IN such a shamming Age as this is, wherein shamming is become a Trade or Science, and the Workmen so Ingenious, that no sooner is one Sham discover'd but a new one is contrived to sham that, so that for these last three years there hath been nothing but sham upon sham, or rather one continued sham in several dis­guises; it will not be amiss to Collect and gather toge­ther all those several Shams which have been carried on by the Papists since the Plot, wherein they have had a double aim; the first, to stifle the Noise of their own Plot; the second, to sham one upon the Protestants; thereby hoping to destroy a considerable number of those by their second, which they missed the destroying by their first Plot.

The first Sham we find took air, was immediately upon the first discovery of the Plot, by Mr. Everard, where­by they so ordered the matter, that his discovery was rewarded with the Tower, whither the Sham follows him, and he is solicited to lay a Plot upon the Protestants; even so early was the Design laid to carry a Plot upon the Protestants. Sir John Robinson told him, those stories he had discovered, concerning the Plot, were but trifles, [Page 2]and starting-holes from the only point he had to urge against him. That unless he would confess other Mat­ters against the Duke of Monmouth, he would Rack him the next day, and afterwards hang him.

The next Sham wherein they indeavoured to lay not only a Plot to Destroy the King; but (that which I can­not Write without horror) the real Murder of the best of Kings, our present Sovereign, whom God long pre­serve, upon the Presbyterians, was their procuring some to swear against one Clapool, that he should say, he would Kill the King; whereby they got him secured in the Tower, that so if God had permitted that which he hath graciously prevented, viz. the Murder of our dread Sovereign, they had presently laid it on the Presby­terians; for say they, there is one in the Tower that threatned it.

The third Sham was as they would have the rest, if they could, a bloody one, viz. The Murder of Sir Ed­mondbury Godfrey, which was done immediately upon the discovery of the Plot, by Dr. Oates, and then a cursed Report spread abroad by those Murderers, that he had Murdered himself, wherein they had a double Design; first to stifle the further Prosecution and Disco­very of the Hellish Popish Plot, first by taking out of his Pocket, when they Murdered him, the Depositions of Dr. Oates. Secondly, By an infallible preventing his being a Witness against Coleman, at his Tryal; who, had as some say, discovered such things to him, which they found means to prevent his discovering to any other, by promising to procure him a Pardon. Thirdly, By discouraging all Justices of the Peace and other Magi­strates from daring to meddle with it any more, for fear of undergoing the like fate. Their second Design in this Murder, was, by the cunning contrivance of it, to insinuate, that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey had been an Ill [Page 3]man, and had Conspired, with other Protestants, to Forge a Plot against the Papists, and hir'd Dr. Oates, to Swear it, thereby the better to bring about some cursed Contrivance of their own; but being dogged and haunt­ed by the horror of a guilty Conscience, for unjustly laying such Horrid Crimes to the Charge of the poor in­nocent Roman Catholicks, was forc'd to become his own Executioner.

The fourth Sham was their indeavour to prevail with Captain Bury and Alderman Brook, to Swear the Plot upon the Protestants, for which purpose, they were to draw up in Writing what they would have them Swear, and promised 500 l. for their Reward. Now although these great Offers were not imbraced by these men, yet since they efcap'd so well without Punishment, they re­solved to offer them to all with whom they had the least hopes to prevail, until some or other would adventure to purchase this Gold at the price of Blood.

The fifth Sham, was my Lord Treasurer's taking Bedloe into his Closet, and by great Offers, tempting him to withdraw his Evidence concerning the Popish Plot.

The sixth Sham, was that great Attempt of Reading to Corrupt Mr. Bedloe, by the offer of an Estate, to re­linquish his Testimony as to the Lords in the Tower.

The seventh Sham, was that Traiterous Libel, call'd the Compendium, contrived by the Jesuits, to sham the Plot, by relating the Circumstances of the Tryals with so much brevity and partiality, that they leave out the most material things upon which the strength of the Evi­dence lay.

The eighth Sham, was a Libel, called, The History of the Plot, by Roger L'Estrange, together with his fur­ther Discovery, wherein he labours hard at it, to shuffle in something in proof of the pretended Presbyterian Plot, and to stifle the Popish Plot, by pretending to a further Discovery of it.

The ninth Sham, was the sending abroad whole Re­giments of Pamphlets (for you must know a great part of their shamming Talent lies in Pamphletting) of divers natures, some seeming to clash one against ano­ther, and some to rail against the Papists and Popish Plot­ters, but yet all ingeniously fixed by the subtile contrivers to serve the great Design of shamming the Popish, and insinuating a Presbyterian Plot.

The tenth was that of Knox, Lane, and Osborn, being a subtile Contrivance, managed by the joynt consent of the Lords in the Tower, as appears by Mr. Dangerfeild's Narrative, wherein they were to prove, 1. A Contrivance between Mr. Bedloe and Dr. Oates, to Charge the Earl of Danby with Treason; 2. To Charge Dr. Oates with Sodo­my; in both which they indeavoured to stifle the Plot; first by charging both Oates and Bedloe with Per­jury in swearing falsly against the Lord Treasurer; and so, by consequence, all they had Sworn against others was false too. 2. If they fail'd in this, yet if they could prove the Sodomy, they would thereby render him such a profligate Wretch, that his Testimony was not to be credited.

The eleventh Sham, was that commonly called the Meal-Tub Plot, which because it seems to be the very same Sham with that which is now on foot, and is so hugg'd by some, only the persons who Act this Trage-Comedy, some of them are changed, but the Master Contrivers and the Design of the Play is the same; therefore I shall be the longer upon it.

About the later end of March, 1679. One Mrs. White, a Prisoner in Newgate, and one who had been Convict­ed, was released out of Prison, by Mrs. Cellier, after which she came several times to visit Mr. Dangerfeild, then likewise a Prisoner there, whereby she learned, that he was a Roman Catholick; and Mrs. Cellier inquiring of [Page 5]her about the Prisoners in Newgate, if it were not pos­sible to find out a man of Courage amongst them, and one who would reform? upon which she gave such a high Character of Mr. Dangerfeild, that she immediately, supposing him a man fit for their purpose, gives him a visit, and after some short discourse of Newgate-Affairs, acquainted him, that she had a Business of great Con­cern for him to do, which if he would undertake, she would procure his Liberty, and a great Reward; in a word, she would make his Fortune; which he under­taking, she got him discharged. The first thing they imploy him about, was to find out some way to Invali­date the Testimony of Mr. Bedloe, by the means of one Stroude, a Prisoner in the Kings-Bench (as he was like­wise, for he was no sooner out of Newgate, but he was Arrested and carried to the Counter for Debt, whence he was removed to the Kings Bench;) but this not suc­ceeding, to their wish, they got him out, however he was in the Gallery at Powis-house, by the Lady Powis, thanked and praised for his diligence about Stroud's busi­ness; promising upon her Honour, that she would for his faithfulness make his Fortune, provided he would undertake the Management of other Business she had to do; he promising he would, she gave him a long and strict Charge; first, to be stedfast in the Principles of his Religion: secondly, to go once a Week to Mr. Monson, to Confession, which he promised to do; this was about the 6th. of June, 1679. and because all things were not ready, and they were loth to lose time, they im­ployed him for the present in getting out five or six Priests, that lay in the Gate-house; two or three whereof he got out: then he carried a Letter from the Countess of Powis to the Earl of Castlemain; upon the receiving and per­using this Letter, my Lord received him very kindly, promising to make his Fortune, if he would use his in­deavours [Page 6]to support the Catholick Cause, as he should be directed. Then his Lordship writ a Letter to the Coun­tess, in Answer to that which he brought from her, which he sent by him, and he delivered it to the Countess, who calling Mrs. Cellier to her, opened it, and read it in Mr. Dangerfeild's presence; the Contents whereof was to this purpose:

Madam, Just now I received yours, and will meet you at the Tower, to Morrow, at Ten a Clock: but this Fellow I like well, and though he be no Scholar, yet he may serve to Instruct the Youths, according as he shall be directed; and in so doing, I shall be eased of much suspicion, &c.

By the Youths, you must understand the St. Omer's Witnesses, who were lodged at Mrs. Cellier's House, and were Instructed once in two days by Castlemain, all the time of their being in Town; yet some of them wanted their Lessons at the time of the Tryal of the five Jesuits at the Old Bayly, and therefore were again Instructed; yet blockheads that they were, they did not acquit them­selves so well as was hop'd they would. Then the Countess advised Mr. Dangerfeild to burn all Papers whatsoever, after he had perused them; which he did, even to the very last, otherwise he had been able to have proved all he charges them with, by their own hand­writing. Shortly after this, Mr. Dangerfeild suspecting that Mrs. Cellier's Maid took more notice of Affairs than was necessary, he told the Countess, he did not like her; so the Countess advised Mrs. Cellier, to turn her away, and take a Boy in her room, who would be more conve­venient for carrying Letters; which was presently done. Then the Countess of Powis sent him with a Letter, to one Mrs. Jane, (as she called him) at one Mr. Webs, at Peterley in Buckinghamshire, and confer with her a­bout some weighty Business; this Mr. Web was himself present when the Countess put him upon going, and [Page 7]advised him, lest the cause of his going should be discovered, to bring his Son-in-law with him when he came back; saying, he had designed to send him to France long since, and that this would not only be a good Excuse for him, but very convenient for his Journey also: then the Countess did order one of the Grooms, to hire a Horse for him, not that her Ladyship wanted Horses, but lest it should be known that she sent him, and so he should be discovered; then Mr. Web advised him to put the Pacquet he was to carry into the Saddle-skirts, that so if he were taken, the Horse being a Hackney, he might come off, by denying the thing. When he came to Peterley, he delivered the Letter to Mrs. Web from her husband; which as soon as she had read, she desired him to follow her, which he did through divers Rooms, and up and down several pair of Stairs, till she brought him into a Chamber, where she bid him sit down, saying, she would presently send the Lady to him, but instead of a Woman, she sent in a Man, (a Popish Priest) who af­ter greeting, acquainted him, that for the security of his person these dangerous times, he was forc'd to retire there, and use the Name of Mrs. Jane: then he told him, he must presently Confess, and receive the Sacrament, to be true to the Cause. He told him he had been drinking on the Road, and was not in a condition, and pray'd it might be deferr'd till the Morrow: but, he told him, that must not be; he was well enough, and must do it then, for he was to be gone early in the Morning, which when he had done, he took his leave, till the Morrow. When being ready to come away, Mrs. Web carried him to Mrs. Jane's Chamber, and left them together. Then he told Mr. Dangerfeild, he had sate up all Night to An­swer those Letters; and that he would now consider by what Method to proceed in the Plot against the Presbyteri­ans, and that the ground-work of the whole thing was among [Page 8]those Papers, which he was to bring to London. When he came to London, the Countess, and Mrs. Cellier, told him, they were under great fear, lest the Papers should have been discover'd, and when he had deliver'd the Papers to the Countess, she opened and overlook'd them all, but took one, and read it to him, which was to this effect: (viz.) Good store of Pamphlets must be writ, and spread about the Town against the Presbyterians; persons must be imployed to go to Coffee-Houses, and rail against the Pres­byterians, and if they meet with any that offer to contend, matter of Treason, or some such thing may easily be laid to their charge, to have them secured; but there must be many persons imployed in this work, and it will be great prudence, not to let them know one another, and to let none of them know more than his own part: he blamed them like­wise, for letting Mr. Dangerfield know so much as he did: but, said he, I have bound him fast enough; and besides that, I have a better opinion of him than I had of the o­ther (meaning Gifford the Priest.) These are the People that must do the work, and you let them lie in Prisons and starve; which makes me wonder at your great negligence in so considerable an Affair, &c. The rest were conceal'd from him, and presently sent to the Lords in the Tower, and afterwards to Mr. Nevel, to peruse and alter, as he thought fit; for he was the chief Pen-man, and did all that sort of drudgery for a long time, till Mr. Dangerfeild relieved him; first, by Transcribing divers Papers after him: secondly, by setting up for himself, in scribling of Pamphlets, to further the Cause. By this time the Tryal of the five Jesuits came on, and Mr. Dangerfeild not ha­ving time, as was designed, to Instruct the Witnesses, the Lord Castlemain continued in that imployment himself, and gave to some, who had short Memories, Breviates, or Lessons; others he advised with, sometimes at his own Lodgings, other times at Powis-house, and sometimes [Page 9]at Mrs. Cellier's; this was as common among the Youth's, as going to School, and sometimes when they had been scanning over their Parts, and mistook, they would pre­sently cry, Oh, I am out, I must go to my Lord Castle­main, to be Instructed again. Then was Mr. Dangerfeild ordered to Attend on the Lord Castlemain at the Sessions held at the Old-Bayly, the 13th. and 14th. of June; and the said Lord desired him to take care of the Youths, and keep them together, lest the Rabble, out of inveterate hatred should offer them any Injury. Then he was or­dered to get into Court, and take Notes of the Tryals; and when the Tryals were over, the Lady Powis read them, and then sent him to her Lord, to the Tower, to whom he shewed the little imperfect Remarks he had taken: his Lordship seemed to like them well; and, to incourage him to be Industrious in other Business, com­mended him highly for this, and gave him far better incouragement than ever he had from his Lady, or any body else, and promised, upon his Honour, to make his Fortune, if he would be rul'd. Then the Lord Powis sent him to the Lord Bellasis, and the other three Lords, to shew them his Notes, or rather himself; he shewed them to all those Lords; and they all desired, they might be Printed, and gave Money towards it; one a Guinea, ano­ther Fifty Shillings, one half a Guinea, another Fifteen or Sixteen Shillings: when he returned to my Lord Powis, he told him what the other Lords had done, then he also contributed to it, and told him, the Lord Castle­main should do the like; at the same time he told him, that some had been imployed by them, to take the whole Tryals, which was to be Printed by one Turner, a Popish Bookseller in Holborn, and ordered him, to carry his Notes to be compared with his, and one intire Relation to be composed of the whole, which was the Compen­dium. The Lord Arundel, laying his hand upon his head, [Page 10]promised he should be well rewarded for all his diligence; and the Lord Powis asked, Whether he had a faculty of writing abusively, and like a Satyrist; and was Master of such a Style as would look well in Print? for, says he, he, that Sot Nevel, is so very delatory, it is not to be indured; therefore if you dare undertake the Writing some sound Pamphlets, it might be of great use. To which he an­swered, He would do his best. Then the Lord Powis told him, Mrs. Cellier should be allowed Ten Shillings per Week, to diet him, and his Lordship would allow him Three Pound per Week for his Expences in Business; and whatever more should happen, he should put it in a Bill, and send it to his Lordship, and it should be forth­with paid; all which was done as long as he served them. About the 18th. of June, the Countess sent him with a Letter to the Lady Tukes Lodgings, in Scotland­yard; who was pleased to say, She liked him very well, and gave him two Guinea's; and demanded, If he durst undertake a desperate Enterprize? he said, Yes. Then she Wrote a Letter to the Countess, and gave it him, to carry to her. Then they imployed him to get Knox and Lane out of Prison; which he found hard to do, but in the mean time he got Pen, Ink, and Paper, to be conveyed to them, upon which Lane writ a Letter to this purpose:

I will die before I will Comply with that Villain Oates; and if any good People will work my liberty, I will do the Catholicks the greatest Service imaginable, by Discovering what I know of Oates. This is from the bottom of my heart, and what I will die with. So help me God.

When the Countess read this Letter, she was transport­ed with Joy, saying, Has God given us this unexpected help? well, we will use it to the best Advantage. And the pious Countess was the greater part of that day on her [Page 11]knees, to render Thanks to God for this new strength she supposed God had been pleased to bless their Cause with. (Oh horrid Prophanness, to make God the Au­thor of Perjury!) About the 14th. of July he was sent for by their Lordships to the Tower, where he received Orders to send Lane out of the way. Soon after this the Lords ordered him, by Mrs. Cellier to go to a Coffee-house; accordingly he went every Night to Farr's Cof­fee-house, to insinuate, that the Earl of Danby was privy to the Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey; that he took part with the Presbyterians, and was confederate with them, to ruin the Roman Catholicks; and such like stuff. Then the Lady Powis sent him a great number of Pam­phlets; among which was the Danby Reflections; and ordered he should disperse them into all parts; which he did; some into the Country, to the Gentry there; others to little petty Coffee-houses about Town, and some he drop'd in the Streets, and in all Houses, where he could, so that he had like to have drop'd into Newgate again, for doing such a Trick in an Eminent Citizen's house, which made him more cautious. Then the Lord Powis ordered him to attend on Dormer, a reputed Priest, and one that Writ Pamphlets, and frequented Coffee-houses, to insinuate a Presbyterian Plot. His Lordship also or­dered him to Converse with one Turner, his Lordship's Priest, Mr. Munson, Mr. Kemesh, and Nevel, and to follow their Directions in all things; then Nevel sent him divers Papers, Pamphlets, and Letters, to Transcribe; among which were 40 Lists of Names, each List contain­ing about 800 Names; at another time he received from Nevel 27 Letters, most of them written with Nevel's own hand, to Transcribe with all speed, and at the same time Nevel sent as many more to the Tower, by Mrs. Ayry. Some of them Mr. Dangerfeild had to Transcribe were as follows:

The second Letter;

To such like purposes were the rest.

Mr. Dowdwel and Mrs. Ayry used to carry such Papers and Letters as concerned the Design, to the Gate-house, and other Prisons about Town, to have the Advice of, and Consent of the Priests and Roman Catholicks there; the Lord Powis (as Mrs. Cellier told Mr. Dangerfeild) refused to meddle in the thing, unless it were generally approv'd of, as it was soon after; for all that either saw or heard of it, agreed in opinion, that it was a very sound Con­trivance. And persons were to be imployed to carry these Letters and other Papers into all parts of England, and some way or other found to lodge them in the houses of such as were the most eminent of the Presbyterian Party: Then others were to obtain Warrants upon other pre­tences, to search their Houses, and get the Persons com­mitted, in whose Houses they were found: this they hop'd would occasion so much confusion throughout the Nation, that at least every one would be glad to save himself, and the Papists come off upon the same terms, as others did. The next time Mr. Dangerfeild went to the Tower, my Lord Powis told him that one Mr. Doyley had seen or heard of him the last time he was with his Lordship, and had said, in the hearing of one of his Lord­ship's Servants, That if ever he should see him there again, he would have him secured; wherefore his Lord­ship advised him to come no more there, but return to [Page 13] Powis-house, and be careful of his business. Then he commanded him to go to Mr. Turner, his Lordship's Priest, and take Directions how to Write to Mr. Holder at Brussels, he being his R. H. Auditor: the Letters con­tain'd, an Account of the whole Design, and were Writ by the Countesses own hand, most earnestly desiring his good advice, as being unwilling to do any thing without it, therefore prayed his speedy Answer. This Packet was made up by Mr. Turner, and Superscribed by Mr. Dangerfeild, by Turner's directions; For Mr. Tho. Holder, at Monsieur Keneydays, Secretary to the English Resident in Brussels. In one of which Letters, they de­sired Mr. Holder, to imploy some ingenious person there, to Cut and Ingrave the Impressions of divers Coats of Arms; the Patterns whereof had been taken in Wax, and were sent over inclosed in the same Letters, being fastned with other Wax to the Margent of it. Some time after, the Countess having received an Answer to this Packet, shewed Mr. Dangerfeild a Letter to this purpose:

If you had taken this course sooner, much Innocent Blood might have been saved; but I doubt 'tis now too late; I fear the St. Omer's Witnesses being so baffled, as I hear they were, has much blasted our Design; but yet, to my power, I will assist, and do advise you to go on.

Letters to the same purpose came at the same time to Mrs. Cellier, which she shewed to Mr. Dangerfeild, highly applauding this Gentleman, for his great Wit and Cou­rage, saying, If it had not been for him the Lords in the Tower had not been now alive. Then my Lord Powis, not­withstanding his advising Mr. Dangerfeild to come there no more, sent for him, to come thither to him forthwith, but disguised; and when he came there, he found my Lord Arundel with my Lord Powis; and after much other Discourse, my Lord Arundel demanded of him, If he would do any thing to make his Fortune? he answered, [Page 14]Yes; (although he thought he had done enough to do that already) well then, Will you venter to Kill the King, for a good Reward? At that Mr. Dangerfeild being a­mazed, his Countenance changing, he replyed, My Lord, I suppose your Lordship is but in jest. No, said he, I am in earnest; and repeated his Question: he answered, That to serve them, he was willing to be the death of any man whatsoever, but the King and his Royal Highness: but still he press'd it the third time; then Mr. Danger­feild apprehending his Life in danger, if he should abso­lutely refuse it, desir'd time to consider of it. Then my Lord Powis, who was present all the time, said, No, no, my Lord Arundel does this only to try you: — And pray, my Lord Arundel, said he, What is it worth, what would you give him for doing it? 'Tis worth, said the Lord Arundel, 2000 l. No more, said my Lord Powis? Pish, away; If he will kill my Lord Shaftsbury, he shall have 500 l. Mr. Dangerfeild inquired, Why they desir'd my Lord Shaftsbury's life, and how it might be obtained? they both replied, it was easie to be done; for, said the Lord Powis, my Man Wood was there two nights since, upon pretence of an Errand; but his business was, to view the House, and observe what convenience there was for making an Escape, af­ter the Fact done; that Wood found the thing so fea­sible, that after he came back, he said, he was very sorry he was not provided to have done it then; and the reason, said he, why we would be glad to have him out of the way, is, because we take for granted, if we were rid of him, (as they were of Sir Edmond­bury Godfrey,) we should find it no hard matter, to bear down all the rest of our Opposers; with much persuasion he promised to undertake the Murder of the Earl of Shaftsbury; upon which my Lord Powis gave him Ten Guinea's in earnest. The next day Mr. Dangerfeild [Page 15]went to wait on my Lord Castlemain, who being Wri­ting the Compendium, rose up in a hasty posture, and cast­ing an angry look upon Mr. Dangerfeild, said, Why were you so unwilling to do that which you were taken out of Prison for; my Lord being in this passion, he presently went down stairs, and returned to Mrs. Cellier, who advised him to go to Mr. Sharp, the Priest at Wild-house; (for then his Kettle had more need of scouring than ever) the next Morning he went, and Confess'd, and received the Sacrament; which when he had done, he offered to come away, but Sharp, who it seems had been informed of his refusing to kill the King, would not suffer him to depart so, but told him he ought to do Penance, for re­fusing to serve God in what the Scripture taught him was his Duty: he desired to know, whether the Scrip­tures taught him any such thing, as to kill the King? he answered (like a Jesuit) Yes, if he were first Ex­communicated and Condemned by the Church, and that if he hoped to escape Damnation for his refusal, he must undergo the Penance he then injoyned him. After this he was sent to wait on Gadbury, who with an an­gry Countenance said, I admire at your Ingratitude, that when you could not propose to your self any possible way of getting out of Prison, had not the Charity of good People relieved you, that you should refuse to kill the King; nay when you might have done it too with­out any manner of danger, as I find by Calculating your Nativity. After this Mr. Dangerfeild made two At­tempts on my Lord Shaftsbury's life, but was disappoint­ed in both. His next Imployment was to lodge those Treasonable Papers he had to get Transcribed, in Col. Mansel's Chamber. Now I shall first prove, that this was really a Plot of the Papists, and not a contrivance of Dangerfeild's. Secondly, I shall prove it to be the very [Page 16]same with that wherewith my Lord Shaftsbury, my Lord Howard and others are now Charg'd, only some Circumstances of time, place and persons changed; and this I shall do by comparing one with t'other. First, That it was a Popish Contrivance is plain, if you consi­der Mrs. Cellier's getting him first out of Newgate, then turn'd over from the Counter to the Kings-bench, then Compounding his Debts of 700 l. and getting him out thence, all which came to a large sum of Mony, and therefore was not parted with for nothing; all this she acknowledges her self in that scurrilous Pamphlet of her's, called, Malice defeated. Secondly, It appears from the whole Contrivance of it, being found in her house, hid in her Meal-Tub, which she acknowledged before the Council. Thirdly, It appears by their getting his Nativity Calcu­lated by Gadbury, which Celliers and Gadbury both ac­knowledged. Fourthly, It appears by the great familia­rity between my Lady Powis and him, she acknowledg­ing she had seen him several times, and that once he told her of some Treasonable Papers hid at Westminster, and that the Secretary refused to grant him a Warrant to search for them, unless he would make Affidavit; and that he was then advised to make use of the Custom-house Officers to search for them. Fifthly, It appears by his frequent visiting the Lords in the Tower, as appears by Mr. Dayly's taking notice of it, together with several other Circumstances to confirm it. Sixthly, It appears by Mr. Matthew Hopkinson's acknowledging he Subscri­bed a List of Names, and a Letter, for Mr. Dangerfeild. Seventhly. It appears by the Deposition of William Wood­man, that he had known Mr. Dangerfeild at Powis-house about two Months, and that he had seen him and Mrs. Cellier Write together very often; That he carried a Pacquet of Letters from Mr. Dangerfeild, and Mrs. Cel­lier, [Page 17]to the Lady Powis, and that her Ladiship opened the Pacquet, and read some of them, and gave some of them to him the said Woodman, to carry to Nevill in the Kings-bench; and that he carried Letters divers times between Mrs. Cellier, Mr. Dangerfeild, and Nevill. Eighthly, It appears by Mr. Dangerfeild's being intro­duc'd to the Lord Peterborough, by Mrs. Cellier, in or­der to the making a discovery of this pretended Plot, and by him to the Duke of York, and by the Duke to the King. Ninthly, It appears by the Lord Peterborough's acknowledging, that Mrs. Cellier desired him to get a Warrant to search for these Papers, saying, That if he would do so, all would be discovered, and that she de­sired this Warrant might be obtained without the King's knowledge. Tenthly, It appears by the Examination of Anne Blake, Servant to Cellier, who Deposed upon Oath, before the Council, That her Mistris gave her two Parcels of Papers, desiring her to lay them up where they might not be discovered, and that accordingly she laid one Parcel behind the Pewter in the Kitchin, and hid the other in the Tub of Meal. Lastly, It appears as plain as the Sun, by Mrs. Celliers sending to him, after his be­ing sent to Newgate, 20 Shillings in Silver and a Guinea, and two Books of Account, telling him, by her Maid, That her Life was in his hands, and therefore desired him to follow her Directions in a little Note she sent him, which was this: I have said, you were taken into my House, to get in bad Debts. They'l bring me to L. S. They will ask me, Who incouraged me to go to him? I will say, You did: It cannot worst you. And in another little Pa­per thus: I never change.

And yet behold their Impudence, she, before the Council, denied all this; but when the Notes were shown her, she acknowledged it. Now, if they will be so im­pudent, [Page 18]as to deny that which they knew could be prov'd against them by their own hand-writing, much more obstinately may they deny those things which they very well knew, the Papers that concerned them, were burned by Mr. Dangerfeild, according to their Directions. Secondly, I shall prove, That the Meal-Tub Plot is the very same with this wherewith my Lord Shaftsbury, Howard, and others are now charged with, which will appear, if you compare one with the other. First, The forerunner or Forlorn-hope of that, was a numerous company of scurrilous Pamphlets, to prepare the way, by insinuating, That there were some great Designs among the Presbyterians, to disturb the Government, which was in a little time discovered to be a Popish Brat, and by the good Providence of God was delivered before its time. Just so it was in this Plot, a numerous com­pany of Pamphlets were dispers'd about, to insinuate some great Designs among the Presbyterians, to over­throw the Government, such as Heraclitus, the Obser­vator, Thompson's Intelligence, Ashinton's blasphemous Pamphlet, called The Presbyterian Creed and Pater-noster, with abundance more. Secondly, It appears by their imploying the same persons to disperse these Pamphlets, as were imployed to disperse the former, viz. Thompson, Hindmarsh, &c. Thirdly, It appears to be the same Plot, because the same persons are charged to be in the one as were charged to be in the other, as you will find, if you look into the List in Dangerfeild's Narrative. Fourthly, It's the same Plot, as will appear by the Nature and frame of it, which is exactly like the other, for they were then charged with a Design, to raise an Army to overthrow the Government, and reduce it to a Com­mon-wealth; so they are charged now with the same thing, only that pretended Plot was said to be upon His [Page 19]Majesties being sick at Windsor, and this upon the oc­casion of his Majesties going to Oxford to Meet the Parliament. Fifthly It appears to be forged in the same Shop, because it was generally reported among the Papists, a Week before my Lord Shaftsbury was appre­hended, that he would be taken up; nay, they had the impudence to Boast of it to some Protestants; For one Mr. Pulford, a Merchant, being at the House of a Pa­pist, a Week before my Lord was taken up, and having some Discourse about the Plot, they said, It would shortly appear to be a Presbyterian Plot, and my Lord Shaftsbury would speedily be taken up for it. And one Mrs. Care, in the Strand, said a Week before he was taken up, That my Lord Shaftsbury would shortly be taken up.

The next Sham-Plot is that of Price, and Tasbo­rough; first to take off the Evidence of Mr. Dugdale, by promising him great Rewards and to procure him a Pardon for those pretended Crimes wherewith he was falsly to accuse himself, in swearing falsly against the Papists. Secondly, When they found he delaied them, and feared it was like to fare with them, as it did with Redding, they thought to be before-hand with him, and complain, that it was unjust, that the poor innocent Roman Catholicks should suffer so hardly, by the Evidence of such Wretches, as would turn like a Door upon its Hinges, forward and backward, and for a Sum of Money, would deny what they had sworn, and run away when they had done: but Mr. Dugdale foreseeing this, ac­quainted several sufficient persons, from time to time, with the whole Intreague, who attesting it before the Council, the Sham came to nothing, and they were justly rewarded for their contrivance.

The next Sham was Cellier's Pamphlet, called Malice defeated; whereby she indeavoured (after she got her [Page 20]Discharge, contrary to her own expectation, when she said her Life was in Mr. Dangerfeild's hand, and this by an Ignoramus which we never heard of in Heraclitus, the Observator, or Thompson's Intelligence) indeavoured to persuade the World, that there was nothing but Malice in her Charge, or in the Popish Plot, but a meer Contri­vance.

Another of their Shams was their sending several persons to the Houses of several Nonconformists in this City, to beg their Charitable Contribution, towards the Maintainance of Dr. Oates, and Mr. Bedloe, pre­tending the King's Allowance was too little, but they were every where rejected; and it's well they were, for otherwise, it's not to be doubted, but the Presbyterians Good Works would have been brought to prove them Evil Doers.

Their next Sham was, their perverting Mr. Blood, and prevailing with him to send a Treasonable Letter to Dr. Oates, and then ordering some to Search and Rum­mage the Doctor's Papers, hoping to find it there, and so to have proved him a Confederate with the Presby­terians: but the wary Doctor, considering how many Trepans and Tricks the Papists used to ruin him, wisely dispatch'd it away immediately to Sir Joseph William­son, then Secretary of State and a Member of the long Parliament then sitting; which Letter Sir Joseph Wil­liamson afterwards produced in Council. And when all this fail'd, then their next Sham was to send one Lewis to the Earl of Shaftsbury, to desire his Lordship would please to send by him to Dr. Oates some Directions of his own hand-writing, how to manage himself; but my Lord wisely sent this Decoy away with a flat Denial, well knowing, that malicious men may rack and stretch inno­cent words, till they make them speak a quite contrary thing.

Their next Sham was the prevailing with Simson Tongue, to Swear that his Father, Dr. Oates, and Mr. Bed­loe, with some persons of quality, contrived the Popish Plot; for young Tongue frequenting the House of Mrs. Lane, about June, 1680. a Woman, that ow'd Dr. Oates a good turn for the Justice done upon her Son, John Lane, upon the Doctor's account: She, with a Popish Woman that lay in her house, by many Intreaties, and great Promises, persuaded him to Swear, that his Father, Oates, and Bedloe, with some others, contrived the Plot, and finding those great Offers had wrought some good In­clinations in him, they send for one Captain Ely, who came and conferred with him about it, and the next day they had a second Meeting about it, and then Simson shews him a Paper, the purport whereof was, to invali­date the Evidence of Dr. Oates, and that he and his Fa­ther had contrived the Popish Plot. This Writing being under Tongue's own hand, was deposited in Ely's hands, who assured Tongue, he would carry it to his Majesty. But this being but a single Cord, was not strong enough, wherefore they resolve to twist it, by finding out a se­cond Witness. To this purpose they make an Essay upon one Mrs. Fitz-Gerald, a person at that time very low, both in Body and Purse, and therefore, as they thought, the more likely to be Suborned, wherefore Ely sent her a very loving Letter, Forty Shillings in Money, and great Promises of an able Physician, and other Kindnes­ses for the future, but without the least intimation of what Design he had upon her. But presently after Sim­son is sent to treat with her, and he promises her God knows what, if she would but Swear. In a short time he gives her a second Visit, and brings with him Captain Ely, and one Choqueux, a Chyrurgion, and a French Pa­pist, who was her Doctor, and very careful of her in [Page 22]her sickness. They would have her Swear, there was no Plot, but what Dr. Tongue, Oates, and Bedloe, had made out of their own heads; she told them, she knew nothing of that matter: Yes, quoth Simson, you do, and I have told the King of it at Windsor, and he is very de­sirous to see you; and since you are so weak, that you cannot go to him, he will come to you somewhere here­about, in a disguise. But she answered, 'Tis a folly to bring the King to me, for I know him not, and for that reason, if I had any thing to say, I would not be Tre­pan'd to discover it. When all this would not do, they indeavoured to Suborn one Isaac Cooper, to Swear it, who if they could have gotten him to Swear, would have been the more credited, because he was Dr. Tongue's Clerk, but he was so honest, that notwithstanding their large Promises, and noble Treats, he told them he had nothing to declare. This put them to a stand, but pluck­ing up their Spirits, they resolve that young Tongue shall reveal the whole business to the King: but now he be­gins to boggle, for fear his Father should be hang'd, but Ely assured him, they would procure a Pardon for him. He being easily satisfied with this, the fore-mentioned Paper was dispatch'd to his Majesty, inclos'd in a Letter, wherein he promises to make great Discoveries, and ear­nestly solicites for his Majesties Protection. And in another Letter to his Majesty, dated Aug. 8. 1680. He says, That his Father and Dr. Oates corresponded with my Lord Wharton and the Earls of Essex and Shaftsbury, and my Lord of Essex, was very forward in the Irish Plot, and sent several Letters from London concerning it; That these Lords, the two Doctors convers'd with, and had assistance from, while they were forging the Plot. But unluckily it came at last to the ears of his Uncle, Captain John Tongue, who sends for his hopeful Kinsman, and [Page 23]laying before him the wickedness of his Project, Simson falls on his knees, begs his pardon, and gave him a Re­cantation under his own hand, wherein was contained an account of the whole Roguery. And now one would think here should be an end of the Comedy, and that the Man and his Cause were stranded for ever, so that no Engine could bring him off those Flats: for if he should be so impudent to prosecute it any more, his own hand wherewith he had Subscribed his Recantation, would confront his Evidence. But so desperately hardned are these wretches, that they will storm all Difficulties, nay Impossibilities, and in spite of Fate pursue their cursed Resolutions. This Recantation had, it seems, taken air, and flown to his Majesties ears, which Simson under­standing, Addresses his Majesty with two Letters, where­in, besides other scandalous Lies against his Uncle, he tells his Majesty, that his Uncle was very earnest with him, to recant what he had given in concerning the Plot, and say he was hired to do it by the Papists, but yet he stood firm to his Tacklings, and did not give his Uncle a Recantation, tho' his Uncle pretended he had. Simson after this, willing to get the Reward promised, applied himself first to Mrs. Cellier, then to trusty Hodge, who mainly applauded him, saying, he was upon a good De­sign, praying it might prosper. But being all brought before, and examined by the Council, so much of the Roguery was discovered, that Simson was sent to New­gate. And Roger L'Estrange being willing to discover this Plot to the Nation, and to make the most of it, Print­ed a further Discovery of it, in a Dialogue, wherein he very elaborately proves it to be a Sham of the plaguy Presbyterians, and that it came out of their bottomless Belly to insnare poor harmless Hodge, and the innocent Roman Catholicks.

But by the way observe, that my Lord Shaftsbury was in this, as well as in all other of their Shams; And therefore I do Challenge those that have any thing to say against the Legality of the Grand Juries Proceeding, to produce something that looks like reason, why the Jury should believe my Lord Shaftsbury to be more Guilty of this Plot, than he was of those which were to have been Sworn against him by Mr. Dangerfeild, Simson Tongue, and others, since the only difference that appears between them is, that they had the hap to be discovered before they were come to maturity, and this was not.

The next Sham we shall take notice of shall be that of Booth and Bains, as you find it in Wilkinson's Infor­mation. Captain Henry Wilkinson, being by his good Service and bad Fortune, reduced to a low condition, and being now a Prisoner in the Kings-bench Prison, one Mr. Bains, upon Octob. 8. 1681. came to him, and after many Expressions of kindness, told him, That he must needs know much of the Earl of Sbaftsbury's Designs against the King, and would do well to discover it to him; and he would help him to a Pardon, and a consi­derable Reward. But the Captain told him, he knew nothing against my Lord: Bains leaves him. But on the 11th of October, comes one Mr. Booth, who told him, if he would discover what he knew of the Earl of Shaftsbury's Designs to set up a Common-wealth, he should have 500 l. per Annum settled on him and his Heirs, or (if he liked that better) 1000 l. in ready Money; but the Captain refused that great Bribe, and returned the same Answer as he had done to Bains. But when they had broke the Ice, they would not be so put off, but the next day they set upon him again, and to great Promises, add great Treats; and when this fail'd, [Page 25]like the first Seducer, they set upon his Wife, intreating her to persuade her Husband; but when this and many other Contrivances would not bring him to their Bow, they had him up to the King and Council, where Booth Swore High Treason against him, That he was to be Captain of a Troop of Horse of Fifty, in this new Ser­vice against his Majesty, and he the said Booth was Listed under him.

This John Booth is one that hath been Condemned for Clipping and Coining, besides Murder; and about this time that he pretends he was Listed under Captain Wil­kinson, it is very plain, that he was busying himself about things of a different nature, not much for his cre­dit; for being about that time to go with Captain Wil­kinson to Carolina, and being unwilling to go empty, he comes to one Mr. Halford, a Mercer, with a pretended Letter from the Lady Ogle, to Buy her several Rich flow­er'd Silks, and other Rich Things, to the value of be­tween Two and Three Hundred Pounds, and to sweeten him the more, brings Mr. Halford's Brother with him, and tells him, that for his Brother's sake he had a great kindness for him, and had rather he should take his Mo­ney than another man, and told him, that he expected shortly to be Steward to the Duke of Norfolk, and that then he would do him great Kindnesses. Mr. Halford replyed, Sir, I have not all these Goods you speak of, but if you please, I will get them for you. Pray do, says Booth; accordingly the Goods were gotten: and at the time appointed, he came to look on them, and liked them well: But, Sir, said Mr. Halford, these Goods comes to a great deal of Money, and I am but a young Beginner, and therefore cannot Trust so much at once; but if you will have them, and Pay me ready Mony for them, you shall have them Cheaper than you will [Page 26]Buy them any where else. Sir, said he, I will come and Pay you ready Money for them, but never came near him again.

After the same manner he went to Mr. John Ridgies, an Upholster, for several Rich Goods, but he also re­fusing to Trust him, he heard no more of his Chapman. Now it's more than probable, that the missing this Booty, he thought to get of Mr. Halford, and Mr. Ridgies, and it's like of some others, was the occasion that he went not aboard according to his promise, to Captain Wilkin­son, for he thought it a vain thing, to go to Carolina, being thus unhappily disappointed of his Cargo.

After this, being in great distress for a New Sute, he goes to a Tailor in Field-lane, and desired him to make him a Suit, which he did, and carried it home to his Lodging, he lodging then at Bains's, the Suit was tried on, and it pleased him wonderful well, Ay and 'twas mighty Cheap; But, said Booth, I am very sorry that I am disappointed of Money I was to have received yesterday, so that I can­not Pay you; but, pray Sir, be pleased to call within a day or two, and your Money shall be ready for you: but when he called for his Money, there was no such Man, as Booth, Lodg'd there: and the poor man was really dis­appointed of his Money; but at last he is informed, that he might speak with his Son, at a Chamber in the Temple, whither he goes, and with some difficulty, gets to the speech of young Booth, who told him, That truly he was ashamed to see him, because his Father had been disappointed of Money, so that he could not Pay him; but, to tell you the truth, continued he, my Father is in the Countrey (although he was at that time a Prisoner in Mr. Weaver's House in the Rules) and since he went down, he did send up 5 l. for you, but a Friend of mine, being in great distress for Money, I lent it him, but you [Page 27]shall be sure to have your Money very speedily, which was all the satisfaction he could get.

But those great Attempts, since the discovery of the Plot, to cast a Plot on the Presbyterians, were not the first, but it begun much sooner, viz. in the Year 1661. as we have an Account of it by Captain Yarranton: It was after this manner. There were several Letters forged, and delivered by Sir John P — to one Ri­chard N— his Neighbour, to carry to one Cole of Martly, about four Miles from Worcester, who accord­ing to Directions, delivered a Pacquet of Letters to one Churne of Witchinford; which Pacquet of Letters was carried by Cole and Churne unto Sir John P— (from whom it first came.) And before him Churne makes Affidavit, That going early in the Morning to his La­bour, he struck his Bill upon a Hedge, to cut a Thorne, and by and by, on the other side of the Hedge, he espi'd a Scotch-Pedlar, putting up Letters hastily into his Pack, and being affrighted (as he suppos'd) he left that Packet behind in the Ditch, and went down a Lane leading to Col. John Birch his House.

This Oath being made, and the Packet delivered, and opened, it presently appeared, that there was a Conspi­racy on foot to stir up a Rebellion in the Kingdom, and to raise an Army for that purpose; and that Captain Andrew Yarranton was to Command a Party in those Parts; for which purpose there were several Letters di­rected to him from some Ministers, and others, particu­larly one from Mr. Baxter, intimating, that he had pro­vided a considerable body of Men well Arm'd, which would be in readiness against the time appointed. Ano­ther from Mr. Sparry, the then Minister of Martly, in­timating that he had order'd him 500 l. which was lodg'd in a Friend's hand, and should be ready for him when­ever [Page 28]he sent for it, (but yet the person in whose hands it was, is not nam'd.) Several other Letters and Trea­sonable Papers were pretended to be in that Packet; upon which the Militia of that County was raised, and the City of Worcester was that Night filled with Horse and Foot, and the next Morning, by Two of the Clock, an Officer with a Troop were sent to apprehend Mr. Yar­ranton, and bring him to Worcester, and the same day some Scores more were apprehended and sent to several places of confinement; but after Ten days the Sham began to appear, so that the Trained Bands would con­tinue no longer: And upon their departure the Deputy-Lieutenants discharged all the Prisoners, except Dr. Jack­son, Mr. Sparry, the two Oslands, Capt. Wells, and Yar­ranton, who were ordered to be kept close Prisoners in several Chambers of the George Inn, and the Trained Bands being gone home, the Clergy provided about 60 Foot-Souldiers, which they Arm'd and Paid, to Guard the Criminals that remain'd in Custody; this was com­monly called the Clergy Band, and whilst they continued in Guard, one Roger Waldern, a poor Old Man, came to Worcester, to enquire after the Welfare of Mr. Henry Osland, his Minister, and speaking with one of those Soul­diers, the Souldier liberally charged Mr. Osland with being a Traytor, a Rebel, and a Plotter against the Go­vernment: He replied, Mr. Osland was an honest and peaceable man, and he could never believe him to be guilty of Plotting against the Government. Upon this the Church-militant-man laid hold of him in great wrath, and carried him to the Court of Guard, where he was ty'd Neck and Heels together, and Charged with having a hand in this pretended Presbyterian Plot, threat­ned with severe Usage, unless he would make a Confes­sion: all this the Old Man bore with patience, answer­ing [Page 29]never a word, which so inraged this man in Autho­rity, who Commanded the Guard, that he commanded lighted Matches to be put between his Fingers, and burnt them to the very Bone, thereby to force from him a Confession of a Presbyterian Plot. And at the same time this Sham was carried on in several other Counties. For there came one Evening to the House of Mr Martin, Town-Clark of Oxford, a Stranger with a Letter, who had no sooner delivered it, but he withdrew, and went his way; when Mr. Martin had open'd and read the Letter, he prudently carried it immediately to the Mayor, for had he delayed it a day or two, it might have been found upon him, and then Oxford might have been as full of Plotters and Prisoners as Worcester was. The Copy of this Memorable Letter is here inserted, word for word.

In this Letter there was inclosed a List of the Mens Names he was to warn, which were an Hundred and Ten in all. But by his prudent carrying this Letter and List of Names to the Mayor, he spoiled the well laid Design, and it came to nothing in that County. And so it did at Worcester, for the person who was imployed to carry the Packet of Sham-Letters from Sir J. P. to one Cole of Martly, acquaints his Brother, how he came by the said Packet: His Brother, immediately upon this Discovery, repairs to Mrs. Yarranton and informs her of it. She goes to Worcester, and, with some difficulty, got a Letter delivered to her Husband, wherein she re­lated the whole Matter. Mr. Yarranton being thus let into the knowledge of this malicious Design, ordered Six Actions, to be immediately entered against some of those persons that brought him to Prison. At last he was brought before the Lord Lieutenant, and six of his De­puties; Mr. Yarranton desired the doors might be set open, for his Witnesses to come in. He prayed also, that he might have Pen, Ink, and Paper, and he would Write down the whole Matter, for Words might be wrested to other Intents than they are spoken. This was a while debated, but being so reasonable, it could not be denied. But no sooner did Mr. Yarranton begin to Write, but the Lord Lieutenant, and Sir J. P. lest the Room, and went down the back stairs, and after them followed all the Deputy Lieutenants, except Esq Holt, who told Mr. Yarranton, That he was sorry with all his heart, to see such things practised to the disturbance of honest [Page 31]Men, and the dishonour of the Government. Then Mr. Yar­ranton demanded, of the Marshal what he had now to say to him further? He answered, All he had to say, was, to request, That he would not trouble him, for holding him so long in restraint, for as much as he was a Poor Man, and had many Children, and did only follow the Orders of his Superiors: Mr. Yarranton told him, he did freely forgive him. Now although this Sham did not answer the desire and expectation of the Contrivers in reference to the particular persons that were accused, yet it did in general. For by this means they possess the King and Parliament, that it was absolutely necessary to make some severe Law against this restless sort of men, who not contented with the King's gracious Pardon, were always Plotting to disturb the Government. And there­fore when the Parliament met on the 20th. of Novem­ber, 1661. the King makes a Speech wherein are these words:

From which last passage, we may conclude, That they are none of the King's Friends; nor are they of his mind, who in Word or Writing, do cast Contempt on Parliaments.

I shall conclude this brief Discourse, with my hearty Desire and Prayer to God, That he would please to Bless the King, and preserve him from all his real Enemies, let them be called by what Name, or go under what Disgui­ses soever, and grant him a long, happy, and a quiet Reign. And in order hereunto, blast, and confound the Pope and all his Adherents in England, as well Masque­raded, as open and professed Papists. Amen.