Gerard was beheaded and Vowell was hanged (Fox pleaded guilty and was sentenced to transportation).
In the debate on the competency of the Scottish members he spoke at length in support of their claims (18 March 1659).
In autumn 1664 he was appointed reader at Gray's Inn, of which he had been elected a bencher in 1659; on 26 August 1669 he took the degree of serjeant-at-law, and, on 10 April 1671, he was advanced to the rank of king's Serjeant and knighted.
He was raised to the bench in 1673, taking his seat in the Court of Common Pleas on the first day of Hilary term.
Ellis was removed in 1676, without reason assigned, but reinstated on 5 May 1679, having been returned to parliament for Boston in the preceding February.
In contrast to previous Plot trials, the proceedings were conducted in a courteous and civilized fashion, and though the priests were found guilty and sentenced to death, they were all reprieved.