of Winchester Henry Lord Marquess of Worcester Henry Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Bridgewater Robert Earl of Sunderland one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State lately made in the room of Sir Joseph Williamson Arthur Earl of Essex first Lord Commissioner of the Treasury John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole Thomas Lord Viscount Faulconberg George Lord Viscount Hallifax Henry Lord Bishop of London John Lord Roberts Denzil Lord Holles William Lord Russel William Lord Cavendish Henry Coventry Esq one of his Majesties principle Secretaries of State Sir Francis North Kt. Lord Cheif Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Capel Kt. of the Bath first Commissioner of the Admiralty Sir John Earnley Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chicheley Kt. Master of the Ordnance Sir William Temple Baronet Edward Seymour Esq Henry Powle Esq The 30th of April His Majesty made a Speech to both Houses of Parliament wherein he recommended three things to them The prosecution of the Plot The disbanding of the Army and the providing a Fleet which was followed by a larger signification of his Majesties mind by the Lord Chancellor That His Majesty had considered with himself That 't is not enough that his Peoples Religion and Liberty be secure during his own Reign but thinks he ows it to his People to do all that in him lies that these Blessings may be transmitted to Posterity And to the end that it may never be in the power of any Papist if the Crown descend upon him to make any change in Church or State his Majesty would consent to limit such Successor in these points 1. That no such Popish Successor shall present to Ecclesiastical Benefices 2. That during the Reign of such Popish Successor no Privy Councellors or Judges Lord Leiutenant or Deputy Leiutenant or Officer of the Navy shall be put in or removed but by Authority of Parliament 3. That as it is already provided That no Papist can sit in either House of Parliament so there shall never want a Parliament when the King shall happen to die but that the Parliament then in Being may continue Indissoluble for a competent time or the last Parliament Re-assemble c. But it seems all these Provisions were not thought a sufficient Fence for such dear and precious things as Religion and Liberty and that in the progress of their Debates upon this most important Subject they could not resolve upon any certain Expedient of safety less than the Exclusion of his Royal Higness For on Sunday April the 27th 1679. It was Resolved by the House of Commons Nemine Contradicente That the Duke of York being a Papist and the hopes of his coming such to the Crown hath given the greatest Encouragement and Countenance to the present Conspiracies and Designs of the Papists against the King and Protestant Religion And on Sunday May the 11th the better Day the better Deed we use to say but whether it will hold here will be the Question they Ordered That a Bill should be brought in to disable the Duke of York to Inherit the Imperial Crown of this Realm which was brought in accordingly and twice read in the House the preamble thereof being to this effect That forasmuch as these Kingdoms of England and Ireland by the wonderful Providence of God many Years since have been delivered from the Slavery and Superstition of Popery which had despoiled the King of his Sovereign Power for that it did and doth advance the Pope of Rome to a Power over Sovereign Princes and makes him Monarch of the Universe and doth with-draw the Subjects from their Allegiance by pretended Absolutions from all former Daths and Obligations to their lawful Sovereign and by many Superstitions and Immoralities hath quite subverted the Ends of the Christian Religion But notwithstanding That Popery hath been long since Condemned by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm for the detestable Doctrine and Traiterous Attempts of its Adherents against the Lives of their lawful Sovereigns Kings and Queens of these Realms Yet the Emissaries Priests and Agents for the Pope of Rome resorting into this Kingdom of England in great numbers contrary to the known Laws thereof have for several Years last past as well by their own Devilish Acts and Policies as by Counsel and Assistance of Foreign Princes and Prelates known Enemies to these Nations contrived and carried on a most Horrid and Execrable Conspiracy To destroy and Murther the Person of his Sacred Majesty and to Subvert the ancient Government of these Realms and to Extirpate the Protestant Religion and Massacre the true Professors thereof And for the better effecting their wicked Designs and encouraging their Uilainous Accomplices they have Traterously Seduced James Duke of York Presumptive Heir of these Crowns to the Communion of the Church of Rome and have induced him to Enter into several Negotiations with the Pope his Cardinals and Nuntio's for promoting the Romish Church and Interest and by his means and procurement have advanced the Power and Greatness of the French King to the manifest hazard of these Kingdoms That by the descent of these Crowns upon a Papist and by Foreign Alliances and Assistance they may be able to succeed in their Wicked and Uillainons Designs And forasmuch as the Parliaments of England according to the Laws and Statutes thereof have heretofore for great and weighty Reasons of State and for the publick Good and common Interest at this Kingdom directed and limited the Succession of the Crown in other manner than of Course it would otherwise have gone but never had such important and urgent Reasons as at this Time press and require their using of their said Extraordinary Power in that behalf Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same And it is hereby Enacted accordingly That James Duke of York Albany and Ulster having departed openly from the Church of England and having publickly professed and owned the Popish Religion which hath notoriously given Birth and Life to the most Damnable and Hellish Plot by the most gracious Providence of God lately brought to light shall be Excluded and is hereby Excluded and Disabled c. On the 19th of May the House of Commons attended his Majesty with this following Address Most Dread Sovereign WEE your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons in Parliament Assembled do with all humble gratitude acknowledge the most gratious assurances your Majesty hath been pleased to give us of your constant Care to do every thing that may preserve the Protestant Religion of your firm resolution to defend the same to the utmost and your Royal endeavours that the security of that blessing may be transmitted to posterity And we do humbly represent to your Majesty That being deeply sensible that the
the University as some report or whether drawn in upon his Marriage as others alleage or to gratifie a Rich Vncle of that Persuasion as a third sort relate it on which or whether on some other occasion different from all these he revolted is not much material but revolt he did to the Roman Church and became a mighty Bigot to advance the same and gain Proselytes He was a Person of rare natural and acquired parts and so well conceited of himself that he once undertook to be one that should manage a Conference concerning Religion against the Learned Doctor Stillingfleet and another Divine of the Church of England which discourse is extant in Print But his Talent lay more in News and Policy than Divinity being for some time Secretary to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York he was a Leading-man in this Horrid Conspiracy and a prime Promoter thereof by his great Correspondency abroad both at Rome and in the French Court. Concerning the manner of his Commitment an Account is given before Chapt. the 8th On Saturday the 23 of November he was Arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar the Indictment being very Expressive and Significant we shall for Example sake See Colemans Tryal p. 2. recite part of it viz. That as a false Traitor against our most Illustrious Serene and most excellent Prince Charles by the Grace of God c. his natural Lord having not the fear of God in his heart nor duely weighing his Allegiance but being moved and seduced by the Instigation of the Devil his cordial Love and true Duty and natural Obedience which true and lawful Subjects of our said Lord the King ought to bear towards him and by Law ought to have altogether with-drawing and devising and with all his strength intending the Peace and common Tranquillity of this Kingdom of England to disturb and the true Worship of God within the Kingdom of England practised and by Law Established to overthrow and Sedition and Rebellion within this Realm of England to move stir up and procure and the cordial Love and true Duty and Allegiance which true and lawful Subjects of our Soveraign Lord the King towards their Soveraign bear and by Law ought to have altogether to withdraw forsake and extinguish and our said Soveraign Lord the King to Death and final Destruction to bring and put The 29th of Septemb. in the 27th year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lord Charles the Second c. at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster Falsly Maliciously and Traiterously proposed compassed imagined and intended to stir up and raise Sedition and Rebellion within the Kingdom of England and to procure and cause a miserable Destruction amongst the Subjects of our said Lord the King and wholly to Deprive Depose Deject and Disinherit our said Soveraign of his Royal State Title Power and Rule of his Kingdom of England and to bring and put our said Soveraign Lord the King to final Death and Destruction and to overthrow and change the Government and alter the sincere and true Religion of God in this Kingdom by Law establish'd and wholly to subvert and destroy the State of the Kingdom and to Levy War against our said Soveraign Lord the King within his Realm of England And that to accomplish these his Traiterous designs and imaginations on the 29th of Septemb. in the 27th year of the King he Traiterously composed two Letters to one Monsieur Le Chese then Servant and Confessor of Lewis the French King to desire procure and obtain for the said Edw. Coleman and other false Traitors the Aid Assistance and Adherence of the said French King to alter the true Religion in this Kingdom Establish'd to the Superstition of the Church of Rome and Subvert the Government of this Kingdom of England c. Reciting his receiving an Answer from Le Chese his Correspondence with Monsieur Rovigni Envoy Extraordinary from the French King and Letters to Sir William Throckmorton in France Concluding in usual form That all this was done against his true Allegiance and against the Peace of the King his Crown and Dignity To this Indictment he pleaded Not Guilty and on Wednesday the 27th of Novemb. 1678. was brought to his Tryal To the Jury Empannel'd he made no Challenges Their Names were Sir Reginald Foster Baronet Sir Charles Lee. Edward Wilford Esq John Bathurst Esq Joshua Galliard Esq John Bifield Esq Simon Middleton Esq Henry Johnson Esq Charles Vmfrevile Esq Thomas Johnson Esq Thomas Eaglesfield Esq William Bohee Esq His Tryal as it held very long so it was managed with all Integrity and Moderation by the Court The Charge against him was made out two ways partly by Witnesses Vivâ voce and partly by Letters and Papers found at his House which he could not deny to be his own hand writing Dr. Oates was the first Witness produced to whom the Lord Chief Justice gave this grave Caution That he See Colemans Tryal p. 17. should speak nothing but the truth not to add the least tittle that was false for any advantage whatsoever mind him of the Sacredness of the Oath he had taken declaring that since the Prisoners Blood and Life was at stake he should stand or fall be justified or Condemned by truth The substance of Mr. Oates's Evidence was 1. That in Novemb. 1677. being brought acquainted with Mr. Coleman by one John Keins then Dr. Oates's Confessor who Lodged at Colemans House he carried some Letters for him to St. Omers in which were Treasonable Expressions of the King calling him Tyrant and a Letter in Latine enclosed to Monsieur Le Chese to whom Dr. Oates carried it from St. Omers to Paris in which there were thanks returned for the Ten thousand pounds by him remitted into England for the Propagation of the Catholick Religion and promising that it should be Imployed for no other purpose but that for which it was sent which was to cut off the King of England as appear'd by the Letter of Le Chese to which this was an Answer and which Dr. Oates saw and read 2. That Coleman was concern'd in the design of taking away the Sacred Life of the King for that when at the Jesuits Consult at the pag. 2. Whitehorse-Tavern in the Strand in April Old Stile and May New Stile and afterwards adjourned into several Companies It was resolv'd that Pickering and Grove should Assassinate his Majesty by Shooting or other means for which the latter should have 1500 l. and the former Thirty thousand Masses which at 12 d. a Mass amounted much what to the same sum This resolve was in his hearing Communicated to Mr. Coleman at Wild-House who did approve thereof and said it was well contriv'd 3. That in August 78. Mr. Coleman was present at a Consult with the Jesuits and Benedictine Monks in the Savoy for raising a pag. 23. Rebellion in Ireland and was very forward to have Dr. Fogarthy sent thither to dispatch the Duke of Ormond by
Princes and Subjects and Quicunque bactenus à fide deviârunt seu in Posterum deviabunt seu in Haeresin incident c. Not onely all that at that time had swerv'd from the Roman faith but all such also as should at any time afterwards deviate from the same and sall into Heresie are declared Excommunicated and solemnly Cursed and if they be Kings or Emperours they are thereby totally and for ever deprived of their Kingdoms and Empires and rendered incapable ever to enjoy them So run the words expresly Regnis Imperio penitus in tetum perpetuo sint privati ad illa de caetero inhabiles incapaces Hence it appears that by the Tenor of this Babylonish Bull our gracious King and his Protestant Subjects now are as much under the cursed Cursing Sentence as Queen Elizabeth and her people were when it was first denounced and consequently deposed deprived and lawfully to be Kill'd c. But to make sure work the Curse is solemnly renewed every year on Maunday-Thursday by reading the Bulla Coenae Domini the words whereof are Excommunicamus Anathematizamus ex parte Dei c. We do on the behalf of God and by the Authority of Peter and Paul and also by our own Excommunicate and Anathematize all Hussites Wicklissists Lutherans Zwinglians Calvinists Hugonots c. under which Nick-names they comprehend all Protestants and whoever shall receive defend or favour them So that if any Papist shall assist or defend his Prince being Protestant it appears he is by this Sentence Excommunicated and Cursed by the Pope whom he verily believes if he be a true Roman Catholick and understands his Religion has right and power to do it A thousand other the like abominable Assertions tending directly to Sedition and Rebellion might be produced out of their Canon-Law and the Works of Bellarmine Suarez Parsons Allen Creswell Rosâ—aeus a Book Canoniz'd by the Pope in Consistory and others but these are sufficient Nor can the subtlest Jesuit ever avoid this Evidence with any colour of Reason or Modesty for here is the determination of one of their Infallible Councils and that confirmed by an Infallible Pope and the concurrent Testimonies of several the most eminent Fathers of their Church agreeable thereunto all printed with Approbation and never judicially condemn'd nor such their Opinions censured for though so many Indices Expurgatorii have stifled or at least maim'd and dismembred better Books yet these pass openly abroad untoucht and are allow'd to be read though the Bible be prohibited And therefore notwithstanding all their idle and impudent Evasions that these are but the Sentiments of particular private men 't is evident that their Church holds encourages and is justly chargeable with maintaining these Tenets destructive to Civil Government and enjoyning them to be believed and as opportunities shall serve put in practise by her Children SECT 2. This will yet be more undeniable if we consider the ill uses and applications of these Doctrines and how frequently in many Ages they have actually been put in execution to the great disturbance of Christendom and embroiling Kingdoms in Bloud and Confusion for never did savage Bear or Tygre fill his Den with the Bones of men and beasts as this Romish Wolf hath his Church with the Spoils of Princes there being scarce any Age since his Teeth were grown wherein he hath not to the utmost of his power made havock of their Lives and Estates Take a few Examples Anno 729 Pope Gregory the Second Excommunicated Leo Isaurus the Emperour because he would not admit of Images in Churches and for that Crime of opposing Idolatry forbad the payment of his Tribute and gave away his Territories to the Lombards whereby he and his Successors lost all the Western Empire which the Pope and the French-King afterwards shared between them And so they would do others Kingdoms now too if they could master them This glorious Act of Rebellion in Gregory against his Soveraign Lord Cardinal Baronius applauds saying Exemplum Posteris dignum reliquit ne in Ecclesiâ Christi regnare sinerentur Haeretici Principles He left a worthy Example to Posterity that Heretical Princes should not be suffered to Raign Soon after Pope Zachary Deposed Chilperick King of France and gave his Kingdom to Pepin one of his Subjects and Servants not so much as we find the reason rendred in Gratian for any Iniquity Chilperick was guilty of as for that his Holiness esteemed him Tantae potestati inutilem unfit or unprofitable for so great a power that is Pepin was like as he had reason after such a kindness to gratifie his Holiness more and serve him better How lamentably and shamelesly was the Emperour Henry the Fourth vexed by three Popes successively first Hildebrand picks a causeless quarrel with him Confictis Criminibus with alleadging false and feigned Crimes say the Historians of that Age Excommunicates him absolves his Subjects from their Obedience and sets up against him Rodulph Duke of Swaben and Burgundy a Feudatary Subject to the Empire sending him a Crown with this verse engraven Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodolpho The Rock to Peter gave this Crown and Pow'r And with it Peter Crowns thee Emperour But for all the Popes Gift and Blessing Rodolph miserably perisht in his Treason However Hildebrand's Successour Pope Vrban carried on the implacable quarrel and unnaturally stirred up Conradus the said Emperours own Son to make War against his Father who dying in that Rebellion another Son who succeeded was arm'd against him who took him Prisoner and forc'd him to resign the Empire The Indignities offered to this Noble Prince by the Romish Lucifers have swelled divers Volumes Amongst many other Insolencies this was one That Hildebrand would not Release him from his Excommunication till on a time in the midst of winter he came Bare-footed to Camisium where the Pope lay and in that posture waited three days before the Gates of his Palace nor had he scarce at last got Absolution but for the intercession of a certain Dutchess for whom his Holiness had a kindness Henry the Fifth his Son for maintaining the Priviledges of the Empire and Rights of his Predecessours touching the Investiture of Bishops was Excommunicated by Pope Paschal the Second and by him and his Successours miserably vexed till his death The Emperour Frederick the First was scarce ever free from the Treasons of the Pope and his Clergy and at last to purchase his peace was fain to cast himself groveling upon the Floor whilst the Pope set his foot on his Neck profaning that saying of the Psalmist Thou shalt walk upon the Lion and the Asp the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet And when the Bigotted Prince to excuse that shameful servile submission was heard to mutter Non tibi sed Petro I do not pay this Homage to you but to Peter the haughty Prelate sternly replyed Et mihi Petro Sir you shall
before or know how he came by it yet he began his Speech with these very words and repeated as much thereof as he had got without book but certainly a man under his Circumstances would never have troubled his mind with a parcel of formal words if the Awe of the Preist or some Absolution on that Condition had not been more prevalent with him than Truth or Conscience the strain of it shewing a malicious Spirit in the Inditer towards the Evidence and Court as it does his uncharitableness towards the Prisoner to impose thus on a poor ignorant dying man And whereas the Papists do generalâ—y report That Berry was always or at least died a Protestant The same is no toriously false for he had many Years been a Papist cheifly led thereunto for Lucre and to get an Employment as he acknowledged to Mr. Ordinary to whom 't is true he declared a little before his Execution That he did not believe many things which the Doctors of the Romish Church teach as necessary to be embraced for Articles of Faith which is no more than what many other Papists will affirm But the said Berry neither in Prison nor at the Gallows would ever disown the Romish Church nor in the least declare himself a Protestant CHAP. XV. The Proceedings in Parliament touching the Plot with the discovery of Mr. Reading's ill practice and the substance of the Proceedings against him for attempting to stifle the King ' s Evidence relating thereunto AT the beginning of March his Majesty sent his Royal Highness the Duke of York a Letter Ordering him to withdraw for some time who thereupon set forwards on the third of March towards Flanders and on the sixth of the same the new Parliament met whom the King entertain'd with a Speech setting forth what had been done in prosecution of the Plot disbanding the Army c. during the interval and concerning the Duke of York's being so withdrawn beyond the Seas his Majesty was pleased to take notice thereof in these words And above all I have Commanded my Brother to absent himself from me because I would not leave the most Malicious Men room to say I had not removed all Causes which could be pretended to influence Me towards Popish Counsels But some unhappy Traverses happened about settling a Speaker which stumbling at the Threshold was even then look'd upon by observing men as an Ominous Presage That little good would be attained or effected by that Assembly though undoubtedly it was composed as of men of the best Estates so generally of the most able Understandings and most publick-spirited Gentlemen that over served their Country in that Capacity To allay and compose these Animosities which were unhappily started by the Treasurer and his Interest purposely to render this Parliament ineffectual which he knew would otherwise prove Fatal to him There was a short Prorogation and then they fell to Business and on the 24th of March 1678. Resolved Nemine Contradicente That this House doth declare That they are fully satisfied by the proofs they have heard that there now is and for divers Years last past hath been an Horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy contrived and carried on by those of the Popish Religion for the Murthering of his Majestie 's Sacred Person and for Subverting the Protestant Religion and the Antient and well-Establisht Government of this Kingdom And the Concurrence of the House of Lords being desired herein the next day their Lordships sent a Message to the Commons That their Lordships did immediately and unanimously Concur with the House of Commons in the Declaration as to the Plot. Thus have we the Judgment of Two Parliaments in the Case solemnly and publickly declared The same 25th of March One Mr. Sackvile a Member of the House of Commons and Burgess for East Greenstead in Sussex being charg'd by Dr. Oats to have said That they were Sons of Whores who said there was a Plot and that he was a lying Rogue that said it the matter was examined and Resolved That the said Mr. Edw. Sackvile be sent to the Tower and that he be Expelled the House and made incapable of bearing any Office and though the next day on his Knees at the Bar of that House he desired to have the last part of this Sentence remitted yet the House would not Retract what they had done About the same time Mr. Bedloe made a complaint of harsh usage and discouragements to the House of Commons and upon Oath set forth That going to the Lord Treasurer for some money by virtue of an Order from the Council my Lord took him into his Closet and asked him Whether the Duke of Buckingham or Lord Shaftsbury or any of the Members of the House of Commons had desired him to say any thing against him and to tell him who they were and he would well Reward him and to know if he would desist from giving Evidence against the and the Lords in the Tower c. To which he answered That he had once been an ill man and desired to be so no more To which the Treasurer replied You may have a great sum of money and live in another Countrey as Geneva Suâ—den or New-England and should have what money he would ask to maintain him there But Mr. Bedloc refusing such Temptations his Lordship began to threaten him saying There was a Boat and a Yatch ready to carry him far enough for telling of Tales and after this Guards were as Spies upon him and he very ill used till by an Address to the King the same was remedied and better Care taken And at the same time Dr. Oats declared to the House That one day he being in the Privy Garden the said Lord Treasurer passing by and reflecting on him said There goes one of the Saviours of England but I hope to see him hang'd within a Month all which Complaints as to the Earl of Danby were referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Secrecy We have before Chapter the 13th set forth a kind of Counter-plot laid for opposing and vilifying the Evidence of Dr. Oats and Mr. Bedloe but now we must give an account of another kind of Design still aiming at the same end but manag'd more privately to mollifie aad sweeten Mr. Bedloe in his Evidence and stifle his Testimony by his own consent that it might not fall too heavy upon the Lords in the Tower but this too proved Abortive for though they had chosen a notable Agent for the Work viz. One Mr. Reading a Council at Law famous for his Adventures in the Isle of Axolme yet Mr. Bedloe out-witted him and brought him to deserved Infamy for that corrupt practice for after he had long held him in hand got several sums of money of him procured by a stratagem sufficient Witnesses to prove it out of his own mouth and under his hand and made the Business full ripe Then on the third of April the Committee of Secrecy to whom
disproved by the Evidence and most improbable in it self the Jury going together soon returned and brought Mr. Reading in guilty of the Misdemeanour whereof he stood Indicted And then the Lord Cheif Justice North after a grave Speech respecting the heinousness of the Crime and the Quality of the Person as being of the long Robe whose knowledg should keep them from so foolish and their Integrity from so wicked an Attempt Pronounced the Judgment of the Court viz. That be be Fined 1000 l. Imprisoned for one Year and stand one hour in the Pillory in the Pallace-Yard in Westminster on Monday then next between the hours of Eleven and Twelve Accordingly he did at the same time publickly stand in the Pillory and the People generally appear'd so Enraged against his Crimes that if an extraordinary Guard had not been provided to secure him 't is thought some Fatal Mischeif might have been done to his Person by the Fury of the incensed Rabble CHAP. XVI The Cursed Design of Morrice Gifford a Popish Priest and others of the Conspirators to Fire the Cities and Suburbs of London and Westminster happily discovered with other Subsequent Transactions as the Model and Names of the New Council c. WE have told you before in the Seventh Chapter That one part of this Damnable Popish Plot consisted in Firing and Mr. Bedloe in a particular Narrative sold by Mr. Boulter and other Booksellers in Cornhil hath acquainted the World how far he was concern'd therein as a Member of their Committee appointed for carrying on that Villany how he was engaged by the Benedictine Monks at Paris in the Year 1676. to that purpose and afterwards joined with one Father Gifford and others to Fire Westminster Limehouse and other places and he there names several particular Streets and the very Houses where he hired Cellars and laid in Wood Coals and other combustible Matter to effect this Business as on the backside of the Palsegraves-Head Tavern without Temple-Bar Brewers Yard in the Strand a Cellar at Mr. Withers's at the Plough in Seething-Lane another in White-Friars others in Red-Cross-Street White-Cross-Street Bishopsgate-Street Queen-hive c. And in his Epistle he names Twelve several distinct ways they have to cause and promote Fires one of which is by Bribing Servants to fire the Houses of their Masters Of this kind we had about this time a notorious Instance and wherein the very same Father Gifford was concern'd For the discovery of the Plot hitherto had only enrag'd not daunted the Conspirators and therefore they still resolv'd to go on with their Work and amongst others they had drawn in one Elizabeth Oxley a Servant Maid to one Mr. Bird an eminent Attorney in Fetter-Lane who having dwelt there about 6 weeks took the opportunity on the 10th of April 1679. when all the Family was in Bed to fire a large Press in her Master ' s Closet wherein were kept Papers and Writings and when she thought it was not to be Quencht wak'd her Master and Mistress with out-cries that the House was on Fire and ran down to let in the Watch who had took notice of it and by the great Mercy of God and ready help the Fire was put out and the House preserv'd though the Gentleman suffered considerable damage by it Now as there was no probability how this Fire should come by any Accident so it was observ'd that this Elizabeth had pack't up her Cloaths and several other Circumstances of suspicion whereupon she was taxt with it and at last confessed it declaring on her Examination That about Michaelmas 1678. she became acquainted with one Nicholas Stubbs a Papist formerly Butler to a Popish Lady who had used mnay persuasions to turn her to his Religion and after her shewing a liking to it and that he supposed she had embraced that persuasion in his discourse to her at several times told her That she should set all the Protestants destroy'd that were in England before the Eighth and Twentieth of June next and that all that would turn to the Roman Catholick Religion should live far better than now they did that as for Hereticks it were a Meritorius Act to kill them And that all such as were Papists should have marks upon their Hats whereby to distinguish them from Protestants that they might not be destroy'd amongst them That the Duke of York was the bravest Prince living and was gone out of the Kingdom lest the Heretiks should cut off his head and he would not return till they were destroy'd that not one of the Lords in the Tower would Suffer for they would come off well enough being to be Tryed by the Lords c. She likewise did avouch That she telling the said Stubbs that she was hired to live with Mr. Bird aforesaid and naming to him the place he used persuasions to her at several times to set Fire on her said Master ' s House telling her That if she would do it he would give her 5 l and gave her once half-a-Crown in earnest of such Reward and said That he would have other Houses in Holborn Fired at the same time by others That on the Sunday before this Fire happen'd she was with the said Stubbs and did then promise that she would certainly fire her Master ' s House on Thursday or Friday Night following and that accordingly she did on Thursday Night take a Candle and set fire to her Master ' s papers in his Study which were in a kind of Press and then being on a light Fire she shut the door and went up stairs into her own Chamber at the top of the House where she packt up her own things and undress'd her self lest her Master should suspect her and there stay'd till a great Knocking was at the door and the Watchmen crying out Fire whereupon she went and let them in but she declared That she did not do this out of any Spleen or Malice towards her Master nor with any attempt to Rob him but meerly to carry on the Design which Stubbs had proposed to her out of hopes of the Reward he had promis'd Hereupon a Warrant was issued forth to apprehend Nicholas Stubbs who was shortly after taken and though at first he out-brazen'd the Truth with the usual Popish Impudence yet when he came to be confronted with the Wench who offered so many Circumstances to convince him he could no longer stand it out but did confess and own That he had used such discourses to the said Elizabeth as she had set forth in her Examination and that he did persuade her to fire her Master ' s House and was to give her 5 Guinnies for doing it besides half-a-Crown in hand He did likewise declare upon Oath That Father Gifford his Confessor had put him upon this Business and told him it was no Sin to fire all the Houses of Hereticks and Huguenots That Derby Molrayne aliàs Flower a Barber in Jermanstreet and one Roger Clinton that lodged at the
Coach and Horses in the same Street both Irish men were Engaged in the same Design that Father Gifford promised this Examinate One Hundred Pounds for to carry on the Work and told him He was to have the money from the Church That the said Gifford Clinton Flower and He did use to meet in St. Jame's Feilds in the dark of the Evening and there to discourse of these matters and that the several Informations that he had given to the said Elizabeth Oxley he had from the said Father Gifford He further said That the said Flower and Clinton told him the said Stubbs That they would carry on the said Fire and that they had Fireballs for that purpose and that they would fire other Houses in Holborn at the same time He confessed he was at the Fire in the Temple but was not Engaged to do any thing in it That Gifford told him that there were English French and Irish Roman Catholicks enow in London to make a very good Army and that the French King was coming with 60 Thousand men under a pretence of a Progress to shew the Dauphin his Dominions but it was to plant them along the Coasts at Diep Bulloign Calais and Dunkirk to be presently ready to be Landed in England when there was an opportunity which he doubted not but might be by the middle of June for by that time all the Roman Catholicks here would be ready who were all to rise and with the Assistance of the French Forces to cut off and utterly destroy the Hereticks that then the Papists were to be distinguish't by marks in their Hats and that the said Father Gifford doubted not but he should be an Abbot or a Bishop when the work was over for the good Service he had done who frequently told this Examinate and the said Flower and Clinton That it was no more Sin to Kill an Heretick than to knock a Dog o' th head and that they did God good Service in doing what mischeif they could by Firing their Houses That it was well Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Murther'd for he was their devilish Enemy That Coleman was a Saint in Heaven for what he had done c. That the Examinate was fearful he should be Murther'd for this Confession the said Father Gifford having sworn him to Secrecy and told him he should be damn'd if he made any discovery and should be sure to be Kill'd but gave him leave to take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance because he was an House-keeper and it was necessary that he should stay in Town to help to promote the work of Burning therefore the taking of such Oaths to him should be no sin April the 15th That worthy Patriot Sir Thomas Player giving the House of Commons information concerning this matter of Oxley and Stubbs the Examinations were transmitted to the Lords and the Lords sent them to the secret Committee to make a further inspection and progress therein but they had their hands so full of Business that it was thought fit to appoint a Special Committee for this very purpose before whom the Parties were again Examined and gave them such satisfaction that the House became Suitors to his Majesty that they might both have his gracious Pardon which was granted and a Proclamation but not till the 4th of May set forth Reciting That whereas due Information hath been given that Morrice Gifford a Popish Priest Roger Clinton Derby Molraine alias Flower and several other Persons of the Romish Religion have out of their detestable and barbarous Malice conspired and agreed together to set on Fire the City of London the Suburbs thereof and the places thereunto Adjacent and have in prosecution of such their devilish and wicked Design procured divers Mansion Houses within the said City Suburbs and parts adjacent at sundry times and in divers places to be set on Fire and Burnt The King 's most Excellent Majesty at the humble desire of the Commons in Parliament Assembled doth Command the said Gifford Clinton and Flower who are fled from Justice to render themselves by the 10th of May instant and is pleased to promise 50 l. Reward to any that should apprehend any of them or if any of themselves should come in and discover his Accomplices so as any of them may be taken and Convicted he shall not only have his Pardon but the 50 l. also for each Incendiary As this ingenious Confession of Oxley and Stubbs was a grand Confirmation and undeniable proof of the restless Malice of these bloody Priests so 't is a notable Corroboration of the Truth and sincerity of Mr. Bedloes Evidence for how was it possible if what he says were not certain Truth but only contrived Stories as Papists calumniat How is it probable I say That Stubbs should happen so exactly to accuse the very same man which Mr. Bedloe had done for the Instigator to these barbarous Attempts of Firing for at that time Mr. Bedloe though he had given in such his Informations to the Committee of Secrecy yet had not published the same abroad so that Stubbs could not then have any notice thereof On the 20th of April happen'd an extraordinary Change at Court no less unexpected than grateful to the people who by such alteration of Ministers did hope to find considerable improvements in the management of the publick Affairs for his Majesty having caused his Privy Council to be extraordinarily summon'd was pleas'd by the Lord Chancellor to dissolve them and to declare his Pleasure That for the future their constant Number should be limited to that of Thirty whereof Fifteen to be of his chief Officers who shall be Privy Councellors by their Places Ten others of the Nobility and Five Commons of the Realm whose known Abilities Interest and Esteem in the Nation shall render them without all suspicion of either mistaking or betraying the true Interest of the Kingdom These Fifteen Officers to which the Quality of a Privy Councellor was hereby annext are The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The Bishop of London The Lord Chancellor One of the Lord Cheif Justices The Admiral The Master of the Ordnance The Treasurer and Chancellor or First Comissioner of the Exchequer The Lord Privy-Seal The Master of the Horse The Lord Steward The Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold The Groom of the Stole Two Secretaries of State And that there shall be a President of the Council when necessary and room for the Secretary of Scotland when any such shall be here The Names of the New Privy Council then Establisht were as follows His Highness Prince Rupert William Lord Arch Bishop of Canterbury Heneage Lord Finch Lord Chancellor of England Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy-Seal Christopher Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Monmouth Master of the Horse Henry Duke of New-Castle John Duke of Lauderdaile Secretary of State for Scotland James Duke of Ormond Lord Steward of the Houshold Charles Lord Marquess
Assemblies and Consultations wherein it was Contrived and Designed amongst them what means should be used and what Persons and Instruments should be employed to Murther his Majesty and did then and there resolve to effect it by Poisoning Shooting Stabing or some such like ways or means and offered Rewards and promises of Advantage to several Persons to Execute the same and hired and employed several Wicked Persons to go to Windsor and other places where his Majesty did reside to Murther and destroy his Majesty which said Persons or some of them accepted some Rewards and undertook the Perpetrating thereof and did actually go to the said places for that end and purpose That the said Conspirators the better to compass their Traiterous Designs have consulted to Raise and have procured and raised Men Money Horses Arms and Ammunition and also have made Application to and Treated and Corresponded with the Pope his Cardinals Nuncio's and Agents and with other Foraign Ministers and Persons to raise Tumults within this Kingdom and to Invade the same with Foraign Forces and to surprize seize and destroy his Majesties Navy Forts Magazines and places of Strength within this Kingdom Whereupon the Calamities of War Murthers of innocent Subjects Men Women and Children Burnings Rapines Devastations and other Dreadful Miseries and Mischiefs must inevitably have ensued to the Ruin and Destruction of this Nation That the said Conspirators have procured accepted and delivered out several Instruments Commissions and Powers made and granted by or under the Pope or other unlawful and usurping Authority to raise and dispose of Men Money Arms and other things necessary for their wicked and Traiterous Designs and namely a Commission to the said Henry Lord Arundel of Warder to be Lord High Chancellor of England and to the said William Earl of Powis to be Lord Treasurer of England another Commission to the said John Lord Bellasis to be General of the Army to be raised and the said William Lord Petre to be Lieutenant General of the said Army and a Power to the said William Viscount Stafford to be Paymaster of the Army That in order to encourage themselves in prosecuting their said wicked Plots Conspiracies and Treasons and to hide and hinder the discovery of the same and to secure themselves from Justice and Punishment the Conspirators aforesaid and Confederates have used many wicked and Diabolical Practices viz. They did cause their Priests to Administer to the said Conspirators an Oath of Secrecy together with their Sacrament and also did cause their said Priests upon Confession to give their Absolutions upon condition that they should conceal the said Conspiracy And when about the Month of September last Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Justice of Peace had according to the Duty of his Oath and Office taken several Examinations and Informations concerning the said Conspiracy and Plot the said Conspirators or some of them by Advice Assistance Councel and Instigation of the rest did incite and procure divers Persons to lie in wait and persue the said Sir Edmundbury Godfrey several days with intent to Murther him which at last was perpetrated and effected by them for which said horrid Crimes and Offences Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill have since been Attainted and Dominick Kelly and Gerald are fled for the same After which Murther and before the Body was found or the Murther known to any but Complices therein the said Persons falsely gave out That he was alive and privately Married and after the Body was found dispersed a false and malicious Report that he had Murthered himself Which said Murther was Committed with design to stifle and suppress the Evidence he had taken and had knowledg of and to discourage and deter Magistrates and others from acting in the further discovery of the said Plot and Conspiracy for which end also the said Sir Edmundbury Godfrey while he was alive was by them their Complices and Favourites threatned and discouraged in his Proceedings about the same And of their further Malice they have wickedly contrived by many false Suggestions to lay the imputation and guilt of the aforesaid horrid and detestable Crimes upon the Protestants that so thereby they might escape the Punishments they have justly deserved and expose Protestants to great Scandal and subject them to Persecution and Oppression in all Kingdoms and Countries where the Roman Religion is received and professed All which Treasons Crimes and Offences above mentioned were Contrived Committed Perpetrated Acted and done by the said William Earl of Powis William Lord Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis every of them and others the Conspirators aforesaid against our Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom Of all which Treasons Crimes and Offences the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled do in the name of themselves and of the Commons of England Impeach the said William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis and every of them And the said Commons by Protestation saving to themselves that liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Accusations or Impeachments against the said William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis and every of them and also of replying to the Answers which they and every of them make to the Premises or any of them or to any other Accusation or Impeachment which shall be by them exhibited as the Cause according to course and proceedings of Parliament shall require do pray that the said William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis and every of them may be put to Answer all and every of the Premises and that such Proceedings Examinations Tryals and Judgments may be upon them and every of them had and used as shall be agreeable to Law and Justice and Course of Parliament To these Articles of Impeachment the said Lords soon after put in their several Answers as follows The several Answers of William Lord Petre now Prisoner in the Tower to the Articles of Impeachment of High Treason and other Crimes and Offences exhibited to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled Whereas the Lord above named stands Impeached by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled in the name of themselves and all the Commons in England THE said Lord in the first place and above all other protesting his Innocency The said Lord doth with all humility submit himself desiring above all things the Tryal of his Cause by this Honourable House so that he may be provided to make his just Defence for clearing of his Innocency from the great and hainous Crimes charged against him by the said Impeachment this being prayed as also liberty to correct amend and explain any thing in the
says The King the House of Lords and the House of Commons have each particular Privileges And among those which belong to the King he reckons Power of Pardoning After the enumerateing of which and other his Prerogatives His said Majesty adds thus Again That the Prince may not make use of this high and perpetual Power to the hurt of those for whose good he hath it and make use of the name of publick necessity for the gain of his private Favourites and Followers to the detriment of his People The House of Commons an excellent Conserver of Liberty c. is solely intrusted with the first Propositions concerning the Levies of Money and the Impeaching of those who for their own ends though countenanced by any surreptitiously-gotten Command of the King have violated that Law which he is bound when he knows it to protect and to the protection of which they were bound to advise him at least not to serve him in the contrary And the Lords being Trusted with a Judicatory Power are an excellent Screen and Bank between the Prince and People to assist each against any encroachments of the other and by just Judgments to preserve that Law which ought to be the Rule of every one of the three c. Therefore the Power legally placed in both Houses is more then sufficient to prevent and restrain the power of Tyranny c. IV. Until the Commons of England have Right done them against this Plea of Pardon they may justly apprehend that the whole Justice of the Kingdom in the Case of the Five Lords may be obstructed and defeated by Pardons of like nature V. An Impeachment is virtually the Voice of every particular Subject of this Kingdom crying out against an Oppression by which every Member of that Body is equally wounded And it will prove a Matter of ill Consequence that the universality of the People should have occasion ministred and continued to them to be apprehensive of utmost danger from the Crown from whence they of right expect Protection VI. The Commons Exhibited Articles of Impeachment against the said Earl before any against the Five other Lords and demanded Judgment upon those Articles Whereupon your Lordships having appointed the Tryal of the said Earl before that of the other Five Lords now your Lordships having since inverted that Order gives a great cause of doubt to the House of Commons and raises a Jealousie in the Hearts of all the Commons of England that if they should proceed to the Tryal of the said Five Lords in the first place not only Justice will be obstructed in the Case of those Lords but that they shall never have right done them in the matter of this Plea of Pardon which is of so fatal Consequence to the whole Kingdom and a new device to frustrate publick Justice in Parliament Which Reasons and Matters being duly weighed by your Lordships the Commons doubt not but your Lordships will receive satisfaction concerning their Propositions and Proceedings And will agree That the Commons ought not nor can without deserting their Trust depart from their former Vote communicated to your Lordships That the Lords Spiritual ought not to have any Vote in any Proceedings against the Lords in the Tower and when that Matter shall be settled and the Methods of Proceedings adjusted the Commons shall then be ready to proceed upon the Tryal of the Earl of Danby against whom they have already demanded Judgment and afterwards to the Tryal of the other Five Lords in the Tower May 27th 1679. The Narrative and Reasons delivered at the Conference Yesterday with the House of Commons were again read and after a long Debate the Vote of this House dated the 13th of May instant and the explanation thereupon dated the 14th instant were read and the Question was put Whether to insist upon these Votes concerning the Lords Spiritual and it was resolved in the Affirmative But there were present These Dissenters Buckingham Huntington Kent Shaftsbury PR Bedford Winchester Rochester North and Grey Suffolke J. Lovelace Townsend Herbert Gray Stamford Newport Say and Seal L. Wharton Leicester Scarsdale Stafford Derby Delamer Howard Paget Clare Salisbury Falconberg Windsor CHAP. XVIII The Proceedings against Whitebread and the other Four Jesuits ON Friday the 13th of June 1679 was the grand Tryal of Five notorious Jesuits viz. Thomas White aliàs Whitebread Provincial or cheif of the Jesuits in England a comely antient man of a very grave deportment both at his Tryal and Execution William Harcourt pretended Rector of London who 't is thought after the first discovery of the Plot had been beyond the Seas and had the confidence to return hither again where being apprehended in his Lodging near long Acre he was by the Lords and Commons Committed to Newgate on the 8th of May last John Fenwick Procurator of the Jesuits in England John Gavan aliàs Gawen and Anthony Turner Committed first to the Gate-house and thence brought to Newgate There was at the same time Arraigned one James Corker a Benedictine Monk but he pretending he had not his Witnesses ready was put off and happy it was for him who since was acquitted with Wakeman whereas if he had then been tryed 't is most probable it would have prov'd as Fatal to him as the rest Whitebread and Fenwick pleaded that they were tryed before for the same Fact but the Court answer'd That though they were indeed once Arraign'd yet the Jury was discharg'd of them and they not then in any Jeopardy of their Lives and therefore must plead to this Indictment Then the Prisoner made a general Challenge That none should be of their Jury that were of any of the former Juries concerning the Plot Those now sworn were Thomas Harriot William Gulston Allen Garraway Richard Cheney John Roberts Thomas Cash Rainsford Waterhouse Matthew Bateman John Kaine Richard White Richard Bull. Thomas Cox The Proofs were long and consisting in divers particulars As 1. Dr. Oats Swears That the Consult of the 24th of April was by the Order of Whitebread the Prisoner at the See the Tryal of Whitebread c. P. 12. Bar as Provincial and that then the said Whitebread and Fenwick and Harcourt and Turner did all in his presence Sign the Resolve for the King's death 2. That Whitebread after his return back again to St. Omers did say That he hoped to see the King's Head laid fast enough only he had not the manners to give him the Title of King but shew'd his spight by calling his Majesty opprobriously These are those that speak evil of Dignities 3. That in July Ashby alias Timbleby brought over Instructions from Whitebread P. 13. to offer Sir George Wakeman 10000 l. to poyson the King and also a Commission to Sir John Gage to be an Officer in the Army which they design'd to raise which the Witness himself delivered to him the said Sir John 4. That Turner was at the Consult and at Fenwick's Chamber he saw him
years is too well known to need here a Repetition that Oppression may make wise men mad is attested by the wisest of Princes yet far be it from us to patronize or palliate Rebellion on any pretext The first Overt act was the Murther of Doctor Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews in his Coach on the Road May 3. 1679. by about a dozen Assassinates attended with such extraordinary horrid and barbarous Circumstances that seem'd to intimate something of a further Improvement as well as present Malice or as if there had been a Design to eclipse the Villany of the Popish Assassination on Sir Edmondb Godfrey by this more inhumane one committed by supposed Protestants 'T is certain the blame was laid upon the Whiggs or Nonconformists there for which there wanted not specious Reasons But Relations no less credible have given an Account that the principal Murderer acted merely on private Revenge for personal Injuries and 't is not impossible that a person of such bad Principles might be egg'd on to so villanous a Barbarity by insinuating Jesuits who like their Father the Devil take the advantage of mens Passions and by Temptations improve their Animosities to the perpetration of the blackest Crimes The next News was of an Insurrection in the West of Scotland May 29 1679. attended with a Declaration and other Insolencies of those Rebels equally extravagant and detestable To quell which his Grace the Gallant Duke of Monmouth June the 15th sets forward towards Scotland and with great Expedition Joyning and Heading the Royal Plost soon discomfited the Rebels at Bothwel-bridge and returned Victorious victorious That the Papists or some of their well-willers at least by their Counsel and contrivances had an hand in fomenting these disturbances is more than probable as well for the preparations they had made for it as aforesaid as for that nothing at this juncture could make more for their Interest to which they do not use to be wanting for hereby they startled the Government diverted the general odium from themselves and notably colour'd their clamours against the Presbyterians Besides 't is not unlikely that some who were justly apprehensive of being called in question about that time for their male-Administration of Affairs in that Kingdom might hope to bury the memory of their past severities or justifie them as necessary Policies by ostentation of this Rebellion the more liable to be suspected for a Contrivance for that it was not only not joyned in but generally dis-own'd and detested by the Dissenters both in Scotland and England and for that their Horse when the Duke came to engage them so soon betook them to flight as if they had onely designed to cajole in these miserable desperado's of the Infantry into destruction However since his Grace the Duke of Monmouth behaved himself with so much Zeal Conduct and Courage in that Action 't is hard to measure the Confidence of the Popish Conspirators that they should hope so soon after to set him up for a General of Rebellion in England over a like pretended Faction as he had but now routed and dissipated in Scotland and whereof several inferiour promoters and active instruments therein have since suffered Death Banishment and other punishments according to the Laws of that Kingdom And now Affairs sleeping as it were for a while the old Enemy takes advantage of that opportunity industriously to sow his Tares by spreading swarms of virulent Libels of which we shall give you a more particular account in the next Chapter against the Protestant Interest and the Reputation of the Kings Evidence who had they not been wonderfully supported by the hand of God the prayers of good men and their own natural courage must certainly have sunk and been over-whelmed with the various discouragements and mountains of Lies and slanders daily cast upon them But at last the Conspirators finding that all the Interest they had made for carrying Elections for their Tooth of Members to serve in the new Parliament summoned to sit the seventeenth of October could not prevail but that generally throughout the Nation men of approved Loyalty and Integrity to the Protestant Religion and weal of the Publick had notwithanding all their stickling and the vain efforts of a multitude of Laodicean Chemarims been chosen for that weighty Trust and particularly reflecting how shamefully they had been baffled in the Choice for the City of London Octob. the 7th they were now for stifling that Child which before they would have mis-begot and improved all their endeavours by a certain White-Powder that makes no noise probably some new French Invention to blow up the approaching Parliament which yet 't is hoped by the blessing of God and His Majesties Favour will continue sitting so long as may enable it to Countermine all their Plots and bring the Traytors as well Cedars as Shrubs to condign punishment so as to secure His Majesties Life from their villanous attempts for the future and settle the Protestant Religion and Property on a firm and durable Basis In the mean time viz. on the second of September the Anniversary Fast for the never-to-be-forgotten Burning of London by Popish Treachery and as 't is said about Two of the clock in the morning his Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived here from Flanders and forthwith went to the King who then to the great grief and affliction of all his good Subjects was very Ill at Windsor The Dukes coming as was then published by Authority in the Gazet was contrary to expectation and therefore he acquainted His Majesty That hearing of His Majesties Indisposition he thought he could do no less than to come to wait on him and see how he did adding That he was ready as soon as His Majesty pleased to depart for Flanders or any other part of the world that His Majesty should appoint And now the Popish Conspirators those Rooks in policy resolving to put the great Game upon us began notably to shuffle the Cards a Proclamation was published signifying That the Parliament which was to Convene on the seventeenth of October should thence be Prorogued till the thirtieth of the same Month. Out-cries and Alarums from Pulpit and Press and Coffee-houses were every where heard against the Presbyterians c the dangers the Government was in from a Fanatical Faction the grounds and broachers whereof we shall soon acquaint you with though 't is possible some innocent zealous Protestants might be inveigled in so far as to believe the thing real and might far from any ill design join in and promote the common clamour And now to the great surprize and grief of the people his Grace the Duke of Monmouth fell under the Kings disfavour and was commanded to withdraw himself out of His Majesties Dominions the occasion whereof was variously reported nor dare we presume to pry into the Cabinet of State so far as to conjecture the reasons though some subsequent Discoveries of Transactions at that instant on the wheel