1678. Rome; Thomas Dangerfield, Miles Prance, and feveral others.

There were alfo feized feveral Papers in Mr. Coleman's Chamber, importing a Defign of obtaining a Toleration for, and Propagation of, the Popish Religion in England, being affifted from France and Rome with great Sums of Money, which was to be difpofed of in England to certain Perfons for that Purpofe. Which Papers difcovered that he kept a conftant Correfpondence with la Chaife, the French King's Confeffor, who negociated this Matter there; and with the Pope's Nuncio at Bruffels, who agitated the fame at Rome; this he himself confeffed, but to his Death denied any Defign of killing the King, or raising a Rebellion.

There were likewife Letters and Papers feized in Mr. Harcourt's Lodgings, fome of which gave an Account of a general Confult to be held in London by the Jefuits on the 24th of April, for the tranfacting of fome grand Affair.

To which must be added, three Letters written by fome of the Jefaits.

Sir Edmundbury Godfrey having taken Oates's Depofitions, carried them to the Lord Chief Juftice Scroggs, who informed the King and Council of it, and Warrants were immediately iffued for apprehending the Perfons accufed, who were accordingly feized, and fent to Prifon. And in the Midft of the Confternation this Difcovery had caufed, Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was on Saturday the 12th of October mifig from his Houfe, no body knowing what was become of him; upon which it was immediately concluded that the Papifts had murdered him. It was four Days before

any News could be heard of him, and then he was found dead in a Ditch by Primrofe-Hell, with his own Sword run through his Body; and upon the Inqueft, the Coroner's Jury found that he had been m♫• dered.

His Majefty publifhed a Procamation on the 20th for the Difcovery of the Murtherers, promifirg a Reward of 500 which at the Parliament's Requeft, which met the 21st of October, being reseat ed, with a Promise of protecting the Discoverer, one William Bed loe, commonly called Captain Bedloe, came in, and declared that he had been trea ed with by fome Popish Priests to murder a certain Gentleman, without naming whom, but was ordered to infinuate him elf into the Acousintance of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey; that the Day that Sir Edmundary Godfrey was miffing, one of the Priests, named la Fare, told him, that there was a confiderable Gen tleman to be taken off that Night, who had in his Hands all the informations of Oates; that if they took thofe Papers from him, it would obftruct the Discovery; and asked him to affift in it, which he promifed, and appointed to meet at Somerset House, but failed; that he feeing la Fare on Monday Night, was charged for Breach of Promife; and that la fare then fhewed him the Body in SomerjetHoule, which he immediately knew to be Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's, and promised to at in carrying it off, but that he faled then allo: and being much distur bed, went out of Town, and continuing ftill reflefs, at length refolved to difcover it. This is the Sum of Bedloe's Tellimony in this Matter.

But foon after one Miles Prance, a Silver fmith, came in, and gave a more particular Account of it, viz. That one Girald and one Kelly, that were Popish Priests, together with Robert Green, and Lawrence Hill, were the Perfons that perpetrated this wicked Villany; the Manner thus: Hill went to Sir Edmundbury's House on the 12th of October, in the Morning, and pretending Bufinefs, he spoke with him; and afterwards with Girald and Green, dogged him all Day long, till at Eight a Clock in the Evening, as he paffed by Somerset House, Hill came to Sir Edmundbury, and pretending that two Men were quarrelling, defired him to come down to pacify them; which at their earnest Intreaty he was prevailed upon to do, when going into Somerfet House Water-gate, and paffing down towards the Yard that opens to the Water, as he came to the Bottom of the Rails, Green threw a twifted Handkerchief about his Neck, and dragged him behind the Rails, and there throtled him and punched him; and Girald would have run his Sword through him, but was hindred by the reft, left the Blood might difcover them; while this was doing, Prance (who had been engaged in the Bufinefs by the Perfuafions of Girald and Kelly, and was called out of his Houfe that Evening by Green) food to watch at the Gate; and Berry, who was Porter to Somerfet Houfe, did the fame at the Stairs; and after the Murther was done, he helped Hill, Green, Girald, Kelly, and Ber73, to carry the Body into Hill's Chamber in Dr. Godwin's Houfe, where it lay till Monday Night, and then it was removed into SomersetHouse; on Tuesday it was again removed near to Hill's Chamber, and

on Wednesday it was again carried 1678. to the Room where it lay before, from w ence it was at 12 a-Clock that Night carried in a Sedan by Prance and Girald, and Green and Kelly, by Turns, as far as Soho, where Hill received it, and on a Horfe carried it to the Place where it was found, and run his Sword through the Body, that it might be fuppofed he killed himself. This is the Subftance of what these two Witneffes depofed at the Trials of the Perfons that were afterwards hanged for this Murther.

This horrid Murther made the Houfe of Commons very vigorous in examining the Evidence, and feizing the Perfons accufed of the Popish Plot; among which the Earl of Powis, Viscount Stafford, Lord Arundel of Wardour, Lord Peters, and Lord Bellafis, were committed to the Tower: And upon the Parliament's Addrefs to his Majefty to that Purpofe, a general Faft was order'd to be obferved on the 13th of November, to implore the Mercy of Almighty God upon his Majefty's Perfon, and in him upon all his Subjects, and that God would bring to Light all fecret Machinations against his Majefty and the whole Kingdom; which Day of Humiliation was obferved accordingly all over the Kingdom. Several Proclamations were iffued for the Discovery and difabling of Popish Recufants, the first on the 30th of October, commanding all Papifts or reputed Papits to depart from the Cities of London and Westminster, and all other Places within ten Miles of the fame. And on the zd of Navember, an Order of Council was published, promifing a Reward of 20l. to thofe that fhould discover any Officer or Soldier of his Majefty's Guards, who having formerly

S 4

taken

1678. taken the Oaths and Teft, had fince been, or fhould hereafter be perverted to the Romish Religion. All Papifts were befides confined within five Miles of their own Habitations, and a Reward of 20 . was promised to the Discoverer of a Popifh Prieft.

None that were accufed of the Plot came to Trial till November the 27th, when Edward Coleman, Efq; who had been Secretary to the Dutchess of York, was brought to the King's Bench Bar, and indicted for High Treafon, in endeavouring to fubvert the Proteftant Religion, to introduce Popery, and kill the King; The Evidence against him were Oates and Bedloe; the firft depofing, That he had received Letters of Mr. Coleman to carry to St. Omers, which contained Expreffions that intimated a Defign to kill the King; that Coleman was privy to Grove's and Pickering's Defign of killing the King; that he was alfo privy to, and affifted in hiring of Ruffians to kill the King at Windfor, and alfo to the other Means of doing it by Sir George Wakeman; and to the Defign of murthering the Duke of Ormond; and that he had feen a Commiffion from Rome for Mr. Coleman to be Secretary of State. Mr. Bedloe de pofed, That he had heard of the Commiffion above mentioned, and that he had heard Mr. Coleman declare, That he would lose an hundred Lives, if he had them, to carry on the Defign, and would deftroy an bundred Heretick Kings to effect it. To thefe two Witneffes was added the Evidence of his Papers, which were produced and read in Court. The Prifoner endeavoured to invalidate Mr. Oates's Teftimony, by proving himself in Warwickshire, at Time he fwore him to be in

Town; which not availing, he was found guilty, and on the 3d of December was drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged and quartered.

The Parliament were still wholly taken up in fearching into the Plot, and Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murther, with whom the King heartily concurred, and came to the Parliament Houfe on Purpose to thank them for their Care, and promife his Affiftance, and at their Requeft, iffued forth his Proclamation, promifing a Reward and Pardon to any Perfon that could make further Difcovery of the Plot. Which brought in Dugdale, Smith, Dang r field, and others. And on the 30th of November, his Majefty gave the Royal Affent to an Act for difabling Papifts to fit in Parliament, by obliging all Members of both Houles not only to take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, but also to fubfcribe a Telt, being a Deciaration against Popery; but refuled to pass a Bill tendered to him for raifing the Militia, and continuing them in Duty for forty two Days, and gave his Reafon for it; That that would put the Militia out of his Power, which he would not have confented to, if it had been but for bal an Hour: But was pleafed, at the Defire of the House of Commons, to confent to the disbanding of an Army then on Foot, that had been raised for the Prefervation of Flan ders.

On the 5th of December, the Commons fent up to the Lords an Impeachment of High Treafon againit Henry Lord Arundel of Wardour, William Earl of Powis, John Lord Bellafis, William Lord Peters, and William Vifcount Staffard, and pro mifed fpeedily to exhibit to their Lordships the Articles of the Charge against the faid five Lords.

The

The reft of the Seffion was taken up in preparing a Bill for raifing Money to disband the Army; wherein the Commons were fo diftruitful of the King, that the Money was by the Bill ordered to be paid into the Chamber of London, and not into the Exchequer; Sir Gilbert Gerard, Colonel Birch, and Colonel Whitley, three of their own Members, being appointed Commiffioners for paying off the Soldiers; and in drawing up Articles of Impeachment against the Earl of Danby, Lord-Treasurer, which was occafioned occafioned by fome Clashings between him and Mr. Montague, who had been Ambaffador in France, and was then a Member of the House of Commons. This Story having been told by this Lord himfelf in his Volume of Letters printed foon after the Death of Montague, must not be omitted.

By thefe Letters it plainly appears, that a Bargain was made at the Court of France, for an Annual Sum of Money to be paid to the King of Great Britain, to induce him to fit ftill, and not interrupt the French King in the Progrefs of his Arms in Flanders. Mr. Montague, who haggled for the King at the Court of France, always infifted upon 200,000 !. per An during the War, and demanded alfo four Millions of Livres at the Conclufion of the Peace. His Arguments at that Court were, That the King was unable to fup. port his Affairs with a lefs Sum than 200,000l. per Annum; That France might very well agree to his Demand, fince the Increase of Power by the Conquests (which was abfolutely owing to the King's fitting ftill) was vaftly great, and the Addition of Revenue no lefs

than fix Millions of Livres per An- 1678. num. But it seems a French Minitter at London had got the King to confent to two Millions of Livres, which, as Mr. Montague argues (in writing to the King and to the Lord Treasurer) was 12,000 1. lefs than the 200,000 l. he infifted on, and was fure he could have obtained, befides four Millions of Livres at the End of the War, which the King let drop. This is the main Subftance of thofe Letters, which feem to be publifhed only to fhew that Mr. Montague was deeper in that Negotiation than the Lord Treasurer; whofe Letters fhew him indeed to be in the Secret, but against the French, and ignorant of the King's Contract. And he feems to lay fome Strefs and Glory upon the Money's not being paid to him, but to Mr. Chiffinch, who every Body knows was the King's Clofet-keeper, and one whom the King much confided in.

Mr. Montague, who had defired to be Secretary of State, finding himself oppofed in it by the LordTreasurer, came privately over in August, 1678, and got himself chofen a Member of Parliament. The King was displeased with his Conduct, and Montague found, himself in Danger; which at first he endeavoured to avoid by Flight; but unable to endure the ftormy Weather his Ship was attacked with in Margate Road, he came afhore, and afterwards endeavoured to get off at Dover, but was ftopt by the Officers, which obliged him to come to London; and finally, the King having fent a Meffage to the House of Commons Der. 19, accufing him of Correfpondence with the Pope's Nuncio at Paris, and having ordered his Pa

pers

1678. pers to be feized, Mr. Montague on that Occafion told the Houfe, "He had in his Cuftody feveral "Papers, which he conceived might "tend very much to the Safety of "his Majefty's Perfon, and the "Prefervation of the Kingdom." A Committee was thereupon immediately ordered to fetch the Writings to the Houfe; and Mr. Montague fhewed the Letters from the Lord-Treasurer relating to the Bargains abovefaid, efpecially two, one whereof had a Poftfcript of the King's own Hand. This Letter is writ by my Order: C. R. wherein a Demand was made of 6,000,000 . per Ann, for three Years, to be paid by France to the King, upon the Allies excepting the Terms of Peace offered by France, because (fays that Letter) it will probably be two or three Years before the Parliament will be in Humour to give any Supplies.

The Indignation that an English Parliament, who had been fo long labouring the Point of engaging the King to come into the War, for preferving Europe against the Invafions of France, muit neceffarily have upon this Discovery, may well be fuppofed to create a Flame that was not eafily to be extinguished. Montague had the Art to fkreen himself, and turn the Blow upon the LordTreasurer, who unable to ftand it, at first retired, but a Bill of Attainder being brought againft him in the next Parliament, and near paffing, he furrendred himself, and produced the King's Pardon; but in vain, for he was committed to the Tower, where he lay many Years, as is feen in the Courfe of the History.

This having put the Houfe into a Ferment, the King thought it proper to feparate them, and accordingly, on the 30th of December

prorogued the Parliament to the 4th of February following, and afterwards on the 24th of January di folved it (after it had continued in being 17 Years, 8 Months, and 17 Days, and is therefore commonly called the Long Parliament) caufing a new one to be fummoned to meet at Wefiminfer the 6th of March next.

The Courts of Justice in the mean time were not idle; for on the 17th of December, 1678, three of the Popish Confpirators, William Ireland, Thomas Pickering, and Jobr Grove, were at the Seffions-Houle in the Old Baily arraigned and tryed for High-Treafon; the Witneffes against them were Oates and Deake, who fwore that Ireland was prefent at a Confult held on the 24th of April, at the White Horfe Tavern in the Strand, and figned the Refcive for killing the King, which Grove and Pickering undertook to do; and that he faw them two in the Park with fcrewed Pistols and filver Bullets, with which they had followed the King for feveral Years; that in March laft Pickering had a fair Opportunity, but the Flint of his Puicl was loofe, and fo could not fhoot, for which he was corrected. For thefe Treafons they were condemned, and executed at Tyburn; Ireland and Grove on the 24th of 34nuary, and Pickering on the 9th of May following.

February the 10th Robert Greet, Henry Berry, and Laurence Hill, were brought to Trial at the King's Bench Bar, for the Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey; where, upon the Evidence of Prance and Bedloe, before mentioned, they were all three found guilty, and were accordingly execu ted at Tyburn on the 21st of February

And now the Bufinels of the Na❤: tion was canvafling for electing!

Mem