THE DISCOVERY OF THE Popish Plot BEING The several Examinations of TITUS OATES D. D. Before the High Court OF PARLIAMENT The Lord CHIEF JUSTICE Sir EDMUND-BURY GODFRY And several other of His MAJESTY's JUSTICES of the PEACE London Printed 1679. Titus Oates D. D. his Journal and Affidavit of his Discovery of the Conspiracy before Sir Edmund-Bury Godfry Septemb. the 27th 1678. IMprimis Richard Strange Provincial John Keines Bazil Longworth John Fenwick and Mr. Hartcourt Jesuites did Write a Treasonable Letter to Father Sinman an Irish Jesuite at Madrid in the Kingdom of Spain in which was contained their Plotting and Contriving a Rebellion in Scotland of the Presbyterians against the Episcopal Government in order to which they have imployed one Matthew Wright William Morgan and Mr. Ireland to go and Preach under the Notion of Presbyterians and give the disaffected Scots a true understanding of their sad States and Conditions which they were in by reason of Episcopal Tyranny exercised against them and withall to tell them now they had a fair opportunity to Vindicate their Liberty and Religion and that it could be done by no other way but the Sword and that now the King was addicted to his Pleasure that he would and could take but little care of that Concern In the said Letter it was expressed they had gotten an Interest in His Royal Highness but they deal with him as they think fit and that they were resolved by all means to weaken the King of England's Interest by informing his Friends of his intent to betray them into the Hands of Forraign Powers viz. to send them to fall by the Sword in the French King's Service against the Confederate Princes which Letter bares Date April 19 27 1677. 2. That the Persons abovementioned gave the Deponent 10 l. to carry the said Letter to Father Sinman into the Kingdom of Spain to Madrid the said Sinman being the Provincial General for the Kingdom of England and Ireland and in order to which Message the Deponent Embarked himself in the Ship called the Bâ—sca Merchant whereof Luke Bath-Roch was then Master to go for Bâ—lboa and there took Mules for Valladolydd but staying a day at Burgos in Spain the Deponent broke open the said Letter and found these Contents in the same 3. That they of the Society of Jesus in the English Seminary at St. Omers sent a Mission of Twelve Students into the Kingdom of Spain viz. Eight to Valladolydd and Four to Madrid there being English Colledges in both places in order to Study Philosophy and Divinity which Missioners were sent by Richard Ashbey Richard Peter Nicholas Blundel and Charles Peter by the Patents of the several Missioners by which they had power to demand Admission into the respective Colledges to which they were sent which Missioners were obliged by the Jesuits of the Colledges to renounce their Allegiance to His Majesty of Great Britain in the hearing of the Deponent and those of Valladolydd were taught by Daniel Armestrong a Jesuite Minister of the English there That First the Oath of Allegiance is Heretical and Anti-christian and Divellish and that Charles Stuart King of England is no Lawful King but comes of aspurious Rase and 〈◊〉 his Father was a Black Scotch-man and not King Charles the First This was delivered in a Sermon the 29th of Sept. 1677. to the Students there which Sermon the Deponent did hear and in this Sermon the said Daniel Armestrong in plain words did say that the King of England was a Bastard now that Daniel Armestrong goeth in Spain by the Name of Joseph Munford in Spanish by John Montefortio 4. That the said John Munford alias Armestrong did bring Letters from St. Omers to the English Colledge at Valladolydd to the Father there in Latin by reason they were Spaniards in which was expressed and related from the Fathers at St. Omers that the Fathers of the Society of London hath procured one Father Beningfield to be Confessor to His Royal Highness but if they saw that His Royal Highness did not answer their expectation they would dispose of him as they did intend to dispose of His Brother the King which they hoped to effect within a year which Letter bares Date June 1677. and Subscribed by Richard Ashbey alias Shimbleby Rector of the English Jesuites at St. Omers Richard Peter Minister Edward Nevil Prefect of the Studies Ch. Peters Prefect of Sodality John Farmor Prefect of Manors which Letters the Deponent saw in the Month of September 1677. at Valladolydd in the Kingdom of Spain 5. That Father Sinman above mentioned Writ to the English Colledge and the Fathers there said that the King of England was Poysoned to the great Joy of the English Fathers and that they would serve King James so if he did not give them a good assurance of bringing in the Catholick Religion and of rooting out the Protestant this Letter bore Date July the And was seen and read by the Deponent at Valladolydd near the latter end of July 1677. 6. That one Father John Blake alias Cross who went with the Four Students to Madrid did bring Letters from Richard Strange Provincial of the Jesuits and one Father Gray a Jesuit and John Keines to Father Sinman above mentioned in which was specifyed the great diligence was used by the said Richard Strange Father Gray and John Keines to procure such persons to dispatch the King and to put a period to his dayes which Letter bore date June the 10. 1677. Stilo Novo And the Deponent being sent to Madrid in August read it in Father Sinmans Chamber he shewing it also at the same time to James Arch-Bishop of Tuam of the Kingdom of Ireland 7. That the said Father Sinman received another Letter July the 20. 1677. Stilo Novo from Richard Strange Father Gray John Keines Bazill Longworth John Fenwick Father Ireland and Father Hartcourt in which they did manifest they were very sorry for informing him that he might assure himself that the business was done there man William being faint harted could not then do it though he had 15000 l. promised for his pains of which Letters the English Missioners by one information that at Madrid by John Cross alias Blake and those of Valladolydd by Daniel Armestrong Jesuit which Letters the deponent saw in the Chamber of Mr. Synman at Madrid at the same time that he saw the Letters of the _____ June mentioned in the fore-going paragraph or number 8. That on the 3. of November Stilo Novo Father Petro Jeronymo de Cordela Provincial of the Jesuits in New Castle did write to Richard Strange and John Keines that if the business of dispatching of the King of England could be effected they should have 10000 l. which Letter the deponent brought from Valladolydd to Bilboa and imbarked in a Ship within 5 dayes after his Arrival thither and in five dayes more arrived at a little Town near Exeter and in five dayes more at London and delivered
the Letter to Richard Strange and when opened it was writ in Lattin and read by the said Strange and he said that all means should be used to answer Father Petro's expectation and in the Letter to Strange was one inclosed to this Keines by the Name of John de Neaporto de la Companey de Jesus which Letter the said Keines offered the Deponent to read and because of the Spanish abbreviation the Deponent did not well understand the Letter it being also in the Spanish Tongue so that the Deponent could but make little of it therefore the said Strange did give the Deponent the Letter directed to himself saying that he thought the Deponent understood the Letter better then Spanish that the Deponent read the Letter and found in it the Contents above mentioned and the said Keines being then ill upon Stranges Bed said that he hoped that God would strengthen honest Williams heart to do this work now this honest William is a Servant of the Society of London this Strange did lye at Mr. Saunders his House part of Wild-house in Wild-street where the Deponent heard this discourse from Strange and Keines 9. That the said Richard Strange Bazill Longworth Father Hartcourt John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Gray Father Jenison Father Saunders and Father Euliston did write a Letter and subscribed it and did send it to St. Omers to Richard Ashbey Alias Thimbleby Rector of the English Seminary there in which he and the rest of the Fathers were given to understand that the King was as well given to Debauchery as Whoreing that they had an intent to get one to stab him in his Court at Whitehall and if that could not be conveniently done they would imploy one of his Physitians to Poyson him and for his work they had 10000 l. in the hands of one Worseley a Gold-Smith which Money was procured by one Father Leshee a French Jesuit and Confessor to the French King which Letter the Deponent saw and read and saw it subscribed by the above said persons and carried them to St. Omers he went down to Dover in a Coach place being taken for him by the said William their Servant but whose Name is John Groves the Letter carried bore date December 1677. Stilo Novo 10. That Letters were inclosed in this Letter aforementioned the aforementioned Father Leshee in which thanks were given him by the Father that had subscribed the Letter to Father Richard Ashbey for his great charity to them and his care for the propagating the Catholick Religion and that all meanes should be used to destroy the opposers of it both root and branch which Letters bear date the sixth or seventh day of December which Letters the Deponent carried inclosed with those of Richard Ashbey to St. Omers and from St. Omers to Paris and delivered them into the hands of the said Leshee about the 18. December as near as the Deponent can remember 11. That other Letters bearing date December the 12. 1677. were sent from Richard Strange and others of the Society of London to those of the Society of the English Seminaries at St. Omers and them Letters were inclosed to Father Leshee in which they told him they had stirred up the Presbyterians in Scotland to a Rebellion and that 20000 l. of them would be in Arms if that his Majestie would break with the King of England and that a way was also made for the French King landing an Army in Ireland and further that the Irish Catholicks were ready to rise in order to which 40000 Black Bills were provided to serve the Irish Souldiers withal which Letters were subscribed by Richard Strange John Keines and John Fenwick and the outside Letter directed to Richard Ashbey and told the Deponent that the Letter to Leshee was carried by a special messenger for which he had 10 Pattacoones as the said Ashbey to the Deponent said and that the Messenger was Drummer of St. Omers 12. That an other Packet sub-date the 18. of December 1677. in which it was specified that the Father Grall of the Society of Jesus at Rome had written and removed Richard Strange from being Provincial and had profered the Provincialship on Thomas Whitebread Ordered that Father Conyers should Preach on Thomas of Canterbury's day in the sodality Church in the English Seminary against the oath of Supremacy and Allegiance and that he should exhort the Fathers to stand by the new Provincial who would be as zealous for the bringing in of the Catholick Religion into England as ever his Predecessors were and would not leave one stone unturned to promote the same which said Letter was directed and read by Richard Ashbey and this was about the 24. of December 13. That another Packet Sub-Date the 26. where it was ordered by Thomas Whitebread Richard Strange John Keins Bazill Longworth John Fenwick Francis Gray Father Hartcourt Senior Father Hartcourt Junior Father Michael Father Benefield Father Ireland Father Blundel Father Jenison and some others of the Society That Father Leshee should be written to by Richard Ashbey and informed that the Fathers before named had met together to contrive the advancement of the Design of the happy disposal of His Majesty of Great Britain and if his Royal Highness should not appear to answer the expectation the former giving no hopes at all they would endeavour with all speed his dispatch that he might not hinder their design of Bringing in the Catholick Religion and if they could not find an opportunity of taking him from his Kingdom they would take his Kingdom from him which Letter he this Deponent saw in the hands of Richard Ashbey and desired to read it but the said Ashbey would not read it to him Jan. the 2. 1678. 14. That in the said Letter of December the 26. it was specified that Richard Ashbey and Nicholas Blundel was Constituted by Patent from the Provincial to be Ordinary of Newgate to go and visit the Condemned Prisoners and to seduce them to the Catholick Religion and to Catechize some Youths in London and every day in the Week he hath his several places where he teaches Youth treasonable Doctrines and mutinous against the Interest and Person of His Sacred Majesty and giveth several sums of Mony to their Parents if Poor to encourage them to send their Children to be thus instructed which passages was contained in the aforesaid Letter and afterwards practised in London 15. That another Packet came to Richard Ashbey to St. Omers from Thomas White John Keines and others of the Society of Jesus in London Which Letters from them and others were inclosed to Father Thomas Stapleton Procurator at Brussels to perswade the Father Confessor to the Duke De villa Hermosa to inform him that His Majesty of England did not intend to assist His Majesty of Spain but to stand a looker on till he was ruined by the French King which Letter being not sealed was seen heard and by Richard Ashbey Rector of St. Omers
not One Penny in Stock nor any Income besides the Spanish Embassadors Allowance for assisting in his Chappel They by the Deponent did present their Service to the Fathers met together and bad him tell them their prayers to God and our Blessed Lady should not be wanting all which was acted by Order of the Provincial of the Society 62. Item the Deponent went to see John Fenwick on the 19. of August in the afternoon and whilst he was there in comes John Keines and presently after him Richard Blundel after Salutation past they asked the Deponent what news he answered he had heard none but what was in the Gazett then Blundel said he had been with his Work-men and they wanted Oyle what the meaning of this is the Deponent cannot positively tell but believes it was Sheeps Fat for the said Blundel would not tell the Deponent his meaning by it when asked Then the Deponent asked of Keines when he was for Windor he replied the Court was scarcely setled as yet but said Mr. Coniers and Mr. Anderton were to go down on the Morrow August the 20. and in the Morning And if they did any thing as to the business in hand it would hasten his going down and therefore as yet could not certainly tell when the Deponent asked further how honest William did Keines replied he was troubled with a sore Throat and very bad with it that he could not ride to Windsor and it would be dangerous for him to go by Water and that cold would be contracted and he rendred unfit for service Then the Deponent took his leave of them if being near Six of the Clock in the afternoon and went to the Monks Convent and enquired there of one Rumley a Lay Brother of the Orders for Mr. Coniers who said he was not within yet not far off yet not to be spoken withal for he was with some of the Benedictine Fathers about business and on the Morrow Morning was to go out of Town betimes So the Deponent left him and being but a little way from the place met Coniers who laughing said the †Roone Still People were fools to set upon * The King 48. at Windsor because he was seldome in a posture to receive their kindness but he would see his Worship and talk with him in some other Language †Gun-powder Then Formillio the Deponent asked him how he replyed that if the Shirt on his back knew he would Burn it if that should not take effect no means or opportunity should be neglected in order to the dispatch of 48 he further told the Deponent he was in hast his time short and business great but told the Deponent honest William and Pickering should stay in Town seeing the Person concerned was hic Vbique never long in one place 63. Item That on Tuesday the 21 of August a consult was held by the Jesuits then in London with certain Benedictine Monks about a Letter received from the Arch-bishop of Dubline Talbot to the Fathers of the Society in which they were given to understand that Four Irish Jesuits had undertaken the death of the Duke of Ormond and upon his death the Irish were ready to rise and in his Letter told them that a Legate was arrived in Ireland from the Pope and that he had asserted the Popes right to that Kingdom and that the Kings of England ceasing from being Roman Catholicks were no longer concerned therein being given them during the good pleasure of his Holiness and therefore did incourage the said Arch-Bishop to contrive and use all means for the Recovery of that Kingdom out of the hands of the English and in the said Letter it was mentioned that if opportunities did not permit the said Jesuits to do their business that they should send over one Dr. Foggarlie now lodging at Mr. Symmonds the Widow of Symmonds and Apothecary and that he and the Fathers in Ireland together with the said Foggerlie would find out an expedient way for the death of the said Duke of Ormond Furthermore he did specifie that they had procured several Irish to be made Commissioned Officers in the Garrisons in Ireland and that he and the rest had dispenced with them to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and that the Irish that had so gotten Commissions by the Arch-bishops means had promised to betray their interest into their hands when the business should be ripe and therefore desired the Fathers to be diligent in England as he and the rest of the Clergy were in Ireland which Letter John Keines did shew to and read to this Deponent Keines and Blundel giving this Deponent an account of the consultation also Foggerlie did tell the same to the Deponent on the 21. of August and that he had great Interest in the Court of Ireland 64. Item That the said Foggerly is a main Agent in this Hellish Plot and hath promised if the Arch-bishop Talbot will make use of him he will do him all the Service he can as the Deponent is ready to justifie to the face of the said Foggerlie who did tell the Deponent that himself and Coleman were in the Consult when Wakeman was contracted withal in order to Poyson the King and said if he had the interest in the King that Wakeman had he would have undertaken it himself and all this was told the Deponent on the 21 of August in Foggerlies Chamber And furthermore the said Foggerlie did then and there tell the Deponent that he had hired Four Irish Russians whose names he did neither tell the Consulters that met that day nor the Deponent and they were to mind the Kings posture at Windsor but the Deponent telling the said Foggerlie he heard the King was gone to Porch-mouth he was wonderfully troubled by reason as the said Foggerlie did say it did much impede their design and nothing would be attempted as long as absent from Windsor 65. Item That the Lord Embassador at the Court of Spain Sir William Godalphin holdeth great correspondency with Jerom Sinman the Irish Jesuit before mentioned Procurator for the Jesuits in England and Ireland also with the Arch-bishop of Tuam now at Madrid as is a friend in his business as the said Sinman did inform the Society in a Letter of the 30 of July 1678 Stilo Novo And likewise in one to the Deponent wherein he did specifie that Sir William was as industrious as any one could be to answer the expectations of the Society and that he had one Protestant Servant and his Chapline in the House viz. the the Cook which makes a couple and the Deponent knows that Godolphin is a Papist and has perverted a Kinsman of his own also the Deponent knoweth the Embassador is very familiar with the Irish Jesuits the Arch Bishop Tuam and Sinman and the Deponent doth verily believe that Mr. Hodges sometimes Chaplain to the Lord Embassador if required testifie as much and this Deponent further saith