In Relation to the Bill of Indictment, presented to the Grand-Jury of London, against the Earl of Shaftsbury for High-Treason. Giving an Account of all the most Material Passages.
With the Names of the Evidence, their Examination by the Jury, and the Returning the Bill Ignoramus, &c.
This day the Grand Jury for the City of London, being Summoned by Vertue of a special Commission, made their Appearance at the Sessions-House in the Old-Baily, where after they were Sworn, Sir S. Bernardiston being Foreman, a Bill of Indictment for High-Treason against Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury was Presented to them, the which, after my Lord Chief Justice had given the Charge, was Read, Importing, that the said Earl had Tratorously and Maliciously conspired the compassing the Death of his Majesty, him to Depose, and put to final Destruction, by raising Armes, and leavying War within his Majesties Dominions, &c . Upon which a Paper was produced, Importing several Designes against his Majesties Person and Government: As likewise a kind of an Oath or solemn Covenant to be taken by such as were to enter into the Confederacy for opposing the Succession, which Paper was Sworn to be found in the Earls Closet by Mr. Guinn, one of the Clerks of the Council, and sealed up in his Trunk on the 6th of July last, &c. Sir Lyonel Jenkins and Mr. Blackwaite gave Evidence, that it was the same Paper that they had before seen, which came out of the Earls Trunk; then after the Jury had made Objections against the Witnesses being Examined in open Court, and had been over-ruled in that particular, Mr. John Booth was called and Sworn the rest not being permitted to come within hearing; he gave in Evidence, that he having had access to the Earls presence, by the means of Captain Wilkinson, a little beforeJohn Smith , Edward Ivy , Edward Turbervil , Brian Haines , John Macknamarra , Dennis Macknamarra , Bernard Dennis , who Evidenc'd that the Earl at several times imparted to them Treasonable designs, tending to the Desposing of his Majesty, and to reduce the Kingdome to a Common-wealth, after the manner of Holland; and that for that purpose, several persons would Arm: the Rable being resolute on their side, and a great number of Gentry who would cut in pieces the Mercinary Guards, and then take from his Majesty such Lords as at that time he mentioned, saying they Evilly advised his Majesty; and that unless such means were used, Popery would Enevitably be Introduced and that it now stood the People of England upon to stand for their Liberties: that his Majesty might be Deposed as King Richard the Second was, he having taken such like Measures, or to that effect. Farther, it was Sworn that his Lordship should say, that his Grace the Duke of Buckingham (in the Right of his Mother) ought to be Baron of Ross, and had as good a Title to the Crown, as the Descent of the Stuarts, or to that effect. Many other passages were Sworn to, too tedious here to Incert. When the Evidence had been Examined, the Jury withdrew for some time, to consider the particulars, when returning, they desired to Examine the Evidence one by one, which was granted by the Court, whereupon they were called in order, and Cross Examined to what they had Sworn, in which they little vary'd. When they had been Examined for the space of two hours, the Jury desired to have the Statute Book, to peruse the Statutes of the 25 of Edward the third and that of the 13 of his present Majesty, which was granted, and then went out again to debate the matter upon the whole Evidence, but stay'd not above the space of an hour and a half before they returned, and brought in the Bill Ignoramus, upon which a very great Shout was given, and upon the complaint of the Evidence that they were in danger of their Lives, the Court ordered the Sheriffs to send for a Guard to Conduct them safe to their Habitations, and so ended these remarkable proceedings.