be one. Captain Blair fays, he took that amifs, that any one befides himself fhould be in that poft, and refented it to Sir John Freind, and therefore Sir John Freind found out another office for Slater; and that was to be a Captain of a troop of horfe, that should confift of non-fwearing parfons, and which were toe an independent troop. Gentlemen, he tells you that he did lift feveral men, but the particular perfons, tho' he has named the officers, he did not fo diftinctly remember, but they are in the paper that he delivered to the council, which he has not about him: He tells you, that Sir John Freind told him that one Richardfon was another Captain of horfe, and the like of one Mr. Cole, that he was to be a Captain likewife. He alfo acquainted you, gentlemen, that he did receive from Sir John Freind feveral fums of money, and he acquaints you in particular with the manner how; he fays that Sir John Freind had expended 100l, towards the 300l. that was paid for the escape of Colonel Parker out of the Tower, and that Sir John Freind was to be re-imburfed by monies that were to be tranfmitted from King James at St. Germaine. He tells you that Piggott had received the money, but did not deal with Sir John fo fairly as to pay it to him; but when Capt. Blair was preffing on Sir John Freind for fome money, Sir John was contented that he fhould have 20l. provided he got it from Piggott out of this fool. Captain Blair had not intereft enough it feems to get it himfelf from Piggott, but he applies himself to one Harrison or Johnfon, (for it seems he goes by both thofe names) a Priest, who had an intereft in Piggott, by which means he got 201. of Piggott, and this he fays was in June or July laft. Then, gentlemen, he tells you afterwards, he was preffing upon Sir John Freind to have another 20l. and Sir John Freind was contended he should have it, provided he had it from Piggott, and he produces ye a letter that was from that very perfon the prifoner at the bar, which is to that purpofe; excufing himself that Captain Blair had not heard from him, but that he would meet him at fuch a time, and at fuch a coffee-houfe. The matter indeed is not directly expreffed in words, but at the time and place the prifoner did meet Blair, and there was Harrifon and this Piggott, and there 51. of the last 201. was paid him, and the other 151. was paid him afterwards and he fwears thefe two twenty pounds were paid to him by Sir John Freind, upon account of the charge that Blair had been at in drinking with and treating those men who were to be engaged with Sir John Freind in his regiment. ; Gentlemen, he tells you likewife, that Sir. John Freind told him he had written a letter to King James, and he fhewed him this letter, and this was at that Piggott's mother's houfe; and when Blair read it, he tells you he thought it was fo well penned, that he did apprehend Ferguson must have a hand in it, and that it was none of Sir John Freind's own; and that upon this Sir John Freind was angry, that he should fufpect that Sir John was not the writer of this letter; all this fhews an intelligence with King James, and makes out all the reft of the intended invafion by K. James, and a French force here. Captain Blair likewife tells you, gentlemen, that Sir John Fenwick had four troops of horse, as Sir John Freind told him, by way of encouragement, which were all ready for the fervice; and that Fergufon undertook to bring a number of men, and was to be one himself in that party; and all this was to be put in practice when the Thoulon fleet came about, and joined the Brest fleet. And lastly he tells you, when he went in the coach with Sir John Freind, Sir John told him they mult I have very little knowledge of his reli- | money for them from Sir John Friend. A gion. L. C. J. Is this what you can fay? Courtney. There are feveral others that were witneffes of this, as well as I, I never faw you Sir John Friend, before in my life, to my knowledge, nor ever spoke to you. Freind. Sir, a note was fent to me, that you could do me fome fervice, and that was the reafon I fent for you. I defire Mr. Carpenter, Mr. King, and Mr. Payne may be called. L. C. 7. Have you done with this man then? Freind. Do you know Captain Porter, Sir? Courtney. Yes, I do, Sir. Freind. Sir, do you know him to be a Roman Catholic? Courtney. Sir, I have heard that he has fuch a character. L. C. 7. What character has he? man. L. C. J. If you have done with him, then the keeper may carry him back again. Courtney. Sir, I have fomething elfe to fay. Freind. My Lord, he fays he has fomething else to say. L. C. 7. Then fet him up again; (which was done.) Well, Sir, what is it you have more to say? Courtney. Two or three days after that time, there was a prifoner then in the Gatehouse, who was an Enfign in the army, was reading the Flying Poft in my chamber, and in that Flying Poft there was news that Capt. Blair was making a great discovery, and that he had accufed Sir John Freind, for having received a commiffion for a regiment in which he was to be LieutenantColonel, and faid a great deal about that regiment, how he had received subsistence little after Captain Blair came into the room, and asked me if I had heard the news; I told him yes; and Captain Blair then asked what was the import of it? I told him it was there, that he was making a great difcovery, and particularly, that he was to be Lieutenant-Colonel to Sir John Freind, and had received fubfiftence money from Sir John Freind for the men of the regiment. Captain Blair answered, that they might put what they would in the news, but he knew nothing of it, nor did not receive any money; and this was a great surprise upon me, and upon those others that heard him, when we were told he was to be the main evidence againft Sir John Freind. Freind. Well, Sir, do you know any thing else? Courtney. Captain Blair was bemoaning himself afterwards, that he went against his confcience in this thing, and his wife told me that he was very much concerned, becaufe he was going to do this against his confcience, and fhe was fure it would break his heart. Freind. Do you know any thing more? Courtney. And he told me in his chamber upon Friday night laft, about nine o'clock I came to fee him, he lay upon his bed very ill, and his wife was with him; I asked him how he did, and he clapt his hands, and said he was very ill. Pray, faid I, what ails you? Sure you have gotten fome very great cold. Oh, no! fays he, life is fweet, I do not know what it is I ail, but were it not for life, I should never do what I do. L. C. 7. Did he tell you he went against his confcience? Courtney. His wife and he spoke at first, that he went against his confcience, and he believed his confcience was in a miserable state, and this I spoke innocently among fome of the prisoners, and I did not know that that it was taken notice of, but it feems walking about the room: In the mean fome body has acquainted Sir John Freind, time Captain Blair came in, and asked if and fo I am brought here, I know nothing we had got the news? we faid yes, and he of being a witness, I affure you. asked what news there was in it? I reJuft. Rokeby. Pray, who were prefent plied, it is faid that you are making a great when this difcourfe was between you and difcovery, that you were to be LieutenantBlair? You fay there were two other per- Colonel to Sir John Freind, and had refons present when this difcourfe was be-ceived a great deal of fubfiftence money tween you and Captain Blair and his wife, for the regiment: Says he, they may put who were thofe two perfons? what they will in their news, but I know Courtney. What discourse do you speak of no regiment, nor any subsistence, nor of of, my Lord ? any commiffion. The man that read the book, will fay the fame that I do. Att. Gen. When was this? L.C. 7. You faid there were two perfons in your chamber. Courtney. Does your Lordship mean at the reading of the Flying Poft? L. C. 7. Yes. Courtney. My Lord, this gentleman that I was fpeaking of was lying down upon the bed, and Captain Blair came into my room juft after the news was read, and asked me if I had got the news, I told him yes, he asked what was the import of it? I told him, they faid he was making a great difcovery, and particularly against Sir John Freind. L. C. 7. Well, and who were there then? Courtney. This Enfign that is now a prifoner in the Gate-house, who I fuppofe can fay the fame thing. Att. Gen. Pray, my Lord, let Mr. Blair be called while he is here, and let him know what this witness fays, that the court and jury may know what he has to fay to it. L.C.J. Yes, pray let Mr. Blair be brought in again; (which was done.) L. C. J. Treby. Now, let Mr. Courtney repeat what he faid now before about Capt. Blair's declarations to him. Courtney. My Lord, I tell your Lordship, there was one Tooley a prifoner in the Gatehoufe; when he heard the Flying Poft cried, bought it, or it was ordered to be bought, and it being brought into my chamber, I defired him to read it, and I was Courtney. This was one day when the Flying Poft came out, the laft Saturday but one I think. L. C. J. But you talked of fomething he fhould fay to you of going against his conscience? Courtney. That was upon Friday night laft, I came to fee Captain Blair, and his wife was with him, and Captain Blair was very ill, and clapping his hands, and groaning, and moving himself, and in a very miferable condition, truly I thought he was giving up the ghoft, I asked him upon what account he was fo fad, and told him I though he had got fome great cold; he told me, no. Well, faid I, Captain Blair, I understand you are going to-morrow to Hicks's-hall, and I pray God direct you.. (Says he feveral times) I pray God direct us all; life is fweet. Oh! fays his wife, dear Sir, he would never do it, but to fave his life; but it goes against his confcience: So faid I to him, you have had the character of an honeft gentleman; I hope you will fhew yourself fuch, and I pray God direct you; I wifh no man's blood may lie at your door. Says he, I am an unfortunate man, that is the thing that troubles me, or something to that purpofe; which fhewed all the remorfe of confcience which could be in the world. I fpoke of this innocently among the prisoners, and it seems it was com communicated to Sir John Friend, and fo I am brought here to teftify it. Att. Gen. Pray what fay you to this Capt. Blair? you hear what he fays, do you give an account what you know of it. L. C. 7. You hear what difcourfe he fays he had with you, what fay you to it? Capt Blair. My Lord, this gentleman crouded himself in upon me, my wife was with me, and he told me he had a cup of brandy, which would be good for me if I had a cold. God knows my heart, I defired no company might come to me. Says he, Captain Blair, I have heard you have been an honeft gentleman all along, and you are going to Hicks's-hall to-morrow, and a great deal of fuch difcourfe as that, and I pray God Almighty direct you: That's all that I know paffed. I was very ill, very fick, as I am far from being well now; but as for any thing of remorse of confcience, as I hope for mercy and falvation, I never expreffed any fuch thing to him. L. C. 7. Did your wife fay, that you were troubled, that you were going to do that which went against your confcience, and you would not do it but to fave your life? Capt. Blair. No, I am fure she did not. L. C. J. Did that gentleman thrust himfelf into your company, or did you defire him for to come to you? Capt. Blair. No, he thrust himself into the room. Courtney. The fink was hard by, and 1 heard Captain Blair groan, and so I went in to see him; every body had access to him. Capt. Blair. Pray, where is the Keeper? Keeper. Here I am, Sir. for Capt. Blair. Did not I beg of you God's fake, that no one fhould come to me but my wife? Att. Gen. If the Keeper of the Gatehouse be here, pray fwear him. Sol. Gen. What do you fay as t cCapt. Blair's defiring that no body fhould come to him, but his wife? Keeper. No body was to come to him unlefs they forced themselves upon him. Sol. Gen. Do you know of that man's coming to him? Keeper. No, Sir, I know nothing of it. Capt. Blair. I always defired to have the door locked with the key on the infide, that no body might come to me but whom I had a mind to. Keeper. He did fo, because he was ill, and no body did come to him that I know of. Capt. Blair. My wife being with me came to the bedfide, while this man was with me, and I was lying upon my back, and faid fhe, for Chrift Jesus' fake, dear Blair, do not speak any thing. L. C. J. When was this? Capt. Blair. When this gentleman was with me, fhe defired me not to say any thing before him; because said he, I do not know but he may be a trepan. Courtney. Upon the word of an honeft man, and my reputation is as dear to me, as yours is to you, fhe faid nothing of that. She told me, you were going to do that which was against your confcience, and you would not do it but to fave your life. Att. Gen. Pray, what is this man committed for, you Keeper? Keeper. He is committed for fufpicion of treation. Courtney. I have been taken up five times upon fufpicion, and this laft time I was committed to the Gatehouse. Att. Gen. Where do you live, Sir? ings. Att. Gen. How long have you lived there? Courtney. I have lodged there about four years and an half; there are feveral perfons The Keeper of the Gate-house was fworn. can come and give a teftimony of me. Sol. Gen. How 1 Sol. Gen. How come you, Sir, to be brought as a witnefs here? Courtney. I was furprifed at it; for my Part what I did was by way of pity, feeing him in fuch a condition; I pitied your foul, becaule you and your wife both fhewed fo much trouble and remorfe of confcience: As for Sir John Freind, I never faw him till to-day in all my life, that I know of. Att. Gen. What countryman are you, Sir? Courtney. I am an Irish man born. Att. Gen. Have you any eftate in Ireland. Courtney. No, Sir, I have not. Sol. Gen. Pray how came you to go to Mr. Blair? Courtney. I have known him a long time, I have been often in his company at the Coffee-houfe, I cannot fay I am intimately acquainted with Captain Blair, but only as I have feen him in the Coffee-houfe a great many times. Sol. Gen. But I ask you how you came to go to him, because it feems he defired no body should come to him, but his wife, Courtney. He may fay what he pleafes, for he lay firft in one room and then in another, and he could never go to the neceffary-house, but he must go through my room; but if you please to fend for Mr. Tooley and Captain Courtney, they will fay and fwear that these things paffed in their prefence, or to the fame pu pofe, except what paffed between him and me in his own chamber. Enfign Tooley did read the paper of the Flying Poft; and as for what he faid of his knowing nothing of the plot, it was talked of up and down in the prifon, and fo it came to me, and I invited him into my chamber, as my old acquaintance, though I was not very familiar with him; and as he declared, he knew nothing of the matter. VOL. II. No. 33. L. C. 7. You hear what he fays; Capt. Blair, did you tell him you knew nothing of the plot? Capt. Blair. Yes, I believe I might at first, as we were talking when I first caine in, and I told him the truth; for I was innocent as to the affaffination, for indeed I was fo.. And as to the invafion there was only fome general difcourfe, and I was not willing to explain myself among such people as they were, when they asked me any questions about it, I had to do with the King and council. L.C. J. Sir John Freind, have you any more witneffes to examine? Freind. Yes, my Lord, I defire Mr. King may be called. L. C. J. There he is, you ask him? (Which was done, and he appeared.) Sir, what would Freind.. I defire to know of him, whether he does not know Captain Blair and Capt. Porter to be Roman Catholics, and whether he does not know me to be a Proteftant? King. I am of opinion Mr. Porter is a Papift, he was always taken to be fo at Epfom, where I used to go, and where he ufed to go, and he was never looked upon as a Proteftant. L. C. J. And what do you take Sir John Freind to be? King. I take Sir John Freind to be a Proteftant; fo he is, and fo he ever was. Freind. But when you have been in my company, and they have been fpeaking of the government, what have I said or done? King. Whenever they started any reflecting words upon the government, he was ufed to fay, forbear, I do not admit of any fuch difcoure. Att Gen. How long have you know him? King. He has been my acquaintance this fifteen years, and married a relation of my wife's husband. (At which there was very great laughing.) King. I mean her former husband.. Ι L. C. J. He |