Stafford's Memoires OR A Brief and Impartial Account OF THE BIRTH and QUALITY IMPRISONMENT TRYAL PRINCIPLES DECLARATION COMPORTMENT DEVOTION Last SPEECH and Final END OF WILLIAM late Lord Viscount STAFFORD Beheaded upon Tower-hill on Wednesday the 29. of December 1681. Published for Rectifying all Mistakes upon this Subject Wisd 4. Vitam illorum estimabamus insaniam Finem illorum sine Honore c. Hereunto is also annexed a short APPENDIX concerning some Passages in STEPHEN COLLEDGES TRIAL Printed in the Year MDCLXXXI The INTRODUCTION IT is a wonder to see how Passion and Interest predominate over Reason in Mankind Nothing is done nothing said without some tincture of either or both Even common Occurrences are usually related as Men would have them to be rather then as they are Plain-dealing is almost fled And all things now a days whether Private or Publick Sacred or Prophane are according to different Inclinations without regard to Truth promiscuously made the Subject of a Satyr or Panegirick An obvious example of this we have in the several accounts given of the Tryal Declaration Demeanor and Death of the late Lord Stafford concerning whose Tragedy though acted for the most part in the face of the whole Nation yet there have flown about in a manner as many and those contradictory Stories as there are Relaters and such as know least commonly talk most to compleat the Error It is true the Printed Tryal set forth by Authority is no wise liable to these gross mistakes But it hath swelled in the Press by forms c. To so vast a volume that few can spare either money to buy it or time to read it Besides it is in a manner silent of matters chiefly designed for the Subject of this Treatise viz. My Lords Comportment Declaration Devotion Last Speech and other Occurrences which happened inclusively from the time of his Tryal to his final end Having therefore attained to a most exact and certain knowledge of these particulars I shall for the satisfaction of the curious and manifestation of Truth give together with an abstract of the whole Tryal and some occurrences concerning it a plain and sincere relation of what I know and can by unquestionable Evidence justify to be true And herein I shall also totally abstain from any the les◠moralizing upon transactions whereby to forestal the Readers Judgment But contenting my self with a plain and candid Relation of things as I find them leave every one to the freedom of his own censure and verdict upon them SECT I. My Lords Birth Education Quality c. William Howard Viscount Stafford was second Son to Thomas Earl of Arundel and Uncle to the now Duke of Norfolk In his youth he was educated with all care and industry imaginable to improve in him the endowments of Nature and Grace And to speak truth he was ever held to be of a generous Disposition very Charitable Devout addicted to Sobriety inoffensive in his words and a lover of Justice When he arrived to years of maturity he married Mary descended from the ancient Dukes of Buckingham Grandchild to Edward and Sister and sole Heiress to Henry Lord Stafford To whose Title he succeeded being created by the late King Charles of Glorious memory Baron Anno 1640. And soon after Viscount Stafford During the time of the last bloody Rebellion he suffer'd much for his Loyalty to the King Always behaving himself with that courage and constancy as became a Nobleman a good Christian and a faithful Subject After his present Majesties joyful restauration he lived in Peace Plenty and Happiness Being blessed with a most Virtuous Lady to his Wife And many pious and dutiful Children In which state he remained till the 66. year of his age when happened this Revolution of his fortune as followeth SECT II. My Lords Imprisonment Charge and Arraignment c. ABout Michaelmas Anno 1678. Mr. Titus Oates formerly a Minister of the Church of England accused upon Oath before the King and Council and not long after also before the two Houses of Parliament several Roman Catholicks some Persons of Quality and amongst the rest the Lord Viscount Stafford of High Treason for intending and designing the Death of the King the introducing of Popery and subversion of the Government My Lord though he immediately heard of this Impeachment yet relying as he said on his own Innocence never left his Family nor withdrew himself from his ordinary known Acquaintance and Affairs till the 25th of October 78. when by Virtue of a Warrant from the Lord Chief Justice he was sent Prisoner to the Kings Bench and from thence soon after to the Tower where he remained above two years before he could be admitted to Tryal During this interval the whole Nation was surprized and allarm'd with the noise of an horrid Plot contriv'd by the Pope Priests and Jesuits wherein the King was to be murthered Armies raised Protestants Massacred and the three Kingdoms destroyed by Fire and Sword the People were affrighted searches made Guards doubled and all in an uproar The King hereupon consulted the Parliament and both Houses declared it a Plot. Yet to strengthen the Evidence as yet but weak and make farther discoveries Indempnities are promised Rewards proposed and encouragements given by Proclamation to any who would make out upon Oath the particulars of what in substance was already declar'd By this and the like sedulity of the King and three succeeding Parliaments several new Witnesses came in First Captain Bedlow Next Dugdale Prance and two others Bolron and Mowbray out of the North Then Mr. Jennison Smith Seigneur Francisco Dangerfield Zeile Lewis c. Lastly one Mr. Turbervile who together with Oates and Dugdale gave Evidence against this Lord Stafford of whom we now treat After two years Imprisonment when many Roman Catholicks both Priests and others had been Executed and most of the rest Imprisoned or fled At length my Lord was brought to his Tryal on the 30 th day of Novem. 1680. at the Peers Bar in Westminster-Hall the House of Commons being present and the Lord Chancellor High-Steward of England The Impeachment was drawn in the name of the Commons of England wherein my Lord was charged together with other Papists for having imagin'd and contriv'd to murder the King to introduce Popery and subvert the good Government of Church and State established by Law To this Impeachment my Lord being thereupon arraigned pleaded Not Guilty Allegations in proof of the Plot in general ¶ 1. THen the Cause was opened and the Commons Learned Counsel who were appointed Managers of the Tryal set forth the Charge in most Copious and Eloquent Language And beginning first with the Plot in general they shew'd to the life the Wickedness the Malice the Horror of so Dreadful Bloudy and Hellish a Design They strongly insisted on the express Positive Oaths of the Witnesses upon whose Testimony the credit of this Plot chiefly depended They amply dilated upon the Letters of Coleman
and others clearly demonstrating the busie Designs and Activity of the Writers They pressed home the execrable Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey charged upon the Papists as well by the Oaths of Captain Bedlow and Mr. Prance self-acknowledged Partners in the Assasination as also by a certain Letter sent from London to Tixall intimating the Murder of a Justice of Peace and communicated by Dugdale to divers Gentlemen in Stassordshire the third day after the Murder was committed They displayed to the full view the Sham-Plots and Counter-Contrivances whereby t is said the Papists would have suborned the Kings Evidence and turn'd all their Guilt upon His Majesty 's known and well-experienced Loyal Protestant Subjects They urg'd the firing the City the burning the Navy the calling in French-Armies Wild-Irish Spanish-Pilgrims c. asserted in the several Depositions and Narratives of Dr. Oats Captain Bedlow Mr. Dangerfield c. They recapitulated the several Tryals of Ireland Whitebread Langhorn c. And alledged the Votes of both Houses of Parliament declaring it a Plot. To strengthen all this they ript up the Cruelties of Queen Mary the French and Irish Massacres the Powder-Plot c. They anatomiz'd the wicked Principles from whence spring evil Practices of Murdering Lying Swearing Faith-breaking Equivocating c. imputed to the Papists as held by them lawful and matters of Faith In short nothing was omitted nothing neglected throughout the whole Process But every the least Circumstance enforced and advanced to its full proportion with such vigour of Wit and Industry as sitly corresponded to so great a Cause prosecuted by so high an Authority before so Illustrious Judges and August an Assembly When the Managers themselves had made these efforts to shew the Vniversal Conspiracy as they term'd it they produc'd six Witnesses to the same effect whereby to second and confirm what they had thus in general asserted Mr. Smith's Deposition THe first was Mr. Smith who deposed That going into France he became acquainted with Abbot Montague and one Father Bennet These persons to induce him to be a Catholick told him he should have an Imployment amongst them and that in a few years they would bring in their Religion into England right or wrong But this was not sufficiently prevalent with him to turn Papist yet he lived with them several years That at last he went into Italy where the Jesuits perswaded him to discourse with Cardinal Grimaldi the which he did That the Cardinal made much of him and he it was perverted him to the Romish Religion That upon occasion of shewing him a pair of Hangings this Cardinal told him He had great assurances the Popish Religion would prevail in England That there was but one in the way And that to accomplish their Designs they must take him out of the way That the Jesuits there also publickly preached and privately taught That the King of England being an Heretick whoever took him out of the way would do a meritorious act That after this he studied several years at Rome And that whilst he was in the Colledge he saw several of Coleman's Letters That being made a Priest he was sent into England with instructions to inform the Papists They were not obliged to obey the King but that they should endeavour to promote the Popish Religion That upon his arrival in England he was placed with one Mr. Jenison in the Bishoprick of Durham where his main Imployment was to root out the Jesuits as men ill-principled and to disswade the Papists from sending Moneys to Colledges beyond-seas That one Thomas Smith told him he received a Letter from the Lord Stafford wherein my Lord said He expected some sudden Change Dugdale's Deposition NExt to Mr. Smith was Stephen Dugdale who deposed That for about 15 or 16 years together he had been acquainted by several Letters and other means there was a Design carrying on for the bringing in of the Romish Religion That the Papists were to have Money and Arms ready against the King's Death for he said he heard nothing of killing the King till the year 78. That in October 78. my Lord Aston and others should go to dispose of certain Arms they received to the value of 30000 l. That the King of France was acquainted with all these Designs and that he would furnish the Papists with Men and afford them other Aid and Assistance if the King should die or be taken away That he saw a Letter writ to Mr. Evers for all the Jesuits Letters were returned to him wherein were these words This night Sir Edmundbury Godfrey is dispatch'd That he himself had contributed 500 l. for Arms c. to carry on the Design That about the year 78. there was an Indulgence published at all private Chappels wherein whosoever was active for killing the King should have a free Pardon of all their Sins That he was told at Meetings That the King being an Heretick it was lawful to kill him And that it was no more then to kill a Dog That he had heard That about the time the King should be killed several Parties should be provided with Arms and rise all on a sudden at an hours warning and so come in upon the Protestants and cut their Throats And if any did escape there should be an Army to cut them off in their Flight That he heard the Pope's daily In come was 24000 l. a day And that the same Pope as he thought had promised to contribute in the whole 1000 l. for the raising of Armies and carrying on the above mentioned Design Mr. Prance his Deposition THen Mr. Prance was produced who deposed That one Mr. Singleton a Priest told him He would make no more to stab forty Parliament Men then to eat his dinner which he was then at Dr. Oates his Deposition NExt Doctor Oates gave Evidence That in the year 76 he being then a Protestant and Chaplain in the Duke of Norfolk's Family One Mr. Kemish and one Mr. Singleton Priests advised him to hasten betimes to the Church of Rome for that the Protestant Religion was now upon its last leggs That hereupon having had before some suspicion of the designs of the Papists and growth of Popery to satisfie his curiosity he feigned himself a Convert was seemingly reconciled presently admitted by the Jesuits to do their business entrusted in their secrets and sent by them in April 77 with Treasonable Letters into Spain That e're he arrived at Validolid there were Letters got before him from England wherein was expressed That the King was dispatched which was a cause of great joy to the Fathers there But that this proved a mistake That during his abode in Spain he found the Ministers of that Court were very ready to advance Money which Money was returned into England And that the Provincial of the Jesuits of Castile had also advanced 10000 l. That soon after this he was present at a Sermon Preached
age long imprisoned no great Rhetorician nor much versed in the Law should take all advantages improve favourable circumstances and keep equal measures in sharpness of Wit and effluence of Speech with his Opponents who were ten or twelve of the greatest Lawyers and ablest Judgments of the Nation Nor is it any wonder if my Lord confounded with the multiplicity of arguments astonished at the horrour of the objected Crimes discountenanced by the Auditory And as he acknowledged half stupified with continual pleading day after day without intermission Did sometimes insist upon matters of less and omit matters of greater moment in his own behalf yet he seemed to manifest much of candour and sincerity in all his Comportment and Addressing himself to my Lords his Judges before he began his Plea to the particular Evidence against him He spoke to this effect That he was much afflicted to see himself accused by so high an Authority for a Crime which above all others he ever from his heart utterly abhorred he renounced and detested with much Exaggeration all Plots against the King and Government He abjured all Principles leading to such ends And disowned all Authority upon Earth which might in the least pretend to absolve him from his Allegiance He further shewed how faithful and affectionate he had been both to the late King in his Wars and to this in his Exile He declared he had timely notice of his being Impeached and thereupon might if he would have easily fled He likewise acknowledged That after he was in the Tower both the King and the House of Lords had sent him word That in case he would make a Discovery though he were never so Guilty he should have a Pardon If therefore he had been really conscious of his own Guilt and might have secured himself by either of these means and would not he ought to dye for his folly as well as his Crime He professed he had always a natural abhorrence of Blood-shed insomuch that he could not wish the death even of his Adversaries that Swore against him Lastly He desired as necessary to his defence Copies of some Depositions made by the Witnesses before several Authorities on several occasions which Copies after a long debate upon it were granted Now begin the particular Depositions of each particular Witness directly against my Lord upon which the House of Commons grounded their Impeachment To these Depositions as they severally occur I shall adjoyn my Lords immediate Answer And to his Answer the Mannagers reply That so both confusion and unnecessary Repetitions inconsistent with a Compendium may be avoided Furthermore because the Mannagers in Summing up their Evidence made divers ingenious Observations and urged many Reasons to uphold their several Charges not mentioned in the body of the Tryal And also for that the Papists afirm there was more of flourishing Rhetorick then strength of Argument in the said Observations the order of Law not premitting my Lord in the close of the Tryal to Rejoyn upon them I shall to give the best satisfaction I can to all parties annex here the plain Substance both of the said Mannagers Observations and the Papists Answers as they respectively occur to each particular Evidence Dugdale's Deposition against my Lord. THe first Witness that gave Evidence to the particular Impeachment was Stephen Dugdale who Swore That at a certain meeting held at Tixal in Stafford-shire about the latter end of August or the beginning of September 78. My Lord did together with the Lord Aston and others in the presence of Dug-dale give his deliberate full consent To take away the Kings Life and Introduce the Popish Religion That on the 20th or 21st of September 78. in the forenoon my Lord then residing at Tixal sent for him the said Dugdale to his Chamber by one of his Servants either his Gentleman or Page whilst he was dressing That when he came in my Lord sent out his Servants and being there alone together my Lord offered him 500 l. for his Charges and Encouragement to take away the Kings Life And farther told him He should have free Pardon of all his Sins and should be Sainted For the King had been Excommunicated and was likewise a Traitor and a Rebel and an enemy to Jesus Christ My Lords Exceptions TO this Deposition my Lord made several grand Exceptions The first was That Dugdale was a Person of an Infamous Life That he had Cheated the Lord Aston his Master and defrauded Work-men and Servants of their Wages That by his Extravagancies and Misdemeanours he had run himself into several hundred pounds Debt for which he was thrown into Goal and despaired of ever getting out from thence otherwise then by making the pretended Discoveries For proof of all which my Lord produced these Witnesses Mr. Sandbidge An old Man and a Protestant attested That Dugdale was a Knave and notoriously known both by him and all the Countrey to be a Wicked Man Thomas Sawyer attested Dugdale went from My Lord Astons involved in deep Debts That whilst he was Bayliff to My Lord Aston he received and placed to My Lord's Account several Work-mens Wages which he never paid to the said Work-men Whereupon great Clamours and Complaints were made of him in the Countrey That being Arrested for Debt My Lord Aston would not own him for his Servant at which Dugdale Swore He would be revenged on him The same thing as to Dugdales sinister dealing His being in Debt Imprisoned and Disowned by the Lord Aston were attested by Sir Walter Baggot Mr. Whitby a Justice of Peace and Mr. Phillips Minister of Tixal From hence my Lord drew a second Iuference viz That had the Lord Aston and the rest been Guilty as Dugdale accused them It was highly improbable the said Lord should adventure to exasperate discard and leave to Goal and Ruin a man at whose mercy they all lay and who might to retreive his desperate fortune by making Discoveries utterly destroy both their Designs and them To confront the Testimony of the foregoing Witnesses the Mannagers produced others in favour of Dugdale And as to the matters of his Debts and Beggery Mr. Noble Stephen Colledge the Protestant Joyner lately Executed for High-Treason at Oxford and Mr. Boson a Lawyer deposed That at Dugdale's intreaty they went with him to the Tower to assist him in adjusting his Accounts with the Lord Aston but could not accomplish it by reason my Lord would not till the return of a certain Councellour out of the Countrey let them see a Book wherein Dugdale said his Discharges were And that Dugdale told them my Lord Aston was Indebted to him things rightly stated two hundred pounds To this my Lord Stafford reply'd He should have something to say And desired the Lord Aston might be admitted to give an account of this matter But it was answer'd That the Lord Aston stood Indicted for the same Treason and could not be a Witness Then my Lord
desired Mr. Lievtenant of the Tower might speak what he knew Hereupon Mr. Lievtenant declared That the Lord Aston would have come to an account with Dugdale in his the Lievtenants presence But that Dugdale put it off and said he would come some other time but from that time to this he never heard of him UPon these Testimonies the Mannagers made these following Observations First It was manifest from several Circumstances that Dugdale went not away from Tixal for Debt as seems here to be pretended but for fear of being apprehended for the Plot which argues he was then Conscious of his own Guilt in that matter Secondly Whereas Sawyer attests that Dugdale Swore he would be revenged on my Lord Aston because he would not own him for his Servant when Arrested for Debt If this were true yet seeing this Revenge was not intended against my Lord Stafford but against my Lord Aston It is Impertinent to be urged against Dugdale's present Evidence To which the Papists Answer To the first It is no wonder if at a time when Roman Catholicks were universally suspected and persecuted on account of the Plot Dugdale though not Conscious of any Guilt either in himself or others Yet being then a Catholick and hitherto undetermined to set up for an Evidence was in some apprehensions of comming into trouble and might therefore withdraw upon that Score But what is that to the present purpose Is it not also undeniably proved here That Dugdale was in Debt That for Debt he was Arrested and Imprisoned That for his Misdemeanors and not for Religion he was discarded by his Master That at last Beggery had surrounded him Revenge possessed him and Desperation Seized him If this hath been clearly proved 't is no hard matter to judge what was his end and aim in making his Discoveries And my Lords further Inferences hereupon are Soild and Good To the second The Evidence given of Dugdale's Revenge was not produced as if the said Revenge was chiefly intended against my Lord Stafford but only to shew that Dugdale was now upon the point of bidding adieu to Conscience and Honesty And desirous to satisfie at once both his Malice and Penury He contrived his Plot after the Model given him by Oates and Bedlow wherein he Accused some out of Revenge and others amongst whom my Lord Stafford as the most proper Persons to compleat the Number of Actors in his Tragick Farce IN defence of Dugdale's Reputation in point of Honesty Mr. Whitby declared That Dugdale had been long my Lord Aston's Servant received my Lord's Rents made his Bargains and Governed the rest of the Family That he dealt honestly with him That he had heard indeed some Trades-men complain he put them off without Money and would not pay them But that my Lord would hear nothing against him William Southal a Coroner deposed that he knew no ill of Mr. Dugdale that he was the Lord Aston's Bayliff and had a good repute with all those People who had dependence on the Family But that he himself never had any business with him Then he the said Southal gave a large relation how he had perswaded Dugdale being then in Custody for Debt to Discover the Plot By putting him in mind of his Duty and Allegiance to the King and assuring him If he would make a timely Discovery he should not only obtain his Majesties Gracious Paerdon but also a Reward of Two Hundred Ponnds By force of which Argument Dugdale at last assented to make Discoveries And accordingly gave in his several Depositions first in the Countrey before two Justices of the Peace afterwards before the Councel and lastly before the two Houses of Parliament Concerning this Southal the Lord Ferrers informed the Court That he had been very active against the King in the late Wars and had the Repute of a Pernicious Man against the Government To Impugne which Information the Lord Brook declared in behalf of Southal that his Mother had imployed him and found him honest in their Affairs And Mr. Gower farther testified That he found Southal extraordinarily zealous in prosecuting the Papists UPon these Evidences the Mannagers made these Observations First Mr. Whitby not only declares that Dugdale had dealt honestly by him But that my Lord Aston himself would hear nothing against him Secondly It is not always the Stewards fault if Workmen to great Persons sometimes want their Wages Thirdly Mr. Southal an understanding and zealous man had with much difficulty and strong Arguments the good fortune at last to succeed in parswading Mr. Dugdale to make a fair and plain Discovery of the whole Plot to the great happiness not only of Mr. Dugaale but of the whole Nation To which the Papists Answer To the first Though Dugdale perhaps dealt honestly with Mr. Whitby yet he might be a Knave and deal dishonestly with other People for all that And if my Lord Aston refused to hear any thing against him this very refusal argues there were Complaints made of him And my Lord himself in time both gave Ear to his Crimes and Discarded him for them as is already proved To the second Those Stowards who receiving Moneys of their Masters to pay poor Labourers their Wages shall as Dugdale did Defrand them of it the better to defray their own Extravagant Expences are no honest Men. To the third The Papists do not understand to what purpose this Testimony of Southal's is here produced for it is granted That Dugdale being in Goal and brought to extremity did after much struggling and reluctancy of Conscience abandon his Soul to Perjury And conceiving fair hopes of Success by the prosperous adventures of Oates and Bedlow by the present promise of 200 l. and by the perswasion of Southal a notorious Cromwellian at last plunged himself into deep and horrid Oaths not only incredible but morally impossible to be true THe second weighty Exception made by my Lord against Dugdale's Deposition was That he had directly and palpably Perjured himself in divers parts and circumstances of his said Deposition For instance of this First Dugdale now Swears He had an exact knowledge and deep concern in the Plot. He was not only a Confident but an Assistant in raising Armies Killing the King c. Now my Lord proved by several Irrefragable Witnesses That the said Dugdale had before at sundry times and on sundry occasions with dreadful Oaths and Execrations professed he knew nothing of any such thing The Witnesses were these Sir Walter Baggot and Mr. Kinnersley both Parliament-men Attested That Dugdale being Examined before them and other Justices of the Peace though he then took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in their Presence yet absolutely denyed any knowledge of the Plot. Mr. Whitgrave also a Justice of the Peace Attested that he earnestly Pressed and Encouraged Dugdale to make a Discovery of what he knew telling him Now he had taken the Oaths they looked upon him as one of
along with you to shew you the way for I have asked his Lord leave for him to go Upon this Dugdale having now leave went along with Furnesse to the Stable and took Horse Furnesse his Horse was not ready but he overtook Dugdale within half a Mile and they arrived at the Race together about twelve a Clock My Lord himself with other persons of Quality came to the Race not long after and returned back to Tixal about seven at Night The same Mr. Furnesse and George Leigh both Attested that my Lord never sent either of them for Dugdale that he never bid them go out of the Chamber or absent themselves whilst Dugdale alone remained with him No nor did they know that my Lord was ever alone with Dugdale either that Morning or in his whole Life To Infringe the last Particle of this last Evidence the Mannagers produced these Witnesses Mr. Hanson Deposed That he once saw Dugdale with my Lord in the Parlour at Tixal but durst not be positive whether they were alone or not William Ansell Deposed That passing through the Court at Tixal he saw my Lord walking with Dugdale That he heard no Discourse between them That there might be more in the Company but he saw no more And lastly added that talking one day with Dugdale about the Plot Dugdale answered God Blast him if he knew any thing of it UPon these Evidences the Mannagers made these Observations First My Lords two Witnesses Furness and Leigh were his own Servants Secondly They were very positive in a matter hard to remember viz That Dugdale never was in my Lords Company And therefore that easie Credit should not be given to them but rather to Hanson and Ansell who both Swear that they have seen my Lord and Dugdale together To which the Papists answer These common Sophismes and weak Objections made to the Convincing Evidence here given by my Lord in Confutation of the main matter laid to his Charge argue the Mannagers at a loss for an Answer To the first Whom could my Lord produce but his Servants to contradict the Falsities of a man that pretends to have heard him speak Treason whilst he was Dressing in his Bed-Chamber Are Ponest Servants because Servants no good Witnesses To the second Though it should be granted that at other times and upon other occasions Dugdale might have been in my Lord's Company either unknown to his Servants or not remembred by them or even by my Lord himself which is the utmost of what the Testimony of Hanson and Ansell can amount to yet this doth not at all weaken my Lord's Evidence nor clear Dugdale from Perjury herein For the chief things which my Lord s two Servants well remembred distinctly Attested and by most remarkable Circumstances fully proved was That my Lord did not send either of them for Dugdale nor was Dugdale alone with my Lord in his Chamber on the 21th of September in the Morning On all which particulars Dugdale laid the Stress of his Evidence and here it is he is directly Perjured FOurthly Dugdale at the forenamed Tryal of Sir George Wakeman positively Swore as my Lord proved by two Witnesses Mr. Gyfford and Mr. Lydcot both present at the said Tryal That he the said Dugdale having received a Letter on the 14th of October which mentioned the death of a Justice of Peace did the same day at an Ale-house in Tixal impart the Contents of the said Letter to Mr. Sambidge Kinsman to my Lord Aston And Mr. Philips Minister of Tixal And that they answered They heard nothing of it before Now to confute this my Lord produced for Witnesses the same Mr. Sambidge and Mr. Philips Mr. Sambidge protested upon his Salvation Dugdale never told him any such thing Nor did he ever hear of it till the Friday or Saturday Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was found at Bury-Hill Mr. Philips attested That he never heard of it either by Letter or Word of Mouth from Dugdale or any other till the death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was publickly known To ballance this Evidence the Mannagers produced these Witnesses Mr. Ansel deposed That at the Ale-house and day above named he heard Mr. Dugdale mention the death of a Justice of Peace Mr. Sambidge and Mr. Philips being then both in the House but not in the same Room with Ansel when Dugdale told the News William Hanson deposed That at the time and place aforesaid he heard Dugdale say There was a Justice of Peace Murdered that lived at Westminster And that when Dugdale told this News Mr. Sambidge and Mr. Philips were by and might have heard it if they would Mr. Birch and Mr. Turton both attested That about the fifteenth or sixteenth of the same October the news of Sir Edmundbury Godfreys Death was spread about the Countrey and seemed to take its first rise from Tixal UPon these several Evidences the Mannagers made these Observations First Mr. Sambidge was something deaf and might not here when Dugdale told him the news of the Death of a Justice of Peace Secondly Mr. Phillips the Parson being perhaps very Studious in his Employment might be wanting in point of Memory Thirdly The other Witnesses produced in Confirmation of Dugdel's Evidence make it our that he did impart the news at the time place and in the presence of the parties above-mentioned To which the Papists answer To the first If what the Mannagers alledge be true then is Dugdale here also proved Perjured by the Mannagers themselves For he expresly Swore at the said Tryal of Sir George Wakeman That Mr. Sambidge both heard and answered him Saying He heard nothing of the news before To the second No honest man affirms or denies any past words or actions but according as he remembers and to pretend want of Memory in a direct Evidence is the common Road whereby to evade all humane Testimony To the third The other Witnesses on behalf of Dugdale do in no sort make out the thing for which they are produced For Ansel doth not own that Philips and Sambidge were so much as in the same Room with Dugdale when he mentioned the death of a Justice of Peace Hanson indeed herein contradicting Ansel tells us they were in the Room but could not say they heard much less answered to the discourse of Dugdale which is the chief matter of Perjury here charged upon him As for what Mr. Birch and Turton declared concerning the Rumour soon after spread of the death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey it nothing at all Enervates the present proof of Periury seeing it may well be true there was such a report and yet false that Dugdale had such a discourse with Sambidge and Philips as he positively Swears and they both as positively deny But enough hath been already said upon this Subject where we treated of the Death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey FIfthly Dugdale in an Information given upon Oath Swore That presently after one Howard Almoner to the Queen went beyond
the Seas he was told by George Hobson then Servant to the Lord Aston That there was a Design intended for the Reformation of the Government to the Popish Religion Now it was owned and acknowledged in Court point blank contrary to this Information That the said Hobson was not Servant to the Lord Aston nor known by Dugdale three years after the departure of the said Almoner out of England UPon this proof of Dugdale's Perjury the Mannagers made this observation viz That Dugdale's words cited in the Information are capable of two senses either they may import Hobson told him there was a Design ever since the Almoner went away Or they may import Hobson told him presently after the Almoner went away there was a Design The first sense may refer to the matter told The second to the time when told The words taken in the first sense argue no contradiction in Dugdale's Testimony To which the Papists answer The words of the Information taken in their plain obvious and connatural sense clearly import Hobson related to Dugdale there was a Design which relation Hobson made to Dugdale presently after the time one Howard went beyond the Seas Nor can any other construction be put upon the words without manifestly wresting them from their Genuine signinification as every impartial Reader may see So that the proof here given of Dugdales Perjury is unanswerable THe third main Exception made by my Lord against Dugdale's Deposition was That he being conscious of his ill grounded Evidence had endeavoured to Suborn divers Persons to make false Oaths That so he might strenghten his own by others Perjury To make good this Exception Samuel Holt a Protestant attested That Dugdale desiring to speak privately with him told him If he would Swear that Walter Moore carryed Mr. Evers away he would give him Forty Pounds bidding him not be affraid to Swear for fear of my Lord Aston for he would hire him an Horse to get to London and place him so that where he now got one Shilling he should then get Five William Robinson attested That meeting with Dugdale about a twelve month ago he the said Dugdale perceiving Robinson to be then Dejected and Poor endeavoured to corrupt him by giving him a Treat and assuring him He should not want Money if he would please to be ruled by him Then he took an Handkerchief out of his Pocket wherein there seem'd to be about ten pounds and bid him If he wanted take Money there And lastly told him He could furnish him with Money and put him in a way to get Money if he would come in as Evidence against my Lord Stafford Which Robinson refused to do not knowing my Lord or any thing of him John Morral a Barber gave attestation in these words Mr. Dugdale the 6th of August last was twelve month sent for me to the White Horse in Ridgley and there when I came to him he told me I knew as much of the Plot as he I told him I was Innocent of the thing He Swore God dam him I knew as much as he Then I told him If he knew no more of it then I did he knew no more then my Lord Mayors great Horse did Then he took me aside Come said he you are a poor Man and Live poorly I can put you in a way whereby you may Live Gallantly I will give you Fifty Pounds in hand if so be you will Swear against Mr. Howard Sir James Simmons Mr. Herbert Aston and other Gentlemen of the Countrey that they were at such Meetings at Mr. Herbert Astons upon the Conspiracy of the Plot. To take off the Credit of the two first Witnesses in this matter viz. Holt and Robinson nothing material being objected against Morral or his Evidence the Mannager s produced Witnesses to prove they were Persons of evil reputation Against Holt one Sampson Rawlins a Taylor Deposed that Holt was a Drunken lewd Fellow That he heard him say There were none but Rogues would take Dugdale's part That he stole some Bottles of Wine out of my Lord Astons Celler That he called him the said Rawlins Rogue because he came up in His Majesties Service and would have Murdered him because he took Dugdales part Against Robinson the Earl of Macklesfield and Mr. Booth a Parliament Man both Deposed That Robinson was a Person of evil and prophane Conversation making a practice of Cheating at Dice Cock-fighting c. That he owned himself upon Examination to be a Rogue And had no other imployment or Livelihood To these unquestionable Evidences against Robinson my Lord reply'd He knew nothing of Robinson before and added It was very observable That Dugdale knowing it seems his Friend and Comrade Robinson to be a Cheat and then in want thought him a tool fittest for his purpose the most easily prevailed upon and most proper to make a Knight of the Post So that the two last worthy Witnesses did by their Evidence rather confirm then lessen the belief of Dugdale's Tampering with Robinson herein UPon these several Evidences the Mannagers made these Observations First It was not likely that Dugdale a stranger to Robinson should attempt to Suborn him to Swear against a Person he knew not and in a matter whereof he was wholly Ignorant Secondly It doth not appear that Dugdale had any ill will to Moore that should induce him to Suborn Holt to Swear against him Thirdly Both Robinson and Holt were Infamous Men the one being a Common Cheat the other a Drunken Quarrelsom Fellow and seeming to favour the Plotters Fourthly Morral was but a Poor Barber of no Reputation and one who might easily be brought to say what he did To which the Papists answer To the first Robinson was no Stranger to Dugdale He was as the Earl of Macklesfeild and Mr. Booth attested every where about Staffordshire remarkably known for Cheating at Dice Cock-sightings Races c. exercises also frequent with Dugdale himself Nor is it material that Robinson knew not my Lord Stafford nor any thing of him It was not Dugdale's business to find out a Man who to discharge a good Conscience would Swear what he knew But who to get Money would Swear what he knew not For which purpose Dugdale had good reason to think Robinson a very proper Instrument To the second It is plain matter of Fact that Dugdale having accused and Imprisoned Moore for carrying away Eâ—ers but not able to prove it he would have hired Holt to make out his false accusation To the third If Robinson and Holt were Cheats and Rogues my Lord well inferred they were the more likely to be chosen by Dugdale for such Imployments as he had for them Though for Holt the greatest offence laid to his Charge seems to be that he Quarrelled with Dugdale's Witnesses as thinking no honest Man would take his part To the fourth Though Morral was Poor yet it doth not appear but that he was so honest as not to be
Suborned to Perjury by Dugdale And therefore his clear and positive Evidence in this matter ought to stand good But let it be granted what the Mannagers contest for viz That because Morral was Poor Holt Quarrelsome and Robinson Infamous none of these three Witnesses ought to be believed What then will become of all the Kings Witnesses as they term them What shall we believe or say of them Are they Persons of Repute Riches and Honour Are they not rather the Scum and Refuse of the Nation Why must credit be denyed to Beggers or Knaves when they accuse their Coequals in probable matters without hopes of Gain And yet the same credit be allowed to the like Beggars and Knaves when they Swear against Persons of Honour Moral impossibilities and contradictions upon large hopes and promises of reward This the Papists take to be hard measure TO Counterpoise in some sort this charge of Subornation laid to Dugdale The Mannagers alledged the like proceedings on my Lords side To prove which Thomas Launder deposed That my Lord Astons Friends had Summoned him up to my Lord Astons Tryal to give Evidence against Ansel and Dugdale and that he was to have an Horse to ride on and Money in his Pocket Simon Wright Barber to Dugdale deposed That Mr. Plessington told him If he could find a way to take off Dugdale's Evidence or Destory him he should have seven hundred pounds And that the said Plessington and others would have had him Swear point blank That Dugdale would have hired him to give Evidence against Mrs. Price and Mr. Tasborough My Lord at once to confound this man by his own Testimony and further to detect the Subornation of Dugdale also in this matter produced a Letter or Paper Writ and Signed by Wright himself to Sir James Simmons In these words I can I bless God with a safe conscience declare upon Oath That Mr. Dugdale hath been unkind to me in taking his opportunity of my poverty By reason of a private meeting of us two by his appointment He did at that time proffer If I would Swear against You and Mr. Gerrard he would Protect me as one of the Kings Evidence and I should not want Money And in the Hall at Westminster he said if I did discover it that day at Mrs. Price 's Tryal he would set me in the Pillory This I have owned to his Face and shall not go back from this and more for fear nor favour So I rest as you shall find by your Servant Simon Wright This Letter Wright acknowledged to be his own Hand word for word But said Plessington and others had perswaded him to Write it Thus the Man Swearing and Vnswearing contradictions against himself My Lord only reply'd See what you have under his own hand I have no more to say to him UPon this diversity of Evidence the Mannagers made this Observation viz. That the Attempts made to Silborn Launder and Wright were manifest Signs my Lords Agents endeavoured by Sinister ways to vindicate his Cause To which the Papists answer It is not conceivable how the Evidence given by Launder and Wright can draw the least suspision of Subornation on my Lord or his Friends For the Proposal made to Launder was by my Lord Aston's Friends and in behalf of my Lord Aston and not of my Lord Stafford Besides the words understood with that Candor and Sincerity they seem to have been spoken by my Lord Aston's Friends import no more then this That if Launder would like an Honest man give True Testimony of what he knew against Ansel and Dugdale at my Lord Aston's intended Tryal at London his necessary Expences should be born and the convenience of an Horse provided for his Journey thither Where 's the Subornation here As for Wright indeed he is a person of that Matchless worth and hath given so clear proofs both of his own unshaken Integrity and Dugdale's Innocence that he hath highly dâ—â—erved the Title Credit Dignity and other the Emoluments of an Associate to the King's Evidence In fine he hath said so much both for himself and Dugdale the Papists know not what or how to say more THe last great Exception made by my Lord against Dugdale's Deposition was That Dugdale Swore in this very Tryal the Jesuits had Entrusted him with all their Letters that there came to his Hands whole Packets to and from several persons in several places all containing most Damnable Treason many of which he said he opened read and knew the Contents Yet though the preserving two or three nay even one single Letter under the Authors hand might have been so highly advantageous to the proving the Truth both of his own Evidence and the whole Plot in general Nevertheless he could not produce one Scrip or Line to back his Assertion or clear himself from the Forgeries laid to his charge To obviate this Exception the Mannagers brought in two Sisters Elizabeth and Anne Elder These Sisters Deposed That Dugdale coming one day to their House with several Bundles of Papers in his Pockets and Breeches desired them to Burn them saying the Times were troublesome and he being to Travel to divers places if he were taken people would think him a Plotter having all those Papers about him That hereupon Elizabeth Burnt all the Papers except one Book concerning which Anne asked Dugdale whether or no that also should be Burnt He answered no lay that by it may do good seven years hence There is no Treason in it Elizabeth reply'd Is there any thing of Treason in the others He said Do you think there is Elizabeth further Deposed She did see Mr. Dugdale take a Glass of Sider and hear him say and Wish it might be his Damnation and he might Sink in the place where he stood if he knew any thing of the Plot. FRom the Testimony of these two Sisters the Managers drew these Inferences First Dugdale 's Fears and Apprehensions in Burning so many Bundles of Papers denote there were matters contained in them which if known would have Discovered the Plot. Secondly When the Question was proposed to Dugdale whether his Little Book should be Burnt or no He answered No There was no Treason in it which Ambiguous manner of Expression argues there was something of Treason in the other Bundles To which the Papists answer To the first it is not Credible that Dugdale as yet a Catholick should bring to an Alehouse and deliver to two Women in the very heat of the Discovery of the Plot his Pockets and Breeches full of Papers containing High Treason Surely he might with more Secrecy and Safety have Burnt them in his Chamber But in short if what the Women Attest be True it is very easie to learn from the very words of Dugdale himself the reason why he brought and caused to be Burnt those useless Writings viz. Not because there was any Treason in them but because the Times as he said being Troublesome such Bundles of Papers
fortnights acquaintance and promise of Secrecy my Lord proposed unto him a way whereby as he said he might not only retrieve his credit with his Relations but also make himself an happy Man which way at last my Lord told him in direct terms was To take away the life of the King of England who was an Heretick and consequently a Rebel against God Almighty For circumstantial instances of this Turbervil Swore That he had during that fortnights acquaintance frequent access to my Lord at his Lodgings That when he took leave of him to come for England his Lordship was troubled with the Gout and had his Foot on a Stool That my Lord had appointed him to wait for him at Diepe in order to his coming over with him in a Yacht That accordingly Turbervil went to Diepe but that being there my Lord writ him word he had altered his resolution and would take his Journey by the way of Callice and that he should hasten to attend his Lordship at London That hereupon he came into England but soon after returned again into France because not being willing to undertake my Lord's proposals he was discountenanced by his Friends reduced to poverty And thought himself not safe even amongst his own Relations My Lord's Exceptions TO this deposition my Lord pleaded in his defence That Turbervil had Perjured himself in several parts of this and other his Depositions First Turbervil here Swears my Lord made a Proposal to him in direct terms To take away the Life of the King Now my Lord proved That since the discovery of the Plot The said Turbervil did absolutely Forswear any knowledge he ever had of any design or any Plot whatsoever against the King's Person Life or Government The Witnesses were these John Porter a Protestant attested That Turbervil told him several times He did verily believe neither the Lord Powis nor the rest of the Lords were in the Plot And the Witnesses that Swore against them he believed were all Perjured and could not believe any thing of it Porter Answered If there was such a thing He Turbervil having been beyond Seas must certainly know of it Turbervil reply'd As he hoped for Salvation he knew nothing of it neither directly nor indirectly against the Kings Sacred Person nor Subversion of the Government And he further added Although I am a little low at present and my Friends will not look upon me yet I hope God Almighty will never leave me so much as to let me Swear against Innocent Persons and Forswear and Damn my self Mr. Yalden a Protestant and Barrister at Law attested That he heard Turbervil say in an heat these words viz. God damn me now there is no Trade good but that of a Discoverer But the Devil take the Duke of York Monmouth Plot and all for I know nothing of it To Confront these Testimonies the Mannagers produced one Mr. Powel and Mr. Arnold who deposed That Turbervil told them He had much to say in relation to the Plot but did not name any particulars fearing he said he might be discouraged in it UPon these Testimonies of Mr. Porter and Mr. Yalden The Mannagers made these Observations First It is not probable that Turbervil designing to be a Discoverer should disable himself ever to be so by Swearing Horrid Oaths he knew nothing of the Plot. Secondly The Testimony of Porter and Yalden are opposed by the contrary Testimony of Powel and Arnold To which the Papists answer To the first It is not improbable but very likely that Turbervil as yet not fully resolved to make Shipwrack of his Conscience and Honesty did often protest He knew nothing of the Plot And if the positive attestation of two credible Witnesses may be admitted for good Evidence It is not bare probability but just and solid proof that he did so And by consequence his present Discoveries ought not to be regarded otherwise then as the new and gainful Inventions of a Perjured Man To the second The Testimony of Powel and Arnold hath no manner of weight against my Lord's Evidence but rather compleats the charge of Perjury against Turbervil For it is granted that Turbervil hath said and Swore both to Powel Arnold and the whole House of Parliament He knew much of the Plot. But this being directly contradictory to the dreadful Oaths here attested by Porter and Yalden and no wise denyed by Powel and Arnold It followeth by the Testimony of all the four Witnesses that Turbervil is guilty of Perjury SEcondly Turbervil Swears That during the Fortnights acquaintance with my Lord at Paris he had by means of the Priests frequent access to him at his Lodgings there Now my Lord's Gentleman and Page who both then constantly waited on him attested They never once saw Turbervil there And Turbervil himself acknowledged in Court He knew them not To qualify this Evidence Thomas Mort was called who deposed That he being at Paris and desirous to return into England Turbervil told him his Brother the Monk had introduced him into the savour of a Lord by which means they might both of them have the convenience of passage in a Yacht which staid for my Lord at Diep That hereupon they went to Diep but finding no Yacht there Turbervil told him If they went to Calis they might go over with my Lord from thence in the Yacht At last they light on a Fisher-Boat at Diep and so came over in it But that this forementioned Lord was my Lord Stafford or that he ever saw Turbervil in my Lord's Lodgings or Company at Paris or else-where he could not say UPon these Testimonies the Mannagers made this Observation vâ—z The Priests had such a transcendent Insluence over my Lord as might gain admittance for any whom they pleased not only into my Lord's House but also into my Lord's Heart without the privity or knowledge of his Servants Now it plainly appears by the attestation of Mort that Turbervil through his Brother the Monk's means was become my Lord's Favourite To which the Papists answer It is not proved either that the Priests had such a Transcendent Influence over my Lord's House and Heart or that Turbervil through their means became a Favourite Mort indeed tells us Turbervil told him His Brother the Monk had Introduced him into the Favour of a Lord And this Favour only to come over with him in a Yacht For the Truth of which also he had only Turbervil's word and the thing it self never performed Must we from hence infer my Lord had given his Heart to the Priests and they had Introduced Turbervil into it A strange Inference But let it be granted my Lord had a real Friendship and Kindness for the Monks what then How is it proved they imployed their Interest with him in Trayterous Designs Why Turbervil Swears it Thus one Forgery is made use of to support another and nothing but proofless Fictions to make all out Yet to
am hourly looking to hear of the hour of my Execution I have time by his Omnipotent mercy to lay my Heart prostrate on the ground to beg his Pardon and acknowledg his infinite mercy and goodness God grant me grace to reflect as I ought on all these assurances and as I ought to do love his Divinity and nothing created independently of him Nothing in this World but the Holy Trinity deserving the whole love and Adoration of Mankind God give me grace to love him and only him And though I cannot do it so well as otherwise I ought yet I hope I do it what I can And do firmly resolve by his holy Grace I will to the uttermost of my power so long as it shall please him to give me my life wholly and willingly to resign my self to his Holy will and doubt not by his Grace but to find more true delight in serving him then ever I did in the vanities of the World All Glory Praise and Honour be given unto him for all Eterniâ—â— Amen THere was likewise found in his Chamber this following Prayer or Resignation Thou hast said O Lord he that loves Father or Mother c. more then me is not worthy of me I acknowledge most dear Lord that I love my Wife and Children as much as a loving Husband and tender Father can love a most deserving Wife and most dutiful Children but to shew that I love thy Divine Majesty more than them and my own Life to boot I willingly render up and forsake both for the love of thee and rather then to offend thee though by the contrary I may have life and all worldly advantages both for my self and them Receive therefore Dear Jesus this voluntary Oblation of both Take us into thy protection O Helper in opportunities in Tribulation Be thou a Judge and Spouse to the Widdow a Father to the Orphans and Salvation to all our Souls I rejoyce to have so dear a Pledge to Offer and present thee for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon Us and for thy sake who offeredst thy self for us to Death to the most ignominious Death of the Cross Receive therefore Sweet Jesus this poor Oblation of mine though all I am able to offer thee in union of all the Oblations of thy most Sacred Life Death and Passion and of all those Divine Oblations which have been are and ever shall be offered upon thine Altars All which I Offer thee and by thy hands to thy eternal Father O Father look upon the face of thy Christ and turn away thy face from my Sins O Holy Mary Mother of God all ye Holy Angels and Saints in Heaven make Intercession for me that what I deserve not of my self may by your Intercession be bestowed upon me Amen Jesu Amen Grant and ratisie what I ask for thy Names sake Amen On Sunday the 19 th of December Mr Lieutenant of the Tower came to him and told him He was sorry he must bring him the ill news that he must dye on the 29 th of this Month. To which dismal Message he undauntedly replyed I must obey Then added in Latine that Text of the Psalm Haec dies c. This is the day which our Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in it After which turning himself to his almost dead-struck Lady he said Let us go to our Prayers UPon this occasion also he writ a little Schedule containing these words In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost This day Mr. Lieutenant came and told me I must dye God's Holy name be praised and I prostrate beseech him to have mercy on my sinful Soul And deal with me as his Omnipotence knows I am Innocent of what was falsly sworn against me I do not doubt of Salvation through the Passion of our most blessed Saviour IT was truly a matter of wonder and astonishment to those who lived and were conversant with him during this short remnant of his life to see with what Constancy and equal temper of mind he comported himself What interior Quiet and serenity he seem d to injoy What confidence he expressed in God What Charity to all even to the worst of his Enemies Death hath usually an aspect formidable to nature especially when Treason and Murder slie in the face of a guilty Conscience A man who hath warning and leisure deliberately to consider he is now upon the point of being just dragged out of this mortal State before the dreadful Tribunal of a severe Judge who knows the Secrets of his Heart there to receive an Eternal Doom of Hell and Damnation for crimes detested by God and Nature This man surely can never die without such Conflicts of horrour and despair as will almost prevent the hand of the Executioner yet there appeared in my Lord no other symptoms then those of a most pleasing Tranquility as if Innocence had Guarded him As if the Injustice of others had secured him As if the Holy Ghost had fortified him As if Christ Jesus had united him to his Sufferings and undertaken his conduct and defence THat very morning he was to dye he writ a Letter to his Lady which afterwards he delivered on the Scaffold to a Friend there present the contents whereof are these My Dear Wife I Have I give God humble thanks slept this night some hours very quietly I would not dress me until I had by this given you thanks for all your great Love and Kindness unto me I am very sorry that I have not deserved it from you God reward you Were I to live numbers of years I assure you I would never omit any occasion to let you know the Love I bear you I cannot say what I would nor how well and many ways you have deserved God of His most infinite mercy send us an happy meeting in Heaven My last request unto you is that you will bear my Death as well as you can for my sake I have now no more to do but as well as I can though not so well as I would to recommend my sinful Soul unto the mercy of the Holy Trinity who through the Passion Bloud and Merits of our Savour I hope will mercifully grant me a place though the lowest in Heaven God grant it And bless you and Ours St. Thomas of Canterbury's day 1680 past six in the Morning Your truly loving Husband William Howard The Manner and Circumstances of my Lord 's Final End WHen the hour appointed for his Death drew near he exspected with some impatience the arrival of Mr. Lieutenant telling his Friends that were about him he ought not to hasten his own death yet he thought the time long till they came for him A Gentleman then with him in his Chamber put him in mind that it was a cold day and that his Lordship would do well to put on a Cloak or Coat to keep him warm He answered He would for said