A New Martyrology, Martyrology · Life 8
Mr. James Holloway.
MR. Holloway was by Trade a Merchant; but his greatest dealing lay in Linnen Manufacture, which, as appears from his Papers, he had brought to such a heighth here in England, as, had it met with suitable encouragement, would, as he made it appear, have imployed 80000 poor People, and 40000 Acres of Land, and be 200000 Pounds a year advantage to the Publick Revenues of the Kingdom. The Return of the Habeas Corpus Writ calls him, [Late of London Merchant] though he lived mostly at Bristol. He seems to be a Person of Sense, Courage, and Vivacity of Spirit, and a Man of Business.— All we can have of him is from that publick Print, call'd his Narrative, concerning which it must be remembred, as before, that we have no very firm Authority to assure us all therein contained was his own writing; and perhaps it might be thought convenient he should die, for fear he might contradict some things published in his Name. But on the other side, where he contradicts the other Witnesses his Evidence is strong, since be sure that was not the Interest of the Managers to invent of their own accords; tho' some Truth they might utter, tho' displeasing, to gain credit to the rest. Taking things however as we find 'em, 'twill be convenient for method's sake to take notice first of the Proceedings against him, then of some pretty plain footsteps of practice upon him, and shuffling dealing in his Case; and lastly, of several things considerable in his Narrative.
He was accused for the Plot, as one who was acquainted with West, Rumsey, and the rest; and having been really present at their Meetings, and Discourses on that Subject, absconded when the publick News concerning the Discovery came into the Country; tho' this, as he tells the King, more for fear that if he was taken up, his Creditors would never let him come out of Gaol, than any thing else. After some time he got to Sea in a little Vessel, went over to France, and so to the West-Indies, among the Caribbe-Islands, where much of his Concerns lay: But writing to his Factor at Nevis, he was by him treacherously betray'd, and seiz'd by the Order of Sir William Stapleton, and thence brought Prisoner to England, where after Examination, and a Confession of at least all he knew, having been Outlawed in his Absence on an Indictment of Treason; he was on the 21th of April, 1684. brought to the Kings Bench, to shew cause why Execution should not be awarded against him, as is usual in that case: He opposed nothing against it, only saying, [If an ingenuous Confession of Truth could merit the King's Pardon, he hoped he had done it.] The Attorney being call'd for, order'd the Indictment to be read, and gave him the offer of a Trial, waving the Outlawry, which he refused, and threw himself on the King's Mercy. On which Execution was awarded, tho' the Attorney who had not so much Law even as Jeffreys, was for having Judgment first pass against him, which is never done in such cases, according to which he was executed at Tyburn the 30th of April.
It seem'd strange to all men, that a Man of so much Spirit as Mr. Holloway appear'd to be, should so tamely die without making any manner of Defence, when that Liberty was granted him: It seemed as strange, or yet stranger, that any Protestant should have any thing …hat look'd like Mercy or Favour from the Persons then at the Helm, [That they should be so gracious to him, as 'tis there call'd, to admit him to a Trial, which look'd so generously, and was so cry'd up—the Attorney calling it [A Mercy and a Grace] and the Lord Chief Justice saying, He'd assure him 'twas a great Mercy, and that it was exceeding well. Now all this Blind or Mystery will be easily unriddled, by two or three Lines which Holloway speaks just after, [My Lord, says he, I cannot undertake to defend my self, for I have confessed before His Majesty, that I am guilty of many things in that Indictment.] Which was immediately made use of as 'twas design'd—Good Mr. Justice Withens crying out full mouth'd, [I hope every body here will take notice of his open Confession, when he might try it if he would—Surely none but will believe this Conspiracy now, after what this man has owned.] So there's an end of all t…e Mercy—A Man who had before confessed in order to be hang'd, had gracious Liberty given him to confess it again in Publick, because they knew he had precluded all manner of Defence before, and this publick Action would both get 'em the repute of Clemency, and confirm the belief of the Plot. Now that there had been practice used with him, and promises of pardon if he'd take this method, and own himself guilty without Pleading, is more than probable, both from other practices of the same nature used towards Greater Men, and from some Expressions of his which look exceeding fair that way. Thus in his Paper left behind him, [I had, he says, some other Reasons why I did not plead, which at present I conceal, as also why I did not speak what I intended.] Other Reasons, besides his Confession to His Majesty, and Reasons to be conceal'd. Now what should those be, but Threatnings and Promises, to induce him to silence, and publick acknowledgment of all? Which appears yet plainer from another passage, [I am satisfied that all means which could be thought on have been used, to get as much out of me as possible.] If all means, then without straining, those before mentioned.
But if he made so fair and large an acknowledgment, here's more Mystery still; Why wan't his Life spar'd? Let any read his Confession and Speech, or these Passages observed out of them, and he'll no longer wonder at it. He was a little squeasie Conscienc'd, and would not strain so far as others in accusing Men of those black Crimes whereof they were innocent; nay, as was before said, vindicating them from those Aspersions cast upon them, and for which some of them, particularly my Lord Russel, suffer'd Death. He says, [The Assassination was carry'd on but by three or four, and could never hear so much as the Names of above Five for it—That he and others had declared their abhorrence of any such thing— That Ferguson was not in it.] And besides, speaks some things with the Liberty of an Englishman, shews the very Root of all those Heats which had been rais'd — Says what was true enough, [That the Protestant Gentry had a Notion of a Devilish Design of the Papists to cut off the Kings Friends, and stirring men in both last Parliaments; That they had long had Witnesses to swear them out of their Lives, but no Juries to believe 'em; That now the point about the Sheriffs was gain'd, that difficulty was over; That the King had bad Council about him, who kept all things from his Knowledge; That if things continued thus, the Protestant Gentry resolv'd to get the King from his Evil Council, and then he'd immediately be of their side, and suffer all Popish Offenders to be brought to Justice.] Hence 'twas plain, no Assassination, no Plot against the King or Government intended; only Treason against the D. of York and the Papists, who were themselves Traytors by Law. But …et one bolder stroke than all this, [He prays the King's Eyes might be open'd, to see his Enemies from his Friends, whom he had cause to look for nearer home.] Was a Man to expect pardon after this— no certainly, which he soon himself grew sensible of, and prepared for Death, [the Council, as he says, taking it very heinously, that he should presume to write such things.]
As for what Sheriff Daniel urges, That what he says about the King were but Glossy Pretences; He answers him very well, That 'twas far otherwise. Here was plain matter of Fact: The Kingdom in eminent danger; the Fitt just coming on, which has since so near shaken to pieces all the frame of Church and State, which has so many years been rising to this Compleatness: Ordinary ways and usual Remedies could not prevail; these Protestants were forced to betake themselves to extraordinary, in defence of the Government and Laws, and not against 'em, any more than 'twould have been to have taken Arms and rescu'd the King from a Troop of Banditti, who had got possession of his Person; the Papists who had him, being as visibly and notoriously obnoxious to the Government, and as dead Men in Law, most of 'em, as publick Thieves and Robbers. Thus much of Mr. Holloway, the Popish tender Mercy towards him, his Confession and Execution.
Mr. Holloway declared, that Mr. West proposed the Assassination, but none seconded him—That he could not perceive that Mr. Ferguson knew any thing of it; and Holloway said, It was our design to shed no Blood; He being interrogated, by Mr. Ferguson's Friend, Mr. Sheriff Daniel, whether he knew Ferguson; He answer'd, That he did know him, but knew him to be against any design of killing the King.