1G8 Records of the Rising in the IFesi, A.J). 1655. 



Justice, a consultation was held to settle the indictment against the 

 prisoners charged with treason, and was attended by both judges 

 and counsel. The latter, as we have seen, had already agreed about 

 it, and also Baron Nicholas 1 and Serjeant Glynn. 2 



A letter of the Attorney- General tells us what passed at this in- 

 terview : — 3 



4 ' Until his (the L.C.J. Rolle) coming it was not held convenient to have a 

 publique meeting to agree upon the indictment, though Serjeant Glynne ap- 

 proved it. What I doubted in my last proved true.* After a pretty long 

 debate amongst us all, that it might be so doue as to satisfie all, it was at 

 length agreed, it should bee ouly for leavying of warre ; f the reasons whereof I 



1 3 Th., 361. 2 Ibid, 371. 3 Ibid. 



*The consent of the Lord Chief Justice. 



+ Copy of the Indictment of the rehels at Sarum, (3 Th , 270.) " April 12, 1655. The Jurors for 

 the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions 

 thereunto belonging, Upon their oaths do present, that A B C D, &c together with a great number 

 of other men to the number of two hundred to the said Jurors yet unknown, as false rebels and 

 traitors against the said lord Protector and the government of the Commonwealth aforesaid, not 

 having the fear of God in their hearts, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil ; 

 and their due obedience to the lord protector, and government of the commonwealth aforesaid, not 

 in any wise regarding, but the same maliciously and despightfully contemning, and the laws of Eng- 

 land not at all weighing, nor the penalties therein contained in any wise fearing, but maliciously 

 and devilishly imagining, contriving, and endeavouring to bring the said lord protector and govern- 

 ment into great hatred, ill will, and contempt with all the people, the commonwealth, aforesaid, 

 and sedition rebellion and a miserable and bloody war within the said commonwealth to move, stir 

 up, procure, cause and levy ; and also maliciously, wickedly, and devilishly, rebelliously, and trait- 

 erously devising, plotting, intending, and with all their strength endeavouring the publick peace, 

 and common tranquility of the commonwealth aforesaid, to disturb and to stir up and raise force 

 against the said lord protector and government of the said Commonwealth for the subversion and 

 alteration of the same. They the said A B C D &c. together with the said two hundred rebels and 

 traitors to the said Jurors yet unknown, the better to effect and accomplish their said most wicked 

 treasons, traiterous conspiracies, imaginations and intentions aforesaid, the 12th day of March in 

 the year of our Lord, 1G54, maliciously, rebelliously, and traitorously, at New Sarum aforesaid, in the 

 County of Wilts aforesaid, and in divers others places within the same county aforesaid, did arm and 

 array themselves with trumpets, swords, pistols, pikes, guns, powder, leaden bullets, and other war- 

 like, invasive and offensive weapons; and themselves being then and there so armed as aforesaid, in 

 a warlike posture, and in the manner and form of an army, maliciously, furiously rebelliously and 

 traiterously, did then and there gather together, assemble, ride and march ; and wickedly, devilishly, 

 maliciously, rebelliously, and traitorously, then and there did plot contrive, and endeavour to raise 

 incite and stir up the people of England to rise, and together with them, the said ABCD, &c, and 

 the said two hundred rebels and traitors, to raise arms against the said lord protector and govern- 

 ment aforesaid, for the subversion and alteration of the same ; and also that they the said ABCD, 

 &c, together with the said other two hundred rebels and traitors to the jurors unknown, being so 

 assembled in a warlike posture, and arrayed and armed as aforesaid a publick, open cruel and bloody 

 war against the said lord protector and government of the commonvvealth aforesaid, then, that is to 

 say, the 12th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1654, aforesaid, and divers other days and times 

 afterwards, at New Sarum aforesaid, in the County of Wilts aforesaid, and in divers other places 

 within the same county wickedly, devilishly, maliciously, and traitorously, then and theredid prepare 

 ordain, and levy, to the great disturbance of the publick peace and common tranquillity of the said 

 Commonwealth, to the great terror, affrightment and damage of the good people of the England, 

 and to the imminent dangei and hazard of the subversion, alteration, and overthrow of the govern- 

 ment of the said Commonwealth, and of the raising, causing, and procuring sedition, rebellion, and 

 a miserable destruction and bloody war there, and within all parts of the said Commonwealth, to the 

 great peril danger and disquietment of the said lord protector, to the evil and pernicious example of 



