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THE HORRID SIN OF Man-Catching.
The SECOND PART.
Or Further Diſcoveries and Arguments to prove, That there is no PROTESTANT-PLOT; And that the Deſign of Caſting a Plot upon them, by the Suborned Man-Catchers, was An
Together with ſome further Diſcoveries conM. BOOTH.
Humbly Dedicated to the Right Honourable, the EARL of SHAFTSB ƲRY.
LONDON: Printed for H. Jones, 1681.
SO Ancient is the Cuſtome of Dedicating Books to Perſons of the greateſt Worth and Eminence, whoſe ſhining Vertues diſLuke Dedicates his Hiſtory of the Life and Actions of our Bleſſed Saviour, and that of the Acts of the Apoſtles, to the moſt Excellent Theophilus.
Your Lordſhip being one of thoſe few that have adventured to ſtem the Stream, and preLordſhip's having Suffered ſo deeply by theſe Shams, is all the Apology I ſhall make for preſuming to lay theſe Lines at your Lordſhip's Feet.
The Malice of your Enemies ſhall ſerve as a File to ſet off the Glory and Luſtre of your Lordſhip's Loyalty, and your Name ſhall Live when theirs is Dead, and ſhine in Splendour, when theirs, like a Blaze, is gone out in a Snuff, the remembrance of your Name ſhall be as the ſmell of a pleaſant Field, or the delightful fra
As the mighty Artaxerxes accepted a Cup of Water from the hand of a Peaſant, ſo your Lordſhip will ſhew how great a Maſter you are in the Art of Condeſcention, by Accepting theſe poor Indeavours of, my Lord,
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 diſPapiſts 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, whereTower, 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,
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 canPresbyterians, 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 DiſcoOates. 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 MagiEdmondbury Godfrey had been an Ill
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 hauntRoman 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 re
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 reTower.
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 Evi
The eighth Sham, was a Libel, called, The Hiſtory of the Plot, by Roger L'Eſtrange, together with his furPresbyterian Plot, and to ſtifle the Popiſh Plot, by pretending to a further Diſcovery of it.
The ninth Sham, was the ſending abroad whole RePapiſts and Popiſh PlotPopiſh, 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 SodoOates and Bedloe with Per
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 ConvictCellier, 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
Newgate, if it were not poſDangerfeild, 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 ConBedloe, by the means of one Stroude, a Priſoner in the Kings-Bench (as he was likeNewgate, but he was Arreſted and carried to the Counter for Debt, whence he was removed to the Kings Bench;) but this not ſucPowis-houſe, by the Lady Powis, thanked and praiſed for his diligence about Stroud's buſiMonſon, 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 imGate-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 perCatholick Cauſe, as he ſhould be directed. Then his Lordſhip writ a Letter to the CounCellier 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 themDangerfeild 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 handDangerfeild 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 convePowis 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 aWeb was himſelf preſent when the Counteſs put him upon going, and
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 afJane: 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 Anand that he would now conſider by what Method to proceed in the Plot againſt the Presbyteriand that the ground-work of the whole thing was among
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 Preſand 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 haCaſtlemain 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
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 preCaſtlemain, 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 orPowis 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, comPowis 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, anoGuinea, 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,
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 anPowis 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 forth18th. 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 tranſportHas 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
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 CofDanby 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 PamDanby 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 orTurner, 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 containNevel 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:
O
The ſecond Letter;
My heart is good, but the body is not of ſtrength enough to do you ſervice; but I doubt not but my Prayers, for your good ſucceſs, may be as ſerviceable and prevalent as my perſon, were it again in its prime, &c.
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 ConEngland, 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 prePapiſts 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 LordPowis-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 conTurner, 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 CouTower had not been now alive. Then my Lord Powis, notDangerfeild 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,
Dangerfeild being aDangerfeild apprehending his Life in danger, if he ſhould abſoPowis, 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, afWood found the thing ſo feaEdmondbury 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
Caſtlemain, who being WriCompendium, roſe up in a haſty poſture, and caſtDangerfeild, 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 reGadbury, who with an anDangerfeild made two AtShaftsbury's life, but was diſappointManſel'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
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 conſiCellier'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 CalcuGadbury, which Celliers and Gadbury both acFourthly, It appears by the great familiaPowis and him, ſhe acknowledgWeſtminſter, 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 SubſcriDangerfeild. 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,
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 introPeterborough, by Mrs. Cellier, in orYork, 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 deTenthly, 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 beNewgate, 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 PaI 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 imDangerfeild, 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 comPresbyterians, to overHeraclitus, 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 ComWindſor, and this upon the ocOxford 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 appreProteſtants; 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, ac
The next Sham was Cellier's Pamphlet, called Malice defeated; whereby ſhe indeavoured (after ſhe got her
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 Contri
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, prePresbyterians 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 RumPresbyterians: 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 inno
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 InEly, 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 invaliOates, and that he and his FaTongue'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 ſeFitz-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 KindneſSimſon 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 PaTongue, 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 deIſaac 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 pluckTongue ſhall reveal the whole buſineſs to the King: but now he beEly 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 earAug. 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
Simſon falls on his knees, begs his pardon, and gave him a ReSimſon underPapiſts, 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 DeSimſon 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 InforHenry 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 conſiBains 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,
Booth Swore High Treaſon againſt him, That he was to be Captain of a Troop of Horſe of Fifty, in this new SerBooth 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 creWilkinſon 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 flowHalford'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 MoNorfolk, 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
After the ſame manner he went to Mr. John Ridgies, an Upholſter, for ſeveral Rich Goods, but he alſo reHalford, 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 canBooth, Lodg'd there: and the poor man was really diſTemple, 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
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 accordChurne 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 LaScotch-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 ConſpiAndrew Yarranton was to Command a Party in thoſe Parts; for which purpoſe there were ſeveral Letters diBaxter, intimating, that he had proSparry, the then Miniſter of Martly, inl.
which was lodg'd in a Friend's hand, and ſhould be ready for him whenMilitia 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 conJackſon, 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 comClergy 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 SoulOſland with being a Traytor, a Rebel, and a Plotter againſt the GoOſland 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, threatPresbyterian 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.
I Pray you warn all theſe Men, to be all in their Arms, upon Wedneſday next, in the Night; you know already where they muſt meet. There will come into Oxford Two Hundred Men, all in their Arms: you know who doth Command them. Dr. Greenwood has ſent to Mr. Combs the Barber, to get his Party of Scholars ready that Night; and I have ſent to Mr. Hickman, to get his Men ready at the ſame time; and Dr. Owen has ſent to Mr. Fogge, to get his Men ready at the ſame time; and Dr. Gawen has ſent to Mr. Duke, the Barber, to get his Men ready at the ſame time; and I have ſent to Mr. Corniſh, to get his Men ready at the ſame time; and I have ſent to Mr. Connaught, to get his Men ready; and all the Scholars are to meet in Dr. Rogers Garden: And I pray ſend the Blunderbuſſes thither, for I intend to be there my ſelf. And I pray give the Bearer hereof Five Pound out of the Stock: And I
God is the Word; and I pray tell them all ſo.
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 reYarranton 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 DeYarranton 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
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 there20th. of November, 1661. the King makes a Speech wherein are theſe words:
I Am ſorry to find that the general Temper and Affections of the Nation are not ſo well compoſed, as I hoped they would have been, after ſo ſignal Bleſſings of God Almighty upon us all, and after ſo great Indulgence and Condeſcen(And a little further,) You will find, whoever doth not love me, doth not you; and they who have no reverence for you, have little kindneſs for me.
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 DiſguiPope and all his Adherents in England, as well MaſquePapiſts. Amen.