The Tryal of Francis Francia for High Treason

“Born 1765, Francia was the grandson of Domingo Rodrigues Isaac Francia, an ex-Marrano of Vila Real, Portugal, who arrived in London from Bordeaux in 1655 and became a leading member of the London Community. Francis himself was born in Bordeaux and dealt in wine. He subsequently went to London where in 1717, he was tried on charges of treasonable correspondence with adherents of the exiled Old Pretender, James, who made an unsuccessful attempt to succeed Queen Anne and take the throne from George I, the incumbent monarch. Despite the weighty evidence against Francia, he was acquitted. He then apparently turned government agent and betrayed his former associates.” EJ, VII cols.45-6 (illustrated). See also JE Vol. V, p. 473