Abbott's Journal; Ii. the Trials at Manchester in 1694. (An Acc(oun)t of the Tryalls at Manchester. October 1694. of Caryll L[ord] Molineux [U. A.]) Ed. By. Alexander Goss

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864. Excerpt: ... AN ACCT. OF THE T R Y A L L S AT MANCHESTER October 1694 Of Caryll Ld. Molineux, Sr Wm Gerrard, Sr Rowland Stanley Barrts, Sr Tho: Clifton Barr1, Bartholomew Walmesley, Wm. Dicconson, Philip Langton Esq'" and William Blundell Jun' Gent", with obserrat'ons. PRINTED FOR THE CHETHAM SOCIETY M.DCCCLXIV. INTRODUCTION. THE Lancashire plot was a supposed conspiracy of Lancashire gentlemen, between the years 1689 and 1694, for the restoration of the House of Stuart. The evidence produced in favour of its reality, was of the same character as that which had been deemed sufficient to prove the existence of previous plots, and if the informer Lunt was less successful in his villainy than Oates, it was not for want of the countenance of Government. Sir John Trenchard, who had been associated with Nottingham as Secretary of State in 1693, encouraged tale bearers to come to Whitehall with reports of conspiracies; and his office was haunted by heartless vagabonds, who fattened on the spoils of those whom they first seduced and then betrayed. Through life he had been a violent politician, and was excepted by name from the general pardon of 1686; but, at the intercession of Penn, he had been allowed by James II. to return from exile. Whilst his colleague, on whose integrity William, the reigning sovereign, placed great reliance, attended to the graver affairs of State, Trenchard was little more than a superintendent of police, at whose office there was a constant stream of informers coming in, and of messengers with warrants going out. He belonged to the extreme section of the Whig party, and was closely connected with a set of men, whose passions were fiercer than his own. Amongst these were Hugh Speke, whose sister he had married, capable of any villainy that was false ...