THE DISCOVERY OF THE Popish Plot BEING The several Examinations of TITUS OATES D. D. Before the High Court OF PARLIAMENT The Lord CHIEF JUSTICE Sir EDMUND-BURY GODFRY And several other of His MAJESTY's JUSTICES of the PEACE London Printed 1679. Titus Oates D. D. his Journal and Affidavit of his Discovery of the Conspiracy before Sir Edmund-Bury Godfry Septemb. the 27th 1678. IMprimis Richard Strange Provincial John Keines Bazil Longworth John Fenwick and Mr. Hartcourt Jesuites did Write a Treasonable Letter to Father Sinman an Irish Jesuite at Madrid in the Kingdom of Spain in which was contained their Plotting and Contriving a Rebellion in Scotland of the Presbyterians against the Episcopal Government in order to which they have imployed one Matthew Wright William Morgan and Mr. Ireland to go and Preach under the Notion of Presbyterians and give the disaffected Scots a true understanding of their sad States and Conditions which they were in by reason of Episcopal Tyranny exercised against them and withall to tell them now they had a fair opportunity to Vindicate their Liberty and Religion and that it could be done by no other way but the Sword and that now the King was addicted to his Pleasure that he would and could take but little care of that Concern In the said Letter it was expressed they had gotten an Interest in His Royal Highness but they deal with him as they think fit and that they were resolved by all means to weaken the King of England's Interest by informing his Friends of his intent to betray them into the Hands of Forraign Powers viz. to send them to fall by the Sword in the French King's Service against the Confederate Princes which Letter bares Date April 19 27 1677. 2. That the Persons abovementioned gave the Deponent 10 l. to carry the said Letter to Father Sinman into the Kingdom of Spain to Madrid the said Sinman being the Provincial General for the Kingdom of England and Ireland and in order to which Message the Deponent Embarked himself in the Ship called the Bâ—sca Merchant whereof Luke Bath-Roch was then Master to go for Bâ—lboa and there took Mules for Valladolydd but staying a day at Burgos in Spain the Deponent broke open the said Letter and found these Contents in the same 3. That they of the Society of Jesus in the English Seminary at St. Omers sent a Mission of Twelve Students into the Kingdom of Spain viz. Eight to Valladolydd and Four to Madrid there being English Colledges in both places in order to Study Philosophy and Divinity which Missioners were sent by Richard Ashbey Richard Peter Nicholas Blundel and Charles Peter by the Patents of the several Missioners by which they had power to demand Admission into the respective Colledges to which they were sent which Missioners were obliged by the Jesuits of the Colledges to renounce their Allegiance to His Majesty of Great Britain in the hearing of the Deponent and those of Valladolydd were taught by Daniel Armestrong a Jesuite Minister of the English there That First the Oath of Allegiance is Heretical and Anti-christian and Divellish and that Charles Stuart King of England is no Lawful King but comes of aspurious Rase and 〈◊〉 his Father was a Black Scotch-man and not King Charles the First This was delivered in a Sermon the 29th of Sept. 1677. to the Students there which Sermon the Deponent did hear and in this Sermon the said Daniel Armestrong in plain words did say that the King of England was a Bastard now that Daniel Armestrong goeth in Spain by the Name of Joseph Munford in Spanish by John Montefortio 4. That the said John Munford alias Armestrong did bring Letters from St. Omers to the English Colledge at Valladolydd to the Father there in Latin by reason they were Spaniards in which was expressed and related from the Fathers at St. Omers that the Fathers of the Society of London hath procured one Father Beningfield to be Confessor to His Royal Highness but if they saw that His Royal Highness did not answer their expectation they would dispose of him as they did intend to dispose of His Brother the King which they hoped to effect within a year which Letter bares Date June 1677. and Subscribed by Richard Ashbey alias Shimbleby Rector of the English Jesuites at St. Omers Richard Peter Minister Edward Nevil Prefect of the Studies Ch. Peters Prefect of Sodality John Farmor Prefect of Manors which Letters the Deponent saw in the Month of September 1677. at Valladolydd in the Kingdom of Spain 5. That Father Sinman above mentioned Writ to the English Colledge and the Fathers there said that the King of England was Poysoned to the great Joy of the English Fathers and that they would serve King James so if he did not give them a good assurance of bringing in the Catholick Religion and of rooting out the Protestant this Letter bore Date July the And was seen and read by the Deponent at Valladolydd near the latter end of July 1677. 6. That one Father John Blake alias Cross who went with the Four Students to Madrid did bring Letters from Richard Strange Provincial of the Jesuits and one Father Gray a Jesuit and John Keines to Father Sinman above mentioned in which was specifyed the great diligence was used by the said Richard Strange Father Gray and John Keines to procure such persons to dispatch the King and to put a period to his dayes which Letter bore date June the 10. 1677. Stilo Novo And the Deponent being sent to Madrid in August read it in Father Sinmans Chamber he shewing it also at the same time to James Arch-Bishop of Tuam of the Kingdom of Ireland 7. That the said Father Sinman received another Letter July the 20. 1677. Stilo Novo from Richard Strange Father Gray John Keines Bazill Longworth John Fenwick Father Ireland and Father Hartcourt in which they did manifest they were very sorry for informing him that he might assure himself that the business was done there man William being faint harted could not then do it though he had 15000 l. promised for his pains of which Letters the English Missioners by one information that at Madrid by John Cross alias Blake and those of Valladolydd by Daniel Armestrong Jesuit which Letters the deponent saw in the Chamber of Mr. Synman at Madrid at the same time that he saw the Letters of the _____ June mentioned in the fore-going paragraph or number 8. That on the 3. of November Stilo Novo Father Petro Jeronymo de Cordela Provincial of the Jesuits in New Castle did write to Richard Strange and John Keines that if the business of dispatching of the King of England could be effected they should have 10000 l. which Letter the deponent brought from Valladolydd to Bilboa and imbarked in a Ship within 5 dayes after his Arrival thither and in five dayes more arrived at a little Town near Exeter and in five dayes more at London and delivered
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
he lived till Christmas he should see a good change of things either that 48. should be taken from the World or the World especially that little World he was concerned in should be taken from him and that one that was a Catholick should play such a Game as never was play'd since the Conquest All which the said Fenwick told the Deponent in his Chamber and the Deponent asked the said Fenwick who this Catholick was and the said Fenwick said it was the _____ and the Deponent said 48. is put for the King 51. Item on the 21. of August in the Evening the Deponent went to the Lodging of John Keines where he found another Jesuit with him whose name this Deponent remembers not in whose presence the said John Keines told the Deponent that his Provincial had taken great care for keeping alive the differences between the disaffected Scots and Duke Lautherdale and that the Affairs in Ireland went on with great expedition and that meanes was now used to create a difference between the Dutch and Prince of Orange and if it could be effected there was no question to be made but that the Protestant interest would fail in Holland and that 48. would not last long in England for that it was high time to hinder 49. from being effected that Barley Broath trade should grow dead and Twelve be cut off that Mum and Chocholate should be put down and the order of Magpies should be turned into their first institution and habit now the Deponent saith these words to hinder 49. to be effected is an odd expression amongst them for the cutting off the King before he be 49. Years Old compleat Barly Broath is the House of Commons which shall be turned out and sit no more Mum and Chocholate is Protestant persons which if not destroyed shall never have any vote in the House of Peers after this Kings death and by the Magpies they understand the Bishops whose habit in Parliament is Black and White which shall be turned into Purple whilst the said Keines and the other Jesuit entertained this Deponent with these Treasonable discourses and expressions Mr. Jenison came to the said Keines and told him he lost a Letter which he had received from Thomas White the Provincial of St. Omers in a Walk he took to Islington and would give Ten Pound to any friend that would give it to him and was afraid some inconveniencies would follow if found by some Heretick which words put the said Keines into such a Consternation that he asked him if he had a mind to ruin them all but then the said Jenison bad the said Keines to be quiet for none could understand it which word this Deponent did likewise hear 52. Item That Mr. Keines was on the Twelfth day of August determined to go to Windsor in Order to settle business therein and towards the dispatching 48. at Windsor if the King should go thither and it was Judged the said 48. would in few days go to Windsor to make his abode there for some Weeks but the said John Keines told this Deponent he might chance to fall short of his return again these words were spoken to the Deponent by John Keines in his Chamber but the said Keines did not then go down to Windsor so soon as afterwards appeared to the Deponent 53. Item That Smith within mentioned that lyeth in Drury-Lane at one Mr. Lowdes house a Taylor in Cock-pit Alley in the aforesaid Lane and is also imployed to go from House to House to see how the Catholicks stand affected and Mr. Jenison did say that if the Catholicks had Courage enough they might Rise and Cut the Throats of 100000. Protestants in London of which expression of Jenison the said Smith did tell the Deponent asking his Opinion also of the same he answered that Mr. Jenison talked like a Person that had more heat than light The said Smith did at the same time tell the Deponent that the Society gave him Five Pound per cent for his Intelligence he getteth at Court of the Kings Actions words and Council and transmits the same to John Fenwick who doth the like to St. Omers where it is Translated into French and so goes to Father Leshee the Confessor to the French King which daily Intelligence the Deponent did daily see from the said Smith he Lodging in the same house with the Deponent and the said Smith at the same time did tell the Deponent he was a Lay Brother of the Society of Jesus of the Order of Politicians as they term it and attends Father Blundel to Newgate in Order to Convert the Prisoners there All which the said Smith did tell the Deponent the 12. of August and likewise the said Blundel did tell as much to the Deponent who hath seen the said Blundel and Smith go to Newgate together 54. Item That one Matthew Medbourn a Player in the Dukes Theatre one Mr. Penny Mr. Mammock Mr. Sharpe Mr. Shedon and one Willim Smith a Schoolmaster at Islington one Edward Everard and others meeting in a Club on Thursday and Sunday Nights with one Jones a Priest and one Kinmash within mentioned All these Persons are employed by the Jesuits to Villifie the House of Commons and to go about the City of London to Incense the people against them and against the Bishops of the Nation and they delivered this Treasonable Position that the Commons Assembled in Parliament are the Devils representatives and not the Nations which Treasonable and detestable words this Deponent did hear at the said Club which is kept in Fullers Rents near Grays Inn in the Month of August and the Deponent was Ordered by the Jesuits in London to give the said Persons great respect and in their Names to thank the Club for their faithfulness to them in that Particular 55. Item That Mr. Jenison on the Twelfth of August did say and did boast that he had put several out of Love with the Kings Interest and would so continue if that the King did not Turn Roman Catholick and if the King did not become Roman Catholick he would not be Charles Rex long 56. Item That a Pacquet 10 20. August arrived in London from Thomas White Provincial Mr. Stapleton Mr Nevil Mr. Peters Mr. Busby Procurator and Master of the Humanity Schools to John Fenwick in which it was specified that the Twelve Jesuits were gone into Holland and would use their skill and interest to make a Commotion there and that the Apple-tree which the Deponent saith is meant the Prince of Orange should not be Great and they hoped the Fathers in London would follow their business closely which Letters this Deponent saw and read 57. That a Packet went from London 12 22 August in which the Provincial was informed by John Fenwick and the rest that the Court was gone or going to Windsor and the Fathers and honest William were ready to attend the Court as this Deponent was informed by John Fenwick 58. That on August
the 13. in the Afternoon about Six of the Clock a Sermon was Preached by John Keines to Twelve Persons Men in poor habits yet Men of Quality as the Deponent verily believes by the whiteness of their hands In which Sermon he did deliver that Protestants and other Heretical Princes were deposed ipso facto because such and that it was as lawful to destroy them as Oliver Cromwel or any other Usurper At which Sermon the Deponent was present not designedly but by accident 59. That on the 15 25 of August John Keines and John Fenwick went to a Gentlemans Lodging in or about Westminster and perswaded him to remove his Quarters least God destroyed him with the sinners of the City for God had raised them and others of their Society to do such things against the City that would make a mans Eares to ring that should hear it The same Evening Keines and Fenwick told the Deponent the Story and laughed to think in what affright they had put the Gentleman into whose name they named but cannot be called to mind by the Deponent 60. Item That John Keins came to the Lodging of this Deponent on Saturday the 17. of August and told him it was endeavoured to dispatch 48. at Windsor if possible and withall told the Deponent that Mr. Howard Prior of the Benedictines Hilchcock Sub-prior and Skinner and Mr. Cook and some other Benedictines had promised to assist them with 6000 l. in order to the carrying on the design Now the said Monks did then by at or near the Wardrobe behind the Savoy which report the said Keines the Deponent did believe for that the said Mr. Howard Prior and Hilchcock Sub-prior of the Benedictines told the Deponent in the Morning the 17. of August that they had promised such a Sum and withall that the securing his Majesties Person in flight from Worcester was the worst days work that ever simple Jack Huddleston did in all his life time but now it was the time of their business to get the Stewarts out of the way which the Deponent related to John Keines and he the said John Keines did tell the Deponent if he would undertake to assist in dispatching the King he should be well rewarded if not here in Heaven and the Deponent replyed that he never shot off a Gun in all his life and withall told the said Keines he could not be guilty of such a thing for all the world Then the said Keines did further Inform the Deponent that Mr. Coniers a Benedictine Monk was resolved to pursue the design of dispatching 48. which is the King which appears to be evidently true to the Deponent for he heard Coniers on the 14. of August Lay a Wager of One Hundred Pounds with a Gentleman not known to the Deponent in the Benedictine Covent behind the Savoy that the King should not Live to Eat any more Christmas Pyes of which Wager Ten Guineys were by each party deposited in the hands of Mr. Hilchcock Sub-Prior so that the Deponent said to Keines he told him no more of Coniers than he heard from himself the 14. Ditto But the Deponent before he parted with Keines asked him what News about the Town and the said Keine told the Deponent that all the News was War with the French the said Keines did say if that prove true then have at the Rogues the House of Commons they shall be remembred for all their Long Bills against the Catholicks The Deponent replyed that with submission he thought that the revenge proposed against them would not do the business and therefore not a resolution consistent with a Catholick Spirit for the enterprise will be more Noble and Martial and the Deponent urged he feared the death of the King would not scarcely do the business and effect the design unless His Royal Highness would pardon those that did that Act and stand by them in it To which the said Keines replyed that the Duke was not the strength of their trust for they had another way to effect the setting up the Catholick Religion for when they had dispatched the King they had a List of Twenty Thousand Catholicks in London that were substantial Persons fit to bear Arms that would Rise in Twenty Four hours time and less and if James would not comply with them to Plot he must go also it being late in the Night The said Keines prayed the Deponent to come to his Chamber at Eight of the Clock next Morning and he would have an hours discourse with him before he said Mass and being about to take his leave of the Deponent asked the Deponent what he meant by those words could not be guilty of such a thing as to assist in dispatching the King there being no guilt in the thing The Deponent smiled and said he would not be guilty of so much Courage Besides the Deponent saith that he told the said Keines that it was his Opinion that it would be more safe to let Sir George Wakeman try his skill and then the People would not apprehend it so much 61. Item That he went to Keines Chamber on the 18. in the Morning about Eight or Nine of the Clock but he was gone abroad and left word that the Deponent should come at Four in the Afternoon and then he would have some Discourse with him and the Deponent went accordingly but met Mr. Keines in the Mewse who said he was to meet some of the Fathers in Covent Garden and there would meet them some Dominicans so would have the Deponent go along with them and coming to the appointed house the Dominicans were ready met these viz. Mr. Vincent Provincial of the Order of St. Dominick in England Joseph Davies Kinmash Mr. Dominick Mr. Collins Mr. Fidding Mr. Mansell and Mr. Launsdale as they said in the Name of all the rest of the Order in England to consider and comply with the Fathers of the Society to propagate the Catholick Faith and when John Keines was sat with the Fathers of the Society by him all on a side John Keines Father Hartcourt Father Fenwick Father Wright and Father Blundel the said John Keines propounded to the Dominicans to contribute to the design of killing the King and carrying on the business in England and Scotland The Dominicans answered by their Provincial that they were Poor and not able to do much for they had but little or no money but they would let them have their personal assistance and Councel and procure what Interest they could but as for money they could not part with any for they were in Debt and had scarce Four hundered pound in Stock and the most they could make of their Estates is Three hundered and sixty pound per annum at which Consultation the Deponent was to and fro and what was more said the Deponent cannot tell for he was sent with the Proposals made to the Dominicans to the Carmelites Doctor Hanson and Kemball and Mr. Trevers and they said they had
not One Penny in Stock nor any Income besides the Spanish Embassadors Allowance for assisting in his Chappel They by the Deponent did present their Service to the Fathers met together and bad him tell them their prayers to God and our Blessed Lady should not be wanting all which was acted by Order of the Provincial of the Society 62. Item the Deponent went to see John Fenwick on the 19. of August in the afternoon and whilst he was there in comes John Keines and presently after him Richard Blundel after Salutation past they asked the Deponent what news he answered he had heard none but what was in the Gazett then Blundel said he had been with his Work-men and they wanted Oyle what the meaning of this is the Deponent cannot positively tell but believes it was Sheeps Fat for the said Blundel would not tell the Deponent his meaning by it when asked Then the Deponent asked of Keines when he was for Windor he replied the Court was scarcely setled as yet but said Mr. Coniers and Mr. Anderton were to go down on the Morrow August the 20. and in the Morning And if they did any thing as to the business in hand it would hasten his going down and therefore as yet could not certainly tell when the Deponent asked further how honest William did Keines replied he was troubled with a sore Throat and very bad with it that he could not ride to Windsor and it would be dangerous for him to go by Water and that cold would be contracted and he rendred unfit for service Then the Deponent took his leave of them if being near Six of the Clock in the afternoon and went to the Monks Convent and enquired there of one Rumley a Lay Brother of the Orders for Mr. Coniers who said he was not within yet not far off yet not to be spoken withal for he was with some of the Benedictine Fathers about business and on the Morrow Morning was to go out of Town betimes So the Deponent left him and being but a little way from the place met Coniers who laughing said the †Roone Still People were fools to set upon * The King 48. at Windsor because he was seldome in a posture to receive their kindness but he would see his Worship and talk with him in some other Language †Gun-powder Then Formillio the Deponent asked him how he replyed that if the Shirt on his back knew he would Burn it if that should not take effect no means or opportunity should be neglected in order to the dispatch of 48 he further told the Deponent he was in hast his time short and business great but told the Deponent honest William and Pickering should stay in Town seeing the Person concerned was hic Vbique never long in one place 63. Item That on Tuesday the 21 of August a consult was held by the Jesuits then in London with certain Benedictine Monks about a Letter received from the Arch-bishop of Dubline Talbot to the Fathers of the Society in which they were given to understand that Four Irish Jesuits had undertaken the death of the Duke of Ormond and upon his death the Irish were ready to rise and in his Letter told them that a Legate was arrived in Ireland from the Pope and that he had asserted the Popes right to that Kingdom and that the Kings of England ceasing from being Roman Catholicks were no longer concerned therein being given them during the good pleasure of his Holiness and therefore did incourage the said Arch-Bishop to contrive and use all means for the Recovery of that Kingdom out of the hands of the English and in the said Letter it was mentioned that if opportunities did not permit the said Jesuits to do their business that they should send over one Dr. Foggarlie now lodging at Mr. Symmonds the Widow of Symmonds and Apothecary and that he and the Fathers in Ireland together with the said Foggerlie would find out an expedient way for the death of the said Duke of Ormond Furthermore he did specifie that they had procured several Irish to be made Commissioned Officers in the Garrisons in Ireland and that he and the rest had dispenced with them to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and that the Irish that had so gotten Commissions by the Arch-bishops means had promised to betray their interest into their hands when the business should be ripe and therefore desired the Fathers to be diligent in England as he and the rest of the Clergy were in Ireland which Letter John Keines did shew to and read to this Deponent Keines and Blundel giving this Deponent an account of the consultation also Foggerlie did tell the same to the Deponent on the 21. of August and that he had great Interest in the Court of Ireland 64. Item That the said Foggerly is a main Agent in this Hellish Plot and hath promised if the Arch-bishop Talbot will make use of him he will do him all the Service he can as the Deponent is ready to justifie to the face of the said Foggerlie who did tell the Deponent that himself and Coleman were in the Consult when Wakeman was contracted withal in order to Poyson the King and said if he had the interest in the King that Wakeman had he would have undertaken it himself and all this was told the Deponent on the 21 of August in Foggerlies Chamber And furthermore the said Foggerlie did then and there tell the Deponent that he had hired Four Irish Russians whose names he did neither tell the Consulters that met that day nor the Deponent and they were to mind the Kings posture at Windsor but the Deponent telling the said Foggerlie he heard the King was gone to Porch-mouth he was wonderfully troubled by reason as the said Foggerlie did say it did much impede their design and nothing would be attempted as long as absent from Windsor 65. Item That the Lord Embassador at the Court of Spain Sir William Godalphin holdeth great correspondency with Jerom Sinman the Irish Jesuit before mentioned Procurator for the Jesuits in England and Ireland also with the Arch-bishop of Tuam now at Madrid as is a friend in his business as the said Sinman did inform the Society in a Letter of the 30 of July 1678 Stilo Novo And likewise in one to the Deponent wherein he did specifie that Sir William was as industrious as any one could be to answer the expectations of the Society and that he had one Protestant Servant and his Chapline in the House viz. the the Cook which makes a couple and the Deponent knows that Godolphin is a Papist and has perverted a Kinsman of his own also the Deponent knoweth the Embassador is very familiar with the Irish Jesuits the Arch Bishop Tuam and Sinman and the Deponent doth verily believe that Mr. Hodges sometimes Chaplain to the Lord Embassador if required testifie as much and this Deponent further saith
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
no further than Watton by reason of a Mischance they met withal in the way by which Missioners the said Thomas White did design to beget in the Dutch an evil Opinion of the Prince of Orange and to cause a Commotion there against the Prince Which Letter the Deponent saw and read in Fenwicks Chamber the Eleventh of August 1678. 39. Item That another Letter of the Master of the Augustins came to Blundel and because the Thames was Frozen over and the Sickness coming on they altered their purpose and in January 1675 6. they met with this Green again who closed with them in their design and that they might Ingratiate themselves the more with him furnished him with Thirty Pound he being Poor yet they found him an Active Man and fit for their purpose and the more to ingage the said Green they pretended to hold many Fifth-Monarchy Mens Principles which when Green perceived Judging them too zealous brought them acquainted with Eight others who were zealous in the business The aforesaid Jesuits were earnest to have the business done in February before the return of the Inhabitants to London But the said Green intreated them to suspend that resolution because that they should be the sooner discovered and such a design must have an uproar and besides that the King would not be much in Town if at all until the Plague was more abated whom the said Green did say must be Cut off too when the People were in a hurry by reason of the Fire and this Motion pleased the Jesuits and Dominicans well and it was put off in a very little time after the said Green and the rest of the Fifth-Monarchy Men together with those Four Jesuits above named and the Dominicans were suspected by the said West that kept the house at Puddle-dock and were forewarned the said house and presently after Green and his Eight acquaintance were clapt up in Prison But for what the said Strange did not tell the said Deponent upon the Imprisonment of these Nine Persons The said Jesuits did go to St. Omers and remain there till May after the Execution of Eight of these aforesaid Persons Green dying in Newgate one Fitz-Gerard an Irish Man and Jesuit and one Neal of White-Chappel did write to this Strange as the said Strange informed the Deponent that none of the Fathers names were mentioned in the business of these men and thought they might safely return so In the latter part of May they set forth for England and got to London the beginning of June and then concealing their Names and Lodgings they began afresh to consult about this Fire which was still carried on by the Jesuits in London in the absence of the said Persons and it was plotted by them in the Fire-time to Cut off the King that the number of the Beast might be accomplished in the uttering of which words the said Strange broke out into a great Laughter but said the said Strange To be short we got 50. or 60. Jesuits to ply the work and one Everard was very diligent in preserving the Fire-Balls which they had made and put into Granada-shells and the more to Palliate this they procured this Everard a Place in the Kings Service to look after the Ammunition that was to be carried down to the Fleet it being in the time of the First Dutch War and the said Strange told the Deponent that great Attempts we made at the Tower but without effect But said Strange to the return ordering our Affairs we were also in Fee with several French men who also were faithful in the business and all things being ready and the place pitched upon Strange removes his Quarters and got to lye in a house in Fanchurch-street and went by the name of Walker this he did in August 1666. and with him he took the aforesaid Kinmash the Dominican together with Pennington and Purton who lay at an Apothecaries house in Shooe-lane c. Fitz-Gerrard lay at Neales in Whitechappel but Neale was one to see the Fire carried on through Thames-street and so to the Tower In a word the said Strange told the Deponent they spent 700. Fire-Balls and when the Fire-Merchants were at work then others both Men and Women were at work to Plunder what they could and that they had a Ware-house in Wildstreet where some things so plundered were laid and other things they concealed in Sommerset-house as Holland Cambrick Fine Cloth and some considerable quantities of Plate and a Box of Jewels the Owners gave their Men to carry away and ordered his Servant to go along with him but they having increased their number ordered the Servant to be knocked down by the Fathers in London for not giving an account of what progress they made or to be made in the proposals to Sir George Wakeman and how he refused it if made and if not to do it for it would not be convenient to deferr it and told them that Ireland was safely arrived at St. Omers Who only told that the King was very secure and therefore he the Provincial admonished them to be very vigilant which Letter the said Blundel shewed the Deponent the 19. of August 1678. 40. Item That another Packet of the 15. of August from St. Omers from Thomas White Provincial to Father John Fenwick in the which were Letters inclosed to Father Jenison Father Hartcourt and others which Letters he did not see but that to Fenwick the Deponent saw and read and in it the said Thomas White did write that he hoped that the Figure 365. should lie as low as ever 666. did and that if Poyson did not take the King away Fire should for the Catholick Religion would never flourish unless I. H. S. took its Course Now the Deponent saith that the Figure 365. is meant Westminster and by 666. London it being the Character or Cypher for those places and the Letters I. H. S. Jesuits they using it always 41. That the Deponent was informed by John Fenwick and others of the Society then in his Chamber that the Jesuits had 60000 l. per annum good Rents and 100000 l. in Bank that he and the rest of the Society have in the name of their several Trustees lent Money out at 5 l. per cent the improvement of which Money in Bank is used about these practices and that it costeth them 400 l. per annum for intelligence besides their dayly Messengers on which vast summs of Money are spent and besides an other part is transported beyond-Sea by Bills of Exchange which the Deponent in a very great part knoweth himself to be true and of the rest they themselves have informed him several times all which tends much to the dammage of the Kingdom 42. Item That on Munday 5 15 of August Father Hartcourt John Keines John Fenwick and another of the Society whose names the Deponent remembers not did say they intended to raise a commotion in England and Wales which also did appear by
several Letters which the Deponent did see and read the Date whereof the Deponent doth not know nor now well remember but he saw them in August 43. Item That Two New Messengers were sent into Scotland on the Fifth of August one by the name of Father More the other Father Saunders alias Brown with instructions to carry themselves like Presbyterian Ministers and to Preach to the disaffected Scots and the necessity of taking up the sword for the defence of liberty of Conscience these the Deponent saw dispatched and ordered to go by Father Hartcourt in the name of Tho. White Provincial 44. Item They have several times communicated and doe still what they have revealed to them of the Kings Secrets Which they purchase by giving Money and then send them over to Leshee the French Kings Confessor and the Deponent hath seen several particulars as others pretend how the King stands affected to War or Peace and this they do by one Smith who dayly lurketh about Whitehall and Westminister Hall in time of Parliament and is as he saith in Fee with the Clerks of the Parliament who gives him the intelligence and with the Clerks and Officers of his Majesties Privy Council and Cabinet Council The Deponent saith further that one Coleman doth assist this Smith with private intelligence as John Keines Jesuit and this Smith have told this Deponent several times in the Moneths of July and August 1678. 45. Item That these Jesuits drive several Trades in Town as Merchants Tobacconists Gold-Smiths Scriveners and by means of the last come to the knowledge of several Estates of several Persons of Quality and other Scriveners of their Religion and Practices by which they take an estimate of the strength of the Nation as this Deponent was informed by John Keines in August and 't is probable their Scriveners have great Imployment 46. Item That on Fryday the Ninth of August Came Letters of the Sixteenth Ditto by an especial Messenger from Thomas White Provincial and subscribed by the Fathers of St. Omers in which he and they did rejoyce very much that Sir George Wakeman had taken the business into his hands and if he did it the 15000. pound should be paid but ordered that Pickering and his companion honest William should not desist their endeavoring to Assassinate the Kings Person which Letters the Deponent read and asked Fenwick how the Provincial came to understand that Sir George had undertaken the business he the said Fenwick told the Deponent that he had dispatched a special Messenger away to give him notice and that the said Messenger brought this Answer and withal said Fenwick it cost at least Ten Pound to give him word of it 47. Item That one Wil. Berry now a secular Priest that had formerly been a Jesuit because that the said Berry had written and was about to Print some sheets of Paper in vindication of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and in it persuaded Roman Catholicks to a more charitable complyance with the Protestants Bazil Longworth and others did offer it to the Deponent to kill the said Berry and if he durst not do it himself to procure some others to do it assuring the Deponent who ever did it should have a pardon This was proposed August the Ninth 1678. 48. That on the Ninth of August in the Evening in the Chamber of John Keines Jesuit in Warkwickstreet where John Fenwick a Jesuit and the Deponent were together there came one Richard Heath a Lay Brother of the Jesuits who after some discourse of the design of Killing the King did say he was a Bastard and indeavored to Rule by the Sword which words the Deponent did hear and so did Keines and Fenwick and replyed one after another in the hearing of the Deponent that the Bastard should not trouble the World long 49. That on the 10 20 August the Deponent did meet with John Groves In Wild-street in the afternoon as near as he remembers about Five a Clock and Groves having made several promises to the Deponent to give an account of South-wark Fire in 1676. The said Groves took the Deponent into Wild-house Garden and and thus began he said that he had certain Fire-works made for that very purpose and he and Three Irish Men more that were his assistants went into the Burrow and not finding an opportunity went to St. Margarets Hill where they found an Oyl-shop which the said Groves bragged he Fired the Deponent asked Groves how he came acquainted with these Three Irish Men he said his acquaintance was not much but they were procured by Foggerly an Irish Doctor For which the Society Richard Strange Provincial gave him and his Assistants 1000 l. Viz. 400 l. for him and 200 l. a piece for the Irish and the said Groves told the Deponent that the Society got at least 1000 l. in the Fire which was also told the Deponent another time by Richard Strange 50. That on the 15. of August Sunday this Deponent saw Letters from St. Omers Ditto vvritten by Father Ireland in the name of the Provincial Thomas Whitebread to John Fenwick in which Letter by the contents thereof there was Letters to John Keines Mr. Jenison Blundel and others which the Deponent did not see but in that to John Fenwick it was specified what diligence was used in Ireland by the Jesuits there for the destruction of the Duke of Ormond and for the procuring another demonstration of zeale for the promoting of the Catholick Religion and interest in that Kingdom and that which arts would not effect the Sword should to the great vexation of the Protestants there and he intimated to the greatest joy he had that there was yet hopes the disaffected Scots would not lay aside their endeavors for and after the defence of their Liberties and Religion and that the Catholicks in Scotland had promised to use their Utmost Indeavors to keep up the Commotion there and the said Father Ireland bad the said Father Fenwick to exhort the Fathers there to be earnest in their design for now was the time that the English Nation was to be reduced And further more ordered in the name of the Provincial that Letters should be written to all the Societies in England that they make it their business to incourage their friends to braveness of mind for that God had hitherto given them such a hopeful Prospect of things and that no opportunity on his part should be lost and that they In London if they thought fit to communicate these things that they should have a care that they did it not to more then one at a time least they should be bafled in their Enterprise which Letter when read by the Deponent Fenwick to whom the Letter was directed told the Deponent it was his duty to offer up a Mass or Two that God would prosper the design of these Holy endeavors of the Society to promote the Catholick Religion and Faith and told the Deponent further that if