false Traytors of the most Illustrious Seâ—â—ene and most Excellent Prince Our Soverign Lord Charles the II. by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Their supreme and natural Lord not haveing the Feare of God in their hearts nor the Duties of their Allegeance any ways weighing but being moved and Seduced by the instigation of the Devil the cordial love and true due and natural obedience which true and faithful Subjects of our said Soveraign Lord the King towards our said Soverign Lord the King should and of Right ought to bear altogether withdrawing endeavouring and with their whole strength intending the peace and common tranquillity of this Kingdom of England to disturbe and the true worship of God within this Kingdom of England used and by Law established to overthrow and to move stir up and procure Rebellion within this Kingdom of England and the cordial love and true and due obedience which true and saithful Subjects of our said Soveraign Lord the King towards our said soveraign Lord the King should and of Right ought to bear wholly to withdraw vanguish and extinquish and our said Sovereign Lord the King to death and final destruction to bring and put the 24th day of April in the year of the Reign of our said Sovereign L Charles the II by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the saith c. the 30th at the Parish of St. Gyles in the Fields aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly and Trayterously they did propose compaâ—â—e imagine and intend to stir up move and procure sedition and Rebellion within this Kingdom of England and to procure and Cause a miserable slaughter among the Subjects of our said Sovereign L. the King and wholly to deprive depose throw down and disinher it our said Sovereign Lord the King from his Royal State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England and him our said Soveraign Lord the King to put to death and utterly to destroy the Government of this Kingdom of England and the sincere Religion worship of God in the same Kingdom rightly and by the Laws of the same Kingdom established for their will and pleasure to change and alter and wholly to subvert and destroy the state of the whole Kingdom being in all parts thereof well instituted and ordered and to Levy War against our said Soveraign Lord the King within this his Realm of England And to fulfil and bring to pass these their most wicked Treasons and Trayterous designs and purposes aforesaid they the said Thomas White allas Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering John Grove and other false Trâ—â—ytors unknowâ—â— the said so â—â— and Tweentieth day of April in the said 30th year of the Reign of our said Lord the King with force and arms c. at the parish of St. Giles in the Fields aforesaid in the County of Midelesex aforesaid falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly devillishâ—â—y and traiterously did assemble unite and gather themselves together and then and there falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly devillishly and traiterously they did consult and agree to put and bring our said Soveraign Lord the King to death final destruction and to alter and change the Religion rightly and by the Laws of the same Kingdom established to the superstition of the Church of Rome and that sooner to bring to pass and accomplish the same their most wicked Treasons and traiterous imaginations and purposes aforesaid they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering John Grove and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown afterwards to wit the said 24th day of April in the said 30th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Midlesex aforesaid falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did consult and agree that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove should kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King And that they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Frenwick and other false Traitors unknown should therefore say celebrate and perform a certain number of Masses then and there agreed on among them for the good of the soul of the said Thomas Pickering and should therefore pay to the said John Grove a certain sum of money then and there also agreed on among them And further that the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove upon the agreement aforesaid then and there falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly traiterously did undertake and to the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown then and there falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did then and there promise that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove our said Sovereign Lord the King would kill and murther And further that they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitbread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering and John Grove and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown afterwards to wit the said 24th day of April in the thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Soverign Lord the King at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously did severally plight their Faith every one to other of them and did then and their swear and promise upon the Sacrament to conceal and not to divulge their said most wicked Treasons and traiterons compassings consultations and purposes aforesaid so among them had traiterously to kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King and to introduce the Roman Religion to be used within this Kingdom of England and to alter change the true Reformed Religion rightly and by the Laws of this Kingdom of England in this same Kingdom of England established And further that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove in execution of their said Traiterous Agreement afterwards to wit the same 24th day of April in the said thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King and divers other days and times afterwards at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the said County of Middlesex falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did prepare and obtain to themselves and had and did keep Musquets Pistols Swords Daggers and other offensive and cruel weapons and instruments to kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King And that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove afterwards to wit the said four and twentieth day of April in the said thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King and divers days and times afterwards with force and arms c. at the said
as that of the Gunpowder-Treason I can resemble it to no other Plot or Design or Treason in any other time and truely it does resemble that in many particulars I may say it doth at least equal it if not exceed it I shall mention two or three particulars in which this Plot doth resemble that First that horrid Design was to take away the Life of the then King to subvert the Government to introduce the Popish Religion and to destroy the established protestant Religion in England and so Gentlemen we think our prooff will make it out that in each of these particulars this design is the same that that was Secondly the great Actors in that design were Preists and Jesuits that came from Valedolid in Spain and other places beyond the Seas And the great Actors in this Plot are Priests and Jesuits that are come from St. Omers and other places beyond the Seas nearer home then Spain Thirdly That plott was chiefly Guided and mannaged by Henry Garnett Superiour and provincial of the Jesuits then in England and the great Actor in this design is Mr. Whitebread Superiour and provincial of the Jesuits now in England so that I say in the several particulars it does resemble the Gun Powder plot Gentlemen In this plot of which the Prisoners now stand Indicted several Persons have several parts some of these persons are imployed to keep Correspondence beyond the Seas of which more hath been said in another place and so I shall not speak of it here Others were to procure and prepare Aid and Assistance here in England who were to be ready when there should be Occasion to use it But the great part these persons the prisoners at the Bar were to Act in this conspiracy was to take away the life of our Soveraigne Lord the King on whose preservation the safety and welfare of three nations and Millions of men does depend Now the facts for which the five prisoners stand Indicted I shall open thus First they are here Indicted for Conspireing the Death of his sacred Majesty They did agree to take away the Kings life and entring into such an agreement They hired some persons amongst them to doe it and this Agreement was made the 24th of April last 1678. Secondly There is another fact they likewise stand Indicted for That they did Endeavour and contrive to change and alter the Religion Established in the Nation and introduce Pâ—â—pery in tho room of it The manner how to Effect this was thus if my information be right you shall hear that from the Evidence Mr. Whitebread being resident here in England and superiour of the Jesuits did in February last think fit being impowred by Authority from Rome to give summons to the Jesuits abroade at St. Omers and other places beyond the Seas That they should come over here into England to be ready at London on the 24th of April the day laid in the Indictment and which is the day after St. Georges day and their design was as will appear by the proof to contrive how they may take away the life of the King for if that were once done they thought in all other things their design would easily be accomplished after the summons were out they were so Officious for the Accomplishing of this great end that between 40. and 50. Jesuits did appear here at London at the time for thither they were summoned and there the meeting was appointed to be at the White-horse Taverne in the strand they were to meet first but being so great a number that they were likely to be taken notice of if they came all together it was so Ordered they should come but a few at a time and go off in small numbers and others should succeed them till the whole number had been there And there were directions given and a Course taken that there should be some person to tell them whither they should go from thence After they had met there at several times in the same day they were appointed and adjourned to be at several other places some of them were appointed to be at Mr. Whitebreads Lodging and that was in Wild-street at one Mr. Sanders house Others were appointed to go 〈…〉 Lodging which was in Russelstreet and this Mr. Ireland was Treasurer of the Society anâ—â— others were to meet at Mr. Fenwicks Chamber in Drury-Lane and he was at that time Procurator and Agent for that Society Others were appointed to meet at Harcourts Lodging and others at other places When they came there they all agreed to the general design of the first meeting which was To kill the King Then there was a paper or some instrument to be subscribed This was done and the Sacrament was taken for the concealment of it After that Whitebread Ireland Fenwick and others did agree that Mr. Grove and Mr. Pickering should be imployed to Assassiaate the King One of them Mr. Grove being a lay Brother was to have 15 hundred pounds a great sum the other as a more suitable reward for his pains was to have 30. Thousand Masses said for his Soul Mr. Whitebread Mr. Ireland and Mr. Fenwick were all privy to this design this was the 24th of April In August after they being appointed to kill the King but it not taking effect either their Hearts misgave them or they wanted opportunity there was another meeting at the Savoy where the Witnesses will tell you â—â—our Irish persons were hired for to Kill the King And this was ordered in case the other design took not Effect There was fourscore pounds sent down to them to Windsor where they were to have done the fact After this other persons were appointed to do the Execution and they were to take the King at his Mornning Walk aâ—â— New-Market These persons are all disappointed in their design But you shall hear what was the Agreement how it was carried on and what rewards were given to carry it on We shal acquaint you likewise that for the bottom of this design when so many Jesuits should come over when they should have so many Consultations and when they should resolve to Kill the King there could be no less then the altering of Religion and introduction of Popery here in England And that time at the first meeting they had Ordered that Mr. Cary a Jesuit as their Procurator and Agent should go to Rome to Act their concern there All which things and more will be made out to you by Witnesses produced There are likewise some other Circumstances that will be material to confirm those witnesses We shall produce to you a letter written in February last about that time that Mr. Whitebread sent over his summons for the Jesuits to appear here This letter was written by one Mr. Peters a Jesuit now in Custody and t is Written to one Tunstall a Jesuit to give him notice that he should be in London about the 21th of April and be ready on thâ—â— 24th of April That he
Englands as the Protestant Religion Here Whitebread would have interrupted him My Lord I am so well satisfied in their denyalls that I cannot but believe they who can give a dispensaâ—â—ion and have received the sacrament to kill a King and destroy a whole Kingdom doe not scruple to give a dispensation for a little lye to promote such a design for so much â—â—s this Expiates any lye or greater Crime Sir Cr. Levines Pray Sir will you be pleased to tell your whole knowledge concerning the Prisoners at the Bâ—â—rr Mr. Bedlow The first leâ—â—er â—â—â—â—rrâ—â—eâ—â— waâ—â— from Mr. Harcourt at his house next door to the Arch in Dukes-street He hath been Procurator for the Jesuits about 6. years Hâ—â— employed me first and sent for me ovâ—â—r for I was theâ—â— Lâ—…nt in Flanders and coming home to receive my pay that was due to me L. C. J. How long is it a goe Mr. Bedlow Michaelmus last was 4. years when I came to Dunkirke I went to visit the English Nâ—â—nnery there the Lady Abbesse finding me very plyable inclineable made very much of me and I did adheâ—â—e to her shâ—â— kâ—â—pt â—â— 6. weâ—â—kes in the covent afterwards when I went away recommended me to Sir John Warner as an instrument fit to be employed in the carrying of letters or doing any thâ—â—ng that would promote the design against England He kept me at S. Omers a forthnâ—â—gâ—â—t and aâ—… me to Father Harcourt to be instructed in my employment It was thâ—â—n winâ—â—â— the next spring he sends me into England with divers letters whereby Mr. Harcourt I was emplâ—â—yed to carry several letters to Morton and Doway and oâ—â—her places that summeâ—â— I was sâ—â—nt into England without an answer but afterwards in 76 which was the â—â—xt summer I was to carry another Pacquett of lâ—â—tâ—â—s to the Monks at Paris who sâ—â—nt it to other English Monks in France L. C. J. Who sent that pacquet of letters in 76 Mâ—â— Bedlow I had it from mr Harcourt and it was written by Harcourt Pritchard Carry L. C. J. To whom Mr. Bedlow To the Englâ—â—sh Monkâ—â— iâ—â— France and in it there was a letter â—â—o â—â— Châ—â—se Upon the receipt of these lâ—â—tâ—â—ers at Paris â—â— Châ—â—se had a coâ—â—sulâ—â—tion with the Mâ—â—nkâ—◠〈…〉 a French Bishop or two about them I did not then speak French â—â—â—ugh to â—…d what it was they said but it was interpreted to me by mr Stapleton an English Monk who told me that it was a letter from my Lord Bellasis and others of the Catholick Religion English Gentlemen who were contrivers of the Plot here to satisfie them in what state things stood in England as to Popery I was sent back again with a pacquett of letters directed to mr Vaughan of Courtfield in Monmouthshire L. C. J. From whom was that Mr. Bedlâ—â—w From the English Monks at Paris From that consultation I went to Ponthois I there received other letters to carry into England I had a course to open their letters and read what was in them and in those letters was contained That the Prayers of that house were for the prosperity of that design and they would not fail to be at the consultation at of Warwickshire Gentlemen I fell sick at Monmouth and Mr. Vaughan sent to me a Iesuit to confess me but I was well before he came and so was not confessed by him I now come to the later times L. C. J You must speak it over to the Jury that they and the prisoners may hear you Mr. Bedlow The 25th of May 77. which was last year I was sent over with an other Pacquet of Leâ—â—ters I had no letters of consequence forward and therefore did not call then at Wotton but I called upon the Lady Albesse at Dunkirk and I went thence to Bridges and to Ghent where I had some letters for the English Nâ—â—nns which I delivered to them When I came to Doway I found there that the Monks were gone that was Sheldon Stapleton and Latham but the letters were directed to Paris and therefore I made hast and at Cambray I overtooke them And the letters were to give an account of the consultation held in the Gallery at Sommerset-house all tending to the destruction of the Protestant Religion and killing the King but I doe not think fit to declare here who were the persons that were present at that consultation At Cambray they were very joyful that there was so good a proceeding in England At Paris when the letters were shewed there was a letter written in a language which I did not understand but as I was told in that letter they were charged in Paris by my Lord Bellasis that they did not proceed according to their promise to them in England But said Mr. Stapleton to me my Lord Bellasis nor the society in England need not to write thus to us for We are not so backward but we can lend men and money and Armes too and will upon occasion From thence they sent me to Spain with a letter to an Irish Father I did overtake him at Sa Mora. From thence I went with another letter to the Rector of a Colledge of Irish Jesuits in Salamanca by their contrivance I was sent to St. Jago in Spain where was another Colledge of Irish Jesuits There I staid till I had an answer to Sir Willi Godolphin and when I had the answer to that Letter I went for the letter from the Rector at Salamanca the Jesuits there told me they would take care to send their own answer another way And when they had made me that promise I came away for England and landed at Mill-ford-haven All this reaches to none of these persons in particular But what I now shall say shall be about them only it was necessary I should speak of what I have said L. C. J. The meaning of all this is only to shew the Jury and satisfie them that he was an Agent for these men and hath been employed by them for five years together and he names you the particular places whither he hath been sent to shew you the reasons of his knowledge in this matter and upon what account he comes to be informed of this design Mr. Bedlow Having received the Newes of that country I did there take water and landed againe at Pâ—â—nsans and when I came to London I gave the Letter to Mr. Harcourt What was in that Pacquet I cannot particularly tell for I was not so inquisitive aâ—â— to look into the contents of it but I know it was tending as all the rest did to the carrying on of this Plot Afterwards I was employed by Mr. Harcourt and Mr. Coleman to go to â—â—me parts of England to communicate the letters to some of the popish party L. C. J. Now turn to the Jury Mr. Bedlow The Summer was past in the doing of that in the beginning of August last there was a Consultation and a close one at Mr. Harcourts Chamber so as
Patent he sent Orders to one George Conyers a Jesuit at St. Omers to preach upon St. Thomas of Canterburys day and by virtue of this Order George Conyers did preach against Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and did in his Doctrine call them Anti-Christian and devillish My Lord in the month of January this Mr. Whitebread did send several Letters to St. Omers in which Letters there was contained Intimation of his Intent to proceed against the Kings Person to assassinate Him which Letters were written to Richard Asby My Lord in the month of February there comes an Order from him as Provincial for several of the Jesuits to make their appearance at London to be there at a Consult to be held the 24th of April Old stile Lord Ch. Just Where was Whitebread then Mr. Oates He was then in London My Lord as I suppose by the dateing of his Letters My Lord from Mr. Whitebread after this Summons we received a second Summons which came the 5th of April New stile and upon the Summons there were Nine did appear at London the Rector of Liege Sir Thomas Prestâ—â—n the Rector of Ghent whose name is Marsh the Rector of Wottâ—â—n whose name is Williams and to one Sir John Harper and two or three more from St. Omers and there was a special Order given us My Lord to keep our selves close lest we should be suspected and so our Design disclosed My Lord upon the four and twentieth of April Old stile we did appear in the Consult The Consult was begun at the White horse-Tavern in the Strand and there they met in several Rooms they came on by degrees and as the new ones came on the old ones those that had been there before them fell off And there was one John Cary appointed to go Procurator for Rome and he was so appointed by the suffrages of the three Prisoners at the Bar Whitebread Ireland and Fenwick It was afterwards adjourned into several Colloquies or little meetings one meeting was at Mrs. Sanders house that butts upon Wild-house a second was at M. Ireland's a third was at Mr. Harcourt's a fourth was at Mr. Grove's and other meeting or meetings there were but I cannot give a good accompt of them My Lord after they had thus met and debated the state of Religion and the life of the King they drew up this Resolve it was drawn up by one Mico who was Secretary to the Society and Socius or Companion to the Provincial L. Ch. Just When was that done Mr. Oates That day my Lord the Resolve my Lord was this as near as I can remember the words It is resolved that Thomas Pickering and John Grove shall go on in their Attempt to assassinate the King whether they used the word Assassinate I can't remember but the meaning was they should make an Attempt upon his person and that the Reward of the one that is Grove should be Fifteen hundred pounds and that Pickerings Reward should be Thirty thousand Masses My Lord after this Resolution was signed by Whitbread it was signed by Fenwick and Ireland and by all the four Clubs I saw them sign it for I carried the Instrument from one to another L. Ch. Just What was it they signed Mr. Oates The Resolve of the Consult L. C. Just What that which was drawn up by Mico Mr. Oates Yes my Lord that which was drawn up by Mico Whitebread Doth he say that he saw them sign it Mr. Oates Yes I did see them sign it Jury We desire he may be asked where he saw them sign it Mr. Oates Mr. Whitebread signed it at that part of the Consult that was at his Chamber Ireland did sign it at that part of the Consult that was at his Chamber Fenwick signed it at that part of the Consult that was at his Chamber Whitebread Were you at all these places Mr. Oates I went with it from place to place but I mention no more now but only these Whitebread You were not at all these places and saw them sign it were you Mr. Oates Yes I did see them sign it at all those places My Lord in the month of May Mr. Whitebread came over as Provincial from England to St. Omers to begin his Provincial Visitation and with him came Cary and his Companion Mico Cary left St Omers to begin his Journy to Rome Whitebread after he had given an Accompt of what proceedings the Catholicks of England had made in order to disturb the peace of the Kingdom what moneys had been gathered what suffrages dispersed what means have been used what Noblemen had joyned in this execrable Plot he did then my Lord order me to come for England L. Ch. Just Whitebread did Mr. Oates Yes my Lord Whitebread did And my Lord the business I was to come into England for was to murder one Dr. Tongue a Dr. in Divinity who had written a Book called The Jesuits Morals that is to say Translated them out of French into English my Lord I came over into England on the the 23th of June New stile I came out of St. Omers that is the 13th in the stile of England on the 24th New stile I took the Packet Boat at Calice the 25th New stile I met with Mr. Fenwick at Dover He was come down with certain youths to send them to St. Omers and had ordered their passage My Lord with Mr. Fenwick and some other persons we came to London in a Coach and six miles as near as I remember it on this side Canterbury at a place called Bolton our Coach was stopt by the searchers and there they did examine a Box that was in the Coach directed for the honourable Richard Blundel Esq this Box when they opened it they found full of Beads Crucifixes Images and other sorts of Trompery that I cannot give a good account of it 's he can give the best Mr. Fenwick went by the name of one Thompson and did personate one Thompson as Living near the Fountain Tavern at Charing-Cross and did order the searcher to write to him there as by the name of Thompson When the Box was seized they being prohibited Goods Mr. Fenwick did say that if they had searcht his Pockets they had found such Letters about him as might have cost him his life but his Letters did escape searching We came that night to Sittenburgh and lay there on Sunday the 26th new stile as near as I remember and I think we staid there till the afternoon We took Coach in the afternoon and came as far as Dartford On Munday morning we came into London and my Lord when we came into London and had continued there some dayes I now return to Mr. Whitebread There came one Ashby to town he had been sometime Rector of St. Omers and was come to England sick of the Gout and was to go to the Baâ—â—h to be Cured And he brought instructions with him from Whitebread and the instructions contained in them these particulars
Bedlow how long he had known them saith he I did not know them three years ago though I did talk of them three years ago for we have talkt of many that we never saw in our lives so it seems he had occasion to make use of your names frequently and joyn them with these of some he knew better But he never knew you tâ—â—ll August last but he did discourse of you three years ago as known for such sort of persons Ireland He must hear some body speak of us as being in some place or another Mr. W. Bedlow I will satisfie you in that we talk of some now in England that are to be sent a year hence L. C. J. If you can produce but Haâ—â—court and le Faire they will do you great service now Mr. W. Bedlow My Lord aâ—â— for example Father Pritchard is Confessor to such a Gentleman in England now thiâ—â— year a year hence we mâ—â—t â—â—â—d such a one hither and he must go back And we may talk of thâ—â— person as iâ—â— England two years before L. C. J. You need not trouble your selves about that Mr. Ireland you shall have a fair Tryal but you will not have cunning or art enough to deceive the Jury nor will Mr. Whitebread have learning enough to baffle the Court. Then Mr. W. Bedlow and his Brother withdrew Mr. Serj. Baldwyn My Lord the next Evidence that we shall give as I said is a Letter from one Peters to one Tonstall and this we will bring home to Mr Whitebread for it is an invitation to be at the Consuâ—â—t held in London the 24th of April and it was written about that very time to wit the 3d of April It was written from London and it mentions that Mr. Whitebread did fiâ—â— the meeting at that time We 'll tell you how we came by the Letter Mr. Harcourt who is one of the principal persons here and at whose House was the meeting you heard oâ—â— he himself is flâ—â—d away when they came to look after him upon the discovery that was made And Mr. Bradley who was the messenger to seize upon him did according to direction search his Study and did there find this Letter which we conceive my Lord to be very good Evidence this Harcourt being a party and one at whose houâ—â—e the last meeting was and others was We do conceive a â—â—etter from one of that party bearing date about the same time concerning Mr. Whitebreads Summons who was Master of the Company is a very good Evidence against them L. C. J. â—â—f you had found it in Mr. Whitebreads custody you say something Mr. Jâ—â—st Bertue My Brother puts it so we find a Letter directed to Mr. Whitebread let the matter of it be what it will it is found among Harcourts papers Mr. Serj. Baldwin No my Lord we find a letter from one Mr. Peters now a prisoner directed to Mr. Tonstal concerning the Consult summoned by Whitebread and this we find in Harcourts possession L. C. J. I can't understand how this may affect Mr. Whitbread M. Finch Pray my Lord if your Lordship please this is the use we make of this Letter we do not produce it as anoâ—â—er Evidence of this Design but to fortifie that part of the Evidence which hath already been given That there was a Consult summoned at that time and to be held with all tht privacy that could be to prevent discovery And this is the Paper that we find in the custody of Harcourt one of the Conspirators who is fled for it L. C. J. Look you Mr. Finch if you use it not against any particular person but as an Evidence in general that there was a Plot amongst them you say right enough but it cannot â—â—e Evidence against any one particular person of the prisoners at the Bar. Mr Finch My Lord it can affect no particular person but we only use it in the general and we pray it may be reaâ—â— L. C. J. Gentlemen of the Jury before you hear the Letter read I would say this to you Let them have fair play whatsoever they meâ—â—e unto â—â—thers we will shew them justice They shall have as fair play upon their Tryals as any persons whatsoever The thing that is offered to be given in evidence is a Letter written by one Peters a prisoner for this Plot and directed to one Tonstal a Jesuit and this is found in Harcourts Chamber a Priest that is fled and one whom the King hath commanded to render himself by His Proclamation but he does not Now in that Letter there is a discourse of a Design and Plot on fooâ—â— This cannot be Evidence to charge any oâ—â—e particular person of these but only to satisfie you and all the woâ—â—ld that those letters and papers that are â—â—oâ—â—d amongst their own Priests do fortifie the Testimony of Mr. Oates that there is a general Plot 't is not applied to any particular person Mr. Oates The day before the Consult met Mr. Whitebread did ask Mr. Peters whether he had summoned the Consult according to his directioâ—â— Mr. Peters told him yes he had writ into Warwick-shire and Worcester-shire Whitebread When was this Mr Oates the day before the consult meâ—â— Whitebread Did you hear me ask Mr. Peters Mr. Oates Yes I did hear you and I did hear him say he had done it now my Lord this Letter that is found in Harcourts study shewes that Mr. Whitebread had directed Mr Peters in this consult Mr. Serj. Baldwin Pray swear Sir Tho Doleman to shew how he came by it Which was done Mr. Serj Baldwin Sir Tho Doleman what do you know of this Letter Sir Thomas Doleman this Letter in my hand was taken amongst Harcourts papers in a great Bag of papers and searching them I did find this Letter amongst the rest Then the Letter was shewn to Mr. Oates L. C J. Is that Mr. Peters hand Mr. Oates Yes my Lord it is L C. J. Were you acquainted with his hand Mr. Oates Yes my Lord I have often read it in Letters L. C. J. Do you know Tonstall Mr. Oates My Lord I do not know him by that name If I did see him perhaps I might I know men better by their faces Sir Cr. Levines pray read it Cl. of the Crown This is Dated February 23d 77 And superscribed thus these for his honourd friend Mr. William Tonstal at Burton Honoured dear sir I have but time to convey these following particulars to you first I am to give you notice that it hath seemed fitting to â—â—ur Master consult Prov. c. to fix the 21st day of April next stylo viteri For the meeting at London of our congregation on which day all those that have a suffrage are to be present thâ—â—re that they may be ready to give a beginning to the same on the 24th which is the next day after St. Georges day you are warned to have jus suffragij and therefore if your occasions should not permit you
THE TRYALS OF VVILLIAM IRELAND THOMAS PICKERING JOHN GROVE For Conspiring to Murder the KING Who upon Full Evidence were found Guilty of High Treason At the SESSION-HOUSE in Old-Bailye Dec. 17. 1678 and received Sentence accordingly Reprinted at Dublin M DC LXXVIII The TRYALS of William Ireland Thomas Pickering and John Grove ON Tuesday the Seventeenth day of December One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy and Eight Thomas White alias Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickerâ—â—ng â—â—nd John Grove were brought from his Majesties Gaol of Newgate to the Sessions-house â—â—t â—â—stice-Hall in the Old-Baily being there Indicted for High Treason for contriving and â—â—ot â—â—iring to Murder the King to receive their Tryal and the Court proceeded thereupon â—â—s â—â—lloweth The Court being Set Proclamation was made for Attendance Thus. Clerk of Crown Cryâ—â—r make Proclamation Cryer O yes O yes O yes All manner of Persons that have any thing to do at this General Sessions of the Peace holden for the City of London Sessions of Oyer and Termiâ—â—er and Gaol Delivery of Newgate holden for the City of London and County of Middlesex draw near and give your attendance for now the Court will proceed to the Pleas of the Crown for the same City and County God Save the King Clerk of Crown Cryer make proclamation Cryer O yes All manner of Persons are commanded to keep Silence upon pain of impriâ—â—onment Peace about the Court. Clerk of Crown Cryer make Proclamation Cryer O yes You Good men of the County of Middlesex that are Summoned to appear â—â—ere this day to Enquire between our Soveraign Lord the King and the prisoners that are 〈…〉 shall be at the Bar. Answer to your names as you shall be called every one at the first â—â—all and Save your issues The Jurors being called and the Defaults recorded the Clerk of the Crown called for â—â—he Prisoners to the Bar viz. Thomas White alias Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering and John Grove and Arraigned them thus Clerk of Crown Thomas White alias Whitebread hold up thy hand Which he did William Ireland hold up thy hand Which he did John Fenwick hold up thy hand Which he did Thomas Pickering hold up thy hand Which he did John Grove hold up thy hand Which he did You stand indicted by the names of Thomas White alias Whitebread late of the Parish of St. Giles in the fields in the County of Middlesex Clerk William Ireland late of the same Parish and County Clerk John Fenwick late of the same Parish and County Clerk Thoâ—â—â— Pickering late of the same Parish and County Clerk and John Grove late of the same â—…h and County Gent. For that you five as false Traitors c. against the peace of our Soâ—â—raign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the Form of the Stature in â—â—hat Case made and Provided How sayst thou Thomas VVhite alias Whitebread art thou Guilty of this Hâ—â—gh Treason whereof thou standest Indicted or not Guilty Whitebread Not Guilty Clerk of the Crown Culprit how wilt thou be Tryed Whitebread By God and my Country Clerk of Crown God send thee a good deliverance How sayst thou William Ireland aâ—â— thou Guilty of the same High Treason or not Guilty Ireland Not Guilty Clerk of Crown Culprit how wilt thou be tryed Ireland By God and my Countrey Clerk of Crown God send thee a good Deliverance How saist thou John Fenwick aâ—â— thou guilty of the same High Treason or not Guilty Fenwick Not Guilty Clerk of Crown Culprit how wilt thou be Tryed Fenwick By God and my Countrey Clerk of Crown God send thee a good deliverance How saist thou Thomas Pickering aâ—â— thou Guilty of the same High Treason or not Guilty Pickering Not Guilty Clerk of Crown Culprit how wilt thou be Tryed Pickering By God and my Country Clerk of Crown God send thee a good deliverance How saist thou John Grove art thoâ—â— Guilty of the same High Treason or not Guilty Grove Not Guilty Clerk of Crown Culprit how wilt thou be Tryed Grove By God and my Countrey Clerk of Crown God send thee a good Deliverance You the Prisoners at the Bar those men that you shall hear called and do Personally appear are to pass between oâ—â— Soveraign Lord the King and you upon Tryal of your several Lives and deaths if therefore you or any of you will Challenge them or any of them your time is to speak unto them as they come to the Book to be Sworn before they be sworn Sir Philip Mathews to the Book Sir Philip Mathews I desire Sir William Roberts may be called first Which was granted Clerk of Crown Sir William Roberts to the Book Look upon the Prisoners you shall welâ—â— and truly Try and true deliverance make between our Soveraign Lord the King and thâ—â— Prisoners at the Bar whom you shall have in your charge according to your Evidence Sâ—â— help you God The same Oath was administred to th the Rest the Prisoners challenging none and theiâ—â— Names in Order were thus JURY Sir William Roberts Baronet Sir Philip Mathews Bar Sir charles Lee Knight Edward VVilford Esq John Foster Esq Joshua Galliard Esq John Byfield Esquire Thomas Egglesfield Esq Thomas Johnson Esq John Pulford Esq Thomas Earnesby Esq Richard VVheeler Gent. Clerk of Crown Cryer count these Sir VVillam Roberts Cryer One c Clerk of Crown Richard VVheeler Cryer Twelve Good Men and True stand together and hear your Evidence Clerk of Crown Cryer make Proclamation Cryer O yes If any one can inform my Lords the Kings Justices the Kings Serjeant the Kings Attorney or this Inquest now to betaken between our Sovereign Lord the King and the Prisoners at the Bar let them come forth and they shall be heard for now the Prisoners stand at the Bar upon their deliverance and all others that are bound by Recognizance to give Evidence against any of the Prisoners at the Bar let them come forth and give their Evidenceâ—â— or else they forfeâ—â—t their Recognizance And all Jury men of Middâ—â—esex that have been summoned and have appeared are not sworn may depart the Court and take their eases Cl of Crown Make proclamation of Silence Cryer O yes All manner of Persons are commanded to keep Silence upon pain of imprisonment Cl of Crown Thomas white alias Whitebread hold up thy hand which he did and so of the rest You that are sworn look upon the Prisoners and harken to their Cause You shall understand that they stand Indicted by the names of Thomas White otherwise Whitebread late of the Parish of St. Gyles in the Fields in the county of Middlesex Clerk William Ireland late of the same Parish in the County aforesaid Clerk John Fenwick late of the same parish in the County aforesaid Clerk Thomas Pickering late of the same parish in the County aforesaid Clerk and John Grove late of the same parish in the County aforesaid Gentleman For that they as
thing among them L. C. Just Perhaps it was Fasting-day L. Ch. Baron My Lord their Fasting-days are none of the worst Mr. Oates No we commonly eat best on those days L. C. J. Have you any thing to ask him any of you Whitebread My Lord will you be pleased to give me leave to speak for my self Mr. Just Atkins It is not your time yet to make your full Defence but if you will ask him any Questions you may Whitebread I crave your mercy my Lord. L. C. J. Will you ask him any Questions Fenw. Did not you say that you were at my Chamber the 24th of April with the Resolve of the Consult Mr. Oates That Resolve I did then carry to your Chamber Fenw. Then was he himself at St. Omers L. C. J. The difference of old flile and new stile may perhaps make some alteration in the circumstance Whitebread But my Lord he hath sworn he was present at several Consultations in April and May but from November till June he was constantly at St. Omers L C. J. If you can make it out that he was at St Omers all April and May then what he hath said cannot be true Ireland He himself hath confessed that he was at St. Omers L. C. J. If you mean by Confession what stands upon the Evidence he hath given I 'le remember you what that was He says he came to St. Omers Mr. Oates Will your Lordship give me leave to satisfie the Court In the month of December or November I went to St. Omers I remained there all January February March and some part of April Then I came over with the Fathers to the Consult that was appointed the 24th of that month Fenw. Did you go back again Mr. Oates Yes Fenw. When was that Mr. Oates In the month of May presently after the Consult was over Fenw. And we can prove by abundance of Witnesses that he went not from St. Omers all that month L. C. J. You shall have what time you will to prove what you can and if you can prove what you say you were best fix it upon him for he saith he was here at the Consults in April and May if you can proove otherwise pray do Fenw. We can bring an Authentick Writing if there be any such from St Omers under the Seal of the Colledge and testified by all the Colledge that he was there all the while L. C. J. Mr. Fenwick that will not do for the first if it were in any other case besides this it would be no evidence but I know not what you cannot get from St. Omers or what you will not call Authenthick Fenwick Does your Lordship think there is no Justice out of England L. C. J. It is not nor cannot be Evidence here Fenwick It shall be signed by the Magistrates of the Town L. C. J. What there Fenwick Yes there L C. J. You must be tryed by the Laws of England which sends no piece of Fact out of the country to be tryed Fenwick But the evidence of it may be brought hither L. C. J. Then you should have brought it you shall have a fair Tryal but we must not depart from the Law or the way of Tryal to serve your purposes You must be tryed according to the Law of the Land Mr. J. Atkins Such evidences as you speak of we would not allow against you and therefore we must not allow it for you Whitebread May this Gentleman be put to this to produce any two Witnesses that see him in town at that time Mr. Oates I will give some circumstances and what Tokens I have to prove my being hâ—â—re Father Warner Sir Tho Preston Father Williams and Sir John Warner they came hither with me â—â—om Sâ—â— Omers there was one Nevil c. I cannot reckon them all L. C. J. You have named enough Mr. Oates But to convince them there was a Lad in the house that was got to the end of his Rhetorick this Lad was whipt and turned out of the house and had lost all hiâ—â— money Father Williams did re-imbursâ—â— this Lad in order to his bringing home I think the Lads name was Hilsâ—â—ey oâ—â— somâ—â— sâ—â—ch â—â—â—e And we came up to London together L. C. J. What say you to this circumstance Whitebread My Lord he knew that two such came to Town but he was not with them L. C. J. You are now very good at a negative I see how can you tell that Whitbread My Lord he could not come L. C. J. How can you tell he could not come Whitebread I can tell it very well for he had no order to come nor did come L. C. J. How can you undertake to say that he did not comâ—â— Whitebread Because he had no order to come L. C. J. Is that all your reason where were you then Whitebread I was here L. C. J How do you know he was not here Whitebread He had no orders to come L. C. J. Have you any other circumstance Mr. Oates to prove that you were here ther Mr. Oates My Lord when I came to London I was ordered to keep very close and I lay at Mr. Groves House let him deny it if he can I le tell you who lay there then Groves Did you ever ye at my house Mr. Oates Theâ—â—e lâ—â—y a Flaxâ—â—n Hâ—â—iâ—â—'d Gentlemen I forgot his name but I le tell you who lay there besides that is Strange that was the late Provincial L. C. J. Did Strange ever lye at your house Groves Yes my Lord he did L. C. J. Did he lye thâ—â—re in April oâ—â— Mâ—â—y Grove No he did not in â—â—iâ—â—her of them Lr. C. J You will mâ—â—e that appear Grove Yes that I can by all the House L. C. J. Have you any more questions to ask him If you have do If you can prove this upon him that he was abâ—â—eâ—â— and nâ—â—t in England in April or May you have made a great defence for your selves and it shall be remembred for your advantage when it comes to your turn In the mean tâ—â—me if you have no more to say to him call another Witness Let Mr. Oates sit down again and have some refreshment Mr. Serjant Baldwin We will now call Mr. Bedlow my Lord. Theâ—â— Mr. Bedlow was sworne Mr. Serj Baldwin Mr. Bedlow pray doe you tell my Lord and the Jury what you know of any design of kiâ—â—ling the King and by whom Mr Bedlow My Lord. I have been five years almost employed by the Society of Jesuits and the English Monks in Paris to carry and bring letters between them from England and to England for the promoting of a design tending to the subversion of tâ—â—e Government and the Extirpating of the Protestant Religion to that degree which was always concluded on in all their Consults wherein I was that they would not leave any member of any Hereâ—â—ick in England that should Sâ—â—rvive to tell in the Kingdom hereafter that there ever was any such religion in