February 10. 1671-79 I Do appoint ROBERT PAWLET to Print the TRYALS of Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill And that no other Person presume to Print the same WILLIAM SCROGGS VERITAS EX CINERIBVS REVIVISCIT AETATIS SVÆ 57 The true Effigies of S r EDMOND BURY GODFREYE Knight and Iustice of the Peace who was MURTHERED by Papists the 12 th day of October Anno. Domini 1678. AETATIS SUAE 57. Sold by Arthur Tooker Stationer Print Map And Picture Seller At The Royal Hand Globe Near Chareing Cross F H Van. Houe Sculp THE TRYALS OF ROBERT GREEN HENRY BERRY LAWRENCE HILL For the Murder of S R. Edmond bury Godfrey K nt One of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of MIDDLESEX At the Kings-Bench Bar at Westminster Before the Right Honourable Sir WILLIAM SCROGGS K nt Lord CHIEF JUSTICE of that Court And the rest of His Majesties Judges there On Monday the 10 th of February 1678-79 Where upon full Evidence they were Convicted and received Sentence accordingly on Tuesday the next day following LONDON Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Sign of the Bible in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street 1679. THE TRYALS OF ROBERT GREEN HENRY BERRY and LAWRENCE HILL For the Murder of Sir Edmond bury Godfrey Knight ON WEDNESDAY the 5 th of February 1678. Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill were brought from His Majesties Goal of Newgate to the Bar of the Court of Kings-Bench to be Arraigned for the Murder of Sir EDMONDBURY GODFREY upon an Indictment found by the Grand Jury for the County of Middlesex on Monday the morrow of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Court proceeded thus Mr. Just. Wild Arraign'd the Prisoners Clerk of the Crown Robert Green Hold up thy Hand Henry Berry Hold up thy Hand Lawrence Hill Hold up thy Hand Which they severally did You stand Indicted by the Names of Robert Green late of the Parish of St. Mary le Strand in the County of Middlesex Labourer Henry Berry late of the same Parish and County Labourer And Lawrence Hill late of the same Parish and County Labourer for that you three together with Girald late of the same Parish and County Clerk Dominick Kelly late of the same Parish and County Clerk And Phillibert Vernatt late of the same Parish and County Labourer who are withdrawn * Not having the fear of God before your eys but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil the twelfth day of October in the Thirtieth year of the Raign of our Soveraign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. at the Parish of St. Mary le Strand aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid in and upon Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey Knight in the Peace of God and of our said Soveraign Lord the King then and there being feloniously voluntarily and of your malice aforethought did make an assault and that thou the aforesaid Robert Green a certain Linnen Handkerchief of the value of six pence about the neck of the said Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey then and there feloniously wilfully and of thy malice aforethought didst fold and fasten and that thou the said Robert Green with the Handkerchief aforesaid by thee the said Robert Green in and about the neck of the said Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey in manner and form aforesaid folded and fastned then and there him the said Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey didst choak and strangle of which said choaking and strangling of him the said Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey in manner and form aforesaid he the said Sir Edmond-bury Godfry then and there instantly dyed And that you the said Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill together with the said Girald Dominick Kelly and Phillibert Vernatt then and there feloniously voluntarily and of your malice aforethought were present aiding abetting comforting and mantaining the aforesaid Robert Green the aforesaid Sir Edmondbury Godfrey in manner and form aforesaid feloniously voluntarily and of his malice aforethought to kill and murder and so you the said Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill together with the said Girald Dominick Kelly and Phillibert Vernatt in manner and form aforesaid the aforesaid Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey feloniously wilfully and of your malice aforethought did kill and murder against the Peace of our Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity How sayst thou Robert Green art thou guilty of this Felony and Murder whereof thou standst Indicted and hast been now Arraigned or not guilty Green Not Guilty Clerk of the Crown Culprit How wilt thou be Tryed Green By God and my Countrey Cl. of the Cr. God send thee a good Deliverance How sayst thou Henry Berry art thou guilty of the Felony and Murder whereof thou standest Indicted and hast been now Arraigned or not guilty Berry Not Guilty Cl. of the Cr. Culprit How wilt thou be Try'd Berry By God and my Countrey Cl. of Cr. God send thee a good Deliverance How sayst thou Lawrence Hill art thou guilty of the Felony Murder whereof thou stand'st Indicted and hast been Arraign'd or not guilty Hill Not Guilty Cl. of the Cr. Culprit How wilt thou be try'd Hill By God and my Countrey Cl. of the Cr. God send thee a good Deliverance Cap. Richardson I desire to know when they must be brought up to be try'd Mr. Just. Wild. Upon Friday next Cl. of the Cr. You shall have a Rule to bring them up on Friday But on Thursday the 6 th of February Mr. Attorney General mov'd the Court that it might be defer'd till Monday that the King's Evidence might be the more ready which was granted accordingly On Monday the 10 th of February 1678. the said Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill were brought again to the Barr for their Tryal which proceeded as followeth Cl. of the Cr. Make Proclaimation Cryer O Yes Cl. of the Cr. Again Again Cryer O Yes O Yes Our Soveraign Lord the King doth straightly Charge and Command all manner of Persons to keep silence upon pain of Imprisonment Cl. of the Cr. Make an O Yes Cryer O Yes If any one can inform our Soveraign Lord the King the Kings Serjeant at Law the Kings Attourney General or this Inquest now to be taken of the Felony and Murder whereof Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill the Prisoners at the Barr stand Indicted let them come forth and they shall be heard for now the Prisoners stand at the Barr upon their Delivery And all others that are bound by Recognizance to give Evidence against the Prisoners at the Barr let them come forth and give their Evidence or else they forfeit their Recognizance Clerk of the Crown Robert Green Hold up thy Hand Henry Berry Hold up thy Hand Lawrence Hill Hold up thy Hand Which they severally did Those good Men that you shall hear call'd and personally appear are to pass between our Soveraign Lord the King and You upon
over him And I mention this last so particularly because he then happened to be seen by another witness here present who concurs as to his lying there dead and that he saw him by the help of a dark Lauthorn of which and other Circumstances I shall have occasion to make use hereafter My Lord After he had lain in Sommerset-House some days they thought it was high time to remove him or rather to expose him for having now killed him they did endeavour to kill his Reputation and lay the blame of this foul murder upon the innocent Gentleman as if he had killed himself And on Wednesday night which by computation was the 16 th of October they carried him out of Sommerset-House in this manner Hill having late in the night procured a Sedan they made a shift by bending the body to a fit posture to crowd him into it and Berry one of the murderers and Porter of Sommerset-House was of all men most proper to help them out with privacy and therefore it was agreed between them that whenever a man should come before and make an hem it should be a sign to Berry to open the Gate And my Lord having put him into the Sedan Mr. Praunce and Girald first carryed him out in it to Covent Garden and there they rested being something wearied with their burden and two more supplied their rooms and carried him to Long-Acre Then Girald and Praunce took him up again and carried him to the Grecian Church near So-ho And when they had him there they got an horse ready and mounted him upon it and Hill was set behind him to hold him up by which means they carried him to the place where he was found and there to accomplish the last part of their design which was to murder his Reputation after they had killed his body they took his own Sword and run him through and left him in such a manner as that according to the weakness of their understanding the world should conclude he had killed himself In that condition was the Gentleman found I have but little more at present to trouble you with and that shall be to shew you what the murtherers did after they had committed this fact They gave an account of it the next morning to Mr. Praunce who went no further than the Sedan went which was to the Grecian Church and the Priests were so far from any remorse and had so little of humanity I believe there is none can think had much of Divinity that they did in a paper set down a Narrative of this Heroick Act and I doubt not but by this time it is sent to Rome where it finds as great Approbation and causes as great Joy as their other Acts of a like nature have heretofore done Some days after the Fact was done and to their everlasting honour thus by themselves recorded some of these Priests had a meeting at the Queens head at Bow and there was the Paper produced and read at which they were very merry and were so loud that some of the house overheard them and do yet remember that they read and were merry at a paper which concerned Sir Edmundbury Godfrey My Lord This will be the course of our Evidence and though your Lordship and the Jury will easily believe that most of these particulars must arise from one who was party to the Fact yet my Lord I will undertake before I have done so to fortifie almost every patticular he delivers with a concurrent proof of other Testimony and the things will so depend upon one another and have such a Connexion that little doubt will remain in any mans mind that is come hither without prepossession but that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was murthered at Sommerset-House and that the persons who stand now Indicted for it were the murtherers Mr. Recorder My Lord if your Lordship pleases according as Mr. Attorney hath opened it we desire we may call our Witnesses and first we will call Mr. Oates Cryer Mr. Oates Lay your hand on the Book The Evidence you shall give for our Soveraign Lord the King against Robert Green Henry Berry and Laurence Hill the Prisoners at the Bar shall be the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth So help you God Mr. Sol. Gen. Pray Mr. Oates will you give my Lord and the Jury an account what Transactions there were between you and Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that my Lord is all we call him for Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord I call this Gentleman to prove what Examinations Sir Edmundbury Godfrey had taken and what was his own opinion of himself about them Lord C. J. Mr. Attorney I suppose the Use you make of it is this to shew that that might be one of the motives to these persons to do this act because he was forward in the discovery of their Plot. L. Chief Just Come Mr. Oates pray tell your knowledge Mr. Oates My Lord upon the sixth of September last I did go before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and there upon Oath gave in several depositions and after that I had made Oath of those Depositions we took the Record along with us home again And on the 28 th of September after we had taken two or three Copies of this Record we went before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey again and Swore all the Copies we had taken and so made them Records My Lord after that the business was made known to the Council by my self and upon Monday Mr. Godfrey came to me which was I think the 30 th of September and did tell me what affronts he had received from some great persons whose names I name not now for being so zealous in this business And my Lord he told me that others who were well inclin'd to have the discovery made did think that he had not been quick enough in the Prosecution but had been too remiss and did threaten him that they would complain to the Parliament which was to sit the 21 th of October following My Lord that week before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was missing he came to me and told me that several Popish Lords some of whom are now in the Tower had threatned him and asked him what he had to do with it My Lord I shall name their names when time shall come My Lord this is all I can say He was in a great fright and told me he went in fear of his life by the Popish party and that he had been dog'd several days Mr. Attor Gen. Did he tell you that he was dogg'd Mr. Oates Yes he did and I did then ask him why he did not take him man with him he said he was a poor weak Fellow I then ask'd him why he did not get a good brisk Fellow to attend him but he made no great matter of it he said he did not fear them if they came fairly to work but yet he was often threatened and came sometimes to me to give him some encouragement and I
they kill'd him before they carryed him into the Room Mr. Praunce About a quarter of an Hour Mr. Justice VVild. Had he his Sword about him Mr. Praunce Yes it was found run through him Mr. Justice VVild. Did Sir Edmondbury Godfrey himself draw his Sword Mr. Praunce No he was Strnngled by Surprize by getting a thing about his Neck and prevented him of drawing his Sword Lord Chief Justice They were Persons that were ready prepared for him they would not Permit him to Defend himself Mr. Serjeant Stringer My Lord before Mr. Bedlow be Sworn I desire a little to open what we call him to My Lord there were four Priests that did design this Murther Le Faire and VVelsh and Girald and Kelly besides the other Priests and they Treated with Mr. Bedlow for Four Thousand Pounds to undertake to Kill a Gentleman My Lord he did Promise to undertake it but failing of his Promise afterwards Le Faire met him and told him it was done And told him he should have half that Reward to help to carry him off and withall carryed him into the Room where the Body was And he will tell you that Praunce was in the Room when he saw him and though he never knew Praunce before yet when he met with him in the Lobby of the Lords House he knew him again and Charged him as the Man that Committed this Fact And he will Acquaint your Lordship that Le Faire saw the Body likewise and gave Mr. Bedlow an Accompt of the Murther with the same Circumstances that Praunce now Relates it Then Mr. Bedlow was Sworn Mr. Recorder Mr. Bedlow Pray do you direct your Discourse to the Jury Lord Chief Just Mr. Attorney Pray do you Ask him your Questions that you may put him in that Method you would have him take to give his Evidence Mr. Attorney Gen. My Lord I would first Ask him this Question What Conference he had with any persons Priests or Others about Murdering any body Mr. Bedlow My Lord and the Jury I have at other times and in other places proved what Familiarity I have had with the Priests and Jesuits and 〈◊〉 I have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Court and Others about it yet I have done my Duty in endeavouring so to do My Lord I have been several times Treated with not only about the Plot but by several Persons about Murdering of a Gentleman They never told me who it was that was to be Murdered but if I would Undertake it they that is Le Faire and Prichard and Mr. Kaines and several other Priests who discoursed with me about it would find out some to Assist me and my Reward should be very Considerable Lord Ch. Just When was this Mr. Bedlow It was in October last about the beginning or latter end of September Lord Ch. Just Well Sir Go on Mr. Bedlow I did Adhere to them all along for I had a mind to Discover two Years ago but was prevented and I only drill'd them on to know the Party that I might prevent them But they would never Discover the Party Mr. Attorney General Prithee come to this particular part of the Story Mr. Bedlow Afterwards they set me to insinuate my self into the Acquaintance of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey not telling me they had any design upon him Lord Ch. Just Who did Mr. Bedlow Le Fair and Pritchard and VVelsh Lord Ch. Just Girald was not one was he Mr. Bedlow No my Lord. But they told me that afterwards they would have me introduce them into his Acquaintance And I had been I think Six or Seven dayes together with Sir Edmondbury Godfrey at his House and had got much into his Acquaintance Mr. Justice Wild. By what means did you get into his Acquaintance Mr. Bedlow Why I pretended to get Warrants for the Good Behaviour against persons that there were none such Lord Chief Just Well and what then Mr. Bedlow This was the Week before the Saturday that he was Kill'd and I was there every day but Saturday On the Friday I went to the Grey-Hound-Tavern and I sent my Boy to see if Sir Edmondbury Godfrey were at Home Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was not at Home then Lord Chief Just When was that Mr. Bedlow The very Day before he was Kill'd If he had been at Home I would have gone over to him and would have desired him to come over to them Lord Chief Justice Were the Priests there Mr. Bedlow Yes my Lord there was Pritchard and Le Faire and VVelch and Kaines and another five Jesuites and as I said I sent my Boy to see if he were at home and he brought me word he was not and if he had I was to have gone to him to have fetch'd him thither that they might Insinuate themselves into his Acquaintance And indeed they had Tongue enough to wheedle themselves into any one Acquaintance So he not being at home we came into the City two of the Jesuites and I. Mr. Attorn Gen. Which two Mr. Bedlow Le Faire and VVelsh The next Morning Le Faire came to my Chamber and I was not then within but by Accident I met him about four of the Clock in Lincolnes-Inn-Fields We went to the Palsgraves Head Tavern where falling into Discourse he told me there vvas a Gentleman that vvas to be put out of the vvay that vvas the Phrase he used he did not really say Murther him for they don't count it Murther Lord Chief Justice No No they put it into softer Termes Mr. Bedlow They told me it vvas to be done to Night I asked vvho it vvas they said it vvas a very material Man For he had all the Informations that Mr. Oates and Dr. Tongue had given in that several had been imployed in the doing of it that several Attempts had been made and that they had miss'd several Opportunities and had not done it till then but if he should not be taken out of the way and the Papers taken from him the business would be so Obstructed and go near to be Discovered to that Degree that they would not be able to bring this Design to pass but must stay till another Age before they should Effect it I asked him again who it was he sayd he would not tell me but it was a very material Man I told him that according to my Promise I would Assist but in such a Case I should need a great many Men to be with me he being so considerable a Person I asked him then where the Money was that was formerly promised he told me no worse a Man was Engaged for it than my Lord Bellasis and Mr. Coleman had order to pay it Mr. Justice Jones What was that Reward Mr. Bedlow Four Thousand pound Lord Chief Justice Who was it that first named this Gentleman to you to be Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Mr. Bedlow They never named him to me at all Lord Chief Justice Let us know when you first knew it to be Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Mr. Bedlow I parted with
was to keep them out Mr. T. Stringer The 12th 13th and 14th of October Mr. Att. Gen. What three days Mr. T. Stringer Two or three days And he said that the Prince did come and he did refuse him and sent him back again Mr. Record Did he say he ever had any such Directions before Mr. T. Stringer No he said he never before had any L. Ch. Just It was a very unlucky thing that he had it then Berry The Prince might have gone in if he would Mr. T. Stringer You said you did refuse him you had order to let none come in L. Ch. Just Had you any such Order Berry Yes my Lord I had such an Order from the Queen's Gentleman-Usher L. Ch. Just. Had you never had such before Berry Yes I have had before since the Queen came to Somerset-House L. Ch. Just Mr. Stringer swears you said you had not any before Berry Yes I had L. Ch. Just Why did you deny it then Berry I did not deny it besides there were several went in Mr. Record We have proved indeed five or six did go in L. Ch. Just For how many days had you that Order Berry Two days L. Ch. Just Which two days Berry The eleventh and twelfth I think thereabouts Mr. Record Did you say before the Lords that you never had such Orders before Berry No I did not L. Ch. Just Mr. Berry When you were examined before the Lords Did you not say you never had such Orders before Berry No I did not say so my Lord as I know of for they did not examine me about that L. Ch. Just You said you would prove it under his own Hand Prove that Mr. Att. Gen. Mr. Stringer Did he write his Name to his Examination Mr. T. Stringer Yes he did to one Examination Mr. Att. Gen. Pray look upon that Is that his Hand Mr. T. Stringer This was read to him before he Signed it and then he did Sign it Mr. Att. Gen. I would sain shew it to him to see whether he Would own it or no. Berry Yes that is my Hand Then the Clerke of the Crown read it Cler. of th' Cr. This is subscribed by Henry Berry The Information of Henry Berry Porter at the Gate of Somerset-House taken before the Right Honourable the Marquess of Winchester This Deponent saith That about the 12th 13th and 14th of October last he had Order to tell all Persons of Quality that the Queen was private and that they were not to come in and this Deponent saith The Queen continued so private for two days L. Ch. Just Where is that part of the Examination wherein he said he never had any such Order before Mr. T. Sringer He did say so but it is not in that that hath his Hand to it Mr. Just Wild. Pray my Lord observe this is a kind of reflecting Evidence and I Would have no more made of it than the thing will bear L. Ch. Just They only bring it and make use of it against Berry as a pretence of his M. Just Wild. But it is a very reflecting Evidence Mr. Att. Gen. Surely there is no body here that offers it as such We use it only to this purpose to shew that Berry who was a Party to this Murder did use all the means that he could to keep it private and â—ndeavoured to prevent Strangers coming in that Night to discover it and therefore pretended these Orders If he had any such Orders I suppose he will prove them we do not say he had them but 't is a great Evidence when he pretended to such privacie that he and his Fellows had something to do that was not fit to be known by every body Mr. Record He may make use of any body's Name and pretend what he will but I suppose he will prove it from the Gentleman-Usher if it be true Mr. Att. Gen. We have one Witness more to call my Lord and that is one Farr Call Stephen Farr Which was done and he sworn Mr. Att. Gen. He is a Neighbour to Berry and will give your Lordship an Account what Applications have been made to him to tamper with him for Money to keep away and not give Evidence in this Cause Pray Sir are you Mr. Berry's Neighbour Farr Yes Sir I am Mr. Att Gen. Pray then tell what you know Farr I know him very well his Wife hath been with me last Week and asked me if I knew what time he was with me on Wednesday the 16th of October I desired time to recollect my self And she called four or five times after and I did recollect my Memory and told her That I was not with him at all that Wednesday L. Ch. Just Why this was reasonable and fair enough to do Mr. Att. Gen. It was so my Lord but pray had you no Money offered you Farr No Sir none at all and I told her I could not remember that I was with him that day Berry But you may remember it very well when I came from the Queen I came to you Farr My Lord I was out of Town that Wednesday from two a Clock in the Afternoon till nine at Night L. Ch. Just Well well this is nothing The Woman was willing if she could to have counterproved the Evidence and what she did was fair she offered no Money nor did it in an indirect way Mr. Att Gen. My Lord We have now done with our Evidence for the King and leave it till we hear what they say L. Ch. Just What do you say for your selves you shall have all the free liberty you will desire Hill In the first place I take God to be my Witness that I am wholly innocent as to the Matter that is charged upon me And as to what is said that I dogg'd Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey I can prove that I went into my Lodging at eight a clock and did not stir out L. Ch. Just Come call your Witnesses Hill Mary Tilden Katherine Lee Mrs. Broadstreet and Daniel Gray L. Ch. Just Let them come in there Then Mary Tilden was first examined Mr. Att. Gen This is Doctor Godwin's Niece and his House-keeper L Ch. Just Well what do you ask her Hill I desire to know what you can say about my being in my Lodging and not going out Mary Tilden He hath lived in our Family seven or eight Years L Ch. Just Your Family What is your Family Mary Tilden With my Uncle L Ch. Just Who is Your Uncle Mary Tilden Doctor Godwin we left him in the House always when we were absent from it he was always a trusty Servant never kept ill hours always came home by eight a Clock at Night Mr. Just Dolben Always For how long Mary Tilden Ever since we came over last into England Mr. Just Dolben When was that Mary Tilden In April last L. Ch. Just Were you there that Night Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey was kill'd Mary Tilden I was L. Ch. Just VVhat Night was that Mary Tilden I
there is a pair of staires to go down at one corner of the Entry as I think but the Body was laid in a little square Room at the head of the steps L. C. J. And must you go into the Room to go to the Dining-Room Broadstreet No 't is a distinct Room but the Key was always in the door and every day some body went into it for something or another L. C. J. Will you undertake to say it was always in the door Broadstreet Yes it constantly was Mr. Justice Wild. For my own part I will not judge you but that his Body should be carried there about nine a clock at night a Saturday-night and remain there till Monday-night 't is very suspitious that if you were in the House as you say you were and used to go into that Room every day you must either hear it brought in or see it Broadstreet But we did neither my Lord. Mr. Justice Dolben It is well you are not Indicted Broadstreet Mr. Praunce you know all these things to be false Mr Praunce Mr. Praunce I lay nothing to your charge but you said before the Duke of Monmouth that Hill was gone from his Lodgings before that time L. C. J. What say you Sir Rob. Southwell Sr. Rob. South There arose a little quarrel between them about the time that Mr. Hill did leave those Lodgings Prance said it was a Fortnight after Hill said when he was upon his Examination that the same Saturday that Sr. Edmondbury was missing he was treating with his Landlord and from that time to the time he went to his new House it was about a Week or a Fortnight L. Ch. Just But he did pretend he was gone before Broadstreet No my Lord I did not L. Ch. Just To Witnesses upon Oath Sware it and you said it your self and gave it under your Hand Broadstreet My Lord L. Ch. Just Nay you will not hear but you will talk you say one thing now and you set another under your Hand Mr. Att. G. Have you not a Brother that is in the Proclamation one Broadstreet a Priest Broadstreet I have a Brother whose name is Broadstreet Mr. Att. G. Is he not a Priest and in the Proclamation Broadstreet I hope I must not Impeach my Brother here I said upon my Oath he came to Town a Monday and Michaelmas day was the Sunday following and Lawrence Hill went away a Fortnight after Sr. Rob. South She Swore then two or three Days after Michaelmas Day L. Ch. Just You must know we can understand you through all your Arts. It was not convenient for you at that time to say that Mr. Hill went away about a Fortnight after Michaelmas for then the thing that was charged to be done part of it in your House would have been within the Fortnight for it was the 12 th of October but then you said only two or three Days Sr. Rob. South She did say my Lord that about Miclemas two or three or four Days after he went away Broadstreet I begg your pardon I only said I could not tell the time exactly L. Ch. Just Well have you any more to say Mary Tilden There was never a Day but I went into that Room for something or other and if any body came to see me there was so little space that the Footmen were always forced to be in that Room Mr. Just Dolben Were you there upon Sunday Mary Tilden Yes my Lord I was Mr. Just Dolb. Well I will say no more call another Witness Hill Katharine Lee. L. Ch. Just What can you say Maid Lee. My Lord I did never miss him out of the House at those Hours L. Ch. Just May be you did not look for him Lee. I did go down every Night to the Door to see if it were lockt and I went into the Parlor to see that things were safe there L. Ch. Just You are a Roman Catholick are you not Lee. Yes I am Mr. Just Dolben Might not he go out of the House and you never the wiser Lee. Yes for I did not watch him continually Capt. Richardson All that she says may be true by the Place The Servants keep down a paire of Stayres in the Kitchin and any one may come in or go out having so many Keys and they not know it that are below Lee. I went into the Chamber every morning as I went to Market Mr. Just Wild. Have a care what you say and mind the Question I ask you Were you there on the Sunday in that Room where they say Sr. Edmondbury Godfrey's Body was laid Lee. I cannot say that I was in that Room but I called in at the Door every Day and I was the last up every Night Mr. Just Wild. I le say that for thee thou hast spoke with more care then any of them all Then Daniel Gray was Examined L. Ch. Just What can you say What Questions do you ask him Hill I desire him to speak what he can say where I was those 5 Days that Sr. Edmondbury Godfrey was missing Gray I kept my Brother Hill Company from the 8 th of October till he took his House which was about the 22 or 23. L. Ch. Just What time did you use to go to Bed Gray About 9 or 10 a Clock at Night L. Ch. Just What time did he go Gray When I did but I did not see him go to Bed L. Ch. Just Where did you ly Gray At my owne House L. C. Just And you went home about 8 or 9 a Clock at Night to go to Bed Gray Yes I did Mr. Just Jones You say he took his House the 8 th of October when did he go thither Gray Yes he took his House the 8 th of October but he did not go thither till the one or two and twentieth Mr. J. Dolb. But you cannot tell what he did at night Gray No not I. Mr. Just Dolbin But you were in his Company till 8 or 9 a Clock at Night Gray Yes my Lord I was L. Ch. Just How far did you live off of him Gray About a Bows shoot L. Ch. Just Look you Mr. Hill he does you no service at all for he sayes he left you about 8 or 9 a Clock at Night and he does not know what you did afterwards Have you any more Hill Robert How L. Ch. Just Come what say you How My Lord I met with Mr. Hill the 5 th of October he asked me whither I was going I told him home I wish said he you would go a little back with me I am about taking of an House and I would have you view the Repairs accordingly we did go and treated in the House about an agreement for said he I will not agree with you to the Landlord till we know what must be repaired On Tuesday morning we met again about 8 a Clock L. Ch. Just What day of the Month was that How the Eight And a Wednesday about Noon we began to work
there was somebody taken I think it was one M. Praunce for I never saw the man neither do I know him at all and it was reported that he was taken upon the Death of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey and I was glad to hear it My house was in the Savoy and my Fathers house is in Holborn and I used often to go and see my father and coming home again I went to see the Maid at her new House she had not been long there and she was standing at the Dore of the House I asked her what News says she here hath been a man here that tells us that Praunce hath discover'd several of the Murderers of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey and they talk up and down strangely of it and ask me whether my Husband be acquainted with him then said I to her is he she answered me very well they have been often together and so she told me the people did mutter and talk of her Husband but said I what says your Husband to it says she he desies Praunce and all his works Said I where is your Husband said she he is within I was very glad to hear it for said I he living in Somerset House and being acquainted with Praunce I am glad to hear that your Husband can be so Couragious so I went away and came again thither the next morning and found he was taken the night before All that I say then is that it was a good Evidence of his innocency that when he had notice of it he did not Fly L. C. J. So then your discourse was after Archbold had been there Mr. Ravenscroft Archbold was there before me and had spoken this in their Company I spake with her that night and the next morning too and all that I say is it Fight be a sign of Guilt as no doubt it is Adam ubi es and Couragiousness is a sign of innocency then this man is innocent L. C. J. But you say she told you they were acquainted Mr. Ravenscroft My Lord I have one thing more to say Upon the occasion of these things this Woman hath been often with me and hath desired to know of me what Defence she should make for I saw Hill's Wife and Berry's Wife were all simple people without Defence for themselves and they did desire that I would Examin and see some of the Witnesses and see how it was and she had gotten me some papers and I Conferred them together there are witnesses that will attest the Copy Mr. At. G. What is all this to the purpose only this Gentleman hath a mind to shew that he can speak Latin Mr. Ravenscroft I thank God I can speak Latin as well as any man in the Court. L. C. J. VVell all this is nothing Mr. Ravenscroft I declare it my self if this man were Guilty rather than I would speak for him if there wanted a Hangman I would do it my self L. C. J. Well Berry what have you to say Berry I desire Nicholas Trollop and Nicholas Wright and Gabriel Hasket and Elizabeth Wilkes and Corporal Collet may be called Corporal William Collet first Examined Berry Did not you place a Sentinel on wednesday night Collet What wednesday do you speak of Sir Berry That night the Queen went from Somerset House to Whitehall Collet Yes This Nicholas Trollop I placed there first the 16. of October L. C. J. How do you remember that Collet Because I have been called to an account before and have given good Reasons for it Our Company was at Somerset House when the King came from New-market and the Queen went to Whitehall Afterwards we were bid to fetch our Sentinels off about 3 or 4 of the Clock in the afternoon L. C. J. Did you leave any Souldiers there Collet No we did not all our Company went to Whitehall Mr. Justice Dolben Are you sure there were no Souldiers that night there Collet Yes we were commanded with a party to go thither again that night L. C. J. What did you do then Collet I placed the Sentinels by the Porters order L. C. J. Who was that Berry Collet No it was one that used to go about and give Orders where we should set them L. C. J. How did you place them Collet This man I placed from 7 to 10 then Nicolas Wright releived him at 10 and stayed till one L. C. J. At what place Collet To the Strand-ward Mr. Justice Wild. That was the Gate they carried him out at L. C. J. Do you hear whereabouts did you set the Sentinels within the gate Collet Yes within the wicket L. C. J. That way he was carried out Nicholas Wright There was no Sedan came out in my time Trollop There was one came in in my time while I stood there Lord Ch. Just Was it an empty Sedan Trollop I suppose it was but we had no Order to keep any out Mr. Just Wild. But you might know whether it was an empty Sedan or no by the going of it through the Wicket Collet There is an empty Sedan that stands there every Night Trollop It was set down within the Gate Mr. Just Jones If any Sedan had gone out you would not have staid them would you Collet No my Lord we had no Order to stop any Mr. Just Dolben How can you then be positive that no one did go out Trollop None did go out again in my time Mr. Just Dolben Could not the Porter open the Gate as well as you Collet Yes my Lord he could but I should have seen him then he did not open it in my time Mr. Just Wild. Let me ask you but one Question Did not you go to drink nor tipple all that time Trollop No nor walk a Pikes length off the Place of Centry Mr. Just Wild. Has not Berry an House there hard by Trollop Yes but I did not drink one drop Mr. Just Dolben How can you remember so particularly so long ago Trollop Why I was twice before the Committee Mr. Just Dolben But how long agoe was it that you were questioned about this thing after this Night Trollop A matter of a Month or Six Weeks Collet For we were examined before Praunce was taken up Lord Ch. Just You Trollop Can you say whether it was the Sedan that used to be within Trollop No I cannot but it was brought in in my time and did not go out again Then Gabriell Hasket was examined Berry You Stood there Sir from One to Four Hasket Yes after the Clock struck One I was put Sentinell and stood till Four Lord Ch. Just What Night Hasket That Night the King came from New-market and the Queen went from Somerset-house Lord Ch. Just What day of the Month was that Hasket The Sixteenth Lord Ch. Just What day of the Week Hasket Wednesday Lord Ch. Just Did not you drink at Berry's then Hasket No I did not Lord Ch. Just Did you see Berry then Hasket No I did not Lord Ch. Just He was gone before you came
did give him what encouragement I could that he would suffer in a just Cause and the like but he would often tell me he was in continual danger of being hurt by them Mr. Attor Gen. We desire Mr. Robinson may be sworn Which was done accordingly Mr. Recorder Pray Sir will you tell the Court and the Jury what discourse you had with Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and what apprehensions he had concerning this business Tho. Robinson Esquire Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common-pleas My Lord Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and I were of a very ancient acquaintance for above forty years we were bred up together at Westminster School and continued in that acquaintance all along except in the time of the War and were for many years together in Commission for the peace both for this County and this City We met at the Quarter-Sessions for Westminster the seventh of October which was Monday as I take it and meeting there we went after the Court was up and dined with the head Bayly as the custome is where Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and I did discourse several things about this Plot I said to Sir Edmondbury Godfrey I understand you have taken several examinations about this Plot that is now made publick truely said he I have but I think I shall have little thanks for my paines or some such words saith he I did it very unwillingly and would fain have had it done by others why said I you did but what was your duty to do and it was a very good act pray Sir have you the examinations about you will you please to let me see them no I have them not said he I delivered them to a person of quality but as soon as I have them you shall see them But said I I should be very glad to understand Sir Edmondbury that the depth of the matter were found out I am afraid said he of that that it is not but discoursing further he said to me Upon my Conscience I believe I shall be the first Martyr Why so said I are you afraid No said he I do not fear them if they come fairly and I shall not part with my Life tamely Why do not you go with a man said I if you have that fear upon you Why said he I do not love it 't is a clog to a man but said I you should do well to keep a man I observe you never go with one Mr. Attor Gen. But did he tell you Sir that he did believe he should be the first Martyr Mr. Robinson Yes He did say upon his Conscience he did believe he should be the first Martyr and this is all I can say of this business Mr. Attor Gen. Then if your Lordship please we will in the next place call Mr. Praunce who was drawn in to be present at this businesse and who knew of all the fact and will give you an account of the whole matter Then Mr. Praunce was sworn Mr. Attor Gen. Pray Sir begin at the very beginning The meetings you had at the Plow-Ale-House and the sending to Sir Edmondbury's House and all the Story L. Ch Just Mr. Praunce pray tell us the first motives that were used to you to do this thing and the first time it was mentioned who they were that first mentioned it and where Mr. Praunce My Lord it was about a fortnight or three weeks before he was murdered we met several times at the Plow-Ale-House L. Chief Just With whom Mr. Praunce With Mr. Girald Mr. Green and Mr. Kelly Girald and Kelly did intice me in and told me it was no Sin Mr. Recorder Girald and Kelly did Mr. Praunce Yes Girald and Kelly Mr. Recorder VVhat are they Mr. Praunce Two Priests And they said it was no sin it was a charitable act They said he was a busie man and had done and would do a great deal of mischief and it was a deed of Charity to do it and so they told the rest besides Mr. Attor Gen. Where was it they said thus Mr. Praunce They said it at the Plow and by the Water-side Mr. Recorder Well said how long was it before he died Mr. Praunce A week or a fortnight before he was murdered and Green Hill and Girald met there together Mr. Attor Gen. What discourse had you then Mr. Praunce There they resolved that the first that could meet with him should give notice to the rest to be ready and so in the morning when they went out on Saturday Mr. Attor Gen. But before you come to that do you know of any dogging of him into the fields Mr. Praunce Yes it was before that I heard them say they would and had dogged him into the fields L. Chief Just Who did you hear say so Mr. Praunce Girald Kelly and Green Mr. Attor Gen. That Green is one of the Prisoners Mr. Recorder Which way did they dog him what Fields Mr. Praunce Red Lion fields and those by Holborn Mr. Attor Gen. Why did they not kill him there Mr. Praunce Because they had not opportunity Mr. Att. Gen. Do you know of any sending to his House or going to it Mr. Praunce One time I do know of and that was Saturday morning Mr. Kelly came to give me notice that they were gone abroad to dog him and afterwards they told me that Hill or Green did go to his House and ask for him but the Maid told him he was not up and then went away and said he would call by and by Hill What time was that in the morning Mr. Praunce It was about nine or ten a clock in the morning Hill And had we been there before or after Mr. Praunce You had been there before Mr. Recorder Pray stay till such time as we have done with our Evidence you shall have all free liberty to ask him any Question but you must stay till we have done Mr. Praunce As soon as they heard he was within they came out and staid for his coming out and dogg'd him L. Chief Just Did all three of them go to his House Mr. Praunce No my Lord L. Ch. Just Who was it did go Mr. Praunce Only one either Hill or Green L. Chief Just How do you know that Mr. Praunce They told me so themselves for they came to give me notice L. Ch. Just. Who told you so Mr. Praunce It was Girald and Green both L. Ch. Just Did Green tell you that he had been there Mr. Praunce He told me one of them but I am not certain which And so my Lord after that when he came out they dogg'd him that day up and down Mr. Justice Jones Who dogg'd him Mr. Praunce Girald Green and Hill dogg'd him into St. Clements and about seven a clock Green came and gave me notice that he was at Saint Clements and I came to Somerset-House as fast as I could L. Chief Just Where were you Mr. Praunce At my own house L. Chief Just How far did you live from Somerset-House Mr. Praunce I lived
out that all should avoid the Room but Mr. Bedlow and his Friends And when he was going out with the rest he lift up his Hat to see his way and though before I did not mind him yet I happened at his passing by me to cast my eyes upon his face and presently knew him and cried Oh! pray Sir stay you are one of my friends that must stay here And I presently charged my Guards to take charge of him Saith the Constable he is my Prisoner Is he so said I Then you have a very good Prisoner and pray look safe to him And then when I went into the House of Lords I made out my charge against him Mr. Recorder Now if the Prisoners have any questions to ask Mr. Bedlow they may have free liberty to do it Hill I never saw him before in my life L. C. J. Do you know any of them Mr. Bedlow I know Mr. Berry and Green very well L. C. J. Pray Mr. Praunce was the Dark-Lanthorn at Hill's Lodging or at the other place Mr. Praunce At the other place L. C. J. Look you here Mr. Praunce They carried him to Hill's on Saturday night and he lay there till Monday night What time on Monday-night was it that they removed him into Somerset-house Mr. Praunce I was not there when they did remove him L. C. J. What time did you see him there Mr. Praunce About Nine or Ten a Clock L. C. J. What time was it that you saw him there Mr. Bedlow Mr. Bedlow It was after Nine my Lord. Mr. Praunce They had then removed him to Somerset-house and Mr. Hill asked what they intended to do with the Body They said they would carry it out that night but they did not But there the Dark-Lanthorn was and on Tuesday-night they removed him back again Mr. Att. G. Now my Lord if you please we shall go on to call some Witnesses that were not present at the Murder for direct Evidence as to that can come only out of the mouth of some that were concerned in it but to corroborate by concurrent circumstances the Testimony which hath been already given And first we shall call the Constable to prove that he found Sir Edmondbury Godfrey in the Fields in the same manner in which Mr. Praunce says they told him they left him L. C. J Mr. Attorney you promised you would prove that when these persons were examined they did deny before the House of Lords that they knew Praunce Mr. Att. G. My Lord in that we were mistaken I understand now it was only Berry denied that he did know Girald L. C. J. Why did you never know Mr. Gerald Berry Never in my life L. C. J. Mr. Praunce have not you seen Girald with Berry Mr. Praunce Yes I have but they usually went by several Names L. C. J. Did you ever see Girald in Hill's company Mr. Praunce Yes that I have L. C. J. Was there no Sentinel set that Monday-night that Saturday-night and that Wednesday-night Mr. Praunce My Lord I am not certain I took notice of none if there were any they were at Berry's House and he opened the Gate when we came out with the Sedan Mr. Att. G. Mr. Berry I suppose could take order with the Sentinel and give them some entertainment in his own Lodg. Then Mr. Brown the Constable was Sworn Mr. Recorder Pray in what posture did you find Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Mr. Brown I found him my Lord in a Ditch with his Sword through him and the end of it was two handfulls out of his back L. C. J. Was he Bloody Mr. Brown There was no Blood at all there was no Blood in the Ditch L. C. J. Was the Sword sticking in his Body Mr. Brown Yes My Lord but there was no Blood at all when it was taken out they had run it into another place but that happened to be against a Rib and so it could not go through but there was no blood there Mr. Justice Jones Was there any bruises on his Breast Mr. Brown He did look black about the Breast Mr. Att. G. My Lord I would ask whether his Neck were broken Mr. Brown Yes I suppose it was L. C. J. How do you know it Mr. Brown It was very weak and one might turn his Head from one Shoulder to the other L. C. J. Where was his Stick and Gloves Mr. Brown They were on the Bank-side L. C. J. Whose Sword was it Mr. Brown His Servants said it was his own Mr. Att. G. Pray had he any Money in his Pocket Mr. Brown Yes a great deal of Gold and Silver L. C. J. Ay Ay for they count Theft Sin but not Murder Mr. Justice Wild They left that to let men think he murdered himself L. C. J. Well will you ask this Witness any questions before he goes Capt. Richardson They say they will ask him none Mr. Att. G. Then we desire to call the Chyrurgeons that view'd and opened the Body Mr. Skillard and Mr. Cambridge both whom were Sworn Mr. Att. G. We begin with Mr. Skillard Pray Sir inform my Lord and the Jury Did you see the Body of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Mr. Skillard Yes I did view the Body Mr. Att. G. When what time did you see it Mr. Skillard About Twelve of the Clock Mr. Att. G. What day of the Week was it Mr. Skillard On Friday the next day after he was found Mr. Att G. Did you observe his Breast how was it Mr. Skillard His breast was all beaten with some obtuse weapon either with the feet or hands or something Mr. Att. G. Did you observe his neck Mr. Skillard Yes it was distorted Mr. Att. G. How far Mr. Skillard You might have taken the Chin and have set it upon either Shoulder Mr. Att. G. Did you observe the wound Mr. Skillard Yes I did It went in at one place and stopt at a Rib the other place it was quite through the Body Mr. Att. G. Do you think he was killed by that wound Mr. Skillard No for then there would have been some evacuation of Blood which there was not And besides his bosome was open and he had a Flannel Wastcoat and a Shirt on and neither those nor any of his Clothes were penetrated Mr. Att. G. But are you sure his neck had been broken Mr. Skillard Yes I am sure Mr. Att. G. Because some have been of opinion that he hanged himself and his Relations to save his estate run him through I would desire to ask the Chyrurgeon what he thinks of it Mr. Skillard There was more done to his neck than an ordinary suffocation the wound went through his very heart and there would have appeared some blood if it had been done quickly after his death Mr. Att. G. Did it appear by the view of the body that he was strangled or hanged Mr. Skillard He was a lean man and his muscles if he had died of the wound would have been turgid and then again all strangled people
never swell because there is a sudden deprivation of all the spirits and a hindring of the Circulation of the blood Mr. Att. G. How long do you believe he might be dead before you saw him Mr. Skillard I believe four or five days And they might have kept him a week and he never swell'd at all being a lean man And when we ript him up he began for to putrify we made two incisions to give it vent and the liquor that was in his body did a little smell The very lean flesh was so near turned into putrefaction that it stuck to the Instrument when we cut it Mr. Recorder My Lord here is another Chyrurgeon Mr. Cambridge Pray Sir are you sworn Mr. Cambridge Yes I am Mr. Recorder When did you see the body of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Mr. Cambridge Upon friday the very same day the Gentleman did I found his neck dislocated and his breast very much beaten and bruised And I found two punctures under his left Pap the one went against the Rib the other quite through the body under the left Pap. Mr. Att G. Do you believe that wound was the occasion of his death Mr. Cambridge No I believe it was given him after his death L. C. J. And his neck was broke Mr. Cambridge His neck was dislocated Sir Mr. Att. G. Why that is broken Now my Lord we shall call Sir Edmundbury Godfreys Maid Elizabeth Curtis Swear her Which was done Mr. Recorder Your Lordship knows that Mr Praunce did say in the beginning that they had been several times at his House inquiring for him now we call this person to tell you what she knows about that Mr. Att. G. Elizabeth Curtis look upon the Prisoners and tell my Lord and the Jury whether you know any of them or no. Elizabeth Curtis This man that I now hear called Green my Lord was at my Masters about a fortnight before he died L. C. J. What to do Eliz. Curtis I don't know but he asked for Sir Edmondbury Godfrey L. C. J. What time of the day was it Eliz. Curtis It was in the morning Mr. Att G. What did he say Eliz Curtis He asked for Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and when he came to him he said Good morrow Sir in English and afterwards spoke to him in French I could not understand him Mr. Recorder I desire she may consider well and look upon him Eliz. Curtis That is the man Green Upon my Soul I never saw him in all my life Eliz. Curtis He had a darker coloured Perriwig when he was there and was about a quarter of an hour talking with my Master Mr. Att. G. Are you sure this was the man E. Curtis Yes I am and that other man Hill was there that Saturday morning and did speak with him before he went out L. C. J. That you will deny too Hill Yes I do L. C. J. How do you know he was there E. Curtis I was in the Parlor at that time making up the fire L. C. J. Had you ever seen him before that time E. Curtis No never before that time I went into the Parlor to carry my Master his Break-fast and brought a bunch of Keys with me in and there Hill was with him And I went up stairs about some business and came down again wanting the Keys which I had left upon the Table and Hill was all that time with my Master Mr. Sol. G. How do you know he was there E. Curtis I was in the Parlor and stirred up the fire and he was there a good while Mr. Just Jones How long after did you see him again E. Curtis Not till I saw him in Newgate Mr. Just Jones How long was that afterwards E. Curtis A month ago But it is not the man that brought the note to my Master Mr. Att. G. What note E. Curtis A note that a man brought to my Master that night before Mr. Att. G. What is become of that Note E. Curtis My Lord I cannot tell my Master had it Mr. Att. G. Prithee tell us the story of it E. Curtis There was a man came to my Masters House and asked if Sir Edmondbury Godfrey were within He said he had a Letter for him and shewed it me it was tied up in a knot I told him my Master was within but busy but said I if you please I will carry it into him he did so and I gave it to my Master when I went out again the man staid and asked for an Answer I went in again and told my Master that the man required an Answer Prithee said he tell him I don't know what to make of it Mr. Just Wild When was that E. Curtis On Friday night Mr. Just Wild When The Friday night before he was murdered E. Curtis Yes Mr. Att. G. But you Swear that Hill was there the Saturday morning E. Curtis Yes he was Mr. Sol. G. In what Clothes was he then E. Curtis The same Clothes that he hath now Mr. Just Wild Are you sure they are the same Clothes E. Curtis Yes Mr. Sol. G. Here is a great Circumstance my Lord. I asked her what Clothes he was in when he came to Sir Edmondbury's and she saith the same that he hath now L. C. J. Have you ever shifted your Clothes Hill No indeed I have not E. Curtis But for the man that brought the Note I cannot Swear it is he Hill But she did say when she came to see me in Newgate that she never saw me in my life and my Lord I hope I have sufficient VVitnesses to prove where I was that morning L. C. J. She says she cannot Swear you were the man that brought the Note Hill My Lord I desire she will tell me about what time it was I was there E. Curtis It was about nine or ten a Clock Mr. Att. G. That agrees with Mr. Praunces exactly in point of time Now if your Lordship please we will proceed and call Mr. Lancellot Stringer and Mr. Vincent Mr. Recorder My Lord we do call these Witnesses to prove that these men had meetings with Mr. Praunce at the Plow Then was Lancelot Stringer sworn Mr. Recorder Pray tell my Lord and the Jury whether you know Mr. Prance L. Stringer Yes Sir I do Mr. Recorder Have you seen him at the Plow at any time L. Stringer Yes Sir I have Mr. Recorder In what company there Was Mr. Green there L. Stringer Yes he was Mr. Recorder Which was he He points to him Mr. Recorder And who else L. Stringer There was that Hill Mr. Att. Gen. How often L. Stringer Several times L. C. J. How long before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was murdered L. Stringer I cannot tell my Lord. L. C. J. Do you remember any other company was with him L. Stringer Yes there were several other company Mr. Recorder Name them L. Stringer There was Mr. Fitz-Girald and Mr. Hill Mr. Att. Gen. And yet Hill saith he never saw Girald L. Stringer And there was Kelly he
put into Gaol for refusing to take the Oaths but he was not at all charged with the Death of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey at that time L. C. J. When was he put in for the Death of Sir Edmundbury Sir The. Stringer The 24 th of December L. C. J. Then there is all the remaining part of October all November and the former part of December was past how could you recollect your self of the particular day Warrier I call'd it to mind by my work Capt. Richardson My Lord I will rectifie this mistake since their Arraignment I went to them to know what Witnesses they had and Greene told me of his Landlord and Landlady I then asked them If they could say any thing as to this particular day And they said they could not do him any good at all Warrier I did not then call it to memory L. C. J. When did you call it to memory Warrier I did say I could not do it then presently as I have done since in five or six dayes L. C. J. How could you recollect it then Warrier By the time he came into my house which was a week before and by the work that was done L. C. J. What could the work do as to this Can you tell by that any thing that is done at any time Where were you the ninth of November last Warrier Truly I can't tell L. C. J. Why how came you then to recollect what you did the twelfth of October when you did not know where you were the ninth of November Warrier I can tell a great many tokens he was but 14 or 15 dayes in our house L. C. J. What did he do the twelfth of October that you remember so particularly that day Warrier Sir I remember other dayes besides that but I say I never knew the man out after nine a clock in my life L. C. J. Have you any body else for this man I can't tell what to make on 't Greene. Here is the man's wife to give Evidence L. C. J. First consider what you say Mrs. Warrier To tell you the truth I thought the man so clear of this Fact that I never trouble my head with it but when Captain Richardson came to my house I told him that he was never in our house by day-time except being Cusâ—ion-layer in the Chappel he used to come at half an hour after eleven and many times he did desire me because we were Protestants to put in a little flesh meat with ours sometimes he would sit down and eat his meat in the Kitchin and his Wife with him and his Wife would say to him 't is a troublesom time pray see that you come home betimes I did not at all remember the day of the month at the first nor the Action but my Husband and I have since remembred We were desired by them once to eat a Fowl with them and my Husband did command me the Sunday after to invite them to dinner with us and I went in the morning very early I think and bought a dozen of Pidgeons and put them in a Pye and we had a Loine of Pork roasted and when he was gone to the Chappel on Saturday in the afternoon his Wife came to me and said my Husband is not well and when he comes home will ask for something of Broth and away she went to Market to buy something to make Broth of While she was at Market her Husband came home and asked where his Wife was why Mr. Greene said I she is gone to Market what an old Fool said he is this to go out so late such a night as this is but said he again I will go to the Coffee-house and drink a Dish of Coffee and pray tell my wife so In the mean time she returned and by that time she had been above a little while he came in again And Mr. Greene being there my Husband came in and called to me prithee sweetheart what hast thou got for my Supper prithee said I sweetheart thou art always calling for thy Victuals when thou comest in Then Mr. Greene goes to the stairs and calls to his Wife and bids her bring him down some victuals and she brings down the Bread and Cheese and he stayed there till it was nine a Clock and then saith Mr. Greene to his Wife let us go up for there is a Fire L. C. J. What day was this all this while Mrs. Warrier Why it was the Saturday fortnight after Michaelmas day L. C. J. Why might it not be that day three weeks Mrs. Warrier It was that day he was missing Mr. Att. G. Why there was no Alarum taken of it a Sunday L. C. J. When did you begin to recollect what day it was that they said he was missing Mrs. Warrier On Friday morning our Milkman came and told us that one Mr. Godfrey was found murdered now I knew one of the Exchange of that name and thought it might be he And when we went up with him to his Chamber we sate there till the Tattooe beat L. C. J. All the thing is how do you know it was this Saturday Mrs. War It was the Saturday fortnight after Michaelmas day Mr. J. Dolben Are you sure it was the Saturday fortnight after Michaelmas day Mrs. Warier Yes we did look upon the Almanack and reckon it so M. J. Dolben Then that was the 10 th of October L. C. J. Why you told him you could do him no good and indeed you do not M. J. Jones You and your wife speak of the same time don't you Warrier Yes L C. J. Have you any more Greene Capt. Richardson There is the Maid let her come in L. C. J. VVhat say you Maid Maid I can say that he came in the Saturday fortnight after Quarter-day pretty betimes L. C. J. Can you speak of any other time besides that Saturday fortnight Maid I can tell he came in every night before 9 a clock Greene. I can take my Oath I was never out of my Lodging after 9 a clock Hill My Lord here is Mr. Ravenscroft now L. C. J. Mr. Ravenscroft what can you say Mr. Ravenscroft VVhat I can say my Lord is this This Lawrence Hill I have known him 13 or 14 Years and he served my elder Brother so long very faithfully Afterwards he lived with Dr. Godwin towards the latter end of the two last Years and he married my Mothers Maid L. C. J. VVhat Religion are you of Mr. Ravenscroft My Father and Mother were Protestants L. C. J. But you are a Papist are you not Mr. Ravenscroft I have not said I am a Papist yet Mr. Justice Dolben In the mean time I say you are one Mr. Ravense Do you so then pray go to Southwark and see Mr. At. G. My Lord I think he hath taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy L. C. J. Well pray Sir go on with your Story Mr. Ravenscroft If it please you upon a Saturday a little before Christmass
blood by Man shall his blood be shed for in the Image of God created he him So saith God to Noah intimating and declaring thereby That the intention of God Almighty in the making of that Law was the preservation of mankind and that he will not admit or suffer his Image to be defaced or destroyed If it shall be accounted Treason against Earthly Princes to deface their Images is it not much more Treason against the great God of Heaven and Earth to deface his Image who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Greatness of this Sin struck such a damp and horrour upon the Soul of Cain that it made him cry out his Punishment was greater than he could bear or as our Bibles have it in the Margin his Iniquity was greater than could be forgiven and it shall come to pass that whosoever meeteth me shall slay me Being Conscious to himself that it was just and lawful that whosoever did meet with him should slay him And God himself doth set forth the hainousness of this offence when he tells him his Brothers blood cry'd to him that is cried unto God from the Earth for Vengeance Blood it is of a crying nature and will never cease crying till it find out the Man-slayer It is an Offence so hainous in the Eye of God that he will not endure it in a Beast God saith he will require it of a Beast And doth God require Blood of a Beast a brutish Creature void of all Reason and will he not require it much more of Man whom he hath endued with those two great Faculties of Reason and Understanding And certainly if Murder in general be enquired after I may well say this of yours there hath not been committed a more impudent and barbarous Murder in this Civiliz'd Nation by one Subject upon another And observe how you did effect this Murder with baseness enough See the baseness of it As the Devil was the Father of Lies so he was a Murderer from the beginning and you first begun your Murder with an Hellish studied and premeditated Lie Knowing that this Gentleman was a person very vigorous in the Execution of his place that would omit no Opportunity of doing his Office you pretend you have occasion for him and by this means draw him into your snare where what you do you do cowardly and basely first disarm him then fall all upon him and murder him as the Prophet David saith of the ungodly man first gets the Righteous man in his Net and then ravisheth him Had such a thing as this been acted by us Protestants in any Popish Country in the World I doubt there would scarce have been one of us left alive They would not have taken this course that hath been taken with you to admit us to a fair Trial no they would have made their own hands their Avengers But God be praised we are of another Religion and of another Perswasion We leave Vengeance to God and under him to the Magistrate who beareth not the Sword in vain as you now find If I could abstract folly from wickedness certainly it was one of the greatest pieces of folly and sottishness in the world For what could be your end in it Did you think that all the Magistrates in England were lodged in Sir Edmondbury Godfrey that if he were taken out of the way there were not men of Spirit and Courage as faithful and diligent as he was Trouble not your selves nor let those of your Perswasion trouble themselves there are a numerous Company of Magistrates in this Kingdom that will do the same thing and act in and execute their Offices with the same Courage And as to the manner of the Murder whom have you destroy'd A Magistrate For what For the Execution of his Office One that was a Conservator of the Peace and whose study it was to preserve you in Peace on him you have violated the Peace and nothing less would satisfie you than his precious Life An Affront to the Law to the Magistrate to the King to the Nation yea to God himself upon whom an higher Affront could hardly have been put For the Magistrate is Gods Ordinance God hath set him up to avenge himself upon the wicked and to reward the good and he doth not bear as it is a sign by you he hath not born the Sword in vain I might say much more concerning the hainousness of this Offence but had I the tongue of Men and Angels I could not say enough to set out the horrour of it And now let me tell you I do not speak this to insult and domineer over you I praise God I am of another spirit he knows I have another end in what I say and my end is meerly this to perswade you from the foulness of your fact to make a good use of it that the horridness of your sin may make the greater and deeper impressions on your Spirits and so make your repentance more sincere and efficacious Had you as many years to live as you have hours it were little enough to bewail this horrid Offence But on the other side as that will be little enough yet let me give you this comfort you have time enough if you make a good use of it to make your peace with God Pray let me dehort you from one thing and that is this Do not be of the Opinion of those wicked miscreants the Jesuites that have put you upon this matter for I have so much Charity for you as to believe they made it a matter of Religion to you and justifiable upon that account Do not think so for the Law of God is indispensible and no power under Heaven can License to murder So that though the Offence in them is abominable yet in you 't is an Offence too and an horrid one And when you have consider'd it as such I then desire you to take a right course to make your peace with God For you must pass under another Judgment than that of man and that shortly you must stand before the Judge of Heaven and Earth And therefore if by this means you can prevent that future Judgment you will have Just cause to thank God that you had your punishment here on earth Therefore let me advise you to spend every minute you have left in a free acknowledgment of all your Offences For certainly some sin went before or this had never come after One sin dogs another and makes way for the Commission of another And what must you rely upon not upon any trash or trompery not upon any merit of your own there is but one Saviour and Mediatour the Lord Jesus Christ And I would advise you in the words of that great Cardinal one that was one of the greatest men of your Religion Bellarmine I mean who having made a scrutiny which was the safest way for securing Heaven made the conclusion thus To trust Only upon the Lord Jesus Christ for Life and Salvation which I advise you to do I have now done what I intended to say to you and what I have said I spoke to deliver my own Soul and upon no other account I now pronounce the Judgment which the Law hath appointed to pass upon such Malefactors and that is this That you go from hence to the place from whence you came and from thence to the place of Execution where you shall be severally hanged by the Neck till you are severally dead and the Lord have mercy upon your Souls Hill I humbly beg one favour that I may have the priviledge to see my Wife and Children and my Brother before I dye sometimes L C J God forbid else Hill Any day I hope my Lord. L C J Captain Richardson let them have the liberty of seeing their Friends but do it with care and caution Mr. J Wyld And I will say this more to you if you will have any Religious Protestant Divines to come to you they shall be sent you but none of your Priests Hill I desire only my Relations Mr J. Wyld You shall have them and we offer you the others Green I have no Relations that are Catholicks but two and they are not Priests God bless the King and I desire all good people to pray for us L C J Mr. Astry let the Rule be entred for their Execution on Monday next Cl of the Crown Captain Richardson you shall have the Rule for their Execution on Monday next Then the Keeper carried away the Prisoners to the Gaol to be reserved till their Execution On Friday the 21 st of February following the Prisoners Robert Greene and Lawrence Hill were Executed according to the Sentence pronounced against them FINIS Speaking to a Clerk of the Crown-Office