him Three Blows with his Stick and a Box on the Ear and charged him with being with the King and a Minister with him whom he suspected to have informed the King of these things because that Benningfield had related in a Letter to Blundel that the Duke of York had suggested some such thing to him and did therefore Judge that it must be so by the Deponent that must have been drawn in by some person to the same but at last the Provincial told the Deponent he was willing to be reconciled to him if he would discover who the person was his Name and place of abode to the end he might be secured of him and were resolved to kill him and in the mean time the Deponent was ordered to make himself ready to go Beyond-Sea within Fourteen days as the Provincial said and that the Deponent might not cheat them they were to pay for his Coach-hire and ordered him entertainment at Sittingborne and other places on the Road to Dover and there Mr. Coniers at the Kings-head was to pay for his passage to St. Omers where the said Deponent was to remain till further Orders from the Provincial and R. Blundel was to take care of carrying on the Fire at Wapping in the Deponents Room 78. Item on the Sixth of September Pickering told the Deponent that Coniers was gone to Windsor and he said after Ten days stay he would go to the Lord Brudnels House 79. Item That about Night the Deponent attending the Provincials door and about to go in he heard White and some others whom the Deponent supposes by their Voices to be Father Micho and one Mr. Pool consulting about the disposing a person he supposes to be himself their words were these this man has betrayed us and therefore we will give a Coach-man Twenty Pound to take him up and carry him directly to Rochester to Esquire Leeds house who lives near the Town and from thence to Dover by some by way because he was acquainted at Sittingbourn and said if they could get him beyond-sea they would torment him till he had confessed to them who it was that had been with the King and informed him of the business when the Deponent heard these words he made hast away and durst not lie that night in his own Lodgings 80. Item That the Seventh of September at Night the Deponent returned to his Lodgings where he intended not to lye but only to take some necessaries for his use the next day but meeting one Grigson a Papist at whose house he had formerly lodged near the Read-Lion in Drury-lane the said Grigson told him that the Jesuits were displeased with him because he answered not their expectations in being true to them and that the Jesuits are dangerous persons and would ruin him if they could and said further that the said Grigson had known their Rogeries this Twelve or Fourteen years and the Deponent being through discourse detained by him was forced to lye in his Lodging in Drury-Lane and when the Deponent was laid down in his Bed one Stratford a person utterly unknown to the Deponent discoursed with or any otherwise provoked endeavoured to break into the house where the Deponent lay and broke down a door to get into his Lodging but was forced back because he apprehended himself to be observed by the Servants and when he saw he could not come at him to Assassinate him as he verily believes he reviled him The Deponent and brake several Quarrels of Glass in a Window under his Lodging the Deponent being therefore verily perswaded that Stratford was set on by the Jesuits to do him a mischief made his escape thence easily on Sunday Morning but durst not return thither again because that Stratford threatned to kill him now the House where the Deponent lay is a School where Blundel usually Catechized every Sunday in the Afternoon 81. Item September the Eighth whilst this Deponent was going to attend Gods worship in the City of London a Papist who goes by the Name of Nevil met him in the Strand and told the Deponent there was great murmuring amongst the Jesuits against him because a complaint was made against them by some persons of whom he was suspected one The said Nevil did tell the Deponent that it was reported he must ruin the Jesuits or they him telling him moreover that the Bishop of Rochester was made acquainted with it and said he would lead them such a Dance as they never followed since the Fool their Founder came into the World to which this Deponent made no reply but taking this person to be a Trapan when asked for his Lodging gave no account The Names of the Conspirators and where they are Jesuits THomas White Provincial England Richard Strange late Provincial England Richard Ashbey alias Thimbleby England Mr. Hartcourt Mr. Jenison in England John Keines in England William Wright in England Richard Blundel in England Gregory Pool in England Micho in England Benningfield in England Langworth in England Morgan in England Richard Peters in England Dorrington in England Lacy in England Vaughan in England Every in England Sir Thomas Preston at Leige Sir John Warner at Watton Thomas Stapleton at St. Omers Thomas Farmor at St. Omers Mr. Egglestone at Watton Mr. Sanders at Leige Edward Hull at St. Omers Coniers in England Launell and Christopher Peters at St. Omers Jenison at Watton Marsh at Ghent John Peters in England Blake alias Cross in Spain Munford in Spain Wilkinson in England Woolfe in England Nevel in England Sabrand at St. Omers Walker at St. Omers Roper at St. Omers Constable at St. Omers Canny at Rome Crane at Watton Benedictines Howard at Doway Hilchcock at Doway Anderton in England Coniers in England Rumly in England Cocker in England Skinner in England Crosby in England Mr. Reeves at Doway Carmelites Doctor Hanson in England Mr. Trevers in England Mr. Kemball in England Franciscans Mr. Napper in England Doctor Armstrong in England Dominicans Joseph David Kinmash in England Dominick in England Collins in England Vincent in England Hidden in England Mansell in England Lynsdale in England Captain Busby in England Cooper at Rome Secular Priests Perrot in England Morgan in England Willmot in England Doctor Godden in England Jones Senior in England Jones Junior in England Woolfe in France These Seven only by Information Gerrard in England Herick in England Fisher in England Jackson in England Piâ—kerd in England Sharpe in England Doctor Preston in England Scotch Jesuits Lovell Saunders More Twelve Jesuits whose Names I know not lately gone into Scotland but their Persons I know Secular persons Doctor Foggerly Sir George Wakeman Mr. Coleman John Groves Assassinates Four Irish Pickering Lay-Brothers Smith Lay-Brothers Talbot and Lynn Arch-Bishops Jerom Sinman Sir William Godolphin Lord Embassador in Spain The Examination of Titus Oates before the Parliament WHo begins his Account from King James's Reign and tells them that he and His Son Prince Henry were both dispatched
the Letter to Richard Strange and when opened it was writ in Lattin and read by the said Strange and he said that all means should be used to answer Father Petro's expectation and in the Letter to Strange was one inclosed to this Keines by the Name of John de Neaporto de la Companey de Jesus which Letter the said Keines offered the Deponent to read and because of the Spanish abbreviation the Deponent did not well understand the Letter it being also in the Spanish Tongue so that the Deponent could but make little of it therefore the said Strange did give the Deponent the Letter directed to himself saying that he thought the Deponent understood the Letter better then Spanish that the Deponent read the Letter and found in it the Contents above mentioned and the said Keines being then ill upon Stranges Bed said that he hoped that God would strengthen honest Williams heart to do this work now this honest William is a Servant of the Society of London this Strange did lye at Mr. Saunders his House part of Wild-house in Wild-street where the Deponent heard this discourse from Strange and Keines 9. That the said Richard Strange Bazill Longworth Father Hartcourt John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Gray Father Jenison Father Saunders and Father Euliston did write a Letter and subscribed it and did send it to St. Omers to Richard Ashbey Alias Thimbleby Rector of the English Seminary there in which he and the rest of the Fathers were given to understand that the King was as well given to Debauchery as Whoreing that they had an intent to get one to stab him in his Court at Whitehall and if that could not be conveniently done they would imploy one of his Physitians to Poyson him and for his work they had 10000 l. in the hands of one Worseley a Gold-Smith which Money was procured by one Father Leshee a French Jesuit and Confessor to the French King which Letter the Deponent saw and read and saw it subscribed by the above said persons and carried them to St. Omers he went down to Dover in a Coach place being taken for him by the said William their Servant but whose Name is John Groves the Letter carried bore date December 1677. Stilo Novo 10. That Letters were inclosed in this Letter aforementioned the aforementioned Father Leshee in which thanks were given him by the Father that had subscribed the Letter to Father Richard Ashbey for his great charity to them and his care for the propagating the Catholick Religion and that all meanes should be used to destroy the opposers of it both root and branch which Letters bear date the sixth or seventh day of December which Letters the Deponent carried inclosed with those of Richard Ashbey to St. Omers and from St. Omers to Paris and delivered them into the hands of the said Leshee about the 18. December as near as the Deponent can remember 11. That other Letters bearing date December the 12. 1677. were sent from Richard Strange and others of the Society of London to those of the Society of the English Seminaries at St. Omers and them Letters were inclosed to Father Leshee in which they told him they had stirred up the Presbyterians in Scotland to a Rebellion and that 20000 l. of them would be in Arms if that his Majestie would break with the King of England and that a way was also made for the French King landing an Army in Ireland and further that the Irish Catholicks were ready to rise in order to which 40000 Black Bills were provided to serve the Irish Souldiers withal which Letters were subscribed by Richard Strange John Keines and John Fenwick and the outside Letter directed to Richard Ashbey and told the Deponent that the Letter to Leshee was carried by a special messenger for which he had 10 Pattacoones as the said Ashbey to the Deponent said and that the Messenger was Drummer of St. Omers 12. That an other Packet sub-date the 18. of December 1677. in which it was specified that the Father Grall of the Society of Jesus at Rome had written and removed Richard Strange from being Provincial and had profered the Provincialship on Thomas Whitebread Ordered that Father Conyers should Preach on Thomas of Canterbury's day in the sodality Church in the English Seminary against the oath of Supremacy and Allegiance and that he should exhort the Fathers to stand by the new Provincial who would be as zealous for the bringing in of the Catholick Religion into England as ever his Predecessors were and would not leave one stone unturned to promote the same which said Letter was directed and read by Richard Ashbey and this was about the 24. of December 13. That another Packet Sub-Date the 26. where it was ordered by Thomas Whitebread Richard Strange John Keins Bazill Longworth John Fenwick Francis Gray Father Hartcourt Senior Father Hartcourt Junior Father Michael Father Benefield Father Ireland Father Blundel Father Jenison and some others of the Society That Father Leshee should be written to by Richard Ashbey and informed that the Fathers before named had met together to contrive the advancement of the Design of the happy disposal of His Majesty of Great Britain and if his Royal Highness should not appear to answer the expectation the former giving no hopes at all they would endeavour with all speed his dispatch that he might not hinder their design of Bringing in the Catholick Religion and if they could not find an opportunity of taking him from his Kingdom they would take his Kingdom from him which Letter he this Deponent saw in the hands of Richard Ashbey and desired to read it but the said Ashbey would not read it to him Jan. the 2. 1678. 14. That in the said Letter of December the 26. it was specified that Richard Ashbey and Nicholas Blundel was Constituted by Patent from the Provincial to be Ordinary of Newgate to go and visit the Condemned Prisoners and to seduce them to the Catholick Religion and to Catechize some Youths in London and every day in the Week he hath his several places where he teaches Youth treasonable Doctrines and mutinous against the Interest and Person of His Sacred Majesty and giveth several sums of Mony to their Parents if Poor to encourage them to send their Children to be thus instructed which passages was contained in the aforesaid Letter and afterwards practised in London 15. That another Packet came to Richard Ashbey to St. Omers from Thomas White John Keines and others of the Society of Jesus in London Which Letters from them and others were inclosed to Father Thomas Stapleton Procurator at Brussels to perswade the Father Confessor to the Duke De villa Hermosa to inform him that His Majesty of England did not intend to assist His Majesty of Spain but to stand a looker on till he was ruined by the French King which Letter being not sealed was seen heard and by Richard Ashbey Rector of St. Omers
suffered he should have had 300000. Masses said for the Health of his Soul which Letters were signed by Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial when received the Fathers of the English Seminaries were in great trouble for Pickâ—rings negligence which Letters the Deponent saw and read in the latter end of January and the Votes put into such Mock-Phrases as also the Kings and Lord Chancellors Speeches in the Month of February 20. That the Deponent went out the 29th of January to know of his Confessarious whether he might keep the Thirtieth day of January as a Fast the Confessor replyed that the account with them was the Ninth of February by reason the account with England did differ from that on that side of the Water the Deponent then asked if he might keep the Ninth of February the Confessarious asked him why the Deponent replyed because of the Martyrdom of the late King He answered the late King was no Martyr but a Heretick and withall added that he was not King James's Son but a Bastard begotten on the Body of Queen Anne of Denmark by her Taylor this Confessarious is a Jesuite and his name is Charles Peters Prefect of the Sodality 21. That Letters bearing Date 18. of February Stilo Novo from Thomas Whitebread John Keines John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Micho Father Richard Ashby Rector of St. Omers then ill of the Gout to the English Fathers there and did let them know that they had sent William Morgan into Ireland to see how Affairs stood there in that Kingdom and expected his return by the end of March and that he set out the 26th of January with Instructions to order the Affairs in Hand and to encourage the Irish Natives to defend their Religion and Liberty and his Companion was one Francis Lovell who was to go into the North of Ireland to see the Fathers of the Society there and carry 2000 l. to supply their present wants and to promise 4000 l. in case of action 22. That another Packet came from Thomas White alias Whitebread Father Micho Father Ireland Father Hartcourt and others of the Society of London bearing Date Feb. 7. 1678. in the which was contained an account of the Fathers Progress in Berk-shire Oxford Essex in perswading the Catholicks who are Votaries for the Order of St. Ignatius to Contribute to the Irish Rebellion and maintaining of a Civil War in that Kingdom in case the French King should break with the King of England and also have received Letters from Scotland in which they were informed that the people would rise to oppose Duke Lauderdale and the Royal Party in that Kingdom by which means they thought to weaken both Parties and also that they would endeavor by themselves their Agents and Purse to provoke the Scots against the English and withall told the Affairs at St. Omers to whom this Packet was directed and by whom it was read that they should be glad to effect such a design which Packet the Deponent saw and read Letter by Letter 23. That the Fathers of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey Rector Edward Hall Edward Nevil and others of the English Seminary did Write to Thomas Whitebread and other Fathers in the which it was exprest that it was now apparent that the Catholick Religion was to be brought in the same way that they had used for the Destruction of the Father of this King and as that could not be effected by the effusion of Blood and withall prayed them to Prosecute their design in taking away the King and if His Royal Highness should not comply with them to dispatch him also for they did fear that never any of the Stuarts were men for the effecting of their ends and purposes and this Letter and Instructions were given to the Fathers how to feel His Royal Highness stood affected which Letter bore Date February the Ninth Stilo Novo and was signed by the Persons abovesaid in the presence of the Deponent who did Compose the said Letters for them according to Directions given him by them which Letter was to this Deponents knowledg carryed into England by one Father Eury who then went thither 24. That an answer of the aforesaid Letter February the 19th Stilo Novo came Dated the 20th of February from Thomas White John Keines Bazil Longworth Richard Peters John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Hartcourt Father Blundel Father Matthew Wright Father Thomas Wright Father Jenison and Father Sinman who some times belong to Summerset-house who also Signed with the rest the said answer which told the Fathers of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey to whom the Letter was Directed that they found that although the Duke was a good Catholick yet he had a tender affection for the King his Brother and would scarcely be engaged in the concern and if they should but once intimate the designs and purposes unto him they might not only be frustrated of their design but also might loose his favor which Letter the Deponent saw and read in February 25. That the Fathers of the English Seminaries at St. Omers did oblige one Brother George a Lay Brother in that Seminary to go to Ghent in Flanders to the Englâ—sh Jesuites there with a Letter from St. Omers Dated the 26th of February from London and the said Brother Arrived there as they advised the Father the First of March that the Secular Clergy should be Treated with about the business but they finding them at that time to be men inclined to live in Peace and Obedience to their Prince the Father with Thomas White c. answered them in one of the Tenth of March Stilo Novo That the Clergy were a sort of Rascally Fellows that had neither Wit nor Courage to Manage such a Great Design and did pray them of Ghent and those of St. Omers to be of god Chear for they went on well both in Scotland and Ireland and the Fatal Blow shall be given the Black Boy of White-Hall with all the speed that might which Letter to them at Ghent and from them to the Provincial they being brought to St. Omers before they went as also those of March the Tenth the Deponent saw and read 26. That there was an attempt to make an assassination on the Person of His Sacred Majesty in the Month of March several days as he was Walking in the Park and once as he was going to the Parliament-House by Honest William and Pickering but opportunity did not offer it self for the which the former was Chidden and the later had a Penance of Twenty stroakes with a Discipline on his shoulders it being judged by the Fathers the effect of his negligence Which passage the Deponent saw mentioned in a Letter from Thomas White to Richard Ashbey bearing Date the 26. of March 1678. 27. That on the 5. of April Letters came from Thomas White and the Fathers in London to Richard Ashbey and those in St. Omers in the which the former gives the latter to understand
in which it was ordered that if the said Father Confessor should not be ready to comply with the said Stapleton that Messengers should be forthwith sent to Father Sinman at Madrid to inform His Majesty of Spain of the said concern and to make the same relation of the business to the Arch-Bishop of Tuam in the Kingdom of Ireland now at the Court of Madrid That he the said Arch-Bishop and the said Sinman might jointly give an account to the King of Spain of the motion made or to be made to the said Father Confessor to the Duke De Villa Hermosa and also to advise the Spanish King to Seize the Estates of the English Merchants in several Factories in this Kingdom For that they have endeavoured to Transport them to England which would tend highly to the prejudice of Spain and for the Confirmation whereof they procured Letters from one Fausica sometimes an Agent in London to attest the same To which the said Fausica willingly condescended and sent his Letters to St. Omers to be sent to the Court of Spain that the Fathers might give their approbation which Letter was long and large with attestations therein made against the Merchants residents in their several Factories concerning the matter of Faith before mentioned and also other Letters to Daniel Armstrong at Valladolidd and John Armstrong at Madrid which they were ordered to Confirm this affirmation made or to be made by the Fathers in England and of the English Seminaries at St. Omers Or if the said Stapleton together with that of Fausica the above mentioned Spanish Agent now lives at Bruges in Flanders All which Letters bore Date the First Second of January 1678. Stilo Novo and were seen by the Deponent at St. Omers and in the Letters to the Two Fathers Armstrong and Cross in Spaein was contained a special Order that if the fermer could go to Madrid he should send his Attestation to Don John of Austria and to carry on which 200 l. was made over by Father Sinman and the English Fathers 16. That when the Lords came from England about the business before mentioned to St. Omers Edward Nevil and Thomas Farmer did say that they would not let this Black Bastard go so to His Grave in peace meaning the King of England for that he had cheated them so often and that now they resolved to be served so no more That this Deponent standing by said if the Duke prove slippery they both replyed that his Pas-Port was ready when ever he should appear to fail them These words were heard by the Deponent on the Third of January in the Afternoon in the Library of the Jesuits at St. Omers 17. That on the Fourth of January 1678. Stilo Novo Letters were sent from Richard Ashbey Edward Hall Edward Novil Christ Peters William Busby James Junior Thomas Farmer Michael Constable Jesuits of the English Seminary at St. Omers as also from Father Williams Rector of Watton and Master of the Novices there Sir Jo. Warner Barroner alias Clare Franois Samby alias Ditz-Biling to the Father-Confessor of the Emperours Majesty That His Majesty of Great Britain hath treatherously been the ruin of the Confederates especially of the Germain Empire and of his Catholick Princes under him and has under hand stirred up the Hungarian Rebellion against his Imperial Majesty and found them Money to go on in their Rebellion His design being not to keep any Alliance with his Imperial Majesty but only in shew that he might advance the Prince of Orange his Nephew and make him absolute and therefore prayed the States of Holland might have notice of it Which Letter was seen and perused by the Deponent it being writ in the Latine Tongue All which Letters were sent away by a Lay Brother who was a Dutch Man and when these Letters were sending away one of the Lay Brothers whose name was George did say the Prince of Orange was more fit to Roban Orchard than to be a General of an Army 18. That Letters bearing Date the 1. of January Stilo Novo arrived at St. Omers January the 20. from Arch-Bishop Talbot Arch Bishop of Dubline wherein it was expressed that the Fathers of the Society in Ireland were very vigilant to prepare the people to rise for the defence of their liberty and Religion and to recover their estates and if the Parliament that was to fit in England shall joyn with the King in declaring war against France and should put His Majesty to ingage in a War with France that a place in Ireland should be open to receive the French Kings Army when His Most Christian Majesty should think fit to Land one their And in the Letter he advised the Fathers of St. Omers to advertise Father Leshee of the same and other Jesuits that had an interest in the French King and that His Majesty of Great Britain was brought to that pass that if any Male content amongst them should not prove true to their designs His Majesty would never give ear to their information and prayed them to be diligent for now was the time or never Which Letter this Deponent saw and read and in order to the Fathers Compliance with the said Arch-Bishops Letters to Father Leshee to Paris and appointed Edward Nevil and William Busby to carry and deliver them to the said Leshee which Letters were answered with all speed by the aforesaid Messengers Jesuits as above The one of them being Prefect of Studies and the other Procurator for the Seminaries and by them writ Letters to Thomas White Provincial to the Rector of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey but of that to the Provincial the Deponent can give no account but of that to Ashbey the Deponent faith there was expressed in it that the General of the Society of the Jesuits would Contribute 500000. Crowns to be paid in June next coming and that his Holiness the Pope would not be wanting to supply them when they had made some progress in that glorious attempt 19. That another Packet arrived at St. Omers directed to Richard Ashbey Rector there the Date whereof is not well remembred by this Deponent but as near as he doth remember it was about the beginning of the Parliament for then came the Kings and Lord Chancellors Speeches and Votes of Parliament which were put into ridiculous Phrases in contempt of the King and both Houses of Parliament and for the Fathers and Scholars to Laugh at and then Translated into French and given to the Governor of St. Omers who sent them to the French King his Master and in the Packet was contained the account of the attempt of one Pickering a Lay Brother that waited on the Jesuites lying at Sommerset-house to Shoot the King as he was Walking in St. James's Park when he was at some distance from his Nobles and Attendants but the Flint of his Pistol being loose he did defer the Action till another opportunity and if he had done it and had