1685.

Henry Cornish, Efq; fometime
Sheriff of London, was now accufed
of having been concern'd in the
Confpiracy in the late King's Reign,
for which he was committed to Pri-
fon, and on the 19th of October
brought to a Trial at the Seffions
Houfe in the Old Baily. The Evi-
dence against him was Colonel Rum-
fey, who depofed, That he being at
Shepherd's Houfe at a Meeting of
the Duke of Monmouth, the Lord
Grey, &c. a Paper was read, being
a Declaration defigned to be difper-
fed at the intended Infurrection:
That Mr. Cornish coming in, it was
again read to him, who being asked
his Opinion of it, faid he liked it
very well, and that what poor Inte
refl he had, he would join in it; and
that it was out of Compaffion to
Mr. Cornish, being his old Acquain-
tance, that he had not accufed him
before. Next Goodenough, who had
been lately pardon'd, fwore, That
he being at Mr. Cornifh's Houfe, and
difcourfing him alone, faid The Law
will not defend us, fome other Way
must be thought upon; to which Cor-
nifh reply'd, He wonder'd the City
was fo unready: Goodenough answer'd,
Something was to be done here, but
firft the Tower must be feized: Mr.
Cornif pauled a little, and then faid,
I will do what I can. Afterwards
meeting Mr. Cornish, he asked him
how Things went? To this Evi-
dence the Prifoner anfwer'd, with
Proteftation of his Innocence, and
that Rumey had formerly fworn,
That he had nothing elfe to fwear
against any Man. That he had al-
ways an ill Opinion of Goodenough,
and was againit his being Under-
Sheriff, which he brought feveral
Witneffes to prove. Alfo he brought
feveral Witneffes to give Account
of his Life and Converfation. And
laftly, Mr. Shepherd, who declared,
that Mr. Corni, at one of thole

Meetings, came to speak with the Duke of Monmouth, that he tarried but half an Hour, and that no Paper was read while he was there. Upon the Whole he was by the Jury found guilty. And on the 23d of October, was executed in Cheapfide, over-againft King-freet. A Severity that justly gave occafion to much Indignation.

On the 19th of October, William King, John Fernly, and Eliz. Gaunt, were alfo tried and condemned at the Old Baily, for High-Treafon, in having concealed and fuccoured three Perfons concerned in the late Rebellion.

On the 27th of October, Richard Nelthorp and John Ayloff, were brought from Newgate to the King's Bench Bar; where being asked why Sentence fhould not pass upon them, being out-lawed for High-Treafon, in confpiring the Death of Kirg Charles; and having nothing to fay, they were both by Rule of Court, executed the 30th, the first before Grey's-Inn, and the other before the Temple Gates.

The King had, during the late Rebellion, made great Levies of Men to increase his Army for fap preffing it; and although that w fo eafily accomplished, yet the For ces were continued and increated and not only fo, but Roman Cat'> licks were made Officers, withes taking the Oaths and Telt, as co manded by Act of Parliamer This was much refented by t Proteftant Nobility and Gentry efpecially thofe of the Church England, who had faithfully effectually ferved the King's It: reft, against all his Enemies, ticularly against Monmouth. B King, it feems, was refolved gratify thofe, however ungra it feemed to thefe, as appeared his Speech to the Parliament;

1685.

Progress in thofe Parts; and, That the Prifoner was one he was direct ed to advise with. Then gave an account of the Duke of Monmouth's preparing in Holland for the Rebellion; and that the Duke at first intended to land in Cheshire, he very much relying upon that County. Next Nath. Wade was fworn, and gave an account of the Manner of carrying on the Defign of the late Invafion; and, That the Duke of Monmouth fending over one to acquaint his Friends, he heard the Lord Delamere named for one. And, That when the Duke was landed, he ordered his March fo, that he might meet his Cheshire Friends. Richard Goodenough depoed, That being beyond Sea with the Duke of Monmouth, a Meffenger was fent from thence to the Lord Delamere among others) to give otice to him to be ready. Jones wore, That the Duke of Monmouth ent a Meffage from Holland by im to Captain Matthews, or MaWindham, to defire them to acuaint the Earl of Macclesfield, ord Brandon, and Lord Delamere ith his Defign. Several other Vitneffes were alfo produced, to rove the Prifoner acquainted with lonmouth's Defign; and that he ent down into the Country about le end of May privately, under a igned Name. And laftly, Thomas axton was Sworn, who depofed, hat he was fent for to my Lord elamere's House, on the 3d or 4th June; where being come, he and Sir Robert Cotton, and Mr. fley Crew, with my Lord: That ey told him, my Lord came down to the Country to have rais'd 1000 Men for the Duke of Monmouth in hefire, but could not get them ady time enough; and therefore ked him if he would undertake to rry a Meffage to the Duke of Monouth, which he faid he would;

and that thereupon the Prifoner gave
him eleven Guineas and five Pounds
in Silver, and hired him a Horse
for his Journey; and that he did
deliver the Meffage accordingly.
And here ended the King's Evi-
dence.

To which the Lord Delamere be-
gan his Defence, with Proteftation
of his Innocence; and urged his
Father's and his own Loyalty. And
as to the Evidence, he obferved it
was all circumftantial, and by
Hearfay only, except Saxton's; and
therefore applied himself particular-
ly against that. And feveral Wit-
neffes were produced, who teftified
Saxton to be an ill Man, and guilty
of Cheating and Forgery. Next
he called feveral to prove, That nei-
ther he, nor Sir Robert Cotton, nor
Mr. Offley Crew, were in Cheshire
at the Time that Saxton fwore he
was with them there: Which being
declared, he proceeded to give an
Account of the Reafon of his going
down, which was to fee a fick Child.
That he went under a feigned Name,
because he heard there was a War-
rant against him: That he came to
his Houfe on the 21st of May, and
returned again to London on the 3d
of June, his Son in London being
alfo fallen fick; which he also prov-
ed by feveral Witneffes. After
which the Peers retired for half an
Hour; and being returned, declared
him Not Guilty.

And it having manifeftly appeared that Saxton was perjured,, the King ordered an Indictment to be preferred against him; and accordingly on the 10th of February, he was tried and found Guilty of the fame.

The Earl of Stamford, who was committed, as you heard, in July laft, no Profecution being made againft him, petitioned to be admitted to Bail, which was this Hilary Term granted; and he was bound

1685.

1686. to appear at the Bar of the Houfe High-Commiffioner) made a Speech of Lords, or at the Council-Board, to this Effect; when he fhould be required: But

'He told them how fenfible the

his Lordship in a little time after ob-King was of their Zeal and Lor tained a Pardon.

alty to him.
'fhare in the
his Majefty
'them.

To

That they should al Protection and Care

would have ever demoflrate which, opening a free in

the King was tercourfe of Trade between Eng'land and Scotland. That he had 'full Inftructions to confent to any

Philip Vernatti, who had long fince been out-lawed for the Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, appeared now at the King's-Bench Bar, and was allowed to reverfe the Outlawry, and take his Trial on the 10th of February. Upon which no Evidence appearing against him (forPropofal for freeing them from the Prance had retracted, and Bedloe was dead) he was acquitted.

And now these Trials being over, the King was pleafed, on the 18th of March to publifh a Proclamation of General Pardon, with the ufual Exceptions of Murther, Felony, &c. and of very many Perfons by Name.

Great Alterations were now made among the Judges. February 13. Sir Thomas Jennor was made one of the Barons of the Exchequer, in the room of Sir William Gregory; and Sir Henry Bedding field was made one of the Juftices of the Common Pleas, in Place of Sir Crefwel Levinz.

On the 21st of April, Sir Thomas Jones, Lord Chief Juftice of the Common-Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron Montague, Sir Job Charlton of the Common-Pleas, and Sir Edward Nevill of the Exchequer, all received their Quietus's: And Sir Henry Bedding field fucceeded Sir Thomas Jones; Sir Edward Atkins was made Lord Chief Baron, Sir Edward Lutwich was advanced to be a Juftice of Common-Pleas, and Richard Heath, Efq; to be a Baron of the Exchequer; and on the 26th of April Sir Chriflopher Milton was made Baron of the Exchequer, and Sir John Powel Juftice of the Common-Pleas.

The Parliament of Scotland met about the latter end of April, to whom the Earl of Marray (being

Inconvenience of importing Irija 'Cattle, and to the fettling an open Mint for the Benefit of Trade. That the King defired no further Supply, being extreamly fatisfied in what they had already given. That he was impowered to confent to whatsoever Laws they 'fhould contrive for the Regulation ' and Pay of the Soldiers. And 'confent to an Act of Oblivion, with fome neceffary Exceptions.

The 10th of May the Parliament met at Westminster, but were ag prorogued to the 22d of Novem ber.

On the 14th of May the King and the whole Court removed to Wind for, where the Princess of De was brought to bed of a Daugher. who was chriftened Anna Sep by the Bishop of Durham.

Miles Prance, one of the W nefies of the Popish Plat, find Things run high, and himself in ca ger of either itarving abroad (w ther he had fled) or of fome feve Punishment, if he came home, feems thought it his best way to com pound the Matter, acknowledge hr felf a Villain, and retract all he b fworn concerning the Death of S Edmundbury Godfrey, and the F But the doing this in private w. not fufficient, it must be publie all the World: To which perpe he was on the 14th of May, at the