THE CHARGE OF High-Treason: DELIVERED Into the House of Lords (upon Oath) by Mr. Richard Osburn, against Cap. Rolph. ABOUT The Design to have poisoned or made away the King's Majesty. AND The ORDERS of the House of Lords for Captain Rolphs' Trial. LONDON, Printed for the general satisfaction of moderate men. M DC XL VIII. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon flanked by English lion and Scottish unicorn THE Substance of the Charge of High-Treason delivered into the House of Lords (upon Oath) BY Mr. Richard Osburne, against Captain Rolph, about the Design to have poisoned, or made away the KING'S MAJESTY. I. THat Captain Rolph, hath been privy to several Letters, sent from some persons in the Lord Fairfaxes Army, intimating that the King's person might by any means be removed out of the way. II. That the said Captain Rolph, had knowledge that the said Letters did some of them intimate His Majesties remove out of the way to be by poison, or otherways, to the great hazard of His Majesty's person. III. That the said Captain Rolph hath used means to persuade the said Osburne to join with him in the design concerning His Majesty. iv That in this joining of the said Osburne with Captain Rolph, the said Captain Rolph propounded that it might be taken into consideration how to remove the King out of the Castle. V That the said Captain Rolph propounded to him the said Osburne, That His Majesty might be removed to a place of more secrecy. VI That the said Captain Rolph did proffer to the said Osburne that they should take an oath, and swear each to other. VII. That to persuade the said Osburne to join with him therein: He the said Captain Rolph, did proffer to do what was propounded, without the privity of Colonel Hammond the Governor. VIII. That the said Captain Rolph hath said that the King was in too public a place, in Carisbrooke Castle; from whence he might be rescued. IX. That the said Captain Rolph declared to him the said Osburne, That if the King might be conveyed into some place of secrefic, they might dispose of His person upon all occasions, as they thought fit. X. That this private conveyance (of the King's person away) he declared he was confident they might effect without the Governors' privity. THE Orders of the House of Lords for Captain Rolphs' Trial I. ORdered by the Lords in Parliament, That Captain Rolph be apprehended by Mr. Thane, the Gentleman Vshur of this House, and carried to the Prison of the Gatehouse at Westminster. II. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that Sergeant Finch draw up an Impeachment of High-Treason against Captain Rolph, And that Mr. Richard Osburne do attend the said Sergeant Finch for that purpose. Captain Rolph being apprehended) declares that the said Charge against him is false, and desires only a fair legal Trial, which he is to have suddenly, at the Lords Bar. June 16, 1648. For the Right Honourable the Lord Manchester Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore. Right Honourable, I Did by a Letter of the first of June acquaint my Lord Wharton with what I send here enclosed, expecting it would before this have been communicated to both Houses: what should be the reason of concealing a business of this nature I know not, except it be to give those time that are concerned in it better to think of some stratagem to evade this discovery. I humbly desire your Lordship upon sight of this relation, to communicate it to the House of Peers, which I shall be ready to attest upon oath in every particular, when ever their Lordships shall please to allow me that freedom and security which ought to be afforded to any Gentleman and Christian, in witnessing a truth. My Lord, I am your Lordship's humble servant, Rich. Osburne. 1 June 1648: For the Right Honourable the Lord Wharton, My Lord, THough I cannot but imagine I stand so highly condemned in your Lordships and many persons thoughts, that any thing of vindication from me must come with all the disadvantage & prejudice that may be; yet (My Lord) being conscious of my own integrity, and confident that I shall be judged by your Lordship by no other rules but those of justice and reason, I cannot doubt but when I have discovered the grounds and reasons of my actions, that it will appear to your Lordship that what I have done hath been agreeable to the several duties I stand engaged in, as I am supposed to have acted contrary before I am heard. Not to detain your Lordship in circumstances, I shall make this Protestation, that as no other thing but the danger of the King's life could in reason excuse such attempt: So I do protest that no inferior considerations did or could have moved to such an action; But my Lord having had such particular and well-grounded information, that so horrid a design was intended and moved from those that could when they pleased have had power to put it in execution; I hope I shall not be censured for having post posed all other considerations to that Loyalty which cannot be questioned but I own to the King. But not to leave your Lordship unsatisfied with this general account, the intelligence I speak of, concerning this design, I received from Cap. Rolfe, a person very intimate with the Governor, privy to all counsels and one that is very high in the esteem of the Army; he My Lord, informed me that to his knowledge the Governor had received several Letters from the Army, intimating the King might by any means be removed out of the way, either by poison or otherwise; and that another time the same person persuaded me to join with him in a design to remove the King out of that Castle to a place of more secrecy, proffering to take an oath with me, and to do it without the Governor's privity, who he said would not consent for losing the allowance of the house, his pretence to this attempt was, that the King was in too public a place, from whence he might be rescued, but if he might be conveyed into some place of secrecy, he said we might dispose of his person upon all occasions as we thought fit; and this he was confident we could effect without the Governors' privity. My Lord, considering all these pregnant circumstances, I think it will appear that there were, if there are no such intentions concerning his Majesty's person, as may well justify my endeavours that have been made for his remove from so much danger: and for my own part, My Lord, I must be so plain as to declare concerning my own actings in relation to this business, that had I done this (having such grounds) I must believe I had then verified all those aspersions of disloyalty and breach of Trust, which I am contented to suffer from those whose interest is perchance opposed to my endeavours to prevent such domnable designs. My Lord, I have spoken nothing here, but what I shall be ready to testify upon oath when ever I shall be called to it, with promise of freedom and security, till than I must be content to support all censures, and satisfy myself with the vindication I receive from my own conscience. I am your Lordship's humble servant Rich. Osburne. FINIS.