A DECLARATION Delivered into the Houſe of Lords, by Mr: Abraham Dowcet, on Monday the 3 of July, 1648. Againſt Major Edward Rolph whom hee charges to have laine in waite three houres to have piſtold the King.
With his ſpeech at the Barre in the Houſe of Peers; And the Lords Order for Tryall of Major Rolph.
And ſeverall ORDERS of the Houſe of Commons for apprehending Delinquents.
London Printed for A. H. n•er Pye-corner,⟨ July 4th⟩ 1648.
MR: Abraham Dowcet, being brought by the Keeper of Peter-Houſe, where hee is a priſoner, was by Order of the Houſe of Peeres, called to the Lords Barre, to give in evidence againſt Major Edward Rolph, concerning the buſineſſe wherein Mr. Richard Osburne accuſeth him to have had a deſigne to have taken away the Kings life.
Mr: Dowcet being at the Barre, The Right Honourable the Lord Hundſdon (by Order of the Houſe of Lords,) asked him what hee could ſay concerning any thing that hee2 knew of a Deſigne by Major Rolph to take away the life of the King:
I Humbly deſire your Lordſhips favourable conſtruction towards me, in that I cannot deliver my ſelfe in good language, being that I am not an En•l•ſh m•n; And therefore I doe deſire your Honourr: that you will bee pleaſed to give mee leave to deliver in writing, what I ſhall teſtifie upon Oath, in this buſineſſe propounded to mee by your Honours.
The Lords Ordered that according as was deſired by Mr. Abraham Dowcet, he ſhould deliver in the caſe in paper, under his hand-writing, upon Oath.
I Am ready to make Oath that Mr. Richard Osburn, told me, the Kings perſon was in danger, and that3 the ſaid Major Rolph, had a deſigne for conveying his Majeſties perſon to ſome place of ſecreſie, where only three ſhould goe with him, and where they might diſpoſe of his Majeſties perſon as they ſh•uld think fit, Which informations from Mr. Osburn, and the aſſurance I had of his Majeſties inten•ions forthwith to come to his Parliament, was the cauſe of my ingagement in this buſineſſe.
I am ready likewiſe to depoſe, that the ſaid Rolph came to m•e, when I was a priſoner in the Caſtle, and in a jearing manner asked mee why the King came not down according to his appointment ▪ And then in great indignation and fury ſaid he waited three houres under the new Plat•orm, with a good piſtoll ready charged, to have received him if hee had come,
Mr. Abraham Dowcet, delivered this upon Oath, to bee all truth, before their Lordſhips.
KNowing my ſelf (I ſpeaking in the preſence of that God who ſearcheth all hearts) to be ſo perfectly clear and innocent of that foule and horrid crime charged upon me, that I abhorre the very thoughts of it: Earneſtly deſiring an opportunity of appearing for vindication of my innocency, or what ever elſe mal•ce in wicked men can lay againſt me; reſting fully aſſured that whatſoever award I ſhall find at the hands of men, I ſhall injoy the4 happineſſe of an upright and peaceable conſcience with the ſame God, in whoſe preſence I ſtand.
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament, That it be referred to the Kings learned Councell to bring in an impeachment of High-Treaſon, againſt Major Edward Rolph.
BY vertue of an Order of the Houſe of Commons, Theſe are to require you, your Deputy or Deputies forthwith to make repaire to the abodes or dwelings of Mr: Richard Bankes, and Mris: Mary Hanmer, and them there, or where they may be found to apprehend and bring to the Houſe of Commons as Delinquents to anſwer their contempt and breach of the priviledge of Parliament, in breaking open or cauſing to be broken open the chamber doors of Mr. Robert Charlton a Member of the ſaid Houſe, taking away his goods, and forceably conveying away the body of Francis Charlton his Ward, and his Servants, even ſitting the Houſe, and Mr. Charlton then attending in the Houſe the publique ſervice of the Kingdome. Theſe are further to require (if need be) all Mayors Sheriffes, Juſtices of Peace, Conſtables and all other His Majeſties Officers and loving Subjects (in breaking open doores locks or any place or places (to bee aiding to the Serjeants Deputies in the execution of5 this warrant, And for ſo doing, this ſhal be your Warrant.
I doe nominate and appoint Marmaduke Sanders Edm. Cooper and Richard Action my lawfull Deputies for the execution of this Warrant
ORdered by the Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, That Mr. Richard Bancks a Mercer or Silke-man at the inner Temple-gate, and Mris. Mary Hanmer widow, and all other perſon or perſons in whoſe cuſtody the body of Francis Charlton, an Infant, now is, doe forthwith make reſtitution of the body of the ſaid Francis Charlton, to Mr. Robert Charlton a Member of this houſe, and Guardian to the ſaid child, he having been forceably taken out of his cuſtody, whilſt he was ſitting in the Houſe of Commons upon the publique ſervice of the Kingdome, And that the Serjeant at Armes attending on this Houſe doe forthwith make ſearch after the ſaid Francis Charlton, and ſeize and apprehend him whereſoever hee ſhall bee found, and6 bring him, and reſtore him to Mr. Robert Charlton.
Reſolved &c. THat this Houſe doth declare, That the forceable taking away of Mr. Francis Charlton out of the Chamber of Mr. Robert Charlton (a Member of this Houſe) and breaking open his Chamber whilſt he was attending the ſervice of the publick, is a breach of priviledge; And it is Ordered, That Will Taunton, Ioſeph Rogers and Andrew Bateley act•rs in the ſaid Buſineſſe be co…to the Serjeant at Armes attending this Houſe, and that they remaine in cuſtody untill the body of Mr. Francis Charlton〈◊〉delivered unto Mr. Robert Charlton or this Houſe take further Order.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A81685)
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