WEdnesday, July 4. 83. Towards Evening I went into Barbican to speak with a Friend, I went into a Coffee-house, drank a Mugg of Ale, of a suddain I heard a noise of Swordmen that were coming to search the said House for a person called Armiger; I being alone in a low. Room, walked into the Garden until such time as the hurry should be over; while I was in the Garden, out comes one Man, then another, seeing me, asked if my Name was not Armiger? I replyed and said, no. What is your Name then said one of the persons? Now I was altogether ignorant of what they meant, Note, that they had no Warrant a­gainst me. or that they had any Warrant from White-hall to impower one or both as a Messenger or Messengers, and therefore made this Answer, John-Son, being the Son of John. Note, That if I had been guilty of any Plot, I should not have been upon the Ex­change to the last, and a­bout my own business every day. But one of them, called William Richardson, being a Messenger, having a General Warrant to question and take up all that he suspected, demanded the place of my aboad, to see whether I were such a person: Thereupon I made an Apollogy for my self, and told them my Name was Rouse; Thereupon a Porter was sent to my House, and about the Neighborhood, to satisfie themselves that [Page 2]such a one lived there; that would not satisfie, but they would have some known person [...] thereabout to [...]ngage for me; whe [...] upon I [...]nt, and some where not a [...] home, others were shy of Appearing, and when they saw that, nothing must serve, but they charged a Constable with me, took Coach and carried me to the Fleet for security, the Secre [...]ry of the same being an assistant to the said Messenge. This was about Ten or Eleven at Night▪

Next [...]orning I was carried [...]o White-hall, Thursday, 5. day. after a lit­tle while I was called into the Secretary's Chamber, where were present, the King, the Duke of York, Lord Keeper North, Lord Hallifax, Lord Sunderland, Secreta­ry, Secretary Jenkins; Lord Keeper acquainted me that there was an Information brought against me of Trea­son, and instanced in several particulars. However, if I would be ingenuous, and confess the persons concerned, or knew of any thing against His Majesty, I should find favour. Thereupon I desired to be excused from an­swering then, (to prevent any mistakes, seeing so many at the Table with each Man his Pen ready to write down whatever was spoken) but promised to put into writing what I knew of any design against His Majesty, or the Peace of His Kingdom; which when they heard, the Duke of York urged with divers Arguments to speak what I had to say immediately; but I still insisted upon Writing my Mind: Thereupon His Majesty proposed, and it was agreed on, that I should take Four or Five hours, and be alone, to do what was necessary, and the Messenger was ordered to carry me to the Plantation-Office near Scotland Yard, where a Guard was set till I had finished. About Four in the Afternoon I went with my Paper, and one of the Clerks of the Council was ordred to receive it, who calling for it, carried it in, and I was ordered to tarry a while; mean time Mr. Thomas Lee a Dyer was called in, who was the person that Informed against me, and who himself was Sworn [Page 3]against by two others, viz. How of Old-street, and Keel­ing of East-Smithfield: when he came out, I was called in and the Lord Keeper told me, I had not been free and ingenuous, but did keep back what was material, having received further Information against me; upon which I told them, that I had done what possible could be done within that space of time allotted, and promi­sed whatever should accrue to my memory I would faith­fully discover, and not falsly accuse either Friend or Foe: Then I was ordered to withdraw, and ordered to appear next day by Eight in the Morning; then I return'd to the Fleet again. And

I was carried up again, tarried all the Forenoon, Fryday, 6. day. not called in, but adjourned till Four the same day; at Four a Clock, having Dined at Temple-Barr, went up again, and was adjourned till Four a Clock next day; so went to the Fleet again.

Early in the Morning I sent to His Majesty to speak with him alone; Saturday, 7. day. for which purpose a Gentleman went and acquainted His Majesty, who was in the Park, and or­dered me to come to him; when I came, I found His Majesty at one end, and the Two Secritaries of State at the other end of the Room, His Majesty called me to him, with whom I had private conference about a quar­ter of an hour and more, in which time I satisfied His Majesty how far Thomas Lee had been ingaged in Words and Actions against His Majesty; His Majesty seemed very well pleased, and commanded me to put it in Writing, and bring it to him again; so I went away with the Messenger and followed His Majesties com­mand, drew up a rough draft, returned to White hall at the time appointed, sent into the Secretary that I were come, but instead of being called in, the Council went away, and the Secretary gave a Warrant to the Messen­ger for my Commitment to the Marshalsey, for High-Treason, [Page 4]in Compassing the death of His Majesty, and Levying of Arms.

About Seven or Eight at Night I was sent away by Water with a File of Soldiers to the Marshalsey, where I were committed close Prisoner, next day put in Chains, and could not have the liberty of any one to acquaint my Wife where I was, though I begged as for an Alms, and told the Marshal how my Wife was big and near her time.

A Messenger came from the Attorney General to ac­quaint me how I must prepare against Wednesday for a Tryal; Monday, 9. day. thereupon I writ Mr. Attorney a Letter, wherein I acquainted him with what had past between His Maje­sty and my self, and how I was surprized, also how hard it was, what disadvantages I lay under to prepare for a Tryal; for notwithstanding this notice, I was not al­lowed any body to come to me, nor the use of Pen, Ink or Paper.

The Marshal received an order to bring me to White­hall, Tuseday, 10. where we went, tarried some Hours, and ordered to appear next Morning.

Instead of going to White-hall, Wednesday, 11. an Habias Corpus was sent to carry me to Newgate. About Nine in the Fore­noon I was carried to Newgate, where my Wife came to me and tarried about half an hour, but could get no other Friend till Nine at Night, nor Council to advise withal without Order of Court.

Captain Richardson carried me to the Old-Baley, Thursday, 12. and being there, I found that Captain Blage and my self were put in one Indictment, which was read, to which we pleaded Not Guilty. Then we withdrew; the Bill given to the Grand Inquest, who found it against us both; afterwards being called again, to hold up our Hands, we Pleaded as before: Being asked by whom we would be Tryed, we answered, By God and our Countrey.

Fryday 13. We were called again, and required to take our Tryal, Captain Blage asked, whether we must Answer, severally or jointly, Sir George Jefferies said, we might An­swer severally, then the Captain Begged Liberty to Answer for himself, [...]nd the Court Ordered me to take mine first, but before I took my Tryal, I prayed the Court for more time, because of the disadvantages that I had been under, however the Court would not admit of it, but said, I must do it now, to which I submitted, having no Copy of the Indict­ment, no Councel nor other to advise withal, the Indictment read, and Witness called in to prove it, which was, viz. Thomas Lea Dyer, William Leigh, Captain Blage's Mate, Tho­mas Corbin also brought, not as a Material Witness in this matter, as Sir George Jefferies declared, but to declare words that I should speak in 81, whose Evidence could not be al­lowed then, because Justice could not be had, and at such a time, when the Judge was in fear of his Life, as he sate upon the Bench. Moreover, Sir George Jefferies said, how that I were to be Pay-master, under a great now dead to a Rabble, the fourth Witness was Richardson, the Messenger to Witness where he took me, and how I spoke of Johnson.

The Witnesses being Sworn, the Indictment was read, how that I should be Guilty as before, and particularly that on the second of March last, I was with divers others at such a place, where Captain William Blage, and had many Armes, as Blunderbusses &c. and contrived as before, Lea Swears not a Word of this, but that on the last of June, we were at the Kings-head in Sweetings Alley London, that we contrived taking the Tower, of the City of London, White­hall, St. James's, that Captain william Blage, his Mate, and o­ther Sea-men were Ingaged in taking the Tower, how that a Golden Ball was to be thrown up upon Black-heath, for to Gather Sea-men together at the drinking of a Bowl of Punch, that the Aldermen were to be Kill'd, His Majesty and Duke of York secured, but said, the truth was Mr. Rouse was not for Shedding of Blood; much less Kill­ing of the KING and his Highness the DUKE of York, that Goodenough, and I Discoursed about it, and that Mr. [Page 6] Goodenough did give him thanks for his Acquaintance with me, that it was contrived, His Majesty was to be seized as he came from Windsor, that Armes were to be sent down in Trunks, that all was to be done before Mid Summer, being asked, who began any Discourse of this Nature, whe­ther he or I first, indeed that he could not well remember, the price of the Ball was valued by me at 10 s.telling of R. Goodenough of it, he should say, no matter if it cost 40 s. we will have it, farther he swears, that I should say that the King had Sworn in Spain è France, to establish Po­pery in England, and for not performing his Oath the Pa­pists were angry with him; upon all which, Sir George Jefferies animadverted, and aggrivated as much as possi­ble.

2. Witness, was William Leigh, who was Informed against by Lea, as a Confederate with William Blage, in contriving how to take the Tower, this Witness now was brought, that they might have full Evidence to Swear against me, he threw that upon me, which he was instigated and promp­ted too by Lea.

3. Witness, Corbin, who Swore that I should say in 81. that His Majesty had forfeited his Crown, that he had no more, but what a Parliament could give or take away when they pleased.

4. Witness, Richardson so prov'd the word Johnson, where­upon, Sir George Jefferies took occasion to signifie, what Spi­rit the Prisoner was of always against the King, that I had as many names as designs.

To all which I replied, viz. first, as to Lea, how he was but of late acquaintance, being as I well remember about May, so that of the second of March, must fall to ground, that when he entred into a Discourse with me once, and a­gain it was about a Forraign Invasion, to oppose which I discovered my tenderness again and again, that what was discoursed about the Tower and Sea-men, the Captain and o­thers, was by and from himself, as I find he discoursed with [Page 7]Mr. Hone, and Mr. Keeling formerly, that another, I, nor Captain Blage did look on it for a great while, but Roman­tick Discourse; that it was never in my heart in the least to appear against His Majesty, or do any thing against the Peace of his Government.

That Lea had been an Industrious drudge, to carry on a Design, and to see how it would take, that it was his cun­ning to speak with but one very rarely at a time, save Captain William Blage, and his Mate was present and no o­ther, that there was never a word, that ever past about any such things between Goodenough and I, that I never saw him but twice after such Discourse arose, and one of the times he asked me if I knew Captain Blage, that he saw he was a stout Fellow and hoped he was honest, I told him I knew no other and no more, but the Discourse fell to the Ground that I never knew of any meeting with Captain Blage, that we were never together with him, that whatever it was, I found Lea carried it on upon a Design to raise himself in the World.

That I never spoke what Corbin swore too singly and barely, but as that may be hereafter, that the Mate was under a surprize as to some things, but that I asked him if he were acquainted with honest Hone. I deny not, but not upon any account of a Design against His Majesty. That when I said Johnson, I had no knowledge of the Persons or there asking my name, nor that was a denying of my name, being ask­ed for Witnesses, let the World Judge in what capacity I were to produce any, and for what, that what civillity I shewed Lea, was no manner of Argument that I designed In­jury to my King, that I was often afraid of his going a­way, or that he would be under a Temptation, to do by me, as he oft threatned to do by Keeling, and Harry very often told me, that he was never in that Rogues Company but once in four Months, that he had been at East-Smithfield on purpose to Kill that Dog.

That Lea being taken up, and being concious to himself, what he had said, was Guilty of, and how he was in with [Page 8] Nelthrop &c. who Obsconded that I had heard him, speak very unworthily of, and against the Duke of York, that he was privy to some Wicked Design or other, now for fear I should appear against him, the Devil put him upon Swear­ing that against me, whereof he knows in his own Consci­ence he was the Sole Author, but God forgive him, and grant my Blood may not be laid to his Charge, then I withdrew, and the Jury brought me in Guilty of High Trea­son, against whom I have nothing to say, they are to give Account at a Greater Bar, if Guilty of any Error, and be­sides, I ever had a great Veneration for that Constitution, however, some Euthorigant Licentious Persons take Liberty to bespatter that Kind of Order.

Next Captain Blage was called, and but one Witness against him, he was acquitted.

Saturday the Fourteenth, Captain Thomas Walcot, a Man I never knew, William Hone and I were called to the Bar, where each of us read our Sentence of Death, not to speak of the Defence I made them, for it was over-ruled, now af­ter all that has been said Pro and Con, It concerns me as a Man, an English-man and Christian, for the satisfaction of all Persons to whom this Story shall come, having a clear Con­science, as to any Design against the King or Government, save that I heard such discourse, that I could not heartily acquies in.

I do declare solemnly, in the Words of a dying Man, being under the Sentence of Death, and as I know to whom I must give Account for the same.

That I ever declared against King Killing Principles and Practices, but rather looked on it as my duty, and made it my Practice to Pray for him, as often as I Prayed for dayly bread or for my own Soul.

That I never knew none of the Persons in the Pr [...]clamati­on, until the first Pr [...]clamation after, Collon [...] Flemsey See. That I was never to be a Pay-master to any [...]abble under agreement to the Lord now dead, and Sir George Jesserres said, I were but only a Pay master in Flanders 78. for Lea must needs know, and then he could say, that they were all con­cerned, and many go up and down England, if so the more Wicked Wretch he to Conceal it so long, and for being so sh [...], [...]otwithstanding all my siftings of him to know, but as I [...]id he had a Wicked Design to carry on, and so he might escape at last, he did not care against whom he swore, for there are more besides my self.

That I never knew of any Armes, as Blunderbusses, &c. provided or to be provided, That I never spoke to any Se [...] ­men, about carrying on a Design, save a kind of discourse, which Lea fomented and promoted in the presence of Cap­tain William Blage, and his Mate, with whom I was as an old acquaintance, acquainted for many Years, and whom I knew to be Faithful to his Prince, whom he had served for many years at Sea, with his life, whom I assisted for his dis­patch to New-York, and knew his resolution, and bent lay that way, for which place he bought a Ship, and was making all manner of hast to be gone.

That I never knew of any design against the City, or much less Killing the Aldermen, that I never knew of At­taching His Majesty (whom God preserve) as he should come from Windsor or any place else, that I never heard one word from Richard Gondenough, of acting any such thing or any o­ther, that I had been acquainted with Richard Goodenough ma­ny Years, as an Attorney and no otherwise, and therefore it was unlikely that he should give Iea thanks for bringing him to his acquaintance, that these were none of my words, I never did or could say, that His Majesty had taken an Oa [...]h in Spain [...] France to do so and so, and that I should have it under the Kings hand, I utterly deny it, but I remember I heard a profligate Villain speak somewhat to that purpose, this was some Years past, and I might speak what a Villain [Page 10]that was he that spoke after that rate, that what was spoke by the Mate, and about his Answer, observing with himself the slightness of many places about the Tower, which made him say any Man might take it with Four or Five Hundred Men, if they had such a mind, and Provision accordingly, that it was only for discourse sake, without any premeditated De­sign.

That what Corbin said about the Crown, was enquired in­to [...] France by a former Jury not to hold water, that when one of the Company Wyat, was speaking of the Power of the Power of Popes over Kings, &c. I replyed again, that if that were so, that the Pope could depose Kings at pleasure, and dispose there Crowns to others, (which I opposed and denied) that then he might give it to me or any other, and by that Doctrine, I might or any other there Challenge it, so that Corbin dealt by me as a Jesuited Evidence, who hear­ing a Minister Preach upon that, in Psalm the Fourteenth verse the first, the Fool hath said in his Heart, there is no God; he goes and swears that the Man spake Blasphemy, saying, there is no God, leaving out the former Words, which being joyned are honest and good, and if Corbin had been so honest, as to speak all what I said, my words could no more have been Treason and Disloyal; then the Ministers words Blasphe­mous, but I am bound to pray God to forgive my Enemies, not only seven but seventy times seven, and God forgive them all (tho never so Implacable) as I am taught to pray that God would forgive me my Trespasses.

That I declare my Abhorrence of such Designs and Practises, as have brought an Odium upon the Protestant Religion, let Men pretend to what they will, I am sure they could be none that either Fear God, or Honor the King; if any blame me for knowing any thing of it, and did not immediatly discover it, I must Answer, that my Design was good, and I were loath to carry a piece, or a broken Story, as I told His Majesty, or else he had heard it sooner, and that Lea was well advised of, and my discharging him from my House, gave no small Jea­lousie among other things. This being the Summ and Substance what I have to say, I now conclude, in owning my self (what­ever [Page 11]others say or think) to dye in the belief of the Doctrin, of that part of Christs Church planted in England, being agree­able to the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ Jesus being the Chief Corner Stone, praying God to hasten the cal­ling of the Jews, To bring in the Gentiles, destroy Babylon, build up Sion, preserve Great Brittain, especially His Majestles Person and Government, that Peace with Truth may Flourish, Bless and provide for my dear Yoak-Fellow and little ones, with all my Relations; preserve London and Westminster, order and over-rule all publick and private Transactions, to his Glo­ry, and hasten his coming the second time.

Lastly, I Commit my Body to the Care of my Friends by His Majesties leave, for a decent Burial, Believing a Resurre­ction, and my Soul to that God whose right it is: But this would not be granted the Petitioned for,