THE TRYAL AND PROCESS OF High-Treason AND Doom of Forfaulture AGAINST Mr. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood TRAITOR By His Majesties special Command As a further proof of the late Fanatical Conspiracy Edinburgh Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to His most Sacred Majesty Anno DOM. 1685. The Tryal and Process of High-Treason and Doom of Forefaulture against Mr. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood Traitor CVria Justiciariae S. D. N. Regis tenta in praetorio burgi de Edinburgh vigesâ—mo tertio die mensis Decembris 1684. Per nobilem Potentem Comitem Georgium Comitem de Linlithgow Dominum Livingstoun c. Justiciarium generalem totius Regni Scotiae honorabiles viros Domines Jacobum Foulis de Colintoun Justiciariae Clericum Joannem Lockhart de Castlehill Davidem Balfour de Forret Rogerum Hoge de Harcarss Alexandrum Seaton de Pitmedden Patricium Lyon de Carss Commissionarios Justiciariae dicti S. D. N. Regis Curia legitime affirmata Intran Mr. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood Prisoner INdited and accused that where notwithstanding by the Common Law of this and all other well Governed Nations the Conspiring to overturn the Government of the Monarchy or of the Established Government of this Kingdom or the concealing and not revealing of any Treasonable Design Project or Discourse tending thereto Or the assisting aiding or abaiting such as have any such Designs does infer the Pains and Punishment of Treason And by the third Act of the first Parliament of King James the First The Rebelling openly against the Kings Person and by the thretty seventh Act of His second Parliament The Resetting Maintaining or doing favours to open or not our Rebellers against the Kings Majesty is Declared Treason and punishable by Forefaulture And by the hundred fourty and fourth Act of the twelfth Parliament of King James the Sixth It is Declared Treason to Reset Supply or Intercommune with Traitors And by the first Act of the first Session of His Majesties first Parliament It is Declared That it shall be High Treason for the Subjects of this Realm or any number of them less or more upon any ground or pretext whatsomever to rise or continue in Arms to make Peace or War without His Majesties special Approbation And by the second Act of the second Session of His Majesties said first Parliament To Plot Contrive or intend Death or Destruction or to put any Restraint upon His Majesties Royal Person or to Deprive Depose or Suspend Him from the Exercise of His Royal Government or to levy War or take up Arms against His Majesty or any Commissionated by Him or to intice any Strangers or others to Invade any of His Majesties Dominions or to Write Print or Speak any thing that may express or declare such their Treasonable Intentions is declared Treason and punishable as such Likeas by the second Act of His Majesties third Parliament It is Declared High Treason in any of the Subjects of this Realm by Writing Speaking or any other manner of way to endeavour the alteration Suspension or Diversion of the Right of Succession or debarring the next lawful Successour Nevertheless it is of verity that the said Mr. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood shaking of all fear of God respect and regard to His Majesties Authority and Laws and having conceived most unjustly a great and extraordinary malice and hatred against His Majesties Person and Government and having designed most Traiterously to debar His Royal Highness His Majesties only Brother from His due Right of Succession did amongst many other Traiterous Acts tending to promove that wicked Design endeavour to get himself Elected one of the Commissioners for Negotiating the settlement of a Colony of this Nation in Carolina in one or other of the dayes of the Moneths of January February March April or May One thousand six hundred and eighty three years and that he might thereby have the freer and better access to Treat with the Earls of Shaftsbury and Essex the Lord Russel and others who had entered into a Conspiracy in England against His Majesties Person and Government and with Colonel Rumsay Walcot West and Ferguson and others who had likewise Conspired the Murder of His Majesties Sacred Person and of the Person of His Royal Highness and finding that he could not get himself Elected one of the said Commissioners he resolved to go to London upon his own expenses and declared to severals whom he took great pains to draw inâ—o be his accomplices that his Design was to push foreward the People of England who did nothing but talk that they might go on effectually and after he had settled a Correspondency here he did go up to London in one or other of the saids Moneths with Sir John Cochran and Commissar Monro and did then and there Transact with the saids Conspirators or one or other of them to get a sum of Money to the late Earl of Argile a Declaired Traitor for bringing home of Men and Arms for raising a Rebellion against His Majesty and invading this his Native Countrey and so earnest was he in the said Design that he did chide those English Conspirators for not sending the same timeously and lamented the delayes used in it and perswaded the late Earl of Argile and others in his name to accept of any sum rather than not to engage and amongst the many meetings that he had at London for carrying on the said Traiterous design there was one at his own Chamber where he did meet with the Lord Melvil Sir John Cochran and the Cessnocks Elder and Younger and amongst others with Mr. William Veatch a declared Traitor and there he did treat of the carying on of the said Rebellion and of the money to be furnished by the English for Argyle for buying of Armes And that if the Scots would attempt any thing for their own relief they would get assistance of Horse from England and from that meeting he or ane or other of them did send down Mr. Robert Martin to prevent any rysing till it should be seasonable for carying on of their Designs which Mr. Robert after he came to Scotland did treat with Polwart and others for carying on of the said Rebellion by securing His Majesties Officers of State His Castles and Forces and by putting his Correspondents here and there Associats in readiness to assist the late Earl of Argyle and after the said Mr. Baillie had engadged many of his Countrey-men in England and had assured his Correspondantts here that the English were resolved to seclud his Royal-Highness from his due right of Succession thereby to encourage them to concur in the said Rebellion and Exclusion he flew to that hight that he did particularly and closly correspond with Mr. Robert Ferguson Sir Thomas Armstrong Collonel Rumsay and Walcot who were accessory to that horrid part of the Conspiracy which was designed against the Sacred Life of His Majesty and the Life of His Royal-Highness and did sit up several
to give it and the Letter to Mr. Ferguson and he to shew it to the Duke of Monmouth but what was done in it the Deponent knows not The Deponent heard the Design of Killing the King and Duke from Mr. Shepard who told the Deponent some were full upon it The Deponent heard that Aron Smith was sent by those in England to call Sir John Cochran on the account of Carolina but that he does not know Aron Smith or any more of that matter not being concerned in it Shepard named young Hamden frequently as concerned in these Matters Signed at Edinburgh Castle the 8. of September 1684. and renewed the 18 of the same Moneth William Carstares PERTH CANCELL I. P. D. Edinburgh Castle 18 September 1684. MR. William Carstares being again Examined adheres to his former Deposition in all the parts of it and Depones he knows of no Correspondence betwixt Scotland and England except by Martin before named for those Gentlemen to whom he was sent were left to follow their own Methods Veitch sometimes as the Deponent remembers stayed sometimes at Nicolson Stablerâ—s House at London-wall sometimes with one Widow Hardcastle in More-fields The Deponent did Communicate the Design on foot to Doctor Owen Mr. Griffil and Mr. Meed at Stepney who all concurred in the promoting of it and were desirous it should take effect and to one Mr. Freth in the Temple Councellor at Law who said that he would see what he could do in reference to the Money but there having gone a Report that there was no Money to be raised he did nothing in it nor does the Deponent think him any more concerned in the Affair Nelthrop frequently spoke to the Deponent of the Money to be sent to Argyle whether it was got or not but the Deponent used no freedom with him in the Affair Goodenough did insinuate once that the Lords were not inclined to the thing and that before they would see what they could do in the City The Deponent saw Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Rumsay lurking after the Plot broke out before the Proclamation having gone to Ferguson in the back of Bishopsgate-street at some new Building whether he was directed by Jerviswood who was desirous to know how things went Rumsay was not of the Deponent his acquaintance before but they knew as little of the matter as the Deponent This is what the Deponent remembers and if any thing come to his Memory he is to deliver it in betwixt and the first of October And this is the truth as he shall answer to God William Carstares PERTH Cancell I. P. D. At Edinburgh the 22. of December 1684. THese foregoing Depositions Subscribed by Mr. William Carstares Deponent and by the Lord Chancellor were acknowledged on Oath by the said Mr. William Carstares to be his true Depositions and that the Subscriptions were his in presence of us Undersubscribers William Carstares PERTH Cancell David Falconer George Mckenzie Queensberry Athol HIs Majesties Advocat for further probation adduces the Examinations of Mr. Shepard taken before Sir Leolin Jenkins Secretary of State for England with the Information or Deposition of Mr. Zachary Bourn relating to the Plot sign'd by him and Secretary Jenkins of which Depositions the tenors follow THe Examination of Thomas Shepard of London Merchant taken upon Oath before the Right Honourable Sir Leolin Jenkins Knight His Majesties Principal Secretary of State the 23. day of December 1683. THe Deponent saith That Ferguson told him on or about the Moneth of April last that an Insurrection was intended both in England and in Scotland and that for the settling that Affair betwixt the two Nations Mr. Baillie Mr. Monro Sir John Cochran Sir Hugh and Sir George Campbels with some others whose names this Deponent heard not were come to London That the Deponent had some acquaintance with Mr. Baillie Mr. Monro and Sir John Cochran and none at all with Sir Hugh and Sir George Campbels that Mr. Baillie told the Deponent that the Earl of Argile demanded Thirty Thousand Pounds of the English to capacitat him to begin the business effectually in Scotland and that he the said Baillie likewise told the Deponent that having concerted things with the Lord Russel and others he the said Baillie found an impossibility of raising that Sum After which the said Baillie had acquainted the Deponent that they were certainly promised Ten Thousand Pounds which Sum was agreed to be payed into the Deponents hands in order to be remitted into Holland for the providing of Arms and that the said Baillie told the Deponent at divers times that the said Sum or at least one half of it would be payed such a day and such a day and sometimes asked the Deponent if he had received any part of the said Money to which the Deponent replyed that he had not and that he the Deponent scarce thought any would be payed And the Deponent also saith that having had some little conversation with Sir John Cochran he remembers well that both of them did sometimes lament the delays in not paying in the Money and said that although the said Ten thousand Pounds were pay'd in they the said Sir John Cochran and Mr. Monro fear'd it would be too little and this Deponent further sayeth not as to any new matter But the Deponent being asked to Explain what he thought was meant by the words above written viâ—s to capacitat him the Earl of Argile to begin the business he this Deponent sayeth that he did understand by the Word business an Insurrection in Scotland Sic. subscribitur Thomas Shepard Jurat coram L. Jenkins THe Information of Zachary Bourn of London Brewer taken upon Oath the tenth day of December 1683. before the Right honourable Mr. Secretary Jenkins THe Informant Deposeth and sayeth that Mr. Baillie sat up one Night if not two with Mr. Ferguson and went several times in the Evening with him to the Duke of Monmouth and the chief mannagers of the Conspiracy That Ferguson told the Deponent that he the said Baillie was the chief man for the Scots next to the Lord Argile that the said Baillie did sit up the greatest part of one night with the said Ferguson at which time this Deponent believeth they were busie in preparing the intended Declaration which the Deponent has the more reason to believe in as much as the said Ferguson did go about to show him the Deponent such a Paper wherein the said Ferguson was hindered by the coming up Stairs of some person to speak with the said Ferguson that the said Ferguson told the Deponent that the main business of the said Baillie in meeting the saids Conspirators was in order to get from them the Ten thousand Pounds promised for the buying of Arms for the Insurrection intended in Scotland That the Deponent saw Mr. William Carstares come often to the Lodgings of the said Ferguson but that the said Ferguson never told the Deponent of any Discourse held by him with the said
imports nothing and infers no more then that he is socius criminis and is still a habil witnes as to Conjuration of Treason socius criminis hoc ipso that it is acknowledged or proven being still under the hazard of Process or condemnation which Law regards not in regard of the secrecie involved in the nature of the Crime that either witnesses neque actu neque habitu can be present so that the objection amounts to no less then that Conjurations of Treason cannot at all be proven And as to the Law cited from the Majestie it imports no more then that the Objection regulariter proâ—edit in Crimes which of there own nature are not perdifficilis probationis and are not inter crimina excepta such as the Cryme of Conspiracy and Treason is MR. William Fleteher Oppons the Objection and Reply and further adds that albeit crimen lesae Majestatis be reckoned inter crimina excepta and so have some priviledge as to the qualification of Witnesses yet it cannot be denyed but there are some Objections competent against Witness adduced for proving Conspiracies and Treason verbi causa that a Witnes is a Capital Enemy or that he is sub potestate accusatoris and the Objection new pleaded being taken complexlie viz. That the Earl of Tarras is not only socius criminis but also that he is publico judicio reus upon the same Crime and that as means to procure His Majesties favour he has submitted himself and come in His Majesties mercy by an acknowledgment of the Cryme before the Dyet of Citation he is obnoxious to a most just Objection viz. That he is sub potestate and by the submissiou and Confession his Life and Estate is now in His Majesties hands so that he is not only in the case of a reus confessus but in the case of a Witnes who does absolutely depend upon His Majesties Advocat the Pursuer and as a privat accuser could not adduce his own Servants to be Witnesses because they are testes domestici and depend upon him so far less ought a Witnes to be adduced who not only depends as to his Estate but as to his Life and the Law gives a very good reason and which is mentioned by Paulus lib. 1. receptarum sententiarum cap. 12. parag ult In these words de se confessus non est auâ—â—endus ut testis ne alienam salutem in dubium deducat qui de sua desperavit and as to the pretence that a Conjuration is a Cryme so occult that it must either be proven by such Witnesses or otherwayes the guilty person will escape It is answered that in this case His Majesties Advocat had an easie remedie for he might have pursued the Pannal before he pursued the Witnes and the Terror and Apprehension of the event of a Process for Treason cannot be constructed otherwayes then to have influence upon the Deposition of the Witnes and as to the Citation out of Farinacius it is only in the case of socius criminis but when he comes to treat de teste accusato vel carcerato Quest. 56. articulo 4to He sayes Regula sit in accusato quod is pendente accusatione à testimonio repellitur and be the 2d Rule of the same Article He sayes it is a principle quod carceratus testimonium ferre prohibetur and he gives this reason quia praesumitur quod falsum testimonium diceret pro aliquo qui ei promiserit se liberare a vinculo and limits this Rule that he must be carceratus propter crimen SIr Patrick Hume adds that it is a certain principle that any person that is guilty infamia juris cannot be a Witness no more than a person that is Convict and Condemned of Treason and if he were Convict and Condemned of Treason he could not be a Witness even in the case of Treason so neither can the Earl of Tarras in this case be received a VVitness for he being adduced a VVitness after he received his Inditement and confessed the Crime is equivalent as if he had been actually Convict and whatever may be pretended that testes infames may be admitted yet it was never asserted by any Lawyer that a person Convict of Treason can be admitted a VVitness THe Lords Repelled the Objection against the Earl of Tarras and ordains him to be received a Witness WAlter Earl of Tarras aged fourty years married purged and sworn being Interrogat if about the time that Sir John Cochran and Commissar Monro got their Commission from the Carolina Company for London the Pannal Mr. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood did not desire the Deponent to speak to Commissar Monro to try if he could get him the said Pannal added to that Commission Depones affirmative Being Interrogat if the said Jerviswood the Pannal did not tell the Deponent that he was resolved to go to London however upon his own Expenses and that his and their going about the Carolina Bussiness was but a pretence and a blind but that the true design was to push foreward the people of England who could do nothing but talk to go more effectually about their bussiness Depones affirmative Depones that the Pannal did settle a Correspondence with the Deponent whereby he was to give an account to the Deponent of what should pass betwixt the Countrey Party in England and the Scots men there and on the other hand the Deponent was to VVrite to him what occurred here Depones that the Pannal did say to the Deponent if the King would suffer the Parliament of England to sit and pass the Bill of Seclusion that that was the only way to secure the Protestant Religion Depons that the Pannal said to him that the King might be induced to do so if the Parliament would take sharp or brisk measures with Him or the like Depones these words were spoke to him by the Pannal since the holding of the last Session of this current Parliament and before the Pannal and Commissar Monro went for London Depons that after the Pannal went to London he did give the Deponent an account by Letters that things were in great Disorder there and that he hoped there would be effectual Courses taken to remeid them Depones that Mr. Robert Martin did come to Mr. Pringle of Torwoodlies House in May 1683. or thereby and brought a Letter to the Deponents Lady unsubscribed but the Deponent knows it was Jerviswoods Hand-writing who was then at London and that Mr. Martin told the Deponent that things in England were in great disorder and like to come to a hight and that the Countrey Party were considering on methods for securing the Protestant Religion And that Archibald sometime Earl of Argile was to get ten thousand pounds Sterling whereas thirty thousand pounds Sterling was sought by the Scots-men at London which was to be sent over to Holland to provide Arms and that the late Earl of Argile was to Land with these Armes in the West-Highlands of
Scotland and that the Deponents Friend Jerviswood the Pannal was to be sent over with the Money Depones that Philiphaugh and he went to Gallowshiels House where they met with Polwort and Gallowshiels and that it was talked amongst them there that in case those in England should rise in Arms that it was necessary in that case that so many as could be got on the Borders should be in readiness to deal with Straglers and seize upon Horses and that thereafter they should joyn with those that were in Arms on the Borders of England Depons That in the case foresaid it was said it was convenient the Castle of Stirling Berwick and some other Strengths should be seiz'd upon and it was likewise spoke amongst them that some persons should be employed to inquire what Arms was in that Countrey Depons That it was spoke then that the best time for Argyle was to land in the West when there was a stur in England or Scotland or words to that purpose Depons That every one desired another to speak to such particular persons as they could trust by letting a word fall indirectly upon supposition in case of the Rising in England concerning the Affair for preparing of them And that he was told by Philiphaugh thereafter that there was a Word and Sign to be used amongst them viz. the Sign was by loosing a Button on the Breast and that the Word was Harmony Depons the Pannal spoke to the Deponent to advertise Torwoodlie that he might acquaint Mr. William Veitch a forfault Traitor who was in Northumberland that he might keep himself close and be on his guard lest he should be catch'd which was since the Pannal was Prisoner in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh And this is the truth as he shall answer to God Sic subscribitur Tarras Linlithgow I. P. D. ALexander Monro of Bear-crofts Aged fourty five Years or thereby solutus solemnly sworn and purg'd Depons that the Earl of Tarras proposed to the Deponent that Jerviswood might be made one of the Commissioners for the Affair of Carolina for that he could not safely stay at Home and that the Deponents answer was that he had no interest in the Affair and so could not be a Commissioner Depons that the Pannal did wait for the Deponent at Wooller and did go alongst with him to London and that by the way he heard him regrate his own hazard and others because of Blackwoods Sentence and that he heard him regrate the hazard our Laws and Liberties and the Protestant Religion were in Depons that the Pannal spoke to the Deponent and others more then once at London for getting of Money from the English to be sent to the late Earl of Argile for bringing home Arms for the said Earls use as he understood for carrying on an Insurrection and Rebellion in Scotland Depons that at the time libelled in Jerviswoods Chamber in London Mr. William Veitch a forfault Traitor was present and that Sir John Cochran did at that Meeting expressly speak of Money to be sent to Argile for bringing home Arms for invading the Kingdom of Scotland And that at another occasion he heard some of them say that there would be twenty Thousand Men in Scotland who would assist the Rebellion and that he heard Sir John Cochran and Jerviswood speaking of it but cannot be positive which of the two said it Depons that at that Meeting he heard Jerviswood speak but did not hear him oppose that â—reasonable Proposal or contradict the Overture proposed by Sir John Cochran Depons that Mr. Robert Martin was sent down from that Meeting which was at Jerviswoods Chamber to Scotland to try what the People of Scotland would do for their own safety And that it was understood that the people of Scotland should not rise till there should be a rising in England and that the Commission was granted to Mr. Robert Martin by all the persons present whereof Jerviswood was one and that there were present the Lord Melvill Sir John Cochran Cessnocks elder and younger Mr. William Carstares Mr. William Veitch Jerviswood and the Deponent and depons they did contribute Money for Mr. Martins Journey Depons that at his return he meeting with the Deponent told him that Matters were in that condition in Scotland and that the Countrey was in such a condition as little would kindle the Fire in order to the Rebellion And this is the truth as he shall answer to God Sic subscribitur Alexander Monro Linlithgow I. P. D. JAmes Murray of Philiphaugh aged 30. Years married purged and sworn produces four Leaves of Depositions emitted by him before the Lords of the Secret Commitie and all Written and Subscribed with his own hand which being publickly read in presence of the Justices and Assize he adheres thereto in all points whereof the Tenot follows Upon the day of May 1683. Upon a letter from Mr. Pringle of Torwoodlie I came to his house in the morning and he presently led me to a Chamber where I found Mr. Robert Martin who was lately come from London with whom we stayed a little and discoursed of the news and about the present condition and temper of England and in particular of London which Mr. Martin said was much irritated through some attempts upon their Priviledges either as to the concern of the Sheriffs or their Charter but that all honest men were of good heart and very brisk and after some general discourses to this purpose Torwoodlie and I left him and walked out a little and he told me he was expecting the E. of Tarras presently for he had sent to him and Mr. Martin had a Letter to him from Jerviswood then he told me that there were great matters in agitation at London and that Mr. Martin had come down with a Commission from our friends there I do not remember he named any but that I behoved not to expect he would impart his Instructions to me for he was to communicat them only to Polwart and himself at least for these Shyres and they were to pitch on such as they thought fit to intrust with the affair whereupon he assured me that he had great confidence in me and his kindness to me oblidged him to send for me to acquaint me that matters were now come to a crisis and that he had reason to think England would shortly draw to Arms and stand by them till they were satisfied anent the Bill of Exclusion and what other security they could propose for the protestant Religion and their Liberties and that it was no project of any inconsiderable party but a design through the Kingdom and that many of the finest men and of the greatest interest and credit there had adjusted almost every thing necessar for the purpose and had concerted matters with our Friends there in order to concurrence from this and had agreed to advance Money for furnishing Armes here I do not remember he told me more particulars at this time but said Polwart would be