he upon which they let him go The Clerk of the Crows said he knew this Spence and that he was very like Sir E. Godfrey Then John Oakeley's Affidavit was read which was made before Sir John Moore Mayor June 22. 1682. and was That he coming by Somerset-House upon Saturday Octob. 12. 1678. the very day on which Sir E. Godfrey was missing about eight or nine at Night he saw Sir Edmond-bury near the VVater-gate and past close by him knowing him very well put off his Hat to him and Sir Edm. did the like to him and having pass'd him he turned and looked upon him and saw him stand still and a Man or two near him And that he told this to Elizabeth Dekin two or three days after and to his Uncle Ralph Oakely of Little St. Bartholomew about a Week after and to his Father Robert Oakely and several others in a short time after Elizabeth Dekin's Affidavit who was his Fellow-Servant before Sir John Moore at the same time hereof and Mr. Robert Breedon's Affidavit who was their Master and a Brewer near Sir E. Godfrey's House made then also that Dekin had told him what Oakely had told her and that before the Body was found And Robert Oakely his Fathers Affidavit made at the same time that his Son had told him the same and his Uncle Ralph Oakeley's Affidavit of the same before Mr. Justice Dolbin July 4. 1683. were all annexed to corroborate his Testimony And whereas it had been reported that Sir E. Godfrey hang'd himself and that one Moore his Clerk cut him down the said Henry Moore made Affidavit before Justice Balam of the Isle of Ely July 28. 1681. That the Report was false and scandalous and that he neither said nor did any such thing John Brown and William Lock also of Maribone made Affidavit before Sir John Moore Mayor June 30. 1682. That they viewing the Body on Thursday Octob. 17. 1678. as it lay in the Ditch found that the Pummel of the Sword-Hilt did not touch the Ground by an handful c.. Benjamin Man also of London Gent. being not called at the Trial tho twice subpoened made Affidavit before Sir W. Dolbin July 3. 1682. That being in the Gatehouse when Green was took and about to be put into Irons and understanding his Crime saying he did not think to have found him such a Man Green thereupon replied He was a dead Man Robert Forset Esq of Maribone made Affidavit also before Sir VV. Dolbin on July 1. 1682. That he was a hunting with his Hounds on Tuesday Octob. 15. 1678. and beat that very place where the Body was afterwards found but there was neither Body nor Gloves nor Cane thereabouts then and that Mr. Henry Harwood who is since dead borrowed his Hounds and told him that he beat the same Ditch the next day and that no Body was there he was sure on VVednesday at Noon George Larkin of London Printer made Oath also before Sir John Moore Mayor March 22. 1681. That he going to see the Body on Octob. 18. 1678. he met Nat. Thompson there who then proposed the printing of a Narrative of this Murder to him desiring his Assistance which they afterward agreed to print and that contain'd how Sir E. Godfrey's Face was of a fresh Colour tho in his life-time Pale a green Circle about his Neck as if he had been strangled c. That there was no Blood in the place and his Shoes as clean as if he had but just come out of his own Chamber which was an evident sign that he was carried thither and that the Coroners Inquest found that he was suffocated before the Wounds were made c. And finally that one of the Jury affirmed that his Mother's Servant searched all those Grounds for a Calf that was missing Monday and Tuesday and at that time there lay no dead Body Belt Gloves Stick c. Farrell it seems was Trustee for Fenwick that was executed and Pain was Brother to Nevill alias Pain who was famous for scribling for Mrs. Cellier and the Papists The Court consulting together Mr. Justice Jones having first set out the greatness of their Crime gave the Judgment of the Court which was That Thomson and Farrell should stand in the Pillory in the Palace-Yard the last day of the Term for an hours space between ten and one and each of them pay 100 l. Fine and to be imprisoned till they had paid it Pain was excused from the Pillory but adjudg'd to the same Fine Accordingly on Wednesday July 5. 1682. Thompson and Farrell were Pillored with this Writing over their Heads For libelling the Justice of the Nation by making the VVorld belive that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey murdered himself The Trial of Nathaniel Reading Esq before the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster on Thursday April 24. 1679. ON Wednesday April 16th 1679 His Majesties Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer did meet at Westminster-Hall in the Court of King's-Bench When and where the Commission was Read and the Grand-Jury Sworn and then Sir James Butler the Chief Commissioner that then appeared gave them their Charge informing them briefly of the Occasion of their meeting desiring them to go together and take the Witnesses being first sworn along with them which they did for about half an hour and then returned finding it Billa Vera. After which the Court Adjourned to Thursday April 24. On which day the Commissioners there met viz. Sir Francis North Kt. Ld. Ch. Justice of His Majesties Court of Common-Pleas William Montague Esq Ld. Ch. Baron of his Majesties Court Exchequer Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. one of his Majesty's Justices of the King's-Bench Sir Hugh Windham Kt. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Robert Atkins Kt. of the Bath another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Edward Thurland Kt. one of the Barons of the Exchequer Vere Bertie Esq another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Thomas Jones Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench Sir Francis Bramston Kt. another of the Barons of the Exchequer Sir William Dolben Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench Sir William Jones Kt. his Majesty's Attorney-General Sir James Butler Kt. one of the King's Counsel and the Queen's Attorney Sir Philip Mathews Bar. Sir Thomas Orbey Kt. and Bar. Sir Thomas Byde Kt. Sir William Bowles Kt. Sir Thomas Stringer Serjeant at Law Sir Charles Pitfield Kt. Thomas Robinson Esq Humphrey Wyrle Esq Thomas Haryot Esq Richard Gower Esq After Proclamation made for Attendance the Lord Chief Justice North discharged the Grand Inquest and Mr. Reading being set to the Bar his Indictment was read to him Being for Soliciting Suborning and endeavouring to perswade Mr. William Bedloe to lessen stifle and omit to give Evidence the full Truth according to his Knowledg against the Lord Powis Lord Stafford Lord Petre and Sir Henry Tichborn but to give such Evidence as he the said
Reading should direct as also for giving the said Mr. Bedloe 50 Guinies in Hand and promising him greater Rewards for the Ends and Purposes aforesaid To which he pleaded Not Guilty in Thought Word or Deed. Then the Jurors sworn were Sir John Cutler Joshua Galliard Esq Edward Wilford Esq Thomas Henslow Esq Thomas Earsby Esq John Serle Esq Thomas Casse Esq Rainsf Waterhouse Esq Matthew Bateman Esq VValter Moyle Esq Richard Pagett Esq John Haynes Esq Mr. Reading at first challeng'd Sir John Cutler as being in Commission of Peace and labour'd very much to have made his Challenge good But the Court over-rul'd it in regard Sir John was not in the particular Commission then sitting and for that he could not challenge him peremptorily the Indictment not endangering his Life as it might have been laid but only for a Misdemeanour Thereupon the Court proceeded and the Indictment being read to the Jury Edward VVard Esq of Counsel for the King in this Cause opened it and Sir Creswel Levinz opened the Charge After which Mr. Reading to save time admitting those Publick Passages laid in the Preamble of his Indictment as that Coleman Ireland c. were Executed for Treason and that the Lords in the Tower were accused and impeached in Parliament for this Plot Mr. Bedloe was sworn and deposed That Sir Trevor VVilliams brought him first acquainted with the Prisoner who began with him as a friendly Adviser in publick always pressing him to discover what he knew of the Plot but in private advising him to be cautions and not to run at the whole Herd of Men intimating as if the Ld. Ch. Justice also seemed displeased at his forwardness saying that he would make the Parliament his Friends by proving the Plot the King his Friend in not charging all the Lords and the Lords his Friends by being kind to them That the Persons Mr. Reading most sollicited for were the Lords Petre Powis and Stafford and Sir Henry Tichborn Mr. Roper Mr. Caryl and Corker That he should have Mony and an Estate by the negotiation of the Prisoner at the Bar to shorten the Evidence and bring them off from the Charge of High-Treason That he and Mr. Reading had several Consultations about this matter none of which he did conceal but revealed them presently to the Prince the Earl of Essex Counsellor Smith Mr. Kirby and several others And that he did not give in his full Evidence against VVhitebread and Fenwick a Ireland's Tryal because he was then treating with Mr. Reading who had made him easie That the Prisoner in assurance of his Reward told him he had order to draw blank Deeds to be sign'd in ten days after the discharge of those for whom the Sollication was made That he and the Prisoner had a private Consultation in his Bed-chamber March 29. last when Mr. Speke and his own Man Henry VViggens were hid privately in the Room and over-heard the main of the Consultation and Overture of Mr. Reading At what time Mr. Bedloe was to pen his Testimony as the Prisoner should direct him for the mitigation of the Evidence That when that Paper was finished the Prisoner carried it to the Lords to consider of it And that after they had consider'd of it and mended it as they pleas'd Reading return'd with the Emendations written with his own hand and deliver'd them to Mr. Bedloe in the Painted-Chamber who held them so behind him that Mr. Speke as it was agreed took them unobserved out of his hand Which Paper being then Produced was read in open Court Then Mr. Speke was sworn who deposed That on Saturday morning March the 29th last he was hid behind the Hangings between the Bed's-head and the Wall in Mr. Bedloe's Chamber as was agreed on before and there he heard Mr. Reading's and Mr. Bedloes Negotiation together That Mr. Bedloe asked the Prisoner what the Lords said to the Business and what the Lord Stafford said to the Estate in Glocestershire To which the Prisoner answered That the Lord Stafford had faithfully promised him to settle that Estate upon Mr. Bedloe and that he had Orders from that Lord to draw up a blank Deed in order to the Settlement which the said Lord had engag'd to Sign and Seal within 10 days after he should be discharg'd by Mr. Bedloe's contracting of his Evidence And that the Lords Powis and Petre and Sir Henry Tichbourn had faithfully engag'd and promis'd to give Mr. Bedloe a very fair and noble Reward which should be suitable to the Service he should do them in bringing them off from the charge of High-Treason To which when Mr. Bedloe answer'd that he would not rely upon their Promises only but expected to have something under their Hands Mr. Reading reply'd That they did not think it convenient so to do as yet but that Mr. Bedloe might take his Word as he had done theirs and that he would engage his Life for the performance With much other Discourse all tending to the same effect That on the Monday morning he saw Mr. Reading deliver the Paper to Mr. Bedloe from whom he received it and he and Mr. Wharton read it immediately in the Lord Privy Seal's Room After him Henry Wiggen's Mr. Bedloe's Man deposed That he was concealed under the Rugg upon his Master's Bed at the same time and to the same intent as Mr. Speke was giving the same Evidence as to what had been discours'd of between the Prisoner and his Master in the Chamber which afterwards he and Mr. Speke writ down And that he saw Mr. Reading deliver the Paper to his Master in the Painted-Chamber and saw Mr. Speke take it who went with another Gentleman into the Lord Privy Seal's Room with it After this Mr. Reading began his Defence Protesting his own Innocency producing Mr. Bulstrode only to testify that the occasion of his going to the Lord Stafford was his sending for him which yet he did not without leave from the Committee of Secrets That then he was employ'd by the Lords only to get them their Habeas Corpus's And Sir Trevor Williams being called by him declared how he only recommended Mr. Bedloe to him for his Advise about having his Pardon as perfect as could be The Prisoner owning his being in Mr. Bedloe's Chamber at that time and taking his Evidence and carrying it afterwards to the Lords but that it was purely out of Conscience and to prevent Perjury and the Shedding of Innocent Blood and the Deed discoursed of was only for 200 l. to be paid him by the Lord Stafford within 10 days after he should be discharged pro Consilio impenso impendendo to be secured upon an Estate in Glocestershire the which Mony the Lord Stafford indeed told him when he had received he might dispose of it as he thought fit which Confession the Court declared amounted to the Confession of the whole Charge Then he endeavour'd the bespattering the Witnesses Relating how Mr. Bedloe had vilify'd Dr. Stilling-fleet
that Robinson and his Wife upon their Examinations before a Justice of the Peace said they did not know him Then the Statute of 27. Eliz. Cap. 2. was read and the Ld. Ch. Justice summ'd up the Evidence and the Jury brought him in Guilty Then VVilliam Atkins was set to the Bar having been Arraigned for being a Romish Priest and his Indictment read to the same Jury Then VVilliam Jackson being sworn said He could say nothing Francis VVilden deposed That he heard him say Prayers in an Unknown Tongue in a Surplice and had seen him give the Sacrament to seven or eight according to the manner of the Church of Rome in a Wafer at Mrs. Stamford's House in VVolverhampton Then John Jarvis being called refused to be sworn saying He was troubled with a Vision last Night But the Ld. Ch. Justice told him he mistook for Old Men dream Dreams 't was Young Men see Visions and that he was an old Man Bidding him speak the Truth and he 'd warrant him he should not be troubled with Visions any more this being a Trick of the Priests So he being sworn deposed That he had often been relieved by this Atkins and had heard him say somewhat in an Unknown Tongue and had Confess'd to him and often received the Sacrament from him he being in a Priests Habit. Henry Brown also deposed That he was almost turned from the Protestant Religion to that of the Church of Rome but never went further than Confession and that was to this Man and then he left them Then Thomas Dudley deposed That he likewise was given that way and had been at Confession with one Atkins whom he believed to be this Man and had seen him perform several Rites of the Church of Rome at VVell-Head at Ham. Then the Statute was read and the Prisoner saying He had neither any Witnesses to call nor any thing to say The Ld. Ch. Justice summ'd up the Evidence and the Jury brought him also in Guilty And the Ld. Ch. Justice sentenced them both to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd ON Monday Aug. 4. 1679. at Hereford Charles Kerne was brought to the Bar and being Arraigned he pleaded Not Guilty to the Indictment which was for being a Romish Priest Then the Jury being sworn whose Name 's are not inserted into this Trial only that one VVill. Barret was Foreman the Court proceeded to call the Evidence against him And first Edward Biddolph was sworn who deposed that he did not know the Prisoner that he had seen one of that name 6 Years agone at Mr. Somerset's at Bellingham but would not say this was he Then Margaret Edwards deposed That she had known Kerne five or six Years That the first time she ever saw him was at Mr. VVigmore's of Lucton who told her it was he That she hath seen him several times since twice or thrice at VVoebly and the last time was the 29th of May was Twelvemonth at Sarnsfield at Mrs. Monington's where she saw him deliver the Wafer and remembred the Words Corpus Christi to four persons that were there but she her self did not receive She gave also an account of the Reason of her then coming thither it being at the request of one Harris of Lempster whose Wife was sick to seek some Remedy from Mrs. Monington for her Telling how the Maid brought her up to the Mistress how she acquainted her with her Errand what advice was given her and how Mrs. Monington understanding she was a Papist took her into the Chappel whereof she gave a Description Then Mary Jones deposed That she knew Mr. Kerne about eight Years ago when she lived at Mr. Somersets and that Mr. Kerne lived in the House about half a Year That she hath seen several Persons come thither And that one Sunday Morning she saw several Persons go up with Mr. Kerne and listning she heard Mr. Kerne say something aloud which she did not understand there being but a Wall between them That also there was a Child Christned in the House and no one there but Mr. Somerset and his Wife Mr. Latchet and his Wife and Mr. Kerne to do it but she did not see him do it though she heard his Voice And that once she wash'd a Surplice but knew not whose it was Then the Prisoner in his own Defence called one Mr. Hyet who said That Margaret Edwards had denied to him that she knew Mr. Kerne but not being on her Oath when she said so it was not regarded Mr. Weston's maid affirmed That she saw Margaret Edwards and Mary Jones talking together and Marg. Edwards instructed the other what she should say but being called they both denyed it upon their Oaths Then Mrs. Monington appear'd who said She neither knew Marg. Edwards nor James Harris and Mrs. Monington's Maid denied that ever she saw her at her Mistresses House Then the Statute being read of 27 Eliz. the Prisoner urged that Persons that are not Priest's may say Mass except that of Bread and Wine and Christen too in extremis Then the Ld. Ch. Justice summ'd up the Evidence concluding Margaret Edwards to be a Positive Evidence but leaving the other doubtful to the Consideration of the. Jury who brought the Prisoner in Not Guilty The Trial of Thomas Knox and John Lane at the King's-Bench Bar on Tuesday Novemb. 25. 1679. before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs and the other Judges of that Court. THen and there the Prisoners were indicted for a Conspiracy to defame and scandalize Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe thereby to discredit their Evidence about the Horrid Popish Plot. To which having pleaded Not Guilty the Jury was sworn viz. Sir John Kirke Thomas Harriot Henry Johnson Simon Middleton Hugh Squire Francis Dorrington John Roberts Rainsford Waterhouse Thomas Earsby Joseph Radcliffe James Supple Richard Cooper To whom the Indictment being read Trenchard Esq of Counsel for the King in this Cause opened the Indictment Serjeant Maynard pursued the Charge and Sir Creswel Levinz his Majesty's Attorney General opened the Evidence Then the Attainders of those Persons executed for the Plot and the Impeachments of the Lords in the Tower and of the Earl of Danby mentioned in the Indictment being allowed Robert Radford one of his Majesty's Yeomen of the Guard being call'd and sworn deposed That Richard Lane who was a Yeoman of the Guard extraordinary and Father of this John Lane told him about a Year ago that Doctor Oates did attempt many times to Bugger his Son but knowing him to be a lying Fellow he durst not speak of it again for fear he would have put it upon him Mr. Thomas Allen only deposed that in December last when Lane was out of Dr. Oates's Service he desired him to interceed for him which he did till he was admitted again Mr. Samuel Oates the Doctor 's Brother deposed That in April last about a Fortnight before Lane went from his Brother he heard him say having before wished for 1000 l. that he questioned not
seemed much concern'd and his Countenance altered and desired to lie down Then Mr. Gibbons deposed That when they had apprehended the Count they carried him to the Mayor's and thence to an Inn for 2 or 3 hours and there the Count asked him his Name because he said he would come and give him Thanks after his Trouble was over he owned his Name Gibbons and that he belonged to the Duke of Monmouth Said he the Duke of Monmouth hath no Command now and therefore how could he take him by his Order He said he did not come upon his Command but he had killed a very good Friend of his and a Country-Man and if Providence had not ordered it otherwise he had killed a more particular Friend of mine and a Master whom he had served many Years He said he did not think they would have done the D. of Monmouth any Injury After which walking up and down he said 'T was a stain upon his Blood but one good Action in the Wars or Lodging upon a Counterscrap will wash away all that Then he asking what the People said he told him the Captain had made a Confession though it was a thing he did not then know the Count said he did not believe the Captain would confess any thing To all this the Count by his Interpreter Sir Nathaniel Johnson reply'd That he came into England with a design to have got a Regiment and serv'd England against France hearing of an Alliance to be between England Holland and Sweedland against France That he lay incognito because he was broke out in Spots on his Arms and Breast and designed to take Physick and avoid drinking of Wine and his Equipage was not come to him till after That he removed his Lodgings the first because it was too cold for him and the second because of a smoaking Chimney That he sent for the Polander over to dress his Horses after the German way which he came to buy and had return'd 1000 Pistols for that end and had bought one Horse which the Count's Brother testified That had it not been for the stormy Weather the Polander had arrived sooner he having writ for him 4 Months ago That he had no Quarrel with Mr. Thynn nor to the best of his knowledg ever saw him That it was strange he should ask a Scullion-boy whether People might ride on Sundays when he himself over and over again has rid upon Sundays to Hide-Park which was testified by Major Oglethorp and divers other Gentlemen That Capt. Vratz visited him on Sunday only because he was sick That he gave the Polander to the Captain because he should have no use for him himself bought him Clothes and a Sword because he wanted them That he absconded because one Markham his Taylor told him he heard him named as concern'd in the Murder and that if the Common People should catch him they would tear him to pieces and so his Friends did counsel him to withdraw That he heard the People say the Murderers follow'd Mr. Thynn's Coach but would not shoot till the Duke of Monmouth was gone out That he spoke of his Apprehension and Imprisonment as being a stain to his Blood And then the Count speaking something of the Repute of his own Family and Zeal for the Protestant Religion and Love for the English c. Sir Francis Winnington summ'd up the Evidence whereat the People made a great shout but were rebuked for it by the Court Mr. Williams did also the like and then the Ld. Ch. Justice gave the Charge and the Jury withdrew and the Court Adjourned for half an hour and then sent for the Jury who brought in Borosky Vratz and Stern Guilty and the County Not Guilty Who being dismiss'd Mr. Recorder sentenc'd the other 3 to be hang'd Who were accordingly Executed in the Pall-Mall on Friday Mar. 10 following and Borosky was afterwards hung up in Chains a little beyond Mile-End by his Majesty's Command The Trial of Sheriffs Thomas Pilkington Esq Samuel Shute Esq Henry Cornish Alderman Ford Lord Grey of Wark Sir Thomas Player Kt. Chamberlain Slingsby Bethel Esquire Francis Jenks John Deagle Richard Freeman Richard Goodenough Robert Key John Wickham Samuel Swinock and John Jekyll sen Before the Lord Chief Justice Saunders at the Guild-Hall London on Tuesday May 8. 1683. THen and there the Defendants appeared for their Trial upon an information against them for the Riot at Guild-hall on Midsummer-day 1682. being the Day for Election of Sheriffs for the Year ensuing To which they had pleaded Not Guilty And the Jury appearing the Defendants Counsel challenged the Array because returned by Sir Dudley North whose legally being Sheriff was now in question Which Challenge was read in French and English and admitted of a long Debate but was over-ruled As was also another Challenge offered on behalf of the Lord Grey The Defendants Counsel then prayed a Bill of Exceptions which also was over-ruled The Jury sworn were Sir Benjamin Newland Sir John Matthews Sir Thomas Griffith Sir Edmund Wiseman Sir John Buckworth Percival Gilburn Henry Wagstaff Barthol Ferriman Thomas Blackmore Samuel Newton William Watton George Villars To whom the Information being read the same was opened by Mr. Dolbin and Mr. Attorn Gen. Mr. Sol. Gen. and Mr. Serj. Jefferies opened the Evidence And then the Common Serjeant Mr. Lightfoot Mr. Wells the Common-Crier Mr. Man the Sword-Bearer Mr. King Sir William Hooker and Mr. Bancroft all being sworn deposed their knowledg about the Method of the City Elections all concurring That the Lord-Mayor always used to summon and adjourn and dissolve the Common-Hall and that the Sheriffs as Sheriffs were no more concern'd in the Case than any private Man Then Mr. Craddock deposed as to the Persons concern'd in the Riot That he was then standing where they poll'd and the Lord-Mayor coming thither also to protest against their manner of Proceeding Sheriff Bethel bid him oppose or resist him for that he had nothing to do there And that this was before the Poll was adjourn'd Mr. Reeves then depos'd That he saw Mr. Shute and Mr. Pilkington encouraging the People to Poll after the Lord-Mayor was gone and that while the Lord-Mayor was there he saw a great Contest among the People some saying he had nothing to do there another cried Stop the Sword stop the Sword whom he laid hold of but some Body got him again from him Mr. John Hill deposed That he saw then Mr. Robert Key Mr. Goodenough and the Lord Grey among the People as also Mr. Cornish Mr. Richard Fletcher deposed That he also was there on that Midsummer-day by Order of Sheriff Shute after the Lord-Mayor was gone to call all Men that were to poll to come forward for the Books were to be shut up and that he could only testify that Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Shute were both there Then Capt. Clark depos'd That when Proclamation was then made for adjournment of the Court and God save the King was
1684. was brought from thence by Habeas-Corpus to the Bar at the King's-Bench at Westminster where being Arraign'd he was told of his being Indicted and Outlaw'd and thereby Attainted for High-Treason and ask'd what he had to say why Execution should not be awarded against him upon that Attainder To which be reply'd that since he had made an Ingenuous Confession to his Majesty of all that he knew of any manner of Conspiracy against him he hoped That would render him Capable of Mercy and Pardon Upon which the Attorny-General offer'd him a Trial that if he had any thing to say he Defend himself from the Indictment but he Confessing himself Guilty of many things therein declin'd it and threw himself wholly upon the King's Mercy But the Court telling him that the King was the Dispenser of his own Mercy and that they were only to Execute his Justice gave a Rule for his Execution upon Wednesday Sevennight after there being no other Judgment to be pronounced in such Cases as the Court told the Attorny-General when he moved for it the Outlawry it self being the Judgment Which accordingly was Executed upon him on Wednesday the 30th of April 1684. at Tyburn Proceedings in the Court of King's-Bench against Sir Thomas Armstrong June 14. 1684. Sir George Jefferies being Lord Chief Justice SIR Thomas Armstrong Kt. was upon the 14th of June 1684. brought by a Writ of Habeas-Corpus from Newgate to the Bar of the Court of King's-Bench at Westminster and there Arraign'd upon an Outlawry of High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King c. And being ask'd what he had to say for himself why Sentence should not be awarded against him upon that Attainder pleaded his being beyond-Sea at the time of the Outlawry and desired to be tried upon the Indictment Which the Court refusing to grant him he pleaded the Statute of the 6th of Edw. the 6th which gives the Person Outlaw'd a Year's time to reverse the Outlawry and desired it might be read which accordingly was done But it appearing by the Statute That the Person Outlaw'd ought to render himself to the Chief Justice of England within a Year's time Sir Thomas was told this did not concern him for he had not rendred himself but was taken and brought thither against his Will To which he answered That the Year was not then expir'd fie was there and did now render himself and pray'd Counsel might be assign'd him to argue it in Point of Law but the Court over-rul'd him in it telling him There was no such Doubt or Difficulty in the Matter as to need any such thing Upon which insisting much upon his Innocency and offering to make proof of it if he might be admitted to a Trial he produc'd Holloway's Case as a Precedent for it who had but a little before been offer'd it at the same Place but the Court told him that what had been done therein was meerly from the King's Grace and Mercy and that the King might extend the same Mercy to him also if he so pleas'd but since he had not done so and it not being their Business they must proceed to award Execution upon the Outlawry Upon which Mrs. Matthews Daughter to the Prisoner call'd out to the Court not to Murder her Father For which the Chief Justice caus'd her to be committed to the Marshal and accordingly she wishing that God Almighty's Judgments might light upon them was carried away the Chief Justice saying That he thanked God he was Clamour-proof After which the Attorn Gen. offered to shew the Reasons why the King extended that Grace to Holloway but ought not to extend it to Sir T.A. as not at all deserving any sort of Indulgence or Mercy but that having relation to the Evidence and not to the Outlawry the Court refus'd to hear any thing of it and so proceeded to give a Rule for his Execution the Friday following telling him upon his earnest pressing to have the Benefit of the Statute he had cited the he should have the Full Benefit of the Law And accordingly on Friday the 20th of June he was Executed at Tyburn Mrs. Matthews upon a Petition being before releas'd out of Custody without Fees The Trial between Sir William Pritchard Kt. and Alderman of the City of London Plaintiff and Thomas Papillon Esq Defendant in an Action upon the Case at the Sessions of Nisi Prius holden for the Court of Kings-Bench at the Guild-hall in the City of London on Thursday the 6th of November in Michaelmas Term in the 36th Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second 1684. Before Sir George Jefferies Kt. and Baronet then Lord Chief Justice of the said Court of Kings-Bench SIR William Pritchard late Lord Mayor of the City of London having in Easter Term last brought an Action upon the Case for falsly maliciously and without probable cause procured him to be arrested and imprisoned in his Mayoralty against Thomas Papillon Esq The Defendant pleaded Not Guilty and thereupon issue being joined it came this day to be tried before the Lord Chief Justice Jefferys and the Jury sworn to try this Cause were these Bartholomew Ferryman Thomas Blackmore Thomas Symonds William Whatton John Green Thomas Amy Joseph Baggs Daniel Chandler John Reynalds John Allen Joseph Caine William Withers jun. Then Mr. Munday being of Counsel for the Plaintiff opened the Case to which Mr. Attorney General added something And then Mr. Solicitor General called Mr. Keeling who being sworn deposed That on April the 24th he being sent for by a Letter from Mr. Goodenough came to Mr. Russel's a Cooks-shop in Iron-monger-lane to meet him where were 30 or 40 Persons together By whom while he was gone for a little while his Name was put into a Warrant to be a special Bailiff to arrest the Lord Mayor which he seeming unwilling to do was urged thereto for fear of displeasing the Discontented Party which he said were such as he and the Goodenoughs were of even such as would have killed the King and the Duke that being prevailed upon he went along with the Coroner Mr. Burton and Mr. Francis Goodenough to Grocers-hall where Sir William Pritchard kept his Mayoralty to whom the Coroner came up and said he had a Warrant against him and therefore pray'd him to give an Appearance at the Suit of Mr. Thomas Papillon and another at the Suit of Mr. John Dubois whereupon some Words passed between them and the Lord Mayor refusing to give any Appearance the Coroner bid us execute our Warrants upon which he came up to the Lord Mayor and touched him upon the Shoulder telling him that he did arrest him at the Suit of Thomas Papillon Esq and one Ferdinando Burley arrested him then again at the Suit of Mr. John Dubois and then the Coroner dismissing them and taking the Lord Mayor into his own Custody he went thence to Sir Henry Tulse's and arrested him also Then Sir Henry Tulse being called and sworn deposed that about
where the Case was evident But this Court he took to be of the same Nature though of a Degree higher with the other Ordinary Courts of Judicature where there could be no Adjournment after Evidence given But for satisfaction the Judges were ordered to withdraw to Consult which they did and then the Lords Nottingham and Falconbridge moved that the Peers ought to be the Judges hereof because it concerned their Priviledg and so it was also permitted for them to withdraw And after about half an hour the Judges returned and after an Hour the Peers And then the Ld. Ch. Justice Herbert deliver'd the Opinion of the Judges that this Matter being wholly new to them they could not determin but only tell what the Law was in Inferiour Courts in Cases of the like Nature and the Reason of the Law in those Points and then leave the Jurisdiction of this Court to its proper Judges After which the Ld. H. Steward told them he was the only Judg of that Court and therefore he was to determin it shewing of what ill Consequence the Adjournment of the Court might prove if it should happen to be illegal and therefore he ordered the Prisoner to proceed The Lord Delamere therefore did begin his Defence in Protesting his Innocency and Reflecting on the Loyalty of his Family particularly his Father who had been so signally instrumental in the Restoration of the Royal Family that the late King caused it to be inserted in the Patent which created his Father a Peer which Clause he read out of the Patent to the Court. And as to the Evidence against him he observed that it was all but Circumstantial and by hear-say only except that of Saxon's and therefore he apply'd himself particularly against that and called his Witnesses Mr. Richard Hall testify'd how in 1683 Saxon counterfeited a Letter in the Name of one Richard Hildage to him for 6 l. which he ow'd him and Saxon brought the letter and received the Mony and afterwards Hildage demanded the Mony denying that he ever writ for it Mr. Francis Ling declared how this Saxon received 25 s. at this same Hildage's at Newcastle for Mrs. Wibbram without her order nor did she ever receive any of it Richard Shaw declared how he also forg'd a Letter in William Paugston a Bayliffs Name and sent it to him because he owed him a little Mony Peter Hough declared how Saxon cheated him in making him of a Bond for 20 s. less than was due from Saxon to him reading it false to him at the sealing Edward Wilkinson declared that Saxon hired his Horse June 23d last for only three days at 12 Pence a Day but he never came again nor had he had any satisfaction for his Horse it being supposed this was the Horse he rid into the Rebellion with William Wright said he had dealings with Saxon but never found him so good as his Word Then the Prisoner went off from this part of the Evidence to prove that neither Sir Robert Cotton nor Mr. Offley Crew nor himself were in Cheshire at that time Saxon had sworn he saw them at Mere together And to this end one Billing Margaret Davis Mrs. Sidney Lane Charles Reeves Mr. Ashburnham Sir William Twisden and Mr. Heveningham did all sufficiently testify that Sir Robert Cotton was in Town about that time and some of them being his own Servants that he was never in Cheshire since April 6th last nor never out of London till after June As to Mr. Offley Crew Sir Willoughby Aston declared every day particularly where he was from May 26. to June the 4th on which day he went from Sir Willoughby's House homeward Mr. Gregory and Thomas Kid his Servants testifyed that he went directly Home to Crew-Hall in Cheshire that Night and was not at Mere it not being in his way at all As to the Prisoner himself Mr. Booth one of his Brother's declared that he saw his Brother in Town June 3 4 5 6 and so on to June 10. till he went out of Town himself And another of his Brothers Mr. George Booth said he saw him in Town the 4th And the Lord Lovelace testified that he saw him the 5th of June in the House of Lords at the Lord Macclesfield's Trial against Mr. Fitton After it was thus cleared that none of them 3 were where Saxon had sworn they were at that time the Prisoner shew'd the incredibility of his Evidence and proceeded to give an account of his going down so often and so speedily That the first time he went which was betwixt the Coronation and the fitting of the Parliament was to take Possession of a Lease worth 6 or 7000 l. renewed to him by the Bishop of Chester of whose illness he had notice and this he proved by Mr. John Edmonds who said he was a Witness of his taking possession May 5th and by Mr. Henry who was Attorny and delivered him Possession at the same time And for his going out of Town May 27th the occasion of it was to see a sick Child of his and he went so suddenly and privately because he heard there was a Warrant out to apprehend him But while he was at Mere his Wife sent him an Express that as to the Warrant she hoped it was a Mistake but that his eldest Son was very ill and if he intended to see him alive he must make hast up He came but to his House in Cheshire on Sunday May 31. Whence he came on Tuesday morning June 2d and on Wednesday the 3d he was in Town To prove all this Mrs. Kelsey who was his Servant said my Lord told her there was a Warrant out for him which occasioned his coming and moreover his Childs illness The Lady Delamere his Mother testified the illness of his Child in the Country Mr. Kelsey testified his coming to Mere on Sunday Night and going thence on Tuesday Morning and that he had Letters dated June 4. which gave an account my Lord got to London the Night before And Sir Thomas Millington testified the illness of his Son in Town on May 28. he being sent for to him and remembring the time by the date of his Bills After this the Prisoner summ'd up his Evidence and concluded very handsomly and judiciously his Excellent Defence Then Mr. Sol. Gen. having summ'd up the Evidence and the Lord High Steward speaking a few words to this Point of Law which the Prisoner in his Defence seemed to urge That there is a necessity of two Positive Witnesses to convict a Man of Treason and shewing his Mistake about it The Peers withdrew for about half an hour the Prisoner being taken into a little Room appointed for him at the entrance into the Court and then being returned their appearance was took by a Serjeant at Arms and their Verdict took by the Lord H. Steward Seriatim beginning with the Puisne Peer who all declared the Prisoner Not Guilty upon their Honour's Which the Lord H. Steward acquainted him
wherein he says The Design prospered so well that he doubted not but in a little time the Business would be managed to the utter Ruin of the Protestant Party And by other Letters he writes to the French King's Confessor that the Assistance of his most Christian Majesty is necessary and desires Mony from him to carry on the Design But there was one Letter without Date more bloody than all the rest which was written to Le Chese in some short time after the long Letter of Sept. 29 1675. wherein among many other things Mr. Coleman expresses himself thus We have a mighty Work upon our hands no less than the Conversion of three Kingdoms and the utter subduing of a Pestilent Heresy which hath for some time domineer'd over this Northern Part of the World and there never were such hopes of success since the Death of our Queen Mary as now in our days And in the Conclusion of this Letter he implores Le Chese to get all the Aid and Assistance he can from France and that next to God Almighty he did rely upon the mighty Mind of his Most Christian Majesty and therefore did hope Le Chese would procure Mony and Assistance from him Then Dr. Oates at the desire of the Prisoner was call'd again concerning the time of the Consult Coleman offering to prove that he was the most part of that Month in Warwickshire offering something to excuse himself from the Guilt of Treason but being clearly convic'd in both Points Sir Francis Winnington his Majesty's Solitcior General sum'd up the Evidence to which Serjeant Pemberton added something and then the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs spoke to the Jury who presently brought the Prisoner in Guilty who on the Morrow Morning being brought to the Bar offered again something as to his being out of Town and pleaded the King's Act of Grace the insufficiency of which as to him being shewn the Ld. Ch. Justice directed a very excellent and Christian Speech to him pronouncing Sentence upon him to be hang'd drawn and quartered And on Tuesday Decemb. 3. following he was accordingly drawn on a Sledg from Newgate to Tyburn where he declared that he had been a Roman Catholick for many Years and that he thanked God he died in that Religion and he said he did not think that Religion at all prejudicial to the King and Government The Sheriff told him if he had any thing to say by way of Confession or Contrition he might proceed otherwise it was not seasonable for him to go on with such like Expressions And being asked if he knew any thing of the Murther of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey he declared upon the words of a dying Man he knew not any thing of it for that he was a Prisoner at that time Then after some private Prayers and Ejaculations to himself the Sentence was executed upon him The Trials of William Ireland Thomas Pickering and John Grove at the Sessions-house in the Old-Baily on Tuesday December 17 1678. THen and there were Arraigned Thomas White alias Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering and John Grove upon an Indictment of High-Treason for conspiring to murder the King To which they pleaded Not Guilty Their Jury were Sir Will. Roberts Bar. Sir Phil. Matthews Bar. Sir Charles Lee Kt. Edward Wilford Esq John Foster Esq Joshua Galliard Esq John Byfield Esq Thomas Eaglesfield Esq Thomas Johnson Esq John Pulford Esq Thomas Earnesby Esq Rich. Wheeler Gent. To whom the Indictment was read and Sir Creswel Levinz opened it Sir Samuel Baldwyn opened the Charge and Mr. Finch all of Counsel for the King in this Cause opened the Evidence And Dr. Oates being sworn deposed That in December last VVhitebread receiv'd a Patent from the General of the Jesuits at Rome to be Provincial of that Order That after that he ordered Conyers to preach against the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy at St. Omers upon St. Thomas of Canterbury's day That he sent several Letters thither to Ashby about Assassinating the King and in February a Summons to the Consult held April 24 upon which nine did appear at London and the Consult was begun at the White-Horse Tavern in the Strand and afterwards adjourn'd into several little Meetings wherein a Resolve was drawn up by Secretary Mico for Pickering and Grove to go on in their Attempt to kill the King for which Grove was to have 15000 l. and Pickering 30000 Masses and this Resolve was signed by Whitebread Fenwick Ireland and others whom he saw sign it That in June the Witness was sent over to murder Dr. Tongue for translating the Jesuits Morals out of French that he met with Fenwick at Dover whose Box being seiz'd by the Searchers then said that if they had search'd his Pockets they would have found Letters as might have cost him his Life That soon after Ashby who had been sometime Rector of St. Omers brought Instructions from VVhitebred who was then looking after his Charge as Provincial beyond Sea that Care should be taken for the Murder of the Bishop of Hereford and Dr. Stillingfleet and that 10000 l. should be proposed to Sir Geo. VVakeman for poysoning the King and that nevertheless Pickering and Grove should go on still in their Attempts That the 10000 l. was proposed to but refused as too little by Sir George whereupon VVhitebread writ from St. Omers that 15000 l. should be proposed which was both proposed and accepted whereof 5000 l. was paid by Coleman or his Order That in August at a Consult of the Jesuits with the Benedictines the four Ruffians were recommended by Dr. Fogarthy to which Fenwick being present consented and they were sent away to VVindsor and the next day 80 l. was sent after them That in this Month other Letters came from VVhitebread ordering Harcourt to send one Moor and Sanders alias Browne into Scotland to carry on the Design which Fenwick and Ireland had plotted of a Rebellion there That Pickering and Grove did accept the Terms and Grove took the Sacrament and Oaths of Secrecy upon it after the Consult was over in VVhitebread's Chamber That he saw Pickering and Grove several time walking in the Park together with their Screw'd Pistols that they had Silver Bullets to shoot with which he had seen and Grove would have had the Bullets to be champt for fear the Would to be given by them might be curable That in March last these Persons having followed the King several Years Pickering had a fair opportunity but that the Flint of his Pistol being loose he durst not venture to give Fire for which Negligence he underwent Penance and had twenty or thirty strokes of Discipline and Grove was chidden for his Carelesness That Fenwick was by when the 80 l. was sent by Harcourt to VVindsor for the four Ruffians That he received the Oath of Secrecy which VVhitebread administred upon a Mass-Book Mico holding the Candle That VVhitebread issued out several Commissions and particularly one for
them and that he saw a Silk Armour which Colledge told him he did provide against the Papists for he said he did expect we should have a Brush with them however that this would do no harm Then Mr. Samuel Oates Dr Oates's Brother was called who testified That he was also at this Dinner and that Mr. Colledge walk'd with him and his Brother from the Coffee-house to the Tavern and that Smith followed them That he saw neither Cabals nor did he remember that Colledge slept or that Dr. Oates and Mr. Savage discours'd so together nor heard he any treasonable words spoke but only common Discourse Then Mr. Bolron being called appeared and declared That on July 25. last as he Mr. Mowbray and Smith were travelling from York toward London Smith asked him If he did not remember that Sir John Brooks told him at Ferry-Bridge when they were coming before to London that there would be cutting of Throats at Oxford and that the Parliament did go provided some with eight some with six some with four Men and they were to meet at Grantham and go together To which he replied that he remembred Sir John Brooks said They went with Horse and Arms to secure them from High-way Men and that the Discourse was there would be cutting of Throats at Oxford which made them go with Arms to defend themselves Mr. Smith told him he had given his Majesty an Account of it which occasioned the Dissolving of the Parliament And that he had given a further Account that there was to be a Consult at Grantham wherein it was resolved That it was better to seize the King than to let him go on That Smith would have perswaded him to have given in the same Evidence and said That if he did manage it rightly against my Lord Shaftsbury and Colledge he would make him for ever Further telling him that he must say so and so for if they did not agree it would signify nothing And that he discovered this to my Lord-Mayor soon after he came to Town Then the Attorney General asked Mr. Bolron if he knew any thing of any Pictures of Mr. Colledges making or had seen the Rary Show Who replied That he had seen the Character of a Popish Successor but never the other Whereupon one Mr. Charlett a Master of Arts of Trinity-Colledge was sworn who deposed That Mr. Bolron had shewn him in a Coffee-House in Oxford the Pictures of the Tantivies and Towzer and told him they were made by Colledge But Mr. Bolron only owned that he had seen the Character of a Popish Successor And then proceeded to declare concerning Hains that he had been several times in his Company in January February and April last and had heard him say he knew nothing of a Popish Plot nor of a Presbyterian Plot neither but if he were to be an Evidence he did not care what he swore but would swear and say any thing to get Mony That to day he would be a Papist to morrow a Presbyterian he did not care for Religion he would never die for Religion he would be of that Religion that had the strongest Party Then Mr. Mowbray was called who attested to Smith's Discourse on the Road and that he would have drawn him in to be an Evidence against Sir John Brooks whom he had no acquaintance with nor came he up with him on which he applied himself to Mr. Bolron Then Serj. Jefferies asked him when they set out from York and he answered the 3d of August which disagreeing with the Time Mr. Bolron had spoke to the Serjeant failed not to make his usual flourishes upon it though Mr. Bolron's Almanack did sufficiently prove it his mistake However the Court failed not to reprove his rash Assertion Then Mrs. Bolron Mr. Bolron's Wife was called who only said That within three Weeks since Smith came up from York-Assizes he sent several times to her House for her Husband and Mr. Mowbray to have them concerned with him in some Business he had in hand that now and then they have gone to him but they knew his Business because they had Discourse with him as they said upon the Road and they would not go Then Mr. Everard was call'd who said He had been to see Mr. Smith very lately and he told him he knew of no Presbyterian or Protestant Plot and that when my Lord Howard was tried that is the Bill brought against him he said He wondered how my Lord Howard could be Guilty and that both himself and he were joined as Evidence to that Jury only to put a gloss upon the Evidence for said he I have nothing material to say And further to prove a Design of the Papists to turn a Plot upon the Protestants Mr. Everard declared that Justice Warcup would have perswaded him to have sworn against some Lords a Presbyterian Plot but he denied that he knew any such thing of them And concerning Haynes he said That he told him that it was Necessity only that drove him to speak any thing against the Protestants For he had but short Pay and it was Self-preservation because he being brought in Guilty when he was taken up he was obliged to do something to save his Life And it was a Judgment impending upon the Nation either upon the King or People he knew not which But these Irish Mens swearing against them was justly fallen upon them for their Injustice against the Irish in outing them their Estates Then the Court was acquainted that Mr. Warcup was just come in and desired to vindicate himself But it was waved saying There was no weight in it Nor was Mr. Everard allowed to make any further Discovery of shamming the Plot upon the Protestants Then Mr. Thomas Parkhurst was called who could only say That in November last being with Mr. Dugdale and Mr. Symonds at Mr. Colledge's House he saw there some few Arms which he said he had provided for his security against the Papists Mr. Symonds being called declared the very same Story Whence the Prisoner inferred That his Arms were not prepared for his Oxford Expedition this being before that Parliament was called Then one Mr. Yates whom Mr. Dugdale had employed to make a Pistol for Mr. Colledge testified That three Weeks after the Oxford Parliament he heard Mr. Dugdale say in discourse of Colledge that he believed him to be an honest Man and one that stood up for the Good of the King and the Government Then Mr. Clayton at whose House Mr. Colledge lodg'd while he was in Oxford testified that Mr. Colledge brought no Arms to his House but one Sword by his Side and a pair of Pistols in his Holsters and that he never saw Mr. Dugdale in Mr. Colledge's Company in his House Then several from Watford in Hartford-shire the Town wherein Mr. Colledge was born and some others appeared for him and testified to his civil Behaviour and that he was a Protestant Then Mr. Colledge declared to the Court concerning the
be put apart and examined one by one which was granted And then William Blathwayt Esq appeared and delivered in a Paper deposing that it was put into his Custody by Mr. Gwyn Clerk of the Council who seiz'd it among others in my Lord Shaftsbury's House and brought them to the Council-Office put them into one of the Rooms look'd the Door and deliver'd the Key to him And being ordered by the Committee of Examinations he fetch'd up the Trunks and Papers into the Council-Chamber and this Paper he took out of a Velvet Bag which was in the great Trunk that was sealed and then opened on July 6. in the presence of Mr. Samuel Wilson and Mr. Starkey who were both appointed by the Lord of Shaftsbury Then Mr. Gwyn being called deposed That on July 2. by a Warrant from the Secretary he searched the Lord Shaftsbury's House for Papers where was a great Hair-Trunk in which were several sorts of them and a Velvet Bag into which he put some loose Papers and sealed up the Trunk and being sent another way he deliver'd it to Mr. Blathwayt That all the Papers that were in the Velvet Bag he had in my Lord's Closet and that nothing was in that Bag but what he had there when he delivered it to Mr. Blathwayt Then Mr. Secretary Jenkins deposed That that was the Paper that Mr. Blathwayt delivered into his Hands in the Council-Chamber with nine more which he had kept under Lock and Key ever since till Monday last when he took them out and being numbred sent them sealed to Mr. Graham who brought them back to him again without any alteration whatsoever The Paper then was read which was to this effect That We the Knights c. finding to the grief of our Hearts the Papists Contrivances against the Protestant Religion the Life of the King and Laws and Liberties of the Nation to set up Arbitrary Power and Slavery And it being notorious that they have received Encouragement and Protection from James D. of York and from their Expectations of his succeeding to the Crown c. And that by his Influences Mercenary Forces have been levied Parliaments unreasonably Prorogued and Dissolved and the Army and Ammunition put into the hands of his Party and the Reputation and Treasure of the Kingdom hereby wasted That therefore they endeavoured to Exclude him from the Succession to the Crown and that failing they have now thought fit to propose to all true Protestants an Union amongst themselves by solemn and sacred Promise of mutual Defence and Assistance in the Preservation of the Protestant Religion the King's Person and State and our Laws Liberties and Properties in a Declaration in the Form ensuing Which was to this effect First The Person swears to maintain the Protestant Religion against Popery Secondly The King's Person and State as also the Power and Priviledges of Parliaments Rights and Liberties of Subjects c. Thirdly That J. D. of Y. having profess'd himself a Papist and given Life to the Plot that therefore he would oppose his or any other Papist's coming to the Crown by all lawful Means and by force of Arms if need so require c. To this end they mutually obliged one another to pursue unto destruction all that oppose the Ends of this Association and to defend all that enter into it And do engage that they will obey such Orders as they shall from time to time receive from this present Parliament whilst it shall be sitting or the major part of the Members of both Houses subscribing this Association when it shall be Prorogued or Dissolved and obey such Officers as shall by them be set over them in their several Counties c. until the next meeting of Parliament c. And that they would stick to this Association during Life c. In witness whereof c. Never a Hand was to this Paper Which being read and briefly descanted upon by the Counsel for the King John Booth was then called forth who deposed That about the middle of January last be was introduced into the Lord Shaftsbury's Acquaintance by Captain Henry Wilkinson a Yorkshire Gentleman an old Royalist and an old Acquaintance of his about some Concern relating to Carolina After which he went frequently to my Lord's House and between Christmas and March four or five times Where he hath heard him sharply inveigh against the Times and thought himself undervalued and feared that Popery would be introduced And that the Oxford Parliament that was then shortly to meet would give the King no Mony unless he would satisfy them in what they would insist upon which he said would be the Bill of the Exclusion and the abolishing the Statute of the 35th of Eliz. and passing a New Bill to free the Dissenters from the Penalties of the Laws which if refused would make a Breach between the King and Parliament whose meeting at Oxford was designed only to over-awe them And therefore that himself and divers Noble Lords and Members of the Commons had considered their own Safety and that he had establish'd a matter of fifty Men Persons of Quality that he believed would have Men along with them and he intrusted Capt. Wilkinson with the Command of these Men who were to come to Oxford at such a time and if there were any Breach or Disturbance they were to be ready to assist him and those other Persons in his Confederacy to purge the Guards of all Papists and Tories and purge from the King those evil Counsellors which were about him naming the Earl of Worcester the Lord Clarendon the Lord Hallifax Lord Feversham and Mr. Hide now Lord Viscount Hide whom he look'd upon as dangerous Persons and then to bring the King away to London where those things should be established which they designed for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and keeping out of Arbitrary Power and Government Upon which Capt. Wilkinson desired him to be one under his Command and to provide Horse and Arms to which he consented and did so expecting to be sent for after the Parliament was sat they insisting upon the things the Lord Shaftsbury had predicted but the unexpected News of their Dissolution prevented it Then being ask'd when he first discovered this he answered about six Weeks ago and related the occasion and manner of his doing so Next Mr. Edward Turbervile deposed That in February last he waiting upon the Lord Shaftsbury about his getting some Mony and requesting his Letter to the President of the Council to stand his Friend my Lord said There was little good to be had from the King as long as his Guards were about him were it not for whom they would quickly go down to White-Hall and obtain what terms they thought fit And that the Rabble were all of that Side especially the People about Wapping and Aldersgate-Street That the Rich Men of the City would Vote for Elections but they could not expect they should stand by them in case there
was his unhappiness he had no Witnesses to call The Ld. Ch. Justice therefore in a few words summing up the Evidence the Jury presently brought him in Guilty The Trial of Capt. William Blague at the Old-Baily on Friday July 13. 1683. THE Prisoner having been Arraigned the day before and pleaded Not Guilty to an Indictment for High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government was then and there set again to the Bar and making no Challenges the former Jury was sworn viz. Robert Beddingfield John Pelling William Windbury Theophilus Man John Short sen Thomas Nicholas Richard Hoare Thomas Barnes Henry Robins Henry Kemp. Edward Raddish Edward Kemp. To whom the Indictment being read and briefly opened by Mr. North and Serjeant Jefferies Thomas Leigh deposed That the Prisoner in discourse with him and Goodneough about seizing the Tower told them that the only way was to do it with Mortar-Pieces that he would venture his own Ship and provide 200 Men and lay his own Ship on Southwark side and make up his 14 Guns he had already 24 and would undertake once in 20 times to dismount the five Pieces that fac'd towards Southwark-side That he ask'd Goodenough what Mony was provided who answering 40000 l. He answered the Seamen would swallow that up presently to which Goodenough replied there was more provided at any time Mate Lee swore That the Prisoner told him as they were in a Coach together that one of these days they should have a Ball to toss which afterwards he understood by Rouse and Leigh was the Ball that was to be toss'd on Black-Heath That about six Weeks ago Capt. Blague and he walking about the Tower and discoursing of seizing it his way was to scale it but the Captain said the best was to shoot Mortar-pieces on Southwark-side but about the Ship he could say nothing The Prisoner's Defence was That his Business with Rouse was to procure him Mony as being a Broker which brought him sometimes into Goodenough's Company but that he never discours'd about any Publick Affairs and as to the seizing the Tower it was only accidental Discourse And as for his 200 Men it was impossible his Vessel being but a Pink which had been in his Possession but three Weeks and what Arms he had he bought therewith and that he never heard any thing about either a Ball or Bank of Mony Calling his Witnesses Mr. VVright declared That he had waited on the Captain ever since he had been shipp'd and was in his Pay before he had the Ship in possession Robert Chappel Carpenter declar'd The Vessel was not able to do any Service three Weeks ago and that he had been shipp'd four Months and an half to go for New-York One Bellinger the Chirurgeon declared That he had belonged to the Ship seven Weeks and to the Captain before he had a Ship and for Guns belonging to the Ship there were fourteen Saker-Guns of which four were Wooden ones six above Deck and four in the Hold. The Lord Chief Justice then summ'd up the Evidence taking notice to the Jury that these Men belonged to the Captain a great while ago and that there was only one Evidence that did affect him Wherefore the Jury Withdrawing in a short time returned and brought him in Not Guilty THE next day being Saturday July 14. 1683. the Lord Russel Capt. VValcot Mr. Rouse and VVilliam Hone were brought to the Bar to receive Sentence Where the Lord Russel desired to hear his Indictment read in English which was granted and thereupon demanded an Arrest of Judgment because there had been no Evidence of his conspiring the Death of the King as it was in the Indictment but only of levying War But the Verdict being past the Court told him they must go by what the Jury had found and not the Evidence and therefore Sentence was pass'd upon him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Capt. VValcot had nothing to say but desired that his Son and some Friends might come and see him Hone had no more to say but begg'd the same favour Rouse insisted on some Disadvantages he had when he came on his Trial and some difference between the Indictment and their Oaths but Verdict being past Judgment was given against them three as against the Lord Russel And upon Friday July 20. following VValcot being drawn to Tyburn in one Hurdle and Rouse and Hone in another and there put into a Cart attended by Dr. Cartwright the Dean of Rippon and the Ordinary of Newgate who urged them much to discover all they knew of the Plot after they had spoke to the People were executed accordingly The next day being Saturday July 21. the Lord Russel having taken leave of his Lady the Lord Cavendish and several others of his Friends at Newgate took Coach with Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet who accompanied him to the Scaffold built in Lincolns-Inn-Fields where he deliver'd his Speech to the Sheriff and after some Preparation he ordered the Executioner after he had lain down a small moment to do his Office without a Sign and so his Head at three blows was severed from his Body and ordered by the Sheriff to be delivered to his Lordship's Friends and Servants as being given them by his Majesty's Favour and Bounty The Trial of Algernon Sidney Esq before the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster on the 7th 21st and 27th of November 1683. UPON Wednesday Nov. the 7th 1683. Algernon Sidney Esq was arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and intending to raise a Rebellion in this Kingdom Which Indictment he excepted against as erroneous several Crimes being put together therein distinct in nature one from another and distinguished by Law offering to the Court a Parchment wherein were his Exceptions to the Bill but it was refused and he sorced to plead which he did at length Not Guilty And then he desired a Copy of the Indictment which was denyed him but upon his Request it was read to him again in Latin and his Trial appointed to be on Wednesday Novemb. the 21st 1683. Then and there the Prisoner again appearing he desired Pen Ink and Paper and that Mr. VVinn and Mr. Gibs might write for him which were granted him and then he shewed the reason he had before to desire a Copy of his Indictment which the Lord Stafford and the other Lords in the Tower had urging it for Law upon the Statute of 46 Edw. 3. But the Court over-ruled it Then the Clerk of the Crown called the Jury and after several Challenges the Jurors were John Anger Richard VVhite VVilliam Linn Lawrence VVood Adam Andrews Emery Arguise Josias Clerke George Glisby Nicholas-Baxter VVilliam Reeves VVilliam Grove John Burt. To whom the Indictment being read Mr. Dolben opened the same and the Attorney General opened the Evidence and then Mr. VVest was called against whom the Prisoner excepted
time coming again he said he knew nothing of this Plot and he was sure had Col. Sidney known any thing he would have told him And that he then telling my Lord he was not safe in his House the Ld. Howard said he had been a Prisoner and he had rather do any thing in the World than be a Prisoner again Then the Ld. Paget declared that seeing the Ld. Howard presently after the breaking out of this Plot he told him he was glad to see him abroad and that he was not concern'd in this Disorder Which he said he took as an injury to him for that his saying so looked as if he were guilty but that he knew nothing of himself or any Body else nor had he seen any Body that could say any thing of him or give him any occasion to say any thing of any Body else Mr. Edward Howard declared That as soon as the Plot broke out the Ld. Howard having a great intimacy with him he expressed a great detestation and surprizing in himself to hear of it and assured great Asseverations that he could neither accuse himself nor any Man living and that he was much concern'd for certain Persons of Quality that they should be so much reflected on or troubled about it And that this he verily thinks my Lord spoke sincerely and that he knew his Disposition so well that if he had had any Guilt upon him be would never have stood his being taken That another time discoursing the Ld. Howard about this Plot which he omitted at the Ld. Russel's Trial by reason of the reproof accidentally given him that it was certainly a Sham even to his Knowledg too black for any Minister of of publick Employment to have devis'd but that it was forged by People in the dark such as Jesuits and Papists and that this was his Conscience And that he consented to Address the King under his Hand to testify his abhorrency of the thing but upon the Lord Russel's being taken this was laid aside That he really believed what my Lord said then was true and were he of this Jury he would not believe what he said now For saying which the Court told him he ought to be bound to his good Behaviour The Prisoner then urged the Mortgage which the Lord Howard acknowledged Mr. Blake then declared that about 6 Weeks since the Ld. Howard sent for him to come and see him and talking then of his Pardon he said he had a Warrant for it and their Word and Honour for it but that he would do nothing in it till he had further order and that he heard nothing of it and could ascribe it to no other Reason but that he must not have his Pardon till the drudgery of Swearing was over The Prisoner then called Mr. Hunt and Burroughs to prove that the Ld. Howard said he could not have his Pardon till he had done some other Jobs but they did not appear Then Grace Tracy declared that the Ld. Howard protested his Ignorance of the Plot and of Colonel Sidney's being concern'd in it Elizabeth Penwick declared to the same purpose and that he desired withal that the Colonel's Plate might be sent to his House for Security for that he was apprehended through Malice Then one Mr. Wharton stood up and offer'd to the Court that if the sheets might be shewn him he would undertake to imitate them in a little time that they should not know which was which It being the easiest Hand that ever he saw in his Life Then the Prisoner proceeding in his Defence urg'd the Statute upon which he was Indicted as consisting of 2 Branches which were confounded in his Indictment together though they were distinct species of Treason And that the business of Aaron Smith was only conjecturally and implicitly sworn And the Papers were imperfect and had been writ many Years and never publish'd and could have no concatenation with the Select Council which the Ld. Howard had sworn though selected by no Body urging how unlikely it was for a War to be rais'd by 6 Men not knowing nor trusting one another the Ld. Howard putting such things upon them as were impossible for any one to do that had but the sense of Porters and Grooms The Solicitor General then summ'd up the Evidence making the Ld. Howard and his Papers two very good Witnesses against him Then the Ld. Ch. Justice declared his Charge to the Jury who withdrew for half an hour and then brought the Prisoner in Guilty And upon Monday November the 26th being set to the Bar the Prisoner pleaded that he conceived he had had no Tryal for that some of the Jury were no Free-holders and were not summon'd by the Bailiff but were agreed upon by the Under Sheriff and others desiring the Indictment might be read again which was done and then he urged it was void because it depriv'd the King of his Title of Defensor Fidei which was Treason by the Law Urging that there was no Treason in his Papers and desiring the D. of Monmouth might be sent for to testify if there were any such thing as a Design c. complaining that his Evidence had not been rightly summ'd up and appealing to God and the World he not being heard After which the Ld. Ch. Justice pronounced Sentence upon him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quartered c. Upon which Col. Sidney cry'd out Then O God O God I beseech thee Sanctify these Sufferings unto me and impute not my Blood to the Country nor the City through which I am to be Drawn let no inquisition be made for it but if any and the Shedding of Blood that is Innocent must be revenged let the weight of it fall only upon those that maliciously Persecute me for Righteousness sake Whereupon the Ld. Ch. Justice told him he pray'd God fit him for another World for he saw he was not fit for this But the Prisoner holding out his Hand bid his Lordship feel his Pulse and fee if he was disordered blessing God he never was in better temper than he was now On Friday December the 7th following his Sentence being mitigated by his Majesty's Grace and Favour he was brought from the Tower to a Scaffold on Tower-Hill where after a short Preparation he was beheaded by the Common Executioner The Trial of John Hambden Esq before the Lord Chief Justice Jeffries at the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster on Wednesday February 6 1683. ON Wednesday November 28th 1683. John Hambden Esq was Arraigned at the King's-Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Misdemeanour for contriving and practising to disturb the King's Peace and stirring up Sedition in the Kingdom To which having pleaded Not Guilty and Issue being joyned Bail was taken for his appearing the next Term. Accordingly on Wednesday Feb. 6th following the Defendant appeared and the Jury were impannel'd Joshua Galliard Esq and Mr. Richard Shoveditch were challeng'd by Mr. Williams of Counsel for the Defendant because they were both
one executed the other having a Reprieve The Prisoner then denyed what he had confest in his Examination saying it was false and that he did not know whence Kelloway and Lawrence came nor did they tell him he confess'd he lodged them but that what he had done was ignorantly and that when his Examination was taken he was in a Maze and he did not know what was put down After this the Ld. Ch. Justice briefly summ'd up the Evidence and the Jury brought him in Guilty The Trial of John Fernley Barber at the Old-Baily on Monday October the 19th 1685. THE Prisoner then and there appearing was arraign'd upon an Indictment of High-Treason for harbouring concealing and relieving one James Burton whom he knew to be a Traitor c. to which he pleaded Not Guilty and the same Jury that was for Ring continued To whom the Indictment being read it was opened by Mr. Phips and Mr. Soliciter General and then the Record of the Outlawry of James Burton was produced and the said James Burton being sworn deposed That he came to London out of Monmouth's Army in the West on Wednesday about three Weeks after the Rout that he lodged two Nights with his Wife and then she being acquainted procured him a Lodging at Fernley's where he lodg'd two Nights more and was took there on Sunday Night That he had been gone two Years before being in the Proclamation for being with Rumbold at the Mitre-Tavern within Aldgate That he saw not Fernley till Sunday at dinner and then they discoursed of the Rout of Monmouth's Army Mrs. Mary Burton then swore how she being acquainted with Mrs. Fernley procured a Lodging for her Husband there not thinking him safe at home Then Mr. Reynolds deposed that he took Burton the beginning of August last at Mr. Fernley's House on a Sunday about eight a Clock at Night up one pair of Stairs who was got into the Chimney and tumbled down while he was there with the Soot about him and one pair of Stairs higher he took Fernley for harbouring him who then said he knew not who Burton was After this Burton's Pardon was produced and read whereby he was rendred a Legal Witness Then the Prisoner said he knew nothing of Burton till Sunday at dinner and then he discoursed him about his Escape in the VVest and that after dinner one Mr. Gaunt came to him and told Burton he should get him a Passage in a day or two's time and that he should take no care for Clothes or Money That he designed to have acquainted a Magistrate with his being at his House the next morning and because Gaunt said he would come again he delayed though he himself was a Constable with a design to apprehend them both And to testify his Conversation he called one Mr. William Rush a Distiller who appearing an Officer presently inform'd the Court he was a great Whigg Nay said Mr. Justice Withers if he be a Whigg he cannot be a little one Mr. Rush said Mr. Fernley always demeaned himself well among his Neighbours and was a good sober Man Mr. Justice Withins again reply'd in Scorn A Wapping Man A sober Wapping Man Then Captain Haddock and Mr. Dove were called but refused to come in But Mr. Whittal came in a Plumber who being ask'd if he went to Church answer'd he did constantly Yes said Mr. Justice Withins there were a parcel of them that went constantly to Church Trimingly Mr. Whittal testify'd to Mr. Fernley's sober Conversation and that he went always to Church and he never heard him speak against the Government The Prisoner then added that he was a poor Man and owed Money and he knew there was 100 l. for securing Burton and there was no Gain by concealing him which shew'd he had no design After the Lord Chief Justice then had summ'd up the Evidence the Jury withdrawing brought the Prisoner in Guilty The Trial of Elizabeth Gaunt the Wife of William Gaunt of St. Mary White-Chappel Yeoman at the Old-Baily on Monday October the 19th 1685. THE Prisoner then and there appearing was arraign'd upon an Indictment of High-Treason for harbouring James Burton and giving him five Pounds whom she knew to be a Traytor c. To which she pleaded Not Guilty And the Jury then sworn to try her and Mr. Cornish were these after Mr. Cornish had challenged thirty five Thomas Rawlinson Thomas Langham Ambrose Istead Thomas Pendleton John Grice Thomas Oneby William Clowdsley Richard Holford William Long-boat Steven Coleman Robert Clavel William Long. To whom the Indictment was read and opened by Mr. Phips and Mr. Attorney General And Mr. James Burton being sworn declared how through Keeling he was with Rumbold at the Mitre-Tavern within Aldgate where the killing of the King was discoursed of which he refused to meddle in and never therefore met but that one time but after Keeling had discover'd finding himself in the Proclamation he absconded for two Months and then Mrs. Gaunt procured him a Passage with Rumbold but the Vessel being leakie he durst not venture and so lay hid at his Daughter 's several Months after and then Mrs. Gaunt got him a Passage again and so he got to Amsterdam and she gave him about 5 l. and two Persons more went with him whom she helped away And this he supposes she did for him because her Husband had been with Capt. Walcot and him about seizing of the Tower Then Mary Gilbert Burton's Daughter deposed that Mrs. Gaunt fetched her Father away in order to send him beyond Sea Then Mr. Burton deposed that Mrs. Gaunt came and proffer'd to convey her Husband away c. And then Burton's Pardon was again produced To all which the Prisoner said very little only that she did not know that her Husband was concern'd in the Plot nor would she give any reason why she took so much care to send Burton away but left it to the Jury who after the Lord Chief Justice had summ'd up the Evidence brought her in Guilty The Trial of Henry Cornish Esq before the Lord Chief Justice Jones at the Sessions House in the Old-Baily on Monday October the 19th 1685. THE Prisoner then and there appearing was arraign'd upon an Indictment of High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the late King and Subversion of the Government c. To which after some Complaints he pleaded Not Guilty desiring his Trial might be deferr'd he having had no notice till last Saturday at twelve a Clock and he could get no Friend to him till eight at Night and then he was permitted to speak with no body but in the presence of the Goaler and had been allowed no Pen Ink or Paper The Court here told him he ought to have none without leave given on a Petition preferred by him He said his Children had petitioned the King the Night before to put off his Trial and it was referred to the Judges and that he did not know whether he was committed for High-Treason
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