Whitehall insomuch that he who had the Power of Life and Death positively declared that he should dye and to prevent his further discovery which he had promised to make he is instantly removed and kept most closely in the Tower where he was most rigorously handled to make him retract his Confession The Conspirators being thus defeated of this hopeful Fanatick Plot calculated for the entertainment of the Oxford Parliament and well knowing that Fitz-H and his Wife could make it out who set them to work and that he was paid 250 l. at White-hall for this Service They came to a resolution that the Parliament must not pry into this mistery of Iniquity however The Parliament being met the House of Commons fell upon it and on Friday the 25th of March 1681. Upon the reading Sr Robert Clayton's and Sr George Treby's Examination of Fitz-Harris Sr John Hotham moved that it might be printed to show the World the devilish Conspiracies of the Papists which motion was seconded by Sr William Jones who said that People had been prevailed upon to believe the Plot not true and that that Examination confirmed the Informations of Otes and Bedloe Sr Francis Winnington added that the Treasonable Paper of Fitz-Harris was to have been sent to many Gentlemen and they to have been seized thereupon as Traytors in a Conspiracy against the King That all was at stake therefore let not our Courage lessen Let us go to the bottom of this business of Fitz-Harris I move he may be impeached of High-Treason and it may be he will relent and tell you all Sr Robert Clayton then said That when F. Harris his Examination was taken at Newgate he told him that he thought he had not dealt ingenuously unless he would tell what Council he had for drawing the Paper and that he had him be ingenuous in the whole matter and he would come and take his further Examination and that F. Harris having promised this he was removed out of their reach into the Tower Wherepon an Impeachment was ordered Sr L. Jenkins commanded to carry it to the Lords and Col. Birch said That we ought all to give God thanks for this discovery of Fitz-Harris next to the first discovery of the Plot. Upon Saturday the 26th of March 1681 the House of Commons being informed that the House of Lords had refused to proceed upon the Impeachment Sr Thomas Lee said That he saw by the Lords refusing the Impeachment no further use of Parliaments That they would be a Court or not a Court to serve a present purpose Then Sr William Jones spoke to this effect Indictments were brought against the Lords in the Tower and yet that was no impediment to their Impeachment in the Lords House but here is no Indictment or Prosecution brought against Fitz-Harris We have an instance fresh in memory Scroggs a Commoner and not indicted at Common-Law yet the Lords without scruple accepted his Impeachment We find the Lords have determined a great point The Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal have voted the refusal of the Impeachment of Fitz-Harris which we own not in this Judicature nor I hope never shall and We are denyed Justice by the Lords Spiritual who have no right to Vote This is a double act of Injustice Let us then Vote That the Commons have a Right to impeach in capital Cases and that the Lords have denyed us Justice in refusing the Impeachment in a Parliamentary way At a Conferrence show how unwarrantable the Lords Actions have been and if the dissolution of the Parl. follows it s the fault of those Men who will not hear our Reasons Sr Francis Winnington backt this Motion and said This Impeachment is not an ordinary Accusation but it relates to our Religion and Property and how the Bishops come to stifle this let God and the World judge If the Lords will vote that the Commons shall not impeach him They may as well vote they shall not be Prosecutors This is a new Plot against the Protestants of which F. Harris is accused and We must not Impeach him In this the Lords say we must not hear it I desire you would come to some Vote you are willing to discover the Plot if you could If our time be short as I believe it is pray come to some Resolution to assert your Right A little while ago when the Duke was presented for a Papist the Grand-Jury was dismissed by the Chief Justice This seems as if the Lords would justifie the Judges Proceedings by their own If no Man doubts our Right pray vote it Sr Robert Howard then spoke to this effect This of Fitz-Harris seems to me to be a more dangerous breath then usual a breath fit to be stifled There is something in this more then ordinary If there be so sacred a respect to common Tryals in Inferiour Courts 't is strange that the House of Commons should be below a Common-Jury It seems the Lords value Fitz-Harris to keep him from us If Dangerfield would speak what he knew nothing of Mercy was too big for him but they hurry Fitz-Harris away to the Tower when he began to confess in Newgate Are you so lost that you have no Mercy left for the Protestant Religion We hear that the French Ambassador had a hand in this Plot which a Jury will not enquire into I must confess that by the carriage of this I have enlarged my suspition for I cannot but suspect unusual ways Something depends upon this Man Sure We must not lay down all Prosecution of the Plot and say that the Protestant Religion shall have no Mercy Fitz-Harris may merit Mercy by Confession and if his breath be stoped by the Lords I am sorry that People will say If it were not for the Lds. F. H. might have discovered all the Conspiracy and the Protestant Religion might have been saved Mr Serjeant Maynard then added We all know what Arts and Crafts have been used to hide the Plot it began with Murder Perjury and Subornation This of Fitz-Harris is a second part of it The Lords deny to receive our Impeachment In effect they make this no Parliament if We are the Prosecutors and they will not hear our Accusation T is strange when their own lives as well as ours are concerned in the Plot When all is at stake We must not prosecute If this be so Holland and Flanders must submit to the French and they run over all This is a strange breach of Priviledge and tends to the danger of the Kings Person and destruction of the Protestant Religion Sr Thomas Player then said This of Fitz-Harris is a considerable confirmation of the former Plot I call it the Old Plot but t is still new upon us when he inclined to discover what he knew he was fetched to White-Hall and sent to the Tower and so We were deprived of all further hopes of discovery and now they stop his Mouth I move therefore That you will declare
That if any Judge Justice or Jury proceed upon him and he found guilty that you will declare them guilty of his Murder and Betrayers of the Rights of the Commons of England Hereupon the House came to these Resolves That it is the undoubted right of the Commons in Parliament assembled to impeach before the Lords in Parliament any Peer or Commoner for Treason or any other Crime or Misdemeanour and that the Refusal of the Lords to proceed in Parliament upon such Impeachment is a denyal of Justice and a violation of the Constitution of Parliaments That in the Case of E. Fitz-Harris who by the Commons has been impeached for High Treason before the Lords with a Declaration That in convenient time they would bring up the Articles against him For the Lords to resolve that the said Fitz-Harris should be proceeded with according to the course of the Common-Law and not by way of Impeachment in Parliament is a denyal of Justice and a Violation of the Constitution of Parliaments and an Obstruction to the further discovery of the Popish Plot and of great danger to his Majesties Person and the Protestant Religion That for any Inferiour Court to proceed against him or any other Person lying under an Impeachment in Parliament for the same Crimes for which he or they stand impeached is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament This matter thus agitated in the House of Commons was countenanced by a Protestation of many Temporal Lords which was to this effect That in all Ages it had been an undoubted Right of the Commons to impeach before the Lords any Subject for Treasons or any other Crime whatsoever That they could not reject such Impeachments because that Suit or Complaint can be determined no where else for an Impeachment is at the Suit of the People but an Indictment is at the Suit of the King As the King may Indict at his Suit for Murther and the Heir or the Wife of the Party Murthered may bring an †Which was always to be preferred and upon notice thereof all Prosecutions at the Kings Suit were to stop till the Prosecution at the Suit of the Party was determined Appeal And the King cannot Release that Appeal nor his Indictment prevent the Proceedings in it It is an absolute denial of Justice in regard it cannot be tryed any where else The House of Peers as to Impeachments proceed by vertue of their Judicial Power and not by their Legislative and as to that act as a Court of Record and can deny Suitors especially the Commons of England that bring legal Complaint before them no more than the Judges of Westminster can deny any suite regularly commenced before them Our Law saith in the Person of the King Nulli negabimus Justitiam We will deny Justice to no single Person yet here Justice is denyed to the whole Body of the People This may be interpreted an exercise of Arbitrary Power and have an influence upon the Constitution of the English Government and be an encouragement to all Inferiour Courts to exercise the same Arbitrary Power by denying the Presentments of Grand-Juries c for which at this time the Chief Justice stands impeached in the House of Peers These Proceedings may mis-represent the House of Peers to the King and People especially at this time and the more in the particular Case of Edward Fitz-Harris who is publickly known to be concerned in vile and horrid Treasons against his Majesty and a great Conspirator in the Popish plot to Murther the King and destroy and subvert the Protestant Religion Monmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Sunderland Essex Shaftesbury Macclesfield Mordant Wharton Paget Grey of Werke Herbert of Cherbury Cornwallis Lovelace Crew This Protest was no sooner made upon Munday the 28th of March 1681 but the Parliament was instantly dissolved Well The Parliament being dismissed Fitz-Harris must be Hang'd out of the way and the Term approaching Scroggs the Chief Justice who lay under an Impeachment for Treason in Parliament is removed with marks of Favour and Respect being allowed a Pension for Life and his Son Knighted and made one of his Majesty's Learned Council and Sr Francis Pemberton being advanced to the Seat of Lord Chief Justice the Business of Fitz-Harris is brought before him and Justice Jones Justice Dolben and Justice Raymond and proceeded upon in the manner following UPon the 27th of April 1681 an Indictment for high Treason was offered to the Grand-Jury for the Hundreds of Edmonton and Gore in Middlesex against Fitz-Harris whereupon Mr Michael Godfrey the Foreman in the name of the Grand-Jury desired the opinion of the Court whether it were lawful and safe for them to proceed upon it in regard Fitz-Harris was Impeached in the late Parliament at Oxford by the House of Commons in the name of all the Commons of England Mr Attorney General then said That Mr Godfrey and two more were against accepting the Bill but the body of the Jury carryed it to hear the Evidence and that thereupon himself and Mr Solicitor went on upon the * A new way of dealing with Grand-Juries to procure the finding Bills of Indictment Evidence and spent some time in opening it to the Jury and We thought they would have found the Bill but it seems They have prevailed to put these scruples in the others heads Then The Lord Chief Justice Pemberton said your scruple is this here was an Impeachment offered against Fitz-Harris to the Lords which was not received and thereupon there was a Vote of the House of Commons that he should not be Tryed by any other Inferiour Court We do tell you 't is our Opinion that If an Indictment be exhibited to you you are bound to enquire by vertue of your Oathes you cannot nor ought to take notice of any such Impeachment nor Votes and We ought to proceed according to Justice in Cases that are brought before us This We declare as the Opinion of all the Judges of England Then the Jury went away and afterwards found the Bill Upon Saturday the 30th of April Mr Fitz-Harris was brought to the King's Bench-Bar and Arraigned upon the Indictment whereupon he offered a Plea in writing to the Jurisdiction of the Court and the Chief Justice said We do not receive such Pleading as this without a Counsels hand to it Upon which the Prisoner desired the Court to assign Sr Francis Winnington Mr Williams Mr Pollexfen and Mr Wallop for his Council which was accordingly done Upon Monday the 2d of May the four Council moved the Court to have longer time for drawing the Plea and that they might have a sight of the Indictment as necessary to the drawing it but they were opposed therein by Mr Attorney and the Court denyed both Then Sr George Treby and Mr Smith were also assigned as Council for the Prisoner at his request Upon Wednesday the 4th of May Fitz-Harris being brought from the Tower to the King's Bench-Bar
determine that Impeachment before you Here is the Method and Proceedings of Parliament before you and I hope you will proceed no further on the Indictment The Cheif Justice then said Here is nothing of the Commons Right to Impeach before us nor of the Lords Jurisdiction nor the Methods of Parliament in this Case the sole matter is whether this be a good Plea to oust the Court of its Jurisdiction in this matter To which Judge Jones added Here is nothing of any fact done in Parliament insisted on here this is for a thing done without Doors Mr Williams replyed 'T is a hard matter my Lord for the Bar to answer the Bench. Sr Francis Winnington then argued for the Prisoner thus The King's Attorney has demurred generally and if our Plea be well and formally pleaded I am sure all the matter of fact is confessed by the demurrer And upon the matter of fact so agreed the general Question is Whether an Impeachment by the Commons and still depending be sufficient to oust the Court to proceed upon an Indictment for the same offence The Lord Chief Justice said That cannot come in question in the Case Sr Francis Winnington replyed Why my Lord Chief Justice The Question is Whether you have pleaded sufficient matter to oust us of our Jurisdiction Sr Francis Winnington proceeded saying My meaning is the same It is agreed that there were no doubt to be made of the Plea if there had been a particular Impeachment The House of Lords is a Superiour Court to this and a Suit in a Superiour Court may be pleaded to stop the Proceedings of an Inferiour Court and if once the Suit be well commenced in the Superiour Court it cannot after go down to the Inferiour and what is begun in one Parliament may be determined in another So is the Case 4. Edw. 3. N. 16. of the Lord Berkley and those accused of the death of Edw. 2. It was there objected as 't is here that by this means there might be a stop of Justice by the dissolution of the Parliament yet the true answer is That it is presumed in Law that Parliaments will be called frequently according to the Statute 4 Edw. 3.14 36 Edw. 3.10 This Record is well pleaded and could not be otherwise unless Mr Attorney would have us plead what is false the Commons Impeached Fitz-Harris generally and We alledge in our Plea that 't was secundum legem consuetudinem Parliamenti and so 't is confessed by the Demurrer A general Impeachment is good by the Law and course of Parliament Coke 4 Inst 14 15 says What the Law and course of Parliament is the Judges will never intermeddle with We find 11 Rich. 2. Rot Parl part 2. and Rushworth part 1. in the Appendix 51. Tresilian and others were appealed against for Treason the Judges of the Common and Civil Law were called by the King to advise of the matter they all agreed that the Proceedings were neither agreeable to Common or Civil Law But the Lords said it belonged not to those Judges to guide them but they were to proceed according to the Course and Law of Parliaments and no Opinion of theirs should oust them of their Jurisdiction 31 H. 6. Rot. Parl. N. 26. The Judges were demanded whether the Speaker of the Commons during an Adjournment might be Arrested They excused themselves saying That in this great matter they ought not to interpose it being a matter of Parliament In the great Council 1st and 2d Jac. The Judges refused to give their Opinions upon questions put to them about the Vnion of both Kingdoms for that such things did not belong to them but were matters fit for Parliament only Hence I infer that since 't is Pleaded here to be according to Law of Parliaments and Mr Attorney hath acknowledged it that you are fore-closed from meddling further with this Case it being a matter whereof you cannot judge But 'T is objected That if the Impeachment be admitted to be according to the course of Parliament yet 't is so general the Court cannot judge upon it Answer The House of Commons would not Impeach a Man for no Crime The Prisoner's Plea avers that that it was for the same Treason in the Indictment this makes the matter as clear to the Court as if the Impeachment had mentioned the particular Treason 26 Assiz Pl. 15. Stamf. Pla. Cor. 105 A Man Indicted for the Murder of I. S. pleads a Record of Acquittal where he was Indicted for the Murder of I. N. but avers that I. S. in this Indictment is the same Person with I. N. in the other Indictment and it was adjudged a good Plea tho' the Averment seemed to contradict the Record This makes it clear that if an Averment may consist with the Record the Law will allow it Mr Attorney had his Election either to plead Nul Tiel Record Or he might have taken Issue upon our Averment that it was not for one and the same Offence but he has demurred and thereby confessed there is such a Record and confessed the Averment to he true that he was Impeached for the same Crime and that he is the same Person I shall now offer some Reasons in general 1st That when the Commons in Parliament in the name of all the Commons of England have lodged an Impeachment against any Man it seems against natural Justice that any Commoners should afterwards try or judge him for that Fact Magna Charta says That every Man shall be tryed by his Peers or by the Law of the Land This is a way of Tryal by the Law of the Land but not by his Peers for 't would be hard that any Man should come to Try or give Judgment upon a Person who hath been his Accuser before The Lords are here Judges in point of Fact as well as Law the Commoners may come in as Witnesses but not as Judges 2d Reason If an Appeal of Murder were depending before the Statute 3 H. 7.1 The King could not proceed upon an Indictment for the same Fact because the King only takes care that the Offender should not go unpunished but the preferrence was given to the Person more particularly concerned and the King's Indictment must stay till the year and day were out to see whether the Person immediately concerned would prosecute the Suit so says Lord Hales in his Pleas of the Crown Then a Minoriad Majus does the Law so regard the Interest of the Wife or Heir c in their Suit and has it no regard to the Suit of all the Commons of England for manifestly an Impeachment is the Suit of the People and not the King's Suit 3d Reason If this Man be tryed and acquitted here Can he plead this in Bar to the Impeachment it cannot bar that great Court by saying he was acquitted by a Jury in Westminster-Hall and if so contrary to a fundamental Rule of Law a Man shall be twice put in danger of his Life
the Tower to place Men in in order to surprize it Mr Bateman objected to this evidence that if he had been guilty of such discourse he had been fit for Bedlam and if Lee had heard him speak such words he wondered he had not sooner accused him Richard Goodenough then witnessed that in discourse with Mr B. at the King's Head-Tavern in Swithens Alley about the intended Insurrection M. B. promised to use his interest in raising Men and to be assisting in surprizing the City Savoy c. and in driving the Guards out of Town Mr Bateman having subpenaed Sr William Turner to give an Account of an Information given in upon Oath before him by one Barker above two Years before that Lee would have suborned him against the Prisoner Sr William would testifie nothing thereof but said that it being above two Years since he could not charge his memory with any of the particulars contained therein Mr Tomkins Sr William Turner's Clerk being askt about Baker's Information said there was such an Examination taken Anno 1683 but to the best of his remembrance it was returned before the King and Council and he could not give any account of the particulars Baker being called declared That being in Lee's company in the year 1683 Lee would have perswaded him to insinuate himself into Mr Bateman's company and he demanding of Lee to what end he should do it and about what he should discourse Lee told him he might talk about State matters Lee by these horrid practices made himself a great Man being put into the place of a Messenger which he enjoyed till of late tho some time before he became a Witness he borrowed Money to buy Bread for his Family and by that means he would find a way to make him a great Man and Baker testifi'd he was examin'd about this before Sr William T. The Court upon this Evidence declared that what Baker said A wicked but customary practice of that day to abet and justifie Suborners and Trapans was nothing to the purpose but that Lee had a design therein to make a discovery of the Conspiracy if he could have procured a Witness to corroborate his Evidence The Jury being sent out without Hesitation brought Mr Bateman in guilty of the Treason tho' 't is certain King Charles laught at Lee's evidence It being demanded of Mr B. what he had to say why Judgment should not be pronounced He desired to know whether Mr Goodenough was fully pardoned and he was answered that as for the Outlawry he was pardoned and for any thing else he was not prosecuted and then he was condemned and was executed upon the 18th of December 1685. That the matter relating to Sr William Turner may appear in it its true Light I shall subjoyn the following accompt thereof Mr Bateman's Son having as he thought very providentially heard that Baker had about two Years before given an Information upon Oath to Sr William Turner of the Villain Lee's tampering with him to ensnare and accuse Mr Bateman The Son was advised by Counsel to apply himself to Sr William and in several attendances upon him when he was engaged in other matters and his Books of Entries lay upon his Table he turning over the Leaves found the Entry of Baker's Information about Lee's attempting to suborn him against Mr Bateman The Son thereupon in the first place applied to Tomkins Sr William's Clerk to get a Copy of that Information and did once think him inclined to let him have it but at last he told him he must ask Sr William Thereupon he applied himself to Sr William for it who demanded of him Whether it were against the King and young Mr Bateman answered him No it may save the Life of one of his Subjects whereupon Sr William said You shall not have it The only Refuge then was to subpena Sr William Turner and his Clerk which was done and Sr William being examined saying he could not charge his Memory with any of the particulars in the Information of Baker young Mr Bateman said Let the Book be sent for it is in such a Book and such a Page Whereupon Herbert the Chief Justice in a passion commanded young Mr Bateman to be removed out of the Court as he was If the truth of what is here related in reference to Sr William Turner be any way doubted it will evidently and beyond controul appear by the Proceedings before the House of Lords where it hath been very lately made out by Mr Bateman's Son and also by another Witness who was privy to the whole transaction thereof with Sr William Turner Mr Bateman being thus condemned to Death by the foregoing wicked Practices expressed himself thus to his Son Richard Your Father needs not to dye if he will accuse others but he dyes because he will not be a Rogue And 't was most undoubtedly true as 't is that a greater Rogue lives not than this Lee Mr Bateman's first Accuser who having miscarried in his cursed Attempt to suborn Baker is now seconded by Goodenough who was brought with a Halter in effect about his Neck to swear this good Man out of his Life In relation to the Witnesses and their Evidence some things deserve to be further remarked The late King James had no sooner possessed himself of the Throne but by his order and special recommendation a most malitious Tract was emitted to the World under the Title of Atrue Account and Declaration of the horrid Conspiracy against the late King his present Majesty and the Government The temporizing Pen-man who ever he was shewed more Art than Honesty in compiling that History and omitted nothing therein which might serve the turn of Popery but most wickedly magnified the Evidence of the Conspiracy he treated of His loose and virulent Pen runs thus as to Keeling one of the Witnesses in the case before us Josia Keeling a most perverse Fanatick was the Man whom God chose to make the first discoverer It pleased the divine Goodness so to touch his Soul that he could not rest till after much conflict in his mind he had fully determined to discharge his Conscience of the Hellish Secret Now the truth of it is Keeling was found about that time to be under some Conflict but it was with Satan and his Instruments who quickly vanquished and made him a Witness as hath been lately made out beyond contradiction by the Testimony of many unblemished Persons before the House of Lords of which more in it is proper place he had indeed before that time frequented an Assembly of Christians who dissented from the Church of England but being thrown out as a perverse Fanatick he made his way by a Profligate Fellow like himself one Peckham to Sr Leoline Jenkins the Secretary of State who listed him of his Church and the first in his Roll of Witnesses and since he became so 't is notoriously known that he hath given up himself to all manner
the same entertainment which King Charles the second ever gave to the Councils offered to him in favour of the Protestant Religion and of the true English Government however the honest zeal and undaunted Courage of these Noble Lords made deep impressions upon the Breasts of all true Lovers of the Laws and Liberty of their Country And the Citizens of London in Common-Hall assembled upon the 4th of February 1680. spoke their Approbation of their Loraship's Noble Enterprize in what follows which was agreed upon with a general and loud Acclamation of thousands of Citizens To the Worshipful Slingesby Bethel and Henry Cornish Esquires Sheriffs of London and Middlesex WE the Citizens of the said City in Common-Hall assembled having diligently perused the late Petition and Advice of several Noble Peers of this Realm to his Majesty whose Counsels We humbly conceive are in this unhappy juncture highly seasonable and greatly tending to the safety of these Kingdoms We do therefore make it our most hearty request that you in the Name of this Common-Hall will return to the Right Honourable the Earl of Essex and by him to the rest of the Noble Peers the grateful Acknowledgment of this Assembly By these means and indeed by the whole Course of this Noble Lord's Life which was a steady Course of Exemplary unshaken Vertue and shew'd an unalterable affection to the true Religion and detestation of Tyranny He became insupportable to those whose Study was Mischief and to whom no Person was acceptable but such as they found disposed to betray the Protestant Religion and the Rights of England to their Popish and Despotick Designs and therefore from this time they grew more assiduous to contrive his Destruction The Conspirators well knew that this Great Man had most deservedly acquired a mighty share in the hearts of the People And that as he knew very much of their Designs so that he was not by any arts or allurements to be Cozen'd or tempted to a Complyance therewith therefore as They told the brave Colonel Sidney he must dye that their Plot might live and to avoid the Reproach of bringing the Son to the Block by that very Prince for whom the Father had lost his Head and which is also very probable to prevent his discovery of what he could tell and others knew not They condemn him without a Tryal and in a most barbarous manner Murder him in the Tower But Heaven intending to bring this accursed Assassination of the brave Earl of Essex to light a report of very suspitious Circumstances in relation to that matter was instantly spread and reached the Ears of Mr Braddon a Gentleman of great Integrity and of no less Courage whose honest Zeal prompted him to look into that hellish Intrigue and to endeavour a full discovery of that horrid Villany but that Season not allowing it he and Mr Speke were run upon and with great fury prosecuted in the manner following They were brought to Tryal upon an Information charging them with Subornation and endeavouring to raise a belief that the Earl of Ess did not murder himself The Judges then in Court were The Lord Chief Justice Jeffryes Judge Withens and Judge Holloway The Jury Sr Hugh Middleton a Papist Thomas Harriot Thomas Earsby Joshua Galliard Richard Shoreditch Charles Good Samuel Rouse Hugh Squire Nehem. Arnold John Byfeild William Waite James Supple The King's Council were Attorney General Sawyer Solicitor General Finch Jenner Recorder of London Mr Dolben Mr North Mr Jones Council for the Defendants were Mr Wallop Mr Williams Mr Thompson Mr Freke Mr Dolben opened the Information to this effect That whereas the Earl of Essex upon the 10th of July last was committed to the Tower for Treason and did there Murder himself as was found by the Coroner's Inquisition yet the Defendants designing to bring the Government to hatred the 15th of August conspired to perswade the King's Subjects that the said Earl was Muedered by certain Persons unknown and to procure false Witnesses to prove that he was not felo de se but was Murdereds and that they did malitiously declare in writing that Mr Braddon was the Person that did prosecute the said Murder to the scandal of the Government c. Then the Attorney General brought in Evidence Sr Leoline Jenkins his Warrant for the Commitment of the Earl to the Tower and the Inquisition of Mr Farnham the Coroner taken by this Jury July 14th 1683. viz. Samuel Colwel William Fisher Thomas Godsell Thomas Hunt Natha Mountney Thomas Potter William How Robert Burgoyne Eleazar Wickens Thomas Hogsflesh Henry Cripps Richard Rudder William Knipes John Hudson John Kettlebeater Lancelot Coleson Morgan Cowarne Thomas Bryan William Thackston Richard Cliffe Zebediah Prichard William Baford and Theophilus Carter Which Jury had found that the Earl of Essex was Felo de se Then the Witnesses for the King being called Mr Evans was sworn and the Attorney General suggested that he and old Mr Edwards would prove that Mr Braddon went about and declared that the Earl of Essex was Murdered and that he was the Prosecutor of the Murder but neither of them answered expectation in that matter Mr Evans testified that Mr Edwards told it to him and others for News at the Custom-House that fore-noon of the day of the Earl of Essex his death that his Son said that he saw a Razour thrown out of the Earl's Window That upon the Munday after which was July the 16th Mr Braddon came with Mr Hatsel to his House where Mr Hatsel shewed him the Coroner's Inquisition in Print which having read Mr Evans told Mr Hatsel what he had heard from Mr Edwards at the Custom-House And he said that Mr B. did not concern himself or say any thing though he might hear Mr Evans his discourse with Mr Hatsel he being walking about the Room Mr Evans added that upon the 17th of July Mr Edwards and Mr Braddon found him in a Coffee-House and Mr Edwards then told him that Mr Braddon had been with him examining his Son about a Razour that was thrown out of the Earl of Essex his Window Mr Edwards testified that about ten of the Clock the day of the Earl's death he was informed by his Family and by his Son that same day at noon that his Son came from the Tower about ten of the Clock and said that he had seen the King and Duke and that the Earl of Essex had cut his own Throat and that the Boy saw an hand throw a Razour out of the Window and a Maid in a white Hood came out of the House and took it up and then go in again and that he heard a noise as of Murder cryed out Mr Edwards acknowledged that he told several at the Custom-House the same day what the Lad had declared and that Mr Bradden came not to make enquiry about it till Tuesday the 17th of July before which time he never knew Mr Braddon that he then told him what report the
sufficiently instruct such who have not seen more secret Memoires But let us come to Examine their Actions which are a better proof of their hearts were not the Duke's Servants and Confidents all Papists Witness his Talbots Patricks and other Irish Teags were not the Duke and such of his Creatures as were known Papists promoted to all publick Offices of trust both at Sea and Land Witness Bellasis now a Traytor in the Tower did not James by Coleman Throgmorton and others hold open Correspondency with the Pope and Cardinals and could Charles be Ignorant of all this Nay he lik'd all so well that he hardly employed any about him but Papists as Clifford whom he made Treasurer or employed any abroad but Persons of the same stamp Witness Godolphin whom he sent Embassador into Spain as he did others elsewhere what more obvious than that though the Duke's Treachery against the Kingdom and Protestant Religion be fully made out and the People and Parliament seek to bring him to a legal Tryal yet Charles obstructs Justice and will not suffer it How can this be but that he is joyned in Will and Deed in all the Duke's Villanies and that he is afraid to be discovered and found out to be a Papist and a Betrayer of his People and the Protestant Religion If he was heartily concerned for our Religion would he not oppose a Popish Successor who will Infallibly overthrow it Can there be any thing more evident than that he continues the Duke's Adherents and those who were advanced by him in all Offices of Trust And hath he not turn'd out of his Council the most Zealous Protestants such as Shaftesbury Essex and others and introduced in their Rooms other meer Tools or those that are Popishly and Arbitrarily affected Hath he not modell'd all the Sheriffs and Justices throughout England in subserviency to a Popish Design Was not Sir William Waller and Dr. Chamberlain and divers others turn'd out of the Commission in and about London meerly for being Zealous Prosecutors of Priests and Papists Doth not Charles all he can to hinder the further detection of the Popish Plot And doth he not to his utmost discountenance the Discoverers of it and suffer them to want Bread And doth he not in the mean time plentifully encourage and reward Fitz-Gerald and all the Sham-Plotters Whereas Dangerfield had 8 l. a week whilst a Forger of Plots against the Protestants he is cast off with scorn and in danger of his Life since he laid open the Popish Engineer Is not Charles so much in love with his Popish Irish Rebels therein treading in his Fathers steps that he promotes Montgarret Carlingford Fitz-Ratrick and others who were the Heads of the Rebellion to Honours and Preferment tho' Charles took the Covenant and a Coronation Oath to preserve the Protestaut Religion yet hath he not palpably broken them He made large promises and protestations at Breda for the allowing a perpetual Liberty of Conscience to Non-conforming Protestants but he soon forgot them all To what end was the Act which was made soon after his Restoration prohibiting any to call him Papist or to say he was Popishly enclined and render such as should offend Guilty of a Premunire but to stop the Peoples Mouthes when ever he should Act any thing in Favour of Popery as he was then resolved to do Is it not manifest therefore that Scotch Oaths Breda Promises Protestant Profession Liberty of Conscience War with France saving of Flanders is all in Jest to delude Protestant Subjects Is it not apparent that breaking of Leagues Dutch War Smirna Fleet French measures to favour their Conquests loss of Ships War in Christendom Blood of Protestants reprieving of Popish Traytors is all in earnest and done in favour of Popery And are not his fair Speeches his true Protestant Love to Parliaments just Rights and English Liberties his pretended Ignorance of the Plot and his Hanging of Traytors to serve a turn but in meer jest Are not his great Debaucheries his Whoring Courtiers Popish Councils Cheating Rogues Hellish Plottings his saving of Traytors his French Pensioners his Nests of Whores and Swarms of Bastards his Macks his Cut throats his Horrid Murderers his Burning of London and the Provost's House too his Sham-Plotting his suborn'd Villains his Popish Officers by Sea and Land his Struglings for a Popish Successor his agreements with France his frequent Dissolutions of Parliaments his buying of Voices his false returns all of them designs to ruine us in good earnest and in favour of Arbitrary Government And is it not in order to this Blessed end that you see none Countenanced by Charles and James but Church Papists betraying Bishops Tantivy Abhorrers barking Tonzers Popish Scriblers to deceive the People and six the Popish Successors Illegal Title Are not Jesuits Counsels French Assistance to conquer Ireland subdue Scotland winn Flanders beat the Dutch get their Shipping be Masters of the Seas And are not facing a Rebellion the letting the Plot go on the endeavouring to retrieve the Popish Cause by getting a Popish pentionary abhorring Partiaments who shall betray their Country enslave posterity and destroy themselves at last means only to save a Popish Trayterous Successor and a present Popish Possessor James and Charles are Brethren in Iniquity corrupt both in Root and Branch and who study to enslaver England to a French and Romish Yoke is not all this plain Have you not Eyes Sense or Feeling Where is the Old English Noble Spirit Are you become French Asses to suffer any load to be laid upon you And therefore if you can get no remedy from this next Parliament as certainly you will not and if Charles doth not repent and comply with it then up all as one Man O brave English Men look to your own defence e're it be too late rouze up your Spirits remember your Predocessors remember how that the asserting of their liberties justified both by success and Law the War of the Barons against wicked Councellours who misled the Kingâ— And will you now let that go which cost them so dear How many oppressing Kings have been deposed in this Nation as appears in Records referr'd unto in that worthy Patriots History of the Succession were not Rich. 2 d. And Hen. 6. both laid aside not to mention others was there ever such a King as this of ours was not King John deposed for going about to imbrace the Mahometan Religion and for entring into a League with the King of Morocco to that purpose Though Mahometanism and the King of Morocco were no such Enemies to our Rights and Liberties as Popery and the French King are Is it not time then that all should be ready Let the City of London stand by the Parliament for the maintaining of their Liberties and Religion in an extream way if Parliamentary ways be not consented unto by the King let the Counties by ready to enter into an Association as the County of York did in
advantage thereat and would not hear me when I had called to mind that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evidence and tho' he granted some things of the same nature to another yet he granted it not to me my Blood will be also found at the Door of the Vnrighteous Jury who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Outlawed man for there was none but his Oath about the Money who is no legal Witness tho' he be pardoned his outlawry not being recalled and also the Law requires two Witnesses in point of Life and then about my going with him to the place mentioned it was by his own Words before he could be Outlawed for it was two Months after his absconding and tho' in a Proclamation yet not high Treason as I have heard so that I am clearly murdered by you and also bloody Mr Atterbury who so insatiately hunted after my Life and tho' it is no profit to him yet through the ill-will he bore me left no Stone unturned as I have ground to believe until he brought me to this and shewed favour to Burton who ought to have dyed for his own Fault and not to have bought his Life with mine And lastly Richardson who is cruel and severe to all under my Circumstances and did at that time without all Mercy or Pity hasten my Sentence and held up my Hand that it might be pronounced all which together with the great one of all * * King James the second by whose Power all these and multitudes of more Cruelties are done I do heartily and freely forgive as done against me But as it s done in an implacable mind against the Lord Christ his Righteous Cause and Followers I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs and hath said I have raised up one from the North and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter and as the Potter treadeth Clay Isa 41.25 He shall cut off the Spirit of Princes and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth Psal 76.12 And know this also that though you are seemingly fixed and because of the Power in your Hands and a weighing out your Violence and dealing with despightful Hand because of the old and new hatred by impoverishing and by every way distressing those you have got under you yet unless you secure Jesus Christ and his holy Augels you shall never do your business nor your Hands accomplish your Enterprizes for he will come upon you er'e you are aware and therefore O that you will be wise instructed and learn is the desire of her that finds no Mercy from you Elizabeth Gaunt Postscript SVch as it is you have it from her who hath done as she could O is sorry she can do not better hopes you will pitty and cover weakness shortnese and any thing that is wanting and begs that none may be weakned or humbled at the lowness of my Spirit for God's design is to humble and â—baseus that he aloâ—â— may be exalted in this day and I hope he will appear in the needful time and it may be reserved the best Wine tall last as he hath done for some before me none goâ—â—â— to Warfare at his own charge and the Spirit bloweth not only where but when it listeth and it becomes me who have so often grieved quenched and resisted it to wait for and upon the motions of the Spirit and not to murmur but I may mourn because through want of it I honour not my God nor his blessed Cause which I have so long loved and delighted to love and repent of nothing about it but that I served him and it no better Remarks upon the Tryal of Mr Joseph Hayes at the King 's Beath upon an Indictment of high Treason for corresponding with Sr Thomas Armstrong MR Hayes was brought by Habeas Corpus upon the 3d of November 1684 from the Gatâ—â—house and was arraigned upon an Indictment to this effect viz. That he being a false Traytor against the King c the 31st of August in the 31th Year of the King knowing Sr Thomas Armstrong to have constired the death of the King and to have sted for the same did traytorously relieve comfort and maintain him and for his Relief and Maintenance did pay the sum of 150 l. against the duty of his Allegiance c. To this he pleaded Not Guilty Upon the 21st of November 1684 He was brought to Tryal before the Lord Chief Justice Jeffryes Judge Holloway Judge Wythens and Judge Walcot and the Jury being called he prudently challenged the following Persons which if he had not done it is more than probable that he had dyed as poor Colledge did at Oxford Sr Thomas Griffith Richard Ellis Thomas Langham Henry Whistler Nicholas Smyth Thomas Soper Tho. Passenger Henry Minchard Peter Jones William Crowch Peter Devet Henry Lodes William Pownes Charles Gregory William Peele Richard Weedon Thomas Pory Tho. Peircehouse Richard Burden John George John Steventon Robert Watkins George Twine Thomas Short Robert Townshend James Bush Walter Mastors Thomas Larkham Edward Cooke William Fashion John Flowerdew John Greens John Grice Charles Fowler and James Smyth In all 35. The Jury sworn were Samuel Sheppard Daniel Allen Rowland Platt Adam Bellamy Daniel Templeman William Dewart Edward Pigget Tho. Brailesford Edward Cheeke Edw. Vnderwood Robert Masters William Warren It is likely that he would have challenged one if not more of the last four but that he had challenged the number of 35. before these four were called and the Law allowed him not to challenge more Then the Indictment being read Mr Dolben as Counsel for the King opened it to the Jury Mr Attorney General then enforced the Charge thus After Sr Tho. Armstrong had fled the Prisoner relieved and aided him with Money and that after he was Indicted and sued to the Exigent besides a Proclamation followed upon his flight which was a sufficient notice to all the King's Subjects Sr Thomas went by the Name of Henry Laurence beyond Sea by that Name the Prisoner held a Correspondence with him and sent him a Letter dated the 21st of August and tells him he had sent him a Bill of Exchange for 165 l. drawn upon his Brother Israel Hayes who was acquainted with Sr Thomas If it were not for these receiving and nourishing of Traytors they would not lurk at Amsterdam as they do The Letter was taken about Sr Thomas and we shall prove it is the Prisoner's Hand-writing and that Sr Thomas received the Money I hope you will take care But like good Men they took all the care they could to stop the Fountain of Blood that to the scandal of the Nation had too long issued from the Old-Bayly by Convicting this Gentleman to stop the Fountain that issues so much supply to these Traytors that lurk abroad Mr Hayes then affirmed that he never knew Sr Thomas in his life Then the Indictment against Sr Thomas was read which was
him leave but he found him very resolute and so fairly took his leave and never came near him more That he believes he might say to Mr North that he had such a power in Mr Smyth to perswade him to tell what he knew That no body besides Mr North either perswaded or advised him to go to Mr Smyth Mr Roger North being examined said that he procured no Order for Sr Ambrose Philips to go to Aaron Symth nor doth he believe he ever had any conversation with him about that matter and he is confident he never delivered him any Order for going to him nor told him that he should find any such Order at the Tower nor to the best of his remembrance knew he of any such Order and that Sr Ambrose Philips mis-remembers if he says he had any such Order from him Sr John Moore being examined said That 't was not he that rejected the Sheriffs but the Court of Aldermen That Mr Papillon was set aside by the Court because Sr John had drunk to Sr Dudly North. That he doth not believe or remember that he had any Orders from Court to drink to Sr Dudly That Secretary Jenkins was often to visit him but never gave him any * Perswasion would do with an easie willing Man Directions That he believes Mr Papillon and Mr Dubois demanded the Poll That he had no direction from Whitehall to reject the Poll but the Court of Aldermen did reject it That the Souldiers were sent to keep the Peace that he remembers not that he either the day before or that morning of the Poll made any promise not to disturb the Poll nor doth he remember what time of the day he went to disturb the Poll Many of the Citizens came to his House and would have him to the Hall telling him the Poll went on tho' he adjourned it which Adjournment he saith was by advice of the Court of Aldermen Mr Normansel and Mr Trotman the Secondaries deposed that Graham and Burton were the Prosecutors of my Lord Russell that Sr Dudly North had the Books from them and returned my Lord Russell's Jury that Juries had usually been returned by the Secondaries and taken out of two three or four Wards but this Jury was taken out of about nineteen VVards That Sr Benjamine Thorowgood returned the Jury upon Alderman Cornish Mr Trotman added that Graham and Burton were also the Prosecutors of Alderman Cornish Mr Perry who had been Clerk to Mr Trotman nine Years deposed That he was not by at the return of my Lord Russell's Jury but he made a Copy of it and is was under Sr Dudly North's hand That he was with Mr Trotman at Sr Benjamine Thorowgood's House who had the Books of both the Compters and he wrote the Names as Sr Benjamine directed him That in common cases the Pannels used to be returned out of two or three Wards Mr Crisp the Common Serjeant deposed The proper Officers swear out of two or three but the Common Serjeant swears out of six so makes some advance towards Sr Dudley North's number that he hath known Juries returned out of six Wards and never out of fewer than four That he was in Court at part of the Lord Ruffell's Tryal That he remembers his Lordship desired he might be heard by Counsel and that they might have time to consider of it but the Court heard them immediately The Gentleman paid too great a deference to the Coure to say they refused my Lord Russell time and therefore expresses it in the tender Words That the Court heard them immediately Sr Dudly North being examined said That he was a Freeman of London and the Lord Mayor drank to him as Sheriff and he took upon him the Office and was 2000 l. out of Purse which he never had again directly or indirectly But he was wellrewarded by being first one of the Commissioners of the Customs and then of the Treasury whereby he was sufficiently reimbursed and rewarded also for the good service he did in his Sheriffalty Sr Dudly went on saying That he impanuelled the Juries for the Sessions when the Lord Russell was tryed That he returned the best * It being Sr Dudley's own Jury and they doing their business to content he treated them at a Tavern after the Verdict given as appears by the Journal of the House of Lords Jury he could without observing any Ward and drew this out of several Wards because they might be the more substantial Men. That to the best of his remembrance Sr Peter Rich concurred in this Jury if he had opposed it he should not have done it That the Juries before were returned by the Secondaries but this being a very * It was indeed a very extraordinary business to murder as valuable a Noble Man as ever drew Breath in England extraordinary business he thought it requisite to take care of it himself That he took no care of what opinion the Jury were of but only that they were substantial Men yet he cannot shew one Man called a Whigg returned on the Jury That he had no order or directions from any Man * Note his Brother the Lord Keeper was now mination alive to take care of this business Sr Peter Rich declared That he was never asked in his whole year to impannel a Jury and that he never impanneled any or signed any Pannel to his knowledge and sayes positively that the Books were sent to him by the Secondaries and that he never saw the Pannel of my Lord Russell's Jury till he heard it read in Court That the usual practise of the return of Juryes in London is by the Secondaries Sr Benjamin Thorowgood being examined said that he was Sheriff at the time when Mr Cornish suffered That the two Secondaries brought him the Books That he knows not out of how many Wards the Jury was returned but he thinks out of most of them and he believes it to be the Custom to return the Jury so But the Secondaries swear the contrary That he thought it a piece of justice in him to see the Jury fairely returned being the Gentleman to be tryed had been one of his Predecessors That the Jury were of the sufficientest This is Sr Benjamine's opinion that the substance as well as the honesty of the City was got into Tory Hands the Jury being all of that stamp but to let their honesty alone the contrary is as evident as to the ability of more than one of these Jury-Men as 't is that Juryes were wont to be taken out of most of the Wards ablest and honestest Men of the City of London and he believes all the Men that served of the Jury were those he returned Mr Henry Cornish being examined deposed that his Father was kept close from his Commitment to the day of his Tryal and Captain Richardson would admit none of his Friends to come to him That he went to Normansel the Secondary for a Copy of
made a particular submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehaviour towards him His Majesty and his Royal Highness received so much satisfaction that upon his Royal Highnesse's desire and entreaty His Majesty was pleased to Pardon the said Duke and thereupon did order Mr Attorney General to stop further proceedings against him but ordered he should proceed notwithstanding against all the rest of the Conspirators Copy of the Paper mentioned in the preceding Informations was wrote by King Charles the seconds's own hand who imposed upon the Duke of Monmouth to transcribe and sign it I have heard of some reports of me as if I should have lessened the late Plot and gone about to discredit the evidence given against those who have dyed by Justice your Majesty and the Duke know how ingeniously I have owned the late Conspiracy and tho' I was not conscious of any design against your Majestys Life yet I lament the having had so great a share in the other part of the said Conspiracy Sr I have taken the Liberty to put this in writing for my own vindication and I beseech you to look forward and endeavour to forget the faults you have forgiven me I will take care never to commit any more against you or come within the danger of being again misled from my duty but make it the business of my Life to deserve the Pardon your Majesty hath granted to your dutiful Moumouth Copy of a Paper delivered to the Lord Keeper North the Lord Chief Justice Jeffryes and the Attorney General by the Lady Armstrong on behalf of her Husband Sr Thomas Armstrong I am informed that by the Common Law of England any Man that was outlawed in Felony or Treason might bring a Writ of Error to reverse the Outlawry which was to be granted ex debito Justitiae tho' it may be the sueing forth such a Writ of Error to the King might be by way of Petition As in a Petition or Monstrans de droit for Lands And so it was resolved in Ninian Melvin's Case Co. 4. Just 215. Next by the Common Law if any Man were in England at the time of the Exigent awarded and went out of the Realm after that and before the Outlawry pronounced he could never assign that for Error that he was beyond Sea at the time of pronouncing the Outlawry And the reason is because he was here at the awarding of the Exigent and might reasonably have notice of it On the other side if any Man were out of England during the whole Process and pronuntiation of the Outlawry it was never yet a doubt but that was Error and might be assigned for Error either by the party or by his Heir at the Common Law and so continues to this Day and was not long since adjudged in O. Kerney's Case the Jrish man But that Case differed greatly from this O. Kerney being a Friend of Holy Church who came in two Years after the Outlawry Then comes the Statute of 5. 6. Edw. 6. Cap. 11. and enlarges the Law for the benefit of the outlawed person and gives him liberty to assign for Error that he was beyond Sea at the time of the Outlawry pronounced which he could not do by the Common Law if he went away after the Exigent For if he went before the Exigent that was Error by the Common Law before the Statute and so continues Then comes the Proviso and saith That he must come in within a Year and render himself to be entituled to the benefit of that Act which was to assign for Error that he was beyond Sea at the time of the Outlawry ponounced So that upon this State of the Law and my Husbands case he being beyond Sea at the time of the Process and at the time of the Outlawry pronounced It is conceived he is well entitled to assign this for Error at the Common Law without any aid of the Statute tho' the Proviso in that â—tatuâ—e should be ruled against him which with submission it is the opinion of many learned Persons in the Law that he is within the intent and meaning of that Proviso for many Reasons too long to trouble your Lordship with now Therefore I do hope that this Case of my Husband 's being the first Case that ever any Man was executed upon an Outlawry that did not desire it may have that weight with your Lordship which it deserves Holloway a little before being in the same condition refused a Tryal and so was executed upon the Outlawry And do hope that your Lordship will so advise the King in matter of Law whose Counsel you are that my Husband may have a Writ of Error granted him and Counsel assigned him to argue these points as by Law hath been allowed to Criminals in Capital Cases with whatever else shall appear upon the Record of Outlawry produced which as yet my Husband nor any for him ever saw Colonel Sidney's Plea drawn by Mr Serjeant Rotherham PRedict Algernon Sidney dicit quod per Statut in Parliamento inchoat tent apud Westm octavo die Maij Anno regni domini Regis nunc decimo tertio ibi continuat usque tricesimum diem Julij tunc prox sequen ab eodem tricesimo die Julij Adjornatum usque vicesimum diem Novembris tunc prox sequen Intitulatum An Act for Safety and Preservation of his Majesty's Person and Government against Treasonable and Seditions Practices and Attempts inter alia Ordinat inactitat fuit per Autoritatem Parliamenti predicti quod null Persona sive Personae virtute Actus predicti incurreret aliquas penalita tes in Actu predicto mentionat Nisi Ipse vel Ipsi prosecut esset vel essent infra sex Menses prox offens commiss indictat esset superinde infra tres Menses post talem prosecutionem aliquo in Statuto predict content in contrarium non obstante Et predictus Algernon ulterius dicit quod ipse proseeut fuit commissus Prisonoe Turris de London pro Offens in Indictamento predict mentionat vicesimo sexto die Junij ultimo preterito non anta ibidem continuat Prisonar huousque Et quod ipse predict Algernon non fuit indictat pro aliquo vel aliquibus Offens in Indictimento predict mentionat in fra tres Menses prox post prosecutionem predict Et hoc predict Algernon parat est verificare unde petit judicium si ipse predict Algernon quoad aliquod Crimen sive Offens in Indictamento predict mentionat quod Crimen vel Offens non fuit Alta Proditio ante confectionem Statuti predict respondere debeat et quoad omnes Proditiones Crimina Offens in Indictimento predict mentionata quae non fuere vel fuit alta proditio ante confectionem Statuti predict idem Algernon dicit quod per Statutum in Parliamento tento apud Westm in Com Middlesex in Festo sancti Hillarij Anno regni Domini Edwardi nuper Regis Angliae tertij