"I only beg leave of my noble Peers to repeat a few circumstances mentioned in my anfwer to the Articles of impeachment exhibited. against me by the honourable Houfe of Com

mons.

"But the terrors of your Lordships' just sentence, which at once deprive me of my life and eftate, and compleat the misfortunes of my wife and innocent children, are so heavy upon my mind, together with my inexperience, that I am fcarce able to alledge what may extenuate my offence, if any thing can do it. I have conféffed myself guilty; but, my Lords, that guilt was rafhly incurred, without any premeditation, as I hope your Lordships will be convinced by one particular. I beg leave to obferve, I was wholly unprovided with men, horfes, arms, and other neceffaries, which, in my fituation, I could not have wanted, had I been privy to any formed defign. As my offence was fudden, fo my fubmiffion was early. When his Majefty's Generals thought fit to demand hoftages for fecuring the terms of the ceffation, I voluntarily offered myfelf, without which the ceffation might poffibly have proved ineffectual. And whilst I continued hoftage, the great character of his Majesty's clemency, and the repeated encouragement I had to hope for mercy, by furrendering to it,

2

foon

foon determined me, and I accordingly declared my refolution to remain with his Majesty's forces, and from that time fubmitted myself to his goodnefs, on which I ftill entirely depend. I humbly hope to obtain the mediation of your Lordships and of the honourable House of Commons in my behalf; folemnly protesting my future conduct fhall fhew me not altogether unworthy your generous compaffion for my life, which is all I can beg of his Majefty."

Then the Lord High Steward said," My Lord DERWENTWATER, your Lordship's voice hath not been perfectly heard to this end of the court; therefore I ask you whether you have pleaded any thing in arreft of judgement?" To which the Lord DERWENTWATER answered, "No, my Lords."

After this, the Lord High Steward said, "Lord WIDDRINGTON, what have you to fay for yourself, why judgement fhould not pafs upon you according to law?" To which the Lord WIDDRINGTON anfwered as follows:

WILLIAM Lord WIDDRINGTON, defcended from an honourable family of that name in Northumberland, was the grandson of the first baron of that name, who for his fignal services was raised to the Peerage in 1643 by King Charles I. and loft his life near Wigan, in fighting for King Charles II. He was fucceeded in the title by his fon WILLIAM; and he by WILLIAM the laft Lord, who fortunately escaped with his life, but was attainted.

"My

"My Lords, I have abandoned all manner of defence ever fince I first surrendered my felf to his Majefty's royal clemency; and only now beg leave to repeat to your Lordships fome circumftances of my unhappy cafe, which I have already fet forth in my answer.ciar la

"Your Lordships fee before you an unfortunate man, who, after leading a private and retired life for many years, has, by one rath and inconfiderate action, expofed himself and his family to the greatest calamities and mifery, and is now upon the point of receiving the fevereft fentence directed by any of our English laws.

"I do proteft to your Lordships, that I was never privy to any concerted measures against his majesty's royal perfon, or the established government. As to the infurrection in Northumberland, I only heard of it accidentally the night before it happened; and being foon after informed that all my neighbours and acquaintance had met in arms, a crowd of confused and mistaken notions hurried me at once into a precipitate refolution of joining them; a refolution, which, I muft own, I could never fince calmly reflect upon, without part of that confufion I find myself under in the public acknowledgement of fo much rafhnefs and folly. After thus plunging out of my depth, as unprepared for fuch an enterprize as the action was

unpremeditated, I cannot, for my own particular, upon the stricteft recollection, charge myfelf with any violation of the properties of my fellow-fubjects; but, on the contrary, I always endeavoured to encourage humanity and moderation during the whole courfe of our miferable expedition; and, in order to make the best atoment in my power for the great fault I had been guilty of, I can justly say, that I was in no fmall degree inftrumental in procuring a fubmiffion to his Majefty. But, my Lords, however willing or defirous either I or any others might be to put a speedy end to thofe unfortunate troubles, felf-prefervation, the first and most powerful law of nature, would have rendered the proposal vain and fruitless, had not the officers who commanded the royal forces given us hopes of mercy, and affured us we fubmitted to a Prince of the greatest clemency in the world. These hopes, and this affurance, answered the strongest objections, overcame all remaining difficulties, and gave the finishing ftroke to a general furrender, whereby the further effufion of British blood was prevented, and a perfect tranquillity restored to these parts of his Majesty's dominions.

My Lords, as this my first attempt was rash and unpremeditated, as I always used and promoted moderation and humanity towards my

fellow

› ON SENTENCING THE CONDEMNED LORDS .147 fellow-fubjects, and as I did not obftinately perfift in my fault, but was the first who proposed an early fubmiffion to his Majefty; I humbly hope my unhappy cafe, and the deplorable condition of my unfortunate children, already deprived of their tender mother, will raife a generous compaffion in your Lordships and the honourable Houfe of Commons; and I moft earnestly entreat both your Lordships and that honourable Houfe to become interceffors with his Majefty in my behalf, for that mercy which I was encouraged to hope for when I firft furrendered, and which I have ever fince with the utmost confidence relied upon.

"I have only to add my moft folemn affurance, before this auguft Affembly, that no future time hall ever find me wanting in the most inviolable duty and gratitude to that merciful Prince who gives me my life, and reftores a father to five miferable and diftreffed orphans; and I shall always retain the highest esteem and veneration for your Lordships and the honourable House of Commons?"

Hereupon the Lord High Steward faid, "Lord WIDDRINGTON, for greater certainty, I ask your Lordship whether you have pleaded any thing in arreft of judgement?" To which the Lord. WIDDRINGTON answered, "No, my Lords, I have not."