In what has become known as Gerard's conspiracy, a group of Royalists conspired to assassinate England's Lord ProtectorOliver Cromwell in May 1654. It was discovered before an assassination attempt could be made and the Protectorate arrested about forty men. Three were tried for high treason. A ring-leader, John Gerard, was found guilty and executed, as was Peter Vowell. Somerset Fox pleaded guilty and was sentenced to transportation.[1][2] The view of the Royalists and their sympathisers was that the conspirators had fallen into a trap set by Cromwell.[3]
It was alleged that in company with a Royalist major, one Henshaw (whom Gerard had met in France), Gerard with 30 other mounted men were to attack the Lord Protector, as he rode to Hampton Court, and, after overwhelming his bodyguard and killing him, to besiege Whitehall,[4] seize the Tower of London, and proclaim Charles II king.[3]
Trial and punishment
Only three men, John Gerard, Peter Vowell (a schoolmaster) and Somerset Fox were brought to trial before the High Court of Justice.[2]
The trial began on 3 June. Fox pleaded guilty (and was sentenced to transportation to Barbados[2]). The other two were convicted on the evidence of ten of their accomplices, one of whom was Gerard's brother Charles, a youth of nineteen, he himself being but twenty-two.[5] Gerard declared that he had been to Paris on private business, and that Charles II had desired his friends not to engage in plots. The reluctant evidence of his younger brother Charles, to whom he sent his forgiveness from the scaffold, pointed to treasonable conversations with Henshaw and the rest in taverns.[6]
Gerard and Vowell were sentenced to death by hanging. Vowell was hanged, but Gerard successfully petitioned to be beheaded instead.[3] Gerard died with undaunted courage on 10 July 1654 at Tower Hill,[6] avowing his Royalism, but denying all participation in the conspiracy.[5]
The Royalist writers published a copy of his prepared speech, and affirmed that he fell into a trap set by Cromwell.[7] This view has been elaborately restated by Reginald Palgrave in the English Historical Review for October 1888, in the course of a controversy between that writer and C. H. Firth. However, no certain proof has been adduced of Cromwell's complicity.[3]
Mills, Jane (5 March 2011). "Cromwell Britain - Islington, London". Oliver Cromwell.
N.D., ed. (1680) [1659]. "The Speech and manner of put ting to death Col. John Gerhard, who was beheaded on Tower-Hill, July 10. 1654.". England's blaek Tribunal. J Playford. pp. 142–149.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Keightley, Thomas (1841). The History of England: From the Earliest Period to 1839. Vol. 4. Harper & brothers. pp. 127–128.
Further reading
Anonymous (2002) [1654]. "The Triall of Mr. John Gerhard, Mr. Peter Vowell, and Sommerset Fox, by the High court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall on Friday 30 June, 1654" (Renascence ed.). University of Oregon.
Porter, Stephen (2004). "Gerard, John (1632–1654)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10557. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
January 20, 2023
gerard, conspiracy, what, become, known, group, royalists, conspired, assassinate, england, lord, protector, oliver, cromwell, 1654, discovered, before, assassination, attempt, could, made, protectorate, arrested, about, forty, three, were, tried, high, treaso. In what has become known as Gerard s conspiracy a group of Royalists conspired to assassinate England s Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell in May 1654 It was discovered before an assassination attempt could be made and the Protectorate arrested about forty men Three were tried for high treason A ring leader John Gerard was found guilty and executed as was Peter Vowell Somerset Fox pleaded guilty and was sentenced to transportation 1 2 The view of the Royalists and their sympathisers was that the conspirators had fallen into a trap set by Cromwell 3 Contents 1 History 2 Trial and punishment 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingHistory EditEarly in 1654 John Gerard went over to France where he was presented to Charles II by his cousin Charles Gerard Lord Brandon Soon after his return to England in May 1654 4 a scheme to assassinate the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell on his way to Hampton Court was discovered About forty people among whom were Aubrey Earl of Oxford the two Ashburnhams John and William Sir Richard Willis John Gerard and his elder brother Sir Gilbert were arrested 1 It was alleged that in company with a Royalist major one Henshaw whom Gerard had met in France Gerard with 30 other mounted men were to attack the Lord Protector as he rode to Hampton Court and after overwhelming his bodyguard and killing him to besiege Whitehall 4 seize the Tower of London and proclaim Charles II king 3 Trial and punishment EditOnly three men John Gerard Peter Vowell a schoolmaster and Somerset Fox were brought to trial before the High Court of Justice 2 The trial began on 3 June Fox pleaded guilty and was sentenced to transportation to Barbados 2 The other two were convicted on the evidence of ten of their accomplices one of whom was Gerard s brother Charles a youth of nineteen he himself being but twenty two 5 Gerard declared that he had been to Paris on private business and that Charles II had desired his friends not to engage in plots The reluctant evidence of his younger brother Charles to whom he sent his forgiveness from the scaffold pointed to treasonable conversations with Henshaw and the rest in taverns 6 Gerard and Vowell were sentenced to death by hanging Vowell was hanged but Gerard successfully petitioned to be beheaded instead 3 Gerard died with undaunted courage on 10 July 1654 at Tower Hill 6 avowing his Royalism but denying all participation in the conspiracy 5 The Royalist writers published a copy of his prepared speech and affirmed that he fell into a trap set by Cromwell 7 This view has been elaborately restated by Reginald Palgrave in the English Historical Review for October 1888 in the course of a controversy between that writer and C H Firth However no certain proof has been adduced of Cromwell s complicity 3 Notes Edit a b Keightley 1841 pp 127 128 a b c Mills 2011 a b c d Bradley 1890 p 223 a b Bradley 1890 p 223 cites State Papers Dom 1654 pp 219 233 40 274 436 a b Keightley 1841 p 128 a b Bradley 1890 pp 223 224 N D 1680 pp 147 149 References EditMills Jane 5 March 2011 Cromwell Britain Islington London Oliver Cromwell N D ed 1680 1659 The Speech and manner of put ting to death Col John Gerhard who was beheaded on Tower Hill July 10 1654 England s blaek Tribunal J Playford pp 142 149 Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Bradley Emily Tennyson 1890 Gerard John 1632 1654 In Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds Dictionary of National Biography Vol 21 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 223 224 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Keightley Thomas 1841 The History of England From the Earliest Period to 1839 Vol 4 Harper amp brothers pp 127 128 Further reading EditAnonymous 2002 1654 The Triall of Mr John Gerhard Mr Peter Vowell and Sommerset Fox by the High court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall on Friday 30 June 1654 Renascence ed University of Oregon Porter Stephen 2004 Gerard John 1632 1654 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 10557 Subscription or UK public library membership required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerard 27s conspiracy amp oldid 1091744446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
