[Page] TVVO LETTERS SENT By Mr. Richard Osburn (late Attendant on his Majesty in Carisbrook Castle, touching a Design to poyson or make away his Majesty.
Which Letters were read in the House of Peers and communicated to the House of Commons, June 20. 1648.
With an ANSWER to the said Letters, and a Narrative of the whole DESIGNE.
London, Printed for A. H. neere Pye-corner, 1648.
THough I cannot but imagin I stand so highly condemned in your Lordships and many persons thoughts, that any thing of vindication from me must come with all the disadvantage and prejudice that may be; yet (my Lord) being conscious of my owne integrity, and confident that I shall bee judged by your Lordship by no other Rules but those of justice and reason, I cannot doubt but when I have discovered the grounds and reasons of my Actions, that it will appeare to your Lordship, that what I have done hath been agreeable to the several duties I stand ingaged in, as I am supposed to have acted contrary before I am heard.
Not to detaine your Lordship in circumstances, I shall make this Protestation, that as no other thing but the danger of the Kings life, could in reason excuse such attempt: So I doe protest that no inferiour considerations did or could have moved to such an action: But my Lord having had such particular and well grounded information, that so horrid a design was intended and moved from those that could when they pleased have had the power to put it in execution; I hope I shal not be censured for having post posed all other considerations to that Loyalty which cannot be questioned but I owe to the King.
But not to leave your Lordship unsatisfied with the generall account, the intelligence I speak of, concerning this designe, [Page 2] I received from Captain Rolfe, a person very intimate with the Governour, privy to all Conncells, and one that is very high in the esteem of the Army; he my Lord informed me, that to his knowledge the Governour had received severrll Letters from the Army, intimating they desired the King might by any meanes be removed out of the way, either by poyson or otherwise, And that another time the same person perswaded me to joyne with him in a designe to remove the King out of that Castle to a place of more secrefie, proffering to take an Oath with me, and to doe it without the Governours privity, who he said would not consent for losing the allowance of the House, his pretence to this attempt was, that the King was in too publique a place, from whence he might be rescued, but if he might be conveyed into some place of secresy, he said we might dispose of his person upon all occasions as wee thought fit; and this he was confident we could effect without the Governours privity. My Lord considering all these pregnant circumstances, I think it will appear that there were, if there are no such intentions concerning his Majesties person, as may well justifie my indeavours that have been made for his remove from so much danger: and for my owne part, my Lord, I must be so plain as to declare concerning my owne actings in relation to this businesse, that had I done this (having such grounds) I must beleeve I had then verified all those aspersions of disloyalty and breach of Trust, which I am contented to suffer from those whose interest is perchance opposed to my indeavors to prevent such damnable designes.
My Lord, I have spoken nothing here but what I shall be ready to testifie upon Oath * when ever I shall be called to it, with promise of Freedome and security, till then I must be content to support all censures and satisfie my selfe with the vindication I receive from my owne conscience.
I Did by a Letter of the first of June acquaint my Lord Wharton with what I send here inclosed, expecting it would before this have been communicated to both Houses: what should be the reason of concealing a businesse of this nature I know not, except it bee to give those time that are concerned in it, better to thinke of some stratagem to evade this discovery,
I humbly desire your Lordship upon sight of this relation, to communicate it to the House of Peeres; which I shall be ready to attest upon Oath in every particular, when ever your Lordship shall please to allow me that freedome and security which ought to be afforded to any Gentleman and Christian, in witnessing a truth.
An Answer to Mr. Richard Osburns Letter.
HEre is two things which Mr. Osburne aimes at in this Letter, (as is very clear and manifest) concerning himself, rather then any intention of good to the King.
1 His own vindication, concerning that foul perfidious fact of betraying the trust reposed in him by the Parliament, the Lord Generall and the Governour, in joyning with their enemies (secretly) to carry away his Majesty, to the great danger of his person, God knows whither.
2. To gain freedome and security (to serve him as a protection, who is now fled from the face of Justice.)
Should there be such a defigne in any, as to murther or poyson the King, it were Treason in the highest degree, even to (know it, and) conceale it.
[Page 4] But this information of Mr. Osburnes, alledged to daub up those breaches which he hath made in his reputation, by perfideousnesse to the Parliament, is so improbable; that instead of clearing him, it makes him appear full of levity (if not treachery) both to the King and Parliament.
The Intelligence of this designe (against the King) he saith he received from Captain Rolfs: And it seems he had not a sudden, but severall informations of if, (as himself saith) whereas, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, he ought to have, the first time, made it known and for not so doing, if that be true which he saith, he is guilty of Treason, for concealing it so long.
And in all his Charge he personates none in Capt. Rolfs intelligence, but himself, and what he sayes of himself, gives just grounds of suspition, that his designe to have carryed away the King, was very dangerous to his Majesties person, and the peace of the Kingdome.
He confesseth himself to be guilty of a confederasie, and to have had severall Treaties to remove his Majesty, he demonstrateth these severall designes against the King.
1. That the King might be removed out of the Castle where he is, to a place of more strength. [That Mr. Osburn went on in this designe, it is clear, and by himself confest; but neither the Army, the Governour, nor Mr. Rolfs privy to it, but active to prevent it.]
2 That an Oath might be taken, of secresie, to each other [He saith that Captain Rolf proffered to take it; but it seems he did not, and was therefore, not thought fit to be further trusted in this designe,] But the Souldiers which they drew in, discovered the Plot, for all the [Page 5] Oath, which they could not bear, and so the Designe was prevented by the care of the Governour.
3. That by any means the King might be removed out of the way, either by poyson, or other wayes. [Had this been true, Osburn is a Traytor in high degree, for concealing it, though he had had no hand at all in it, more then to know of the designe.
But if such a designe was (by all reason) Osburn was himselfe, the chiefest Actor for accomplishing of this cruell and horrid murthering of the King, prevented by the care of Collonell Hammond. As may appear, by these circumstances, from his own confession.
1 Though he knew that Collonell Hammond, the Governour, would not consent to this horrid design, yet (during the time of all these Treaties; the managing of the design, the bringing of Mercury water, and eating the Iron barre of the Window. The providing of boats and horses) Osburn would not let it be discovered, either to the Governour, or to the Parliament, but all kept secret till now, that he is fled from the presence of Justice.
2 Osburne (without the privity of the Army, the Governour, or Captain Rolph, with other confederates did thus far act what he chargeth Captain Rolph with, in a treaty with him, that the King had like to have been conveyed into some place of secrefie: And what was the intent herein:
Why probably it was to have rescued His Majesty from the power of the Parliament, and to have done with him what the Cavaliers had pleased.
The Designe by Osburns owne words was intended thus, to the end, They might dispose of His Majesties [Page 6] person, upon all occasions as they thought fit.
Now let any rationall man (that reads this Letter of Mr. Osburns) deal clearly with his own heart; and he cannot but confesse, that the designe to have carryed away the King from the Isle of Wight by Osburn, and his confederates, was dangerous not onely to the Parliament and Kingdome, but to the hazzard of his Majesties person, And by the wonderfull providence of God prevented. And that his Majesties person, as well as the Kingdome, is more secure by the protection of the Parliament then by the Cavaliers. The Parliament will heare either Mr. Osburne or any other that will come and bring in any particular Charge against any persons whatsoever, guilty of any such Designe against the King.
Westminister the 21th of June 1648.