about the latter end of May or beginning of Iune 1695 on a Monday the Lord Aylesbury the Lord Mongomery Sir Iohn Friend Sir William Parkyns Sir Iohn Fenwick Mr. Charnock one Cook and this Deponent met at the old King's-Head in Leadenhall-Street and at one Mrs. Monjoy's Tavern in St. Iames's street sometime after At both these Meetings it was consulted and agreed to send Charnock over to France to invite the late King Iames to England and to prevail with the French King to furnish him with 10000 Men 8000 Foot 1000 Horse and 1000 Dragoons and each did promise to meet him at his Landing with 2000 Horse and Sir Iohn Friend did say he would be as forward in his Assistance as any And not long after the second they had a third Meeting where were Sir William Parkyns Sir George Barclay Sir Iohn Friend one Holmes Mr. Ferguson and this Deponent Capt. Blair swore that 2 or 3 Years ago Sir Iohn Friend produc'd a Commission he had from K. Iames to be a Colonel of a Regiment of Horse which he was to raise and to appoint what Officers he thought fit That he read the Commission it was seal'd at the Top Iames Rex and counter-sign'd Melford That he promised this Deponent he should be his Lieutenant Colonel and told him he should get as many Men as he could that Mr. Fisher was to be his first Captain and Vernatti was to be another and Mr. Sclater should be Captain of a Troop of Non-Swearing Parsons and that for ingaging and contracting with Men to come in to be of his Regiment and to caress and keep them together and to carry on the Design he had expended a great deal of Money And that he laid down 100 l. to facilitate Col. Parker's escape out of the Tower That he had wrote a Letter to King Iames and gave it this Deponent to read who told him 't was well penn'd and that he believed Mr. Ferguson did pen it To this Sir Iohn Friend makes an Objection against the Credit of the Witnesses that they were not to be believed upon this Account because they are known to be Roman Catholicks and he a Protestant their Consciences as to Oaths are somewhat large especially when they swear against Protestants and therefore says he they are not to be allow'd against Protestants as Witnesses and that their Credit was not sufficient to induce a Jury to believe them At first he alledged there was a Statute that disabled them from being Witnesses but that was proved to him to the Contrary Then he insisted upon it that Blair was not to be look'd upon as a Witness and that because he denyed he knew any thing of the Plot The Occasion of that was this when he was in the Gate-House there was News in the Flying-Post or Post-Boy where it was alledged that Blair had confess'd all and that thereupon Blair said he was Innocent but Blair being called into Court again swears he did not say he knew nothing of a Plot but deny'd being privy to or concern'd in the Assassination so that he did not deny wholly to be in the Plot but in the Assassination Another thing he insisted upon to be a Matter of Law in the Statute of the 25. Edw. 3. which was over-rul'd by the Court. So that what he had to say for himself proving no way material then the Jury withdrew and return'd after a short time and brought him in Guilty of High-Treason As touching the Paper he deliver'd to the Sheriffs at the time of his Execution he said he died in Charity with all Men and a Member of the Church of England he no way denyed the Fact for which he stood Condemn'd but rather Justified it and made some groundless Reflections on the legal and regular Proceedings against him concluding with a Prayer which could be dictated by none but a fierce Jacobite It was in truth a Prayer more proper for their Treasonable Meetings at the Old King's-Head in Leadenhall-streei c. than to be used as the last Words of a Gentleman dying in the Profession of the Church of England The next Offender that came under the stroke of Justice was Sir William Parkyns who came to his Tryal the 24 th of March the same Year Amongst the several Witnesses that was produc'd Capt. Porter was the first who has been a Witness hitherto against several upon the like Occasion he swore That about the latter end of May or beginning of Iune 1695 Sir Iohn Fenwick Sir Iohn Friend Sir William Parkyns and this Deponent with divers others Met at the Old Kings-Head in Leadenhall-street and some time after at Mrs. Monjoy's at both which Places they did consult how they might again Restore King Iames in order to it they thought it very necessary to send Mr. Charnock who was at that Meeting to King Iames and invite him to England with a French Force viz. 8000 Foot 1000 Horse and 1000 Dragoons if he could solicit the French King to lend him so many and that each of them did send their promise to meet him where he should appoint to Land at the Head of 2000 Horse And further as to the Assassination he swore That about the latter end of Ianuary or beginning of February Sir George Barclay was sent over with a Commission from the late King Iames whereupon Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkyns this Deponent with divers others had several Meetings particularly at the Globe-Tavern in Hatton-Garden the Nags-Head Tavern in Covent-Garden the Sun-Tavern in the Strand and other places Where it was resolved to undertake to Assassinate King William that Sir William did consent to it and said he thought it necessary to be done to facilitate the Restauration of King James and offer'd to Lend 5 Horses to engage in it three to be mounted by Men as he would get the other two by Capt. Porter That he told Charnock in this Deponents hearing He had a Commission from King James for the raising a Troop of Horse and that he had seen and read the Commission Sir George Barclay brought over which was to Levy War against the Person of the Prince of Orange and that he would not Personally engage in the Assassination because he had a Regiment to look after Sweet swore That he the said Sir William Parkyns told him about Christmas last That King James would come he ask'd him How he knew it He told him He had his Word for it and that he had a Troop which consisted of Old Soldiers he had Thirty Sadles and besides there would be some Volunteers which were old Officers That he was to go into Leicester-Shire and did it was about the latter end of Ianuary and Scudamore went with him and one Yarborough and a Parson that came out of York shire met him there And that he found the West was as well inclin'd to King James 's Interest as the North and a Lord's Brother was concern'd That Sir William sent for him out of
an Hours stay return'd and brought him in Guilty of High-Treason The next Person that was call'd to the Bar to justify himself was Charles Cranburne the 22 d of April 1696. Against him Capt. Porter deposed That he made the said Cranburne acquainted with the Design of Assassinating His Majesty King VVilliam the Day before they were to execute it and he engaged to be ready and make one On Saturday the 22 d of February he came to my Lodging in Maiden-lane and I sent him to Sir William Parkyns for a Note for two Horses that I was to mount of his He came back and told me he knew where to have them and that Capt. Charnock was afraid we should not have our Complement of Men and desir'd me to send him an account what Men I could bring which I did by Mr. Cranburne and being to go to the Blew-Posts order'd him to bring it to me thither and he did bring it back to me to the Blew-Posts with Capt. Charnock's List underneath And notwithstanding word being brought of the Disappoiotment we parted not till we had drank the Healths to the Restoring the late King James the Prince of Wales c. Then Mr. De la Rue swore That he the said Cranburne the 22 d of February the day on which they the second time thought to put the Design in Execution was sent with a List by Capt. Porter of his Men and whilst I and Capt. Porter was at the Blew-Posts in Spring-Garden he brought to Capt. Porter the List from Charnock with an addition of Names And after word was brought of the Disappointment the Company began to drink very Disloyal Healths as to the Restoring the late King James the Queen the Prince of Wales and the French King Then Capt. Porter having an Orange in his Hand squeez'd it and drank a Health to the squeezing the rotten Orange which was Pledg'd by all and particularly by Mr. Cranburne Mr. Prendergast depos'd That he was with Mr. Cranburne the 14 th of February and there was a Discourse of going in pursuance of this Design the next day and Mr. Cranburne agreed to it and when they were disappointed the 15 th being at the Blue-Posts in Spring-Garden they then agreed to pursue it the next Saturday and that Cranburne was one of them that agreed to it To all this Mr. Cranburne and his Council offer'd very little finding the Evidence so positive so the Jury withdrew to consider of their Verdict a quarter of an Hour and return'd into Court having found him guilty of High-Treason On VVednesday the 22 d of April 1696 Robert Lowick was brought to the King's-Bench Bar for Conspiring to Assassinate his Majesty King VVilliam Against him Mr. Harris swore That between the 15 th and 22 th of February he met Mr. Lowick in Red-Lion-fields and discoursed with him there about the Assassination and told him what a barbarous and inhumane thing it was that we should be the Murderers of the Prince of Orange and that it would render us odious to all the World and that we should be a continual Reproach to our selves he did agree it was so but would obey Orders that he said Sir George Barclay he was sure would not do it without Orders which he repeated twice On Saturday the 22 th he this Deponent and Mr. Lowick din'd at a Cooks at the End of Red-Lion-street and being there together he this Deponent was in a Sweat and Lowick ask'd him the Reason he told him he had been about to get ready Rookwood's Party that were to seize the King says he you need not grudg to do it you have six Shillings a day and I have nothing and yet I brought a couple of Men at my own Charge Then Mr. Bertram swore That he the said Robert Lowick came to him about the Beginning of February last and ask'd him if he would espouse a thing with him that might be for his Advantage He told him he thought he might espouse any thing that he thought fit to engage in he answer'd it was well and desir'd him to ask him no more Questions On the 14 th of February he desired him to be at his Lodging at 12 a Clock he went when he came there he took him up into his Chamber and told him he believed they would ride out in some little time and that the King was to be seiz'd in his Coach and he gave him a Guinea to buy him Necessaries To this he and his Council had little to offer in their Defence the Evidence being so full and positive against them which being summ'd up to the Jury they withdrew for a short time and return'd into Court having found him guilty of High-Treason according to which Sentence he was Executed and Rookwood and Cranburne with him On VVednesday the 13 th of May in the said Year 1696 Peter Cook Gent. was Indicted for endeavouring to procure Forces from France to invade this Kingdom and Conspiring to levy War in this Realm for assisting and abetting the said Invasion in order to the Deposing his Sacred Majesty King William and Restoring the late King Iames. The first Witness produced was Mr. Porter who swore That the Lord Ailesbury my Lord Montgomery Sir Iohn Fenwick Sir VVilliam Parkins Sir Iohn Friend Mr. Charnock Mr. Cook and himself Mr. Goodman came in after Dinner had two Meetings the first was in May at the old King's Head Tavern in Leadenhall-Street in order to consult about an Invasion In this Meeting it was consulted which was the best Way and the quickest to restore King Iames and hasten his Return into England several Discourses and Proposals there were At last in was agreed to send Mr. Charnock to the late King to borrow of the French King 10000 Men 8000 Foot 1000 Horse and 1000 Dragoons to be sent over into England to assist the late King's Restoration Says Mr. Charnock thereupon This the King can do without your sending and I would not go upon a Foolish Errand What will you do in this Matter The Company desir'd him to promise King Iames That if he would send word where he landed they would be sure to meet him at his Landing with a Body of 2000 Horse And all of them that were there present was ask'd by Charnock Whether he might assure the King of what they had told him Every one said Yes you may And when Mr. Cook was ask'd he kneel'd upon a Chair and said Yes you may The 2d Meeting was about the latter end of May or beginning of Iune at Mrs. Montjoy's Tavern at St. Iames's where were present at that time my Lord Aylesbury Sir Iohn Friend Sir William Parkyns and Mr. Charnock and Mr. Cook and himself they did assure Mr. Charnock that they kept to their former Resolution and would abide to what was agreed upon at their first Meeting And that accordingly Mr. Charnock did go to France and he did return and bring back King Iames's Thanks to them and he had
share of the Complement Then Mr. Goodman swore That about the middle of the Month of May Mr. Porter acquainted him there would be a Meeting of some of King Iames's Friends at the Old King's-head in Leadenhall-street that tho he could not dine with them he would come to them after Dinner which he did when he came there Mr. Porter brought him into a Room where was my Lord Montgomery my Lord Aylesbury Sir Iohn Fenwick Sir Iohn Friend Sir William Parkins Mr. Charnock and Mr. Cook after we were set down there was a Consultation that considering the French King's Wars retarded the Affair of sending back King Iames and the means of restoring him to the Crown it was thought fit after some Debate to send Mr. Charnock into France to King Iames to prevail with the French King to furnish Ten Thousand Men whereof 8000 to be Foot 1000 Horse and 1000 Dragoons That we would meet him at the Head of 2000 Horse When our Resolution of the Thing and the Number was thus fixed Mr. Charnock ask'd whether it were with all our Consents And that he might assure the King that this was our Resolution Whereupon we all rose up and said to him Yes you may Yes you may every one particularly that at the same time Mr. Cook kneel'd upon the Chair when he said Yes you may and his Elbows were upon the Table There was another Meeting as Capt. Porter told me but I had Business in the City but whatever he promis'd on my behalf as to the Quota of Men I would be sure to make it good but was not at the second Meeting So that after a Long Tryal and hearing Council both for the King and Prisoner the Jury with-drew to consider of their Verdict about three quarters of an Hour they return'd into Court and brought him in Guilty of High-Treason As for the Persons Out-law'd my Lord they having by Law the space of a whole Year allow'd to surrender themselves before they are to be look'd on as Men absolutely to be condemn'd it 's hoped before that Time 's expired that some of them will voluntarily come in and stand a legal Trial and if possible prove themselves innocent but if not they must not think the Evidence against them will be any longer suppress'd there being to be found in the Informations given in upon Oath abundantly sufficient to convict every Man of them either of the intended Insurrection or Assassination both which are made out with as much Clearness of Testimony and Strength as any Humane Affair is capable of And his Majesty is deeply sensible and hath publickly acknowledg'd how he has once more been preserved by the immediate Hand of Heaven from the Rage and Violence of blood-thirsty and cruel Men cannot but look on himself as a-fresh oblig'd to manifest his Gratitude to Heaven by promoting the Glory of his Preserver in continuing to consult above all things the Welfare of his Church and the Peace and Happiness of this great People committed to his Charge And since my Lord the Divine Favour has so marvellously put into his Hands this new Advantage he will improve it not in Acts of Severity and Revenge which your Lordship knows his Nature utterly abhors but by imitating the Divine Goodness in a regular Course of strict Justice to all obdurate Impenitents so which he much rather desires in his usual Method of Mercy and Kindness to as many as shall give sincere Proofs of Penitence and Reformation of their pail Crimes Vertues which we have too much Reason to believe his Enemies have been hitherto little acqâ—ainted with Before I conclude my good Lord let me entreat your Lordship's Patience whilst I address my self to those misguided English-men who after all this persevere to be disaffected to his Majesty and the Government whom I would willingly perswade to cease doting on their old Bondage and hankering after a Perjur'd Prince who when amongst us broke his Coronation Oath and studied nothing more than subjecting us to Popery Slavery a Despotick and Arbitrary Government Did he not assume to himself a Power to suspend and dispence with the Execution of the Laws enacted for the Security and Happiness of the Subjects and thereby rendred them of none effect And did he not in order to the obtaining a Judgment in the Court of King's-Bench for declaring the Dispensing Power a Right belonging to the Crown turn out such Judges as could not in Conscience concur in so pernicious a Sentence And after having pack'd Judges for his Purpose he obtain'd the Judgment he requir'd What Can no King please them but him who set up a Commission of Ecclesiastical Matters against express Laws to the contrary which were executed contrary to all Law Can no one content them but a Prince who values nothing in the World so much as the overturning our Religion and in order thereto Did he not send the Archbishop of Canterbury and six other Bishops to the Tower for setting forth in a Petition their Reasons why they could not obey the Order requiring them to appoint their Clergy to read the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience Finally Can nothing please them but a King who Arbitâ—ally and against Law turn'd the Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford out of their Freeholds and put the College into the hands of Papists Did he not bring his Army of Irish Cut-throats by whom we went in danger of being Murder'd every Moment Or if the Experience of Time past so dearly bought can prevail nothing with them let them but seriously reflect on their present Condition Who may if they will Securely enjoy Peace Plenty Liberty and the best Religion under the best of Princes whilst many Misguided Gentlemen both English and Scotch who have abandon'd their Families and Estates to follow that Unhappy Prince to St. Germain's where a considerable Party being Protestants they only desir'd a Chappel from the late King Iames for the Exercise of their Worship according to the Church of England and propos'd Dr. Granvile Brother to the Earl of Bath formerly Dean of Durham as a fit Person to be their Chaplain They urged the great Incouragment such a Toleration would give to his Adherents in England and what Satisfaction it would be to such Protestants as followed him but tho' common Policy and his Circumstances made every body believe that this request would be easily granted yet it was positively denyed and Dr. Granvile obliged not onely to retire from Court but also from the Town of St. Germains to avoid the daily Insults of the Priests and the dreaded Consequences of the Jealousies with which they possess'd King Iames's Court against him Dr. Gordon a Bishop of Scotland the only Protestant Divine that then was there met with a worse Treatment still than Dr. Granvile and was reduc'd to the necessity of abjuring his Religion for want of Bread with which he could not be supplyed but upon those hard Terms Let them examine
a little farther and they will find the Lord Chief Justice Herbert a Person both well qualified to give Advice in English Affairs and of an unspotted Reputation in his Country interceding in behalf of the Protestant Party's Demand Upon which an Information was trump'd up against the Chief Justice by Mr. Comptroller Skelton and Sir William Sharp of having said that K. Iames's Violent Temper would ruin himself and all that Follow'd him My Lord own'd the Words but made so ingenious an Explanation of his meaning that King Iames was satisfied Shortly after they charged him with another Plot of corresponding with the English whereupon he and a Worthy Lady with whom he Boarded were confined and Broomfield the Quaker committed to the Bastile Thus was my Lord Chief Justice for no other reason but his adhering to a Protestent Interest excluded from all share of Management of Affairs in King Iames's Court tho' his Capacity and Sufferings were sufficient in the Eyes of all reasonable Men to have intituled him to a share in that Prince's Favour and Secrets If my Lord Chief Justice Herbert was so used I would fain know upon what Ground any of our Iacobites should flatter themselves of a better Treatment Sir Andrew Forrester Sir Theophilus Oglethorp and Mr. Fergus Graham these Gentlemen by their Capacities as well as Services were encourag'd to go over and offer their Assistance to King Iames at whose hands they were unkindly used and the Reward of their Service only a Pass to return for England again where 't is expected they will Plot no more If there can still remain any well-meaning Men in their Party led away by the specious Delusions of good Words abused to the worst of things let them instead of hearkening to what Wicked and designing Men under the most deceitful Colours Suggest to them for Sinister Ends guide their Opinions by their own plain and sensible Observations Let them but fairly and indifferently compare the present State of all Nations round about them with their own And then let them if they can refuse to Bless God and King William for their inexpressible Advantages above all others Henceforth therefore let no vain pretence of Liberty and Property push them on to the same desperate Designs by fomenting Jeasousies between the King and his People or throwing in Sparks of Discontent and endeavouring to blow them up into Flames of Mutinies and Rebellions Be advised to consider what you are doing and run not headlong to Destruction by helping forward your Countries Ruine by labouring to Subject it to its most avowed Enemies the securing whose Interest here in England was the Devilish Design so long on Foot Wherefore let me conjure them to look back on their past Actions which gave us the dismal Prospect of Slavery in our Persons Consciences and Estates if the Divine Goodness had not miraculously appear'd for our Deliverance Let us seriously consider if the Direful Stroak which was Levell'd against His Majesty had taken effect what the Consequence would have been assuredly we must have bid adieu to our Religion Law and 〈◊〉 at once for Popery Tyranny and Oppression pour'd in upon us like a Mighty 〈…〉 Wives and Daughters Ravished 〈…〉 our Faces our selves ransack'd and plunder'd if not knock'd on the Head and if spar'd 〈◊〉 to live in the most extream Misery and at last 〈…〉 with the utmost Cruelty Therefore since it has pleased God to bless us with the Surprize of a Deliverance from so great Evils Let us be perswaded to become a Loyal and Quiet People 〈◊〉 to Obedience which is the hearty Wish of a 〈…〉 of his Country and My LORD Your Lordship 's Humble Servant FINIS ERRATA PAg. 7. lin 17. dele 〈◊〉 after that p. 13. l. 12. reâ—d 〈◊〉 p. 14. l. 23 r. principal p. 15. l. 3. r. disappâ—inted p. 20. l. 9. r. Repreâ—eâ—tation p. 23. l. 2. r. have had p. 30. l. 2. r. giving ibid. l. 3. dele in p. 37. l. 1. r. 〈◊〉 p. 38. l. 12. dele Comma after 〈◊〉 ibid. l. 23. r. 〈◊〉 p. 43. l. 11. dele Comma after others Pag. 1. Pag. 2. Pag. 4. Pag. 5. Pag. 6. Pag. 7. Pag. 9. Pag. 10. Pag. 11. Pag. 12. Pag. 13. Pag. 14. Pag. 20. Pag. 21. Pag. 22. Pag. 23. Pag. 24. Pag. 25. Pag. 26. Pag. 27. Pag. 28. Pag. 29. Pag. 30. Pag. 31. Pag. 32. Pag. 33. Pag. 34. Pag. 35. Pag. 37. Pag. 38. Pag. 39. Pag. 41. Pag. 24. Pag. 43. Pag. 45. Pag. 51. Pag. 52. Pag. 53. Pag. 54. Pag. 55. Pag. 56. Pag. 57. Pag. 58. Pag. 59. Pag. 60. Pag. 61. Pag. 62. Pag. 63. Pag. 64. Pag. 65. Pag. 66. Pag. 67. Pag. 68. Pag. 69. Pag. 70. Pag. 71 Pag. 72. Pag. 73. Pag. 74. Pag. 75. Pag. 79. Pag. 81. Pag. 82. Pag. 58. Pag. 86. Pag. 87. Pag. 88. Pag. 89. Pag. 91. Pag. 92. Pag. 94. Pag. 9â— Pag. 96. Pag. 97. Pag. 9â— Pag. 1â—0 Pag. 171 Pag. 173 Vide A View of the Court of St. Germains
Day His Majesty has gain'd this very considerable Advantage that he plainly perceives the strength of all his Enemies Arrogance lyes not now as heretofore in their extravagant Power to pack the City Juries Therefore now may not even a Lord Securely project or a Ferguson write or a Confederacy act against the Government they not having Sheriffs and a Settled Club at hand with their Corrupt Pannels to indempnify and to second and applaud their most Villainous Practices And His Majesty seems resolv'd at length after a many intollerable Provocations to strike at that which he has now found to be the very Root of the Faction and not to suffer an ill Party of Men to destroy his Government as they might have done had they been suffered to go on never so little farther uncontrouled and it is not to be doubted but the Righteousness of His Majesty's Cause will meet with an answerable Success and that so many guilty Persons will not escape unpunished who were just at the point of bringing their devilish Purposes to a quick Issue and once for all to strike boldly at the Heart of the King and Kingdom But to proceed to the History of the Times this Conspiracy was resolved upon by the French King and the late King Iames in Ianuary last and for the carrying of it on the Duke of Berwick and others were sent into England to concert the grand Point of the Assassination Their Party thenceforth gave over all their quieter and more plausible Arts of Sedition and betook themselves to more precipitate Enterprizes inflaming some to Insurrections others to Assassinations They proudly brag'd throughout the Nation that the late King Iames would be here within a Month Nay they offered to lay Wagers that within that time we should have a New Lord Keeper and Mr. F. was to be the Man They bought up Horses and Arms in all Parts of the Kingdom at the same time using innumerable Deceits to alienate the minds of His Majesty's Subjects from His Government Their pretended Protestant Clergy both Iurors and Non-Iurors talked at this time very impertinently of the horrid Murder of King Charles the First insinuating the Abdication of Iames the Second to be of the same Complexion They ridicul'd the Popish Plot in 1678 that theirs of 1695 might be less credited They took occasion to exclaim against the Rebellion in 1641 and of the Duke of Monmouth's not sticking to represent the Prince of Orange's glorious Expedition parallel thereto At other times under Umbrage of great Loyalty to King William many of them declaim'd of the Divine Right of Kings and of their unaccountableness on this side Heaven from whence this wicked Inference was made that the late King Iames still remains their rightful King Such Practices as these were found by evident Proof to have been the Principal Rise and Occasion of ripening the horrid Conspiracy in this Nation As for his Majesty's Kingdom of Scotland it is Notorious there has been long Shelter'd in it a desperate Faction of furious Zealots that under the Notion of Prelatists were growing up by degrees to a Violation at last not only of all the Rules and Institutions of true Religion but of Common Humanity Have they not proceeded to all the execrable Rage of Rapine aud Violence Their Principles are not yet entirely extinguish'd tho their Force has been Vanquish'd in open Field by God's Provindence prospering His Majesty's Arms. It is certain also the Peace of that Kingdom has been much endangered by other Factious and Seditious Spirits who tho at first they would not venture to encourage publickly the Treason yet stuck not secretly to favour and foment their Cause and would soon have own'd and headed the furious Traitors had the Plot prospered By this brief Recollection of the Troubled State of Affairs and the tumultuous temper of ill Men's Minds in His Majesty's Kingdoms of England and Scotland about the time when this Treasonable Conspiracy was in Agitation the Impartial World may perceive from what destructive Seeds of Sedition private Passions and Animosities under the disguise of Religion and the Publick Interest so Monstrous a Birth was produced In the wonderful Discovery of which detestable Confederacy and in the happy prevention of its dire Effects as all who have heard of it must acknowledg that a signal care of God's Providence has appear'd for His Majesty and these Nations preservation so it must be acknowledged by all that nothing has been done on his Majesties Part but what was agreeable to that Royal Benignity and Natural Candor of his whole Life whereof all the World even his Enemies have had such undoubted Experience Much of the Evidence was deliver'd in His Majesty's own presence The Examinations were taken by Men of unquestionable Reputation and Honour The whole proceedings has been managed with all imaginable Integrity There has been no straining or extorting of Accusations to blemish the Fame of the Innocent No Temptations of Rewards proposed no Pardon assured before-hand for discovering or aggravating the Crimes of the Guilty Some Witnesses who offer'd themselves of whom there might have been any colourable Suspition were wholly rejected Lest it should once again happen that the blasted Credit or needy Condition or Profligate Lives of the Persons deposing should derogate from the strength of their Depositions and administer any the least doubt of Subornation Those Witnesses His Majesty admitted had been generally Men strongly prepossessed in Conscience Zeal and Interest for that Party Men whose former avow'd Hatred of the Government was reason sufficient to gain them an absolute Trust with any who studied to overthrow it They were not of desperate Fortunes nor despicable Men for the most part they seperatly and singly brought in their Discoveries Divers of them had little or no Conversation or Familiarity one with another There was no shadow or possibility of a Combination between them all to discover yet such is the prevalence of self Conviction and so great the Power of Truth that all their several Discoveries did perfectly agree with themselves and with each other in all Material Parts and Circumstances It was therefore in the Year 1695 a time when all His Majesty's Dominons enjoyed a settled Peace and profound Security whilst the greatest part of the Neighbouring World was involved in Wars and Combustions that his Majesty and his Council were suddenly awaken'd with the surprizing Knowledg of this dreadful Conspiracy which had been laying very deep and broad for many Months before The Man whom God chose to make the first Discoverer was Mr. Prendergast a Person of good Credit in his Conversation but otherwise a most perverse Papist and fiercely addicted to their Cause and one of the busiest Sticklers against the Government He by his approved Activity and Violence for the French Interest was Judg'd by the Chief Conspirators fitly qualified to be admitted into their most private Consultations and accordingly thereafter they trusted
Wherefore of the Debate and Resolutions of the French King and the late King Iames in France it was thought expedient for the farthering of their Design that a small select Number of the most eminent Heads of the Party in and about London should be united into a close Cabal or secret Council who might have their frequent Assemblies and be ready on all Occasions to guide and direct the motions of the lower Agents The Persons who undertook this Universal Care and Inspection were the Duke of Berwick sent from France for that purpose Sir William Parkyns Sir Iohn Friend Sir George Barclay Sir Iohn Fenwick Mr. Charnock Mr. Porter and some others were admitted as occasion serv'd on some particular Debates After their Arrival from France they had several Meetings in Ianuary particularly at the Globe-Tavern in Hatton-Garden and at the Sun-Tavern in the Strand where some General Heads were propounded of things to be resolv'd on in their more mature Thoughts as where the Insurrection should first be made in City or Country or both at once what Countries were most disposed for Action What Places would be most proper for their Rendezvouses What Arms were necessary how to be provided where to be laid in so as to administer no Ground of Jealousy And how and by what means a Disturbance might be made in Scotland at the same time The last was look'd upon as a Principal Point and therefore the managment of that Affair was left to the French King who had appointed a Considerable Body of Men to disturb the Peace and Tranquility of that Kingdom And who deliver'd this as his Opinion That the Plot was so close and deeply laid it was past the Power of Men and Devils to hinder the Fatal Blow The late King Iames that nothing should be wanting on his part deputed some of his Confidents hither to attend the Issue of their Debates to represent their Proposals and to assist in the Assassination The first Day appointed for the accomplishing this wicked Design was the 15 th of February which being over and they by the Singular Mercy of God disappointed yet so great was their Thirst after Royal Blood that they did resolve to go on and execute it And the next Saturday which was the 22 d of February was pitch'd upon for the time of Execution and accordingly on Friday the 21 st of February the day before they met at the Nags-Head in Covent-Garden where they had some discourse among them that they were in doubt because of the first Disappointment whether there had not been some Discovery but that Doubt was soon over for it was said it could not be so for then they should not have been there together That seemed probable and the Disppointment was imputed to some Accident which gave them new Assurance to go on and they resolv'd to go on and do the Business they had formerly resolv'd on the next day which was Saturday Thus on the 14 th of February was the whole Conspiracy going on in a full Carreer when Mr. Prendergast made his Discovery But finding that His Majesty and His Ministers were exceeding diffident of his single Intelligence in a business of so vast a Moment therefore whilst he was considering which way he might best strengthen his Evidence Mr. De la Rue on Friday Night the 21 st of February was introduc'd to His Majesty by the Earl of Portland who discover'd to him the Hellish Designs of his Implacable Enemies Upon Saturday the 22 d of February in the Morning which was the 2 d time appointed for the Execution of this Bloody Design they Met together at Porter's Lodging and resolved to go on with it and put it in Execution where they had Notice from Chambers that the King did go a Hunting that Day and there was great Joy among them all thinking themselves sure and so they ordered all things to be got ready From thence they went to the Blew-posts in Spring-Garden where News was brought about one a Clock That the King did not go Abroad for the Guards were all come back in great haste their Horses being all in a Foam and the King's Coaehes to the Mews-Gate They at first receiv'd the News with various Apprehensions and Motions of Mind looking on one another with much Astonishment and Confusion and immediately parted in great Disorder being fully assur'd the thing had taken Air and was discovered His Majesty with inexpressible Surprize found by undoubted Evidence that many of his mis-guided Subjects had deeply engaged themselves to imbrue their Hands in His Royal Blood went on Monday the 24 th of February to the House of Lords and in His Speech accquainted both Houses That he was come on an extraordinary Occasion which might have proved fatal if it had not been disappointed by the singular Mercy and Goodness of God That he had received several concurring Informations of a Design to assassinate him and that our Enemies were very forward in their Preparations for a sudden Invasion of the Kingdom That His Majesty had not been wanting to give the necessary Orders for the Fleet and that he hoped there was a Strength of Ships and in such a Readiness as would be sufficient to disappoint the Intentions of our Enemies That he had dispatched Orders for bringing Home such a Number of our Troops a might secure us from any Attempt and exhorted them to do every thing which they should judg proper for our Common Safety c. Upon this astonishing News the House of Commons Nemine Contradicente resolved to address His Majesty to congratulate his happy Deliverance and to give him their Thanks for imparting the Horrid Design to the House and to desire His Majesty to take more than ordinary Care of his Royal Person assuring him that they will stand by assist and defend His Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes against the late King Iames and all other His Enemies both at Home and Abroad and that in case His Majesty should come to any violent Death which God forbid they would revenge the same upon all his Enemies an their Adherents c. The House of Lords also unanimously agreed upon an Address to His Majesty to which they desired the Concurrence of the Commons who made some Amendments thereunto to which the Lords agreeing The same Evening both Houses attended His Majesty therewith You have here a Copy thereof WE your Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled having taken into our serious Consideration what your Majesty hath been pleased to Communicate to us this day think it our Duty in the first place to give Your Majesty most Humble Thanks for having acquainted Your Parliament with the great Danger Your Sacred Person hath been so nearly expos'd to and the Design of an Invasion from our Enemies Abroad We heartily Congratulate Your Majesty's Happy Preservation and thankfully acknowledg the signal
Providence of God in it and at the same time Declare our Detestation and Abhorrence of so Villainous and Barbarons a Design And since the Safety and Welfare of Your Majesty's Dominions do so intirely depend upon Your Life We most Humbly Beseech Your Majesty to take more than Ordinary Care of Your Royal Person And we take this Occasion to Assure Your Majesty of our utmost Assistance to Defend Your Person and Support Your Government against the late King James and all other Your Enemies both at Home and Abroad hereby Declaring to all all the VVorld That in case Your Majesty shall come to any Violent Death which God forbid we will Revenge the same upon all your Enemies and their Adherents And as an Inâ—nce of our Zeal for Your Majesty's Service we will give all possible Dispatch to the Publick Business And we make it our Desire to Your Majesty to Seize and Secure all Persons Horses and Arms that Your Majesty may think fit to Apprehend upon this Occasion To which His Majesty gave a gracious Answer to the effect following viz. My Lords and Gentlemen I Thank you heartily for this kind Address On my Part you may be assured that I will do all that is within my Power for the Conservation of this Kingdom to which I have so many Obligations I will readily adventure my Life for the Preservation of it and recommend my self to the Continuance of your Loyalty and good Affections The House of Commons also the same Day resolved upon the following Association to be signed by their Members Whereas there has been a Horrid and Detestable Conspiracy Formed and Carried on by Papists and other Wicked and Traiterous Persons for Assassinating His Majesty's Royal Person in Order to Incourage an Invasion from France to Subvert our Religion Laws and Liberty We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed do Heartily Sincerely and Solemnly Profess Testify and Declare That His Present Majesty King William is Rightful and Lawful King of these Realms And we do Mutually Promise and Engage to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our Power in the Support and Defence of His Majesty's most Sacred Person and Government against the late King James and all his Adherents And in case His Majesty come to any Violent or Vntimely Death which God forbid We do hereby further Freely and Vnanimously Oblige our Selves to Vnite Associate and Stand by each other in Revenging the same upon his Enemies and their Adherents and in Supporting and Defending the Succession of the Crown according to an Act made in the First Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary Intituled An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown There was also an Association agreed upon by the House of Lords which was carried by a Majority which appears to be of a Comfortable Importance Their Lordships Association differs so little from that of the Commons that I do not transcribe it but shew you how they vary Instead of the Words King William is RIGHTFVL and Lawful King their Lordships insert That His Present Majesty King William hath A RIGHT BY LAW to the Crown of this Realm and that neither the late King James nor the pretended Prince of Wales nor any other Person hath any Right whatsoever to the same c. Ninety six of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal that was then present subscribed their Association and others who were at first absent come in daily it hath been refused only by 15. The House of Commons having as I told you agreed upon the above-written Association ordered it to be engrossed to be Signed by their Members and near 400 of that August Assembly which consists of 513 have already with great Alacrity subscribed it On Tuesday the House ordered that their absent Members as they come to the House do come up to the Table and sign the Association or in their Places declare their Refusal so to do and On Thursday it was ordered that the Association and the Subscriptions thereunto be entred upon the Journal of the House and Resolved that it should be presented to His Majesty by the Speaker and the whole House before the end of that Session It was also the same day ordered that such Members who had not already should by Monday Fortnight Sign the Association or declare their Refusal Now a day or two before the Conspirators final Seperation the King and his Council began to be convinc'd of the truth of Prendergast and Dela Rue's Evidence by a full knowledg of the Witnesses Characters and by the firmness and constancy of their Testimony besides many other concurring Circumstances Wherefore His Majesty ordered Warrants should be Issued out against the Persons accused whereof some absconded others were taken of these last divers confirm'd what Prendergast and De la Rue had sworn and Named others as Partakers in the Treason Whereupon more and more appearing every day to have been engaged Proclamations were Published in England and Scotland for their Speedy Apprehension By this means through the Providence of God so many of them were either Seized or Delivered themselves up as have irrefragably confirmed every part of the foregoing Account What became of the several Conspirators will appear by the Following List. The Duke of Berwick presently fled beyond the Seas from the Coast of Sussex Capt. Porter Mr. Prendergast and Mr. Keyes was taken at Letherhead in Surrey and were brought up to Town the last mention'd received the deserved Reward of his horrid Ingratitude and Treasons the two former largly confessed Capt. Harris surrender'd himself to Mr. Secretary Trumbull and largly confess'd Capt. Bois was taken and freely Confess'd Mr. â—ela Rue came in and Confess'd what was done and said at the Trayterous Meetings at Capt. Poter's Lodging c. Sir Iohn Friend fled froÌ„m his own House to hide himself at Quaker's in Stratton Ground where he was Taken Arraign'd Condemned and Executed Sir VVilliam Parkyns was Taken at Mr. Castlemain's Chamber in the Temple he was likewise Arraign'd Condemn'd and Executed he confest enough to shew his Crime but not his Repentance Mr. Bryerly taken and Confess'd Peter Cook Gent. taken March 17 th and committed to Newgate Arraign'd and Condemn'd but not as yet Executed Christopher Knightly was taken disguised in Womens Clothes Arraign'd and Condemn'd but as yet not Executed Sir Roger L'Estrange was taken up and dismist upon Bail Edward King was taken Arraign'd Condemned and Executed Capt. Stow taken the 6 th of March in a Spunging-House near Smithfield he having caused himself to be Arrested upon a Sham-Action of 300 l. under the Name of Smith Mr. Blair was taken examin'd and confess'd Mr. Robert Ferguson was seiz'd in Gray's Inn-lane hid under a Bed Lowick was seiz'd in Alley in Golden-lane very much disguis'd Arraign'd Condemned and Executed Sir Iohn Fenwick with-drew upon notice there was a Proclamation out against him was taken with one