The History of the whiggish-plot, or, A brief historical account of the charge and deefnce [sic] of [brace] William Lord Russel, Capt. Tho. Walcot, John Rouse, William Hone, Captain Blague, [brace] Algernoon Sidney, Esq., Sir Sam. Barnardiston, John Hambden, Esq., Lawrence Braddon, Hugh Speak, Esq. together with an account of the proceedings upon the outlawry against James Holloway, and Sir Thomas Armstrong : not omitting any one material passage in the whole proceeding : humbly dedicated to His Royal Highness.

THE Charge and Defence OF Cpt. William Blague.

WHO being set to the Bar next after Rouse * 1.1 upon the same Fryd••y July the 13th. was Charg'd with Compassi••g the Death of the King, and Conspiring with one Rous•• and several others to seize the Tow••r, and to provide A••ms in order to a Rebellion.

The Prisoner made no Chall••nges, and so the same Jury that had * 1.2 pass'd upon Rouse, was again Sworn upon him.

The first Witn••ss call'd was, Leigh, who Swore, That the Prisoner in Discourse with himself and Goodenough, at the Kings-head Ta∣ven near Chancery-Lane, how to seize the To••er, he told them that the only way was to do it with Morter-Pieces, that he would venture his own Ship, and provide two Hundred Men.

That he caution'd the Witness not to Discourse with his Mate such a one, but that his Mate Lee was an Honest Fellow, and said, That he would undertake once in twenty times to dismount the five pi••ces that fac'd towards Southwark-side, to which end, as he told the Witness, he would bring his own Ship, and lay it on Southwark sid••, and make up the 14 Guns he had already 24.

That he ask'd Mr. Goodenough, What Money was provided? who Answering 4000 l. He Answered, The Seamen would swal∣low that up presently. To which Goodenough Reply'd, There was more provided at any time:

Mate Lee Swore, That as he Rode with the Captain in a Coach, the Prisoner should say, One of these Days we shall have a Ball to * 1.3

toss, which he afterwards understood by Rouse and Lee, was the Ball that was to be toss'd upon Black-Heath. That the Prisoner and he one time walking about the Tower, and Discoursing of seizing it, his way was to scale it, but that the Captain said, The best way was to shoot Morter-Pieces upon Southwark-side; but deny'd he could say any thing about the Ship.

To this the Captain in his own Defence made Answer, That all his busin••ss with Mr. Rouse was, to procure him a sum of Money, as being a Brok••r, and that his attending upon him for that pur∣pose brought him sometimes into Goodenough's Company, where∣in he was frequently at one Tavern or other: but that if ever he Disc••urs'd with Goodenough about any Publick Affairs, or any thing t••nding to the Publick Disturbance, he was no Ch••istian. That as to the seizing of the Tower, it was only accidental Discourse to the Water-men that Row'd him from his Ship by the Tower, to whom he was saving, That the place was not well fortify'd, and that if any Occasion should happen, that part next the Water was in more peril, then any place of the T••wer; And that upon farther Dis∣course, and a Supposition that the French should take, that then the Pris••ner said, it was but going over-against the other side, and flinging half a dozen Bambo's to them, and setting them out again. That for his having 200 Men, it was impossible, for his Vess••l was but a Pink that would not hold a 100 Men, Women, * 1.4 and Children. And for the Arms he bought, he bought them with the Ship, for his Def••nce at Sea; four Blund••rbusses, two Jav••lins, and some few ball-Pikes.

That as to any bank of Money, he never Discours'd it, and that as to the Ball, he knew no more to that very day, then one who had n••ver seen a Ball.

He added farther, That when they fix'd the time that he was to lay his Ship against the Tower, it was not in his Possession to bring thither, as not having had her above three weeks, to the very time of his Tryal.

Then M••te Lee was ask'd on the Prisoner's behalf, Whether * 1.5 there were any Projections or Provisions made for seizing the Tower?

To which he Answered, There was nothing of Men or Guns that he knew or heard of.

Being ask'd whether he had any Order from any other Per∣sons to Discourse Captain Blague in Order to this Attempt? He Answered, No; for that Captain Blague, Mr. Rouse, and Mr. L••igh, were commonly together.

Then the Jury desir'd the Witness might be ask'd, Whether the Captain knew he went to view the Tower?

To which the Witness Answer'd, He could not be positive in that. They told him they had vievv'd the Tower, but he did not remember vvhat Obs••rvations the Captain made upon it.

The Ju••y desir'd to knovv farther, Whether the Prisoner heard any thing of tossing the Ball? to vvhich Mr. Lee reply'd, That Mr. Rouse told him the Captain vvas acquainted vvith it, but that he never Discours'd vvith the Priso••er about it himself.

The Prisoner then calling his Witnesses, one Chappel a Carpen∣ter, Declar'd, That the Vessel vvas not able to do any Service

upon the Water three Weeks ago, and that he had been Ship'd four Months and a half, to go for New-York.

Wright declar'd, That he had waited on the Cap••ain ever since he had been Ship'd, and was in his pay before he had the Ship in his Poss••ssion.

The Surgeon declar'd, That he had belong'd to the Ship seven * 1.6 Weeks, and to the Captain before he had a Ship.

Being ask'd by the Jury, How many Guns belong'd to the Ship?

He Answer'd, Fourteen Sahers, of which four were wooden ones; six above Deck, and four in the Hold.

The Prisoner having thus made his Defe••ce, the Lord Chief Justice sum'd up the Evidence to the Ju••y, who withdrawing to consider of their Verdict, in a short time return'd, and brought the Prisoner in Not Guilty.

The next day, being the 14th. of July, the several Prisoners found Guilty of High-Treason, were brought to receive Judgment.

And first the Lord Russel being set to the Bar, and ask'd why * 1.7 Senten••e of D••a••h should n••t pass against him according to the Law, desir'd to hear his Indictment read in English? the which being gran••ed, the Clark of the Crown read on till he came to the Words of Conspiring the Death of th•• King; at what time the Lord Russel desiring him to hold, told the Recorder, That he thought he had not been Charg'd with Compassing and Conspi∣ring the Death of the King; To which the Attorny General reply'd, Yes. Upon which his Lordship appeal'd to the Recorder and the Court, whether if all that the Witnesses had Sworn against him were true, whether he were Guilty within the Statute of the 25th. of Edward the 3d. they having Sworn a Conspiracy only to Levy War, but no intention of Killing the King, and therefore he thought Judgment was not to pass for Conspiring the Death of the King?

To this the Attorney General Answer'd, That it was no excep∣tion.

Then the Recorder told him, That it was an exception proper, (and he thought he did make it) before the V••rdict, whether the * 1.8 Evid••nce do amount to prove the Charge which is proper for the Jury to observe, for if the Evidence come short of the Indictment, they cannot find the Verdict. But when the Jury has found it, their Verdict passes for Truth; and the Court is bound to go by what the Jury have found, not the Evidence.

To which his Lordship put the Question, Whether without any * 1.9 Proof? But it was Answer'd, The Jury must be Govern'd by their Evidence.

His Lordship reply'd, It was hard he must be Condemn'd upon a Point that there was nothing of it Sworn; therefore he thought that he might legally demand an Arrest of Judgment?

To which the Recorder Answer'd, That he hop'd his Lordship would consider it was not the Court could give a V••rdict, but that it must be the Jury. Thereupon the Attorney General demanding Judgment, the Recorder pass'd Sente••ce according to the Law.

Walcot had nothing to say, But that his Son and some Friends might come and see him.

Hone had no more to say, but begg'd the same favour. Rouse pretended there was a vast difference between the Indictment which was for Words and Discourses, that pass'd the 2d. of March, and that the Oaths Sworn were, that the words were not spoken then, but the last of June, but had nothing more to say.

Thereupon Judgment was given against all three, as against the Lord Russel.

Upon the same day that the Lord Russel was tryed, the Earl * 1.10 of Essex killed himself in the Tower.

The next day the Coroner sat upon him, and the Verdict of the Coron••rs Jury was, That Arthur Earl of Essex, did give him∣self a Mortal Wound with a Razor, by cutting his Throat from the one Jugular to the other, and through the Windpipe and Gullet, to the very Vertebras of his Neck; and that he did Feloniously and Vo∣luntarily Murther himself.

Upon Fryday the 20th. of July, Walcot was drawn to Tyburn * 1.11 in one Hurdle, and Rouse and Hone in another, and there put into a Cart, at what time the Dean of Rippon, Dr. Cartwright, and the Ordinary of N••wgate, undertaking to perform the last Office of Ministers, to Persons in their Conditions, admonish'd them to make an ingenious Discovery of what they knew touch∣ing the Conspiracy and Treasons for which they were then to suf∣fer.

Walcot replied he had some Papers in his Pocket of what he had prepared to say in Writing, and there desired they might be pulled out and he would read them.

Then looking upon his Paper, he read a long Harangue, where∣in * 1.12 he first gave an accompt of his Faith and Religion, his hope of Salvation by the Merits of Christ, and his belief of the Scrip∣tures to be the Rule of Faith and Method of Worshipping God.

As to the occasion of his Death, he confessed himself to be so * 1.13 unfortunate and as unhappy to be invited by Collonel Rumsey to some Meetings, where some things were discoursed of, in order to the asserting the Liberties and Properties of the Subject, and that while he lay ill of the Gout, Mr. West came frequently to visit him, and that his discourse was still of Lopping the Sparks. That tho he had deserved to dye by the Law, and that the King might justly put him to death, for being in those Meetings where * 1.14 a War was Debated, yet he thought those men were Guilty of his Blood that were as deep as he, and had betrayed him, and taken his Life away. He desired his Friends to be wary how they heard any Man speak, or spoke themselves, for there was no such thing as Faith in Man to Man. He forgave all the World, especially Mr Shepheard, who as He said, promised to carry him into Holland, but instead of that, brought him into the Condi∣tion wherein he then was.

He averred in the presence of God, that he knew of no En∣glish * 1.15 Man or Protestant in Ireland, that was engaged in the Con∣spiracy.

He said he could not excuse the Witnesses for aggravating things against him, and making them worse then really they were. To which when the Doctor was about to Reply,—Pray Sir give me leave, said he, for a Man to Invite a Man to a

Meeting, to Importune a Man to a Meeting, to be perpetually Solli∣citing him, and then to deliver him up to be hang'd, as they had done Him—

He confessed he was present at many Meetings, but that there were several Meetings, wherein the Business of the Kings Life was never spoke of; for he said they were for asserting the Li∣berties and Properties of the People: And being press'd to explain that, he said they were under general Apprehensions, and so were the Lords that were likely to suffer, of Popery and Slaveries coming in.

Upon the whole being told by the Dr. that he had confess'd himself Guilty enough to take away his Life? He reply'd, That he was so. And being farther told, that to say, he could not forgive the Witnesses, he at length said he did forgive them, and pray'd God to forgive them.

Nevertheless, soon after his Execution there was a Paper Print∣ed, * 1.16 which was said to be Written by Captain Walcot in Newgate, and delivered to his Son before his Execution, little differing from his Speech at the Gallows, wherein he seem'd to complain of the Evidence, and endeavour'd to deny his undertaking to charge the Guards, while others did the business. But in Answer to this, Mr. West published another Paper, maintaining and assert∣ing * 1.17 the Truth of his Testimony, particularly as to his intention to charge the Guards; declaring, He had omitted an Expression of the Captains upon that Subject, which he let slip in the multitude of particulars he delivered at the Tryal. That he should say, He look'd upon the Action to be so lawful and justifiable, that he could Dye in it with a safe Conscience. And that whereas he tax'd the Witnesses for Swearing him out of his Life to save their own, it appear'd by his Letter to the S••cretary, that he would gladly have sav'd his own so; and desired to have made the Duke of Monmouth, and other Pers••ns of Quali••ies Blood, to use his own Phrase, the price of his own Life. Observing very well at last, that he did not think fit to express in his Paper any S••nse of his Guilt or Repentance for it, but rather seem'd to retain his Old Opinion of its being a Lawful thing. That he only blam'd his own Credulity, and advis'd his Friends only against trusting Men, not against his Crime.

As for Hone, he acknowledged himself Guilty of the Crime ac∣cording * 1.18 to the Law of the Land, and the Law of God.

Rouse made a long Speech, not much to the purpose, as being only a Repetition of what was done in Court. However, at length * 1.19 he acknowledged himself Guilty of concelaing and maintaining Trayterous Correspondency: and that it was just in God in the first place, and righteous and just with the King in the second place that he Dyed.

The next day being Saturday, the Lord Russel having taken leave * 1.20 of his Lady, the Lord Cavendish, and several others of his Friends at N••wgate, took Coach with Dr. T••ll••tson, and Dr. Burnet, who accompanyed him to the Scaffold Built in Lincolns-Inn-Fields; whether being come, after a short pause, he told the Sheriff, That he expected the noise would be such that he should not be heard, and therefore he had set down in Writing what he thought fit to

leave behind him, protesting his Innocency of any Designs against the King's Person, or of altering the Government.

He then told the Sheriff, that he had been Informed, That Captain Walcot had spoken some things concerning his Know∣ledge of the Plot, and therefore desired to know whether the Report were true?

To which the Sheriff Answered, That he did not hear him so much as Name his Lordship.

His Lo••••••hip reply'd, He hop'd he did not, for that to his Knowledge, he had never seen or spoken with him in his Life; and then in the words of a Dying Man, he professed, He knew nothing of a Plot, either against the King's Life or Government: But that he had done with the World as going to a better, that he had forgave all the World heartily, and thanked God he Dyed in Charity with all Men. He wi••hed all the Protestants might love one another, and not make way for Popery by their Animosi∣ties.

Then kneeling his Lordship prayed to himself, after which, Dr. * 1.21 Tillotson kneeled down and prayed with him, and then he pray∣ed a second time by himself; which being done, after he had made himself ready, and ordered the Executioner, after he had layn down a small moment, to do his Office, without a Sign, he layed himself down upon the Block. And then it was, that the Executioner missing his first stroke, though with the first stroke he took away Life at two more he severed his Head from his Body, which was ordered by the Sheriff to be delivered to his Lordships Friends and Servants, as being given them by His Ma∣jesties favour and bounty. The substance of the Paper Deliver∣ed to the Sheriff, was this:

In the first place he bless'd God for the many Blessings which he had besto••ed upon him through the whole Course of his Life; That he was Born of worthy good Parents, and had had the advantage of a Religi∣ous Education, which for many Years had so Influenced and poss••ssed him, that he felt the effects of it in his present Extremity.

That as he had liv'd, so he dy'd a true and sincere Protestant, and * 1.22 in the Communion of the Church of England, though he could ne∣ver yet comply with, or rise up to all the heigths of some People.

That he had always lov'd his Country much more than his Life, and never had any Design of changing the Government, which he valu'd and look't upon as one of the best Governments in the World, and would have suffered any Extremity, rather then have consented to any Design to take away the Kings Life; Neith••r had any Man the Im∣pudence to propose a thing so base and barbarous to him. And that he look'd upon it as a very unhappy and uneasie part of his present Con∣dition, that there should be so much as mention of so vile a Crime.

That for the King he wished him well, and sincerely prayed for Him. * 1.23 That the Protestant Religion, the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom might flourish under his Government, and that he in his Person might be happy both here and hereafter.

That as for th•• share which he had in the prosecution of the Popish * 1.24 Plot, he proceeded in it in the sincerity of his Heart, as being fully convinced, that there was a Conspiracy against the King, the Nati∣on, and th•• Protestant Religion.

That as for his present Condition, he had no Repineing in his Heart at it.

That he freely forgave the World, and those that were concern'd in taking away his Life, conjuring his Friends never to think of Revenge. He denyed himself privy to any Design to seize the Guards, but con∣fessed he had heard some general Discourse of that Nature at the Lord Shaftsburies, but that he fl••w out into Exclamations against it.

But when he came to speak of the Sentence of Death that was pass'd upon him, he reflected upon the Witnesses, as if they had done him wrong, and spoke more undecently of the Judges, the Kings Council, and the Jury, then became a Person under his Circumstances, which did not a little offend the Soveraign Autho∣rity, and justly blemish his last Exit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cpt. Blague Tryed.
• * 1.2

  He makes no Challenges.
• * 1.3

  Mate Lee Sworn.
• * 1.4

  That his Vessel wa•• but a Pink that would no•• hold a 100 Men.
• * 1.5

  The Wit∣ness denies he knew of any Provision mad•• to seize the Tower.
• * 1.6

  The Priso∣ner's Witnes∣s••s declare the time how long they had be∣long'd to the Captain.
• * 1.7

  The Lord Russel desires the Indictment may be read.
• * 1.8

  But his Ob∣jections are held Insuffici∣ent.
• * 1.9

  He moves an Arrest of Judgment.
• * 1.10

  The Earl of Essex kills himself in the Tower.
• * 1.11

  Walcot, Hone and Rouse car∣ryed to Tyburn.
• * 1.12

  Walcot reads his Speech.
• * 1.13

  He Confes∣ses himself guilty of being at several Meetings.
• * 1.14

  And that he had deserved Death by the Law.
• * 1.15

  He knew no Protestant in Ireland guil∣ty of any Plot.
• * 1.16

  A Paper printed in his Name after his Execution, reflecting up∣on the Evi∣dence.
• * 1.17

  Answer'd by Mr. VVest, to publick sa∣tisfaction.
• * 1.18

  Hone ac∣knowledges himself guilty.
• * 1.19

  Rouse ac∣knowledges himself guilty.
• * 1.20

  The Lord Russel carryed to a Scaffold erected in Lin∣colns-Inn-Fields.
• * 1.21

  His behavi∣our before he lay down.
• * 1.22

  He dyed a Protestant of the reformed Religion.
• * 1.23

  He prays for the King.
• * 1.24

  His Opini∣on of the Po∣pish-Plot.