Sir John Gage of Sussex which the Witness saw to be an Officer in the Army That in August there was a Consult whereat Fenwick was wherein there was a Design laid for killing the Duke of Ormond and raising a Rebellion in Ireland to which VVhitebread also consented when he came over as appears by their Entry-Books That in September VVhitebread having had Intimation from one Beddingfield of the Plots being discover'd and of the suspicion they had of the Witness being waited upon at his Lodgings upon his coming over by the Witness he beat affronted and reviled the said Witness commanding him to go beyond Sea again assaulting him in his Lodging afterwards to have murthered him being jealous that he had betrayed them He deposed also that Grove did go about with one Smith to gather Peter-Pence and that he saw the Book wherein it was entred And confessed to him that he with three Irish Men did fire Southwark for which Grove had 400 l. and the other three 200 l. a piece Then Mr. Bedloe deposed That he had been five Years almost employed by the Jesuits and the English Monks in Paris to carry and bring Letters between them from and to England for the promoting of this Plot Relating how Harcourt began to employ him and naming the particular places whither he had been sent to shew the Reasons of his knowledg in this matter saying that in all their Consults wherein he was it was always concluded on That they would not leave any Member of any Heretick in England that should survive to tell in the Kingdom hereafter that there ever was any such Religion in England as the Protestant Religion Then he proceeded to depose that in August last there was a Consult at Harcourt's Chamber about killing the King as Pritchard inform'd him and of sending the four Ruffians to Windsor who failing it was afterwards concluded Pickering and Grove should go on and Conyers be joyned with them to assassinate the King in his Morning-Walks at New-Market this he heard in Harcourt's Chamber in August also Grove and Pickering and Pritchard and Fogarthy and Harcourt and the Witness being present And Grove being more forward than the rest said Since it could not be done clandestinely it should be attempted openly That those that fell had the Glory to die in a good Cause But if it were discovered the Discovery could never come to the heighth but their Party would be strong enough to bring it to pass That Grove was to have 1500 l. and Pickering a considerable number of Masses That there was a Discourse at the same time of a design to kill several Noble Persons Knight was to kill the Earl of Shaftsbury Pritchard the Duke of Buckingham Oneile the Earl of Ossory and Obrian the Duke of Ormond Then a Letter was produced and read in Court sworn by Sir Thomas Doleman to have been found among Harcourt's Papers four or five days after Dr. Oates had given in his Informations from one Edward Petre giving account when the Consult was to be as ordered by their Provincial Whitebread mightily confirming Dr. Oates's Evidence as to that particular Then the Seals also were shewn in Court that were made use of to sign Commissions taken out of VVhitebread's Chamber Then the King's Counsel here ending their Evidence the Lord Chief Justice took notice to the Jury that there had only one Witness sworn against Whitebread and Fenwick Bedloe charging them with nothing of his own knowledg and that therefore he would discharge them of them and accordingly he sent them back to the Goal And the other three were called upon to make their Defence which was only a bare denial of the Matter of Fact Only Ireland being charged in August laboured very much to prove that he was out of Town all that Month by the Testimony of his Mother and Sister and one Harrison Sir John Southcott's Coachman and one Gifford His Mother and Sister saying expresly that he went out of Town August 3d and Harrison that he saw him at St. Albans August 5th and continued in his Company to the 16th and Gifford that he saw him at the latter end of August and beginning of September at Wolverhampton tho it was reproved by very good Circumstances and upon Oath for the King by Sarah Pain Servant to Grove that she saw him at his own door in London about the 12th or 13th of the same Month. His next Defence was a weak Reflections upon Dr. Oates's Credit to which purpose an Indictment for Perjury never prosecuted was urged against him but the Attourny-General made slight of it as of a thing that had nothing in it Neither was that which Sir Dennis Ashbournham said of greater force concerning the Irregularities of his Childhood which he said would have staggered his Belief of what the Doctor had deposed if the matter had depended solely upon his Testimony but being so corroborated with other Circumstances he was convinced of the Truth of what he had discovered nor did he think any thing could be said against Dr. Oates to take off his Credibility The Lord Chief Justice then summ'd up the Evidence smartly inveighing against the Principles and Doctrines of Popery After which the Jury retired for a very little while and then brought those three Prisoners in Guilty And then the Court Adjourn'd till the Afternoon when being met about five a Clock Mr. Recorder the Judges being gone home made an excellent Speech against Popery to the Prisoners sentencing them to be drawn hang'd and quartered which accordingly was executed upon them at Tyburn on Friday Jan. 24th following The Trials of Robert Green Henry Berry and Laurence Hill at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster on Monday Feb. 10th 1678. THE Prisoners there appearing were indicted for the Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Kt. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex to which they pleaded Not Guilty on Wednesday Feb. 5. and were ordered to be brought the next day to their Trials But Mr. Attourny-General the next day moved the Court that it might be deferred till Monday Feb. 10. that the King's Evidence might be the more ready which was granted On Monday therefore they were brought to their Trials and the Jury impanell'd were Sir Will. Roberts Bar. Sir Rich. Fisher Bar. Sir Mich. Heneage Kt. Sir Tho. Bridges Kt. William Avery Esq Char. Vmphrevile Esq John Bathurst Esq Richard Gowre Esq Thomas Henslowe Esq John Sharpe Esq John Haynes Esq Walter Moyle Esq To whom the Indictment being read Sir Thomas Stringer Serjeant at Law and of Counsel for the King in this Cause opened the Charge and Sir William Jones Attorney-General opened the Evidence Then Dr. Oates being sworn deposed That in September Sir Edmondbury Godfrey in Discourse did tell him what Affronts he had received from some great Persons for being so zealous to take Examinations concerning the Plot And that others who were well inclin'd to have the Discovery made did think that
Secresy as to time and place it appearing of its own Nature necessary The other was a Letter from one Christopher Anderton dated from Hilton by which was meant Rome Feb. the 5th 1677 8. wherein mention was made of the Patents being sent thence both which Letters the Prisoners strugled much to vindicate by such forced Constructions of the matters they contained as all the Court rejected Against Gavan Dr. Oates deposed That he saw his Name to the Resolve though he could not swear he was at the Consult of the 24th of April That he gave an account from time to time of the Affairs of Staffordshire and Shropshire relating to the Plot and that coming to London he gave the same account to Ireland his own Chamber and talk'd of two or 3000 l. that would be ready for the Design Mr. Prance then deposed that Harcourt had told him above a Year before as he was paying him for an Image of the Virgin Mary that there was a Plot upon the Life of the King Mr. Dugdale deposed against him that it was he who had engaged him in the Plot upon the Life of the King and often perswaded and encouraged him to it That at Ewer's and his Chambers at Boscobel and other places several Consultations had been had about the Death of the King and bringing in of Popery wherein Mr. Gaven was always a great Man being a good Orator to perswade People in the Design That at the same Consultations he had heard the Massacre often discours'd of And that Gaven should say That tho they were but in a low condition themselves yet they would have Men and Mony enough to spare for such a Design That the said Gaven had many times endeavoured to convince him of the Lawfulness if not the Merit of killing any person whatsoever for the Advancement of their Religion As to Turner it was sworn by Dr. Oates that he was at the Consult of Fenwick's Chamber and sign'd the Resolve Mr. Dugdale also deposed that Ewers had told him that Turner was to carry on the Design in VVorcestershire That the said Turner had met with Ewers Leveson and others in several places and had in every one of them given his consent to and assisted with his Counsel in the carrying on of the grand Design of killing the King and introducing of Popery This was the main of the Evidence for the King The Prisoner's defence lay chiefly in seeking to invalidate the Testimony given against them and to prove Oates perjured they produced these St Omers Witnesses who testify'd that he was not in England in April viz. Mr. Hilsley William Parry Doddington Gifford Palmer Cox who differed in his Testimony from all the rest and caused two great Laughters in the Court Thomas Billing Townley Fall John Hall Butler Cooke a Taylor some of which were so positive that they affirmed that Dr. Oates never lay but two Nights out of the Colledg from December till the middle of June And to prove further that he did not come over with Sir John VVarner and Sir Thomas Preston as he had deposed elsewhere one Bartlet a Dutchman Carlier Verron Baillee who spoke by an Interpreter John Joseph and Peter Carpenter appear'd Then Gaven produced two Witnesses to prove him to be at VVolverhampton in Staffordshire at the time of the Consult viz. one Mrs. Kath. VVinford at whose House he there lodged and Mary Poole a Servant in the House the latter of whom was so lame in her Testimony as caused both Laughter and Shouts He produced four more that affirm'd him to be in VVolverhampton the last week in July but none that could speak to the other three weeks in that Month. However he protested his Innocency and desired to put himself upon the Trial of Ordeal Then VVhitebread in his defence offered to prove D. Oates mistaken in his Evidence at Mr. Ireland's Trial which the Court would not allow Harcourt endeavoured to prove Dr. Oates mistaken as to Ireland's being with him in his Chamber in August One Gifford the Lady Southcott Sir John Southcott Mr. Edward Southcott his Son Mrs. Harewel her Daughter Eliz. Keeling Pendrel and his Wife two Mrs. Giffords and one Mr. Bedloe affirming him to have been most of that Month in Saffordshire Fenwick offer'd to invalidate Mr. Bedloe's Evidence from his having been an ill Man c. Then Sir Creswel Levinz of Counsel for the King summ'd up the Prisoners Defence and to clear Dr. Oates's Evidence about Ireland he called Sarah Pain who swore that she saw Ireland in London about the middle of August And for the Proof of Dr. Oates's being in England at the time he said he was Mr. VValker a Minister Mrs. Ives Mrs. Mayo Sir Richard Barker Philip Page Butler his Servants Mr. Smith Schoolmaster of Islington and Mr. Clay a Popish Priest all deposed as to his being seen in April and May 78 to which the Prisoners only opposed the Number and Innocency of their Evidence being most young Boys After which the Ld. Ch. Justice directed the Jury and in summing up the Evidence insisted particularly on Dugdal's Evidence concerning Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Death as a mighty Confirmation of the Plot. Then an Officer was sworn to keep the Jury who withdrew and the Judges also went off from the Bench leaving Mr. Recorder and a competent number of Commissioners there to take the Verdict and about a quarter of an Hour after the Jury brought them all in Guilty Then the Prisoners were carried back to Newgate and the Court adjourned till eight next Morning And then Mr. Langhorn was tried and found guilty After which they were all six brought to the Bar together and received Judgment to be Drawn Hang'd and Quartered which accordingly was done upon these 5 Jesuits and Priests on Friday June the 20th at Tyburn The Trial of Richard Langhorn Esq Counsellour at Law at the Old-Baily on Saturday June the 14th 1679. HIS Indictment was for conspiring the Death of the King Subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion whereto he pleading Not guilty the Jury were impannelled for his Trial who were Arthur Yong Edward Beeker Robert Twyford VVilliam Yapp John Kirkham Peter Pickering Thomas Barnes Francis Neeve John Hall George Sitwel James VVood Richard Cawthorne To whom the Indictment being read Roger Belwood Esq of Counsel for the King in this cause opened the Indictment and Sir Creswel Levins proved the Charge And Then Mr. Dugdale was first called to give Evidence of the general Design from which afterwards it would be brought down particularly to Mr. Langhorn who therefore deposed that he had been in several Consultations for alteration of this present Government and for the introducing of Popery and Murther of the King that he was to have a Sum of Money to be one of them that should kill the King being put upon it by Mr. Ewers Mr Gavan Mr. Luson and Mr. Vavasor all Jesuits that there was then to have been a Massacre of the Protestants and
was his unhappiness he had no Witnesses to call The Ld. Ch. Justice therefore in a few words summing up the Evidence the Jury presently brought him in Guilty The Trial of Capt. William Blague at the Old-Baily on Friday July 13. 1683. THE Prisoner having been Arraigned the day before and pleaded Not Guilty to an Indictment for High-Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and subversion of the Government was then and there set again to the Bar and making no Challenges the former Jury was sworn viz. Robert Beddingfield John Pelling William Windbury Theophilus Man John Short sen Thomas Nicholas Richard Hoare Thomas Barnes Henry Robins Henry Kemp. Edward Raddish Edward Kemp. To whom the Indictment being read and briefly opened by Mr. North and Serjeant Jefferies Thomas Leigh deposed That the Prisoner in discourse with him and Goodneough about seizing the Tower told them that the only way was to do it with Mortar-Pieces that he would venture his own Ship and provide 200 Men and lay his own Ship on Southwark side and make up his 14 Guns he had already 24 and would undertake once in 20 times to dismount the five Pieces that fac'd towards Southwark-side That he ask'd Goodenough what Mony was provided who answering 40000 l. He answered the Seamen would swallow that up presently to which Goodenough replied there was more provided at any time Mate Lee swore That the Prisoner told him as they were in a Coach together that one of these days they should have a Ball to toss which afterwards he understood by Rouse and Leigh was the Ball that was to be toss'd on Black-Heath That about six Weeks ago Capt. Blague and he walking about the Tower and discoursing of seizing it his way was to scale it but the Captain said the best was to shoot Mortar-pieces on Southwark-side but about the Ship he could say nothing The Prisoner's Defence was That his Business with Rouse was to procure him Mony as being a Broker which brought him sometimes into Goodenough's Company but that he never discours'd about any Publick Affairs and as to the seizing the Tower it was only accidental Discourse And as for his 200 Men it was impossible his Vessel being but a Pink which had been in his Possession but three Weeks and what Arms he had he bought therewith and that he never heard any thing about either a Ball or Bank of Mony Calling his Witnesses Mr. VVright declared That he had waited on the Captain ever since he had been shipp'd and was in his Pay before he had the Ship in possession Robert Chappel Carpenter declar'd The Vessel was not able to do any Service three Weeks ago and that he had been shipp'd four Months and an half to go for New-York One Bellinger the Chirurgeon declared That he had belonged to the Ship seven Weeks and to the Captain before he had a Ship and for Guns belonging to the Ship there were fourteen Saker-Guns of which four were Wooden ones six above Deck and four in the Hold. The Lord Chief Justice then summ'd up the Evidence taking notice to the Jury that these Men belonged to the Captain a great while ago and that there was only one Evidence that did affect him Wherefore the Jury Withdrawing in a short time returned and brought him in Not Guilty THE next day being Saturday July 14. 1683. the Lord Russel Capt. VValcot Mr. Rouse and VVilliam Hone were brought to the Bar to receive Sentence Where the Lord Russel desired to hear his Indictment read in English which was granted and thereupon demanded an Arrest of Judgment because there had been no Evidence of his conspiring the Death of the King as it was in the Indictment but only of levying War But the Verdict being past the Court told him they must go by what the Jury had found and not the Evidence and therefore Sentence was pass'd upon him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Capt. VValcot had nothing to say but desired that his Son and some Friends might come and see him Hone had no more to say but begg'd the same favour Rouse insisted on some Disadvantages he had when he came on his Trial and some difference between the Indictment and their Oaths but Verdict being past Judgment was given against them three as against the Lord Russel And upon Friday July 20. following VValcot being drawn to Tyburn in one Hurdle and Rouse and Hone in another and there put into a Cart attended by Dr. Cartwright the Dean of Rippon and the Ordinary of Newgate who urged them much to discover all they knew of the Plot after they had spoke to the People were executed accordingly The next day being Saturday July 21. the Lord Russel having taken leave of his Lady the Lord Cavendish and several others of his Friends at Newgate took Coach with Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet who accompanied him to the Scaffold built in Lincolns-Inn-Fields where he deliver'd his Speech to the Sheriff and after some Preparation he ordered the Executioner after he had lain down a small moment to do his Office without a Sign and so his Head at three blows was severed from his Body and ordered by the Sheriff to be delivered to his Lordship's Friends and Servants as being given them by his Majesty's Favour and Bounty The Trial of Algernon Sidney Esq before the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster on the 7th 21st and 27th of November 1683. UPON Wednesday Nov. the 7th 1683. Algernon Sidney Esq was arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason for conspiring the Death of the King and intending to raise a Rebellion in this Kingdom Which Indictment he excepted against as erroneous several Crimes being put together therein distinct in nature one from another and distinguished by Law offering to the Court a Parchment wherein were his Exceptions to the Bill but it was refused and he sorced to plead which he did at length Not Guilty And then he desired a Copy of the Indictment which was denyed him but upon his Request it was read to him again in Latin and his Trial appointed to be on Wednesday Novemb. the 21st 1683. Then and there the Prisoner again appearing he desired Pen Ink and Paper and that Mr. VVinn and Mr. Gibs might write for him which were granted him and then he shewed the reason he had before to desire a Copy of his Indictment which the Lord Stafford and the other Lords in the Tower had urging it for Law upon the Statute of 46 Edw. 3. But the Court over-ruled it Then the Clerk of the Crown called the Jury and after several Challenges the Jurors were John Anger Richard VVhite VVilliam Linn Lawrence VVood Adam Andrews Emery Arguise Josias Clerke George Glisby Nicholas-Baxter VVilliam Reeves VVilliam Grove John Burt. To whom the Indictment being read Mr. Dolben opened the same and the Attorney General opened the Evidence and then Mr. VVest was called against whom the Prisoner excepted
he upon which they let him go The Clerk of the Crows said he knew this Spence and that he was very like Sir E. Godfrey Then John Oakeley's Affidavit was read which was made before Sir John Moore Mayor June 22. 1682. and was That he coming by Somerset-House upon Saturday Octob. 12. 1678. the very day on which Sir E. Godfrey was missing about eight or nine at Night he saw Sir Edmond-bury near the VVater-gate and past close by him knowing him very well put off his Hat to him and Sir Edm. did the like to him and having pass'd him he turned and looked upon him and saw him stand still and a Man or two near him And that he told this to Elizabeth Dekin two or three days after and to his Uncle Ralph Oakely of Little St. Bartholomew about a Week after and to his Father Robert Oakely and several others in a short time after Elizabeth Dekin's Affidavit who was his Fellow-Servant before Sir John Moore at the same time hereof and Mr. Robert Breedon's Affidavit who was their Master and a Brewer near Sir E. Godfrey's House made then also that Dekin had told him what Oakely had told her and that before the Body was found And Robert Oakely his Fathers Affidavit made at the same time that his Son had told him the same and his Uncle Ralph Oakeley's Affidavit of the same before Mr. Justice Dolbin July 4. 1683. were all annexed to corroborate his Testimony And whereas it had been reported that Sir E. Godfrey hang'd himself and that one Moore his Clerk cut him down the said Henry Moore made Affidavit before Justice Balam of the Isle of Ely July 28. 1681. That the Report was false and scandalous and that he neither said nor did any such thing John Brown and William Lock also of Maribone made Affidavit before Sir John Moore Mayor June 30. 1682. That they viewing the Body on Thursday Octob. 17. 1678. as it lay in the Ditch found that the Pummel of the Sword-Hilt did not touch the Ground by an handful c.. Benjamin Man also of London Gent. being not called at the Trial tho twice subpoened made Affidavit before Sir W. Dolbin July 3. 1682. That being in the Gatehouse when Green was took and about to be put into Irons and understanding his Crime saying he did not think to have found him such a Man Green thereupon replied He was a dead Man Robert Forset Esq of Maribone made Affidavit also before Sir VV. Dolbin on July 1. 1682. That he was a hunting with his Hounds on Tuesday Octob. 15. 1678. and beat that very place where the Body was afterwards found but there was neither Body nor Gloves nor Cane thereabouts then and that Mr. Henry Harwood who is since dead borrowed his Hounds and told him that he beat the same Ditch the next day and that no Body was there he was sure on VVednesday at Noon George Larkin of London Printer made Oath also before Sir John Moore Mayor March 22. 1681. That he going to see the Body on Octob. 18. 1678. he met Nat. Thompson there who then proposed the printing of a Narrative of this Murder to him desiring his Assistance which they afterward agreed to print and that contain'd how Sir E. Godfrey's Face was of a fresh Colour tho in his life-time Pale a green Circle about his Neck as if he had been strangled c. That there was no Blood in the place and his Shoes as clean as if he had but just come out of his own Chamber which was an evident sign that he was carried thither and that the Coroners Inquest found that he was suffocated before the Wounds were made c. And finally that one of the Jury affirmed that his Mother's Servant searched all those Grounds for a Calf that was missing Monday and Tuesday and at that time there lay no dead Body Belt Gloves Stick c. Farrell it seems was Trustee for Fenwick that was executed and Pain was Brother to Nevill alias Pain who was famous for scribling for Mrs. Cellier and the Papists The Court consulting together Mr. Justice Jones having first set out the greatness of their Crime gave the Judgment of the Court which was That Thomson and Farrell should stand in the Pillory in the Palace-Yard the last day of the Term for an hours space between ten and one and each of them pay 100 l. Fine and to be imprisoned till they had paid it Pain was excused from the Pillory but adjudg'd to the same Fine Accordingly on Wednesday July 5. 1682. Thompson and Farrell were Pillored with this Writing over their Heads For libelling the Justice of the Nation by making the VVorld belive that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey murdered himself The Trial of Nathaniel Reading Esq before the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster on Thursday April 24. 1679. ON Wednesday April 16th 1679 His Majesties Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer did meet at Westminster-Hall in the Court of King's-Bench When and where the Commission was Read and the Grand-Jury Sworn and then Sir James Butler the Chief Commissioner that then appeared gave them their Charge informing them briefly of the Occasion of their meeting desiring them to go together and take the Witnesses being first sworn along with them which they did for about half an hour and then returned finding it Billa Vera. After which the Court Adjourned to Thursday April 24. On which day the Commissioners there met viz. Sir Francis North Kt. Ld. Ch. Justice of His Majesties Court of Common-Pleas William Montague Esq Ld. Ch. Baron of his Majesties Court Exchequer Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. one of his Majesty's Justices of the King's-Bench Sir Hugh Windham Kt. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Robert Atkins Kt. of the Bath another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Edward Thurland Kt. one of the Barons of the Exchequer Vere Bertie Esq another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Sir Thomas Jones Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench Sir Francis Bramston Kt. another of the Barons of the Exchequer Sir William Dolben Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench Sir William Jones Kt. his Majesty's Attorney-General Sir James Butler Kt. one of the King's Counsel and the Queen's Attorney Sir Philip Mathews Bar. Sir Thomas Orbey Kt. and Bar. Sir Thomas Byde Kt. Sir William Bowles Kt. Sir Thomas Stringer Serjeant at Law Sir Charles Pitfield Kt. Thomas Robinson Esq Humphrey Wyrle Esq Thomas Haryot Esq Richard Gower Esq After Proclamation made for Attendance the Lord Chief Justice North discharged the Grand Inquest and Mr. Reading being set to the Bar his Indictment was read to him Being for Soliciting Suborning and endeavouring to perswade Mr. William Bedloe to lessen stifle and omit to give Evidence the full Truth according to his Knowledg against the Lord Powis Lord Stafford Lord Petre and Sir Henry Tichborn but to give such Evidence as he the said