قراءة كتاب State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
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plotting a rising in conjunction with the Earl of Shaftesbury. The Earl was anxious that the opportunity of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's birthday on the 19th of November should be used for the purpose. The conspirators objected to this on the ground that Trenchard, who was to have headed a rising in the West, was not ready. On this Shaftesbury and Ferguson left the country, and the so-called council was re-organised by Armstrong and Grey being left out, and Lord Howard,[10] Lord Essex,[11] Colonel Algernon Sidney,[12] and Mr. Hampden,[13] being taken in. Frequent consultations were held at Russell's house, and Aaron Smith was despatched to Scotland to arrange a rising on the part of the malcontents there.
Rumsey[14] was called, and being sworn deposed that at the end of October or the beginning of November Shaftesbury had sent for him to his lodgings in Wapping, where he was hiding, and told him to go to the house of one Sheppard, where he could find Monmouth, Russell, Grey, Armstrong, and Ferguson, and to ask what resolution they had come to as to the rising at Taunton. He took this message accordingly, and received an answer that Trenchard had promised 1000 foot and 300 horse, but had failed them. Most of this answer was delivered by Ferguson, but others, including Russell, were in the room at the time.
Attorney-General—Was there nothing of my lord Shaftesbury to be contented?
Rumsey—Yes, that my lord Shaftesbury must be contented; and upon that he took his resolution to be gone.
Lord Chief-Justice—Did you hear any such resolution from him?
Rumsey—Yes, my lord.
Shaftesbury told him of the meeting; he was not there more than a quarter of an hour; he heard something of a declaration to be made, either there, or on a report of Ferguson's.
Jeffreys—To what purpose was the declaration?
Lord Chief-Justice—We must do the prisoner that right; he says he cannot tell whether he had it from him or Mr. Ferguson.
There was some discourse begun by Armstrong as to the posture of the guards at the Savoy and at the Mews. Monmouth, Grey, and Armstrong, in Russell's presence, undertook to see the guards,
with what care and vigilance they did guard themselves at the Savoy and Mews, whether they might be surprised or not.
The rising was to be on the 19th of November. It was arranged by Shaftesbury that he himself was to go to Bristol, in what capacity it was not stated.
Jeffreys—If my lord Russell pleases to ask him any questions he may.
Lord Russell—I have very few questions to ask him for I know little of the matter; for it was the greatest accident in the world I was there, and when I saw that company was there I would have been gone again. I came there accidentally to speak with Mr. Sheppard; I had just come to town, but there was no discourse of surprising the guards, nor no undertaking of raising an army.
Lord Chief-Justice—We will hear you to anything by and by, but that which we desire to know of your lordship is, as the witnesses come, to know if you would have any particular questions asked of them.
On being pressed by Russell, Rumsey repeated that Russell 'did discourse of the rising' at Taunton and consented to it.
Sheppard was called, and deposed that in October Ferguson came to him in Monmouth's name,
and desired the conveniency of my house, for him and some other persons of quality to meet there. As soon as I had granted it, in the evening the duke of Monmouth, my lord Grey, my lord Russell, sir Thomas Armstrong, col. Rumsey and Mr. Ferguson came. Sir T. Armstrong desired me that none of my servants might come up, but they might be private; so what they wanted I went down for, a bottle of wine or so.
He confirmed Rumsey's evidence as to the discourse about surprising the guards; Monmouth, Grey, and Armstrong went out to view them at the Mews; the next time they met Armstrong reported
the guards were very remiss in their places, and not like soldiers, and the thing was feasible, if they had strength to do it.
There were two meetings: he had notice of them; the company came in the evening; he saw no coaches; Lord Russell came both times.
Jeffreys—Do you remember that col. Rumsey at the first time had any discourse about any private business relating to my lord Russell?
Sheppard—No, I do not remember it.
Attorney-general—Besides the seizing of the guards did they discourse about rising?
Sheppard—I do not remember any further discourse, for I went several times down to fetch wine, and sugar, and nutmeg, and I do not know what was said in my absence.
He remembered that a paper was read 'somewhat in the nature of a proclamation,' setting forth the grievances of the nation 'in order to a rising.' It was read by Ferguson, but he could not say whether they were all present or not.
Cross-examined by Lord Russell, he could not be positive as to the time of the meetings; they were at the time that Lord Shaftesbury was absent from his house, and he absented himself about Michaelmas day.
Lord Russell—I never was but once at your house, and there was no such design as I heard of. I desire that Mr. Sheppard may recollect himself.
Sheppard—Indeed my lord I can't be positive in the times. My lord I am sure was at one meeting.
Lord Chief-Justice—But was he at both?
Sheppard—I think so; but it was eight or nine months ago, and I can't be positive.
Lord Russell—I can prove I was then in the country. Col. Rumsey said there was but one meeting.
Col. Rumsey—I do not remember I was at two; if I was not, I heard Mr. Ferguson relate the debates of the other meeting to my lord Shaftesbury.
Lord Russell—Is it usual for witnesses to hear one another?
Lord Chief-Justice—I think your lordship need not concern yourself about that; for I see the witnesses are brought in one after another.