Page 63 - A Jacobite Exile

"But it is all false!" Charlie exclaimed. "It is a lie from beginning to end."

"That is so, but we cannot prove it. The matter is so cunningly laid, I see no
way to pick a hole in it. We are Jacobites, and as such long regarded as

objects of suspicion by the Whig magistrates and others. There have been
other plots against William's life, in which men of seeming reputation have
been concerned. This man's story will be confirmed by the man who set

him on, and by other hidden papers, if necessary. As to the discovery of the
documents, we may know well enough that the fellow himself put them

there, but we have no manner of proof of it. It is evident that there is
nothing for us but to leave the country, and to await the time when the king
shall have his own again. My other friends, who were with me this

afternoon when the news came from Lancaster, all agreed that it would be
throwing away our lives to stay here. We all have money by us, for each

has, for years, laid by something for the time when money will be required
to aid the king on his arrival.

"Having agreed to take this course, we drew up a document, which we all
signed, and which will be sent in when we have got clear away. In it we

declare that being informed that accusations of being concerned in a plot
against the life of William of Orange have been brought against us, we
declare solemnly before God that we, and also Sir Marmaduke Carstairs

and his son, are wholly innocent of the charge, and that, although we do not
hesitate to declare that we consider the title of the said William to be king

of this realm to be wholly unfounded and without reason, and should
therefore take up arms openly against it on behalf of our sovereign did
occasion offer, yet that we hold assassination in abhorrence, and that the

crime with which we are charged is as hateful in our sight as in that of any
Whig gentleman. As, however, we are charged, as we learn, by evilly

disposed and wicked persons, of this design, and have no means of proving
our innocence, we are forced to leave the realm until such time shall arrive
when we can rely on a fair trial, when our reputation and honour will weigh

against the word of suborned perjurers and knaves.

"We were not forgetful of your father's case, and we debated long as to
whether our remaining here could do him service. We even discussed the