false Traytors of the most Illustrious Seâ—â—ene and most Excellent Prince Our Soverign Lord Charles the II. by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Their supreme and natural Lord not haveing the Feare of God in their hearts nor the Duties of their Allegeance any ways weighing but being moved and Seduced by the instigation of the Devil the cordial love and true due and natural obedience which true and faithful Subjects of our said Soveraign Lord the King towards our said Soverign Lord the King should and of Right ought to bear altogether withdrawing endeavouring and with their whole strength intending the peace and common tranquillity of this Kingdom of England to disturbe and the true worship of God within this Kingdom of England used and by Law established to overthrow and to move stir up and procure Rebellion within this Kingdom of England and the cordial love and true and due obedience which true and saithful Subjects of our said Soveraign Lord the King towards our said soveraign Lord the King should and of Right ought to bear wholly to withdraw vanguish and extinquish and our said Sovereign Lord the King to death and final destruction to bring and put the 24th day of April in the year of the Reign of our said Sovereign L Charles the II by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the saith c. the 30th at the Parish of St. Gyles in the Fields aforesaid in the County of Middlesex aforesaid falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly and Trayterously they did propose compaâ—â—e imagine and intend to stir up move and procure sedition and Rebellion within this Kingdom of England and to procure and Cause a miserable slaughter among the Subjects of our said Sovereign L. the King and wholly to deprive depose throw down and disinher it our said Sovereign Lord the King from his Royal State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England and him our said Soveraign Lord the King to put to death and utterly to destroy the Government of this Kingdom of England and the sincere Religion worship of God in the same Kingdom rightly and by the Laws of the same Kingdom established for their will and pleasure to change and alter and wholly to subvert and destroy the state of the whole Kingdom being in all parts thereof well instituted and ordered and to Levy War against our said Soveraign Lord the King within this his Realm of England And to fulfil and bring to pass these their most wicked Treasons and Trayterous designs and purposes aforesaid they the said Thomas White allas Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering John Grove and other false Trâ—â—ytors unknowâ—â— the said so â—â— and Tweentieth day of April in the said 30th year of the Reign of our said Lord the King with force and arms c. at the parish of St. Giles in the Fields aforesaid in the County of Midelesex aforesaid falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly devillishâ—â—y and traiterously did assemble unite and gather themselves together and then and there falsly maliciously deceitfully advisedly devillishly and traiterously they did consult and agree to put and bring our said Soveraign Lord the King to death final destruction and to alter and change the Religion rightly and by the Laws of the same Kingdom established to the superstition of the Church of Rome and that sooner to bring to pass and accomplish the same their most wicked Treasons and traiterous imaginations and purposes aforesaid they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering John Grove and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown afterwards to wit the said 24th day of April in the said 30th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Midlesex aforesaid falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did consult and agree that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove should kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King And that they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Frenwick and other false Traitors unknown should therefore say celebrate and perform a certain number of Masses then and there agreed on among them for the good of the soul of the said Thomas Pickering and should therefore pay to the said John Grove a certain sum of money then and there also agreed on among them And further that the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove upon the agreement aforesaid then and there falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly traiterously did undertake and to the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown then and there falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did then and there promise that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove our said Sovereign Lord the King would kill and murther And further that they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitbread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering and John Grove and other false Traitors of our said Sovereign Lord the King unknown afterwards to wit the said 24th day of April in the thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Soverign Lord the King at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously did severally plight their Faith every one to other of them and did then and their swear and promise upon the Sacrament to conceal and not to divulge their said most wicked Treasons and traiterons compassings consultations and purposes aforesaid so among them had traiterously to kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King and to introduce the Roman Religion to be used within this Kingdom of England and to alter change the true Reformed Religion rightly and by the Laws of this Kingdom of England in this same Kingdom of England established And further that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove in execution of their said Traiterous Agreement afterwards to wit the same 24th day of April in the said thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King and divers other days and times afterwards at the said parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the said County of Middlesex falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously they did prepare and obtain to themselves and had and did keep Musquets Pistols Swords Daggers and other offensive and cruel weapons and instruments to kill and murther our said Sovereign Lord the King And that they the said Thomas Pickering and John Grove afterwards to wit the said four and twentieth day of April in the said thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord the King and divers days and times afterwards with force and arms c. at the said
as that of the Gunpowder-Treason I can resemble it to no other Plot or Design or Treason in any other time and truely it does resemble that in many particulars I may say it doth at least equal it if not exceed it I shall mention two or three particulars in which this Plot doth resemble that First that horrid Design was to take away the Life of the then King to subvert the Government to introduce the Popish Religion and to destroy the established protestant Religion in England and so Gentlemen we think our prooff will make it out that in each of these particulars this design is the same that that was Secondly the great Actors in that design were Preists and Jesuits that came from Valedolid in Spain and other places beyond the Seas And the great Actors in this Plot are Priests and Jesuits that are come from St. Omers and other places beyond the Seas nearer home then Spain Thirdly That plott was chiefly Guided and mannaged by Henry Garnett Superiour and provincial of the Jesuits then in England and the great Actor in this design is Mr. Whitebread Superiour and provincial of the Jesuits now in England so that I say in the several particulars it does resemble the Gun Powder plot Gentlemen In this plot of which the Prisoners now stand Indicted several Persons have several parts some of these persons are imployed to keep Correspondence beyond the Seas of which more hath been said in another place and so I shall not speak of it here Others were to procure and prepare Aid and Assistance here in England who were to be ready when there should be Occasion to use it But the great part these persons the prisoners at the Bar were to Act in this conspiracy was to take away the life of our Soveraigne Lord the King on whose preservation the safety and welfare of three nations and Millions of men does depend Now the facts for which the five prisoners stand Indicted I shall open thus First they are here Indicted for Conspireing the Death of his sacred Majesty They did agree to take away the Kings life and entring into such an agreement They hired some persons amongst them to doe it and this Agreement was made the 24th of April last 1678. Secondly There is another fact they likewise stand Indicted for That they did Endeavour and contrive to change and alter the Religion Established in the Nation and introduce Pâ—â—pery in tho room of it The manner how to Effect this was thus if my information be right you shall hear that from the Evidence Mr. Whitebread being resident here in England and superiour of the Jesuits did in February last think fit being impowred by Authority from Rome to give summons to the Jesuits abroade at St. Omers and other places beyond the Seas That they should come over here into England to be ready at London on the 24th of April the day laid in the Indictment and which is the day after St. Georges day and their design was as will appear by the proof to contrive how they may take away the life of the King for if that were once done they thought in all other things their design would easily be accomplished after the summons were out they were so Officious for the Accomplishing of this great end that between 40. and 50. Jesuits did appear here at London at the time for thither they were summoned and there the meeting was appointed to be at the White-horse Taverne in the strand they were to meet first but being so great a number that they were likely to be taken notice of if they came all together it was so Ordered they should come but a few at a time and go off in small numbers and others should succeed them till the whole number had been there And there were directions given and a Course taken that there should be some person to tell them whither they should go from thence After they had met there at several times in the same day they were appointed and adjourned to be at several other places some of them were appointed to be at Mr. Whitebreads Lodging and that was in Wild-street at one Mr. Sanders house Others were appointed to go 〈…〉 Lodging which was in Russelstreet and this Mr. Ireland was Treasurer of the Society anâ—â— others were to meet at Mr. Fenwicks Chamber in Drury-Lane and he was at that time Procurator and Agent for that Society Others were appointed to meet at Harcourts Lodging and others at other places When they came there they all agreed to the general design of the first meeting which was To kill the King Then there was a paper or some instrument to be subscribed This was done and the Sacrament was taken for the concealment of it After that Whitebread Ireland Fenwick and others did agree that Mr. Grove and Mr. Pickering should be imployed to Assassiaate the King One of them Mr. Grove being a lay Brother was to have 15 hundred pounds a great sum the other as a more suitable reward for his pains was to have 30. Thousand Masses said for his Soul Mr. Whitebread Mr. Ireland and Mr. Fenwick were all privy to this design this was the 24th of April In August after they being appointed to kill the King but it not taking effect either their Hearts misgave them or they wanted opportunity there was another meeting at the Savoy where the Witnesses will tell you â—â—our Irish persons were hired for to Kill the King And this was ordered in case the other design took not Effect There was fourscore pounds sent down to them to Windsor where they were to have done the fact After this other persons were appointed to do the Execution and they were to take the King at his Mornning Walk aâ—â— New-Market These persons are all disappointed in their design But you shall hear what was the Agreement how it was carried on and what rewards were given to carry it on We shal acquaint you likewise that for the bottom of this design when so many Jesuits should come over when they should have so many Consultations and when they should resolve to Kill the King there could be no less then the altering of Religion and introduction of Popery here in England And that time at the first meeting they had Ordered that Mr. Cary a Jesuit as their Procurator and Agent should go to Rome to Act their concern there All which things and more will be made out to you by Witnesses produced There are likewise some other Circumstances that will be material to confirm those witnesses We shall produce to you a letter written in February last about that time that Mr. Whitebread sent over his summons for the Jesuits to appear here This letter was written by one Mr. Peters a Jesuit now in Custody and t is Written to one Tunstall a Jesuit to give him notice that he should be in London about the 21th of April and be ready on thâ—â— 24th of April That he
parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid and in other places within the said County of Middlesex falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously and traiterously did lie in wait and endeavour to kill and murder our said Sovereion Lord the King and further that they the said Thomas White otherwise Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick and other false Traitors unknown afterwards to wit the said 24th day of April in the said thirtieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King at the said parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid falsly deceitfully advisedly maliciously devillishly and traiterously did prepare perswade excite abet comfort and counsel four other persons unknown and subjects of our said Soveraign Lord the King traiterously to kill and murder our said Sovereign Lord the King against the duty of their allegiance against the peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the form of the Statute in that behalf made and provided Upon this Indictment they have been arraigned and thereunto have severally pleaded Not guilty and for their Tryal have put themselves upon God and their Country which Country you are Your Charge therefore is to enquire whether they or any of them be guilty of the High Treason whereof they stand indicted or not guilty If you find them guilty you are to enquire what Goods or Chattels Lands or Tenements those you find guilty had at the time of the High Treason committed or at any time since If you find them or any of them not guilty you are to enquire whether they did flee for it if you find that they or any of them fled for it you are to enquire of their Goods and Chattels as if you had found them guilty If you find them or any of them not guilty nor that they nor any of them fled for it say so and no more and hear your Evidence Make Proclamation for silence on both sides Which was done Then Sir Creswell Levings one of the Kings learned Council in the Law opened the Indictment thus Sir Cresw Levings May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen of the Jury These Prisoners at the Bar Thomas White alias Whitebread William Ireland John Fenwick Thomas Pickering and John Grove do all stand indicted of High Treason for that whereas they as false Traytors meaning and designing to disturb the Peace of the Kingdom to levy War within the Kingdom to make miserable slaughter amongst the Kings Subjects to subvert the Religion established by the Law of the Land to introduce the Superstition of the Church of Rome and to bring to death and final destruction and to murder and assassinate our Soveraign Lord the King they did to effect these things the four and twentieth of April last assemble themselves together with many other false Traytors yet unknown in the parish of Saint Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex and there being so assembled the better to effect these designs did make agreements and conspire together first that Pickering and Grove should kill the King and that White and the rest of the persons that stand indicted with many other Traytors should say a great number of Masses for the soul of the said Pickering I think thirty thousand and they did further agree there that Grove should have a great sum of mony and upon this agreâ—â—ment Grove and Pickering did undertake and promise they would do this fact and did then and there take the Sacrament and an oath to one another upon the Sacrament that they would conceal these their Treasons that they might the better effect them and that in pursuance of this Grove and Pickering did divers timesly in wait to murder the King and did provide Arms to do it and the Indictment further sets forth that White and Ireland and Fenwick and many other Traytors yet unknown did procure four other persons yet also unknown for to kill the King against the peaâ—â—e of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity and against the form of the Statute These are the heads of those facts for which they stand indicted they have all pleaded not Guilty if we prove them or any of them Guilty of these or any of these facts according to the Evidence you shall have we hope you will find it Sir Samuel Baldwin one of his Majesties Serjeants at Law opened the Charge as followeth Sir Samuel Baldwin May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen of the Jury the persons here before you stand indicted for High Treason they are five in number three of them are Jesuits one is a Priest the fifth is a Layman persons fitly prepared for the work in hand Gentlemen it is not unknown to most persons nay to every one amongst us that hath the least observed the former times how that ever since the Reformation there hath been a design carried on to subvert the Government and destroy the Protestant Religion established here in England for during all the Reign of Queen Elizabeth severall attempts were made by several Priests and Jesuits that came from beyond the Seas though the Laws were then severe against them to destroy the Queen and alter the Religion established here in England and to introduce Popery and the Superstition of the Church of Rome But the Conspirators from time to time during all the Queens Reign were disappointed as Edmond Camtion and several other Jesuits who came over in that time and were executed did suffer for their Treasons according to Law at length about the latâ—â—erend of the Queens time a Seminary for the English Jesuits was founded at Valledâ—â—lid in Spain and you know the emyloyment such persons have And soon after the Queens death in the beginning of the Reign of King James several persons came over into England from this very Seminary who together with one Henry Garnet Superior of the Jesuits then in England and divers other English Papists hatched that hellish Gunpowder-plot whereby what was designed you all know but as it fell out these persons as well as those in Queen Elizabeths time were likewise disappointed for their execrable Treasons in the third year of King James were executed at Tyburn and otherplaces This is evident by the very Act of Parliament in 30. Jacobi in the preamble whereof mention is made that Creswel and Tesmond Jesuits came from Validolid in Spain to execute this Gunpowder-Treason with the Poplsh party here in England And Gentlemen after this Treason so miraculously discovered was punished one would not have thought that any future age would have been guilty of the like Conspiracy but it so falls out that the Mystery of Iniquity and Jesuitism still worketh for there hath of late been a sort of cruel bloody minded persons who in hopes to have better success than they had in foâ—â—mer times during the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James have set on foot as horrid a Design
thing among them L. C. Just Perhaps it was Fasting-day L. Ch. Baron My Lord their Fasting-days are none of the worst Mr. Oates No we commonly eat best on those days L. C. J. Have you any thing to ask him any of you Whitebread My Lord will you be pleased to give me leave to speak for my self Mr. Just Atkins It is not your time yet to make your full Defence but if you will ask him any Questions you may Whitebread I crave your mercy my Lord. L. C. J. Will you ask him any Questions Fenw. Did not you say that you were at my Chamber the 24th of April with the Resolve of the Consult Mr. Oates That Resolve I did then carry to your Chamber Fenw. Then was he himself at St. Omers L. C. J. The difference of old flile and new stile may perhaps make some alteration in the circumstance Whitebread But my Lord he hath sworn he was present at several Consultations in April and May but from November till June he was constantly at St. Omers L C. J. If you can make it out that he was at St Omers all April and May then what he hath said cannot be true Ireland He himself hath confessed that he was at St. Omers L. C. J. If you mean by Confession what stands upon the Evidence he hath given I 'le remember you what that was He says he came to St. Omers Mr. Oates Will your Lordship give me leave to satisfie the Court In the month of December or November I went to St. Omers I remained there all January February March and some part of April Then I came over with the Fathers to the Consult that was appointed the 24th of that month Fenw. Did you go back again Mr. Oates Yes Fenw. When was that Mr. Oates In the month of May presently after the Consult was over Fenw. And we can prove by abundance of Witnesses that he went not from St. Omers all that month L. C. J. You shall have what time you will to prove what you can and if you can prove what you say you were best fix it upon him for he saith he was here at the Consults in April and May if you can proove otherwise pray do Fenw. We can bring an Authentick Writing if there be any such from St Omers under the Seal of the Colledge and testified by all the Colledge that he was there all the while L. C. J. Mr. Fenwick that will not do for the first if it were in any other case besides this it would be no evidence but I know not what you cannot get from St. Omers or what you will not call Authenthick Fenwick Does your Lordship think there is no Justice out of England L. C. J. It is not nor cannot be Evidence here Fenwick It shall be signed by the Magistrates of the Town L. C. J. What there Fenwick Yes there L C. J. You must be tryed by the Laws of England which sends no piece of Fact out of the country to be tryed Fenwick But the evidence of it may be brought hither L. C. J. Then you should have brought it you shall have a fair Tryal but we must not depart from the Law or the way of Tryal to serve your purposes You must be tryed according to the Law of the Land Mr. J. Atkins Such evidences as you speak of we would not allow against you and therefore we must not allow it for you Whitebread May this Gentleman be put to this to produce any two Witnesses that see him in town at that time Mr. Oates I will give some circumstances and what Tokens I have to prove my being hâ—â—re Father Warner Sir Tho Preston Father Williams and Sir John Warner they came hither with me â—â—om Sâ—â— Omers there was one Nevil c. I cannot reckon them all L. C. J. You have named enough Mr. Oates But to convince them there was a Lad in the house that was got to the end of his Rhetorick this Lad was whipt and turned out of the house and had lost all hiâ—â— money Father Williams did re-imbursâ—â— this Lad in order to his bringing home I think the Lads name was Hilsâ—â—ey oâ—â— somâ—â— sâ—â—ch â—â—â—e And we came up to London together L. C. J. What say you to this circumstance Whitebread My Lord he knew that two such came to Town but he was not with them L. C. J. You are now very good at a negative I see how can you tell that Whitbread My Lord he could not come L. C. J. How can you tell he could not come Whitebread I can tell it very well for he had no order to come nor did come L. C. J. How can you undertake to say that he did not comâ—â— Whitebread Because he had no order to come L. C. J. Is that all your reason where were you then Whitebread I was here L. C. J How do you know he was not here Whitebread He had no orders to come L. C. J. Have you any other circumstance Mr. Oates to prove that you were here ther Mr. Oates My Lord when I came to London I was ordered to keep very close and I lay at Mr. Groves House let him deny it if he can I le tell you who lay there then Groves Did you ever ye at my house Mr. Oates Theâ—â—e lâ—â—y a Flaxâ—â—n Hâ—â—iâ—â—'d Gentlemen I forgot his name but I le tell you who lay there besides that is Strange that was the late Provincial L. C. J. Did Strange ever lye at your house Groves Yes my Lord he did L. C. J. Did he lye thâ—â—re in April oâ—â— Mâ—â—y Grove No he did not in â—â—iâ—â—her of them Lr. C. J You will mâ—â—e that appear Grove Yes that I can by all the House L. C. J. Have you any more questions to ask him If you have do If you can prove this upon him that he was abâ—â—eâ—â— and nâ—â—t in England in April or May you have made a great defence for your selves and it shall be remembred for your advantage when it comes to your turn In the mean tâ—â—me if you have no more to say to him call another Witness Let Mr. Oates sit down again and have some refreshment Mr. Serjant Baldwin We will now call Mr. Bedlow my Lord. Theâ—â— Mr. Bedlow was sworne Mr. Serj Baldwin Mr. Bedlow pray doe you tell my Lord and the Jury what you know of any design of kiâ—â—ling the King and by whom Mr Bedlow My Lord. I have been five years almost employed by the Society of Jesuits and the English Monks in Paris to carry and bring letters between them from England and to England for the promoting of a design tending to the subversion of tâ—â—e Government and the Extirpating of the Protestant Religion to that degree which was always concluded on in all their Consults wherein I was that they would not leave any member of any Hereâ—â—ick in England that should Sâ—â—rvive to tell in the Kingdom hereafter that there ever was any such religion in
Englands as the Protestant Religion Here Whitebread would have interrupted him My Lord I am so well satisfied in their denyalls that I cannot but believe they who can give a dispensaâ—â—ion and have received the sacrament to kill a King and destroy a whole Kingdom doe not scruple to give a dispensation for a little lye to promote such a design for so much â—â—s this Expiates any lye or greater Crime Sir Cr. Levines Pray Sir will you be pleased to tell your whole knowledge concerning the Prisoners at the Bâ—â—rr Mr. Bedlow The first leâ—â—er â—â—â—â—rrâ—â—eâ—â— waâ—â— from Mr. Harcourt at his house next door to the Arch in Dukes-street He hath been Procurator for the Jesuits about 6. years Hâ—â— employed me first and sent for me ovâ—â—r for I was theâ—â— Lâ—…nt in Flanders and coming home to receive my pay that was due to me L. C. J. How long is it a goe Mr. Bedlow Michaelmus last was 4. years when I came to Dunkirke I went to visit the English Nâ—â—nnery there the Lady Abbesse finding me very plyable inclineable made very much of me and I did adheâ—â—e to her shâ—â— kâ—â—pt â—â— 6. weâ—â—kes in the covent afterwards when I went away recommended me to Sir John Warner as an instrument fit to be employed in the carrying of letters or doing any thâ—â—ng that would promote the design against England He kept me at S. Omers a forthnâ—â—gâ—â—t and aâ—… me to Father Harcourt to be instructed in my employment It was thâ—â—n winâ—â—â— the next spring he sends me into England with divers letters whereby Mr. Harcourt I was emplâ—â—yed to carry several letters to Morton and Doway and oâ—â—her places that summeâ—â— I was sâ—â—nt into England without an answer but afterwards in 76 which was the â—â—xt summer I was to carry another Pacquett of lâ—â—tâ—â—s to the Monks at Paris who sâ—â—nt it to other English Monks in France L. C. J. Who sent that pacquet of letters in 76 Mâ—â— Bedlow I had it from mr Harcourt and it was written by Harcourt Pritchard Carry L. C. J. To whom Mr. Bedlow To the Englâ—â—sh Monkâ—â— iâ—â— France and in it there was a letter â—â—o â—â— Châ—â—se Upon the receipt of these lâ—â—tâ—â—ers at Paris â—â— Châ—â—se had a coâ—â—sulâ—â—tion with the Mâ—â—nkâ—◠〈…〉 a French Bishop or two about them I did not then speak French â—â—â—ugh to â—…d what it was they said but it was interpreted to me by mr Stapleton an English Monk who told me that it was a letter from my Lord Bellasis and others of the Catholick Religion English Gentlemen who were contrivers of the Plot here to satisfie them in what state things stood in England as to Popery I was sent back again with a pacquett of letters directed to mr Vaughan of Courtfield in Monmouthshire L. C. J. From whom was that Mr. Bedlâ—â—w From the English Monks at Paris From that consultation I went to Ponthois I there received other letters to carry into England I had a course to open their letters and read what was in them and in those letters was contained That the Prayers of that house were for the prosperity of that design and they would not fail to be at the consultation at of Warwickshire Gentlemen I fell sick at Monmouth and Mr. Vaughan sent to me a Iesuit to confess me but I was well before he came and so was not confessed by him I now come to the later times L. C. J You must speak it over to the Jury that they and the prisoners may hear you Mr. Bedlow The 25th of May 77. which was last year I was sent over with an other Pacquet of Leâ—â—ters I had no letters of consequence forward and therefore did not call then at Wotton but I called upon the Lady Albesse at Dunkirk and I went thence to Bridges and to Ghent where I had some letters for the English Nâ—â—nns which I delivered to them When I came to Doway I found there that the Monks were gone that was Sheldon Stapleton and Latham but the letters were directed to Paris and therefore I made hast and at Cambray I overtooke them And the letters were to give an account of the consultation held in the Gallery at Sommerset-house all tending to the destruction of the Protestant Religion and killing the King but I doe not think fit to declare here who were the persons that were present at that consultation At Cambray they were very joyful that there was so good a proceeding in England At Paris when the letters were shewed there was a letter written in a language which I did not understand but as I was told in that letter they were charged in Paris by my Lord Bellasis that they did not proceed according to their promise to them in England But said Mr. Stapleton to me my Lord Bellasis nor the society in England need not to write thus to us for We are not so backward but we can lend men and money and Armes too and will upon occasion From thence they sent me to Spain with a letter to an Irish Father I did overtake him at Sa Mora. From thence I went with another letter to the Rector of a Colledge of Irish Jesuits in Salamanca by their contrivance I was sent to St. Jago in Spain where was another Colledge of Irish Jesuits There I staid till I had an answer to Sir Willi Godolphin and when I had the answer to that Letter I went for the letter from the Rector at Salamanca the Jesuits there told me they would take care to send their own answer another way And when they had made me that promise I came away for England and landed at Mill-ford-haven All this reaches to none of these persons in particular But what I now shall say shall be about them only it was necessary I should speak of what I have said L. C. J. The meaning of all this is only to shew the Jury and satisfie them that he was an Agent for these men and hath been employed by them for five years together and he names you the particular places whither he hath been sent to shew you the reasons of his knowledge in this matter and upon what account he comes to be informed of this design Mr. Bedlow Having received the Newes of that country I did there take water and landed againe at Pâ—â—nsans and when I came to London I gave the Letter to Mr. Harcourt What was in that Pacquet I cannot particularly tell for I was not so inquisitive aâ—â— to look into the contents of it but I know it was tending as all the rest did to the carrying on of this Plot Afterwards I was employed by Mr. Harcourt and Mr. Coleman to go to â—â—me parts of England to communicate the letters to some of the popish party L. C. J. Now turn to the Jury Mr. Bedlow The Summer was past in the doing of that in the beginning of August last there was a Consultation and a close one at Mr. Harcourts Chamber so as
indulged no offence so big but they can pardon it some of the blackest be accounted meritorious what is there left for man kind to lean upon if a Sacrament will not bind them unless it be to conceal their wickedness If they shall take Tests and Sacraments and all this under colour of Religion be avoided and signifie nothing what is become of all converse How can we think obligations and promises between man and man should hold if a Covenant between God and man will not We have no such Principles nor Doctrinâ—â—s in our Church we thank God To use any prevarications in declaring of the truth is abomniable to naturall reason much moâ—â—e to true Religion and 't is a strange Church that will allow a man to be a knave T is possible some of that Communion may be saved but they can never hope to be so in such a course as this I know they will say that these are not their principles nor these their practices but they Preach otherwise they Print otherwise and their Councels do determine otherwise Some hold that the Pope in Council is Infalible ask any Popish Jesuit of them all and he will say the Pope is Infalible himself in Cathedra or he is not right Jesuit and if so whatever they command is to be justified by their Authority so that if they give a dispensation to kill a King that King is well killed This is a Religion that quite unhinges all Pâ—â—ety all Morality and all conversation and to be abominated by all mankind They have some parts of the Foundation 't is true but they are adulterated and mixed with horrid Principles and impious practices They eat their God they kill their King and Saint the murtherer They indulge all sorts of Sins and no humane Bonds can hold them They must Pardon me if I seem sharp for a Papist in England is not to be treated as a Protestant ought to be in Spain if ye ask me why He give you this reason we have no such Principles nor practices as they have If I were in Spain I should think my self a very ill Christian should I offer to disturbe the Government of the place where I lived that I may bring in my Religion there what have I to do to undermine the tranquility peacâ—â— of a Kingdom because all that dwell in it are not of my particular perswasion They do not so here there is nothing can quench the thirst of a Priest and a Jesuit nor the Blood of men nor of any if he can but propagate his Religion which in truth is bâ—… his interest They have not the Principles that we have therefore they are not to have that common Credence which our Principles and Practices call for They are not to wonder if they keep no Faith that they have none from others and lâ—… them say what they will that they do not own any such things as we charge upon them and are like to go hard with them For we can shew them out of their own Writing and Counsels that they do justifie the power of the Pope in Excommunicating Kings iâ—â— Deposeing them for Heresie Absolving their Subjects from their Allegiance their Claiâ—â— of Authority both in Pope and Council is the surest Foundation they build upon I have said so much the more in this matter because their Actions are so very plaâ—â— and open and yet so pernicious and 't is a very great Providence that we and our Religion are delivered from Blood and Oppression I believe our Religion would haâ—â— stood notwithstanding their attempts and I would have them to know we are not afraiâ—â— of them nay I think we should have maintained it by destroying of them We should haâ—â— been all in blood 't is true but the greatest effusion would have been on their side aâ—â— without it How did they hope it should have been don There are honest Gentlemen I believe hundreds of that Communion who could not be openly won upon to engagâ—â— in such a design They will not tell them that the King shall be killed but they insinuatâ—â— into them that he is but one man and if he should die it were fit they were in readinâ—… to promote the Catholick Religion and when it comes to that they know what to dâ—â— When they have got them to give money to provide Arms and be in readiness on their specious pretence then the Jesuits will quickly find them work One Blow shall put ' er to exercise their Armes and when they have Killed the King the Catholick Cause must be maintained But they have done themselves the mischief and have brought misery upon their whole Party whom they have ensnared into the Disign upon other pretences than what was really at the bottom A Popish Priest is a certain seducer and nothing satisfies him not the Bâ—â—ood of Kings if it stands in the way of his Ambition And I hope they have noâ—â— only undeceived some Protestants whose charity might encline them to think them not so bad as they are but I believe they have â—â—shaken their Religion in their own party here whâ—â— will be ashamed in time that such Actions should be put upon the score of Religion I return now to the Facts which is proved by two Wittnesses and by the concurrent Evidence of that Letter and the maid and the matter is as plain and notorious as can be That there was an intention of bringing in Popery by a cruel and bloody way for I believe they could never have prayed us into their Religion I leave it therefore to you to consider whether you have not as much Evidence from these Two men as can be expected in a case of this nature and whether Mr. Oates be not rather justified by the Testimony offered against him than discredited Let prudence and conscience direct your Verdict and you will be too hard for their Art and Cunning. Gentlemen If you think you shall be long we will Adjourn the Court till the afternoon and take your verdict then Jury No my Lord we shall not be long Then an Officer was sworn to keep the Jury safe according to Law and they withdrew to consider of their verdict After a very short recess the Jury returned and the Clerk of the Crown spake to them thus Cl. of the Crown Gentlemen answer to your Names Sir William Roberts Sir William Roberts Here. And so the rest Cl. of the Cr. Gentlemen Are you all agreed in your verdict Omnes Yes Cl. of the Cr. Who shall say for you Omnes The Foreman Cl. of the Cr. Set William Ireland to the Bar. William Ireland Hold up thy Hand Look upon the prisoner How say you is he guilty of the High Treason whereof he stands Indicted or not Guilty Forman Guilty Cl. of the Cr. What Goods and Chattels Lands or Tenements Foreman None to our knowledg Cl. of Cr. Set Thomas Pickering to the Bar. Thomas Pickering hold up thy hand Look upon
this to you as intending thereby to inveigh against all persons that profess the Romish Religion for there are many that are of that perswasion that do abhor those base Principles of murdering Kings and subverting Governments There are many honest Gentlemen in England I dare say of that Communion whom none â—â—f the most impudent Jesuits durst undertake to tempt into such Designs these are onâ—â—y to be imposed upon silly men not upon men of Conscience and Understanding And â—â— prâ—â— God as was said lately by a learned Gentleman whom we all know that all Proâ—â—estants may be as safe from the Force of your Daggers as they are from those of your â—â—rguments for I dare say that you could sooner murder any man that understands â—…e Protestant Religion than perswade him to such Villanies And among those many â—â—ings which prevailed with the honest Gentlemen of the Jury to convict you of this â—…id Crime they could not but take notice that you speaking to Ireland that do â—…end to Learning did send into Forraign parts that your fellow Jesuits shoâ—â—ld take 〈…〉 publickly to preach That the Oath of â—…giance and Supremacy by which the â—…on Justice of the Nation is preserved signified nothing which is a strong Evidence of your Design not only to murther the King but subvert the Government for surely the most probable way to do that is to asperse those Oaths by which all Protestant Subiects those whom you call Hereticks lie under an Obligation of Obedience to their Prince And â—â— think it not unfit to tell yon that you had a great favour shewed to you to be tried only for the Matters contained in this Indictment for you that are Priests must know that there is a Law in the Land that would have hanged you for your very residence here for if any Subject born in England shall take Orders from the See of Rome and afterwards come into England and remain there Forty days such for that Offence alone are made Traytors by Act of Parliament But you are so far from being under any Awe of that Law or Submission to it that you dare not only come to live here in despite thereof but endeavour what you can to overthrow both it and the Government it self You dare conspire to murther the King nay not only so but you daâ—â—e make your Consults thereof publick You dare write your Names to those Consults You dare sollicite all your Party to do the like and make all the tie of Religion and Conscience that to considering Christians are Obligations to Piety and Charity as Engagements either to act your Villanies or to conceal them We think no Power can dispence with us whom you call Hereticks to falsifie our Oaths much less to break our Covenant with God in the holy Sacrament But you instead of making that a Tie and Obligation to engage you to the Remembrance of our Saviour make it a snare and a gin to oblige your Proselites to the assassinating of Kings and murdering their Subjects I am sorry with all my Soul that men who have had their Education here and the benefit of the good Examples of others should not only be leâ—… into such mischievous Principles themselves but to be of that confidence in their Perswasion as to dare to debauch others also I am sorry also to hear a Lay-man shoulâ—â— with so much malice declare That a Bullet if round and smooth was not safe enouâ—â— for him to execute his Villanies by But he must be sure not only to set his poysonoâ—â— invention on work about it but he must add thereto his poysonous Teeth for seâ—â— if the Bullet were smooth it might light in some part where the Wound might be â—…red But such is the height of some mens Malice that they will put all the Venoâ—… and Malice they can into their actions I am sure this was so horrid a Design thâ—â— nothing but a Conclave of Devils in Hell or a Colledge of such Jesuits as yours 〈…〉 Earth could have thought upon This I remember to you for the sake of them that are to live and for the Chariâ—… I have for you who are to die for the sake of them that are to live for I hope when they hear that men of your Perswasion dare commit those outragious Crime and justifie them by a Principle of Religion they will not easily be seduced into yoâ—â— Opinion And out of Charity to you that are to die to perswade you to hearty 〈…〉 pentance for otherwise I must tell you thy Fifteen hundred pound speaking Grove nor thy Thirty thousand Masses speaking to Pickering will avail but liâ—… And I thought fit to say this also that it may be known that you have had the full â—â—nefit of the Laws established in England and those the best of Laws for such is noâ—â— Law of other Nations for if any Protestant in any place where the Romish Religioâ—â— profest had been but thought guilty of such Crimes he had never come to the Foâ—â—lity and Justice of Arraignment and to be tryed by his Peers permitted to make Defence and hear what could be said against him but he had been hang'd immediatâ—â— or perhaps suffered a worse Death But you are not only beholding to the happy â—…stituâ—… of our Laws but to the more happy Constitution of our Religion For â—â—heâ—â— are the admirable Documents of that Religion we in England profess That we dare not requite Massacre for Massacre Blood for Blood We disown and abhor all Stabbing and we are so far from reckoning that he shall be a Saint in Heaven for assassinating a Prince and be prayed to in another world that the Protestant is required to believe that such that begin with Murther must end with Damnation if our blessed Lord and Saviour do not interpose nothing that man can do Papist or Protestant can save any man in such a case We dare not say that our Religion will permit us to murder Dissenters much less to assassinate Our King And having thus said let me once more as a Christian in the name of the great God of Heaven beg of you for your own Souls sake be not satisfied or overperswaded with any Doctrine that you have preached to others or imbibed from others but believe that no one can contrive the Death of the King or the overthrow of the Government but the great God of Heaven and Earth will have an account of it and all Pardons Absolutions and the Dispensations that you who are Priests can give to your Lay-brother or that any of your Superiors may give to you will not serve the turn I know not but as I said you may think I speak this to insult I take the Great God of Heaven to witness that I speak it with Charity to your Souls and with great sorrow and grief in my own heart to see men that might have made themselves happy draw upon themselves so great a ruin But since you have been so fairly heard