glass of Wine with him which this Informant consented unto and went out of the Coffee-House with him and desired him to go to the Rose-Tavern in Bridges-Street but he desired to go farther At the Horse-Shoe Tavern this Informant desired the said Wyard to go in thither But he there desired to go farther and so drilled this Informant on into Grays-Inn Walks Which this Informant consented to And in Discourse he there told this Informant that this Informant had his Fortune in his hand This Informant ask'd him In What The said Wyard replied He knew my wants If you will but Cudgel a man you shall have 200l One Hundred in hand and the other Hundred when the Work or Business is done To which this Informant replied That that might be done by a Porter for a Shilling To which the said Wyard replied You may believe by the sum that is offered that there is some thing more to be done besides Cudgelling And when you have done you shall have a better Reward To which this Informant replied He scorned such unworthy and base Proposals and utterly refused to treat with him about it Then the said Wyard desired this Informant to go and speak with the Lord Powis in the Tower To which this Informant answered That he had no business with the Lord Powis nor the Lord Powis any with him as he knew of Who then shewed this Informant a letter from the Lord Powis to this Informant which Letter was to this effect Mr. de Faria Come to me to the Tower and speak with me but let no body know who you are The said Mr. Wyard when he found this Informant utterly refused to go to the Lord Powis or to treat in the said business any farther the said Wyard then told this Informant He would meet this Informant in the same place on the morrow and would then bring this Informant a Letter from a Person of Quality whose hand this Informant did well know and that this Informant had Papers then in his pocket under the said Persons hand And on the morrow the said Wyard did meet this Informant in the said place and then shewed him a Letter writ in the Portugueze Language which contained these words being into English Translated Francis Do what this Man bids you for it shall be well done Subscribed Gasper de Abreu de Freitas And this Informant farther sayeth That he knew the Hand and did compare it with some Papers he had then in his Pocket signed by the same Hand But notwithstanding the said Letter this Informant utterly refused to treat about the said Business any farther The said Wyard then desired this Informant to meet him the next Day again and took his leave And this Informant being desirous to know who the said Wyard was and where he lay followed the said Wyard down Chancery-Lane and into Cursitors Alley and into several turnings but lost sight of him And the next day this Informant went to the same place to meet the said Wyard but the said Wyard came not nor could this Informant ever since find the said Wyard or hear of him though he had made a great and general Enquiry after him But saith He could know him again if he could see him And farther this Informant sayeth That he the same day declared unto one Monsieur Camas that he was offered 200 l. to Cudgel a Man And also saith That being apprehensive that he might be called in Question after Mr. Arnold was assaulted the said Monseiur Camas having charged him with it and with receiving of the same 200 l. This Informant went to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon about the first day of May and desired his Honour to take his Information in Writing this Informant being to go into Flanders which the said Earl did and this Informant set his Hand to it And farther at present sayeth not Signed Francisco de Faria Jurat corum me Phillip Mathews 15 July 1680. This first Information only was sworn before Sir Phillip Mathews Francisco de Faria THE INFORMATION OF FRANCISCO DE FARIA Born in America Son of John de Faria of St. Giles in the Field Gent. Taken upon Oath before 〈◊〉 Edmond Warcupp Esquire one of his Majesties Justices of Peace in the said County and City in presence of John Arnold Esquire by Command of the Right Honorable the Lords Committees for Discovery of the late Popish Plot. 26. Octob. 1680. THis Informant saith that being a Limner in Antwerp in Flanders in the year 1675 by the Perswasion of three of the Sisters of Sir George Wakeman then in the Nunnery of St. Teresia and of Father Worsely a Jesuit he became a Roman Catholick and often communicated at his hand And the said Warsely then perswaded this Informant to come into England and he would make this Informant happy and then gave this Informant 35 Pistels in Gold to bear this Informants Charges for England But this Informant did not immediately follow him to England but took up Arms and was Captain Lieutenant under Colonel Montgomery in the Prince of Orange's Service where he practised to make and throw hand-Granadoes and grew to some Note for that Service and in the Year 1678 this Informant being in England and well versed in seven or eight Languages was preferred to be Interpreter and Secretary of Languages to Gasper de Abreu de Freitas Ambassador in Ordinary from the Prince of Portugal to the King of England To which Ambassador this Informant had been known for many Years before and the said Ambassador among other things acquainted this Informant that Don Francisco de Melot the late Ambassador that died here was much out of Favour with the Prince of Portugal for that he had indiscreetly pushed on the Promotion of the Catholick Religion before a due time and had Caused several Popish Books to be printed in England which had given too great an alarm with many other things relating to the Popish Religion which he greatly condemned him for and the said Ambassador to indear this Informant did often give him Mony and intrust him in Affairs of the greatest Moment and carried this Informant with him to all or most of the great Ministers of State in England using him for his interpreter and employing this Informant to resort to several Persons for an account of the Orders and Passages in the Kings Council of all which the said Ambassador usually had an account within an hour after the rising of the Council or any Committees And the said Ambassador much about the time of the Tryal of the five Jesuits expressing a great Sorrow for the Oppression of the Catholicks did wâ—â—â— that Oats and Bedlow were made away and then commanded this Informant to go to Mass and Confession and then told this Informant that he might do the Catholick Cause great Service and might make his own Fortune if he would join in destroying Oats and Bedlow and that 50000 Reales d'occiâ— should be given for that
he came by any Mischance it came from the Portugal Ambassador or some that belonged to him and this Informant saith that the said Faria told her that he would go that Day to the Earl of Clarendon and had told him of some Business whereupon this Informant asked him who the Earl of Clarendon was and he answered a very honest Gentleman and one of the Parliament and no notice being taken of it afterwards this Informant did admire at the reason of it and she further saith that he told her at another time that he was to go with the Earl of Ossory to Tangier and was to have three hundred pound a Year and another time he told this Informant that he had another Offer to go for Flanders and complained to this Informant that she hindered him from going but this Informant answered 't was not in respect to her that he did not go but because he was afraid of his own Life and she heard the said Faria often say what unconveniences a man may be drawn into and yet be Innocent And this Informant well remembers that he did once perswade Mr. Salter to carry a Letter but whether it was to carry a Letter to Flanders or carry a Letter for him when he was in Flanders she cannot well remember But she sayes that Salter refused to go because his Horse was lame but had his Horse been well he would have hired one to look to him but being lame he would be spoiled before he returned And one Mrs. Rogers being present offered that her Husband should go if he pleased but Mr. Faria refused him saying he knew not the Language nor the Country and none was so fit as Mr. Salter whereupon this Informant perswaded Mr. Salters Wife to prevail with her Husband to go but she refused to let him go and further sayeth not her Mark Mary Seares Jurat Die Anno supra dictum coram me Edmund Warcupp As to the Lady Abergavenny mentioned in my Information I have this to add further that I do very well remember that at the time when the five Jesuits were to be hanged drawn and quartered the said Lady came to the Portugal Ambassador and made a most dreadful Complaint to his Excellency to this Effect how that we were all ruined if the said five Jesuits should suffer for to be sure that the next man that should die would be Sir George Wakeman in regard the five Jesuits were condemned upon the same Fact that Sir George Wakeman was guilty of therefore I desire your Lordship by all means to see if your Lordship can find any way to prevent the Death of those Jesuits Upon which my Lord made answer to the said Lady that he could not Imagine or Find out any way to save their Lives but that they must die for said he we have used all our Endeavours and made all the Interest vve can and it vvill not be granted Then the said Lady made ansvver to my Lord that then Sir George Wakeman vvould have his Tryal and vvould be condemned and suffer and then all our Plot vvill be discovered My Lord made answer in these vvords No Madam vve vvill seek to prevent his Death by some Friend that vve shall make Upon vvhich my Lady Abergavenny took her leave of my Lord I Francisco de Faria vvas Interpreter betvveen them both Thus far I have followed the Series of Relation without interruption as being Occurances that happend and depended one upon another I am now to repeat some passages which as they come to my Knowledge upon Various occasions and at Several times require not to be so punctually disposed in order as being compleat within themselves In January or Febuary 1678 9. A Letter vvas sent into Portugal by a Capuchin belonging to the Queens Chappel at Somerset House call'd by the name of Paulenio to a Friend of his at Lisbon the Letter Containd Words to this Efect Our affaires are very well in London vvhere I hope in a little time there vvill be a great alteration and our business vvill be at an end in a short time so that I hope this place vvill all become Catholicks The Gentleman that recived the Letter in Lisbon shewed it to a Friend of his that vvas an English Man vvho by that time had intelligence of the Discovery of the Plot in England that Gentle-Man vvrites over immediately from Portugal to a Friend of his in London vvhat he had heard by a Letter from a Capuchin of Somerset-House upon vvhich the said Gentleman vvent to the King and Counsel and declared vvhat Newes his Friend had sent him out of Portugal presently the King and Counsel caused the Queens Confessor to be called and to be Examined vvho at that time denyed all protested his Innocency that he never vvrote any such Letter vvhereupon the King and Counsel discharged him but that very Night there vvas private Intelligence given to the said Father Paulenio upon vvhich he Immediately made his Escape for Flanders vvhere he staid till the Portugaal Ambssador arrived in the Downs in his passage homevvards vvhom he then met and Embarqued vvith him for Portugal in the Ruby Frigat under the Command of Captain Allum And novv that the World may see hovv this Popish Plot vvas carryed one by General Contributions and Collected Maintenances either out of Devotion or Fear I vvill add one Certainty more vvhich is this that vvhile I vvas Employed in the service of the said Ambassador I vvas intrusted among other things to pay to Mr. Anderson Alias Munson a Secular Priest then a Prisoner in the Kings Bench upon the account of the Plot fifty Shillings a Month which money I Constantly paid to his Sister Mrs. Barbara Tempest Living in Holborn near the Kings Gate during the whole time of the Ambassadors Residence in England One day I took the boldness to ask his Excellency why he gave that Allowance to the said Monson to which he was pleased to answer because he had been his Chaplaine fifteen Years before when he was but Envoy Extraordinary to the King of England from the King of Portugal to which when I replyed that I supposed his Excellency did not allow it him for that reason only but that I belived he was concerned in the Plot his Excellency returned this Answer why Francis do you think that if you were taken upon Suspicion that I and all of us were not bound to assist you with our Lives and Fortunes as we do particularly this Mr. Munson and all others in his Condition lest they should discover the Plot And at the same time among the rest of the Contributors his Excellency named the Lady Penalua Sister to Don Franciso de Melo who died Ambassador in Ordinary in England in the Year 1678. A certain Sign that the Ambassador was deeply concerned who was so profuse of his Life and Fortune to Strangers in a Forreign Country where if it had been otherwise neither his Life nor his Fortune had been
in the least danger or Jeopardy The further INFORMATION of Francisco de Faria upon Oath before me Edmund Warcupp Esq one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace in the said County and City this Day of December 1680. Mid. and West THis Informant being duely Sworn and Examined saith that in the Month of July 1679 when Sir George Wakeman Baronet William Marshal and William Rumley Gentlemen and James Corker the Priest were Tryed in the Old Bayly he employed one Mr. Cooper by Order of his Master Gasper de Abreu de Frietas Ambassador in Ordinary from the Crown of Portugal to take in Writing the said Tryals which he did and the said Trials were transcribed and afterwards read and interpreted unto the said Ambassador who seemed to be exceedingly displeased with Mr. Marshal for so over-doing his Defence in regard said he the said Mr. Marshal was well assured before hand he should not be Condemn'd and in these long Speeches said he he hath too much reflected on the Innocency of them that had already Suffered and took too much No tree of the Blood already shed by which he endanger'd the sâ—oning of the whole Business by exasperating the Court and Jury against them all That some time after the said Trials there was a report about the Court and City that Articles were coming out against the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs upon which the said Ambassador told this Informant he would give fifty Guinneys to have a Copy of them before they were made publick That some time before the Ambassador acquainted this Informant that he intended to send to Portugal for his Lady and that this Informant should be her Gentleman Usher and also continue in his present Capacity of Secretary and Interpreter That the said Ambassador did in order thereto furnish his House and one Day being very intent upon Work Men who were putting up some Tapestry Hangings a very large Pacquet of Letters was brought his Excellency by Doctor Mendex one of the Queens Majesties Physitians which he had no sooner read but he acquainted this Informant that he must forthwith go for Portugal to which this Informant answered that he much wondred at it and was not a little surprised to hear it especially in regard that his Excellency being Ambassador in Ordinary must then leave the Ambassadage Extraordinary behind him a thing unusual But his Excellency answered this Informant that he must go and that immediately and would leave Orders to sell his Coach and Horses and other things after he was gone This Informant still pressing the Reasons of so sudden a Departure was by the said Ambassador answered that otherwise he thought he should be called before the King and Counsel upon the Lord Scroggs his account and added Francis you must then go also but I charge you not to say that you went to the said Lord Scroggs from me that Fryday on which Sir George Wakeman was Tried but that you went on your own head and that you went to him from me on the Saturday after only for God above knows what we do is for the Catholick Cause and that God below pointing to his Chappel which was under his Chamber in which we then were will pardon us and justify us in what we do At which time there being a rumour that the Earl of Ossory was to go for Madrid to complement that King upon his Marriage and that he would Embarque for Lisbon and go thence by Land to Madrid the Ambassador said he would go with him But he then again further charged this Informant to say if he should happen to be examined before the Council that the Ambassador sent him and went himself to the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs by a Mistake as looking on him to be a publick Minister of State Whereupon this Informant having alwayes great Freedom of Discourse with the said Ambassador asked his Lordship his reasons and why his Lordship did direct him to say in that manner touching the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs and his Lordship thereupon answered him in the Portuguese Language with a Proverb of that Countrey in these words Chen es muy curioso novive muto which in English is He that is over curious never liveth long Whereupon this Informant thought fit to forbear any further Questions in that Matter promising to obey his Lordships Command about the said Lord Chief Justice Scroggs And this Informant saith that he well remembers that this Discourse was on the last Lord Mayors Day was twelve Months And this Informant saith that at the time when his Majesty was ill at Windsor this Informant being in Discourse with the said Ambassador did ask his Lordship what should be done with the Queen in Case his Majesty should tben die which God forbid he should who answered that so soon as his Majesties Eyes were closed the Marquess de Aronches Extraordinary Ambassador or else himself would immediately go with her Majesty to Calais and her Majesty being by one of them thus secured the other should stay here and then England should be treated with to restore Tangeir and the rest of her Majesties Dowry vvhich he said was the reason that two Ambassadors were here at one time for said he should the King die the Queen would be imprisoned and punished or made a Slave in England and we come not hither to repeat his own words Nos non vâ—mâ—â— para â—nsiâ—ar perlos to thread Pearl but to take care of her Safety Francisco de Faria And this Informant further saith That the Ambassador one day asked him if he knew Dugdale To which he answered That he knew none of the Witnesses Then the Ambassador said Dugdale is a Rogue because he would not accept the money that was offered him by a Chambermaid For if he had taken the money he might have gon beyond Sea and might there have lived happy and been adored for that our Church will forgive all that repent The Ambassador further added at that time that Burgomanero the Spanish Ambassador was a great Friend of the said Chambermaids and that the said Burgomonero would be examined before the Council about that Matter as he thought And this Informant further saith That the Ambassador his Master after he came home one night from Court with great Joy said That Villain Shaftsbury is put out of the Council and now we must have his Blood calling this Informant Dunce and Blockhead that he should be at White-Hall and not hear it before And this Informant further saith That at one other time discoursing of Mr. Coleman that was Executed he said If ever any Man was Guilty that died Coleman was and therefore could not ever be Canonized for a Saint because of the Guilt but he might be Absolved And this Informant further saith That at the time when the Duke of Monmouths Cook accused Segnior Antonio Farnandez belonging to the Queens Confessor for somwhat said by him or to him about the four Ruffians at Windsor after he had given
directions to one of the Harbingers to provide Lodging for four Irish Gentlemen for which as this Informant beleives the said Antonio Fernandez was imprisoned in Newgate and to be tryed at Westminster before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs as this Informant heard but he being out upon Bayl he came to vvait upon the Ambassador who ask him whether or no he had spoken to any of the four Irish Gentlemen at Windsor who replyed yes he had to one of them but he was sure the Rogue the Cook that had accused him could not hear him direct the said Person to see him at Night to which the Ambassador presently replyed Segnior Fernandez you shall not be Canoniz'd or suffer Martordom this bout for we have taken care that nothing shall appear against you which proved true the Ambassador giving this Informant a Guiney that day he was to be tryed and he did attend at Westminister and there saw him in Court and nothing did appear against him and this Informant further sayeth that Dr. Mendez before mentioned was once in the absence of this Informant Interpreter betwixt the said Ambassador and the Lady Abergavenny and that the said Dr. Mendez about a Month after the said Ambassador was gone for Portugal was passing in his Coach by the Shop of one Mr. Phillips on Ludgate-Hill where the said Dr. Mendez espying this Informant he took him into his Coach and as they rode together this Informant complained that the Ambassador was not so kind to him at his departure as he expected adding that he knew enough against the said Ambassador to ruine him and should he discover it would hurt many in England and the Dr. made answer I hope you will be more honest than to discover any thing and this Informant believes that if the said Dr. Mendez were Examined he would own the same This Informant further sayeth that before the said Ambassador went out of England he this Informant having much trouble upon his Spirits arising from the Knowledge of the things he hath now discovered to ease his Mind did write down the Heads of the same in Portuguese upon a Piece of Paper and delivered the same to his Mother to lay up carefully for him and more especially what related to the Design against the Earl of Shaftbury Dr. Oats and Mr. Bedlow and a Country Justice which Paper was Svvorn unto in the House of Peers on Fryday the 19th of November 1680. Sworn by Order of the Lords Committees for Examinations c. the 10th of December 1680. before me Edmund Warcupp Esq The following INFORMATION was delivered in the Spanish Language fairly written by Mr. John Faria my Father to his Majesty and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled who were pleased to Command Mr. William Blathwaire to Translate the same into English which was done and the same Sworn unto in the Lords House his Majesty present upon the 19th Day of Nov. 1680. THIS Informant sayeth that at the first Arrival of Gasper de Abreu de Freitas the last Ambassador in Ordinary from Portugal at the Court of England this Informant went to visit him as having had an old Acquaintance with the said Ambassador at the time when he was here before in the Quality of Envoy extraordinary to his Maejesty of Great Brittain whom God preserve And the said Ambassador asking the Informant about his Son Francisco de Faria whom he had a mind to make his Secretary of Languages as being skilled in the English French and Portugeze Languages whereupon this Informant carryed his said Son to the Ambassadors House and left him there to be his Interpreter and this Informant continuing often to visit the Ambassador who used to complain much in his Discourse of the great Persecution which he said the Roman Catholicks lay under in the Kingdom of England and that all was occasioned by Mr. Oats and Bedlow who were base Rogues and Villains and that for their having caused so great Mischiefs they deserved to be killed swearing by God that he would take care to have them killed and this Informant hearing the Ambassador use at several times this Sort of Discourse this Informant told him as he used to be very free with the Ambassador That his Ambassy in England was about the affair of the Kingdom of Portugal and that he needed not trouble himself with any Body else and that he should let the King of Englands Subjects live in Peace to which the said Ambassador replyed that for those great Mischiefs those Rascals had brought upon the Roman Catholicks they deserved to be killed And this Informant further sayeth that a Month or five Weeks before the said Ambassador took leave of his Majesty of Great Brittan upon his Return to Portugal the aforesaid Francisco de Faria brought to the House of this Informant some Papers belonging to his said Son that this Informant might keep them for him and amongst the rest there was one which the Informant saw written with the Hand of the said Francisco de Faria wherein were several Memorandums written in the Portuguese Tongue with the Names of English Persons as may be seen by the said Paper which the said Francisco de Faria took away afterwards out of the House of the said Informant And this Informant further sayeth that at that time when the Book made by Mr. Oats was published in French being a Narrative of the Plot the said Ambassador sent to buy one of them which the Informant translated and read out of the French into Portuguese unto the Ambassador who then spake verily angerly of Mr. Oats and sayed that the Jesuits that had suffered died as Martyrs whereunto this Informant replyed that if they were so Zealous of their Religion it had been better for them to have exercised it in Flanders and in other Parts since they well knew that if they were found in England they were to be punished with Death by the Laws of the Kingdom and the Ambassador did also say that Coleman had suffered only for endeavouring to bring the Roman Catholick Religion again into England and the Informant also sayeth that the Paper annexed to which he has put his Hand is the same Paper of Memorandums before mentioned which the said Francisco de Faria brought to the House of this Informant SIGNED John de Faria Translated out of Portuguese TO take care to Kill Oates To Kill Bedlow To take care to Kill Lord Shaftsbury To take care to Kill the Justice of Peace that lives in the Country A Complement to the Queens Doctor A Complement to the Lord Scroggs The Letter that I was to send to Flanders by a man About Friar Paulino the Letter he wrote and sent to Portugal About Madam Abergavenny and what she said to the Ambassador The Porter of Summerset-House To take care to Kill Oats and Bedlow To take care to Kill Lord Shaftsbury Madam Abergavenny what she said The following INFORMATION being Sworn unto at the same time and the Matter
Veneris 19 Die Novembris 1680. Ordered that Segnior Francisco de Faria have the leave of the House to Print his Narrative William Goldesbrough Cler. Dom. Com. By Vertue of the Order above I do appoint Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall to Print this my Narrative and that no other Person or Persons do Print the same December 14th 1680. Francisco de Faria THE NARRATIVE Of SEGNIOR Francisco de Faria Interpreter and Secretary of Languages unto GASPER de ABREV de FREITAS Late Ambassador in Ordinary from the Crown of PORTUGAL To his Most Sacred MAJESTY of ENGLAND Wherein is contained the several Informations Given upon Oath before the Right Honourable the Lords Committees for Examinations touching the horrid Popish Plot and reported to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled And Afterwards to the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled LONDON Printed by John Gain for Randal Taylor and to be Sold at his House near STATIONERS-HALL 1680. Dedicatoria Ala Sacra y Real Majestad del Serenissimo Rey de la Gran Bretana Carlos Segundo SAcro Rey Soberano y Poderoso aquien Dios coloco Mages tuoso Enel trono Real conlafirmesa de Vuestra Real Corona y Su grandesa Magestad tan Augusta y tan benigna que es aclamada como tan Divina Sol Britano que alumbra quanto encierra Lo felice de toda Ingalaterra Monarcha tan dichoso enlas acciones que todas per lo Regio Son blasones Magnanimo Senor de quien pudiera Alexandro aprender en Vuestra Sphera ' Exemplo de piedad con Alma pura imitador de Dios en tal Ventura ' Atlante a Vuestros Reynos tan Lusidos que por Vuestros del Orbe Son'temidos Glorioso en Vitorias Soblimadas Como Lo disen tantas celebradas CARLOS invicto que Venera el Mundo por Ser CARLOS Segundo Sin Segundo Siendo este nombre poderoso y Solo Su a la bansa de Vnpolo a otro polo Acuyos Reales pies Vmildemente o' grande Rey de luz Resplandeciente LLega Submisso y llega arrodillado Vn Corason Senor todo postrado Implorando la gracia dela mano de Vuestra Majestad Rey Soberano Conque podre ' con onra tan crecida a mano tan Real dever La Vida ' Porque Vos como Dios bien podeisdarla Como de Vmilde polvo llevantarla ' Ya esta Suerte entonces my esperansa tendra ' ma's animosa confiansa Parapostrar a Vuestros pies rendido este informe Leal de my nacido Que Dedica Consagra my Valia al amparo de Vuestra Hyerarchia Senor en este Livro Va ' compuesto Loque en Vuestra presencia tengo expuesto Y por que el Mundo sepa su defensa Sale en publico oy de exacta ymprensa A servir qual espejo enque se vea El Vasallo fiel quando lo sea Con temor deque puede Vuestro a sero por de CARLOS Segundo ser primero Sin que llege a encontrarlo elmalificio quando teneys per Vos a Dios propicio Pues este Dios Senor enquien seencierra el Govierno del Cielo y dela tierra Que a Israel Liberto de Cauptiverio que a Pharao quito ' Vida y Imperio Que a Abraham asistio ' per tantas Vias que a David Socorrio ' contra Golias Que a Daniel libro ' de Los Leones y hiso tantos milagros amillones Sea el que guarde a Vuestra Real Persona para Gloria y honor de su Corona Con vida tan Felice y memorada que enlargos Siglos Sea dilatada Con sucecion dichosa que es La Gloria para Triumphar del tiempo con victoria Con Vna pas ' tan firme ytan amable que En Vuestros Reynos sea perdurable Yassy vendreis a ser Rey Glorioso el Monarcha del Mundo mas famoso Que es to de quante puede en breue Suma Dictar la Idea y escrivir la pluma SENOR El mas humilde Vasallo de Ueustra Sacra Real Magestad que besa Sus Reale pies Francisco de Faria THE Informations OF Francisco de Faria Interpreter c. THE Popes of Rome ever since the Loss of the Brittish Teritories have alwayes had an eager desire to reduce to their Pontifical Obedience those golden Rivolets and silver Streams that from thence were wontto run into the main Ocean of their Babilonish Treasury England and Ireland were those Fortunate Islands that fed their Lazie irreligious Monks with Fat of most fruitful Soyles and cram'd the Papal Coffers with the Spoils of two populous and wealthy Nations And therefore some of those mock-show Pontiffs imediately made it their business to recover so great a loss by force of Armes exhorting and animating their Slave the Spaniard to a general Invasion which proving insuccesful they have been Clandestinly restless ever since by mysterious Plots and Contrivances against the Lives of several Successive Princes to compass that by Fraud and Secret Violence which they could not bring about by open Force There is no question to be made that this late dismal and horrid Plot against the Life and Government of his most sacred Majesty now Reigning was forged in the same Mint and had its rise from the same Diabolical Councels at Rome else it would be almost impossible that the Venome of papistical Influence should spread it self into the Brests of Forreign Princes to undertake the Support of Rebel Subjects plotting against their Native Soveraignes to contribute toward the management of such Designs and to Authorize their Ambassadors to be the double diligent Solicitors for the Lives of Criminals condemned by the Law of this Land So that this Information of mine seems to be altogether new as relating to the Person of a publick Forreign Minister who under the Covert and Sacred protection of the Law of Nations rather acted as a Violator of that Law than in prosecution of his publick Duty The evil Practices of this publick Minister I am now by publick Warrant to make known to the World for general Satisfaction by the name of Francisco Faria particularly employed in the Service of the said Ambassador as shall be related in order by which I came to the Knowledge of what I here divulge for Sacred and Undeniable Truth Know then that I Francisco de Faria was born at Fernambuco in Brazile a Province of Southern America under the Diminion of the King of Portugal in the Year 1653 from whence I was by my Parents brought into Holland in the tender year of my Infancy and continued there till the year 1662 at what time I came hither into England from hence having a desire to see the World I travelled through the most considerable Parts of it and by that means attained to the Knowledge of seven or eight Languages returning back from Flanders into England in the Year 1678 I was presently admitted into the Service of Don Gasper de Abreu de Freitas then newly arrived at London in the quality of
Ambassador in ordinary from the Crown of Portugal to be assistant to him as his Interpreter and Secretary of Languages in regard he was a Person that understood no other Languages himself than the Portugese Spanish and Italian In which Capacity I continued with him during his Excellencies Stay in England for the Reader is to understand that I had been known to the said Ambassador formerly that is to say when I was first in England fifteen Years before at what time his Excellency was also in England but with the Title only of Envoy extraordinary from the said Crown and then was I a great Companion and Friend of Don Christophoro the Envoys Nephew being a Youth of the same Age with my self and upon that Account familiarly and dayly frequented the said Envoys House Whereupon when the said Envoy came again into England as Ambassador my Father who then resided here and was his old Acquaintance went according to his Obligations to kiss his Excellencies Hand Then it was that the Ambassador enquired of my Father for his Son Francisco meaning my self to whom my Father made Answer that I had been a great Travellour that I was by that means become Master of several Languages that I had been an Officer in the Prince of Oranges Service and was newly arrived in England thereupon the Ambassador was very importunate with my Father to send for me as a person that he thought might be very useful to him When I came the Ambassador tenderly embraced me as one that was heartily glad to see me and presently entertained me in the quality before mentioned by which meanes it will be no wonder that I should have the Opportunity of being privy to those things of which I here give publick Information as being Occurrencies that could not scape my Knowledge because of the confidence which the Ambassador reposed in me and the necessity which he had to converse and discourse with those that did not understand his Language In this Condition I continued with his Excellency all the time of his abode in England which was a Year or thereabouts But before his Departure for Portugal which was in February 1679 80 I was informed by his Excellency from his own Lips that there was a certain Justice of the Peace whose Name I could never learn from him who was a very great Persecutor of the Roman Catholicks in the Country where he lived for which reason there was a Design laid to procure his Death by Assassination After that the Ambassador went away and I heard no more of the Business till the latter end of March or the beginning of April at what time being out of Employment and preparing for new Travels a certain Person came to me by the Name of Wyard who took me into Greyes-Inn-Walks and there telling me I had now a fair Opportunity in my Hands to make my self and my Fortunes for eyer made me several Proposals for the cudgelling which indeed imported no less than the killing a Nameless Gentleman which notwithstanding all his Perswasions I absolutely refused as being an Action that I utterly detested and abhorr'd however upon second Thoughts I communicated the said Wyards Proposals to a particular Friend of mine one Monseiur Camas Some fourteen Dayes after it happened that one John Arnold Esq a Justice of the Peace in the Couuty of Monmouth who was reported to have been very active against the Papists was really and ipso facto Assassinated in Bell-yard near Temple-Bar Whereupon the next Day while the Alarum was hot my forementioned Friend Monseir Camas came in grear hast to me and told me that I must undoubtedly be one of the Bravos that had committed the Fact and therefore advised me as a Friend to take speedy Benefit of his Majesties Proclamation both as to the Reward and Pardon but I being altogether innocent of the Crime by several Protestations and by giving him a faithful Account where I had spent my time all that Day and Night so well cleared my self to my Friend that he remained fully satisfyed and convinced of my Sincerity However being then resolved to go for Flanders to seek Employment and fearing lest if Monseiur Camas should make known the Information I had given him in reference to Wyards Propositions before I did it my self I should not only be stopped in my Journey but that worse might befall me being ill provided for the Expences of a tedious Imprisonment I took the boldness to make my addresses to the Earl of Clarendon as having formerly had the Honour to wait upon his Lordship with my Ambassador as Interpreter between them and gave his Lordship a full Account under my Hand dated the first of May 1680 being Saturday of all that had past between the said Wyard Mounseiur Camas and my self this being done I begun to think again of my Journey but considering better with my self that it would be more convenient for me to stand to my own Justification and upon the perswasion of a Gentlewoman to whom I had communicated the whole Affair who told me I might as well be knocked o' th Head beyond Sea as here for what I had already declared to her suspecting that I might as well declare the same to others as being a Reveng very common among the Partugueses I altered my Resolutions and continued in England Upon the Tryal of Giles who was after this apprehended for the Assassination aforesaid one Mr. Nathaniel Cox my intimate Acquaintance told me that he was going to hear the Tryal of one Giles who had Assassinated a very good Friend of his one Mr. John Arnold a Country Justice I Answered him that I had a great Desire to see Giles for that I supposed I could do the said Mr. Arnold a considerable kindness upon which Mr. Cox carried me to wait upon Mr. Arnold to whom I gave an exact Description of the said Wyard which after I had finished Mr. Arnold told me that he had a very strong Suspicion of a Person exareamly like to him whom I had so described but his Name was not Wyard Thereupon I went and viewed the said Giles my self but did not remember I had ever seen him before however Mr. Arnold desired me to repair to some Justice of the Peace and give him an Account in Writing upon Oath what I knew concerning the said Wyard Whereupon I made the following Deposition before Sr. Phillip Matthews Com. midd The Information of Francisco de Faria of St Giles in the Fields Gent. Taken upon Oath before Sir Phillip Matthews Barronet One of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County Assigned this Fifteenth day of July 1680. THis Informant on his Oath saith that about the latter end of March or the beginning of April last past a Gentleman who called himself Mr. Wyard came to this Informant at Will 's Coffe-House in Covenant-Garden and spake very kindly to this Informant and desired this Informant to go to a Tavern drink a
Service and that two sufficient men should joyn with this Informant for the killing of Oats and Bedlow But the said Bedlow being about that time in Ireland the said Murder was deferred and a report being spread that Bedlow was dead in Ireland the said Lord Ambassador said to this Informant What a Fool were you had you killed him you had gained that Money which I promised But afterwards understanding that Bedlow was not dead the said Ambassador renewed his Solicitations to this Informant to prosecute the Death of Oats and Bedlow assuring this Informant that he would make good his Promise of the said Sum of Money to them which should kill them That he would besides pay this Informants Debts and take this Informant with him into Portugal Upon which Discourse this Informant took the boldness to tell the Ambassador That the Death of Godfrey had done much hurt to the Catholick Interest and he much feared that the Death of Oats and Bedlow would bring greater hurt To which the Ambassador replyed he feared not that and if Oats and Bedlow and Shaftsbury were out of the way the Parliament might come when they please whereupon this Informant asked How shall Shaftsbury be killed He replyed the Lord Shaftsbury goes often into the Country and I know you are excellent at hand-Granadoes you shall throw one of them into Shaftsbury's Coach which will destroy all that are in the Coach upon the breaking and you and your Companions shall have Fire-Arms to kill if the other do not full Execution And the Amabssador added that he had provided two other Persons Men of Honour to joyn with this Informant in that Service but named them not nor the Reward that was promised to be given for it and then ordered this Informant to provide a Man who could speak French and Dutch to to carry a Letter into Flanders Whereupon this Informant applyed himself to one Salter who keeps a Sempsters Shop in Drury-Lane to carry the Letter Who saying he could not go because he had Horses lame which this Informant's Servant observing said Sir if you please my Husband shall go but this Informant refused him as not speaking French nor acquainted with the Countrey And this Informant did according to the Ambassador's Order offer the said Salter 10 l. to undertake the Journey because he was acquainted with the Countrey c. February last past the said Ambassador left England and returned to Portugal leaving this Informant on a sudden with very little Money after his many Promises to take this Informant with him into Portugal and to get the Prince to provide plentifully for him in Portugal Upon which this Informant recollecting the said former Passages and fearing lest he should be accused though Innocant went to his own Father declaring the Offers made to this Informant for the killing the Persons aforesaid but his Father and Mother advised him to throw Ashes upon it for none that have discovered are secure because some are of one Mind and some of another and this Informant then left a Note with his Mother signifying that if this Informant were killed it must be by the Portugals and he would lay his Death to them because of the Passages aforesaid and did the like with Mrs. Mary Sears who finding this Informant in a very disturbed Condition observing that in his Frenzy Fits he spoke of the Death of Oats Bedlow and Shaftsbury so far prevailed with this Informant when out of his Frenzy Fits as to make him relate the whole Story to her who then perswaded this Informant to keep all secret lest he brought himself into Troubles But this Informant hearing about the 16th of April last That a certain Gentleman of note was wounded almost to death did recollect that one Wyard had tempred him to Bastmado such a kind of Person which this Informant had before viz. In the beginning of March told unto the said Mrs. Mary Searr for an account whereof this Informant refers himself to his Information taken before Sir Phillip Mathews a Copy whereof this Informant delivered this day to the said Committee of Lords And this Informant did also repair about the first of May last to the Earl of Clarendon and in writing gave the said Earl under his hand a paper containing the matter about the Wounding the said Gentleman and hopes the said Earl will produce the said Paper to which this Informant refers To which this Informant added by Word of Mouth That the Earl of Shaftsbury was in danger of his Life to which Earl this Informant repaired because he was going into Flanders and fearing he might be accused for the wounding of the said Gentleman during his absence desired that that Writing delivered to the Earl of Clarendon might clear his Innocency and this Informant further sayeth that the Lady Abergavenny sent for this Informant into Lincolns-Inn-Fields this last Summer was a twelve month and then told this Informant the Lord Powis would speak with him in the Tower To which this Informant answered he would but acquainted the said Ambassador therewith His Excellency forbid him to go wherewith this Informant also acquainted the said Earl of Clarendon who seemed to know the Lady Abergavenny saying she was his Neighbour and he farther sayeth that a certain Person came to the Ambassador and in the Informant's Presence told the Ambassador that 〈◊〉 Roberts Porter to the Water-Gate at Somerset House was apprehended upon which this Informant observed the Ambassador to look very pale and thereupon asked the Ambassador My Lord is he concerned in this Business with me to which the Ambassador replyed He is a Man of Courage and will undertake any thing And in May last this Informants's Brother Abraham de Farid coming to London this Informant told the Ambassador of it Who asked if he were a Catholick and being answered thereto his Excellency asked if he were a Man of Courage Whereunto this Informant replyed We are all well born and bred And his Lordship replyed I would have him in this affair with us were I sure of him and commanded this Informant to send him to him And this Informant told his said Brother that the Ambassador would speak with him But this Informant was not with him when he went to the Ambassador nor knoweth what passed betwen them And this Informant further faith That upon the day of Sir George Wake-Man's Trial the Ambassador sent him in his Coach to wait upon the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs and sent up VVord by one of his Gentlemen That one from the Portugal Ambassador vvould speake vvith him The Servant brought ansvver That he could not see the Ambassador that day because he should be engaged upon the Trial of Sir Gorge Wakeman all the day Which the Ambassador being acquainted vvith his Lord ship sent this Informant to hear the Trial. And this Informant stood by Sir George all the Trial and gave him vvhite Paper to vvrit upon and employed one Mr. Cooperâ—a Scrivener in Drury-Lane
therein contained relating to part of my Information in Page 29 I have with leave Inserted it at the End of this my Information December 15th 1680. Francisco de Faria I Thomas Buss of the Parish of St. Margerets Westminister Cook and Servant to his Majesty in the Office of a Cook in his own Kitchin as third Cook called by the Name of Groom of the Kitchin and being Master-Cook to their Graces the Duke and Dutchess of Monmouch and in the Year of our Lord Christ 1678 when his Majesty was then in the Month of September at Windsor I the said Thomas Buss then waiting on their Graces as abovesaid was on the 13th or 14th of September being on a Fryday about seven of the Clock in the Morning to buy in such Provisions as was needful for his Graces Family his Grace being then returned from the Battle of Montz I by chance espyed Four of my Acquaintance talking together viz. three Portugals and one of them an English Man and I having not seen the English Man of three or four Years before then Saluted him by the Name of Father Hankinson not knowing his Christian Name in these Words of Father Hankinson May I say by or to you as God Almighty sayd to the Devil Whence came you or how shall I say to you for he and I being acquainted ever since her Majesties first Arrival into England at Portsmouth he the said Hankinson made me no other Answer but You will never leave your Old Drolling but I having him by the Hand all this while said Well then come prethee from whence came you indeed Why I came from Italy and then two of the three Portugals left him and one Portugal with me and did ask him he saying he came from Italy if he had brought over any Bulls or Pardons from his Holiness the Pope whereunto 〈◊〉 did reply You will never leave your drolling and I did ask him when he arrived at the City of London and then the other Portugal named Segnior Anthonio Fernandez turned from our Company over to the Fishermen that sate in the Market which was not above a yard and a half distance from the place where we two then stood still talking their Majesties both being then at the Castle of Windsor I there ask't the said Father Hankison if he did arrive at Windsor on the said Wedensday Night or no and he told me No his Horse did tire and it was late so he stayed in Town all Night and came for Windsor on Thursday the 13th about four or five of the Clock in the Afternoon Then I did ask of him if he and I and three or four more of his old Acquaintance should not drink together before his Departure for he was then in a travelling Posture He told me by no means for he was in great hast for he was going about ten or twelve Miles to a Lords House naming the Lords Name to me but truly I did forget his Lords Name but he told me If he could dispatch betimes to get to Windsor by four or five of the Clock in the Afternoon then his other Acquaintances and I should Drink together and then the said Father Hankison called over to the aforesaid Segnior Antonio Fernandez the Portugal aloud and prayed him for Gods Sake to have a care of those four worthy Gentlemen the Strangers and then I hearing him tell me that he came from Italy thinking they might be four of the Gentlemen of Italy come over to see the Court of England ask't him what these Gentlemen were and he told me they were four Irish Gentlemen and called to the afore mentioned Segnior Antonio Fernandez saying aloud as he did before Segnior Antonio Segnior Antonio for Gods Sake have a great care of those four Gentlemen worthy Gentlemen the Irish Men for they will do our Business in the Grace of God and the said Segnior Antonio answered And Grace of God I will have a great Care of them in the Grace of God fear nothing And so he the said Father Hankison being about to be gone well said I to him it I shall see you no more pray when do you leave England Tomorrow And then said I whether then For Paris and then for Italy again And then I bid him remember me to his Holiness the Pope at which he did laugh and told me you will never leave your Drolling and so we parted and have not seen each other never since nor thinking nothing of it more till I reading Coleman's Papers wherein I heard the Names of four Irish Ruffians named should kill his Majesty and I being his said Sworn Servant and bound by my Oath as his Majesties Servant not to hear any Secret or publick Mischief nor Treason against his most Sacred Majesty but the same to reveal to some of his Majesties Officers the which I did by Name to Sir Steven Fox and he did order me to acquaint the Committee of Secrecy with it and likewise I did acquaint Mr. Vernon as Secretary and Steward to their Graces the Duke and Dutchess of Monmouth and my Superior Officer in their Family and he liked it very well and told me he would inform some of the Committee of Secrecy of it and so he did and I went before them at Serjeants Inn in Fleet-Street and they did like the Information very well for then they did want some to second Dr. Oats's Depositions and at the Tryal of Councellor Langhorn I was fetched by the under-Sheriff from dressing their Graces Dinner to give Evidence against the said Prisoner at the Bar the which Evidence was after Oath taken highly approved on there and this aforenamed Segnior Antonio Fernandez sent for to the Court at the Old-Baily by the Under-Sheriff with me to the Earl of Ossory to Speak to their Majesties that the said Segnior Antonio Fernandez might be brought before the Court at the Old-Bayly and he being brought before the Court the Court ordered Sir George Jefferys to take his Defence for himself he making so weak a one he then being the Recorder of London sent the said Antonio by and with the Keepers to Newgate for the Matter of High Treason against his Majesty where he lay till the end of the next Term and then was Bailed out and I was bound by Sir George Jefferys to prosecute and did Appear on Summons from Windfor at Sir George Wakemans Tryal and never was once so much as called nor a great many more near seventeen or eighteen and when the Court of Justice did rise I asked Dr. Oats whether he or the Court had any other Business with me and he told me no so I returned to Windsor the same Night and never heard more of it till this Sessions of Parliament Thomas Buss Sworn by Order of the Lords Committees for Examinations c. the 10th of December 1680 before me Edmund Warcupp Esqu And now Reader give me leave to admire the Providence of God that I Francisco de Faria should be brought from almost the utmost Parts of the far distant habitable World to be an Instrument here in England to detect or at least more convincingly to prove the truth of those Horrid Treasons and Conspiracies that have been for so long time as wickedly denyed as impiously perpetrated but I am answered when I consider that the Judgements of God are Unsearchable and that there is no Craft or Subtilty of Man can hide or conceale those Impieties and foul Conspiracies which God will bring to Light Francisco de Faria FINIS