was forming some Villains were carrying on that horrid and execrable Plot of Assassinating his Majesties person and his dearest Brother And a Massacre was to follow wherein they principally designed for slaughter the Officers of State the present Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London and others that had been most eminent for Loyalty Upon which Discovery James Duke of Monmouth the Lord Melvin Sir Jo. Cockrane Sir Thomas Armstrong Robert Ferguson Richard Goodenough Francis Goodenough Richard Rumbold William Rumbold Richard Nelthorp Nathaniel Wade William Tompson James Burton Joseph Elby Samuel Gibbs Francis Charleton Joseph Tyley Casteers and Lobb two Nonconformist-preachers Edward Norton John Row John Ayloff and John Atherton fled from Justice Ford Lord Grey made his escape Arthur Earl of Essex killed himself in the Tower William Lord Russel Thomas Walcot William Hone and John Rous were on their Tryals convicted and executed And it is observable that each of them confessed enough to clear the Justice of the Nation The most that they could plead for themselves was that their Crime could amount onely to misprision of Treason Algernoon Sidney another of the Conspirators was tryed condemned and executed afterward who professed to die for the Old Cause wherein he had been engaged from his youth And indeed he was so far engaged that being named for one of the Royal Martyr's Judges he often appeared at his Tryal And Manus haec inimica Tyrannis was his Motto The Earl of Shaftsbury had been indicted of High-Treason 24 Novemb. 1681. for endeavouring to depose and put to death the King and levy war within the Kingdom he having declared That in a short time the Parliament was to sit at Oxford and that he had inspected the Elections and was satisfied that the Parliament would insist on three matters viz. The Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York The abolishing the Act of Parliament of the 35 of Queen Elizabeth and a new Bill for uniting Protestant Dissenters which he was confident the King would not consent to and if so that he and other Lords had provided strength to compel him under the command of Captain Wilkinson and John Booth he declared the King to be a man of no faith and there was no trust in him That he deserved to be deposed as well as King Richard the second And the said Earl further declared That 〈◊〉 would not desist till he brought this Kingdom 〈◊〉 a Commonwealth as Holland was That the King was a man of an unfaithful heart not fâ—â— to rule and govern being false unjust and crueâ— to his people and if he would not be governed they would depose him Though the Witnesseâ— swore positively to the particulars yet there was such a Jury provided as brought in an Ignoramus Sir Sam. Bernardiston being their Foreman who hath since been found guilty of Misdemeanors of a high nature During the late seditious Stirs and Tumults none was more active than one Stephen Colledge a Joyner of London a pragmatical person that pleased himself with the title of The Protestant Joyner he had been busie for a long time sowing Sedition and talking Treason so openly that his Friends advised him to forbear lest he came to the Gallows He made it his business to serve some dissenting Lords boasting of his acquaintance with the Earl of Shaftsbury Lords Gray Howard Clare Huntington Pagit Lovelace c. He had fitted his Raree Show and scandalous Songs and Pictures reflecting on the Royal Family The sole pretence for his treasonable actions was his zeal against Papists who he said had feigned seventeen or eighteen Sham-plots against the Protestants he affirmed that London was to be seized by the Papists and that they had a designe against the Parliament at Oxford and therefore he with some others whom he had perswaded came well armed thither Divers Ribbons were provided as a mark of distinction bearing this Motto NO POPERY NO SLAVERY one of which he gave to Turbervil and it was proved as the Lord Chief Justice said at the close of the Tryal whom he called Papists The King was a Papist the Bishops and the Church of England were Papists He was indicted for High-Treason the 17 and 18 of August 1681 it being proved that he said That nothing of good was to be expected from the King That he minded nothing but beastliness and the destruction of the people That he endeavoured to establish Arbitrary Government and Popery Dugdale Smith and Turbervil who had been Witnesses against the Lord Stafford were of the Evidence against him though there were enough if these had been laid aside to have proved him guilty Mr. Masters testified against him p. 31. That he said The Parliament in 1640. was as good a Parliament as ever was chosen To which Mr. Masters answered I wonder how you have the impudence to justifie their proceedings that raised the Rebellion against the King and cut off his head To which Colledge replied They did nothing but what they had just cause for and the Parliament at Westminster was of their Opinion p. 31. And being demanded what he had to say against this testimony he answers That Mr. Masters had said nothing material and that it was but a jocose discourse p. 39. To which Mr. Justice Jones replied Do you make mirth of the blackest Tragedy that ever was that horrid Rebellion and the murther of the late King Colledge answered I never justified that Parliament in any thing that they did contrary to Law One Mr. Jennings who was another Witness testified that on the bleeding of Colledge's Nose he said It was the first bloud that he lost in the Cause but it will not be long ere more be lost He saw him sell the Ribbons with NO POPERY NO SLAVERY to a Parliament-man as he supposed who tyed it on his Sword c. p. 32. It is observed in the Tryal that there was not one Papist that gave evidence against him and that they were such of whom Colledge had formerly given a good Character though now the case was altered The Jury were so well satisfied with the Evidence that they quickly agreed and brought him in guilty and so he was condemned and executed at Oxford on Wednesday 31 of August 1681. Captain Tho. Walcot was indicted for High-Treason at the Old-Baily July 12 c. 1683. for endeavouring to move and stir up War and Rebellion against the King to deprive the King of his Crown and to put him to death for which he conspired with divers other Traytors and had several meetings and consults to those ends and provided Blunderbusses Carbines and Pistols c. Which being proved by Col. Rumsey Mr. Keeling Mr. Bourne Mr. West and Captain Richardson he was found guilty sentenced and executed Then was William Hone arraigned on the like Indictment the Evidence against him were Mr. Keeling Mr. West Sir Nicholas Butler and Capt. Richardson upon whose testimonies he was found guilty and executed also July 13. the Lord Russel was tryed for
the execution of the Laws which might have hindred more weighty affairs c. The King therefore consented 1. That all Jesuits and Seminary Priests having taken Orders from the See of Rome be forthwith commanded to depart out of his Majesties Dominions and not to return under the penalty of the Laws now in force and that none harbour or conceal them 2. That all Armour and Ammunition be taken from them 3. That all Papists be confined within five miles of their Dwelling-houses and come not within ten miles of London or the Kings or Princes Court 4. That all Subjects be restrained from hearing Mass or other Exercises of Romish Religion in the houses of forreign Embassadours 5. That none be intrusted as Justices of the Peace Lord-Lieutenants Deputies Captains c. who resort not to Divine-Service 6. That the Laws made against Recusants be put in execution and not slacken them on any Treaty of Marriage or otherwise with any forreign Princes To these the King answered I cannot but commend your Zeal in offering this Petition yet I hold my self unfortunate that I am thought to need a Spur to do that which my Conscience and Duty bind me to What Religion I am of my Books my Profession and Behaviour declare and I wish it may be written in Marble and remain as a Mark on me to posterity when I shall swerve from my Religion for he that doth dissemble with God is not to be trusted by men The increase of Popery hath been my grief and my endeavour hath been to prevent it and if I have not been a Martyr I have been a Confessor though I have been far from prosecution I therefore grant your Petition That all Priests and Jesuits depart at a day and will command my Judges to put the Laws in execution against them I will restrain the resort to Embassadours houses and provide for the education of Popish Children for it is a shame they should be brought up here as if they were at Rome And assure your selves I shall never hearken to the intercession of foreign Princes against the Laws Hereupon many Noblemen and others that were in places of trust were put out So that King James could not be suspected of Popery In the first year of King Charles a Parliament being called June 18. a Petition of the like nature is presented to which the King answered That he was glad of their forwardness in Religion and assures them of his readiness to comply with them The particulars being like those in the former and the Answerâ— agreeable I here omit but the King granting all added That he would have done thâ— same things had he not been desired and whâ—â— he now did was from his Conscience and hiâ— Duty to his Father who in his last Speeâ— commended to him the person but not the Religion of the Queen Accordingly the King by Proclamation recals the Children of PAPISTS from beyond the Seas commands 〈◊〉 JESUITS c. to depart his Dominionâ— to disarm all Recusants and forbid the meeting of Papists injoyns the Judges to put the Laâ— in execution against them And many Lord and others suspected of Popery were put oâ— of Commission But King Charles being left intangled 〈◊〉 many expensive affairs by his Father Kinâ— James for the discharge of which his Revenues were insufficient was resolved to caâ— to the Parliament for a Supply which takinâ— advantage of his necessities would not granâ— him any thing considerable unless he woulâ— part with what was of greater value than thâ— Crown And the Priviledge of Parliameâ—â— was made a Rival to the Kings Prerogative for several years together The particulaâ—â— are too large to be here repeated but Siâ— Edward Cooke told the Parliament That thâ— French Embassadour told his Master what had done during this last Parliament in sowing Divisions between the King and his People and he was well rewarded for it And at a Conference with the Lords Sir Edward told them That the Jesuits did vaunt at home and sent Letters abroad that all would be well and doubted not to win ground upon us by our Divisions Which Divisions were then visibly made by some leading men in the Parliament such as Sir John Elliot Mr. Pym and others but by whom they were acted it doth not appear though the mischievous effects of them brought the three Nations into Confusion What sport the Jesuits made of these transactions appears by a Letter taken among some other Papers at Clerkenwel Father Rector LEt not a damp of Astonishment seize on your ardent soul in apprehending the sudden and unexpected calling of a Parliament we have not opposed but rather further it so that we hope as much in this Parliament as ever we feared any in Queen Elizabeth's days You must know the Council is engaged to assist the King by way of Prerogative in case the Parliamentary way should fail You shall see this Parliament will resemble the Pelican which takes a pleasure to dig out with its beak her own Bowels The elections of Knights and Burgesses have been in such confusion of apparent Faction as that which we were wont to procure heretofore with much Art and Industry when the Spanish Match was in treaty Now it breaks out as naturally as a Botch or Boil and spits and spews out its own rancour and venome You remember how that famous and immortal Statesman Count Gundamor fed King James's fancy and rock'd him asleep with the soft and sweet sound of Peace to keep up the Spanish Treaty he had but one principal means to further the great designe which was to set on King James that none but the Puritan Faction which plotted Anarchy and his Confusion were averse to this most happy Vnion We steered on the same course and have made great use of this Anarchical Election and have prejudicated and anticipated the Great One that none but the Kings Enemies and his are chosen of this Parliament c. We have now many Strings to our Bow and have strongly fortified our Faction and have added two Bulworks more For when King James lived you know he was very violent against Arminianism and interrupted with his pestilent Wit and deep Learning our strong designes in Holland and was a great friend to that old Rebel and Heretick the Prince of Orange Now we have planted the Soveraign Drug Arminianism which we hope will purge the Protestants from their Heresie and it flourisheth and bears fruit in due season The Materials which build up our Bulwork are the Projectors and Beggars of all ranks and qualities to destroy the Parliament and to introduce a new species and form of Government which is Oligarchy These serve as direct Mediums and Instruments to our end which is the universal Catholick Monarchy Our foundation must be Mutation and Mutation will cause a Relaxation which will serve as so many violent Diseases as the Stone Gout c. to the speedy destruction of our perpetual and insufferable anguish of body which
would be sooner drawn off from them than any of that Nation would fall off to Rome Some things are objected against him in relation to the Doctrine and Devotion of the Church as That the Church of Rome was held to be a true Church That the Pope hath a primacy over other Bishops That it appertains to him to call General Councils That Altars might be erected That he was not willing the Pope should be called Antichrist or that every raw Preacher should trouble his people with Popish Controversies Some of which were false Insinuations and others vain and frivolous In the Liturgies of Henry the 8th and Edward the 6th was this Expression From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable Enormities Good Lord c. Which words were expunged in the first of Queen Elizabeth lest they should affright the Catholicks from coming to our Churches on which ground the Archbishop finding in a Book of Prayer for the fifth of November not confirmed by Law these passages Root out the Babylonish and Antichristian Sect which say of Jerusalem Down with it c. And again Cut off those workers of iniquity whose Religion is Rebellion and whose Faith is Faction He made these small alterations In the first thus Root out the Babylonish and Antichristian Sect of them which say c. In the second thus Cut off those workers of iniquity who turn Religion into Rebellion c. Against which some being conscious it was intended against them made Objections Which the Archbishop did onely to avoid the giving of causeless offences to the Romish Party Which doubtless he endeavoured with all his skill to suppress And besides his learned Disputations against them he procured a Canon to be pass'd in the Convocation For suppressing the further growth of Popery and reducing Papists to Church and issued very strict and effectual Orders for the execution thereof But it was the method whether of the Jesuits or Puritans or both to defame them most for Papists who acted most successfully against them as did this Bishop and Bishop Bramhall A passage or two in the Archbishop's Speech at his death may satisfie all sober Readers I pray God says he the clamours of venient Romani of which I have given no cause help not to bring them in Concerning the King I shall be bold to say He hath been much traduced for bringing in of Popery but on my Conscience of which I shall give God a very present account I know him to be as free from this charge as any man living and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established as any man in this Kingdom and that he will venture his life as far and as freely for it And I think I do or should know both his affection to Religion and his grounds for it as fully as any man in England For my self I was born and baptized in the Church of England and the Religion by Law established in that I have ever since lived and in that I come now to die This is no time to dissemble with God least of all in matters of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have always lived in the Protestant Religion established in England and in that I come now to die What clamours and slanders I have endured for labouring a Vniformity in the external Service of God according to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church all men know and I have abundantly felt We have observed the Principles of Jesuits and Fanaticks wherein they agree and have joyntly acted against the Government in Church and State for the ruine of both and how like Janus his head they did not onely look backward to the Justification of the Murther of the old King but forward to prevent the Restauration of his present Majesty And hitherto their Practices have been according It remains now that we consider what these Factions have practised to hinder that happy Restauration by Gods miraculous providence and the wise conduct of the noble General Monk now established What the Popish Party did to hinder him from coming to his Fathers Throne hath been partly discovered already I shall now shew what the Fanaticks did And will begin with the Scots who called him home first to vex and torment him with their unrighteous dealings and temptations between hopes and fears and affronted him with unsufferable Reproaches for the sins of his Father and Grandfather as well as his own insomuch that he often attempted to leave them fearing as it came to pass that they would at last betray him What provocations he met with in private may be guessed at by their publick actions The Thursday before the Coronation was seâ— apart as a Solemn day of Humiliation for the sins of the Royal Family and Robert Douglas in the Coronation-Sermon told the King That his Grandfather King James remembred not the kindness of them who had held the Crown upon his head yea he persecuted faithful Ministers he never rested till he had undone Presbyterial Government and Kirk-Assemblies setting up Bishops and bringing in Ceremonies and laid the foundation whereon his Son our late King diâ— build much mischief in Religion all the days of his life p. 73. And p. 52. he tells our Soveraign to his face That a King abusing his power to the overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties which are the Fundamentals of that Covenant may be controuled and opposed and if he set himself to overthrow all these by Arms they who have the power as the Estates of the Land may and ought to resist by Arms because he doth by that opposition break the very Bonds and overthrow the Essentials of this Contract and Covenant This may serve says he to justifie the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King who in a hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties Thus was the Scotish Crown lined with Thorns and the King had Gall and Vinegar given him to drink instead of the Royal Vnction of which he says p. 34. The Bishops behoved to perform this Right and the King behoved to be sworn to them but now by the blessing of God Popery and Prelacy are removed let the anointing of Kings with Oyl go to the door with them and let them never come in again So that although the Scots Army were overthrown at Worcester yet his Majesty escaping with safety and liberty by a wonderful Providence he was as the event now shews a very great Gainer by that Loss And as to his Majesties return into England it is very evident that they had not forgotten their old Doctrine of binding their Kings in Chains and therefore they endeavoured to lay such Conditions and Fetters on the King as neither his Father could nor He would be able to bear As soon as ever the General 's intent to bring home the King was known there were frequent and zealous Applications made That