AN ACCOUNT Of the Discovery of the NEW PLOT, Made Manifest by several of the Conspirators Convened 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 Brittains 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 till he had Disimboged the dire Secret) that a Hellish and Damnable Conspiracy had for a long time been Brooding and carried on by several of the Disaffected party, many of which he Named, and deposed likewise the several Circumstances, so far as his knowledge Retained, that 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 Councillor at Law, and one who formerly was Active in the behalf of Stephen Colledge, had his Chamber Seiz'd 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. [Page 2]Upon Notice of which, He the said Mr. West. Councellor at Law, for some time Absconded Himself; but being moved by the sence of his unnatural Combination against [...]i [...] 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 unbiassed Principles, He advised him to throw himself at the Feet of that Majesty, which in so High a Nature He had 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, applied himself to the worthy, (and of unquestionable Loyal [...]) Sr. George Jefferies chief Justice of the Countie Palatine of Chester, and His Majesties Serjeant at Law, &c. Humbly Beseeching him to Interceed with His Majesty, that Fountain of mercy, for his Pardon, and confiding in such his Intercission, and His Majesties never failing compassion to those that Sincerely confess their Offences, he surrendered Himself into the hands of Justice, and this day being the 23d. of this Instant June, attended the Honourable Privy Council (for that and other Important considerations) Assembled at Hampton Court, upon Examination he laid open (according to our best Information) the Hellish Conspiracy against the Person of his most Sacred Majesty, and His Royal Highness, the Illustrious 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 Disaffected had Involved themselves, but Heaven not permitting so great a wickedness, prevented it most miraculously, as is conjectured, by his Majesties unexpected Departure from New-Market, upon the breaking out of the late dreadful Fire in that Town, which Conflagration caused his Majesty 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 discovery 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 City of London, &c. Is shrewdly suspected for one, as also a Lawyers Son of note, but till the Wisdom of the Nation (in Council Assembled) make a further Progress in this happy and timely discovery; I shall acquiesce, wishing that all such as either in thought or deed attempt the hurt of His mo [...]t, Sacred Majesty, may undergoe the Punishment due to the worst of Traytors.
H [...] Majesty being satisfied of the Truth of this Conspiracy 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. strictly forbiding any of his Subjects to Conceal, Harbour, or Relieve them, and that whosoever shall apprehend any of them, and put them, into the hands of Justice, shall receive for each so apprehended, One Hundred Pound as a Reward.