Dr.Oldys, the king's advocate, being commanded to proceed against them as guilty of treason and piracy, refused to commence the prosecution; and gave his opinion in writing that they were neither traitors nor pirates.

He supported his opinion by arguments before the council; these were answered by Dr.Littleton, who succeeded him in the office from which he was dismissed; and the prisoners were executed as traitors.

The Jacobites did not fail to retort those arts upon the government which their adversaries had so successfully practised in the late reign.

They inveighed against the vindictive spirit of the administration, and taxed it with encouraging informers and false witnesses--a charge for which there was too much foundation.
The friends of James in Scotland still continued to concert designs in his favour; but their correspondence was detected, and their aims defeated, by the vigilance of the ministry in that kingdom.

Secretary Johnston not only kept a watchful eye over all their transactions, but by a dexterous management of court liberality and favour, appeased the discontents of the presbyterians so effectually, that the king ran no risk in assembling the parliament.