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
broke all their Measures But upon the Arrival of Sir George Barclay who after having declar'd to the Disaffected Party the Occasion of his coming produc'd a Commission authorizing them to perpetrate the Parricide he withal told them that the late King was retired from St. Germains to Calais where lay a considerable Body of Troops under his Command that the French King had given Orders to Bouffleurs to draw together immediately to Imbark as soon as the Signal was given that their Hellish Contrivance for Assassinating His Majesty's Person had taken effect Whereupon they renew'd their Cousultations with more Vigour than before The Principal Managers having their frequent Meetings as also the Inferiour Instruments theirs whilst some of each number gave secret Intimations to the other of what was passing in their seperate Assemblies Of the great Council the Consults that have been hitherto plainly testified and sworn to were those at the old King's-head in Leadenhall street and Mrs. Montjoy's in St. Iames's street The Subordinate Cabals were kept in divers other Places in and about the City of London as in Ianuary in that Year at Capt. Porter's and at Mr. Charnock's Lodgings in Norfolk-street Or in common Taverns as at the Nag's-Head in Covent-Garden the Sun in the Strand the Globe in Hatton-Garden c. As also on February the 14 th the very Day the Discovery was made at the Blew-Posts in Spring-Garden and on the 15 th and 22 d at Capt. Porter's Lodging in Maiden-lane being both the Times agreed upon to put the Design in Execution Their Meetings being so generally in places of publick Entertainment therefore to prevent the Observation of Drawers and Servants they often discours'd of their whole Bloody Business in a Canting Language of their own making The King was sometimes call'd the Spark the Prince of Orange the Little Gentleman c. Provision of Arms as Bluuderbusses Musquets Pistols c. were talk'd of under disguised Names The Insurrection was stil'd the General Point the Assassination taking off the Spark and striking at the Head And because several or most of the Conspirators were notorious Papists it was sometimes agreed that their wicked Intentions against the King and Government should be veil'd under the terms of taking off the Insupportable Yoke But for the most part when they were free and among themselves they did discourse of the whole Contrivance in plain Language and without Reserve their common Healths were such as these To the Restoring the late King James the Health of the Prince of Wales the late Queen and the French King But when Harris Lowick and others who were less harden'd in Cruelty express'd some kind of Consternation and Dread of the Consequences of so dire a Stroak readily declar'd themselves willing to joyn in the Insurrection but shrunk a little at first at the Horror of the Assassination they said tho it was a Barbarous Work yet they would obey Sir George Barclay's Orders In these their private Cabals the Matters they promiscuously treated of were either a general Insurrection or the Assassination of the King's Person Of the Assassination divers ways were consulted 'till they fix'd on that Lane coming form Brentford to Turnham-Green The Insurrection was propos'd to be made at the same time in England and Scotland The adjusting that part of it which related to Scotland was chiefly under the Care and manag'd by Commissioners appointed for that purpose by the French King and the late King Iames as well as this in England all which Particulars are Circumstantially set forth so often repeated and demonstrably confirm'd in the ensuing Evidences that it will be sufficient here only to direct the Reader 's Observation by given a brief Summary of the whole Towards an in Insurrection throughout England they laid the greatest Stress on the City of London not doubting but if that was once secured to them the rest of the Nation would of Course fall in For the increasing their Numbers and drawing in New Converts this one General Rule was carefully prescribed that the bottom of the Design should in the beginning be warily conceal'd from all Persons with whom they treated First their Inclinations were to be tried by gradual Insinuations and plausible Discourses at a Distance till they had gain'd a full assurance of their Fidelity They were to be ask'd If they would be concern'd in Easing them from the Yoke that laid upon ' em Meaning to murder King William when it was Answer'd They would readily assist in any thing of that Nature Then it was next to be demanded Whether they would contribute the Assistance of their Persons or Purses or both That being also determined It was to be farther inquired What Furniture of Arms Horses and Money they had in readiness What Friends they could engage And if these Questions were resolved according to their Minds then the whole Mystery of the Villainy was to be frankly disclos'd They were to be told in down-right Terms That their Design was to Assassinate the Person of King William in order to fix King Iames again in the Throne to which if they would lend their Assistance it would answer their Expectation He having already sent over several Men and Money to buy Horses to help to do the Work The way being thus made to sound and prepare the Dispositions of ill Men for any Violent Enterprize the next thing came under deliberation was Money For that several of the Conspirators declar'd they had considerable sums of their Own or deposited with them which were ready and might be call'd for on Occasion That Sir George Barclay subscribed Money enough to furnish 40 Horses likewise Sir Iohn Friend offered if the late K. Iames would give order for it to disburst 3000 l. that the Cause might not be lost Neither was Sir W. Parkyns with many others slack in making provision for a sudden Push for they if the Business succeeded were in Hopes to satisfy their thirsty Appetites and inrich themselves with the Blood and Estates of just and honest Men. The next necessary Provision they debated on was Arms. And it is notoriously known the whole Party had been gathering great abundance of all sorts All probably with the same prospect and in the same proportion for their parts in the Conspiracy as Sir William Parkyns had done for his though they happened not all to be so manifestly detected for not long after the Conspiracy was discover'd to His Majesty and His Ministers the said Sir William Parkyns was found to have by him hid under-ground by his Garden-Wall several Chests of compleat Arms belonging as he pretended to his Country-House where no thought of Robbery or Assault could be fear'd and by consequence there could not be the least shadow or pretence that they were laid in there for his own lawful use or defence But besides these Stores which they had every one made for themselves it was resolved at the very
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
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
Iames's Park with that remarkable Knight Sir Iohn Fenwick who Disappear'd for some Months but was after taken at Rumney in Kent and with a certain nameless Earl on that very Sunday before Noon February 23. when their Party waited for the much long'd for News of His Majesty's Assassination But to pass on Not only the Pulpit but the Press was imploy'd for promoting this barbarous Design as I shall demonstrate to your Lordship by a few Touches out of some envenom'd Libels The Clergy says one of their Incendiaries see on what Terms they stand with their renown'd Deliverer and what great and glorious Designs he has to devour them so soon as he has Power and Opportunity He has as good a Will to the Church-Lands as to his Father's Crown But he durst never put it to the Issue lest it should discover the weakness of his Interest for the Eyes of the Nation are open'd They see themselves Cheated and Abus'd and instead of Liberties and Privileges find themselves made Tools to insatiable Ambition and a Morsel for execrable Parricide And it was the most unaccountable Infatuation to have expected otherwise that he who had Stomach enough to devour his Father would ever Stick at preying on the Wealth the Rights and Vitals of the Nation Read this envenom'd Author a little farther I entreat your Lordship The whole Nation proceeds he must be sacrificed to revenge that generous Pity and Compassion which has been shewn by the King of France to an oppressed Prince whom we have infinitly wrong'd 'T is not his Oppression but his Piety is the Ground of this Immortal Hatred and 't is manifest to all that the Noble Princely and Christian Succour he has afforded our Injur'd King is more provoking than all the Oppressions in the World Another of their Emissaries says he Challenges the whole World to produce such an Instance of Injustice and Violation of Promises as this pretended Saint and Mirror of Justice has afforded us Our Constitution both of Church and State are revers'd and quite disjointed our Liberties and Properties most unjustly invaded and more Instances of Arbitrary Power daily committed than in several of the former Reigns I proceed says this venemous Libeller to address my self to those of my Country-men who has had the misfortune to be misled that since they have had all their Expectations decceiv'd themselves gull'd out of all those real Blessings of Government they formerly enjoy'd Peace Plenty Liberty and Property and all that could render a People happy by one whom a Man would be tempted to think could never have been procreated of Human Race void of all sence of Religion Justice Honour and every Qualification that is apt to conciliate Love or Veneration from Mankind who has really forfeited the Crown by his own Act having violated the very Instrument of Government he Subcribed One who has been the Occasion of shedding more Christian Blood than has been spilt in the ten Persecutions meerly upon a sham Pretence of Religion to us That it is their Interest and indispensible Duty if they have any sence of Goodness remaining to free these Nations of such a Plague and Curse and if possible to redeem all those Blessings which have been withheld from us by his Means by atoning God Almighty by doing Justice to their highly injur'd King and Queen to themselves and to all Europe and averting those dismal Plagues which otherwise e're long will fall upon their Heads Otherwise let 'em do what they can be as obstniate malicious and revengful as they please if they be resolv'd yet to act wickedly they shall be consumed both they and their King All this was evidently with design to shake the Crown and undermine the true Protestant Religion The Truth is to such a Heighth of Arrogance were things grown on their Side that who ever shall Indifferently reflect on the Dangerous Devices Slanderous Reports and Writings and other Violent Emotions of the whole Party that Winter in the City and throughout the Kingdom they will have just cause to conclude that the Course of their Proceedings was a daring Struggle for Victory and a Decisive Contention for Mastery over the Government Yet however cunningly the Train was laid it took no effect but on themselves the Noise and Rage of all their Mutinous Routs vanished into Air. Sir Iohn Houblon the Lord Mayor together with the whole Body of the Greater Wiser and Richer Citizens understood rightly and stuck Unmovable to the Nation 's and their own true Interest Which the Conspirators perceiving many disaffected Lords and others withdrew from their Houses redoubling their Exclamations of Usurpation Tyranny Oppression and what not and still apply'd themselves with all Diligence to expedite the Rebellious Work before projected fancying that yet the whole City and Kingdom would be at the French King's Beck and upon the holding up his Finger would presently rise in Arms to extirpate the two Brothers Liberty and Property The French King had set on foot a Treaty with the Disaffected in England and sent the Duke of Berwick privily to London who held divers Meetings with the Confederates who offer'd that if that King would furnish 10000 Men they would make a Sturdy Commotion here About that time also both ways of destroying these Kingdoms were brought under their Consideration the general way of an Insurrection and the more compendious way as they call'd it of Assassinating the King in his return from Hunting The Assassination was Instantly promoted on all Hands in Town and Country immediately after which the Insurrection was to follow At last it was thought adviseable to send one to France to acquaint the late King Iames with the result of their whole Proceedings desiring him to prevail with the French King to lend him 8000 Foot 1000 Horse 1000 Dragoons and they would meet him at his Landing at the Head of 2000 Horse and knowing no one fitter to employ in such a Concern they desir'd Mr. Charnock would be the Man because they knew him to be of a fluent Tongue and subtile Brain and one of the Chief Contrivers and Managers of the whole Design he readily consented to their Desire and immediatly provided for his Departure after he had advised and encourag'd each of them to be hearty in the Cause Though Charnock was gone for a while yet the Impressions of Mischief he had left behind on the Minds of the Confederates would not so easily vanish They soon reflected on his last advice that so many having been made Conscious to the Design they should certainly find more Safety in pushing it on boldly than in too late a Retreat Upon this immediately they recover'd their Spirits and Resolutions which his Departure had somewhat damp'd thenceforth they renew'd their Consultations 'till his Return which was soon after with the Answer That the French King's Affairs being in such a Posture he could not at that time comply with their Demand which for the present
first News of the late King Iames's Landing with his Cut-Throat Army to be in readiness some to attempt the publick Magazines in and about the City whilst others in the remote Parts were to use their utmost Diligence to form themselves into a Body and join the Invasion Many Thoughts were also spent how to engage the Sea-Men to their Side Tho it must be said that their Practices with them met with the least Success of any Nor is it imaginable the brave Race of English Mariners should ever prove false to His Majesty who has cherish'd encourag'd and promoted that Profession more than all the Kings of England have done since the Conquest His Majesty well understanding that the Safety Riches and Honour of this Kingdom depend most on its Maratime Greatness However the Conspirators not in the least doubting but they should have sufficient Numbers as soon as their Friends were arrived from France to make a Stand and give time to others to come in and declare their Rendezvouses were appointed in most of the convenient Posts of London and Westminster whence they might at once attack the Bridg the Exchanges the Guards the Savoy Whitehall and the Tower And they had ready in Town and Country a considerable number of Officers to head and govern the mixt Multitude as soon as they should appear in Arms. At the same time a Party was to be ready to scowr the Streets and immediately Barricadoes were to be made The Horses of Hackney-Coaches and other Strangers were to be seiz'd on The Horse-Guards not actually Mounted to be surpriz'd in their several Stables For which end a Committee was chose who undertook to vew the Posture of their Quarters and reported back to the Principals that the seizing 'em was a thing very feasible Ferguson had also often assur'd them he could promise for a considerable Number of Men to be ready at a day and that he would make one of the same Party himself Upon supposition of this Strength their principal aim being to surprize the Tower as a Place most able to annoy them and where there lay great Magazines of Stores of Ammunition to furnish them they had many Debates on that Subject And it is very well known they had brought an Officer in Trust therein to be of their Party who was to deliver the Tower into their Hands Besides securing to themselves by these means the Cities of London and Westminster which was their greatest Care they had also under Consideration the raising Commotions at the same time in divers other Parts of England Especially those Counties of the West and North in which they believ'd the Iacobite Party to be most Numerous and most inclin'd to their Factious Interest In every County some one Great Man was to put himself at the head of the Rebellion and divers of them had their proper Stations appointed In the North they depended on a numerous Assistance having been inform'd by Sir William Parkyns who had made a Journey into that part of the Kingdom that the North was as well inclin'd to their Party as the West Most Sea-Port Towns of any considerable Strength was to be attempted particularly Portsmouth by some going into the Town on pretence of seeing the Place at the same time another Party coming in on the Market-day disguiz'd like Country-men and both together were to fall on the Guards At the same time when they were making these Preparations for an Insurrection the other Design of Assassinating His Majesty kept equal Pace with it It is manifest that the French King and late King Iames had often devised his Majesty's Murder it being indeed a Talent peculiar to them both to murder Princes and lay their Nations in Blood and Confusion That of all Men living they can most easily turn themselves into all Shapes and comply with all Dispositions to get Agents to compass their Damnable Purposes having by long practice got the skill to cover their Hooks with Baits fitting every Humour The Covetous who are no small Number of their Iacobite Party those they feed and deceive with hopes of Wealth and new Sequestrations The Ambitious with Praise and Vain-Glory The Church of England with Promises of Liberty and Religion Sometimes not refusing to stoop lower and even to serve and assist the Pleasures and Debauches of Men that way inclin'd if they find them any way useful for their purposes And now also upon this Occasion divers Ways of performing the Assassination were debated one was to make the Attempt on His Majesty as He came from Richmond by the Road. Another when He was upon Horse-back at Cue Another to Surprize Him by Ambuscade as He was diverting Himself with Shooting or Hunting in the Park by Richmond But of these Propositions Sir George Barclay approv'd of none like the last mention'd in order to which he desir'd Capt. Porter to go with Mr. Knightly to View the Ground accordingly they went and Mr. King with them At their return made their Report That the Lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green to be much more Feasible to dispatch the Business or do the Trick as they call'd it The Account they gave of the Commodiousness of the Lane for any such desperate Enterprize soon incourag'd them to fix it there It being a Place lonely and retired with a River on one Side and Pales on the other which would afford all Advantages imaginable to the Assailants and give as great Inconveniences to the Persons Attack'd The Place being agreed on it was first question'd Whether the Stroak should be struck upon His Majesty's going to or coming from Hunting But it was thought more expedient to defer it 'till His Majesty's return That Point being over they had several Meetings to consult of all the Circumstances of the Parricide The number of the Men to be Personally engag'd were Forty at least of which Number Sir George Barclay was to make up about Twenty Mr. Charnock was to furnish Eight Capt. Porter Seven Sir William Parkyns Three Men and 5 Horses To that end 2 or 3 Lists of Names were drawn up out of which choice was made of Two which were call'd Ordely Men and Quarter'd at Kensington to give Notice to the Rest when His Majesty went a Hunting The Arms to be used were Blunderbusses Musquets Pistols c. The several Parties were to be dispers'd at the Inns at Brentford and Turnham-Green that they might be in a readiness against the approach of the Fatal Hour On the day the Design was to be executed the Attempt was agreed to be made in this Manner Some one or two were to be at the Ferry to give Notice when His Majesty Landed first to Sir George Barclay then to the rest Upon Warning given of the King 's being near at hand all were to be in a readiness to Issue forth in a Moment some on Horse-back some on Foot Immediately upon the Coach's coming within the Lane they were to shut
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
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