A true bill had been found against him by the grand jury of the City of London, and had been removed into the House of Lords, the only court before which a temporal peer can, during a session of Parliament, be arraigned for any offence higher than a misdemeanour.

The first of December had been fixed for the trial; and orders had been given that Westminster Hall should be fitted up with seats and hangings.

In consequence of the prorogation, the hearing of the cause was postponed for an indefinite period; and Stamford soon regained his liberty.

[36] Three other Whigs of great eminence were in confinement when the session closed, Charles Gerard, Lord Gerard of Brandon, eldest son of the Earl of Macclesfield, John Hampden, grandson of the renowned leader of the Long Parliament, and Henry Booth, Lord Delamere.

Gerard and Hampden were accused of having taken part in the Rye House Plot: Delamere of having abetted the Western insurrection.
It was not the intention of the government to put either Gerard or Hampden to death.