it but as they imagined about Trade, they neither keeped him, nor it. But it's plain that this was the Answer which Gray's Express was to bring from Balfour, and consequently the Answer to my Lord Melfort's Letter which Gray had received and sent to Balfour, and which Answer Gray says should be sent to Melfort with all imaginable Care: For the Let­ter which the Officers read was signed Balfour, and directed to Gray, as they owned at their Return to Edinburgh before they or any other could know the Import of their Error, and which they now owned again to the Committee. The Time too quadrats. Gray says on the [Page 26] 25th of December that he had sent an Express to Balfour, which possibly he had sent the day before, or sooner, or only the same day; but at which time soever he sent the Express it's no matter, he says expresly in his Letter of the 25th, I have now at this time a Messenger with James Balfour; so the Answer might well be found with a Bearer on the 26th, which is con­firmed too by the Character of Maire, who has now fled for it.

To all this it is added, that it can be made ap­pear by other Proofs than those here mentioned, that there was a Design in the North this Winter. That one was sent from the late King to manage and carry on that Design. That his Instructions were consulted and concerted by those about the late King and the French Ministry: That my Lord Melfort was the Original Procurer of these In­structions. That the Nature of the Design, and the Character of the Person employed, were of a peece, that is, equally bad; that the Person employed did actually come to the North. That he is an English Man, that he returned to London in the Spring, and in all probability will be found where ever the Reconciler Gray is to be found.

F.

Follows the Beginning of another Original Letter from Mr. Payne to Mrs. Smith, dated the 29th of December, 1692.
G.

I Wish with all my Heart there were proper Words in the World, or that I had them at least to express the Gratitude I owe to your Ladiship, for the boundless Friendship you so constantly express to me a poor mise­rable Stranger, so persecuted, that if God had not raised me such a charitable Friend as your self, must have lan­guish'd in this unprecedented Restraint, without know­ing how to cry for Help, and have been heard, except by that God himself, who has inspired you with so much Charity as thus to be concerned for me. May it be His blessed Will that I may live to shew, I would be suffi­ciently Grateful if I could: And in the mean time ac­cept my worthless, tho hearty Thanks for all their Fa­vours, and most particularly, for giving Mr. James Smith these too frequent Troubles; he can inform you fully of my present Condition: And by him I have sent an Order for paying the next or any other Money may be sent for me to your Ladiship, having also received by him from you Twenty Dollers.

Follows another Original Letter of Mr. Paynes, wherein three several times the word Write is spelled Wright.
H.