The Information of Mary Jenkins alias Wright, of Covent Garden in the County of Middleſex, taken on Oath before Sir William Waller, one of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the County of Middleſex, and City and Liberty of Weſtminſter, this 25th of March 1680.

THIS Informant ſaith, That about Chriſtmas laſt two Perſons came to this Informants Lodgings in Exeter Street; one of thoſe Perſons was a very Gentile young man, that wore a light coloured Chamblet Cloak, and the other a Tall Gentleman; both of which, by their Carriage and Habits, this Informant believes were Perſons of Quality; and ſaith, that at their firſt coming the ſaid Perſons did tell this Informant, that they had heard that this Informant had Money owing her by the Duke of Buckingham, and offered their Service in helping this Informant to the ſaid Money, and ſaith, that the ſaid Perſons came again to this Informant, and then plainly told this Informant, they knew the Lord Duke to be a Great Rogue, and a Perſon that wa guilty of doing wicked things, and that it would be of great ſervice to the King and Kingdom, to have his Life, which they were reſolved to have whatever it coſt; and told this Informant further, that if ſhe would ſwear Buggery againſt the ſaid Duke, or any thing elſe that they would direct her, then this Informant ſhould have Money and Gold enough, and at the ſame time pulling out a handful of Gold out of one of their Pockets, offered it to this Informant, provided ſhe this Informant would ſwear Buggery againſt the ſaid Duke, as they would direct her, and alſo promiſing this Informant to provide a Lodging for her, and all things neceſſary for her and her Child; and to encourage this Informant to do ſuch a wicked Act, did Uſe many Arguments to perſwade this Informant ſo to do, telling this Informant that the King himſelf and the Council would ſtand by her in it, and told this Informant, that ſhe might ſee how well Mrs. Le Marr was provided for, and what Money ſhe got by doing the like Buſineſs, and how well ſhe was rewarded by Perſons of Quality. And ſaith, that the ſaid Perſons told this Informant, that they had ſeveral Perſons would ſwear as they would have them, but they were not of ſuch Credit as this Informant, and therefore they preſſed this Informant earneſtly to do it; and at other times threatned this Informant, in caſe ſhe would not yield to them, although this Informant told the ſaid Perſons, ſhe knew nothing againſt the Lord Duke, nor would ſwear againſt him for the World; And ſaith, the ſaid Perſons came again on Monday night laſt, and ſent for this Informant into Lincolns-Inn-fields, under the Arch, in the Name of ſome of the Duke's Servants, and then they preſſed this Informant earneſtly to ſwear againſt the ſaid Duke, as they would direct her, and would have carried this Informant to ſome Houſe, but this Informant not yielding any thing to their Deſigns, the ſaid Perſons bid the Informant conſider of the Matter, and give them her poſitive Anſwer on Friday next, when they would again meet her, and told her, they did not care, they would have it done, or elſe it ſhould coſt them their Lives, for they would have either his Life or he ſhould have theirs; but if it was diſcovered, it was but a Pillory Buſineſs, and did tell this Informant that they did not know but that the Duke might be Indicted the next Court ſitting, or to the like effect: And ſaith, that ſhe, this Informant, hath diſcovered how ſhe was thus tempted, both to my Lord Arron, and my Lord Vaughan, and to Eſquire Mansfield, and others of my Lord's Servants, and would have had their Advice how to avoid theſe temptations; and ſaith, that they have found her out at her new Lodgings, which this Informant took on purpoſe to avoid them, for that they had threatned this Informant to take away her Life, in caſe ſhe refuſed to ſwear as they would have her; and the ſaid Perſons told this Informant, that they had ſworn the Dukes Death, which he well knew, and pulled out a Paper out of one of their pockets, ready prepared, wherein was contained, what they would have ſuborned this Informant to ſwear to, which was about Buggery and Rapes, and other Crimes which this Informant knew nothing of.

MARY WRIGHT.

Cor. me

William Waller.

The farther Information of Mary Wright Gentlewoman, taken upon Oath before Sir William Waller, one of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace, for the County of Middleſex, and City and Liberty of Weſtminſter, this 6th day of April 1680.

THIS Informant further ſaith, that ſince her laſt Information, the Perſons therein mentioned, did not come according to their Appointment, but that night or the next night after, which they had appointed, there came a Foot-man in a Livery with a Flambeau in his hand lighted, about twelve of the Clock at night, and called to this Informant, and this Informant anſwered him out of her Window, he told this Informant, that the Perſons that appointed to meet her about the Buſineſs ſhe knew of, could not come that Night, but they would wait on this Informant ſome other time, and this Informant ſhall have further Notice thereof. And this Informant ſaith, that on Friday laſt, a Gentleman ſent for this Informant out, by a ſtrange Boy, and this Informant coming out with him, was met by the Gentleman, who put himſelf and this Informant in a Coach, and drew up the Window, and carried this Informant to Red-lyon Fields nigh Grays Inn, and there ſet down, and ſo walking there, told this Imformant, that he came from the Gentlemen that had before been ſpeaking to this Informant about ſwearing againſt the Duke of Buckingham, and told this Informant, they preſented their Service to her; and this Informant demanding why they came not as they promiſed, he told this Informant, that they feared this Informant had betrayed them, for that they had a Letter ſent them by one that belonged to the Duke, that had given them Intimation, that this Informant had been at ſome of the Duke's Friends, and ſo were afraid to truſt this Informant, and pulled out the Letter, and ſhewed the back-ſide to this Informant, but this Informant not owning ſhe had diſcovered it, he renewed the ſame Diſcourſe of perſwading this Informant to ſwear againſt the Duke, as before ſhe had been deſired by thoſe Perſons; and to incourage this Informant, did tell this Informant plainly, that ſhe need not be afraid to ſwear againſt him, for there was Money enough to be had, and that there was one Lord in the Tower, would give this Informant three or four hundred pound, beſides what others would give, and being demanded who that was, he would not now declare till next time; but this Informant asking what it was ſhe muſt ſwear againſt the ſaid Duke, was told it was either Buggery or Rape, or ſome ſuch things as they ſhould direct, and what need this Informant care, ſhe ſhould be brought off; if it came to the worſt it was but a Seſſions Buſineſs, and but a Fine, and that ſhall be taken care of, and told this Informant, that no Money was to be got, and theſe times would not laſt always, and they did look upon this Informant to be a credible Evidence, and being known among the Councel and Perſons of Quality, it would be more Advantage than all the reſt of the Witneſſes they had; and told this Informant, they would ſend for her away to be kept at ſome Lords Houſe, where ſhe ſhould be made much of, and told this Informant that the Money the Duke owed her would never be paid, for his Money ſhould be divided ſhortly, for they would have his Life whatever it coſt, though they hired all the Witneſſes in Town, and bid this Informant be careful, and give no Notice, and ſaith, that they would feign have had this Informant to go before a Juſtice to ſwear, as they would direct.

Mary Wright.

Capt. fuit cor. me

Will. Walller.

SINCE this laſt Information, there come one Lick a Footman in a Livery, about twelve of the Clock on Saturday night laſt, to Mrs. Wrights Lodging in Little Catherine-ſtreet in Exeter-ſtreet, he diſcourſed her to this Effect, that he came from thoſe Gentlemen ſhe knew of, about the Buſineſs againſt the Duke of Buckingham, and told her, that they were reſolved to go on with their Deſign, notwithſtanding all, and if ſhe would yield to them, ſhe ſhould have double what before the Gentlemen had offered her, and ſhould be ſ •… hed away by an Order, and ſhe and her Daughter taken care of, and be brought to a place where ſhe ſhould ſee many ſhe knew, and he told her, that ſhe need not fear the Duke, for they were reſolved to have his Head, before the Lord Danby ſhould ſtand his Tryal, and a great deal of ſuch like Diſcourſes. And while he was talking with Mrs. Wright, ſhe overheard ſome Perſons call to him to come away, and Anſwer was made, yes my Lord, and ſhe ſaith there was a Coach came to the Lanes end, juſt before ſhe was knocked up, and believes it was the very ſame Perſons that had been with her under the Arch in Lincolns-Inn-Fields; and when they met by the Arch there was one in a plain Habit, buſhed yellow Hair, wearing a Sword, that did walk to and fro, and ſometimes come to them, threatning to force the Gentlewoman to comply with them, which Perſon is judged to be an Iriſh man, and one that ſolicits Buſineſs, and thoſe Gentlemen that then met her, one of them was ſince ſeen in a Mourning-Coach, a young brisk man, ſlender, and not very tall, but very gentile.

This being the Uſage to the Duke, it is not impoſſible if theſe Villains go undiſcovered, but others hereafter may find the like, therefore it is earneſtly deſired, that all good People will labour to diſcover ſome of thoſe Perſons, for they have been ſo bold, as to go from Place to Place, to hire Witneſſes, and offer Money as men bid for Horſes in Smith-field, ſo much they will give as Earneſt in hand, and ſo much when the Work is done, and they are free Chapmen, for they offer to be at any thing, either Treaſons, Rapes, Murder or Sodomy, any thing and any way, to have his Life.