dispatched the same night That the next day one William Harcourt Rector of London sent fourscore pounds to them in the name of the Provincial who was then beyond the Seas And by whose Authority the other acted That Mr. Coleman told the Witness that he had been to look for Harcourt at his house in Drury Lane and was there directed to Wildhouse where he sound him And Coleman asking what care was taken for the four Gentlemen that went last night to Windsor Harcourt made answer that Eighty Pounds was ordered them and that the Messenger was there that was to carry it That the money was there upon the Table most in Guinnies and that Mr. Coleman gave the Messenger a Guinny to make haste And that Mr. Oates never saw the Messenger but that time The Witness was asked what he knew concerning Mr. Colemans discourse with one Ashby whose evidence was that one Ashby in Iuly last and formerly Rector of St. Omers being in London and ill of the Gout was appointed to go to the Bath That this Ashby had certain instructions under the hand of White the Provincial beyond the Seas to Authorise Ashby and the Consult of London to dispatch the King by Poyson in case Groves and Pickering failed and to offer Sir George Wakeman 10000 l. to effect it taking the opportunity of giving his Majesty Physick That Mr. Coleman attended this Ashby that he saw Read and Copyed out the Instructions and sent them over England to those that were privy to the Plot That this Deponent himself saw the Reading and the Transcribing of them Mr. Coleman declaring the sum to be too little and that Sir George Wakeman would hardly undertake it upon those terms adding That it were well to give 5000 l. more to make the business sure and that this was said at Wild-House at Mr. Sandersons house and that upon Mr. Colemans dispatch of these Suffrages the word he used for Instructions to the Principal of the Catholick Gentry of England some thousands of Pounds were Collected and that Coleman told the Witness that he sent these Copies about to quicken people in their Contributions The Court demanded if Mr. Coleman was not to have been one of the Secretaries of State to which Mr. Oates replyed thus That in May last New Stile April Old soon after the Consult at Mr. Langhorns Chamber among other Commissions he saw one from the General of the Society Iohannes Paulus D'Oliva by vertue of the Popes Authority directed to Mr. Coleman and that this Deponent saw it at Mr. Fenwicks Chamber in Drury-Lane in the month of Iuly Mr. Fenwick being present and that Mr. Coleman did then and there acknowledge the Receipt of it open it and say that it was a good exchange for it made him Secretary of State that upon the Seal there was an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a Cross and in English Characters I. H. S and that he knew this to be the writing of the said General for he had seen it forty times That in the month Ian. the Witness opened at St. Omers certain Letters from Rome directed to Father Harcourt he having power so to do wherein it was certified that the Commissions were already in Mr. Langhorns hands which gave the Witness a curiosity to ask Mr. Langhorn about them Now the Witness being summoned to be at the Consult in April and appointed by the Provincial to wait upon Mr. Langhorn he did so and in discourse about the Commissions asked him if he might not have a sight of them To which Mr. Langhorn replyed that he had received the Commissions and that he would not scruple to let him have a view of them the Witness giving him that very day an account of the Consult The Witness was asked if he were acquainted with Langhorn and he declared That meeting two of Mr. Langhorns Sons in Spain and doing them some kindnesses upon the Witnesses return out of Spain Mr. Langhorn received him with great Civility at his house somewhere about Sheer-Lane but the Wife being zealous another way Mr. Langhorn advised the Witness rather to come to him for the future at his Chamber in the Temple and that the Witness was ordered by the Provincial to give Mr. Langhorn an account from time to time of all Results at the White Horse and Wild house Being interrogated how many came over in April together with the Witness and how many Priests and Jesuits to his knowledg had been lately in England at one time he answered that there were nine Jesuits as the Rector of Leige Warren Sir Thomas Preston the Rector of Watton Francis Williams Sir Iohn Warner Charges one Poole a Monk and the Witness the Ninth but for the number of the rest that he could not remember it and that to his knowledg there had been in England at the same time 160 Secular Priests 80 Iesuits and by names upon a List above 300. The Prisoner being now permitted to ask any questions and speak for himself Mr. Coleman suggested that upon his Examination before the Councel the Witness told His Majesty that he had never seen him before and yet now pretends to great intimacy and acquaintance with him Mr. Oates alledged that in truth he said his sight being had by Candle-light that he would not swear that he had ever seen him before but so soon as ever heard him speak he would have sworn him to be Coleman It being demanded when the design upon the King at Windsor was before the Council how the Witness came to omit Mr. Colemans giving the Guiny to the Messenger the time when the Fourscore pounds was sent the way of remitting the 200000 l. The Prisoner Consulting and approving of the Murther of the King and his saying that 10000 l. was too small a reward for Sir George Wakeman Mr. Oates his answer to all this was that his business before the Council was rather to Exhibit an Information than to deliver a Charge and that it gives light to a Prisoner how to shift when he knows the whole matter of his Accusation beforehand and that besides he was so spent with waiting and watching that he could scarce stand upon his Legs And that the King and Council were sensible of it and willing to ease him but yet if he had been prest he should have enlarged his Information The Witness being examined how long it was betwixt the time of his being Interrogated and speaking only to the Letters and that time of communicating to the Houses of Parliament the matter at present in question his answer was from Monday the 30. of September until the Parliament met The Witness was likewise asked why he did not inform sooner and of all together Mr. Coleman being so dangerous a person and engaged in so desperate a design why he did not name the Jesuits he accused And how he came to charge Sir George Wakeman by name and not Mr. Coleman
name was Hilsley and that they came up to London together That the Witness lay at Groves and there was a flaxen-hair'd Gentleman and Strange the late Provincial that lay there besides but that the Witness was charged to keep himself very close Groves in the mean time denying that Oates ever lay in his house and confessing that Strange did but not in either April or May. Mr. Whitebreads reply upon Dr. Oates was that Williams and Hilsley did come up to Town together and that Dr. Oates knew of it but that he was not with them nor could he be with them for he had no orders The Court did here very tenderly advise the Prisoners to bethink themselves as a very material point if they could make it out that Dr. Oates was not in England in April or May. Mr. Bedlow was now called and sworn and then examined what he knew of any Plot to kill the King and by whom who rendred this account That he had been near Five years a Carrier of Letters betwixt England and France for the Society and the English Monks in Paris That the first Letter he carried was from Mr. Harcourt who sent for him over being then a Lieutenant in Flanders about Michaelmass last was four years That the Witness visiting the English Nunnery at Dunkirk was kindly treated by the Lady Abbess who entertained him six weeks in the Convent and afterwards recommended him to Sir Iohn Warner as a person fit to be intrusted either with Letters or any thing else against England That after a fortnights stay Sir Iohn Warner sent him to Father Harcourts the next spring he sent him with several Letters into England and Mr. Harcourt gave him several dispatches from thence to Morton and Doway and other places That in 1676. he carried a Packet to the Monks at Paris which they communicated to the other English Monks in France to whom it was directed with a Letter in it to La Chaise from Harcourt Prichard and Cary. That upon the receipt of this Packet there past a Consultation betwixt La Chaise some Monks and a French Bishop or two by whom mention was made as Stapleton an English Monk told the Witness of a Letter from the Lord Bellasis and other Catholicks in the Plot shewing in what condition affairs stood in England That from the English Monks at Paris the Witness was sent with a Packet addressed to Mr. Vaughan of Courtfield in Monmouthshire That Mr. Bedlow went from thence to Pontois and carried other Letters from thence into England which he opened and found to be only Prayers for the success of the design and an earnest intreaty not to fail meeting at the Warwick-shire Consult That May 25. 1677. The Witness carried over an other Packet and delivered some Letters to the English Nuns at Bruges and Ghent That coming to Doway the Monks Sheldon Stapilton and Latham being gone the Witness hastened after them and overtook them at Cambray That the intent of these Letters was to give notice of what had passed in a Consult at Summerset-House about the destroying the Protestant Religion that there was great joy in Cambray at the News and at Paris the Witness was informed that the Lord Bellasis blamed them for not keeping touch with England Stapleton telling the Witness that neither my Lord nor the Society in England had any reason to blame them for they had their Men Mony and Armies in readiness upon any occasion from thence the Witness was dispatcht into Spain to an Irish Father whom he overtook at La Mora and from thence he went to Salamanca and St. Iago and so came back into England and Landed at Milford Haven That the Witness passed thence to London and delivered the Letter to Mr. Harcourt that he did not look into the Contents of it but knew that it tended to the same purpose with the rest and to the advancing of the Plot. That he was afterwards sent by Harcourt and Coleman with Letters to some Papists in England That in the beginning of August last there was a close Consult at Mr. Harcourts as this Witness was informed by Pritchard That it was a Plot upon the Kings life and that Pickering and Grove had been long about it but that for fear of failing there were four Ruffians to be imployed that would do it at Windsor and that the next day Mr. Coleman would inform the Witness of the success That Pritchard told him further that some being sent to Windsor Mr. Coleman was following them having given a Guiny to the Menssenger that carried them their mony And moreover that the Witness demanded why they kept him so long a stranger to the design they answered him that it was the Societies Resolve and the Lord Bellasis's Order that none but those of the Society and the Actors in the Conspiracy should be made privy to it That about the latter end of August as he believes the Witness coming to Harcourts Chamber found Ireland there Pritchard Pickering and Grove That their discourse was that since the Ruffians could not dispatch the King Pickering and Grove should take in Conyers and try if they could snap him in his morning walk at Newmarket That they were all of them eager upon it and especially Grove who said that if it could not be done by surprize it must be openly and that at the worst it would be an honourable miscarriage and that in spight of all discoveries the party was yet strong enough to bring it about The Witness swears also that Fogarthy and Harcourt were there and that Ireland Grove Pickering and the rest heard all this That Harcourt promised the Witness a considerable reward Grove to have 1500 l. if he came off and to be the favourite of the Church Pickering to have as many Masses at twelve pence a piece as would come to that mony Ireland denies that ever he saw Bedlow before that time in the Court and bade him produce a Witness if he could that he had ever spoken to him Mr. Bedlow was examined what he could say of the rest and his answer was that he charged only those three that as to Whitebread that he had heard he was deep in the Plot but did not know it and only knew him by sight but that Whitebread and Fenwick had been at many Consultations Mr. Bedlow came now to speak to Groves agreement and the 1500 l. His evidence was that Grove was to put it into a Friends hand but he knew not his name nor the certain time of their agreement Ireland affirms that he was not in London the whole month of August and offers to prove by twenty Witnesses that he was in Staffordshire from one end of the month to the other and desires that Mr. Bedlow would name the place and the Company where ever they were together Mr. Bedlow replyed that he did not pretend to a
Oates said upon a question of his seeing the Prisoner last Summer which was that he saw him Iune Iuly and August Sir William Waller calling to mind something of That Mr. Marshall averr'd that he could prove himself in Warwickshire all those three Months but that his Witnesses were not here and that it was impossible to foresee what points would come in question Whereupon he did submissiverly desire respite of the Court for the producing of his Witnesses The Prisoner recommends over again the consideration of the False Mark the Dr's finding him in bed and yet not knowing him his point-blank Evidence upon August 21 and the most certain means he had of Disproving it still insisting upon a very short time to bring up his Witnesses Mr. Corker minded the Court of the Officers and others that said upon the taking of Pickering that they had nothing to say against the Prisoners which a Servant of the house was then ready to attest Elenor Rigby informed that upon the Search in the Savoy Marshall and Corker were both in bed at the same time when Pickering was taken and that the Company ask'd the Name of the people in the house and that this Witness named to them Pickering Marsh Corker and others They declaring Dr. Oates among the rest that their business was onely to Pickering Upon the Question who was President of the Benedictines the Witness answered Mr. Stapilton and that he had been so several Years and that she was certain that Corker never officiated in that place And being ask'd if ever she had seen Dr. Oates or Mr. Bedlow there in the house she the Witness answer'd that Dr. Oates came to Mr. Pickering for a Charity that Summer was twelvemonth and that Mr. Pickering forbad his coming into the house Mr. Marshall collecting from that Evidence that This being charg'd for the very Nick of time to advance the Plot it was not probable that they would treat so necessary an Instrument in it at that rate The Prisoner repeating his desire onely of 3 or 4 days time to provide his Witnesses reasoning upon the Thing that if his Life might justly be sav'd he did presume that the Court would not have him lose it But it was urg'd on the other side that he had notice long enough to have brought them up and that the Iury must be now kept together till they give up their Verdict Mrs. Elizabeth Shelden informed that Mr. Stapilton was at present and had been for four or five years last past to her knowledge President of the Benedictine Monks And Alice Broadhead informed likewise to the same effect Upon which Evidence Mr. Corker raised this Inference That Dr. Oates's Accusation was of no validity depending wholly upon the Prisoner's being President and consenting to the Plot under that qualification Sir George Wakeman with a soleman Imprecation disclaimed all the Crime in this matter that was charg'd upon him And so likewise did Mr. Corker renouncing both the Doctrine of moving a Sedition for Religion and all power of Dispensation for so doing Mr. Marshall was more Copious and Rhetorical and more upon Perswasion then Defence So that the Lord Chief Justice after some short Remerks upon the Romish Principles summ'd up the Evidence and gave directions to the Iury who after an hour's Consideration returned the Prisoners Not Guilty THE CONTENTS The History of the Charge and Defence of Edward Coleman Esq Pag. 1 The History of the Charge and Defence of William Ireland Thomas Pickering and John Grove Pag. 12 The History of the Charge and Defence of Thomas Whitebread Will. Harcourt John Fenwick John Gavan and Anthony Turner Pag. 21 The History of the Charge and Defence of Richard Langhorn Esq Pag. 47 The History of the Charge and Defence of Robert Green Henry Berry and Laurence Hill Pag. 63 The History of the Charge and Defence of Sir George Wakeman Baronett William Marshall William Rumley Pag. 74 James Corker Benedictine Monks THE END Mr. Oates sworn concerning the Plot upon the King He goes to Father Keyns at Colemans Fenwick gives him Colemans Packet for St. Omers Foul expressions in Colemans News Letter A Letter of thanks to La Chaise for 10000 l. The mony to be imployed for the killing of the King Mr. Oates had a Patent to be of the Consult A Consult at the White-Horse in the Strand The result of that meeting Touching a Rebellion to have been raised in Ireland A Consult at the Savoy about it Arms towards the Rebellion 200000 l. towards it Money to be sent to Windsor The four Irish Ruffians sent away and 80 l. sent after them Ashbies Instructions about the Poysoning or Murther of the King Mr. Colemans Commission for Secretary of State Mr. Langhorn shews Mr. Oates the Commissions Mr. Oates's acquaintance with Mr. Langhorn How many Priests and Iesuits in England at one time Mr. Colemans defence Mr. Oates did not know Coleman at the Council Not till he spake for the Candle was in his Eyes How came Mr. Oates to omit his Charge before the Council Mr. Oates's answer to the former objections Why was this Information delayed so long with Mr. Oates's reasons for it Whether Mr. Oates knew Coleman before the Council or nor Sir Thomas Doleman examined to that point And Sir Robert Southwel M. Colemans Defence before the Council Mr. Oates's Charge against Coleman Mr. Bedlow examined Mr. Bedlows evidence about Commissions What mony Mr. Coleman received how much and for what Mr. Bradley the Messenger examined His account about seizing M. Colemans Papers Sir Robert Southwel and Sir Thomas Doleman examined about M. Colemans long Letter M. Colemans Letters and Papers proved to be of his own hand-writing Sir Philip Lloyd proves the long Letter The scope and substance of it Sir Robert Southwel proves La Chaises Letter La Chaises Letter to Coleman The substance of Mr. Colemans project of a Declaration His Letter in the Dukes name which gave his Highness great offence The sum of the Letter itself Another Letter to La Chaise Two material passages out of it Mr. Coleman owns the Letter The Prisoner asks the Witness some questions Dr. Oates's answer to them The Prisoner says he was in Warwick-shire when charged to be in London He pleads that both Witnesses did not swear to the same Fact He blames his expression and distinguishes upon the word Aid Boatman Witnesses his being in Warwick-shire His servant examined again but could not speak to the day The Prisoner found Guilty He is brought to the Bar again and offers a Book to prove he was out of Town Pleads the Act of Grace and receives his Sentence He swears himself innocent And is Executed The Indictment for Conspiring the death of the King Dr. Oates sworn Mr. Whitebreads Letter to Conyers He summons a Consult A second summons and who appeared upon it The Consult of April 24. at the White-Horse-Tavern The Result drawn up by Mico The
THE HISTORY OF THE PLOT Or a Brief and Historical ACCOUNT OF THE Charge and Defence OF Edward Coleman Esq William Ireland Thomas Pickering Iohn Grove Robert Greene Henry Berry Laurence Hill Jesuites Tho. Whitebread William Harcourt Iohn Fenwick Iohn Gavan Anthony Turner Richard Langhorne Esq Sir George Wakeman Baronet Benedictine Monks William Marshall William Rumley Iames Corker Not omitting any one Material Passage in the whole PROCEEDING By Authority LONDON Printed for Richard Tonson within Grayes-Inn-Gate next Grayes-Inn-Lane 1679. TO THE READER THere has not been any point perhaps in the whole Tract of English Story either so dangerous to be mistaken in or so difficult and yet so necessary to be understood as the Mystery of this detestable Plot now in Agitation A Iudgment for our Sins augmented by our Follies But the world is so miserably divided betwixt some that will believe every thing and others nothing that not only Truth but Christianity it self is almost lost between them and no place left for Sobriety and Moderation We are come to govern our selves by Dreams and Imaginations We make every Coffee-house Tale an Article of our Faith and from Incredible Fables we raise Invincible Arguments A man must be Fierce and violent to get the Reputation of being Well-Affected as if the calling of one another Damn'd Heretique and Popish Dog were the whole Sum of the Controversie And what 's all this but the effect of a Popular Licence and Appeal When every Mercenary Scribler shall take upon him to handle matters of Faith and State give Laws to Princes and every Mechanique sit Iudge upon the Government Were not these the very Circumstances of the late Times When the Religious Iugglers from all Quarters fell in with the Rabble and managed them as it were by a certain fleight of hand The Rods were turned into Serpents on both sides and the Multitude not able to say which was Aaron and which the Enchanter Let us have a Care of the same Incantation over again Are we not under the protection of a Lawful Authority Nor was there ever any thing more narrowly Sifted or more vigorously discouraged than this Conspiracy Reformation is the proper business of Government and Council but when it comes to work once at the wrong End there is nothing to be expected from it but Tumult and Convulsion A Legal and Effectual provision against the Danger of Romish Practices and Errours will never serve their turn whose Quarrel is barely to the Name of Popery without understanding the Thing it self And if there were not a Roman Catholick left in the three Kingdoms they would be never the better satisfied for where they cannot find Popery they will make it nay and be troubled too that they could not find it It is no new thing for a Popular Out-cry in the matter of Religion to have a State-Faction in the belly of it The first late Clamor was against Downright Popery and then came on Popishly Affected That sweeps all The Order of Bishops and the Discipline of the Church took their Turns next and the next blow was at the Crown it self when every Man was made a Papist that would not play the Knave and the Fool for Company with the Common People These things duly weighed and considering the Ground of our present Distempers the Compiler of this Abridgment reckoned that he could not do his Countrymen a better Office than by laying before them the naked state of things to give them at one view a Prospect both of the subject matter of their Apprehensions and of the Vigilance Zeal and needful severity of the Government on their behalf To which end he hath here drawn up an Historical Abstract of the whole matter of Fact concerning those Persons who have hitherto been Tried for their Lives either upon the Plot it self or in Relation to it opposing Authentick Records to wandring Rumours and delivering the Truth in all Simplicity He hath not omitted any one material Point There is not so much as one Partial Stroke in it not a flourish nor any thing but a bare and plain Collection without any Tincture either of Credulity or Passion And it is brought into so narrow a Compass too that it will ease the Readers head as well as his purse by clearing him of the puzzle of Forms and Interlocutories that serve only to amuse and mislead a man by breaking the Order and confounding the Relative part of the Proceeding Having this in Contemplation and being at the same time possest of a most exact Summary of all passages here in Question This Reporter was only to cast an Extract of these Notes into a Method especially finding that upon comparing the substance of his own papers with the most warrantable Prints that have been published his own Abstract proved to be not only every jot as Correct but much more Intelligible which being short and full he thought might be useful and find Credit in the world upon its own account without need of a Voucher THE HISTORY OF THE Charge and Defence OF EDWARD COLEMAN Esq THE first of the Conspirators that was brought to publick Justice was Mr. Edward Coleman who received his Trial at the Kings Bench-Bar Novemb. 27. 1678. and pleaded Not Guilty to the Indictment The Jury consisted of Persons of Condition and known Integrity being Sworn without any exception or challenge from the Prisoner The General Heads of his Charge were The Conspiring of the death of the King The endeavour of Subverting the Government of England and the Protestant Religion And these Treasons and Designs to be made out against him partly by Witnesses vivâ voce and partly by Letters and Negotiations under his own Hand proving a Correspondence with several sorts of Agents for the accomplishing of the aforesaid ends The Charge being read and the particulars of the matter in Evidence modestly and learnedly opened by His Majesties Councel The Prisoner past some reflections upon the hard measure of not allowing Councel to a Prisoner in this Case recommending himself to the Justice of the Bench to be Councel for him and representing the disadvantage of a Roman Catholicks appearing at the Bar under so violent a prejudice he insisted further upon the Ingenuity of his Confessions in Prison and it being objected to him as a thing incredible that he should break off his Correspondences just at 75 with the Date of the last Letters of his that were found His answer was that he never received any Letters after that time but cursory Intelligence which were either Burnt or used as common Paper And that he had offered all Oaths and Tests in the world for Confirmation of the truth thereof and that they had seized every one of these Letters of general Correspondence for the two or three years last past that he knew of Hereupon the Court proceeded to the Evidence the Lord Chief Justice previously inculcating the sacredness of an Oath and Exhorting both the Jury and Witnesses to
by Mr. Harcourt to the Lord Arundell who promised him great matters when the Times were come about Harcourt interjecting that he spake not one true word Mr. Bedlow demanded of the Prisoner if in August or September last he was not in company with Le Faire or Le Fevre To which Mr. Harcourt said he knew no Le Faire but Le Fevre he did and believes that he saw him then but never since And the Witness went on that Pritchard recommended him to him as a person tri'd and trusty and fit to be taken into the privacy of the Design Pritchard declaring to the Witness in their presence that the Death of the King was one part of it And the Witness says farther that going another time from Pritchard to Harcourt he saw Harcourt give Sir George Wakeman a Bill of Exchange upon some Citizen for 2000 li. Keins and Sir William Anderson being present which Bill Sir George Wakeman read folded up and went and received the mony And that Mr. Harcourt told Sir George Wakeman upon delivering the Bill that That 2000 li. was in part of a greater summe Sir George Wakeman replying upon it that 15000 li. was but a small consideration for the 〈◊〉 of Religion and the saving of Three Kingdoms Harcourt desired he might name the Citizen upon whom it was drawn for it would then be found upon the Merchant's book Fenwick urg'd that it was not enough to averr that he saw a Bill of Exchange if he cannot say from whom it came and to whom it was directed But the Court found that to be of little moment Mr. Bedlow himself not being concerned in the Bill Mr. Bedlow's Commission for Lieutenant was read Sir Thomas Doleman was now sworn concerning a Letter produced in Court who delivered that it was found about a week after that Dr. Oates had inform'd the Councill of the Plot in a Bag of Mr. Harcourt's Papers which Sir Thomas was appointed to examine And then the Letter it self was read Honoured Dear Sir I have but time to convey these following particulars to you First I am to give you notice that it hath seem'd fitting to our Mr. Consult Prov. c. to fix the 21. of April next stilo veteri for the Meeting at London of our Congregation on which day all those that have a Suffrage are to be present there that they may be ready to give a beginning to the same on the 24. which is the next day after S. George's day You are warned to have jus suffragii and therefore if your occasions should not permit you to be present you are to signify as much to the end others in their ranks be ordered to supply your absence Every one is minded also not to hasten to London long before the time appointed nor to appear much about the Town till the Meeting be over lest occasion should be given to suspect the Design Finally Secrecy as to the time and place is much recommended to all those that receive Summons as it will appear of its own nature necessary Tertio pro Domino Solone Disco Benefact Prov. Luniensis I am streightned for time that I can onely assure you I shall be much glad of obliging you any ways Sir Your Servant Edward Petre. Mr. Harcourt being called upon to explain this Letter informed the Court that this Letter was written to one that had a Vote in the Meeting which by the Order of the Society is to assemble once in Three years and advise about their particular Affairs that the chief business was about the Choice of a Procurator to be dispatch'd to Rome wherein Secrecy was requisite because it was dangerous to have it known As to the Caution of not hastening before the time or being too publick for fear the Design should be suspected wherein Secrecy was naturally necessary Mr. Whitebread expounded it that the Design was the getting of a Congregation which it was prudential to keep secret as a thing not permitted in this Nation declaring upon his Salvation that there was no other Reason for the enjoyning of that Secrecy offering farther that it would be very hard to take away mens lives upon a word that may as well bear one Construction as another instancing in the usual way of speech I have a design to dine here or there tomorrow where the word design is properly enough made use of It was returned upon them that the word Design with a Caution of Privacy and the Business being matter of Secrecy in its own nature must necessarily imply something of greater consequence then the Election of an Officer Mr. Gavan in Reply offer'd his Exposition that the Jesuits in all places meeting once in 3 years for the Inspection of their Officers and the Regulation of their Members This was their time for their meeting here applying the word Design to the great Concernment of both Worlds which was the subject matter of this Meeting declaring upon his Salvation that though he was not at this Consult himself yet he believed that which he had delivered was the true and onely Cause of their Meeting adding hereunto that it being in time of the Parliament Sitting Secrecy was necessary that they might not give offence and that it concerned them not to be taken notice of when their Lives depended upon the Discovery That the Design was the Design of a Congregation Dr. Oates objected that though they justify the Consult now yet when there was but one proof of it they denied at first that there was any such Consult At which Fenwick disown'd the Denial of it Mr. Bedlow declared That whereas Mr. Gavan says that their desire of Secrecy was out of a Respect to the Parliament he and others had been employed to bring more Jesuits into England in Parliament-time then in any other for that they were then in least danger Dr. Oates adding that they were more bold and publick in the Lobbies and Court of Requests in Sessions of Parliament and not forbearing to threaten the Protestants Another Letter was now produced and Sir Thomas Doleman called to speak to 't who declared that he found it some two days after that which was read before among Mr. Harcourt's papers and that reflecting upon Dr. Oates's Information to the Councill concerning Commissions given out and some ambiguous passages in the Letter he the Witness presented it to the Councill with theis Quaere upon it Enqu What is meant by the word Patents It was signed Christopher Anderton Hilton Febr. 1. 1677 8. Oates representing that by Hilton was meant Rome which Harcourt acknowledged The Letter it self was now read Worthy Sir I know not from whence it proceeds but I perceive that both your Letters and mine have bad fortune by the way for my Correspondents with you complain they hear not from me whereas I write constantly intire Pacquets and since the Bills I received from your self for Sir William Goring and for Mr. Ireland from Mr. Shelly I have
Witness Mr. Langhorne gave the Court the Reason of pressing this for though it might be very prudential to invite any man to come in by the promise of a Reward towards the discovery of a Plot where such a person absents himself yet it seems very hard that when a man is once in Custody VVitnesses should be call'd in against him by such means The Prisoner was here advised to speak first to the Fact and afterwards to the Witnesses The Prisoner upon this represented to the Court that he had no possibility of making any other defence setting forth that from the 17 of October to that day Seven-night or Friday last he had been kept so close that he knew nothing of what was done abroad no Friend or Relation admitted to him he could never hear what was charged upon him and could not foresee what would be and therefore the he had no other plea left him but the Incompetency of the Witnesses It was objected to him as a Scandal to the Kings Proclamation to suppose an Incouragement to the swearing of a Plot where there was none and that King Lords and Commons were touch'd in such a Reflection Mr. Langhorne said no more but that there was a Reward propos'd and so call'd his VVitnesses Dr. Oates informed the Court that there were Papists come in with their Swords on but that apprehension being compos'd Mr. Langhorne desired that Mr. Hilsley might be set up first who gave this Account That he came over from St. Omers April 24 New style that he left him at St. Omers and that he did not overtake him at Calais as is suggested That 't is true he lost his Money as Dr. Oates says and that he himself had met one by the way that told Dr. Oates the story Mr. Gifford declared that he did see Dr. Oates and that he told them at St. Omers that Hilsley was gone away and this was some three or four days after he was gone He did not remember what passed in the particular discourse nor whether any body was by when Dr. Oates and he were speaking concerning Hilsleys being gone away There stood up a Third Witness then who said that Dr. Oates was with him and Mr. Burnaby came into the Company and told him that he met with Mr. Hilsley and that he was cousen'd of his Money he did not say how but by a shirking Fellow and the VVitness does not know whether he named the place or no. To prove now that Dr. Oates must know This by another hand the third Witness affirmed further that Dr. Oates had been at St. Omers from December till Iune except one day that he was at Watton where he saw him almost every day That he saw him in the Refectory where he had a little Table by himself That this Witness was there every day and there he saw Dr. Oates Mr. Langhorne offered then what appears both in his Narrative and upon his Oath in the Lords house that he affirm'd Sir Robert Brett came over with him But Mr. Langhorne was to have spoken to something that was Sworn There Mr. Langhorne prest it that Dr. Oates had own'd that what he Swore was truth and so proceeded to his VVitnesses concerning Sir Iohn Warner coming over with him The Fourth Witness was Sir Iohn Warners Gardener who affirmed that his Master was at Watton all April and May 1678 That the Witness was only four days away at St. Omers and left his Master and found him at Watton That for the last of April the first second and third of May he saw Dr. Oates at St. Omers and when he went away he did not know He affirm'd that St. Iohn Warner was at Watton all April and May but he would not speak to all Iune Being asked why not to the one as well as to the other His Answer was that the Rector Sir Francis Williams came then for England and in the Absence of the Rector he took upon him the Charge of the House This was the 24 th of April where Sir Iohn Warner was in Iune and Iuly he could not tell nor where in August and September more than that he went out of Town then and the VVitness knew not whither The Court ask'd him how he came to be more doubtful of these Months than of the rest And his Answer was because that the question fell upon the other Months It was then reflected upon that April 24 was the very day that Dr. Oates came over and the Rector one of those that he said came over with him but the VVitness reply'd that the Rector came single having onely one Officer of the College Mr. Gifford was then Examined as to Sir Iohn Warner who declared that he saw him about Iune in St. Omers and then in Iune or Iuly when he invited the VVitness to Watton The Fifth Witness affirmes that the first of May being a great Feast he saw Dr. Oates for four days and afterwards all the Month of May and that he also saw Mr. Pool and Sr. Robert Brett at the same time but where Sir Iohn Warner was then he knew not Dr. Oates affirmed that Mr. Pool came over with him The Fifth Witness further Informed that Mr. Pool being his Musick-Master could not be away without his missing of him That Mr. Pool came from St. Omers in the Month of Iune affirming that Mr. Pool was at St. Omers all May. There was a Forreigner then produc'd who by an Interpreter said that he saw Sir Iohn Warner actually at St. Omers in April and May and that he Conversed where he was all May and saw him every day from the first Sunday in April to May 14 th upon which day he went to St. Omers and back again Sr. Iohn Warner having then employed him about a Building Carpentiere then Informed that he saw Sr. Tho. Preston at Liege all through March April May and in Iune he was there In the Vacancies of August and September he was gone and about the second of October he returned The VVitness hath been four years there and can Answer that for these three years last past Sr. Tho. Preston never was in England Another Forreigner Informed that he saw Sr. Iohn Warner at Watton from April 14 th to the 25 th and that he was there to the 16 th of May that at the beginning of April he was Superiour and Governed in the House and he was also in the House the latter end of May save one day and then he went to St. Omers Iohn Ioseph Informed that Sir Tho. Preston in March April May and Iune was at Liege and so likewise in Iuly but in the Vacancies he was absent That he saw him constantly and in two or three days and that he never heard it said that he was in England and that after the Vacancies he return'd in the beginning of October A Tenth Witness Informed that April 25th Dr. Oates went into the Infirmary and
day the Consult continued yet till the 26 th at Night The Witness urged that she never knew so many in the House together but once in all her time and that was upon a Iury and they were forc'd to put them into three Rooms for there was not a Chamber to receive above a dozen Upon this three Witnesses made Oath the first that he had seen a dozen or sixteen at dinner there in a Room together and that it would hold twenty the second that there were two Rooms in the House where twenty five or thirty might Dine together in either of them and a third that he himself was at a Wedding-dinner there towards the Street where there were above twenty Persons The Prisoner thought it material however if the Room would not hold fifty and he spake only upon Information for he had never been There Mr. Langhorne being ask'd if he had any more Witnesses mov'd that he might reserve them till the Kings Council had spoken but that was not found allowable so he pray'd an Answer to a Question or two if the Court pleas'd The one Was Mr. Ireland here in London in August or not To which it was reply'd that it was a point forreign to the matter in question The other was Since Mr. Oates affirm'd himself six or seven hundred pound out of purse since his Discovery if the Prisoner might examine two Witnesses upon the probability of that assertion for if he were extreamly Necessitous before how should he get Credit for it since but by his Evidence But it was found to be a matter clear from the Point to demand of him how he came by his Money Mr. Langhorne then offer'd a Copy of a Record of the House of Lords to prove that Mr. Bedloe had there declared that he had no Person more to charge either in the House or out of the House than what he there charged and that he the Prisoner was none of the Persons there Charged It was Objected that he might forget things at that time and call them to mind afterwards and besides that some body should have been produced to prove that Mr. Bedloe took That Oath Mr. Langhorne offered a Question now concerning the Commissions asking whether or no and to whom the Prisoner distributed those Commissions as the VVitness says he did Dr. Oates Replyed That he only said the Commissions were delivered but not to whom but that he affirms they were for those five Persons and that the Prisoner himself told him in Iuly or August that he had dispos'd of them without naming to whom only speaking of one which he sent his Son with to my Lord Arundell's eldest Son He told this VVitness it was delivered not calling to mind that he knew of any other This Question is put says Mr. Langhorne because Dr. Oates Charged the Prisoner before the Lords with sending the Commission to the Lord Arundel himself Dr. Oates affirming also that he saw a Letter in the Prisoners Chamber acknowledging the Receipt of it Mr. Langhorne desired that Mr. Lidcott might be examined to a point of Dr. Oates's Evidence at Colemans Trial where he says that he came and communicated to the Prisoner the Matter of the Consult the very next day after it and never saw the Prisoner any more but Mr. Lidcott though present there was not able to speak to the particulars of the Trial so Mr. Blany was ask'd what he could Testifie upon that point who acknowledged that he took the Notes and remembred something about Mr. Langhorne but could not charge his Memory upon it without Book So Mr. Langhorne presented the Narrative which Mr. Blany said was not printed from his Copy But an Historical Narrative was agreed to be no Evidence in Law Mr. Langhorne offer'd that without some light to his Charge he could not prepare himself for his defence and that in other Cases people are confronted before a Magistrate and so come to understand the Matter of their Charge Mrs. Sillyard was called but affirming that she durst not give Evidence without being secur'd from the Rabble and the Court being only able to promise Justice upon any Offender in that kind that should be brought before them she was discharged by Mr. Langhornes consent without Examination Mr. Langhorne said that he intended to make use of her Evidence to a Deposition of Mr. Bedloes at Readings Trial which was that he could have said more against Whitebread and Fenwick then he did at their First Trials which Concealment he took to be Perjury for not having told all the Truth and that however Impertinent it might seem it was yet of great effect to the Prisoner to shew that the VVitness against him was not to be believed But Mr. Whitebread having before receiv'd an Answer to that Objection the Kings Council summ'd up the whole Matter in brief to the Jury and then more of the Kings VVitnesses were Sworn William Walker deposeth That he had known Dr. Oates seven or eight years That towards the end of March 1678 or the middle of April following he had seen him in England in a Disguise and could not call him to mind that Night but early in the Morning it came into his head that it was Titus Oates and so he rose early to enquire of a Gentlewoman concerning him that knew him and asking her how Dr. Oates did she struck her hand upon the Counter and cried He is an undone man for he was turn'd Papist The VVitness asking her then if she knew were he was No said she he is skulking somewhere up and down here and dares not shew his head in the day Whereupon this VVitness told her that he had seen him the day before about ten in the Morning betwixt St. Martins Lane and Leicester House but that he was disguised and the VVitness described his Habit to her Mr. Langhorne prayed he might speak to the Time as near as he could and the VVitness said that he did rather think but could not be positive that it was about the Middle of April and that it was 1678 not 1677 about the time of the year when he usually came to Town to receive Money And the VVitness affirms That it was Dr. Oates whom he saw and that he was brought up for a VVitness having spoken of this passage to several Persons after the Report of the Plot which he supposes might come to Dr. Oates's ear by Chance Mrs. Ives then deposed that Mr. Walker told her being the Mistress of the House the substance of what he gave in Evidence concerning her adding that it was about the middle of April was Twelve-month and that Dr. Oates's Father coming to her shop and eating some Cream-cheese upon their first coming in she told him the Story that Walker had told her One Butler was Sworn Sr. Richard Barkers Servant and affirmed that he had known Dr. Oates two or three years and that he saw him
began to doubt but yet went on and so past into divers Rooms on the other side of the Court and then up Stairs again and into other Rooms but still at a loss in what Room it was that he saw the body only certain that he had been in that place the VVitness still referring himself to his Report Sir Robert Southwel now produced the Minutes he had taken upon these mens Examinations wherein it appeared that Hill was Examined that he confest he knew Girald but not Kelly Hill then interposing that he knew one Girald who was not a Priest and that he did not know Girald the Priest It was charged upon Berry the saying that he had Orders not to admit any Strangers or persons of Condition into Somerset-House for two or three days and that the P. coming thither was not suffered to enter and that he never had any such Orders before To which Berry replyed that the P. might have entred if he had pleased that it had been proved as was acknowledged by the Court that five or six had gone in before That he had an order only for two days as he remembred and that he had had such Orders formerly But there being no such Orders produced the Court reflected upon the pretence as the best Artifice they could invent to keep the design private The Prisoners were now called upon to speak for themselves and produce their VVitnesses Hill calling upon God to bear him VVitness that he was perfectly innocent Mary Tilden informed that Hill had lived seven or eight years with her Uncle Dr. Godwin and that he seemed to be always a trusty servant kept good hours and lookt to their house in her Uncles Absence and was always within by Eight at Night ever since last April when they came last into England That the VVitness was in the house when Sir Edmond Godfrey was killed That she heard of the murther in the Town on the Wednesday that she herself was never out after Eight a Clock nor Hill neither for he waited at the Table and that constantly the Maid barred the door upon his coming in so that he went out no more that Night That he was at home the Saturday Night when Sir Edmond was murthered and the next Night and every Night so long as the VVitness was in Town and that she herself was at home the Wednesday Night beforementioned That she was the more positive because they kept constant Supper time and the doors never opened after besides that the Lodgings lay so that no body could go in or out without being taken notice of that the Maid kept the Key of the House and not Hill Mr. Prance then informed the Court that Mrs. Broadstreet would own but one Key at first but before the Duke of Monmouth she ackowledged six or seven to which Mrs. Tilden answered that there was onely one Key which secur'd that door The VVitness being askt when she was out of Town answered in October but being told that this happened in October her answer was that she mistook the month Mrs. Broadstreet being askt what time answered in September and then Mrs. Tilden recollecting herself said in September too and that while she was in Town there was not a day but she went into the Little Room mentioned by Prance upon some occasion or other Mrs. Broadstreet said they came to Town the Monday before Michaelmas affirmed the good hours they kept and that nothing could be brought in but they in the House must know of it Sir Robert Southwel then described the place that it was very little and over-against the Dining Room and that it was a small square Room where the body was laid at the Stairs head Mrs. Broadstreet adding that the Key was never out of the Door and people constantly going into that Room Mr. Prance informed that Mrs. Broadstreet told the Duke of Monmouth that Hill had left his Lodgings before that time And Sir Robert Southwel said that there had been some dispute about it Prance would have it to be a fortnight after and Hill affirming that he was dealing with his Land-Lord the very Saturday that Sir Edmond Godfrey was wanting And that from that time it was a week or a fortnight before he removed But it was urged that Hill pretended that he was gone before Mrs. Broadstreet averring that Hill left the Lodgings a fortnight after Michaelmas Sir Robert Southwel informing that the said Hill went away only three or four days after Mrs. Tilden said further that the place was so streight that upon an occasion of Visits the Footmen always waited in that Room Katharine Lee did then inform that she lookt to see the Doors Locked every night and the Parlour safe and that she never mist him and that every morning before she went to Market she went into the Chamber or called every day at the Door and that she always went to bed last Being asked if Hill might not slip out and she never know of it her answer was that she did not always watch him But Captain Richardson informed the Court that the servants keeping below Stairs in the Kitchin and there being so many Keys people might go in and out and they never the wiser Daniel Grey was called and informed that he was with his Brother Hill from October the eighteenth to the two and twentieth or three and twentieth that at Nine or Ten at Night they used to go to Bed but he did not see him when he went to Bed That the Witness lay at his own House that Hill agreed for his House October the eighth but it was about the twenty first that he went thither and that they lived a matter of a Bow-shot a sunder Robert How informed that October the fifth Mr. Hill desired him to view a House that he was a taking to see how it was in repair and that they went and treated with the Land-Lord appointing Tuesday morning being the eighth to meet again That the Witness wrought there every day from Wednesday Twelve days and a half and that Mr. Hill was there every day That on Saturday the twelfth Dining together they parted about One or Two a Clock Mr. Hill as he says toward Covent-Garden and this Witness to his Work This VVitness told him that Mr. Hill had been there again about Four a Clock but the VVitness was gone first Where he was that Night the VVitness could not say but that he saw Mr. Hill about Nine or Ten in the morning and that he staid till Two Mr. Cutler informed that Hill was with him at his House from Four or Five in the Evening till Seven or Eight when his Wife called him to Supper and the VVitness never saw him from that time till the day after he was taken Richard Lasingby informed that on Saturday October the Twelfth about Noon he was with Mr. Hill at the door that he Dined with him and How and that upon Wednesday
Letter from Whitebread Ewers was charged to choose stout and hardy men with this expression in the Letter To kill the King which Letter was sent by the Common Post and superscribed to Mr. Dugdale who vvas Sworn to Secrecy by Mr. Ewers at least ten times And the VVitness took the Sacrament upon it He deposeth also That Gavan Leueson Ewers and my Lord Stafford would have had the VVitness destroy the King by Shooting Dagger or the like not so as to do it directly himself but to come to London for directions how to do it where Mr. Ireland was to have him in his Care and that he was to have come in October last the Resolution being taken the Iuly before This VVitness also deposed That the Lord Stafford promised him Five hundred pounds in hand upon his coming to London in October for an Incouragement but that a more considerable Reward vvas to follow and that he should have come to London if it had not been discovered He deposeth further That he found Ewers reading a Letter from London with these words in it This very night Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey is dispatch'd and that it was dated the very Night that he was killed Ewers shewing the Prisoner the Letter and telling him also that Sir Edmond-Bury Godfry was grown too Inquisitive into the Plot and it would be well to take him off Deposing also that Mr. Ewers shew'd the Prisoner the Letter to comfort him that one Enemy was gone and the VVitness reporting it again to the Minister of the place He deposed further That the Protestants were to be destroyed and that they had great confidence in the VVitness he having given them Four hundred pounds and promised another Hundred to pray for his Soul and Land made over to Mr. Girald to raise the Money upon the Sale Mr. Corker demanded from whom the dangerous Letter before mentioned came and the VVitness not presently recollecting it the Prisoner appealed to the Court upon the Improbability of sending such a Letter by the Common Post and yet no appearance either to whom or from whom it came But Mr. Dugdale rendred an Account of other Letters one from Paris to St. Omers and thence to London and so to Tixall where it was read in the presence of the Prisoner by the Lord Aston and Mr. Ewers It was subscribed I. W. and thought to be from Sir Iohn Warner that it was dated from Paris whence they advised the casting of it on the Presbyterians after the Death of the King which would make the Church of England men fall in with the Papists to destroy the Party This was the Paris Letter and the London Letter approv'd the Advice with several Lords hands to them in allowance of the design of killing the KING and raising an Army The Prisoner asked if it were dated from St. Omers and Mr. Dugdale reply'd that in the Pacquet from St. Omers there were three Letters Paris St. Omers and London one from each and all in one Cover being cover'd in Groves Pacquet The VVitness averring that he himself was to be of the party that should kill the King in October The Prisoner here made a reflection that Dr. Oates mentioned only Three designs to kill the King by Grove and Pickering by the Ruffians and by Poyson and that now a fourth was found out in October when the Design was charged upon Iuly or August But it was reply'd upon him That there might be more Plots than Docter Oates knew of Mr. Marshall offer'd That the VVitnesses Testimony was suspicious even from the multitude of Persons employed and intrusted and nothing done upon it where yet a few might have done the business The Prisoners were here ordered to wait their time without interposing that the Kings Evidence might be first heard whereupon the Prisoners desired Pen Ink and Paper which was granted them and so the Court proceeded It was much wondred that any Body should write by the Common Post about killing the King To which Mr. Dugdale Answered That in case of Discovery it was to be cast upon him and that he was under an Oath to deny it Affirming that the very words were for the killing of the King without any Superscription to Ewers or Name to the Letters The Prisoners joyned in admiration at the folly and madness of any man in putting such words in a Letter Mr. Dugdale proceeded That Whitebread's Letter was directed to himself and that it came in Company with others that there was a Black Cross upon what he was to deliver to Ewers and that he was to disperse them where they were to go But being ask'd by what mark he should know whither to send them The Witness answered that Mr. Ewers knew their hands and what every thing meant and for whom it was To the Question of how many Letters the Witness answered that in two years he believed he had a Hundred and Mr. Rumley asking him from how many persons and wondring that he had none of them to produce Mr. Dugdale answered That there were a great many from Sir Iohn Warner and that so long as he intended to go on with the Plot he burnt them all but that he had spoken what he could remember He deny'd the seeing of any Commissions but affirmed that he spake with some that were to be Officers Mr. Prance deposed that some three weeks before Michaelmas he heard Fenwick and Grove at Mr. Irelands Chamber talking of raising 50000 Men and settling Popery Mr. Fenwick saying that it would be easily done and encouraging the Prisoner being a Silver smith with the hope of work enough about Crucifixes Candlesticks c. naming the Lords that were to Command the Army And after that he was told of Commissions given out He deposed further That my Lord Arundels Butler told him that one Messenger was to murther the King and this Witness meeting Mr. Messenger and asking him the Question he was surprised at it and said to this Witness Pray keep Counsel for we are off of that now Mr. Iennison deposed That in Iune 78 upon a discourse with Mr. Ireland in Russell-street about Religion his Sister Mrs. Aune Ireland being by Mr. Ireland spake as if the Romish Religion would be quickly settled in England for there was but One stood in the way and the King might be easily poyson'd Whereupon this Witness speaking of it as a horrid thing Mrs. Ireland asked her Brother why he talkt at that rate and he qualified the matter as a thing which he thought should not be done And then the Witness minding him of the Gunpowder Treason he said it was only a trick of Cecils The Witness being at that time a Roman Catholick but since Converted The VVitness deposeth further That he saw Mr. Ireland positively on the 19 th day of August being then newly returned from Windsor as he remembers punctually upon very particular Circumstances The Court looking upon this Evidence
Information Sir G. W. was committed Sir Philip Lloyd was called who informed the Court that Dr. Oates made Oath before the Council Sept. 3. that he had seen mention made of Sir George Wakeman's undertaking to poyson the King in a Letter as he remember'd from Mr. Whitebread to Mr. Fenwick at S. Omers and that Coleman had paid Sir George 5000 li. in part of 15000 li. which he was to have That Sir George Wakeman being call'd and advertis'd of this Charge he did not onely deny the whole matter and appear otherwise unconcerned but mov'd it as a reasonable thing that he might have Reparation for the Scandall This behaviour of his was ill taken and it was found reasonable to enquire farther into the matter but the Evidence coming onely from a Third-hand Letter Sir George was not committed Dr. Oates being call'd in again was demanded what he could say of his own personal knowledge concerning Sir George Wakeman Upon which question Dr. Oates holding up his hands No said he God forbid that I should say any thing against Sir George Wakeman for I know nothing more against him Sir Philip remitting himself to the whole Council for the Truth of what he deliver'd Sir George Wakeman minding the Jury that This was a Protestant Witness and Dr. Oates not remembring a word of the whole matter Dr. Oates did very candidly represent to the Court that he onely inform'd the Council as by Report of Sir George Wakeman's Receipt of the 5000 li. in part the Council not urging the Witness to speak upon his Knowledge That the Witness believed it to be so but would not be positive for in case he should have made such answer as is informed against him it was known to the whole board that he was at that time hardly Compos mentis and scarce in condition to return an answer But that this Witness did according to the best of his skill knowledge and remembrance acquaint the Board with Sir George Wakeman's Letter but he would not be positive Sir Philip Lloyd was then examined as to the Letter who informed that he remembred nothing of that Letter and that afterward this Witness observing in Dr. Oates's Depositions before the Lords and Commons an account of such a Letter from Sir George Wakeman to Mr. Ashby found upon the Table he this Witness hath often reflected since that time upon Dr. Oates's declaring at the Council that he had nothing more against Sir George Wakeman repeating Dr. Oates's Action and Expression that with his hands erected he said he knew no more against him Sir George Wakeman's Plea that the Council would certainly have committed him if this Evidence had been given to the Board appearing to have something of weight in it Dr. Oates sought to qualify that by saying that they were such a Council as would commit no body Which was reflected upon by the Court as unadvisedly said Mr. Lydcot was call'd who brought a Copy of the Lords Records and informed that it was a True Copy and that Titus Oates was set in several places as to an Information but whether it was his Hand or not Mr. Lydcot could not say onely that it was copied from Mr. Rolph's Hand To all which it was objected that the Witness not being present when Dr. Oates said this not the thing attested by the Clerk that made the Entry or saw him subscribe the Examination that Copy amounted to no more then a Transcript from the Iournall which could not be allowed in Evidence Mr. Rumly was offer'd to have his Witnesses heard but the Court finding that he had no need of them the Prisoner wav'd them Sir Thomas Doleman made Oath that Dr. Oates appearing before His Majesty and Councill on the Saturday and attending morning and afternoon and being employ'd that night upon Searches the Councill sitting Sunday afternoon as the Deponent remembred Dr. Oates was then examin'd and the Council sitting very long he was appointed that night to search again when he seiz'd several Priests and Papers the night being wet having much disorder'd him On Monday morning he was examin'd before the Council again and at night in so feeble a condition as ever the Witness saw any man Sir George Wakeman offer'd that he appear'd upon Sunday and so was dismist again till the King himself might have the hearing of the business the next day Sir Thomas Doleman than proceeded that Sir George Wakeman was then call'd in and deliver'd such an Answer that the Council very much wonder'd at the manner of it several persons being of opinion that his Denial was not so point-blank as it might have been insisting much upon his Loyalty to the Crown and Reparation upon a point of Honour Sir George Wakeman inform'd the Court that being charg'd with Treason before the Council and Dr. Oates his Accuser he pressed Dr. Oates to say if he either knew him or had seen him before He said No but that upon a Consult at S. Omers where Ashby was Rectour Sir George Wakeman was pitch'd upon by name for the poysoning of the King though the Dr. is now pleas'd to say that the Debate was in England That the Prisoner finding the Charge sos semote offer'd that where there was no Proof he hop'd there would not be expected any Defence The Prisoner upon this taking a freedom to instance in divers actions of Loyalty both from Himself Family and Relations as some Testimony of his Duty to the Government Mr. Corker offer'd in Plea that not knowing his Accusations he could not come provided with Evidences to support his Defence that nothing is easier then to accuse an Innocent person so that he shall never clear himself and that it is not a Positive but a Probable Oath that proves a man a Criminal and that otherwise Dr. Oates and his Companions might hang up whom they pleas'd let the men be never so Innocent or the matter charg'd never so ridiculous and that the Circumstances ought to be Credible as well as the Witnesses neither of which were as he suggested to be found in his Case Proceeding in a Reflection upon the Extent of the Charge it involving the whole Body of the Roman Catholicks in the Treason Using many Flourishes of Discourse to affect the Bench and the Iury as to the Credit of the very Plot it self Raising arguments from Improbabilities of Circumstances and Incredibility of Witnesses to uphold his pretence But the Court with as much Ease answer'd his Defence as they heard it with Patience Sir George Wakeman recommended one Observation to the Court That in Dr. Oates's copious Narrative there is not one Letter from abroad but he deposes positively both to the Date and to the Receipt of it and yet in the Case of a man's Life he will not be confin'd to a Month. Mr. Corker suggested divers Mistakes of Dr. Oates's as his charging the Prisoner with the denial of a Truth before a
Justice wherein the Prisoner clear'd the Errour and then the business of his going to Lamspring But these were look'd upon as matters of no weight The Prisoner then reflected upon the Doctour's deposing him to be President of the Congregation whereas Stapilton is known to have been President of it for several years past And says that if this Prisoner be not President Dr. Oates's Accusation of the Benedictines waiting for his Consent must fall to the ground The Prisoner being put to prove who was the President of the Order not being provided with Witnesses at hand spake himself denying any Letter either written or received as was suggested any privity to such a Consult about the Mony or any necessity for his being at it if the thing had been true And arguing that in reason if he had been in the Conspiracy with Pickering when Pickering was taken he would certainly have fled And as to his Exception against Pickering because no Lay-brother the Dr. knowing Pickering so well and himself being present at the taking of him it seemed strange that he should neither know nor charge nor apprehend him the Prisoner untill near a Month after especially the Officers coming to this Prisoner's Chamber when they seiz'd Pickering But Dr. Oates hearing afterward that the Prisoner had lodg'd there enter'd him in his List and so took him Whereas if as Dr. Oates says the Prisoner was a Fellow-Criminal with Pickering he being then in quest of the Conspiratours it was his duty to have taken them both together Beside that the Prisoner's Name not being upon the Doctour's Catalogue he thought might acquit him But the Prisoner being over-rul'd in it that what he offer'd was no Evidence he recommended himself to the Jury to lay it to their Consciences whether they did not assent to him in the Truth of this matter Mr. Marshall being now ask'd what he had to say spake to this effect That upon notice a month agoe of coming speedily to his Trial he had bethought himself of his Defence and with good hope to acquit himself But reflecting upon the Issue of the late Trials he had once resolved to submit all to the Sentene of the Court and the Jury without a word speaking But that being now encourag'd by the Candour and Equity of the Proceeding he made it his humble suit to the Honourable Bench to take into their own Menage the Cause of the Prisoner Passing from thence to a slight reflection upon Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow and then referring to the Unconcernedness upon him at his Apprehension there being no Warrant out against him nor any Charge of Treason lying upon him But that coming by chance to enquire for one where they were upon a Search though he saw the Officer at the door and Candles up and down the house yet he went forward as all the people can testify and Sir Willam Waller also that took him Sir William Waller being called deposed to this point that going to search there he gave order to one at the door to let nay body in but no body out and that the Prisoner came and knockt at the door as Sir William supposed not knowing of any Search in the house But being let in and finding how it was he did what he could to get away again But Mr. Marshall begging pardon for the Contradiction affirmed with a solemn asseveration that he enter'd without knocking the door being open and so went in of his own accord as the Constable would bear him Witness And for his endeavour to get away again he affirm'd that while they were searching within he continu'd in an Out-room the Constable and others with him wondering when he came back that the Prisoner was not gone The Prisoner affirming likewise that he was left at the door alone and beside that he could have slipt out at another door into an Alley which he had the trick of opening while a man might speak three words The Prisoner insisting upon this Confidence as an argument of his Innocence saying farther that be was spoken to to take off his Perriwigg and stand with his back to Sir William and Dr. Oates which the Prisoner did not understand But Sir William being so kind afterwards as to see him at the Gate-house with two worthy Gentlemen Sir Philip Matthews and Sir Iohn Cuttler upon the Prisoner's affirming that Dr. Oates was wholly a Stranger to him the Prisoner was told that Dr. Oates as a token that he knew him describ'd a certain Mark upon the Hind-part of his Head the Prisoner offering himself to the Company to see if there were any such thing or no. The Prisoner did now desire that Dr. Oates might give an accompt of that Mark and that the Jury would believe of him according as they found it true or false Sir William Waller inform'd the Court that he knew nothing of any Mark but that Dr. Oates when he came in call'd the Prisoner by his name Mr. Marshall excus'd the Trouble he had given the Court his Defence depending upon the Proof of Doctour Oates's being a Stranger to him desiring the Jury to observe that such a Description was given Sir William Waller owning a desire to see him without his Perriwigg to look if he had a Shaven Crown which Mr. Marshall said Sir William must needs know could not be it being an experss Caution that no Religious wear any such Testimony of his Profession in England Mr. Marshall inform'd the Court that upon Dr. Oates's first Evidence against him he desired Sir William that it might be put in writing which Sir William refused but promised to commit it to memory Hereupon the Prisoner did now adjure Sir William as a worthy Gentleman and as he should answer for it at the Last day to be as good as his word The Prisoner said farther that Dr. Oates looking hard upon him askt him what his Name was which shew'd him to be a Stranger And upon the Prisoner's owning his Name to be Marshall Dr. Oates told him that he was call'd Marsh. Urging it that Dr. Oates seeing the Prisoner saying that he did not know them leaving them in bed and at liberty to be gone and he himself declaring that he was looking for Traitours the Prisoner left the Jury to judge whether he had any thing to charge upon them Sir William Waller protested solemnly that there was nothing of all this Marshall exclaiming that he was astonish'd and affirming that upon a Controversie with Dr. Oates about it Mr. Gill the Constable averr'd it and promised to attend in Court to make it good The Prisoner averring that he askt Dr. Oates why he did not seize him before when he was searching for Traitours if he knew the Prisoner to be a Traitour whose answer was before Sir William that at That time he had no Commission to seize him But Sir William remember'd nothing of This neither Mr. Marshall then ask'd Sir William if he remember'd what Dr.
be Mr. Gavan prov'd in Staffordshire by Mrs. Winford And by Mary Poole And by Mrs. Winford again more particularly Mr. Gavan contradicts Dr. Oates's Evidence as to his speaking with Mr. Ashby Mr. Gavan proves what he could and swears himself Innocent as to the rest He offers himself to the Ordeal Six Witnesses produc'd for him Mr. Whitebread will not allow Dr. Oates to be probus Testis Mr. Harcourt reflects upon the Credit of the Witnesses Roman Catholicks good Evidence Mr. Harcourt charges Dr. Oates with Contradictions in his Evidence And so does Mr. Gavan Mr. Gifford gives Evidence against Dr. Oates Dr. Oates speaks to some mistakes Eleven Witnesses to prove Mr. Ireland in Staffordshire Mr. Turner denies his Charge Capt. Hill produc'd and Mr. Fenwick objects ill things done by Mr. Bedlow Mr. Whitebread charges Mr. Bedlow with a false Oath The King's Witnesses call'd Sarah Paine swears Mr. Ireland in Town Will. Walker swears Dr. Oates in Town And so does Sarah Ives And Mrs. Mayo And Philip Page Sir Richard Barker heard Dr. Oates was in Town Butler saw Dr. Oates in Barbican Mr. Smith at Islington Mr. Clay saw him at Mr. Charles Howard's Mr. Whitebread presses Dr. Oates's several Contradictions Mr. Gavan summs up his whole defence insisting upon the Incompetency of the Evidence against him the Improbability of things and their Disagreements among themselves His application to the Iury. He urges the Insufficiency of D. Oates's Testimony Denies any Conspiracy with Mr. Dugdale Makes protestation of his Innocence Mr. Fenwick arraigns Dr. Oates's Evidence Thousands of Letters seiz'd and no Treason in them nor One Commission found in all their Searches Mr. Whitebread offers to the Iury how he should dare to strike Dr. Oates if he had his Life at his mercy Mr. Turner excepted to Dr. Oates's Evidence All the Prisoners found guilty Mr. Langhorn brought to his Trial. Mr. Dugdale swears to the General Plot. An Army to be set afoot upon the Killing of the King Some thoughts of a Massacre A Letter concerning Sir Edmundbury Godfry's murther Mr. Prance swears to the General Plot. An Army of 50000 to be set on foot upon the killing of the King Dr. Oates sworn His acquaintance and communication with M. Langhorn His second Meeting with Mr. Langhorn Dr. Oates charges Mr. Langhorn with dangerous Words Mr. Langhorn's prayer for the success of the Design Dr. Oates'S report to Mr. Langhorn He swears Commissions lying upon Mr. Langhorn's Study-Table six or eight Commissions upon a corner of Mr. Langhorn's Desk folded up Mr. Langhorn shew'd the Witness the Commissions La Chaise's Letters in Answer to Laghorne shew'd to this Witness Langhorne charg'd by the Witness with getting 6000 l. of the Benedictines toward the Plot. When and How Dr. Oates went to St. Omers and who came over with him back Dr. Oates stay'd in England at his Return under 20 days The prisoner allow'd all freedom of Defence asks several Questions A sworn Copy of a Record in the Lords House admitted to be good Evidence Dr. Oates came over with Hilsley and so from Dover by Coach but Mr. Hilsley parted from him Dr. Oates could not say where he lay in London the first night after his Return But in general that he lay at Mr. Groves's †Dr. Oates did not say six days but under twenty * Dr. Oates proves Langhorne's hand having formerly seen an Order from him for payment of Money †Dr. Oates proves Letters from La Chaise to Langhorne upon his own Confession * Mr. Langhorne puts questions about Dr. Oates's Religion And whether a Iesuite or not †Dr. Oates had been with Mr. Langhorne four or five times Mr. Bedloes opinion about the Hand and Seal of a Commission from Rome Mr. Bedloe sets forth Mr. Langhorne's Correspondences abroad And the scope of his Letters Mr. Langhorn charg'd with makeing Entries of the aforesaid Letters Mr. Bedlow opens the method of the confederacy Irish Casheer'd Souldiers to embarque as Pilgrims Mr. Bedloe told that Langhorne had the Commissions Money from the Benedictines Mr. Bedloe deposes the minutes of the Result to be enter'd by Langhorne Nothing wanting but Money Eight hundred thousand Crowns to be remitted from Rome Keines told the Witness of a Chiding Letter from Barbarini A Discourse about Four Irish-men To the Prisoners Question about the Witnesses Pardons Mr. Bedloe had Three and Mr. Oates Two To Mr. Langhorne's Objection that the Witness had a Reward Dr. Oates prov'd the contrary and that he was 6 or 700 l. out of pocket * Mr. Bedloe to the same Question answers that he was 700 l. out of purse The paint of the Approver over-rul'd Dr. Oates inform'd the Court of Papists coming in with their Swords Hilsley denies his coming over with Dr. Oates Mr. Gifford says that Dr. Oates was at St. Omers after Hilsley's going away Dr. Oates still at St. Omers Dr. Oates Sworn to be at St. Omers from December till Iune Mr. Langhorne urg'd Dr. Oates's Narrative and Oath before the Lords against him St. Ioh. Warner at Watton when Dr. Oates came over And Dr. Oates at St. Omers Dr. Oates and Mr. Pool said to be at St. Omers when Dr. Oates said they were in England Dr. Oates at St. Omers all May. Sr. Ioh. Warner at St. Omers from the begining of April to May 14. Sr. Tho. Preston at Liege thorough March April May. Sr. Ioh. Warner at Watton from April 24 to May 16. Sr. Tho. Preston at Liege Dr. Oates said to be at St. Omers all April and May and part of Iune Mr. Pool at St. Omers all April and May. Dr. Oates at St. Omers At St. Omers from December to Iune Dr. Oates at St. Omers Dr. Oates prov'd to be at St. Omers from December to Iune Mr. Pool and Nevill at St. Omers Dr. Oates Nevil and Pool at St. Omers The same Evidence again Mrs. Grove affirms that Dr. Oates never lay at her House Dr. Oates Swears that he lay there 3 or 4 nights in a Disguise Mr. Langhorne charges D. Oates with Contradicting his Evidence before the Lords and his Narrative The Witnesses affronted by the Rabble and the Court much offended at it Never a Room in the White-horse Tavern that would hold the Consult Being said to be fifty Persons Prov'd that two of the Rooms would hold 25 or 30 apiece Mr. Langh offer'd some Questions to the Court which were not admitted Mr. Langh urg'd Mr. Bedloes contradicting his Evidence before the Lords Mr. Langh asks how the Commissions were disposed of And charges Dr. Oates with a mistake The Narrative of Dr. Oates's Evidence at Colemans Trial. No Evidence in the Law Mr. Langhorne insists upon the Incompetency of the Witnesses Mr. Walker deposes that he saw Dr. Oates in London in March or April 1678. Mrs. Ives swears to the same effect Butl. proves Dr. Oates in England in May last Cecily Mayo and Philip Page swear Dr. Oates in London Sir R. Barker told as much by his Servants
together That this Army was to set up the Romish Religion and all the Protestants to be destroyed the Lords Arundell and Powis to command these Forces And he says that one Harcourt twice at his Chamber in Dukes-street told him that there were several to kill His Majesty This was in the hearing of one Mr. Thompson and M. Fenwick told the Witness that M. Langhorn was deeply concerned in 't and that was all the Witness knew Dr. Oates was then sworn and this is the summe of his Evidence That returning out of Spain into England in November 1677 he brought Mr. Langhorn Letters from two Sons that he had in Spain in English Colledges the one at Madrid the other at Valladolid He delivered the Letters within a day or two after his arrivall to Mr. Langhorn at his Chamber in the Middle Temple who treated the Witness very respectfully and upon telling him that the Witness thought his Sons would enter themselves into the Society Mr. Langhorn standing that way affected himself was very glad of it for matters would not hold long in England as they were he said and that if they kept themselves in the world they might quickly come to great preferment in England The Witness was once more with Mr. Langhorn before his coming to S. Omers which was in November old stile December new when he gave him a Pacquet of Letters to carry with him In this Pacquet was a Letter of Thanks to the Fathers at S. Omers for their kindness to his Sons in their journey for Spain and promising the repayment of twenty pound which they had furnished his Sons with upon their passage This Letter was subscribed Richard Langhorn and it made mention of one written to Father Le Chaise in order to our Concerns These were the very words Now the Letter to Le Chaise this Witness did not see but onely the other that took notice of it and he said that Mr. Coleman having written to him at large he should not trouble his Reverence with many words at that time The Witness remembers also another Letter either in March or April he could not say which wherein Mr. Langhorn among divers ill passages expressed a wonderfull Zeal for the Catholick Design and saying that the Parliament began to cool in the business of the Protestant Religion and that now was the time to give the Blow That was the word the Blow but the Letter was too large to give a particular account of Dr. Oates minded the Court of the Consult here in April The Witness and divers others came from S. Omers and other parts to that Consult Mr. Langhorn himself was not at it but the Witness was ordered by the Provinciall to tell Mr. Langhorn from time to time what passed there and upon the report the Witness made him to their proceedings Mr. Langhorn with his hands and eyes up to Heaven prayed God to prosper them The summe of the Witnesse's Report to Mr. Langhorn was this That Cary was to go Procurator to Rome That they had concluded upon the Death of the King that Pickering and Grove were to attempt the King's person 1500 li. to Grove and 30000 Masses to Pickering to be the Reward He told him also that they had all signed the Agreement And this past a day or two after the signing of it The Witness swears that there were at that time divers Parchments lying upon Mr. Langhorn's Study-Table which he found to be Commissions for the 1 s. Arundell of Wardour Powis Bellasis and Petre to be Chancellour Treasurer General Lieutenant-General That there was one for Coleman to be Secretary of State and another for Mr. Langhorn to be Advocate of the Army They were Authoriz'd by a Brief from the Pope directed to the General of the Society with the Jesuits Cross upon them and signed Iohannes Paulus de Oliva The Witness being demanded if they lay Open he told the Court that they lay upon a Corner of a Desk folded up and that he came to take notice of them by having information from one Father Anderton that these Patents as he call'd them were come whereupon the Witness spake of them to Mr. Langhorn and upon his desire he let the Witnesse have the sight of them who remembers that there was One more for a Son of the Lord Arundell and something for the Lord Stafford too concerning the Army The Witness saw severall of these Commissions and the greater part of them in Mr. Langhorn's Study but he could not say all The Prisoner told the Witness that for Inferiour Officers and all there were about 50 but a matter of 6 or 8 were all that the Witness saw Dr. Oates Swears that in April and May he saw the Answer to several of Mr. Langhorn's Letters to La Chaise and that the Fathers desiring to have the Originals Mr. Langhorne delivered them to this Witness who carried them to the Fathers They came from the Fathers La Chaise Confessor to the French King and Anderton Rector of the Colledge at Rome The Witness saw them in Mr. Langhornes custody but he cannot say that they were directed to him The substance of La Chaise's was to assure them of his Firmness to the English Society and that the French King would assist them for the Advancing of the Cause That Mr. Langhorne being the Iesuits Sollicitor went with Harcourt Fenwick Keines and Langworth to the Benedictine Monks to desire their Aid towards the work and the Witness hath heard that at the Prisoners Instance they contributed 6000 pounds which was by them paid to the Society and Mr. Langhorne was said to have received it toward the Murther of the KING and the Change of Religion This Witness did not see the payment of the Money but about Iuly or August he heard Mr. Langhorne say discoursing of it that he would do what he could towards the getting of it and how troubled he was That Sir George Wakeman made such a difficulty of accepting of Ten thousand pounds for poysoning the King Adding That it was a publick work and a Body would have done it for Nothing but that he was a very Covetous and Narrow-soul'd-man A Writing under the Iesuits Seal being shew'd in Court to Mr. Oates he presently declared That to be the very hand which was to the other and just such a Seal Several Questions being put to the Witness by or in the name of the Prisoner Dr. Oates Answer'd That he went towards St. Omers at the latter end of November and that he arrived there about the tenth of December New style That he went in the Dover-Coach and stayed there till April following without stirring from thence saving only that he went to Paris and was a Night or two at Watton and then came away in April whether about the middle or latter end he could not say but he was in England under Twenty days There came over with him Nine or ten
in all as Father Williams Father March the Rector of Liege Sir Iohn Warner and that he could not name any more The Prisoner objecting to him that the Names of all the rest were in the Record of the Lords-house Dr. Oates referred him to the Record The Prisoner ask'd him also If Sr. Tho. Preston and Poole came over with him and the Witness said they did To the Objection that this was but a Repetition of what was proved the day before the Prisoner humbly offered That the Trial of the day before was in another County and by another Iury and therefore he presumed in his own defence to urge this in which liberty he was not debarr'd The Witness said also that he thought Sir Robert Brett was there The Prisoner express'd the drift of his Questions to be only this to see if Dr. Oates would now affirm what he swore in the Lords House Dr. Oates telling him that he might produce that Record and the Court allowing that a sworn copy of that Record would be good Evidence The Prisoner ask'd if the Witness came from Dover by Coach or on Horseback Dr. Oates replied that it was a sudden question but that as he remembers he came by Coach The Prisoner then giving the Reason of his Question because upon a Trial at the Kings Bench the Witness said he came in a Coach with Mr. Hilsley Mr. Oates declaring that they came over together in the Boat but upon Landing they parted Mr. Langhorne ask'd him where he lodged at his coming into Town and his Answer was that when he came in April he lay at Mr. Groves but being ask'd where he lay the first night Dr. Oates could not speak certainly to that but in general that he lay there and as he remembers some three or four nights Dr. Oates swears that he acquainted Mr. Langhorne with the Consult within a day or two after it that he returned to St. Omers as he believ'd the first week in May. And being then told that he had said the day before that his stay there was but six days he said that was a mistake for he said under twenty The Prisoner demanded if Dr. Oates saw him write those Letters he spake of He said No but he knew his hand for he saw an Order of his for the paying of Money to his Sons and the Money was paid upon that Order The Prisoner demanded if he could say that La Chaise or Anderton ever wrote to him to which Dr. Oates Answer'd That he had Letters subscribed with their Names and that Langhorne himself told him that they came from them and that they were to be imparted to Priests and Iesuites and that he delivered those Letters to the Witness to that end The Prisoner desired to Know how long he staid at St. Omers Dr. Oates told him till Iune 23 New style The Prisoner then demanded seeing him to be come over from the Church of Rome to the Church of England when it was that he went over from the Church of England to that of Rome and if he was then Beneficed The Time Dr. Oates told him was in February or March 1676 7 and that he was for some time in a Vicaridge at Bobbing in Kent and that he came to that Vicaridge in 1672. Mr. Langhorne taking notice that he turn'd Papist in 1677 ask'd him whether or no he had left his Living first Dr. Oates answer'd That he had left the place not very long before for the Air did not agree with him besides that he had other private Reasons for leaving it Mr. Langhorne ask'd if turning Papist he became a Iesuite also because he says in his Narrative There came nine of us over All Iesuites The Court told him first that it was not a fair Question and then that what he offered was no Evidence The Prisoner then ask'd the Witness if he had ever been in his Company since that business in his Chamber of the Consult and Commissions Dr. Oates made answer he had been twice with him about the time of the Consult and twice or thrice after his coming over again Mr. Bedloe is Sworn MR. Bedloe declares upon a question concerning a Writing signed by the Superiour of the Iesuites that he had it at Mr. Daniel Arthurs and that finding it to agree with the Hand and Seal that he had observed upon Commissions in Paris he presented it to the Council Let the Reader observe here that this was a business only of a private Concern The Witness swears to this effect That he had no familiarity with Mr. Langhorne but some three years since being entrusted by Mr. Harcourt and Coleman with certain Letters to La Chaise Mr. Coleman carried him to Mr. Langhorne's Chamber who there Entred them and they were then sealed up by Mr. Coleman who delivered them to the VVitness to carry them The Letters being written at Mr. Colemans and only Registred by Mr. Langhorne Some of these Letters were read in Court at Mr. Colemans Trial. The scope of them was only to inform La Chaise that he wanted nothing but Money now in England to accomplish the work and to learn what supplies they might expect from France That the Catholicks were safe in England all places of Trust in their hands or at least in such as were well inclined and that considering the conjuncture of the present Power of the French King and a general disposition of Circumstances here there never was so fair an occasion of accomplishing their ends This was to Father Stapylton in English But the other to the Nuncio and La Chaise were in French and to the same purpose Mr. Langhorne Copied these before the Witness He went into his Study and wrote while Mr. Coleman and the Witness walked in the Chamber The Witness declared that there was not a penny of Money in this business but some way or other past his Accounts The Witness cannot say that ever Mr. Langhorne spake to him expressly of the Kings death but only of the Main design The Witness was with him a second time about a year and half since and it was from Harcourt for the Registring of another pacquet of Letters He took the Pacquet and without much heeding the Messenger sent word to Mr. Harcourt that Mr. Williams a Name that this Witness was known by had brought him some Letters which he would return again the next day as soon as he had Coppy'd them That Mr. Harcourt shew'd this Witness the Answer In this Pacquet there were two Letters one says the VVitness that he brought out of Spain from Sir William Godolphin directed to the Lord Bellassis which was sent to Mr. Langhorne some three weeks after to be Entred the Other from the Irish Iesuites in Salamanca directing that the rest of the Lords concerned and the whole Popish Party in England should be in readiness for they had now gotten some Irish