THE TRYAL OF EDWARD COLEMAN Gent. FOR Conspiring the Death OF THE KING AND THE Subversion of the Government OF ENGLAND AND THE Protestant Religion Who upon Full Evidence was found Guilty of HIGH TREASON And received SENTENCE accordingly on Thursday November the 28th 1678. LONDON Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street 1678. November 28. 1678. I Do appoint Robert Pawlet to Print the TRYAL of Edward Coleman And that no other Person presume to Print the same WILLIAM SCROGGS THE TRYAL OF Edward Coleman Gent. ON Wednesday the Twenty Seventh day of November 1678. Mr. Coleman having been Arraigned the Saturday before for High Treason was brought to the Kings Bench Bar to receive his Tryal and the Court proceeded thereupon as followeth Court Cryer make Proclamation Proclamation for Silence Cryer O Yes Our Sovereign Lord the King do's strictly Charge and Command all manner of Persons to keep Silence upon pain of Imprisonmenâ— If any one can inform our Sovereign Lord the King the King's Serjeant or the King's Attorney General or this Inquest now to be taken of any Treason Murder Felony or any other Misdemeanour committed or done by the Prisoner at the Bar let them come forth and they shall be heard for the Prisoner stands at the Bar upon his Deliverance Court Cryer make an O yes Cryer O yes You Good Men that are impannelled to enquire between our Sovereign Lord the King and Edward Coleman Prisoner at the Bar answer to your names Court Edward Coleman Hold up thy hand These Good men that are now called and here appear are those which are to pass between you and our Sovereign Lord the King upon your Life or Death if you challenge any of them you must speak as they come to the Book to be sworn and before they are sworn The Prisoner Challenging none the Court proceeded and the Jury were sworn viz. JURY Sir Reginald Foster Baronet Sir Charles Lee. Edward Wilford Esquire John Bathurst Esquire Joshua Galliard Esquire John Bifield Esquire Simon Middleton Esquire Henry Johnson Esquire Charles Vmfrevile Esquire Thomas Johnson Esquire Thomas Eaglesfield Esquire William Bohee Esquire Court Cryer make an O yes Cryer O yes Our Sovereign Lord the King does strictly charge and command all manner of Persons to keep Silence upon pain of Imprisonment Court Edward Coleman Hold up thy hand You Gentlemen of the Jury that are now sworn look upon the Prisoner and hearken to his Charge You shall understand that the Prisoner stands Indicted by the name of Edward Coleman late of the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex Gent. for that he as a false Traytor against our most Illustrious Serene and most Excellent Prince Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. and 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 withdrawing 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 Sovereign Lord the King toward their Sovereign bear and by Law ought to have altogether to Withdraw Forsake and Extinguish and our said Sovereign Lord the King to Death and final Destruction to bring and put the Twenty Ninth day of September in the Seven and Twentieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord Charles the Second of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster aforesaid in the County aforesaid 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 among the Subjects of our said Lord the King and wholly to Deprive Depose Deject and Disinherit our said Sovereign Lord the King of his Royal State Title Power and Rule of his Kingdom of England and to bring and put our said Sovereign Lord the King to final Death and Destruction and to overthrow and change the Government of the Kingdom of England and to alter the sincere and true Religion of God in this Kingdom by Law established and wholly to subvert and destroy the state of the whole Kingdom being in the universal parts thereof well Established and Ordained and to levy War against our said Sovereign Lord the King within his Realm of England And to accomplish and fulfill these his most wicked Treasons and Trayterous Designs and Imaginations aforesaid the said Edward Coleman afterward that is to say the Nine and twentieth day of September in the Twenty seventh year of the Reign of our said Lord the King at the Parish of St Margarets Westminster aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid Falsly Deceitfully and Trayterously Composed Contrived and Writ two Letters to be sent to one Monsieur le Chese then Servant and Confessor of Lewis the French King to Desire Procure and Obtain for the said Edward Coleman and other False Traytors against our said Sovereign Lord the King the Aid Assistance and Adherence of the said French King to alter the true Religion in this Kingdom Established to the Superstition of the Church of Rome and to subvert the Government of this Kingdom of England And afterwards that is to say the said Nine and twentieth day of September in the year aforesaid at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid the said Edward Coleman Falsely Trayterously and Maliciously Composed and Writ two other Letters to be sent to the said Monsieur le Chese then Servant and Confessor to the said French King to the Intent that he the said Monsieur le Chese should Intreat Procure and Obtain for the said Edward Coleman and other False Traytors against our Sovereign Lord the King Aid Assistance and Adherence of the said French King to alter the true Religion in this Kingdom of England Established to the Superstition of the Church of Rome and to subvert the Government of this Kingdom of England And that the said Edward Coleman in further Prosecution of his Treason and Trayterous Imaginations and Intentions as aforesaid afterward viz. the Twenty ninth day of September in the Seven and twentieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord King Charles of England c. the said several Letters from the said Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid Falsly
Maliciously and Trayterously did send to the said Monsieur le Chese into Parts beyond the Seas there to be delivered to him And that the said Edward Coleman afterward viz. the first day of December in the seven and twentieth year of our said Sovereign Lord the King at the said Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid did receive from the said Monsieur le Chese one Letter in Answer to one of the said Letters first mentioned and written by him the said Edward Coleman to the said Monsieur le Chese which said Letter in Answer as aforesaid Falsly Maliciously and Trayterously received the day and year aforesaid at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster aforesaid the said Edward Coleman did falsly trayterously and maliciously read over and Peruse And that the said Edward Coleman the Letter so as aforesaid by him in Answer to the said Letter received into his Custody and Possession the Day and Year last mentioned at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid did Falsly Maliciously and Trayterously Detain Conceal and Keep By which Letter the said Monsieur le Chese the Day and Year last mentioned at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid did signifie and promise to the said Edward Coleman to obtain for the said Edward Coleman and other false Traytors against our Sovereign Lord the King Aid Assistance and Adherence from the said French King and that the said Edward Coleman afterward Viz. the tenth day of December in the seven and twentieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid his wicked Treasons and Traiterous Designs and Proposals as aforesaid did tell and declare to one Mounsieur Revigni Envoy extraordinary from the French King to our most Serene and Sovereign Lord King Charles c. in the County aforesaid residing and did falsly maliciously and trayterously move and excite the said Envoy extraordinary to partake in his Treason and the sooner to fulfil and compleat his Traiterous Designs and wicked imaginations and intentions the said Edward Coleman afterward Viz. the tenth day of December in the seven and twentieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second of England c. aforesaid at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid did advisedly maliciously deceitfully and traiterously compose and write three other Letters to be sent to one Sir William Throckmorton Kt. then a Subject of our said Soveraign Lord the King of this Kingdome of England and residing in France in parts beyond the Seas Viz. at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid to sollicite the said Monsieur Le Chese to procure and obtain of the said French King Aid Assistance and Adherance as aforesaid and the said Letters last mentioned afterward Viz. the day and year last named as aforesaid from the said Parish of St. Margarets Westminster in the County of Middlesex aforesaid did falsly and tâ—aiterously send and cause to be delivered to the said Sir VVilliam Throckmorton in France aforesaid against his true Allegiance and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King that now is his Crown and Dignity and against the Form of the Statute in that Case made and Provided Court Upon this Indictment he hath been arraigned and hath pleaded thereunto not guilty and for his Tryal he puts himself upon God and his Country Which Country you are Your Charge is to enquire whether he be guilty of the High Treason whereof he stands indicted or not guilty If you find him guilty you are to enquire what Goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements he had at the time when the High Treason was committed or at any time since If you find him not guilty you are to say so and no more and hear your Evidence Cryer If any one will give Evidence on the behalf of our Soveraign Lord the King against Edward Coleman the Prisoner at the Bar let him come forth and he shall be heard for the Prisoner now stands at the Bar upon his Deliverance Mr. Recorder May it please you my Lord and you Gentlemen of the Jury Mr. Edward Coleman now the prisoner at the Bar stands indicted for High Treason and the Indictment sets forth that the said Edward Coleman indeavouring to subvert the Protestant Religion and to change and alter the same And likewise to stir up Rebellion and Sedition amongst the Kings Liege people and also to kill the King did on the 29th of September in the twenty seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King at the Parish of St. Margarets VVestminster in this County compose and write two several Letters to one Mounsieur Le Chese that was then servant and Confessor to the French King and this was to procure the French Kings aid and assistance to him and other Traitors to alter the Religion practised and by Law established here in England to the Romish Superstition The Indictment sets forth likewise that on the same day he did write and compose two other Letters to the same Gentleman that was servant and Confessor to the said King to prevail with him to procure the French Kings assistance to alter the Religion in this Kingdome established to the Romish Religion The Indictment sets further forth that he caused these two Letters to be sent beyond the Seas And it also sets forth that on the tenth of December the same moneth he did receive a Letter from the Gentleman that was the Confessor in answer to one of the former Letters and in that Letter aid and assistance from the French King was promised and that he did traiterously conceal that Letter My Lord the Indictment sets out further that on the tenth day of the same moneth he did reveal his Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies to one Mounsieur Revigni who was Envoy from the French king to his Majesty of Great Britain And his Indictment declares he afterwards did write three Letters more to Sir VVilliam Throckmorton then residing in France to procure the French Kings assistance to the alteration of the Religion practised here in England Of these several Offences he stands hereindicted To this he hath pleaded not guilty If we prove these or either of them in the Indictment you ought to find him guilty Serj. Maynard May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen of the Jury This is a Cause of great Concernment Gentlemen the Prisoner at the Bar stands indicted for no less than for an intention and endeavour to murther the King For an endeavour and attempt to change the Government of the Nation so well settled and instituted and to bring us all to ruin and slaughter of one another and for an endeavour to alter the Protestant Religion and to introduce instead of it the Romish Superstition and Popery This
Moneth of July one Ashby who was sometimes Rector of St. Omers being ill of the Gout was ordered to go to the Bath this Ashby being in London Mr. Coleman came to attend him this Ashby brought with him Treasonable Instructions in order to expedite the King by Poison provided Pickering and Groves did not do the Work Ten thousand pound should be proposed to Sir George Wakeman to Poison the King in case Pistol and Stab did not take effect and opportunity was to be taken at the Kings taking Physick I could give other Evidence but will not because of other things which are not fit to be known yet L. Chief Just Who wrote this Letter Mr. Oates It was under the hand of White the Provincial beyond the Seas whom Ashby left it was in the name of Memorials to impower Ashby and the rest of the Consulters at London to propound Ten thousand pound to Sir George Wakeman to take the opportunity to Poison the King These Instructions were seen and read by Mr. Coleman by him Copied out and transmitted to several Conspirators of the Kings death in this Kingdom of England that were privy to this Plot. Recorder Know you of any Commission We have hitherto spoken altogether of the work of others now we come to his own work a little nearer L. Chief Just Who saw Mr. Coleman read these Instructions what said he Mr. Oates He said he thought it was too little I heard him say so L. Chief Just Did you see him take a Copy of these Instructions Mr. Oates Yes and he said he did believe Sir George Wakeman would scarce take it and thought it necessary the other Five thousand pound should be added to it that they might be sure to have it done L. Chief Just Where was it he said this Mr. Oates It was in the Provincials Chamber which Ashby had taken for his convenience at London until he went down to the Bath it was at Wild-house at Mr. Sandersons house L. Chief Just Ashby was imployed by his Instructions to acquaint the Consult of the Jesuits that there should be Ten thousand pound advanced if Doctor Wakeman would Poison the King now Asbby comes and acquaints him with it Why should Coleman take Copies Mr. Oates Because he was to send Copies to several Conspirators in the Kingdom of England L. Chief Just To what purpose should Mr. Coleman take a Copy of these Instructions Mr. Oates The reason is plain they were then a gathering a Contribution about the Kingdom and these Instructions were sent that they might be incouraged because they saw there was incouragement from beyond Seas to assist them And another Reason was because now they were assured by this their business would quickly be dispatched and by this means some Thousands of pounds were gathered in the Kingdom of England L. Chief Just To whom was Mr. Coleman to send them Mr. Oates I know not any of the Persons but Mr. Coleman did say he had sent his Suffrages which was a Canting word for Instructions to the Principal Gentry of the Catholicks of the Kingdom of England L. Chief Just How know you this that Mr. Coleman did take a Copy of these Instructions for that purpose as you say Mr. Oates Because he said so L. Chief Just Did any body ask him why he took them Mr. Oates Saith Ashby you had best make haste and Communicate these things Mr. Coleman answered I will make haste with my Copies that I may dispatch them away this night Recorder Was he not to be one of the Principal Secretaries of State Mr. Oates In the Month of May last New Stile April the Old Stile I think within a day after our Consult I was at Mr. Langhorn's Chamber he had several Commissions which he called Patents among his Commissions I saw one from the General of the Society of Jesus Joannes Paulus D'Olâ—â—a by vertue of a Brief from the Pope by whom he was enabled L. Chief Just Did you know his hand Mr. Oates I believe I have seen it Forty times I have seen Forty things under his hand and this agreed with them but I never did see him write in my life we all took it to be his hand and we all knew the hand and Seal L. Chief Just What Inscription was upon the Seal Mr. Oates Ι.Η. Σ. with a Cross in English it had the Characters of I. H. S. This Commission to Mr. Coleman in the Month of July I saw in Fenwicks presence and at his Chamber in Drury-Lane where then Mr. Coleman did acknowledge the Receipt of this Patent opened it and said It was a very good exchange L. Chief Just What was the Commission for Mr. Oates It was to be Secretary of State I saw the Commission and heard him own the Receipt of it Just Wild What other Commissions were there at Mr. Langhorns Chamber Mr. Oates A great many I cannot remember there was a Commission for my Lord Arundel of Warder the Lord Powis and several other persons But this belongs not to the Prisoner at the Bar I mention his Commission L. Chief Just Were you acquainted with Mr. Langhorn Mr. Oates Yes I 'le tell your Lordship how I was acquainted I was in Spain he had there two Sons to shew them special favour and kindness being meer strangers at the Colledge I did use to transmit some Letters for them to the Kingdom of England in my Pacquet When I came out of Spain I did receive Recommendations from them to their Father and in great civility he received me This was in November that I came to his house He lived in Shear-lane or thereabouts I understood that his Wife was a zealous Protestant therefore he desired me not to come any more to his house but for the future to come to his Chamber in the Temple L. Chief Just Had you ever seen Mr. Langhorn in London before Mr. Oates I never saw him till Nov. 77. to my knowledge I was several times in his company at his chamber and he brought me there to shew me some kindness upon the account of his Sons It was at the Temple for his Wife being a Protestant was not willing any Jesuits should come to the house I was to carry him a summary of all the results and particulars of the Consult at the White Horse and Wild House The Provincial ordered me to do it he knowing me being in that affair often imployed L. Chief Just Was it the second time you saw him that you saw the Commissions Mr. Oates I saw him several times in the month of November L. Chief Just When did you see the Commissions Mr. Oates In the month of April old stile May new stile L. Chief Just How came he to shew you the Commissions Mr. Oates I hearing of their being come had a curiosity to see them and he knew me to be privy to the concerns L. Chief Just How did you know he had the Commissions Mr. Oates By Letters L. Chief Just From whom Mr. Oates
From those of the Society at Rome wherein one Harcourt one of the Fathers was certified that the Commissions were come to Langhorn and were in his hand I saw the Letters at St. Omers before they came to Harcourt we read the Letters there before they came to England I had power to open them L. Chief Just Did you open the Letters Mr. Oates Yes L. Chief Just When saw you the Letters at St. Omers Mr. Oates I saw the Letters at St. Omers in the month of January then they came from Rome and after I received summons to be at this Consult in the month of April and accordingly we came over L. Chief Just VVhat time did you come over Mr. Oates In the month of April L. Chief Just VVhat time went you to Langhorns chamber I cannot reconcile the months together Just Dolben Did you not say you came to Langhorn in November Mr. Oates Yes before I went to St. Omers Just Wild. How many came over with you Mr. Oates I cannot tell how many came over together there were nine of us all Jesuits L. Chief Just Did not you say you went to Langhorn in November Mr. Oates That was before I went to St. Omers Attorn Gen. Tell how many Priests or Jesuits were lately in England that you know of at one time Mr. Oates There was and have been to my knowledge in the Kingdom of England Secular Priests eightscore and Jesuits fourscore and by name in the Catalogue I think three hundred and odd L. Chief Just How long had you been in England before you were at Mr. Langhorn's Chamber Mr. Oates Not long because I had Letters in my Pacquet from his Sons assoon as I had rested a little I went to him L. Chief Just What said Mr. Langhorn to you about the Commissions in his chamber Mr. Oats Not a word but seem'd glad L. Chief Just Did you see them open upon his Table or did you ask to see them Mr. Oates They did not lye open upon the Table but the Commissions were before him I asked to see them Mr. Langhorn said I I hear you have received the Commissions from Rome he said he had Shall I have the honour to see some of them He said I might he thought he might trust me and so he might because that very day I gave him an account of the Consult L. Chief Just When was it you gave him an account of the Consult Mr. Oates In the morning L. Chief Just You say you were twice there that day Mr. Oates I was there the whole Forenoon L. Chief Just That day you saw the Commissions Mr. Oates I had been there several times the same day and meeting him at last he asked me how often I was there before I said said twice or thrice but that day was the last time ever I saw him I have not seen him since to my knowledge L. Chief Just Was that the first time that you saw him after you came from Spain Mr. Oates I saw him thrice in November then I went to St. Omers the first time I saw him after I came from thence I saw the Commissions Attorn Gen. What were the Names of those men that came over from St. Omers besides your self Mr. Oates As near as I can remember the Rector of Liege was one Father Warren Sir Thomas Preston the Rector of Watton one Francis Williams Sir John Warner Baronet one Father Charges one Pool a Monk I think I made the ninth Attorn Gen. If the Prisoner at the Bar be minded he may ask him any Question Prisoner I am mighty glad to see that Gentleman Sir Thomas Dolman in the Court for I think he was upon my Examination before the Councel and this man that gives now in Evidence against me there told the King he never saw me before and he is extreamly well acquainted with me now and hath a World of Intimacy Mr. Oates at that time gave such an Account of my Concern in this matter that I had orders to go to Newgate I never saw Mr. Oates since I was born but at that time L. Chief Just You shall have as fair a Search and Examination in this matter for your Life as can be therefore Mr. Oates answer to what Mr. Coleman saith Mr. Oates My Lord when Mr. Coleman was upon his Examination before the Council-board he saith I said there that I never saw him before in my Life I then said I would not swear that I had seen him before in my Life because my sight was bad by Candle-light and Candle-light alters the sight much but when I heard him speak I could have sworn it was he but it was not then my Business I cannot see a great way by Candle-light L. Chief Just The Stress of the Objection lyeth not upon seeing so much but how come you that you laid no more to Mr. Coleman's charge at that time Mr. Oates I did design to lay no more to his Charge then than was matter for Information For Prisoners may supplant Evidence when they know it and bring Persons to such Circumstances as Time and Place My Lord I was not bound to give in more than a general Information against Mr. Coleman Mr. Coleman did deny he had Correspondence with Father Le Chese at any time I did then say he had given him an account of several transactions And my Lord then was I so weak being up two nights and having been taking Prisoners upon my Salvation I could scarce stand upon my Legs L. Chief Just What was the Information you gave at that time to the Council against Mr. Coleman Mr. Oates The Information I gave at that time as near as I can remember but I would not trust to my memory was for writing of News-Letters in which I did then excuse the Treasonable Reflexions and called them Base Reflexions at the Council-board the King was sensible and so was the Council I was so wearied and tyred being all that Afternoon before the Council and Sunday night and sitting up night after night that the King was willing to discharge me But if I had been urged I should have made a larger Information L. Chief Just The thing you accused him of was his own Letter Pris He doth not believe it was my Letter L. C. Just You here charge Mr. Coleman to be the man that gave a Guinny to expedite the business at Windsor c. at the time when you were Examined at the Council-Table you gave a particular account of attempting to take away the Kings life at Windsor and raising twenty thousand pounds and all those great Transactions why did you not charge Mr. Coleman to be the man that gave the Guinny to the Messenger to expedite the business when the 80 pounds was sent that he found out a way of transmitting 200000 pounds to carry on the Design he consulted the killing the King and approved of it very well And of the Instructions for 10000 pounds and said it was too little
for to poyson the king When you were to give an account to the Council of the particular Contrivance of the Murther of the King at Windsor with a Reward you did mention one Reward of 10000 pounds to Dr. Wakeman and would you omit the Guinny to expedite the Messenger and that he said that 10000l was too little would you omit all this Mr. Oates I being so tyred and weak that I was not able to stand upon my Legs and I remember the Council apprehended me to be so weak that one of the Lords of the Council said that if there were any occasion further to examine Mr. Coleman that Mr. Oates should be ready again and bid me retire L. C. Just You was by when the Council were ready to let Mr. Coleman go almost at large Mr. Oates No I never apprehended that for if I did I should have given a further Account L. C. Just What was done to Mr. Coleman at that time was he sent away Prisoner Mr. Oates Yes at that time to the Messengers house and within two dayes after he was sent to Newgate and his Papers were seized L. C. Just Why did you not name Coleman at that time Mr. Oates Because I had spent a great deal of time in accusing other Jesuites Just Wild. What time was there betwixt the first time you were at the Council before you told of this matter concerning the King Mr. Oates When I was first at the Board which was on Saturday night I made Information which began between six and seven and lasted almost to ten I did then give a general Account of the Affairs to the Council without the King Then I went and took Prisoners and before Sunday night I said I thought if Mr. Colemans Papers were searched into they would find matter enough against him in those Papers to hang him I spake those words or words to the like purpose After that Mr. Colemans Papers were searched Mr. Coleman was not to be found but he surrendred himself the next day So that on Sunday I was commanded to give His Majesty a general Information as I had given to the Council on Saturday and the next day again I took Prisoners that night five and next night four Just Wild. How long was it betwixt the time that you were examined and spoke only as to the Letters to that time you told to the King Council or both of them concerning this matter you swear now Mr. Oates My Lord I never told it to the King and Council but I told it to the Houses of Parliament L. Chief Just How long was it between the one and the other Mr. Oates I cannot tell exactly the time it was when the Parliament first sate L. C. J. How came you Mr. Coleman being so desperate a man as he was endeavouring the killing of the King to omit your Information of it to the Council and to the King at both times Mr. Oats I spoke little of the Persons till the persons came face to face L. Chief Just Why did you not accuse all thosse Jesuits by name M. Oates We took a Catalogue of their names but those I did accuse positively and expresly we took up L. Chief Just Did you not accuse Sir George Wakeman by name and that he accepted his Reward Mr. Oates Yes then I did accuse him by name L. Chief Just Why did you not accuse Mr. Coleman by name Mr. Oates For want of Memory being disturbed and wearied in sitting up two nights I could not give that good account of Mr. Coleman which I did afterwards when I consulted my Papers and when I saw Mr. Coleman was secured I had no need to give a farther Account L. Chief Just How long was it between the first charging Mr. Coleman and your acquainting the Parliament with it Mr. Oats From Monday the 30th of September until the Parliament sate L. Chief Just Mr. Coleman will you ask him any thing Prisoner Pray ask Mr. Oats whether he was not as near to me as this Gentleman is because he speaks of his eyes being bad Mr. Oats I had the disadvantage of a Candle upon my eyes Mr. Coleman stood more in the dark Prisoner He names several times that he met with me in this place and that place a third and fourth place about business Mr. Oats He was altered much by his Perriwig in several Meetings and had several Perriwiggs and a Perriwigg doth disguise a man very much but when I heard him speak then I knew him to be Mr. Coleman L. Chief Just Did you hear him speak How were the Questions asked Were they thus Was that the Person Or how often had you seen Mr. Coleman Mr. Oats When the Question was asked by my Lord Chancellour Mr. Coleman when were you last in France He said at such a time Did you see Father le Chese He said he gave him an accidental visit My Lord Chancellor asked him whether or no he had a Pass He said No. Then he told him that was a fault for going out of the Kingdom without a Pass Have you a Kinsman whose name is Playford at S. Omers He said he had one ten years old who is in truth sixteen That question I desired might be asked Then the King bade me go on L. Ch. Just Did the King or Council or Lord Chancellor ask you whether you knew Mr. Coleman or no Mr. Oats They did not ask me L. Ch. Just Mr. Oats answer the question in short and without confounding it with length Were you demanded if you knew M. Coleman Mr. Oats Not to my knowledge L. Ch. Just Did you ever see him or how often Pris He said he did not know me L. Ch. Just You seemed when I asked you before to admit as if you had been asked this question how often you had seen him and gave me no answer because you were doubtful whether it was the man by reason of the inconveniency of the light and your bad fight Mr. Oats I must leave it to the King what answer I made Mr. Coleman he wonders I should give an account of so many intimacies when I said I did not know him at the Council Table Pris It is very strange Mr. Oats should swear now that he was so well acquainted with me and had been so often in my company when upon his accusation at the Council-Table he said nothing of me more than the sending of one Letter which he thought was my hand Mr. Oats I did not say that Pris And he did seem to say there he never saw me before in his life L. Ch. Just Was he asked whether he was acquainted with you for those words are to the same purpose Pris I cannot answer directly I do not say he was asked if he was acquainted with me but I say this that he did declare he did not know me L. Ch. Just Can you prove that Pris I appeal to Sir Tho. Dolman who is â—ow in Court and was then present
of the reach of Chance for ever For he makes such a Figure already that Cautious Men do not care to Act against him nor always without him because they do not see that he is much out-powred by his Enemies Yet is he not at such a Pitch as to be quite out of danger or free from opposition But if he could gain any considerable new addition of Power all would come over to him as to the only steddy Center of our Government and no body would contend with him further Then would Catholicks be at Rest and his Most Christian Majestie 's Interest secured with us in England beyond all apprehensions whatsoever In order to this we have two great Designes to Attempt this next Sessions First that which we were about before viz. To put the Parliament upon making it their humble Request to the King that the Fleet may be put into his R. H's Care Secondly to get an Act for general liberty of Conscience If we carry these two or either of them we shall in effect do what we list afterwards and truly we think we do not undertake these great Points very unreasonably but that we have good Cards for our Game Not but that we expect great Opposition and have great Reason to beg all the Assistance we can possibly get and therefore if his Most Christian Majesty would stand by us a little in this Conjuncture and help us with such a sum as 20000. l. sterling which is no very great matter to venture upon such an undertaking as this I would be content to be Sacrificed to the utmost Malice of my Enemies if I did not Succeed I have proposed This several times to Monsieur Rouvigny who seemed always of my Opinion and has often told me that he has writ into France upon this Subject and has desired me to do the like But I know not whether he will be as Zealous in that point as a Catholick would be because our prevailing in these things would give the greatest Blow to the Protestant Religion here that ever it received since Birth which perhaps he would not be very glad to see especially when he believes there is another way of doing his Masters Business well enough without it which is by a Dissolution of the Parliament upon which I know he mightily depends and Concludes that if that comes to be Dissolved it will be asmuch as he needs care for proceeding perhaps upon the same manner of Discourse which we had this time twelve months But with submission to his better judgment I do think that our Case is extreamly much altered to what it was in Relation to a Dissolution for then the Body of our Governing Ministers all but the Earl of Arlington were entirely United to the Duke and would have Governed his Way if they had been free from all Fear and Controul as they had been if the Parliament had been Removed But they having since that time Engaged in quite different Councells and Embark't themselves and Interests upon other Bottoms having declared themselves against Popery c. To Dissolve the Parliament simply and without any other step made will be to leave them to Govern what way they list which we have Reason to suspect will be to the prejudice of France and Catholick Religion And their late Declarations and Actions have Demonstrated to us that they take that for the most Popular way for themselves and likeliest to keep them in absolute Power whereas if the Duke should once get above them after the Tricks they have plaid with him they are not sure he will Totally forget the Usage he has had at their hands Therefore it Imports us now to Advance our Interest a little further by some such Project as I have Named before we Dissolve the Parliament Or else perhaps we shall but Change Masters a Parliament for Ministers and continue still in the same Slavery and Bondage as before But one such step as I have proposed being well made we may safely see them Dissolved and not fear the Ministers but shall be Established and stand Firm without any Opposition for every body will then come over to us and Worship the Rising Sun I have here given you the History of three years as short as I could though I am afraid it will seem very long and troublesome to your Reverence among the multitude of affairs you are concern'd in I have also shewn you the present State of our Case vvhich may by God's Providence and good Conduct be made of such advantage to Gods Church that for my part I can scarce believe my self awake or the thing real vvhen I think on a Prince in such an age as vve live in converted to such a Degree of Zeal and Piety as not to regard any thing in the World in comparison of God Almighty's Glory the Salvation of his own Soul and the Conversion of our poor Kingdom vvhich has been a long time opprest and miserably harrast vvith Heresy and Schisme I doubt not but your Reverence will consider our Case and take it to heart and afford us what help you can both with the King of Heaven by your holy Prayers and with his Most Christian Majesty by that great Credit which you most justly have with him And if ever his Majesties affairs or your own can ever want the service of so inconsiderable a Creature as my self you shall never find any body readyer to obey your Commands or faithfuller in the Execution of them to the best of his power than Your most Humble and Obedient Servant Att. Gen. That I may make things clear as much as possible you see Here 's a Letter prepared to be sent writ with Mr. Coleman's own hand to Mounsieur Le Chese This Letter bears date the twenty nineth of September We have an Answer to it from Paris October twenty third whereby Mounsieur Le Chese owns the receipt of this And in this answer is exprest Thanks to Mr. Coleman for his long Letter Sir Robert Pray tell how you came by this Letter Sir Rob. Southwell I found this Letter in Mr. Colemans Canvas Bag after we had once looked over the Letters we found it Sr. Phillip Lloyd Examined it And we looked over those Papers very exactly Because the House of Commons were very much concern'd and thought those Papers were not throughly Examined I reviewed them again This Letter was found on Sunday following after the Papers were seized Mr. Att. Sir Rob. Southwell I pray read the Letter in French first to the Court Sir Rob. having read the Letter in French Mr. Attorney desired him to read it in English Sir Rob. read it it in English The Letter was dated Paris twenty third October 1675. and subscribed Your most humble and obedient servant DCL at the bottom The LETTER From PARIS 23. October 1675. SIR THE Letter which you gave your self the trouble to write to me came to my hands but the last night I read it with great
the Instructions he did approve of L. Chief Just How long after the Consultation was it that he approved of it Oates It was two or three days before he did give his approbation Just Wild. What words did he say Oates He did express his consent but to say the very words I cannot tell L. Chief Just Will you ask him any more Pris I would know the day in August L. Chief Just He saith he doth not remember the day Oates I believe I will not be positive in it it was about the 21th day of August Just Wild and Just Jones Was it in August Old-stile Oates Yes Pris I can prove I was in Warwick-shire at that time That day he guesseth the 21th of August I can make it appear I was Fourscore Miles off L. Chief Just You will do well to prove you was there when the Guinny was given Will you ask him any more Pris No. L. Chief Just You may say as you will but Mr. Oates doth charge that expresly in August according to the English Stile you were at this Wild-House and that he saw fourscore Pounds prepared You Mr. Coleman asked the Question what preparations were made for the Men going to Windsor It was answered fourscore Pounds are prepared And your self gave a Guinny for expedition It is a hard matter to press a Man to tell the precise day of the Month but positively he doth say it was in August Pris I was Two and Twenty or Three and Twenty days in August in Warwick-shire L. Chief Just What have you now more to say Pris My Lord I never saw Mr. Oates but in the Council-Chamber I never saw him in Rome in other Parts I never saw the Face of him or knew him in my whole life nor did I see the other till now in Court as I hope to be saved And then my Lord as to their testimony neither of them Swear the self-same Fact L. Ch. Just No man shall be guilty if denial shall make him innocent They swear to the Fact of killing the King both of them and that 's enough If one saith you have a Plot to poyson that is killing the King and the other swears a Plot to shoot or stab him that is to the killing of the King also Then there 's your own Undertaking in your Letter under your Hand Pris For Treason with submission to your Lordship I hope there 's none in that though there are very extravagant Expressions in it I hope some Expressions explain it that it was not my design to kill the King L. Ch. Just No your Design was for the Conversion of three Kingdoms and subduing of that Heresie that had reigned so long in this Northern part of the World And for effecting whereof there were never more hopes since our Queen Mary ' s time till now and therefore pressing the King of France to use his Power Aid and Assistance and does this signifie nothing Pris Doth Aid and Assistance signifie more than Money The word Aid in French is Power they are promiscuous words L. Ch. Just You are Charged to have had a Correspondency and Agency with Foreign Power to subvert our Religion and bring in Foreign Authority and Power upon us which must be the necessary consequence How can this be proved plainer than by your Letters to press the French King that he would use his Power Pris Consider the Contexture and Connexion of things whether the whole series be not to make the King and the Duke as far as I thought in my power as great as could be L. Ch. Just How well or ill you excuse the fault that 's not the Question they relate to the Duke most of them little to the King You were carrying on such a Design that you intended to put the Duke in the Head of in such method and ways as the Duke himself would not approve but rejected Pris Do not think I would throw any thing upon the Duke though I might in the beginning of it possibly make use of the Dukes Name it is possible they say I did but can any imagine the people will lay down Money 200000l or 20000l with me upon the Dukes Name and not know whether the Duke be in it and consequently no body will imagine the Duke would ever employ any sum to this Kings prejudice or disservice while he lived I take it for granted which sure none in the world will deny that the Law was ever made immediately subject to the King or Duke and consequently to the Duke I cannot think this will ever be expounded by the Law of England or the Jury to be Treason L. Ch. Just What a kind of way and talking is this You have such a swimming way of melting words that it is a troublesom thing for a man to collect matter out of them You give your self up to be a great Negotiator in the altering of Kingdoms you would be great with mighty men for that purpose and your long Discourses and great Abilities might have been spared The thing these Letters do seem to import is this That your Design was to bring in Popery into England and to promote the interest of the French King in this place for which you hoped to have a Pension that 's plain The Dukes Name is often mentioned that 's true sometimes it appears it is against his will and sometimes he might know of it and be told that the consequence was not great Now say you these Sums of Money and all that was done it did relate to the King or Duke and it was to advance their interest and you thought it was the way to do it How can this advance them unless it were done to do them service and if they do not consent to it and how can this be Treason what kind of stuff is this You do seem to be a mighty Agent might not you for a colour use the Duke of York's Name to drive on the Catholick Cause which you was driven to by the Priests mightily and think to get 200000l advance money and a Pension for your self and make your self somebody for the present and Secretary of State for the future If you will make any defence for your self or call in Witnesses we will hear them say what you can for these vain inconsequential discourses signifie nothing Pris I have Witnesses to prove I was in Warwick-shire L. Ch. Just to Boatman a Witnesse Where was Mr. Coleman in Aug. last Boatm In Warwick-shire L. Ch. Just How long Boatm All August to my best remembrance L. Ch. Just Can you say that he was in Warwick-shire all August that he was not at London Boatm I am not certain what time of the Month he was in London L. Ch. Just That he was there in August may be very true I do not ask how long he was in Warwick-shire but was he no where else To which the Witness could make no positive answer Pris I was at the Lord Denby's and
but Twenty thousand Pounds sent him from France he would he content to be a Sacrifice to the utmost malice of his Enemies if the Protestant Religion did not receive such a blow as it could not subsist And the receipt of this Letter was acknowledged by Monsieur Le Chese in an answer which he wrote to Mr. Coleman dated from Paris Oct. 23. 75. in which he gives him thanks for his good Service in order to the promoting the Popish Religion Several other Letters have been produced and read which were written by Mr. Coleman to Monsieur Ferrier and others and more particularly one Letter dated August 21. 74. written by Coleman to the Popes Internuntio at Brussels wherein he says the Design prospered so well that he doubted not but in a little time the businesse would be managed to the utter ruine of the Protestant Party And by other Letters he writes to the French Kings Confessor that the assistance of his most Christian Majesty is necessary and desires Money from the French King to carry on the Design But there is one Letter without Date more Bloody than all the rest which was written to Monsieur Le Chese in some short time after the long Letter of September 29. 1675. wherein amongst many other things Coleman expresses himself thus We have a mighty Work upon our Hands no less than the Conversion of three Kingdoms and the utter subduing of a Pestilent Heresie which hath for some time domineer'd over this Northern part of the World and we never had so great hopes of it since our Q. Mary's days And in the Conclusion of the Letter he implores Monsieur Le Chese to get all the aid and assistance he can from France and that next to God Almighty they did rely upon the mighty mind of his most Christian Majesty and therefore did hope le Chese would procure Money and Asistance from him Now any Man that considers the Contents of these Letters must needs agree that the latter part of the Indictment to wit the Treason of endeavouring the Subverting the Government and the Protestant Religion is fully proved upon Mr. Coleman the Prisoner at the Bar and that these Letters were written by him and the Answers received he does not deny But all he has to say for himself is that it was to make the King of England great whereas the contrary is most manifest because the Jesuits who love Force and Tyranny always adhere to those Princes that are greatest in Strength and Power For it appears in History that when the House of Austria were in their greatness and like to arrive to the Vniversal Monarchy in these parts of the World the Jesuits all adhered to that House But since the French King hath grown more mighty in Power and Greatness they declined the Interest of the Austrian Family and do now promote the Councels of France thinking that now that King will become the Vniversal Monarch I shall therefore now conclude the Evidence only observing to the Jury that the several Treasons in the Indictment are fully proved The first as to the destruction of the Royal Person of the King by two Witnesses Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow the other part of it viz. the subversion of the Government and extirpation of the Protestant Religion by the several Letters which have been before remembred which have not been denyed by the Prisoner to be his Therefore I hope Gentlemen when you meet with Offenders that are guilty of such stupendious Crimes you will do Justice upon them which will be a great Comfort and Satisfaction to the King and all his good Protestant Subjects Serj. Pembert Gentlemen You hear the Crime is of the highest nature it 's the subversion of three Kingdoms and the subduing of that Religion which he defames by the name of Pestilent Heresie It concerns us all to look about us and all the Kingdom when there shall be a Design managed in this manner to destroy our King and to take away our Religion and to enslave us all to the Pope and make us all truckle to the Priests It is wonderful it is capable at this day of so great Evidence there is Digitus Dei in it or else it would be impossible such a thing should be made so manifest All the rest that is said in the Indictment are but Circumstances that declare it There is a strong Evidence of many matters of Fact in this Design which declare the Intention hatched in his Breast for many years together Here hath been a Design to kill the King and he doth not only consent to it but commend it what can be said to his giving the Money to him that was to pay the fourscore pieces of Gold to those Ruffians sent to Windsor and adding 5000 l. to the 10000l for the Doctor that was to poyson the King He denies all No question but a Man that hath had a Heart to design such Contrivances will have the Face to deny it publickly It 's a thing to be acted in the dark but there 's both Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow plainly prove it upon him that he consented to the acting the Kings death What 's the Sence of his Letters but to shew his design and to beg the Assistance of France to them in their necessities the whole Current is to destroy our Religion I think you Gentlemen of the Jury have had such Evidence as will satisfie any Man Pris I deny all Mr. Oates his Testimony for his saying to the Council he did not know me because he could not see me when I was as near as the next Gentleman but one but knew me when I spake and I spoke to almost all the matters asked He accuseth me of a thing in August but names not the day Now if there be one Error in his Testimony it weakens all the rest I went out of Town the 10th of August it was the latter end I came home about the middle of Bartholomew Fair the last day of August L. Ch. Just. Have you any Witness to prove that Pris I cannot say I have a Witnesse L. Ch. Just Then you say nothing Pris People cannot speak to a day to a thing they neither imagined or thought of L. Ch. Just I ask your Servant do you know when Mr. Coleman went out of Town Coleman's Serv. In August I cannot say particularly the day L. Ch. Just Do you know when he came home Serv. I cannot remember Just Wild. Where was you the last Bartholomew day Serv. I was in Town Just Wild. Where was your Master Serv. I do not remember L. Ch. Just You say you went out of Town the 10th and came home the last of August you say it is impossible that he should say right but yet you do not prove it Pris I have no more to say but I entered down all my Expences every day in a Book which Book will shew where I was L. Ch. Just Where is your Book Pris At my