A HUE and CRY AFTER THE Worst of Murderers, In the CASE of the DUKE of BƲCKINGHAM.
NOtwithstanding the Providence of God, and the good Success that he has afforded from time to time in the Discovery and Defeating Subornation to others, as well as in the Case of that Hellish and Damnable Conspiracy, for the Murdering and taking away the Life of the Duke of Buckingham, by hiring false Witnesses, of whom, no less than Nine Persons were Indicted last Term, as also Le Marre and his Mother, the last Westminster Session; Yet, by the ensuing Informations may plainly appear, that the unwearied Imps of the Devil being frustrated in that of Lē Marr, are industriously setting up another Villany, either of the same Nature, or for Rapes, Treason, or any thing, to murder a Peer by a Form of Justice, and such a Peer, that none of these Conspirators dare attempt openly to Assassinate, as of late hath been damnably practiced upon others.
That therefore these Miscreants may be found out, if possible, the several Informations are here published, and if any Person can discover all or any of these Persons, be they never so Great, to the end they may be apprehended, they are desired to give Notice to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham at his House at Cleveden, or to Mr. Edward Whittaker in St. Thomas Apostles, London, and they shall be very well rewarded for their Pains, and their Charges born.
The Information of Mary Jenkins alias Wright, of Covent Garden in the County of Middlesex, taken on Oath before Sir William Waller, one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and City and Liberty of Westminster, this 25th of March 1680.
THIS Informant saith, That about Christmas last two Persons came to this Informants Lodgings in Exeter Street; one of those Persons was a very Gentile young man, that wore a light coloured Chamblet Cloak, and the other a Tall Gentleman; both of which, by their Carriage and Habits, this Informant believes were Persons of Quality; and saith, that at their first coming the said Persons did tell this Informant, that they had heard that this [Page 2]Informant had Money owing her by the Duke of Buckingham, and offered their Service in helping this Informant to the said Money, and saith, that the said Persons came again to this Informant, and then plainly told this Informant, they knew the Lord Duke to be a Great Rogue, and a Person that wa guilty of doing wicked things, and that it would be of great service to the King and Kingdom, to have his Life, which they were resolved to have whatever it cost; and told this Informant further, that if she would swear Buggery against the said Duke, or any thing else that they would direct her, then this Informant should have Money and Gold enough, and at the same time pulling out a handful of Gold out of one of their Pockets, offered it to this Informant, provided she this Informant would swear Buggery against the said Duke, as they would direct her, and also promising this Informant to provide a Lodging for her, and all things necessary for her and her Child; and to encourage this Informant to do such a wicked Act, did Use many Arguments to perswade this Informant so to do, telling this Informant that the King himself and the Council would stand by her in it, and told this Informant, that she might see how well Mrs. Le Marr was provided for, and what Money she got by doing the like Business, and how well she was rewarded by Persons of Quality. And saith, that the said Persons told this Informant, that they had several Persons would swear as they would have them, but they were not of such Credit as this Informant, and therefore they pressed this Informant earnestly to do it; and at other times threatned this Informant, in case she would not yield to them, although this Informant told the said Persons, she knew nothing against the Lord Duke, nor would swear against him for the World; And saith, the said Persons came again on Monday night last, and sent for this Informant into Lincolns-Inn-fields, under the Arch, in the Name of some of the Duke's Servants, and then they pressed this Informant earnestly to swear against the said Duke, as they would direct her, and would have carried this Informant to some House, but this Informant not yielding any thing to their Designs, the said Persons bid the Informant consider of the Matter, and give them her positive Answer on Friday next, when they would again meet her, and told her, they did not care, they would have it done, or else it should cost them their Lives, for they would have either his Life or he should have theirs; but if it was discovered, it was but a Pillory Business, and did tell this Informant that they did not know but that the Duke might be Indicted the next Court sitting, or to the like effect: And saith, that she, this Informant, hath discovered how she was thus tempted, both to my Lord Arron, and my Lord Vaughan, and to Esquire Mansfield, and others of my Lord's Servants, and would have had their Advice how to avoid these temptations; and saith, that they have found her out at her new Lodgings, which this Informant took on purpose to avoid them, for that they had threatned this Informant to take away her Life, in case she refused to swear as they would have her; and the said Persons told this Informant, that they had sworn the Dukes Death, which he well knew, and pulled out a Paper out of one of their pockets, ready prepared, wherein was contained, what they would have suborned this Informant to swear to, which was about Buggery and Rapes, and other Crimes which this Informant knew nothing of.
Cor. me
The farther Information of Mary Wright Gentlewoman, taken upon Oath before Sir William Waller, one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace, for the County of Middlesex, and City and Liberty of Westminster, this 6th day of April 1680.
THIS Informant further saith, that since her last Information, the Persons therein mentioned, did not come according to their Appointment, but that night or the next night after, which they had appointed, there came a Foot-man in a Livery with a Flambeau in his hand lighted, about twelve of the Clock at night, and called to this Informant, and this Informant answered him out of her Window, he told this Informant, that the Persons that appointed to meet her about the Business she knew of, could not come that Night, but they would wait on this Informant some other time, and this Informant shall have further Notice thereof. And this Informant saith, that on Friday last, a Gentleman sent for this Informant out, by a strange Boy, and this Informant coming out with him, was met by the Gentleman, who put himself and this Informant in a Coach, and drew up the Window, and carried this Informant to Red-lyon Fields nigh Grays Inn, and there set down, and so walking there, told this Imformant, that he came from the Gentlemen that had before been speaking to this Informant about swearing against the Duke of Buckingham, and told this Informant, they presented their Service to her; and this Informant demanding why they came not as they promised, he told this Informant, that they feared this Informant had betrayed them, for that they had a Letter sent them by one that belonged to the Duke, that had given them Intimation, that this Informant had been at some of the Duke's Friends, and so were afraid to trust this Informant, and pulled out the Letter, and shewed the back-side to this Informant, but this Informant not owning she had discovered it, he renewed the same Discourse of perswading this Informant to swear against the Duke, as before she had been desired by those Persons; and to incourage this Informant, did tell this Informant plainly, that she need not be afraid to swear against him, for there was Money enough to be had, and that there was one Lord in the Tower, would give this Informant three or four hundred pound, besides what others would give, and being demanded who that was, he would not now declare till next time; but this Informant asking what it was she must swear against the said Duke, was told it was either Buggery or Rape, or some such things as they should direct, and what need this Informant care, she should be brought off; if it came to the worst it was but a Sessions Business, and but a Fine, and that shall be taken care of, and told this Informant, that no Money was to be got, and these times would not last always, and they did look upon this Informant to be a credible Evidence, and being known among the Councel and Persons of Quality, it would be more Advantage than all the rest of the Witnesses they had; and told this Informant, they would send for her away to be kept at some Lords House, where she should be made much of, and told this Informant that the Money the Duke owed her would never be paid, for his Money should be divided shortly, for they would have his Life whatever it cost, though they hired all the Witnesses in Town, and bid this Informant be careful, and give no Notice, and saith, that they would feign have had this Informant to go before a Justice to swear, as they would direct.
Capt. fuit cor. me
SINCE this last Information, there come one Lick a Footman in a Livery, about twelve of the Clock on Saturday night last, to Mrs. Wrights Lodging in Little Catherine-street in Exeter-street, he discoursed her to this Effect, that he came from those Gentlemen she knew of, about the Business against the Duke of Buckingham, and told her, that they were resolved to go on with their Design, notwithstanding all, and if she would yield to them, she should have double what before the Gentlemen had offered her, and should be s [...]hed away by an Order, and she and her Daughter taken care of, and be brought to a place where she should see many she knew, and he told her, that she need not fear the Duke, for they were resolved to have his Head, before the Lord Danby should stand his Tryal, and a great deal of such like Discourses. And while he was talking with Mrs. Wright, she overheard some Persons call to him to come away, and Answer was made, yes my Lord, and she saith there was a Coach came to the Lanes end, just before she was knocked up, and believes it was the very same Persons that had been with her under the Arch in Lincolns-Inn-Fields; and when they met by the Arch there was one in a plain Habit, bushed yellow Hair, wearing a Sword, that did walk to and fro, and sometimes come to them, threatning to force the Gentlewoman to comply with them, which Person is judged to be an Irish man, and one that solicits Business, and those Gentlemen that then met her, one of them was since seen in a Mourning-Coach, a young brisk man, slender, and not very tall, but very gentile.
This being the Usage to the Duke, it is not impossible if these Villains go undiscovered, but others hereafter may find the like, therefore it is earnestly desired, that all good People will labour to discover some of those Persons, for they have been so bold, as to go from Place to Place, to hire Witnesses, and offer Money as men bid for Horses in Smith-field, so much they will give as Earnest in hand, and so much when the Work is done, and they are free Chapmen, for they offer to be at any thing, either Treasons, Rapes, Murder or Sodomy, any thing and any way, to have his Life.