suffered he should have had 300000. Masses said for the Health of his Soul which Letters were signed by Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial when received the Fathers of the English Seminaries were in great trouble for Pickâ—rings negligence which Letters the Deponent saw and read in the latter end of January and the Votes put into such Mock-Phrases as also the Kings and Lord Chancellors Speeches in the Month of February 20. That the Deponent went out the 29th of January to know of his Confessarious whether he might keep the Thirtieth day of January as a Fast the Confessor replyed that the account with them was the Ninth of February by reason the account with England did differ from that on that side of the Water the Deponent then asked if he might keep the Ninth of February the Confessarious asked him why the Deponent replyed because of the Martyrdom of the late King He answered the late King was no Martyr but a Heretick and withall added that he was not King James's Son but a Bastard begotten on the Body of Queen Anne of Denmark by her Taylor this Confessarious is a Jesuite and his name is Charles Peters Prefect of the Sodality 21. That Letters bearing Date 18. of February Stilo Novo from Thomas Whitebread John Keines John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Micho Father Richard Ashby Rector of St. Omers then ill of the Gout to the English Fathers there and did let them know that they had sent William Morgan into Ireland to see how Affairs stood there in that Kingdom and expected his return by the end of March and that he set out the 26th of January with Instructions to order the Affairs in Hand and to encourage the Irish Natives to defend their Religion and Liberty and his Companion was one Francis Lovell who was to go into the North of Ireland to see the Fathers of the Society there and carry 2000 l. to supply their present wants and to promise 4000 l. in case of action 22. That another Packet came from Thomas White alias Whitebread Father Micho Father Ireland Father Hartcourt and others of the Society of London bearing Date Feb. 7. 1678. in the which was contained an account of the Fathers Progress in Berk-shire Oxford Essex in perswading the Catholicks who are Votaries for the Order of St. Ignatius to Contribute to the Irish Rebellion and maintaining of a Civil War in that Kingdom in case the French King should break with the King of England and also have received Letters from Scotland in which they were informed that the people would rise to oppose Duke Lauderdale and the Royal Party in that Kingdom by which means they thought to weaken both Parties and also that they would endeavor by themselves their Agents and Purse to provoke the Scots against the English and withall told the Affairs at St. Omers to whom this Packet was directed and by whom it was read that they should be glad to effect such a design which Packet the Deponent saw and read Letter by Letter 23. That the Fathers of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey Rector Edward Hall Edward Nevil and others of the English Seminary did Write to Thomas Whitebread and other Fathers in the which it was exprest that it was now apparent that the Catholick Religion was to be brought in the same way that they had used for the Destruction of the Father of this King and as that could not be effected by the effusion of Blood and withall prayed them to Prosecute their design in taking away the King and if His Royal Highness should not comply with them to dispatch him also for they did fear that never any of the Stuarts were men for the effecting of their ends and purposes and this Letter and Instructions were given to the Fathers how to feel His Royal Highness stood affected which Letter bore Date February the Ninth Stilo Novo and was signed by the Persons abovesaid in the presence of the Deponent who did Compose the said Letters for them according to Directions given him by them which Letter was to this Deponents knowledg carryed into England by one Father Eury who then went thither 24. That an answer of the aforesaid Letter February the 19th Stilo Novo came Dated the 20th of February from Thomas White John Keines Bazil Longworth Richard Peters John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Hartcourt Father Blundel Father Matthew Wright Father Thomas Wright Father Jenison and Father Sinman who some times belong to Summerset-house who also Signed with the rest the said answer which told the Fathers of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey to whom the Letter was Directed that they found that although the Duke was a good Catholick yet he had a tender affection for the King his Brother and would scarcely be engaged in the concern and if they should but once intimate the designs and purposes unto him they might not only be frustrated of their design but also might loose his favor which Letter the Deponent saw and read in February 25. That the Fathers of the English Seminaries at St. Omers did oblige one Brother George a Lay Brother in that Seminary to go to Ghent in Flanders to the Englâ—sh Jesuites there with a Letter from St. Omers Dated the 26th of February from London and the said Brother Arrived there as they advised the Father the First of March that the Secular Clergy should be Treated with about the business but they finding them at that time to be men inclined to live in Peace and Obedience to their Prince the Father with Thomas White c. answered them in one of the Tenth of March Stilo Novo That the Clergy were a sort of Rascally Fellows that had neither Wit nor Courage to Manage such a Great Design and did pray them of Ghent and those of St. Omers to be of god Chear for they went on well both in Scotland and Ireland and the Fatal Blow shall be given the Black Boy of White-Hall with all the speed that might which Letter to them at Ghent and from them to the Provincial they being brought to St. Omers before they went as also those of March the Tenth the Deponent saw and read 26. That there was an attempt to make an assassination on the Person of His Sacred Majesty in the Month of March several days as he was Walking in the Park and once as he was going to the Parliament-House by Honest William and Pickering but opportunity did not offer it self for the which the former was Chidden and the later had a Penance of Twenty stroakes with a Discipline on his shoulders it being judged by the Fathers the effect of his negligence Which passage the Deponent saw mentioned in a Letter from Thomas White to Richard Ashbey bearing Date the 26. of March 1678. 27. That on the 5. of April Letters came from Thomas White and the Fathers in London to Richard Ashbey and those in St. Omers in the which the former gives the latter to understand
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
in which it was ordered that if the said Father Confessor should not be ready to comply with the said Stapleton that Messengers should be forthwith sent to Father Sinman at Madrid to inform His Majesty of Spain of the said concern and to make the same relation of the business to the Arch-Bishop of Tuam in the Kingdom of Ireland now at the Court of Madrid That he the said Arch-Bishop and the said Sinman might jointly give an account to the King of Spain of the motion made or to be made to the said Father Confessor to the Duke De Villa Hermosa and also to advise the Spanish King to Seize the Estates of the English Merchants in several Factories in this Kingdom For that they have endeavoured to Transport them to England which would tend highly to the prejudice of Spain and for the Confirmation whereof they procured Letters from one Fausica sometimes an Agent in London to attest the same To which the said Fausica willingly condescended and sent his Letters to St. Omers to be sent to the Court of Spain that the Fathers might give their approbation which Letter was long and large with attestations therein made against the Merchants residents in their several Factories concerning the matter of Faith before mentioned and also other Letters to Daniel Armstrong at Valladolidd and John Armstrong at Madrid which they were ordered to Confirm this affirmation made or to be made by the Fathers in England and of the English Seminaries at St. Omers Or if the said Stapleton together with that of Fausica the above mentioned Spanish Agent now lives at Bruges in Flanders All which Letters bore Date the First Second of January 1678. Stilo Novo and were seen by the Deponent at St. Omers and in the Letters to the Two Fathers Armstrong and Cross in Spaein was contained a special Order that if the fermer could go to Madrid he should send his Attestation to Don John of Austria and to carry on which 200 l. was made over by Father Sinman and the English Fathers 16. That when the Lords came from England about the business before mentioned to St. Omers Edward Nevil and Thomas Farmer did say that they would not let this Black Bastard go so to His Grave in peace meaning the King of England for that he had cheated them so often and that now they resolved to be served so no more That this Deponent standing by said if the Duke prove slippery they both replyed that his Pas-Port was ready when ever he should appear to fail them These words were heard by the Deponent on the Third of January in the Afternoon in the Library of the Jesuits at St. Omers 17. That on the Fourth of January 1678. Stilo Novo Letters were sent from Richard Ashbey Edward Hall Edward Novil Christ Peters William Busby James Junior Thomas Farmer Michael Constable Jesuits of the English Seminary at St. Omers as also from Father Williams Rector of Watton and Master of the Novices there Sir Jo. Warner Barroner alias Clare Franois Samby alias Ditz-Biling to the Father-Confessor of the Emperours Majesty That His Majesty of Great Britain hath treatherously been the ruin of the Confederates especially of the Germain Empire and of his Catholick Princes under him and has under hand stirred up the Hungarian Rebellion against his Imperial Majesty and found them Money to go on in their Rebellion His design being not to keep any Alliance with his Imperial Majesty but only in shew that he might advance the Prince of Orange his Nephew and make him absolute and therefore prayed the States of Holland might have notice of it Which Letter was seen and perused by the Deponent it being writ in the Latine Tongue All which Letters were sent away by a Lay Brother who was a Dutch Man and when these Letters were sending away one of the Lay Brothers whose name was George did say the Prince of Orange was more fit to Roban Orchard than to be a General of an Army 18. That Letters bearing Date the 1. of January Stilo Novo arrived at St. Omers January the 20. from Arch-Bishop Talbot Arch Bishop of Dubline wherein it was expressed that the Fathers of the Society in Ireland were very vigilant to prepare the people to rise for the defence of their liberty and Religion and to recover their estates and if the Parliament that was to fit in England shall joyn with the King in declaring war against France and should put His Majesty to ingage in a War with France that a place in Ireland should be open to receive the French Kings Army when His Most Christian Majesty should think fit to Land one their And in the Letter he advised the Fathers of St. Omers to advertise Father Leshee of the same and other Jesuits that had an interest in the French King and that His Majesty of Great Britain was brought to that pass that if any Male content amongst them should not prove true to their designs His Majesty would never give ear to their information and prayed them to be diligent for now was the time or never Which Letter this Deponent saw and read and in order to the Fathers Compliance with the said Arch-Bishops Letters to Father Leshee to Paris and appointed Edward Nevil and William Busby to carry and deliver them to the said Leshee which Letters were answered with all speed by the aforesaid Messengers Jesuits as above The one of them being Prefect of Studies and the other Procurator for the Seminaries and by them writ Letters to Thomas White Provincial to the Rector of St. Omers viz. Richard Ashbey but of that to the Provincial the Deponent can give no account but of that to Ashbey the Deponent faith there was expressed in it that the General of the Society of the Jesuits would Contribute 500000. Crowns to be paid in June next coming and that his Holiness the Pope would not be wanting to supply them when they had made some progress in that glorious attempt 19. That another Packet arrived at St. Omers directed to Richard Ashbey Rector there the Date whereof is not well remembred by this Deponent but as near as he doth remember it was about the beginning of the Parliament for then came the Kings and Lord Chancellors Speeches and Votes of Parliament which were put into ridiculous Phrases in contempt of the King and both Houses of Parliament and for the Fathers and Scholars to Laugh at and then Translated into French and given to the Governor of St. Omers who sent them to the French King his Master and in the Packet was contained the account of the attempt of one Pickering a Lay Brother that waited on the Jesuites lying at Sommerset-house to Shoot the King as he was Walking in St. James's Park when he was at some distance from his Nobles and Attendants but the Flint of his Pistol being loose he did defer the Action till another opportunity and if he had done it and had
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
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
the 13. in the Afternoon about Six of the Clock a Sermon was Preached by John Keines to Twelve Persons Men in poor habits yet Men of Quality as the Deponent verily believes by the whiteness of their hands In which Sermon he did deliver that Protestants and other Heretical Princes were deposed ipso facto because such and that it was as lawful to destroy them as Oliver Cromwel or any other Usurper At which Sermon the Deponent was present not designedly but by accident 59. That on the 15 25 of August John Keines and John Fenwick went to a Gentlemans Lodging in or about Westminster and perswaded him to remove his Quarters least God destroyed him with the sinners of the City for God had raised them and others of their Society to do such things against the City that would make a mans Eares to ring that should hear it The same Evening Keines and Fenwick told the Deponent the Story and laughed to think in what affright they had put the Gentleman into whose name they named but cannot be called to mind by the Deponent 60. Item That John Keins came to the Lodging of this Deponent on Saturday the 17. of August and told him it was endeavoured to dispatch 48. at Windsor if possible and withall told the Deponent that Mr. Howard Prior of the Benedictines Hilchcock Sub-prior and Skinner and Mr. Cook and some other Benedictines had promised to assist them with 6000 l. in order to the carrying on the design Now the said Monks did then by at or near the Wardrobe behind the Savoy which report the said Keines the Deponent did believe for that the said Mr. Howard Prior and Hilchcock Sub-prior of the Benedictines told the Deponent in the Morning the 17. of August that they had promised such a Sum and withall that the securing his Majesties Person in flight from Worcester was the worst days work that ever simple Jack Huddleston did in all his life time but now it was the time of their business to get the Stewarts out of the way which the Deponent related to John Keines and he the said John Keines did tell the Deponent if he would undertake to assist in dispatching the King he should be well rewarded if not here in Heaven and the Deponent replyed that he never shot off a Gun in all his life and withall told the said Keines he could not be guilty of such a thing for all the world Then the said Keines did further Inform the Deponent that Mr. Coniers a Benedictine Monk was resolved to pursue the design of dispatching 48. which is the King which appears to be evidently true to the Deponent for he heard Coniers on the 14. of August Lay a Wager of One Hundred Pounds with a Gentleman not known to the Deponent in the Benedictine Covent behind the Savoy that the King should not Live to Eat any more Christmas Pyes of which Wager Ten Guineys were by each party deposited in the hands of Mr. Hilchcock Sub-Prior so that the Deponent said to Keines he told him no more of Coniers than he heard from himself the 14. Ditto But the Deponent before he parted with Keines asked him what News about the Town and the said Keine told the Deponent that all the News was War with the French the said Keines did say if that prove true then have at the Rogues the House of Commons they shall be remembred for all their Long Bills against the Catholicks The Deponent replyed that with submission he thought that the revenge proposed against them would not do the business and therefore not a resolution consistent with a Catholick Spirit for the enterprise will be more Noble and Martial and the Deponent urged he feared the death of the King would not scarcely do the business and effect the design unless His Royal Highness would pardon those that did that Act and stand by them in it To which the said Keines replyed that the Duke was not the strength of their trust for they had another way to effect the setting up the Catholick Religion for when they had dispatched the King they had a List of Twenty Thousand Catholicks in London that were substantial Persons fit to bear Arms that would Rise in Twenty Four hours time and less and if James would not comply with them to Plot he must go also it being late in the Night The said Keines prayed the Deponent to come to his Chamber at Eight of the Clock next Morning and he would have an hours discourse with him before he said Mass and being about to take his leave of the Deponent asked the Deponent what he meant by those words could not be guilty of such a thing as to assist in dispatching the King there being no guilt in the thing The Deponent smiled and said he would not be guilty of so much Courage Besides the Deponent saith that he told the said Keines that it was his Opinion that it would be more safe to let Sir George Wakeman try his skill and then the People would not apprehend it so much 61. Item That he went to Keines Chamber on the 18. in the Morning about Eight or Nine of the Clock but he was gone abroad and left word that the Deponent should come at Four in the Afternoon and then he would have some Discourse with him and the Deponent went accordingly but met Mr. Keines in the Mewse who said he was to meet some of the Fathers in Covent Garden and there would meet them some Dominicans so would have the Deponent go along with them and coming to the appointed house the Dominicans were ready met these viz. Mr. Vincent Provincial of the Order of St. Dominick in England Joseph Davies Kinmash Mr. Dominick Mr. Collins Mr. Fidding Mr. Mansell and Mr. Launsdale as they said in the Name of all the rest of the Order in England to consider and comply with the Fathers of the Society to propagate the Catholick Faith and when John Keines was sat with the Fathers of the Society by him all on a side John Keines Father Hartcourt Father Fenwick Father Wright and Father Blundel the said John Keines propounded to the Dominicans to contribute to the design of killing the King and carrying on the business in England and Scotland The Dominicans answered by their Provincial that they were Poor and not able to do much for they had but little or no money but they would let them have their personal assistance and Councel and procure what Interest they could but as for money they could not part with any for they were in Debt and had scarce Four hundered pound in Stock and the most they could make of their Estates is Three hundered and sixty pound per annum at which Consultation the Deponent was to and fro and what was more said the Deponent cannot tell for he was sent with the Proposals made to the Dominicans to the Carmelites Doctor Hanson and Kemball and Mr. Trevers and they said they had