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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34574	Stafford's memoires, or, A brief and impartial account of the birth and quality, imprisonment, tryal, principles, declaration, comportment, devotion, last speech, and final end of William, late Lord Viscount Stafford, beheaded on Tower-hill Wednesday the 29. of Decemb. 1680 whereunto is annexed a short appendix concerning some passages in Stephen Colledges tryal / the whole now again set forth for a more ample illustration of that so wonderfully zealous pamphlet entituled The papists bloody aftergame, writ in answer to the said Memoirs, and published by Langley Curtis, 1682.	Corker, James Maurus, 1636-1715.; Curtis, Langley, fl. 1668-1725.	1682 (1682)	Wing C6306A; ESTC R40876	92,519	237

to the Tower where he remain'd above two years before he could be admitted to Tryal During this interval the whole Nation was surpriz'd and allarm'd with the noise of an horrid Plot contriv'd by the Pope Priests and Jesuits wherein the King was to be Murthered Armies raised Protestants Massacr'd and the three Kingdoms destroy'd by Fire and Sword the people were affrighted searches made Guards doubled and all in an uproar The King hereupon consulted the Parliament and both Houses declar'd it a Plot Yet to strengthen the Evidence as yet but weak and make farther discoveries Indempnities are promised Rewards proposed and encouragments given by Proclamation to any who would make out upon Oath the particulars of what in substance was already declar'd By this and the like sedulity of the King and three succeeding Parliaments several new Witnesses came in First Captain Bedlow Next Dugdale Prance and two others Bolron and Mowbray out of the North Then Mr. Jennison Smith Seigneur Francisco Dangerfield Zeile Lewis c. Lastly one Mr. Turbervile who together with Oates and Dugdale gave Evidence against this Lord Stafford of whom we now treat After two years Imprisonment when many Roman Catholicks both Priests and others had been Executed and most of the rest Imprisoned or fled At length my Lord was brought to his Tryal on the 30 th day of Novemb. 1680. at the Peers Bar in Westminster-Hall the House of Commons being present and the Lord Chancellor High-Steward of England The Impeachment was drawn in the name of the Commons of England wherein my Lord was charged together with other Papists for having imagin'd and contriv'd to murther the King introduce Popery and subvert the good Government of Church and State established by Law To this Impeachment my Lord being thereupon arraigned pleaded Not Guilty Allegations in proof of the Plot in general ¶ 1. THen the Cause was opened and the Commons Learned Counsel who were appointed Managers of the Tryal set forth the Charge in most Copious and Eloquent Language And beginning first with the Plot in general they shew●d to the life the Wickedness the Malice the Horror of so Dreadful Bloudy and Hellish a Design They strongly insisted on the express positive Oaths of the Witnesses upon whose Testimony the credit of this Plot chiefly depended They amply dilated upon the Letters of Coleman and others clearly demonstrating the busy Designs and Activity of the Writers They pressed home the execrable Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey charged upon the Papists as well by the Oaths of Captain Bedlow and Mr. Prance self-acknowledged Partners in the Assasination as also by a certain Letter sent from London to Tixal intimating the Murder of a Justice of Peace and communicated by Dugdale to divers Gentlemen in Staffordshire the third day after the Murder was committed They displayed to the full view the Sham-Plots and Counter-Contrivances whereby 't is said the Papists would have subborned the King's Evidence and turn'd all their Guilt upon His Majesty 's known and well-experienced Loyal Protestant Subjects They urg'd the Firing the City the burning the Navy the calling in French-Armies Wild Irish Spanish-Pilgrims c. Asserted in the several Depositions and Narratives of Dr. Oats Captain Bedlow Mr. Dangerfield c. They re-capitulated the several Tryals of Ireland Whitebread Langhorn c. And alledged the Votes of both Houses of Parliament declaring it a Plot. To strengthen all this They ript up the Cruelties of Queen Mary the French and Irish Massacres the Powder-Plot c. They anatomiz'd the wicked Principles from whence spring evil Practices of Murdering Lying Swearing Faith-breaking Equivocating c. Imputed to the Papists as held by them Lawful and matters of Faith In short nothing was omitted nothing neglected throughout the whole Process But every the least Circumstance enforced and advanced to its full proportion with such vigour of Wit and Industry as fitly corresponded to so great a Cause prosecuted by so high an Authority before so Illustrious Judges and August an Assembly When the Managers themselves had made these efforts to shew the Vniversal Conspiracy as they term'd it they produc'd six Witnesses to the same effect whereby to second and confirm what they had thus in general asserted Mr. Smith's Deposition THe first was Mr. Smith who deposed That going into France he became aquainted with Abbot Montague and one Father Bennet These persons to induce him to be a Catholick told him he should have an Imployment among them and that in a few years they would bring in their Religion into England right or wrong But this was not sufficiently prevalent with him to turn Papist yet he lived with them several years That at last he went into Italy where the Jesuits perswaded him to discourse with Cardinal Grimaldi the which he did That the Cardinal made much of him and he it was perverted him to the Romish Religion That upon occasion of shewing him a pair of Hangings this Cardinal told him He had great assurance the Popish Religion would prevail in England That there was but one in the way And that to accomplish their Designs they must take him out of the way That the Jesuits there also publickly preached and privately taught That the King of England being an Heretick whoever took him out of the way would do a meritorious act That after this he studied several years at Rome And that whilst he was in the Colledge he saw several of Coleman's Letters That being made a Priest he was sent into England with instructions to inform the Papists They were not obliged to obey the King but that they should endeavour to promote the Popish Religion That upon his arrival in England he was placed with one Mr. Jenison in the Bishoprick of Durham where his main Imployment was to root out the Jesuits as men ill-principled and to disswade the Papists from sending Money to Colledges beyond seas That one Thomas Smith told him he received a Letter from the Lord Stafford wherein my Lord said He expected some suddain Change Dugdale's Deposition NExt to Mr. Smith was Stephen Dugdale who deposed That for about 15 or 16 years together he had been acquainted by several Letters and other means there was a Design carried on for the bringing in of the Romish Religion That the Papists were to have Money and Arms ready against the King's Death for he said he heard nothing of killing the King till the year 78 That in October 78. my Lord Aston and others should go to dispose of certain Arms they received to the value of 30000 l. That the King of France was acquainted with all these Designs and that he would furnish the Papists with Men and afford them other Aid and assistance if the King should die or be taken away That he saw a Letter writ to Mr. Evers for all the Jesuits Letters were returned to him wherein were these words This night Sir Edmundbury Godfrey is dispatch'd That he

himself had contributed 500 l. for Arms c. to carry on the Design That about the year 78. there was an Indulgence published at all private Chappels wherein whosoever was active for killing the King should have a free Pardon of all their Sins That he was told at Meetings That the King being an Heretick it was Lawful to kill him And that it was no more then to kill a Dog That he had heard That about the time the King should be kill'd several Parties should be provided with Arms and rise all on a sudden at an hours warning and so come in upon the Protestants and cut their Throats And if any did escape there should be an Army to cut them off in their Flight That he heard the Pope's daily In-come was 24000 l. a day And that the same Pope as he thought had promised to contribute in the whole 1000 l. for the raising Armies and carrying on the above mentioned Design Mr. Prance his Deposition THen Mr. Prance was produced who deposed That one Mr. Singleton a Priest told him He would make no more to stab forty Parliament Men then to eat his Dinner which he was then at Dr. Oates his Deposition NExt Dr. Oates gave Evidence That in the year 76 he being then a Protestant and Chaplain in the Duke of Norfolk's Family One Mr. Kemish and one Mr. Singleton Priests advised him to hasten betimes to the Church of Rome for that the Protestant Religion was now upon its last leggs That hereupon having had before some suspition of the designs of the Papists and growth of Popery to satisfie his curiosity he feigned himself a Convert was seemingly reconciled presently admitted by the Jesuits to do their business entrusted in their secrets and sent by them in April 77 with Treasonable Letters into Spain That e're he ar●rived at Validolid there were Letters got before him from England wherein was expressed That the King was dispatch'd which was a cause of great joy to the Fathers there But that this proved a mistake That during his abode in Spain he found the Ministers of that Court were very ready to advance Money which Money was return'd into England And that the Provincial of the Jesuits of Castile had also advanced 10000 l. That soon after this he was present at a Sermon Preach'd to some Students against the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy wherein likewise the King's Legitimacy was villified and abused And it was declar'd that his Religion entitled him to nothing but Suddain Death and Destruction That returning into England in November following and bringing Letters for Mr. Strange he heard Mr. Keines say in Mr. Strange's Chamber he was mighty sorry for honest Will meaning the Ruffian that was to kill the King that he had missed in his enterprise Here Mr. Oates thought good to tell their Lordships That the Papists were not so Zealous for the destruction of the King till the King had refused Coleman the Dissolving the long Parliament Then he went on to aquaint them That in December he departed from London to St. Omers loaded with Letters from Strange and others importing the hope they had the next year to effect their Design That being at St. Omers he saw Letters out of Ireland whereby he found that there the Talbots and other persons were very zealous in raising of Forces and resolving to let in the French King That in February several of St Omers were imployed to several places in Germany and Flanders to fetch and carry correspondencies That in March Pickering attempting to kill the King the Flint of his Gun was loose and the King escap'd for which Pickering received a Discipline and the other viz. William Groves a Chiding That in April he returned to London And that there was then a Consult held first at the White-horse-Tavern and thence afterwards adjourn'd into particular Clubs where the Confederates did resolve on the death of the King And that Groves should have 500 l for his pains And Pickering being a Religious man should have 30000 Masses That in June he saw more Letters and heard new Proposals wherein a Reward of 15000 l. was offered to Sir George Wakeman for poysoning the King That in July Mr. Strange very frankly told him how London was fired and how many of those concern'd were seiz'd and afterwards discharg'd by the Duke's Guards and Order Mr. Jennison's Deposition AFter Oates Mr Jennison was called in who deposed That in frequent discourses with Mr. Ireland now Executed he heard him often say That it was necessary for the introducing of the Catholick Religion that the Government should be chang'd And that it was an easie matter to Kill or Poyson the King That he answer'd God forbid That hereupon Ireland told him he would remit the Twenty pounds he ow'd him if he would go to Windsor to assist to take off the King But he exprest a great detestation of it Then Ireland desir'd him to name some Stout Couragious Irish-men proper for the Assassination which he did and Ireland approv'd of them That he heard one Mr. Thomas Jennison a Jesuit say If C. R would not be R. C. he should not be long C. R. And that the said Jesuit added If the King were Excommunicated or Deposed he was no longer King and it was no great Sin to take him off That about two months after the said Jesuit told him there was a Design on foot and that the Queen Duke of York the Lords in the Tower and the greatest Papists in England were in It. That there was a new Army to be rais'd to bring in Catholick Religion And that he the said Jesuit would procure him from the Duke a Commission in it when the King was taken off That he being surpriz'd hereat the Jesuit told him he should receive the Sacrament of Secrecy Mr. Dennis his Deposition THe last Witness was Mr. Dennis who depos'd That he saw Dr. Oates in Spain where he seem'd to be a man of very much business and had a Bag of Money some of which he lent to Him That the Arch-bishop of Tuam told him in the presence of Dr. Oates That Mr. O. Plunket Primate of Ireland was resolv'd to bring the French Power into Ireland And that there were several Collections of Money made in Ireland to support the Plot. This is the sum of what the six Witnesses depos'd to whose Depositions were annexed and produc'd in Court in order to the same end the several Records of Attainder of Coleman Ireland Whitebread Langhorn c. That of Coleman was read at length and the others deposited on the Clerks Table to be made use of as occasion should serve The Papists Plea to the above-specified Allegations ¶ 2. THus far hath been as I may say Indicted Arraigned and Tryed the Plot in general My Lord Stafford as the Managers declar'd is not hitherto prov'd but only suppos'd a Party in the Conspiracy The Plot in

Bedlow though no compartner in the Murder could tell there were Four Thousand Pounds ordered of which Two Thousand Pounds were proffer'd to him alone if he would but assist the rest to convey away the Corps This Murder is affirm'd to have been committed on Saturday the twelfth day of October 78 at nine a clock at night and the Body convey'd away on the Wednesday following about Midnight In direct opposition to which Hill Green and Bury who were Accus'd Tryed and Executed for this Fact produced these Witnesses One Mrs. Tilden and Mrs. Broadstreet attested that Hill who dwelt with them never kept ill hours but always came in by Eight of the Clock That he could not go out afterwards because he waited at Table and the Maid Catherine Lee lock'd up the doors and the Family went not to Bed till Eleven That particularly he was at home on Saturday night when Sir Edmundbury Godfrey is said to be Kill'd and on Wednesday night when carry'd away James Warrier attested That Green his Lodger was in his House and company on Saturday October the 12 th from seven till after ten at Night and that he exactly remembred it by his Work Three Centinels who Successively kept strick Guard on the aforesaid Wednesday Night at the great Gate at Someset-House through which 't is affirm'd the Body was carried out in a Sedan declar'd there went out that way no Sedan at any hour whatsoever from seven a Clock that Night to four the next Morning The Amplitude of which Testimony includes at least three hours immediately before and after the time Sworn to by Prance and Bedlow Berry's Maid attested That her Master came in that same Wednesday in the Dusk of the Evening went to Bed about 12. and could not well after that go out again without her knowledge the passage to his Chamber being through hers And it is most worthy of observation that this Bury was and professed himself to be both during his Imprisonment and at his very Death a Protestant of the Church of England Yet this Man though after Condemnation he was proffer'd his Life if he would own the Fact Nevertheless absolutely deny'd it to his last Breath And when the very Cart was drawing away from under him he lifted up his Hands and said As I am Innocent so receive my Soul O Jesus wherefore if the last words of a dying Protestant who might but would not live by a false accusation of himself or others may be credited The Papists were Innocent of this Murder and the forenam'd Witnesses Perjur'd in their Evidence As for what is objected about a Letter sent from London to Tixal c. It is answer'd supposing such a Letter was really sent and receiv'd That a Letter intimating the Murder of a Justice of the Peace might well be Writ from London on Saturday when Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was known to be missing and arrive at Tixal in Staffordshire by the common Post on Munday following and thereupon Dugdale might tell the news the self-same day to divers Gentlemen at Tixall What of all this Where 's the Inferrence against the Papists Yet this is all some Gentlemen seemed to attest whilst others denyed and all can be necessarily deduc'd from the receipt of such a Letter But that this Justice of the Peace was Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that the Papists had Murder'd him is proved only by the Common tract of Dugdales peremptory Swearing without any rational motive of credibility Thus much of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey As for the Narratives and from them deduced Stories of Firing the City Burning the Navy Black-Balls Fire-Balls Sham-Plots Wild-Irish Spanish-Pilgrims with other the like innumerable Fopperies and known contradictions to wise men though they make a dreadful sound amongst the Mobile yet carry along with them such an excess of Gross and Ridiculous Non-sence that to sober understandings they only serve to demonstrate the Perjury of the Witnesses and need no Confutation in Equitable Courts such as ours are no wise disposed per fas nefas without appearence of Justice to oppress the Innocent And whereas it is alledged as a main Argument of Popish Guilt That the two Houses of Parliament have declar'd it a Plot and several Persons in several Courts of Judicature have been Tryed Condemned and Executed for it The Papists answer with all due Submission to the Government in defence of Innocence That it is not Impossible nor altogether without President That a Lawful Authority proceeding Secundum allegata Probata should be abused and consequently drawn into a mistake by the Malice and Perjury of Wicked Men. Those who make it their study and Trade to frame Artificial Lyes and have time assistance and all imaginable encouragement and opportunity for it may easily invent plausible Stories with more coherence then any hitherto divised such as may amuse and deceive the most just and prudent Persons especially in a conjuncture when a transporting Zeal to the Protestant and as Papists say a misconceived prejudice to the Catholick Religion influenceth the Nation Nor have all been Convicted who were Impeached and Tryed upon the Plot but as some have been Condemned so others Impeached upon the same Evidence and in the same Courts of Judicature have been acquitted the wickedness and forgery of the Witnesses detected and their Depositions rejected as unworthy of Credit It is further hoped the Wisdom Justice and Integrity of the State will at length discover the whole Imposture vindicate the Innocent and Punish the Injury herein done to God to the King to the Nation and to almost all Europe To the Instances given of Popish Malice and Bloodiness from former examples viz. Queen Mary's Cruelties the Powder Plot the Irish Barbarisms the French Massacre c. Committed by Profest Papists It is answered that by the same reason and to as good purpose the Trayterous Seditions and Outrages in Germany France Bohemia and Holland Authorized and Fomented by Calvin Swinglius B●za and other Reformers The late Bloudy Wars in England the almost yesterday's Remonstrances and Practices in Scotland The even now actual Rebellion in Hungary raised and managed by Protestants for Protestanizm But above all that never to be paralelled Hellish Murder of the Lords Annointed Our glorious Soveraign CHARLES the I. in cold Blood by outward form of Justice on pretence of Reformation might be imputed to the Protestant Religion For all these now mentioned Horrid Villanies were committed by Protestants Protestants who gloried in being more then ordinarily refined from Popish Errors and Superstitions If it be said as most justly it may the Church of England never taught such Practices the same say and protest the Papists in behalf of their Church But because meer recrimination is no justification on either side And for that a full decision of this heavy charge dependeth much on the right understanding of Roman Catholick Principles in matter of obedience to God and the King We shall treat of

this Subject apart by it self when we come to examine the Principles of My Lords Faith and Religion Reflections upon the several above cited Depositions of Smith Dugdale Oates and Jenison LAstly The above-cited Depositions respectively made by Smith Dugdale Oates and Jenison in proof of the Plot in general are liable also to divers remarkable Exceptions And the Papists stick not here to say They wonder how so many and gross Incongruities and Falsehoods attested only by Infamous Men could pass for current Truths amongst Persons of Justice Worth and Prudence For instance Smith in his Deposition gives us to understand That being as yet a Protestant but troubled it seems with some doubts in matters of Religion He applyed himself for satisfaction to certain Priests in France They to settle his mind told him They would shortly bring in their Religion into England Right or Wrong a notable argument to convince a well-meaning Protestant But neither this as you may well think nor all the Jesuits could say or do would prevail with him so that he lived and studied with them several years a likely story remaining still a professed Protestant At length the Jesuits desponding as well they might of their own abilities herein sent him to be Converted by Cardinal Grimaldi and he it was did the Feat which none of the Priests or Jesuits could compass The Cardinal to remove all Scruples from the tender Conscience of his new Convert and further to convince his Judgment in the truth of his Religion entertain'd him one day with this Learned and Pious discourse viz That he had great assurances the Popish Religion would prevail in England and that there was but one in the way and that to accomplish their Designs they must take him out of the way Thus the young Man being now well confirmed in his Faith was made a Priest and sent into England with Instructions to teach his Countrey-men They were not obliged to obey their King and that to Murder him was a Meritorious Act. But the misfortune was that arriving in England he quite mistook his Errand And though he continu'd firm in the belief of the Popish Doctrine and Principles yet made it his whole business to root out the Jesuits the Popes chief Emissaries and disswade Roman Catholicks from sending Moneys to Colledges beyond Seas Dugdale tells us All the Jesuits Letters containing Damnable Treason and sent for the most part by the Common Post came to his hands most of which he saw and read but could never produce one single Letter He informs us also of dreadful Oaths and Sacraments of Secrecy administred to the Conspirators before they were made privy to any Dangerous Design yet with the same breath declares there were whole Armies both Privy and Ready to a Design no less then of Cutting all the Protestants Throats throughout the Nation at an hours warning Nay he assures us there was a Free Pardon of all Sins Proclaimed every where at the Chappels to all Persons Men and Women whosoever would be active in Killing the King a notable way of concealing Secrets Is it possible this Fellow should find credit in such gross such palpable Forgeries Oates likewise relates How that whilst he was Chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk the Priests attempted the utmost of their skill to perswade him out of his Religion by telling him The Church of England was upon it's last Legs Surely the Priests took him to be either a notorious Fool or Knave for otherwise they might doubtless have devis'd some more plausible and less dangerous Argument to convert a Protestant Minister Yet he feigned to be convinced by their reasons and was hereupon presently entertain'd by the Jesuits the sottish careless Jesuits who on a suddain intrusted this Neophite with all their concerns made him privy to all their most Damnable-Intrigues And in short 't is most certain nothing of Treason Murder or Villany was contrived or even thought on by them without him By this means he became acquainted not only with the strange adventures of Pickerings loose Flint Whipping Thirty Thousand Masses c. But also with the manner of Firing the City Introducing Chimerical Armies French Irish Spanish c. Mustered up in the Deposition Nor is it a wonder the Jesuits should be so rash in discovering their Secrets to Oates Seing he himself if you will believe him here also deposeth that some of them were so desperately mad as to Preach a publick Sermon before a company of Students wherein the Kings Legitimacy was vilified and abused and it was declared His Majesties Religion entituled him to nothing but sudden Death and Destruction Is it credible a Jesuit or any other in his Wits should publickly Preach such Black Treason to a Company of Boyes But what shall we say of the Doctor 's tender Conscience and Zeal in preserving the King He tells us here he only seigned himself a Catholick on purpose to make Discoveries Alas good Man It was to save His Majesties l●fe made him seem to the Papists what he really was not Yet O prodigious Impudence he owns at the same time he was conscious for above a year together of the daily attempts made by Groves and Pickering to Shoot the King He hourly expected for several Months the horrid effects of Sir George Wakeman's Poyson He was privy as he ad's else-where to the designed Assassination of the King at Windsor He knew the Ruffians were actually upon the Place and ready for the Villany He saw the Money sent to them for their Encouragement and every moment waited to hear the Fatal stroke was given Nevertheless this Man of Conscience whose watchful Eye so carefully guarded the Kings Life all this while made no Discovery Though he knew for certain that the Pistols were already even at the King's Breast The Cup of Poyson at his Lip And the Dagger almost at his very Heart Yet he never cryed out Murder upon the Lords Annointed never called for Immediate Succour never warned the King of his Imminent danger never diverted the Impending Mischief never so much as opened his Mouth to disclose any of these Horrid Treasons until such time as the King might have been killed a thousand times over Is this the Doctors Vigilancy Or rather is it not perfect Demonstration that all he hath Sworn of the Plot is Damnable Perjury Jenison declares That though he often expressed to Mr. Ireland An Horrid detestation of Treason and Blood-shed Yet Ireland as if he had a mind to Hang himself was still urging this Consciencious Man to Murder the King and when he could not prevail with him herein he would needs have him at last to nominate some Irish Ruffians whom he judged most proper for this Execrable Villany And thus far indeed Jenison acknowledgeth he condescended Now one would think a Man who had taken so deep an Impression of horrour and detestation of Bloodshed should have had some scruple in concealing so Hellish a Design and much more in

way of Presents from some great Persons by taking of Jesuits and Printing of Narratives But did not all these Gains accrue unto him on the account of the Plot On what other score were these Presents made by Great Persons Had he any other Trade or Livelyhood then that of the Kings Evidence Is it not too manifest those Gifts were bestowed on him as a Reward of Past and Encouragement of Future Swearing Would to God such great Persons would duly consider the Dismal Consequences which necessarily follow such Rewards THe second Exception made by my Lord against Oates's Evidence was That the said Oates had Perjur'd himself in two Depositions directly contradictory to each other For proof of this my Lord appealed to divers of the Lords themselves who were present at both the said Depositions amongst whom the Earl of Berkley being required to speak what he knew Attested That my Lord Chancellour did ask Dr. Oates at the Bar of the House this Question viz. My Lords desire to know if you can accuse any other Person or Persons of what quality soever And you are encouraged by their Lordships to Accuse them Oates his answer was My Lords I have no more to Accuse in Relation to England Notwithstanding which Deposition he afterwards in another with unspeakable Insolence expresly Accused the Queen in a matter as he thought of no less then High Treason From hence my Lord concluded if the first Deposition was True Oates was Perjured in the Latter If the Latter was True he was Perjur'd in the First So that which of the two soever is True or False he is guilty of Perjury UPon this proof the Managers made these Observations First Doctor Oates having said much and having many things in his Head could peradventure not remember on a sudden this particular of the Queen Secondly The Evidence which Doctor Oates gave afterwards of the Queen was not positive nor of his own knowledge but words which he heard spoken in a Room in which he was not himself but coming in afterward he saw the Queen there Thirdly It might not be so clear to Dr. Oates whether the Queen was a Person capable of an Accusation so as to be Tryed for Treason To which the Papists answer To the first 'T is an evasion contradictory to common Sense that a Man whose Business and Study it was to Discover a Plot against the Life of the King and who by several long premeditated Depositions had as he said discharged himself of all he knew should notwithstanding all this while never remember the most Essential part viz The Inhumane Murder of the King Designed and Consented to by his own Royal Consort To the second Oates Deposed upon Oath he heard such words and circumstanced them with such particulars of Time and Place as plainly denote he intended a full and home Accusation against the Queen And granted his Evidence was not positive yet the matter was of such dangerous consequence as ought not to be concealed especially at a time when he was upon his Oath to speak all he knew and when he pretended by Discoveries to Save the Life of the King To the third Though Oates left to himself be very Stupid yet he could not be so Ignorant us not to know that a Queen designing to Murder the King her Husband is guilty of Treason And whether She was liable to a Tryal or no. Oates was guilty of Perjury In that being Commanded and Encouraged by the Lords to make an entire Discovery of all he knew against any Person of what Degree or Quality soever he expresly Swore He had no more to Accuse in England Indeed the Transcendent Lustre of the Queens Vertue Innocence and Endeared Affection to His Majesty leaves no place for Calumny to fix upon And the bare Charge of so soul a Crime upon so Renowned a Goodness is of it self Independent of other Contradictions a more then sufficient Conviction of Oates's Perjury THe third Exception made by my Lord against Oate's Evidence was That though Oates in his several Depositions particularly those taken before the Privy Councel and House of Lords did often affirm he had given an entire and Faithful account to the best of his rememberance Of all whatsoever he knew as to the matters and Persons concern'd in the Plot And though he had then also time and opportunity to reflect and deliberate upon what might any wise relate to my Lord Stafford in that affair yet he never accused him of any other thing then only That he had seen beyond the Seas some Letters Signed Stafford wherein the Writer had testifyed his Zeal for the Catholick Design But when afterwards consulting with himself and possibly with some others he found this slam of his would not amount to any thing material whereon to ground an Impeachment he Invented and Imposed upon my Lord a Commission of Pay-Master-General to the Army a device he never once thought on before From which proceeding my Lord argued If there were such a Commission receiv'd by my Lord at Fenwick's Chamber in such a manner as Oates relates this Commission being a matter of so grand Importance and the Delivery of it accompanied with so many remarkable circumstances in the very presence of Oates It is impossible that the said Oates who as he said on purpose for Discovery had taken Notes and Memorials even of Trivial Occurrences should forget and by consequence omit a thing of this high concern in his former Depositions But if there were no such Commission as most assuredly there was none then is Oates Perjur'd in his present Evidence And verily added my Lord if it be permitted to this man daily to frame New Accusations If easie credit be given to all his Fables and whatsoever he shall from time to time Invent may pass for good Evidence Who can be secure At this rate he may by degrees Impeach the whole Nation for Crimes which neither he nor any man else ever yet dream'd on UPon these Arguments and Inferences made by my Lord the Managers would not and the Papists say They need not make any Remarks THe fourth Exception made by my Lord against Oates his Evidence was That whereas Oates now declares He never was really a Roman Catholick but only Feigned himself to be so My Lord often and strongly insisted That a Protestant of the Church of England who convinced in his Judgment of the Truth of his Religion shall nevertheless on what pretence soever Provoke God belye his own Conscience and violate all Sacred things So as to make a solemn Abre●untiation of his Faith and Church to profess himself a Roman Catholick to live amongst them to practice Religious duties with them for three years together and this to such an height of Sacriledge as frequently to receive the Sacrament and perform daily external Worship to it which in the Judgment both of Protestants and Catholicks was to him so believing direct and gross Idolatry

Damnation and this at a time when they might have saved both Bodies and Souls by meerly discharging a good Conscience in acknowledging the Truth and becoming honest men This I say is Inhumane and contradictory to all sense and reason to believe Now therefore I come to what you so often and so earnestly press me to viz. To satisfie the world and clear myself my Fellow Sufferers and my Religion from the imputation laid upon us on pretence of such Principles by a true and candid Explanation of my Belief and Judgment in the main points of Faith and Loyalty controverted between Catholicks and Protestants as they severally relate to God and the King PARAGRAPH I. Of the Catholick Faith and Church in General 1. THe Fruition of God and Remission of Sin is not attainable by man otherwise then in and by the Merits of Jesus Christ who gratis purchased it for us 2. These Merits of Christ are not applied to us otherwise that by a Right Faith in Christ 3. This Faith is but One entire and conformable to its Obiect being Divine Revelations to all which Faith gives an undoubted assent 4. These Revelations contain many Mysteries transcending the natural reach of Humane Wit and Industry Wherefore 5. It became the Divine Wisdom and Goodness to provide Man of some way or means whereby he might arrive to the knowledge of these Mysteries Means visible and apparent to all Means proportionable to the Capacities of all Means sure and certain to all 6. This way or means is not the reading of Scripture interpreted according to the private Reason or Spirit of every disjunctive Person or Nation in particular But 7 It is an Attention and Submission to the Doctrine of the Catholick or Vniversal Church established by Christ for the Instruction of all Spread for that end throughout all Nations and visibly continued in a Succession of Pastors and People throughout all Ages From which Ghurch Guided in Truth and secured from Error in Matters of Faith by the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost every one may and ought to Learn both the Right Sense of Scripture and all other Christian Mysteries and Duties respectively necessary to Salvation 8. This Church thus Spread thus Guided thus visibly Continued in One Vniform Faith and Subordination of Government is that self same which is termed the Roman Catholick Church The Qualifications abovementioned viz. Vnity Indeficiency Visibility Succession and Vniversality being applicable to no other Church or Assembly whatsoever 9. From the Testimony and Authority of This Church it is that We Receive and Believe the Scriptures to be God's Word And as She can assuredly tell Us This or That Book is God's Word so can she with the like Assurance tell us also the True Sense and Meaning of it in Controverted Points of Faith The same Spirit that Writ the Scripture Enlightning Her to Understand both It and all Matters Necessary to Salvation From These Grounds it Follows 10. All and only Divine Revelations deliver'd by God unto the Church and proposed by Her to be Believed as such are and ought to be esteem'd Articles of Faith and the contrary Opinions Heresie And 11. As an Obstinate Seperation from the Vnity of the Church in known declared Matters of Faith is formal Heresie So a wilful Separation from the Visible Vnity of the same Church in Matters of Subordination and Government is formal Schism 12. The Church proposeth unto Us matters of Faith First and chiefly By the Holy Scripture in Points plain and Intelligible in it Secondly By Definitions of General Councils in Points not sufficiently Explained in Scripture Thirdly By Apostolical Traditions deriv'd from Christ and his Apostles to all Succeeding ages Fourthly By her Practice Worship and Ceremonies Confirming her Doctrine PARAGRAPH II. Of Spiritual and Temporal Authority 1. GEneral Councils which are the Church of God Representative have no Commission from Christ to Frame new matters of Faith these being sole Divine Revelations but only to explain and ascertain unto us what antiently was and is received and retained as of Faith in the Church upon arising Debates and Controversies about them The Definitions of which General Councils in matters of Faith only and proposed as such oblige under pain of Heresie all the Faithful to a Submission of Judgment But 2. It is no Article of Faith to believe That General Councils cannot Err. either in matters of Fact or Discipline alterably by circumstances of time and place or in matters of Speculation or Civil Policy depending on meer humane Judgment or Testimony Neither of those being Divine Revelations deposited in the Catholick Church in regard to which alone she hath the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost Hence it is deduced 3 If a General Council much less a Papal Consistory should undertake to depose a King and absolve his Subjects from their Allegiance no Catholick as Catholick is bound to submit to such a Decree Hence also it followeth 4. The Subjects of the King of England lawfully may without the least breach of any Catholick Principle Renounce even upon Oath the Teaching Mantaining or Practising the Doctrine of Deposing Kings Excommunicated for Heresie by any Authority whatsoever as Repugnant to the Fundamental Laws of the Nation Injurious to Soveraign Power Destructive to the Peace and Government and by consequence in His Majesties Subjects Impious and Damnable Yet not properly Heretical taking the Word Heretical in that connatural genuine sense it is usually understood in the Catholick Church on account of which and other Expressions no wise appertaining to Loyalty it is that Catholicks of tender Consciences refuse the Oath commonly called the Oath of Allegiance 5. Catholicks believe That the Bishop of Rome is the Successor of St. Peter Vicar of Jesus Christ upon Earth and Head of the whole Catholick Church which Church is therefore fitly stiled Roman Catholick being an universal Body united under one visible Head Nevertheless 6. It is no matter of Faith to be believe That the Pope is in himself Infallible seperate from a General Council even in Expounding the Faith By consequence Papal Definitions or Decrees though ex Cathedra as they term them taken exclusively from a General Council or Universal Acceptance of the Church oblige none under Pain of Heresie to an interior Assent 7. Nor do Catholicks as Catholicks believe that the Pope hath any direct or indirect Authority over the Temporal Power and Jurisdiction of Princes Hence If the Pope should pretend to Absolve or Dispence with His Majesties Subjects from their Allegiance upon account of Heresie or Schism such Dispensation would be Vain and Null and all Catholick Subjects notwithstanding such Dispensation or Absolution would be still bound

Stafford's Memoires OR A Brief and Impartial Account OF THE BIRTH and QUALITY Imprisonment Tryal Principles Declaration Comportment Devotion Last Speech and FINAL END OF WILLIAM LATE Lord Viscount STAFFORD Beheaded on Tower-hill Wednesday the 29. of Decemb. 1680. Whereunto is annexed a short APPENDIX concerning some Passages in STEPHEN COLLEDGES TRYAL The whole now again set forth for a more ample Illustration of that so wonderfuly Zealous Pamphlet Entituled The Papists Bloody After-Game writ in Answer to the said MEMOIRS And Published by Langley Curtis 1682. Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt London Printed in the Year 1682. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER IT is the Common Fate of all Treatises writ in Matters of Contest by Opposite Parties That whilst the One is read without the other neither of both are rightly understood There came forth not long since in Answer to this Treatise call'd Stafford●s Memoires a Pamphlet Entituled The Papists Bloudy After-game Composed by a zealous Protestant-Dissenter and obtruded upon the Vulgar even to Nauseousness on every Bookseller's Stall This Pamphlet we confess hath had the misfortune to be generally reguarded no otherwise then as a meer Bundle of Hideously Rude and Scurrilous Barbarismes and Calumnies proceeding from the Malice and Fury of a Man baffled in Judgment and despairing of success from Sense and Reason Whilst on the other side the Memoires though they hardly appear'd in open view have yet gain'd the Reputation of Modest in expression Impartial in Matter Convincing in Proof and Innoffensive in Stile It is true these so differrent Characters seem to the Godly Party no wise applicable to the desert of either of the Authors The rather because the One of them though abounding alas in Passion and Cholor is yet to be Commended for his exceeding zeal against the Popish Plot And the Other by his reservedness in being exposed and shrewd Arguments made in defence of the Papists Innocence hath given no small umbrage of Suspicion he yeildeth not that Implicit Faith and deference to the Testimony of the Kings Witnesses as may clear him from the Imputation of Popishly affected Nevertheless so it is we know not how the Memoires are grateful and the Pamphlet odious to all indifferent Readers Nay some will needs say though we piously believe otherwise The framing of this Pamphlet was a meer Sham-Plot contriv'd by th' Jesuits on purpose to advance the Credit of the Memoires and Prejudice a good Cause by an Ill Vindication But 't is hoped there will shortly be Printed something by way of an Apology in behalf of the Pamphleteer In the mean while That the two Antagonists may stand in equal Balance and both be impartially submitted to each judicious Censure see the scope of our Present Design The Memoires are here made Publick The Pamphlet being already obvious to every Eye and Ear. THE Introduction IT is a wonder to see how Passion and Interest predominate over Reason in Mankind Nothing is done nothing said without some tincture of either or both Even common Occurrences are usually related as Men would have them to be rather then as they are Plain-dealing is almost fled And and all things now a days whether Private or Publick Sacred or Prophane are according to different Inclinations without regard to Truth promiscuously made the Subject of a Satyr or Panegirick An obvious example of this we have in the several Accounts given of the Tryal Declaration Demeanor and Death of the late Lord Stafford concerning whose Tragedy though acted for the most part in the face of the whole Nation yet there have flown about in a manner as many and those contradictory Stories as there are Relaters and such as know least commonly talk most to compleat the Error It is true the Printed Tryal set forth by Authority is no wise liable to these gross mistakes But it hath swelled in the Press by forms c. To so vast a volumn that few can spare either money to buy it or time to read it Besides it is in a manner silent of matters chiefly designed for the Subject of this Treatise viz. My Lords Comportment Declaration Devotion Last Speech and other Occurrences which happened inclusively from the time of his Tryal to his final End Having therefore attained to a most exact and certain knowledge of these particulars I shall for the satisfaction of the curious and manifestation of Truth give together with an abstract of the whole Tryal and some occurrences concerning it a plain and sincere relation of what I know and can by unquestionable Evidence justifie to be true And herein I shall also totally abstain from any the least moralizing upon transactions whereby to forestal the Readers Judgment But contenting my self with a plain and candid Relation of things as I find them leave every one to the freedom of his own censure and verdict upon them SECT I. My Lord's BIRTH Education QUALITY c. WIlliam Howard Viscount Stafford was second Son to Thomas Earl of Arundel and Uncle to the now Duke of Norfolk In his youth he was Educated with all Care and Industry imaginable to improve in him the Endowments of Nature and Grace And to speak truth he was ever held to be of a Generous Disposition very Charitable Devout addicted to Sobriety inoffensive in his words and a lover of Justice When he arrived to years of maturity he married Mary descended from the antient Dukes of Buckingham Grand-child to Edward and Sister and sole Heiress to Henry Lord Stafford To whose Title he succeeded being created by the late King Charles of Glorious Memory Baron Anno 1640. And soon after Viscount Stafford During the time of the late bloudy Rebellion he suffer'd much for his Loyalty to the King Always behaving himself with that courage and constancy as became a Nobleman a good Christian and a faithful Subject After His present Majesties joyful Restauration he lived in Peace Plenty and Happiness Being blessed with a most virtuous Lady to his Wife and many pious and dutiful Children In which state he remain'd till the 66. year of his age when happened this Revolution of his fortune as follows SECT II. My Lords Imprisonment Charge and Arraignment c. ABout Michaelmas Anno 1678. Mr. Titus Oates formerly a Minister of the Church of England accus'd upon Oath before the King and Council not long after also before the two Houses of Parliament several Roman Catholicks some Persons of Quality and amongst the rest the Lord Viscount Stafford of High Treason for intending and designing the Death of the King the introducing of Popery and subversion of the Government c. My Lord though he immediately heard of this Impeachment yet relying as he said on his own Innocence never left his Family nor withdrew himself from his ordinary known Acquaintance and Affairs till the 25 th of October 78. when by Warrant from the Lord Chief Justice he was sent Prisoner to the Kings Bench and from thence soon after

the Coach and spoke with him For hearing that he was a Witness I did ask him whether he was a Witness or no against Colledge Mr. Turbervil said He would break any ones head that should say so against him for he neither was a Witness nor could give any Evidence against him So after he came from Oxon I met with Mr Turbervil again And hearing he had been there I ask'd him if he had Sworn any thing against Colledge He said Yes He had been sworn before the Grand Jury Said I Did not you tell me so and so Why said he the Protestant Citizens have deserted us And God Damn him He would not starve These very words he several times repeated But when I ask'd him what he had sworn he said I am not bound to satisfie Peoples curiosities Upon the words of a Priest said Oates what I say is true as I am a Minister I speak it sincerely In the presence of God this Gentleman did say these words to me Which made me affraid of the man And I went my ways and never spoke with him afterwards nor durst I For I thought He that would Swear and Curse after that rate was not fit to be talked with In opposition to all which Turbervil Swore That he met Dr. Oates just at his Lodgings And the Dr. alighted out of his Coach and spoke to him and invited him to come to his old Friends For he told him They had some Jealousie that he was not true to them and he farther told him If he would come to the King's-Head-Club he should be received with a great deal of kindness But never afterwards said Turbervil did I speak with the Dr. a tittle about any Evidence Vpon my Oath added he I did not And truly I always looked upon Dr. Oates as a very Ill man and never would converse much with him AGainst Smith Oates gave this attestation viz To my knowledge Mr. Colledge and Mr. Smith had some provoking words past betwixt them at Rich. Coffee-house And Mr. Smith comes out and swears God Damn him he would have Colledges Blood So when I met him said I Mr. Smith you profess your self to be a Priest and have stood at the Altar And now you intend to take upon you the Ministry of the Church of England And these words do not become a Minister of the Gospel His reply was God Damn the Gospel This is truth said Oates I speak it in the presence of God and Man The whole substance of this attestation Smith absolutely forswore saying Not one word of this is true upon my Oath Then addressing himself to Oates 'T is a wonderful thing said he you should say this of me but I will sufficiently prove it against you That you have confounded the Gospel And denied the Divinity t●o THis is the sum of the Evidence given as well by Dr. Oates against Dugdale Turbervil and Smith as by Dugdale Turbervil and Smith against Dr. Oates From which fatal manner of self-condemning and Perjuring each other The Papists with two good consequence draw these deductions Either Oates attesting these things against the aforenamed Witnesses In the word of a Priest As he was a Minister of the Gospel Sincerely In the presence of God and Man c. Did give true Evidence or not If he did Then are Dugdale Turbervil and Smith both in their Testimony agaist Colledge and in their several Oaths here against Oates doubly forsworn But if Oates did not give here true Evidence as the other three positively Swear he did not then is he guilty of manifest Perjury So that from the reciprocal Testimony of each other in this matter It is an undenyable demonstration Either Oates the Pillar of the Plot or Dugdale Turbervil and Smith the joynt Supporters of it or Both and All are Perjur'd men and can justly Challenge no right of belief or credit to any thing they ever did or shall swear Hence the Attorney General in this very Tryal ingeniously complained It is an unhappy thing That Dr. Oates should come in against these men that supported his Evidence before And Mr. Serjeant Jefferies rightly inculcated to the Jury If Dugdale Smith and Turbervil be not to be believed you Perjure said he three men and in them trip up the Heels of all the Evidence and Discovery of the Plot. In like manner the Papists argue If Oates also be not to be believed the whole Fabrick of the Plot Falls What Dr. Oates the Quondam Top-Evidence the prime Doscoverer the Saviour of the King and Nation from Popish Massacre He swear false He not to be believed What account shall be given to God and the World for the Bloud-shed and the Severities used upon his Sole or chief Evidence Yet it is impossible if Dugdale Smith and Turbervil swear not false Oates should swear true Or if he swear not false They should swear true And as it is impossible both should swear true So is it next to impossible if either swear false the Plot should be true However most assuredly one part of the Witnesses against my Lord Stafford without which the other could never have found credit are here by their very Compartners proved Perjured Men. IT is objected They might all of them peradventure have sworn true before though some of them for certain swear false now The Papists answer So might they all of them for certain have sworn false before though some of them peradventure swear true now We are not to Judge of Men's past or future proceedings in order to Justice by what they possibly might be but by what they probably were or will be And to make a rational Judgment herein we have no other rule to guide us in the knowledge of covert intentions then the Test of Overt actions Seing therefore these Witnesses are proved actually Perjur'd we have no rational ground to believe but that upon the same motives and in the same concurrence of circumstances they both did and will commit the same Crimes Men of lost Consciences and desperate Fortunes allured by gain and encouraged by Indempnities regard not what when nor how they swear And my Lord Stafford had just Cause to say If it be permitted these men daily to frame new accusations If easy credit be given to all their Fables And whatever they shall from time to time Invent may pass for good Evidence Who can be secure At this rate they may by degrees Impeach the whole Nation both Catholicks and Protestants for Crimes which neither they nor any Man else ever yet dream't on It is also objected by Colledge's Party That Dugdale Smith and Turbervil are Papists in Masquerade now made use on to sham off the Popish Plot by turning it upon the Presbyterians Wherefore though credit may be given them when they swear against Papists yet the same credit ought to be denyed when they bear Testimony against his Majesties true Protestant Subjects The Papists answer first Granted that Dugdale