William Parkyns facts for kids

Sir William Parkyns (born around 1649 – died 1696) was an English lawyer who was involved in a plot against the king. He was executed for this serious crime.

Early Life and Career

William Parkyns was born in London around 1649. His father was a merchant in London. In 1671, William joined the Inner Temple, which is a place where lawyers are trained. He became a lawyer in 1675. Later, in 1681, he was made a knight at Whitehall Palace.

Parkyns became a successful lawyer and inherited money from his father. He was well-known in London as a supporter of the king's party. After the Glorious Revolution, when King William III came to power, Parkyns became a strong supporter of James II, who had lost his throne. Even though he supported James, Parkyns took an oath of loyalty to William III so he could keep his job as a clerk in the Court of Chancery.

Involvement in the Plot

After Queen Mary died in 1695, Parkyns joined a group of people, including Sir George Barclay and Robert Charnock, who were planning to kidnap or harm King William III. They told James II about their plan in early 1695, but he didn't give them permission to go ahead. The plot was put on hold when William left for Flanders.

The plot started up again in January 1696 when Barclay came back to England with a special message from James. Barclay convinced Parkyns that the plan was to attack the king himself.

Parkyns had gout, which made it hard for him to be very active. However, he helped by providing horses, saddles, and weapons for about forty people involved in the plot. He was also promised an important position in the army that would support James II.

When the plot was discovered by Thomas Prendergast, people started looking for Parkyns. They didn't find anything at his house in Covent Garden. But at his country home in Warwickshire, they found many weapons and equipment, enough for a group of soldiers on horseback. On March 10, Parkyns was arrested in the Temple and sent to Newgate Prison.

Trial and Execution

Parkyns's trial took place on March 24. He wanted to be tried under a new law that would have given him more rights in court. However, the lawyers for the king insisted on using the old rules, and his request was denied. Parkyns defended himself, but a man named Captain George Porter, who had been part of the plot but then helped the king, gave clear evidence against him. Parkyns was found guilty and sentenced to death.

People tried to get Parkyns to tell what he knew. A group of nine Members of Parliament visited him in prison. He admitted he was involved in the plot, but he refused to name the five people he was supposed to send to help with the attack. He also said he had seen a special message from James, but he wouldn't name the people he had chosen for his own group of soldiers. He shared some more details with Simon Patrick, the Bishop of Ely, and also confessed to some wrongdoings in his life.

Parkyns was executed on Tower Hill on April 13, 1696, along with another man named Sir John Friend. His head was later displayed on Temple Bar.

Family Life

Sir William Parkyns was married to Susanna Blackwell. They got married on June 26, 1673. Susanna was the daughter of Thomas Blackwell from Bushey, Hertfordshire. William and Susanna had a daughter. His nephew, Captain Matthew Smith, was also involved in supporting James II.

Images for kids

• 

  Jeremy Collier, a priest who was present at the execution of Friend and Parkyns.