1696 Jacobite assassination plot
George Barclay led an unsuccessful attempt to ambush and kill William III and II of England, Scotland and Ireland in early 1696.
Background
One of a series of plots by
Plan
The plot was based on William III's habitual movements, on returning from hunting. On the south bank of the River Thames, at Kew, he would take a ferry that would bring him to the north bank, on a lane that ran from Turnham Green to Brentford (at this period these places were not built up, and lay west of the London conurbation).[4] Barclay's plan depended on surprising William in his coach, and his armed escort. It was intended to use three parties of armed men, one to capture the king, and the others to deal with his guards.[5] A point was chosen on the lane which was narrow enough so that the royal coach and six horses would not be able to manoeuvre.[6]
The plot was prepared and its armed men were ready to act on 15 February and 22 February 1696. One party was under the command of Ambrose Rookwood.[5]
Detection of the plot
William Trumbull, who was Secretary of State for the Northern Department at the time, heard about the plotting beginning in August 1695. He gathered intelligence on it through informers, and led the early investigation, which later was handed over to James Vernon.[7] There was no shortage of rumour, with the information from Thomas Prendergast proving decisive: he had been approached by George Porter on 13 February 1696, and then went to William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, to reveal the conspiracy. In a second interview he gave the king details of the conspirators, a group numbering around 40 in all.[8]
The ramifications of the plot proved more troublesome to Vernon. Fenwick defended himself actively by trying to implicate
Aftermath
The attempt did not take place on either day when the plotters were in position, and on 23 February 1696 a proclamation was made against them.[5] A number of Jacobites connected to Fenwick, but not involved in the plot were arrested, including James Grahme on 3 March 1696, Thomas Higgons and Bevil Higgons; they were later released.[11][12][13] On 21 March, Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, another not directly involved in the plot was taken to the Tower of London, where he was kept until February 1697.[14] Viscount Montgomery went into hiding after being named in a proclamation; he gave himself up on 15 December 1696 and was held in Newgate Prison for about seven months.[15]
A long sequence of trials related to the plot began in March.
Constantijn Huygens, William's personal secretary, records in his Diary; 'I was in doubt whether to watch the execution of Friend and Parkyns, but being on my way from Kensington, I saw the spectators walking away and so returned home.'[21] He also mentions pamphlets on the trial were already for sale in the streets.
In addition to Friend and Parkyns, Rookwood and others, who had counsel, were executed in April 1696; in total, nine Jacobite activists were put to death.[22] Sir John Fenwick was convicted on a bill of attainder, and executed on 28 January 1697.[23] Robert Cassels, Robert Meldrum, James Counter, James Chambers, Robert Blackbourn, and Major John Bernardi were detained without trial; other than Counter, none were released, the last survivor, Bernardi, dying in 1736 while still in Newgate.[24]
Political consequences
In political terms, the unmasked plot strengthened the hand of the Whig Junto in dealing with the Country Party, and in asking parliament to vote money.[25] The House of Commons agreed to the swearing of an "association", in effect a loyalty oath to the king; and it was argued that William's preservation was divine providence, undermining the view that he had only been entitled to the English throne in the lifetime of Queen Mary.[26]
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-7190-3774-0.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5171. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9304. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Sir Walter Scott; John Somers Baron Somers (1814). A Collection of Scarce and Valuable Tracts, on the Most Interesting and Entertaining Subjects: Reign of King William III (cont.). T. Cadell, W. Davies. p. 139.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24067. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 3. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27776. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28243. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 0-7509-3082-9.
- ^ Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 22. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 22. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65474. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3758. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13061. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Thomas Bayly Howell; Thomas Jones Howell (1816). A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors from the Earliest Period to the Year 1820. Longman. p. 14.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13611. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 978-0300167108.
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1895). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 43. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5917. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 978-9004250949.
- ISBN 0-7509-3082-9.
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1891). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 28. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 04. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ISBN 978-0-7546-8639-2.
- ISBN 978-1-84383-118-1.