An exact abridgment of all the trials (not omitting any material passage therein) which have been published since the year 1678: relating to the popish, and pretended Protestant-plots in the reigns of King Charles the 2d, and King James the 2d.

The Trial of William Ring, Tailor, before the Lord Chief Justice Jones, at the Old-Baily, on Monday October the 19th, 1685.

THE Prisoner then and there appearing (to∣gether with John Fernby, and Mr. Cornish) was arraigned upon an Indictment of High-Treason, for harbouring, concealing and re∣lieving one Joseph Kelloway and Henry Lawrence, whom he knew to have traitorously levied War against the King, &c. to which baying pleaded Not Guilty; the Jury sworn for Middlesex were,

• ...Nehemiah Arnold,
• ...Francis Stevens,
• ...Richard Fisher,
• ...John Howlet,
• ...John Vigures,
• ...Samuel Birch,
• ...William Thompson,
• ...VVilliam Read,
• ...Samuel Peacock,
• ...Richard Fitz-Gerrard,
• ...Richard Bromfield,
• ...John Haynes.

To whom the Indictment was read, and briefly open'd by Mr. Phipps, and Attorney General; and then a Copy of the Record of the Conviction of Kelloway and Lawrence was pro∣duced, to shew them Traitors: and to prove the Prisoner harboured and conceal'd them be∣tween their Treason and Conviction.

First Mr. Barrington deposed, That on July the 11th last, Mr. Ring came to him from Mr. Lawrence to come and speak with him, whom he found with one Kelloway at Mr. Ring's house,

who said they were just come out of the West-Country. That on VVednesday following, being July the 15th, he called and Mr. Lawrence again at Ring's house, who told him he was go∣ing from thence to the Pewter-Platter in St. Jones's: Where after he had been examin'd be∣fore Mr. Common-Serjeant they searched for them, but they were gone, only they confessed such Men lodged there on Tuesday and VVednes∣day Night, but not the Thursday Night; so they enquired for them at Mr. Ring's House, the Bi∣ble in VVich-street without Temple-Bar; and there Mr. Ring's Wife told them, they lay there the Thursday Night, but could not tell where they were at present. Whereupon they went to the Castle-Tavern, and Mr. Common Serjeant sent for Ring, and examin'd him; who denyed all, till he had sent and search'd his house, and brought a Paper.

Then Mr. Barrow deposed, That in July last he heard Mr. Ring confess before the Lord Mayor that he had lodged Lawrence and Kelloway two or three Nights, who told him they had been in the late Western Rebellion in Monmouth's Army.

Mr. Crip swore, that he searching Mr. Ring's house, found in the Window a Letter under Lawrence's own hand to Newberry about a horse he had left there, which he stole from his Master; which Letter he brought to the Castle-Tavern; and the Ring who before had denied every thing, owned upon the sight of that Paper, that Kelloway was his Cousen, but deny'd that he lodg'd him then: But afterwards at the Sessions-house, when Kelloway and Lawrence were pro∣duced

before him, he owned that he had lodg'd them two or three Nights, though they said four Nights, and that they told him whence they came.

Then Mr. Hardisti swore to the Examination of Mr. Ring, before Sir James Smith, Lord Mayor of London, on July the 18th last; which was that he did lodg Kelloway and Mr. Lawrence three Nights, and they dined twice with him: that they told him they were in Monmouth's Army, who was routed, and had left their Horses at Newbury; and that he went to one that was Journey-man to a Glover in St. Bartholomew's Close to come speak with Lawrence; something also he confess'd about one Hooper, as being con∣cern'd in the Rebellion.

The Mr. Richardson swore that this Kelloway and Lawrence where the Men, he carried down into the VVest, where they were both convicted, and one executed, the other having a Reprieve.

The Prisoner then denyed what he had confest in his Examination, saying it was false; and that he did not know whence Kelloway and Lawrence came, nor did they tell him; he confess'd he lodged them, but that what he had done was ignorantly; and that when his Examination was taken, he was in a Maze, and he did not know what was put down.

After this the Ld. Ch. Justice briefly summ'd up the Evidence, and the Jury brought him in Guilty.