2nd S . NO 24., JUNE 14. '56.1
NOTES AND QUERIES.
467
kilns. This was a foot thick, and immediately
beneath was a bed of what is technically called
" tough clay." This is of a light buff culour, and is
used for making chimney-pots, and coarser yellow
basons. It is almost as tenacious as putty, and in
this, at a depth of sixteen inches below the coal,
the toad was found, in a matrix fitting his body as
closely as the wax does the seal. The spade for-
tunately brought up the clod without injuring its
inhabitant. As might be expected, for some time
he was very impatient of light, which appeared to
distress him greatly, but by degrees he became
accustomed to it. When I saw him his eyes were
as brilliant as possible, his skin moist, and of a
full olive green, and his mouth hermetically sealed.
These are the facts, upon which I shall make no
comment, simply vouching for those I myself
noted ; and observing that those respecting the
" find" itself are above suspicion, from the known
character of the Messrs. Bathurst in the vicinity.
W. J. BERNHARD SMITH.
Temple.
ILLUSTBATIONS OF MACAULAY.
Deposition of Mr. William Carstares. An extract from the deposition of Mr. William Car- stares, when he was examined before the Lords of Secret Committee, given in by him, and renewed upon oath, upon the 22nd of December, 1684, in presence of the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council. Reprinted at London in King's Street, Westminster, 1684.
" The Deponent desired to speak to the Lord Russel, which the Lord Russel did, and having reiterate the former Proposition for the 30000 pound Sterling, and the 1000 Horse and Dragoons, he the Lord Russel told the Deponent, they could not get so much raised at the time, but if they had 10000 pound to begin, that would draw People in, and when they were once in, they would soon be brought to more ; but as for the 1000 Horse and Dra- goons, he could say nothing at the present, for that be- hoved to be concerted upon the Borders. The Deponent made the same proposal to Mr. Ferguson, who was much concerned in the Affair, and zealous for the promoting of it. This Mr. Ferguson had in October or November before, as the Deponent remembers in a Conversation with the Deponent in Cheap-side, or the Street some- where there about, said, that for the saving of innocent Blood, it would be necessary to cut off a few, insinuating the King and Duke, but cannot be positive whether he named them or not ; To which the Deponent said, that's work for our wild People in Scotland, my Conscience does not serve me for such things ; after which the De- ponent had never any particular discourse with Fer- guson as to that matter ; but as to the other Affair, Fer- guson told the Deponent that he was doing what he could to get it effectuate, as particularly that he spoke to one Major Wildman, who is not of the Deponent his ac- quaintance. Ferguson blamed always Sidney, as driving designs of his own. The Deponent met twice or thrice with the Lord Melvil, Sir John Coclmm, Jerviswood, Commissar Monro, the two Cessnocks, Montgomery of Langshaw, and one Mr. Veatch, where they discoursed of Money to be sent to Argyle, in order to the carrying on
the Affair, and though he cannot be positive the Affair
was named, yet it was understood by himself, and as he
conceives by all present, to be for rising in Arms, for rec-
tifying the Government. Commissary Monro, Lord
Melvil, and the two Cessnocks were against medling with
the English, because they judged them men that would
talk, and would not do, but were more inclined to do
something by themselves, if it could be done. The Lord
Melvil thought every thing hazardous, and therefore the
Deponent cannot say he was positive in any thing, but
was most inclined to have the Duke of Monmouth to
head them in Scotland, of which no particular method
was laid down. Jerviswood, the Deponent, and Mr.
Veatch, were for taking the Money; at one of these
Meetings it was resolved, that Mr. Martin, late Clerk of
the Justice Court, should be sent to Scotland, to desire
their Friends to hinder the Country from Rising, or
taking rash Resolutions upon the account of the Council,
till they should see how matters went on in England.
The said Martin did go at the Charges of the Gentlemen
of the Meeting, and was directed to the Laird of Polwart
and Torwoodlie, who sent back word, that it would not
be found so easie a matter to get the Gentrie of Scotland
to concur: But afterwards in a Letter to Commissar
Monro, Polwart wrote that the Countrey was readier to
concur than they had imagined, or something to that
purpose. The Deponent, as above-said, having brought
over a Key from Holland, to serve himself and Major
Holms: he remembers not that ever he had an exact
Copy of it, but that sometimes the one, sometimes the
other keeped it, and so it chanced to be in his custody
when a Letter from the Earl of Argile came to Major
Holms, intimating, that he would join with the Duke of
Monmouth, and follow his Measures, or obey his Direc-
tions : this Mr. Veatch thought fit to communicate to the
Duke of Monmouth, and for the Understanding of it was
brought to the Deponent, and he gave the Key to Mr.
Veatch, who as the Deponent was informed, was to give
it and the Letter to Mr. Ferguson, and he to shew it to
the Duke of Monmouth ; but what was done in it the
Deponent knows not. The Deponent heard the Design
of Killing the King and Duke, from Mr. Shepard, who
told the Deponent some were full upon it. The Deponent
heard that Aaron Smith was sent by those in England to
call Sir John Cochran, on the account of Carolina, but
that he does not know Aaron Smith, nor any more of
that matter, not being concerned in- it. Shepard named
young Hamden frequently as concerned in these matters.
" Signed at Edinburgh Castle, the 8th of September, 1684, and renewed the 18th of the same moneth.
" WILLIAM CARSTARES."
No. 420. of the Collection of Proclamations, Sfc. t presented to the Chetham Library, Manchester, by James O. Halliwell, Esq., F.R.S.
BlBLIOTHECAB. CHETHAM.
Lines on the Horse " Sorrel" I do not know
whether the enclosed may be worthy of insertion
in " N. & Q." It has been in my possession some
time, but I do not know the reputed writer. Per-
haps some one of your correspondents can enlighten
me on the subject.
" On the Horse ' Sorrel,' who threw William III. and
caused his death. " Illustris sonipes, certe dignissime coelo,
Cui Leo, cui Taurus, cui daret Ursa locum, Quas te felicem felicia prata tulere ? Ubera qua> felix prasbuit alma parens ?
