Merchant of the City of London one of a plentiful Estate and eminent Repute as any of his Rank on the Exchange But a Violent Nonconformist and Disciple of Ferguson's The two Goodenoughs Richard and Francis both Notorious Enemies of the Establish'd Government in Church and State During all the time of the Factious Citizens most furious Eruptions against Authority they had been both for some Years by turns Under-Sheriffs of London and Middlesex so that the whole wicked Mystery and Trade of packing the Ignoramus Juries pass'd through their Hands Major Holms a Fifth-Monarchy-Man an old Army-Officer a Confident of Cromwel's and Trustee for his Family In the late Times of Usurpation he was a Major in the English Army in Scotland where he became acquainted with the Earl of Argyle and was since made intimate to all his Treasonable Purposes Richard Rumbald Maltster another old Army-Officer a desperate and bloody Ravilliac who had often before laid Designs for the KING's Murder which God as often prevented by some signal Providence William Rumbald his Brother worthy of such a Brother Aaron Smith a furious Fanatick who amongst many other Seditious Practices was a Factious Sollicitor for College the Joyner and with unparalell'd boldness dared to menace the Government and to put a Libel into that notorious Malefactors hands before the Judges faces at the very time of his Tryal for which High Misdemeanor he has since fallen under the censure of the Law William Hone a Joyner a melancholy Enthusiast of Colleges Trade and Spirit who besides a large Confession of his and others share in this Conspiracy did also frankly own at his Tryal and Death that many Years before he had proposed and design'd the Killing of the King out of Bow-Steeple as his Majesty was passing to Guild-Hall John Rouse a busie Agent in all the Tumultuous Proceedings of the City Elections Zachary Bourn a Brewer Son to an obstinate Independent and he himself one of Ferguson's Hosts and Familiars Thomas Lea a Dyer Andrew Barber both Anabaptists However these three last mention'd did in some measure expiate their Guilt by their ingenious and voluntary Confessions John Ayloff a Lawyer the very Man who in a spightful defiance of his Majesties Government did many Years since venture to put a French Wooden Shooe into the Speakers Chair of the House of Commons Nor has the rest of his Life since come short of the insufferable Insolence of that Action Joseph Tyley Edward Norton Edward Wade Richard Nelthrop Robert West all of them Republican Lawyers their Hatred of the Government transporting them to be Factious against the known Interest of their own Profession These were all Men of Crafty Heads and Nimble Tongues restless Spreaders of false News bold Talkers in Seditious Clubs where according to the corrupt fashion of those Times the most profligate Persons of all Conditions were wont openly to Arraign the Monarchy and vilifie the Church under the fair shows of amending both and a tender Concernment for the Publick Good Next in the Kingdom of Scotland the Names of the chief Instruments who are already proved to have transacted that part of the Conspiracy under the Conduct and Influence of the late Earl of Argyle and who since well nigh all to a Man but those that escaped on the first Notice of the Discovery have made ample Declarations of their Guilt are these Sir Hugh and Sir John Campbell near Relations of the said Earls and as much the profess'd Enemies of their Countries Peace and Government Sir John Cockran Mr. William Baillie Men egregiously disaffected to the Government and therefore of considerable Interest with its most desperate Enemies in both Kingdoms These together with Monroe were the Persons desired by the English Managers to come up to London and Treat of a Joint Conspiracy with their Brethren here under the disguise of Planting Carolina At the same time Lieutenant Colonel Walcot was call'd out of Ireland for the same end but under colour of being the intended Governour of that Plantation To this purpose they were first invited hither by the Earl of Shaftsbury and after his Death again sent for by a Particular Messenger Accordingly they actually came up and Negotiated here some time in order to a firm Conjunction between the Traytors of both Nations for a general Rising Nor was the Treaty wholly broke off or adjusted at the very time when the Discovery broke forth To these are to be added James Steuart Son to Sir James Steuart sometimes Provost of Edenburgh He was fitted for such a design by his hot and fiery Temper and by his Education and his Fathers Example who together with most of his Relations were violent Covenanters This Man was the Author of the Libel call'd The Scottish Grievances The Lord Melvil descended from Progenitors of such Principles as have been ever against the Crown when they have fancied their Kings not Zealous for the Reformation This Man had the Management of the Duke of Monmouth's Affairs in Scotland many Years And when the Duke march'd against the Rebels near Bothwel-Bridge the said Melvil as the Earl of Shaftsbury had advis'd sent to them to Capitulate assuring them the Duke of Monmouth had Orders to give them good Conditions and when they would not submit Melvil was over-heard to say That all was lost For the Beating of them would lose the said Duke with his Friends in England Sir Patrick Hume of Polwart who kept Correspondence with Shaftsbury many Years and had been formerly Imprison'd in Scotland for Traiterous Expressions Pringle Laird of Corwoodlee a noted Fanatick and of Antimonarchical Principles from his Infancy Denham of East-Sheels just such another but less cautious and more headstrong Montgomery of Lenshaw a Covenanter to the highest degree of Bigottry Commissary Monroe who had well serv'd his Majesty in the Wars as an active brave Man But upon some Injuries he pretended to have receiv'd from the Duke of Lauderdail he grew enrag'd to such a degree as led him into these Courses which now make him so uneasie to himself that he has often begg'd of his Keeper to kill him for such an ungrateful Wretch should not live Hugh Scot Laird of Gallowsheels James Murray Laird of Philiphaugh both zealous Sticklers for the Field-Conventicle-Meetings Besides these the Principal Scottish Agents there were divers other inferior Emissaries of that Nation who went to and fro to carry on the Traiterous Intercourse between Scotland and England and with the Earl of Argyle in Holland Such as William Carstares a Scotch Conventicle-Preacher to a Numerous Meeting at Theobalds where Rumbald was his frequent Hearer William Spence who had been Comptroler and was now Employed as Secretary to the Earl of Argyle taken in London under the Name of Butler John Nisbet born in Northumberland bred up at the University of Edenburgh where he was the Leader of those Seditious Students who rais'd a Tumult upon occasion of Burning the Pope in that City But of all the Conspirators
compleat Deduction of the said Earl's part in the design'd Insurrection Immediately after the Cyphers this follows in words at large The Total Sum is 128 Guilders and 8 Stivers that will be paid you by Mr. B. Which last Clause was the Rule whereby Mr. Gray found out and Spence discover'd the Decyphering of the whole Letter and it was accordingly done by each of them apart by making eight Columns and placing 128 words in each Column descending as upon view of the Authentick Printed Copies will appear to any Man beyond all Contradiction In short this Letter of the late Earl of Argyle's was known by many of the Privy Council there to be his Hand and his own Lady upon Oath deposed She knew it to be his though she did not know the Contents of it And such is the Account that is to be given of the said Earl of Argyle's Loyalty which he had desir'd might be the only Standard in what sense he would take the Test. Hitherto he had been by Inheritance Lord High Admiral and Justice General of Argyle Tarbat and the Isles and great Master of the Houshold He was by his Majesty put into Places of great Dignity and Trust he was made extraordinary Lord of the Session one of his Majesties Privy Council and one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury And after his Fathers Condemnation for the highest Crimes and his own Forfeiture of his Honour and Estate for Treasonable Expressions in a Letter of his he was restor'd to all his Father possess'd except the Title of Marquiss But notwithstanding all these and many more Obligations of the like nature which he had to his Majesty his fondness of esteem with the Factious People his aversion to Monarchy and hatred of the Royal Family particularly of the Duke of York led him to this height of Ingratitude This and divers other Letters of the like traiterous importance all written with Argyle's own Hand being at one and the same time taken about Major Holmes the Person chiefly intrusted by the said Earl to receive and convey all his Correspondences with England and Scotland it cannot be doubted but very many more Papers of the same dangerous Tenor had been this way interchang'd between him and the English and Scotch Conspirators during the whole progress of the Conspiracy Especially considering that in some of these the Earl of Argyle refers to some Expressions and Propositions which he says he had made in others and there are no such Expressions to be met with in all these Letters that are taken Besides that with the Letters themselves there were also seiz'd about Holmes several Alphabets and a Key of Words whereas of one of the Alphabets there has been as yet no use found in Decyphering and though in the Key there are Eighty new-coyn'd Words yet not above Six of them are made use of in all the parcel of the said Earl's Letters hitherto intercepted However by the Light these Letters gave so well agreeing with several other Intelligences receiv'd from many Hands his Majesties Council of Scotland were abundantly convinc'd that the the Bloody Design had reach'd thither also and therefore immediately order'd the bottom of the Business to be search'd into by a Secret Committee Whereupon Warrants were issued out there to apprehend Walter Earl of Tarras Brother-in-Law to the Duke of Monmouth Sir Patrick Hume Laird of Polwart Pringle Laird of Torwoodlie James Murray Laird of Philiphaugh and Hugh Scot Laird of Gallowshiels all of them being Persons named by Carstares and others as Partakers with Argyle in this Treason as they had been formerly most active with him in endeavouring to disturb the Loyal Proceedings of the Parliament for enacting the Test. Of these the Laird of Polwart and Torwoodlie having been the most busie and so conscious of their greater guilt conceal'd themselves and have hitherto escaped the other three were taken and brought to Edenburg where they freely confess'd upon Oath As did also Commissary Monroe who had been sent thither Prisoner out of England All which Depositions and Confessions they again repeated and confirm'd in the same solemn manner at the Tryal of Mr. William Baillie of Jerviswood The Earl of Tarras without either craving or receiving any security for himself did ingenuously confess That about the time when Sir John Cockran and Commissary Monroe got their Commission from the Carolina Company for London Mr. Baillie desir'd him to speak to Monroe that he might be added to the Commission Telling him that he was resolved to go to London however upon his own charges For that his and their going about the Carolina business was only a Pretence and a Blind but the true design was to push forward the People of England who did nothing but talk to go more effectually about their business That thereupon the said Baillie did settle a correspondence with the Deponent whereby the one was to give an account what past between the Country party in England and the Scotch Men there the other to write back what occurr'd in Scotland That the said Baillie told him the only way to secure the Protestant Religion was for the King to suffer the Parliament to sit and pass the Bill of Exclusion Which the King might be induc'd to do if the Parliament would take sharp and brisk Measures with him That after the said Baillie went to London he did give the Deponent account by Letters how things were in great disorder there but he hoped effectual courses were taking to remedy them That Mr. Robert Martin did come to Mr. Pringles of Torwoodlie in May 1683 and brought the Deponent a Letter from the said Baillie then at London That Martin told the Deponent things in England were in great disorder and like to come to a height but the Country Party were considering of Methods for securing the Protestant Religion That the Scotch-Men at London had ask'd 30000 Pounds but that Argyle was to have 10000 l. which Sum was to be sent by Baillie into Holland to buy Arms and then Argyle was to Land with those Arms in the West-Highlands of Scotland The Earl of Tarras deposed farther That Philiphaugh and he went to Gallowshiels House where they met with Polwart and Gallowshiels That there it was discours'd among them that in case the English should rise in Arms it was necessary so many as could be got on the Borders should be in readiness to deal with Straglers and Seize on Horses and thereafter joyn with those that were in Arms on the Borders of England That then it would be convenient to surprize Berwick Stirling and some other strong places That some Persons should be employ'd to inquire what Arms were in the Country That it was resolv'd every one should speak to and prepare such particular Persons as they could trust not at first in plain terms but indirectly and upon supposition of a Rising in England That there was a Word and Sign to be used among them the sign was by loosing
would never be out of a Plot as long as he liv'd and that he hoped yet to meet some of them at Dunbar before Michaelmas Now a day or two before this their final separation the King and his Council began to be convinc'd of the truth of Keeling's Evidence by a full knowledge of the Witnesses Character and by the firmness and consistency of his Testimony besides many other concurring Circumstances VVherefore his Majesty order'd VVarrants should be issued out against the Persons accus'd whereof some absconded others were taken Of these last divers confirm'd what Keeling had sworn and named others as Partakers in the Treason Whereupon more and more appearing every day to have been engaged Proclamations were Publish'd in England and Scotland for their speedy Apprehension By this means through the Providence of God so many of them were either seiz'd or deliver'd themselves up as have irrefragably confirm'd every part of the foregoing Account What became of the several Conspirators will appear by the following List. Of the ENGLISH SIR Thomas Armstrong presently after fled beyond the Seas where he remain'd till the next Year when he was surpriz'd at Leyden in Holland brought into England and received the deserv'd reward of his Horrid Ingratitude and Treasons John Ayloff fled and withdrew from Justice and stands Outlaw'd upon that account Andrew Barber was taken and freely confess'd Robert Blaney came in and confess'd what was done and said at the Trayterous Meeting at Colonel Romzey's House James Burton fled and is also Outlaw'd for Treason William Blagg a Sea Captain was taken try'd and acquitted there being but one positive Evidence against him Zechary Bourn was seis'd on in Essex as he was making his escape into Holland and largely confess'd afterwards Colonel Danvers of Newington was taken and dismis'd upon Bail He has since Publish'd a most Malicious and Scandalous Libel against his Majesty For which he is fled The Earl of Essex taken at his House in Hertfordshire and committed Prisoner to the Tower Richard and Francis Goodenough both fled and since Outlaw'd The Lord Gray of Wark was seiz'd on examin'd before his Majesty and order'd to be sent to the Tower But in his going thither by the negligence of the Serjeant at Arms he made his escape got beyond Sea from the Coast of Sussex and is now also Outlaw'd John Hambden Junior taken Tryed for High Crimes and Misdemeanors Condemn'd in 40000 l. Fine and Imprisonment Major Holms taken in London he confess'd the Correspondence with the Earl of Argyle whereof the Key was intrusted with him and some others James Holloway fled was taken at Mevis in the West-Indies and sent back into England confess'd and was Executed William Hone in his flight was taken in Cambridgeshire He made his first Confession at Cambridge the substance of which he afterwards own'd upon all occasions to his Death Joseph How was taken and confess'd The Lord Howard of Escrick was taken in his House at Knightsbridge hid behind the Hangings of his Chamber and at length confess'd Thomas Lea the Dyer was taken and confess'd The Duke of Monmouth withdrew upon the first Proclamation wherein he was Named and lay hid for divers Months till he render'd himself and confess'd Edward Norton fled and is Outlaw'd John Nisbet fled was taken in Essex ready to go beyond Sea He was the Author of the Letter of Trade Written to Gourdon a Scotch-Man under the Name of Pringle John Rouse taken Try'd Condemn'd Executed making at his Death a Penitent Confession John Row once Sword-Bearer of Bristol fled upon the first Discovery as did also both the Rumbalds they are all three Outlaw'd Colonel Romzey first absconded then render'd himself and confess'd The Lord Russel taken at his House in Souththampton-Square Try'd Condem'd Beheaded He confess'd enough to shew his Crime but not his Repentance Thomas Shepard hid himself but soon came in and frankly confess'd Aaron Smith had kept secret some time before because of a Sentence against him for high Misdemeanors But was taken and is still a Prisoner Colonel Algernoon Sydney taken Try'd Condemn'd Beheaded William Wade Joseph Tyley fled and are Outlaw'd Colonel Thomas Walcot first retired then sent a Letter to Mr. Secretary Jenkins plainly acknowledging That the Plot was laid very deep and wide promising to discover more if he might have hopes of Pardon But before he could receive an answer the Conscience and fright of his own Guilt made him withdraw from the place where he had appointed to stay for it He was soon after taken Arraign'd Condemn'd Executed persevering to the last in the main of his Confession Robert West withdrew for a time but then gave himself up and has amply confess'd Besides these there were divers others at first secured but afterwards dismiss'd by course of Law as the Lord Brandon Mr. Booth Major Wildman Mr. John Trenchard Major Breman Mr. Charlton this last having been taken in disguise Of the SCOTS MR. James Steuart Brother to the Laird of Cultness had fled out of Scotland a short time after the Earl of Argyle upon occasion of dangerous Papers taken in his keeping Thereafter he transacted only by Letters and Negotiations remaining out of danger beyond the Seas Commissary Monroe and the two Campbells of Cessnock were taken The Lord Melvin Sir John Cockran and Ferguson escap'd divers ways though Ferguson stay'd some time in Town after the Discovery in hopes still of obtaining Bills of the Money to be remitted into Holland William Bayley of Jerviswood was seiz'd on in London convey'd to Edenburgh and there Try'd and lately Executed William Carstares William Spence Alexander Gourdon of Earlston taken the two first in Town the last at Newcastle By the positive Confession of these three Scotchmen together with that of Major Holms who were the Earl of Argyle's chief Agents in this business was the first greatest light given of the said Earls part in the Conspiracy Of these Alexander Gourdon Laird of Earlston was a Zealous Field-Conventicler and had been a Bothwel-Bridge-Rebel Where upon the rout of their Army his Father was kill'd and he taken Prisoner Having afterwards got his Liberty he became Sollicitor for the Faction in England and Holland under pretence of collecting Contributions for maintaining such of them as were denounc'd Fugitives for which purpose he had a formal Commission sign'd and seal'd in the Name of the General Assembly of their Party at Edenburgh Before any Discovery he was taken at Newcastle under a feigned Name endeavouring to get a passage beyond the Seas About him were seiz'd divers Original Papers which as soon as he was made Prisoner he try'd to make privately away but the Kings Officers observing his design secur'd them Amongst these Papers there was one very remarkable Letter Written to him under another Counterfeit Name of Pringle The composer of it was John Nisbet one of Argyle's Agents in London It was dated March the 20th of that Year when the Conspiracy was in the heigth It gives
of all Men living he could most easily turn himself into all shapes and comply with all Dispositions having by long practise got the skill to cover his Hooks with Baits fitting every Humour The Covetous who are no small Number of the pretended Godly Party those he was wont to feed and deceive with hopes of Wealth and new Sequestrations The Ambitious with Praise and Vain-Glory The Nonconformist Zealots with Promises of Liberty in Religion sometimes not refusing to stoop lower and even to serve and assist the Pleasures and Debauches of Men that way inclin'd if he found them any way useful for his purpose Wherefore the said Earl observing in the Duke of Monmouth a Mind rash unsteady and ambitious soon made him an easie Prey to his wicked Subtilty disguised under fair and plausible Colours On the one side puffing up his Youthful Thoughts with a vain Ostentation of Honour and the Temptation of Fame to be gotten by Asserting and Defending his Countries Liberties and Religion always pretended by him to be in imminent danger whilst He was out of place On the other inflaming him with imaginary Suspicions of the Duke of York's irreconcileable Hatred to his Person Which was so far from having any real Foundation that on the contrary his Majesty who best knows does freely here testifie for his dearest Brother in this particular That the Duke of Monmouth till he made himself uncapable of his Friendship never had a more entire or fast Friend about his Majesty and there was scarce ever any Honour or Benefit conferr'd on him but it was obtain'd of his Majesty by his Royal Highnesses Intercession However by such groundless Jealousies and empty Conceits was the Duke of Monmouth insensibly drawn to desert his only true Interest and to give himself over to the Delusions of his Majesties mortal Enemies This the King apparently perceiving and foreseeing how in the event it would tend to the said Dukes inevitable Ruine his Majesty tryed by all imaginable ways of Kindness to cast forth the Evil Spirit in him and to rescue him out of their Hands At length when no milder course would serve his Majesty required him on his Allegiance to go beyond the Seas and there to remain till his farther pleasure was signified His Majesty still hopeing that at so great a distance the Poyson would be less effectual and that by his absence the said Duke would be kept Innocent of the Treasonable designs which his New Associates were furiously carrying on against the Government But in that expectation his Majesty was unfortunately disappointed The Duke of Monmouth presently shew'd how much his false Friends and Treacherous Flatterers had prevailed over his unwary Youth and how different they had taught him to be from the Obedience which at the same time was practised by his Royal Highness For the said Duke of Monmouth soon return'd into England contrary to his Majesties express Command The discontented Party having thus got him again and made him surer to themselves by this new Affront to his Majesty began now to take new Life and Vigour by his presence With insufferable Boldness and Contempt of Authority shewed him every where to the Rabble Leading him about with insolent Pomp through many Countries openly owning and crying him up as the Head of their Cause the unhappy Young-Man all the while not understanding that he was only a Property By these fatal steps he was at last brought into the most pernicious Counsels and undertakings And whilst nothing less was intended by his Tempters but the subversion of all that is well-setled and sacred in Church and State they deluded him into the very same Designs by popular shews and empty Names of the Protestant Duke the great Champion and Protector of the Privileges of the Subject and the Reformed Religion Which under his Majesty can never want any other Protector nor can ever stand in need of such Champions as many of late have vaunted themselves to be of whose Religion there can be given no better Account than of their Loyalty Such then was the state of things when upon the first breaking forth of this Horrid Conspiracy his Majesty with inexpressible surprize and Grief Found by undoubted Evidence the Duke of Monmouth very deeply engaged and therefore had but too just reason to put him into a Proclamation among the other Conspirators After that the said Duke had withdrawn himself from his Majesties Justice and so long was become incapable of his Forgiveness In this obstinate defiance the Duke of Monmouth continued till the Outlawry against him and other his Complices began to draw to an Issue Then his Majesty receiv'd from him the first Letter In which his Majesty fancy'd he saw a greater Spirit of Ingenuity than afterwards proved However finding in it so clear and full expressions of the said Dukes remorse for his former Disloyalty to his Majesty and Ingratitude to the Duke of York and so frank professions of his Resolutions to amend for the future joyn'd with the greatest Imprecations on himself if he should wilfully violate his promises therein made his Majesty did thereupon immediately return this Answer written with his own Hand that his Majesty might not be wanting on his part to lay hold on any good and probable Opportunity of reducing him to Reason and saving him from utter Ruine If the Duke of Monmouth desires to make himself capable of my Mercy he must render himself to the Secretary and resolve to tell me all he knows resigning himself entirely to my Pleasure This determinate Declaration of his Majesties Will drew from the Duke of Monmouth a second Letter wherein with vehement and pathetick Words he aggravates his Distraction and Torment for having offended his Majesty Confesses Himself in fault betray'd into fatal Mistakes misled into Mischiefs whereof he did not at first in the least suspect the Consequences declares That his Crime appear'd to him in so terrifying a shape that he preferr'd even Death before his present sense of it implores His Majesties Pardon no otherwise but if he may receive it by his Royal Highnesses Mediation professes To speak this not only in outward Form but with the greatest Sincerity in the World resigns Himself to his Majesties Disposal not only now but for the remainder of his Life engages Absolutely to put his very Will into his Majesties Hands for the future which he acknowledges had been so ill a Guide to him in times past concluding That till he could receive some comfortable Return to this his unfeigned Submission he was the most miserable disconsolate Creature living Upon the receipt of this second Letter the King being perswaded there could be no room left to question the Sincerity of a real Change in the Duke of Monmouth and knowing he had now enough in his Hands to overwhelm him with Confusion if it should prove otherwise his Majesty did thereupon without any more reserve immediately admit him into his Presence being introduced by Mr. Secretary