Here is a true and just account of a most horrid and bloody plot conspired against His most sacred Majesty and His royal Highnes by the wicked contrivances of Colonel John Rumsay, Richard Nelthorp, Edward Wade, Richard Goodenough, Captain Walcot, William Thompson, James Burton, and William Hone since which time there is an account that Colonel John Rumsay is taken, and hath been upon his examination.

1683

Here is a true and just account of a most HORRID And BLOODY PLOT, Conspired against his most Sacred MAJESTY And his Royal HIGHNES By the wicked Contrivances of Colonel John Rumsay, Richard Nelthorp, Edward Wade, Richard Goodenough, Captain Walcot, William Thompson, James Burton, and William Hone.
Since which time there is an account that Colonel John Rumsay is taken, and hath been upon his Examination.

NOtwithstanding the unparaleld clemency, of our most Gracious Sovereign, Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. Such is the insatiate desire of never satisfied malignant Spirits, that they cannot be contented to live peaceably under the Government of a renowned Prince, the very pattern of pity, and mercy, but most wickedly, and maliciously conspire, and contrive the death of their Prince, the ruine of the Nation, and the loss of their own Souls, as may appear by the following lines, which give perfect testimony of the horrid design and bloody Plot, designed to be carried on by the wicked contrivance of these Barbarous and Inhumane Wretches. Namely John Rumsay, Colonel, Richard Rumhold Minister, Richard Nelthorp Esquire, Edward Wade Gentleman, Richard Goodenough Gentleman, Captain Walcot, William Thompson, James Burton, and William Hone Joyner, who, as it is testified upon Oath, did most Traiterously, and Villainously design the death of his most Sacred Majesty, and not contented with the blood sucking of a Monarch, so matchlesly merciful, did also contrive the murther and destruction of his Royal Higness, James Duke of York. But being by Divine Providence, interpose in their wicked design, and prevented of the evil hatch'd in the infernal lake, by a happy and timely discovery of their dreadful enterprize, they fearing that Justice, the continual pursuivant of such inhumane Conspirators, should overtake, and lay hold of their Rebellious Contrivances, have, for the prevention thereof, absented their habitations, and absconded themselves, which gives a clear and large Demonstration of their Guilt.

And it is very likely, his Majesty, will, by, and with, the advice of his most Honourable Privy Council, issue forth a Proclamation for the apprehending of the Malefactors above named, that they may be brought to the Bar of Justice, to receive the reward due to their Conspiracies.

And these persons so discovered, and brought to condign punishment, I hope may be an Example to all others for the future, to forbear and abhore such bloody Contrivances and inhumane Barbarity, as to Conspire the death of a Prince, most Merciful, Gracious, and Pitiful: but the Malignancy of these, and such like Rigicides, cannot, nor will not be forgotten, by any Loyal Subject, though they may be punished according to the heinousness of the Crime: I wish with all my heart it may be the last Plot that may ever be conspired against our Soveraign, whose mercies are daily manifested to many offenders, and whose virtues are as much admired, as their impudence wondred at, who do or shall ever attempt such enormities, against the pattern of Princelie Monarchs.

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It is much to be minded and observed, how graciouslie God hath been pleased to protect and preserve our Soveraign King from the bold and desperate attempts of his Conspireing Enemies, who, wanting Grace and the Fear of God, would audaciouslie presume, and venture on the most execrable murther of the most merciful Prince the World could ever boast of. But if we look back upon the Eye of Providence, we cannot but see the great, and particular kindness, our most blessed Creator hath for our most Gracious King. what a miraculous preservation was that at Worcester, when a Prince of the greatest Splendour in Europe was forced by the rebellious (though then prevailing partie) to take up his Lodging in an Oaken Tree, only accompanied sometimes with a few Loyal Nobles, who like worthie Souls, were free to participate of the deplorable sorrows his Majestie then met with? What strange and wonderful designs have been since, several times contrived against him, whom the Heavens have preserved: but we may conclude with this Ancient Proverb, Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos? and it is undoubtedlie true, that he that sheweth mercie, shall also find mercie; it hath so happened to our Soveraign. And I hope the mercies of the most high will still continue to him, and be multiplied more, and more, that our poor Nation, too much divided by Faction, may be blessed by the long continuance of an unparraleld Monarch, whose clemencie is to be amired, whose mercie is to be praised, and whose Enemies hope will be defeated. And those that shall either attempt, or at least imagine the least harm to his Princelie person, may they be utterlie confounded in their evil designs against him: that poor England may again Flourish as before, that hath latelie been incumbred with prodigious Conspirators, hatching such wicked and hellish Contrivances, that 'tis a shame to all Loyal persons to reiterate, or rather to harbour in the secret Corners of their Loyal hearts.

And I think no reasonable person can reckon less than severe punishment to be the Portion allotted for them: and it is undoubtedlie a dutie incumbent uppon all persons to endeavour to make a discovery of these Malefactors, which will be a piece of good Service to the Nation, and unquestionablie will be well rewarded by his Majestie, who was ever, and wil be still an encourager of well doers, and who can do more for a Prince, then to studie how to detect the Villains that shall so impudentlie undertake a design so monstrous, so inhumane, and so diabolical? But such is the unreasonableness and sordid disposition of some ill qualified, and ill tempered persons, that whereas they should be won by the clemencie and favourable kindness of an obliging Prince, that they on the contrary, are rather imboldned to presume to the greatest hight of impudence that can possibly be imagined, and in stead of being won to a dutiful obedience, are more and more animated to all kind of mischief, that the Devil, and an ill Conscience, can find out, or invent: nor can the affability of an endearing Monarch make any impression on obdure and impenetrable hearts, but they still persist in their beastly and rude behaviours, till time and providence, bring them too late to repent, of their unjust, and wicked practices.

Here is also an undoubted assurance of the apprehending of Collonel John Rumsey who was seized and examined; of which proceedings, we will give you a more perfect account by the next.

Windsor June the 21st 1683, This day the Sheriff, and common Serjeant of London, by the express Command of the Lord Mayor, and the Court of Aldermen, in pursuance of an Order of Common Council, waited on His most gracious Majestie, and with all Submission, most humbly acquainted him, that the Common Council, had agreed to acquiesce with the Regulations required by His Majesty, and had deferred the Election of Sheriffs, and other Officers, which usually were chosen on Midsummer-day. until the 18th of July next.

So I conclude, with my Prayers for the preservation of his Majesty, and his Royal Highness, that no Traitor may ever Assassinate, or ever have power to prejudice their Princely Persons, and so leaving them to the Tuition of the Omnipotent, I conclude with a Vive le Roy, or long live the King.

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AN ACCOUNT Of the Discovery of the NEW PLOT, Made manifest by several of the Conspirators Conveened before His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council at Hampton Court on the 23. of this Instant June 1683.

NO Wonder if Sacred Princes, Vice-gerents to the King of kings, are Heavens peculiar care, since Wicked Men so frequently are Combin'd (with the Powers of Darkness, in malice to Him that Instituted them by His Eternal Decree to Govern the Inferiour World) do disturb their Reign, and Conspire their Hurt; but in vain are all the Machinations and Devices of a Turbulent Faction, who seek to overthrow the Established Government; which is Heavens peculiar Care, though like Bulls in Bassian, they have pushed for some years past, to overthrow Great-Britains Monarchy, yet have their Devices been brought to nought, as appeared by the late Discovery, when Ignoramus Juries were brought as Salvo's, yet the Eyes of the Nation were too open to be deceived with Shaddows, Spectrums, or Fantoms, when apparent Truth presented her self in her Native shape, and much more now, since a more then ordinary Discovery hath been made by such who were in the Combination against the best of Kings, who is indeed, next Heaven, our only Refuge, and the Breath of our Nostrils; a Prince so Good, so Bounteous, and so Just, that Heaven thought him only fit to Rule so great a People.

But to the purpose, some days since, Depositions having been made by one Keeling (who, as Heaven would have it, was altogether restless ti [...]l he had Disimboged the dire Secret) that a Hell [...]sh and Damnable Conspiracy had for a long time been Brooding, and carried o [...] by several of the Disaffected Party, many of whi [...]h he Named, and depos [...]d likewise the several Circumstances, so far as his Knowledge Retained, th [...]t attended the damnable Conspiracy, no doubt laid deep to deprive true Loyalists of all they hold dear on this side Heaven; upon which Deposition, one Mr. West, a Councellor at Law, and one who formerly was Active in the behalf of Stephen Colledge, had his Chamber Seized by Order of the Secretary of State, and divers Papers secured by the Officers Imployed to that purpose, many of which contained matters of dangerous Consequence, tending to the countenancing Sedition and Rebellion, &c. Ʋpon notice of which, he, the said Mr. West, Councellor at Law, for sometime absconded himself; but being moved by the sence of his unnatural Combination against his Soveraign, he expressed a deep, and past doubt, an unfeigned sorrow for his offence, which he discovering to his Father in Law, who is doubtless a man of unbyassed Principles, he advised him to throw himself at the Feet of that Majesty, which in so high a Nature he offended, but he not daring to approach such Innate Goodness, against whom he had causelesly conspired, before his Attonement was in some measure made, he by his Agents, if not in Person, applyed himself to the worthy, (and of unquestionable Loyalty) Sir George Jefferies chief justice of the Countie Palatine of Chester, and his Majesties Serjeant at Law, &c. Humblie beseeching him to Interceed with His Majestie, that Fountain of Mercie, for his Pardon, and confiding in such his Intercession, and His Majesties never failing compassion, to those that sincerelie confess their Offences, he [Page 4]surrendred himself into the hands of Justice, and this day being the 23d of this Instant June, attended the Honourable Privie Council (for that and other Important considerations) Assembled at Hampton Court, upon Examination he laid open (according to our best information) the Hellish Conspirac [...]e aga [...]nst the Person of his most Sacred Majestie, and his Royal Highness, the Illust [...]ious Prince James Duke of York, in order to the overthrow of Monarchy, and all that can be called dear to Loyal and Peaceful Subjects, in which divers of the d [...]saffected had involved themselves. I shall endeavour to show you the true Narrative of Honourable and Credible Persons, this Plot was to be Acted (as we hea [...]) by the Whiggish Partie, when the King came from Newmerkat last and the manner of their attact was this, at Hodsdeen, which is betwixt Newmerca [...] and London, there is a strait passage, through which two Coaches cannot pass at on [...]e, and Hedged on each side, and they for a Stratagem, had designed two Carts to meet the Kings Coaches in the Lane, which would undoubtedlie cause a stop, and w [...]ilst the King sto [...]ped, they were to unleaden eight or a dozen of Blunderbushes in the King and Dukes Coaches, but as the wonderful Providence of God ordered it, His Majestie left Newmercat sooner then ordinarie by two Weeks, by reason of the violent Fire which happened there at that time: which Conflagration caused his Majestie and Royal Highness to depart, and take their way to Cambridge: In this design many were Involved as by some Papers Seized appears, and upon discoverie of which, divers are fled, nor cannot be yet found, divers Messengers have been Impowered to apprehend them, and of this pernicious number, Mr. Goodenough late under Sheriff for the Citie of London, &c. Is shrewdly suspected for one, as also a Lawers Son of note, but till the wisdom of the Nation (in Council assembled) make a further Progress in this happie and timely discoverie; I shall acquiesce, wishing that all such, as either in thought or deed attempt the hurt of His most Sacred Majestie, may undergoe the Punishment due to the worst of Traytors.

HIs Majestie being satisfied of the Truth of this Conspiracie against His Sacred Person, and the Person of his Royal Brother, caused His Proclamation to be Issued forth, Commanding these Conspirators, viz. Collonel John Rumsie, Richard Rumbal, Richard Nelthrop, Edward Wade, Richard Goodenough, Captain Walcot, William Thompson, James Burton, and William Hone, to render themselves to his Judges, Justices, &c. Strictlie forbidding anie of his Subjects to conceal, harbour, or releave them; and that whosoever shall apprehend anie of them, and put them into the hands of Justice, shall receive for each so apprehended, One hundred pound as a Reward.

Entred according to Order.

Edinburgh, Re-printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majestie, Anno Dom. 1683.

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