APril 2d. 1696, the said Blackburne was Committed to Newgate, and the Septem­ber following, putting in his Prayer, was admitted to Bail at the Sessions House in the Old Baily, and no Information coming against him, he was at the ensuing Sessions discharg'd from his Bail, and absolutely Acquitted. By this his Chargeable Confinement having Contracted several Debts, and his Creditors being very pressing upon him, he resolv'd to go for Flanders, where he had some Relations, from whom he might reasonably expect some Assistance; and in order thereunto, he put himself on Board an Oftend Man of War, but not being able, for want of Money, to procure a Pass, he was by Capt. Nash, His Majesty's Searcher, brought back to London, as a Suspicious Person, and Committed to the Custody of one Davis, a Messenger; where, when he had remain'd for 3 or 4 Days, he, by his Sollicitor, represented his Case to Sir William Trumball, then Secretary of State; upon the Consideration of which, Sir William, as the said Blackburne was inform'd by his Sollicitor, was inclin'd to discharge him; but he was still delay'd, till the Parliament being about to pass a Bill for continuing the Im­prisonment of one Counter, and others, which Bill having pass'd the House of Commons, and the sad Blackburne's Name not mention'd therein, Davis, the Messenger, knowing that he had formerly been Confin'd with the said Counter, and (altho' legally Acquitted, as afore­said,) made it his Business to get his Prisoner, the said Blackburne, also included in the said Bill, that he might be Recommitted, and continued in Prison with the said Counter, &c. by the Act that was then ready to pass the House: And accordingly, tho' no farther In­formation appear'd against him, when the Bill pass'd the Lords House, they, in their A­mendments, incerted the said Blackburne; whereupon, he was Recommitted to Newgate without ever being Examin'd; where he was kept two Years under so Strict and Rigorous a Confinement, that no Friend was suffered to speak to him, nor could he take any Mea­sures to set forth the Hardship of his Case, or obtain any Redress.

He humbly believes his Case to be Particular, in that he was never Acquainted with any one of those Persons who have been put to Death for the late Conspiracy; nor did he so much as ever know any, or either of those whom he is in Prison with, until their Confinement. And besides, he desires it may be observ'd, That he is not one of those Persons for whom a Thousand Pounds was paid for the Apprehending.