AN ACCOUNT OF THE SENTENCE That Passed upon William Ld. Russell, Thomas Walcot, John Rouse, and William Hone, at the Sessions-House in the Old-Bayley, on the 14th of this Instant July, 1683, for High-Treason, in Traiterously Conspiring the Death of the King, to Leavy War, and Raise a Rebellion, &c.
Entred according to ORDER.
WIlliam Lord Russel, Thomas Walcot, John Rouse, and William Hone, having been Convicted of High Treason, for Conspiring the Death of the King, &c. were this 14th of July brought into the Court to receive Sentance of Death; and the Lord Russell being set before the Bar, the Clerk demanded (seeing he was found Guilty of High-Treason, and by the Law ought to dye) what he had to say, why Judgement should not pass against him, &c. To which he replyed, That he did not conceive a design to Leavy War was a direct intent to Murther the King, with which in the Indictment he was charged, and therefore desired that his Indictment might be read, which was by the Court accordingly granted: After which he declared, that he had been informed, that Leavying [Page]of War did not comprehend the killing of the King; to which the Court replyed, that the Verdict had passed, and that, both the Court and his Lordship were bound by Law to stand to, as not being in their power to alter; and that seeing it was the Kings pleasure to demand Judgement by his Attorney General, it was the part of the Court to give that Judgement as the Law had allotted for Crimes of that nature, desiring him to think of another state; and Mr. Attorney openly demanding Judgement, Mr. Recorder in the name of the Court pronounced the Sentance, That He William Russell Esq; should be lead to the place from whence he came, and from thence be drawn upon a Hurdle to the place of Execution, and there to be Hanged up by the Neck, then to be cut down alive, his Bowels to be taken out, and his Privy-Members to be cut off and burned before his Face, his Head to be severred from his Body, and his Body to be devided in four quarters, and to be disposed of at the pleasure of the King: After which, his Lordship returned to Newgate.
Then Thomas Wallcot, William Hone, and John Rouse were set to the Bar, and in like manner demanded what they could say in stay of Execution? Upon which the two former, viz. Wallcot and Hone desired only that their Friend might come freely to visit them, which by the Court was granted; after which Hone desired time to Repent. The latter, viz. Rouse, made a long preamble, but to no purpose. After which, Mr. Recorder passed the same Sentance upon them as had passed upon the Lord Russell, earnestly admonishing, that as their Crimes were great, and of the highest nature, that so their Repentance might be accordingly.
Sentance passed, they returned from whence they came, to expect the just reward of their Treason.