William III, 1696-7: An Act to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronett of High Treason. [Chapter IV. Rot. Parl. 8&9 Gul.III.p.1.nu.4.]

Sir John Fenwick attainted of High Treason, and to suffer Death, &c

Whereas Sir John Fenwick Baronett was upon the Oaths of George Porter Esquire and Cardell Goodman Gentleman att the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer held for the City of London on the Eight and twentieth Day of May One thousand six hundred ninety six indicted of High Treason in compassing and imagining the Death and Destruction of his Majesty and adhering to his Majesties Enemies by consulting and agreeing with several Persons (whereof some have been already attainted and others not yett brought to their Tryal for the said Treasons) att several Meetings to send Robert Charnock since attainted and executed for High Treason in conspiring to assassinate his Majesties sacred Person. (whom God long p[re]serve) to the late King James in France to incite and incourage the French King to invade this Kingdome with an armed Force by promising to joyn with and assist him with Men and Arms upon such Invasion Of which Treasons the said Sir John Fenwick is guilty And whereas the said Sir John Fenwick did obtaine his Majesties Favour to have his Tryal delayed from time to time upon his ( (fn. 1) ) an ingenious and full Confession of his knowledge of any Designe or Conspiracy against his Majesties Person or Government and of the Persons therein concerned And whereas hee has so farr abused his Majesties great Mercy and Indulgence therein that instead of making such Confession hee hath contrived and framed false and scandalous Papers as his Informations reflecting on the Fidelity of several Noble Peers divers Members of the House of Co[m]mons and others onely by Hearsay and contriving thereby to undermine the Government and create Jealousies between the King and his Subjects and to stiffle the real Conspiracy And whereas Cardell Goodman one of the Witnesses against the said Sir John Fenwick to prove the said Treason lately and since the several times appointed for the Tryal of the said Sir John Fenwick att one of which times the said Sir John Fenwick had been accordingly tryed had it not been for the expectation of the said Discoveries so often promised by him is withdrawn so that the said Cardell Goodman cannot bee hadd to give Evidence upon any Tryal Be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Com[m]ons in this Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said Sir John Fenwick be and is hereby convicted and attainted of High Treason and shall suffer the pains of Death and incurr all Forfeitures as a Person attainted of High Treason.