TWO LETTERS SENT By Mr. Richard Osburn (late Attendant on his Majesty in Carisbrook Castle, touching a Design to poison or make away his Majesty.  
Which Letters were read in the House of Peers and communicated to the House of Commons, June 20. 1648.  
With an ANSWER to the said Letters, and a Narrative of the whole DESIGN.   a king sits enthroned, crowned and sceptre in hand, surrounded by courtiers. Two children look on. 
London, Printed for A. H. near Pie-corner, 1648.   

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 and 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 the 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 the general account, the intelligence I speak of, concerning this design, I received from Captain Rolfe, a person very intimate with the Governor, privy to all Conncells, 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 severrll Letters from the Army, intimating they desired 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 Governors' 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 damnable designs.  
My Lord, I have spoken nothing here but what I shall be ready to testify upon Oath 
* In his Letter to the House of Commons, he desires time for 40 days.  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.   

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 your Lordship 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 most humble Servant, Rich. Osburne. June 16, 1648.  
For the Right Honourable the Lord Manchester Speaker of etc.   

An Answer to Mr. Richard Osburns Letter.  
HEre is two things which Mr. Osburne aims at in this Letter, (as is very clear and manifest) concerning himself, rather than any intention of good to the King.  
1 His own vindication, concerning that foul perfidious fact of betraying the trust reposed in him by the Parliament, the Lord General and the Governor, in joining with their enemies (secretly) to carry away his Majesty, to the great danger of his person, God knows whither.  
2. To gain freedom and security (to serve him as a protection, who is now fled from the face of Justice.)  
Should there be such a defigne in any, as to murder or poison the King, it were Treason in the highest degree, even to (know it, and) conceal it.  
But this information of Mr. Osburnes, alleged to daub up those breaches which he hath made in his reputation, by perfidiousness to the Parliament, is so improbable; that instead of clearing him, it makes him appear full of levity (if not treachery) both to the King and Parliament.  
The Intelligence of this design (against the King) he saith he received from Captain Rolfs: And it seems he had not a sudden, but several informations of if, (as himself saith) whereas, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, he ought to have, the first time, made it known and for not so doing, if that be true which he saith, he is guilty of Treason, for concealing it so long.  
And in all his Charge he personates none in Capt. Rolfs intelligence, but himself, and what he says of himself, gives just grounds of suspicion, that his design to have carried away the King, was very dangerous to his Majesty's person, and the peace of the Kingdom.  
He confesseth himself to be guilty of a confederasie, and to have had several Treaties to remove his Majesty, he demonstrateth these several designs against the King.  
1. That the King might be removed out of the Castle where he is, to a place of more strength. [That Mr. Osburn went on in this design, it is clear, and by himself confessed; but neither the Army, the Governor, nor Mr. Rolfs privy to it, but active to prevent it.]  
2 That an Oath might be taken, of secrecy, to each other [He saith that Captain Rolf proffered to take it; but it seems he did not, and was therefore, not thought fit to be further trusted in this design,] But the Soldiers which they drew in, discovered the Plot, for all the Oath, which they could not bear, and so the Design was prevented by the care of the Governor.  
3. That by any means the King might be removed out of the way, either by poison, or other ways. [Haddit this been true, Osburn is a Traitor in high degree, for concealing it, though he had had no hand at all in it, more than to know of the design.  
But if such a design was (by all reason) Osburn was himself, the chiefest Actor for accomplishing of this cruel and horrid murdering of the King, prevented by the care of Colonel Hammond. As may appear, by these circumstances, from his own confession.  
1 Though he knew that Colonel Hammond, the Governor, would not consent to this horrid design, yet (during the time of all these Treaties; the managing of the design, the bringing of Mercury water, and eating the Iron bar of the Window. The providing of boats and horses) Osburn would not let it be discovered, either to the Governor, or to the Parliament, but all kept secret till now, that he is fled from the presence of Justice.  
2 Osburne (without the privity of the Army, the Governor, or Captain Rolph, with other confederates did thus far act what he chargeth Captain Rolph with, in a treaty with him, that the King had like to have been conveyed into some place of secrecy: And what was the intent herein:  
Why probably it was to have rescued His Majesty from the power of the Parliament, and to have done with him what the Cavaliers had pleased.  
The Design by Osburns own words was intended thus, to the end, They might dispose of His Majesty's person, upon all occasions as they thought fit.  
Now let any rational man (that reads this Letter of Mr. Osburns) deal clearly with his own heart; and he cannot but confess, that the design to have carried away the King from the Isle of Wight by Osburn, and his confederates, was dangerous not only to the Parliament and Kingdom, but to the hazard of his Majesty's person, And by the wonderful providence of God prevented. And that his Majesty's person, as well as the Kingdom, is more secure by the protection of the Parliament then by the Cavaliers. The Parliament will hear either Mr. Osburne or any other that will come and bring in any particular Charge against any persons whatsoever, guilty of any such Design against the King.  
Westminister the 21th of June 1648.   
FINIS.