Capt. Porter. At the Nag's-head in St. James's ftreet. Att. Gen. Was there any body elfe there that you can remember? Capt. Porter. Captain Charnock came in after dinner, but I cannot fay he dined L. C. 7. Then at the fecond meeting, which, you fay, was at Mrs. Mountjoye's, what was said then? Capt. Porter. We did agree all, that Captain Charnock fhould go on with the meflage that was refolved upon at the firft meeting; and we would go on with the Att. Gen. And who elfe do you re-bufinefs, and he said he would go away in two or three days. there. member? Capt. Porter. There came in one Harrifon after dinner; he is a reputed Romifh Prieft, and goes by the name of Johnfon. Mr. Montague. Pray, Capt. Porter, what was that meeting for? Capt. Porter. They had feveral whisper ings among themfelves, but what they dif courfed of I cannot tell. Montague. Pray, did Sir John Friend fay any thing that you heard at that meeting. Capt. Porter. Sir George Barclay did fay, that fome people that were not fo violent had written over into France to ftop I this business; upon which faid I, I hope you will have no letter to night. Upon which Sir John Friend faid, is there any thing that is hid behind the curtain? If there be, I am not fairly dealt withall; I will proceed no further. Alt. Gen. If Sir John Friend has a mind to ask him any queftions, he may. L. C. 7. Pray, Capt. Porter, let me ask you this question, Did all that were prefent at the first meeting, at the King's-head in Leadenhall-street, agree to fend Mr. Charnock into France to the late King? Capt. Porter. Yes, my Lord. Capt. Porter. Yes; we defired Captain Charnock to answer to the King for us that we would meet him at the head of two thousand horse. L. C. 7. Did Sir John Friend agree to it? Capt. Porter. Yes, I do pofitively affirm he did. Att. Gen. Will Sir John Friend ask him any queftions? Friend. I will only ask him if they have done, whether he has any thing more to fay. Capt. Porter. No, Sir. L. C. 7. The King's council have done with him. Friend. Then, my Lord, I will hear all they can fay, and when I have heard the whole evidence, I fhall know how to anfwer to it. L. C. J. Before you go, Captain Porter, would ask you, what anfwer Mr. Charnock brought back from France ? Capt. Porter. I fay, I did not meet with Captain Charnock, till after I came out of Newgate for the riot bulinefs, and then he told me, he had been there, and he had acquainted the feveral gentlemen with the meffages he had brought from King James, who thanked them for their kindneffes, but the French King could not spare so many men that year. Sol. Gen. Then the next that we call is Brice Blair, (who was fworn.) Pray, Sir, do you know the prifoner at the bar, Sir John Friend? Capt. Blair. Yes, my Lord; and I am very forry to come on fuch an account as I do now against him. I am forry for it with all my heart Att. Gen. Well, Sir, pray will you give an account, what you know of Sir John Friend's having a commiffion from the late King to be a Colonel of horse, and when it it was, and how; pray tell my Lord, and the jury the whole matter. Capt. Blair. All that I can fay to this business is written in my paper, and I refer to my paper. Att. Gen. You must not refer to your paper, Sir, you must tell all what you know. L. C. J. He may look upon any paper to refresh his memory. Blair. I did fee the commiffion, Sir, and I read it. Att. Gen. When was it that you did fee it? How long ago was it? Blair. It is well near two years ago, or thereabouts, as I remember. Att. Gen. Who was to have been Colonel of that regiment. Blair. He was nominated to be Colonel of it himself in the commiffion. L. C. J. Who was the commiffion directed to? Blair. It was directed to him, to Sir John Friend. L.C. J. Well, and what was done upon it? who were to be the officers ?. Blair. He promifed me to be his Lieutenant Colonel, and I had the fame from Mr. Harrison, and there were feveral letters that I faw, that came from my Lord Melford and Secretary Carroll, who were with King James. Att. Gen. What other officers were there appointed? Blair. There was one Richardson was to be one of his Captains, and there was one Mr. Fisher was to be another, and one Hall another; Fisher was to be his eldest Captain, and one Captain Evans was to be his Captain Lieutenant, and one Captain. Vernatti was to be another. Att. Gen. Do you remember who was to be his Major. Blair. No, Sir, I think I cannot be pofitive as to that. I spoke to Capt.. Barnefly, that had been a Lieutenant in King James's fervice, to be a Lieutenant, and fometimes he accepted, and sometimes he refused it. mean? Blair. One Mr. Bertram. Montague. You fay, Sir, you were conftituted Lieutenant-Colonel; pray, who constituted you, and made you fo? Blair. I had only a promise of it from Sir John Friend. Att. Gen. Pray did you lay out any monies for Sir John Friend? or did he ever pay you any money afterwards? Blair. Yes, I have had feveral small fums of money from Sir John Friend. Att. Gen. Pray, what was it for? Blair. It was to drink with the men that belonged to the regiment, and encourage them. Att. Gen. Pray did Mr. Piggott pay you any fums of money? and by whofe order? Blair. Yes, he paid me first 201. and afterwards he paid me another 201. Att. Gen. By whose order was that, Sir? Blair. It was by the order of Sir John Friend. Att. Gen. Pray, Sir, how do you know that Sir John Friend ordered him to it you? pay Blair. Because it was the money that Piggott had received to repay Sir John Friend what he had advanced for the furthering of Parker's escape out of the Tower. Att. Gen. How do you know that he advanced any money for procuring Parker's escape? Blair. He told me fo himself. Att. Gen. How much did Sir John Friend say he had advanced for that purpose? Blair. He told me 100l. Att. Gen. How did he tell be paid it again? you he was to Blair. He told me, that King James ordered the payment of it at France, when Piggott went over, which was immediately afterwards: and I had of that, first 201. and afterwards 201. by the order of Sir John Friend. Sol. Gen. Pray, Sir, did Sir John Friend tell you what Piggott had received in France? Blair. Yes, he said Piggott had received 100l. in France; and he did not pay it him, but if I could get 201. of him, he would allow it. Att. Gen. Pray about what time was it that the first 20l. was received? Blair. I have fet it down in my paper; there it is. Att. Gen. But can't you tell about what time it was? Blair. It was about laft May, or June, the first 201. was paid. Att. Gen. When was the laft 20l. paid. Blair. It was after I was fick, about Michaelmas. Cowper. Pray, Sir, who was by when the laft 20l. was paid. Blair. Mr. Piggott paid me the last 51. of it, (for I received it at feveral payments from Mr. Piggott) but the laft 51. was before Sir John Friend) at Jonathan's Coffee-house. Sol. Gen. Pray do you know any thing of Sir John Friend's receiving any letter from King James. Blair. Yes, he told me he had a letter from King James. Sol. Gen. How long ago was that? Sol. Gen. I don't ask you the precise day, but was it within a twelvemonth? Blair. Yes, I believe it might be thereabouts. Friend. My Lord, I defire he may speak out; for I don't hear half he says. L. C. J. Repeat it to him again. Blair. Sir, you told me you had received a letter from King James. Friend. My Lord, I fhall answer to this all afterwards. Sol. Gen. Pray, had you at any time any difcourfe with Sir John Friend about one Slater? Blair. Yes, Blair. Yes, I had. Sol. Gen. Pray tell what that was. Blair. He told me he was to bring him in feveral officers; and that he had intended to make two Lieutenant-Colonels, whereof Captain Slater was to be one; but when he faw I was not fatisfied with that, he faid he should command a troop of non-fwearing parfons, and they should be an independent troop. Sol. Gen. You fay that Slater was to command that troop. Blair. Yes, and it was to be an inde pendant troop. the Breft fleet; at that time perhaps we fhall be all taken up; but, fays he, you may fculk about the town better than I can; and therefore I'll keep myfelf private,' and we must be as good husbands of our money as we can; for money will be very fcarce. What do you think you fhall need, fays he? Truly, Sir, fays I, I can't tell; that must be according as I am mounted. For I found I had a few indigent officers at that time. Att. Gen. Pray, what were you to do? Blair. We were to fculk up and down and when he asked me, what money I Att. Gen. I think you fay that he and should need, I told him I could not tell; you met at Jonathan's Coffee-house. Blair. Yes, we did fo. for there were feveral indigent officers, moft of which begged at that time; and here is Att. Gen. Pray what discourse had you a letter that I had from Sir John Friend, there? to confirm my receiving money from him. Blair. I called him afide and defired to fpeak to him; and it was when Mr. Fisher told me of this plot, and defired me to fpeak to him, a little before this horrible confpiracy broke out. And I told him what I heard from Fisher, and from Harrifon the Priest about it; and he told me that he had heard of it, and he was afraid it would ruin King James, and his Att. Gen. Is that Sir John Friend's own hand? Blair. Yes, Sir, it is. Att. Gen. Then put it in, give it hither. (It was delivered in to the AttorneyGeneral.) Sol. Gen. Pray what have you heard Sir John Friend fay of Sir John Fenwick's being concerned in this matter? Blair. I heard him fay, that he believed, that he fhould command the party that he was engaged in. and that Sir John Fenwick had four troops of horfe, that lay near Reading to be employed. Sol. Gen. For what pur oie? Blair. To be in readiness upon the defcent. Friend. Gentlemen of the Jury, I can't hear a word, I hope you hear. Att. Gen. Pray, Sir, look upon that letter; you by you had that letter from Sir Jaha I tend pray who is that I that H is inenticed in? For Captain Blair, These. SIR, Tuesday morning. YOU may much wonder you have not received an answer of your's before now: I have been afflicted with the gout in my hand and foot, that I have not been able to put pen to paper; (I thank God) I am fomewhat better, and do hope to be in London a Thursday next, about the hour of twelve, at Jonathan's Coffee-house, if the weather do not prevent me; if it do, I fhall not come before Monday following I do defire you for to meet me about that hour; for it is not convenient for to write a note to Mr. H. for fome reafons I fhall give you, when I fee you. I wish you good health. I am, SIR, Your affectionate friend, and fervant, JOHN FRIEND. Juryman. Pray, Sir, what date is it of? C. of Ar. It has no date but Tuesday morning. Att. Gen. Did Sir John Friend meet you on the Thurfday, according to this letter? Juryman. My Lord, I defire he may be afked, how this letter came to him, whether by the penny-poft, or how? Blair. I don't know, I believe it was by a porter: It came firft to me when I was in bed, and my wife brought it up to me. Att. Gen. Pray, Sir, anfwer my question. Did Sir John Friend afterwards meet you at Jonathan's Coffee-houfe, according to this letter? Blair. Yes, Sir, he did. Att. Gen. And did you there fpeak about the bufinefs that's contained in that letter? Blair. Yes, Sir, and accordingly I had the order. Att. Gen. What order? Blair. An order for the 201. Sol. Gen. Capt. Blair, do you remember that you dined with Sir John Friend, near the Exchange, in January last? Blair. Yes, I think I did, Sir. Sol. Gen. What difcourfe was there between you then? Who was with you besides you two? Blair. I muft refer that to my paper. Sol. Gen. Well then, what difcourse was between you and Sir John Friend there? Blair. It is down in my paper. Sol. Gen. Do you know one Captain Ridley? |