them being the Prefect of Studies and the other Procurator for the Seminary and by them wrote Letters to Thomas White Provincial and to the Rector of Saint Omers viz. Richard Ashby Of that to the Provincial the Deponent can give no account but of that to Ashby the Deponent saith that there was in it expressed that the Father General of the Society of Jesus would contribute eight hundred thousand Crowns to be paid in the moneth of June next ensuing and that his Holinesse the Pope would not be wanting to supply them when they had made some progresse in that glorious attempt ITEM XIX That another Packet arrived at Saint Omers directed to Richard Ashby Rector of the English Seminary there The Date of which is not well remembred by the Deponent but as near as he doth remember it was about the beginning of the Parliament for there came the Speeches of the King and Lord Chancellour and the Votes of the Parliament which were put into ridiculous phrases in contempt of the King and both Houses of Parliament for the Fathers and Scholers to laugh at and then translated into the French Tongue and presented to the Governor of Saint Omers who sendeth them to the French King his Master and in the Packet was contained an account of the attempt of one Pickering a lay Brother that waits upon the Jesuits lying at Somerset house to shoot the King as he was was walking in Saint James park when he was at some distance from his Nobles and Attendants but the Flint of his Pistol being somewhat loose he did defer the action till another opportunity and if he had done it and had suffered he should have had thirty thousand Masses said for the health of his soul Which Letters were signed by Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial which Letters when read the Fathers in the English Seminary were in great trouble for the negligence of the said Pickering and the Deponent saw and read them in the latter part of January and the Votes put into such mock Phrases as also the Speeches of the King and Lord Chancellor in the moneth of February ITEM XX. That the Deponent went on the nine and twentieth of January to know of his Confessarius whether he might keep the thirtieth of January as a fast the Confessor replyed that the account with them was on the ninth of February because the account of England did differ from the account on that side the Water The Deponent asked him whether then he might keep the ninth of February as a day of Fasting The Confessor asked him why The Deponent replyed because of the Martyrdome of the late King the Confessarius answered that the late King was no Martyr but an Heretick and withal added that he was none of King James Son but a Bastard begotten upon the body of Anne of Denmark by her Taylor This Confessarius is a Jesuit and his name Charles Peters Prefect of the Sodality ITEM XXI That Letters bearing date February the first Stylo novo from Thomas Whitebread John Keines John Fenwick Father Ireland and Father Micho to Richard Ashby Rector of Saint Omers then ill of the Gout and to the English Fathers there did let them understand that they had sent William Morgan into Ireland to see how affairs stood in that Kingdome and expected his return by the end of March next and that he set out the six and twentieth of January and that they had given him instructions to order the affairs in hand and to encourage the Irish Natives to defend their Religion and Liberty And his Companion was one Father Lovel who was to go into the North of Ireland to see the Fathers of the Society there and carried two thousand pound to supply their present wants and to promise them four thousand pound more in case there should be any action ITEM XXII That another Pacquet came from Thomas White alias Whitebread Father Micho Father Ireland Father Harcourt and others of the Society in London bearing date February the seventh 1678. Stylo novo In which was contained an account of the Fathers progress in Berkshire Oxfordshire and Essex in perswading the Catholicks that were Votaries for the order of Saint Ignatius to contribute for the Irish rebellion and maintaining a Civil War in that Kingdome in case the French King should break with the King of England And also that they had received Letters from Scotland in which they were informed that the people would rise to oppose Duke Lauderdale and the Royal party in that Kingdome and also that they would endeavour by themselves their Agents and their Purse to provoke the Scots against the English and withal told the Fathers of Saint Omers to whom this Pacquet was directed and by whom it was received that they should be glad to effect such a design Which Pacquet the Deponent saw and read Letter by Letter ITEM XXIII That the Fathers of Saint Omers viz. Richard Ashby Rector Edward Hall Edward Nevill and others of the English Seminary did write to Thomas Whitebread and other Fathers in which was expressed 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 till much blood was spilt on both sides so this must be effected by effusion of blood And withal prayed them to prosecute their design in taking away the King and if his Royal Highness should not comply with them to dispatch him too for they did fear that never any of the Stuarts were men for the effecting of their ends and purposes And in this Letter instructions were given to the Fathers to feel how his Royal Highness stood affected Which Leter bore date February the tenth Stylo novo and was signed by the persons abovenamed in the presence of the Deponent who did compose these Letters for them according to direction given him by them Which Letter was to the Deponents knowledge carried into England by one Father Every who then went for England ITEM XXIV That an answer of the aforesaid Letters of February the tenth Stylo novo dated February the twentieth Old style came from Thomas White John Keines and Basil Langworth Richard Peters John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Harcourt Father Blundel Father Matthew VVright and Father Thomas VVright Father Jennison and one Father Simmons who some time belonged to Somerset House who also signed with the rest the said answer which told the Fathers at Saint Omers viz. Richard Ashby to whom the Letter was directed and the rest that they had found that although the Duke was a good Catholique yet he had a tender affection to the King and would scarcely be engaged in that concern and if they should once intimate their designs and purposes unto him they might not only be frustrated of their design but also might lose his favour Which Letter the Deponent saw and read in the month of February
Pob Bret at St. Omers Tho. Stapleton at St. Omers Tho. Fermour at St. Omers Tho. Ditchling at St. Omers Edw. Hall at St. Omers Mr. Cannel at St. Omers Charles Peters at St. Omers Mr. Nevile at St. Omers Mr. Constable at St. Omers Mr. Sabrand at St. Omers Mr. Walter at St. Omers Mr. Roper at St. Omers JESUITS Mr Marsh at Ghent Mr Blake alias Gross in Spain Mr Mundford Vore in Spain Armstrong Mr Cary at Rome English JESUITS in SCOTLAND Mr Lovel Mr Saunders Mr Moore Twelve Scotch JESUITS lately gone into Scotland whose names I know not but I know their persons Secular Persons Dr Fogarthy Sir George Wakeman Mr Coleman John Groves Four Irish Ruffians Lay-Brothers Pickering Smith These Fourteen Secular Priests I have only by Information from Thomas Whitebread Mr Perrot In England Mr Morgan In England Mr Wilmot In England Dr Godden In England Mr Jones Senior In England Mr Jones Junior In England Mr Gerard In England Mr Henrique In England Mr Fisher In England Mr Jackson In England Mr Pinchard In England Mr Sharp In England Dr Bettam In England Mr Wolf in France at the Sorbon Other Persons Archbishop Talbot Archbishop Lynce Hierom Swiman Sir William Godosphin Lord Ambassador in Spain Titus Oates Clerk maketh Oath That the Information set down in these Papers containing Eighty One Articles all Written and subscribed by his own Hand are true in the whole and every particular thereof that is to say that such Particulars as he hath set down to be seen heard done or known by him he knows to be true and what he hath set down only to be heard by him and related to him were so heard and related as he hath set them down and he believes to be true Witness his hand the 27th day of Sept. 1678. TITUS OATES SEPTEMBER 27. 1678. Sworn before me Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex Edm. B. Godfrey Witnessed Ez. Tonge Chr. Kirby The General Design of the POPE Society of JESVS and their Confederates in this PLOT is the REFORMATION that is in their sense the Reduction of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND and all His Majesties Dominions by the Sword all other wayes and means being judged by them ineffectual to the Romish Religion and Obedience To effect this Design 1. THe Pope hath Entitled himself to the Kingdomes of England and Ireland 2. Sent his Legate the Bishop of Cassal in Italy into Ireland to declare his Title and take possession of that Kingdom 3. He hath appointed Cardinal Howard his Legat for England to the same purpose 4. He hath given Commission to the General of the Jesuites and by him to White their Provincial in England to issue and they have issued out and given Commissions to Captain Generals Lieutenant Generals c. namely the General of the Jesuites hath sent Commissions from Rome to Langhorn their Advocate-General for the Superiour Officers And White hath given Commissions here in England to Colonels and inferiout Officers 5. He hath by a Consult of the Jesuits of this Province Assembled at London condemned His Majesty and ordered Him to be assassinated c. 6. He hath Ordered That in case the Duke of York will not accept these Crowns as forfeited by his Brother unto the Pope as of his Gift and settle such Prelates and Dignitaries in the Church and such Officers in Commands and places Civil Naval and Military as he hath Commissioned as above extirpate the Protestant Religion and in order thereunto ex post facto consent to the assassination of the KING his Brother Massacre of His Protestant Subjects firing of his Towns c. by pardoning the Assassins Murderers and Incendiaries that then he be also poysoned or destroyed after they have for some time abused His Name and Title to strengthen their Plot weakned and divided the Kingdoms of ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND thereby in Civil Wars and Rebellions as in His Fathers Time to make way for the French to seize these Kingdoms and totally ruine their Infantry and Naval Force Besides this Papal there appears also another French Plot or Correspondence carried on by Sir Ellis Layâ—â—on Mr Coleman and others More particularly 1. The Royal Family of the STUARTS are condemned to be Cut off Root and Branch and namely the KING Duke of YORK and Prince of Orange because that Family hath not answered their expectations nor have they any hopes that any of them will comply fully with this their bloody design when fully discovered to them 1. The King person which stands in their way they more especially and in the first place design to remove with all possible speed by Dagger Pistol or Poyson To Stabb Him Conyers and Anderton Benedictine Monks and Four Irish Ruffians are employed To Shoot Him Groves and Pickering are furnished with joynted Carabines To Poyson him Five Thousand pound hath been told out entred in their Books and affirmed to be paid to Sir George Wakeman in part of Fifteen Thousand pound upon a Contract made with him in presence of Doctor Fogarthy and Mr. Coleman 2. The Duke of York notwithstanding they acknowledge his sincerity and affection to their Religion and the Society and his demonstration thereof by his taking Bedingfield a Jesuit for his Confessor they design to dispose of him as is abovesaid 3. The Prince of Orange is also condemned and designed against by Name and Twelve Missioners sent into Holland have in charge to put that People in Mutiny against his Person and Government 4. The Conquest and subduing of his Majesties Dominions is designed and contrived in this manner I. The Conquest of Ireland and subduing it to the Tyranny of the Pope and French 1. By a general Rebellion and Massacre of the Protestants as formerly which they term another Demonstration of Zeal for the Catholick Faith This to be done immediately upon the Assassination of the Duke of Ormond as the Watch-word for which four Jesuits are employed 2. By the Popes Nuntio sent thither and Commissions there given out by the Provincial of the Irish Jesuits c. to a General Lieutenant-General c. 3. By Arms and Money already sent whereof Eight hundred Thousand Crowns by the Pope 4. By Traiterous Officers who are dispensed with by the Archbishop of Dublin and the Clergy there to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy upon promise to betray their Garrisons and other Trusts 5. By the Assistance of the French Forces to be landed there and received by Twenty five thousand Irish ready to joyn with them II. England and Scotland are to be divided weakned wasted and exhausted of their Infantry Naval Force and Wealth by Civil War Rebellion c. and finally exposed to forreign Force of French c. To attain to this Design they apply themselves and Agents 1. By impudently Questioning and Denying the Kings Legitimation and consequently his present Right and Title to his Crown and so exposing him as a Tyrant without Title 2. By Confuting and Weakening as much as possibly they can the Obligation of the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy causing them to be Renounced rendring them very Odious as Blasphemous and Heretical and terrifying all of their Communion from Writing for them offering Money to have Berry the Priest murdered for writing in favour of them III. By Disaffecting the Kings best Friends at home and abroad and Subjects against his Person and Government 1. Charging him with Tyranny and Designs of Oppressing Governing by the Sword and without Parliaments and exposing his mod faithful and valiant Subjects to be wasted and slain in foreign service 2. By aspersing deriding exposing and declaiming against his Person Counsels and Actions in Parliament and elsewhere and particularly scoffing at his Security and Confidence in them and by this means animating and encouraging their Party and Assassins especially to attempt upon his Life and to hasten his Ruine 3. By disclosing the Kings Counsels to France by Coleman Smith and others 4. By mis-reporting and raising false Newes of his Affairs c. 5. By disaffecting his Majesties Allies Holland Spain the German Emperour and Princes by false Intelligence c. 6. By disturbing Trade 7. By seditious Preachers and Catechists set up sent out maintained and directed what to Preach in their own or other private or publick Conventicles and Field-meetings 8. By setting up pretended false Titles to the Succession of the Crown and animating different Parties one against another on this or such like false pretences to Arm and put the People in Blood upon the Kings Death 9. By Firing and Plundering our best Cities and Towns by Irish French Lay-Brethren and others disguised in Frocks and otherwise directed by Order under the Provincials hand how to carry on these Designs 10. By Poysoning and Assassinating by pickt Quarrels or otherwise those whom they suppose to be ready or able to detect or otherwise obstruct their Designs of whom they keep Catalogues in their Books 11. By horrid worse than Jewish Interest Transportation of Trading People Stock and Money adulterating Money and Plate To which ends they have Bankers Brokers Merchants Goldsmiths and other Traders whom they stock and set up with Money of their Society of which they boast to have a Hundred thousand pound Cash c. 12. By suborning Felons condemned by Blundell their Newgate Ordinary through hopes of Pardon or Transportation to turn Papists and then putting such as they find fit and desperate on Firing Houses Plundering and other wicked and mischievous Designs FINIS
Print the same to my great wrong and detriment It was presented to His Majesty the Thirteenth of August last by the means and introduction of that worthy and honest Gentleman Mr. Christopher Kirkby as likewise sworn upon Oath on the sixth of September following before Sir Edmondbury Godfrey by my self and the Twenty eighth of the same Month before the Lords and others of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council and the proceedings afterwards made upon the same being sufficiently known I shall not trouble thee with at present but leave the whole to thy Candid consideration taking my leave of thee at present and will ever appear April the 15th 1679. Thy hearty Well-wisher and Servant in Jesus Christ TITVS OATES A True and Exact Narrative OF THE Horrid Plot and Conspiracy OF THE POPISH PARTY Against the LIFE of His Sacred Majesty THE GOVERNMENT AND THE Protestant Religion Imprimis RIchard Strange Provincial John Keins Basil Langworth John Fenwick and Mr. Harcourt Jesuits did write a Treasonable Letter to one Father Suiman an Irish Jesuit 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 had employed one Matthew Wright and William Morgan and one Mr. Ireland to go and Preach under the notion of Presbyterians and give the disaffected Scots a true understanding of their sad state and condition in which they were by reason of the Episcopal Tyranny exercised over them and withall to tell them they had now a fair opportunity to vindicate their Liberty and Religion and that it could be done by no other way but by the Sword and that now the King was so addicted to his pleasures that he would and could take but little care in that concern And in the said Letter it was expressed that they had gotten an interest in His Royal Highness but they would deal with him as they thought fit and that they were resolved to use all means to weaken the King of England's Interest by informing his friends of his own intent to betray them into the hands of a Forein Power to wit to send them to fall by the Sword in the French King's Wars against the Confederate Princes which Letter bore date of April 19th Old Style 1677. and 29th New Style Item II. That the persons abovementioned gave the Deponent ten pounds to carry the said Letters to the said Father Suiman into the Kingdom of Spain to Madrid the said Father Suiman being their Procurator general for the Kingdom of England and Ireland and in order to which message the Deponent embarked himself in the Ship called the Biscay Merchant whereof Luke Roch was then Master to go for Bilbao and there took Mules for Valladolyd but staving a day at Burgos in Spain the Deponent broke up the said Letters and found these Contents in the same Item III. 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 Valladolyd and four to Madrid there being English Colledges in both places in order to study Philosophy and Divinity which Missioners were sent by Richard Ashby Richard Peters Nicholas Blundell and Charles Peters as appeared by the Patents of the several Missioners by which they had power to demand admission in 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 Valladolyd were taught by Daniel Armstrong Jesuit Minister of the English Colledge at Valladolyd that the said Oath of Allegiance is Heretical Antichristian and Devilish and that Charles Stuart the King of England is no lawful King but comes of a spurious Race and that his Father was a Black Scotch-man and not King Charles the first this was delivered in a Sermon Septemb. 29. 1677. to the Students there which Sermon the Deponent did hear and in this Sermon the said Daniel Armstrong in plain words did say that the King of England was a Bastard now this Daniel Armstrong goeth in Spain by the name of Joseph Mundford in Spanish P. Joseph Montefortio Item IV. That the said Daniel Armstrong alias Joseph Mundford did bring Letters from St. Omers to the English Colledge at Valladolyd to the Fathers of that Colledge written in Latine they being Spaniards in which it was expressed and related from the Fathers of St. Omers that the Fathers of the Society in London had procured one Father Beddingfield to be Confessor to His Royal Highness but if they law His Royal Highness did not answer their expectations 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 Letters bore date June the 10th 1677. and subscribed by Richard Ashby alias Thimbleby Rector of the English Seminary of the Society of Jesus at St. Omers Richard Peters Minister Edward Nevill Prefect of the Studies Charles Peters Prefect of the Sodality Thomas Fermor Prefect of Manners Which Letters the Deponent saw and read in the month of September at Valladolyd in the Kingdom of Spain Item V. That Father Suiman above-mentioned wrote to the English Colledge to the Fathers there that the King of England was poisoned to the great joy of the English Fathers and that they would serve King James so if he did not give them good assusurance of bringing in of the Catholick Religion and of rooting out Protestant Religion this Letter bore date July the first 1677. and was seen and read by the Deponent at Valladolyd in the month of July near the latter end Item VI. 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 Suiman above-mentioned in which was specified that all diligence was used by the said Richard Strange Father Gray and John Keines to procure some persons to dispatch the King and to put a period to his daies which Letter bore date June the 10th 1677. Stylo novo And now the Deponent being sent to Madrid in the month of August read it in Father Suiman's Chamber he shewing it also at the same time to James Archbishop of Tuam in the Kingdom of Ireland Item VII That the said Father Suiman received another Letter bearing date July the 20th 1677. Stylo novo from Richard Strange Father Gray John Keines Basil Langworth John Fenwick Father Ireland and Father Harcourt in which they did manifest that they were very sorry for informing him that he might assure himself that the business was done their man William being faint-hearted could not then do it though he had fifteen hundred pounds promised him for his pains of which Letters the English Missionaries were one by one informed
ubique never long in one place LXIII Item That on Wednesday twenty first of August a Consult was held by the Jesuits then in London with certain Benedictine Monkes about three of the Clock in the afternoon concerning a Pacquet that came from Talbot Archbishop of Dublin 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 that upon his death the Irish were ready to rise In this Letter he told them that a Legate was arrived in Ireland and had asserted the Popes right in that Kingdom and that the Kings of England being no longer Catholiques they did cease from being concerned there it being given to 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 the said Kingdom out of the hands of the English And in the said Letter it was mentioned That if opportunity did not permit the said Jesuits to do their business that then they should send one Doctor Fogarthy now lodging at Mrs. Simmonds the Widow of one Simmonds an Apothecary in Drury-Lane and that he and the Fathers in Ireland together with the said Fogarthy would find out an expedient way for the death of the said Duke And furthermore he did specify that they had procured several Irish to be made Commission-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 who had gotten Commissions by means of the Arch-Bishop had promised to betray their interest into their hands when the business should be ripe and desired the Fathers to be as diligent in England as he and the rest of the Clergy were in Ireland which Letter John Keines did shew the Deponent and was read by the Deponent And Kenies and Blundel gave him an account of the Consult and the said Fogarthy did himself tell the Deponent the same and on the said Twenty first of August did say That he had a great interest in the Court of Ireland LXIV Item That the said Fogarthy is a main Agent in this Hellish-Plot and hath promised That if this Bishop Talbot will make use of him he will do all the service he can which the Deponent is ready to justify to the face of the said Fogarthy who did tell the Deponent that he and Coleman were in the Consult when Wakeman was contracted withal in order to Poyson the KING and said That if he had the interest in the KING as Wakeman had he would have undertaken it himself And all this was told the Deponent on the Twenty first of August in die Chamber of the said Fogarthy And furthermore the said Fogarthy then and there did tell the Deponent That he had hired Four Irish Russians whose Names he did neither tell the Consulters that met on the Twenty first of August nor the Deponent and these Irish Russians were to mind the KING's Postures at Windsor But the Deponent telling the said Fogarthy that he heard the KING was going to Portsmouth he was wonderfully troubled at it and said It did very much impede their Design and nothing would be Attempted so long as he was absent from Windsor LXV Item That the Lord Embassador Sr. William Godolphin at the Court of Spain holdeth great Correspondence with Hierom Swiman the Irish-Jesuit who as beforementioned was Procurator for the Jesuits of the Kingdom of England and Ireland and with the Irish Arch-Bishop of Tuam now at Madrid and is a friend in this business as the said Swiman did inform the Society in one of July the thirtyeth New-style and likewise in one to the Deponent wherein he did specify that Sir William was as industrious as any Man could be to answer the expectation of the Society and that he had but one Protestant-servant then in his House viz. the Cook and the Parson when there made up a goodly Couple And the Deponent knows that Godolphin is a Papist and hath perverted a Kinsman of his own and the Deponent knoweth that the said Embassador is very familier to the said persons the Irish Jesuit at Madrid and the Irish-Arch-Bishop of Tuam And the Deponent doth verily believe that Mr. Hodges sometimes Chaplain to the said Lord Embassador can if required Testify as much and the Deponent doth furthey say That when he was at Madrid the said Chaplain of the Embassador left the employ because of the Embassador's being a Papist and the Deponent hath seen the said Embassador at Mass and he hath a Jesuit that comes to his House who hath Read both Philosophy and Divinity to the said Embassador of which the Deponent was personally informed by the said Hierome Swiman an Irish Jesuit and by the said Irish Arch-Bishop when at Madrid but the Letters of which the Deponent speaks he saw and Read them at Mrs. Saunders House in Wild street the Twenty second of August LXVI Item That on the 22th of August Money was sent from the Society by a Servant of theirs to supply the Expences of the four Irish Russians above-mentioned who were gotten to Windsor on the 21th at night and the sum so sent was Eighty pound which the Deponent saw told And they were written to and informed that if more were wanting they should have it And they were bidden not to be frequent in one anothers Company and always to profess but small Acquaintance one with another Which Order and Money was dispatcht away by Harcourt Rector of London in the name of the Provincial and whole Society LXVII Item That the Deponent went to the Chamber of the said John Fenwick who told him that he was to go to St. Omers with some Students thither about ten or eleven as near as the Deponent can remember and the said Fenwick was to attend the Provincial and was to return as he said within tenor twelve days together with Mico and the rest And whilst the Deponent was with the said Fenwick a Messenger came in viz. John Grove with order from Harcourt Rector of London John Keines Richard Blundell Mr. Jennison Mr. Wright Basill Langworth and four other Jesuits that lay at Somerset house to pray the Provincial that he would write to Leshee the French King 's Confessarius and give him to understand how well the business in Ireland stood and that in his Letters to Leshee he should pray him to certifie the French King thereof The Deponent asked Grove where those Fathers were met Who said they met again at Mrs. Sanders house And the Deponent after he had read the Order or Memorial as indeed the Title was and saw their Names about two in the Afternoon went to the house of Mrs. Sanders where the Deponent saw those Fathers who told him of the said Order and after a short stay took his leave of them and by them was ordered to meet them at four
those at Madrid by John Cross alias Blake and those at Valladolyd by Daniel Armstrong Jesuits which Letter of the 20th of July the Deponent saw in the Chamber of the said Suiman at Madrid at the same time when he saw the Letters of the tenth of July mentioned in the sixth paragraph or number Item VIII That on the third of Novemb. Stylo novo Father Pedro Jeronymo de Corduba Provincial of the Jesuits in New-Castile did write to Richard Strange and John Keines that if the business of dispatching the King of England could be effected they should have ten thousand pound for their pains which Letter the Deponent brought from Valladolyd to Bilbao and embarqued in a Ship within five daies after his arrival thither and in five daies more arrived at a little Town near Exeter and in six daies more came to London and delivered the Letter to Richard Strange and when opened it was written in Latin and read by the said Strange and he said that all means should be used to answer Father Pedro's expectation And in the Letter to Strange was one enclosed to this Keines by the name of Juan de Neoporto de la Compania de Jesu which Letter the said Keines offered the Deponent to read but being written in Spanish the Deponent did not well understand the Letter and could make but little of it by reason of the Spanish abbreviations therefore the said Strange did give the Deponent the Letter directed to himself saying he thought the Deponent did understand Latin better than Spanish so that the Deponent read the said Letter and in it the Contents above-mentioned and the said Strange being then ill upon Keines his bed said that he hoped God would strengthen honest William's heart to do his work Now this honest William is a Servant to the Society in London This Strange did then lye at one M rs Saunders house a part of Wildhouse in Wildstreet where the Deponent heard this discourse from the said Strange and Keines Item IX That the said Richard Strange and John Keines Basil Langworth Father Harcourt John Fenwick Father Ireland Father Gray Father Jennison Father Saunders and Father Ecclesdon did write a Letter and subscribed it and sent it to St. Omers to Richard Ashby Rector of the English Seminary there in which he and the rest of the Fathers were given to understand that the King was altogether given to his pleasures and that they had an intent to procure one to stab him at his Court of Whitehall and if that could not be conveniently done they would employ one of his Physicians to poison him for which work they had ten thousand pounds in the hands of one Worsly a Goldsmith in London which mony was procured for them 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 persons above-mentioned and carried it to St. Omers He went to Dover by Coach a place in which was taken up for him by the said William their servant whose name indeed is John Groves The Letter that the Deponent carried bore date the beginning of December old Style Item X. That Letters were enclosed in this Letter aforementioned to the said Leshee in which thanks was given him by the said Fathers that had subscribed the said Letter to Richard Ashby for his great Charity to them and his Care for the propagating the Catholick Religion and that all means should be used to destroy the opposers of it both root and branch which Letters bore date either the sixth or seventh of Decemb. and the Deponent carried them inclosed in those of Richard Ashby to St. Omers and from St. Omers to Paris and delivered them into the hands of the said Father Leshee about the 18th of December as near as the Deponent can remember Item XI That other Letters bearing date December the 12th 1677. were sent from Richard Strange and others of the Society in London to those of the Society in the English Seminary at St. Omers and in them Letters were enclosed to Father Leshee in which they told him that they had stirred up the Presbyterians in Scotland to a Rebellion and that twenty thousand would be in Arms if that His Majesty of France would break with the King of England and that a way also was made for the French King 's landing an Army in Ireland And further that the Irsh Catholicks were ready to rise in order to which there were forty thousand black Bills provided to furnish the Irish souldiers withal Which Letters were subscribed by Rich. Strange John Keines and John Fenwick and the out-side Letter directed to Richard Ashby Rector which Letter was shewed to the Deponent at his return from Paris to St. Omers by the said Richard Ashby and told the Deponent that the Letters to Leshee for which the said Messenger had ten Patacoons or Royals of eight as the said Ashby informed the Deponent And the said Messenger was a Drummer in the Town of St. Omers Item XII That in another Packet bearing date Decemb. the 18th 1677. in which was specified that the Father General of the Society of Jesus had written from Rome and had removed Richard Strange from being Provincial and had conferred the Provincialship upon Thomas White alias Whitebread and the said Thomas Whitebread ordered that one Father George Coniers should Preach on St. Thomas of Canterbury's day in the Sodality-Church in the English Seminary against the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and that he should exhort the Fathers to stand by the new Provincial who would be as zealous to promote the bringing in of Catholick Religion into England as ever his Predecessor was and would not leave one stone unturned to promote the same Which said Letter was directed to and received by Richard Ashby and communicated by him to the Deponent about the 24th day of December Item XIII That in another Packet bearing date December the 26th it was ordered by Thomas Whitebread Richard Strange John Keines Basil Langworth John Fenwick Father Gray Father Harcourt Senior Father Harcourt Junior Father Micho Father Bennifield Father Ireland Father Blundell Father Jemison and some others of the Society that Father Leshee should be written unto by Rich. Ashby and the Fathers of St. Omers and informed that the Fathers before-mentioned had met together to contrive the Advancement of the Design of the happy disposal of His Majesty of Great Britain and of His Royal Highness if he should not appear to answer their expectations But the former giving no hopes at all they would endeavour his dispatch with all speed that might be that he might not hinder their Designs in bringing in Catholick Religion And if they could not find an opportunity to take him from his Kingdom they would soon take his Kingdom from him which Letter the Deponent saw in the hands of Richard Ashby and desired to read it but the said Richard would read it to
him in his Chamber on January 2. Item XIV That in the said Letters of December the 26th it was specified that Richard Nicholas Blundell was constituted by Pattent from the Provincial to be Ordinary at Newgate to go and visit the Condemned Prisoners and to reduce them to the Catholick Faith and Religion and to Catechize some Youth in the City of London and every day in the week he hath his several places where he Teacheth the Youth Treasonable and Mutinous Doctrines against the Interest and Person of His Sacred Majesty and giveth certain summs of mony to their Parents if poor to incourage them to send their Children to be thus instructed which passage was contained in the aforesaid Letters and afterwards practised in London ITEM XV. That another Packet came to Richard Ashby to Saint Omers from Thomas White John Keines and others of the Society of Jesus in London in which Letters from them and others were inclosed Letters to Father Thomas Stapleton Procurator at Brussels to perswade the Father Confessor of Duke de Villa Hermosa to inform that his Majesty of Great Britain 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 and heard read by Richard Ashby then Rector of Saint Omers in which it was further 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 Swiman 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 Kingdome of Ireland now at the Court at Madrid that he the said Swiman and he the said Arch-Bishop might jointly give an account to the King of Spain of the motion made or to be made to the said Father Confessor of Duke de Villa Hermosa and also to advise the Spanish King to seize the estates of the English merchants in the several Factories in his Dominions for that they had endeavoured to transport their Estates and did transport them to England which would tend highly to the prejudice of the Kingdome of Spain and for the confirmation thereof they procured Letters from one Fonseca sometimes an Agent in London to attest the same to which the said Fonseca willingly condescended and sent his Letter to Saint Omers to be sent to the Court of Spain that the Fathers might give their approbation which Letter was long and large attestations therein made against the merchants resident in their several Factories concerning the matter of Fact before-mentioned and also other Letters to Daniel Armstrong at Valledolid and to John Cross at Madrid in the which they were ordered to confirm this affirmation made or to be made by the Fathers in England and of the English Seminary at Saint Omers and of the said Stappleton together with that of the said Fonseca the abovementioned Spanish Agent who now liveth at Bruges in Flanders All which Letters bore date the first or second of January 1678. Stilo Novo and all of them the Deponent saw at Saint Omers and in the two Letters to those two Fathers in Spain viz. Daniel Armstrong and John Cross was contained an especial order that the former if he could not go to Madrid should send his attestations to Don Juan of Austria for the carrying on of which two hundred pounds sterling was transmitted by bills of Exchange to the said father Swiman and the said English Fathers ITEM XVI That when the Letters came from England about the business afore-mentioned to Saint Omers Edward Nevil and Thomas Fermor did say that they would not let this black Bastard go to his grave in peace meaning the King of England for that he had cheated them so often and that now they were resolved to be served so no more But the Deponent standing by said what if the Duke should prove slippery They both replyed his pasport 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 of Saint Omers ITEM XVII That on the fourth of January 1678. Stylo novo Letters were sent by Richard Ashby Edward Hall Edward Nevil Charles Peters Michael Constable William Busby James Janon and Thomas Fermor Jesuits of the English Seminary at Saint Omers as also Francis Williams Rector of Watton and Master of the Novices there Sir John Warner Baronet alias Clare Father Sanches alias Ditchling to the Father Confessor of the Emperours Majesty to advise the Emperours Majesty that his Majesty of Great Brittain had treacherously ploted the ruine of the Confederates especially of the German Empire and of his Catholick Princes under him and had under hand stirred up the Hungarian Rebels against his Imperial Majesty and found them money to go on with their rebellion and that his design was not to keep any alliance with his Imperial Majesty but onely in shew that he might advance his Nephew the Prince of Orange and make him absolute and therefore prayed that the States of Holland might be acquainted with it Which Letter was seen and perused by the Deponent it being written in Latine all which Letters were sent away by a Lay-Brother that was a Dutch-man and when these Letters were sending away one of the Lay-brothers whose name was George did say That the Prince of Orange was more fit to rob an Orchard than to be General of an Army ITEM XVIII That Letters bearing date January the first 1678. Spylo novo arrived at Saint Omers January the twentieth from Talbot Arch-bishop of Dublin wherein it was expressed that the Fathers of the Society in Ireland were very vigilant to prepare the people to arise for the defence of their Liberty and Religion and to recover their Estates and that if the Parliament that was to fit in England should joyn with the King in declaring War against France that a place should be open to receive the French Kings Army in Ireland when his most Christian Majesty should think fit to land one there And in the Letter head advised the Fathers of Saint 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 Brittain was brought to that pass that if any Male content amongst them should not prove true to their design his Majestie would never give ear to their information and therefore prayed them to be dilligent for now was the time or never which Letter the Deponent saw and read and in order to the Fathers compliance with the Letter of the said Arch Bishop they dispatched away 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
Villain the KING should not live to eat any more Christmas Pies and the other Gentleman did lay that he would So that the Deponent saith That Keines told him no more of the Concern of Coniers than the Deponent had heard of the said Coniers before on the 14th of August But the Deponent before he parted from Keines asked him What news about the Town Keines replyed That all the news about the Town was War with the French and Keines did say that if that held true then Have at the Rogues of the House of Commons they should be remembred for all their Long Bills against the Catholicks The Deponent replyed that with submission he thought the Revenge proposed against them would not do the business and therefore not a Resolution consistent with a Catholick Spirit for the Enterprise must be more Noble And withal the Deponent urged that he feared the Death of the King would scarcely do the business and effect the Design unless his R. Highness would pardon those that did the business and stand by them in it To which the said Keines reply'd 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 destroyed the King they had a List of 20000 Catholicks in London that were substantial persons and fit for Arms that would Rise in twenty four hours time and less And if James did not comply with them to Pot he must go also It being late in the Night the said John Kienes prayed the Deponent to come to him the next morning and he would have one hours discourse with him before he went to Mass and being about to take leave of the Deponent asked him What he meant by those Words He could not be guilty of any such thing as to assist in dispatching the King there being no guilt in the Case the Deponent smiled and said He could 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 LXI Item That the Deponent went to the Chamber of the said Keines about eight or nine in the morning on the 18th of August but he was gone abroad and ordered the Deponent to call upon him about four in the afternoon and then he would have some discourse with him And the Deponent accordingly went but met with the said Keines in the Mews who told the Deponent that he was to meet with some Fathers in Covent Garden and there would meet them some Dominicans and would have the Deponent go along with him and at the House where they were appointed to meet the Dominicans were already met viz. Mr. Vincent Provincial of the Domiminicans in England Joseph David Keimash Mr. Dominick Mr. Collins Mr. Fedding Mr. Mansel and Mr. Lumsdale as they said in the Name of all the rest of the Order in England to consult and comply with the Fathers of the Society to propagate the Catholick Faith and when John Keines was set with the Fathers of the Society by him all of a side viz. John Keines Father Harcourt Fa. Fenwick Fa. Wright Fa. Blundel the said John Keins propounded to the Dominicans to contribute to the design of killing the King and carrying on the business of England and Scotland The Dominicans replied 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 counsel and would procure what Interest they could but as for Mony they could not part with any at all for they were in debt and had scarce 400 l. in stock and the most they could make per annum of their Estate was not above 360 l. At which Consult the Deponent was to and fro and what was more said he cannot tell for he was sent with the Proposals to the Carmelites viz. Dr. Handson Mr. Kimbal Mr. Trevers and they said that they had not one penny in stock nor any In-come besides what the Spanish Embassador allowed them for assisting in his Chappel But they by the Deponent did present their Service to the Fathers met together and bad the Deponent tell them that their Prayers to God and our Blessed Lady should not be wanting All this was acted by Order from the Provincial of the Society LXII Item That the Deponent went to see John Fenwick on August Nineteenth in the afternoon and whilst he was with him in came John Keines and presently after him Mr. Blundel and after a Salutation was passed they asked the Deponent What Newes The Deponent told them he heard none but what was in the Gazett And Blundel said he had been with his Workmen and they wanted Oyle What the meaning of this was the Deponent cannot tell but believes it was Sheeps Fat and the said Blundel would not tell the Deponent his meaning when asked by him The Deponent asked Keines When he was for Windsor He replied The Court was scarcely setled as yet but said that Mr. Conyers and one Anderson was to go down on the morrow Aug. 20. 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 be certain when The Deponent asked further How honest VVilliam did Keines replyed that he was troubled with a sore Throat and was very bad with it and so indispos'd that he could not Ride down to VVindsor and that it would be dangerous for him to go by water lest a Cold being by that means Contracted he should be unfit for Service And then the Deponent took his leave of them it being near six of the Clock in the afternoon and went to the Monkes Convent and inquired of one Rumly a Lay-brother of that Order for Mr. Conyers he said he was not within but not far off however not to be spoken withal for he was with some of the Benedictine Fathers about business and would go out of Town to morrow betimes hi the morning And so the Deponent left him and being but a little way from the place met the said Conyers who laughing upon the Deponent told him That the Hill People were Fools to set upon 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 than in Tormentilio The Deponent asked How He Replied that if the shirt on his back should know he would burn it But if that should not take effect no opportunity should be neglected in order to the dispatch of 48. He further told the Deponent he was in hast and his time was short and his business great but told him also that honest William and Pickering should stay in Town seeing the party concern'd was Hic