ABout the time that Langhorn was executed, I came acquainted with one Hugh Mason, a Victualler in Strand-lane near the May-pole, whose House I af­terwards used; and one time telling him I was en­deavour'd to be suborn'd to swear High-Treason against Sir Francis Radcliffe, to whom I formerly was Page; and that Informations were sent in my name to the Secretary of State, (neither my hand-writing, or by my consent or knowledge) against the said Sir Francis Radcliffe, neither did I ever swear any matter against him: Mason reply'd, Now is the time to make your self, if you'll accuse him, and I will draw up the Infor­mation against him; And more over, I'll warrant you a good sum of money for so doing. Further, said he, I will carry you to Sir William Waller, Dr. Oates, and the Earl of Shaftsbury, who will all of them give you good encouragement, &c. But finding me unwilling, Mason for some time desisted his importunities, until (using his House) I became somewhat indebted unto him; whereupon he told me, If I would not consent to draw up an Information, and accuse the said Sir Francis Radcliffe of High-Treason, that he would arrest me, and throw me into Prison. Then I went to one Mr. Bennet a Sword-Cutler, (an ac­quaintance of my Fathers) and desired him to go with me to the said Mason, and engage for what I was (or should be) indebted, until my Father came to Town, which Mr. Bennet did at my request. But before my acquaintance with Mason, I had given Sir Francis Radcliffe an account by one Mr. Banks, how I was persuaded, and endeavoured to be suborn'd, and become an Evidence against the said Sir Francis; Also I sent a Letter to his Honour by the said Mr. Banks, [Page 2]which was sent me, directed (as I think) to my Lodging in Salisbury-Court, from an unknown hand, having no name to it. To the best of my remembrance, the words in the said Letter were to this effect; to desire me to accuse Sir Francis Radcliffe of High-Treason, with promises of a gratuity; which Letter, I believe, remains still in the hands of Sir Francis. And having cleared his Honour to Mr. Banks, I thought I might safely go on with the afore named Mason, to find out his villanous intentions. One day he desired me to go up stairs with him, which I did, and there again he urged me to draw up the said Infor­mation which he had endeavoured to Suborn me to do; all which I consented unto: Then he immediately took Pen, Ink, and Paper, and began to draw up a Charge of High Treason against Sir Francis Radcliffe; which Paper was not that day much proceeded upon, by reason of Company that came to his House, which took him off his wicked design at that time: But some days after we proceeded fur­ther upon the same business, so that at last we had finished about a a sheet of Paper containing all Treasonable matter against Sir Srancis Radcliffe, all the particulars I cannot well remember; but one parti­cular was, That Sir Francis Radcliffe should have declared, that he would raise Ten Thousand Men in Arms in the North of England, whereby to establish the Popish Religion in this Kingdom: And during the time of this transaction, he the said Mason did daily report in his House, that we were upon discovering a great Plot, which would be the making of Us that were concerned therein: And within a day or two after, he desired me to go up Stairs with him again, And Dictate to him whilst he drew up the said Treasonable Paper (which he had falsly contrived against Sir Francis Radcliffe) in a more Legible Hand; which I did, and whilst we were about it, the said Mason's Wife came up stairs to us, at which he was displeas'd, and bad her go down; she reply'd, I believe I shall see you in Newgate for your Plotting-contriving-tricks and Roguery; said he, Damn you for a Bitch, how dare you talk so impudently to Doctor Oates and Captain Bedlow? (meaning himself and me;) And after this Treasonable Paper of his contrivance was finish'd, Mason would never let me rest till I went with him to Sir Francis Radcliffe's Lodgings; I desired to know of him what we should do there? Damn you (said he) we will show him the Paper, and if does not give us Moneys, you shall Swear against him: Accordingly I did go with him into Holbourn, and there sent for one Mr. Selby, Steward to Sir Francis, who immediately came to us; I call'd him into the Back-side, and told him, that I had the Copy of the Treason, which Mason endeavoured to Suborn me to Swear against his Master Sir Francis Radcliffe; he desired to see it, but I am not certain whether I did let him see it, or not; but Mason would not let me send it over to Sir Francis, but go with it my self; at which Mr. Selby went over, telling me, he would send for me im­mediately; and when he was gone, the said Mason Swore he would go over with me; I ask'd him for what? Why (said he) to see Sir Francis, that I may know him, for by God (said he) if he does not give [Page 3]you Money, we will both Swear against him: But notwithstanding his readiness, I did not suffer him to go over, but went my self, and sent the said Treasonable Paper up to Sir Francis by one Mr. Radcliffe Sir Francis's Kinsman; I tarry'd there for some time, till near night, there being in company one Mr. Nichols a Taylor to Sir Francis, who came to take his leave of that Family, being with few days to go out of Town: And drinking a Glass of Wine with them, I declar'd before the whole Company, that I knew no ill of Sir Francis, but that it was a contriv'd and design'd thing by some ill person or per­sons to put me upon the Swearing the same: Upon which, after some short stay, I took leave, and went to see for Mason at the Alehouse where I left him; but he being gone from thence, I repaired to his House; who said (as soon as he saw me) I am glad you are come Mr. Zeal, I had thought they had Murthered you, because you tarryed so long; But that's not the business, have you gotten any Money from Sir Francis? said he; I reply'd, I had not, for his Honour was en­gaged with several Persons of Quality that came to take their leaves of him before he went out of Town, which prevented me from speaking with him at that time, but was ordered by Mr. Radcliffe his Kinsman to come again before Sir Francis took his Journey into the North; said Mason, That's very well, we will be sure to mind him; and if he goes out of Town and not give you a good Gratuity, we will fetch him back in the Devils name: Thus it continued for some days, until Sir Francis was gone his Journey; and I hearing of it, told Mason the same; who swore bitterly, That he would have him back in few days, if I would be ruled by him, and go immediately to Sir William Waller, and be sworn to the said Paper: But I put him off with some pretence or other for that time; telling him, that it would look more like malice than matter of Fact, to accuse Sir Francis so soon after his departure.

In a short time after my Father came to Town, which was about St. James's- Tide in the same Summer, and paid the said Mason what I was Indebted unto him; upon which, Mason desisted from urging me to Swear against Sir Francis Radcliffe; until about Michaelmass following, I then became Indebted to him a second time, my Father having left his House, finding him to be an Ill-principl'd man; my Father telling me, that was the cause that he refrain'd the said Mason's House; Mason perceiving the same, was much dissatisfied, telling me, that now I must look to my self, For ( Damn me saith he) I'le not trust you for a Farthing more, besides I will Arrest you for what you owe me already too: Upon which I ask'd him what he would have me to do? Why (saith he) go with me to Doctor Oates, and I will give him the Paper, and tell him that I have one that will Swear to it; at which (said Mason) you will be call'd into the Doctor, but do not be ti­morous (said Mason) and disgrace me, but stand to it, and Swear it, and then it will be your making: And seeing him so forward, I con­sented to go with him to Whitehall to Dr. Oates's Lodging, to whom Mason gave the said Treasonable Paper that he contriv'd against Sir [Page 4] Francis Radcliffe; which the Doctor had no sooner read, but ask'd if I was the person that would Swear to it? to which Mason reply'd, I was, Then said the Doctor, go with me to the Council-Chamber, and I will shew it to a Person of Quality: And as soon as we came into the Lobby by the Council-Chamber, the Doctor sent in, and immediate­ly the Earl of Shaftsbury came out, and the Doctor gave him the Paper, which his Lordship read, and going towards his Coach at Whitehall-gate, his Lordship ask'd where the person was that would Swear to it? to which the Doctor reply'd, He's here my Lord; and then the Doctor recommended me to his Lordship, his Honour being pleased to desire me to come in the Afternoon to his House in Aldersgate-street, where he would discourse me; upon which I promised his Lordship I would, and so took leave, and the Doctor bad me not fail to go according to his Lordships appointment, whatever I ne­glected else; further telling me, I might be made by it: I promised I would certainly be there; ( Mason all this while standing at a di­stance) I went to him, who asked me how it went? I told him the Earl of Shaftsbury desired me to come to his House in the Afternoon, and there he would discourse me; upon which Mason was very well satisfied, and Swore, Damn him, that if I did mind my business, I should be made for ever: After which, we went to his House, where we had a Dinner, and there he told his Wise (with great rejoycing) that we had done our business, For (saith he) We have been with the Earl of Shaftsbury and Doctor Oates, and in the Afternoon Mr. Zeale must attend his Lordship at his House by his own order: Towards the evening I went to his Lordship's House, but Mason could not go with me, by reason of some extraordinary occasions of his own that hindred him; and coming to his Lordships House, I had not been long there, but Doctor Oates and Collonel Mansel came in; the Doctor seeing me, went in to his Lordship as I imagine, and soon after came out to me, and told me his Lordship was very busie, And therefore (said he) I would have you come again a day or two hence, and then you'l be sure to speak with my Lord; But (said Doctor Oates) cannot you get one more that was of Sir Francis Radcliffe 's Family to Swear to the said Paper? I told him, I thought I could, (though really I could not;) He reply'd, If you could do that, it would be ex­cellent Service; And so I took leave of him, and repaired again to Mason's House, who was very earnest to know how I had proceeded, I told him I could not speak with the Earl of Shaftsbury, for Dr. Oates said to me, he had so much company with him, that it was impos­sible to speak with his Lordship that evening, desiring me to come a day or two hence; at which Mason swore Damn him, he believed I had received Money of his Lordship, and would not tell him: Upon which, I protested to him I had not, but must attend a day or two hence: He not believing it, said, I will see the truth of this, for I will go with you my self: I reply'd, with all my heart; and the Satur­day following we both went into Aldersgate-street; and coming to his Lordships House, he was not within; so we went to an Ale-house [Page 5]hard by, and tarried till we understood his Lordship was come in, when going to his House, I sent up my name, and was immediately conducted into his Lordships presence up one pair of stairs, where he ask'd me several questions, (viz.) What Religion I was of? I answer'd, a Protestant. He also ask'd me, What Friends I had in Town? I told him, my Father; To which his Lordship reply'd, bring him to me, and then I will discourse You further. After which I took my leave, and was conducted down stairs by a Gentleman, ( Mason standing all the while at the Chamber-door, and seeing me discourse with his Lordship.) When we came out of the House, Mason asked me what News? I told him, his Lordship had order'd me to bring my Father to him; He reply'd, I will perswade your Father to go with you, and will tell him, that you will have twenty Guineys of the Earl of Shaftsbury; and this (said he) will certainly induce him to go with you. Being come to Ma­son's House, he there openly declar'd we had been at the Earl of Shaftsbury's, and that I was lighted up stairs to his Lordship, as if I had been a Person of Quality, and he would warrant I should have Money plenty as soon as I was sworn; telling his Wife, that he would have his Room two pair of stairs hang'd for me, and that I should both Lodge and Dyet in his House, (or words to that effect.) This being Saturday-night, we desisted until Monday following, when we both went over towards my Fathers Lodgings near St. George's Fields; and as we went along, he told me, that after I had begun with Sir Sir Francis Radcliffe, I should accuse the Duke of York, and the Lords in the Tower; and (said he) let me alone to contrive and draw up such Informations against them, as shall bring you into great favour with the next Parliament, or words to that effect; So drawing near my Fathers Lodgings, Mason desired me to walk in the Fields, whilst he went in and discoursed my Father; which I did, (but whether I went in or not, I cannot well remember;) however, Mason tarry'd a considerable time with him, as he informed me, though I judg'd he would have but an indifferent answer to what he proposed. At length he came, and told me, my Father had promised to be at his House that day, or speedily after; that being all the discourse we had at that time, we parted, I going towards London, and he towards his own House. Some days after I saw my Father, who ask'd me what was the reason I sent that fellow to him (naming Mason) upon such accounts as he offered? telling me moreover, that if I did not refrain Mason's company, and evil practices, he would never look upon me. Mason, (said my Father,) was so impudent, in the hearing of my Landlady, to desire me to perswade you to swear against Sir Francis Radcliffe; tel­me you should have Twenty Guineys of the Earl of Shaftsbury as soon as you are sworn. In answer to all which, I told my Father, that I had left the said Mason's house, and also refrained his company, which in truth I had done. And this (to the best of my knowledge) was the sole contrivance of the said Mason.

All the before-mentioned Information I had drawn up against the said Mason, with an intent to have discovered it during the sitting of the last Parliament, but was perswaded to the contrary by one Mr. William Lewis, and one Mr. John Haytor, (then both Prisoners in the Marshalsea for Debt, as well as my self) who both told me, tho' the thing was really true, and that Mason had endeavoured to suborn me, yet the Parliament would take no notice of it, because it was in vindication of a Roman Catholick; whereupon I burnt the said In­formation, and desisted until now; only I declared in general to Justice Rich and Justice Reading above two years since, that Mason had endeavoured to suborn me, but did not declare to them in what nature or particular.

About Christmas following, my Father had a Warrant granted him to be Purser to one of His Majesty's Ships at Chatham, to which Im­ployment he repaired, and took me down with him, where I conti­nued for some months; but having no likelyhood of getting any Pre­ferment there, and hearing of the Earl of Ossory's going as General for Tangier, I got leave of my Father to go to London, and make what interest I could to go with his Honour in that Expedition, and thereby endeavour to raise my Fortune, there being no probability of Action here: To which my Father consenting, I accordingly came to Town about the latter-end of June, or beginning of July; but I had not been long here, e'r the ill News of the Earl of Ossory's death was generally confirmed, which put me to as great a loss as ever; for having contracted some Debts, I was arrested for the same, and thrown into the Marshalsea, where I became acquainted with the before-mentioned Mr. William Lewis, who understanding how I had been tamper'd with to swear High-Treason against Sir Francis Radcliffe, and had been with the Earl of Shaftsbury concerning the same, he was very desirous to be my Bed-fellow, which in a night or two he accomplished, and continued in my Room till his enlarge­ment. In few nights after he came to be my Bed-fellow, he began to tamper with me concerning the Earl of Shaftsbury; telling me, if I would accuse his Lordship, he would send to those that should soon procure my liberty, and also supply me with Moneys; in which time I found him to be a notorious Papist; yet, through his many perswa­sions, I did consent to the drawing up of an Information against the Earl of Shaftsbury; whereupon one morning the said Lewis came to my bed-side, and brought me Pen, Ink and Paper, desiring me to draw up an Information according to my own sense against the said Earl; which I accordingly did, containing one side of a sheet; and when it was done, he desired to see it; I gave it him; he read it, and told me it all signify'd nothing; But (said he) I will go and draw it up in another kind of method, and you shall copy it with your own hand; for (said Mr. Lewis) I have sent for a Gentlewoman to come to me, and have assured her in my Letter, that there is a Gentleman my (Bed-fellow) that can discover strange things against the Earl of Shaftsbury; and I am certain as soon as she receives my Letter, she will come with all expe­dition [Page 7]to us: Therefore (said he) let us make what speed we can to get it ready; which accordingly we did. Within a day or two after, there came two women, and a Foot-boy with them, and enquired for him, (as he told me.) When they were gone, I ask'd him who they were? he said, one of them was Mrs. Cellier, and the other Madam Holeby; and not long after there came a Gentlewoman, (which proved to be the said Madam Holeby) who desired to have it attested under my hand, that the Paper that was given to them against the Earl of Shafts­bury at their last being there, was true; desiring me also to give un­der my hand that I would swear to it; all which Mr. Lewis perswa­ded me to do, and I did give under my hand that I would swear it. Then Mr. Lewis told me we should soon be released out of Pri­son; and not long after the said Paper came with an addition to it, and written by another hand, being brought by one Mr. Dalton. Mr. Lewis then desired me to draw it up with my own hand as fair as I could: I reply'd, there was a great deal more stuff in that, than was in the other which was sent them: Lewis answer'd, That's no matter, as long as it is for our enlargements; by which perswasions I at length consented. As soon as it was done, Mr Dalton came for it, and took it away; but not long after he brought it again, and told me I must set my hand to the bottom of every side, which I did. Some weeks after, this contriv'd Paper was sent to the Secretary of State, (as I afterwards heard) without my knowledge or consent; whereupon Mr. Fanshaw, one of the Masters of Requests, and another person with him, came to the Marshalsea, and enquired for me; when I came to him, he desired me to go up with him into a Room, and according­ly I went; (which Mr. Lewis perceiving, and being jealous, (as he afterwards told me) came under the window, and listened to our discourse.) Mr. Fanshaw pull'd the said Paper out of his pocket, and desired to know of me if it was my hand, or whether I would own it; I told him I would, and would also swear it when I should be thereunto required; upon which he departed; and when they were gone, Mr. Lewis came to me and told me in these words; Now Mr. Zeal I dare trust my life in your hands, for I find you are true to your Trust; further telling me, that he heard every word that pass'd be­tween Mr. Fanshaw and my self; the next news I heard, came a Mes­senger with an Order of Council for me to be brought up the Wednes­day following, which was accordingly done; but I was not call'd in at that time, but ordered to be brought up the next Council day, and so I was carried up five several times; And being brought back from the Council un-examined, Lewis urged me to swear to the said Paper, taking a Glass of Beer and drinking to me, wish'd eternal damnation both to Soul and Body, if he did believe the Duke of York to be in the least concerned in any contrivance against the King or Government, but that he did believe it to be a contrivance of the Earl of Shafts­bury, Doctor Oates, and others, on purpose to bring His Royal High­ness into dislke with the People, &c. And the last time I was carried up, I writ in to the Lord Precedent, declaring that it was the fifth [Page 8]time I had attended there, but could not be examined, and therefore desired his Lordship that I might be call'd in and examined, so that I might discharge my Conscience in declaring the truth of what I then knew, and if I had been then admitted I had declared Mr. Lewis's evil Practices in what I knew at that time; which Note I Writ to his Lordship in the presence of Mr. Glover (now Marshal of the Kings-Bench;) And about this said time there came a person to Mr. Thomas Warens the Clerk of the Marshalsea, and sent for Mr. Lewis, who went out, and when he returned, he told me it was Madam Holeby that sent for him, and that she had given him five Shillings for us to drink; withall told me, I should not tarry a day in Prison. The said Mr. Le­wis would never leave me night nor day, but was still urging me to stand to it, and not to be daunted, but aver it to be truth when I came before the Council; he did also offer to instruct me against I came to be examined, saying one night in the Bed to me, come Mr. Zeal, sup­pose I now was Lord Chancellor, and you before the King and Council to be examined. What do you know against the Earl of Shaftsbury? Up­on which I pretended my self sleepy, and would not answer him to any such impertinent questions; Then he said I would not remember three words of the said Papers; (which I never intended) but the first time that I should be examined, I resolved to declare the Authors of the said Papers; and that it was all false and fictitious, which I did declare upon Oath before the King and Council, the Lord Mayors day at night, during the last Parliament at Westminster; but Mr. Lewis de­sired me not to declare that he had any hand in contriving the said Pa­pers against the Earl of Shaftsbury, which at that time I omitted; But now declare that the said Mr. Lewis was the first and chiefest con­triver and actor in it, and the only man that perswaded me continual­ly to swear to it: And when the Parliament sat at Westminster, he found that Mrs. Celiers and Mrs. Holeby did not supply him with mo­neys as he expected, he resolved to lay the contrivance of the said Paper wholly upon them, which he did, as appears in his Narrative, and at that time I was much indispos'd, and told one Sir Edward Butler (a fellow Prisoner for Debt, and then in my Chamber,) that Mr. Lewis was an ill man, and endeavoured to Suborn me to swear false things, and if I knew how to send for a Magistrate or two, I would declare the truth of what I knew: to which the said Sir Ed­ward told me, that he would set down the day of the month, and what I had told him concerning Mr. Lewis, and that he would justi­fy the same upon Oath if ever required; And Sir Edward Butler also desired me to write to some Justices of the Peace, to come thither, and take my Information, which I did; and soon after came one or two Justices, but Mr. Lewis and Mr. Haytor being in consultation in Hay­tors Chamber, and understanding what I had done, they came down, and told the said Justices it would not be a proper business for them to concern themselves in, there being some Members of Parliament appointed to come and take my Examination; and Mr. Lewis and Mr. Haytor desired me not to declare one word to the said Justices; [Page 9]upon which they took their leaves, and look'd upon it as an affront; (as I was inform'd;) and that night came other Justices and exami­ned Mr. Lewis and Mr. Haytor, who told me he was by: This said Haytor was him that writ Mr. Lewis's Information and mine, that we gave in to the last Parliament at Westminster; and the next day came Justice Rich and Justice Reading, and took my Information also up­on Oath; and after they were gone, Mr. Lewis told me, that (now Mr. Zeale) we may expect to be call'd before the House of Commons speedily; This continued for several days, insomuch that Mr. Lewis began to doubt whether there would be any notice taken of his In­formation, or not; And one Morning about three of the clock he wak'd me, and said Zeale, here is no notice taken of us you see, but in every days Votes of Parliament there is Addresses made for Danger­field, and others, for their Pardons and Allowances; Therefore I must discover something that is greater, or else we are like here to continue; I ask'd how or what he would contrive? let me alone for that, (said he) you shall go in the Morning betimes to Mr. Haytors Chamber, and tell him that I did discover to you strange things about three of the clock, in­somuch that I would not let you rest until I had revealed it; But (said he) take no notice that I know of your going to Haytor, but pretend you came unknown to me, and then (said he) Haytor will certainly write to the Earl of Shaftsbury immediately after you have told him what I can discover; Then I ask'd him again what it should be? He replyed, that one of the Lords in the Tower would have hired him to have kill'd the King: I ask'd him what Lord it should be? He replyed, do not you tell Haytor his name, but it shall be the Lord Arrundel of Warder, for he is the remarkable'st man of them all, he's squint-ey'd, and hath a Wart on his Nose, and I have seen him several times at the Tennis-Court, therefore he shall be the man that I pitch upon, and I'l warrant you, this will fetch me up before either the House of Lords or Commons; if Hay­tor should ask you why I had not discovered this before in my first Infor­mation, tell him, (to sham him,) that I doubted my Pardon, and that was the reason, which will satisfy him well enough to believe it's true; And in the Morning I did rise, and go to Haytors Chamber, and told him as aforesaid, not taking the least notice to him that the said discovery was false, and contrived by the said Mr. Lewis; upon which the said Haytor replyed, that he doubted the truth of it, yet notwithstanding (said he) I will write to the Earl of Shaftsbury of it, so it will be a good service to the Protestant Party; the said Haytor did accordingly write to the Earl of Shaftsbury concerning the same, and soon after there came an Order from the House of Lords for Mr. Lewis to be brought up; which accordingly he was, whereas he told me he swore the same; and withal at the same time swore, Damn him, what was an Oath? It was only laying a mans Hand on a Book and kissing it; upon all which, I have taken the blessed Sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, the fourth day of February last, as will appear by my Certifitate, that all this is false and Fictitious, and contrived on purpose to get his enlargement. Some time after he was [Page 10]called before the House of Commons, where he delivered his Informa­tion in writing, and the 19th. of November I also delivered my Info­rmation in writing; And within few days after he sold his Narrative to one Mr. Combs a Coffee-man in the City for 50 l. which money, (or part of which) procured his Liberty. I remaining still a Prisoner till near Christmas, and upon the 5th. of November there came a Letter to the Marshalseas directed to Mr. Loman the Keeper, which is here incerted verbatim.

In Obedience to which Order I did appear at the Attorney-Gene­ral's Chamber, where he was pleas'd to ask me whether I knew Mrs. Celier? which I declared I did not; he ask'd me if I thought I knew her if I saw her, from any other Woman; I told him I could not say it for the World; and several other questions he was pleas'd to ask me relating to the said matter, which I to the best of my knowledge truly answered: He also ask'd if I ever were in Newgate? I reply'd I was; he desired me to give him an account for what; I told him; I was introduc'd by a Gentleman of my acquaintance, into the company and acquaintance of Mr. Dangerfield, who told me he was an Officer lately come from Flanders; and being one day in the company of Mr. Dangerfield at Hackney, where he exchang'd a false Guiney, and for which he was apprehended, and I (with the said Gentleman) was also apprehended with him for being in his company at that time; and being all carried before a Magistrate, all three were committed to Newgate, where in few days it appeared, that the said Dangerfield made it his general practice to utter false Coyn for several years before, for which he had been several times Imprisoned, and suffered the Law: and during my confinement I writ to Sir Ed­mundbury Godfrey, declaring my condition, (who was my very good Friend, as I can very plainly prove,) he came to me in Prison, to whom I declared my condition, upon which he was pleased to give me some Money, and told me withal, that if I could procure Bail, he would send me my Discharge; which I did do, and he accordingly sent it me by a Gentleman; (a Friend of mine) and my Friends not be­ing then in Town to supply me with Moneys, I was forc'd to tarry till the Sessions, because I had not wherewithal to pay my Fees; at the Sessions following I was Indicted for High Treason with Mr. Danger­field, of which I was acquitted; and at the same time was also In­dicted for a misdemeanour with Dangerfield, of which I was found, [Page 11] Guilty, and Fined Twenty Pounds Sterling, and Dangerfield was Fined Fifty Pounds: After my Tryal, Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was pleased to come to me to the Press-yard, and told me, That he ap­peared upon the Bench in my behalf, and that he had spoke favourably of me to the then Recorder Dalbin: Besides Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was also pleased to tell me, That he had saved my Friend Dangerfield from standing in the Pillory for that Offence, in speaking well of me; And afterwards Captain Richardson the Keeper, having received a Letter frome one Mr. Penn, to desire him to be kind to me during my Confinement, I being of an Honest good Family, &c. telling him also what kindness he shewed to me, he would take it as done to himself for my Families sake, or words to that effect: Upon which, Captain Richardson was so kind as to get my Fine remit­ted in the Kings most Gracious Pardon, and also took my own engagement for my Fees, Lodging, and other Subsistance; at which the Attorney-General was pleased to tell me, that my Evidence was good by vertue of the Kings General Pardon if I never had suffered for any other Crimes, which I declared I never had; then his Ho­nour ask'd Mr. Lewis whether he had ever stood on the Pillory, or not; Mr. Lewis changing his Countenance, reply'd, he had; Mr. Attorney-General also ask'd him for what? He answered, that it was for a Forg'd Bill of Exchange; some other such like questions were ask'd him, which I cannot well remember; all this was in the hea­ring of one Mr. Beal a Messenger belonging to the Marshalseas, who was at that that time my Keeper: From thence I return'd back to the said Prison, where I told the before-mentioned Haytor what had passed before Mr. Attorney-General that Afternoon, and how Mr. Lewis had confessed that he had stood on the Pillory: Then Haytor reply'd, that he took him to be a very ill man ever since he writ his Infor­mations, for which he promised him a Beaver-Hat: But (said Hay­tor) He was so dirty as to go away and not perform his Promise, nor so much as return me Thanks for the same; but (said he) I will do him as good a kindness to the Earl of Shaftsbury, which shall be more than ten such Hats out of his way: And on the other side, (if you'l be rul'd by me) I will make your Interest great with his Lordship: I ask'd him how, or which way? He told me, That he would make an Addition to my Narrative that it should far exceed Mr. Lewis 's: And finding his In­clinations, I promised I would; then Haytor desired me to insert in Informations, and Swear to it, That the King would have seized the City-Treasury by force of Arms; and that the Earl of Feversham was the Person designed to command the Guards to effect the same: He also told me, That if I would publish the same, it would be the only means that he knew to Incense the Parliament against the King, so that they should not consent to give His Majesty any Moneys until he had signed the Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York: I reply'd, I had no Order for the Printing my Informations: Oh, (said he) let me alone for that, I will engage the Earl of Shaftsbury to get you an Order as soon as he understands by me what great consequence you have to discover: He the said Haytor further declaring, That his Lordship had a great influence [Page 12]upon the House of Commons, who were rul'd much by his perswasions, and that nothing of Moneys would ever be granted by them to the King, until the Duke of York was totally excluded from ever inheriting the Im­perial Crown of England: He further adding, That his Lordship was the greatest Opposer that his Highness had in Parliament, and that his Lordship never took any thing in hand (though of the greatest moment) but he went through with it: He also told me, That had it not been for the Bishops, the Bill had past the House of Lords against the Duke the last Parliament at Westminster, saying, That he hoped to see the time again, that there should be no such persons as Bishops in England; And that himself did not doubt but to have as good an Imploy as ever he had in a short time by the Earl of Shaftsbury 's means: And about that same time he had drawn up Papers of his own Contrivance, and went to one Mr. Combs the Coffee-man, and in my hearing desired him to get them published; but he refused so to do; I cannot say, whether it was inserted in his Papers, that which he put me upon Swearing or not; but Lewis hath several times told me, That he had urg'd him to Print the same in his Narrative about seizing the City-Treasury: Mr. Haytor several times told me, That he was Scout-Mr.-General in Crom­wel 's Army; and how in those days persons of good Quality came Cap in hand to him; He hath sent several Letters to the Earl of Shaftsbury from the Marshelseas by one Mr. Hind and one Mr. Beale both Messen­gers to the said Prison; the import of the said Letters I knew not, but the said Persons can give a more perfect account thereof, who promised me the same upon the 17th. day of December 1681. if they should be called thereunto by Authority: And this Information against Mr. Haytor I gave into the hands of one Mr. J— an At­torney of the Kings-Bench at his Chamber in Cliffords-Inn about the time of the said date.

All this Villainous contrivance of Haytor's was about the time of the Lord Stafford's Tryal, at which time I being Sick, Mr. Lewis came to see me, and sitting upon my Bed-side, told me, That I must own I knew Celier, else the City would not look upon me when I came abroad: For (said he) they are for hanging her out of the way, for se­veral of them have been with me to know if you have Sworn positively a­gainst her: I ask'd Mr. Lewis what made him so Fine? He told me, I might be as Fine if I would do as he had done? What's that, (said I) Accuse one of the Lords in the Tower as you have? Yes (by God) for nothing takes with the Parliament but such things; I am now Treated, and admired by all Companies that I come into, Congratulating me with Thanks for my Service done to the Protestants: I told him, I was glad to hear that; and that I my self wanted nothing by the Blessing of God, and Mr. Loman's assistance, and others belonging to the Pri­son, who supply'd me with what I desired, or Moneys could procure, without Imbrewing my hands in Blood, which I never had, nor would do; at which he went away in a Huff: And about a Week or a Fort­night before Christmass 1680. Mr. John Cooms, who bought Lewis's, and several other such like Narratives, came to the Marshalseas, and [Page 13]Mr. Lewis with him, where he the said Mr. Coombes engaged to Mr. Loman the Keeper for what I owed him; upon which I had my Li­berty: After that time I took Lodging in the City, where I became ac­quainted with several Citizens at Mr. Coombs's, and the Amsterdam Coffee-Houses; both of them I daily frequented, and several Persons ask'd me whether I had any Allowance from the King, according to the Address made by the House of Commons to His Majesty on my be­half: I reply'd, I had not received any: they answered, It was very hard measure; further adding, That if the King took no care of the Evidence, they knew no reason to the contrary, but that They might, and thought themselves bound to do it, for those who had preserved their Lives and Liberties from the Blood-thirsty Papists. And this, or to the like effect was their common Discourse in all publick places where I was amongst them, for four or five Months together: And about the Parliament at Oxford, Mr. Lewis told me, That he had occa­sioned another great Discovery; I ask'd him what it related to? he said, I should know as soon as he had fully accomplished it; also telling me, He wanted but one Witness to effect it, and then he could Print a Narrative that should far exceed his first, which would be great satisfacti­on to the Parliament, and what they had long expected to be discovered: He also said, That had he an Order for the same, he would have it in Print with all Expedition; further declaring to me, That if he should Print it without an Order, (the Press being free) any person may Re­print the same, which would be a great loss to him: And about a day or two after, I met with one Mr. Edward Ivy in Moor-fields, who ask'd me, Where I had been all that time he had not seen me? I reply'd, It was not so long since I saw him: Oh (said he) but you lie still, and let Mr. Lewis find out all the great Discoveries: I desired to know of him what new things were on foot now? At which, he told me, That Mr. Lewis had brought his Brother in to Swear that he went with great sums of Money to Sir William Scroggs (late Lord Chief Justice) from the Portugal Embassador: I said that was great Service indeed, if it were true; and sometime after there was a Common-Councel call'd in the City, at which time some of the Evidence had prepared a Peti­tion to be preferred to the said Common-Councel, to make their Condi­tion known to them of their great wants of Moneys, or to that effect, as Mr. Lewis told me; I reply'd, Do you think that they will supply us with Money? Yes (said he) those that have signed the Petition will be supplyed: I ask'd him, why I was not one that sign'd it? Because (said he) you have not made a large Discovery of the Popish Plot: And the same day that the Common-Councel sat, I had Moneys before any of them; for Mr. Kidd at the Amsterdam Coffee-House in Bartholomew-lane, the same day in Guild-hall, did slide a Crown into my hand; and also the same day in the said Hall I ask'd Colledge the Protestant-Joyner, how he thought things would go? He reply'd, Very well he did not doubt; further saying, That he had made several of the Common-Councel of the Witnesses side in order to their Supply with Moneys; fur­ther adding, If that will not take, we will find out some other way to Sup­ply [Page 14]you: But (said he) why do you not Swear positively that you know Mrs. Celier? that she might be brought to a Tryal, and then you shall not want Moneys: All which he bid me consider of, And I should find it would be for my good: I promised him I would, and so we parted. Soon after I came acquainted with one Mr. Rowse belonging to Sir Thomas Player, who told me, That he had undertaken to raise Moneys for the Supply of the Evidence until a Parliament should be call'd: And upon the Tuesday in Whitson-week 1681. I being in the Amsterdam Coffee-House, Mr. Rowse came to me, and desired me to go and Drink Glass of Wine with Mr. Kidd and himself; and, to the best of my knowledge, there was a person or two with them, who were altogether strangers to me; we went to the Crown Tavern behind the Royal-Exchange; where, after a little time, Mr. Rowse gave me a Guiney, telling me withall, That that was the first, but should not be the last that I should have from him, if he lived and did well: And then they ask'd me many questions, viz. Whether I had Printed any Narrative or not? I reply'd, I had not: They ask'd me the reason why? I told them, it was for want of Money to get out the Copies of my Papers, that then lay in the hands of Mr. John Coombs the Coffee-man in Bartho­lomew-lane; at which Rowse and Mr. Kidd both reply'd, You shall not want Moneys nor Friends to assist you in this Affair: Mr. Rowse also told me, That my best way would be to go to the Earl of Shaftsbury, and desire his Lordships advice: They also desired to know, If I had Accu­sed the Duke of York or not? I told them I had; (though really I had not) at which, they reply'd, It was pity that such a Discovery as mine should lie hid, and not published for the satisfaction of all True Pro­testants: Then Mr. Rowse pull'd out his Pocket-Book, and declared that he had gotten above 30 eminent Citizens to Subscribe their Names to his said Book for the Supply of the Evidence; and that some of them had subscribed to give 20 Guineys, and some 30. He further declared, He did not doubt but to have as many more Hands before the Saturday night following; He again advising me, to go to the Earl of Shaftsbury concerning getting my Papers out of the hands of Mr. Coombs; and so for that time we parted. And soon after I went to the said Earl's, to know how I should get the Copy of my Infor­mations out of his hands? His Lordship sent me out word, That I should go to Sir Thomas Player in his Honours Name, who would direct me what to do in that matter: Which accordingly I did, and coming to Sir Thomas's House, I sent him word up that I came from the Earl of Shaftsbury to him about earnest business; upon which he imme­diately sent for me up into his Chamber, where I told him my busi­ness: He ordered me to go in his Name to Sir Robert Clayton, and de­sire his Warrant against Mr. Coombs for detaining my Papers: Upon which I took leave of Sir Thomas, and went to Mr. Coombs's House, and demanded them: who reply'd, He had lost them at Oxford, or coming from thence, at the time of the Parliament there; upon which I told him I had Orders from the Earl of Shaftsbury and Sir Thomas Player to take out Sir Robert Clayton's Warrant against him: He an­swered [Page 15]me, He could not help it if his Life lay at stake; telling me, He had search'd his House from top to bottom, and could not find them: So I desisted from enquiring further after them; and some occasions of my own caused me to go and Lodge at Westminster about the latter end of May 1681. where I continued for some weeks, and in Trinity-Term following, being in Westminster-Hall, I met Mr. Rowse, who came to me, and told me, He had much wondred what was become of me so long: I told him, that my occasions would not permit me to stay in the City: He reply'd, I hope you are of the same Principle as when I saw you last: I answered, I was, and ever would be: Come then (said he) we will go to the Dog-Tavern in the New-Palace-yard, and drink a Glass of Wine; which we did: And there he desired me, Not to take it ill that he had questioned my Fidelity; for (said he) it is not out of any distrust I have of you in the least, but it is because you are so near the Court, a place that will Debauch all persons that come near it, especially those that are Evidences against the Papists: At which I told him, he had no cause to think the least ill of me in that or any other respect whatsoever; telling him, I had not spoken with any person belonging to the Court since I came last to lodge at that end of the Town; at which he seem'd very well satisfied; and taking Moneys out of his Pocket, gave me Ten Shillings, telling me withal, That Moneys was short with him at that time, else he would have supply'd me with more; but within a few days I should see him again; so we par­ted at that time: And the same day that Plunket was Try'd, I met him again in Westminster-Hall, and we went to the same Tavern, where he Treated the Witnesses against Pluncket after the Tryal was past; and return'd them many Thanks for the great service they had done that day to the Protestant Party: and whilst we tarryed there, he sent for Mr. Rob. Squibb belonging to His Majesties Exchequer, who accordingly came, and they went both into a Room together, but upon what bu­siness I know not; so after plenty of Wine, Evening drawing nigh, we all parted: And about three or four days after, he came to the same Tavern, and sent for me; I went, where I found strange Com­pany with him, to whom he recommended me, telling them, That I was a Friend of Theirs, and all True Protestants, assuring them, that I had discovered a considerable part of a Plot contrived by the Duke of York, and other great Papists: Upon which they Thank'd him for bringing me into their Company, and withal call'd for Sack plenti­fully: They being upon going, Mr. Rowse gave me other Ten Shil­lings; and told me, He would be with me very speedily: And in a few days after he did come to an Ale-house where I frequented, and going out of the House to him, he desired me to go with him to the Fountain-Tavern in the Old-Palace-yard, where he gave me Twenty Shillings, telling me, That as soon as they had chosen Sheriffs in the City, and that they found they were for their turns, then they would settle good Allowances upon all the Evidence that stood by them; and that it should be paid weekly until a Parliament sat: He also desired me, To come into the City again to abide with them: I reply'd, I could not, by [Page 16]reason of some Debts that I had Contracted there: He answered, Is that all? I told him it was: Then he said, I should not tarry long at that end of the Town: Then Mr. Rowse took down in Writing what Sums, where, and to whom I was Indebted, telling me, That he would certain­ly pay the same in few days: And then he began to tell me in what a dangerous condition the Protestant Party would have been in, if the Parliament and the Evidences had not stood by them: For (said he) it is plain to be seen that the King is a Papist in his heart by his vindi­cating that Traytor (York) his Brother, who would certainly (if it were in his power) bring us all under the yoak of Popery and Slavery: He further declared, That he hoped to see his Highness the next Parlia­ment, excluded banished, or both; saying also, That he deserved to lose his Head as much as ever Stafford did: Therefore (said he) ac­cuse him thoroughly, and I will engage you will be made for ever by it: I or (said he) you see Mr. Dangerfield lives in great Splendor, keeps his Man to wait upon him, his Gelding to ride where he pleases, and hath also 100 Guineys to command at any time; besides, he is respected by the greatest in the City, and people strive to be in his Company: At which I reply'd, Mr. Rowse, you see my Condition, and were I sup­plie'd and assisted as Mr. Dangerfield is, it might be that I could do the Protestant Party more service then ever he has done: How! (said he) Yes said I, for I was Bred about the Court, and have used it above this dozen years; and you must needs think; that in all this time I saw a great man. Intrigues: Nay (said he) if it be so, I must allow you to be capable of doing us great Service; and as for your Supplies take no care, for before I am many days older, you shall be sufficiently gratified; and withal took me into his Arms, and said, Leave all to me; and told me, That they had a Common-Councel held in the City, and that they had made an Act how it should be Engraven round the Monument in great Letters, that the Papists Fired this City in the year of our Lord, 1666. At which I reply'd, it was a very good Act, but withal told him, will you not be displeased at a Jest? He reply'd, He would not; then said I. It will be a long time before the Common-Councel will make an Act, that it shall be Engraven in great Letters upon some publick place in the City, That the late King was Murthered by the Factious Party: Fie, Fie, (said he) those things are buried in Oblivi­on; let us think of things that are to come, and what will be most service­able for us to defend our selves from Popery and Arbitrary Government, which is certainly designed to be brought in amongst us, else the King would have taken care of the Evidence that discovered the Popish Plot; But since He doth not, We must, for our own Preservations: These to the best of my remembrance were the very words of our Discourse at that time, or to this effect: And it being towards five in the Afternoon, be told me, He was to meet some Eminent Citizens at six a Clock at the Amsterdam Coffee-House, concerning raising Money to supply the Evi­dence; upon which he took his leave of me, telling me, That I should see or hear from him very speedily: And the next News I heard, he was Committed to the Tower for High Treason.

And some days after, which was about the latter end of June 1681. Mr. Ivy came to my Lodging in the Old-Palace-yard, and in dis­course, began to tell me of Loyalty, And what a good thing it was to be true to the King; saying, He believed it lay in my Power to do His Majesty a great deal of good service, if I would discover what I knew: To which I reply'd, It may be I could do the King Service if I were encouraged in it; said he, I do believe in my Conscience that you know a great many Villanies and evil practices of Mr. Lewis: I answered, I did, Then (said he) if you will go and declare the same before the Se­cretary of State, or Committee of Councel, I dare say notice will be of it; for I have already discovered several evil practices that were acted in the City, as raising Moneys for the supply of the Evidence, and endeavouring to Suborn them, and other Treasonable passages which I would no longer conceal: At that, I promised I would go and declare what I knew, and draw it up in writing; for that time we parted: And about a day or two after, Mr. Lewis came to my Chamber very much dissatisfied, telling me, He heard that I had given in an Infor­mation against him: I reply'd, I had not, (though really at that time I had finished two Sheets of Paper in order to discover his evil practi­ces;) but hearing some person coming up Stairs whilst I was writing, I hid the Papers under the Bed; when he saw the Pen and Ink upon the Table, his great Guilt (as I imagine) caus'd him to have a jea­lousy of me, and looking in several places of the Room for Papers, yet could not find any, (Mr. Turbervile, to the best of my remem­brance was with him.) To all Mr. Lewis's discourse I made him little or no answer, so they both went their way; towards evening he came again, and declared, If I discovered what I knew of him, I should certainly be De-Witted; but on the other side, if I would stand by him, and not discover what I knew against him, he would put me in a way to make my self, telling me, that he had sent a Letter to the King of great Moment, and that His Majesty imparted it to no person but the Bishop of Canterbury, who (as he told me) had a Copy of the said Letter: And several other perswasions he us'd to draw me off from discove­ring what I knew against him; he also desired me to go over the Water with him to Collonel Rich, which I did, and being there, he went and discoursed the Collonel at his Door for a considerable time, in the mean while I walk'd in the yard; the Collonel call'd me to him, and desired me, To tell him whether I knew any thing to the con­trary of what Mr. Lewis had Sworn against the Lord Arrundel of War­dor was true: I told him, I knew nothing to the contrary, because I was very well satisfied that the Collonel was Lewis's great Friend, therefore I did not think it convenient to declare the truth of that matter at that time, although Lewis prest to have me Sworn we it: I leave the World to Judge why Mr. Lewis should perswade me to go over, and desire Collonel Rich to ask me the aforementioned que­stions, if Lewis had not been satisfied in his Conscience that I knew it was all false, and a contrivance: Then we took leave of him, and came over the Water, where he gave me a Shilling, and told me, He [Page 18]would provide me a Lodging in the City; likewise he said, He thought it was not safe for me (or at least himself,) to be at that end of the Town: Notwithstanding, on Saturday following I went before a Committee of Lords at the Secretaries House, and there declared the evil practices of Mr. Lewis, further giving their Lordships an account, that he told me I should be De-Witted, if I discovered what I knew of him, all this Discourse was in the hearing of Mr. Ivy: And finding there was little notice taken of it, by the perswasions of Mr. Lewis, I went into the City to Lodge with his Brother in Fetter-lane, where he came imme­diately to me, and put me upon accusing the Witnesses that had Sworn against the Earl of Shaftsbury; this being three or four days after his Lordship was last Committed to the Tower, desiring me to draw up my Information with all expedition against Mr. Ivy; and about the same time brought one Captain Clynton to my Chamber, who he reported to be a great Friend of the Earl of Shaftsbury's, and neither of them would leave me, till I had done the same, which was composed in two Sheets; the same Evening we took Coach, and went to the Recorders Chamber, Sir Robert Clayton being present, where I was Sworn, and several of the Whigs being by to see the same for their own satisfaction; and from thence we went to the Kings-Arms-Tavern; where they called for Wine, and laid down 6 s. more than the Reckoning for my Supply, telling me, I should be better Rewarded; that Evening Mr. Lewis declar'd to me, They were all persons well affected to the Cause: Then I repair'd to my Chamber, where I had not long been, but Captain Clynton came, and desired me to go to the Flower-de-luce in Fetter-lane, which I did, where he told me, That there would be a Person come speedily to us, with 20 s. (for me) And being there for some time, Captain Clynton wondred at his long stay, and admired at it, that they should be so Timerous, Since I had done them such good service that day, saying, He would go himself and see for the said Money; which he did, and in a little time he returned to me, (not finding the person) but desired me to Dine with him the next day at the same House, which I did; there he declared to me, That he should envy my Happiness when a Parliament sat; he likewise told me, That he would provide a Beeing for me at a Relations of his, where I should be private until that time; and that he had a very good Horse in Town, which, with his Person should be at the Earl of Shaftsbury 's Service, whilst he had breath in his Body to oppose those whom his Lordship did, saying, it was plainly to be seen, that the King and Court designed to cast the Odium of the Popish Plot upon the Presbyterians &c. From thence we went to the Castle-Tavern at the Corner of Fetter-lane, where he desired me, To appear at o [...]e Old-Baily when the Bill was preferred against Colledge the Joyner, and there pretend my self to be an Evidence for the King, by which means I should be Sworn; and when I came to be examined before the Grand-Jury, I should declare, that all the rest of the Witnesses Suborned me to Swear the same as they did; that it was all False and Fictitious, by which means (said he) the Jury will bring it in Ignoramus (which it [Page 19]is well known they did without my assistance;) further saying, They expected a Bill to be preferred against the Earl of Shaftsbury the same day, but there was not; further telling me, That Mr. Whitaker the Solicitor sent him to me, and desired him to advise me to what is before mentioned: The same day coming from the Old-Baily, I met Mr. Dan­gerfield going out of the Kings-Head-Tavern at Temple Bar, to whom I declar'd that the Bill against Colledge was found Ignoramus; to which he answered, I am very glad of it, for his sake, and all persons that have and will oppose the Duke of York as he hath done: The next day Mr. Lewis came to my Chamber, and desired me; To write a Letter to Mr. Wilmore, and acquaint him of my want of Moneys, and direct it to him at the Amsterdam-Coffee-House, telling me, That since Mr. Rowse was committed to the Tower, Mr. Willmore had undertaken to raise Moneys for the supply of those Evidence that stood by the City: I did write, and within a day or two after, Mr. Lewis came with 10 s. he had of Mr. Willmore for me, which I received at several times of Lewis: And about the same time I told Mr. Lewis, I was informed that Mrs. Fitz-Harys had a great inclination to retract her Evidence against the Lord Howard of Escrik; at which he said, It will be good service to the Whigs, if she could be brought over to the City, that then he would make it his business to effect the same: And about a day or two after, he came again to me, That he was desired by several Eminent Whigs to urge me to draw up my Information at large against Mr. Ivy, and give it in to Sir Patience Ward, who was then Lord Mayor; and by his perswasions I did draw up the Information, and the next day he came to my Chamber to see if it was finished, but it was not; then he told me, That he had as good as brought over Mrs. Fitz Harys from the Court to the City, for which he had 10 l. paid him that Morning for retracting her Evidence against the Lord Howard; withall shew­ed me Handsuls of Silver: I desir'd half the Money, being the first that told him of any such thing: he answered, He was forc'd to give his Bond for it, because it should not be thought he received it upon the account of Subornation; telling me, That the Whigs told him, that he should never be call'd upon for that Money, and should also be supply'd with 10 l. a Month as long as they found him True and Serviceable to them: And when my Information was finished against Mr. Ivy, he desired me to go with him to meet a Gentleman at the Gray-hound-Tavern near Arundel-buildings in the Strand; which I did, where there came to us one Mr. John Harrington, who afterwards appear'd to be related to me by Marriage; Mr. Harrington desired me to meet him at the Crown-Tavern behind the Royal-Exchange, accordingly we did, but I being there before Mr. Harrington, Mr. Lewis call'd for Pen, Ink and Pa­per, and drew up an Information against Mr. Ivy; Mr. Harrington came in, and desired us to go before Sir Patience Ward, and be Sworn, but I am not positive whether it was that day or not; but soon after Mr. Harrington and one Mr. Fuller went with us, where we found Sheriff Bethel and Sheriff Cornish: And after I was Sworn, Sheriff Bethel came to me, and gave me Thanks for the good service I had [Page 20]done the Protestants at that time: Within a day or two after I met with Captain Clynton in Fetter-lane, he desired me to go to the Golden-Lyon-Tavern; there he told me, That should be the last time I should drink with him: I ask'd to know the reason of it, he said, He must be forc'd to leave the Town, declaring, That he feared Mr. Dugdale had, or would Swear against him: I desired his reason why he thought so; saith he, Because Mr. Dugdale kept correspondence with Justice War­cup, who will encourage persons to Swear any thing against them that would appear for the Protestants, and especially Me, for vindicating the Innocency of the Earl of Shaftsbury, as I have, and will ever do with my Life and Fortune: At the same time Captain Clynton drank the Earl's health to me in a Glass of Wine, telling me, What a respect he had me, and what a happy man I should be when the Parliament sat, until which time he hoped care would be taken for me; and then we parted, and I never saw him before he was brought before the King and Councel, which was above a year afterwards; where I appeared, and again declared the Truth of what is above mentioned: And about this time Mr. Lewis and Mr. Harrington were like to fall out which of them was the chiefest Instrument in bringing over Mrs. Fitz-Harys to the City: In few days after I met Mr. Harrington at the Amster­dam-Coffee-House, he ask'd me, If I never was perswaded to Swear a­gainst the Earl of Shaftsbury? I replyed, I was, and that the Paper that was drawn up against his Lordship, was most damnable and Se­ditious, besides False and Fictitious, and that the Original was in the custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons; saith he, It will be good service to Print it at that time; further adding, It would Incense the People extreamly against the Court Proceedings: I told him, if I had Money I would go and drink a Glass of Wine with Mr. Golds bo­rough, and endeavour to get a Copy of that Paper, for which and he gave me a Crown; I went to Mr. Goldsborough at the Popes-Head-Tavern in Chancery-lane, there I desired the Copy; he told me, He could not part with any without an Order from the King and Councel, or words to that effect; upon which I desisted. And sometime be­fore I went to Oxford to Colledges Tryal, Mr. Everard came to me in the Amsterdam-Coffee House, and told me, If I would give my Bond for Money, I should be supply'd, but never call'd upon to repay the same; saying, The Bond was only that the World should not take notice, or think it Subornation: I said, I would give my Bond for Money, declaring that I wanted Cloaths; upon which, he said, He would engage to the Taylor for a Suit for me, which he did; at the same time Mr. Eve­rard desired me to do Justice Warcup's business for him when an In­dictment should be brought against him, which he said would be next Sessions; I promised him I would; then said he, You shall neither want Money nor Friends from the City, for the business is left in part to my ma­nagement, for the raising of Money for the encouragement of the Evidence that stand with us: And upon the 4th. of. August Mr. Harrinton met me in Fetter-lane, and delivered me this following Subpaena.

According to which I appeared, and found several persons Sub­paena'd upon the same account, and amongst the rest I met with Mr. Everad and Mr. Harrington, to whom I declared, that notwith­standing I appear'd, I would not go in the Garb I was in; at which they reply'd, It would be much better for me to stay till I came back, and then I should be furnished with all things, saying, That if I should go to Oxford in New Cloathes, it would be thought by the Kings Party, I had them upon the account of Subornation from the City: Notwithstanding their perswasions, I was fully resolved not to go without New Cloaths; upon which Mr. Everard seeing my resolution so fix'd; Bid me go to the Taylor, and let him bring them with all expedition ima­ginable to the said Tavern; which was done, and Mr. Everard enga­ged to pay for them; the same time I told Mr. Lewis I wanted Linnen, upon which he went into another Room, and presently came out again, and told me, He had got 30 s. of one Mr. Harris a Quaker; the same Harris ( Lewis told me) supplyed him with the 20 l. for bring­ing over Mrs. Fitz-Harys in to the City: From thence we took Coach for Oxford, where being come, Mr. Everard came to me the night before the Tryal, and desired me to Accuse all the Witnesses that ap­peared against Colledge of Subornation; further saying, That if we could clear him, our business would be as good as accomplished against the Court Party; and when a Parliament sits, (said he) no doubt but all of us shall have good Rewards: And that day at the Tryal, I was examined in the Court, to which I refer my self to Colledges Tryal; and coming out of the Court, in the Hall, Doctor Oates and Hethring­ton came to me, And ask'd me how it went? I told them I thought it would go very hard with the Prisoner if no body confronted Mr. Turbervile's Evidence; at which they ask'd, Why I had not done it? I replyed, would you have me Accuse a Person who I know no ill of? Yes (said Doctor Oates) where a mans Life is concern'd: I reply'd, [Page 22]if it be your principle, it's not mine; Therefore you may do it when you are call'd in; he told me so he would to some purpose, without my advise; and after we came to London, I met Mr. Everard at Johns Coffee house in Bartholomew lane, where he told me, that Provision was making for Dyet and Lodging for those Witnesses that stood by the City; further telling me, that he would take particular care for my accommodation; But said he, you must be sure to accuse Justice Warcup of Subbornation of Perjury, and the rest of the Witnesses that appeared on behalf of the King against the Earl of Shaftsbury, and those of the City, when they shall be Indicted, which (as he said) would be the next Sessions; And then you shall have Money to pay all your Debts: I ask'd Mr. Everard, who was at the Charge of the seven or eight Coaches full of Wit­nesses, besides Horse-men that went to Oxford in behalf of Colledge? He answered, those that were at the charge would not see me want, if I would accuse the Court-Party. But about the time of Colledges, Try­al, Mr. Lewis's Brother Lodging with me, Ms. Lewis came one morning about four a clock, and called his Brother out; upon which I mistru­sted there was some new Intreigue on foot, neither could I be satis­fied till I knew something of it; within a night or two after I came in late, finding Lewis's Brother in Bed, and in Drink, being fast a sleep, I trespassed so far, as to search his Pockets, where I found a Pa­per written by William Lewis's own hand, (as I do verily believe) which was a Recantation of his Brother Daniel Lewis for his swearing against Sir William Scroggs, which was to this effect as near as I can remember, viz That the said Daniel Lewis never knew directly, or indirectly, of any Sum, or Sums of Money that was ever carried from the Portugal Embassador, to Sir William Scroggs, or of any thing in that nature, but that it was all false and fictitious, and that his Brother and Colledge the Joynor forced him to swear the same before the Recorder, they snatching the Paper out of his hands, and would not let him see what he swore to: The said Daniel Lewis hath several times Cursed his Brother both in Bed with me, and elsewhere; telling me, his Bro­ther had brought him out of a good Service, to Swear, and now will not allow him Money to spend, declaring to me, that he had a great mind to discover all that he knew against his Brother, saying that Sir John Moreton (whom his Brother Served) had endeavoured to take away his Brothers life for Robbing him to a considerable value; further adding, that the said Sir John did Imprison his Brother, and had him from London into the Countrey, but could not prove it against him, because he had Rob'd him so dexterously. About a fortnight after I came from Oxford, I went to Mr. Harrington's Chamber in Black-Fryers, where he desired me to draw up an Information to this effect: That Mr. Fitz-Gerald some months since would have perswaded me to endeavour to bring over Mr. Smith, Mr. Dangerfield, Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Haynes, &c. from the City to the Court, and by that (saith he) it will be all prov'd fictitious, and a Court countenance; I promised I would draw it up; which accordingly I did, and within a day or two I went to his Chamber, and shew'd him the said Paper, (there being a Barber, or [Page 23]some such like person in the Room) he read it privately to himself once or twice over, and (smilling) told me he lik'd it very well, and said that it would do the business when a Parliament sat; he desired me to be Sworn privately to the same; And the Sessions following Mr. Har­rington sent me a Note, desiring me to appear at Hicks's-Hall against the Witnesses for the King, who would all be Indicted upon Subbornation of Perjury, as he inform'd me; accordingly I appeared, and that day Mr. Baldron was taken by a Constable, and carried into Court, from thence committed to New-Prison, Baldron desired me to go to the Earl of Shaftsbury, and acquaint them how it was with him, and desired them to procure him Bail for his Enlargement; I accordingly at his request went, where I found Mr. Everard, Mr. Harrington, and several others at Dinner in Mr. Stringers Chamber: I acquainted them of the matter, which struck them into a great dump; notwithstanding, they told me, that Bail should be had immediately after Dinner; so I took my leave, and going down Stairs, Mr. Harrington came after me, and desired me not to declare to any person living where I had been, or who I saw together; and the next day (according to appointment) we all met at the Castle-Tavern without Newgate, and being at Dinner, News was brought us that Mr. Baldrone was carried before the King and Council, and had discovered the Intregues in the City; at which they were all at a stand; so Mr. Everard desired us to go to the Old-Baily, and swear to the Indictments which were drawn up against Justice War­cup, and several of the Witnesses for the King; which accordingly we did, Sherift Bethel conducting us into Court, where one Mr. Whitton Councellor Smiths Clerk preferred the Indictments, desiring the Wit­nesses might be Sworn, but the Court rejected it; upon which the said Mr. Witton, and one Mr. Sangar, who belonged to the Earl of Shaftsbury, desired us all to go out of the Court; upon which we did, and went to the Dog-Tavern within Sudgate, where I ask'd Mr. Wit­ton why he desired us to come away so suddenly? he replyed, he saw some of the Kings Messengers in Court, and he fear'd that there might be Warrants against some of us; further declaring, that if we should desert them, their business would be at a great loss, desiring us that ap­peared for Witnesses, to take other Sodgings that night for fear of being surprized; so then Mr. Langar gave us Crowns a piece to lodge where we would, and also gave us Notes to meet at the Queens-Arms Ta­vern in Newgate street the next morning; which accordingly we did, there the said Mr. Whitton desired me to accuse Justice Warcup of Subornation of Perjury, so that a Bill might be preferred against him at the Old Baily; but that was not effected that day; Mr. Everard told me that evening, that money would be very sppeedily produced for my supply, therefore desired me not to be dismaid, but have a little Patience; and within a day or two after, I met Sheriff Bethel coming out of the Amsterdam Coffee-house, who ask'd me, what News there was stirring? I told him all that I knew, was, that all those that stood by the City, were so much slighted, that they had not wherewithal to subsist; he reply'd, that it should be otherwise very spee­dily, [Page 24]saying, that if I would print my Information given into the Lord Mayor, and other Papers that I could produce, I should not want Mo­ney: Besides (saith he) it will be good service to the Cause now in hand: I answered him, Sir, I know not who will stand by me; he said, We will all stand by you, and I my self will assist you to the utmost of my Power and Ability, telling me, That he himself was in danger of be­ing Sworn against; He also desired me, To Accuse the Lords of the Councel that I was examined before: I ask'd him what I should Accuse them of? he said, Of suborning you to Swear against the Protestants? I told him, that I had cleared their Honours in my Information against Mr. Ivy; he said, that was no matter, further saying, That the Infor­mation lay in their own hands, and that they would insert what was most to their own advantage, if I would consent thereto; he like wise said, That there was no worse men in the Nation to the Protestants, then most of His Majesties Privy-Councel; further adding, That they were very odious in the eyes of a Parliament, and when one met; they would find it so: I told him, that I had revealed my self to a Member of Parliament a week before the Earl of Shaftsbury was Committed to the Tower: Sheriff Bethel desired of me to know who it was? I told him, that it was Justice Rich; How (said he) you could not have reveal'd your self to a worse man; I desired to know the reason; he reply'd, That he was a great enemy to all persons that opposed the Duke of York's Inte­rest: I told him, I was very sorry for that; he reply'd, It was very true; Therefore (said he) I must desire you and Mr. Lewis to appear against him at the next Election of Southwark; and incense the People against him, so that he may no more be chosen to serve in Parliament, and I will stand by you upon all occasions: About the same time I met with Mr. Dangerfield at the Amsterdam-Coffee-House, who told me, That it was now come to pass, what he himself was put upon; I desired to know what it was? He told me, That the King Himself offered him almost two years before what Money or Preferment he would desire, if he would Swear to a Presbyterian Plot, and stand by it; I replyed, is it not enough for you to Accuse the Duke, but you must Accuse the King likewise; at which he answered (Damn me) I have my Pardon, and I will declare nothing but what a Parliament shall like, for it is them that will stand by the Evidence, and not the Court; you may plainly see it: And in Bartholomew-fair time, one Mr. Shewen, Mr. Lewis, and my self went to the Castle-Tavern in Fleet-street, where Shewen treated us, and there declared, That he had been a conside­rable time in private with a Secretary of State; we asked upon what ac­count he was there; he said, For nothing as he knew, but that Sheriffe Bethel had often desired him to swear that a Secretary of State would have perswaded him to Swear against the Protestants in the City; and about the same time one Mr. Lune told me, That he was hired by Mr. Hos­kins, that belonged to the Earl of Shaftsbury to go down to Oxford, to make provision for the Witnesses that appeared for the City: And Mr. Lune hath also supply'd me with Money; and several other such like practi­ces were continually us'd in the City during my correspondency [Page 25]with them, in so much, that I was resolv'd not to conceal those evil practices any longer, but discover them in the Right of the King: And one day in my Chamber, being then drawing up an Information of what I knew, Mr. Lewis came in, and desired to know what I was writing; I told him, nothing but the Intrigue of the City; Why (said he) do you intend to discover them? I told him yes, (if I liv'd;) he reply'd, If you be so resolved that you will do it, make an end of them, and let me carry them to Collonel Rich: I told him I intended he should be the person I would be Sworn before; but through Mr. Lewis's great perswasions, I did intrust him with my Papers, with this reservation, that he should not impart them to any of the City; upon which he wished eternal damnation both to his Body and Soul if he did so; he went away, and in a short time after he came again to me with my Papers; he said, he had shew'd them to Collonel Rich, who ask'd him if I would Swear to them; I reply'd, I could; and up­on that we went over the Water to a Coffee-house near St. Mary-overs-Church, where I writ a letter to Justice Reading; declaring to him, that I had matter of moment to discover in the behalf of the King; to which he sent me word by Mr. Lewis, If I had any such thing to dis­cover, I might come to him at the Bear-Tavern at the Bridge-foot, where he then was; I went and delivered him my Information, and after he had perus'd them, he ask'd, If I could make Oath of it all? I said, I could; then he administred the Oath before Collonel Rich and Ju­stice Daniel; after I had Sworn, I took leave, this was about Mi­chaelmas 1681. from thence I went into the City, and being at the Amsterdam-Coffee-house, I met an Ancient Citizen, whose Name I knew not, he gave me half a Crown, and told me, That had not the Witnesses deserted the City; and gone to the Court, and discovered a­gainst them, there had been at least 10000 l. collected for the Supply of the Evidence until a Parliamen sit; But now (said he) we canot find out a safe way to supply you that are true to us: And about that time, I being late in Fleet-street drinking in a House near Temple-Bar, we heard Murther cryed out; upon which I went out, endeavouring to keep the Peace, the Watch and Constable coming in, the Constable be­ing perverse, sent me to the Compter for one of the Rioters; the next Morning Sherift Bethel came, and sent for me down into the Lodge; where, (after some Discourse,) he ordered the Keeper that I should be carried before the Lord Mayor, telling them, That his Lordship knew me very well, and would Discharge me; The Constable came, and we went before Sir John Fredrick, who took my own Recognizance for my Appearance; after that I went to the Amsterdam-Coffee-House, and desired Mr. Kidd to pay the Fees of the Compter, which he did; and from that time I very little used the City: About Christmass follow­ing Mr. Lewis desired me to report, That I had been with the King pri­vately in his Closet, the Earls of Arlington and Ailsbury being present: I asked him why he would have me report so false a thing? Pish, (said he) you have not a grain of Sense, for when a Parliament sits, you will have a good occasion to Swear that the King and these Lords would [Page 26]have Suborn'd you to have Sworn against the Earl of Shaftsbury, and several others in the City: He further desired me, To declare the same to none but Whigs, and they would come in and corroborate my Evi­dence. And about May 1682. I was in Mr. Swith's Company, who ask'd me, When I saw Mr. Lewis? I told him, not of several days, saying, that he was a man that busied himself in State-Affairs; at which Mr. John Smith replyed, He believed more then was just: I answered, he would have just cause to think so, if he knew as much as I; at which he told me, He believed it lay in my power to do the King a great deal of service, to discover his Villanies: I said, I had offered the same almost a year since, but little notice was taken of it; but notwithstanding that, I would do it at any time: Lewis hath often told me, That the Queen allow'd David Firz-Gerald fourty Shillings a week; further saying, That her Majesty would allow any person else as much, as would come in and Accuse the Earl of Shaftsbury, and those in the City: And about the same time Lewis desired me to report, That I had Kiss'd the Duke of York's Hand when he came from Scotland, and when a Parliament sits, (said he) you shall swear that his Highness offered you Money to Accuse the Earl of Shaftsbury and the City; telling me, That the Duke was the only man that they aim'd at, and that I should be made by Accusing him. And about Whitsontide last, I had a Letter came from Lewis, to desire me to come to him; which I did, and found him Sick in Bed; he desired me, To go over to Collonel Rich, and tell him his Condition, and that he wanted Money: On Whitsunday I din'd with Collonel Rich, and acquainted him with what Mr. Lewis had desired me; the Collonel told me, He was very sorry to hear he was ill, desired to be remembred to him, and so took leave: I went to Mr. Lewis, and told him what Collonel Rich said; Is that all, (said Lewis) I reply'd, it was that-signified any thing; says he, Is his great kindness come to this? Notwithstanding he told me at his own House in these words, viz. Mr. Lewis you and I will stand and fall by one ano­ther; but indeed ( said Mr. Lewis) I must confess, that Mr. Turber­vile told me before his death, that Sheriff Rich declared to him, he liked me very well, but for one thing, which was, I was too Mercinary: At which I then reply'd, You know that's true enough, you will sell the dearest Friend you have for Money: He answered, (Damn me) how can a man live without it? I urther (saith he) Sheriff Rich was like the World, when his own turn was served, he that had done him a kindness might hang himself: Saith Mr. Lewis: It's pity that by my means that the Collonel was so much in favour at Court: And sometimes after I met Mr. Lewis, who told me, He had sent a Porter with a Note to Collonel Rich for five Pounds, and that he could have at any time Fourty or Fifty; which 5 l. he immediately sent him: And in July 1682. I was taken Sick at my Lodgings in Salisbury-street in the Straind, where Mr. Lewis often came to me, and desired to know of me, If Mr. John Smith had not been Tampering with me to Accuse him; I ask'd him, if he thought all the World was like himself, or what reason he had to su­spect any such thing? He told me the reason he had to believe it, was, [Page 27] Because of our Intimacy, and being often together; Therefore I am sure he hath been at you, which if you will draw up an Information against him, I will get you Money from the Secretary of State: I ask'd him what I should draw up? He told me, That I should Accuse Mr. Smith for en­deavouring to stifle the Popish-Plot; and desiring me to Swear against him; I promised I would, not valuing what I drew up at his re­quest, acknowing him to be so notorious a Swearer and Suborner; I drew up the said Paper which he was very well pleased at, only the words ( detect the Popish Plot;) but he would have had me insert, That Mr. Smith endeavoured to Nullifie the Popish Plot; but I did not after the words: Then he desired me to write a Letter to Mr. Otter­bury one of the Kings Messengers, and acquaint him with my Con­dition how I wanted Money, and desired him to make it known to the Secretary of State; Then (said Mr. Lewis) I'l warrant you Mo­ney; (at that same time he often brought with him to my Chamber Mr. Perrea: I sent the said Letter according to his ordering, but ne­ver received any answer or supply, neither did Mr. Smith ever in the least propound any immodest thing, but always desired me to de­clare nothing but what was true of any side: I could never be quiet at any Lodging, for Mr. Lewis still haunted me, being jealous of me, as I imagine: About this same time Mr. Lewis desired me, When I re­ceived my Allowence from Whitehall, to pray Mr. Squibb to give me a Bill to receive it of Mr. Duncomb Goldsmith in Lumber-street: I asked him why he proposed that? He told me, If I would consent to it, he would carry the Bill over to the Kings Bench to one Mr. Granger, who was the Ingeniousest man in England, and he shall Counterfeit Mr. Squibb's hand for 500 l. to be received of Mr. Duncomb, and we should share it amongst us; he said, that it should be done so cleavor that it should never be found out by whom it was; and that I might receive my own Money at the same time, and not take the least notice of it: About that time I did receive a Bill from Mr. Squibb of 10 l. upon Mr. Dun­comb, which Money I received unknown to Mr. Lewis, for I would not have been concern'd with him in such a thing for the World: Soon after our Allowances were stop'd, at which Mr. Lewis grumbled, and said, That the King made use of the Witnesses as a man does of a House of Ease, just for his Conveniency: Further (saith he) they thought their business done at Court, but they are mistaken; for I will be a greater plague to them then ever my Countrey-man Bedloe was, when a Parlia­ment sits; but I will have my Pardon in my hands first, and will pro­cure one for you too: I ask'd him in what, he answered me, That We Witnesses that had not Sworn against the Earl of Shaftsbury, should Ac­cuse all them that had, [...] [...]ornation of Perjury when a Parlia­ment sits; and [...] we shall confound their whole project; for Dugdale hath [...] us; and we will also make out, that the pretended Association that was found in the Earl of Shaftsbury's Closet, was contrived by the King and Court, and conveyed into the Earl's Closet by one or other of the Clerks of the Councel, by the King and Courts order. That Lewis us'd to make his Brags to me, [Page 28] That all he had discovered against the City party to Sheriff Rich and others; was only under his hand, and not Sworn to, saying, That when a Parliament sat he would discover it all, and charge it upon the Court party. I ask'd him how we should go about to make it out? he re­ply'd, Let me alone for that. I'll contrive it to the purpose: Soon after I took Lodgings in the White-Friers, where Mr. Lewis came to me, and Mr. Ferrea with him, where he told me, He was to receive 50 l. and out of that he would supply me with 5 or 10 l. of it: And within few days after he came, and told me. That our Allowances from the King were quite taken off; and he Swore, That now it is apparent the King is a Papist in his heart, and ende avoured to stifle the Popish Plot, by dis­charging the Witnesses; and that the King endeavoured to take the Odi­um from the Papists, and cast it upon the Presbyterians: He also decla­red, That the King daily endeavoured to enslave the Nation with Popery and Arbitrary Government, and put Sheriffs and other Officers upon the City of London, contrary to Law, to serve his turn, and accomplish his designs against the Presbyterians. At which I replyed, you take large measures of talking Treason; said he, We that are Evidences have advantages above all other People, for we may speak Treason, and not fear being call'd to question by the Court for it; for if they should take any of our Lives away, the Parliament would censure, that they did it on purpose to stifle our Evidence concerning the Popish Plot: But (said he) I am sorry for Sheriff Rich, that he should be made use of as a Tool to accomplish their ends: Further saying, That Sheriff Rich had been a good Benefactor to him; but he feared he would be swing'd when a Parlia­ment sat: For in a former Kings reign there were several Judges Execu­ted, and he hoped to live to see as many Nobility and Judges go to Pot when ever a Parliament sat; and, That his helping hand should not be wanting therein. Such like Treasonable words were the general discourse he used in my Company, but I cannot say that ever any other person heard him talk so largely; neither do I know directly or indirectly what any other persons have Sworn against him. About the latter end of September he told me in Salisbury-Court, That Ludlow would vin­dicate their Charter as London did, notwithstanding the Marquess of Worcester had so great an Interest in that Town, yet he could not prevail with them to surrender their Charter to His Majesty. Also Lewis told me, That not one in an hundred had signed the Addresses that were pre­sented to the King from most parts of the Kingdom; further saying, That the King could stand it but one Parliament more, and had it not been for the few Guards he had about him, he had been pull'd out of Whitehall long since; saying, That the late King was Dethron'd by the Sword, and This is in a fair way of being Sworn out his Throne: Therefore if you will Print your Information that is in the hands of Sir Patience Ward, and that which is in the hands of Mr. Kelley, I will engage to get you the Copies, and also Guineys for the Printing them, for they will incense the People extreamly against the Court; Therefore we will get them ready and published before Queen Elizabeths Birth-day, at which time the Pope is to be burnt, and there will be at least 40000 People together [Page 29]that night, and I will incense them what I can to breed a Mutiny; for he that is not blind may plainly see that the King is a Papist, or else he would not stand so for the Duke of York aas he has done, who is notori­ously known to the Nation to be a grand Papist; And if the people did but rise in the City, the Countrey would soon come in for their assistance. Further saying, Damn me, I am but one; get the better who can, we shall get employs by it. Mr. Lewis was very importunate with me to go into the West of England, (where I was born and brought up) on purpose to incense the factious sort of people against the King's proceedings, and stir them up to a Rebellion; telling me, That he would go into Wales, and do the like there, and also supply me with moneys for my journey, in order to the same; But I refused to meddle in any such matter. Moreover, Mr. Lewis hath divers times told me, That if ever the Court should take away his life by Law, he would kill more at his death than ever he could living: I ask'd him why he should fear his life being taken away, unless he had deserved it? Oh (said he) there is stout swearing on all sides: I reply'd, You know that by experience; at which he said, It was as impossible for a man to swear any thing that did not please the Parliament, as it was to row a Boat through London-Bridge against Tide, tho' a man discovered nothing but the real Truth; and again, on the other side, if the greatest Rogue in England should come in, and discover any thing against the Papists, though it be never so false, he shall be believed, and accounted an honest man: You may see it by Mr. Tur­bervile; when he accused the Lord Stafford, he was accounted a Demy-God in the City, but when he came to accuse the Earl of Shaftsbury, they bespatter'd him in a most odious manner. He has also told me, That if his Perjury should be found out, he knew the worst of it, which was but suffering what he had done before, (viz.) stand in the Pillory. Many other Treasonable Practices I have known by Lewis, but they are too long here to insert.

About the beginning of October last, I was sent for to the Greyhound-Tavern in Fleet-street, where a Constable told me, He had a Warrant against me, which I willingly obey'd, (there being Mr. Smith, and several in the Company, that said Mr. Lewis was at the same time committed close Prisoner in the Gate-house;) I declar'd it was nothing but what he deserved; And that I my self deserved Imprisonment for concealing his Treasonable Practices; yet notwithstanding, I told them, that if they had but sent a Porter or Note, I would have come and declared what I knew against him: That night I was committed to Wood-street-Compter, where I told the Keepers, that I was commit­ted for concealing the Villainies of an ill man, and desired them, if Sheriff Rich came there in the morning, that they would call me down to him; and he accordingly coming, sent for me into the Lodg, asking me what I was committed for? I told him for no offence of my own that I knew of, but for concealing Mr. Lewis's evil Practices, which I will now no longer do. The Sheriff ask'd me if he were an evil man, or no; and whether that which he swore against the Lord Arrundel of Warder was true, or false? I told him it was all false, and that I [Page 30]would make it out so plain, that the whole World should be satisfy'd; Upon which, Sheriff Rich departed, and presently after I was carried before Sir William Turner, who ordered me to be carried before Major Parry at Hicks's-Hall, which was done, where the Major desired me, that if I knew any ill of Mr. Lewis, I would discover it, or give it him in writing; which accordingly I did; Notwithstanding which, I was committed by the said Major Parry to New-Prison, where I remained almost ten weeks, and at last was discharged by Law. During my Confinement there, Mr. Lewis's Welsh Wife came to me, and told me that her Husband was inform'd I had sworn against him; I declared I had not: Then she reply'd, He did not fear what any person could do unto him, provided I stood his Friend; telling me, that he owned to her that his life lay in my hands; and if I could get my self bail'd out, he would raise money for me to pay my Fees, and carry me over to Holland to the Club, (whither he advised me to go;) she also decla­red, that he would get me Letters of Recommendation to some persons in Holland, by whom I should be very well received; and that he also hoped he should be with me in a short time. She also said, that she had several times told him as she met him in the streets, that his Plotting and Contriving would bring him to the Gallows. Two or three times she came, and finding nothing would work upon me, left off coming. During my Confinement, Balron's Wife (in the hea­ring of one Mrs. Thomas) came to me, and told me, Mr. Zeale, you need not tarry here a day longer; if you will but draw up an Information against the Earl of Shaftsbury, you will be soon fetch'd out in a Coach, and be supply'd with moneys. And Balron himself told me, That he would prove when a Parliament sate, that the Lords in the Tower sent Instructions and Dictates, how and what the Witnesses should swear against the Earl of Shaftsbury, and others in the City. All which Balron said he would swear, and also produce a Letter from-under one of the Lords hands to that effect: I ask'd him why he would swear it? he answer'd, it would be a means for him to gain the favour of a Parlia­ment, since he was dismiss'd at Court. This he told me a little before I was committed to New-Prison.

After my enlargement I met with Major Parrey's Clark, (the day before Christmas-day last) who told me, that his Master desired me to go to Sheriff Rich, and give him a true account of Lewis's Villainies; and that his Master had received a Letter from the said Sheriff in be­half of Lewis. The same day I went; but not finding the Sheriff at his House, I was directed to Fishmongers-hall, where I found him; He very courteously received me, (being glad to see me at liberty) and de­sired me to stay and dine with him, which I did; and at the Table I told him I came by the request of Major Parrey, to give him an account of the ill practices and contrivances of Mr. Lewis, (there being one Mr, Stiles (as I think) at Table, who reply'd, he always took him to be a very ill man.) After some other discourse about him, I took leave. But I had almost forgot one passage, that Sheriff Rich ask'd me if Mr. Lewis had served Sir John Moreton faithfully? I told him I was infor­med [Page 31]by his Brother, that he had Robb'd Sir John of a considerable value, for which he endeavoured to hang him; at which Sheriff Rich said, That he did ask Sir John Moreton how Lewis behaved himself in his Service? (this was ask'd in the House of Commons the same day Mr. Lewis gave in his Information;) to which Sir John reply'd (as the Sheriff told me) That he served him Faithfully: At which I replyed, Mr. Lewis had declared as much to me, that he saw Sir John in the House, and that he heard him not speak one word of him: For (said he) Sir John is a great Shaftsburian, and if I discover'd any thing that had been con­trary to his Opinion, he would have bespattered me in a most odious manner: And at several times I have been treated at Sheriff Rich's House, and have had Moneys from him but not upon any unjust ac­count, neither do I know the least ill by him, and he hath always ad­vised me to have a care of Suborners.

And some time after, I understood that Mr. Lewis would be In­dicted the Term following; upon which I made the best preparation I could, in order to receive the Blessed Sacrament, as may appear by my Certificate as followeth, viz.

And upon the same day I received a Subpaena to appear the day fol­lowing, which is as followeth, viz.

According to which I did appear, and being Sworn in Court, I gave in my Evidence to the Grand-Jury, where the Bill was found, and soon after I received another Subpaena, which is as followeth, viz.

I also appeared to this, but Mr. Lewis deferred his his Tryal till next term following; and upon the 6th of March 1682/3. I was at the Naked-Boy in the Old-Pallace-yard Westminster, in Company with Mr. Ambrose Kelley, one of the Clerks of the House of Commons, who told me, That Mr. Lewis was with him, to desire the Copy of a Paper that was in his Custody, which said Paper was that which Mr. Lewis chiefly contrived himself, and would have had me to have Sworn to it against the Earl of Shaftsbury; and it was also the same Paper that was contrived by him in the Marshalseas; Mr. Kelley further saith, that Mr. Lewis told him, That he came from me, and also offered him a good Gratuity for the said Copy; further telling the said Mr. Kelly, That it would be a means for him to Ingratiate himself into the favour of a Whiggish Parliament. But for all his offers and perswasions, Mr. Kelley refused to give him the Copy; This Mr. Kelly Confess'd before one Mr. Alexander Harris, and several others.

And in May last I received another Subpaena, to which I also Appeared.

And being Sworn in Court I gave in my Evidence, and upon a full hearing on both sides, Mr. Lewis was brought in guilty of these words following, which were in his Indictment, viz.

I cannot omit one remarkable Passage of Mr. Lewis, which was about the time of the Earl of Shaftsbury's Commitment last to the Tower, Mr. Lewis told me, That whenever a Parliament sat, that he would discover such things as should make all Europe stand amazed, but he would have his Pardon first in his hands: I desired to know why he declared himself in that manner; he replyed, That he had been at Hampton-Court with the King, Mr. Turbervile being then with him, who made some Discovery; why said I, did you hear any of what was said; no said he, But I saw those that shall come in for a snak the next Parliament.

He the said Lewis has several times told me, That if the King would give such encouragements, as Pardons and Allowances, that His Majesty should not want New Evidence, and Fresh Discoveries, as long as he [Page 34]lived; further saying, That the Goals in and about Town, were the Nurseries for such Supplies.

And the same day I was Sworn in the Speakers Chamber by order of the House of Commons on the 19th. day of November 1680. as it will appear by the Votes of that day: There came up several per­sons, and desired of me, If I could not call to mind the Duke's coming to the Crown suddenly: Which in my apprehension was putting men in mind what they would have them to Swear: But I do declare, that I never spoke one word to his Royal Highness in my life, notwith­standing I have been put upon so often to Accuse him.

And before the last Dutch-War I was preferred to Sir George Dow­ning as one of his Pages, who then went Ambassador to Holland; for which I had his Certificate, which is as followeth (viz.)