THE CASE OF Robert Blackburne.  
APril 2d. 1696, the said Blackburne was Committed to Newgate, and the September following, putting in his Prayer, was admitted to Bail at the Session's House in the Old Bailie, and no Information coming against him, he was at the ensuing Sessions discharged from his Bail, and absolutely Acquitted. By this his Chargeable Confinement having Contracted several Debts, and his Creditors being very pressing upon him, he resolved to go for Flanders, where he had some Relations, from whom he might reasonably expect some Assistance; and in order thereunto, he put himself on Board an Oftend Man of War, but not being able, for want of Money, to procure a Pass, he was by Capt. Nash, His Majesty's Searcher, brought back to London, as a Suspicious Person, and Committed to the Custody of one Davis, a Messenger; where, when he had remained for 3 or 4 Days, he, by his Solicitor, represented his Case to Sir William Trumball, than Secretary of State; upon the Consideration of which, Sir William, as the said Blackburne was informed by his Solicitor, was inclined to discharge him; but he was still delayed, till the Parliament being about to pass a Bill for continuing the Imprisonment of one Counter, and others, which Bill having passed the House of Commons, and the sad Blackburne's Name not mentioned therein, Davis, the Messenger, knowing that he had formerly been Confined with the said Counter, and (altho' legally Acquitted, as aforesaid,) made it his Business to get his Prisoner, the said Blackburne, also included in the said Bill, that he might be Recommitted, and continued in Prison with the said Counter, etc. by the Act that was then ready to pass the House: And accordingly, tho' no farther Information appeared against him, when the Bill passed the Lords House, they, in their Amendments, inserted the said Blackburne; whereupon, he was Recommitted to Newgate without ever being Examined; where he was kept two Years under so Strict and Rigorous a Confinement, that no Friend was suffered to speak to him, nor could he take any Measures to set forth the Hardship of his Case, or obtain any Redress.  
He humbly believes his Case to be Particular, in that he was never Acquainted with any one of those Persons who have been put to Death for the late Conspiracy; nor did he so much as ever know any, or either of those whom he is in Prison with, until their Confinement. And besides, he desires it may be observed, That he is not one of those Persons for whom a Thousand Pounds was paid for the Apprehending.  

Midd. ss.  
AD Deliberate ' Gaol. Dom. Regis de Newgate tent ' pro come Middlesex, apud Justice Hall in le Old Bailie in Suburbiis Civit. London, die in Cur ' Scil. nono die Septembris, Anno Regni Dom. Gulielmi tert' nunc Regis Angl. etc. Octavo.  
Robertus Blackburne tradit. in Bal. in Cur ' for ' Deliberate ' &c.  
Per Cur ' Harcourt.  
Vera Copia Exact.  
Per Matth. Smith. Cler ' &c.