Reflections upon the murder of S. Edmund-Bury Godfrey the design of Thompson, Farwell, and Paine to sham off that murder from the papists : the late endeavours to prove Stafford a martyr and no traitor, and the particular kindnesses of the Observator, and Heraclitus to the whole design, in a dialogue ; with a dedication from Mrs. Cellier. 1682 Approx. 128 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A58385 Wing R731 ESTC R36706 15987708 ocm 15987708 104686 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A58385) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 104686) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1155:18) Reflections upon the murder of S. Edmund-Bury Godfrey the design of Thompson, Farwell, and Paine to sham off that murder from the papists : the late endeavours to prove Stafford a martyr and no traitor, and the particular kindnesses of the Observator, and Heraclitus to the whole design, in a dialogue ; with a dedication from Mrs. Cellier. Cellier, Elizabeth, fl. 1680. [4], 32 p. Printed for A.B. and published by L. Curtiss, London : 1682. Dedication signed: Eliz. Cellier. Imperfect: print show-through. Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Godfrey, Edmund Berry, -- Sir, 1621-1678. Popish Plot, 1678. Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685. 2006-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-07 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2007-07 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion REFLECTIONS UPON THE MURDER OF S. Edmund-Bury Godfrey : The Design of Thompson , Farwell , and Paine , to sham off that Murder from the Papists : The late Endeavours to prove Stafford a Martyr , and no Traitor : And The particular kindnesses of the Observator and Heraclitus to the whole Design . In a DIALOGUE . With a Dedication from Mrs. Cellier . LONDON , Printed for A. B. and Published by L. Curtiss , ANNO DOMINI 1682. TO THE COUNTS OF THE EMPIRE , &c. My Lords , THere has been a great Hurly-burly about the Death of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey , publick Justice has made her Report to Heaven , that he was murdered by the Papists ; but the Papists scandaliz'd at the Wickedness of the Action , would fain have made the World believe that he killed himself . My Lords , 't is well known , how far I have contributed my Personal pains , before and since that my Advice to bring this noble Design to pass . But I think the Devil owes us a shame , we have always the ill Luck to meet either with Fools or Knaves : When it comes to the pinch , what we well contrive is defeated , by the ill management of our Instruments . The Observator indeed did indifferent well ; for he gave a sparring-blow at Praunce's Reputation , and back'd our Friend Thompson i'the very Nick , the very morning before the Trial. I chuckl'd again when I heard of the Vintner's Boys ; they put me in mind of the St. Omers Lads . But as for F. and P. and all their Witnesses , 't was Money meerly thrown away . But let us not despond my Lords , if one thing fails another will hit , and we shall hit it at last : In the mean time , 't is my Advice , that you keep up the Observator's Spirits and double his Salary . It will be a thorn i' their sides that swore him at the Queens Chappel , as long as he lives . Facit Indignatio Dialogos , my Lords — And though the Heraclitick Cabal be of little moment , let it not sink : All helps , as the Wren said : But above all ( since you may have so many Protestant Booksellers to do it ) let the Ld. C's Vindication of the English Catholicks , his Memento , and the Ld. Stafford's Memoirs be reprinted . Those Gentlemen puzzl'd the People with their if's and their ands , and how is it possibles , at a strange rate . They had a brave Design to persuade men out of their Reason and their Senses ; and I am persuaded all that believe in the Observator , and Heraclitus , will believe in Them. I beseech you , my Lords , take these things into your Considerations ; for you have leisure enough , and believe that she will never forsake you , unless you forsake her , who is ▪ Your Lordships Most devoted Servant , Eliz. Cellier . REFLECTIONS , &c. A. THink on 't ? Why I think on 't as bad as ever I did : I think that the Papists did Murther Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey : and I think it was one of the most horrid and barbarous murders that have been perpetrated upon a private Person for many Ages . B. Not so barbarous neither by what I can find by the Relation , for they did not put him to any lingring torments : they only flung the Handkercher about his Neck , and pull'd i' the Devil's Name . The Turkish Mutes could not have done it with more dexterity . A. You must know they were in hast : but had they had leisure enough , I hold you a Wager , they would have kept him a whole fortnight a dying ? B. Why so Malicious ? A. The Papists tell ye the reason themselves , he had examined People against them , and had got Depositions to fix odious Crimes upon them and their Religion . B. Did the Ruine of all their designs depend upon Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey's life ; or did they think they had got Caligula's wish to have all the Necks of the English Protestants in the twisted Handkercher that strangl'd him ? A. What e're they thought , it fell out ill for them . For the Kingdom alarum'd by the first discoveries of the Plot , was almost hush't asleep again by the double diligence of the Plots true Friends and Abettors : The whole Nation seem'd to have swallow'd Opium for a time , till the murther of this innocent Gentleman , no body knew why nor by whom , rouz'd it out of that Lethargic humour , and the loud Cries of his blood put all honest men upon a diligent enquiry after the Authors of the Murther , neither was it long before the discovery was fully made out . B. And then the Plot was believ'd . A. It was so — and good reason too , when it was clearly found out that Papists , and Popish Priests were the main Actors in the Tragedy . B. Well but who made the Discovery ? A. Prance . B. Pox o' Prance — He — He 'l lye and swear any thing — He 'l swear an Oyster to be a dark Lanthorn for five shillings — A. How ! Take heed what you say — did you ever see his Narrative — B. No — nor never will — I see such a Rascals Narrative ! A. Why , this is right Hair-brain●s , right Tory all over , yet I must tell ye , the Narrative is licens'd , Sunderland , in pursuance of His Majesties Order in Council . B. Puh ! that was in Shaftsbury's Reign — but alass a day there have been a hundred since that have contradicted him . A. Who can contradict Matter of Fact ? He was an Actor in the Tragedy , and saw the business done . B. Hang him I don't believe a word he says — why look ye , to confront him , there 's the Lord C. and Viscount Staffords Ghost . A. And what of them ? B. Why the one puts the Question very solidly , I say very solidly , how it could be ? and the other says absolutely , it was impossible it should be so . Two Arguments that are never to be answered . A. This 't is to be a man of an implicite and easy faith 〈…〉 considering that these Murder-Shammers are parties concern'd — it behooves them with all the cunning that Jesuitism 〈…〉 ruse into their Brains , to repair the contaminated credit of the Romish Church . The murder of Sir E. B. G. is one of the great Corroboratives of their Popish Plot. So that if they could but wash away the stains of his blood , they would soon ease themselves of the burthen of the Hellish Conspiracy laid to their Charge . Therefore hic labor , hoc opus . What a coyle did they keep after this , with their Farwells , their Paines , and their Thompsons ? They thought the day had been their own : They were cock-sure that now they had obumbrated Truth with a cloud of Witnesses : and what is become of the project ? Now the deluded Fools look like Monkeys that have swallowed Aloes . B. Whig Juries — Whig Juries — A. No — no — that 's your grand mistake — a Jury of Transilvanians would have done the same — their own Evidence evicted 'em — & so the hugeous Mountain brought forth a Mouse — the Tower-Politicks — the Newgate-Consultations , and the fair Ladies female Travel and Assistance came to nothing . B. Don't talk on 't , the Jury did not read — A. No — the Jury don't use to read at the Bar. B. I mean they did not read the Observator — the Observator that came out that morning . A. What about the Scale and impertinent story of the Antipendium and the Brass Screws . B. No , no , not that . A. Oh , I find ye our , ye mean the story of the Vintners Boys . A hopeful story indeed of a Protestant Observator . Though I must confess 't was well nick'd , and well improv'd to help a lame Popish Curr over the Stile . By which you may see how the Observator and Thompson hung together , and drove on , both , the same interest . What he got by 't , he may put in his Eye ; if the Tories are not wholly wedded to their own blindness , and it is thought that that mornings work has open'd the Eyes of a good many already . B. Why did not P. swear that he never sent for L. S. the night before , when he did ? A. What if he had sent for him , and then rashly sworn the contrary ? ( though that cannot be prov'd neither ; it being another Person that sent for him ) what signified a rash oath in a Tavern to enervate a judicial oath in a Court of Justice ? only it shew'd the nimble double diligence of the Observator to send his emissaries to drill a leash of raw Boys into a sort of fram'd forms of Affidavits , that signified nothing to the purpose had they been sworn , and how zealous he was to have protected his three Friends that were running post to the Devil to serve the Popish Cause . Wink with one Eye , and see whether you can spie nothing . B. There 's no such necessity Sir — one Pope , one King of France , one Observator's enough at one time . A. Nay you do well to make much of him , for you 'l never get such another . They say he 's such a parlous Observator , that he 'l observe a Mutiner among the Mites in a Cheese , & that he smells so of Loyalty , that there 's never a monarchical Bee in England will offer to sting him . He labors day and night drudges like a Camel , & so profusely fills the world with his volumes of wast paper , as if he foresaw a famine of Bumfodder . B. However he has done a great deal of good , he has knockt down Fanaticism like an Ox , & Dissenterism like a Calf , he has trod upon the Asp and the Basilisk , as Alex. He trod upon Barbarossa's Neck . A. Yes , and you see how fairly he let drive at the reputation of the Kings Evidence ( a reputation of much more consequence to the Kingdom than forty such as his is ) on purpose to ward the stroke of Justice from Subornation , and to ease the Papists of the load of the most barbarous murther , that the lust of Woman , or the Ambition of a Caesar Borgio ever committed . Which could he have done , the Coach & six Horses must have return'd again , for the Popish Mints could have done no less then have wrought a month for his satisfaction . Hereafter too he shall be Canoniz'd , and all the Popish Ora pro nobis's shall be addressed to him , the most proper to be their Intercessor in Heaven , that did them such faithful service upon Earth . But for men of sense and reason , unless it be some few of his own Flie-blown party , they deride his Mummery and Impertinence . B. But I hope you 'l grant ther'e 's somthing due to the witty Heraclitus . A. Not the value of a straw — That Corporation of Duncerie has but just Brains and Rhume enough to keep the Ship afloat . They are many , but they have exhausted themselves like Silk-worms , or rather like Gentleman Ushers in the Harlotry service of their own prostituted Conceits ; and so you may leave 'm to the scorn and contempt where you found ' em . As for Thompson , Paine , and Farwell , should this World deal with 'em according to their deserts , it is resolved that they shall escape Purgatory in the other , though it were very requisite , one would think , that they should have a little Purgation by fire , from the dross of willful Submission to Subornation , and premeditated Perjury : For else it can never be expected that the Popes single Pass should ever give them Entrance into Heaven . Well but wee 'l suppose , they are never like to come there . Then care must be taken by His Holiness on the other hand , and great means used to Rhadamanthus besides , that when they come into the lower Regions , they be not thrown into Harpie's wood , under the Title of Ruffians ; for though they did not murther the poor Innocent Gentleman , yet after he was murthered , they endeavoured their utmost to assassinate the memory of his Good name and Reputation . Now this Wood is a terrible Wood , purposely for the punishment of Ruffians , wherein they are no sooner entred , but down come the Harpies from the top of the Boughs , and make most miserable Havock of their Flesh and Sinews , and then hunt them with other Ruffians in the shape of Dogs , into the Center of the Wood , where having no other way to escape , they are forced to leap out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire , and plunge themselves into a great Lake of Brimstone and Flame , through which they sink down right into utter darkness , in Secula Seculorum . Amen . But now what says the Ld. Staffords Hobgoblin , a main stickler in this business of Sir Edmund ? In the first place he braggs of the Education in the Flesh , and his Endowments of Grace , which Italy indeed , according to custom , connived at , but which Germany had like to have punished with the utmost severity of her Laws , had not his nearest Relations been as careful then of his Redemption , as before of his Education . Next he tells us of his high Marriage , and his being made a Baron by his late Majesty . The more ingrateful he to turn Traitor to his Prince , the most gratious Son of such a gratious Father , to whom he had been so paternally beholding . Then he boasts his Sufferings for his Loyalty to the King. Not so much it seems out of love of Loyalty , as out of Reward . For because K. Charl. 2d , did not satisfie his Expectation , therefore he mutter'd & grumbled , & entred into a Conspiracy to take away his Life . For this , saith he , the Lord was accused of High Treason , and because he did not presently betake him to his Heels , as a wiser man would have done , therefore he was innocent . But in such Cases , to out-face danger is no sign of Innocence . For Catiline took his place in the Senate , when he knew his Conspiracy was detected ; and Biron , though he knew himself engaged in a deep design against his Prince , was so hardy as to appear before the King to justifie himself , and to demand Justice upon his Accusers ; so idle a thing it is to judge of Innocence by the daring boldness of the Criminal . Nor was the over-confident Coleman the more innocent for approaching the Council Chambers at the same time that his own Treasonable Letters were under examination . After this he would insinuate , that because . as he says , the Evidence was yet weak , for farther discovery , Indempnitys were promis'd , rewards propos'd , and encouragement given by Proclamation to any that would make cut upon Oath th● particulars of what was in substance already declar'd . Which he supposes to have bin wrongfully done , or else why this insinuation ? And thus the King and his Parliament are by a skulking Traytor accus'd of injustice at the first dash . And thus it is apparent that we are to expect from him nothing but Calumnies thrown upon our Sovereign and obtrusions upon the People , of the highest nature . For as for Indempnities promis'd , there was all the reason in the World ; it not being to be thought , that any guilty persons should run themselves into a Halter , before they had some assurance of their lives . Nor were they then safe neither , unless they made out to the discerning Judgment of the King and his Council ; what they alleadg'd to be Sacred Truth ; and then assuredly they deserved their Indempnity , as it was but all the reason in the World they should have it . But this Impartial Gentleman would have had 'em come in of their own accords , confess'd their Treasons , and so his work had bin done , by Stiffling the Plot in the birth of Discovery . But tho this were for his Interest it was neither for the Kings nor the Nations . As for Rewards promis'd , there was no such thing at first done , any farther , than to such as should come in and discover the Murtherers of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey . Which in such cases has bin the practice of those in Authority in all Ages and Governments . By this , saith he , and the like sedulity of the King and the succeeding Parliaments ( his Traytorship had as good have call'd it by some other enormous name , for we know what he means ) came in Captain Bedlow . Wherein he most impartially tells a most notorious falshood . For Bedlow came in of his own accord , or rather , as he himself declar'd , by the Impulse of Heaven , as being convinc'd by the wicked Designs of Mr. Impartial's fellow Conspirators . Next , faith he , Dugdale and Prance : by which wilful mistake of order , he driven on the continued fallacy of his Story : for Prance came not in , but was accus'd by Bedlow and apprehended . Before Dugdale came in , Coleman and Staley were both Executed ; which gave the King such high satisfaction , that then indeed , and not before , he issued forth a Proclamation upon the 28th . of November , with offer of Pardon and Two hundred Pounds to any person concern'd in the Plot , that would come in before the 25. of Decemb. For by the Conviction of Staley , the malice of the Papists hearts appear'd , tho they conceal'd it with better Discretion . By the Conviction of Coleman , the whole Nation and they that doubted most were convinc'd of the Truth of the Design . So that it was then high time for his Majesty to use all possible diligence to dive into the bootom of a Contrivance so deeply and villanously laid . However , we may from hence take notice , that the Impudence of the Papists is arrived at a strange height , when their Champion , Mr. Impartiall , shall dare to tax the King with Injustice for endeavouring his own , and the preservation of his Kingdom . Certainly they have some strange Confidence of sudden Revolutions , which ought to make all true Protestants the more vigilant . There is one thing more observable in the first Paragraph of this Section , where he says , that Stafford was in his Impeachment , charg'd together with other Papists . Speak out Sir , You should have said , Other False Traytors . How finely would Mr. Impartial mince the matter ? But 't is well known the Vicount was not charg'd as a Papist , but as a Traytor . Nevertheless those words False Traytors had too much Aloes in them for the niceness of Popish Mastication : however he might have swallow'd 'em for once , though it had bin only for Impartialities sake . But let Mr. Impartial mince the matter as he pleases , the Lord Stafford was Charg'd as a Traytor with other False Traytors nam'd in his Impeachment , and so fell before a High Authority , Illustrious Judges , and an August Assembly . All which being true , it argues a transcendent Presumption in Mr. Impartial , to encounter such a High Authority , such Illustrious Judges , and such an August Assembly , with his dwindling Memoirs . As if so High an Authority , so Illustrious Judges , and so August an Assembly were not competent Judges of Vicount Stafford's Treasons , and the validity of the Evidence . Let the whole Nation take notice of that . After a recapitulation of the several Depositions he comes to the second Paragraph of this Section . which he calls the Papists Plea. Wherein he has these words at the beginning . Wherefore though it be not my design to defend Popery , yet I think it very pertinent and necessary to insert here some of those many things the Papists in general did and do still constantly alleadge in Vindication of their Innocence . In which Lines he manifestly gives himself the Lye. For he will not undertake to defend Popery , but will vindicate the Papists ; as if the Papists did not profess Popery . Pull off your Vizard Sir , that we may know who you are : For there is a considerable Wager laid , that you your self are one of the bloudy Conspirators themselves . Now , if you are not , win if you can . Else all the World will believe it impossible for any Protestant to be so baulingly , yawlingly zealous to dishonour his Prince and native Nation . Sir , the Protestants are Men of as much Learning , of as much Knowledge , and as acute Judgments as ever the Papists were , since the first Usurpation of your Pope ; Men free from the blinds of silly Superstition , Men of a clearer and more Noble Religion , which inspires a clearer and more illuminated Reason , than ever Popery could pretend to . And you must not think that the Sence and Reason of the Protestant English Nation is so stupify'd , that they cannot understand Truth from Falshood without the assistance of a piece of Monstrosity in Nature , that appears Centaur-like , with two shapes in one Body , Protestant before , Papist behind , or Papist before , Protestant behind , no matter which ; or if this Simile please not , like a Spread-Eagle with two Necks . This is a meer piece of Papistical cunning , and pure sham , and already discover'd . You must profess your self a Protestant , and then the Papists must cry out . Oh! we are innocent , for the Protestants themselves have defended our cause . You had better have appear'd as you are , for double shapes must have double Tongues and double Hearts . Deal fairly now , and tell us what you had of the Papists for this laborious piece of Ingenuity , and you shall have the same piece to answer your own Book ; for 't is the trick of a Mungr●l to bark at Friend and Foe . Well — but what say your Employers the Papists ? some Papistical Pharaohs certainly , that set you thus to make Brick without Straw . The Papists plead , that 't is not the clamour of the h●inousness and horrour of a Crim imputed , but the guilt and clear Conviction of a Crime prov'd , that renders a man accountable to Justice . What a cunning Evasion has Mr. Impartial found out ? The stress of this Plea lyes upon the words , imputed and prov'd . But Sir , Vicount Stafford did not lye under the single imputation of a Crime , but under an Impeachment in Parliament of the Commons of England , which is many degrees beyond a single Imputation . It was Vox Populi , Vox Dei , no Clamour that prosecuted the heinousness and horrour of the Crime . Then for proof . He was Convicted by a proof allow'd of by a High Authority , Illustrious Judges , and an August Assembly , and therefore most consequently be guilty . The second Plea is , That as Treason is the worst of Crimes , so is the stain of Innocent Bloud ( when shed by Perjury ) hard to be washed off . You should have told us some News , Mr. Impartial , this is that which all Men know . Where 's your proof of any Act of Perjury committed ? that you should have made out first , before you had thus maliciously gone about to besmear the King and the Kingdom with such a bloudy stain , as if they had taken off the Lord Staffords Head by Perjury . For the Inference is plain ; and if you pretend to be a Subject to the Monarch of Great Britain , I must tell you , Mr. Impartial , your way of pleading for the Papists is very sawcy . Your next Plea is , That the Positive Swearing of every Person in every matter or manner hand over head , is no Conviction of anothers Guilt . I know not what you mean by hand over head , unless it be to impose upon the ignorant . But if there are any who understand not yet so much ▪ they are to know that the Testimony against Vicount Stafford , pass'd all the sorutiny and sifting imaginable of Both Houses ; the Lords of the Council , and two Committees of Secresie . The Attorney General also , the Sollicitor General and the Kings Council had the scanning of the Proof — And yet Mr. Impartial is such an unreasonable man that nothing will satisfie him . What prodigious Parts does Mr. Impartial aspire to , that after so much serious debate and deliberation , he should think so many Great , Venerable and Learned Personages should not understand whether Witnesses swore hand over head or no , as well as a Popish Advocate . Certainly he must think so High an Authority , such Illustrious Judges ; such an August Assembly had very little to do to put themselves to the Solemn Trouble of hearing hand over head Evidences . The Papists next Plea is , That false Accusations may be so laid , as that the contrary cannot possibly be demonstrated by the Party accus'd ; seeing no mortal Man can distinctly prove where he was , and what he did , said or heard every day and hour of his life . Wonderful ! how condescendingly does Mr. Impartial court and flatter the assistance of his own Dreams . Alas , Sir , you may assure your Clients , that there was no such heavy task impos'd upon his Lordship as to be so particular or so punctual . But such Remarkable passages as Overt Acts of Treason , the times and places of Consultations and making Promises , nay large Promises too , are not so easily to be forgot , but that with a willing mind a man might rub up his Memory . But what 's the Grand Inference from this minute Assertion . 1. That the Accuser ought to be a credible Witness , that is not tainted with Crimes and Villanies . 2. That Accusers be strengthened with probable Circumstances , Circumstances that bring along with them some appearance of Truth distinct from the bare accusation it self . But neither of these two Essential Conditions are found in the Evidence given of this pretended Plot. For First , What manner of men the Witnesses are , they who make these Discoveries , how notorious , infamous ; how stigmatiz'd with all sorts of Felonies , Forgeries , Cheats , Debaucheries and Wickedness . — Stop Sir — Now we are come to the Devil 's Sheepshearing : here 's a great Cry and little Wool : Why , Sir , you know the Proverb , like will to like . Such as these were onely fit for your Turns . You have been told often enough of this , and yet you will take no notice of it , but bring your plausible Stories over and over again . Who do you think would undertake to Assassinate Princees but such ? Who do you think would do the drudgery of your mischief but such ? I am confident if you should expect to have had it done by any other hands you must have done it your selves . But all this while here is onely clamour and noise , and the imputation of Crimes . You tell us indeed of intelligent Protestants that know much , and publick Records , but produce neither Persons nor Parchment . So then to give you an answer by your own words ; It is not the clamour of the heinousness and horrour of a Crime imputed , but the clear Conviction of a Crime prov'd , that renders a Man guilty and lyable to your Accusations . But now suppose they had been guilty of the Crimes you lay to their charge , and had added to the rest one more of being guilty of that Conspiracy which you so vigorously defend ; if the King find they have been so considerably employed in your Service , that they are able to do him service in the disclosing and bringing to punishment such Traitors as your self against his Person ; and to that end give them his Royal Pardon , in full of all Crimes and Treasons , and grant them firmam pacem fuam , whereby they become new men , homines legales ; and consequently lawful Accusers and Witnesses : Will not you allow them so much gratitude , as to lend so great a Benefactor the assistance of their Discovery , and their Testimony for the Preservation of Himself and His Kingdom ? 'T is a common thing at every Gaol-Delivery to pardon a little Rogue to hang a greater , The Pope himself would do what has been done upon the same occasion . For Example , can any man think that Pius the 4th . was so ungodly as not to reward those that discovered to him the Conspiracy of Accolti : 't was well for him there were Rogues i' the Company , or else it might have cost him his sweet life . You know these things Mr. Imparrial , well enough , yet such is your ambition to defend a bad Cause , that you will vindicate Treason rather than want honour . Now for the Circumstances , they do not please him at all . There are none he says , confirm the bare Oath . No! that 's strange . There are the Circumstance of Time and Place : there are the Circumstances , of by such and such a Token ; what would this Treason-varnisher have more ? but of that let the impartial Reader be Judge . That 's nothing : they are a meer bundle of contradictions , moral impossibilities and nonsence . As how ? Here is a Plot forsooth contriv'd by the Papists . Is that such a moral impossibility ? 'T is not the first that they have contriv'd by the first in Queen Elizabeths Time , by the second in King James's Time , by the third in Charles the first 's Time ; and now by the fourth in Charles the second 's Time. 'T is their frequent Practise ; you need not so much wonder at it . But it was at a Time when they had the least or rather no reason to seek changes ; the fittest time in the world , when they thought they were most trusted and least suspected . To kill the King ; by whose merciful Indulgence they lived in Peace . The more ungrateful Beasts they . But what 's that to the purpose ? they kill'd two of their own natural Sovereigns ; and is it such a miracle they should attempt the Life of a Heretick ? To wade through Bloud to an uncertain liberty , which they already sufficiently enjoy'd ; not so sufficiently neither ; they wanted their Abby-Lands ; their Priests lay under the Lash of the penal Laws ; and what they enjoyed was onely by stealth . To free themselves from which Bondage , they thought themselves cocksure of one stroke that would have done their business . And for wading in the Bloud of Hereticks , 't is as natural to a Papist , as bathing in a cool stream in Summer . Witness the Massacres of France , and Ireland ; the Monuments of their Cruelty all over Germany , Piedmont ; Q. Maries Persecutions ; and the implacable and merciless cruelty of their Spanish Inquisitior . But then to overthrow the Government , for the Re-establishment of which they so frankly in the late Wars expos'd their Lives and Fortunes . This is a fair Story , but a false one . For if there were any that expos'd their Lives and Fortunes in the late Wars , they did it meerly for their own ends , for preservation and protection , as less fearing their Episcopal , then their Puritan Enemies . Neither will the Author of Vindiciae Caroli Regis , who had not a little reason to examin the Popish Loyalty of that Time allow it to be otherwise ; nay , he positively asserts it for the true reason . But they were so far from exposing their Lives and Fortunes for the Government , that they as well fought against it in the Field , insomuch , that Salmonet , a Popish Priest , affirms in his History of the Troubles of England , that several Popish Priests were found dead among the slain at Edghill ; and besides that several Roman Catholicks serv'd in the Parliament Army . And in one of his late Majestie 's Declarations in answer to the Long Parlaments false imputation of his favouring and employing Roman Catholicks in his Army , we find these words , All men know the great number of Papists which serve in their Army , Commanders and others . So your boasting the Papists so frankly exposing their Lives and Fortunes for the late King , is a meer Rodomontado , and the contrary is justified by the King himself : nay it is plain by His own words in the same Declaration , that he forbad them to come to his Succour . And therefore let Mr. Impartial not think to flatter the Nation with such an officious lye , under the pretence of a moral Improbability . For 't is the Roman Catholick Interest in this Nation , that Interest which they can never recede from , not onely to abrogate the penal Laws , and to become capable of employment in the Commonwealth , but to introduce their Religion , restore the Rights of their Church , and extirpate all that they esteem as Hereticks . They that fondly otherwise believe , do but accelerate the ruine of their Religion , and their Country . If there were any that did well , to assist their Prince then , they did as ill now to Conspire his Destruction . Neither is it any reason , because there may be some Papists good Subjects , that others may not be as wicked , Which may in part suffice to answer his next wonder . For we have nothing else but wonders and miracles deliver'd for Arguments . Wonders that any man of sense would wonder how they should be wonder'd at , but onely wonder-working Mr. Impartial , As for Example , This Plot , saith He , must be carried on by Persons of Quality , most remarkable perhaps for firmness and Loyalty ) that perhaps was well put in and now through Age and Infirmities , retired from publick business , and weary of the world ; that is in English Impeached of High Treason , and locked up in the Tower. Now I would fain know where the wonder lies , that a Plot should be carried on by Persons of Quality . Persons of Quality are most apt to think themselves injur'd ; Persons of Quality are most subject to revenge ; and Persons of Quality are most able to head Parties and Factions in a Nation . Nay , rather , let Mr. Imparial tell me whereever any Plot was carried on without Persons of Quality ? The very Plots of Simnel and Perkin Warbeck were carried on by Persons of Quality against Henry the 7th . There were more persons of Quality in Bycons Conspiracy , than Henry the 4th . would venture to provoke by a present detection . What was the Holy League , while it was private , but a Plot , carried on by the Pope himself , a person certainly of very great Quality , against Henry the 3d. And why might not their Popish Plot be managed by Persons of Quality , as well as other Popish Plots ? And if so , why not by the persons of Quality accused , rather than others not accused . The Wonder is how those persons of Quality have escaped their punishments so long as they have done . That 's a Wonder makes more people wonder , than will ever admire at Mr. Impartial's silly , simple miracles of Persons of Quality being in a Plot. But then here 's another Wonder , That the whole Body of Roman Catholicks , Men before this hour , of known worth , virtue and integrity , and unblemished Reputation , must be all involv'd by Vows and Sacraments in a Design so black and execrable , that God and nature abhor to think of it . Setting a side your Complement to God and Nature , for God we verily believe is displeased with , and nature abhors many foul deeds , which the Papists neither abhor , nor are displeased with ; the rest of your Wonder , is a meer Hyperbolical Fallacy , as groundless as vanity it self . For the Body of the Roman Catholicks , that is those persons which Mr. Impartial , for his Feo , calls persons of known worth , virtue integrity , and unblemished Reputation , are the very persons most likely to be combin'd together in this Design , which he has leave from his Employers to call black and execrable ; for such is the nature of Popish Bigottism ; such the infatuated heat of its professors ; such the awe and dread of their consciences under the charms of their Priesthood : so pinching and terrible are the Chains of their Oath ; such their inbred enmity to Hereticks that the more conscientious and devout they are they more religiously they believe themselves bound to conceal what ever designs are on foot for the propagation of the Romish Interest , and the extirpation of Hereticks ; so that if Mr. Impartial mean by the whole Body of the Roman Catholicks , those persons whom he calls , men of worth , virtue , integrity and uublemished Reputation , that is , such as the Grand Conspirators thought fit to trust with their Intreague ; 't is but very weakly supposed , that such persons should think it any loss of those high Characters which Mr. Impartial gives them ; to conceal a design so highly to the advantage of the See of Rome . The whole Body , Mr. Impartial ▪ There is the Juggle of your supposition . We do not believe the whole Body of Roman Catholicks , knew of the blackness and execrableness of your Design ; but many were told by their Priests and Confessors , that there was a Design carrying on for the good of the Catholick Cause ; and that was necessary to procure the Milk of Contribution . And so far this Nation has all the reason to belieue , that the whole Body of Roman Catholicks was concern'd in this Plot. Then for the loss of their honour , and hazard of ruining themselves and their Families , they that were in darkness knew not their danger , and the rest knew there was little . For had they compass'd their ends , they had had their advantages ; and we are too deeply sensible that they had some strange assurances how little they should suffer , if they 〈◊〉 He goes on with a mighty wonder , if it be not a greater wonder that he could be so impudent as to write it ; In this Plot , says he , are said to be engaged , for several years together divers Nations , England , Scotland , Ireland , France , Italy , Spain , Germany , &c. What a deal of high-flown Forgery and Fallacy is here● a meer amusing 〈…〉 y-eatching piece of cajolry : with which , if the English Protestants will let their indignation against the late discover'd Plot be laid asleep , they will not want for worse . Where are those Mountanous Accusations against all England , all Scotland , all France , all Ireland , all Spain , all Germany ? No true Englishman can doubt but that for the carrying on the Late Plot there were Romish Correspondencies , Spanish Correspondencies , Irish Correspondencies , and for the French Correspondencies we have testimony sufficient . But to make Inferences from National Accusations , where never any were , was a Romance of Mr. Impartials own Hyperbolical 〈◊〉 . And therefore to say truth , whoever undertook to put such fallacious shamms and tricks upon the already too much injur'd English Protestants , in the Vindication of Treason and Villany , deserves more the Whip and the Pillory , than those persons he calls rak'd out of Jayle : for no person rak'd out of Hell can be worse than himself . But yet to shew that there may be that thing that comes very near a National Concealment of a Conspiracy . The Rebellion in Ireland , how closely , how cunningly was it managed , without the least Discovery till the Kingdom ran with Bloud , and Massaere lay in heaps , yet none of all that vast number had any remorse for so bloudy a Treason , none all that while had the worth , wit of grace to reveal it . This was somewhat hard to believe , and yet was true . Being got into his Romances he cannot get out of 'em , but goes on raving , and still amusing the ignorant with a noise of Armies improbable for their numbers ; which is nothing to the purpose ; for all this riffraff makes it nothing the less improbable , but that Men engag'd in such Designs of Universul Massacre , intended convenient Levies , and convenient quantitys of Arms and Ammunition for those Levies , and therefore is a thing not so much to be wondred at . 'T is no matter for Number or Quantity , 't is the intent of raising Forces against the Establish'd Government , and providing Arms and Ammunition for these Forces , and that discours'd of , and consulted upon that makes the Treason our , as effectually in the eye of the Law , as if the Men had bin Levy'd , or the Money paid into the Lord Staffords hands . So then , the intent of raising Forces , and the actual Banking of Money for Arms and Ammunition being positively sworn , as it was , and all for carrying on this detestable , tho as detestably vindicated Plot , Mr. Impartial must not think to bury such a Plot in the Rubbish of his impertinent Raillery . But he runs on in his Poetical Raptures ( a very pretty way of refuting a demonstrated Plot ) and crys , We are told of hundreds of Seal'd Commissions , for all sorts of Military Officers ; and God knows how many Bushels of Letters and Papers , all containing most Damnable Treason , sent nevertheless up and down at random , some by the Common Post , others by such Messengers as Oates , Bedlow , Dugdale and Dangerfield , who , as bosom Counsellers , were still made privy to what was sent . Understand Sir , once more , that number and quantity signifie nothing , and all your Hyperboles of Hunderds and Bushels are not worth a Rush ▪ But where is the improbability of granting Commissions ▪ who more fit , or who had greater Authority to grant these Commissions than the great General of your Religion the Pope , from whom you and the rest of the Conspirarators , deriv'd all their power . Dr. Oates , whose Testimony your ridioulous Memoirs , that have nothing in 'em but defamation and railing , can never invalidate , tells ye of several Commissions that he gave to several persons by name himself . That Whitebreads Commission together with several Papers and Letters were seiz'd , at the same time that his person was apprehended . At another time Harcourt's Papers were seiz'd , and after that a plentiful Parcel of Letters were publickly printed , full of Cyphers , all relating to the Plot , then add to this , that several of your Seals have bin produc'd in Court. More than all this , there was nothing more frequently boasted in the common discourses of the Papists at that time one among another , then that the Roman Catholick Religion would suddenly flourish in England , that they had considerable Armies , raising for that purpose , and that the Lords in the Tower had not only Commissions themselves , but had given out Commissions to several others , Viz. One to Talbot of Langford , another to Sir H. Beningfield of Oxborough , another to one Mr. Stoner , and several others , Ireland declar'd in his own Chamber at that time , That there would shortly be fifty thousand men in Arms , and being ask'd for what ? We must have them speedily , said he , to settle our Religion here , or else all will be ruin'd . Which argu'd , that there were plenty of Popish Commissions then in England , whate'r is become of them . But Mr. Impartial , being a Protestant , as he pretends , too easily , 't is to be fear'd , takes his Employers words . Where is next the improbability that your Packets , tho full of damnable Treason , might not be sent by the Common Post ? The King has no Inquisitor that sits in his Publick Office to break open Gentlemens Letters , and examine the Contents . More then that , there was a Packet , and a large one too , sent by the Common Post , directed to Father Benningfield , that by a lucky fate to you and your Employers , mist falling into the hands of those that would have made better use of it . Lastly , Where 's the improbability that such persons as you strive to defame , should not be trusted by those profound Head-pieces your Employers . They were under the same , as you call'd them , Sacred Oaths of Secresie , and sent to be charm'd with your Idolatrous Eucharist thrice a Week . What great Policy had Vicount Stafford that he might not trust Dugdale so firmly bound ? What more than ordinary piercing Wits or discerning Faculties had any of the Lords in the Tower , that they might not trust Dangerfield under the same Sacred Obligation ? Or what reach above common Women had that busie , Lustful Cellier , she that was your Jayle-raker , Sir , and not ours , I say , what sublimity of Judgment had she , that she might not trust her so highly gratify'd Favourite ? If they were not fit to be trusted , why had they those Oaths of Secresie given them ; why were they treated so often with those Holy Morsels at your Chappels ? But if those Religious Tyes were put upon them , as most certainly they were , what wonder is it then they should be trusted ? Certainly , were they those Rakeshames that the Worshipful Mr. Impartial makes of 'em ; Solemn Oaths of Secresie and the Eucharist go at a cheap rate among the Papists , that they should be so often forc'd upon the Whip'd and the Pillory'd , and the Infamous , meerly to be sent to buy Mapps for a Jesuites Colledge , or to pick up a Broken Merchants Debts , So then it remains , that these persons that could not be other than Demy-Saints when they were Papists , as having so much holy Wafer lodg'd in their Bodies , are only turn'd Reprobates since they made their discoveries . Which being so plain , it is not to be question'd but that they had opportunities enough to make their discoveries according to their various Trusts and Employments , as being Persons of Quality sacredly bound up by so many holy Obligations as they then believ'd they were . Since then it was impossible that among Papists they could be Miscreants , after so much Purification and Sanctification , tho without the Kings Pardon , we will make no dispute to justifie their Honesty , their Integrity , and their Loyalty now they have obtain'd the Kings Forgiveness . For the Papists are to understand , that the King of England's Pardon is of greater efficacy to cleanse a man from his offences , than if he should bath in a Tub of Holy Water every day i' the Year , and then receive Absolution from ten thousand Lubberly Priests . Being then made good men by the high Prerogative of the Kings Mercy , tho Fools and Knaves still take the boldness to defame them , they are Witnesses legal , every way justifiable , and not to be disputed against by any good or loyal Subject of the King. And since they have sworn to a Plot wherein they were Actors themselves , design'd to the destruction of the King and Kingdom , the Nation is bound to believe 'em , notwithstanding all the frivolous clamour of the Lord Staffords Memoirs . From these and other the like Grounds , the Protestants do infer , That there is no credit to be given to the bare Suppositions of a Memoir-monger , scribling at such a wild and incoherent rate , and so scandalous to the King and the whole Government . And they further appeal to the Judgment of every impartial conscientious man whether it be not more likely that the Papists , a People generally of debauch'd and murderous Principles , that bear no Consciences towards Hereticks , persecuted by Penal Laws , allur'd by the recovery of their Abby-Lands , encourag'd and supported by great Interest in the Kingdom , should be induc'd out of their hatred of the Protestant Religion , and for the advancement of their own , which is the Popish Interest , to remove the Obstacles of their Happiness by the destruction of a Heretick Prince , and all his most Loyal Subjects , then that a few inconsiderable persons , without any support or encouragement , should dare to create such a bloudy and horrid Plot of their own heads , and then venture their lives by daring to justifie such a Plot to the face of King , Lords and Commons of England , had it bin true , that so many Noble , Prudent , Loyal and Virtuous Persons , as Mr. Impartial calls 'em , were not really concern'd in it . No , no , Mr. Impartial , had not this horrid , bloudy , tho as you call it absurd and morally impossible Plot bin true , really , morally , unquestionably true , your Employers , who have spent so many Thousand Pounds , besides the plodding , designing , contriving labour of Great and Politick Headpieces , to subdue this Plot , and yet for their souls cannot do it , would soon have trip'd up the Heels of three or four debauch'd wretches , of lost Consciences and desperate Fortunes . In the next place he comes to Coleman's Letters , tho he make but a short stay upon 'em , as finding 'em too hot for his Fingers . He is forc'd to bring forth a Confession , but disliking the Countenance of his Brat , he endeavours to murder it again with a piece of sordid Sophistry , so palpable and notorious , that any one but an Impartial Papist would be asham'd of it . He confesses That those Letters manifestly denote the busie designes and activity of the Writers ; yet so far from confirming Dr. Oates Plot , that they directly evince the contrary . As how ? For the whole subject and context of those Letters , bear a plain and open face of what the Authors intended . And did not the Tryals and Convictions of the Jesuites , and the Lord Stafford himself bear an open face of what the Authors intended ? Was not Coleman seen at the Grand Consult , at Wild House , at L●nghorn's Chamber with Harcors and White-bread , and others , all Members of Dr. Oate's Plot , ordering money to the Assassinates , and giving money to the Messenger ; and did not this beat an open face of what he intended and if what he , then what the rest of his Correspondents ▪ No , for the Writers were persons who ( had there been a Plot ) were the most likely to have been the main Engines and Contrivers of it . Whither the main or no is not material ; but 't is plain they all did lend their helping hands and heads to it . No , says Mr. Impartial again , for , we do not find one single syllable in them from whence 〈◊〉 be gathered any such design . Look you Mr. Impartiall . you well know , that the 〈◊〉 discovered by Dr. Otes , was for the destruction of the King , and subversion of his Government . Now then pray what mean these passages in Coleman's Letters ▪ We have here a mighty Work upon our hands , no less than the Conversion of Three Kingdome , and by that perhaps the subduing of a Pestilent Heresie , which has domineerd over a great part of the Northern World a long time , there were never such hopes of success since the death of Queen Mary , as now in our days ; but the opposition we are like to meet with , is also like to be great , so that it imports Us to get all the Aid and Assictance We can ▪ Again , Your Friends the Emperour and the Pope will have a fair occasion of giving marks of their Friendship to Mr. — to make the great Design succeed , to undermine the Intreagues of the Merchants , who Trade for the Parliament and the Religion ; and to Establish that of the Associated Catholicks in every Place . Here is Pope and Emperour , which confirms what Dr. Oats swore , as to Emissaries being sent into Germany . Here is designs , and associated Catholicks , which denotes that the Plot was general . Then there was 100000 Crowns promised by the Pope himself . For what 〈◊〉 to satisfie the imaginary conceits and overweening policiey of four or five aspiring men ? Sure Mr. Impartial , you could not imagine your Holy Father the Pope to be such a Buffle head . Then observe this Passage . The reports of a Bishop for England are chimeras , that having bee● long since disposed of . By which it is plain , that the Bishopricks of England were disposed of at Rome , in hopes of what ? of the success of four or five aspiring men ? ridete mortules . And then you see Coleman setting up a new Prince , in every part of his Letters , which could not be done without the removal of the present Possesour ; which is sworn to have been the intention of your Employers . By all which it appears that Coleman's Plot , and the Plot discovered by Dr. Otes are still the same , viz. the destruction of the King , and the subversion of his Government . And thus you see the Plot which you would have so sophistically divided , is again coagulated into one . Nevertheless , by the way , let all the world take notice , that it was not onely Knavishly done to cover Coleman's Treasons with the tender Epithites , meerly , of busie design and activity , but also wickedly done , to infer the innocency of your Employers from so notorious a Falsehood . But , Sir , it fares with you , as it does with many a destructive Fox , who being taken by the leg in a Trap , is forced to bite off the hampered member to save the rest of his Body . He proceeds next to the Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey ; to which he puts all his strength , as if he was heaving at a Capstal ; but with what success let all the world judg . There is nothing , says he , with an audacious arrogance , to fasten the Death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey upon the Roman Catholicks , but the bare improbable , though gainful Oaths of two infamous persons , Bedlow , notorious for cheats and misdemeanours ; and Prance self condemned of falshood by the testimony of his own-mouth . And thus you see still the onely four Props of the Papists defence supposed improbability , scandal , defamation , and downright lying . Surely , had Mr. Impartial had ever any reverence for the Lord Stafford's Memory , he would never have stuft his Memoirs with such gulleries and impostures . As for Bedloe , he is since deceased , however he stood then , by the King's favour , right in the eye of the Law , and therefore here needs no other answer than what has been already given to this stale exception of Mr. Impartial . As for Mr. Prance , he , 't is well known was a person never taxed for his life and conversation , before he was drawn into that vile conspiracy by the charms of those infamous ( to return Mr. Impartial his own word again ) and more then wicked Popish Priects , who assur'd him , that horrid Fact was meritorious both before God and man , and a deed of charity to do it . And being freed from that Crime , by the King's mercy and his own cordial repentance , he has made no other alteration in his former life and conversation , then in abandoning that hateful Religion that seduc'd him to that misfortune . And for the gain that he got by his Oath , he is ready to bequeath it all to Mr. Impartial for the kindness of his calumnies . There is yet another thing behind . That he condemned himself of fashood from his own mouth ; in which Mr. Impartial , boldly and very unmannerly gives the lye to the whole Court , who upon the Plea of the Murtherers themselves , absolutely cleared him of that aspersion , But Mr. Impartial , in this , as in all other things , thinks to carry the day by foul misrepresentation . He swore himself , saith he , an Actor in the Murther , and afterward before the King and Council , unswore what he had said : which is a positive falshood , For that which Mr. Impartial calls unswearing , was only a bare denial , or rather a retracting in these general & abrupt terms : he was innocent , and they were all innocent . His Oath at large was solemnly sworn ; the latter under consternation and fear , in a distemper of body and mind . He consider'd the danger of his life after he had made his confession , as having no pardon . He fear'd the revenge of the bloudy Priests and Jesuites themselves . He fear'd the loss of his livelihood , which depended upon the work which he had from the Queen . And these were the Circumstances which caus'd that sudden revolt of his reason ; and that general retractation , which Mr. Impartial , according to his papistical gift calls a Protestation , That he knew nothing of it . But no sooner had he overcome those disturbances of his mind , but he confirm'd his first Impeachment upon Oath ; and with repentance acknowledg'd that his retractation was occasion'd by consternation and perplexity of mind : of which he requested the Keeper of Newgate to give an immediate account to the King and Council ; who thereupon went accordingly , and declared the same upon Oath ; the Prisoner himself then falling desparately sick . Having thus endeavour'd to sham the World with no less then three apparent fourberies , enter his old Friend Mr. Improbable , like Volpone in the Play. Sir Ed. Godfrey , saith he , was esteem●d a moderate man , and particularly indulgent to the Papists ; and 't is not credible the Papists would murther their Friend . So much their Friend , that when none of the Justices of the Peace would meddle with Dr. Otes's Depositions , he onely adventur'd to take ' em . After which he himself with his own mouth often declared , how he had bin continually dogg'd by the Papists , which caus'd within him strange fears and apprehensions of the danger he was in ; insomuch that he forebeaded of himself , that he , to use his own words , should be the first Martyr . Alas ! before that time Sir Edmund might have walk'd the Streets at all hours of the night ; there was no body watch'd him , no body dogg'd him before ; but no sooner had the Papists received the Alarum of the Discovery , and that Sir Edmond had bin so bold as to perform the duty of his Office , and take the Depositions , but he could not stir a foot without a private Lacquey at his Heels ; which double diligence and care of his person never ceas'd till they had acted their intended Tragedy . So then the reason that Mr. Impartial urges why the Papists were not likely to commit this Murder , was the reason why they were most likely to do it . For esteeming him their friend , they took it heinou●ly that their friend should be so unkind as to take Depositions against them , and dive so narrowly into their Affairs . Next the Scene must be ( forsooth ) the Publick-Yard of Somerset-House , a Thorough-fare of continual intercourse , Setting aside the force of that emphatical word forsooth , this is all a Story . For Somerset-house Yard , then inhabited by few or none but Priests and Papists , at that time of the Year , at that time of night , after nine of the Clock , is well known to be no common Thorough-Fare . But it was within twenty paces of the Common Guards where Watch is kept night and day . How notably he has dropt in the word is ( for he would fain be thought to tell truth but then there were no Common Guards , no Watch day or night , but only a File or two of Souldiers in respect to the Kings Palace , that never watch'd at that time but only at the great Portal , and they well employ'd by the Murtherers with Drink and Tobacco ; and this is the Truth . Now where would Mr. Impartial have had the Papists have Murder'd Sir Edmondbury Godfrey , but in a place ▪ wholly at their Devotion ? Then saith he , to feign a Quarrel , to call Sir Edmond out of the Street ▪ and yet that neither Passengers , Souldiers nor Neighbours should observe any thing of the Tumult , and this he calls , ironically , a Notable Policy . Oh Sir , 't was a loving Quarrel , a silent Quarrel , a trapa 〈…〉 ing Quarrel , there was no noise or tumult for Passengers to take notice of , or for invisible neighbours or Souldiers to hear ; an amicable Quarrel to inveigle Sir Edmond not so much to appease that Quarrel , but to prevent a further pretended mischief . And so , Sir , it was a Notable Policy , especially so well succeeding , and such a one that a Popish Priest for all his high-flown Parts , might not be asham'd to own . But then , They strangled him with a Handkerchief , a very proper instrument , studied and contrived before hand to strangle a man. You should have put in long Sir , for so 't is in the Original . I confess . I know not what experience in strangling or hanging Mr. Impartial may have , for he assumes to himself to be a great Iudge , and yet if he will not believe a long Handkerchief to be a proper instrument for the business , he may , when he pleases , try the conclusion upon himself . But then after the business was done , they let him lye expos'd in this open place . And thus the World may see how the concatenation of this fallacious Mr. Impartial's Imposture depends upon meer storys of his own framing . He has expos'd the murdered Carcass , he his expos'd it in an open place . The Priests were no such fools . They had done their work in a by Corner , they had set one to watch at one Gate , another to watch another ; and the Street at the same time empty . How was this exposing him ? 'T is a thousand pitys Mr. Impartial had not bin there , that he might have given a truer and better account of the passages . This is the strangest way to vindicate a detestable Murther that ever was-known ; with Whims and Conceits and Imaginations of things done as he would have had 'em done , to contradict one that was personally present , and saw all the Transactions ! Here is one swears he saw the Murder committed , where , when , how , and by whom , tells ye the memorable circumstances of thumping his breast , wringing his neck , an intention of running him through with a Sword , and the reason why 't was not done , lest his bloud should betray the Murther , and that memorable exultation of Girald the Priest over his body : Well if we could not have entir'd him here , I resolv'd to have dogged him to his own House , and there would have run him through with my own hand . And yet after all this , here comes a Nicodemus of a Skeptic , and framing absurdities and improbabilities of his own , asks how this could be done , or how this is possible ? 't is very true , had they done , as he pretends they did , they had bin the greatest Coxcombs in the World ; but they knew better how to do their work . And then again , is it likely the Papists should murder their friend ? why no : for had he bin their friend , 't is very probable they would not have murder'd him , but not being their Friend , or rather their great Enemy they did . Certainly the Devil ow'd the Papists a shame to set such a Memoir-Man as this at work . In the next place , he is setting the Witnesses at odds , to see if he can find his dearly beloved friend Mr. Perjury among ' em . Bedlow says he , deposes . Sir Edmund was throttl'd with a Cravatt . Prance swears it was a Handkerchief . Oh , I have hit the Scotism of the business . Mr. Impartial would have had it spruce Crauat , a fashionable Cravat , a Cravat according to the proper acceptation of the word ( would you have had it lac'd or plain Sir ? ) for then indeed there might have bin some glimpse of a Perjury , in calling a Handkerchief a Cravat . But do but forgive Mr. Prance this peccadillo , and you shall have the liberty to call any thing of Linnen that a man may wear about his neck , tho it be a sheet , either Cravat or Hankerchief , which you please . The Names of the Assassinates cited by Bedlow are La Phaire , Pritchard , Wells and others . But the Murderers nam'd by Prance were Green , Hill , Bury , Girald and Kelly . Bedlow nam'd none for Assassinates , and therefore that 's some of your own Coin. He swears indeed that La Phair would have had him have done the business , and proffer'd him Money to do it ; but the business was not done by that Gang. For you must understand , Mr. Impartial , that there were two Parties ( so eager were the Papists to destroy that poor Gentleman , their Friend ) Bedlow's Party , and Prance's Party . Now it so fell out , that Prance's Party were too yare for Bedlows , and had dispatch'd their business , while La Phaire went hawking about with his great rewards for a Chapman . But when the business was done , both Parties joyn'd and rejoyc'd together . Now Bedlow swearing that his Party were privy to the Concealment , and intended the same thing , and Prance swearing that his Party committed the Fact , where could be a more harmonious Concordance of two Oaths for the Impeachment of a wicked Murther ? The Murther was said to be committed the 12th . of October 78. at nine at night , and the Body convey'd away the Wednesday following at Midnight . In opposition to this , he brings the long ago over-rul'd attestations of Mrs. Tilden and Mrs. Broadstreet ▪ The sum of whose Testimony was , That Hill had bin a Trusty Servant , that he never kept ill hours , but always came in by eight of the Clock : that he could not go out afterwards , because the Doors were lock'd up ; and that they were constantly up till eleven a clock at night . That the Room where the body was said to be laid , was not only over against the Dining Rome , but that the Key was always in the Door , and that every day they went into it for something or other , and that there was but one Key to the Door . But Mr. Impartial omits how fatally Mrs. Tilden trip'd in her Story , when she affirm'd that the Family had never bin out of their Lodging since they came to Town , and being ask'd when they were out of Town , she reply'd in October . Upon which the Court told her , She had spoyl'd all , and had undone the Man instead of saving him . With that she would have recanted , and said , Why , my Lord , I only mistook the Month. By which , Mr. Impartial , it was apparent , that either her Devotion had stupify'd her Consideration , or that she appear'd in Court only to say what would serve the turn , as having bin lessen'd at your Swearing-School . As for Mrs. Broad-Streets Evidence , it was delivered with more confidence than became her Sex. For after she had deny'd that there were more than one Key to the Lodgings , she confess'd before the Duke of Monmouth , after Mr. Prance had clearly made it out to her face , that there were six or seven . And in the Question about Hills leaving the Doctors Lodgings , she had so hamper'd her self , by saying and unsaying , saying one thing , and setting her hand to another , but more especially by her stout averments that the Key was always in Hill's Door , that the Court told her , 'T was very suspicious , if she went so constantly in and out , that she must either hear when the Body was brought in , or see it while it was there ; and further added , That 't was well she was not indicted . And thus you see what excellent Witnesses you have brought to prove contradiction , and this after a Sentence pronounc'd by Judges as wise as your self or any of your Employers . As for the Sentinels that you say kept strict Guard at the great Gate , there was but one could be thought to speak to the purpose . And as for him , to give you plenary Satisfaction , there was strict Order taken with him , that tho he might see the Sedan carry'd in , he was better employ'd than to see it go out . And now what may the World think of such a shammoking Vindicator , that having taken upon him to vindicate Murder and Treason in the highest degree , and the innocence of the Papists under such a bloudy Charge of Horrid Plot , and Hellish Treachery , and following others , as if he had out-done and surpass'd all others that went before him , can find no other way to throw Defamation and Perjury upon the Kings Evidence , and to invalidate their Testimonies against a horrid and prodigious Murder , than by making use of the openly trapp'd and as openly rejected Attestations of Female Papists , subborn'd by their own Bigotisme , and ready to swear any thing to save their Popish friend ( an Infamy and Perjury as bad as can be Recorded in any Court of Justice ) I say , what may the World think of such a shammoking Vindicator as this , but that he would never have stuck to commit the same inhuman act himself : for he that will so openly and so zealously defend a Murder , will never scruple to commit one . And yet after all this , he is so far from having answer'd expectation , that he has not done so much as others of his fellow Penmen . However he has empty'd his Quiver for this bout , and shot all the darts of his Malice against the face of Justice , thinking to have all deform'd her lovely Countenance , but that it proves impenetrable to the yielding weapons of such a feeble Assassinate . Certainly 't is an impudence beyond impudence it self , to throw Infamy and Defamation in the faces of Witnesses , and bring nothing but a Tinkers Fardel of Lyes and Forgeries to disprove their Testimony . And as certainly it must be a very bad cause that has no support but the meer invalidation of the Evidence against it ; but a worse , that after so much ineffectual toyl and cunning , cannot be able to vanquish the Evidence of 3 or 4 ordinary persons , when their Perjuries are so apparent , and the stress of Criminals Innocence depends so much upon it . Now to shew you , Sir , what credit is to be given to Popish Witnesses when they come to swear in a Heretical Court , especially in Points that nearly concern themselves , I will give you now signal Presidents , not of Madam Impertinents , or Mrs. Confidences , but of the Fathers of your Church , holy , pious , worthy Men , Saints by this time . The one in the cause of Newnam Abby then in Chancery , Martin the Jesuit Trustee Plaintiff , and Savage Defendant , about the Year , 1671. Wherein those Reverend Fathers , Whitebread , Harcourt and Charles Poulton now Provincial of the English Jesuites came in as Witnesses in their own Cause , and under assumed Names and Disguises , very briskly swore for themselves . And no longer since then in December last , the Reverend Father Barton , a Jesuite , took a Journey from Leige to London , and swore under the borrowed name and person of — Colborn for the Jesuits , in another cause now depending also between the King and the Jesuites . Nay more than this , the time was here at London , and that not long ago , when some of your Employers kept a Swearing-School , and a Perjury-Master , at what time the St. Omers Youths were taught and lesson'd to damn their souls at the last Tryals of Langhorn and the Jesuites , the effects of which appear'd in open Court , to the shame and derision of their Instructor . And it may be very probably from hence presumed , that they who had one , have many more of the same kind , or that they will not scruple to erect 'em when they have occasion . So that 't is the Opinion of most men , that it had bin much more honourable and advantagious to the Popish Religion , for that Noble Gentleman to have kept a Vaulting School . And yet the Discoverers of your Villanies must be rogu'd and raskall'd with Perjuries of all sorts by Perjury-Doctors and Perjury-Abettors , Traytors , Plotters and Assassinates , ten times worse than ever they were , when at the worst . Here Mr. Impartial , for ought I find , no better than the rest , to vindicate the Papists from a Murder , the most barbarous that was ever committed , has brought a company of Flams and Stories , how can it be 's , and how is it possible's ? and such kind of plausible riffraff ; he should do well to have taken Mr. Prance's Narrative in his hand , and to have spent his Lamp and his Labour in confuting the concatenated Circumstances of the Murder , which I will defie ever a Jesuite in England to contrive with such a face of probability had they not bin true . Which because Mr. Impartial has not done , to find him work for new Memoirs , and to quicken the Memory of the Nation , I will set them down with as much brevity as I can , and then let the World judge between his Shams and the reality of the Murder committed by the Papists . The Charge is , That the barbarous Murther of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey , was committed by the Papists , Prov'd by the Oath of Mr. Prance , who was an Actor in the whole Contrivance , and relates the matter briefly thus . He tells ye first the reasons that engag'd the Conspirators to design the Murther . Because he was a busie man , and was going about to ruine all the Catholicks in England , and that it was necessary to destroy him , else they were all undone . For he had examin'd people against them , and had got Depositions to fix odious Crimes and Scandals upon them and their Religion . Next the motives that induc'd him into the Conspiracy . Girald told him , it would be a piece of good service to the Church ; that it was no sin , but a work of charity ; that it was no murther , but for the good of the Church , and the glory of God , and therefore he ought to do it . The murther being agreed on , he comes to the manner . That about Saturday the twelfth of October , Green , Hill , and Gerald dogg'd him from his first going out , all the rest of the day till about six or seven at night , at what time they fixed him in a House in S. Clements . That then Green came to him , and missing him at home found him at a pub●ck House , and bid him hasten down to Somerset-yard ; which he did , and there found Berry and Kelly together , where they continu'd , till Hill came running to them , and told them Sir Ed. was coming . Upon which they prepar'd for their Work. In order to which Kelly and Berry pretended a quarrell , while Hill , who was well-known to Sir Ed. watch'd for him at the Gate to drill him in . That Sir Edmund ▪ at first refus'd , but at length was overperswaded , and went in . That thereupon Hill enter'd first , Sir Ed. next , and behind him Girald and Green. That being now sure of him , Prance went to watch the Water-Gate , and Berry to watch the passage up the stone-stairs . That as Sir Ed. was going toward the pretended Quarrellers , Berry , Kelly and Green threw a long twisted Handkerchief about his Neck ; and then immediately Girald , Kelly , Green and Hill fell upon him , threw him down and throttled him ; and drawing him behind the Rail , gave him several punches upon the Breast with their Knees . That after all this , fearing he was not yet quite dead , Girald would have run his Sword through him but was not permitted , lest they should be discover'd by the Bloud ; however that Green , to make sure , wrung his Neck round . Next as to the disposal of his person , the Relator tells ye , that they carried the Body in at the door right against the place where he was murthered , and so up such a pair of stairs , into such an entry , into such a Lodging , where Hill was concern'd , and opened the door ; then up five or six steps into a little Room on the right hand , where they set the Body with his Head leaning against a Bed. That the Body lay there till Monday-night , and was then remov'd into another Room , for fear notice should be taken of keeping the other so long private . That on Tuesday at Night they would have remov'd him back to Hill's Chamber ; but he going before , and finding some Body there , they were forc'd to carry it to another Room on the left hand . From thence about nine a Clock on Wednesday night they remov'd it again to Hill's Lodging , by a memorable token , that Prance coming that way , and they not knowing who it might be , they left the Body , and began to run away , till Prance calling to them , and they knowing his voice came back , all but Berry , who run quite to his Lodg. That there they consulted the carrying him into the Fields , and laying him in the posture he was found , which was done in a Sedan . That Berry open'd the Gate upon a humm ; having before invited the Souldiers into his Lodg with Drink and Tobacco . That Gerald and Prance carried him to the end of S. James's Street : Then Kelly and Green took him up , and carri'd him through King-street , and Rose-street to Long-Acre-end . That then the two first carri'd him as far as the Grecian Church , where they met a Horse . That there they set him upon the Horse , by this Token , that when he was mounted , Gerald uttered these Words , I wish we had a hundred such Rogues as s●cure as this . Then Hill , Gerald , Kelly and Green went away with the Body , one leading the Horse , two walking by , one on each side , whilst Hill held him on before . There are also several material Post-circumstances ; That upon the News of the Body being found , one Vernatti , who should have been concerned in the murder , but was absent , being at the Tavern with Mr. Prance , said to him , Lord ! is this mans Body found already , that was carried away but yesternight ! That Girald gave an exact account in writing to the said Vernatti , who read the same to one Leneson a Priest , that should also have been concern'd in it , but miss'd , at the George near the Stocks-Market . Afterwards at one Cusne's at Bow to one Dethick that liv'd not above a mile from the place , and was sent for to rejoyce for the blessed news over a Barrel of Oysters , and a Dish of Fish . Thus Mr. Impartial , I have lighted a Candle to your dark objections . And now , Sir , how do you like the Story ? Do you not want a Cordial to relieve your sinking spirits ? Does not the ghastly apparation of such frightful Circumstances strike a terrour to your souls ? Could any but a Papist , the Friend of Massacre , believe , that so many Circumstances of Persons , manner , time , place , and words , besides by tokens , all cohering together , yet all the acts of several days , be so readily contriv'd by a poor man in affliction , under consternation dismai'd , distemper'd , to be as readily , and so particularly deliver'd in a verbal confession , before so aweful an Assembly as the King of Three Kingdoms , and His Great Council , had not Truth solely taken upon her the conduct of his utterance . Truth that needs not none of your Frame-work-weaving , Mr. Impartial , to cover over the stains of Bloud so unhumanely shed with old objections , and studi'd absurdities new trimmed and furbish'd . After all this , Mr. Prance was punctual , direct and positive as to all the places where the murther was committed , and where the Body was conveigh'd , at what time the D. of Monmouth , the Earl of Ossory , and Sir Robert Southwel were order'd to take a particular accompt from him upon the place ▪ And therefore Mr. Impartial , your best way would have been to have spar'd these loud cries of Nonsence and Absurditie ; and to have true Champion like , outdar'd , outboun'd , outbrav'd , outfac'd the world , that there never was any such person as Sir Edmundbury Godfrey upon the face of the Earth ; and that he never was , or ever shall be born . Then your St George-ship had slain the Dragon with a vengeance . Where are old Ireland's Protestations , Imprecations , and bold summonings of God to witness the innocence of the Papists ? Had yee no more powerful charms than these to conjure down the walking Ghost that so torments your quiet ; Here 's a murther suffocated indeed by a Crown of a Hero ! — which the dexterity of a deluded Virgin would have done more artificially . For still , by silly justifications , it appears far fowler than ever . All the Washball Protestations of suffering Malefactors , whether persons of meaner rank , or Lords , cannot wash off this bloudy stain ; mauger all your suborn'd Mograffs , and other deep-laid Contrivances ; — then let it lye on — and it will , as long as History can utter to the world the Story of this Age. Certainly , Villany and Impudence were never so unluckily coupled since the Creation . Villany to commit , impudence to justifie the most prodigious of Crimes . But so Heaven order'd it , That this unfortunate Gentleman should fall by the bloudy hands of those that seek the Nations ruine , to awaken the drowsie Kingdom , whenever it should grow careless of its safety . How much then does it concern all True Protestants to be careful and vigilant , when they see the Papists so sedulous to exercise into perpetual oblivion the murther of that Person , whose Body Heaven permitted them to sacrifice , that so his Soul might be , as it were , one of the Guardian Angels of their Safety and Religion . In the next place he endeavours to complement the Two Houses of Parliament out of their Honour , their justice , their reason , their understanding , their prudence , and all that advances the Lustre , the Grandeur , and the high Reverence due to the most Aweful , and most Renowned Assembly under Heaven ; telling them with a fawning — snarle , ( with all due submission to the Government in defence of the Innocent ) That it is not impossible , nor altogether without President , That a lawful Authority proceeding secundum Allegata & probata should be abused ; and consequently drawn into a mistake by the malice and perjury of wicked men . How meanly , how lowly , does this Mushrom of a Memoir-monger , after his sneering complement , think of the Lords and Commons of England ? That which good manners would not impose upon an ordinary Sessions of Oyer and Terminer , he most audaciously throws upon the Two Houses of Parliament ; weakness and mistake , and to be cajoll'd by the malice and perjury of wicked men . After so many daily Debates and Consultations ; after so many siftings and scannings of charge and proof the high wisdom and prudence of the Two Houses of Parliament was led away by weakness and mistake to give credit to the malice and perjury of three or four inconsiderable , malicious and wicked men ; and so to proceed to the effusion of innocent Bloud . What is this , but to charge the Two Houses of Parliament , either with folly , or impiety the most egregious in the world ? An indignity for the Nation not to endure . There is no question to be made , but that Mr. Impartial's allegata & probata , all his Probables and Improbables , all his contradictions and absurdities were duly way'd and ponder'd with all the thoughtful diligence and sedulity , that justice and conscience could invent . Which not being to be call'd into doubt , there is no reason in the world for the Nation to believe that so much justice , so much conscience , so much elaborate prudence could err . The truth of which he himself confirms , while he brings an Argument to undermine their Reputation , by saying , All have not been convicted who were impeached and try'd at the Bar ; but as some have been condemned , so others have been acquitted . Which apparently shew'd the equality and impartiality of their Proceedings , and that they were not in quest of innocent Bloud , but onely sought the deserved punishment of those that were guilty . And therefore for such a Flyblow of a pretended Protestant to go about to taint the honour and justice of the Two Houses of Parliament , whom he confesses so fair in their Proceedings , was an unparallel'd piece of arrogance , then which nothing more confirms the truth of the Plot , and the Crimes of his Employers . So that he might have reserv'd his crafty Cringes , and his Presidents for some High German Senate of Mum brewers in the Land of Brandenbourgh . Lastly , to excuse tho Instances given of Popish Malice , and Bloudiness from the Examples of Q. Maries Cruelties , the Irish Barbarism , the French Massacre , &c. he recriminates upon the Protestants in Germany , France , Bohemia and Holland . But that is not the Point ; for there is a great difference between a Massacre , or a Persecution , and a War , though it be a Rebellion ; wherein there are preceeding expostulations , something of a seeming 〈◊〉 pretended claim or grievance ; but in Massacre or Persecution there is nothing but propense Villany and impiety . Had the Christians bin in Arms against their Emperors , they could not have bin call'd Persecutions , and the Christians had bin in the wrong ; but as they were Persecutions , we find how infamous they have render'd those Emperors . Rebellions are headed by Persons of high Quality , as the Dutch by the Prince of Orange , a free Prince of the Empire , that in France by the Coligny's , and consequently reduc'd into a formal Hostility . Massacres are only tumultuary Riots and Surprises of the Innocent . Rebellion pretends a seeming Provocation , but Massacre destroys without exception of Sex or Age , those that dream'd no harm . So that nothing can be more foul , more wicked , more malicious , more spiteful , more inhuman , more faithless , treacherous and destructive to the bonds of Human Society . And this is the Charge we lay upon the Papists , besides that of Rebellion . For if we should muster up the Rebellions of the Papists against their Princes , they are innumerable , and frequently authoriz'd by the Pope himself . As for that same execrable Murder of the Late King Charles the Second , of Blessed Memory , as it was never committed , so it was never own'd , but always condemn'd and abominated by all the true Professors of the Protistant Religion . It was the nefarious Act of a nefarious Usurper , who having at his Devotion an Army , which he had long headed with a successful and dareing Conduct , took the opportunity , when the Nation was quite try'd out with an intestine War of near Twenty Years standing , as it were to conquer the whole Kingdom , to seize and murder his distressed Sovereign , and instead of a King to make himself a Tyrant . All this the Protestants lamented and bewailed , while the Tyrant , having like Otho and Vitellius unjustly invaded the Imperial Dignity , environ'd with and engadg'd and well pay'd Hodge-podge of Veteran Levellers , Fiftmhonarchy-men an such like Enthusiasts , ( not worth the name of Protestants ) and ador'd only by those that sought more the preservation of their unlawful Purchases , then the good of the Kingdom , trampled not only over all true Religion , but Morality . But should we number up the Murder of Kings committed by Papists , we should find more then one . Richard the 2d . and Edward ●d . were both Depos'd and Murder'd by their Popish Subjects . Henry the ●d . Henry the 4th . of France were both murder'd by the Contrivance of their Popish Subjects , and openly justify'd by the Priests of that time ; nay the Murder of the one was applauded even by the Pope himself in a Publick Harangue . What does your Worship think of the Emperour Henry the Seventh , who was by a Predicant Frier of the Order of St. Bernard , murder'd with a piece of the Eucharist sop'd in Poyson ? By which the Monk evinc'd two things , the impiety of the Popish Religion , and the folly of Transubstantiation , as if the Real Body of Christ could be capable of such a damnable Infection . The Emperor Frederick the Second was Excommunicated by Gregory IX . with that Impudence that the Cardinals themselves were asham'd of it , and express'd their dislike ; and tho that Pope dy'd , yet the Papal fewd continu'd , so that at length the Emperor was depos'd at the Instance of Innocent the Fourth . History affords plenty of Examples to this purpose , but these may suffice for the present . After all which , Mr. Impartial , I must be bold to tell you , that notwithstanding all your nonsensical improbables and absurdities you have endeavour'd to defend the innocent , like a fool to your friends , and to asperse and calumnize the Kings Evidence , like a Knave and Betrayer of the Religion you profess . Having gone thus far , we might well here make a Conclusion , in regard that all that follows is a meer precarious ●uddle of Impertinences , built upon a sandy Foundation . For the Certainty of the Late Horrid Plot being still unshaken , and the Legality and Credit of the Witnesses undeniable , there needs no further Argument to evince the Lord Staffords guilt , and the Justice of his Condemnation , for that the one could not be just unless the other were true , nor the other true unless the other were just . By which means , Mr. Impartial hath brought himself into this Noose , that either he is in the right , and the embody'd Justice and Prudence of the Nation were in the wrong , or that the embody'd Justice and Prudence of the Nation are in the right , and then he deserves to suffer severely for his boldness . However , because there still remains behind some dashes of his malice continu'd upon the Witnesses , and some sprinklings of his Venome yet remaining , with which he endeavours to bedew the unspotted Reputation of those highly learned and most worthy Gentlemen that manag'd the Tryal , the pursuit of his lame Story engages me to make some Remarks upon the most encroaching and plausible Passages of his arrogant Raillery . For the whole Plot and Design of his Janus-like Pate , is rather to ridicule and puzzle than evince the Truth . To leave the rest then , to mind their own Affairs , he assailes the Dr. the chief Eye-sore of his Papistical Tribe , with his old , rusty Weapons of Absurdity , Perjury and Contradiction . First then , by way of premising , let me put this Question to the whole Kingdom , why Mr. Impartial should presume to put a greater value upon the Testimony produc'd on the behalf of the Lord Stafford , than the Witnesses that gave Evidence against him . Since Mr. Impartial can never prove that ever the Protestants kept a Swearing-School , under the quaint instructions of a Perjury-Master , as he and his Gang did . In which 't is shrewdly suspected that there might be many more Disciples brought up than the Youths of St. Omers : of whose industrious Education I would refer my self , were it proper , to the Judges themselves that sat upon the Tryals . Nay , was it not very pretty , that the Master himself should be present too , to hear how well his Pupils had profited under his Instructions ? Of how little value Oaths and Perjury are among the Papists is well known . Nay we find in that undoubted History of the Council of Trent the Pope commanding the Emperor to perjure himself , and break his Oath sworn to the Protestants of Germany , tho for the Publick Repose of that vast Continent . So then if Popish Princes may Perjure themselves for the Popes pleasure , dare the meaner Rabble refuse to Perjure themselves when their Priests shall hold it necessary ? And thus the Papists having invalidated the credit of their own Testimony , by that unsanctified custom of keeping Swearing Schools ; there is as much reason to believe that the Lord Staffords Witnesses were forsworn as Dr. Oates . Nay far more ; for they were not only not believ'd , but frequently were found out , and rejected with ignominy ; Dr. Oates always still steady to the Truth , always gain'd Credit to his Testimony . So then all true Protestants being to take notice , that there is little credit to be given to the Popish Witnesses , who may perjure themselves to day , and be Absolv'd to morrow , and that their own Representatives have given great Credit to Dr. Oates , we shall now proceed to the Reflections themselves , observing this by the way , That 't was the Perjury of Ladislaus King of Poland and Hungary , in obedience to a clamorous Pope , that lost him the Battel of Varna , and extended the Dominion of the Turk , almost to the Walls of Vienna . In the first place Mr. Impartial wonders That the Priests had no more plausible or less dangerous Argument to convert a Protestant Minister , than by telling him ▪ the Church of England was upon its last legs , from whence he infers , That surely they took the Dr. for some notorious Fool or Knave . It may be they might , what then ▪ Fools and Knaves are no such contemptible Instruments to carry on a Plot. The one may be impos'd upon , the other wrought upon . A bigottiz'd Popish Fool may become Fool hardy , and then he is fit for any mischief ; and for a Knave , you cannot , Mr. Impartial , but know your self what use may be made of such a one . But suppose they thought him a very honest Man , and that out of that confidence , they did open their hearts to him a little ; nay I will put ye one supposition more , suppose they had taken a Cup of the Creature , 't was no such Miracle to tempt a Young Man with the hopes of Preferment . All this while , these are only Suppositions ; now that you should extract Perjury from the suppositions of your own Brain , is a strange piece of Chymistry . Your next wonder is , that the ( Sotish Careless ) Jesuites , should trust a Neophite with all their most damnable Intreagues , as the adventures of Pickerings Flint , Whipping , Thirty thousand Masses , &c. the manner of Firing the City , and introducing Chymerical Armies , French , Irish , Spanish , &c. Truly , Mr. Impartial , you are in a very pleasant humor , though I 'm afraid , You laugh but a one side of your mouth . But now suppose they did ; suppose those sotish , careless Jesuites did trust this Neophyte , how can you help it ? you must blame the sottish , careless Jesuites , not him . And yet he was no such Neophyte neither , they had try'd him and trusted him , long before they trusted him with these Damnable Intreagues you speak of . Beside they had his Conscience under the Lock and Key of an Oath of Secresie . Truly Mr. Impartial , in my Opinion you are too merry with these damnable Intreagues . For 't is as probable that a Villain might seek an Opportunity as well to shoot as to stab a Prince ; and if Providence order'd the prevention of mischief , must you laugh at that ? As little reason have you , Mr. Impartial , to make Chimerical Armies the sport of your little Wit. For so you may call them Chimerical , out of the abundance of your fancy , yet the intent of raising Armies , and the promises and expectations of Foreign Assistance were not onely sworn by the Doctor , but evidently demonstrable out of Coleman's Letters , and therefore you must not think to cheat the World by burlesquing Guilt into Innocence . But then the Dr. Deposes that some of them were so desperately mad , as to Preach Treason to a company of Boys . You triffle with the World , Mr. Impartial , and think to fright People with Rattles and Gewgaws . As if it were such a strange thing that a Jesuite , within the Walls of his own Seminary , before a Society with which he was well acquainted , before Youths under the aw of their Superiours , and bred up in the same Principles that he Preach'd , and this too out of the Kings Dominions , should be afraid to declaim Treason , and to abuse and villifie a Prince under Excommunication , and Depos'd by the Authority of Rome . All men of understanding know that the Treason then utter'd , was accounted no Treason where it was taught . You would believe a man that should swear he saw St. Dominic take a Caper from the top of St. Peter's Church over the Moon , and light upon the top of Te●ariff and yet will not believe that a craven Jesuite should crow upon his own Dunghil against a King , at the same time Un-King'd by the Grand Disposer of Kingdoms , the Teacher's Idol , and your adored Sovereign , the Pope . His last Wonder , and which methinks , I see him with his Hands and his Eyes lifted up to Heaven , looking upon with most amazing Astonishment , is the most nonsensical and ridiculous of all . For it centers in this , That the Dr. feigned himself a Roman Catholick to make discoveries for the preservation of the King ; yet though he knew the King to be in so many and hourly dangers and hazards of his Life , he did not presently cry out murther upon the Lords Anointed . From whence he would infer , that all the Dr. has sworn concerning the Plot is damnable Perjury . Where were you , Mr. Impartial , when the Lord Staffrod was Tri'd , that you did not out with your Budget , and spread these weighty Objections before his Judges ? You are certainly guilty of his Death , for not lending him your assistance in such a Time of Distress . But I find you are a politick man , and suffer'd the Lord Stafford to lose his Head , that you might have the Honour to write his Memoirs . Now to the Point . Because the Dr. did not make his Discovery so soon as he ought to have done , b●t did it as● soon as possibly he could , therefore the Dr. is perjur'd . Have you been in Labour , Mr. Impartial , this three years , to bring forth such an Abortive piece of Nonsence as this ? This is true Heraclitus-like indeed , to make sportive Comments upon the intended Assassination of a Sovereign Monarch ; and then to infer , because the Discovery was not made so soon as it should have been , that therefore the Discovery was nothing but Forgery and Perjury . 'T is well known with what difficulties the Dr. met , when he made his Discovery : And for him to have made it , before he was well-arm'd with Proof , ( the thing which Mr. Impartial would have had him done-was to have sacrific'd the Kingdom and himself to a certain Destruction . 'T was not for him to cry , like a frantick , murther upon the Lords Anointed , where there were so many ready to have stopped his mouth . Had he discover'd and fail'd , you would have made him perjur'd indeed . And therefore since providence has order'd it for the best ; 't is not for any mortal Miscreant to fix Obl●quies and Perjuries upon the Disposal and Governance of the Almighty from strain'd Surmises , farfetch'd Suppositions , and sportive Burlisque upon Impiety . Having thus done with your particular and punie Essay , I will say somewhat in General The World cannot but take notice , that all your endeavour is to lay the stress and weight of your malice and fury upon the Doctor : He is the chiefest mark of all your envenom'd Arrows . Let him alone , if he be such a perjur'd Monster , he 'l fallof himself . The Heathens themselves will tell yee , — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is no avoiding the vengeance of Heaven . In the mean time to fling and kick and wince to no purpose ; to bring Evasions , Flams , Flashes and Stories ; to Bribe , to Suborn , to set up Swearing Schools , to Defame and Scandalize , to cry out Perjury , Nonsence , Absurdities , Improbabilities ; These are not Waies to clear the Innocent , but rather Demonstrations of the Treason pretended to be vindicated . You have some reasons to believe that you have now some paticular advantages over the Dr. and therefore you take the oportunity to hunt him quite down . The pitiful Wretch so contemn'd & dispis'd by the Benedictine Rabbies , and Jesuitical Flamins , must be trod upon , and die the death of a Worm , because he out-witted their Cunning : The most convincing Argument of his Integritie , that such Goliahs of Policy and Reason , as they , should fall by his Imbicillitie . Now all this stir and Turmoyl , is to prove the Dr ▪ perjur'd . Which makes me to admire that Mr. Impartial , and the rest of his Fellow Jesuites , who account themselves the Topping Order of the Catholick Religion , and conceit themselves to have engross'd all the Learning in the World into their Societies , should so grosly mistake themselves , as to err in the very foundation of their Design . I cannot therefore apprehend 'em to be such Bugbears as they are , but that it is onely the fond Opinion of our deluded Gentry , that causes them to throw their Children into the Bosom of their Education . Rather I take Mr. Impartial and them to be like our Splitters of Causes , who onely study the Snaps and Quirks of false Practice , but know little of the Fundamentals and Body of the Law ; and that as they study onely the Knavish part of the Law ; so these onely study the Knavish part of Divinity , that is how to cheat and amuse by vertue of their Profession . Now then for Mr. Impartial , to go about to prove a man perjur'd , before he had asserted what Perjury was , is a very preposterous way of defending the Innocent . A Perjurer , then , is one , that swears wilfully and wickedly against the opinion and judgment of his heart . So that there is a great difference betwen Perjury and swearing false . A perjur'd Person is one , who wilfully and willingly swears a false thing . But he who swears false , does not do it with an intention to deceive , but because he believes the thing so to be . Non falsum jurare est perjurare , saith Cicero , sed quod ex amini tui sentencia , sicut verbis concipitur more nostro , id non facere perjurium est . Now the Dr. swore there was a Plot , as knowing it to be really true , examini sui sententia , but as to Circumstances , he onely swore as believing them to be so , ita rem se habere . So that it being impossible to impute animum decipiendi to the Dr. from bare surmises and conjectures ; fram'd impossibilities and absurdities , which have no efficacy to force belief , but are left indifferent , as not being the Subject of Reason , but of Passion and Interest ; so is it much more impossible ( if there may be degrees of impossibility ) to infer Perjury from the triffling shifts and Evasions of guilty Iniquitie , which sort of managing the defence of the Innocent does but discover the Vermin in the Snare , and carries such a Face of guilty Fallacy , that while Men observe the doublings and elusive slights of the Writer , rather to disintangle , then justifie his dear Friends , it loses the reputation of a Defence , and becomes rather an Accusation then a Vindication . This is also a most observable Circumstance on the Drs. side , that he has accus'd no man hand over head , as Mr. Impartial calls it , but charges one with one thing , another with another , as he knew they acted in their several Sphears of Treason and Mischief . Which Charges being afterwards prov'd by other Persons that the Dr. had never seen or heard of in his Life , and centring exactly as he had fixed the Delinquents in their Employments , proves that the Dr. was not so little acquainted with the design as they would fain pretend him to be . And therefore let Mr. Impartial get his Memoirs Translated as soon as he pleases ▪ and send them abroad with all the speed he can ; certainly the rational part of the World must believe , that it had been impossible for Dr. Otes to have born up his head in the publick Face of the World , to have stood the strict Examination of a wise and discerning Monarch ▪ His Council and His Parliaments ; which implies all the Prudence , Judgment , Policy and Justice of the Nation , had not his Discovery been absolutely true ; which could never have been so , had he been deceiv'd in the Persons of the Actors . Unless there be any so stupidly Brutish as to believe , that the King and the whole Flower of the Nobility and Gentry of the Nation were in a Conspiracy with Dr. Otes against a Company of Tatterdemallion Jesuites , and half a dozen Popish Lords and their delued Associates , who might all have been buried among the forgotten Crowd , had not they like the firer of the Ephesian Temple made themselves famous by their Infamy . I may add this farther for the Drs. Reputation , and the Papists shame : who though they continually tax him with Vice and Debauchery , could never yet charge him but it prov'd to their treble disadvantage . Once they brought a ridiculous evidence from Hastings , which was exploded in open Court , and when that fail'd , not being able to find out any thing more , they fell to their old Trade of Subornation , and purchas'd the Release of Rake-Hells out of Jayl to taint him with the hazard , if not the Eternal loss of their Souls . Surely , had the Dr. been so openly vitious , they did very ill to stain their own Reputation so foully to fully his . And now he comes to his Observations upon the Tryal it self ; to which there needs little or no answer to be given , as being a ridiculous piece of Foppery , scurrilous Mess of Instances and Inferences , Contradictions and Absurdities , Evasions and impertinent Cavils handed into the world by a pretended Protestant in defence of the Papists ; and all depending upon a precarious Supposition , that our Witnesses are perjur'd , and his not . In short , a mischievous Avernus of Fallacy and Impudence , exhaling nothing but Scandal and Reproach against his Sovereign and his Applauded Government . And indeed , if we consider his own words , the daring Mr. Impartial has given such an answer to himself , that had he not been blinded with some ponderous Bribe , or deeply engag'd in the fatal Concern that threatens both his own and his Employers Heads , might have stopp'd the Career of his extravagant Pen , while he himself gives the rational world all the sufficing satisfaction can be imagined . For he acknowledges the whole Process was heard before a High Authority . Ilustrious Judges , and an August Assembly . And so most certainly it was . For there was His Majesty Himself every day present ; the Greatest Peers of the Nation were the Judges ; and there was a full Assembly of the Lords and Commons of England . Now whether these were not competent Judges of Perjury , Contradiction and Absurditie — I am forc'd to stop , because Human Invention can say no more . Earth could afford no more : unless his Lordship expected that some Court of Angels should have descended on purpose from Heaven . Howsoever , he had those to hear and determin his Cause to whom Sacred Writ has attributed the solemn Character of Divinity : And yet all this will not satisfie Mr. Impartial , nor his Crew of Diabolical Papists . Diabolical in this , that they will be continually spurning against Terrestrial Majesty , in imitation of their Grand Master in perpetual enmity with the Majesty of Heaven . But on these the Viper dares not fasten his envenom'd Teeth : and therefore he endeavours to nip the Reputation of those Learned and Noble Gentlemen that manag'd the Tryal , that from the wounds of their Honour he might draw a Tincture to varnish the Horrid Deformity of the Plot , and besmare the Justice of Staffords Condemnation . For of them he says , that nothing was omitted , nothing neglected , but every the least Circumstance enforc'd and advanc'd to its full proportion ; with such a vigour of wit and industry , &c. As if they had laid aside their consciences , and made use of all their wit , their industry , and their eloquence meerly to advance false Accusation and Perjury . For this is the clear Exposition of Mr. Impartials wicked Insinuation . We 'l take the rest in their order . The Lord Stafford had brought evidence to testifie , That Dugdale before his Discovery , had deni'd , and with Execrations forswore any knowledg of the Plot , which the Managers said was no objection . For he swore it at a time when he never intended to reveal the Plot , and was in danger of Life ; but that afterwards he chang'd his mind , and discoverd all to Southel and others . To this Mr. Impartial answers , That 't was strange so palpable a Perjury should he so sligh●ly evaded . And thus Mr. Impartial , casting a mist before his own eyes ; for he cannot surely chose but know what Perjury is , throws a most heavy aspersion upon the Sanctity of the most Illustrious Judges of the World , that they slightly pass'd over all palpable Perjury . Now how does he make it out ? by crying , this is a criminal answer ? meaning that of the Managers . Yes it was . For Dugdale denying the Plot before he intended to discover it , though with Imprecations , was onely Peccatum in foro Conscientiae , not determinable by the Law , and 't is the Law that must tell you what Perjury is . Did Dugdale deny the Plot upon his Oath before the King and Council ; and upon the same Oath affirm it again ? Had you prov'd that , you had said something . Otherwise you have done nothing but brought your Impartialship under the Lash of the Law , which indeed , Mr. Impartial , you mightily deserve ▪ for your Crime is heinous . In the next place , he charges the Managers with common Sophisms and weak Objections . And yet but now they were the most Eloquent and Wittie Men in the World. Here 's more work for the stripes of the common Hangman ; for certainly such Illustrious Judges knew better what belong'd to common Sophisms and weak Objections , then such an Atome of a Memoir-monger , as Mr. Impartial . And besides . Sir , you don't know but my Lord's Servants have been at the Swearing-School . For proof of which , 't is notorious in the printed Tryal , how Furness was trapp'd by the Lord High Steward and himself , p. 83. In p. 37. He taxes the Court of shifting off Perjury by a trifling jest . Which requires no other then the firm answer , and the same correction . For the scandal still lies upon the Court , who whatever the Managers said , where to consider the weight of the Matter . I must confess , the World may well wonder , that such a malicious Piece of pretended Protestantism should adventure with his frivolous objections so insinuatingly to bespatter the Learning and Integrity of those most worthy Patriots , that so highly deserve by their great Circumspection and Industry , from the whole Nation , and the Protestant Religion . But the Profession of true Protestantism being the most refin'd in the World , 't is no more then could be expected from a Maggot of that common Proverb , Corruptio optima est pessima . Whose whole Diabolical Design being onely to traduce ; and by traducing true worth and virtue , to assert the innocence of Trayterous Popery ; it cannot be thought , that reason and Loyalty will judge the better of the Lord Staffords Innocency ; because they behav'd themselves so nobly and renownedly in the prosecution of his Treasons . And thus you see the most Gigantic force and strength of his arguments for the injustice of the Lord Stafford being brought to the Block . A bold and audacious Recrimination upon the United Wisdom and Justice of the whole Kingdom . What such a foul-mouth'd Mr. Cover-Plot may deserve , I will not be so adventurous as to put the question : However , it is not to be doubted , but that all His Majesties most true and Loyal Protestant Subjects hope in time to see him duly rewarded according to his deserts . In the next place , he troubles the World with my Lords Principles of Truth and Loyalty . What does it concern us , what his Principles were , if his actions were otherwise ? Nor will Mr. Impartial easily perswade the World , That a Traitor in his actions could be Loyal in his Principles . The Sacred Lips of Christ himself hath taught us , that we must judg of the Tree by its Fruit. Cromwel , that committed that unparallell'd Murther of God's Anointed , was the most compleat Counterfeiter of outward Sanctity of any of his Time. So that the ridiculous account of my Lords Principles was most unseasonable and insignificant . As little to the purpose is that vain Recapitulation of the Cream of the Pa 〈…〉 Tenents . For that Religion can be no Religion , that has not some Tenents tending to 〈◊〉 and Morality ; but what signifies that ? We know the Rules of all the Popish Orders are very strict , and savouring of a most Seraphic Holiness ; yet none more generally wicked and dissolute then they that live under those Holy Vows . Even the Order of Jesus cannot exempt the professours of it from being the most pernicious of men . But Mr. Impartial , since you have been picking and culling the Strawberries of your Religion , what think you of the p 〈…〉 sonous Mandrake-Aples that follow ? Since you have politickly taken this oportunity , to sow the choisest of your Grain , on purpose to seduce and win the multitude ; I will take the boldness to throw a double quantity of you own Darnel Seed among it , to prevent the growth of it in the hear●s of the people . To which end I begin thus , That the Popish Religion is a scandal to all Europe , burlesqu'd and pasquin'd by those that daily behold the Foolleries and Debaucheries of its most Exalted Aaarns and High Priest . A Religion that maintains that inveterate , implacable and imbred hatred to Protestantism , contrary to the Character of Christianity , that the Instances of it in History would serve to compile a Volume . Read but the Lives of the Popes , and there you shall find a Progeny of Christs Vicars , and S. Peter Successors , as they call themselves , infamous for their Frauds , Perjuries , Blasphemies , lost Consciences , Buggeries , Defilements , and Prostitutions of their own Daughters , Adulteries , Poysonings , Atheism ; and in short , for all manner of Villany and Debauchery . And when the Fountains are so filthy and impure , Let the World judg what the Streams that flow from thence must be . Their Monasteries Sties of Bestialitie , their Nunneries Brothel-Houses . Their Doctrine , common principles , and practise the frequent Excommunications and Murders of Princes , the legallity of Equivocation and Perjury ; that there is no faith to be kept with Hereticks ; that libertie of Religion granted to Protestants is repugnant to the Law of God : that it is the duty of the Papists to destroy the Protestants , by Fire , Sword , Poyson , Gun-powder , or any other way most oportune . That there is no obligation or allegiance due to Heretical Magistrates and Princes . These are the singular and genuine Principles of Popery . Which they that will not believe , let 'em read the Works of Simancha , Conradus Brunus , Martin Becanus , Cardinal Baronius , Mariana Peter de Ouna , Creswel , Fresham , and the Decree of Vrban the 2d . That they should not be accounted Murtherers , that kill any of the Enemies of the Roman Ctholick Cahurch . And thus after a rambling , impertinent , Story of his Lordships behaviour , that looks like a piece of Romance enterlanded with Love-Letters , he brings his Lordship to the Scaffold , where he avers to the World three notorious Rappers , two of them in a Breath After a short pause he stept to one side of the Scaffold , and with a graceful Air and intelligible Voice pronounced his last Speech . A very graceful Air indeed , encourag'd and highten'd with stupifying , and therefore undaunted Inebriation , which the near Spectators well observ'd . However , this is as true as the next , that he pronounc'd his Speech , when they that were at a distance might easily perceive he read it every word ; and as they that stood by related , very fumblingly too . And indeed it could not be otherwise expected . For you know , Mr. Impartial , his Lordship was never accounted a Speech-maker in his Life ; and for a person under his circumstances , and of his mean parts , to read the sence of other men intelligibly , and with a graceful Air , is a thing more improbable then any of your absurdities . And therefore , Mr. Impartial , you must lay your stories closer together next time . But when the Head was held up by the Excutioner , what then ? The People made no acclamations at the sight . By which bloudy untruth so bloudily averr'd ; it is most plainly apparent what credit is to be given to all than Mr. Impartial has been clamouring all ●his while . It being apparent , that he who shall tell such a publick falshood so easie to be evinc'd , would never scruple to make a thousand wilful mistakes clandestinly . Surely , he was either deaf , or he had stopp'd his Ears with Plaister of Paris . For certainly such a number of people could never have fill'd the Skie with lowder shouts and hollows , unless they had had the Throats of Stentor himself . And therefore if there were any that went away with confusion and remorse , or cri'd him up for a just man , they were onely some of his own Gang , the Papistical Tribe , of Handcherchief-dippers . It seems there were others , that said , he was drunk with Brandy ; and then 't was no wonder his Air was so graceful indeed . Truly , Mr. Impartial , you had better have left that Remark out of your Memoirs , for now you put me in mind of it , 't was so reported , nay asserted , and by many still so believ'd : and indeed it is an an observation , most agreeable to your discription of his behaviour toward the people , and his intelligible pronunciation . And 〈…〉 I 'd this Famous Traitor , whose Cause if it were innocent , there was never such a mistake committed since Adam was expell'd the Garden of Eden . Which because it cannot be thought within the Verge of suspicion ▪ Therefore the Popish Plot remains a Popish Plot still ; The Lord Stafford remains a Traitor to Posterity ; The Evidence against him legal and unquestionable , and the Lord Staffords Memoirs not worth a straw . Post Mortem nulla Voluptas . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A58385-e490 ☞ To all Persons of true Integrity , whether this were not a holy cheat beyond guilding of shillings ? The one is but a breach of a single Statute , the other perverts the whole course of Justice , and scoffs at the whole Law of the Land. Yet these , and their Defenders , are they that would defame and perjure the Kings Evidence , that will not allow the King the Prerogative of his Mercy . These are They that exclaim'd against the ill Life and Conversation of Dr. Otes ; who if he were at any time guilty of those things wherewith they taxed him ; we know now from whence he learnt ' em .