DOCUMENTS FROM THE EXCHEQUER BOOK, ROLLS OFFICE, AND OTHER SOURCES. No. I. MANDATE of CHARLES EARL of DERBY for the Trial of WM. CHRISTIAN, Sept 12, 1662. REBELLION being a most henious sinne against God calling for justice here on earth without which that place where it is committed may well be said to be polluted and by a fitting sacrifice ought to be purified by the blood of the most heinously guilty: But when a Rebellion receives this further aggravation as to be notoriously evident to be very instrumentall in the death of the Lord of that land: And withall considering how much I am concerned soe farr forth as I may to revenge a father's bloud: I take it to be a duty incumbent upon me from all these considerations strictly to charge and command you (wch I doe by these presents) that forthwith upon sight hereof you proceed against William Christian of Ronasway (sometimes recedent of my Island of Mann) for all his illegall actions and Rebellions at or before the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred fifty and one, or at any time since, and that he be proceeded against according to the Lawes of that my Island: And I recommend it to your care to see that this be speedely and effectually performed, And now withall calling to minde that this. may possibly allarum, disturbe and disquiet the minds of B 14 many in that my Island which by reason of the iniquity of these Late times may have been constrain'd to doe some things wch may have rendered them upon a strict desquisition liable to some inconveniencies in the severe eye of the Law; I do therefore in this place thinke it most fitt (that mercy & judgement may goe together hand in hand) to comand you to publish & declare that from hence forward none in that my Island of Mann shal be molested either in life or estate for any thing they shall have done, or committed concerning that, or any other Rebellion or Insurrection in the said Island, except such as you shall finde to be very notoriously guilty with the Abovesaid William Christian of Ronasway in his Rebellion, & Insurrection in the year of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred fifty and foure who are to be proceeded against according to the Lawes of that my Island before the first of May next weh shal be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand sixe hundred sixty & three, after wch day it shall not be lawfull to proceed against any person whatsover the said William Christian of Ranusway only excepted, given under my hand and seale at Lathom the twelth day of September in the year of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred sixty and two. To all my Officers both Civill and No. II. PUBLIC NOTICE to the Minister of DERBY. Ordered to be read in every Parish Church of the As it cannott bee butt manifest to any sensible capacetie in this Island, what blood guiltines & devastacon the effects of that warre doth p'dict & produce, when (espetially itt carryes a Christian's motto-in rebellious Coullers & that in an unstayned land for many ages under a legall Monarchiall governm1, Soe likwise cann itt not bee unheard of, what accrewinge iudgmts a rebellion of that nature hath invocated, as many els where have beene iustly ptakers of: And although this porre Island had greater reason to feight for peace rather then warre, yet could not their incorrigible sinn be otherwise satisfied, but by displaying itt selfe under the foresaid banner,-insomuch that if our gratious Liege Lord the lord of this Isle did put in execution his demeritinge Act of iustice what confiscacon would very many of them (erre now) have incurred & appropriated, but such is the greate goodnes, & noblenes of his Lord, that he will have mercy mixt with iudgmt, least he might allarrum, disturbe or disquiet the mindes of many in this Island, who (by reason of the iniquitie of the late tymes) have beene constrayned to do some thinge wch may have rendered them (uppon a strict inquisicon) liable to some inconvenienses in the seveare eye of the Law; Soe that now his hon' comands us to publish and declare, that from henceforward none in this his LoPPS Island, shall be mollested either in life or estate for any thinge, they have done concerninge the rebellion or insurrection committed in the year 1651, or before or since within this said Island, the notorious revolution of which tyme beinge how by his LoPP clearlie oblitterated, exceptinge only the incendiaries or notorious guilty therein, & that not to exceede the nomber of five Psons; And therefore you are hereby required in humble obedience & punctuall observance of his hono" said gratious Comands & pleasure, to publish this declaracon unto your Congregacon the next ensuinge Sabbath in a discreete and patheticall maner both in English & Mankse, And least the people bee not then all at the hearinge of dyvine Service, to make knowne that the same is to be read unto them in like maner the followinge Sabbath, for their (not only) better understandinge but also satisfaction, how gratiously his honor thus deales wth them, for wch every one hath iust cause heartely to pray for his LOPP & Noble famelie, and never p'sume to offend in such Malignant Courses hereafter: Dated at Castle Rushen in the said Isle this third of October Ano. Dni. 1662. Att Castle Rushen the third of Octob" 1662. Examinacons touchinge the insurrection in the yeare 1651, or before or after taken in pursuance of the Order given in that behalfe by the right honoble the Lord of the Island; JOHN CESAR of ye pish of KK Malew & lieutenant of y Company of the said pish in the abovesaid yeare 1651. Sworne & examined deposeth and sayth yt shortly after ye depture of the right honoble James Late Earle of Derby out of this Isle for England in the foresaid yeare 1651, he An inten- understood by a murmeringe in the Island, that ye countrey were about to rise in Armes, And afterwards meetinge or being in the Company of Mr. Wm. Xtian of Raynoldsway within the said Isle, the said Wm. Xtian tooke this Examt sworne (but whether it was uppon a booke or by protesta con to rise before. An oath given by Re". Gen. was to rise. Rushen to pearing in cion he this Examt cannott now pfectly remember) yt what he would declare or tell unto him, hee this Examt should not reveale the same, whereupon this examt havinge taken his Oath or protestacon the said Wm. Xtian tould him that the Countrey were to rise, And this examt being asked what Country their risinge should bee for, hee answers, that as farr as hee remembers it was to make their condicons with ye Parliam*. For y pliamt. And further declareth, that it was intended, that if the head Court day of Gaole delivery had been holden that winter 1651, the Castle of Rushen would have beene surprized Castle by ye countrey, and that the said William Christian tould be taken.. him this examt before of ye intention of surprizinge ye Castle. This examt further sayth that ye chiefe psons that appeared in the risinge at Raynoldsway the night before ye head Court day afforesaid at night and that came there in their owne psons and w th their Companyes were John Psons apMoore of Glentriagh then lieutenant of K Santon, James the risinge. Banckes of ye How then lieutenant of K Conchan Phill Y* DeponMoore & Hugh Moore of Douglas, Henry Moore then of K Marrowne Wm. Gawne then Capt. of KK Christ Rushen, & Mr. William Qualtrough of Kentraugh in yt & that likewise ST Robt Norres now of Douglas was there not at Rayalsoe and administred an Oath to all the Company there but sayth noldsway assembled wch were at least eight hundred Psons as hee hee knew of ye this exam conjectureth, And sayh that ye said Wm. Xtian risinge was lookt uppon & taken to bee or held as their head and countrey. Chiefe Comander. This Exam further sayth that ye said Sr Wm. Xin Robt. Norris tooke him this examt sworne shortly after that Comander. hee had soe protested to ye said Wm. Xtian for to conceale what he ye sd Sr Robt Norris should tell him and havinge taken his Oath upon a small booke hee tooke out of his Hee swore pockett, ye said ST Robt tould him, yt it was yt ye countrey Norris. were to rise, This examt further sayth that after ye condicons made betwixt ye Countesse Doweger of Derby, & the said ent upon Capt. further consideracon sayth pish, yt Phill. Moore was of yr ye head to Sr Rt. |