Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A70215
|
The Irish-evidence convicted by their own oaths, or, Their swearing and counter-swearing plainly demonstrated in several of their own affidavits herewith faithfully published as also a full and impartial account of their past & present practices.
|
Hetherington, William.
|
1682
(1682)
|
Wing H1626; ESTC R10355
|
17,276
|
20
|
of the designs of the Papists But he hearing that the Irish Plot was discovered in England by Mr. Hethrington to the King and Council comes over for England and gave Information before the King and Council and both Houses of Parliament against several Persons that were concern'd in the Popish Plot in Ireland but his wants being very great insomuch that had not his Landlord given him Credit for Meat Drink and Lodging he must either have starv'd or followed the old Trade that he formerly practised in Ireland and being a fellow naturally proud ambitious false treacherous and disposed as well by his Constitution as former Conversation for any kind of Villany the Papists or some of their disguised Factors and Abettors fell in with him and manag'd him so as he not only began to Retract his Evidence against Sir John Fitz-Gerald Colonel Lacy and others And also used all the means he could by Threats Discouragements and Temptations to get the rest of the Witnesses against them and others to Retract also which ill Practises being found out by Mr. Hetherington he immediately made a Complaint and Exhibited the following Articles against him to the House of Commons at Westminster Articles of High Misdemenour preferred against David Fitz-Gerald to the House of Commons and there proved fully by Mr. William Hetherington and afterwards before the King and Council but not there brought io hearing 1. THe said Fitz-Gerald at the first coming of the Witnesses out of Ireland to prove the Hellish Popish Plot did seem to be very glad of their coming to justifie their Evidence and in particular that of Eustace Comins saying that he was an honest man and was wrongfully clapt up in prison by the means of Sir William Davis for discovering of the Plot which he the said Fitz-Gerald swore he could say more to than any of them all and that he could charge the greatest men or man in Ireland therewith or in words to that effect but after he saw Comins's Narrative Printed and found that several of his Friends as he pretended were charged there then he began to rail and reflect upon him and threaten to be the death of him and afterwards took accasion to abuse and revile the rest of the Witnesses 2. That amongst other matters that he pretended he could prove touching the Plot he said he could prove the day and time that the Duke of York was to be Proclaimed King in Ireland and that he would tell the King of it and that he did acquaint the Earl of Burlington coming out from the Committee of the Lords that he could and would hang those he had accused and bring great ones to prove the matters he had charged them with 3. That notwithstanding the said Fitz-Gerald hath since endeavoured by many waies and means to bring this Informant and the said Witnesses into His Majesties disfavour and to cast reproaches upon them the better to Invalidate their Evidence alledging untruly That they had received three thousand pounds from the City of London or some of the Citizens thereof or some others whom he would mention if he could 4. That the said Fitz-Gerald hath sometimes by threats other times by feasts treats moneys promises and other waies of perswasion laboured to take off the said Witnesses from giving their Evidence on His Majesties behalf particularly in the Case of Sir John Davis and when all that would not prevail upon them told them that His Majesty was displeased with this Informant's Proceedings and would be so with them if they followed his directions and by these devices so affrighted them that he got them to sign to a Petition to His Majesty which he drew for the purpose Intimating That they were informed His Majesty did not look upon them as coming to doe him Service and that if it were so they should readily desist appearance further though their intentions were really to serve His Majesty 5. That the said Fitz-Gerald when he knew the said Witnesses were to be called into either Houses of Parliament or some Committee relating to them to give in their Evidence hath endeavoured to hide them or some of them that they could not be found and when they have been found he hath laid violent hands on them or some of them and would not permit them to go untill they forced themselves away from him and then he threatned them and those that called them and with an Oath said he would break Shaftsbury's Knot and the better to prevail with the Witnesses acknowledged he had received for his Service 100 l. of his Grace the Duke of Ormond 500 l. from the King and a Commission to be a Captain and that His Majesty had given him two Blank Pattents for Baronets the one for his Father-in-Law and the other to be at his own disposing and a Grant of the Lands of Rakeale and all the Commons of Knockgreny in the County of Limerick 6. That the said Fitz-Gerald had not only villified and threatned the said Comins but had also informed several of the Members of the House of Commons that the said Comins was a very Rogue and that he could produce many Records against him and that he was not fit to be credited and also terrified and threatned to kill him the said Comins so that he was forced for some time to keep himself in Obscurity That the said Fitz-Gerald hath not only villified and abused him this Informant and the Evidence which he was concerned for but also Mr. Thomas Sampson who came over upon his own accord to serve His Majesty in that matter and who by his Testimony therein hath given great satisfaction to both Houses of Parliament 7. That the said Fitz-Gerald being examined by a Committee of the House of Commons against Sir John Fitz-Gerald refused to give his Evidence being his Relation unless the Committee would promise to Intercede to His Majesty for his the said Sir John's Pardon and before a Committee of the Lords in his Evidence he charged Colonel John Fitz-Pattrick and Sir Edward Scot to be Confederates in the Plot but at the Lords Barr would not though asked and left their names out in his Narrative published in Print of his own knowledge in that matter his mind being since altered upon what considerations may well be judged he also said before the said Committe that he fared the worse because they knew that the King had a kindness for him 8. That the said Fitz-Gerald asked the Witnesses or some of them whether they retained the Romish Religion still who replied they did for which he the said Fitz-Gerald commended them for so doing for that the Protestants would only make use of them for their own purpose and advantage and afterwards would hang them 9. That the said Fitz-Gerald also told the said Witnesses or some of them that the King was satisfied that the late Lord Stafford was innocent denying the Fact at his death or words to that Effect and that His Majesty was resolved
the sudden change of their Condition from Beggary to Bravery whil'st they swore against Papists they had not a penny to help themselves but what peoples Charity gave them to keep them from Starving As soon as they began to talk of a Protestant Plot they appear fine full of money have Lodgins and Diet provided for them c. And yet observe the ridiculous Absurdity these Men amongst other Lies must now swear that Ptotestants Brib'd them to swear that Papists On the the other side If what they swore in these Affidavits be False They are virtually and voluntarily forsworn if not legally perjured Consequently nothing any of them shall hereafter I mean at least against any Protestant for as to their Testimony against Papists nothing of such a Biass appears ought to be regarded 2. If such Practises have been used towards these particular Men the Indirect Dealings with whom are thus Providentially brought to Light we have Just Reason to suspect the like have behind the Curtain been also made use of with others and even several of the English Witnesses too have no less receded from their former Declarations and frequently of late Herd and associate with these Tainted Irish-Cattel That Subornation is every where Vigorously endeavoured and that the Conspirators reckon it worth their while to offer mighty Temptations and give large Wages of Iniquity too Charming for most Mens slender Honesty to Refuse is evident by the late Practises with Captain Wilkinson That these Plot-shamming Intrigues were at Bottom carried on by Papists there is no doubt to be made Not only because it serves only their Interest But also from several Instances of Fact 1. Whil'st these Witnesses as I said but now and 't is a Consideration deserves to be repeated Charged Papists they were poor forlorn miserable and had nothing to live on but what they begg'd of Protestants who though they had the Compassion not to let them Starve had no such lewd Principles as to Bribe them to swear falsly against any That they gave them something to keep them Alive shews their Charity That they gave them no more is an Indeniable Argument of their Innocency But no sooner did they pretend a Protestant Plot and Damn and Sink against Shaftsbury Wilmore c. But they were New-Rigg'd and had plenty of Money and Encouragement 'T is not unknown that four of these Post-Knights viz. Owen Callaghan John Arthur Maurice Fitz-Gerrald and Murtagh Downy were kept for a considerable time at a certain place in St. Gileses and taken care for by one M. an Agent or Solicitor for the Duke of Norfolk a true Friend to the Catholick Cause till falling out amongst themselves one of them declaring he would not forswear himself against my Lord Shaftsbury Mr Hetherington and others that were Listed in Fitz-Gerralds and J. W's Black Book unless he had as much money as the rest 'T was not doing the Job they scrupled but not having equal Snacks divided them The Cabal of Sham-Plotters and Plot-shammers were forced to meet to appease the Difference And for fear it should take wind in Town that good Friend Mr. M. moved that he had a convenient place in the Country and a trusty Friend that would keep them in Decorum and be as diligent in Instructing them as Castlemain or Dangerfield in days of Yore were in Tutoring the St. Omers Lads at Gammar Cellierses Whereupon they were Transplanted for some time down into the Fenns not far from Lynn about a place called Downham where they Conn'd their Lesson so fast and behav'd themselves so Insolently that 't was feared they would have sworn Treason against most part of the Country Papists only excepted For they had not only assaulted a worthy Loyal Justice of the Peace but were contriving to make a Swear as they call it against several others that would not Associate with them had not their Mannagers again thought fit to remove them up to Town with the rest that were entertained in the Subornation-Office That they might all the better Concur in their Tales first to procure a Protestant-Plot in General and then to proceed in particular against all those both in City and Country that were in F. G. and J. W's Fatal Lists Out of which the Grand Sham-Plotter Fitz-G was pleased to shew a great many Names of Persons that were to be charged with High-Treason by him and the rest of his Confederates to a certain honest Man of Ireland by whom he sent several Broad-Picees part of the price of his Soul to his Wife who was before in a Starving Condition 2. There was some time since one Mr. Hâ—rley a Protestant that came over and could make a very considerable Discovery of the Popish-Plot in Ireland and brought with him Letters of Recommendation from a Noble Protestant Peer in that Kingdom The Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Shannon but Fitz-G and the rest of that ungodly Tribe meeting with him and thinking he had no more Conscience than themselves used all means to get him to make up one of their Number intended for the Sham-Plot-Office But he detesting their wicked Designs they immediately procured a Fellow to Arrest him in a Fobb-Action and clap him up in the Marshalsâ—a in Southwark where contrary to a late Statute he was thrust amongst the Common Felons and there continued four or five days without Meat or Drink unless the Pump and kindness of his Companions who had scarce sustenance for themselves supply'd him and none of his Friends knew what was become of him till a person by chance meeting with Mr. Hetherington told him one of the Kings Evidence was in that desperate deplorable Condition and that without speedy Relief he would not live till the next day Whereupon Mr Hetherington taking pity on the poor Man though altogether unknown to him was so Charitable as not to suffer a Stranger and a Christian to perish for want especially coming on so good an Account as he did to serve his King and Country and the Protestant Religion and so went immediately and paid his Fees and got him Released But the poor Mans Spirits were so far spent that he never Recovered but having Languisht for some time Dyed And who at the great day of Account are to Answer for his Blood is left to that Tremendous Assize where all wicked Contrivers and false Witnesses and corrupt Judges shall receive an Impartial Doom 3. That these Sham-Office-Evidence are still in their Hearts Papists though they pretend to be Protestants appears for that several of them since they Listed themselves in Fitz-Geralds Troop have been with the Condemned Priests and Jesuites and Madam Damnable Celiers the Midwife or chief Lady of the Popish Inchantments And 't is highly probable That they gave them Absolution as they did to the beforementioned Arthur commonly called Club-Foot for swearing against Mr. Hetherington And upon Condition to do some great Service for their Interest as swearing a Protestant Plot against all such as they should direct they may again be Reconciled to the Church of Rome 4 These Witnesses cannot deny but they have often said Nay some of them have given it under their hands and declared upon Oath That it was no sin to spill Protestants Blood but a Meritorious Act and that it is usual with the Popish Clergy to give Absolution as well before the Fact committed as after the better to effect their Designs I do for the Truth thereof Appeal to some of the Papers of that Popish Traitor Bishop Plunket lately executed which were delivered by Mr. Hetherington to the King and Council There is one thing more I may not omit which is That David Fitz-Gerrald upon a hearing between him and Mr. William Hetherington before the King and Council did assert That he could procure forty Irishmen for forty pound to Swear to whatever he desired them upon which it was Replied That he gave an honourable Character of his Countrymen Several other Deductions and Notes might be made on the foregoing Depositions But I would neither weary nor fore-stall the Reader I conceived my self bound in Duty to my King and Country and the Protestant Religion to make them publique and some other Depositions there are likewise not less material but too long or in some Respects not fit yet to be Printed I think these sufficient to give us an Insight into the Intrigue for he 's but an Ill Woodman that cannot discover the Nature and Size of the Beast by the View of his Excrement William Hetherington FINIS