Secresy as to time and place it appearing of its own Nature necessary The other was a Letter from one Christopher Anderton dated from Hilton by which was meant Rome Feb. the 5th 1677 8. wherein mention was made of the Patents being sent thence both which Letters the Prisoners strugled much to vindicate by such forced Constructions of the matters they contained as all the Court rejected Against Gavan Dr. Oates deposed That he saw his Name to the Resolve though he could not swear he was at the Consult of the 24th of April That he gave an account from time to time of the Affairs of Staffordshire and Shropshire relating to the Plot and that coming to London he gave the same account to Ireland his own Chamber and talk'd of two or 3000 l. that would be ready for the Design Mr. Prance then deposed that Harcourt had told him above a Year before as he was paying him for an Image of the Virgin Mary that there was a Plot upon the Life of the King Mr. Dugdale deposed against him that it was he who had engaged him in the Plot upon the Life of the King and often perswaded and encouraged him to it That at Ewer's and his Chambers at Boscobel and other places several Consultations had been had about the Death of the King and bringing in of Popery wherein Mr. Gaven was always a great Man being a good Orator to perswade People in the Design That at the same Consultations he had heard the Massacre often discours'd of And that Gaven should say That tho they were but in a low condition themselves yet they would have Men and Mony enough to spare for such a Design That the said Gaven had many times endeavoured to convince him of the Lawfulness if not the Merit of killing any person whatsoever for the Advancement of their Religion As to Turner it was sworn by Dr. Oates that he was at the Consult of Fenwick's Chamber and sign'd the Resolve Mr. Dugdale also deposed that Ewers had told him that Turner was to carry on the Design in VVorcestershire That the said Turner had met with Ewers Leveson and others in several places and had in every one of them given his consent to and assisted with his Counsel in the carrying on of the grand Design of killing the King and introducing of Popery This was the main of the Evidence for the King The Prisoner's defence lay chiefly in seeking to invalidate the Testimony given against them and to prove Oates perjured they produced these St Omers Witnesses who testify'd that he was not in England in April viz. Mr. Hilsley William Parry Doddington Gifford Palmer Cox who differed in his Testimony from all the rest and caused two great Laughters in the Court Thomas Billing Townley Fall John Hall Butler Cooke a Taylor some of which were so positive that they affirmed that Dr. Oates never lay but two Nights out of the Colledg from December till the middle of June And to prove further that he did not come over with Sir John VVarner and Sir Thomas Preston as he had deposed elsewhere one Bartlet a Dutchman Carlier Verron Baillee who spoke by an Interpreter John Joseph and Peter Carpenter appear'd Then Gaven produced two Witnesses to prove him to be at VVolverhampton in Staffordshire at the time of the Consult viz. one Mrs. Kath. VVinford at whose House he there lodged and Mary Poole a Servant in the House the latter of whom was so lame in her Testimony as caused both Laughter and Shouts He produced four more that affirm'd him to be in VVolverhampton the last week in July but none that could speak to the other three weeks in that Month. However he protested his Innocency and desired to put himself upon the Trial of Ordeal Then VVhitebread in his defence offered to prove D. Oates mistaken in his Evidence at Mr. Ireland's Trial which the Court would not allow Harcourt endeavoured to prove Dr. Oates mistaken as to Ireland's being with him in his Chamber in August One Gifford the Lady Southcott Sir John Southcott Mr. Edward Southcott his Son Mrs. Harewel her Daughter Eliz. Keeling Pendrel and his Wife two Mrs. Giffords and one Mr. Bedloe affirming him to have been most of that Month in Saffordshire Fenwick offer'd to invalidate Mr. Bedloe's Evidence from his having been an ill Man c. Then Sir Creswel Levinz of Counsel for the King summ'd up the Prisoners Defence and to clear Dr. Oates's Evidence about Ireland he called Sarah Pain who swore that she saw Ireland in London about the middle of August And for the Proof of Dr. Oates's being in England at the time he said he was Mr. VValker a Minister Mrs. Ives Mrs. Mayo Sir Richard Barker Philip Page Butler his Servants Mr. Smith Schoolmaster of Islington and Mr. Clay a Popish Priest all deposed as to his being seen in April and May 78 to which the Prisoners only opposed the Number and Innocency of their Evidence being most young Boys After which the Ld. Ch. Justice directed the Jury and in summing up the Evidence insisted particularly on Dugdal's Evidence concerning Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Death as a mighty Confirmation of the Plot. Then an Officer was sworn to keep the Jury who withdrew and the Judges also went off from the Bench leaving Mr. Recorder and a competent number of Commissioners there to take the Verdict and about a quarter of an Hour after the Jury brought them all in Guilty Then the Prisoners were carried back to Newgate and the Court adjourned till eight next Morning And then Mr. Langhorn was tried and found guilty After which they were all six brought to the Bar together and received Judgment to be Drawn Hang'd and Quartered which accordingly was done upon these 5 Jesuits and Priests on Friday June the 20th at Tyburn The Trial of Richard Langhorn Esq Counsellour at Law at the Old-Baily on Saturday June the 14th 1679. HIS Indictment was for conspiring the Death of the King Subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion whereto he pleading Not guilty the Jury were impannelled for his Trial who were Arthur Yong Edward Beeker Robert Twyford VVilliam Yapp John Kirkham Peter Pickering Thomas Barnes Francis Neeve John Hall George Sitwel James VVood Richard Cawthorne To whom the Indictment being read Roger Belwood Esq of Counsel for the King in this cause opened the Indictment and Sir Creswel Levins proved the Charge And Then Mr. Dugdale was first called to give Evidence of the general Design from which afterwards it would be brought down particularly to Mr. Langhorn who therefore deposed that he had been in several Consultations for alteration of this present Government and for the introducing of Popery and Murther of the King that he was to have a Sum of Money to be one of them that should kill the King being put upon it by Mr. Ewers Mr Gavan Mr. Luson and Mr. Vavasor all Jesuits that there was then to have been a Massacre of the Protestants and
was his unhappiness he had no Witnesses to call The Ld. Ch. Justice therefore in a few words summing up the Evidence the Jury presently brought him in Guilty The Trial of Capt. William Blague at the Old-Baily on Friday July 13. 1683. THE Prisoner having been Arraigned the day before and pleaded Not Guilty to an Indictment for High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government was then and there set again to the Bar and making no Challenges the former Jury was sworn viz. Robert Beddingfield John Pelling William Windbury Theophilus Man John Short sen Thomas Nicholas Richard Hoare Thomas Barnes Henry Robins Henry Kemp. Edward Raddish Edward Kemp. To whom the Indictment being read and briefly opened by Mr. North and Serjeant Jefferies Thomas Leigh deposed That the Prisoner in discourse with him and Goodneough about seizing the Tower told them that the only way was to do it with Mortar-Pieces that he would venture his own Ship and provide 200 Men and lay his own Ship on Southwark side and make up his 14 Guns he had already 24 and would undertake once in 20 times to dismount the five Pieces that fac'd towards Southwark-side That he ask'd Goodenough what Mony was provided who answering 40000 l. He answered the Seamen would swallow that up presently to which Goodenough replied there was more provided at any time Mate Lee swore That the Prisoner told him as they were in a Coach together that one of these days they should have a Ball to toss which afterwards he understood by Rouse and Leigh was the Ball that was to be toss'd on Black-Heath That about six Weeks ago Capt. Blague and he walking about the Tower and discoursing of seizing it his way was to scale it but the Captain said the best was to shoot Mortar-pieces on Southwark-side but about the Ship he could say nothing The Prisoner's Defence was That his Business with Rouse was to procure him Mony as being a Broker which brought him sometimes into Goodenough's Company but that he never discours'd about any Publick Affairs and as to the seizing the Tower it was only accidental Discourse And as for his 200 Men it was impossible his Vessel being but a Pink which had been in his Possession but three Weeks and what Arms he had he bought therewith and that he never heard any thing about either a Ball or Bank of Mony Calling his Witnesses Mr. VVright declared That he had waited on the Captain ever since he had been shipp'd and was in his Pay before he had the Ship in possession Robert Chappel Carpenter declar'd The Vessel was not able to do any Service three Weeks ago and that he had been shipp'd four Months and an half to go for New-York One Bellinger the Chirurgeon declared That he had belonged to the Ship seven Weeks and to the Captain before he had a Ship and for Guns belonging to the Ship there were fourteen Saker-Guns of which four were Wooden ones six above Deck and four in the Hold. The Lord Chief Justice then summ'd up the Evidence taking notice to the Jury that these Men belonged to the Captain a great while ago and that there was only one Evidence that did affect him Wherefore the Jury Withdrawing in a short time returned and brought him in Not Guilty THE next day being Saturday July 14. 1683. the Lord Russel Capt. VValcot Mr. Rouse and VVilliam Hone were brought to the Bar to receive Sentence Where the Lord Russel desired to hear his Indictment read in English which was granted and thereupon demanded an Arrest of Judgment because there had been no Evidence of his conspiring the Death of the King as it was in the Indictment but only of levying War But the Verdict being past the Court told him they must go by what the Jury had found and not the Evidence and therefore Sentence was pass'd upon him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Capt. VValcot had nothing to say but desired that his Son and some Friends might come and see him Hone had no more to say but begg'd the same favour Rouse insisted on some Disadvantages he had when he came on his Trial and some difference between the Indictment and their Oaths but Verdict being past Judgment was given against them three as against the Lord Russel And upon Friday July 20. following VValcot being drawn to Tyburn in one Hurdle and Rouse and Hone in another and there put into a Cart attended by Dr. Cartwright the Dean of Rippon and the Ordinary of Newgate who urged them much to discover all they knew of the Plot after they had spoke to the People were executed accordingly The next day being Saturday July 21. the Lord Russel having taken leave of his Lady the Lord Cavendish and several others of his Friends at Newgate took Coach with Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet who accompanied him to the Scaffold built in Lincolns-Inn-Fields where he deliver'd his Speech to the Sheriff and after some Preparation he ordered the Executioner after he had lain down a small moment to do his Office without a Sign and so his Head at three blows was severed from his Body and ordered by the Sheriff to be delivered to his Lordship's Friends and Servants as being given them by his Majesty's Favour and Bounty The Trial of Algernon Sidney Esq before the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster on the 7th 21st and 27th of November 1683. UPON Wednesday Nov. the 7th 1683. Algernon Sidney Esq was arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and intending to raise a Rebellion in this Kingdom Which Indictment he excepted against as erroneous several Crimes being put together therein distinct in nature one from another and distinguished by Law offering to the Court a Parchment wherein were his Exceptions to the Bill but it was refused and he sorced to plead which he did at length Not Guilty And then he desired a Copy of the Indictment which was denyed him but upon his Request it was read to him again in Latin and his Trial appointed to be on Wednesday Novemb. the 21st 1683. Then and there the Prisoner again appearing he desired Pen Ink and Paper and that Mr. VVinn and Mr. Gibs might write for him which were granted him and then he shewed the reason he had before to desire a Copy of his Indictment which the Lord Stafford and the other Lords in the Tower had urging it for Law upon the Statute of 46 Edw. 3. But the Court over-ruled it Then the Clerk of the Crown called the Jury and after several Challenges the Jurors were John Anger Richard VVhite VVilliam Linn Lawrence VVood Adam Andrews Emery Arguise Josias Clerke George Glisby Nicholas-Baxter VVilliam Reeves VVilliam Grove John Burt. To whom the Indictment being read Mr. Dolben opened the same and the Attorney General opened the Evidence and then Mr. VVest was called against whom the Prisoner excepted
King of England so easy and the French King so powerful they must not miss such an Opportunity That about a Year and an half since Mr. Harcourt sent him with another Pacquet of Letters to Mr. Langhorn to Register wherein were two Letters that he before had brought from Spain the one from Sir William Godolphin to the Lord Bellasis the other from the Irish Colledg of Jesuits in Salamanca That the Letter from the Rector did specify That they would have the Lord Bellasis and the rest of the Lords that were concerned and the rest of the Party in England to be in readiness and to have this communicated with all expedition for that now they had provided in Spain under the Notion of Pilgrims for St. Jago some Irish cashier'd Souldiers and a great many of Lay-Brothers to be ready to take Shipping at the Groin to land at Milford-Haven there to meet the Lord Powis and an Army that he was to raise in Wales to further this Design That also he met with Father Keins he brought a Letter from Mr. Langhorn in his Hand which he said was a chiding Letter from the Secretary de propaganda Fide Cardinal Barbarino to Mr. Langhorn and the rest of the Conspirators for going on no faster when they had so fair an Opportunity Then Thomas Buss the Duke of Monmouth's Cook was sworn who being out of the way before now deposed to the Plot in general That he in September last being at VVindsor heard one Handkinson bid one Anthony a Portuguese and the Queen's Confessor's Man who was then drinking in their Company that he should have a special care of the four Irish Gentlemen he brought over with him for that they would do their Business whom since he had seen Coleman's Trial he supposed to be the four Irish-Men that were to kill the King Then this Anthony was sent for by the Court to be took up but Handkinson was return'd beyond Sea Then the Prisoner in his own defence offer'd to the Court that the two Witnesses against him Oates and Bedloe were Parties to the Crime which was laid to his Charge and therefore he desired to know whether they had their Pardon or no Which tho it were sufficiently made out yet the Court for his further satisfaction declared That whether they had or had not yet they were good Witnesses or else they should not have been admitted Whereupon the Prisoner started another Question Whether having had their Pardons they might not fall under the same prospect in Law with an Approver not as being Approvers but as under some equivalence of reason for them From whence he would have inferr'd That if the Approver be pardoned the Appellee ought to be discharg'd To which the Court replied That an Approver was ever allow'd Maintenance and that there ought to be a proof of corrupt Contract or Subornation to invalidate a Testimony Then the Prisoner desired to know whether they had ever received or did not expect Gratifications and Rewards for their Discoveries To which Dr. Oates declared That he was 6 or 700 l. out of Pocket and knew not when he should see it again The Prisoner urged That Mr. Reading had told him that Mr. Bedloe had received 500 l. But the Court inform'd him that was for the discovery of the Murderers of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Then these little Passes being all put by and he having nothing to answer to the Fact to invalidate the Witnesses he called in the St. Omers Gang which had all been heard and baffled but the day before to prove that Dr. Oates did not come over with those Persons he deposed he did nor at that Time but was at St. Omers in April and May which was the only Months they could answer any Questions about because as one of those Witnesses very honestly confess'd the Question that he came for did not fall upon any other Time Others of them contradicted themselves as to what they had spoke the day before one calling it the 24th of April New-Stile who yesterday call'd it Old-Stile another June who yesterday said July And the Woman of the VVhite-Horse Tavern affirming her House to be little and that there was never a Room therein that could contain near so many as Dr. Oates had deposed had met there at the Consult several in the Court presently contradicted her affirming that Fifty might dine at once in some of her Rooms Then Mr. Langhorne would have urged something against the Witnesses which they had said at other Trials the unreasonableness whereof the Court shew'd him Then several substantial Witnesses being sworn whereof one was a Papist deposed That they saw Dr. Oates in London in April and May 1678. which quite contradicted the St. Omer's Evidence Then Mr. Langhorn urg'd the St. Omer's Testimony notwithstanding against Dr. Oates's Evidence and affirm'd that he had never seen Mr. Bedloe before that day and that it was improbable that one that was in his way of Practice should become a Clerk to register Letters and that there was no proving a Negative disclaiming all Principles of Disloyalty leaving the rest to the Jury Therefore the Ld. Ch. Justice then summ'd up the Evidence and directed the Jury And then a Letter found among Harcourt's Papers five or six days after Dr. Oates had given in his Information to the King and Council was produc'd and read in Court to confirm Dr. Oates's Testimony about the Consult Then an Officer was sworn to keep the Jury who withdrew to consider of their Verdict and the Judges also went off from the Bench. After a short space the Jury returned and brought the Prisoner in Guilty upon which there was a very great Shout Then the five Prisoners cast the day before were all brought to the Bar and received Sentence together To be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Mr. Recorder applying himself first to them in a very handsom Speech Which Sentence after a Month's Reprieve was executed upon him at Tyburn The Trials of Sir George Wakeman Bar. William Marshall Benedictine Monks William Rumley Benedictine Monks James Corker Benedictine Monks At the Sessions-House in the Old-Baily on Friday July 18. 1679. THen and there these Prisoners were Indicted for High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion whereto they all pleaded Not Guilty Their Jury were Ralph Hawtrey Esq Henry Hawley Esq Henry Hodges Esq Richard Downton Esq John Bathurst Esq Robert Hampton Esq William Heydon Esq John Baldwyn Esq Richard Dobbins Esq William Avery Esq Richard White Gent. William VVayte Gent. To whom the Indictment being read Edward VVard Esq of Counsel for the King in this Cause opened the Indictment and Sir Robert Sawyer opened the Charge And then Mr. Dugdale was first called to give a general Account only of the Plot. Who therefore being sworn deposed That for these seven Years he had known of the Plot and for two Years particularly and that in order thereto the best way was
endeavours to have over-ruled without so much as hearing the Prisoners Counsel for the maintaining it for that they said it was nought because it produced no Record of his Impeachment and did not specify what the High-Treason was for which he was Impeached and that the King had Power to proceed on an Impeachment or Indictment for the same thing at his Election Nevertheless the Attorny General demurred and the Prisoner joined in the Demurrer And then after much arguing a Day was given to argue the Plea till Saturday May. 7. At which time the Attorny General added to the Exceptions he took to the Plea Whether a Suit in a Superior Court can take away the Jurisdiction of the Cause of the Person and of the Fact at the time of the Fact committed To maintain the Plea Mr. VVilliams of Counsel for the Prisoner in a very long and learned Discourse first spoke stating the Prisoner's Case upon the Indictment the Plea to the Indictment and the Demurrer to the Plea Alledging the Difference of an Impeachment from an Indictment and offering some Reasons why this Court ought not to proceed upon this Indictment Then answering distinctly Mr. Attorney's Exceptions to the Plea producing some Presidents of this Courts Prosecution being stop'd by Pleas to the Jurisdiction shewing what had been done upon those Pleas What Doom they had Laying before the Court the Right of the Commons to Impeach in Parliament the Judicature of the Lords to determine that Impeachment and the Method and Proceedings of Parliament submitting it to them how far they would lay their Hands on this Case thus circumstantiated Here the Ld. Ch. Justice declared That all these Things were quite foreign to the Case and the Matter in Hand only was Whether this Plea as thus pleaded was sufficient to protect the Prisoner from being questioned in this Court for the Treasonable Matter in the Indictment before them To which Mr. VVilliams reply'd That 't was an hard matter for the Bar to answer the Bench. After which Sir Francis Winnington pleaded That he conceived that it was confessed by the Demurrer that there is an Impeachment by the Commons of England of High-Treason against Fitz-Harris lodged in the House of Lords Secundum Legem consuetudinem Parliamenti And that the Treason for which he was impeached is the same Treason contained in the Indictment So that now the general Question was Whether an Impeachment for Treason by the House of Commons and still depending were a sufficient Matter to oust the Court from proceeding upon an Indictment for the same Offence Which he learnedly endeavoured to make good by several Reasons as well as Presidents Mr. Wallop pleaded next on the same side whose Province was to prove That the Treason in the Impeachment and in the Indictment was the same and that this was well averred in the Plea Mr. Pollexfen pleaded That a general Impeachment in Parliament was a good Impeachment and the Judges had declared so to the King and Council concerning the five Popish Lords who could not therefore be tried upon Indictments so long as general Impeachments were depending for the same Treason and that therefore this Plea was good both as to Matter and Form c. In reply to vitiate the Plea it was insisted on by Mr. Attorn Gen. Mr. Sol. Gen. Serj. Jefferies and Sir Francis VVithens of Counsel for the King that the Plea concluded not in the usual Form That perhaps this Matter if the Prisoner had been acquitted upon the Impeachment might have been pleaded in Bar to the Indictment but it was not pleadable to the Jurisdiction of the Court That in the Case of the five Lords the Indictments were removed into the House of Lords and that the Judges Opinion given at the Council-Board was not a Judicial Opinion nor did any way affect this Cause After which the Ld. Ch. Justice thought fit not to give present Judgment but to take time for Deliberation Whereupon the Prisoner was carried back to the Tower And on Tuesday May 10. Mr. Attorney moved the Court to appoint a Day for their Judgment on the Plea and for Fitz-Harris to be brought up which they appointed to be the next Morning Accordingly on Wednesday Morning May 11. the Prisoner being brought to the Bar the Ld. Ch. Justice deliver'd the Opinion of the Court upon Conference had with other Judges That his Brother Jones his Brother Raymond and himself were of Opinion that the Plea was insufficient his Brother Dolben not being resolved but doubting concerning it and therefore awarded the Prisoner should plead to the Indictment which he did Not Guilty and his Trial ordered to be the next Term. The Trial of Edward Fitz-Harris at the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster before the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton on Thursday June 9. 1681. THE Prisoner then and there appearing after several Challenges made for the King the Jury sworn were Thomas Johnson Lucy Knightly Edward Wilford Alexander Hosey Martin James John Viner William Withers William Cleave Thomas Goffe Ralph Farr Samuel Freebody John Lockier To whom the Indictment was read which was for High-Treason in conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government the which Mr. Heath Serj. Maynard and Mr. Attorn Gen. opened And then Mr. Everard deposed How the Prisoner was with him on Monday Feb. 21. 1681. having a little before been with him to renew the Acquaintance which had been between them while they were both in the French King's Service and to perswade him to re-ingratiate himself into the French and Popish Interest and gave him by word of Mouth Heads to write a Pamphlet to scandalize the King raise Rebellion alienate the Hearts of the People and set them together by the Ears Whereupon he acquainted one Mr. Savile of Lincolns-Inn Mr. Crown Mr. Smith and Sir William Waller with it And the next day Mr. Fitz-Harris coming again to his Chamber in Grays-Inn he convey'd Mr. Smith into a Closet Sir William Waller failing to come where he both saw and heard the Prisoner ask him What he had done as to the Libel and give him further Instructions about what to write viz. That the King was Popishly Affected and Arbitrarily Inclined That King Charles the First had an Hand in the Irish Rebellion and King Charles the Second did countenance the same c. That the People should therefore be stirred up to rebel especially the City c. That the Day after he coming again he had convey'd Sir William Waller into the next Room where he also might both hear and see shewing him to Copies of what he had drawn up which he marked that he might know them again and see what alteration would be made That Fitz-Harris did them read one of the Copies and amended it adding some things and striking out other things saying The Libel was to be presented to the French Ambassador's Confessor and he was to present it to the French Ambassador and that it was to beget a
herein till he had been in France in 1677 and there seeing the slavery of the French People he thought it were better the Devil should reign over them than the French-Man Edmond Murfey hesitated much in giving his Evidence tho he had given it in the fullest of any to the Grand Jury but afterwards he ran away and was found at the Spanish Ambassadors though he owned that the Prisoner was to get 60 or 70000 l. for the establishing Popery But because he fenced in his Evidence the King's Counsel desired he might be committed which was done accordingly John Mac-Legh a Parish Priest in the County of Monagham in Ireland deposed That the Prisoner had received several Sums of Mony there and he had raised and paid him some for Arms and Ammunition for the Papists That he was at Vicar Bradey's House when Bishop Tyrrill came thither And that in France he had seen the Conditions upon which the Prisoner was made Primate which was to raise Men to join with the French to destroy the Protestant Religion John Moyer a Regular Priest and Begging Frier deposed That in 1672 he met with a Letter of the Prisoners in Caprennica directed to the Secretary of the Colledg De Propaganda Fide which he opened and copied producing the Copy wherein was said That 't was more proper for the Catholick Princes to agree together to extirpate Heresy than to vary among themselves that now was the time for there were 60000 Men ready to rise upon such an Invasion That in 1674 when he came into Ireland he told the Prisoner of this Letter and that he had seen it who thereupon pray'd him to be secret for what he did was not for his own Good but for the publick Good of the Catholicks who proffered him high Promotions if he would further the Design That he was at a Consult afterwards where the Primate Bishop Tyrrel and others were where they concluded to send Capt. Con O-Neale to France and Barcellona with certain Instruments wherewith the Captain shortly went and the two Bishops undertook to view Munster and Vlster and that this was in 1676. To all this the Prisoner only protested his Innocency complaining that his Witnesses and some Records he had not had time to procure and that the Jury were Strangers to him and the Witnesses and that by being brought out of his Country his Life was in danger where these Witnesses would not have been believed against him Then Mr. Sollicitor General and Serj. Jefferies having summ'd up the Evidence and the Lord Chief Justice giving the Charge the Jury withdrew for a quarter of an Hour and then brought the Prisoner in Guilty And on Wednesday June 15. after the Prisoner had pleaded the same things over again and informed the Court that now his Witnesses were come as far as Coventry being shew'd the insufficiency of such a Plea after so long time the Court had given him before his Trial the Lord Chief Justice sentenc'd him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quartered Which accordingly was execcuted upon him together with Fitz-Harris at Tyburn on Friday July 1. following The Trial of Sir Miles Stapleton at the Assizes at York on Monday July the 18th 1681. THen and there the Prisoner appearing having been arraigned and pleaded Not Guilty to Indictment of High Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and Subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion after several challenged on both sides the Jury sworn were Sir Barrington Boucher Kt. Sir John Jennings Kt. Richard Hutton Esq VVelbrough Norton Esq Tobias Hodgson Esq John Beverly Esq Anth. Frankland Esq John Adams Esq Francis Battery Esq Francis Fuldgam Esq Humphry Brooke Esq Thomas Lee Esq To whom the Indictment being read and then opened by Sir Thomas Stringer of Counsel for the King in this Cause the King's Witnesses were Mr. John Smith who being sworn told what he knew of the Plot in general much like what he related at the Trial of my Ld. Stafford to which the Reader is referred As to what he knew of the Plot in Yorkshire was that while he lived with Mr. Jennison Mr. Thwing the Priest who had suffered as a Conspirator much perswaded him to intreat Mr. Jennison to send his Daughters to Dolebank where a Nunnery was to be erected and he knew several that were there That he told him Sir Miles Stapleton was very zealous for promoting Popery and had contributed largely to it and was engaged with several others for making a Founder for Dolebank Then Mr. Robert Bolron deposed his Knowledg of the Plot just as he had done before at Thwing's Trial charging the Prisoner to have been at that Consult at Barnborow-hall in 1677 and thereat promised to give 200 l. towards the killing of the King It being then resolved to be done and Pickering mentioned to do it and it was said that if the D. of York did not please they would serve him as they would serve his Brother That one Sherborn told him that Sir Miles was to be a Privy-Councellour and that they would procure the Dukes consent to it That he was also at a Consult at Barnborow June the 13th 1678. and there it was agreed upon taking of Hull the letting in of the French there discoursing that the Ld. Bellasis had caused the Block-Houses to be almost ruin'd that the French might more easily come in and they had all Pardons for their Sins and that he had seen a collusive Conveyance of the Prisoner's Estate Then Mr. Lawrence Mowbray deposed that Sir Miles was at the Consult in 1676 at Rushton's Chamber where Rushton gave him the Oath of Secrecy and he promised to be true to the Design and would venture his Life and Estate for the promoting of so good a Cause Then Mr. Bayns was sworn who only depos'd that he had seen Sir Miles at several meetings at Barnborough-hall but knew nothing of what was discoursed thereat Then Sir Miles Stapleton began his Defence protesting his Innocency and having cross examin'd only Bolron he called Mr. Lowther to prove he did not accuse him when he was examin'd by him Yea Mr. Lowther said he told him that he knew nothing against Sir Miles but believed he was clear But afterwards he told him that Mowbray could accuse him and of what which Bolron denied both Then Sir Thomas Yarbrough testified that Bolron told him also Aug. 10 1679. that he knew nothing of Sir Miles's being concern'd in the Plot but believed him to be a very honest Gentleman only he knew he had made a collusive Conveyance of his Estate as most Papists he believed had done for Security Bolron denied this and deposed that he accused Sir Miles to the Council not in his first but second Information which was after the 10th of August The Lady Yarbrough then gave in the same Testimony with her Husband Mr. Normanton testified that in June 1679. Bolron told him that Sir Tho. Gascoyne would give 1000 l. for killing the King and the
should be any Disturbance for they valued their Riches more than their Cause And at Oxford that he heard my Lord say again He wondred the People of England should stickle so much about Religion if he were to choose a Religion he would have one that should comply with what was apt to carry on their Cause Mr. John Smith deposed That he had often both in publick and private heard the Lord Shaftsbury speak very irreverently and slightly of the King saying He was a weak Man an inconstant Man of no firm or settled Resolution easily led by the Nose as his Father was before him by a Popish Queen which was the Ruin of his Father And that the King should declare That the Earl of Shaftsbury was not satisfied to be an ill Man himself but got over the E. of Essex too And that he was the chief promoter of the Rebellion in Scotland which when it was told him that he should send back word to the King That he was glad that the King saw not his own Danger But if he were to raise a Rebellion he could raise another-guess Rebellion than was that in Scotland One time particularly being sent for to the Lord Shaftsburies expressing his jealousy of the Irish Witnesses being drawn over to the Court-Party and retracting what they had said he order'd him to persuade them from going nigh that Rogue Fitz-Gerald maintain'd by the King and Court-Party to stifle the Plot in Ireland Saying also That when he was in the Tower he told some he saw Popery coming in and that it was hard to prevent it And that if the King were not as well satisfied with the coming in of Popery as ever the D. of York was the D. would not be so much concern'd about it as he was Afterwards having executed my Lord's Order one Mr. Bernard Dennis gave in an Information before Sir Patience Ward Lord-Mayor against Fitz-Gerald that he had tamper'd with him to forswear all he had sworn before the Copy of which Information he brought to the Lord Shaftsbury who when he had read it was very well pleased with it and said Mr. Smith don't you see the Villany of that Man and that factious Party and that the King runs the same steps as his Father did before him for that nothing of this Nature could otherwise be done I says he these are the very Steps that his Father followed when he was led by his Popish Queen and the poor Man doth not see his Danger Another time before the Parliament went to Oxford in discourse my Lord was saying to him That there was great Preparations made and a great many gathered together upon the Road between London and Oxford which he said was to terrify the Parliament to comply with the King's Desire which he was sure they never would for that the King aimed to bring in Popery But said he we have this Advantage of him if he offer any Violence to us for we expect it that we have the Nation for us and we may lawfully oppose him for it has been done in former Times and he will meet with a very strong Opposition for all that come out of the Country shall be well Hors'd and well Arm'd and so we shall be all and as old as he was that he would be one that would oppose to his Power and die before he would ever bring in Popery or any thing of that Nature Then Mr. Brian Haines deposed That he had often heard the Lord Shaftsbury vilify the King And that he and Mr. Ivey going to him one day about the Narrative he made of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Death he desired him not to expose his Person to the King's Anger because he was sure he would never grant a Pardon to any Man that impeached the Earl of Danby Says he Do not fear if he does not grant you a Pardon he makes himself the Author of the Plot and says he the Earl of Essex the Lord Maxfield and I we do all resolve if you 'l put in a Writing we will go to the King and beg a Pardon of him for you which if he does not grant we will raise the whole Kingdom against him for he must not expect to live peaceably in his Throne it he doth not grant it and this is the best Pretence we can have in the World we are prepar'd to raise Arms against him And after having heard a Pardon could not be had being begg'd for by the two Mr. Godfries he praying my Lord for a little Mony to help him to go beyond-Sea because he was sure he could not be safe in England My Lord told him the King durst as well be hang'd as meddle with him And one Day he being in Conference and giving my Lord an exact Account of Transactions having been a Traveller he asked my Lord What Model of Government was designed if they pulled the King down Says he Do you think there are no Families in England that have as much pretence to the Crown as any of the Stewarts Says he There is the Duke of Bucks that is descended of the Family of the Plantagenets one of the Edwards by his Mother and in her Right he should have the Barony of Ross and has as good a Title to the Crown of England as ever any Stewart had Then John Macnamarra being sworn deposed That he being with the Lord Shaftsbury after his return from the Parliament at Oxford concerning some Provision for the Witnesses he heard him express himself That the King was Popishly Affected and did adhere to Popery taking the same Methods that his Father before him took which brought his Father's Head to the Block and that they would also bring his thither and that he had told some Persons of Quality that this would fall out five Years before And at the same time that he said the King was a Faithless Man and no Credit was to be given to him and that the Dutchess of Mazarine was of his Cabinet-Council who was the worst Woman-kind And that he deserved to be deposed as much as ever King Richard the Second did Then Dennis Macnamarra deposed That he also heard the Lord Shaftsbury say in March or April in his own House Mr. Ivey being present That the King was not to be believe there was no Belief in him and he ought to be deposed as well a King Richard the Second and that the Dutchess of Mazarine was of his Cabinet-Council and he nothing but by her Consent Then Mr. Edward Ivey deposed That being at my Lord's House soon after the Parliament was dissolved at Oxford he heard him speak against the King saying He was an unjust Man and unfit to Reign and he wondred her did not take Example by his Father before him and that he was a Papist in his Heart and intended to introduce Popery And afterwards being with him with Hains he bid Hains to put what he had to say about the Death of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey into writing
all Risings and that he said the Lord Howard was a Man of Luxureant Parts but he had the luck not to be trusted by any Party Dr. Tillotson Duke of Somerset Lord Clifford Mr. Levenson Gore Mr. Spencer and Dr. Fitz-VVilliams spoke as to his Lordship's Conversation And then the Lord Howard being asked by the Jury what he said to the Earl of Anglesey's Evidence owned what the Earl said but that he did it to out-face the Matter and if he said untrue he ought not to be believed on his Oath insinuating that he meant what he said to be meant of a Design of Murthering the King which he did not not believe the Duke of Monmouth or the Lord Russel guilty of Carrying his knife close as he express'd it between the Paring and the Apple After this the Lord Russel made a short Conclusion protesting his Loyalty and Innocence telling the Jury he was in their Hands and pray'd God to direct them Then the Solicitor General summ'd up the Evidence and after him Serjant Jefferies taking Notice of the Earl of Essex's Death as an Evidence of Guilt did the same And the Ld. Ch. Justice deliver'd his Charge to the Jury and then the Court Adjourned till 4 a Clock in the Afternoon when the Jury brought the said Lord Russel in Guilty of the said High-Treason The Trial of John Rouse Gent. at the Old-Baily on Friday July 13. 1683. THen and there the Prisoner appearing having been arraigned the day before upon an Indictment of High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government and pleaded Not Guilty he moved the Court but in vain for longer time And therefore the Jury sworn after several Challenges were Robert Beddingfield John Pelting William Windbury Theophilus Man John Short sen Thomas Nicholas Richard Hoare Thomas Barnes Henry Robbins Henry Kempe Edward Raddish Edward Kempe To whom the Indictment being read Mr. Jones and Sir George Jefferies opened the same and then Thomas Leigh was sworn against whom the Prisoner excepted because he had been sworn against as Guilty by two Persons and being acquainted with the Prisoner he was afraid the Prisoner should swear against him and therefore come now to swear against the Prisoner first But this was not allowed to be any Objection Therefore Mr. Leigh deposed that he had been concern'd in this Conspiracy and knew something of it but that he believed Mr. Rouse knew a great deal more for that Goodenough and the Prisoner engaged him in a Design of raising of Men and Goodenough told him the Design was to set up the Duke of Monmouth and kill the King and the Duke of York and that Sir John Moor and the Aldermen were to be kill'd and their Houses plundred and that there would be Riches enough which would serve to maintain the Army That Mr. Rouse told him he could provide Arms for 100 Men and that nothing was to be done unless the King was seized saying we might remember since 41 when the King went and set up his Standard therefore said he we will seize them that they shall not set up their Standard But said he was not for shedding their Blood That he said also it would be convenient to have a Golden Ball play'd upon Black-Heath and to get some Sea-Captains to manage that Affair and said he would engage Ten and he that wins the Ball take it That every Captain should then take his Party and tell them they had other work and then go with Long-Boats and Arms and seize the Tower That he acquainted Goodenough with this and telling him the Charge of the Ball which the Prisoner had told him would be 10 or 12 l. he said if it were 40 l. he would be at the Charge of it all That after he heard he was sworn against Mr. Rouse cut off his Hair and procured him a Wig and lodged hint at his House That he and Rouse and Mate Lee went several times to view the Tower That Rouse told him he had spoke to two Sea-Captains who were willing but one was going to New-Jersey and therefore the Work must be done before he went or he could not assist That while he lay hid at Rouse's House Mr. Nelthrop and Mr. Goodenough directed him to deny all when-ever he should be taken into Custody and if could not touch his Life That they met several times afterwards and had an Account in June last that Mr. Goodenough was in the North raising Men and that the Duke of Monmouth was thereabouts and that a Deliverance should be wrought for all this That the Design was so laid that he was told it was to be done in a Fortnight That they never agreed on a Method to kill the King but that they told him they had 1000 Horse ready in the Country and 500 Horse ready in Town and that the King should be kill'd coming from Windsor That they were contriving to send Arms by Night in Trunks to some private Place where they were to arm themselves in the Night and some brisk Men were to go to VVindsor to know when the King came and give Information and so they were to set upon him in some convenient Place and both the King and the Duke were to be taken off together Mr. Rouse saying Take them off and then no Man can have Commission to fight for them And both to him and in Company Mr. Rouse who had been a Traveller had said That the King was sworn both in France and Spain to bring in Popery and Arbitrary Power in so many Years and therefore it was no Sin to take him off and told him he had it under his own Hand Then Mate Lee deposed That the Prisoner had several times treated with him to get Seamen fitting to make Commanders of Ships some of the King's Men of War that lay at Deptford and VVoolwich for that the Tower and VVhite-hall was to be secured or else they could do nothing Mr. Thomas Corbin deposed That in 1681 he heard the Prisoner say He thought the Session of the Oxford Parliament would be very short But those frequent Prorogations and Dissolutions of Parliament would not avail the King son that what ever he has the Parliament gave him and they may take it away when they please Upon which one bidding him have a care what he said he reply'd The King had forfeited his Crown and had no more right to it than he had Mr. VVilliam Richardson deposed That when the Prisoner was first seiz'd he denied his Name to be Rouse calling himself Johnson The Prisoner's Defence was only a retorting the Accusation upon the Witness alledging That Mr. Leigh first discoursed these Treasons to him which he only listned to to pump out the bottom of his Design that he might discover them Protesting his Innocency and that the words Mr. Corbin testified against him was not spoke of the Parliament but of the Pope and he had been before tried and acquitted for them Saying it
him he owned that was the Paper and his Hand but swore it was false and that he saw no Razor Whereupon the Ld. Ch. Justice cried out What a Dust has such a trivial Report made in the World Admit that the Boy had said any such thing What an Age do we live in that the Report of every Child should blow us up after this rate It would make a Body tremble to think what a sort of People we live among To what an Heat does Zeal transport some People beyond all Reason and Sobriety If such a little Boy had said so 't was not an half-penny matter but presently all the Government is to be Libell'd for a Boy which whether he speak true or false is of no great weight and he swears 't is all false Then Thomas Hawkins the Son of Dr. Howkins of the Tower being sworn deposed That he saw VVilliam Edwards in the Tower July 13. and went with him round the Tower looking upon the King while he was walking who going into the Constable's House they went with other Boys to play and afterwards he went Home and then soon after the Rumour of the Earl of Essex's Death coming he with his Father stood before the Window and Edwards came to him and there they stood looking up for an hour or two at the least and then they went out of the Tower together and that he was sure there was no such thing as a Razor thrown out of the Window Upon this the Attorn General said to the Ld. Ch. Justice That his Lordship saw what a fine Case this was and how all this Noise and Bustle has come to be made in the World That the Rumor first did arise in a Fanatick Family and was propagated by that Party Ay said Mr. Jones 't is easily known whence it came Mr. Blathwait was then sworn who informed the Court That on July the 20th Mr. Braddon brought this Edwards to White-hall where the Boy denied before the King that the Matter contained in the Information was true and said it was only a Lie he invented to excuse himself for having play'd Truant that day After this that Mr. Braddon did nevertheless pursue this Business He attested also Mr. Speke's Letter and that he owned before the King and Council Then Mr. Mon-Stevens deposed That about five or six days after the Earl of Essex had murdered himself he saw Mr. Braddon with a young Man and a Boy at the Lord Sunderland's Lodgings and that he told him he came from Sir Henry Capel who not being well could not come himself with an Information relating to the Earl of Essex's Death The Information he gave him to read and then went with him to the Lord Sunderland who took the Information and afterwards Mr. Braddon was committed in Custody and the thing was brought before the Lords of the Council Then Sir Henry Capel was called to know if he employed Mr. Braddon in this Business who deposed That he knew very little of Mr. Braddon but that he had been with him twice and speaking to him of this Business he desired him to acquaint the Secretary of State with whatever he had to say of it to which he seemed very willing Then one Mr. Beech deposed That he was present when Mr. Braddon was apprehended in Wiltshire and several Papers found upon him Copies whereof he deliver'd into the Court and upon Examination committed to the County Goal and from thence removed by Habeas Corpus hither up to London That he then told them his Business was to enquire after the Earl of Essex's Murder and that one Mr. Burgis of Marleborough had writ him a Letter that one Compton Post-Master at Frome could inform him that the News was at Frome that very day the Murder was committed But the Witness said he had been with this Compton who denied it and told him they had no News of it till Sunday following And the Lord of Waymouth who lives near Frome told him that he had an account of it on the Sunday and he believed that was one of the first Letters of it that was in the Country Then the Papers were read in Court which were found about Mr. Braddon at his Apprehension The first was a Letter subscribed Hugh Speke and dated London Lincolns-Inn Aug. 15. 1683. Wednesday Night 10 a Clock and directed For the ever Honoured Sir Robert Atkins Knight of the Bath at his House at Netherswell near Stow on the Old in Gloucester-shire Which because it was the only thing that engaged Mr. Speke in this Trouble the Reader is presented with a Copy of it intire and not abridg'd Honoured Sir THe Bearer hereof is one Mr. Braddon a very honest Gentleman whose Father has at least 800 l. per Ann. in Cornwall It seems it is his Fate to be the only Person that follows and prosecutes the Murder of the Earl of Essex and he has made a very considerale discovery already of it notwithstanding the hard Stream he rows against as things stand and are carried on at present But indeed I thinks it could never have fallen on so fit a Man for he has been a very hard Student and is a Person of a very good Reputation Life and Conversation and has a great deal of Prudence and has as much Courage as any one living whatsoever He went away on a sudden hence Post towards Marleborough to make some further Discovery and what he has discovered he will give you full account of and of all the Transactions hitherto about it I lent him my Man to go with him for fear he should come to any Mischief for most here fear that he will be either stabb'd or knock'd on the Head if he do not take great care of himself And seeing he came into these parts I thought it not amiss to go and advise with you how he had best to proceed in it and I did charge him not to let any Body know who he was that it might not be known that he had been with you For I would not for the whole World that you should come to any prejudice in the least for your kindness towards us For we labour under many Difficulties as the Tide runs at present Pray call Mr. Braddon by the Name of Johnson when he is with you I have given him the same Item We hope to bring on the Earl of Essex's Murder on the Stage before they can bring any of those in the Tower to a Trial. He being in great haste I have not time to write more but to assure you that Mr. Braddon is a Person of that Integrity and Courage that no Body needs fear to trust him I was very willing that he should take your Advice in this Case which is of so great a moment seeing he came within 20 or 30 Miles or thereabouts of your House He will give you a full and clear Relation of every thing in that Affair and how hard they have been upon him Sir Henry
Mr. John Wright but with Patience we must submit to the Almighty who can as well raise up Instruments to do his Work as change Hearts of which we have so great an Instance in the business of the D. of Monmouth that no Age or History can parallel I am now throughly satisfied that what was printed in the Mondays Gazet is utterly false and you will see it publickly so declared shortly The King is never pleased but when he is with him hath commanded all the Privy Council to wait upon him and happy is he that hath most of his Favour His Pardon was sealed and delivered to him last VVednesday 'T is said he will be restored to be Master of the Horse and be called into the Council Table and to all his other places And 't is reported he will be made Captain General of all the Forces and Ld. High Admiral c. He treats all his old Friends that daily visit him with great Civilities they are all satisfied with his Integrity and if God spares his Life doubt not but he will be an Instrument of much good to the King and Kingdom He said publickly that he knew my Ld. Russel was as Loyal a Subjects as any in England and that his Majesty believed the same now I intend shortly to wait on him my self It would make you laugh to see how strangely our high Tories and Clergy are mortified their Countenance speak it Were my Shesorary to be moved for now it would be readily granted Sir George is grown very humble 'T is said Mr. Sidney is reprieved for 40 days which bodes well Mr. Kedder sat with me sometime this Evening There being no more in the Record The third Letter was then read which was directed for Mr. Edward Gael Linnen-Draper at Ipswich and dated Decemb. the 1st 1683. Mr. Gael This Evening Mr. Kedder came and sat with me when I acquainted him what you and others writ me in reference to himself as also of the Death of Mr. Wright which he was sorry for He protested if he could perswade his Wife he would accept of Ipswich choice notwithstanding all the Discouragement he had met with One more he acquainted me with that had seen a Letter from Mr. Cutliffe to Dr. Clegat extreamly discouraging him from coming to Ipswich where if he did come said would find himself mistaken for that would never enjoy Quietness or Peace notwithstanding his Balsamick Temper c. as he call'd it These things frights Mr. Kedder who I am now perswading so soon as he is up again to go down for a Month or two and then if he doth not like the Place and People he may return hither again This I resolve to press hard on Monday when have promised to dine with me as also Mr. Hodges Be confident I shall think nothing too much to effect this Business though one or other still pulls down as fast as I build up Here is now a door of Incouragement opened for sober Men to come into publick Employment You will undo the Town of Ipswich if you bring not sober Men into play For God's sake consider of it Perswade Mr. Snelling or some sober Men to come in their two Ports-mens places void for other matters I refer you to Sir P. The late change here in publick Affairs is so great and strange that we are like Men in a Dream can hardly believe what we see and fear we are not fit for so great a Mercy as the present Juncture seems to promise The E. of Macclesfield is bringing Actions of Scandalum Magnatum against all the Grand Jury-Men that indicted him at last Assizes And the several Gentlemen that were indicted in Cheshire and Northamptonshire will bring their several Actions at Law against them Acquaint Mr. Snelling we received the two Barrels of Oysters and two couple of Ducks and desire him to take Mony of Buckle for them I rest Yours c. The 4th Letter was directed to Mr. William Cavell at Brightwell near Ipswich in Suffolk and dated London Decemb. the 4th 1683. Only that part of it was read which was in the Record and that was this Contrary to most Mens Expectations a Warrant is signed at last for beheading Col. Sidney at Tower-hill next Friday Great Endeavours have been used to obtain his Pardon but the contrary party have carried it which munch dasheth our hopes but God still governs Acquaint Buckle here is no News of Crafton Hoy notwithstanding the Wind is fair 't is his Practice always to loiter by the wap I rest Your Loving Friend c. To this Mr. Williams of Counsel for the Defendant pleaded that the Letters had no name to them nor was there any Proof of their being published no more than that Sir Samuel did not deny the publishing of them and own'd they were sent to the Post-house winch being directed to a private Friend he left to the Judgment of the Court whether that was publishing a Libel That there was no malice proved to which the Ld. Ch. Justice replied that the thing was Evidence it self c. Then Mr. Williams observed that Records had been mention'd in the Information but not prov'd which not being in Court they were sent for and the Jury were set by the Court going oâ— in some other Causes and about an hour 〈◊〉 half after the Records were brought and tâ—â— Cause was resumed and Mr. Tindal being sworn put in the Records of the Attainder of the Ld. Russel and Col. Sidney part whereof was read and the Counsel for the Defendant having no more to say the Ld. Ch. Justice summ'd up the Evidence with great Bitterness declaring the Letters were factious seditious and malicious and as base as the worst of Mankind though he had all the Provocation that ever could be given a Man to libel another could ever have invented And that they tread very near upon the Borders of High-Treason it self Calling it Cozen-German to High-Treason c. After which the Jury laid their Heads together in the place where they stood and being presently after agreed upon their Verdict The Foreman gave it in That the Defendant was guilty of the Misdemeanour charged on him by the Information The Sentence of Court was That he should pay to the king a Fine of 10000 l. and find Sureties for his good Behaviour during Life and to be committed till the same be performed Proceedings in the Court of King's-Bench against Mr. James Hollaway April 21. 1684. JAmes Holloway of ' Bristol being fled out of England was Indicted for High-Treason for Conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government c. And not appearing to Answer the Indictment was thereupon outlawed and being discovered by his Factor at Nevis to whom he had written about his Effects there was taken at St. Estatia one of the Caribbe Islands by the Deputy-Governour of St. Christophers and sent into England and there Committed to Newgate and upon Monday the 21st of April
and he should have a Pardon and that if the King did deny it as he durst not they would rise upon him and force him After him Bernard Dennis being sworn gave some account of his first coming into England and how he began his Acquaintance with the Earl of Shaftsbury and was recommended by him understanding him to be a Clergy-Man to Dr. Burnet and afterward to Mr. Ferguson in order to the bringing him over and how my Lord proffer'd him a Benefice And that one time being with him my Lord asked him How many there might be of his Name in his Country and told him that he would have him to advise those of his Name and Friends to be in a readiness when-ever occasion shall serve to stand by and assist the Common-Wealth of England for that they did really intend to have England under a Common-Wealth and would extirpate the King and all his Family as near as they could And said he admir'd at the Irish Nation to be such Fools for that it was very certain that King James Queen Elizabeth King Charles the First and the King that now is does wrong them to very Destruction But that a Common-Wealth would take more pity of them than any do now in this time wherein the King governs Here the King's Evidence ceasing the Jury enquired upon what Statute the Indictment was grounded and whether any of these Witnesses stood indicted To which the Court returning a satisfactory Answer they withdrew and the Court adjourned till three of the Clock When being sat again the Witnesses were all called one by one and examined by the Jury concerning what they had severally deposed Wherein nothing was remarkable but what they examin'd Mr. Secretary Jenkins Whether he heard not a Debate in the House of Commons about an Association And that Booth acknowledged himself to be in Orders tho now not Beneficed Turbervile and John Macnamarra that though they signed the Petition to the Common-Council for some Maintenance and that they were tempted to revoke their Evidence yet never read it nor knew what was in it And that Haynes further said That he heard the Lord Shaftsbury say at a Pastry-Cook's Shop in Iron-Monger Lane that the King had no more Religion than an Horse That when he came came first to England he was inclined to Popery but since he was degenerated from all the Principles of Christianity being just like a perfect Beast The Witnesses being examined the Jury withdrew and took the Statute-Book with them and returned the Bill Ignoramus Upon which the People fell a Hollowing and Shouting which Mr. Attorn Gen. desired might be recorded The Trial of Charles John Count Conningsmark Christopher Vratz Captain John Stern Lieutenant and Charles George Borosky alias Boratzi before the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton At the Old-Baily on Tuesday February the 28th 1681. THE Prisoners then and there appearing were Arraigned for the barbarous Murder of Thomas Thynn Esq And being Foreigners Mr. Vandore and Sir Nathaniel Johnson were sworn Interpreters They pleaded Not Guilty and desired their Jury might consist of half Foreigners which was granted And the Count desired his Trial might be put off a day or two and that he might be tried by himself neither of which were granted Then after some Challenges on both sides the Jury sworn were Sir William Roberts Bar. Moses Charas Gent. Richard Pagett Esq Charles Beelow Gent. George Hocknal Esq Peter Vandenhagen Gent. Walter Moyle Esq Christopher Ripkey Gent. Thomas Henslow Esq Daniel Griggion Gent. John Haynes Esq John Lebarr Gent. To whom the Indictment was read and Mr. Keen and Sir Francis Withens opened the same and then William Cole deposed That on Sunday Feb. 12. about a quarter after Eight at Night his Master Thomas Thynn Esq was coming up St. James-Street from the Countess of Northumberland's and he was walking with a Flambeau in his Hand before the Coach and coming along at the lower end of St. Albans-Street he heard the Blunderbuss go off and turning his Face back saw a great Smoke and heard his Master cry out he was murdered and saw three Horsemen riding away on the right side of the Coach whom he pursued and cried out Murder He ran to the upper end of the Hay-Market till he was quite spent and then turning back again his Master was got into the House whom he understood was wounded One of the Men was upon a little Bay Horse William Ellers deposed That then and there he coming with his Master from the Lady Northumberland's there came three Men riding by the right side of the Coach and as they rid one of them turned about and said Stop you Dog And just as he looked about the Fire was let into the Coach upon his Master and the Men ran away as fast as they could and that he could not know any of their Faces Mr. Hobbs the Chirurgeon deposed That he was with Mr. Thynn about nine or ten a Clock that Night he was wounded and found him shot with four Bullets which entred into his Body tore his Guts and wounded his Liver and Stomach and Gall and broke one of his Ribs and wounded the great Bone below of which Wounds he died and believed there as never a Wound but was Mortal He shewed the Court the four Bullets two of which he thought might be Iron one he found in the Stomach one between the Ribs and the Skin and two were lodged in the Back-bone Then Mr. White the Coroner deposed That on Feb. 13. he sat upon the Body and found four Holes on the right Side behind his short Ribbs as if made with Bullets and he gave order to open the Body and saw Mr. Hobbs take out the four Bullets Boresky being then told what was said replied That he fired the Blunderbuss but did not know how many Bullets there were because he did not charge it but he could tell who did But the Ld. Ch. Justice said that would not be material because his Evidence could charge no Body but himself Then Mr. Bridgman and Sir John Reresby deposed That Borosky Vratz and Stern were examined by them and proffer'd to read their Examinations but the Ld. Ch. Justice would not suffer it because their Evidence could charge no Body but themselves and he would not let the Jury be possess'd by that which is not Evidence And therefore they were only suffer'd to help their Memories by the Examinations and to mention only what they had confessed as to themselves Therefore they said that Borosky then confessed that he came into England at the desire of Count Conningsmark But here the Ld. Ch. Justice interrupted again the Evidence and bid Mr. Bridgman only relate his Confession as to himself which was That he fired the Musquetoon by the Captain 's Order who had before bid him to fire as soon as ever he stopped the Coach Capt. Vratz confessed that he came with a Design to fight Mr. Thynn having sent him Challenges by Post from