Cochram sent a Person in whom he confided to King James assuring him that in some parts of Scotland there were several Presbyterian Ministers who were the Leading Men of the Party and some Gentlemen of Note that were intirely at his disposal He offer'd his Interest to King James from whom he had receiv'd Fifteen Hnndred Pounds Sterl which he said he had faithfully distributed among his Creatures and desir'd him to send Three thousand Pounds more In the mean time he pretended an extraordinary Zeal for Liberty of Conscience and declar'd if King James wou'd not comply with his Subjects in that point he wou'd Wade thro a Sea of Blood to go thither Thus he was equally unfaithful to the Nation and to that Party which he seem'd to espouse by selling the Blood and Liberty of the Former for so small a Sum and by obliging the Latter to depend upon the Late King's Word for an Advantage of which they were already in possession and betraying 'em to those who are particularly animated against ' em Ferguson the noted Contriver of those Intrigues which at last prov'd Fatal to the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth fam'd for Inconstancy and Treason that Prodigy of Plotters whose whole Life is One black Mystery was also a busie Promoter of this execrable Design The Character that is given of him in the History of the Conspiracy against King Charles II. and the Duke of York which was Written by their Order is very remarkable and serves to shew us what use the Party intended to make of a Person with whose Temper they were so well acquainted The Author of that Book informs us that Ferguson was not only engag'd in the Design of Assassinating those two Princes but applauded it as a Glorious Work saying that it wou'd be an Admonition to all Princes to take heed how they oppress'd their Subjects and adding upon another occasion that it was never thought Injustice to Shoot or set Traps for Wolves and Tygers And one of the principal Conspirators speaking of a Blunderbuss which he intended to use in the Assassination of his Majesty broke out into this prophane Jest That Ferguson shou'd first Consecrate it In the same Book we are told that the Duke of Monmouth confess'd to the King That in all their Debates Ferguson was always for cutting of Throats saying that was the most Compendious Way That Ferguson himself when he took his leave of the Conspirators declar'd That he wou'd never be out of a Plot as long as he liv'd and that at one of their Consults he propos'd that Five or Six of the Old Rich Citizens shou'd be kill'd at First and their Estates given to the Mobile to terrifie the rest That 't was his constant Custom to out-do all the rest of the Conspirators by some peculiar Circumstance of Cruelty of his own Invention That upon all accounts of his restless Spirit fluent Tongue subtil Brain and hellish Malice he was perfectly Qualifi'd to be the great Incendiary and common Agitator of the whole Conspiracy and that after Shaftsbury's Death he was the Life and Soul of all especially for the carrying on of the Assassination While such Persons as these were endeavoring to incite the Presbyterians to Rebellion the Episcopal Party was cajol'd by some of the Depos'd Bishops or by certain Prelates that were sent as private Emissaries from King James And the same design was also zealously promoted by some Clergy-men who despair'd of Preferment under a Prince who makes Merit and Vertue the only Objects of his Favor and Bounty They were enrag'd to find themselves disappointed of the great Expectations they had conceiv'd in the preceding Reign when the Government designing to render the Church of England weak and contemptible made want of Merit one of the principal Recommendations to Advancement It must be acknowledg'd even by those who envy our present Happiness that the constant Care which is taken to bestow the Benefices and Dignities of the Church upon the most deserving Persons and to prefer the Desires of the People in the choice of their Pastors before the most pressing Solicitations of particular Persons is one of the distinguishing Beauties of this Reign The Merit of those who have been advanc'd to the Episcopal Function since the Revolution is sufficient either to stop the Mouths or baffle the Impudence of their most virulent Enemies And 't is known that these worthy Prelates are not only encourag'd but enjoin'd to make a conscientious use of the Power with which they are entrusted by virtue of their Office and Character to dispose of a considerable number of the Inferior Benefices So that 't is hard to imagine where the most impudent Malice can find a pretext to censure His Majesty's Conduct in this Point Nevertheless 't is certain that the Conspirators carry'd on their black Intrigues in all places and among all sorts of Persons and even were not asham'd to contradict themselves by endeavoring at once to perswade all the several Parties in the Kingdom that they had just cause of Complaint They suggested to the Rigid Presbyterians whose ungovern'd Zeal made 'em capable of such Impressions that they ought not to support a Prince who protected the Church of England And at the same time the Toleration he had granted to Dissenters was made use of as a pretext to render him odious to the hottest Asserters of Episcopacy He had already given us a sufficient Intimation of his Sentiments in this Case and of the Maxims he intended to pursue when he declar'd in the beginning of his Reign That He wou'd be King of his People and not of a Faction He lov'd moderate Persons in all Parties and resolv'd to maintain all his Subjects Indifferently in the Possession of their Privileges and Properties He wou'd never permit any Order or Set of Men to domineer over the rest of their Fellow Subjects but suted his Maxims to the Free and Manly Genius of his People who love to be Govern'd by Law He is naturally inclin'd to Goodness and Clemency and tho his Temper alone were not sufficient to secure us against uneasie Apprehensions the Consideration of his Interest wou'd infallibly restrain him from abusing his Authority The preceding Reign furnishes him with Instructing Examples and his Virtue is confirm'd by the Faults of his Predecessor He was advanc'd in opposition to Arbitrary Power and can never consent to the abolishing of those Laws on which his Authority is founded Nor can he endeavor to render himself absolute in one place without ruining his Interest in another for he is equally oblig'd to maintain the Laws of England that he may preserve his Authority in Holland and to preserve the Liberty of the Dutch that he may maintain his Power among us Never was the Interest and Happiness of a Prince so inseparably united to that of his People and never had Subjects less reason to be Jealous of the Authority of their Soveraign This is unquestion'd Matter of Fact a Truth
Hand Brice Blair in his Depositions Bertram 's Deposition March 3. 169â— Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. La Ruë 's Deposition Febru 26. 1695 6. The Earl of Aylesbury and Sir John Friend Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 14. 1695 6. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Brice Blair's Deposition March 16. 1695 6. Sweets 's Deposition March 18. 1695 6. La Ruë 's Deposition Febr. 26. 1695 6. James Ewbanks 's Deposition March 23. 1695 6. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Capt Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 16. 1695 6. They represent us as an â—ntractable Seditious and R belliâ—us People always Jealous of our Neighbors and seldom in Quiet among ourselves See the Second Book of the History of thâ— Revolutions in England Brice Blair in his Deposition March 9. 1695 6. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 9. 1695 6. Father d'Orleans wrote the History of the Revolutions iâ— England according to the Memoirs and Informations which he receiv'd from the Earl of Castlemain Skelton and Sheridon an Irish-Man And besides he tells us that he had the Liberty to Discourse with King James as long as he pleas'd See the Advertisement before the Third Tome Book II. p. 371. Book II. p. 370. 〈◊〉 II. p. 471. ' Twou'd have been thought ridiculous if even before the Late Persecution of the Protestants one shou'd have talk'd of the Popish Cabal in France * So he terms the Vertue and Magnanimity of 〈◊〉 who hazarded their Lives and Estates for the Preservation of their Country They came over in a Vessel which usually past betwixt Calais and Rumney Marsh bringing over Packets to the Conspirators with French Goods and certain Jacobite Passengers who were wont to go and come betwixt these two places And among them there there were certain Priests who oftentimes exported Contraband Goods c. James Hunt s Depositioh April 6. 1696. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. * T was Maxwell who acquainted the Conspirators with this passage * Chambers Knightly April 2. 1696. Francis de Larue 's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. George Porter's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 9. 1695 6. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. The brave Grillon refus'd to assassinate the Duke of Guise tho the Proposal was made to him by his Soveraign Henry III. of France And when King John of England would have perswaded Debray the Captain of his Guards to assassinate a Prince that pretended a right to his Crown that generous Officer reply'd That he was a Gentleman and not a flangman and immediately retir'd to his House Richard Fishers 's Deposition February 25. 1695 6. Larne's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. Porter's Declaration upon Oath before a Committee of the Council March 3. 1695 6. Capt. Porter March 3. 1695 6. Capt. George Porter's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Larue 's Deposition February 25. 1695 6. * Chambers †Durant * Sir William Parkyn own'd that 〈◊〉 such a â—â—mmisiâ—n which he understood to be King James's that it had a Seal to it that he saw it in the Hand of a Friend c. See the Votes of the House of Commons April 2. 169â— * King Francis de Larue 's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Febr. 13. Febr. 14. The Salic Law which is said to be as ancient as Pharamond is an undeniable Argument that the French suppos'd their Government to be as it really was a Hereditary Monarchy * Mezeray says expresly That if the French had ascrib'd that Regulation to the Pope they would have discover'd themselves to be ignorant of their own Right Abreg Chronol p. 206. †Mezeray affirms that the Consent of the People of France was the best Title which Hugh Capet who succeeded Charles cou'd pretend to his Crown Abreg Chron. p. 454. ð„ Two Races of Kings have enjoy'd the Crown of France by Virtue of these Regulations that were made for the good of the State †He deserves not the Name of an Englishman who believes with Father d' Orleans That the Power of the English Monarchs is originally as absolute and arbitrary as any Power can possibly be that 't is founded on a Right of Conquest which the Conqueror exercis'd and settl'd in its utmost extent that at first the Parliaments were only Seditious Conventicles erected upon the occasion of a Successful Revolt of the English Nobility who sinding themselves able to prescribe Laws to their Masters assum'd the Power of granting Subsidies c. that afterwards the Kings being oblig'd to call 'em when they stood in need of Supplies these Meetings began to be look'd upon as a lawful Senate and by degrees acquir'd an establish'd Form and the Authority which they enjoy at present History of the Revolutions in England Book III. p. 294. When Father d' Orleans declaims against the Republicans he usually runs to the opposite Extremity and commends the most pernicious Maxims of Despotic Tyranny such as Governing without a Parliament is and will always be Reputed in this Kingdom See the History of the Revolutions in England Book II. * Capt Fisher's Deposition †See the Bishop of Soissons s Order about the beginning of April * Capt Fisher's Deposition Charnock Sir John Freind Rookwood Cranbourn A Declaration of the sense of Archbishops Bishops c.
the long expected Time shall come that the Just Desires of those who long to see Peace and Tranquility once more establish'd in Europe shall be accomplish'd it will appear and be acknowledg'd by the grateful World that as England was deliver'd from Slavery and Oppression by the Blessing of God upon His Majestys generous Undertaking so 't was England that had the greatest share in the general Deliverance of the Christian World Time and Experience will ere long convince us of this great and important Truth and Posterity will for ever acknowledge the Immortal Obligation And even tho it were possible that future Ages shou'd forget their Great Benefactor the Benefit will remain notwithstanding their Ingratitude as long as there shall be Laws in England or a Free People in Europe FINIS Tâ—e People of England tâ—ank'd His Majestâ— â—y their Râ—presentatives for their Great and Miracuâ—ous Deliverance from Pâ—pery and Arbitrary Power of which he was the Instrumâ—nt Sâ—e the Parliament's Address May 18. 1689. The Parliamâ—nt of Scotland thank'd him also for thâ—ir Delivâ—rance and Preservation of which they acknowledg'd him next to God to be the great and only Instrumâ—nt Sâ—â— the Answer of the Convâ—ntion to His Majeâ—â—ie's Lâ—tter in 1689. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. pag. 437. See the Preface to the Third Time of the History of the Revolutions in England When the People stopt his Coach at Dort and ask'd whether he was their Statholder he reply'd that he was satisfy'd with the Honors that were conferr'd upon him But we are not answer'd the People unless we have you for our Governor An. 1674. The Dâ—puties of the Nobility and 〈◊〉 representing the 〈…〉 of the Dutchy of Guelderland and County of Zutphen osser'd him the Soverâ—ignty of the Province in the â—â—me of their Masteâ—s 'T is notoriously known that these Proposals were made by France * M. Fageâ— wrote on this occaâ—ion to Mr. Stewart And when the Court of England endeavor'd to perswade the World that thus was a supposititious letter and that it did not give a true aâ—â—ur of their Highnesses Sentiments having publish'd a Book to that Eâ—eâ—t call'd Parlamentum Pacificum Mr. Fagel complain'd openly of the dâ—singenuity of their Proceedings and by a second Letter confirm'd the Declaration he had formerly sent in their Highnesses Name * After the death of Charles II. he rejected the advice and assistance of the late Elector of Brandenburg and when that Prince wou'd have engag'd him to go over to England he reply'd that he wou'd never make any Attempt against the King his Father in Law without an absolute necessity but at the same time he protested that if he cou'd not otherwise prevent the subversion of the Laws and Religion of England he wou'd undertake the Voyage tho' he shou'd be oblig'd to Embark in a Fisher-boat His Enemies cou'd not forbear commending this Effect of his Moderation See the History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. See the Act 1 Gulielm Mariae entitl'd An Act declaring the Rights and Privileges of the Subjects to regulate the Succession to the Crown History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. 1689 The Discovery was made by a French Protestant who insinuated himself into the Favour and Confidence of the Conspirators by pretending to be engag'd in the same design He was hinder'd by several Accidents from giving such timely Notice to the Court that the Assassins might be apprehended The Discovery was communicated in Holland to some zealous Friends of the Government and in England to My Lord Sydney In this account I have neither magnify'd nor multiply'd the Disorders that were committed by the Government They were either corrected by the Late King himself upon the News of the Prince's Expedition or after his Flight by the Convention The Laws that were made upon that occasion by the Parliaments of England and Scotland are undoubted Testimonies of the several Attempts that were made to subvert our Laws and Religion nor will any reasonable Person expect any other Arguments to prove the Truth of a matter of Fact of which all the Inhabitants of these Nations were either Eye or Ear-Witnesses See his Proclamation publish'd in that Kingdom Dr. King the present Bishop of London-derry then Dean of Dublin in his Book entitul'd The State of the Protestants of Ireland under the Government of the late King The whole Book is full of Instances of this Nature of which I have not mention'd the Twentieth part * The Duke of Schomberg 1690. 1691. * The Magistrates of Roterdam imprison'd a Villain who offer'd to kill the French King They sent an acâ—ount of the project to Mr. Montausier and offer'd to deliver up the Offender †Another Proposal of the same naturewas made to the King when he was Prince of Orange The Person who offer'd to undertake the Murder gave an account of the place where he was to be sound and the Prince sent Mr. Dickfelt immediately to acquaint the Count d'Avaux with the whole Project November 1691. December 1691. Febr 1691 2. April 1692. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 428. 1692. 1692. 1692. Larue in Charnock 's Tryal 1692. History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder which cannot be reckon'd a Fable is a strong Confirmation of at least part of that Discovery See how they design'd to bring the Irish over to England The application of the rest of the Particulars is obvious History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 357. Deposition of Brice Blair March 12. 1695. See the Character of the Presbyterians in the History of the Revolutions in England Book II. 1692. His Depositions are in the Hands of the Government See his Letter to the Lords and Commons of that Kingdom Dared from on board his Ship July 1693. Decemb. 1693. January 1693. July 1694. July 14. 1694. July 17. 1694. Octob. 17. 1694. Sir William Williams took Post for London immediately after Taff's Declaration and gave a horrible Character of the Witnesses having obstinately resus'd to hear any thing that was offer'd to be alledg'd in their Favor or to comply with some of the Judges who wou'd have proceeded to the Examination of other Witnesses See the Votes of the House of Commons on that occasion 1695 Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. This agrees with the Character that Brice Blair gives of him in his Depositions Good man 's Deposition April 2 d 1696. Brice Blair's Deposition March 13th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Captain Porter 's Deposition April 24 th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. Larüe 's Deposition February 26th 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696 Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. This appears by Capt. Porter's Deposition April 15th 1696. King James wrote several Letters to him with his own