Usurpers England has been always look'd upon as one of the most considerable Kingdoms in Europe but the it were the meanest and most contemptible Nation in the World it cou'd not be depriv'd of the most ancient and fundamental Privilege of Mankind I mean that of Self-Preservation 'T is true a People may be Subdu'd and made Slaves by a Victorious Invader but they can never be robb'd of their natural Right to endeavor the recovering of their Liberty And supposing that this was formerly a Conquer'd Kingdom t is plain that the Conqueror cou'd not become a Lawful Monarch but by Treating with the Nation and preserving its ancient Privileges since a True King must be the Governor of Subjects and not of Slaves ' Twou'd be a direct overturning of the Order of Nature to pretend with our Enemies that the Soveraign Authority in England is originally Arbitrary and that the People are only Free by Usurpation since by the fundamental Constitution of our Government the People are originally free and the Royal Authority Limited The Roman Catholics were naturally dispos'd to embrace these pernicious Notions for 't is one of the Principles of their Religion that the Pope's Jurisdiction extends over the Temporal Authority of Kings and the Property of the People and that those whom he Deposes or Excommunicates are ipso facto depriv'd of all their Rights and Privileges 'T is true this Opinion has been look d upon as dangerous even by the Princes of that Persuasion who are not willing that their Authority shou'd depend on the Arbitrary Will of One Man And from thence some have taken occasion to call those Catholics who moderate the Power of the See of Rome and only to give the Name of Papists to those who require an unlimited Submission to the Pope But this Distinction was never so generally known or teceiv'd in this Kingdom as in other places For in Popish Countries 't is the Interest of the Prince to inspire his People with a less extravagant respect to the Head of their Church whereas in England where the Roman Catholics have neither a Prince nor Magistrate of their Perswasion they are wholly govern'd by their Directors and follow all their Maxims unless they have Sense enough to perceive the dangerous Consequences of these Opinions or by the Mildness and Integrity of their Temper are naturally inclin'd to detest such a barbarous and inhumane Doctrin But in the general they are easily perswaded to look upon Protestants as Men that have forfeited all their Privileges and are already doom'd to Death for the Crimes of Heresy and Schism by the repeated Sentences of several Councils And 't is plain that those who are possest with such a Prejudice will never heartily acknowledge the Title of a Protestant Prince since they reckon our Religion a sufficient ground to deprive a People of the natural Privileges of a Civil Society It has been upon all cccasions the constant Practice of the Faction to accommodate their Notions to the various Humours and Inclinations of those whom they endeavor to draw into their Party For as they entertain some of their Proselytes with Projects to destroy the Liberty and Privileges of the Nation they insinuate themselves into the good opinion of others by exclaiming against the Prerogative of the Crown When they meet with Persons that are fond of a Popular Government they pretend to be of the same opinion exasperate their Grievances and perswade 'em that 't is the Interest of the Nation to weaken the Power and Authority of the King that upon the first occasion they may be able withless difficulty to introduce a Republican Government At the same time they make use o other Artifices to delude those who are superstitiously addicted to Monarchy They exasperate their Zeal fill their Minds with unreasonable Jealousies and by scaring 'em with false Alarms of the Progress of the Republican Party endeavour to secure their Assistance for the Introducing of Arbitrary Power as the only Way to keep out a Common-wealth For 't is their usual custom to tamper with the most violent Persons of all Parties that by animating 'em one against another they may divide the Nation into opposite and irreconcileable Factions They labour'd to perswade the World that the late King might justly assume an Arbitrary Power that he might reign without a Parliament and absolutely renounce all Contracts with his People And even after he had deserted the Kingdom and was declar'd an Enemy to our Laws Religion and Liberties by the Representatives of the Nation they had the confidence to pretend that he was still our Lawful King But the Artifice was too gross to pass upon a whole Nation for in the first place they must have perswaded us that We were not a People but a Multitude of Rebels that had forfeited all our Privileges that were condemn'd by our Prince and had neither Laws nor Parliaments to protect us that like a company of Robbers who had escap'd the Execution of Justice we maintain'd our Illegal Possessions by an unjust Force and had no Title either to our Lives or Estates that we were Slaves by Law and Proscrib'd Malefactors and cousequently were in a more wretched Condition than if we had been actually Conquer'd and Subdu'd Blessed be that Almighty Goodness which defeated the Contrivances of our Enemies and gave us a King upon whom they cou'd never fasten the least Aspersion who manages the Reins of Government with an equal and Steddy Hand who never was and we have reason to believe never will be Guilty either of Tyranny or Remissness who will neither oppress us himself nor Suffer us to oppress one another and has always pursu'd such Maxims as are most agreable to the admirable Constitution of our Government which preserves the Just mean betwixt the arbitrary Tyranny of Despotic Power and the Tumultuary Liccntiousness of Anarchy or Democracy and will neither suffer the Parliament to make Laws without the Authority of the King nor the King to Govern without the Advice of his Parliament But since they cou d not Debauch the Fidelity of his People by controverting his Title to the Crown they made use of that pretext to encourage the desperate Bravo's of the Faction to murder him They told 'em that they cou'd not be accus'd of conspiring against the Life of a King since the Prince of Orange had no right to that Title And it appears that the same Pretence was alledg d as one of the Reasons for the design'd Invasion The whole Nation was alarm'd with the common Danger and the Parliament especially made serious Reflexions upon the Designs of our Enemies His Majesty's Speech to both Houses was seconded by Sir William Trumbal who in a Pathetic Harangue before the House of Commons acquainted that Illustrious Body with the particular Characters of the Witnesses the uniformity of their Evidence and the improbability of their Conspiring together to deceive us and from all these
Majesty receiv'd the Association very graciously and express d the Sense he had of the Zeal and Affection of his Subjects in these obliging Terms Gentlemen I Take this as a most Convincing and most Acceptable Evidence of your Affection And as you have freely Associated your Selves for Our Common Safety I do Heartily enter into the same Association and will be always ready with you and the rest of My Good Subjects to Venture My Life against all who shall endeavour to subvert the Religion Laws and Liberties of England And afterwards His Majesty was pleas'd to say That he would take care that this and all other Associations presented to Him shou'd be Lodg'd among the Records in the Tower While the Parliament was taking such effectual measures for the Security of his Majesty and the Nation 't was thought fit in the most legal and regular manner to satisfy offended Justice by the Conviction and Punishment of some of the most notorious Conspirators ' Twou'd be needless to give the Reader a particular account either of the Proceedings at the Trials or of the Behaviour of the Dying Criminals since there can be nothing added to the public Relations of the former and there is nothing remarkable in the latter but Hypocrisy and Passion This is the genuine Character of the Declarations they left us of their last Thoughts One of 'em owns the Crime for which he was condemn'd with a kind of impious Ostentation and yet in another place of the same Paper he seems to acknowledge the Infamy of it by endeavouring to vindicate his Party from having any hand in it Another in spite of Nature wou'd act the Part of a Hero and was not asham d to pretend that he dy'd a Martyr tho 't is plain both by his Conviction and Confession that his Punishment was the just Reward of his Treasonable Practices to betray the Nation to Papists and Foreigners One of 'em is angry with the King because he wou d not pardon a barbarous Assassin and was the first Person that ever had the Confidence to charge His Majesty with Cruelty And another leaves us a terrible Instance of the Divine Justice in hardening impenitent Offenders by ending his Life in a Transport of Fury But since nothing can excuse us from doing Justice even to our most barbarous and implacable Enemies I think my self oblig'd to make a more honorable mention of Sir William Parkins He acknowledges the Assassination to be a Crime and repents that he was concern'd in it He seems to have been acted by a mistaken Notion of Honor and to have aim'd at an Appearance of Magnanimity which he did not well understand For he wouâ—d not be perswaded to name the Complices of his Crime tho he had some reason to believe that an ingenuous Confession might have procur'd him a Pardon A generous Principle if it had been better plac'd and if by preserving his Friends he had not sav'd the Enemies of his Country The Convicted Criminals receiv'd the Sentence and Punishment which the Law appoints for Traitors and their Quarters were expos'd in the most oublic places as a terrible Example of the just Severity of an injur'd Nation and an Admonition to their Traiterous Friends that those who are not capable of nobler Sentiments might at least be restrain'd by Fear In the mean time the Faction perceiving that all their pernicious Artifices were either discover'd or defeated resolv'd at least to pay the last Honors to their expiring Cause Three Jacobite Clergy-men pretending to be Ministers of the Church of England under pretext of assisting Sir John Friend and Sir William Parkins aâ— their Death gave 'em a general Absolution for all their Sins without obliging 'em either to confess or declare their Abhorrence of the particular Crime for which they suffer'd and by such an impudent and irregular Action put a public Affront upon the Government and the Nation Two of 'em were apprehended in order to be prosecuted for so heinous a Misdeameanor and in the mean time the Church of which they pretended to be Members condemn'd their Proceedings in a Public Declaration of its Judgment on that occasion which was sign'd by Fourteen Bishops who were then in Town and approv'd by those who were absent In that Paper they declare that they disclaim and detest the Principles and Practices both of the Criminals and the Three Ministers who assisted 'em that they disown and abhor 'em as highly Schismatical and Seditious dangerous both to the Church and State c. Thus while our Enemies both at home and abroad were mourning the Fate of their blasted Project while they suffer'd all the Horrors and Torments of Rage and Despair the constant Attendants of Disappointed Revenge we had the pleasure to behold the happy Period of the dismal Tragedy and the blest Event of the blackest and most barbarous Design that ever was set on foot We observ'd with inexpressible satisfaction that our Almighty Protector had convinc'd our Enemies by a very unwelcome Experience of two important Truths which they cou'd never endure to believe That His Majesty's Life is necessary for the Preservation of his People and that his Subjects are inseparably united to him both by Duty Interest and Inclination This is a glorious Confirmation of the Title which they presume to controvert and a convincing Proof of the Justice of his Cause which God himself has vouchsaf'd to establish and confirm by the execrable Projects that were form'd against him The World has been so long accustom'd to see his Majesty expose his Life for the Preservation of his Subjects he has brav'd Death so often and run thro so many Dangers in our Defence that it cannot be suppos'd we shou'd be surpriz'd at every new Instance of his Generosity But that the Preservation of his single Life shou'd secure a whole Nation from impending Ruine that the Rebels at home durst not attempt to disturb our Quiet because they knew that he was alive that our Foreign Enemies shou'd immediately retire upon the News of his Deliverance that the whole Nation shou'd place their only Confidence in the Person of their Soveraign and enter into a solemn and unanimous Confederacy to Defend his Life and Revenge his Death there is something so surprizingly Great in such a Combination of Wonders and so conspicuous Marks of the Finger of God in the several Instances of our Happiness that 't wou'd be equally impious and absurd to ascribe our Deliverance to a lucky concourse of fortuitous Accidents As His Majesty's Life is our only Security and the Foundation of all our Hopes the happy Union that is now so firmly establish'd betwixt us and our Soveraign is of no less importance to the rest of Europe To this we owe the advantageous Change in the Posture of Affairs abroad 't is this that has reduc'd our Enemies to more reasonable Terms and makes way for the Conclusion of a general and solid Peace When
THE HISTORY OF THE Late Conspiracy AGAINST THE KING AND THE NATION With a Particular Account of the LANCASHIRE PLOT AND All the other Attempts and Machinations of the disaffected Party since His Majesty's Accession to the Throne Extracted out of the Original Informations of the Witnesses and other Authentick Papers LONDON Printed for Daniel Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and Tho. Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard M DC XCVI THE HISTORY Of the Late Conspiracy c. SInce the late Conspiracy in this Kingdom has been for some time the Principal Object of the Curiosity of the Public and since it may furnish us with so great a Variety of Important Instructions 't is presum'd the History of it will be equally useful and acceptable to the present Age and to Posterity Here future Ages may behold a King variously Censur'd and Represented by the several Parties of Mankind lov'd by some hated by others but â—steem'd by all tho' in so different a manner that some Conspire his Death for the same Reasons that prevail d with others to offer him a Crown A Prinâ—e to whom his Subjects own themselves indebted for Immortal Obligations and whom his Enâ—mies for that very Reason accuâ—e as the Author of all their Misâ—ortunes Advanc'd by the Gratitude of the one render'd Illustrious by the Hatred of the others endu'd with a Generous Moderation that raises him above his Fortune and makes him the absolute Master of his Passions Here the Reader will find Gentlemen and Officers dishonoâ—ing theâ—r Birth and Character by acting the unmanly part of Murderers a barbaroâ—s Assassination carry'd on under the speâ—ious pretext of a Military Expedition a handful of Traitors contâ—â—ving the ruin of the publiâ— Liberty and reâ—dy by one terrible Blow to execute their pernicious Design a Secret that had been exâ—ctly conceâ—l'd for Six Years discover'd by Four Men in Six Days The King not only assisted by Providence but establish'd by the treacherous Malice of his Enemies endear'd to his Subjects by the Greatness of the Common Danger and receiving new Assurances of their Affection and Fidelity Eâ—gland once more deliver'd The Prince and the People inseparably united by mutual Obligations and more than ever in a condition to procure and maintain the Peace and Happiness of Europe This is a general View of what the Reader may expect to meet with in the following Relation I have mark'd every particular step of a Transaction which is too important to be forgotten tho it can never be remember'd without Horror And thâ—t tâ—e â—rogress and Management of the Dâ—siâ—n might appear in â— clearer â—ight I have trac'd it â—â—â—m itâ— dark Original and have given a â—â—ccinct Account of the several Projects and Attempts that precâ—â—ded or madâ— way for the Conspiracâ— I have taken care to â—urnish my â—elf â—itâ— such Instruâ—â—ions as might enable me to compose an exacâ— History I have endeavor'd to write without Heat and Partiality nor was there any need of aggravating a Crime that is so black in its own nature and so apt to possess the calmest Mind with a Just Abhorrence and Indignation But above all I have been scrupulously careful to mention nothing but what is grounded upon Authentic Testimonies To give the Reader a just Idea of the Conspiracy 't wou'd be necessary in the First place to acquaint him with the importance of his Majesty's Life if it were not unreasonable to suppose that any Person can be so much a stranger to the Transactions of the Age he lives in as to be ignorant of the interest which the Nations of Europe have in the preservation of that Sacred Life 'T was on him that Spain founded the first hopes she had the courage to entertain of seeing a happy turn of her declining Fortune 'T is to him next to the blessing of Heaven that the Dutch owe the safety of their State and the English their Laws Religion and Liberty The Former entrusted him with the management of all their concerns and the Latter made him their Soveraign to secure their own Happiness and to prevent a return of those Miseries from which he had deliver'd ' em The Allies in general combin'd together to erect a kind of Empire for him in the present Confederacy being sensible that they cou'd not defend themselves without his Assistance and that they might without any Jealousy or Apprehension rely upon his Integrity and Vertue And which is yet a brighter and more surprizing part of his Character 't is certain that none of all these Honors which he enjoys cost him the trouble of Asking The great and important Services which the World had either receiv'd or might expect to receive from him were the only Solicitations he us'd to obtain these glorious advantages This is the only Circumstance of his Life which shall be particularly consider'd in this place because 't is This that will contribute most to give light to the following History and This alone which Malice or Envy durst ever presume to conâ—radict It never enter'd into the Thoughts of any considering Person says a late Writer that the Prince of Orange was so fond of the English Nation as to undertake the security of their Liberties at the expence of so much Treasure and so many Fatigues instead of destroying 'em as he ought to have done being the next Heir to the Crown after the Prince of Wales I cannot forbear observing on this occasion that this Author though chosen as the fittest Person to write a History of the Revolutions in England according to the Instructions and as it appears by the Orders of his Party was at least in this case a perfect Stranger both to the Affairs and Temper of that Monarch For ' tiâ— certain that his Majesty in so pressing a Juncture cou'd not forget England without neglecting his own Interest and that of the Princess his Consort and without consenting to the irrecoverable Ruine of Holland of the Protestant Religion in general and of all the Princes and States in Europe both Protestants and Roman-Catholics who were equally threatn'd with unavoidable destruction And besides it will appear that the Author of that History was less acquainted with his Majesty's Temper than with his Interest and Affairs When that generous Prince was plac'd at the Head of a potent Republic in the heat of his youth and when at the importunate solicitations of all the Members of that great Body he was advanc'd to such a degree of Power and Grandeur as might have enabl'd him to execute whatever his Ambition cou'd have prompted him to undertake 't is known that he made no other use of so inviting an opportunity than to settle a good correspondence betwixt the Magistrates and the People 'T is known that he refus'd the Sovereignty of Guelderland which was offer'd to him because he wou'd not confirm the jealousy of some Persons who seem'd to dread the consequences of such an Innovation
in Ireland had reduc'd the Protestants of that Kingdom to great Extremities If he had consulted his Interest he wou'd never have made so false a step in a juncture that wou'd have requir'd all the Caution and Dexterity of the most refin'd Politician but it seems he cou'd not resist the impetuous Motions of a Council of French and Irish Bigots who were accustom'd to govern him 'T will perhaps be expected that I shou'd take this occasion to attempt that Prince's Character but I must confess I have not courage enough to venture upon so nice a Task For 't is certain that in such a case the most scrupulous Caution can hardly preserve an Author from transgressing the narrow Limits that are prescrib'd to him by the respect which is due to those whose Honour as well as their Lives ought to be Sacred even to their Enemies Few are capable of managing a Subject of this Nature with a tender and wary Hand and even the modestest Performances in this kind are obnoxious to the unjust Censures of a byass'd Reader And therefore instead of assuming the Liberty to speak of his Person I shall content my self with making some Reflexions upon the Proceedings of his Council which I cou'd not omit without rendering my Work obscure and defective 'T was the Opinion of every judicious Person who observ'd their Maxims and Conduct that even from the beginning they gave the World too plain a view of their Designs and proceeded with too hasty an eagerness in the Execution of ' em Here under their wonted pretext of dispensing with the Laws they establish'd an Ecclesiastical Commission that was equally terrible to the Church and to the State The Incorporations were dispossess'd of their Charters the Council was fill'd with Roman-Catholics and the Universities were depriv'd of their Privileges The Temporal Lords were oblig'd either to quit their Places or renounce their Religion the Bishops were imprison'd and an Irish Army was brought into the Kingdom in time of Peace In Scotland they were so far from observing any measures that they look'd upon it as too mean a Condescension to preserve the least regard for the Laws They perswaded the King to assume a Despotic Power and taught him to use a Language which till then was unknown to the Free-born People of Great Britain for they had the confidence to make him declare that by virtue of his Soveraign Authority and Absolute Power he abrogated the Acts of Parliament that were made against the Roman Catholics The unsuccessfulness of the Attempt was a convincing Argument of the temerity of the Project but cou'd not oblige its Contrivers to alter their measures as it appears by their Conduct in Ireland for the Promises that were made in King James's Name to the Protestant Inhabitants of that Kingdom both before and after his arrival among 'em cou'd not protect 'em from the barefac'd violence of their Tyrannical Oppressors Their Effects Cattle Wool Money and Merchandizes were seiz'd and employ'd in the maintaining of a War against their Friends in England Their Lands were laid waste their Houses pillag'd and the Benefices bestow'd on their ancient and most implacable Enemies the Priests The Act of Settlement which was the only security they cou'd depend upon was violated and the Roman Catholics were authoriz'd by the Government to take Possession of their Estates Both the Protestant Religion and those who profess'd it were in a manner proscrib'd and expos'd as a Prey to those who were equally prompted by interest and inclination to destroy ' em The People were persecuted and murder'd by their domineering Enemies who were rather encourag'd than punish'd for their Barbarity They were forc'd to resign their Churches and were even deny'd the liberty of meeting together to perform their Devotions At last all the Protestants in Dublin were secur'd and when the Prisons were full the Churches were turn'd to Goals These disorders are particularly describ'd by a Bishop of that Country who had the misfortune to be a considerable Sharer in the common Calamity The King was so sensibly touch'd with the deplorable Condition of Ireland that he resolv'd to go thither in Person tho' he plac'd an entire confidence in the Person whom he had entrusted with the command of his Forces And that generous Undertaking was so visibly attended with the Blessing of Heaven that in the space of Three Months he reduc'd Two Third parts of the Kingdom and gave his Enemies a Fatal blow which broke all their Measures and ruin'd their unjust Hopes 'T was by the wise Direction of that Providence which had so often deliver'd him from the Hands of bloody Traitors and preserv'd a Life that was to be expos'd to more honorable Dangers that the Wound he receiv'd at the Boyn gave occasion to a false Report of his Death which occasion'd as public a joy in France as the true account of his Victories did in This and all the other Nations of Europe The Parliament thank'd him for exposing that Life to the greatest Dangers on which the Fate of Protestants and the common Liberty of all Europe depended And the happy Change that appear'd every where in the public Affairs on that occasion is a more than sufficient Ground to vindicate that Illustrious Body from the Imputation of Flattery People were surpriz'd to find themselves safer in the midst of a bloody War than they were in time of Peace The Switzers were no longer apprehensive of their incroaching Neighbour The Protestant Religion was preserv'd without any prejudice to the Roman-Catholics The Princes and States upon the Rhine were either secur'd from Danger or in a condition to defend themselves An effectual stop was put to the Pretensions and Conquests of the Chambers of Metz and Brisac the Electorates of Mentz and Cologn were reconquer'd and a King of the Romans was chosen according to the Inclination and Interest of the Members of the Empire Three Kingdoms were deliver'd from Oppression and rais'd to their wonted Glory of protecting their distressed Neighbors The Netherlands had the satisfaction to obey a Governor whom they had long and ardently desir'd but cou'd never obtain till now The Branches of the Houses of Austria were happily re-united to one another and to those whose Interest 't was to support ' em England and Holland resolv'd at last to pursue their mutual Interest and to cherish an Union which is absolutely necessary to their I reservation France had the mortification to see her self exhausted by the prodigious efforts she was oblig'd to make as the rest of the World had the satisfaction to perceive that ere long she wou'd either be confin'd within her ancient Limits by our Arms or ruin'd by her own dear-bought Victories These were the Glorious consequences of his Majesty's Establishment upon the Throne of England Every Nation was sensible of its particular Obligations and the Eyes of all the World were fix'd upon their Great Benefactor Even We who ow'd all
Art of ruining their Fellow-Subjects They have been frequently Charg'd with the Massacre in Ireland and the Burning of London and 't is strongly suspected that the Public Robbers Pirates Incendiaries Debasers of Money Spies and Assassins were employ'd as Instruments in carrying on the great Design The Reader is left to judge of the Truth or Probability of these Conjectures Whatever Opinion weo ught to have of the Design of the Conspirators we must do 'em the justice to acknowledge their Skill and Dexterity in contriving the most probable Methods and Expedients to accomplish it Of these Means and Expedients fome have been long since Foretold some are universally known our Enemies have betray'd their own Secret by divulging others and we may discover the rest by a heedful Examination of the Proceedings of the Conspirators and the Progress of the Conspiracy I will discourse of 'em in order because the Subject is both Curious and Important About Seventeen or Eighteen Years ago Titus Oates made a Discovery to the Parliament which was variously censur'd by Persons of different Principles and Inclinations Some gave credit to it others rejected it as a meer Fable and there were some who look'd upon it as a Mixture of Truth and Fiction I will neither pretend to justifie nor condemn all his Depositions but content my self with observing that there are some things which were look'd upon as incredible by reason of the Enormity of the Crimes tho later Experience has convinc'd us that they were really true especially what relates to Trade Exportation of Species and the Debasement of Money Oates acquaints us in the Appendix to his Information Sworn before Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey Sept. 27. 1678. That the Conspirators cou'd not endure King Charles II. because he was not of their Religion and that they resolv'd to cut him off with all possible Speed That they Charg'd him with Tyranny and Designs of oppressing Governing by the Sword and without Parliaments and exposing his most Faithful and Valiant Subjects to be wasted and slain in foreign Service 2. That they aspers'd derided expos'd and declaim'd against his Person Counsels and Actions in Parliament and elsewhere and particularly scoff'd at his security and confidence in them and by this means animated and encourag'd their Party and Assassins especially to attempt upon his Life and hasten his Ruine 3. That they disclos'd the King's Counsels to France 4. That they rais'd false News of his Affairs 5. That they disaffected his Majesty's Allies Holland Spain the German Emperor and Princes by false Intelligence c. 6. That they disturb'd Trade 7. That they set up sent out and maintain'd Seditious Preachers and Catechists and directed 'em what to Preach in their own or other private Conventicles or Field-Meetings 8. That they animated different Parties one against another to Arm and put the People in Blood upon the King's Death 9. That our best Cities and Towns were to be Fir'd and Plunder'd by Irish French Lay-brethren and others disguis'd in Frocks and otherwise 10. That they endeavour'd to Poyson and Assassinate by pick'd Quarrels or otherwise those whom they suppos'd to be ready or able to detector otherwise obstruct their Designs 11. That they design'd the Transportation of Trading People Stock and Money ADULTERATING MONEY and Plate to which ends they had Bankers Brokers Merchants Goldsmiths and other Traders whom they Stock'd and Set up with Money of their Society of which they boasted to have a Hundred Thousand Pounds in Cash Those who reflect upon what they see or hear and consider the Temper and Actions of these who make a noise in the World may easily judge whether the Party has continu'd to pursue the same Methods And therefore without insisting longer upon this Subject I shall proceed in the next place to take notice of such of their Maxims as have been discover'd by themselves As for Parliaments 't is their Opinion That a King of England's Condescension to his Parliament seldom produces a good Understanding between ' em And particularly they tell us that King Charles II. was advis'd to stand firm against the Attempts of an Assembly that made it their usual Custom to oppose and contradict him that they wou'd still be starting new Claims and Demands and wou'd at last raise 'em to such a Height that His Majesty wou'd not be able to grant 'em without consenting to his own Deposition and consequently wou'd find himself to be still in the same condition that is after a thousand Condescensions against his own Interest he wou'd at last be oblig'd to break with his Parliament and find that his Complaisance had encreas'd their Boldness and made 'em less afraid to oppose him They have left no means unattempted to set these Stratagems on foot against the present Government by employing all their Artifices in a successless attempt to engage the King to invade the Liberty of his Subjects or to make the People incroach upon the Prerogative of the Crown They endeavor'd to revive the ancient Jealousies that disturb'd the Quiet of the former Reigns as if it had been possible to keep us from perceiving the difference betwixt a Deliverer and an Oppressor whose Characters are so opposite that they can never agree either in the Manner or End of executing their Authority for 't is a necessary consequence of their respective Maxims that the Former shou'd endeavour to Preserve and the Latter to Destroy his People 'T is both the Interest and Duty of an English Parliament to protect the People whom they represent from a Prince who treats 'em as Enemies or Slaves but they cannot without consenting to their own Ruin oppose a King who makes the Honor and Prosperity of the Nation the End of all his Designs and Undertakings And we have reason to adore the favourable Providence of God who has freed us from the Apprehensions of so terrible a Misfortune and establish'd His Majesty's Throne by the most perfect Union that ever was observ'd betwixt a King and his Parliament Besides these Ways to destroy the Nation which they have known and practis'd so long the present Juncture has furnish'd 'em with new Expedients In the beginning of the War our Trade was extremely disturb'd by French Privateers but since their Defeat at La Hogue made 'em both afraid and unable to engage our Fleet they seem to make no other use of their Men of War than to surprise our Merchant-Ships And our treacherous Country-Men are always ready to give 'em secret and timely Notice of our Motions and consequently betray the Riches of the Nation to its most inveterate Enemies In the mean time they were secretly fomenting our Divisions and animating the different Parties that are among us against us and one another The Scotch Presbyterians were incited to take up Arms by Sir John Cochram and those of the same perswasion in England were manag'd by Mr. Ferguson and others About the time of the Siege of Mons Sir John
be more cautious and reserv'd for the Future In the mean time the Conspirators were so afraid of loosing the present Opportunity that they resolv'd to pursue the Design without expecting a Commission To this end they provided Men Arms and Horses but wanted a Vessel to Transport the King to France if it shou'd be resolv'd to carry him away or to facilitate their own Escape if they shou'd agree upon the Assassination and therefore to supply that Defect Charnock was sent to Deal with Recommendations to a Captain of Horse who was acquainted with the Design and La Rue was appointed to accompanie him But their Measures were entirely broken by the unexpected haste of the Kings Departure for the Netherlâ—nds When they saw they had lost the Opportunity of executing their Design upon His Majesties Person they resum'd the Project of the Invasion They entertain'd private Emissaries in all the Parts of the Kingdom who made it their business to studie the Inclinations and pry into the Affairs of the People that they might afterwards attack 'em on the Weak Side and strengthen the Faction by the Addition of a Promiscuous Multitude of all sorts of Persons By this means they engag'd a confus'd Medley of Disaffected Persons And besides they depended upon the Assistance of all the bigotted Papists and a considerable number of pretended Protestants all the Creatures of the Late Reign those who had lost either their Employments or Expectations by the Revolution all the Promoters of Arbitrary Power several Officers of the Army that was dispers'd at Salisbury and some Souldiers who preferr'd a Seditious Idleness and the Ignoble Dangers of Plotting before the Honourable Occasions of acquiring Glory in the Field The whole Design was carried on by a Set of Men who had either lost or never had a Sense of Honour and Vertue who look'd upon the Laws and Religion as Vain and Empty Names and acted as if their Private Interest and the Recompences they expected had been a sufficient security for the Public Safety Men who had neither Reputation to loose nor Estates to live upon who were equally Indigent and Idle and were neither able to endure the usual Hardships of Poverty nor willing to prevent 'em by an honest Industry Turbulent and Restless Spirits who delight in Tumults and Confusion and repine at the Quiet of their Neighbors and as a worthy Reinforcement to the Cabal those who were not fit to appear in better Company I mean such as were suspected of Cowardice For as no Man has contributed more than his Majesty to bring Valor into Credit and Fashion 't is his Fate to be extremely hated by Cowards as he is generally respected and in a manner ador'd by the Brave Those who have the Courage to aspire to Glory Admire an Example which they can never imitate and never was any Prince so Pelov'd by his own Army or so Esteem'd by that of his Enemies There were two sorts of Persons in whom the Conspirators plac'd a particular Confidence the New Converts and the Libertines whom they had drawn into the Party those who had either no Religion or had embrac'd that of the Faction For they concluded that such Persons as these wou'd always be ready to engage in a Design that tended to the Destruction of all Honest and Good Men. 'T was one of their principal Stratagems to cry down Religion in general because they were sensible that the love of our Religion kept us inseparably united to a Prince that had preserv'd it And at the same time they left no means unattempted to weaken and divide our Church For on the one hand they endeavor'd to introduce a Remissness and Indifferency in Matters of Religion and on the other they made it their business to foment our Differences about certain new Opinions exasperating the Zeal of our Orthodox Divines by Artifices that need not be mention'd in this place They endeavor'd to insinuate themselves into the confidence of those who seem'd to be dissatisfy'd with the Court and oftentimes made use of 'em as Tools for the carrying on of a Design of which they were wholly ignorant They admitted all that were willing to be engag'd but were more than ordinarily careful to draw in those who might be useful to the Faction flattering the Interest of some and the Ambition of others and enticing both with small Presents and large Promises They endeavor'd to corrupt the Officers of the Fleet Army and Militia and tamper'd with the Clerks and Secretaries of those who either were or had been employ'd in Eminent Posts under the Government that by their means they might get Intelligence of such things as they were desirous to know Thus they obtain'd an Account of the Naval Forces of one and a List of the Army of another ' Twou'd be an endless Labor to relate all their Contrivances and Machinations and therefore I shall content my self with taking notice of their General Maxims They were sensible that the English are generally possess'd with a natural Antipathy against the French that we had been for a long time under perpetual Apprehensions of the growing Power of those incroaching Neighbors and that our Jealousy and Aversion were extremely heighten'd since the beginning of the War And therefore to divert our Hatred and Suspicion to another Object they endeavor'd to possess us with an ill-grounded Jealousy of the Dutch To this end they were still putting us in mind of the dangers to which we expos'd our selves by depending upon the Friendship of a Nation that was wholly compos'd of Presbyterians and Republicans without considering that their being so makes it their Interest that we shou'd never imitate their Example since their Provinces wou'd be quickly abandon'd if their People cou'd find in this Kingdom the Religion Discipline and Government to which they are inclin'd by Birth and Education For 't is very natural to suppose that if these Impediments were remov'd 〈◊〉 Inhabitants of such a Country as Holland wou'd embrace with Joy the inviting Opportunity of living in a Fertile and Pleasant Land where they might securely enjoy all the Comforts and Conveniencies of Life with infinitely less trouble and pains and without the Disadvantage of paying Taxes in time of Peace and to which they might easily transport both their Trade and Estates Another of their detestable Contrivances was to make us forget or at least to lessen our Esteem for our Deliverer 'T was for this Reason they usually call'd him the Dutch Prince and sometimes had the impudence to speak of him in base and scurrilous Terms as when at one of their Traiterous Meetings they squeez'd an Orange and drank a health to the Destruction of the squeez'd and rotten Orange 'T was thus they were not asnam'd to treat a Prince who sav'd Europe by his Courage and Resolution who inspires his Armies with Valor by his own inimitable Example and has made his Subjects Masters of the Sea and Arbiters of the Christian World A
Prince to whom we owe all the hopes we can reasonably entertain of an honorable and advantageous Peace and who has rais'd the Glory of the Nation to its Ancient Reputation and Splendor Sometimes they affected a seeming Zeal for the Public Good that they might have an opportunity to exclaim against the necessary Charge of the War Those who were best acquainted with the Interest of the Nation and most concern'd to promote it had often demonstrated what common Sense suggests to every considering Person That the Expending of our Money on this occasion is the best Instance we can give of our Frugality That 't is both our Duty and Interest to give away part that the whole may be preserv'd That His Majesty's Predecessors might easily and with little charge have stopp'd the progress of their ambitious Neighbor That 't is their Fault we are now oblig'd to pay so dear for our Preservation That if the French were Masters of the Netherlands the present Taxes wou'd not be sufficient for our necessary Defence That if Holland were also added to their Conquests the unavoidable Charge of the War wou'd be still greater And that at last when we shou'd have no Allies to support us we must infallibly become a Prey to the Insolent Cruelty of our Enemies and for ever groan under the insupportable Yoke of Popery and Slavery Such Reflections as these were made by several wise and judicious Persons and inculcated with all the force of Reason and Eloquence but 't was in vain to hope that Reason wou'd have any Influence upon those who were resolv'd to stop their Ears against it and made it their business to hinder others from hearing it The Conspirators with their usual Impudence continu'd still to insist upon an Objection that had been so often and so unanswerably confuted amusing the People with perpetual Murmurings and Complaints and imagining that the groundless Apprehensions which they endeavor'd to raise in the Minds of the unwary Croud wou'd by degrees make 'em lose the Remembrance of the Real and Terrible Dangers that threaten'd 'em in the preceding Reign But the subtlest and most dangerous of all their Artifices was that by which they cunningly impos'd upon the heedless Credulity of some Persons who neither approv'd their Principles nor Practices For 't is certain that the Party of those who really long for the Establishment of Arbitrary Power and the Destruction of the Protestant Religion is in it self very small and inconsiderable and wou'd be eternally the Weakest if it were not augmented and supported by an unthinking Multitude who suffer themselves to be led they know not whither This may be properly call'd The Listing of Tools for the Service of the Faction At first to cajole the Church-Party they employ'd the Interest they had at Court in some of the preceding Reigns to raise a Persecution against the Dissenters but their seeming Zeal for the Preservation of the Church that is establish'd by Law was so little to be depended on that even then they had titular Prelates who were actually engag'd in a Conspiracy against the Nation and only waited for a favorable opportunity to dispossess the Protestant Bishops In the late Reign they seem'd to alter their Measures and began to court the Non-Conformists that all the Sects in the Kingdom might think themselves oblig'd both by Gratitude and Interest to support a Government that protected ' em By this unexpected appearance of Tenderness they insinuated themselves into the good Opinion of a considerable Number of the Dissenters who desir'd no more than a Toleration to Worship God after their own Fashion But while these deluded People were expressing their Thankfulness to the Court in fulsom and extravagant Addresses those very Persons who appear'd to be the most zealous Promoters of a Liberty of Conscience here employ'd all their Interest to enflame the Persecution in France and were perpetually soliciting that Monarch to compleat the Ruine of his Protestant Subjects Since the Revolution it has been the constant Endeavor of the Faction to engage those who are always uneasie in time of War by reason of the Charge and Inconveniencies that attend it But in this as in all other Projects and Contrivances they were so far from making good their Pretensions to a hearty Zeal for the Good of their Country that they made two desperate Attempts to deliver it up to the Revenge of an incens'd Enemy At present they take advantage of the dangerous Folly of those who are still wishing for a Peace without considering either the Terms or Consequences of it They believe or at least wou'd make us believe that every Man is a declar'd Enemy to a Peace who desires that it may be solid and advantageous They wou'd fain perswade us that 't is the King who opposes it tho they are sensible we cannot be ignorant that 't is his principal Care as well as his Interest and Glory to procure the Quiet and Happiness of Europe The main Drift of these pernicious Insinuations is either to render His Majesty odious to those who are unacquainted with their Devices or by a treacherous and ill-secur'd Peace to make way for a Fatal and Bloody War against those very Persons whom they now amuse with a pretended Zeal for the Interest of their Country For such wou'd be the dismal and inevitable Consequences of their false Politics if the King and Parliament wou'd renounce their wonted Prudence in complaisance eicher to Fools or Knaves It must be acknowledg'd that we cannot without Injustice pronounce an equally severe Sentence upon all who promote the designs of the Faction For 't is certain there are a considerable number of deluded and unthinking Persons who suffer themselves to be led by those who are Superior to 'em both in Wit and Malice But tho the simplicity of such undesigning Tools may in some measure extenuate their Guilt their obstinacy makes 'em as Dangerous as the fiercest and most desperate Traitors For when one does what he can to destroy the Laws Religion and Liberty of his Country the Honesty of his Intention can never atone for the fatal Consequences of his Error This Reflexion wou'd perhaps carry me beyond the Limits of my intended Moderation if I were not resolv'd to give the most favorable Treatment that can be allow'd to to those for whom His Majesty retains a Paternal Affection notwithstanding their repeated Provocations In imitation of so generous an Example all possible care shall be taken to spare the Names of those whose Crimes have not already render'd 'em incapable of such a Favor Among these notorious Criminals we may justly reckon Sir William Parkins Sir John Friend and Sir John Fenwick The First was bred a Lawyer and never had so much as the Name of a Soldier till he was made an Officer by King James He was treated by the Court at St. Germains with a more than ordinary Civility They told him that they expected great things from him and
Kensington One of 'em was to give notice when the King went out and the other was to bring an account when the Guards began to March And that the Assassination might pass under the Notion of a Military Exploit they produc'd an Order to take up Arms against the Prince of Orange and his Adherents There was some Difference among the Conspirators concerning the Terms and Expressions of the Commission even after they had confess'd their Crime For some of 'em acknowledg'd that it contain d an express order to Kill the King whereas others pretended that it only authoriz'd em in the general to levy War against the Prince of Orange and all his Adherents 'T is the Opinion of several Judicious Persons that the most considerable Discovery was made by those who endeavour'd to put the fairest Construction on this execrable Project For to Levy War against the King and his Adherents after such a manner and in such Circumstances cou'd signifie nothing else than the Murdering of the King and Parliament and of all that lov'd and were resolv'd to maintain the Laws Religion and Liberty of England The Fifteenth of February was chosen for the Execution of the dire Attempt 'T was on that fatal Day that England or rather Europe was to lose its Deliverer and with him all its hopes of accomplishing the Great Work which he had so happily begun and 't was then that Heaven was resolv'd to work a new Miracle for our Preservation If we had foreseen the Danger that threaten'd him the remembrance of past Hazards wou'd have only serv'd to heighten our Apprehensions for the future His Subjects cou'd hardly have welcom'd him at his return from so glorious a Campaign and instead of celebrating his Victories wou'd have trembl'd at his Approaching Fate But we found to our Comfort that the same Providence which had so often cover d his Head in the Day of Battle and guarded him from the fiercest Assaults of his Enemies was also able to preserve him from the treacherous Fury of Assassins To prevent Suspicion they dispos'd their Men in different places of the Town and even in the remotest Parts of it Barclay and Rookwood expected the Signal in Holborn and Porter with some others waited upon the same account at the Blue Posts in Spring garden Charnock resolv'd to accompany the latter either because he mistrusted him and intended to animate him by his example or because he was willing to chuse a Post that was least expos'd to Danger as another of the Conspirators suspected And perhaps he had still so much Reason left notwithstanding the impetuous Paâ— on that disturb'd his Judgment as to decline acting in the most odious Part of the Tragedy Thus they lay expecting the News of the King's Departure for Richmond but his Majesty did not go out that day and some of the Conspirators were so alarm'd at this Disappointment that they began to reflect either upon the Danger or Infamy to which such an Attempt wou'd expose ' em Plowden who came purposely to Town to act under Porter went back to the Country and did not think fit to return according to his Promise Kenrick pretended that he was disabl'd by a Fall and appear'd for some days with his Arm in a String Sherbourn started so many Scruples when the Design was propos'd to him that they did not think fit to press him further And even the fiercest and most harden d Assassins began to be apprehensive of the Success of their Project But at last concluding that their Design was not discover'd because they were not secur'd Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkins Captain Porter and Goodman met on the 21st of February and resolv'd to make a new attempt to execute their Project without altering the Method of it In pursuance of this Resolution the Assassins were to be prepar'd for the bloody Action on Saturday the 22d of February which was to have been the last Day of our Liberty and the Fatal Aera of the irrecoverable Ruine of England The Morning was spent in an impatient Expectation of Advice from those whom they had appointed to give 'em notice when the King went out Charnock who for some days had been very uneasy and full of Jealousy and Suspicion sent a Man to Porter for a List of those who were to act in the Assassination He seem'd particularly to doubt Larue and perhaps was desirous to have some Satisfaction concerning him The List was sent to him with Larue's Name at the head of the rest and he sent it back again after he had inserted the Names of those whom he was to furnish Pendergrass was one of those who were with Porter They had sent for him out of the Country and wou'd have assign'd him a remarkable part in the Assassination Porter had a Musketoon that carry'd 6 or 8 Bullets with which Pendergrass was to shoot at the King and they desir'd him not to be afraid of breaking the Coach-glasses The Conspirators were disappointed a Second time and the boldest of 'em cou'd not forbear discovering their Fears when Keys acquainted 'em that the Guards were come back all in a foam and that there was an unusual muttering among the People This unexpected piece of News put 'em all into a Consternation the Cabal was entirely dispers'd and most of 'em endeavour'd to secure themselves by a speedy flight Nor was this meerly the effect of a Panic Dread or groundless Apprehension for the Conspiracy was actually detected Fisher Pendergrass Larue and another had separately given Information to Different Persons concerning it tho they had not yet discover'd the Particulars Captain Fisher was the Man whom God inclin'd to make the first Discovery of this inhumane Design He went to the Earl of Portland on the Tenth of February Five Days before the Time that was appointed for the Execution of it and inform'd him of the intended Enterprize without acquainting him either with the Time Manner or Circumstances which were not yet agreed upon but he promis'd to give him further notice as soon as they shou'd come to a positive Resolution And now we may justly reflect with an equal amazement upon the Sedateness and Generosity of his Majesty's Temper who cou'd hardly be perswaded to suspect those who only waited for a convenient opportunity to Murder him and the barbarous Fury of his Enemies who scrupl d not to conspire the Death of so Good and so Brave a Prince Any other Person wou'd have been startl'd at an Advice of this nature or at least wou'd have look'd upon it as too important to be neglected but the King secure in his own Vertue conscious of no Guilt and consequently incapable of Fear was so far from being alarm'd at the Discovery that he wou'd not give credit to it because the Circumstances were not particularly mention'd Three Days after Fisher return'd to Whitehall and gave the Earl of Portland an account not only of the Design
the long expected Time shall come that the Just Desires of those who long to see Peace and Tranquility once more establish'd in Europe shall be accomplish'd it will appear and be acknowledg'd by the grateful World that as England was deliver'd from Slavery and Oppression by the Blessing of God upon His Majestys generous Undertaking so 't was England that had the greatest share in the general Deliverance of the Christian World Time and Experience will ere long convince us of this great and important Truth and Posterity will for ever acknowledge the Immortal Obligation And even tho it were possible that future Ages shou'd forget their Great Benefactor the Benefit will remain notwithstanding their Ingratitude as long as there shall be Laws in England or a Free People in Europe FINIS Tâ—e People of England tâ—ank'd His Majestâ— â—y their Râ—presentatives for their Great and Miracuâ—ous Deliverance from Pâ—pery and Arbitrary Power of which he was the Instrumâ—nt Sâ—e the Parliament's Address May 18. 1689. The Parliamâ—nt of Scotland thank'd him also for thâ—ir Delivâ—rance and Preservation of which they acknowledg'd him next to God to be the great and only Instrumâ—nt Sâ—â— the Answer of the Convâ—ntion to His Majeâ—â—ie's Lâ—tter in 1689. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. pag. 437. See the Preface to the Third Time of the History of the Revolutions in England When the People stopt his Coach at Dort and ask'd whether he was their Statholder he reply'd that he was satisfy'd with the Honors that were conferr'd upon him But we are not answer'd the People unless we have you for our Governor An. 1674. The Dâ—puties of the Nobility and 〈◊〉 representing the 〈…〉 of the Dutchy of Guelderland and County of Zutphen osser'd him the Soverâ—ignty of the Province in the â—â—me of their Masteâ—s 'T is notoriously known that these Proposals were made by France * M. Fageâ— wrote on this occaâ—ion to Mr. Stewart And when the Court of England endeavor'd to perswade the World that thus was a supposititious letter and that it did not give a true aâ—â—ur of their Highnesses Sentiments having publish'd a Book to that Eâ—eâ—t call'd Parlamentum Pacificum Mr. Fagel complain'd openly of the dâ—singenuity of their Proceedings and by a second Letter confirm'd the Declaration he had formerly sent in their Highnesses Name * After the death of Charles II. he rejected the advice and assistance of the late Elector of Brandenburg and when that Prince wou'd have engag'd him to go over to England he reply'd that he wou'd never make any Attempt against the King his Father in Law without an absolute necessity but at the same time he protested that if he cou'd not otherwise prevent the subversion of the Laws and Religion of England he wou'd undertake the Voyage tho' he shou'd be oblig'd to Embark in a Fisher-boat His Enemies cou'd not forbear commending this Effect of his Moderation See the History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. See the Act 1 Gulielm Mariae entitl'd An Act declaring the Rights and Privileges of the Subjects to regulate the Succession to the Crown History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. 1689 The Discovery was made by a French Protestant who insinuated himself into the Favour and Confidence of the Conspirators by pretending to be engag'd in the same design He was hinder'd by several Accidents from giving such timely Notice to the Court that the Assassins might be apprehended The Discovery was communicated in Holland to some zealous Friends of the Government and in England to My Lord Sydney In this account I have neither magnify'd nor multiply'd the Disorders that were committed by the Government They were either corrected by the Late King himself upon the News of the Prince's Expedition or after his Flight by the Convention The Laws that were made upon that occasion by the Parliaments of England and Scotland are undoubted Testimonies of the several Attempts that were made to subvert our Laws and Religion nor will any reasonable Person expect any other Arguments to prove the Truth of a matter of Fact of which all the Inhabitants of these Nations were either Eye or Ear-Witnesses See his Proclamation publish'd in that Kingdom Dr. King the present Bishop of London-derry then Dean of Dublin in his Book entitul'd The State of the Protestants of Ireland under the Government of the late King The whole Book is full of Instances of this Nature of which I have not mention'd the Twentieth part * The Duke of Schomberg 1690. 1691. * The Magistrates of Roterdam imprison'd a Villain who offer'd to kill the French King They sent an acâ—ount of the project to Mr. Montausier and offer'd to deliver up the Offender †Another Proposal of the same naturewas made to the King when he was Prince of Orange The Person who offer'd to undertake the Murder gave an account of the place where he was to be sound and the Prince sent Mr. Dickfelt immediately to acquaint the Count d'Avaux with the whole Project November 1691. December 1691. Febr 1691 2. April 1692. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 428. 1692. 1692. 1692. Larue in Charnock 's Tryal 1692. History of the Revolutions in Engl. Book II. Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder which cannot be reckon'd a Fable is a strong Confirmation of at least part of that Discovery See how they design'd to bring the Irish over to England The application of the rest of the Particulars is obvious History of the Revolutions in England Book II. p. 357. Deposition of Brice Blair March 12. 1695. See the Character of the Presbyterians in the History of the Revolutions in England Book II. 1692. His Depositions are in the Hands of the Government See his Letter to the Lords and Commons of that Kingdom Dared from on board his Ship July 1693. Decemb. 1693. January 1693. July 1694. July 14. 1694. July 17. 1694. Octob. 17. 1694. Sir William Williams took Post for London immediately after Taff's Declaration and gave a horrible Character of the Witnesses having obstinately resus'd to hear any thing that was offer'd to be alledg'd in their Favor or to comply with some of the Judges who wou'd have proceeded to the Examination of other Witnesses See the Votes of the House of Commons on that occasion 1695 Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. This agrees with the Character that Brice Blair gives of him in his Depositions Good man 's Deposition April 2 d 1696. Brice Blair's Deposition March 13th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Goodman 's Deposition April 24 th 1696 Captain Porter 's Deposition April 24 th 1696. Goodman 's Deposition April 24. 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. Larüe 's Deposition February 26th 1696. Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696 Capt. Porter 's Deposition April 15. 1696. This appears by Capt. Porter's Deposition April 15th 1696. King James wrote several Letters to him with his own