The history of the Plot anatomised: or the late sham fanatical-plot, briefly and plainly laid open Wherein, those worthy patriots who were charged therewith, are vindicated from the malicious and false aspersions cast upon them by a late author. In a letter to a friend. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. 1689 Approx. 64 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A47869 Wing L1259A ESTC R179472 99832986 99832986 37461 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A47869) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 37461) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2189:07) The history of the Plot anatomised: or the late sham fanatical-plot, briefly and plainly laid open Wherein, those worthy patriots who were charged therewith, are vindicated from the malicious and false aspersions cast upon them by a late author. In a letter to a friend. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. [2], 32 p. printed for M.R., London : in the year 1689. Attributed by Wing to Roger L'Estrange. Copy has print show-through. Reproduction of the original in the Lambeth Palace Library, London. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Rye House Plot, 1683 -- Early works to 1800. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-09 Melanie Sanders Sampled and proofread 2004-09 Melanie Sanders Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE History of the Plot Anatomised : OR THE Late Sham Fanatical-Plot , Briefly and plainly laid open . WHEREIN , Those Worthy Patriots who were charged therewith , are Vindicated from the Malicious and False Aspersions cast upon them by a late Author . In a Letter to a Friend . Psalm 94. 20 , 21. Shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee , which frameth Mischief by a Law ? They gather themselves together against the Soul of the Righteous ; and condemn the Innocent Blood. LONDON , Printed for M.R. in the Year 1689. SIR , HAving been several times importun'd , to give you my sentiments as to the late Presbyterian Plot ( as it was called ) against his late Majesty , and the then D. of Yorks Lives , tho' I am sensible of my inability for so important a work , not only as it is an undertaking vastly transcending my Talents , but also as being wholly unacquainted with any of the Persons accused thereof : Yet lest I should seem morose , I shall endeavour as briefly as may be , to communicate to you , what I could collect , after a diligent perusal of the ( pretended ) true Account of the late Horrid Conspiracy , and other Papers that have been published about it , and what Information I could procure otherwise from persons who were more or less acquainted with some of those that were charged therewith . Who the Author of that true Account is , I never made it my business to enquire , nor was I in this Kingdom for two years after publication thereof , only if the old Proverb hold true , Ex ungue Leonem , I am ready to believe that this Gentleman may possibly have been one of those who were so Instrumental in carrying on Arbitrary and Despotick Power , and introducing Popery and Slavery . But seeing I design to give it you in as few words as possible , I shall forbear unnecessary digressions , only seeing the Author seems to look back a little upon the Ingratitude of that Party , in exposing his late Majesties most Just and Merciful Government , unto contempt , &c. I judge it may not be unnecessary to reflect upon some of the most remarkable passages since his late Majesties Restauration . And the first place let any one consider how much of his Justice was extended to them in punctually performing the Treaty at Breda , or of his Mercy , either in this or the Neighbouring Kingdom ; witness those severe Acts that were passed here against them without the least remorse , upon a pretended , and which was afterwards prov'd a Sham-Plot , as appear'd by the Relation of it published several years ago , wherein the Publisher of it was so particular as to mention the Names of several substantial Persons about this City of undoubted Credit , with the places of their abode , who would avouch the truth thereof ) whereas when the Bill for Uniting of Protestants , and the ease of Protestant Dissenters had past both Houses , it was put by that it might not pass into an Act ; which if it had , would both have prevented what designs they might afterwards have on foot , either for their own security in particular , or of preserving their Liberty , and the Protestant Religion in general , and that Inevitable Danger the whole Protestant Interest , not only in these three Kingdoms , but even all Europe over was exposed to , had not God miraculously inspired that Renowned Prince ( whose Noble Progenitors have been signally honoured by God to be Instruments of bringing back the Captivity of his Sion , and delivering them from the Insupportable Burthens laid upon their backs by Idolatrous , and beyond all comparison , inhumanely Barbarous and Merciless Papists : ) I say , had it not pleased God to eat up as it were that Religious Prince with the Zeal of his House to that height , that he resolved to hazard not only his Estate , but even his Life it self , rather than not appear for the Defence of the Protestant Religion at such a Juncture when Popery was coming in like a Flood to overflow our Land , and to Crown him with Success suitable to so Pious and Noble an Enterprize . This in short may satisfie the World how great sharers the Dissenters in this Kingdom were either of his Justice or Mercy . As for those of the Neighbouring Kingdom , 't would swell a Book to a Volume , to recount the many Oppressions they groaned under , even before they could be charged with any Rebellion , save that in the Reign of King Charles the First , wherein the generality of both Nations were concerned : And I may truly say , that the ground of that Association of the Nobility and Gentry , of that Kingdom , and taking up Arms against their Soveraign , was the Imposing of the Service-Book without having the Concurrence of the Parliament thereto , with some other Oppressions of the like nature . It 's well known that several Persons were Executed in Scotland after the late King's Restauration , who could not have been charged with any Crime more than what the generality of the People there , might have been accused of , meerly upon the account of being Presbyterians . And how severely those in Galloway , and places adjacent , were opprest , having Souldiers quartered upon them , to whom they were not only obliged to give Free Quarters , but likewise six pence a day to each Souldier ; all which they patiently lay under so long as they had wherewith to pacifie that barbarous Crew ; but at last , all being eat up , their long continued Oppression , which according to that of Solomon , maketh even the wise man mad ; upon an accidental Engagement upon their own defence with some of the Souldiers , wherein some few of them were killed , the Country People fearing they should be severely punished , although they had only defended themselves against the Outrage of the Souldiers , got to a Body , and took up Arms in the year 1666. for their own defence ; after which time , not only the Persons who were actually concerned , who were but a very small number in comparison of the rest , but the whole Body of the Presbyterians there were branded with the names of Rebels and Enemies to the Government ; and what Treatment many of them have had since that time , was little inferiour to that the French Protestants had from the Dragoons . These things I only thought fit to mention in general , to shew that even before they had appeared in Arms , the Mercy that was extended to them was not such as some men would make the World believe . But to proceed . He tells you in the first place how his Majesty , When he had suffered such Abuses , and personal Affronts from those seditious Persons , yet could have no Redress here while by their packing the Juries , as in Colledge's case , &c. but was forced to remove that Infamous Person into another County . How conformable that was to the Laws of the Land , I will not determine ; however this I may say , that whatever that Person might be guilty of , it may be shrewdly suspected , that several of his Evidence were no honester men than those who are so meerly by profession . Another Instance he gives is the Earl of Shaftesbury , who whatever this Gentleman may say in general of his Notorious Crimes for which he was discarded , yet he does not , and without doubt could not , lay any thing in particular to his charge , during his Discharge of that Office , and some of his greatest Enemies have acknowledged him to have acquitted himself as well as any that ever was in that Station , he having till that time behaved himself with the height of Loyalty , even in the acception of those who under that sacred name palliated their Arbitrary designs : Nor can he much stain his Memory by any thing that he charges him with , when acquitted by the Ignoramus Jury , especially if we consider what Captain Wilkinson declared as to his having been tampered with , and that with such Temptations as might in all probability have prevailed upon those who were not a great deal above the common size of Honesty , and that the Persons that came to him among other things after such large proffers as they made him , told him , that though they had several Witnesses , yet they were such Fellows , ( as honest men , as our Gentleman terms them ) that no Body would believe ; and that it could enter into the mind of no rational man , that the Earl of Shaftesbury , if either his Quality or Wisdom were considered , would admit such Persons into his Company , much less joyn Counsels with them ; but that such a man as the Captain was , both in regard of the Reputation he had in the World for Honesty , and of his having been known to have been frequently admitted into the said Earls presence , about his Concerns in Carolina , would be easily believed ; and so could they have then perverted this Honest Gentleman , they might have taken off this ( for ought I could ever yet hear then Innocent ) Nobleman , meerly because he was so indefatigably Industrious in unravelling that Hellish Popish Conspiracy that had been a hatching for the overthrowing the Protestant Religion in these Kingdoms ; Nay , his late Majesty himself was pleased to say to the Captain in Council ( when he was sent for before them upon his Emitting this Narrative ) that if he would really say upon his honest word that what he had published therein was true , he would believe him , which he did : Yet the Accusers of that Nobleman , to salve their Credit , were pleased to Indict him of High Treason , but we never yet heard that they called him to answer to the Indictment . And besides , it cannot but be fresh in the Memories of a great many , that the very same honest Men the Witnesses , a little before the Tryal , were drinking in a Tavern without or near Temple-Bar , and in their Cups quarrelled with one another , and saluted one another with the names of Perjured Rogue , you had — pounds for swearing against Colledge , &c. The Man of the house , and some that were with him having over heard them , had them before a Justice , but the Justice either out of Fear , or some other sinister Motive dismissed them . Now let our Author brand that Jury with what Ignominious Names he pleases , I appeal to all the World , whether , these particulars considered , that Ignoramus ▪ Jury , as it was then ignominiously called , could according to Conscience proceed otherwise than they did . And besides , my Lord Howard himself , who was afterwards one of the Evidences , in all his Depositions mentions nothing of this , who undoubtedly had the Earl of Shaftesbury been projecting any such design at that time , would have had it readilier communicated to him , than any Irish Evidence , and was a Person that could have contributed much more Assistance . So that I humbly conceive our Author might have done himself and the Party he espoused much more service had he omitted this Relation ; for every reasonable man must needs conclude this to have been a meer Sham ; and if our Author commits such a grand escape as this in the beginning of his History , he may run the risque of forfeiting the Credit of the whole . But I perceive that he has been carried out with such a precipitant Zeal in vindicating my Lord Mayor's Absolute Prerogative in Chusing Sheriffs , and the Taking away the City Charter , that he has a little forgot himself , and so verified the Old Proverb , Canis festinans coecos parit catulos . But seeing our Author glories so much in this Piece of Justice , that now things were returned into their right Channel ; I think , seeing we may say so now from a much better ground , that as the Arbitrary Proceedings of several Malicious Men are now like to be called in Question ; it would not be amiss if Sir John Moore , who introduced those Sheriffs contrary to the Vote and Election of the Livery , be made give an Account of his then Proceedings ; and that if he can prove that as he was Mayor he had such a Power inherent in him , then he shall satisfie the World that he has done nothing but what became a good Patriot , tho' I will not say but he might have made choice of better Persons : And if he has Usurped that Power at the Instigation of the Court , that then the said Sir John Moore is as liable to punishment , if not more , than any Person now in Custody , he having taken down the Hedge of our Security , and made the first Breach for Tyranny and Arbitrary Power , for besides the introducing such Sheriffs as furnisht us with such Juries as were wholly at the devotion of the Court , whereby originally , the Guilt of all Innocent Persons that were executed since that time is to be laid to his door , so likewise the same action of his made way for the turning out old Aldermen , taking away of the City Charter , upon which ensued the taking away of all other Charters throughout the Kingdom , which has proved of so fatal Consequence to us since . He next proceeds to set forth the indirect ways used by the Factious Party in Scotland , of whom he says the Earl of Argile , and President of the Session were the Heads , against whom he vomits up his Gall for wording of the Test , and adding thereto the very same Clauses that have since given any colour of scruple to themselves . But pray what were those Clauses ? I doubt the Author was afraid to name them , lest he should have discovered himself of what Kidney he was . However for satisfaction to the World I shall here set them down ; The said Earl of Argile and President of the Session being two of the Lords of the Articles , whose business it is to draw up all Bills that are to be presented to the Parliament in order to be passed into Acts , upon mentioning of the Bill made no Opposition against it , only the said Noble Patriots said , That as it was very necessary to preserve the Succession in the right Line , so it was no less requisite that at the same time a Clause should be inserted in it for the maintaining of the Protestant Religion ; which motion , tho' it galled some then at Helm there , as being a great Obstruction in their way , yet could not be refused , lest there designs should appear above-board , and then it would have been wholly rejected . And this Action of the said Earls brought down that wrath upon his Head which was afterwards the cause of all his Troubles and Misfortunes . For a little afterwards he was Impeached of High Treason , and illegally condemned , as all the most Eminent Lawyers in that place gave it under their hand ; which Paper the said Earl had with him at the time of his Escape , otherwise could those in Power then have found it , they had been served with the same sawce . As for the Jury that condemned him , tho' our Author affirms them to have been most of his own Relations , yet it is well known that the Marquess of Montrose ( who was Foreman of the Jury ) tho' his Cousin , yet always bore a great hatred to him , there having been for above these hundred years an irreconcileable Hatred betwixt these two Families , nor was there any of the Jury that were well affected to him . And for the other Nobleman , he being warned of his Danger by the Earls Treatment , thought it requisite for him to withdraw himself , that he might not likewise become a Sacrifice to the rage of his inveterate Enemies , and went into Holland , where he staid till of late ; in all which time he acquitted himself so well , that malice it self could not charge him with any seditious practices . It is no less false , that his Life was not intended to be taken away ; for it is well known that the Gentleman who was sent up in order to procure his Pardon , found it utterly impossible to be obtained , and therefore dispatcht an Express to his Friends , wherein he acquainted them , that unless he could make his escape out of the Castle of Edinburgh , where he was then Prisoner , he would certainly be Executed in a few days ; this Express arrived but four hours before the Post , and when the Post was come , which among other things had the Warrant for his Execution , the Captain of the said Castle being not to be found for an hour or two after , the Earl in the mean while made his Escape . When the Captain came home , which was about Nine or Ten a Clock at Night , he sent to the Earl of Argile's Apartment to shew that he must speak with his Lordship , they having been privy to his Escape , answered , that he was not well , and was then asleep ; notwithstanding he came into his Chamber , in order to acquaint him with the day of his Execution , and after search found no man there but his Page lying on his Bed. But , to proceed to this Plot , as it was pretended to be managed here , the Designs were said to be to Assassinate the King , particularly at the Rye-house , as he was coming from New-Market , and to raise a Rebellion . And these Bloody Designs were said to have been carried on by two different Clubs , to wit , one of several Commoners , and the other of a Council of six , whereof most were Noble-men . I shall first make a little scrutiny into the former ; viz. that wherein Keeling , West , &c. were concerned . And about the pretended Discovery of this Plot ( or rather Trapan ) for to gain the further Credit to it , a great Noise was made about the Fire that a little before was in New-Market , which , said they , had it not happened , His Majesty and the Duke had undoubtedly been cut off ; viz. if His Majesty had not by reason of that Fire been forced to come unexpectedly to London , and that a fortnight before the time he used to part thence at ; and it is well known how many Pulpits resounded with this . And as , after the best observation I could make of all the Passages that I heard of , I always was , so I still am of opinion , that that Fire was set on purpose by some of the Popish Party to gain Credit to this Plot. For , had not this Fire consumed some of the King's Apartments , he would have staid his usual time at New-Market , and then having incurred no danger by the way , this Plot would have lost all its Nerves and Sinews ; for then few would have believed they had any such design ; seeing if they had , they would not have neglected such an opportunity as that . Nor were the Preparations suitable to such an undertaking made ; and tho' there were some very foolish persons among them , yet 't is well known that Mr. Ferguson and some others were of greater Policy than to undertake such a dangerous Enterprize , and not have all things suitable for it prepared before-hand , and rather than sailed of it , would have waited thereabouts a fortnight before , if not had some likewise at New-Market to give them certain notice of the day ; But instead of that , no Preparations at all ; but West , as he said , had bought forty stand of Arms , for which he said he had the money at last from Mr. Ferguson ; tho' it 's more probable , as will appear afterwards , that West might have this money some other way , may be from some of the Popish Faction , to the end that those Arms being seized , might prove a Confirmation to their Depositions , which so much stood in need of it . Nor are their Depositions restricted to this only , at the Rye-House , for they say that they would do it there , or at the Play-House , or as he went to Windsor , or at Whitehall , &c. A plain Demonstration that they had not fixed upon that particular place ; and that being the place in all probability they could have most easily effected that design in , consequently they had not agreed upon any such design . In the next place , this may be confirmed by the concurring Testimony of all the persons that were Executed , who denied their ever having given any consent to any such design , as to Assassinate the King , ( Hone only excepted , who talked more like a Mad-man than any thing else , he having declared that he was for killing the King , and saving the Duke , and when both the Judges , and that Gentleman D.C. since Bp. of C — ( who has lately been obliged to run his Country ) wondring thereat , askt him why he was for killing the King , and saving the Duke , he at last replyed , that he was a poor ignorant man. He likewise declared that he was brought in by Keeling , who , he said , was more guilty than any of them . So that what this Hone said signified not much as to the rest , for he having been a person of so mean parts , might be easily brought to say any thing Monsieurs the Witnesses pleased . Captain Walcot at the place of his Execution , tho' he died with all the signs of one that had a suitable impression of another World upon him , and so would no doubt have cleared his Conscience by confession of so foul a Crime , and begging pardon for it , had he been guilty of it , yet utterly denies his having ever consented to such an horrid Design ; besides that the said Captain is said by Coll. Rumsey to have been a long time at least against it . And the said Captain likewise declared that 't was Col. Rumsey that first introduced him into those Meetings , where , such dangerous things were discoursed of ; and that he , and West , and Keeling , were the forwardest to talk of such things . Mr. Rouse likewise utterly denies his having ever assented to any such design ; and besides , that the words which were spoke by the Witnesses in their hearing were made use of as Evidence against them . And Mr. Holloway who was taken at Nevis , in his Answer to the many Questions proposed to him by Sheriff Daniel , particularly as to this design of Assassinating the King and Duke , confirms the same : For he utterly denied that any such thing was agreed upon ; nay on the contrary , that there were but very few for it , to use his own words , not above four or five , of whom Rumsey , West and Keeling were three , and that the rest looking upon it as a design which so small a number could not accomplish without their Aid and Assistance , took no further notice of it . And being askt in particular if Captain Walcot , Rouse , and Ferguson were for that design of cutting off the King , he answered in the negative . And it is worth the while to take notice how severe a check this Sheriff had at Court , for his proposing so many Questions to this Prisoner , which plainly shews that some there were afraid lest their Tricks should appear to the World ; and the truth is , by the sincerity of this person a great deal of the Odium of this Plot was removed , the most hainous part of it then seeming in in all probability to have been a Contrivance of their Adversaries . And Mr. Rumbold himself , who is said by them to have been one of the deepest in this Conspiracy , at his Execution in Scotland utterly denied his in the least consenting to any such Barbarous Design . And Mr. Nelthrope , at his Execution in the West of England in the year 1685. protested that it was a thing highly against his Judgment , and which he always detested , and that he never was in the least concerned in it , neither in purse nor person , nor ever knew of any Arms bought for that intention , nor did believe there was any such design , or that he ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair , or Arms , or Time , or Place , save what after the general design , Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him . To conclude , Zachary Bourne , who was likewise one of the Evidence , and who had the Plot communicated to him by Ferguson , in whose House he lodged never mentions Mr. Ferguson's speaking any thing to him of that Assassination , tho' he says that one Roe spoke to him of it , and West . By all which it plainly appears that there was no design of Assassinating the King and Duke ; but that this horrid project of taking off the King , was at first proposed by the Witnesses , on purpose to ensnare others , and that the same , tho' some few were brought over , was absolutely upon proposal rejected by most of them , and those who did reject it , being three times the number of the others , knew that they could not effect it by themselves , and so took no further notice of it . I say , it plainly appears to have been so , if we consider , under what suitable apprehensions of Eternity all those that were Executed , went off this World. And that they were so ingenuous as to confess there had been some design on foot , which , how honest soever it might have been , yet seeing it would be interpreted an Association against the Government , could not excuse them , as matters then went , from being made Examples of Justice . And it is well known that the Principles of the Protestant Religion do not allow any man to go out of this World with a Lye in his Mouth , tho' those of the Romish ( if I may so call it ) Church do . And I cannot but wonder when I reflect how a great many Protestants should have been so lavish in their Charity to Papists , as to conclude , because they all went off the World , denying the Crimes for which they were justly condemned , ( especially when they know what Injunctions are laid upon them by their Priests ; viz. that they may confess nothing that may prejudice Mother-Church under pain of Damnation ) that they were Innocent of the Crimes they were accused of , and yet have so little to spare to those of their own Faith , who yet they know cannot die with any Comfort , or hopes of Pardon , except they make a frank Confession of the Crimes they are guilty of , much less if they persist in an obstinate Denyal thereof . But it is well known that the Papists not only went off the World with a Lye in their Mouths as to their being guilty of the Horrid Crimes they were condemned for , but likewise as to their having ever before their Tryal been with any of the Witnesses that appeared against them , when yet 't was well known that they had been very familiar with them . To mention only one of them , the late Lord Stafford in his last Paper declared with great asseverations that he had never seen Stephen Dugdale before his Tryal , whereas a little after his Execution , it was proved by the Depositions of above fifteen Witnesses , who all lived by his Countrey House , that the said Stephen Dugdale was often familiarly entertained by the said Lord Stafford , and that he has left the Company of several considerable Gentlemen to discourse with the said Dugdale , and that they had been observed discoursing several times above an hour together ; which may fully inform us what credit is to be given to any of that Persuasion , as to any thing relating to the advancement of Mother Churches Interest . I shall now proceed to the Plot said to be managed by that Council of Six ; viz. The Duke of Monmouth , the Earl of Essex , the Lord Russel , the Lord Howard , Collonel Algernon Sidney , and Mr. John Hambden , Junior . Where we shall briefly take notice of what is most Remarkable in the Tryals of those of them who were Arraigned , and what is observable as to others who were not . I shall begin with my Lord Russel's Tryal , and first in the Evidence of Colonel Rumsey , I find this seeming contradiction ; viz. That he being sent by the Earl of Shaftesbury to the said Lord then at Mr. Sheppard's with the Duke of Monmouth , Lord Gray , Sir Thomas Armstrong , and Mr. Ferguson , to know if the Rising in Taunton went on , and that they , or some of them returned answer that it did not go on , and that yet they afterwards had a discourse about viewing the Guards , in order to seize them , when notwithstanding he says afterward that they were only to seize the Guards , when the Rising went on . Besides , it is more than probable that the Duke of Monmouth , or Sir Thomas Armstrong knew well enough before what posture the Guards were in , and how to surprize them , without all that debate which he says was held there . And this is all the Evidence this Souldier of Fortune gives in , which yet might have been done without any design against the Kings Person . Another thing is in Mr. Sheppard's Evidence , who was at the same time at that meeting in his own House , who , besides his saying in one place that my Lord Russel was at two Meetings in his House , and afterwards acknowledging that he could not be positive whether or not , was of so unfaithful a Memory , as to forget a remarkable passage which he had discovered before , to wit , that of Ferguson's reading a Declaration , which he said nothing of till Sir George Jefferies askt him about that Declaration , and then he returns , Yes now I recollect my self , I remember one Paper was read . Now he could not have known that , if he had not heard it of Sheppard before , for Rumsey declared he was not there when it was read , tho' Sheppard seemed to be as positive in that , that he was present then , till the other contradicted him , as he was in what he gave in against my Lord Russel . Now I say the Loyal Scimus Jury-men might have taken notice that the Evidence of a Person so forgetful as Sheppard seemed to be , in forgetting so material a passage which he had given in Evidence but two or three days before , should not have been accounted of so great weight in Case of a Noblemans Life , as they reckoned it . The next Evidence was my Lord Howard , who to prepossess the Jury with a belief of this Plot , begins with such a base insinuation , that I think had any of the Jury had the least common either honesty or discretion , they would have suspected the Evidence of this Lord ; for he first begins so low , that they could not hear what he said , which did more argue a guilty Conscience than any thing else , and when he was desired by my Lord Chief Justice to raise his voice , he pretended that the news of my Lord Essex's Fatal End had sunk his voice ; whereas all that are acquainted with his Lordship , know very well that he was not of that Temper ; only this was said , to insinuate , as was afterwards sufficiently buzz'd about , that the Earl of Essex to escape the hand of Justice had cut his Throat , that the Jury might have a deeper impression upon them of the reality of this Plot. As to the deplorable Murder of this Nobleman , I need not say any thing of it here , there having been lately some Informations published relating to that Noble Lord's Murder , of that weight , that few honest men now doubt of the said Earls having been Assassinated and Murdered by barbarous Russians ; and I doubt not but in a little time those Bloody Cannibals , the Horrid Actors thereof , shall be brought to condign punishment . Only this I may say , that this was made use of to persuade the Jury of my Lord Russel's guilt , that one who was engaged in the same Plot , out of a sense of such unpardonable guilt , that he who had received such singular marks of his Majesty's Grace and Favour should be so inhumane as to Embark in such a horrid design against his Life , to evite that disgrace that must needs attend him here , had laid violent hands on himself : And this very thing had such influence on the Jury that they brought in my Lord Russel Guilty ; some of them having since declared that had it not been for this they had found him not Guilty . But when men are forced to have recourse to such unheard-of Villanies to carry on their wicked and malicious designs , it is easie to imagine what shall be the Fate of those Persons they have a Pique at . And this barbarous Murder of the Earl of Essex in order to gain credit to their Plot , and to be an additional , if not main Evidence against my Lord Russel , is sufficient with all thinking men to invalidate this Plot. For they that imployed those Russians knew well enough that if any could expect a Pardon that Earl might , and that besides , his Majesty having such a respect for him , and so firm a persuasion of his Honesty , and consequently , that he would not be engaged in any such Design against his Life , might have doubted of the reality of this Plot , which indeed he did at first ( as our Author well observes ) having sufficiently known what Counter-plots had been hatched before , and proved abortive , and therefore to gain credit to it , they found themselves obliged to have redress to such unchristian means ; and the success did not deceive them , for after his having been given out by the Inquest for Felo de se , his late Majesty did really believe it . The next thing remarkable in my Lord Howard's Evidence is , that he says in his Hear-say Evidence , that the Duke of Monmouth told him , that my Lord Russel was with Shaftesbury , being conveyed to him by Rumsey ; who undoubtedly , had he conveyed him to my Lord Shaftesbury , would have been admitted with him , he being , as he pretended , so much in the said Earls Councils , and so might have given some account in his Evidence either of what past between them , or at least , that he conveyed the said Lord to my Lord Shaftesbury , which he does not in the least make mention of . But my Lord Howard might say what he pleased , there being no body to contradict him , as to this . Another thing remarkable , is , that upon the Attorney Generals asking my Lord Howard in these words ; Did he sit there as a Cypher , what did my Lord say ? The said Lord Howard answered him in these ; Every one knows my Lord Russel is a person of great Judgment , and not very lavish in Discourse . And upon Sir George Jefferies returning ; But did he consent ? My Lord Howard answered ; We did not put it to the Vote , but it went without contradiction , and I took it , that all there gave their consent . Lord Russel's Tryal , pag. 47. So that here was no positive Evidence that my Lord Russel gave his consent , but only that my Lord took it so ; so that all that was Sworn here against my Lord Russel was , that he was present when such Discourse was talkt , and because he did not say any thing , therefore my Lord Howard believed he consented to it . So that had those Gentlemen of the Jury had the least Grain either of Conscience or common Sense , they would not have brought in this Nobleman of High Treason upon such Evidence as this , seeing ( as the said Lord says in his last Speech ) this could be termed no more than Misprision . Besides , the said Lord Howard declares , that there was no way condescended upon for raising of Money , which yet must be the first step to Levying War , the main point of his Indictment that what Evidence was given concerned . And to conclude , what I could observe from this Tryal , the Evidence that came in for this Noble Lord were sufficient to have invalidated that of my Lord Howard against him , for they declared that the said Lord H. in their hearing , with hands lifted up to Heaven , and with great Asseverations protested that he knew nothing against my Lord Russel . Now I appeal to all the World ( how strongly soever the Court carried it otherwise ) whether a Man that dare solemnly appeal to God as to any Mans Innocence , if he afterwards Swear against him , be not formally perjured . For pray what is it that constitutes Perjury ? Not the presence of the Judge I hope , for if a Judge meerly asks a Man a question , and he answer with a Lye , no Man can call him perjured ; but his adjuring him by God and all that is Sacred . Now that a Man can do this to himself , is evident from the Holy Scripture , and has been ever acknowledged by all Casuists , that whosoever privately takes Gods Name to a falshhood , is equally Guilty of Perjury as if he did it before a Judge . Nor were any of the Kings Council able to answer this Objection ; for all that they say about it in summing up the Evidence , is my Lords not revealing himself to them ; whereas here was more than a not granting of it , which he might easily have done as effectually , and much more safely by waving it , and saying , How should he know ? or what did it concern him ? or some such Expressions , by which he might have been sufficiently secured from their informing against him ; and not had recourse to such an Expression as this , As I shall Answer to God , I know nothing against him . And thus much as to the Tryal of this Noble Lord. By which the Reader may sufficiently see what an honest Jury he had , who without any valid Evidence could contrary both to the Law of God and Man condemn this Innocent Nobleman . It may not be amiss in the next place to hint at some particulars in Colonel Sidney's Tryal , whose Jury though not the same Men , yet were of the same Loyal Consciences ; the Crimes laid to his Charge were Levying of War , and Conspiring the Death of the King , and writing a Treasonable Book . Now it could not be said that those were two Overt Acts in the same Treason , for he might have writ that Book , and yet not conspire against the Life of the King ; and besides , 't is more than probable that Book was writ long before there were any such Designs or Discourses on foot , and therefore both particulars ought to have been proved by two Witnesses ; whereas for the former , though to prepossess the Jury there were two or three Hear-say Evidence , yet my Lord Howard's Evidence only was positive ; and though there was Evidence enough to have invalidate his , yet the Court was pleased not only not to take any notice of it , but even to discourage and check them ; there were besides those who appeared at my Lord Russel's Tryal several others brought , proving the above said Asseverations , one of L. H's intimate Friends declaring , That if he had been upon his Oath before the King he could not have more firmly believed him . The same Witness said that the Reproof he had at my Lord Russel's Tryal had made him forget some particulars ( which shews what Ingenuity was in the Gentlemen of the Court when any Person was before them they had a mind to bring in Guilty . ) And when the same Gentleman in the Conclusion said according to his Conscience , That if he were of that Gentleman's Jury he would not believe him , Mr. Attorney was pleased to say , That he ought to be bound to good Behaviour for it . Mr. Blake , another Witness for Colonel Sidney deposed , that when he asked my Lord Howard Six Weeks before his Tryal why he had not his Pardon , his Lordship replyed , I can ascribe it to no other reason ; but I must not have my Pardon till the drudgery of Swearing is over . One would think the Jury might have considered that a Man under so strong a Temptation as Swearing for Life is , might be easily induced to stretch things to the utmost , if not to go beyond the Truth ; and therefore should not have laid so much stress upon his Evidence . Then Trace and Penwick declared that my Lord Howard protested before God , Colonel Sidney knew nothing of it ; and the former declared , that he likewise said Colonel Sidney's Goods might be sent to his House . And the latter , that he desired to have his Plate , and promised to secure it for him . As for the other part of his Indictment , the Book which was found in his Closet ( though the same Book now would not be accounted so Heretical , especially if it were not cull'd out in pieces here and there , but read as continued with the rest of the Matter of the Book , that then so much preacht up Loyalty , which was nothing else but a Praeludium to Popery and Slavery , whereof we have had sufficient experience since , being abated several Degrees , Reason having got some more Ascendant over it ) all the proof of this was , that some Gentlemen deposed , that they believed it was his hand , which is no full Evidence in Law ( as has been admitted in other cases . ) But besides , one Mr. Wharton declared , that it was so easie a Hand , that if he had but any of those Sheets of Paper for a small time , he would undertake to imitate it so as they should not know which is which . But this was taken no notice of . But this Labour of calling in Witnesses might have been well spared : For it might have easily been foreseen that those who had confirmed the Belief of their Plot by the Treacherous and ( that wants a due name to express the heinousness of it ) Assassination of one Nobleman , and made that a means to take off another by such Law as was dispensed then , would not let it suffer in its Reputation by his being cleared , though they had had no other than Hear-say Evidence . And had an Angel been sent from Heaven to give in Evidence for him , they would have observed the same advice which St. Paul gave as to new Doctrines , viz. Not received it . And well they might , for there was never a Plot of such advantage to them as this was , which took off those who were for stripping them of their Diana Madam Arbitrary . As to Sir Thomas Armstrong , none will deny but he had very hard measure dealt him ; for when he pleaded the Statute of 6 Edward 6th . which allows that before Sentence be pronounced upon an Outlawry , a year must expire , yet though the year was not expired , he was condemned upon it . Nor was it to the purpose what the then Chief Justice answered , to wit , that he had not delivered himself up ; for he ought to have had the full time allowed him that was mentioned in that Statute , before Execution should be awarded . And when Sir Thomas desired the benefit of the Law , he after a domineering manner insulted over this Gentleman in his Misery , ordering him to be Executed on Friday next according to Law ; whereas I suppose there 's no Gentleman in England deserves to have the full benefit of the Law in his own sense more than his Lordship . The last of the Persons Executed for this Plot , was Mr. Sheriff Cornish , of whose Tryal I need not say any thing , seeing the whole Nation is sufficiently sensible of the hard measure he was served with ; who making more solemn Application to God for Vindication of his Innocency , has brought down the Vengeance of God upon some of the Jury already , there being three our four of them who have died sudden and unnatural deaths , the last of whom is very remarkable ; ( viz. the Vintner on Fish-street-Hill , the same person who in the beginning of the last Summer ( by his stingy covetous humour ) occasioned the Death of that worthy Gentleman Sir Charles Pynn ) who having been present at the late dreadful Fire in Thames-street , was , at the blowing up of a House , killed by a piece of Timber , by Carpenters called the Cornish . It may not be amiss here to insert a Passage of Sheriff Cornish and his Son , with my L. Howard ; the latter of whom encountred with my Lord at Guild-Hall about the time the heat was in chusing Sheriffs , and going into a Tavern with his Lordship , he endeavoured to inflame this Gentleman against the Government , with all the specious pretexts he could , telling him the Citizens were Asses ; that it was in their own power to redress themselves , if they would ; but the Gentleman replied , that it was their business to mind their own private Affairs and Trade , and not to meddle with matters of Government ; he being wary , and not so easily to be brought in as might be supposed . The Gentleman going home , gave account of it to his Father , who forbid his Son the said Lord's company . The other , of the Sheriff himself was thus ; My Lord Howard a little after dined at Sheriff Cornish's House ; and after dinner my Lord desired to speak with him in private , but Mr. Sheriff Cornish refused , telling his Lordship , if he had any thing to say that was lawful , he might freely speak in presence of the company ; if any thing that was unlawful , he would not hear it ; nor would he go into a room with him , lesthis own friends might think that they had some business betwixt them that might not be talkt of before company ; so that the said Lord had at that time no private discourse with him ; and suspecting him more , he gave a Watch word to his Brethren the Aldermen that were for the preserving the Privileges of the City , and were therefore hated at Court , to have a care of coming into my Lord Howard's company , for that he was sure he had a design of ensnaring some People . So that had it not been for Mr. Cornish , it 's like we should have had some of the Aldermen brought in as Actors in this Plot. As to what our Author says as to the Duke of Monmouth's being privy to the pretended Assassination of the King ; herein he basely asperses him ; for there is no positive Evidence for this in his whole History . For Col. Rumsey in his further Information , page 14. of the Copies of Informations , says , that when it was asked by some present , whether the Duke of Monmouth would not revenge his Fathers Death , that Ferguson undertook to have it under the Duke's hand against the next Meeting , and that when they met again , he told them there was no saying any such thing to the Duke : A plain Evidence that the Duke knew nothing of that design . And whereas my Lord Howard in his Supplement to his former Information , page 72. of the Informations ( by the Title you may observe that , as the Gentleman declared at Mr Sidney's Tryal , this was part of his Drudgery-work ) has these words ; About the 10th or 12th of October , after a stop put to the then intended Insurrection , the Duke of Monmouth told me , that he had seriously thought of it , meaning the Insurrection , and that after diverse ways proposed and seriously considered of , he was clearly of opinion that there was nothing so easie to be accomplished , nor so probable to do the Work so effectually , as to fall in upon the King about New-Market [ Observe , not the Rye-House ] with a smart Party of Horse , about forty or fifty , which he said he could soon have in a readiness . To which I answered , That I was of the same Opinion , but whether or not it would be decent for him to appear in person in an Attack to be made when the King was in person , deserved his consideration . Two days after I spoke to him of it again , and askt him what thoughts he had of it ; he answered me , that it could not be brought about soon enough . In his Deposition at my Lord Russel's Tryal , page 45 he has these words ; And this had carried it to the latter end of October . About the 17th or 18th Captain Walcot came to me and told me , now they were resolved positively to Rise , and did believe that a smart Party would meet with some Great Men. Thereupon I told the Duke of it ; I met him in the Street , and went out of my Coach into his , and told him , That there was some dark Intimation , as if there might be some Attempt upon the King's Person ; with that he struck his Breast with a great Emotion of Spirit , and said , God so , Kill the KING ! I will never suffer that . Then he went to the Play-House to find Sir Thomas Armstrong , and sent him up and down the City to put it off , as they did formerly ; and it was done with that success , that we were all quieted in our minds that at that time nothing could be done . Now I desire the Reader to judge how these two Depositions can be reconciled together : and yet betwixt the one passage and the other , according to his Deposition , but four or five days intervene . I do not know if any things so contradictory are to be found in Dr. Oats's Depositions , for which he has been enjoyned four years severe Penance . These are all the Depositions I could meet with that relate as to the Duke of Monmouth's being privy to the Assassination of His Majesty ; and the former , to wit , that of Coll. Rumsey , seems to acquit him from being privy thereto . And as for my Lord Howard's , the one accuses him as guilty of it , and the other plainly acquits him . So that had the Author of that History been at the pains to peruse my Lord Russel's Tryal , he would have had so much respect either to his own , or the Credit of his History , as to have left out this passage in my Lord Howard's Supplement . As to the Depositions taken in Scotland , I cannot think any of them valid in Law , nor will any reasonable Man , when he considers what Tortures two of them were put to there , which were nothing inferior to those of the Spanish Inquisition , viz. Mr. Carstairs and Mr. Spence ; the latter of whom had first his Leg put into the Boot ( an Instrument there never much in use till of late , wherein they put in their Leg , and drive in Wedges till the Bone is bruised ) afterwards his two Thumbs were put in an Instrument they call Tomikins , wherewith they squeezed them till the Bones were likewise bruised ; which any Body may know must needs cause exquisite pains , and then he was kept ten or eleven days without sleep , there having constantly been by him day and night two Sentinels with Iron pricks to keep him from sleeping , who , when-ever he began to slumber job'd him with those Iron pricks . Now a Gentleman tortured in this manner you may be sure , though he endured so long a time that he extracted Admiration even from his Enemies , though their cruel Hearts harboured no such Guests as Pity and Compassion , yet he could not long subsist , and therefore was necessitated to condescend to their Demands : Mr. Carstairs though he was exempted from the Boot , as may be , supposing him none of the best of Horsemen , yet his Thumbs severely paid of it , they having squeezed them thirteen or fourteen times ; the pain whereof did so torture him , that , as is reported his shrieks might have been heard a quarter of a Mile off , and when he was wearied out with their Cruelty , he promised to confess to them what he knew , provided they would not make use of it against any man , which they did ; and yet they made use of it against Mr. Bailie of Jerviswood : And they not only broke their promise to him , but also left out and put in sentences and words , ( may be to make it better sense , that our Author might have the less Trouble in composing his History ) which mightily altered the sense of his Deposition , and taught them to speak more of a Plot than ever he did himself . And the said Mr. Carstares , after having acquainted his Friends , as I have heard it of several of their own Mouths ( knowing that having been so Ingenuous as to tell his Friends how he had been abused in this particular , he might have been brought before my Lord's Inquisitors , to have been examined again ) quickly withdrew himself from that Kingdom . Now as to the rest of the Evidence there , you may easily be persuaded , that they , seeing what treatment those two had , would take what care they could to save themselves from the like ; and so what pain might extort from the former , fear might do the same from them . And if served in their Evidence as Mr. Carstare's was , they durst not say any thing against it , as remaining still there , and so further questionable for it . By what has been above said , it plainly appears that there was no design of taking off the King concluded upon in either of their Meetings , but that it was first mentioned in discourse by the Evidence , as the most compendious way to free themselves and the Nation from the Fears they at that time were possessed with ; but that very few of the rest ever assented to so barbarous a design , but expressed their greatest detestation of it ; nor can they be blamed so much for not discovering of it , especially seeing they knew it could not be accomplished without their Aid . Nor is it probable that either my Lord Russel , or any of their Club , had it ever directly communicated to them , whatever my Lord Howard would suggest to the contrary , in the words immediately following those last mentioned in my Lord Russel's Tryal ; viz. that upon the day that the King came from New-Market they dined together , the Duke of Monmouth , and the Lord Gray , with others being there , that a Notion was conveyed among them ( by whom he does not mention , and therefore 't is most probable 't was done by himself ) that some bold Action should be done that day , which , says he , comparing it with the King 's coming , they concluded it was designed upon the King , and that my Lord Gray affirmed with an Oath , that if they attempted any such thing it could not fail . That they were in great Anxiety of Mind till they heard the King's Coach was come to Town , and that Sir Tho. Armstrong not being there , he was supposed to be one of the Party . Now why such a Notion should be conveyed among them at that time , I cannot understand ; ( especially when it was false , there having been no preparation made thereto , except it was conveyed to ensnare them ) and that by his Lordship himself ; and I am apt to think , that , to use his own words in his Supplement , this might be the first time it was mentioned , and that when his Lordship could not have such entertainment for it amongst those Lords as he wished , he committed it to his Brethren the Evidences , to have the Notion conveyed by them to the others , who he thought would entertain it more favourably . One thing the Reader may take notice of , that his Lordships words in the Relation of it , are very ambiguous , and may be taken in several senses , particularly these words , We were in great Anxiety of Mind , till we heard the King's Coach was come in , &c. But I shall not further trouble the Reader with it , not doubting but that every honest English man is by this time satisfied of the Innocency of all the Gentlemen that suffered , as to the pretended design of taking off the late King. As to the other part of the Accusation ; viz. Levying War , with design to alter the Government ; if every thing be duly weighed , we shall find this nothing near as it was represented to be , tho' there is not the least doubt but they have had some Consultations among them as to the securing their Religion and Properties , in a time when there were such apparent dangers hanging over their Heads , and that in those Meetings many things might be proposed pro and con . But that Noble-men of that Integrity and Religion , as the Earl of Essex , and my Lord Russel were , should be concerned in any design to overturn the Government , no man that was ever intimate with them will believe . It is too plain now that those whom it most concerned to support the Government and Established Religion , were the persons that made the greatest breaches therein , and that their Illegal Proceedings gave just ground of fear and suspicion of a design on foot by them to overturn the old Establishment , and to introduce Popery and Slavery : For in the first place , the Popish Plot was endeavoured by all means to be stifled , and several attempts made to turn it upon Protestants ; and tho' it pleased God several times to bring to Light their hidden Contrivances , yet were they still countenanced by Authority ; and tho' there had been some of the Branches lopt off , yet all persons that were not wholly blinded , might easily have seen that the Body it self remained untouched , yea rather cherished . And it is well known how those that were most active against it were discountenanced . Parliaments were dissolved and laid aside , as finding that it was impossible to support that Cause , and carry on their Designs so long as that great Court fate . All underhand means were used to divide Protestants among themselves , and to stir up Feuds and Animosities between them , which they so far prevailed in , that one party of them used their utmost endeavour to ruine another , never considering the common Enemy that was hovering over their heads to devour both . Manifest Breaches were made upon their Priviledges by endeavouring to set up such publick Ministers as would be wholly at the Interest of the Court ; issuing out Quo Warranto's against Cities and Corporations , that they might become wholly in the Power , and at the Devotion of the Court. And this once obtained 't was easie to imagine what treatment every Honest Protestant might expect . A party was employed , and others by their Rewards allured , to cry up boundless Monarchy , to assert its absolute Power , and that if Kings should Act the greatest Tyrannies , yea greater than ever yet were perpetrated in the World , even against the whole Body of the People , yet it was their bounden Duty to submit , and to hold out their Throats if they had a mind to cut them ; yea , that it was one of the most damnable sins that could be committed , for people to use any means for their own preservation . And this , as it was a great Temptation to Princes , while they hoped by this means to carry on whatsoever designs they pleased , and made them assume the boldness to Act things which otherwise they would never have hazarded upon , so it could not but be very terrifying to all those who had not quite shut their Eyes . And this Terror was encreased while they considered , that if it was so with them , even under one who was a profest Protestant Prince , what could they expect when one should rule over them who was wholly abandoned to the Counsel of Priests and Jesuits ? I say , all these things considered , it is none of the greatest matter of Admiration if those who had as lively an impression of the misery and unspeakable danger of being left to the mercy of the Jesuits , as if they had been already sprawling under their feet , were roused up to act some things they had otherwise never thought of , much more be easily drawn into a snare by such as were set on to trapan them . So that what designs some of those Honest Noblemen and Gentlemen had , and the great Zeal they expressed towards their Religion and Liberties , ought not to have been requited with that Ignominy and Disgrace that their Memories have been loaded with by too many of late years . We may easily imagine with our selves , that if it had pleased God to have punished us so far for our sins ( which undoubtedly have deserved greater Judgments than were ever yet inflicted upon Mortals ) as to have put a stop to our late glorious Preservation , by blasting the Designs of those whom he made use of as Instruments for the final Deliverance of his Church from the Tyrannies and Idolatries of that Scarlet Whore , those Noble Lords and Gentlemen who joyned in so good and pious Designs , had been maligned and defamed in the same manner ; nay , and no doubt had been mete with the same measure they were ; and there would not have been wanting Court-Parasites who would have represented them as the basest Miscreants . And yet I hope there is no sincere Protestant , but does , and always did , from his first hearing of it , approve of so glorious an undertaking , and sent up his most ardent Prayers to God Almighty for his Success on so Just an Enterprize , whatever some wicked wretches , who are a stain to Humane Nature , would have persuaded us to the contrary , that so having stript us of what God and the Laws of our Country had conferred upon us for our defence , they might have satiated their barbarous Cruelty with our Blood. And therefore seeing we have all the reason in the World to believe that the Earl of Essex , my Lord Russel , and some other honest Patriots , had no design either against the late King's Person or Government , nor any sinister aim before them , but entred upon those Counsels meerly for the Good of the King and People in general , it would be the height of Uncharitableness as well as Ingratitude , to suffer our selves any more to be imposed upon so far , as to give heed to the undeserved Aspersions , the Writer of that History of the Plot , or any other Court Historian hath cast upon them . But I hope there are some now here , who , both as being persons of known Abilities , and likewise such as can give a more particular Account , as having been privy to all of it themselves , will both do those Lords the Justice , and themselves the Favour , as to vindicate their own Innocency , and expose the Falshoods of that History . Before I conclude , I shall only reflect a little on the carriage of some hot-headed men of the Church of England since the pretended Discovery of this Plot , who took occasion thence to inveigh afresh , with all the Raileries that Malice it self could invent , against Protestant Dissenters , representing them as the worst of Men , worse than Papists , yea even than Heathens ; and by this means they did so far prevail upon the ignoranter sort of common people , that till this day many of them harbour most uncharitable Sentiments of them ; so that 't is very usual for them to say , that they would rather be Papists than Presbyterians . Which very expression is enough to render them Odious to all good Christians , and shews how little they have of that Religion they profess ; while they thus malign persons who agree with them in all the Substantials of Religion , meerly because they cannot condescend to the use of some Ceremonies , which all moderate men have acknowledged to be in themselves indifferent , and which may be used or omitted as the Church shall see expedient , without any sin ; and yet have such a favourable Opinion of the Papists , tho' they are guilty of gross Idolatry , and have so corrupted the Christian Religion , as in a great measure to render it useless for that great end for which it was instituted ? viz. the Salvation of Souls . Nor did their Malice rest in traducing of Dissenters , but they vomited up their Call against most of the Churches abroad , particularly the Church of Holland and Geneva , as maintaining those they call damnable Common-wealth Principles . They also cast Dirt in the Face of the most renowned Reformers , such as Calvin , Beza , &c. and represented them as the worst of men , meerly because they had written against Arbitrary ●and Boundless Power ; and it is not long since , at the Instigation of those men , ( tho' to the great dissatisfaction of all Honest men , and Good Patriots of the Church of England ) some of their Works were publickly burnt at Oxford : Whereby in effect they strengthned the hands of Papists , and joyned with them in aspersing the Memories of those whom God had made so instrumental in delivering a great part of Europe f●om the Tyrannies and Idolatries of the Church of Rome ▪ and consequently in blemishing the Reformation it self . Yea it is too well known how they hated and maligned the Learnedest and Gravest of the Clergy , & the Body of the Discreet & Religious Laity of our own Church , ( who , blessed be God , were 3 times their number ) and branded them with the Opprobrious name of Trimmer , who in effect have under God preserved these Kingdoms from Bloodshed and Confusion , which must needs have ensued , had those hot-heads had the upper hand , so far as to have filled up the House of Commons in Parliament . And these were the Men who were generally preferred at Court , as being the only persons whose Principles and Interest led them to advance Arbitrary and Despotick Designs . And I may justly say , that next to that Hellish Crew of Jesuits , none have had a greater hand in all the Confusions and Distractions that have been in these Kingdoms for a great many years past than these very men . I might have reflected on their Carriage since our late glorious Deliverance , but since I design'd to confine my self within these bounds I shall forbear , and in the mean while am yours , &c. FINIS .