A Relation of the Arraignment and Trial of those who made the late Rebellious Insurrections in London. 1661. [From the Third Collection of Somers' Tracts, Vol. 4, p. 520.] WE shall here give you the Arraignment | and Trial of those bloody fanatics, who brake forth into open rebellion on January the 6th and 9th last (we cannot forget the time, for the one was the day when the Regicides at Westthe prime heads of them, as colonel Overton, cornet Day, major Allen, Courtney, &c. had been before seized upon suspicion, still persisted in their wicked designs, which they attempted to put in execution in January 1661, as follows. "On Sunday, January 6, 1661, these monsters assembled at their Meeting-house in Coleman-street, where they armed themselves, and sallying thence, came to St. Paul's in the dusk of the evening, and there, after ordering their small party, placed sentinels, one of whom killed a person accidentally passing by, because he said he was for God and king Charles, when challenged by him. This giving the alarm, and some parties of Trained-Bands charging them, and being repulsed, they inarched to Bishopsgate, thence to Cripplegate and Aldersgate, where going out, in spite of the constables and watch, they declared for king Jesus. Proceeding to Beech-lane, they killed an headborough, who would have opposed them. It was observed, that all they shot, though never so slightly wounded, dyed. Then they hasted away to Cane Wood, where they lurked, resolved to make another effort upon the city, but were drove thence, and routed by a party of horse and foot, sent for that purpose, about 30 being taken, and brought before general Monk, who committed them to the Gate-house. "Nevertheless, the others, who had escaped out of the wood, returned to London, not doubting of success in their enterprize; Venner, a wine-cooper by trade, and their head, affirm ing, he was assured, that no weapons eployed against them, would prosper, nor a hair of their beads be touched;' which their coming off at first so well, made them willing to believe. These fellows had taken the opportunity of the king's being gone to Portsmouth, having before made a disposition for drawing to them of other desperate rebels, by publishing a Declaration, called, A Door of Hope opened,' full of abominable slanders against the whole royal family. On Wednesday morning, January 9, after the watches and guards were dismissed, they reassumed their first enterprize. Their first appearance was in Threadneedle-street, where minster passed their Ordinance for the Trial of our glorious sovereign king Charles the 1st; the other was the day when they proclaimed their High Court of Justice for that monstrous Trial,) which without troubling you with their they alarmed the Trained-Bands upon duty that day, and drove back a party sent after them, to their main guard, which then marching in a body towards them, the Fifth Monarchists retired into Bishopgate-street, where some of them took into an ale-house, known by the sign of the Helmet, where after a sharp dispute, two were killed, and as many taken, the same number of the Trained Bands being killed and wounded. The next sight of them, (for they vanished, and appeared again on a sudden) was at College-Hill, which way they went up into Cheapside, and so into Woodstreet, Venner leading them, with a murrion on his head, and a halbert in his hand. Here was the main and hottest action, for they fought stoutly with the Trained-Bands, and received a charge from the life-guards, whom they obliged to give way, until being over-powered, and Venner knocked down, and wounded with shot, Tufney and Crag, two others of their chief teachers, being killed by him, they began to give ground, and soon after dispersed, flying out-right, and taking several ways. The greatest part of them went down Wood-street to Cripplegate, firing in the rear at the yellow Trained-Bauds, then in close pursuit of them. Ten of them took into the Blue-Anchor alehouse, near the Postern, which house they maintained until lieutenant-colonel Cox, with his company, secured all the avenues to it. In the mean time, some of the aforesaid yellowTrained-Bands got upon the tiles of the next house, which they threw off, and fired in upon the rebels, who were in the upper room, and even then refused quarter. At the same time another file of musketeers got up the stairs, and having shot down the door, entered upon them. Six of them were killed before, another wounded, and one refusing quarter, was knocked down, and afterwards shot. The others being asked why they had not begged quarter before, answered, they durst not, for fear their own fellows should shoot them. Such was their resolution, or enthusiastic madness. "The whole number in chis last attempt, does not appear to have been above 50 persons, though not above 40 were ever seen together; yet so great was their confidence in the pretended revelations of their teachers, that al repeated impertinencies and contradictions, which longer narratives are too often full of, was briefly thus: On Thursday, January 17, twenty of the luding to the history of Gideon in holy writ, they questioned not, with that small remnant that could lap, to subdue and conquer all the rest, designing to allow none but such Quakers as agreed with them in their millenary notions, as nearest to their sort of enthusiasm, the honour of partaking with them in this their great and glorious design, as they termed it, in their aforesaid declaration, wherein they farther blasphemously said,That if they were de'ceived, or misled, it was God that deceived them;' laying their delusions, and charging their wicked and desperate folly on him, as the author of it. prisoners taken in arms were arraigned together at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, the rest being dangerously wounded, were put off by the Court for a future trial. These twenty arraignall that opposed them; that they had been praying and preaching, but not acting for God; that they armed themselves at their meetinghouse in Coleman-Street, with blunderbusses, muskets, &c. besides other particular evidence against each of them to matter of fact. The proof against Martin, Hopkins, and Wells, was not so full as against the others, and against Patshal there was but one witness, whereupon they were acquitted by the jury. The other 16 being found Guilty, and brought to the bar, were required to shew cause why judgment should not be given against them, &c. The Lord Chief Justice Foster charging Venner with the blood of his accomplices, by seducing and leading them, he answered, He did not. To which, the witnesses being produced again, he blasphemously quibbled and said, It was not he, but Jesus, that led them. Three of them confessed their crime and error, and begged mercy. All the 16 were condemned to be drawn, hanged, and quartered. "In this vile insurrection, were slain 22 of the king's men, and as many of the traitors, most of them in houses, and some others taken prisoners, were afterwards shot for refusing to tell their names. There were 20 taken, besides some few upon suspicion; the 20 were as follows, viz. Thomas Venner, the wine-cooper, their captain; Roger Hodgkins, a button-seller, in St. Clement's-Lane, Lombard-street; Leo- According to which Sentence on Saturday, nard Gowler, Jonas Allen, John Pym, William January 1667-8, Venner and Hodgkins, both Orsingham, William Ashton, Giles Pritchard, uncured of the wounds they had received in a cow-keeper, Stephen Fall, John Smith, Wil- their rebellion, being guarded by two compaliam Cocket, John Dod, John Eleston, Thomasnies of the trained-bands, were drawn on a Harris, John Gardener, Robert Bradley, Richard Marten, John Patshal, Robert Hopkins, and John Wells, five of whom had been for merly in a design against Oliver Cromwell. 6 sledge from Newgate through Cheapside, over against their meeting-house in Swan-alley in Coleman-Street, and there executed. Venner spoke little, and that in vindication of himself "These were all brought to their trials toge- and his fact, and something of his opinion, bether; the wounded men had chairs allowed ing confident the time was at hand, when them, and their indictment was for High-Trea-other judgment would be;' and reflecting son and Murder. much upon the government. Hodgkins raved and cursed by way of praying, calling down vengeance from heaven upon the king, the judges, and the city of London; nor would he give over, though forbid by the Sheriff, till the hangman was hastened from his employment of quartering Venner, to turn him off. Thus they died in the same mad religion they had lived. Their quarters were set upon the four Gates of the City, by the late executed Regicides, whose quarrel and revenge they had undertaken in this their fanatic attempt. Their heads were also set upon poles, by some of the others, on London-Bridge. "Thomas Venner was first called, who, when he had held up his hand at his arraignment, being asked, Guilty, or Not Guilty, began a wild fanatic discourse about his conversation in New-England, and concerning the Fifth Monarchy, and the Testimony within him for above twenty years, with such like impertinent ramble. He confessed he had been in the late rising, but was not guilty of treason, intending not to levy war against the king; and then sallied out into nonsensical pleas, as at first: But the Court pressing him to plead directly to the indictment, he answered, Not Guilty, and put himself upon his country. "In like manner Hodgkins, after some rambling from the business in hand, and the Court's threatening to record him mute, pleaded ⚫ to the indictment; the rest of his fellows submitting, after some previous excursions in their frantic way. The witnesses being then sworn, two against every particular person, made it appear, that Venner, Tufney, and Crag, the two last whereof been slain in the action, did several times persuade their congregation to take up arms for king Jesus, against the powers of the earth, which were his majesty, the duke of York, and the general; that they were to kill "On Monday the 21st of the same January, nine more of them were executed, all in one morning, at five several places, by the same executioner; two at the West-ead of St. Pauls, two at the Bull and mouth, two at Beech-Lane, two at the Royal-Exchange, and the last, Leonard Gowler, a notable fellow, at Bishopsgate. They all obstinately persisted in their villainy, especially the last, who began with imprecations, like Hodgkins, and was silenced the same way, by the command of the Sheriff. Only one young man, who was hanged in Redcross-Street, did repent of his sin, and the blood he had spilt; but yet died in his opinion of ed were Thomas Venner, Roger Hodgkin, ley are there alive.) And Venner could not Chilianism. When cut down, the sentence was not executed on them to the full; but only their heads cut off, and set upon LondonBridge. "This same year, one John James, a smallcoal-man by trade, and a Fifth-Monarchy-Man, who had been concerned in Venner's business, but happened to be absent, or made his escape the last day they broke out, but had not shaken off his villainous designs, but continued his meetings and conventicles, with others of that desperate crew, among whom, he was a great Rabby, or teacher, took the liberty of launching out into many traiterous speeches, and malicious invectives against the king's person, government, and family, which relished much of the design couched in Venner's declaration. Having been overheard by some neighbours, living near the conventicle, James was seized, and carried before a justice, who committed him to Newgate, whence, in Michaelmas-Term, he was brought to the King's-Bench bar at Westminster, where the words were proved against him, and he convicted, and condemned as a traitor. "On the 27th of October he was drawn on a sledge to Tyburn, some of his pernicions sect throwing themselves into his sledge, and embracing him, so fond were they of that silly, though bold, seducer. At the gallows he denied the words; but owned and avowed his Chilianism, and the personal reign of Christ, on which account he prayed not for the king, or any authority; but made an end with the usua! confidence of his party. His quarters were disposed of by his majesty's orders, and his head set upon a pole at Whitechapel, near the place of his meeting, for an example to his fellows." * Lord Clarendon represents the government of Cromwell as cruel and blood-thirsty, yet it may be questioned whether all the persons executed for Treason in the whole of his reign, were more in number than those who were executed for this single mad plot. The next was Roger Hodgkin, who said, He had not heard the Indictment; whereupon the Court caused it to be read a second time, and being asked Guilty or Not Guilty, he answered, I am Guilty of no Treason, Not Guilty; and said, he would be tried by the laws of God, whereupon the Court told him, if he would not Leonard Gowler readily answered, Not Guilty, and that he would be tried by the laws of God and the country. Jonas Allen said, He had confessed before, but if he must, he would say, Not Guilty, and that he would be tried by the laws of God, but after said by God and the country. John Pym said, he was Not Guilty, and that he would be tried by God and the country. William Oxman answered, Not Guilty, and that he would be tried by the laws of God and holy men; but being informed that that was no legal answer, he said, by God and the country. Giles Pritchard said, he disowned the manner and form; that he was Not Guilty, and would be tried by the Lord of Hosts (and so he is sure to be) but being pressed to give his answer, he said, by God and the country. The rest, viz. William Ashton, Stephen Fall, John Smith, William Corbet, John Dod, John Elston, Thomas Harris, John Gardner, Robert Brierly, Richard Martin, John Patshal, and Robert Hopkins having heard what others had done, did not put the Court to much trouble, but answered severally, Not Guilty, and that they would be tried by God and the country; so did John Wells, who confessed he was Guilty of many sins before the Lord, and that he would be tried by God and the country. Roger Hodgkin, who before, as we told you, had shewn so much obstinacy, was now again asked, Whether Guilty or Not Guilty, and how he would be tried? whereupon he followed the examples of his brethren, and answered in form accordingly. The Jury was now called, and the prisoners informed by the Court of the right they bad as Englishmen, to challenge each of them 55 Jurors without giving reason, and more if they shewed cause: But they saw so little exception in the looks of the Jurors, that they excepted against none of them. The Jury sworn, the witnesses were produced, who made it appear, That at the Meeting-house in Swan-alley in Coleman-street, Venner, Tufnay, and Cragg (which two latter went with them, but was not in arms. Martin and Hopkins denied they were in arms. Patshal said, he was taken without arms, and ought not to answer against himself. Wells said, that Veuner called him out in the morning, and bid him take arms to save his throat from cutting, that he was suddenly surprised in his spirit, and went along with them with his sword and pistol to Wood-street, but that his heart was not with them, that with the first opportunity he flung down his arms and ran away, and that he took great shame upon him. The Lord Chief Justice Foster asked him, Whether he took shame upon him for engaging with rebels, or for running away? He said, it was because he had gone so far with them. were slain in this rebellion) did several times That Evidence being heard, the Court asked the prisoners at the bar, what they had to say for themselves: Venner confessed himself in the insurrection, but said, He did not lead them, and when the witnesses positively swore it, he excused it, and said, it was not be, but Jesus led them; That he could not deny but that most of the things witnessed against him were true, yet pleaded that he could not commit Treason because the king was not yet crowned: But being told by the Court that every Englishman knows the king never dies, and that that opinion of his was first started by Watson the Jesuit, and long since condemned, he pressed it no farther. Hodgkin, Gowler, Allen, Pym, Oxman, Ashton, Pritchard, Fall, Smith, Corbet, Dod, Elston, Harris and Gardner, seeing the Evidence so clear against them, confessed that they were in arms in the insurrection. Brierly deaied it, and said, That he was called up, and This is the substance of all the prisoners answered for themselves: which done, the Lord Chief Justice Foster gave his directions to the jury, telling them of the natural allegiance due to our sovereign lord the king, That no war could be raised without the king's commission and consent, and that any war without such commission was against the king, That to prove treason there must be two witnesses (without the parties confession) with many other material particulars necessary for the jury's infor mation in this case, which his lordship then delivered, wherewith the jury at going forth seemed bighly satisfied. After which the Court adjourned till three o'clock that afternoon. When the Court returned, the jury brought in their verdict, whereby they found Thomas Venner, Roger Hodgkins, Leonard Gowler, Jonas Allen, John Pym, William Oxman, William Ashton, Giles Pritchard, Stephen Fall, John Smith, William Corbet, John Dod, John Elston, Thomas Harris, John Gardner, and Robert Brierly, guilty of the matters charged against them in the indictment; and acquitted Richard Martin, Johu Patshal, Robert Hop Whereupon Pym said, he was sorry for what he had done. Smith desired the mercy of the Bench. Corbet said, he knew not what he did, and begged the mercy of the Bench. And Brierly prayed that God would put it into the king's heart to pardon him. But no cause being shewn by the prisoners why sentence should not be given against them, the Lord Chief Justice Foster made an excellent short material speech to let them see their condition, how highly they had offended God, their king, and country; what a vast measure of pride for so few to attempt to destroy so many; and how ungratefully to so merciful a king that had granted them so much liberty; particularly telling Venner, that he was. not only an actor in so wicked a design, but a seducer of those silly men whose blood would lie upon him: After which (and divers other seasonable passages) his lordship pronounced sentence upon as many as the jury had brought in Guilty, to be drawn, hanged, and quartered, &c. Yet his majesty bath been graciously pleased speakably fond of,) but added to this, that the saints were to take the kingdom themselves. He gathered some of the most furious of the party to a meeting in Coleman Street. There to pardon part of the sentence; for only two and to put the saints in the possession of the were ordered to be quartered (which were Ven-kingdom, (an opinion that they were all nnner and Hodgkin) who accordingly were executed before their meeting-house in Colemanstreet this day, Jan. 9, (it is the very day, 1648, that the worthy Lord Mayor sir Richard Brown (whom these rebels would now have nurdered) was sent prisoner for his loyalty to Windsor castle) the rest are to be hanged only and beheaded, whereof two (viz. Oxman and Pritchard) were so executed at Wood-street end the same day. Others must suffer, some before the Old Exchange, some in Redcross and in Whitecross-streets, and other places in the City of London. Two (viz. Pym and Brierly) are for some time reprieved."* Somers' Tracts. The following is Burnet's Account of Venner's Tumult and its consequences: "The king had not been many days at Whitehall, when one Venner, a violent fifth monarchy man, who thought it was not enough to believe that Christ was to reign on earth, was as follows:-" That there was found with Saimon a list of 160 officers of the late army: that it was further discovered that there should have been a meeting in London about the 10th of December, and that they intended about the end of January to have made sure of Shrewsbury, Coventry, and Bristol, and that they should rise in several parts at once: that where they were prevalent they should begin with assassination, which moved one of them to relate, That some of the late king's judges were entertained in France, Holland and Germany, and held constant correspondence with those, and were fomented by some foreign princes.' That many arms were brought in order to this design, and that they bragged, If they once got footing, they should not want means to carry on their work.' That they were discovered by one of their party, * The wild conduct of these crazy people and his relation confirmed by such intelligence seems to have given occasion to real or pre- from abroad, as never failed." He further told tended apprehensions of alarming and exten- them, "That at Huntington many there met sive conspiracies. On Nov. 21, 1661, the under the name of Quakers, that were not so, Lords received a Message from the Commons and rode there in multitudes by night, to the by Mr. Secretary Morrice to let them know, great terror of his majesty's good subjects. "That the House of Commons have intelli- That it might be wondered at that some progence that divers male-contents, fanatics,posals were not made to remedy this impendcashiered and disbanded officers and soldiers, and others, have some design amongst them tending to the breach of the peace of this kingdom; therefore they desire their lordships would join with them, to move his majesty that he would please to issue out a Proclamation, that all suspicious and loose persons may be forthwith sent out of these towns of London and Westminster, and the liberties thereof, for some time." And on the 19th of December, The Lord Chancellor acquainted the Lords, "That he had a Message to deliver from the king; which was, to let them know, that besides the apprehensions and fears that are generally abroad, his majesty hath received Letters from several parts of the kingdom, and also by intercepted letters it does appear, that divers discontented persons are endeavouring to raise new troubles, to the disturbance of the peace of the kingdom, as in many particulars was instanced: which matter being of so great consequence, his majesty's desire is, That the House of Commons may be made acquainted with it, that so his majesty may receive the advice and counsel of both houses of parliament, what is fit to be done herein; and to think of Some proper remedy to secure the peace of the kingdom."-Upon this, a joint Committee of both Houses was appointed to sit, notwithstanding the usual recess at Christmas, in order to make discoveries, and prepare a Report against the next meeting; the substance of which, as delivered by the Lord Chancellor Clarendon, VOL. VI. ing evil: but the king had advised with the That one and twenty persons were the chief managers of it; that they met in Bow-street. Covent Garden, in St. Martin's-le-Grand, at 'the Mill-bank, and in other places; and that they were of seven different parties or interests, as, three for the Common-wealth, three for the Long Parliament, three for the City, three for the Purchasers, three for the Disbanded Army, three for the Independents, and three for the Fifth Monarchy-Men. That their first consideration was how to agree on the 'choice of Parliament-men against the ensuing session; and that a special care ought to be 6 6 |