their Lordships shall please to allow me that freedome and security which ought to be afforded to any Gentleman and Christian in witnessing a truth My Lord I am Your Lordships most humble servant Richard Osborne June 16. 1648 For the right Honourable the Lord Manchester Speaker of c. An account of the Persons who are named Rolfe Captaine Rolfe or rather Major Rolfe is one of no great head-piece but of a turbulent and busie spirit who for his zeale to new light and activitie to promote that way hath beene advanced from an obscure condition having beene bred but a poore shooe-maker and as wee are informed not yet out of his Apprentiship to bee an Officer of the Army by the Lieut. Generall and is imployed as a Councellor with and a spie upon Col. Hammond by the same person for you must know that it is the custome of Cromwell never to send a Whale without a Pilot Fish nor preferre any Commander in Chiefe to a place of Eminencie and Trust but he pinneth one or two more peteets upon his sleeve who are to infuse the fence of the Lieu. Gen. with the Junto into the Commander keepe them in some awe and informe if they find any tendencie towards the disadvantage of thir private cause And of this nature was Major Rolfe at the Isle of Wight who being a Cap. in Col. Hammonds Regiment when his Majestie was Jugled into that place was sent thither with his Company to bee a guard unto the King and hath beene ever since at the governors elbow and in a manner Deputy governor there Mr. Osborne Master Osborne is of a good familie Eldest sonne to a Gentleman of good repute and estate who hath beene a friend to the Parliament through this whole contestation This young man hath beene in Armes also in their quarell never observed guiltie of any personall vice long known to the Lord Wharton and was preferred unto the charge about his Majestie by that Lords power and interest Hammond The Governor or Col. Hammond is a younger brother but hath some expectation from his Mother a widdowe and a furious enemie unto his Majestie which drove him out at the beginning of these Warres into the service where untill the new Modell of this Army hee could ascend to no higher pitch then a Major hee hath had his hands in Murther already and of one of his own party for which being in Glocester likely to suffer was helped off by Col. Massey whom hee hath requited well But being afterwards taken notice of to bee stout enough and pliable also was taken into favor by the Lieut. Generall preferred to bee a Colonell and when the designe was on foote to conveigh the King to the Isle of Wight by his power and interest premised thither for his Majesties entertainment Lord Whartons Character The Lord Wharton is known well enough through all the Kingdome to have runne high in and beene one of the prime heads of the Independents Juncto Of a most inveterate malice unto his Majestie and that against the bonds of gratitude one that had a good minde to have done this Act with his own hand if the King had fallen into the Saw-pit where his Lordship hid himselfe but his Lordship finding that course dangerous and being frighted at the First sight quickly left it and betooke himselfe to act in a safer way The Narrative of matter of Fact and proceedings in this How long Rolfe had beene hatching this Villanie who drew him in or who hee had drawn into the designe is known only to God and there consciences It was not many moneths after his first acquaintance with Osborne but hee threw out his lure insinuates the merit of the action the meanes whereby it might bee done and the Authoritie of the Armie which would protect the Instrument and invited him to bee one But Osborne being startled with the horror of the Fact imparts it to some better acquaintance of his in the Isle consults with them what course is best to bee taken It is resolved to acquaint his Majestie therewith and take his advice where it is concluded To discover it to any persons in Command about the King were to hale on the mischife sooner and involve themselves in the danger there could bee no way so safe to the Kings person nor more honourable for themselves then to deliver him from such bloody hands whereupon they provide horses and Boates deale with some Sentinells to winke at his passing prepare his way by fretting an Iron barre with Aqua fortis in his windowe to passe out by and were readie to put it in execution But one of the Sentinells discovering the designe Osborne flieth out of the Isle and so soone as hee can cleare himselfe of the danger writes first unto the Lord Wharton as you see but after his Lordship had stifled this information longer then a fortnight to discharge a good Conscience towards God performe his Allegiance to his Majestie and duty to the Kingdome he writes a letter to the Speaker of either house That to the House of Lords you may reade that to the House of Commons was the same upon the matter These being delivered on Saturday June 18. in the house of Commons the speaker takes an advantage of a thinne house and which consisted of most that inclined his way communicates these letters where after a little debate Major Gen. Skipon riseth up and desireth that Whereas this seemed to bee but an idle paper it might not hinder their more serious affaires which were before them but bee laid aside Whereupon it was accordingly voted and laid up in Lavender with an intention to call upon it at doomes day Upon Monday the Lords who in businesse of this consequence give the house of Commons leave to make them a president tooke the Letter into debate also where the Lord Say struck in presently with Major Skipons motion That it might bee laid aside there too and had neere obteined the same effect but some Lords that had some sparkes of honour left within them tooke so much courage as to presse the horror of the villanie the duty of their places and how much it would reflect upon their house if they should neglect to make enquire after it This wrought so much the businesse being foule upon the Lord Wharton hee escaped imprisonment with some difficultie the house of Commons are acquainted therewith by which meanes the businesse is resumed into new debate in that house many messages passe betweene the houses at last there is an Order concluded upon for Osburne to appeare and make good his accusation at any time within fourtie daies and this is commanded to bee published by the Sheriffe with as much pompe and shew of zeale as little intention in the most either to inquire into the Fact punish the Authors or Rescue his Majestie from the like danger The Lord Wharton finding these trans-actions would see the Sun now and having had experience that Copies
would multiply if they were bought up too fast as he went once about to do by a Pamphlet which discovered another ignoble Action of his steeres another course in the Compasse and causeth the Letters to bee published himselfe but with an answere whereby he might anticipate the credulity of the People and make his own Defence among them Not long after Master Osborne discovers himselfe enters his Appearance makes affidavit of his discovery and confirmes it by such pregnant circumstances that most men are convinced of the truth Rolfe being by this time acquainted with the Passages comes up unto the House presents himselfe with a a Letter from the Governour dated June 21. which pleades his Case denies the Designe chargeth Osborne with Treachery and very much extolleth his owne care of his Duty and tender Usage of his Majesty for which hee citeth his owne Testimony not withstanding the Lords finde cause to commit Rolfe to safe custody where hee remaines untill he be forgotten or by the policy and strength of his Partie quitted from the Charge or released out of Prison The Lord Whartons Answere examined His Lordships whole Answere may bee reduced unto foure heads which shall bee brought unto the Test in their Order The first is That Osborne is a Traytor by the Lawe of the Land because hee entertained communication divers times with one that intended to take away the Kings life by Poyson about that Action and concealed it whence hee would inferre That Osborne is to have no credit given to his Testimony To this is Replyed First That if the Letter of the Lawe were truly urged yet it cannot reach Osborne because first it is supposed the Lawe is in force and can take place where this Communication is had Secondly The Persons who are possessed of the Authority or Power in that place bee not guilty nor accessary to the Treason Thirdly That the witnesse can with safety of his owne life and the Kings make his addresse to those persons But let all England judge whether Lawe bee in force in that place where the King is kept in prison which is Treason in it selfe by the Lawe and by Lawyers is interpreted a Designe against his Life Where Souldiers one of which once answered a Statesman What doe you talke to us of your Lawe that weare our Swords by our sides rule all the Rost The persons in most power there were eyther Principalls or Accessories in the most favourable construction to be suspected of it In the Designe Rolfe was in command there and Principall The Governour in command of the Island in chiefe and at least likely to bee of the Councell Rolfe suggested that hee had received Letters from the Army to that purpose that hee was unwilling to concurre not out of horror of the wickednesse but feare of his pay Master Osborne could not choose but understand by their familiarity that their interest was all one that such Actions are never owned by all that are of the conspiracy Often times great men who are the first movers can stand behinde a Curtaine during execution of their owne Designes and as the Ape that thrust the Catts paw into the fire to take the Chesnut out for his owne Palat put an inferiour Instrument to act the disgracefull or dangerous part of their contrivance The suspicion may bee great against the Governor since hee pleades in his defence and did himselfe suppresse the Letter which Osborne wrote to the Lord Wharton which his Lordship tells his friends and did tell the House upon his Honour That hee sent immediatly to Hammond yet hee suppressed for above ten daies without securing Rolfe or acquainting the houses therewith Now let all the world Judge whether it had beene best for Osborne in relation to the Kings safety or his own to complaine unto these men or by holding them in suspence for a while in the meane time endeavour the prevention 2. Master Osborne did reveale this the hazard considered as soone as hee could unto the Lord Wharton 3. Hee did reveale it to his Majesty and some other who might assist him in the prevention thereof 4. Graunt that Osborne were as guiltie as the Lord Wharton doth suggest hee might as well be allowed for a competent witnesse as Master Edward Waller was against his brother Tomkins and others The second head is That Osborne did this not out of any intent of good or love unto the King but to free himself from his perfidiousnesse to the trust reposed in him by the Parliament in his attempt to carry away the King God knows whether to the danger of his person to procure for himselfe libertie and fredome from Justice which he fled from To the Negative part hereof it is answered 1. That is spoken Gratis and upon his Lordships own presumption 2. Against common reason can any man thinke the Gentleman should run that hazzard endure so much reproach loose so great friends for one he wished noe good bare no affection unto 3. Gaunt this for true it agrues the conscience of his Allegiance and sence of so great a sinne to bee the more in that hee would endure so much for to avoid it To the first part of the affiirmative wee Answer 1. That every man ought to bee sensible of and desire to vindicate his honour from an unjust aspersion wee wish the Lord Wharton as able to doe that as willing to quit himselfe of the true charge 2. That surely the matter of trust which the Parliament and Generall reposed in the Kings attendants was not I know not what it is in his Lordshipps constructions to assist in the Murther of his Majestie nor stand by spectators thereof without his rescue but to use all meanes for preservation thereof which was done by him 3. That all superior trust doth null and invalidate a subordinate ingagement when they are incompatible Now whether a trust which a man is oblieged to by expresse Oath as that of Allegiance to omit all other bonds doth or should cause all Subjects to preserve the life of there Prince to a Supream Governor of the Kingdome enjoyned by law bee not first to bee satisfied before a verball promise or perhaps but an implicit trust to fellow subjects in a questionable if not unlawfull Action as the imprisonment of the King is let all wise men Judge 4. That the intention of his Majestie might bee to come and these Gentlemen to bring him up unto his Parliament for all is yet known Hee hath often desired that of late and surely the Kingdome is convinced where the impediment is as wee may guesse by their petitions 5. That the Kings person could not possibly be at so much danger in the power of the grim Tartar or Turkish pirates as in those hands hee hath beene trusted and it is easie for to prove it To the second part of the affiirmative wee answer 1. That if it bee meant by his Lordships freedome and libertie to come into the face of
Justice to make good his charge that is granted and we know not why it should wring his Lordship so much unlesse there bee some sore thereabout 2. That if it be generall libertie and freedom which his Lordship meanes that cannot bee so for in both his letters he limits his desires of either but to testifie that which hee had writ and according to law bee admitted unto his Oath 3. Hee fled not from the face of Justice but violence and oppression so soone as that was but pretended unto hee presents himselfe unto it wee have had many examples of discouragement imprisonment and plundring of such as have formerly offered their testimonies to truth of like nature and hee could not bee blamed to fortifie himselfe against the like The third is That Osborne doth personate Rolfe onely as guiltie of the Act and brings no other witnesse To which is Answered That this was a worke of darkenesse there are few admited into such Councells for the most part one man is made the instrument And when the villanie is done hee dispatched also that hee may tell no tales Therefore in the Civill Law Presumptio fortis in delictis secretis sufficit pro probatione In Crimes which are committed in secresie a strong presumption is a good proofe But in this case heere is not the affirmation but the oath and all other concurrence of circumstances imaginable as shall heereafter bee fullie cleared The fourth is that Osborne was guiltie of that Action of which hee accuseth Rolfe to carry away the King when as the Governor and Rolfe were active in the prevention thereof To this is Answered That hee would have done part of that Action rescue his Majestie from the place but not the villanie Rolfe his designe was to Murther where there might bee no noise noe helpe presse in to the rescue Osborne to deliver the King from that danger It is no wonder that the Governor or Rolfe should hinder it that were to keepe the prey in their tallons still and the King in their own power and disposition Whereas his Lordship writes that Rolfe offered an oath of secresie but tooke it not the Sentinells did notwithstanding an oath discover it I know not to what purpose that is inserted Cromwell the Sultan of the Faction hath given testimony to all the world of how little obligation such pettie to yes are who is observed to make most fervent promises lard them deepest with imprecations and oathes when hee meanes the contrarie and is neerest the execution thereof and others have observed that they are allowed to take the Sacrament with you make any oathes unto you which they never intend to keepe for the advantage of their cause it was no wonder then he neither accepted it from Rolfe or found the Sentinell noe better principles The Letter of the Governor is not worth an answer noe man could expect but hee must deny the Fact if hee had beene Principall or can thinke his cause the better for either that his defending of Rolfe or bitternesse against Osborne how hee hath dealt with his Majestie after times will declare there are witnesses enough of his barbarous incivilities towards Him If the King doe acquit him as hee boasteth truely the greater is his goodnesse Their whole gang will not afford a Paralell The Corollaries or Inferences are 1. That there was and is a desigue in the Army to murther His Majesty if it bee not prevented by providence And that there is so is not only to be inferred from the suggestion of Rolfe but multitudes of other people of very many I shall present a few and shall bee ready to make proofe of these and more if I may obtaine that Libertie which is afforded Osborne At the same time to goe no higher that the Armie pretended to right his Majesty in their printed Proposalls wherein they pressed his Majesties person his Queene and Royall Issue may bee restored to a condition of freedome honour and safety in this Kingdome without diminution to there personall rights There were many in the Army that urged his Majestie might bee decolled by them and that there never could bee Peace in the Kingdome untill that were done Their Grandees did daily discourse of the convenience the advantage and disadvantage that might come to their cause thereby In their march towards London They give it out that if the King did declare against them they would quickly cut Him short that if they must perish they would upon him A little after a member of the Army Major Scot did at Caversham house in the presence of the King speake openly That things could never be well untill that man meaning his Majesty were shorter by the head without punishment or reprose of any of his Company some Agitators were a while after that taken by the watch as they came late from supper and Councell and being searched Papers were found about them wherein it was concluded to make away his Majesty And though these were delivered to Alderman Wollaston yet the men were dismissed and never further questioned Rainsborough made no bones to presse this in Councells of war and publique meetings The Lieut. Generall himselfe writ to Col. Whaley as he confessed to some Comissioners that he heard that there was a design against his life suddainly to be executed upon him Their Apostle Mr. Peters hath often belched out this Venome That the King was the only grievance now left that it was of noe difficultie to remove him hee was but a dead dogg already The Lieutenant Generall hath divers times himselfe spoken words to that purpose once Are the People so mad upon a King they shall have a May-pole for their King as soone as him again At his first accesse to the King coming down Sir John Cutts his staires neere Cambridge shaking his head hee said This Man is not fit to reigne This was more then King Henry the fourth did speake to encourage Tyrrell to assassine King Rich. the second Nay the Generall himselfe cannot be excused from some concurrence his Lordship being taxed by some Ministers that there was such Indulgence shewed to the King and Malignants answered Oh they need not joy in that if they knew what measure is intended them In Sept. 2. from Putny 1647. hee writ letters of intercession to the Parliament for such men as by the Law were cast into prison for such words as imported as much as His Murther as in particular of one Symball who had said hee hoped to see the Kings head upon the Tower block and Robt. White who said if hee meet the King hee would kill Him as soone as another man In the late March of the Armie through Southwarke into Kent when the People cried out bring home the King bring home the King I will bring his head upon my Pike said one upon my swords point said another and while a woman presuming upon her sex ventured to call him villain shee hardly got off with her
fed with his bread such as would have been glad to have fed with the dogs of his Flock Yet he indured all like a Lamb and never that I could heare so much as offended with his Lips in impatient expression when the whole house of Commons is many times in great distemper to use their own expressions upon the wagging of a Straw as it were and the smallest occasions His Fortitude Is almost above a Miracle Hee was never observed to breake one nights rest though his chamber were beset with Armed and spitefull enemies Never to discover any feare when their confused noises might suggest just matter to the best resolution Witnesse those passages at that time of night when Joyce offered that violence upon his person at Holmby and they all confessed did neither daunt nor put him out of the carriage of a King Hee never baulked one dish of meate if hee liked it though it were Cooked by the hands of a mortall enemie and passed through the hands of many more When on the otherside the whole house of Commons startled at the falling of a little Seeling and were likely to stifle one another for feare least the skie should fall Many of them lately at St. Martins did the like nay broake through the windowes upon the fall of a board Nay their Goliah Sir Tho. Fairfax with his other Champions were readie to die for feare of being poysoned Because it hath some mirth in it you shall have the storie at length A Pragmaticall Cooke which had formerly served the Lady Crisp in her prosperitie hearing the Generall wanted one of his Trade presumes to invite him with some other Officers in his Ladies name to her house in Hamersmith where hee might shew his Skill at his owne Charges and what a feast hee could make for fourtie shillings The Generall and his company after they had eaten and discovered that the invitation was not from the Lady fell into a great fright some of them fell verie sick and into vomitings purging for all the Cordialls they could take claps up the poore Cooke by the heeles for his requitall and keepes him there untill many weekes had made it evident there was no danger His Devotions Are more fervent and frequent then those of their best Saints amongst them His Temperance So signall that themselves acknowledge it His Clemencie So great that his finger was never dipt in the blood of his worst enemies more then they drew upon themselves in the field nay when they have beene at his mercy hee hath shewed them favour But this Subject would fill a Volume wee must bee short If his Majestie were a stranger and had not such an undoubted right and inheritance in these Kingdomes and that they were Elective his wisdome and profound virtue would represent him like Saul in that point higher by the head then the rest of the People and most worthie to bee chosen their King 7. That His Majesty ought to bee pittied above all men and deserves to bee rescued from this danger by His Subjects It is Treason by law to imprison the person of the worst King But so good a Prince in so barbarous a way to be in so much hazard of His life is an Act of unparalelld wickednesse in those that doe or allow of it The Oath of Allegiance which was by the Law of the Land before the Conquest to bee taken by every male above 12. yeares old in the Kingdome and hath beene actually by most of us obliegeth us to it Wherein wee sweare That wee will beare faith and true allegiance to the Kings highnesse his Heires and lawfull Successors and to our power shall assist and defend all jurisdictions priviledges preheminences and authorities graunted or belonging to His Majestie His heires and successors or united and anexed to the imperiall Crown of this Relme In the Protestation wee Promise Vow and Protest to maintaine and defend as farre as Lawfully wee may with our lives powers and Estates according to the duty of our Allegiance His Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate In the Solem League and Covenant wee sweare sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God in our severall vocations to endeavour with our Estates and lives to defend and preserve the Kings Majesties person and authoritie c. and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and greatnesse The Protestation which these verie men contrived took and enjoyned others to take Engageth us The Vow and Covenant exacteth as much from us too And yet wee know in the debate upon the framing thereof the obligation to the King was minced upon these reasons That there were other ties of dutie towards Him and others for the performance that makeing so many and full expressions thereof might harden him against any just complyance History tells us of Subjects nay Slaves that have thrust themselves betwixt the stroake of death and their Princes and Masters who have not beene of eminent desert Nay of bruite Creatures which have at the same cost defended their Owners and shall wee the People of England who are oblieged by duty by so many Oathes and engagements to preserve the person of the King suffer his Life to bee engaged every day by such men who by his Murther would make way to set their feet upon our owne necks and at their Pleasure prey upon our Liberties our Lives and estates Could loyall Uriah say Shall I goe home to my Wife and take my rest or comfort when my Lord Joab the Captaine of the Kings-Host and the Kings-Army are in the sield And shall not every man rather say as much or more Now that my Lord the King is undone and put out of all hee hath Now that my Lord the King is kept from his Wife and Children and scorned and reviled and more Ballads made of him and abuses put upon him then ever King David had Now that my Lord the King is a Prisoner Now that my Lord the King neither sleepes nor wakes nor eates nor drinkes in any manner of safety And now that my Lord the King is in danger every hour to be murthered or poysoned shall wee now give our eye lidds any rest And shall wee not now helpe to save the King Curse yee Meroz nay now Mr Marshall doe you better expound that place of Scripture curse her bitterly for not helping him and if we cannot afford to helpe him for the Oathes wee have made unto him and benefits wee have received from him yet let us rescue our Lawes Liberties and Estates and our own soules which will otherwise altogether must certainly dye and perish with him FINIS