Committed to the said place for the Treasons aforesaid whether under a Sense of his own Guilt or the Utter Despair of his Royal Master and Benefactor 's Mercy whom he had so highly wronged prevented the Sentence of the Law and laid Murdrous Hands on his Life by Cutting his own Throat several others were taken and Committed amongst whom the Lord William Russell Algernoone Sidney Esq Thomas Walcot John Rouse and William Hone whose Cases we now come more particularly to Treat of which is the Second part of that Method I proposed and wherein I shall Glean only what was materially Witnessed against them and is proper for the further parts of this History whereby the way and from what has been before said I would entreat the Reader to take Notice that there were Two several Designs on foot the one The Murther of the King and the Utter Destruction of the Government in which the Three latter were concerned the other Singly against the Government in which was the Two first But these Two like Sister-Springs rose both from one of the same Corrupt Fountain and tho the Channels in which they wandred were for sometime different yet at last they were both designed to Meet and Embrace each other in the wide Ocean of Anarchy and Confusion At the Tryal of Captain Walcot the 12th of July 1683. for the said Treasons Evidence was given by Collonel Rumsey to the following Purport That about the latter end of October or the beginning of November he was with the late Earl of Shaftsbury who acquainted him the D. of M. the Lord Russell Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Armstrong were at Mr. Shepheards the Merchants House to whom he desired him to go and know what they had done about the Raising Arms at Taunton who Answered him when he came there to them That Mr. Trenchard had failed them about Men and they could proceed no further at that time which Answer being conveyed to my Lord he said There was no dependance on those Gentlemen and that he would leave England after which a Meeting was had by several of the Conspirators Goodenough Wade and others Captain Walcot being then in Holland where it was proposed No good was to be done by a general Rising but the surest way was taking off the King and the Duke to which End they sent a Letter to Mr. Ferguson without whose Aid they could not carry the same on to Holland who thereupon coming over Captain Walcot came with him on Ashwednesday in February after which several Meetings were had about the same matter wherein it was Concluded at His Majesties coming from Newmarket a Party should Kill the Postilion others the Coach-Horses whilst Rumbald Charged the Coach wherein His Majesty and Royal Highness were to be and Walcot the Guards to which End they were to meet at Hokesdon aforesaid and in Case their Blunderbusses mist they were by their Swords to finish the same But this was put off on the Kings unexpected return thence on occasion of the Fire their Men being unprepared tho the same was laboured in by Mr. Ferguson and Captain Walcot undertook to go down and ask But this Design being then for that time prevented they Agreed to Raise Money to provide Arms Captain Walcot being present Mr. West undertook the Arms Mr. Ferguson the Money Goodenough and Rumbald to provide Men for the like intent against His Majesties Person as He came from Windsor to Hampton-Court or at the Play-House as opportunity should serve and a general Rising was intended to which end the City was to be divided into several parts and accounts were taken of the numbers of Men in the several Devisions by Goodenough and others This was the sum of Colonel Rumseys Evidence The next that appeared was Mr. Keeling whose Evidence was That some time before the King went to Newmarket he was at the Sun Tavern with Richard Rumbald and Richard Goodenough c. That Goodenough called him aside and asked him what Men he would procure to go down to Newmarket to Kill the King and the Duke he answered him he thought none But the Question being renewed several other times he had in the mean while some Discourse with one Burton and Thompson Burton told him one Barber would be concerned and Tompson also the Fryday after being the Day which the Fire happen'd in at Newmarket Rumbald came to his House to see those Men he could Procure and the next day he met him and asked whether they were willing to go down to the Rye meaning his House there being as he said no better convenience for the Design then that in England it being a House intire to it self and very remote from Neighbours besides the Advantage of a Court or Wall using this as an Argument to prevail with those Persons That it would be keeping one of the Commandements in Killing the King and the Duke for if it be not done there will be otherwise a great deal of Blood shed In the Afternoon they met at the Dolphin Tavern in Bartholomew Lane Rumbald West Goodenough and Hone where West asked Rumbald whether he heard the King would come home that Night which he Answered that he did but hoped it would not be till Saturday that being the day appointed to go to Rye to meet the King and Duke But if they should says West hovv many Swan-Quils Goose-Quils Crow-Quils vvith Sand and Ink must you have Six says Rumbald of the first Tvventy the Second and Twenty or Thirty of the last by these Canting Terms did they disguise the Names of Blunderbusses Muskets Pistols Powder and Bullets but vvhat concerned the Prisoner only vvas That he see him at the Salutation-Tavern vvhere there vvas a Discourse by Mr. West concerning the Name of Keeling saying it signified in Dutch Culing and that he vvas their English Culing adding that he hoped to see him at the Head of as good an Army in Wapping as Culing vvas then at Colen This vvas the chief part of Mr. Keelings Evidence only something was added touching Goodenoughs Instructions to try the Temper of some of his Neighbours in those Divisions about him by Questions at a distance such as those In Case of an Insurrection or French Invasion how are you prepared Or whether you would be willing to Join therein Telling him withal In Case the Assassination went forward they would lay the same on the Papists as a Branch of the Popish Plot and that a Declaration was prepared to ease the Cautious People of their Burthens and especially Chimney-Money I proceed next to the Evidence of Zachary Bourne who Testified That he came to be acquainted with Captain Walcot by the means of Mr. Ferguson who was his Lodger and whom the Captain used to Visit that he afterwards met him at the Dragon-Tavern upon Snow-Hill with several others where the Result of the Business was A speedy Design to Raise Men and dividing the City in Twenty Divisions Seizing the King and Duke of
the Dead shall arise and wonder to behold themselves Living this was the Common Cry Incomperable Advice But why this Dissimulation Why not in plain English might it not be said Rise and Defend your selves bring in your Plate your Spoons your Thimbles and your Whistles is the Publick Credit of less value than formerly Where are the Drums and Trumpets your Levies and Musters Why are the unnecessary Guards spared say the Word speak your Intentions in Intelligible Sillables Your Noble Peer is ready to Assist you Dastardly Leaders and deluded Cockscombs But Fate had not Ripened their Aimes their Party wanted the Courage they wished them and like cunning Men and more to be feared Traytors e're they leapt they view'd the Precipice and for want of Resolution mist their Opportunities which the Prudence and Care of His Majesty by the seasonable Publishing his Gracious Declaration for the future Abrigded them of 't was this that opened the Eyes of the Cheated Nation and drew the Loyal upon their Knees in grateful Acknowledgments of his Fatherly care of their Lives Liberties and Estates 't was this dispelled those Mists and Fogs of Delusion which arose from the Stenchy Vapours of their Nauseous Principles Designs and clearly discovered their Malevolent Intentions But yet so far had they spread their Poyson amidst their Dissenting Brethren that the botches and blains thereof but too plainly appeared and were not so soon cured the chief Magistrates were such as they themselves had set up and Cajoled into their Service so that here Treason was Indemnified provided the same was carefully Committed within the Circuite of those Walls and tho taken notice of and brought to light they had a free shelter from the Judgment the Law pronounced thereon being Skreened on the Dark side of an Ignoramus Conscience Happy days indeed when to discharge a Thief his Jury shall be Summoned from amidst his Brother Criminals though he sees the Halter he need not tremble at it let the Law threaten him he is assur'd that the same is but like the Cords of Sampson which he can break at his pleasure But Justice will not be so satisfied the voice of Treason like that of Blood is never quiet till the Traitor meets his due Reward nor did we long want an Instance thereof in the Fate of that unhappy Wretch who slipt the Noose here when he was removed to another County and came before Persons of Religion and Integrity they soon saw and as soon abhorred his Crimes regarding the quiet of their threatned Country beyond the Clamorous Instigation of a Rebellious Throng who neither weighed the Crime nor danger of admitting such extravagant Scandals which he had too freequently dispersed in order to the Corruption of that fair Intelligence that ought to be managed between the King and his People The unavoidable obloquy on the reputation of the Nations best and surest Friends and in short the intended Ruin of the Government he lived under to the preservation of which who is it can blame that Necessary Just and Single Execution when he lays it in the Ballance with those designs that threatned the whole Where 's the severity which the Physitian uses in cutting off an Infected Limb to preserve the Body where the Imprudence in drawing a little Blood to prevent the Frenzy of the Patient and then especially when he is inclined thereunto and the usual Symptoms that forerun the Fit are too visible and more then remarkably growing every hour upon him If this be an Error farewel Policy our Ancestors were then in the wrong when to restrain the undue Liberty that Men had taken to themselves in the late times of Licenciousness when the unclosed Wounds of the Nation were Fresh and Bleeding to Enact a prevention of those Causes which too far contributed to the same in making Traiterous Words Positions that aimed at the Life or Person of his Sacred Majesty or the Roots of his Establisht Government tho no overt Act besides demonstrated the same to be adjudged High-Treason yet had this been wanting sufficient was the proof against our present sufferer and so palpable were his Treasons that all good Men cry out with as much Justice against those who first acquitted him as the very Crimes themselves of which he stood Indicted High time therefore was it for our Gracious Monarch to look about himself and Assume the Rein of Empire into his own hands when such mad Jehu's strove to Ascend the Chariot and Cariere us to Ruin Nor indeed was less to be expected as quickly afterwards was discovered in that dangerous Association which was found in the Custody of one of the greatest Patriots of this Disaffected Party a Villany so close laid that no Record perhaps to future Ages shall be more Authoritative to convince Infidelity it self of their then Designs which that the Reader may be further satisfied in I think it not Impertinent to Abbreviate the same and present a short view thereof to his Prospect In the first part of which tho the same seems somewhat plausibly Penned in setting forth the dangers we are in from the Popish Priests and Jesuits with the Papists and their Adherents and Abettors who for several Years last past had pursued a most Pernicious and Hellish Plot to Root out the True Protestant Religion as a Pestilent Heresie and take away the Life of His Sacred Majesty to Subvert our Laws and Liberties and set up Arbitrary Power and Popery c. yet is the same continued with all Obloquy imaginable against his Royal Highness Aspersing his Person and loading him with False and Scandalous Designs and Counsels whereby he had created to himself Dependants in Church and State under expectation of his Succession to the Crown as also that by his Influence Mercenary Forces had been Levied and kept on Foot for his secret Designs and Parliaments unreasonably Prorogued and Dissolved when in the hot pursuits of Popish Conspiracies and ill Ministers of State with many other Considerations that hereby the Treasure Strength and Reputation of the Kingdom was intricately Wasted and Consumed for which ends they had in a Parliamentary way endeavoured to Exclude the said Duke from the Succession to the Crown and Banish him for ever out of these Kingdoms of England and Ireland but the said Means being Rejected they thereupon thought fit to Unite themselves by a Solemn and Sacred Promise of mutual Defence and Assistance in the Preservation of the Protestant Religion the Kings Person and their Rights in the Form Ensuing I A. B. do in the presence of God Solemnly Promise Vow and Protest to maintain and defend to the utmost of my Power with my Person and Estate the True Protestant Religion against Popery and all Popish Superstition Idolatry or innovation and all those who do or shall endeavour to spread or advance it within this Kingdom I will also as far as in me lies Maintain and Defend His Majesties Royal Person and Estate as also the Power
and Priviledge of Parliaments the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subject against all Incroachments and Vsurpation of Arbitrary Power whatsoever and endeavour intirely to disband all such Mercenary Forces as we have reason to believe were Raised to advance it and are still kept up in and about the City of London to the great amazement and terrour of all good People of the Land Moreover J. D. of Y. having publickly professed and owned the Popish Religion and notoriously given life and breath to the Damnable and Hellish Plots of the Papists in their wicked Designs against His Majesties Person the Protestant Religion and the Government of this Kingdom I will never consent that the said J. D. of Y. or any other who is or hath been a Papist or any ways adhered to the Papists in their wicked Designs be admitted to the Succession of the Crown of England But by all lawful means and by force of Arms if need so require according to our Abilities will oppose him and endeavour to Subdue Expel and Destroy him if he come into England or the Dominions thereof and seek by Force to set up his pretended Title and all such as shall adhere to him or Raise any War Tumult or Sedition or by his Command as publick Enemies of our Laws Religion and Country To which End in the Close they Bind themselves whose Hands are thereunto Subscribed and every of them jointly and severally in the Bond of one firm and Loyal Society and Association and do Promise and Vow before God that with their joint and particular Forces they will oppose and pursue unto Destruction all such as upon any Title whatsoever shall oppose the Just and Righteous Orders of the said Association and maintain protect and defend all such who enter into it in the just performance of the true intent and meaning thereof and least the said Work should be hinder'd for want of Discipline and Conduct or any Evil-minded Persons under pretence of Raising Forces for this Association should attempt or commit Disorders they would follow such Orders as they should from time to time receive from the then present Parliament whilst sitting or the Major part of the Members of both Houses Subscribing the said Association when it should be Prorogued or Dissolved and Obey such Officers as should by them be set over them in the several Countries Cities or Burroughs until the then next Meeting of the same or another Parliament and would give the same Obedience to it and those who should be of it Nor would they for any respect of Persons or Causes or for Fear or Reward separate themselves from the said Association or fail in the Prosecution thereof during their Lives upon pain of being by the rest of them Prosecuted and Suppressed as Perjured Persons and Publick Enemies to God the King and their Native Country To which Pains and Punishments they voluntarily Submit themselves and every one of them without Benefit of any Colour or Pretence to Excuse them In Witness whereof they were to put their Hands and Seals and agreed to be ready to accept others thereafter into the same Upon the whole let any serious Man debate what this amounts to less than rankest Treason where they come in the last Clause of it to the perfect point of Levying of War positively agreeing that they will Obey such Officers as either the Parliament or the Major part of the Members either Sitting or Dissolved or the Major part of the Subscribers of the said Association should appoint utterly Excluding their useless Soveraign from any Right or Directions therein But I suppose they thought it probable He would scarce have joined with them to have Destroyed Himself and His Guards The latter of which they Bind themselves to and consequently include the former Manifest and open Treason yet this plainly proved to have been taken in the Lord Shaftsbury's own Closet with Eight other Witnesses at the same time who severally Testified against him as rank Treason and Designs as ever Debauch'd a Nation obtain'd no more Credit with another of our Ignoramus Juries then if Contradictions or Impossibilitiesh ad been endeavoured at by them insomuch that the Innocent Lord was Discharged and a new Holiday added to the Kalendar of the Presbyterian Saints for his Deliverance which that the same might be conveyed to the Memories of their Posterity a Medal was framed where on one side thereof the Face and Title of our Hero was delineated and the Reverse presented us with a Palace becoming his honour the Tower of London with the Sun displaying his Beams o're the same adorning the Spires and Buildings of that almost Betrayed City with this Motto LETAMVR And Judg then if we had not cause for it to behold Treason pass Muster with Impunity and the most Notorious of Criminals Disgoaled and Usher'd in as on the Shoulders of Triumph with Songs and Io Paeans before him whilst Fires of Joy lighted his way into the Bosom of that Town he at the same time intended to lay waste as the sequel of this History shall Evince Audacious Impudence not to be parallel'd by former Presidents or practis'd in any Civil Government and yet the pretence is Zeal for the Publick Good the Catiline was his Countries Patriot the Bulwark of their Liberties the Defender of their Rights and Opposer of those Invasions that were pretended against them Oh well vail'd Hypocrisie Methinks I see the Devil in Samuels Mantle with his demure Priests about him Plotting to have no King in Israel that they might do what was right in their own Eyes Methinks I hear them Rejoycing at the Success of their Enterprizes and Confidently as of old Canting That Heaven is Auspicious to their intended Designs in that it so far favours them But alass the Day will not long last the Eye of Providence beholds the Counterfeit and is too watchful over his Chosen his Anointed David to let the Councels of this Achitophel succeed to the Enthroning the Rebellious Absolon in His stead or Defeat the Succession that by the Gift of Heaven as well as his own Merits is in all probability reserved for a more Wise and Glorious Proprietor One whose Fame like that of Solomons has already reached to the outmost Limits of the World and is justly the Admiration of the present as he shall be of future Ages who much about this time returned from an Honorable Exile in the Neighbour Realm whereunto the Malevolence of the said Aspiring Party had too long Confined Him to the Grief of all Loyal English-Men tho' the Advantage of that Country where he then Resided the Influence of whose Gracious Presence like that of the generative Rays of Light having there produced so general a Reformation and Increase of all sorts of Benefits to the Inhabitants that mentioning the same I cannot but give you a short Account thereof as the Pens of their own Writers have Confest that Men may learn to know he is not so Invaluable