the Prisoners Mrs. Gaunt to be burnt and the other 3 to be drawn hang'd and quarter'd which was accordingly executed upon them and Mr. Cornish was hang'd in Cheapside over against Kings-street on Friday October 23 1685. and his Quarters afterwards put up in several Places and his Head upon the Guild-Hall where it stood till the tidings of the Dutch Invasion summon'd it with the other Quarters into the Grave after they had been expos'd in that infamous manner the space of 3 Years The Trial of Henry Baron Delamere in Westminster-Hall before George Lord Jefferies constituted Lord High-Steward on this Occasion on Thursday Jan. 14 1685. THen and there the Court being met the Lord High-Steward's Commission was first read and the Staff being carried between Garter King at Arms and the Gent. Vsher of the Black Rod was with 3 Reverences delivered upon the knee to his Grace and by him redelivered to the Gent. Vsher of the Black Rod to hold during the Service Then Proclamation was made by a Serjeant at Arms for all Persons present except Peers Privy Councellors and the reverend Judges now assistant to be uncovered and for all to whom any Writ had been directed for the certifying of any Indictment before his Grace to bring in the same forthwith After which Sir Edward Lutwich deliver'd in his Writ and Return which were read And then the Lieutenant of the Tower was call'd to bring his Prisoner to the Bar which having done Sir Roger Harsnet Serj. at Arms was called to return the Names of the Peers which he had summoned who were then called over by the Clerk of the Crown and those that appeared were these following who standing up uncovered answered to their Names each making a Reverence to the Lord High Steward Lawrence Earl of Rochester Lord High-Treasurer of England Robert E. of Sunderland Lord President of His Majesties Privy-Council Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl-Marshal of England Charles D. of Somerset Henry D. of Grafton Henry D. of Beaufort Lord President of VVales John Earl of Mulgrave Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold Aubrey E. of Oxford Charles E. of Shrewsbury Theophilus E. of Huntingdon Thomas E. of Pembroke John E. of Bridgwater Henry E. of Peterborow Robert E. of Scarsdale VVilliam E. of Craven Louis E. of Feversham George E. of Berkley Daniel E. of Nottingham Thomas E. of Plimouth Thomas Viscount Falconberg Francis Viscount Newport Treasurer of His Majesties Houshold Robert Lord Ferrers Vere Essex Lord Cromwell VVilliam Lord Maynard Comptroler of His Majesties Houshold George Lord Dartmouth Master-General of His Majesties Ordinance Sidney Lord Godolphin John Lord Churchill The Lord High Steward then having acquainted the Prisoner with the occasion of this meeting order'd the Bill of Indictment to be read which was done twice at the Prisoner's desire And then the Prisoner deliver'd in his Plea to the Jurisdiction of this Court that he ought to be tried by the whole Body of the House of Peers in Parliament the Parliament still continuing being under a Prorogation and not dissolved and because there was some agitation of the matter concerning this Prosecution upon his Petition in the House of Lords c. To which the Attorny General answer'd that the Plea was not good there never having been so much as any Indictment returned there nor found during the Session of Parliament besides that the Plea was in Paper and English The Prisoner then desired Counsel to put it into Form But it being a Plea against the Jurisdiction no time could be allowed and the Prisoner having no Counsel ready to plead his plea was over-ruled and he pleaded Not Guilty After which the Lord High Steward gave the Charge to the Peers and Sir Thomas Jenner Recorder of London opened the Indictment and Mr. Attorny General the Evidence And then the Lord Howard was first sworn Who gave the same account about the Earl of Shaftsbury's design'd Insurrection as before he had done at the other Trials where he was a Witness to which therefore the Reader is referred The Lord Grey deposed that Cheshire was one of the Places pitch'd upon for the Rising and for that end the Duke of Monmouth went his Progress into those Parts to make his Interest there and that the Prisoner was one he was directed to advise with That after the late King's Death the Duke of Monmouth was at Amsterdam with the Lord Argyle where there was an Account given of the Design that was in Hand of an Insurrection in Scotland and at that time came over to Holland Mr. Crag from Major Wildman to promote and recommend a Reconciliation between the Duke of Monmouth and the Lord Argyle who till that time had acted in separate interests giving some account that Means and Money were prepared This encouraged the Duke of Monmouth to send Capt. Matthews into England to Major Wildman to desire him to acquaint several Persons among whom the Prisoner was one that he was designed to join the Lord Argyle When Crag return'd to the Duke he gave an account that Major Wildman had convers'd with these Persons and that their Opinion was that the Duke should go for Scotland whereby they might know the strength of the Enemy here by their sending to suppress the Rebellion there and also that Major Wildman desired the Duke to bring over with him a Broad Seal to seal Commissions with and to take upon him the Title of King That soon after Crag's return Jones came with a Message to the Duke from England and was sent back shortly after by the Duke with a Letter of Instructions And the Duke intended first to have landed in Cheshire he very much depending upon that County but afterwards considering that the Persons there being of great Quality and Interest in their Country and able to manage it without his Assistance he chose rather to land in the West the Friends he relyed on there not being of that Quality Mr. Nathaniel Wade deposed that at Amsterdam soon after the Death of the late King the Duke of Monmouth and the Lord Argyle had a Consultation together and agreed that at the same time the Lord Argyle made an Insurrection in Scotland the Duke should invade England For which end the Duke sent Capt. Matthews into England to acquaint his Friends among whom he heard the Lord Delamere named to be ready for his Assistance Crag was sent over for Money but could get none and therefore the Duke sent him over again to pawn his Jewels and get what Money he could wherewith he fitted out 3 Ships laden with Ammunition and having before ordered his Friends to repair to their own Countries to be ready he set Sail and landed at Lyme and ordered his March so as that he might most conveniently meet with his Cheshire Friends In pursuance whereof they came to Keinsham Bridge where a Party of the Kings Horse set upon them of whom they took some Prisoners and thereupon thought it advisable not to let the Kings
the quarterly Sessions several came to them to ask News and they told of Mr. Arnold's Hurt and were as sorry for it as any Persons could be and confess'd it a very ill thing That he supposed Mr. Arnold must needs be acquainted with Giles he having been head-Constable and always a Protestant Then John Jones the Cutler's Apprentice swore That his Master asking the Prisoner Mr. Giles Have you been in some Battel Have you been fighting with the Devil No said he for I never met with Arnold And that he did not hear his Wife bid him hold his Tongue Then John Howel Mr. William Richmond's Man deposed That he came to Town with Giles that Day about 12 and that he heard him call to his Master about 11 or 12 a Clock that Night Then Ann Beron being sworn she deposed That Giles was in her Company most part of that Day and that she was at Dinner with him and till 9 a Clock at Night when she left him in the Kitching and went to Bed Elizabeth Crook the Maid of the Inn she swore she made his Bed about 10 and before 11 asked him if she should take away his Candle He bid her lock the Door and he would put out his Candle but she went away and did not and left the Candle She denied that Mr. Richmond came to her or that she saw him till he refresh'd her Memory by remembring her how he courted her to make himself merry which then she acknowledged much to the credit of Mr. Richmond's Testimony and disparagement of her own Then one Edward James did swear That he drank with Giles at the King's-Arms in St. Martin's-Lane from 9 to 12 at Night and then left him in the Kitchen the same Night the Maid had sworn otherwise just before him Then Robin Gibbon John Chadwick Eliz. Peter Powel and Roger How all swore they saw him about 9 but that was not material To these Witnesses the King's Counsel thought it needless to answer they being all either frivolous or contradictory Therefore Sir George Jefferies the Recorder summ'd up the Evidence and directed the Jury who withdrew and after about half an hours debate brought the Prisoner in Guilty Which done the Court adjourn'd till the Saturday following when the Recorder passed the Sentence of the Court upon him which was To stand from 12 to one in the Pillory one day at the place where the Fact was committed another day over against Greys-Inn in Holborn and another at the May-pole in the Strand with a Paper on his Hat signifying his Offence and then to pay to the King 500 l. and be committed in Execution till paid and then to find Sureties for his Good-Behaviour during Life The Trial of Elizabeth Cellier at the Old-Baily on Saturday Sept. 11 1680. THen and there the Defendant appeared upon an Information for Writing Printing and Publishing a scandalous Libel called Malice defeated c. to which she had pleaded Not Guilty The Jury were John Ainger Richard Boys John Stephens Thomas Phelps Gilbert Vrwin Edward Allanson Richard Living John Coggs Henry Hodgsden John Barnard Edward Low and James Southern To whom the Information being read Robert Dormer Esq opened the same and then Mr. John Penny depos'd that he bought that Book the Libel being shewn him of Mrs. Cellier who own'd it for hers and said she could if there were occasion put a great deal more in Mr. William Downing deposed that he printed part of that Book by her direction to fol. 22. and then the Messenger found it and some body else printed the rest Mr. Robert Stephens depos'd that he saw the Book a printing at Mr. Downings and heard Mrs. Cellier own it for hers and say that she kept a Man in the House to write it and she dictated to him and that he saw her sell several of them Then Mr. Matthias Fowler deposed that he bought two of them Books of Mrs. Cellier for 4 s. hearing that his Name was mention'd therein tho very falsly as he had made Oath before the Lord Mayor all that he knew being only this That on the Tuesday seven-night after the Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey one Corral a Coachman waiting to carry some Gentlemen that were in his House begg'd a Pipe of Tobacco of his Wife in the Bar Ay said she thou lookst like an honest Fellow and I believe thou hast no hand in the Plot a casual word that was passant at that time thereupon he began to tell her how he had escaped that danger for that four met him against St. Clemens Church-wall and swore he should stand and do as they would have him when he saw Sir Edm. Godfrey's Body in a Sedan whom he sham'd upon and told them he could not carry him for that the Axle-Tree of his Coach was broke That this he over-heard and came out which the Fellow repeated over again to him but then perceiving he had been too lavish in his Discourse he run out in haste pretending to see whether the Seats of his Coach were not stolen out whom he followed and found him driving away tho he had left his Whip behind He took the number of his Coach which the next day giving to Captain Richardson he secured the Man and he was brought with him to Wallingford-house and examin'd by the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shaftsbury the Marquess of Winchester two other Lords and Major Wildman where he confessed the whole matter that he said so at his House but would have sham'd it off himself that he only heard it from others and being nothing could be got out of him he was reordered to Newgate where he continued several Months but that he never was with him there as the Libel charged him Whereupon the Libel was then produced and the several Clauses recited in the Indictment were read which were to this purpose It was intituled Malice defeated or a brief Relation of the Accusation and Deliverance of Elizabeth Cellier wherein her Proceedings both before and during her Confinement are particularly related and the Mystery of the Meal-Tub fully discovered together with an Abstract of her Arraignment and Trial. Written by her self for the Satisfaction of all Lovers of undisguised Truth In the Book she gives an Account how she turn'd from Protestanism to Popery upon the occasion of King Charles I. Murther ascribing the Preservation of King Charles II. at Worcester wholly to the Papists and from her Observation of the chiefest Sticklers for the Plot being those or the Sons of those that acted the principal Parts in the last Tragedy she doubted of its Truth and therefore thought it her Duty through all sorts of hazards to relieve the poor imprisoned Catholicks which she had done some Months before ever she saw the Countess of Powis c. That on Thursday Jan. 9 1678 she being in Newgate with five Women of which three were Protestants about four in the Afternoon they all heard terrible Groans and Squeeks which came out
July 13. 1683. THen and there the Prisoner appearing he was Arraigned upon an Indictment of High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government To which being required to plead he desired a Copy of his Indictment but being told nothing could be granted till he had pleaded he pleaded Not Guilty And then complain'd of his being arraign'd and tried at the same time desiring a Copy of his Panel having had only some Names of Persons usually upon Juries and that his Trial might be deferr'd till the Afternoon in regard he had a Witness that was not in Town But the Attorn Gen. urg'd the Jury might be called Then the Prisoner desired a Pen and Ink and some to write for him and to have the use of his Papers all which were granted And then John Martin being named the Lord Russel asked if he were a Free-holder of forty Shillings a Year saying that he thought none were allowed but such as were Free-holders To which the Court replied That no Pannel was made in London by Free-holders for that London Estates belonging either to the Nobility or Gentry that lived out of the City or to Corporations London was excepted To this his Lordship urged the Statute of 2 Hen. 5. wherein he said it was positive that in Cases of Life and Death no Man should be judged but by those that have forty Shillings a Year But the Attorn Gen. not allowing the Prisoners Exceptions his Counsel were called and again assigned him by the Court Mr. Pollexfen Mr. Holt and Mr. Ward who learnedly urged what they took to be Law in that Case and were answer'd by the Attorn Gen. Mr. Sol. Gen. Sir George Jefferies and Mr. North the King's Counsel And then it was adjudged by eight of the Judges being present viz. the Ld. Ch. Justice the Ld. Ch. Baron Mr. Justice Wyndham Mr. Justice Jones Mr. Justice Charlton Mr. Justice Levins Mr. Baron Street and Mr. Justice Withens that in case of Treason Free-hold was no good cause of Challenge The Jury-men therefore were called and after the Lord Russel hah challenged 31 of them the following Persons were sworn viz. John Martin William Rouse Jervas Seaton William Fashion Thomas Short George Toriano VVilliam Butler James Pickering Thomas Jeve Hugh Noden Robert Brough Thomas Oneby To whom the Indictment being read the same was opened by Mr. North and the Attorny-General opened the Evidence And then Col. Rumsey being sworn deposed That about the latter end of October or beginning of November the Lord Shaftsbury sent him from his Lodging by VVapping to Mr. Shepherd's to the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Russel Lord Grey Sir Thomas Armstrong and Mr. Ferguson there met to know what Resolution they were come to about the rising of Taunton Their answer was That Mr. Trenchard had failed them that he had promised 1000 foot and 300 Horse but when he came to perform it he could not He thought the People would not meddle unless they had some time to make Provision for their Families That Mr. Ferguson made this Answer the Lord Russel and the Duke of Monmouth being present and the Lord Grey saying something to the same purpose And upon this it was the Lord Shaftsbury prepared to be gone That he was with them at Shepherd's about a quarter of an hour and that there was some discourse about seizing of the Guards at the Savoy and Mews in case the Insurrection had gone on which was to have been on Novemb. 19. and that the Duke of Monmouth the Lord. Grey and Sir Thomas Armstrong undertook to view the Guards and that the Lord Russel assented to all this and the Witness was to have gone to Bristol by the order of the Earl of Shaftsbury against that time Then Mr. Shepherd deposed that in October Mr. Ferguson came to him in the Duke of Monmouth's Name to request the conveniency of his House for him and some other Persons of Quality to meet That in the Evening came the Duke of Monmouth the Lord Grey the Lord Russel Sir Thomas Armstrong Col. Rumsey and Mr. Ferguson one after another That Sir Thomas Armstrong desired they might be private and therefore what they wanted he fetch'd up himself not suffering his Servants to come up That their Discourse was about seizing the Guards and the Duke of Monmouth Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Armstrong went one time to view them and the next time they met at his House he heard Sir Thomas say the Guards were very remiss in their Places and not like Soldiers and that the thing was feasible if they had strength to do it That they met twice at his House and the Prisoner was there both times That Mr. Ferguson read a Paper in the Nature of a Declaration setting forth the Grievances of the Nation in order to a Rising He could not say the Lord Russel was present at the reading of it but Col. Rumsey was who then deny'd it saying it was over before he came Then the Lord Howard being sworn began his long Evidence with a low Voice pretending the News he had just then receiv'd of the Earl of Essex's Fate had sunk his Voice and a long Story of the Designs of the Earl of Shaftsbury an Account of which he had from Capt. VValcot whom he brought acquainted with the Earl of Shaftsbury and by whom the Earl of Shaftsbury sent for him while he absconded at one VVatson's at the end of VVoodstreet and there discover'd to him his Design of the Rising and that he had 10000 brisk Boys ready to follow him whenever he held up his Finger who were to possess themselves of the Gates and would in an Hour's time be 5 times multiplied But that his Design was much retarded by the backwardness of the Duke of Monmouth and the Lord Russel who failed him in not being ready prepared to concur with him in the Country that he then endeavour'd to shew the Earl of Shaftsbury the necessity of having those Lords concurrence in so weighty an Undertaking and proffer'd his Service to bring them to a right Understanding among themselves to this end he spoke with the Duke of Monmouth who deny'd that either he or the Lord Russel had given the Earl of Shaftsbury any incouragement to be so forward because they knew the Country could not be ready to stir so soon That a Meeting was then propos'd but afterwards put off by reason of the Earl of Shaftsbury's fears of being discover'd That the Duke of Monmouth told him that the Lord Russel had been with the Earl of Shaftsbury and preswaded him to put off his Rendezvouz for only a Fortnight against which time they would try to be ready for him But the Country not being ready that Design was disappointed That in October Captain Walcot acquainted him with the Design upon the King with which he acquainted the Duke of Monmouth who said he would never suffer it and they did all they could to prevent it This failing the
next Design was to be on Novemb. the 17th but the Country not being then in a readiness the Earl of Shaftsbury upon hearing it went away for Holland That after this they all began to lie under a sense that they had gone so far and communicated it to so many that it was unsafe to make a Retreat And for the carrying it on thought it necessary there should be some General Council that should take upon them the care of the whole Whereupon they erected the Council of six which consisted of the Duke of Monmouth Earl of Essex Lord Russel Mr. Hambden jun. Col. Sidney and himself That these met at Mr. Hambden's House about the middle of January last and there the Particulars offer'd to their Consideration whereto they were to bring their Advice were Whether the Insurrection were most proper to be begun in London or in the Country or both in an Instant What Countries and Towns were fittest and most dispos'd to Action What Arms were necessary to be got and how to be disposed How to raise a Common Bank of 25 or 30000 l. to answer all Occasions And lastly How to draw Scotland to consent with them it being thought necessary that all Diversion should be given That about ten Days after the same Persons met again at the Lord Russel's where it was resolv'd to send into Scotland to invite some Persons hither who could give the best accompt of the State thereof viz. Sir John Cockram the Lord Melvil and Sir Hugh Campbel and that in Discourse it was referr'd to Col. Sidney to take care of that Business who afterwards told him he had sent Aaron Smith and given him 60 Guinies for his Journey That to avoid Observation they concluded not to meet till the return of this Messenger and he going in the mean time to his Estate in Essex and thence to the Bath he knew nothing more only when he came back he was informed Smith was come back and Sir John Cockram with him That he was sure the Lord Russel was present at these Meetings and to his understanding did consent though nothing was put to the Vote And he wished he could say the Lord Russel was not there To this the Prisoner insisted that most he had said was only hearsay and the two times they met was not upon any formed Design but to talk of News and they were delighted to hear the Lord Howard talk being full of Discourse of a voluble Tongue and talk'd well And that he never saw any of the Scotch Gentlemen only the Lord Melvil but never upon this Account Here the Attorny General urged that Aaron Smith did go into Scotland and that Campbel he went for was taken which Mr. Atterbury swore that he was then in his Custody and that he had been by his own Confession four days in London before he was took Then Mr. West deposed That he never had any Conversation with the Prisoner only he had heard Mr. Ferguson and Col. Rumsey say that the Lord Russel in the Insurrection in November intended to take his Post in the West where Mr. Trenchard had failed them and that they most depended upon him because he was looked upon as a Person of great Sobriety But this being all but Hear-say the Court would not admit it as Evidence The King's Counsel therefore left the Evidence here and call'd on the Prisoner to make his Defence who to all this made Answer That he could not but think himself mighty unfortunate to stand there charg'd with so high a Crime and that intermixed with the horrid Practices and Speeches of other People the King's Counsel taking all Advantages and improving and heightning things against him That he was no Lawyer an unready Speaker and not so well prepared as he should be c. That he thought his Jury were Men of Consciences and would consider that the Witnesses against him swore to save their own Lives Neither was what Col. Rumsey swore enough to take away his Life or if it were the Time was elapsed by the 13th of this King which limits Prosecution to six Months Neither was a design of Levying War Treason unless it appeared by some Overt-Act as appears by the 25th of Edw. 3d. And then desiring to know upon what Statute he was indicted it was told him upon the 25th of Edw. the 3d. Whereupon he desired Counsel upon these two Points as Matter of Law Whether the Treason were duly proved and if it were Whether it were punishable by the Statute In Answer to which the Court inform'd him That if he were contented that the Fact should be taken as proved against him and desired Counsel upon what was bare Matter of Law he should have it granted but there could be no Matter of Law admitted but upon a Fact admitted and stated And whereas he insisted that the Business at Mr. Shepherd's House was sworn to only by one Witness It was answered that if there were one Witness of one Act of Treason another of a 2d and another of a 3d that manifested the same Treason it was sufficient The Statute then of 25th of Edw. 3d. c. 2. was read And then the Prisoner insisted that he was never but at one Meetings at Mr. Shepherd's and Col. Rumsey was there before he came in but Rumsey said No the Duke of Monmouth and the Lord Russel went away together Then in behalf of the Prisoner the Earl of Anglesey declared That visiting the Earl of Bedford last week the Lord Howard came in and told the Earl of Bedford that his Son could not be in such a Plot or suspected of it and that he knew nothing against the Lord Russel or any Body else of such a Barbarous Design And then going on to tell what the Lady Chaworth had told him the King's Counsel interrupted him telling him as the Court would not permit them to give Hear-say-Evidence against the Prisoner so they must not permit his Lordship to do it for the Prisoner Mr. Edward Howard declared That the Lord Howard took it upon his Honour and his Faith he knew nothing of any Person concerned in that Business and noâ— only thought the Lord Russel unjustly suffered but he took God and Man to Witness he thought the Lord Russel the Worthiest Man in the World Dr. Burnet declared The Lord Russel was with him the Night after the Plot broke out and did then as he had done before with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven protest that he knew nothing of any Plot nor believ'd any and treated it with great Scorn and Contempt The Lord Cavendish testified to the Prudence and Honour of the Lord Russel and how unlikely it was for him to be concern'd and had heard him declare his ill Opinion of Rumsey two or three Days after the Discovery and therefore that it was unlikely he would entrust him with such a Secret Dr. Thomas Cox and Dr. Burnet again testified as to his Life and Conversation and of his aversness to
of the Dungeon called the condemned Hole She asked Harris the Turn-key what doleful Cry it was who said it was a Woman in Labour she desired they might go to her and help her but he drove them away rudely but listning they soon found it was the Voice of a strong Man in Torture and heard as they thought between his Groans the winding up of some Engine These Cries stopt the Passengers under the Gate and they six went to a Turners Shop without the Gate and stood there amazed when one of the Officers of the Prison came out in great haste seeming to run from the Noise whom catching hold of they asked him what the Noise meant and whether it was not Prance upon the Rack he said he durst not tell them but was not able to hear any longer running away towards Holborn as fast as he could They heard these Groans perfectly to the end of the Old-Baily and they continued till near seven and then a Person in the Habit of a Minister of middle Stature Grey-hair'd accompanied with two other Men went into the Lodg The Prisoners were lock'd up and the outward Door of the Lodg also at which she set a Person to stand and observe what she could and a Prisoner loaded with Irons was brought into the Lodg and examined a long time and the Prisoners that came down as low as they could heard the Person examined with great Vehemency say often I know nothing of it I am innocent he forced me to be-lie my self What would you have me say Will you murder me because I will not be-lie my self and others The Prisoners heard again the same Cry about four of the Clock the next Morning and on Saturday-Morning again and that Morning a Person emplyed to spy seeing the Turn-key carry a Bed into the Dungeon asked who it was for he told her it was for Prance who was gone mad and had torn his Bed in pieces That Night the Examiners came again and after an hours Conference Prance was led away to the Press-yard Soon after this Francis Corral a Coach-Man that had been put into Newgate upon suspicion of carrying away Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey's Body and lay there thirteen weeks and three days in great Misery got out whom she went to see and found him a sad Spectacle having the Flesh worn away and great holes in both his Legs by the weight of his Irons and having been chained so long double that he could not stand upright who told her of his hard usage how he had been squeez'd and hasped into a thing like a Trough in a Dungeon under ground insomuch that he swoonded and that a Person in the Habit of a Minister stood by all the while That a Duke beat him pull'd him by the Hair and set his drawn Sword to his Breast three times and swore he would run him through and another great Lord laid down an heap of Gold and told him it was 500 l. and that he should have it all and be taken into the aforesaid Dukes House if he would confess what they would have him and one F. a Vintner at the Half-Moon in Cheapside by whose contrivance he was accused took him aside and bid him name some Person and say they imployed him to take up the dead Body in Somerset-yard and gave him Mony for so doing that if he would do this both F. and he should have Mony enough And he also told her that he was kept from Thursday till Sunday without Victuals or Drink having his Hands every Night chained behind him and being all his time lock'd to a Staple driven into the Floor with a Chain not above a Yard long that he was forced to drink his own Water and the Jaylor beat his Wife because she brought Victuals and pray'd he might have it In another place of the Libel were these words read My Arraignment which in confidence of my own Innocency I continually pressed for not but that I knew the danger as to this Life of encountring the Devil in the worst of his Instruments which are Perjurors encouraged to that degree as that profligated Wretch Thomas Dangerfield was and has been since his being exposed to the World in his true Colours both at mine and anothers Trial. And in another place of the Libel Nor have I since received any thing towards my Losses or the least Civility from any of them whilst Dangerfield when made a Prisoner for apparent Recorded Rogueries was visited by and from Persons of considerable Quality with great Sums of Gold and Silver to encourage him in the new Villanies he had undertaken not against me alone but Persons in whose Safety all good Men as well Protestants as others in the three Kingdoms are concerned And in the Postscript are these words And whensoever his Majesty pleases to make it as safe and honourable as it is apparent it hath been gainful and meritorious to do the contrary there will not want Witnesses to testify the Truth of more than I have written and Persons that are above being made the Hangman's Hounds for weekly Pensions or any other Considerations whatsoever c. After thus much was read Mr. Baron Weston made some smart Reflections thereon and then Mr. Prance deposed that he was used very civily in Prison and never saw any thing of Torture while he was in Newgate and that Dr. Lloyd was with him many times and if any such thing had been he would have seen it Then Francis Coral was called but appeared not and Captain Richardson informed the Court that they had got him away but that his Wife was there who being sworn deposed that she was not suffer'd to see her Husband in Prison and that she heard that he was like to be starved and saw him with Irons on at length and afterwards holes in his Legs but deny'd that ever she was beat for bringing Victuals to him and the Lord Mayor Sir Robert Clayton declared that her Husband had denyed all upon Oath before him Then Mrs. Cellier called two or three Witnesses to prove that she sent about for her Witnesses in order to make her Defence but that they could not be had in so short time and therefore desired more time and desired the Court to confider she was but a Woman and that she had suffered much for his Majesty and begged therefore Mercy in Justice Then Mr. Baron Weston summ'd up the Evidence and the Jury returned her Guilty at which there was a great shout and so the Keeper carried her back to Newgate from whence on Monday Sept. 13. she was brought to the Bar and Mr. Recorder gave the Judgment of the Court which was that a 1000 l. Fine should be put upon her and she be committed in Execution till it be paid And that she should stand in the Pillory three several days in three several places between the hours of twelve and one The first place at the May-Pole in the Strand the second in Covent-Garden and
testified that he being to carry Mrs. Pressicks before Justice Lowther Bolron's Wife said she was sorry for it for she believed her to be an honest Woman and had been a good Neighbour amongst them Mary Walker Servant-maid to Mrs. Lassels Thwing's Sister testified that Bolron proffer'd her 10 l. to swear Thwing was a Priest Then William Bacchus said that when he served a Warrant on the two Mrs. Bolron's to go before Mr. Lowther they said they could say nothing against Six Tho. Gascoyne nor any of the Family Cuthbert Hamsworth said that fie heard Bolron swear Revenge against the Lady Tempest for prosecuting a Suit against him Then the Prisoner endeavoured to prove he was not at Barnborow-hall in 1677. by George Twisley Groom to Sir Tho. Gascoyne who could only say that he used to come there but a night or two in a Year Joseph Cooper said that about a Year ago he heard Mowbray say he knew nothing of the Plot and that he believed Sir Tho. Gascoyne was guilty of no such thing for if he had he should have known it as soon as Bolron and he was a Rogue and a Knave for saying any such thing Edward Cooper sen said he then heard Mowbray say he thought Sir Thomas Gascoyne was not guilty of the Plot. Isabel Heyward a Girle that lived with Bolron as a Servant testified that her Master and Mistrifs falling out she said she would not go to London and if he made her go she would swear that what he had sworn against Mrs. Pressicks was out of Malice Alice Dawson testified that the day after New-years-day was twelve-month Mrs. Bolron said she was sorry for nothing but that her Husband had meddled with Mrs. Tressicks One or two Witnesses more were called but nothing to the purpose Therefore Mr. Justice Dolben summ'd up the Evidence and Mr. Baron Atkins proceeded to do the same And the Jury withdrawing for a while brought in Thomas Thwing Guilty and Mary Pressicks not Guilty And on the Monday following Mr. Justice Dolben sentenced him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd The Trials of William Viscount Stafford in Westminster-hall from November the 30th to December the 7th 1680. before the House of Peers ON Tuesday Nov. the 30th the Right Honourable Henege Lord Finch Baton of Daventry Lord High Chancellor of England being constituted Lord High Steward for the present occasion and all things fitted for the purpose in VVestminster-hall and both Houses being seated and the Commons all bare VVilliam Viscount Stafford was brought to the Bar kneeling till the Lord High Steward bid him rise and a Chair set for him After which making a short Speech to him concerning the occasion of his appearing there the Articles of Impeachment High Treason against him and the other Lords in the Tower by the Commons of England were read which consisted of seven Heads The 1st That there hath for many Years a Plot been contrived c. 2ly Naming the Persons concerned therein and particularly the Noble Lord at the Bar. 3ly That consults had been held and the Murder of the King resolved on therein c. 4ly That consultations have been for the raising of Men Mony Arms c. 5ly That Commissions had been given and received and particularly a Commission for the Lord Stafford to be Pay-master of the Army 6ly That to hide and hinder a Discovery an Oath of Secresy and the Sacrament had been given and taken and Sir Edm. Godfrey murdered 7ly That the Guilt of that Murder was endeavoured to be put upon Protestants c. The Lord Stafford's Answer to which was then also read wherein he put himself upon his Peers for Trial affirming himself Not Guilty After this Serjeant Maynard Sir Francis VVinnington and Mr. Treby being of the Committee appointed for the Management of the Evidence opened the Charge and Evidence in very excellent Speeches And proposed to prove first the Plot in general and the Guilt of this Lord therein in particular And therefore as to the first Mr. Smith being sworn gave a full relation of his Travels and Perversion and of what he had heard beyond Sea and in England concerning this Plot. How Abbot Montague and Father Gascoyne in France and other Priests and Jesuits told him that if he would turn Catholick he should have Employment among them there and afterwards England for that they doubted not but the Popish Religion would come in very soon and that because as the Abbot said they doubted not to procure a Toleration of Religion and because the Gentry that went abroad did observe the Novelty of their own Religion and the Antiquity of theirs and the Advantages that were to be had by it But one Father Bennet and others said they doubted it not because their party was very strong in England and in a few Years they would bring it in right or wrong That it was Cardinal Crimaldi who perverted him about 1671 to the Romish Religion at Provence and that afterwards he lived several Years in the English Jesuits Colledg at Rome where he hath often heard it disputed and preached and exhorted that the King of England was an Heretick and that there was no King really reigning and whoever took him out of the way would do a meritorious Action particularly by Father Anderton Mumford Campion but chiefly Southwel one of the chief of the Jesuits That when he came away thence for England these Fathers for a whole Month were exhorting that the King of England was not to be obeyed and that in all private Confessions all Persons who might be thought capable of any design were to be instructed that they should use all their Endeavours for promoting Popery That while he was at Rome he read Coleman's Letters of Intelligence once a Month and therein how the Duke and the Queen and the chief of the Nobility were of their side how they carried matters several times the ways the Lord Clifford and Sir VVilliam Godolphin did use to effect the work and that they question'd not to get the Lord Danby on their side too That when he return'd into England he found all the Popish Clergy in great hopes of Popery coining shortly in That he knew of Money gathered in the North but refused to joyn therein That as to the Lord Stafford he knew nothing but that Sir Henry Calverley was turned out of Commission of the Peace through Complaint made to my Lord Stafford of his being active against Popery And that he writ to one Smith that he would not make over his Estate as others did for that he expected some sudden Change or Alteration That the Cardinal who perverted him at the same time spoke of great Assurances that Popery would prevail in England that there was but one in the way and tho that Man was a good natured Man yet they could not so far prevail upon him but that to accomplish their designs they must take him out of the way That now he had been a Protestant two
Dissolution of the Long Parliament He came to St. Omers December 9th or 10th N. S. and carried Letters from the Provincial and other Fathers wherein Strange told them he had great hopes of effecting their Design next Year but as yet they could not That they had Letters from their New Provincial VVhite-bread the same Year to order Conyers to preach on St. Thomas of Canterbury's day saying he would be as zealous for carrying on of their Design as his Predecessor had been In that Sermon Conyers after he had commended the Saint and declared how unworthily he was sacrificed did inveigh against the Tyranny as he called it of Temporal Prince and particularly of the King of England Declaring that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy were Antichristian and Devilish and that it was fit to destroy all such as would countenance them In January they had Letters from Ireland of the Resolution of the Papists there to let in the French King provided the Parliament should urge the King to break with France and of their Zeal to vindicate their Freedom and their Religion from the oppression of the English as they called it In March Letters from England gave account That there had been a very shrewd Attempt made upon the Person of the King and that the flint of Pickering's Gun was loose and his Hand shaking the King did then escape for which Pickering received a Discipline and Grove a Chiding At the latter end of the same Months 1678 came a Summons to a Consutt to which eight or nine came over whereof the Witness was one It began at the VVhite-Horse Tavern where they consulted about some things of the Society and afterward adjourned into particular Societies where they did debate and resolve the Death of the King and that Grove should have 1500 l. for his pains and Pickering a Religious Man 30000 Masses Presently after he returns to St. Omers and after him the New Provincial who ordered him back again to England where he arrived at Dover June 14 meeting there with Fenwick with whom he came to London the 17th Letters arriving just after them wherein were Proposals to be made to Sir Geo. VVakeman for poisoning of the King and that the 10000 l. promised by the Spaniards and received accordingly at the time in London should be offered him Coleman thought it too little Langhorn too much saying he was a narrow-spirited Soul and that he ought to do so great a piece of Service for nothing There was 5000 l. of it paid him as he saw entred in the Books and Father Ashby in July renewed the Proposal of 15000 l. and Fenwick in August gave an account to the Provincial of it's being accepted of In July Strange coming to Town informed him in discourse how the City was fired and how many of those concerned in it were taken and that they were released by the Duke of York's Guard and that all the Order they had for it they pretended was from the Duke In July he discover'd to Dr. Tongue of which the King had Notice 13th or 14th of August and by the 3d of September he was betray'd and exposed to the Vengeance of the Papists whose Plot he had thus Discovered Then to fortify Dr. Oates's Evidence Mr. Dennis was called who deposed That he saw Dr. Oates at Vallidolid in Spain and related what Discourse they had together and how they came acquainted and how the Doctor lent him Mony to defray the Expence of his Journey and sent a Letter by him to Madrid which he heard read and related the Contents of it That he had both heard of and seen Mony collected in Ireland naming the Collectors thereof in the Year 1668 for the encouragement of the French King to bring in an Army thither acknowledging himself to be now a Dominican Fryer and a Papist Mr. Jennison being sworn deposed That in 1678 he had heard Mr. Ireland and Mr. Thomas Jennison his Brother both Jesuits speak of a Design to get a Toleration by bribing the then Parliament by a great Sum of Mony procured from their Party And of securing the Duke of York's Succession by getting Commissions to be granted out to the Papists to be ready to rise upon the Death of the King saying also their Religion could never flourish till the Government was altered to the French Model In June 1678 he heard Mr. Ireland say in his own Chamber That Popery was like to come into England and there was but one stood in the way that it was an easy thing to poison the King and that Sir George Wakeman might easily and opportunely do it In August after be also was at his Chamber and found Mr. Ireland newly come out of Staffordshire being then drawing off his Boots and discoursing of the suddenness of Popery coming into England he tempted the Witness to be one to go to Windsor to take off the King which he refusing Ireland asked him if he knew any Irish Men that were flout and couragious and upon his naming some he took their Names asking him for 20 l. which the Witness owed him saying he should need 80 l. That he had heard his Brother Thomas Jennison in Discourse use that Expression which Dr. Oates hath in his Narrative If C. R. would not be R. C. he should not be long R. C. Interpreting it thus in Latin Si Carolus Rex non esset Rex Catholicus non foret diu Carolus Rex Asserting further That if the King were excommunicated he were no longer King and it were no Sin to take him off and if it were discover'd who did it two or three might suffer but denying the Fact the Matter soon would be blown over That about two Months after the Mustering upon Hounslow-Heath about the latter end of July and before the Discovery his Brother told him of a Design in which the Queen and the Duke and several Lords were concerned and that a new Army would be raised to bring in Popery but he would not tell him more Particulars till he had received the Sacrament of Secresy He told him that one Mr. Oates also a Person newly come over to them was in this Design which Oates he saw the latter end of April or beginning of May in Mr. Ireland's Chamber About the time of Coleman's Trial he heard also one Mr. Cuffil a Jesuit say at his Sister Hall's in Berk-shire in Shinfield-Parish That he thought Mr. Coleman was infatuated upon the Discovery of the Plot to give notice to Harcourt Ireland and Fenwick and the other Jesuits to burn or secture their Papers and yet not to secure his own Then saying also that Bellarmine did draw this Sentence out of the Scripture to favour the Pope's Authority of Excommunicating Depriving and Deposing Temporal Princes Quod Papa habeat eandem potestatem super Reges quam Jehojads habuit super Athaliam and that there were other corroborating Testimonies among the Fathers for it After tins the Records of the Attainder of Coleman
Ireland and the other Conspirators were produced and the Convictions of Reading Lane Knox and others were delivered in And the Record of the Attainder of Coleman was read in Latin by the Clerk Which concluding the Evidences in general of the Plot the Court thought fit not to enter upon particular Evidences against the Prisoner till another day Whereupon the Lord High Steward adjoun'd the Lords into the House of Lords and the Commons returned to their House where Mr. Speaker reassuming the Chair the House adjourned to Eight of the Clock the next Morning The Second Day Wednesday Decemb. 1. 1680 about 10 of the Clock the Court being sat and the Prisonet appearing Mr. Dugdale being sworn again appeared to Evidence as to the Particulars against the Lord Stafford who accordingly deposed That he had been some Years acquainted with the Lord Staffordy while he was a Servant to the Lord Aston That in August or September 1678 there was a Consult at the Lord Aston's at Tixal at which the Lord Stafford was and with the rest did consent to a Resolve That it was the best way to take away the Life of the King as the speediest Means to introduce Popery That on a Sunday Morning the Lord Stafford coming to the Lord Aston's to hear Mass as he alight off his Horse he said to the Witness It was a sad thing they could not say their Prayers but in an hidden manner but e're long they should have the Romish Religion established That about Septemb. 20 or 21 the Lord Stafford sent for him to his Chamber and proffer'd him 500 l. to be concern'd in taking away the Life of the King wherein he said he was concern'd himself and that he should go in October to London with him and be under the Care of him and Mr. Ireland in London and in the Country of one Mr. Parson's that knew of the Design And that he should have a Reward in London and he understood that the Duke of York the Lord Arundel Lord Bellasis and others were to give it him and that he should have his Pardon from the Pope and be Sainted That also he saw a Letter from the Lord Stafford to Mr. Ewers expressing that things went all well beyond-Sea and so he hoped they did here for the carrying on of their Design Then Dr. Oates being also sworn again deposed That he had seen several Letters in Spain and at St. Omers singned Stafford wherein were assurances of his Zeal for the promoting of Popery in England That in June 1678 he saw the Lord Stafford at Fenwick's Lodging receive a Commission as he believes to be Pay-master General to the Army which promised to effect and going then into the Country he said he did not doubt but at his return Grove should do the Business And speaking of the King he said there He had deceived them a great while and they could bear no longer But the Lord Stafford denied that he either knew Fenwick or Oates After him Mr. Edward Turbervile deposed That he being under some displeasure with his Relations for not entring himself of the Society he betook himself to his Brother a Benedictine Monk in France where staying a while and refusing to be admitted into that Society also her resolved for England and to that end was recommended to the Acquaintance of the Lord Stafford then at Paris who after some time understanding his Condition and imagining him a fit Instrument he proposed to him a way whereby as he said he might not only retrieve his Reputation with his Relations but also make himself a very happy Man And after having obliged him to Secresy he told him in direct terms it was to take away the Life of the King of England who was an Heretick and consequently a Rebel against God Almighty But he desiring time to consider it avoided the seeing my Lord any more and so came to London and by Applications to the Duke of Monmouth he got into the French Service This was in Novemb. 1675. My Lord then charg'd him with running from his Colours and therefore unfit for such a Service and that he never saw him before And here the Evidence ceasing the Lord Stafford began his Defence complaining of his close Imprisonment for two Years and of his abhorrence of those two great Sins Treason and Murder owning and condemning the Gunpowder Plot and the King-killing Doctrine protesting his own Loyalty and Innocency Not doubting to prove these Witnesses perjured and therefore requesting the use of the Lord's Journal-Book and the Depositions of Dugdale Oates and Turbervile without which he could not make his Defence Hereupon arose some Debate in the Court after which the Lords withdrew and after an hour and an halfs space returned and then the Lord High Steward did tell the Lord Stafford that what-ever Evidence there is before the Court of Peers he was to have but for the others they could not help him thereto and in regard he had complained of his Faintness the Lords intended not to put him upon it to go on to make his Defence but would give him time till to Morrow For which the Lord Stafford thanked the Lords but insisted to request moreover the Depositions of Dugdale but he was told they were in the Journal-Book which he was allowed the use of Then the Prisoner desired he might not appear till ten of the Clock next day because he wanted Sleep writing late or that one days respite might be allowed him which the Lord High Steward seemed inclinable for but was opposed by the Managers for the Commons then Court adjourned into the Parliament-Chamber and the Commons went to their House to whom the Lords soon after sent a Message That they had ordered the Prisoner to the Bar at Ten of the Clock next Morning And then the Commons adjourned so Eight the next Morning The Third Day THursday Decemb. 2. 1680. at Ten the Court being sate the Prisoner was set to Bar and required to go on with his Defence For which end he called Turbervile and asked him when he last saw him who said in Novemb 1675. Whence he made his Plea that he was not within the time limited for prosecution but was informed of his Mastake lesser Crimes being limited to six Months but Treason to no time at all Then Dugdale being called again was by him charged That He had sworn at Sir George Wakeman's Trial that he the Lord Stafford was at a Consult at Tixal in August 1678 and proved it by the Testimony of the Lady Marchioness of Winchester and one Mrs. Howard who affirm'd they heard him though Dugdale denied it and then proved that he was all that Month at the Bath and at the Marquess of Worcester's House by Thomas Bonny Clerk of the Kitchen to the Lord Marquess of Worcester Thomas White his Coachman Richard Bevan his Groom and the Lord Marquess himself and that he came not to Tixal till Septemb. 12. and then had no Converse alone with Dugdale
City into 20 parts in order to the securing of his Majesty and the Duke of York and setting up the Duke of Monmouth That he was at the Meeting also at the Salutation in Lumbard-street and that the first meeting he had with them was about ten days before the Discovery That Mr. West spoke about securing the Lord Keeper for that he would call him to account for Colledge's Death That he would have spoke to two Nonconformist Ministers concerning this Design but Mr. West was unwilling and said the Ministers had destroyed all Designs ever since Constantine's Time and he would have nothing to do with them now That he met also with them at Capt. Tracey's on the Monday after the Discovery where the Prisoner was and there they discoursed about killing of Keeling and rather than be hang'd thought it better to stand to it with Swords in their Hands That he never heard indeed the Prisoner speak any thing of assassinating the King but that he had several times heard a discourse of Lopping by which was meant taking off the King and the Duke and supposed the Prisoner had been at the hearing of it too as being the Discourse of several Meetings Then Mr. West deposed That one Mr VVilcocks brought him and the Prisoner first acquainted who in November last imparted a Secret to him of a Design of an Insurrection to be made within three Weeks or a Month wherein the Lord Shaftsbury was engaged and had engaged him saying that he had an expectation of being a Colonel of Horse proffering the Witness a Command under him which he declined because he had not a Constitution to bear the Toils of War That the Prisoner then told him also of another Design the Lord Shaftsbury had upon the King and Duke as they came from New-Market in October last but that he abhorr'd any such ungenerous thing and would not be concern'd in it but only in a general Insurrection asking to have borrow'd a Suit of Silk-Armour of the Witness and employ'd him to procure him a stiff Tuck farther telling him that the Lord Shaftsbury was preparing a Declaration to be published in case of an Assassination or Insurrection asking the Witness to undertake to do one too because he would have several People draw it to pick one good one out of all shewing him some Collections which he said he had made towards it Which was a Collection of all the Passages in the three Reigns of King James Charles I. and this King which he called Attempts to introduce Arbitrary Government and Popery taxing them with some personal Vices and that the Government was dissolved and they were free to settle another Government Acquainting him that Mr. Ferguson had the management and conduct of the Assassination in October and that he likewise was acquainted with the Insurrection and was a great Man in it Meeting therefore with Ferguson in discourse he told him that there was but two ways for the People to preserve themselves from Bondage and one was by a general Insurrection the other by killing the King and Duke which he said was the best way Then going to a Tavern with him where was Col. Rumsey and one Row they appointed to meet at the Witness 's Chamber as a place of privacy and little observation Where when they met Mr. Ferguson proposed several ways of Assassinating the King and the Duke One was as the King and Duke had their private visits in St. James's another was as they went down the River by overturning or sinking their Barge another was at the Play-House by forty or fifty Men placed in the Pit with hand-Blunderbusses Pistols and Swords who when the Musick struck up between the Acts should fire upon the Box. But because this was thought hazardous they thought it better to do it as he came back thence in Covent-Garden under Bedford-Garden Wall That Col. Rumsey also did say He wondred that the Lords and great Men that were so fond of the King did not raise a Purse and buy some Body an Office who should rail against the Duke of Monmouth and the Whiggs and by that means get himself an opportunity of access to the King's Person That Capt. Walcot also told him after the Design in October had miscarried that there was another Design of attaquing the King and the Duke at my Lord-Mayor's Feast in the Hall or in their return Home in Paul's Church-Yard or at Ludgate And that Mr. Ferguson told him the same thing but the King not dining there the thing was wholly disappointed That after these Discourses Mr. Ferguson retired to Holland being afraid because of a Book that he had printed and Capt. Walcot went with him That there he staid till they writ for him to come over and then they had several meetings and resolved upon the Assassination at Rye-House Mr. Ferguson Mr. Goodenough and Mr. Rumbold undertaking to provide Men And the providing of Mony and Arms was also discours'd on and the manner of doing it proposed the Prisoner being to attaque the Guards he refusing any other part therein Rumbold propos'd a way to bring them off when the thing should be done over the Meadows and so by Hackney-Marsh which the Prisoner did not like but rather that they should retire within the Wall and there keep till Night being a place they could defend against any Force for a day's time That as to the Design upon the King 's coming from the Play-house one Mr. Row told him he had discours'd with one Gibbons that was the Duke of Monmouth's Servant about it and ask'd him if any of their Family knew of it and he said They all knew of it but would not be seen in it and said that he shew'd him the place That after the disappointment at Rye-House they adjourned to his Chamber to consider what they should do And a day or two after they met at the Dolphin Tavern where Mr. Keeling talking of Blunderbusses and Pistols in downright English he told him it was a foolish thing to talk so before Drawers and that was the occasion of calling them by the Names of Swan-Quills Goose-Quills and Crow-Quills At the next Meeting which was the next Week at the George and Vulture where was the Prisoner Mr. Goodenough Mr. Ferguson one Norton and one Ayliff They agreed to buy Arms viz. 10 Blunderbusses 22 Inches in the Barrel 30 Carbines 18 Inches and 30 Cases of Pistols 14 Inches putting him upon the buying of them because he was serviceable no other way and could have a Pretence for it because he had a Plantation in America but Mr. Ferguson was to pay the Mony which he did after he had bought the Arms with 93 Guinies which as he supposed came from Mr. Charlton That at the last meeting with Mr. Ferguson he heard him say That there was a Man imployed to see what conveniency there would be for an Assassination between Windsor and Hampton-Court but that was never reported and so laid aside That
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
Army joyn together but to go back and engage those that were already come together which was the reason they did not go over the Bridge Mr. Richard Goodenough deposed that he was beyond Sea with the Duke of Monmouth and that Jones was sent among other Persons to the Lord Delamere to give him notice to be ready and take care he was not seized in Town and that he heard the Duke say that he hoped my Lord Delamere would not break his Promise with him Jones deposed that he went into Holland the latter end of April last and by him Mr. Disney sent a Message to the Duke of Monmouth to desire him to keep to the last Conclusion which he would find in a Letter sent to him by the Crop-hair'd Merchant which Message was that his Friends in England would not by any means have him come for England but that he should continue where he was or if he thought good to go for Scotland they approved of it This Message he deliver'd to the Duke at Amsterdam which put him into a great Passion saying this was Wildman's work who was a Villain and that it was too late to send a Message now for he was resolved for England and Wildman should hang with him or fight for it with him and that he should not think to tye up his Hands by tying up his own Purse Sending another Message by him when he returned for England which was May 22d to Capt. Matthews or major Wildman to desire them to acquaint the Earl of Macclesfield the Lord Brandon and Lord Delamere with his Design of coming for England and that they should repair to their Posts to be ready for him delivering to him a Writing sealed up which he was not to open till he came to Sea which when he opened he found it contained a Signification of the Place wherein was to land and where he was to rendezvous which was Taunton and who were the Persons that were to have notice of it among whose Names was the Lord Delamere's That when he came to London which was May 27th he could meet with neither Capt. Matthews nor Major Wildman who were out of Town and therefore he acquainted Mr. Disney with his errand who promised to take care that it should be delivered Story who was Commissary General under the Duke of Monmouth deposed that on May 28th one Brand told him that the day before Jones was returned out of Holland with a Message to Capt. Matthews but he being absent Disney received it and discoursed that Evening with the Lord Delamere and that my Lord went out of Town that Night with 2 Friends that convey'd him by a By-way through Enfield Chase towards Hatfield That this Brand was kill'd at Keinsham Bridg. That at Shepton Mallot he heard the Duke of Monmouth say that his great Dependance was upon the Lord Delamere and his Friends in Cheshire but he fear'd they had failed him or betray'd him and that he could have been otherwise supply'd but that he had a Dependance upon them Vaux deposed That on May 26th the Lord Delamere sent for him to the Rummer in Queens-street and that the next Night he rid out of Town with him about 9 or 10 a clock at Night and got to Hoddesden about 12 and the next day he brought him to Hitchen and so came back again That my Lord went by the name of Brown and said he was going to see his Son that was sick in the Country Mr. Edlin deposed that on May 27th Mr. Vaux asked him if he would ride with him as far as Hitchen which he promised to do and they set out about 9 that Night and went to Hoddesden one Mr. Brown being in their Company whom he had never seen before but now knew to be my Lord Delamere who told them he was going to see a Sick Child Mr. Panceford depos'd that he was at Mr. Disney's on June 14th last where the Duke of Monmouth's Declarations were a Printing for printing whereof Disney had been Executed and one Joshua Lock was there waiting for some which he said he was to send into Cheshire to one Mr. Brown which he understood to be the Lord Delamere having heard Mr. Disney call him by that Name and Mr. Edlin having told him how he went by that Name when he rid with him to Hitchen But also he had heard that Mr. Vermuyden went also by that name of Brown Mr. Babington deposed that in their Consultations there were Discourses of my Lord Delamere under the name of Brown and once at a Tavern about the latter end of May last when my Lord Delamere was named by one in the Company he was presently catch'd up for it and replied to You mean Mr. Brown That being also at Disney's while the Declarations were a Printing he heard one say a great many of them were to be sent into Cheshire to my Lord Delamere under the name of Brown Mr. Hope Master of the Three-Tuns in Coventry deposed that the Lord Delamere came Post to his House he believed 5 times from the Sunday Sev'night before the Coronation to June 21 following Then Thomas Saxon deposed that on June the 3d or 4th he was sent for by a Man that had but one Hand to my Lord Delamere's House Mere in Cheshire where he came when it began to be dark and was conveyed by the Man that fetch'd him into a lower Room where were my Lord Delamere Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Crew Offley and they told him that he had been recommended to them by the Lord Brandon who had said he was an honest useful Man and they hoped he would prove so For they had sent to the D. of Monmouth who was in Holland and received an Answer by one Jones which as soon as they had my Lord Delamere came away Post into the Country under another Name and by being conveyed through Moorfields came down to raise 10000 Men for the Duke in Cheshire by June 1. But now they had considered of it and found they could not raise them till Midsummer for that they must have time to raise 40000 l. in that Country to maintain the Men. That they asked him if he would undertake to carry a Message to the Duke that he said he would Whereupon the Lord Delamere gave him 11 Guinies and 5 pound in silver for his Journy After which he hired him an Horse and did deliver the Message That he never had any Concern before with the Ld. Delamere but that the Lord Brandon told him that they must make use of such as he to inform the Country of the time of Rising his acquaintance abounding that way being a publick Trades-man in Middlewich Here the Evidence for the King ceasing the Prisoner was called upon to make his Defence But it beginning to be late the Prisoner begg'd the Court might be Adjourned till the morrow But the Lord H. Steward doubted it could not be done by Law this not being a Trial in full Parliament