THE HISTORY OF THE Late Conspiracy AGAINST THE KING AND THE NATION With a Particular Account of the LANCASHIRE PLOT AND All the other Attempts and Machinations of the disaffected Party since His Majesty's Accession to the Throne Extracted out of the Original Informations of the Witnesses and other Authentick Papers LONDON Printed for Daniel Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and Tho. Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard M DC XCVI THE HISTORY Of the Late Conspiracy c. SInce the late Conspiracy in this Kingdom has been for some time the Principal Object of the Curiosity of the Public and since it may furnish us with so great a Variety of Important Instructions 't is presum'd the History of it will be equally useful and acceptable to the present Age and to Posterity Here future Ages may behold a King variously Censur'd and Represented by the several Parties of Mankind lov'd by some hated by others but â—steem'd by all tho' in so different a manner that some Conspire his Death for the same Reasons that prevail d with others to offer him a Crown A Prinâ—e to whom his Subjects own themselves indebted for Immortal Obligations and whom his Enâ—mies for that very Reason accuâ—e as the Author of all their Misâ—ortunes Advanc'd by the Gratitude of the one render'd Illustrious by the Hatred of the others endu'd with a Generous Moderation that raises him above his Fortune and makes him the absolute Master of his Passions Here the Reader will find Gentlemen and Officers dishonoâ—ing theâ—r Birth and Character by acting the unmanly part of Murderers a barbaroâ—s Assassination carry'd on under the speâ—ious pretext of a Military Expedition a handful of Traitors contâ—â—ving the ruin of the publiâ— Liberty and reâ—dy by one terrible Blow to execute their pernicious Design a Secret that had been exâ—ctly conceâ—l'd for Six Years discover'd by Four Men in Six Days The King not only assisted by Providence but establish'd by the treacherous Malice of his Enemies endear'd to his Subjects by the Greatness of the Common Danger and receiving new Assurances of their Affection and Fidelity Eâ—gland once more deliver'd The Prince and the People inseparably united by mutual Obligations and more than ever in a condition to procure and maintain the Peace and Happiness of Europe This is a general View of what the Reader may expect to meet with in the following Relation I have mark'd every particular step of a Transaction which is too important to be forgotten tho it can never be remember'd without Horror And thâ—t tâ—e â—rogress and Management of the Dâ—siâ—n might appear in â— clearer â—ight I have trac'd it â—â—â—m itâ— dark Original and have given a â—â—ccinct Account of the several Projects and Attempts that precâ—â—ded or madâ— way for the Conspiracâ— I have taken care to â—urnish my â—elf â—itâ— such Instruâ—â—ions as might enable me to compose an exacâ— History I have endeavor'd to write without Heat and Partiality nor was there any need of aggravating a Crime that is so black in its own nature and so apt to possess the calmest Mind with a Just Abhorrence and Indignation But above all I have been scrupulously careful to mention nothing but what is grounded upon Authentic Testimonies To give the Reader a just Idea of the Conspiracy 't wou'd be necessary in the First place to acquaint him with the importance of his Majesty's Life if it were not unreasonable to suppose that any Person can be so much a stranger to the Transactions of the Age he lives in as to be ignorant of the interest which the Nations of Europe have in the preservation of that Sacred Life 'T was on him that Spain founded the first hopes she had the courage to entertain of seeing a happy turn of her declining Fortune 'T is to him next to the blessing of Heaven that the Dutch owe the safety of their State and the English their Laws Religion and Liberty The Former entrusted him with the management of all their concerns and the Latter made him their Soveraign to secure their own Happiness and to prevent a return of those Miseries from which he had deliver'd ' em The Allies in general combin'd together to erect a kind of Empire for him in the present Confederacy being sensible that they cou'd not defend themselves without his Assistance and that they might without any Jealousy or Apprehension rely upon his Integrity and Vertue And which is yet a brighter and more surprizing part of his Character 't is certain that none of all these Honors which he enjoys cost him the trouble of Asking The great and important Services which the World had either receiv'd or might expect to receive from him were the only Solicitations he us'd to obtain these glorious advantages This is the only Circumstance of his Life which shall be particularly consider'd in this place because 't is This that will contribute most to give light to the following History and This alone which Malice or Envy durst ever presume to conâ—radict It never enter'd into the Thoughts of any considering Person says a late Writer that the Prince of Orange was so fond of the English Nation as to undertake the security of their Liberties at the expence of so much Treasure and so many Fatigues instead of destroying 'em as he ought to have done being the next Heir to the Crown after the Prince of Wales I cannot forbear observing on this occasion that this Author though chosen as the fittest Person to write a History of the Revolutions in England according to the Instructions and as it appears by the Orders of his Party was at least in this case a perfect Stranger both to the Affairs and Temper of that Monarch For ' tiâ— certain that his Majesty in so pressing a Juncture cou'd not forget England without neglecting his own Interest and that of the Princess his Consort and without consenting to the irrecoverable Ruine of Holland of the Protestant Religion in general and of all the Princes and States in Europe both Protestants and Roman-Catholics who were equally threatn'd with unavoidable destruction And besides it will appear that the Author of that History was less acquainted with his Majesty's Temper than with his Interest and Affairs When that generous Prince was plac'd at the Head of a potent Republic in the heat of his youth and when at the importunate solicitations of all the Members of that great Body he was advanc'd to such a degree of Power and Grandeur as might have enabl'd him to execute whatever his Ambition cou'd have prompted him to undertake 't is known that he made no other use of so inviting an opportunity than to settle a good correspondence betwixt the Magistrates and the People 'T is known that he refus'd the Sovereignty of Guelderland which was offer'd to him because he wou'd not confirm the jealousy of some Persons who seem'd to dread the consequences of such an Innovation
Gordon Lunt and Thrilfall who came from Ireland with Declarations and Commissions from King James to the Roman-Catholics in several Counties of England They landed in Lancashire where they open'd their Commissions by which Gordon was appointed to go to Scotland Thrilfall to Yorkshire and Lunt to Staffordshire Cheshire and Lancashire In pursuance of these Orders they parted and went immediately to the respective Places that were allotted 'em where they executed their Commissions tho' with different Success Thrilfall had already finish'd his Negotiation in Yorkshire and was returning thro' Cheshire to Ireland when he was pursu'd upon Suspicion and kill'd as he was endeavouring to defend himself Lunt having perform'd his Commission was sent to London to levy Soldiers to be destributed among the Conspirators in the North. In his return from thence after he had Executed his Orders he was Seiz'd at Coventry by one of the Kings Messengers brought back to London and Committed to Newgate Five Months after he was set at Liberty having given Bail to appear next Hillary Term at the King's Bench from whence he was sent to be Try'd at the Assizes in Lancashire He was Committed for High-Treason to the Castle of Lancaster upon the Evidence of the Master of the Ship who brought him over from Ireland and the Officers of the Custom-house who found some of King James's Commissions among the Papers which he left in the Vessel But these were not the most Terrible Witnesses that were like to appear against him For about that time the Conspiracy was discover'd by two several Persons The first was Kelly who declar'd what he knew to the Mayor of Eversham in Worcestershire the Earl of Bellamont and some Persons of Quality in that Country who Communicated the Discovery to the Council But tho' his Deposition remain'd in the Hands of the Government his Person disappear'd so suddenly and in so strange a manner that we cou'd never afterwards hear an account of him His Fate continues a Mystery to this day but whether he was kill'd or carry'd away 't is certain that the Conspirators from that very time began to resume their Courage which was extremely sunk upon the News of his Discovery Dodsworth was the Second who alarm'd the Party by discovering the Conspiracy to a Member of Parliament who sent an account of it to one of the Secretaries of State by whose Order the Informer was brought from Lancashire to London And 't was found that his Deposition agreed exactly with that of Kelly tho' they were at a hundred Miles distance when they were examin'd Dodsworth was sent to the Castle of Lancashire to joyn his Evidence to the Testimony of the other Witnesses that were to appear against Lunt who nevertheless cou'd not be convicted according to the usual Forms of Law For when he was brought to his Tryal the Master of the Ship who brought him from Ireland either was or pretended to be sick And the Officers of the Custom-house cou'd not swear that the Papers which were produc'd in the Court were the same which they found in the Ship because they had forgotten to mark ' em Thus the whole Evidence being reduc'd to the single Testimony of Dodsworth Lunt tho' apparently Guilty was acquitted and both the Court and Jury chose rather to absolve a Criminal than to violate the least Circumstance of the Law A rare Instance of Justice and Moderation which at once may serve to convince us of the Mildness and Clemency of the present Government and of the extravagant Prejudice of those who wou'd exchange it for Arbitrary Power and of two things which seem to be equally the Objects of our Admiration leaves us in doubt whether we have greater reason to Love and Esteem the Former or to Hate and Detest the Latter Lunt by his Services and Sufferings had so far insinuated himself into the Favor and Confidence of his Party that in a Meeting of Jacobites at Standish-Hall in Lancashire he was chosen to go to France to acquaint King James with the present posture of his affairs here and to know what Assistance might be expected from him The Answer he brought was that the late King was preparing to come in Person to England the next Spring and that in the mean time he wou'd send 'em his last Instructions by a sure and faithful Hand Not long after Walmuly and Parker came to England by that Prince's Order and appointed a Meeting of the principal Persons of their Faction at Dungen-Hall where they deliver'd the Commissions and Presents they had brought from France and at the same time assur'd 'em that King James wou'd speedily land in England with a sufficient Force to support ' em In the mean they were putting all things in readiness at la Hogue for the intended Expedition The Preparations they made were very great and the Measures they had taken seem'd to promise Success as it will appear by the following account of ' em By the Articles that were agreed upon at the surrender of Limerick the French had cunningly reserv'd a Liberty to retain a very considerable Body of the Irish Forces in their Service whom they design'd upon the first convenient occasion to send over to England These Troops consisted of such as were most deeply engag'd in the routed Party and long'd for a Second War to make up the Losses they had sustain'd in the First They were rather irritated then discourag'd by their late Misfortunes and so unaccustom'd to Labor that the love of Idleness joyn'd to the desire of Booty had made 'em forsake their native Country Besides they look'd upon our Happiness with Envy and Rage and cou'd not endure to be Subject to those whom they once hop'd to enslave Such Men as these were the fittest to be employ'd in a Design of this Nature and in all probability wou'd have prov'd the most effectual Instruments of our Destruction if they cou'd have found an opportunity to join the Disaffected Party among us There were Three sorts of Persons in this Nation whom we might justly look upon as Domestic Enemies First the zealous and bigotted Roman-Catholics or rather all Roman-Catholics in general for tho' some of 'em appear'd more cautious and moderate than the Rest 't was the general opinion of the Party that all the Papists in England wou'd take up Arms on that occasion The Second Order of Jacobites consisted of the late King's Servants who ow'd their Fortune and Preferment to his Favor And the Third comprehends those whose Interest and Safety depended upon the Subversion of the Laws Men of turbulent Spirits and desperate Fortunes who hop'd to raise themselves upon the Ruins of their Country Such Persons as these are at once our Plague and our Reproach but the Breed is not peculiar to England for every Nation has its share in the common Calamity and has the misfortune to produce a Set of Men who seem to be in Love with Disorder and are never more
Cochram sent a Person in whom he confided to King James assuring him that in some parts of Scotland there were several Presbyterian Ministers who were the Leading Men of the Party and some Gentlemen of Note that were intirely at his disposal He offer'd his Interest to King James from whom he had receiv'd Fifteen Hnndred Pounds Sterl which he said he had faithfully distributed among his Creatures and desir'd him to send Three thousand Pounds more In the mean time he pretended an extraordinary Zeal for Liberty of Conscience and declar'd if King James wou'd not comply with his Subjects in that point he wou'd Wade thro a Sea of Blood to go thither Thus he was equally unfaithful to the Nation and to that Party which he seem'd to espouse by selling the Blood and Liberty of the Former for so small a Sum and by obliging the Latter to depend upon the Late King's Word for an Advantage of which they were already in possession and betraying 'em to those who are particularly animated against ' em Ferguson the noted Contriver of those Intrigues which at last prov'd Fatal to the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth fam'd for Inconstancy and Treason that Prodigy of Plotters whose whole Life is One black Mystery was also a busie Promoter of this execrable Design The Character that is given of him in the History of the Conspiracy against King Charles II. and the Duke of York which was Written by their Order is very remarkable and serves to shew us what use the Party intended to make of a Person with whose Temper they were so well acquainted The Author of that Book informs us that Ferguson was not only engag'd in the Design of Assassinating those two Princes but applauded it as a Glorious Work saying that it wou'd be an Admonition to all Princes to take heed how they oppress'd their Subjects and adding upon another occasion that it was never thought Injustice to Shoot or set Traps for Wolves and Tygers And one of the principal Conspirators speaking of a Blunderbuss which he intended to use in the Assassination of his Majesty broke out into this prophane Jest That Ferguson shou'd first Consecrate it In the same Book we are told that the Duke of Monmouth confess'd to the King That in all their Debates Ferguson was always for cutting of Throats saying that was the most Compendious Way That Ferguson himself when he took his leave of the Conspirators declar'd That he wou'd never be out of a Plot as long as he liv'd and that at one of their Consults he propos'd that Five or Six of the Old Rich Citizens shou'd be kill'd at First and their Estates given to the Mobile to terrifie the rest That 't was his constant Custom to out-do all the rest of the Conspirators by some peculiar Circumstance of Cruelty of his own Invention That upon all accounts of his restless Spirit fluent Tongue subtil Brain and hellish Malice he was perfectly Qualifi'd to be the great Incendiary and common Agitator of the whole Conspiracy and that after Shaftsbury's Death he was the Life and Soul of all especially for the carrying on of the Assassination While such Persons as these were endeavoring to incite the Presbyterians to Rebellion the Episcopal Party was cajol'd by some of the Depos'd Bishops or by certain Prelates that were sent as private Emissaries from King James And the same design was also zealously promoted by some Clergy-men who despair'd of Preferment under a Prince who makes Merit and Vertue the only Objects of his Favor and Bounty They were enrag'd to find themselves disappointed of the great Expectations they had conceiv'd in the preceding Reign when the Government designing to render the Church of England weak and contemptible made want of Merit one of the principal Recommendations to Advancement It must be acknowledg'd even by those who envy our present Happiness that the constant Care which is taken to bestow the Benefices and Dignities of the Church upon the most deserving Persons and to prefer the Desires of the People in the choice of their Pastors before the most pressing Solicitations of particular Persons is one of the distinguishing Beauties of this Reign The Merit of those who have been advanc'd to the Episcopal Function since the Revolution is sufficient either to stop the Mouths or baffle the Impudence of their most virulent Enemies And 't is known that these worthy Prelates are not only encourag'd but enjoin'd to make a conscientious use of the Power with which they are entrusted by virtue of their Office and Character to dispose of a considerable number of the Inferior Benefices So that 't is hard to imagine where the most impudent Malice can find a pretext to censure His Majesty's Conduct in this Point Nevertheless 't is certain that the Conspirators carry'd on their black Intrigues in all places and among all sorts of Persons and even were not asham'd to contradict themselves by endeavoring at once to perswade all the several Parties in the Kingdom that they had just cause of Complaint They suggested to the Rigid Presbyterians whose ungovern'd Zeal made 'em capable of such Impressions that they ought not to support a Prince who protected the Church of England And at the same time the Toleration he had granted to Dissenters was made use of as a pretext to render him odious to the hottest Asserters of Episcopacy He had already given us a sufficient Intimation of his Sentiments in this Case and of the Maxims he intended to pursue when he declar'd in the beginning of his Reign That He wou'd be King of his People and not of a Faction He lov'd moderate Persons in all Parties and resolv'd to maintain all his Subjects Indifferently in the Possession of their Privileges and Properties He wou'd never permit any Order or Set of Men to domineer over the rest of their Fellow Subjects but suted his Maxims to the Free and Manly Genius of his People who love to be Govern'd by Law He is naturally inclin'd to Goodness and Clemency and tho his Temper alone were not sufficient to secure us against uneasie Apprehensions the Consideration of his Interest wou'd infallibly restrain him from abusing his Authority The preceding Reign furnishes him with Instructing Examples and his Virtue is confirm'd by the Faults of his Predecessor He was advanc'd in opposition to Arbitrary Power and can never consent to the abolishing of those Laws on which his Authority is founded Nor can he endeavor to render himself absolute in one place without ruining his Interest in another for he is equally oblig'd to maintain the Laws of England that he may preserve his Authority in Holland and to preserve the Liberty of the Dutch that he may maintain his Power among us Never was the Interest and Happiness of a Prince so inseparably united to that of his People and never had Subjects less reason to be Jealous of the Authority of their Soveraign This is unquestion'd Matter of Fact a Truth
of which were paid and the rest promis'd Charnock and Harrison were look'd upon by the Court at St. Germains as Persons in whom they might place an Entire Confidence The Project of Assassinating the King was doubtless Communicated to 'em by Parker who is thought to be the first Contriver of it Those who are engag'd in such Barbarous Designs endeavor to find a sort of Justification or Excuse in the Atrocity of their Guilt Every new Crime stretches their Conscience to make room for a Sin of a larger Size and Emboldens 'em both to Contrive and Commit the most Horrible Villanies Nor is it probable that he conceal'd the Design from Porter and Goodman with whom both before and after his Imprisonment he entertain'd an Intimate Correspondence However 't is certain that these Four Men were either the first Contrivers of the Project or at least consulted about the most proper Ways to put it in Execution after it was Communicated to ' em At first they only mention'd the Seizing of the King and the carrying of him to France either because they had no other Intention at that time or because they fancy'd that even the Faintest Sense of Honor and Vertue might make the Conspirators reject the startling Proposal of an Assassination 'T is plain from their Proceedings afterwards that their seeming Moderation on this Occasion was not the effect of any Inclination they had to spare His Majesty's Life That Barbarous Design was propos'd under several and very different Notions according to the Characters of those to whom it was Communicated They usually contented themselves with mentioning the carrying away of the King when they imparted the Project to those in whom they found some unextinguish'd Sparks of Honor but they scrupl'd not to own the Assassination in the broadest Terms to those who they perceiv'd were transported by a brutish and ungovern'd Fury Yet even those who had made the greatest progress in putting off all Humanity cou'd not forbear discovering the inward Horror that rack'd their guilty Consciences Their Minds were so agitated by a Sense of the Enormity of their Crime that they cou'd not fix upon the Way of executing it Sometimes they concluded that the quickest way to bring in King James and restore him to his Crown was by knocking King William on the Head Sometimes they resolv'd to hurry the King away to Rumney-Marsh and from thence to carry him over to France And in some of their Consults 't was determin'd to carry him-alive into France if they cou'd if they cou'd not take him alive then to Assassinate him and pretend it was done by a Random Shot Brice Blair was one of the first to whom they communicated the Design He was a Scotch-Man by Birth and educated a Presbyterian but afterwards turn'd Papist All the Time he had spent in the Service cou'd not procure him a higher Post than that of a Lieutenant and therefore he resolv'd to take a nearer tho a more indirect way to Preferment Yet neither his Religion nor Ambition cou'd make him so much an Enemy to Honor and Virtue as to be a fit Companion for the Conspirators He was never present at those Consults where 't was examin'd whether the Assassination or the Carrying away of the King was the quickest or surest way to bring in King James and restore him to his Crown for when Charnock propos'd the Design to him by the least odious name he rejected it in such a manner that they durst never mention it to him afterwards Not long after Porter and Goodman communicated the Project to Sir George Barelay who was then in England and just ready to go over to France They desir'd him to acquaint King James with their Design that if he appro'd it he might send 'em a Commission with a Pardon included in it It seems Barclay did not send 'em the Commission they expected But some time after Charnock told Goodman that there was an Order to seize the Prince of Orange for so they usually call'd his Majesty Upon this advice a Consult was held where Charnock produc'd one Waugh that was lately come from France who told 'em that he expected a Commission to seize the King This was look'd upon as a sufficient Encouragement to set all their Engines at Work in order to a vigorous prosecution of the Grand Design They held Meeting after Meeting to concert the Methods of executing it In these Consults some of the Conspirators acquainted the rest with the Intelligence they had at Deal where they resolv'd to secure a Vessel To this Effect they sent for a Man who offer'd to furnish 'em with one but dismist him because they cou'd not agree about the Price Then they resum'd their Debates about the Commission but since they had none to produce they broke up without coming to a Conclusion Some days after Charnock Porter and Waugh met at Brentford where they consulted about the Ways of executing the Attempt They view'd the Ground consider'd the Houses where they shou'd place their Men and waited till his Majesty shou'd return from Richmond that they might observe the Guards who accompany'd him and his usual Way of Travelling They continu'd their Meetings during the Months of January February and March 1694 5 and in one of their Consults at the Mitre-Tavern in St. James's Market the Design was communicated to Lariie whom they look'd upon as a Person entirely devoted to the Faction because he had suffer'd a long and tedious Imprisonment upon suspicion of holding Intelligence with the Enemies of the Government He embrac'd the proposal and perhaps was really willing to be engag'd in it tho if we reflect upon the Manner and Circumstances of his Discovery it may be presum'd that he only seem'd to comply with 'em that the Confidence they plac'd in him might enable him to acquaint the Government with the dark Intrigues of its treacherous Enemies The Conspirators were all the while kept in Expectation of a Commission which was retarded by several Accidents Waugh had told King James that the Earl of Arran and the Lord Forbes were willing to be concern'd in the Design to carry away the King but when he attempted to discourse with 'em on that Subject after his return from France they both refus'd to have any thing to do with him 'T was reported among the Conspirators that the News of this Disappointment stop'd the sending of the Commission which was already Sign'd and expected by every post And besides there was one Crosby who went to France and talk'd so freely and particularly of the Design'd Attempt that 't was plain he was better acquainted with the secrets of the Faction than they either imagin'd or desir'd Parker wrote upon this occasion to Porter and Goodman who assur'd him that they had never communicated the Design to Crosby However it seems the Court of St. Germains were so alarm'd by this and other Accidents that they resolv'd to
they might be oblig'd to depend upon the Party They endeavor'd to engage the Officers by Flattering 'em with Hopes of Preferment making the Ensigns Captains and promising Regiments to those who were Captains before For 't is neither Reason nor Justice but Licentiousness and Disorder that advance the Designs of a Faction Of their Troopers some had Money to buy Horses but there were few of this Number some reckon'd to borrow 'em upon occasion and others resolv'd to take 'em where they cou'd find ' em Sir John Fenwick was the Author of the last of these Projects for instead of rendering themselves suspected by providing a great number of Horses he advis'd 'em when the Design shou'd be ripe for Execution to seize on all the Horses they cou'd find in or about London And this Advice was so well lik'd by the Conspirators that some of 'em took care to take a List of the Horses Nor was this meerly the Effect of Sir John Fenwick's Prudence for he had already been so Liberal a Benefactor to the Faction that he found himself oblig'd to moderate his Expences for the Future His Creditors to whom he had resign'd his Estate allow'd him an Annuity which was sufficient for his Subsistence but not for carrying on his Designs Sir John Friend was almost in the same condition for he had advanc'd such considerable Summs for the subsistence of his Men that he was afraid if the Design of the Invasion shou'd miscarry he shou'd not have enough left to carry on his Trade Sir William Parkins had also put himself to a considerable Charge tho he had bought but Thirty Horses which was a meer Trifle in comparison to the Number he wanted And besides the Arms he had provided wou'd not have furnish'd the Twentieth part of his Regiment however they were more than he durst own and therefore he was forc'd to hide 'em in the Country To conclude they cou'd not but foresee that those whom they had drawn in by supplying their present Necessities wou'd not be so ready to encounter the apparent Dangers of the Attempt as they were to offer their Service 'T is plain from these Remarks that 't wou'd have been a hard Task for the Conspirators to make good their Promise to meet the Late King at the Head of Two Thousand Horse Besides the Charge of carrying on the Design was too heavy for those that were engag'd in it their Money was spent in useless Preparations and a longer Delay wou'd have been as dangerous as a rash and preposterous Haste Charnock was a Man of too much Sense and to well acquainted with the Strength of the Faction to rely upon the Promises they had made him And therefore he desir'd another Meeting which was held at a Tavern near Sir John Fenwick's Lodgings and consisted of the same Persons that were present at the former except the Lord Montgomery There Charnock desir'd to know whether they were resolv'd to make good their proposals and upon the new Assurances they gave him he undertook the Commission and some days after embark'd for France But the late King's Council did not think fit to Answer their Expectations For the Design was not yet ripe for Execution nor their Affairs either in England or France in such a Posture as they desir'd They had sounded the Inclinations of the Parliament People and Army and by several vain Attempts had endeavor'd to debauch their Fidelity 'T was their Interest and Desire that either the whole Army or a considerable part of it shou'd be disbanded by the Parliament that there might not be a sufficient number of standing Forces left to oppose the Conspirators To this end their Emissaries were instructed to exaggerate the unavoidable Inconveniencies of the War and to perswade the People and especially their Representatives that 't wou'd be necessary to encrease our Naval Force for the security of our Trade and at the same time to lessen an Army that was useful to Foreigners but only chargeable to our Selves How is the Nation cheated was their usual Cant and what occasion is there for so vast an Expence as if so brave a Fleet were not sufficient to defend us How are we degenerated from the Valor of our Ancestors how basely do we injure their glorious Memory by dreading an Enemy whom they have so often defeated and how poorly it sounds in the Mouth of an English-Man to talk of an Invasion from France By these and such like cunning Insinuations they wou'd have perswaded us that we were oblig'd in Honor to give our Enemies all the advantages they cou'd desire and that 't was a mark of Cowardice to put our selves in a posture of Defence But these Artifices did not take effect tho there were even some well-meaning Persons who had learn'd the Language and promoted the Designs of those who at the same time were plotting their Ruine They had endeavor'd to stir up the People to Rebellion or at least to try what might be expected from 'em if an Insurrection shou'd be begun In pursuance of this Design some Facobites taking advantage of the Mildness of the Laws and the Indulgency of the Government met at a noted Tavern where under pretext of a Drunken Frolic which they hop'd wou'd be either slighted or excus'd they assum'd the boldness to stop those who happen'd to pass that way and to make 'em drink a Health to King James and the pretended Prince of Wales But at last the People were so incens'd and broke into the House with so much Fury that the Impudent Rioteers fearing to be torn in pieces by the Rabble were glad for their own security to be seiz'd and carry'd to Newgate They had also form'd a Project to surprize the Tower to favor the intended Insurrection but all the Friends they had in it were not able to make 'em Masters of that important Place nor cou'd they hope to keep it if they shou'd have succeeded in the Attempt They had in the last place endeavor'd to corrupt the Forces that were left in the Kingdom but had no great reason to boast of their Success For except some Troopers in the Earl of Oxford's Regiment and here and there an Officer or a Soldier in the Militia there were none who wou'd be engag'd in so black an Enterprize Nor was the posture of their Affairs in France more encouraging than in England For Lewis XIV stood in need of all his Forces to oppose the Confederates whom he cou'd not hinder from making considerable Conquests We were Masters of the Sea and were either preparing or had actually begun to Bombard his Sea-port Towns His Fleet was coop'd up in the Mediterranean and durst not venture to repass the Streights So that how welcome soever the Proposals might be to the Courts of Versailles and St. Germains they cou'd not in such a Juncture spare so many Men as their Friends in England desir'd And therefore Charnock was sent back
Considerations concluded that there was never less reason to doubt the Truth of a Conspiracy than of This. Such a discourse as this was very Seasonable and even necessary at a time when several Persons were endeavoring to make the whole Discovery pass for a Fiction either because they imagin d that the King and Council had been impos'd upon or perhaps because they wish'd that we had been convinc'd of the reality of the Design by the Execution of it However Time and the Confession of the Criminals have stopt the Mouths of those who wou'd have stifl'd the Discovery And the Parliament to express their Zeal and Affection in such a dangerous Juncture made the following Address to His Majesty which was presented by both Houses in a Body WE Tour Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Aslembl'd having taken into our Serious Consideration what Tour Majesty has been Pleas'd to Communicate to us this Day Think it our Duty in the First Place to give Tour Majesty most Humble Thanks for having Acquainted Tour Parliament with the great Danger Tour Sacred Person hath been so nearly Expos'd to and the Design of an Invasion from our Enemies Abroad We Heartily Congratulate Tour Majesties Happy Preservation and Thankfully Acknowledge the Signal Providence of God in it and at the same time Declare our Detestation and Abhorrence of so Villanous and Barbarous a Design And since the Safety and Welfare of Tour Majesties Dominions do so entirely Depend upon Tour Life we most Humbly Beseech Tour Majesty to take more than ordinary Care of Tour Royal Person And we take this Occasion to Assure your Majesty of our utmost Assistance to Defend Tour Person and Support Tour Government against the late King James and all other Tour Enemies both at Home and Abroad hereby Declaring to all the World That in case Tour Majesty shall come to any Violent Death which God forbid we will Revenge the same upon all Tour Enemies and their Adherents And as an Instance of our Zeal for Tour Majestys Service we will give all possible Dispatch to the Public Business And we make it our Desire to Tour Majesty to Seize and Secure all Persons Horses and Arms that Tour Majesty may think fit to Apprehend upon this Occasion His Majesty receiv'd this Address in a very obliging manner and was pleas'd to return a most gracious Answer in these words My Lords and Gentlemen I Thank you heartily for this kind Address On My Part you may be Assur'd that I will do all that is within My Power for the Preservation of this Kingdom to which I have so many Obligations I will readily Venture My Life for Preserving it and Recommend My Self to the Continuance of Tour Loyalty and Good Affections At the same time both Houses enter'd into an Association to defend his Majesty's Life and to revenge his Death and particularly the House of Commons agreed to several important Resolutions 'T was order'd That leave should be given to bring in a Bill to Impower His Majesty to Secure and Detain such Persons as His Majesty should suspect were Conspiring against His Person or Government And Resolv'd That an Humble Address shou'd be presented to His Majesty that He wou'd please to issue out His Royal Proclamation to Banish all Papists from the Cities of London and Westminster and Ten Miles from the same That all the Members of the House shou'd either sign the Association or declare their Refusal so to do and that whosoever shou'd by Writing or otherwise affirm that the Association was Illegal shou'd be look d upon as Promoters of the Designs of the late King and Enemies of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom 'T was also Resolved nemine contradicente that a Bill shou'd be brought in for the better security of his Majesty's Person and Government with these Clauses 1. That such as shall refuse to take the Oaths to his Majesty shall be Subject to the Forfeitures and Penalties of Popish Recusants Convict 2. To inflict a Penalty on such as shall by Writing or otherwise Declare that King William is not Lawful and Rightful King of these Realms or that the late King James or the pretended Prince of Wales or any other Person than according to the Act of Settlement of the Crown has any Right to the Crown of these Realmâ— 3. To ratify and confirm the Association enter'd into all his Majestys good Subjects for the Preservation of His Majesty's Person and Government 4. That no Person shall be capable of any Office of Profit or Trust Civil or Military that shall not sign the said Association And 5. That the same Penalties be inflicted on such as come out of France as upon those that go thither Nor must we forget that wise and important Resolution of the same honorable Body in pursuance of which 't was enacted That whenever it shall please God to afflict these Realms by the Death of His Present Majesty the Parliament then in being shall not be dissolv d thereby but shall continue until the next Heir to the Crown in Succession according to the late Act of Settlement shall dissolve the same 'T was also Order'd That the Speaker upon Presenting the Association to His Majesty shou'd make it the Request of the House that His Majesty wou'd please to order that the said Association of the House and all other Associations by the Commons of England be lodg'd among the Records in the Tower to remain as a perpetual Memorial of their Loyalty and Affection to His Majesty The Associations of both Houses were almost the same as to the sense and therefore I shall content my self with inserting that of the House of Commons because of its Conformity to the abovemention'd Resolutions 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 Hertily Sincerely and Solemnly Profess Testifie 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 Untimely Death which God forbid We do hereby further Freely and Unanimously Oblige our Selves to Unite 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 His
the long expected Time shall come that the Just Desires of those who long to see Peace and Tranquility once more establish'd in Europe shall be accomplish'd it will appear and be acknowledg'd by the grateful World that as England was deliver'd from Slavery and Oppression by the Blessing of God upon His Majestys generous Undertaking so 't was England that had the greatest share in the general Deliverance of the Christian World Time and Experience will ere long convince us of this great and important Truth and Posterity will for ever acknowledge the Immortal Obligation And even tho it were possible that future Ages shou'd forget their Great Benefactor the Benefit will remain notwithstanding their Ingratitude as long as there shall be Laws in England or a Free People in Europe FINIS Tâ—e People of England tâ—ank'd His Majestâ— â—y their Râ—presentatives for their Great and Miracuâ—ous Deliverance from Pâ—pery and Arbitrary Power of which he was the Instrumâ—nt Sâ—e the Parliament's Address May 18. 1689. The Parliamâ—nt of Scotland thank'd him also for thâ—ir Delivâ—rance and Preservation of which they acknowledg'd him next to God to be the great and only Instrumâ—nt Sâ—â— the Answer of the Convâ—ntion to His Majeâ—â—ie's Lâ—tter in 1689. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. pag. 437. See the Preface to the Third Time of the History of the Revolutions in England When the People stopt his Coach at Dort and ask'd whether he was their Statholder he reply'd that he was satisfy'd with the Honors that were conferr'd upon him But we are not answer'd the People unless we have you for our Governor An. 1674. The Dâ—puties of the Nobility and 〈◊〉 representing the 〈…〉 of the Dutchy of Guelderland and County of Zutphen osser'd him the Soverâ—ignty of the Province in the â—â—me of their Masteâ—s 'T is notoriously known that these Proposals were made by France * M. Fageâ— wrote on this occaâ—ion to Mr. Stewart And when the Court of England endeavor'd to perswade the World that thus was a supposititious letter and that it did not give a true aâ—â—ur of their Highnesses Sentiments having publish'd a Book to that Eâ—eâ—t call'd Parlamentum Pacificum Mr. Fagel complain'd openly of the dâ—singenuity of their Proceedings and by a second Letter confirm'd the Declaration he had formerly sent in their Highnesses Name * After the death of Charles II. he rejected the advice and assistance of the late Elector of Brandenburg and when that Prince wou'd have engag'd him to go over to England he reply'd that he wou'd never make any Attempt against the King his Father in Law without an absolute necessity but at the same time he protested that if he cou'd not otherwise prevent the subversion of the Laws and Religion of England he wou'd undertake the Voyage tho' he shou'd be oblig'd to Embark in a Fisher-boat His Enemies cou'd not forbear commending this Effect of his Moderation See the History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. See the Act 1 Gulielm Mariae entitl'd An Act declaring the Rights and Privileges of the Subjects to regulate the Succession to the Crown History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. 1689 The Discovery was made by a French Protestant who insinuated himself into the Favour and Confidence of the Conspirators by pretending to be engag'd in the same design He was hinder'd by several Accidents from giving such timely Notice to the Court that the Assassins might be apprehended The Discovery was communicated in Holland to some zealous Friends of the Government and in England to My Lord Sydney In this account I have neither magnify'd nor multiply'd the Disorders that were committed by the Government They were either corrected by the Late King himself upon the News of the Prince's Expedition or after his Flight by the Convention The Laws that were made upon that occasion by the Parliaments of England and Scotland are undoubted Testimonies of the several Attempts that were made to subvert our Laws and Religion nor will any reasonable Person expect any other Arguments to prove the Truth of a matter of Fact of which all the Inhabitants of these Nations were either Eye or Ear-Witnesses See his Proclamation publish'd in that Kingdom Dr. King the present Bishop of London-derry then Dean of Dublin in his Book entitul'd The State of the Protestants of Ireland under the Government of the late King The whole Book is full of Instances of this Nature of which I have not mention'd the Twentieth part * The Duke of Schomberg 1690. 1691. * The Magistrates of Roterdam imprison'd a Villain who offer'd to kill the French King They sent an acâ—ount of the project to Mr. Montausier and offer'd to deliver up the Offender †Another Proposal of the same naturewas made to the King when he was Prince of Orange The Person who offer'd to undertake the Murder gave an account of the place where he was to be sound and the Prince sent Mr. Dickfelt immediately to acquaint the Count d'Avaux with the whole Project November 1691. December 1691. Febr 1691 2. April 1692. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 428. 1692. 1692. 1692. Larue in Charnock 's Tryal 1692. History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder which cannot be reckon'd a Fable is a strong Confirmation of at least part of that Discovery See how they design'd to bring the Irish over to England The application of the rest of the Particulars is obvious History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 357. Deposition of Brice Blair March 12. 1695. See the Character of the Presbyterians in the History of the Revolutions in England Book II. 1692. His Depositions are in the Hands of the Government See his Letter to the Lords and Commons of that Kingdom Dared from on board his Ship July 1693. Decemb. 1693. January 1693. July 1694. July 14. 1694. July 17. 1694. Octob. 17. 1694. Sir William Williams took Post for London immediately after Taff's Declaration and gave a horrible Character of the Witnesses having obstinately resus'd to hear any thing that was offer'd to be alledg'd in their Favor or to comply with some of the Judges who wou'd have proceeded to the Examination of other Witnesses See the Votes of the House of Commons on that occasion 1695 Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. This agrees with the Character that Brice Blair gives of him in his Depositions Good man 's Deposition April 2 d 1696. Brice Blair's Deposition March 13th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Captain Porter 's Deposition April 24 th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. Larüe 's Deposition February 26th 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696 Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. This appears by Capt. Porter's Deposition April 15th 1696. King James wrote several Letters to him with his own
Art of ruining their Fellow-Subjects They have been frequently Charg'd with the Massacre in Ireland and the Burning of London and 't is strongly suspected that the Public Robbers Pirates Incendiaries Debasers of Money Spies and Assassins were employ'd as Instruments in carrying on the great Design The Reader is left to judge of the Truth or Probability of these Conjectures Whatever Opinion weo ught to have of the Design of the Conspirators we must do 'em the justice to acknowledge their Skill and Dexterity in contriving the most probable Methods and Expedients to accomplish it Of these Means and Expedients fome have been long since Foretold some are universally known our Enemies have betray'd their own Secret by divulging others and we may discover the rest by a heedful Examination of the Proceedings of the Conspirators and the Progress of the Conspiracy I will discourse of 'em in order because the Subject is both Curious and Important About Seventeen or Eighteen Years ago Titus Oates made a Discovery to the Parliament which was variously censur'd by Persons of different Principles and Inclinations Some gave credit to it others rejected it as a meer Fable and there were some who look'd upon it as a Mixture of Truth and Fiction I will neither pretend to justifie nor condemn all his Depositions but content my self with observing that there are some things which were look'd upon as incredible by reason of the Enormity of the Crimes tho later Experience has convinc'd us that they were really true especially what relates to Trade Exportation of Species and the Debasement of Money Oates acquaints us in the Appendix to his Information Sworn before Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey Sept. 27. 1678. That the Conspirators cou'd not endure King Charles II. because he was not of their Religion and that they resolv'd to cut him off with all possible Speed That they Charg'd him with Tyranny and Designs of oppressing Governing by the Sword and without Parliaments and exposing his most Faithful and Valiant Subjects to be wasted and slain in foreign Service 2. That they aspers'd derided expos'd and declaim'd against his Person Counsels and Actions in Parliament and elsewhere and particularly scoff'd at his security and confidence in them and by this means animated and encourag'd their Party and Assassins especially to attempt upon his Life and hasten his Ruine 3. That they disclos'd the King's Counsels to France 4. That they rais'd false News of his Affairs 5. That they disaffected his Majesty's Allies Holland Spain the German Emperor and Princes by false Intelligence c. 6. That they disturb'd Trade 7. That they set up sent out and maintain'd Seditious Preachers and Catechists and directed 'em what to Preach in their own or other private Conventicles or Field-Meetings 8. That they animated different Parties one against another to Arm and put the People in Blood upon the King's Death 9. That our best Cities and Towns were to be Fir'd and Plunder'd by Irish French Lay-brethren and others disguis'd in Frocks and otherwise 10. That they endeavour'd to Poyson and Assassinate by pick'd Quarrels or otherwise those whom they suppos'd to be ready or able to detector otherwise obstruct their Designs 11. That they design'd the Transportation of Trading People Stock and Money ADULTERATING MONEY and Plate to which ends they had Bankers Brokers Merchants Goldsmiths and other Traders whom they Stock'd and Set up with Money of their Society of which they boasted to have a Hundred Thousand Pounds in Cash Those who reflect upon what they see or hear and consider the Temper and Actions of these who make a noise in the World may easily judge whether the Party has continu'd to pursue the same Methods And therefore without insisting longer upon this Subject I shall proceed in the next place to take notice of such of their Maxims as have been discover'd by themselves As for Parliaments 't is their Opinion That a King of England's Condescension to his Parliament seldom produces a good Understanding between ' em And particularly they tell us that King Charles II. was advis'd to stand firm against the Attempts of an Assembly that made it their usual Custom to oppose and contradict him that they wou'd still be starting new Claims and Demands and wou'd at last raise 'em to such a Height that His Majesty wou'd not be able to grant 'em without consenting to his own Deposition and consequently wou'd find himself to be still in the same condition that is after a thousand Condescensions against his own Interest he wou'd at last be oblig'd to break with his Parliament and find that his Complaisance had encreas'd their Boldness and made 'em less afraid to oppose him They have left no means unattempted to set these Stratagems on foot against the present Government by employing all their Artifices in a successless attempt to engage the King to invade the Liberty of his Subjects or to make the People incroach upon the Prerogative of the Crown They endeavor'd to revive the ancient Jealousies that disturb'd the Quiet of the former Reigns as if it had been possible to keep us from perceiving the difference betwixt a Deliverer and an Oppressor whose Characters are so opposite that they can never agree either in the Manner or End of executing their Authority for 't is a necessary consequence of their respective Maxims that the Former shou'd endeavour to Preserve and the Latter to Destroy his People 'T is both the Interest and Duty of an English Parliament to protect the People whom they represent from a Prince who treats 'em as Enemies or Slaves but they cannot without consenting to their own Ruin oppose a King who makes the Honor and Prosperity of the Nation the End of all his Designs and Undertakings And we have reason to adore the favourable Providence of God who has freed us from the Apprehensions of so terrible a Misfortune and establish'd His Majesty's Throne by the most perfect Union that ever was observ'd betwixt a King and his Parliament Besides these Ways to destroy the Nation which they have known and practis'd so long the present Juncture has furnish'd 'em with new Expedients In the beginning of the War our Trade was extremely disturb'd by French Privateers but since their Defeat at La Hogue made 'em both afraid and unable to engage our Fleet they seem to make no other use of their Men of War than to surprise our Merchant-Ships And our treacherous Country-Men are always ready to give 'em secret and timely Notice of our Motions and consequently betray the Riches of the Nation to its most inveterate Enemies In the mean time they were secretly fomenting our Divisions and animating the different Parties that are among us against us and one another The Scotch Presbyterians were incited to take up Arms by Sir John Cochram and those of the same perswasion in England were manag'd by Mr. Ferguson and others About the time of the Siege of Mons Sir John
by Objections that were made against the Witnesses They were accus'd of Corruption and Misdemeanors some of the Judges were preingag'd and possess'd with groundless prejudices against 'em and care was taken to disguise the whole Affair to the Council The Witnesses were represented in the blackest Colors that Artful Malice cou'd invent and committed to Newgate upon suspicion of having Conspir'd against the Lives and Honor of the Lancashire Gentlemen The Affair was afterwards brought before both Houses of Parliament who heard the Witnesses and others who gave in new Informations Some of 'em discover'd the secret Treaty betwixt Taff and the Conspirators and all of 'em justify'd I unt and his Accusation And after a full Hearing and Examination that lasted about six Weeks or two Months 't was declar'd by both Houses That there had been a horrible Conspiracy against their Majesties Life and Government c. This Vote was an Illustrious Testimony that the Witnesses were not only Innocent but merited the Thanks of the Nation yet the Prejudice of those who ought to have protected 'em and the Interest of the Faction they had offended were so great that the Resolutions of a whole Parliament cou'd neither put a stop to their Prosecution nor procure 'em a fair Trial. They were indicted at the Lancashire Assizes and by the prevailing Force of the secret Springs that were employ'd against 'em were found Guilty of Perjury Thus by an unhappy and preposterous Turn the Criminals were become Witnesses and the horrible Conspiracy against Their Majesties was reduc'd to a Conspiracy against Traitors But their Artifices were at last defeated and Truth prevail'd over the Power and Treachery of its Enemies The Discoverers asserted their Innocency by the Testimony of Forty new Witnesses The Lancashire Gentlemen cou'd not prove their Allegations and those who were Guilty of no other Crime than endeavoring to serve the Government were sent away with assurances of a sutable Recompence In the mean time tho the Conspirators cou'd not succeed in their main design of discrediting the Witnesses they had spread such a Mist upon the whole Affair that they hop'd they might easily conceal their Intrigues for the future from the less penetrating part of Mankind The Discoveries that had been made were imperfect and controverted and serv'd only to give us a new instance of the difference betwixt the King and his Enemies He was so far from imitating either the Arbitrary Violence or Ungenerous Politics of some Princes in Europe that he openly protected those who had Conspir'd against his Life so long as there was the least appearance of Reason to doubt of their Guilt So dear is the Life or Honor of a Subject to a King that is what every Soveraign ought to be the Father of his Country On the other hand the Conspirators endeavor'd to prevent a new alarm by the Death of those whom they suspected For not to repeat what has been said concerning Kelly Dodsworth was kill'd by two Jacobite Brothers after he had discover'd what he knew of the Conspiracy And Redman was Murder'd two days after he had communicated his design to one who betray'd him While the Jacobites in Lancashire were pursuing their beloved Project of destroying the Nation with so much Heat and Diligence their Friends in London were continually forming new Designs against His Majesty's Life When Parker came to England to execute the Orders he had receiv'd from his Master he entertain'd an intimate Correspondence with Porter and Goodman Two of the most zealous Instruments and Promoters of the Treasonable Designs of the Party The First was born a Gentleman and a Protestant but had spent his Estate and renounc'd his Religion The other was a Comedian by Profession and had been formerly Try'd for endeavouring to Poyson the Dukes of Northumberland and St. Albans but either his Interest Innocency or Subtilty had sav'd him from the Punishment that is due to such a Crime Parker gave 'em the Two First Companies in his Regiment with a large share in his Confidence and in the secrets of the Faction but wou'd never acquaint 'em with some of the most Mysterious Circumstances of the Design He order'd 'em to take a House in or near London with large Stables fit to lodge and accommodate Fifty or Sixty Horses that they might be in a condition to receive the Troops of Horse that from time to time were to pass thro' London in their March to the Place of Rendezvous This is the account he thought fit to give them but if we consider what happen'd both before and afterwards 't will perhaps appear to be more than a bare conjecture that since the Design to Assassinate His Majesty was then on Foot these measures were taken to Facilitate the Execution of it His Imprisonment diverted his Thoughts to other Objects and found new Employment for his Friends among whom Charnock and Harrison deserve a particular Remembrance The First who went also by the Name of Robinson was Born and Educated a Protestant but chang'd his Religion to Merit the Late King's Favour which was the sure Reward of those that were willing to deliver up their Conscience as a Pledge of their Loyalty He and another were the only Persons who comply'd with King James's Order to Magdalen Colledge and his Complaisance on that Occasion procur'd him the Dignity of Vice-President But when Honest Men began to recover what they had lost 't was fit that Persons of another Character shou'd loose what they had gotten The Laws that were Re-establish'd by the Revolution render'd him incapable of enjoying his Place and by depriving him of his new Preferment made him an Enemy to the Government both by Interest and Resentment He had an equal Aversion to the Laws to the People and to their Deliverer for after he had incurr'd the Hatred of his Countrey-Men he thought he cou'd neither recover his Reputation nor Fortune but by destroying their Liberty Harrison alias Johnson was a Priest who for a considerable time had been entrusted with the Management of King James's Affairs He was a Violent Melfordian â—an Active and Zealous Agent of the Party and so far from being troubl'd with the Scruples and Checks of a tender Conscience that he never look'd upon any thing as Difficult or Criminal that might serve to promote the Interest of the Faction He had entertain'd a long Correspondence with Melfort who lost his Credit at the Court of St. Germains upon the miscarriage of the intended Invasion for as we observ'd before 't was the constant Practice of the Late King's Council in such Iunctures to advance Middleton in Complaisance to the Protestant Jacobites After Melford's Disgrace Harrison chose Caryl the Late Queen's Secretary for his Correspondent He was the Instrument of Delivering Colonel Parker out of the Tower which was an Important Service to the Party He agreed with those who suffer'd him to make his Escape for Five Hundred Pounds Three hundred
' â—is probable he expected great Rewards from them At first he had only a Troop in Parker's Regiment but since they knew he had an Estate they quickly put him in a way to spend it by sending him a Commission to Levy a Regiment of Horse Sir John Friend was a Citizen and Brewer of London oblig'd to the late King for an advantageous Place in the Excise However tho he was dissatisfy'd with the Revolution and refus'd to comply with the present Government he seem'd at first unwilling to engage in any Plot or Conspiracy against it The little Sense he had was sufficient to convince him that 't was not his Business to reform the Works of Providence and much less to declare himself an Enemy to his Religion and Country But neither his Judgment nor Conscience was able to resist his Vanity which was strong enough to make him sacrifice both for an empty Complement They show'd him a Letter from Melfort by which it appeard that King James plac'd a great deal of Confidence in him and the poor Man was even ravish'd with joy at his Old Master's Kindness He wrote a Letter to King James and receiv'd so obliging an Answer that to express his Gratitude he resolv'd to spend a good part of his Estate in his Service In pursuance of this Resolution he advanc'd considerable sums of Money upon several occasions which were pay'd in Parchment a sort of Coin that pass'd currantly among Persons of Sir John Friend's Character tho its intrinsic Value was scarce equal to that of the Irish Brass-Money Sir John receiv'd a Commission to be Colonel of Horse and Brice Blair whom the Party employ'd to draw him in was made his Lieutenant-Colonel The First had an Estate and the Second was a Soldier Sir John was to be at the Charge of raising the Men and Blair was to instruct him in the Duties of his new Occupation Besides Ferâ—uson was one of Sir John's particular Friends by whose Agency he endeavor'd to draw in the Presbyterians And he was so confident of the success of that Negotiation that he promâ—s'd to bring a considerable Number of 'em to meet the Late King at his Landing He entertain'd also an intimate Correspondence with Harrison and the Popish Rebels in some Counties with whom he was ready to joyn in the intended Massacre of the Protestants tho after all if we may take his own Word for 't he had the good Fortune to dye a Martyr for the Church and Religion of England Sir J hn Fenwick is a Man of Quality and had a considerable Estate He was a Colonel in the English Troops that were formerly sent to the Assistance of the Dutch and 't is said that he was cither dismâ—st from the Service or quitted it upon some disguâ—â— His disgrace in Holland serv'd to recommend him to the English Court and procur'd him the place of a Licutonaâ—t in the late King's Guâ—rds Since the Revolution he his spâ—r'd neither pains nor cost to promote that Prince's interest and as a Maâ—k of his Zeal and Fidelity undertook to Levy a Regiment of Horse f r his Service Yet tho the very Name he bears is odious to Protestants tho his Relations are Papists and his Brother a Priest and tho he was always distinguish'd by the peculiar confidence which the Faction plac'd in him among all the Informations I have yet had occasion to see there are none that charge him with having any hand in the Conspiracy against His Majâ—sty's Person But either his Confession or Trial will soon unriddle the Mystery and clear all our doubts concerning him These Three Men were each of 'em to Levy a Regiment of Horse and one Tempest of Durham had a Commission to raise one of Dragoons Besides they depended on Parker's Regiment for tho the Colonel was in France there were Commissions actually distributed to raise the Troops These were the Five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons which the Conspirators boasted they had in England They expected also a Body of Horse from Lancashire where a considerable number of Papists were still in a readiness to March to the Rendezvous Sir John Friend entertain'd a Correspondence with 'em and pay'd 'em Subsistence-Money either upon his own account or by Order And 't was by the Assistance of these Imaginary Forces that the Conspirators fancy'd themselves in a Condition to undertake the Conquest of Great Britain Some of em wou'd have perswaded the Faction to try their Fortune with their own Forces without waiting for the Assistance they expected from France They had taken so many Ways to prepare the Dispositions of the People that they concluded 'em to be generally ripe for an Insurrection Besides the King was in Flinders with his Army and the Conspirators were not much afraid of the small Number of standing Forces that were left for the Defence of the Kingdom And as Ten Seditious and Disaffected Persons make a greater Bustle than Ten Thousand Men who live in Quiet so the Jacobites who are scarce a Handful to the Honest Party in the Kingdom make as much noise as all the rest of the Nation The Impunity of their Crimes lessen'd their Remorse for 'em and the Clemency of the Government encourag'd 'em to conspire against it but since 't wou'd have been a difficult Task to bubble a whole Nation or to make 'em Actors in their own Destruction the Design of conquering England by an English Army was rejected as impracticable and the Conspirators found themselves oblig'd to depend upon the Assistance of the French 'T was about the end of May or the beginning of July 1695. that some of the most considerable Persons of the Faction met to deliberate about the present posture of their Affairs The Earl of Aylesbury the Lord Montgomery Son to the Marquess of Powis Sir John Friend Sir William Parkins Charnock Porter Goodman Cook c. were present at a Consult which was held at the Old King 's Head Tavern in Leaden Hall-Street where they agreed to send Charnock with a Message to King James entreating him to procure Eight Thousand Foot a Thousand Horse and a Thousand Dragoons from the French King Charnock accepted the Commission but desir'd to know what number of Forces he might offer in their Names upon which they promis'd to meet King James at the Head of Two Thousand Horse as soon as they shou'd receive the News of his Landing This was but a small Force for so great an Undertaking tho it will appear to be much above the Strength of the Faction if we consider the Ways they took to Levy and Subsist their secret Militia They tamper'd indifferently with all Indigent and Scandalous Persons especially the Officers and Soldiers who had contributed in Ireland to the Oppression of the Protestants or in England to the Subversion of the Laws They gave Money to the poorer Sort for their present Subsistence but kept 'em still in a necessitous Condition that
Kensington One of 'em was to give notice when the King went out and the other was to bring an account when the Guards began to March And that the Assassination might pass under the Notion of a Military Exploit they produc'd an Order to take up Arms against the Prince of Orange and his Adherents There was some Difference among the Conspirators concerning the Terms and Expressions of the Commission even after they had confess'd their Crime For some of 'em acknowledg'd that it contain d an express order to Kill the King whereas others pretended that it only authoriz'd em in the general to levy War against the Prince of Orange and all his Adherents 'T is the Opinion of several Judicious Persons that the most considerable Discovery was made by those who endeavour'd to put the fairest Construction on this execrable Project For to Levy War against the King and his Adherents after such a manner and in such Circumstances cou'd signifie nothing else than the Murdering of the King and Parliament and of all that lov'd and were resolv'd to maintain the Laws Religion and Liberty of England The Fifteenth of February was chosen for the Execution of the dire Attempt 'T was on that fatal Day that England or rather Europe was to lose its Deliverer and with him all its hopes of accomplishing the Great Work which he had so happily begun and 't was then that Heaven was resolv'd to work a new Miracle for our Preservation If we had foreseen the Danger that threaten'd him the remembrance of past Hazards wou'd have only serv'd to heighten our Apprehensions for the future His Subjects cou'd hardly have welcom'd him at his return from so glorious a Campaign and instead of celebrating his Victories wou'd have trembl'd at his Approaching Fate But we found to our Comfort that the same Providence which had so often cover d his Head in the Day of Battle and guarded him from the fiercest Assaults of his Enemies was also able to preserve him from the treacherous Fury of Assassins To prevent Suspicion they dispos'd their Men in different places of the Town and even in the remotest Parts of it Barclay and Rookwood expected the Signal in Holborn and Porter with some others waited upon the same account at the Blue Posts in Spring garden Charnock resolv'd to accompany the latter either because he mistrusted him and intended to animate him by his example or because he was willing to chuse a Post that was least expos'd to Danger as another of the Conspirators suspected And perhaps he had still so much Reason left notwithstanding the impetuous Paâ— on that disturb'd his Judgment as to decline acting in the most odious Part of the Tragedy Thus they lay expecting the News of the King's Departure for Richmond but his Majesty did not go out that day and some of the Conspirators were so alarm'd at this Disappointment that they began to reflect either upon the Danger or Infamy to which such an Attempt wou'd expose ' em Plowden who came purposely to Town to act under Porter went back to the Country and did not think fit to return according to his Promise Kenrick pretended that he was disabl'd by a Fall and appear'd for some days with his Arm in a String Sherbourn started so many Scruples when the Design was propos'd to him that they did not think fit to press him further And even the fiercest and most harden d Assassins began to be apprehensive of the Success of their Project But at last concluding that their Design was not discover'd because they were not secur'd Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkins Captain Porter and Goodman met on the 21st of February and resolv'd to make a new attempt to execute their Project without altering the Method of it In pursuance of this Resolution the Assassins were to be prepar'd for the bloody Action on Saturday the 22d of February which was to have been the last Day of our Liberty and the Fatal Aera of the irrecoverable Ruine of England The Morning was spent in an impatient Expectation of Advice from those whom they had appointed to give 'em notice when the King went out Charnock who for some days had been very uneasy and full of Jealousy and Suspicion sent a Man to Porter for a List of those who were to act in the Assassination He seem'd particularly to doubt Larue and perhaps was desirous to have some Satisfaction concerning him The List was sent to him with Larue's Name at the head of the rest and he sent it back again after he had inserted the Names of those whom he was to furnish Pendergrass was one of those who were with Porter They had sent for him out of the Country and wou'd have assign'd him a remarkable part in the Assassination Porter had a Musketoon that carry'd 6 or 8 Bullets with which Pendergrass was to shoot at the King and they desir'd him not to be afraid of breaking the Coach-glasses The Conspirators were disappointed a Second time and the boldest of 'em cou'd not forbear discovering their Fears when Keys acquainted 'em that the Guards were come back all in a foam and that there was an unusual muttering among the People This unexpected piece of News put 'em all into a Consternation the Cabal was entirely dispers'd and most of 'em endeavour'd to secure themselves by a speedy flight Nor was this meerly the effect of a Panic Dread or groundless Apprehension for the Conspiracy was actually detected Fisher Pendergrass Larue and another had separately given Information to Different Persons concerning it tho they had not yet discover'd the Particulars Captain Fisher was the Man whom God inclin'd to make the first Discovery of this inhumane Design He went to the Earl of Portland on the Tenth of February Five Days before the Time that was appointed for the Execution of it and inform'd him of the intended Enterprize without acquainting him either with the Time Manner or Circumstances which were not yet agreed upon but he promis'd to give him further notice as soon as they shou'd come to a positive Resolution And now we may justly reflect with an equal amazement upon the Sedateness and Generosity of his Majesty's Temper who cou'd hardly be perswaded to suspect those who only waited for a convenient opportunity to Murder him and the barbarous Fury of his Enemies who scrupl d not to conspire the Death of so Good and so Brave a Prince Any other Person wou'd have been startl'd at an Advice of this nature or at least wou'd have look'd upon it as too important to be neglected but the King secure in his own Vertue conscious of no Guilt and consequently incapable of Fear was so far from being alarm'd at the Discovery that he wou'd not give credit to it because the Circumstances were not particularly mention'd Three Days after Fisher return'd to Whitehall and gave the Earl of Portland an account not only of the Design
itself but also of the Method and order of its Execution Yet tho he made a full Discovery of the Time Place and other Circumstances of the Enterprize he peremptorily refus'd to mèntion the names of the Actors which confirm'd the King in his former opinion and made him conclude that 't was a story contriv'd on purpose to fright him with a false Alarm But the very day before the Fatal Blow was to be given God by a seasonable Providence prevented our impending Ruine and deliver'd our King from his own Generous Incredulity It happen'd that on that very day the Earl of Portland went to see the Countess of Essex and contrary to his custom made his visit longer than he design'd By good fortune he call'd to mind that he had promis'd to meet a certain person about a private Affair and tho 't was already time for him to go to Kensington he resolv'd according to his usual exactness in keeping his Word to go first to his Lodgings at Whitehall As soon as he went in he found an unknown person in his Antichamber who desir'd to speak with him about a matter of the highest importance that cou'd not be deferr'd to another time This was a sufficient Argument to obtain what he ask'd especially in such a juncture The Earl made haste to dispatch the person whom he had order'd to wait upon him and immediately admitted the Stranger who accosted him with this surprizing Request My Lord perswade the King to stay at home tomorrow for if he go abroad to Hunt he will be Assassinated Afterwards he gave him a particular account of the Conspiracy with almost thesame Circumstances that had already been discover'd by Fisher He added that his Name was Pendergrass that he was an Irishman and a Catholic that they sent for him out of the Country without acquainting him with the reason that made 'em desirous to see him that afterwards they endeavour'd to engage him in the Design that he was struck with horror at the first proposal and immediately resolv'd to discover it that his Religion was accus'd for authorizing and encouraging such Actions but that for his part he abhorr'd such Principles tho in all other respects he was a true Catholick Thus his Majesty began to receive the just Reward of his Clemency and Moderation for he is and has always been equally remarkable for his stedfast adhering to his own Religion and his Indulgency to those of another Perswasion When he accepted the Crown of Scotland he declar'd that he wou'd not be a Persecntor and all his Actions are so many Illustrious Testimonies of the Sincerity of that Resolution Never any Papist that was willing to live in Peace stood in need of an Intecessor with him He protected 'em in Ireland against the angry Counsels of some over-zealous Protestants He favour'd 'em as much as he cou'd without injuring the rest of his Subjects and treated em upon all occasions with an Indulgency that surpriz'd those who are not acquainted with the Native Goodness of his Temper 'T is true this may perhaps be reckon'd in some measure and Effect of his Complaisance to the Family of Austria with whom he has entertain'd a long and intimate Friendship which has been endear'd by reciprocal Good Offices and is confirm d and made necessary to 'em both by the Interest of their mutual Preservation But tho the Papists were deprov'd of such powerful Intercessors his Virt e alone wou d supply that Defect and sufficiently recommend 'em to his Favor and Protection And we have reason to believe that God is pleas'd with his Mildness and Clemency to the Roman Catholics in general and to the Irish in particular since by a wonderful Providence he made an Irish Papist the Instrument of Saving his Life Pendergrass added that he wou'd have gone straight to Kensington to make the Discovery to the King himself if he had not been afraid of being seen and taken notice of by the Two Orderly Men whom the Conspirators kept in that place and that since the Nature of the Business requir'd all possible Dispatch he thought he cou'd not make his Address to a Person that wou'd be more zealous and careful than his Lordship But tho no means were left unattempted to perswade him to name the Conspirators he resisted with an invincible Constancy all the Arguments that were made use of to that effect declaring that he wou'd never be prevail'd with to injure his Friends or betrâ—y those to whom he had been formerly oblig'd It has been frequently observ'd that the most trivial Accidents have given birth to the most Memorable and Important Events And upon this Occasion it seem'd good to that Supreme and over ruling Providence which guides the World that the Preservation of a Prince in whose Life the Fate of Europe is bound up shou'd depend upon a Visit that was made to the Earl of Portland at Ten a clock at night At his Arrival at Kensington which notwithstanding all the haste he cou'd make was very late he found that the King was already retir'd and that he had given the necessary Orders for his usual Recreation the next morning That Vertuous and Magnanimous Prince was preparing to go to Richmond with as sedate and unconcern'd a Mind as if he had not receiv'd Intelligence of the bloody Design that was to be executed near that place And even the new Confirmation he receiv'd of it cou'd scarce prevail with him to alter his Resolution till he was at last overcome by my Lord Portland's repeated Importunities In the mean time the number of the Discoverers encreas d and the Informations they had given were confirm'd by the concurring Testimony of another of the Conspirators who apply'd himself to Sir William Trumbal one of His Majesty's Princicipal Secretaries of State and convinc'd him of the Reality of the Plot tho he cou'd not acquaint him with the Circumstances of it For that Minister had already receiv'd advice that the French were bringing together a great number of Transport-Ships and making all the necessary Preparations for an extraordinary Design which was kept very Secret tho in all probability the Storm was like to fall upon England So that comparing these Advices concerning a Foreign Invasion with the Account he had receiv'd of the Design against His Majestys Person he found that they confirm'd each other tho he cou'd hardly look upon either of 'em as probable when he consider'd 'em Singly And therefore he made all possible haste to communicate these Discoveries to His Majesty with his usual Zeal and Fidelity About the same time Brigadier Lewson acquainted the King that one Larue had inform'd him of a Design that was on foot to Assassinate His Majesty This last Discoverer gave a very particular and Circumstantial Account of the whole Intrigue but He as well as the rest seem'd obstinately resolv'd to conceal the Names of the Conspirators The King convinc'd by so many Concurring Informations and perceiving that all
Usurpers England has been always look'd upon as one of the most considerable Kingdoms in Europe but the it were the meanest and most contemptible Nation in the World it cou'd not be depriv'd of the most ancient and fundamental Privilege of Mankind I mean that of Self-Preservation 'T is true a People may be Subdu'd and made Slaves by a Victorious Invader but they can never be robb'd of their natural Right to endeavor the recovering of their Liberty And supposing that this was formerly a Conquer'd Kingdom t is plain that the Conqueror cou'd not become a Lawful Monarch but by Treating with the Nation and preserving its ancient Privileges since a True King must be the Governor of Subjects and not of Slaves ' Twou'd be a direct overturning of the Order of Nature to pretend with our Enemies that the Soveraign Authority in England is originally Arbitrary and that the People are only Free by Usurpation since by the fundamental Constitution of our Government the People are originally free and the Royal Authority Limited The Roman Catholics were naturally dispos'd to embrace these pernicious Notions for 't is one of the Principles of their Religion that the Pope's Jurisdiction extends over the Temporal Authority of Kings and the Property of the People and that those whom he Deposes or Excommunicates are ipso facto depriv'd of all their Rights and Privileges 'T is true this Opinion has been look d upon as dangerous even by the Princes of that Persuasion who are not willing that their Authority shou'd depend on the Arbitrary Will of One Man And from thence some have taken occasion to call those Catholics who moderate the Power of the See of Rome and only to give the Name of Papists to those who require an unlimited Submission to the Pope But this Distinction was never so generally known or teceiv'd in this Kingdom as in other places For in Popish Countries 't is the Interest of the Prince to inspire his People with a less extravagant respect to the Head of their Church whereas in England where the Roman Catholics have neither a Prince nor Magistrate of their Perswasion they are wholly govern'd by their Directors and follow all their Maxims unless they have Sense enough to perceive the dangerous Consequences of these Opinions or by the Mildness and Integrity of their Temper are naturally inclin'd to detest such a barbarous and inhumane Doctrin But in the general they are easily perswaded to look upon Protestants as Men that have forfeited all their Privileges and are already doom'd to Death for the Crimes of Heresy and Schism by the repeated Sentences of several Councils And 't is plain that those who are possest with such a Prejudice will never heartily acknowledge the Title of a Protestant Prince since they reckon our Religion a sufficient ground to deprive a People of the natural Privileges of a Civil Society It has been upon all cccasions the constant Practice of the Faction to accommodate their Notions to the various Humours and Inclinations of those whom they endeavor to draw into their Party For as they entertain some of their Proselytes with Projects to destroy the Liberty and Privileges of the Nation they insinuate themselves into the good opinion of others by exclaiming against the Prerogative of the Crown When they meet with Persons that are fond of a Popular Government they pretend to be of the same opinion exasperate their Grievances and perswade 'em that 't is the Interest of the Nation to weaken the Power and Authority of the King that upon the first occasion they may be able withless difficulty to introduce a Republican Government At the same time they make use o other Artifices to delude those who are superstitiously addicted to Monarchy They exasperate their Zeal fill their Minds with unreasonable Jealousies and by scaring 'em with false Alarms of the Progress of the Republican Party endeavour to secure their Assistance for the Introducing of Arbitrary Power as the only Way to keep out a Common-wealth For 't is their usual custom to tamper with the most violent Persons of all Parties that by animating 'em one against another they may divide the Nation into opposite and irreconcileable Factions They labour'd to perswade the World that the late King might justly assume an Arbitrary Power that he might reign without a Parliament and absolutely renounce all Contracts with his People And even after he had deserted the Kingdom and was declar'd an Enemy to our Laws Religion and Liberties by the Representatives of the Nation they had the confidence to pretend that he was still our Lawful King But the Artifice was too gross to pass upon a whole Nation for in the first place they must have perswaded us that We were not a People but a Multitude of Rebels that had forfeited all our Privileges that were condemn'd by our Prince and had neither Laws nor Parliaments to protect us that like a company of Robbers who had escap'd the Execution of Justice we maintain'd our Illegal Possessions by an unjust Force and had no Title either to our Lives or Estates that we were Slaves by Law and Proscrib'd Malefactors and cousequently were in a more wretched Condition than if we had been actually Conquer'd and Subdu'd Blessed be that Almighty Goodness which defeated the Contrivances of our Enemies and gave us a King upon whom they cou'd never fasten the least Aspersion who manages the Reins of Government with an equal and Steddy Hand who never was and we have reason to believe never will be Guilty either of Tyranny or Remissness who will neither oppress us himself nor Suffer us to oppress one another and has always pursu'd such Maxims as are most agreable to the admirable Constitution of our Government which preserves the Just mean betwixt the arbitrary Tyranny of Despotic Power and the Tumultuary Liccntiousness of Anarchy or Democracy and will neither suffer the Parliament to make Laws without the Authority of the King nor the King to Govern without the Advice of his Parliament But since they cou d not Debauch the Fidelity of his People by controverting his Title to the Crown they made use of that pretext to encourage the desperate Bravo's of the Faction to murder him They told 'em that they cou'd not be accus'd of conspiring against the Life of a King since the Prince of Orange had no right to that Title And it appears that the same Pretence was alledg d as one of the Reasons for the design'd Invasion The whole Nation was alarm'd with the common Danger and the Parliament especially made serious Reflexions upon the Designs of our Enemies His Majesty's Speech to both Houses was seconded by Sir William Trumbal who in a Pathetic Harangue before the House of Commons acquainted that Illustrious Body with the particular Characters of the Witnesses the uniformity of their Evidence and the improbability of their Conspiring together to deceive us and from all these
Hand Brice Blair in his Depositions Bertram 's Deposition March 3. 169â— Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. La Ruë 's Deposition Febru 26. 1695 6. The Earl of Aylesbury and Sir John Friend Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 14. 1695 6. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Brice Blair's Deposition March 16. 1695 6. Sweets 's Deposition March 18. 1695 6. La Ruë 's Deposition Febr. 26. 1695 6. James Ewbanks 's Deposition March 23. 1695 6. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Capt Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 16. 1695 6. They represent us as an â—ntractable Seditious and R belliâ—us People always Jealous of our Neighbors and seldom in Quiet among ourselves See the Second Book of the History of thâ— Revolutions in England Brice Blair in his Deposition March 9. 1695 6. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 9. 1695 6. Father d'Orleans wrote the History of the Revolutions iâ— England according to the Memoirs and Informations which he receiv'd from the Earl of Castlemain Skelton and Sheridon an Irish-Man And besides he tells us that he had the Liberty to Discourse with King James as long as he pleas'd See the Advertisement before the Third Tome Book II. p. 371. Book II. p. 370. 〈◊〉 II. p. 471. ' Twou'd have been thought ridiculous if even before the Late Persecution of the Protestants one shou'd have talk'd of the Popish Cabal in France * So he terms the Vertue and Magnanimity of 〈◊〉 who hazarded their Lives and Estates for the Preservation of their Country They came over in a Vessel which usually past betwixt Calais and Rumney Marsh bringing over Packets to the Conspirators with French Goods and certain Jacobite Passengers who were wont to go and come betwixt these two places And among them there there were certain Priests who oftentimes exported Contraband Goods c. James Hunt s Depositioh April 6. 1696. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. * T was Maxwell who acquainted the Conspirators with this passage * Chambers Knightly April 2. 1696. Francis de Larue 's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. George Porter's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Brice Blair 's Deposition March 9. 1695 6. George Harris 's Deposition April 15. 1696. The brave Grillon refus'd to assassinate the Duke of Guise tho the Proposal was made to him by his Soveraign Henry III. of France And when King John of England would have perswaded Debray the Captain of his Guards to assassinate a Prince that pretended a right to his Crown that generous Officer reply'd That he was a Gentleman and not a flangman and immediately retir'd to his House Richard Fishers 's Deposition February 25. 1695 6. Larne's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. Porter's Declaration upon Oath before a Committee of the Council March 3. 1695 6. Capt. Porter March 3. 1695 6. Capt. George Porter's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Larue 's Deposition February 25. 1695 6. * Chambers †Durant * Sir William Parkyn own'd that 〈◊〉 such a â—â—mmisiâ—n which he understood to be King James's that it had a Seal to it that he saw it in the Hand of a Friend c. See the Votes of the House of Commons April 2. 169â— * King Francis de Larue 's Deposition February 26. 1695 6. Capt. Porter 's Deposition March 3. 1695 6. Febr. 13. Febr. 14. The Salic Law which is said to be as ancient as Pharamond is an undeniable Argument that the French suppos'd their Government to be as it really was a Hereditary Monarchy * Mezeray says expresly That if the French had ascrib'd that Regulation to the Pope they would have discover'd themselves to be ignorant of their own Right Abreg Chronol p. 206. †Mezeray affirms that the Consent of the People of France was the best Title which Hugh Capet who succeeded Charles cou'd pretend to his Crown Abreg Chron. p. 454. ð„ Two Races of Kings have enjoy'd the Crown of France by Virtue of these Regulations that were made for the good of the State †He deserves not the Name of an Englishman who believes with Father d' Orleans That the Power of the English Monarchs is originally as absolute and arbitrary as any Power can possibly be that 't is founded on a Right of Conquest which the Conqueror exercis'd and settl'd in its utmost extent that at first the Parliaments were only Seditious Conventicles erected upon the occasion of a Successful Revolt of the English Nobility who sinding themselves able to prescribe Laws to their Masters assum'd the Power of granting Subsidies c. that afterwards the Kings being oblig'd to call 'em when they stood in need of Supplies these Meetings began to be look'd upon as a lawful Senate and by degrees acquir'd an establish'd Form and the Authority which they enjoy at present History of the Revolutions in England Book III. p. 294. When Father d' Orleans declaims against the Republicans he usually runs to the opposite Extremity and commends the most pernicious Maxims of Despotic Tyranny such as Governing without a Parliament is and will always be Reputed in this Kingdom See the History of the Revolutions in England Book II. * Capt Fisher's Deposition †See the Bishop of Soissons s Order about the beginning of April * Capt Fisher's Deposition Charnock Sir John Freind Rookwood Cranbourn A Declaration of the sense of Archbishops Bishops c.
to the Genius of the Nation and the Humor of the People Nor will the Parliament and People of England be accus'd of Lightness and Inconstancy by any unbyaâ—s'd Person that considers how much they have exceeded even their Wisest and most Wary Neighbors in securing their Liberty and preserving an undisturb'd Peace and Tranquillity in their Country and how firmly they have adher'd to their own true Interest during the whole course of a War which they maintain with equal Glory Prudence and Resolution The Roman-Catholic Princes were upbraided for entering into a Confederacy with the Enemies of their Religion But they were too wise and too well acquainted with the Designs of those who wou'd have perswaded 'em to sacrifice their Interest to their Superstition to suffer themselves to be impos'd upon by an Artifice which twice in our Memory had almost prov'd Fatal to Europe First when under pretext of promoting or at least not opposing the Advancement of the Roman-Catholic Religion the French King was suffer'd to over-run the United Provinces and to extend his Conquests so far that in the Judgment of the least Apprehensive Minds it seem'd hardly possible to hinder him from making himself Master of Amsterdam and with it of the Fleet Army Credit and Money of that potent Republic which wou'd have render'd his Power almost as boundless as his Ambition And a Second time when after the Peace of Nimeghen the French found a way to keep us from looking abroad by engaging us in unnecessary Quarrels about Religion at home and by that means diverted the prudent Jealousie of the only Nation in Europe that was able to curb their Ambition for by retaining the possession of Pignerol Cazal Hunninghen Strasburg Montroyal Luxemburg c. they kept at once Italy Switzerland Germany and the Netherlands under a kind of Subjection and in the General all the Princes and States of Europe were over-aw'd by the severe Politics and formidable Power of an ambitious Monarch who like an ill-natur'd Neighbor made every petty Trespass or accidental Slip the pretext of a new Invasion If our Deliverance had been deferr'd till the Popish Party had secur'd the Plurality of Voices in the Parliament and Modell'd an Army to support their unjust Usurpations If the two Kings had had time to execute the Grand Design of destroying Holland and extirpating the Northern Heresy the House of Austria wou'd have been quickly sensible of the fatal Consequences of this pretended Advancement of the Roman-Catholic Religion But to return to the Kingdom that was doom'd to feel the first effects of these dismal Alterations The English Jacobites as well as the Court of St. Germains were generally divided into Melfordians and Middletonians and while one of the Parties declar'd openly for Arbitrary Power the other insisted upon the Necessity of entering into a kind of Treaty with the Nation The former were entrusted with the Secrets of the Faction and the Command of the Troops that were to be employ'd in the Destruction of their Country All the Colonels were animated with the Spirit of Melford Parker was engag'd in the most furious Designs of the Party and both Parkins and Friend are represented as violent Melfordians by a Person in whom they plac'd a particular Confidence The Lancashire Papists both by Inclination and Interest were zealous Promoters of Arbitrary Power Porter Goodman Charnock and the rest of the Officers who were to act either in the Assassination or Invasion were influenc'd by the same Principles and ready to obey the most barbarous Orders of their Commanders Thus each of the opposite Cabals apply'd themselves to their respective Tasks For while the Middletonians were employ'd to amuse the People with flattering Hopes and Assurances of a favorable Treatment the Melfordians who were the sole Masters of the Forces and Arms of the Faction were putting themselves in a condition to violate the Promises of the former which made one say That he was neither so much a Fool nor a Villain as to engage in the Party It seems the Faction imagin'd that they cou'd easily betray the Nation to the cruel Ambition of a Foreign and Implacable Enemy But notwithstanding their Confidence of Success they scrupl'd not to contrive the basest and most treacherous Expedients to accomplish their unnatural Design The Reader will find an evident Confirmation of both these Truths in a Discourse that past between Brice Blair and Harrison as 't is related by the former upon Oath I wenâ— says he to see Mr. Harrison a little after Sir George Barclay came from France who told me that there might be something done in a little time which might be an Introduction to King James's Restoration I ask'd him after what manner that business cou'd be effected and after some pause he told me that if King James cou'd not come in time enough that his Friends might burn the Navy Victualling Office wherein the Provisions for the Mouth lay which might retard the English Fleet from getting to Sea for a considerable time I told him being amaz'd to hear such Words from a Priest's Month that it was not practicable and if it were there wou'd be few found that wou'd run the risque He told me that he wou'd have me as forward in the King's Service as any Man and that he was told by a Gentleman and a very good Officer that if he was sure of but a Hundred Horse he wou'd end the War in a Fortnights time c. 'T was by proposing such Expedients that the Conspirators endeavor'd to distinguish themselves since they found by experience that this was the only way to gain the Favor and Esteem of the Party Melford himself was oblig'd to give 'em a new Specimen of his barbarous Politics and even to strain the natural Fierceness of his Temper to support his sinking Credit For after he had been dismist for some time as a Rash and Furious Person who was only fit to pursue violent Methods and incapable of that seeming Moderation which the present Juncture requir'd he was immediately restor'd to Favor as soon as the Party was convinc'd of the Feasibleness of the Project he had contriv'd against the Liberty of the Nation and the Life of its Deliverer Thus Middleton was kept as a Reserve for the Day of Adversity while Melford was cherish'd as their better Genius who alone had the Art of improving an Advantage and making our Yoke so heavy that we shou'd never afterwards be able to shake it off They left no means unattempted to confirm the Court of St. Germains in these Maxims To this End an ingenious Jesuit was chosen to represent the Affairs of England and especially the late Revolution according to the Instructions he had receiv'd from the Party It must be acknowledg'd that the Work is adorn'd with all the Embellishments of a beautiful Stile and the Management of the Subject wou'd have been extremely sutable to the Juncture if the late King had been in as
fair a way to remount the Throne as they imagin'd The Author endeavors to exasperate that Prince's Revenge He imploys all his Art to convince him of the Justice and Usefulness of the Melfordian Principles and to render his Arguments more agreeable and consequently more Effectual his Advices are always intermix'd with Apologies and Panegyrics He commends King Charles II. for seizing the Charter of London and resolving at last to Govern without a Parliament and even has the confidence to tell us that for this reason the Four last years of his Life were properly the only years of his Reign and that he became the Master of his Subjects as soon as they perceiv'd that he was resolv'd to rule without a Parliament He exclaims against the Presbyterians whom he stiles the natural Enemies of the Royal Preogative adding that of all the Protestants they are the most furiously bent to extirpate the Catholics and praises King Charles for the Care he took to suppress their Meetings Yet not long after he becomes their Advocate against the Church of England and brings in King James telling the Clergy that the Persecutions they had rais'd against the Dissenters made divers of his Good Subjects leave the Kingdom He derides the pretended Contract betwixt a Soveraign and His People and reckons it a pernicious Chimera or which is the same thing he puts these Words into the Mouth of those Lords whose Sentiments he approves He speaks of the Protestant Cabal and divides it into the Episcopal and Presbyterian Cabals as if the Roman-Catholics were the Body of the Nation He endeavors to fix a stain upon the Immortal Memory of those Illustrious Defenders of the Laws and Liberty of England who sacrific d their Fortunes for the safety of their Country and were neither afraid nor asham d to mount a Scaffold in so glorious a Cause He speaks of a matchless Infidelity of perfidions designs that cou d not be prevented by the most cautious Prudence of the unheard of Treachery of so many Persons of great Quality who abandon d a Pri ce from whom they had receiv'd such signal Favors of the shameful Conspiracy of so many Kings against him and of the Moderation with which he began his Reign He tell him that Bad Subjects can never be gain d by Kindness and that the Event has taught him what measures he ought to have taken to prevent his Misfortune To conclude he does what he can to inspire him with Revenge and to perswade him that Cruelty and Oppression are the two principal Maxims of State which he ought to pursue for the future At another time the Faction wou d have taken more care to conceal their Sentiments for we must do em the Justice to acknowledge that they want neither Wit nor Prudence But they look'd upon the Conquest of England as so sure a Project and were so little apprehensive of its miscarriage that they scrupl d not to discourse publickly of the New Revolution The News of the Design were spread over all Europe and even there were some who pretended to fix the time of its Execution Some talk'd at Easter others mention d the Beginning of the Spring and some put it off till the Fleet from Thouloâ— shou'd join that which lay at Brest In the mean time their confident Menaces were slighted as vain Rhodo montades by all honest Men because they were not acquainted with their execrable Design to Assassinate his Majesty Sir George Barclay a Scotchman Lieutenant of King James 's Guards was the person that was chosen to command the Assassins He set out from St. Germains in September to execute his bloody Commission with the assistance of Twenty or Two and Twenty Men who were appointed to obey his orders Some of that infamous Troop came over with their Leader Some went before and others follow'd him Harris was one of the last who in his Deposition April 15th 1696 affirms upon Oath That he was an Ensign of Foot under the late King James in Scotland that he had serv d since in the Second Troop of his Guards in France That about the 14th of January last New Stile King James sent for this Informant and Michael Hare his Camerade That King James spoke with them in the late Queen 's Bedchamber and told this Informant that he had an Opportunity of doing something for him being very sensible he had serv'd him well That he would send him into England where he should be subsisted and that he was to follow Sir George Barclay s Orders and in so doing he would take care of him That he had order d them Money for their Journey which they should receive from Mr. Caroll who is Secretary to the late Queen King James told this Informant further that he should sind Sir George Barclay every Munday and Thursday between Six and Seven at Night in Covent Garden-Square and that they might know him by a white Handkerchief hanging out of his Coat-Pocket and King James pulling a List out of his Pocket told this Informant when he was in England he must go by the name of Jenkyns and Mr. Hare by the name of Guinney Colonel Parker was by all the time when King James spoke to this Informant and by the King's Order Colonel Parker went with this Informant and his Camerade to Mr. Caroll's and Mr. Caroll told them that the King had ordered them Ten Louis d' Ors apiece which would be enough to carry them over and if they should chance to be Wind bound he had writ to the President Tosse at Calais to furnish them with Money c. The rest of the Assassins that were sent over to assist Sir George Barclay were either Troopers in King James's Guards Pensionaries of the Court of St. Germains Officers who expected preferment or Soldiers taken out of the Regiments to be employ'd in that execrable Service The Faction made use of none but such as were Persons of Trust and who they believ'd would not scruple to engage in the dire Attempt And that the Assassination might be look'd upon as a Stratagem of War those who were to act in it were for the most part Officers and Soldiers This Infamous Detachment set out from St. Germains at several times and under various pretex's One gave out that he was going to continue his Studies in one of the Colleges in Scotland and another that he was weary of the Service Secresy was particularly recommended and enjoin d to every one of 'em And least their absence shou d be taken notice of and give occasion to various Discourses and Conjectures King Jaâ—es declar'd at his Levee that 't was his pleasure that none should presume to talk of their Departure and that he wou d severely punish those who shou'd give him the least occasion to believe that they were more curious to enquire into his designs than zealous in obeying his Orders In the mean time Sir George