He established a business in Warwickshire, and employed some hundreds of workpeople; but, in spite of the prohibition, French cambrics were still largely imported, and Holloway, having lost money, gave up.
A letter, however, was sent to them on the 25th by Sir John Knight, alderman, and one of the Members of Parliament for the city, pointing out that the prohibition of French linens would terminate in March 1681.
A rising was to be arranged for November in London and other principal towns, the Roman Catholic councillors were to be removed from the court, and offenders punished.
[1] Holloway was in London on 3–6 March 1683, making arrangements with Nathaniel Wade, and went there again on 5 April, when he was informed of the Rye House plot against the persons of the king and the Duke of York.
He intended to secure Bristol at 4 A.M., and divided the city into fourteen districts, twenty rebels being assigned to each of thirteen posts, and the rest of the 350 to the main guard at the Tolzey.
He was summoned to answer a charge of high treason, and not appearing was outlawed; and on 12 July a grand jury found a true bill against him on the evidence of three witnesses.
He arrived at Barbados on 11 November; but his factor on Nevis betrayed him and he was arrested on Sint Eustatius, sent home in irons, and confined in Newgate Prison.
As he was already attainted by outlawry on an indictment of high treason, no judgment was necessary, and Chief Justice Jeffreys gave the order for his execution.