A DISCOVERY OF One Shame more: Designed against three of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace For the County of Surrey.   depiction of vase of flowers 
Printed for Benj. took, 1681.   

A DISCOVERY OF One Shame more, etc.  
IT cannot but very much afflict the minds of all sober and good men, that Forgeries and Subornations have been of late so frequently practised that Perjury seems to become a Trade, which any indigent profligate man, who has nothing left but his Soul to dispose of, may as his last Refuge plausibly set up for. By the original Laws of Society, every man has such a Right to Truth, and his good Name, so long as he does nothing to forfeit it, is so much his Property, that it is an act of high Injustice for any one to endeavour by a false Accusation to deprive him of it. But of all Attempts of this kind none are of so pernicious consequence as those that are levelled against the Esteem and Reputation of persons of Quality and Magistrates, and thereby tend to weaken that Authority by which they are rendered useful and serviceable to the Public. This I have said in short, and without spinning it to the length of a solemn Preface, only to point the Reader to the Nature of what he is to expect in the following Papers, which contain a villainous Design laid to stab the Reputation of three of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey, and through their sides the Government itself; a Plot hatched by one who has since acknowledged himself to be a Rogue, and nursed up by others who are concerned to wipe off the just suspicion of their being such, which with some not uncharitable men they do at present lie under. I for my part shall do no more than the duty of an Historian, give you the Names and Characters of the persons concerned, set down matter of Fact, and publish Letters whose Originals I have by me to warrant it, with such necessary Connexion's, Transitions and Remarks as may give the Reader a clear Prospect of so much of the Contrivance as has as yet come to light: Which take as followeth.  
One John Fitz-Gerrald, an Irish man, and formerly a Romish Priest, professing himself to have forsaken the Errors and Superstitions of that Church, came into England upon pretence of making some Discovery concerning the Plot, which was said to be carrying on in Ireland by the Popish Faction, and was one of them who came to the Bar of the Honourable House of Commons, when divers other Irish men did upon the same Account there appear. This Fitz-Gerrald living here a considerable time without such supplies as it is probable he might expect, ran deeply in Debt to his Landlord for Diet and Lodging, and upon default of payment was arrested and imprisoned in the Marshalsea in Southwark. Some kind of Acquaintance it appears he had contracted, though by what means I know not, with Mr Sclater, Mr. Sylvester, Nonconformist Ministers, and other Separatists; from whom he received (upon what score I leave the Reader to judge) several Contributions at such seasons and in such measures as they thought fit. But whether his Allowance from them were too scanty, or was wholly withdrawn, certain it is, that having Acquaintance with one Mr. Isaac Cooper, formerly a Servant to Dr. Tongue, he wrote and sent to him the following Letter,  
Mr. Cooper.  
MY Confignement obstructs me to stir in my own Affairs; Wherefor I request you to procure some Loyal Majistrate unto whom I could confide to discover some impartant matters (satisfactory to the King and Country when revealed) on such reasonable Terms as I shall propose, I beseech you fail me not herein, but come to me with all convenient speed who; Am Sir  
Your very humble Servant John Fitz Gerrald. In the Marshalsea of Southwark, September the 21. 1681.  
I Need not prompt the Reader to take notice of his peculiar way of phrasing, viz. Loyal Magistrate and upon reasonable Terms; intimating plainly that he was inclinable to be on the Loyal side, if he might thereby procure his Enlargement or have other Encouragement; but that he would not discover any thing without hire.  
Well, this Letter was communicated to a Person of great Quality and by him transmitted to Mr. Reading, Mr. Daniel and Mr. Rich, Gentlemen of known Prudence and Integrity, and to whom as being not only in the Commission of the Peace for the County, but also living in the Neighbourhood, it was thought most proper to commit the business of taking his Information. Accordingly on Friday the last of September, they went to him in the Marshalsea, and showing him his Letter to Cooper, he owned it to be his Handwriting. Hereupon they asked him, whether he was ready to make any such Discovery, as he therein mentioned? He replied, It was not a seasonable time, because Sir James Butler kept Court there that day, and many people being about, great notice might be taken, which he desired might be avoided.  
What his private reason was, why he would have the taking of his Information concealed, they being Gentlemen more wisely tenacious than to divulge the matter to a Crowd, I leave the Reader the same freedom of guessing with myself; but this I know, that one of the Justices thereupon fairly told him, that he would do well to take his own time and draw up what he had to discover in writing under his own hand at his leisure, and they would come any other time thate he would appoint to receive it, Their condescension herein he seemed very much to admire and prayed that it might be the Monday following. But before their going away Fitz-Gerald began to speak faintly concerning Dr. Tongue, ●that he could discover something of him; but says he again presently, correcting himself, he is dead, and why should I be believed of him? He added further, that he could give an account of his coming from Dunkirk, and who they were that sent him● into Ireland about the Letters in the Wall. Upon this the Justices said to him, Mr. Fitz-Gerald, Draw up in writing what you can discover, but withal be careful you charge no man wrongfully, Remember there is a day appreaching wherein we must all give an account of our do and say.  
Thus you see, they treated him with a Can●or becoming Gentlemen and a sense of Religion befitting Divines, for which he himself thanked 'em and repeated his request, that they would come again on Monday following, by which time his Information should be ready; upon which they took leave of him. But as they were going down stairs, he begged of them for the Lords sake to pity his poor condition and give him some relief for he was ready to starve. To which when Mr. Daniel replied, that though they commiserated his condition and would give order to Mr. Lowman the keeper of the Prison, ● that he should not be famished, yet they thought it not proper to give him any Money. Fitz-Gerald said, Do you think, Gentlemen, if you should bestow your Charity I should tax you for subornation? and Mr. Daniel replied again, we will not trust you.  
But before I go on directly to the matter, 'tis necessary I make only a short digression thereby to give the Reader some light into the story of the Wall, which he may collect from the following Deposition of Mr. Cooper before Justice Warcup in the presence of three Witnesses.  

The Information of Isaac Cooper late Servant to Dr. Tonge deceased, taken upon Oath.  
Middx. ss.  
I Do hereby acknowledge, and am willing to depose upon Oath, that when I asked Mr. John Fitz-Gerald who they were, who promoted his going for Ireland to discover those Papers he pretended were Concealed in the Wall of the Convent of Galbally; He replied, He would discover the Contrivers, and mentioned my L. of E. Sir W. W. and my Lady R. [their Names are at length in the Original] and that it was a mere Contrivance. In witness I subscribe my hand  
Isaac Cooper. Jurat. 31 die Octobris 1681. cor. me Edmond Warcupp.   
Let the Reader hereupon make what judgement he pleases concerning Fitz-Gerald's veracity, I return to the place where I left off. The Justices having parted with him in the manner before-related, not without expectation of some Discoveries he would make on Monday; He, instead of drawing up any Information, in probability the same day contrived, but manifestly on the next day sent two Letters, one to a Person whom he calls Madam Jordan, with another enclosed to Mr. Slater a Nonconformist Minister, which are as followeth,  
October the first, 1681. Madame Jordane  
I Have to let you understand that since you honoured me with your last visit, I have been put to a very great Terror, For yesterday here were three Justices of the Peace with me to put me to A plunge A bout my Correspondency with the Reverend Dr. Tonge, deceased, propounded many questions to me of him, And others, and promised if I should reflench from my Testimony of the Popish Plott, And help to accuse the protestants with it they would have released me from my Imprisonment, And likewise procure A pardon from the King, And continual Maintenance. But when I told them that I had no more to say to that matter then what I have Already declared to the King, Council, And Parliament, And they said in Answer to that that I should deeply repent for not Imbraceing their proffer for I should be Compelled by other means to Answer to their expections. And thereupon they said that they would Come on monday next, which Cannot be Immadgined how dreadful it is to me; therefore I would humbly request you to show these lines to Mr. Slater, Mr. Sylluester And others to see if they Can procure me my Liberty speedily that I may shelter myself from their hands of Cruelty which I expect no l●tter from them therefore I request most humbly that if pity or mercy be in the hearts of any Christians to let me Meet with it for otherwise my Life is like to be made a sacrifice for the protestant Cause, for God's sake dear Lady Let me hear speedily from if any Christian be to be had for now it would be very seasonable, Madam I am almost starved for want of foods, let not the Bearer know the Contents of this letter which is now all from your faithful friend until death,  
 
I pray deliver the Enclosed to Mr. Slater.  
John Fitz Gerrald.  
I desire to be heartily remembered to Mr. Jordane, not forgetting your sweet self and the virtuous Lady that was with you here last.  
Reverend Mr. Slater,  
I Have sent you to Acquaint with my distress about 12 days a go, In hopes of your Charitable Commiseration, But I am now under very difficult Circumstances then ever I was therefore Sir I pray pity me if you Judge it fit, for I am Almost famished, And likewise Afraid of my life, I do humbly Crave your Answer by Madam Jordane unto whom I writ of my Circumstance more att large which is all att present from Sir  
8 beris die p ●. 8 1. Your very humble Servant, John Fitz Gerrald.  
Who this Madam Jordan is I know not, nor have any acquaintance with Mr. Slater; but 'tis manifest that they were both known to him, that they had given him hopes of procuring his Liberty, and that he thought the most likely way to prevail with them to expedite that Affair was to make dismal Outcries of the danger he might pretend to be in for the Protestant Cause; and to blacken the Reputation of these three Loyal Magistrates. For, when he had been so ingenuously and fairly dealt with by these Gentlemen, what else should move this Caitiff immediately to load with so many Reproaches Persons of such unspotted Integrity as they are? Did ever any professed Actor upon a Stage alter the Muscles of his Face, or counterfeit a turn of his humour, in less time than this man tacked about his Conscience? No sooner were their Backs turned upon him, but he wracked his Invention to fasten the greatest infamy in the World upon them. But his Liberty was that which he aimed at, and as it appears he was resolved to be a Protestant on their side, who should accept the service of his Conscience to make a Purse for the procuring it. Now I appeal to all men who have any Reputation left them to lose, whether they are not concerned to express a just detestation of all such palpable and pernicious Forgeries, and of all those that countenance them? Who can be secure of his Credit, if it shall be in the power of a fellow who will sell his Soul for 20 l. and fresh Air, to impair it? But I am confident the honest Reader's Indignation at such foul practices will outgo any words which I can use to express mine by. To proceed therefore,  
Fitz-Gerald, whether his consciousness of having injured these Gentlemen in so high a manner did really strike that terror into him, which he only pretended in his Letter; or whether he flattered himself with hopes that if he could carry it cleverly on both sides, he should gain his Releasement by one means or other; whatever his Reason was, he endeavoured to decline the Visit of these Gentlemen, upon some slight pretences mentioned in the following Letter, which he wrote to Mr. Rich on the third of October, the day he appointed for the Justice's coming to take his Information. The Letter was in these words:  
Worshipful Sir,  
Having Considered since you were here last, of several inconveniencies: that I may be made subject to by your Appearing here this day according to Appointment, Impediates me in showing myself in it so publicly, for it is not to be Immadgined what notice was taken of three Justices to Come to me of a Court day and it renders me very suspicious: therefore I thought fit to request you not to Come hither: but to Some Tavern, or private place heard by which will be more Convenient then to Come to this public place where I am exposed to the Censure of all persons here I am Certain Mr. Lowman will upon your word let me wait of you only sending your man with a note to him requesting the same, And also Ashureing him of my safe return, Sir Moreover I have to let you understand that though I desired to speak with your Worship by the Correspondency you were pleased to Create with me thorough the means of Mr. Cooper I did not send for two Justices more Neither shall either speak or write before any person, or persons, but you, and one more that may be a witness on both sides: which if you are pleased to yield to, And to the place of Meeteing above proposed I shall wait of you with all humility, therefore Sir be pleased to let me hear your Answer herein, And I shall Continue  
Die 30 8 bris, Anno Domini 1681. Worshipful Sir, Sir your most humble Servant John Fitz Gerrald.  
Mr Rich himself having very well replied to this Letter, I think myself not concerned to make any Remarks upon it, but shall insert the the Reply as it was penned by him, after I have told the Reader that Mr. Rich having extraordinary business that kept him from home that day, both miss of the Letter, and failed in the meeting, but that the other two Justices, Mr Reading and Mr. Daniel, not knowing of any such Letter sent to Mr. Rich, went to Fitz-Gerald and asked him if his Information were ready; To whom he answered, It was not, neither would he be examined by them; carrying himself very rudely and insolentiy towards them. Mr. Rich's Answer to Fitz-Gerrald the next morning was this,  
October the 4th. 1681. Mr. Fitz-Gerrald,  
I Came home Late last night, and found your Letter directed to me, which surprises me in several points, and makes me jealous, that you are employed by the Jesuits to do His Majesty and His Subjects Hurt, rather than any Good.  
When Mr. Reading, Mr. Daniel, and myself were with you on Friday last, it was occasioned by your Letter to one Mr. Cooper, (whom we neither have seen or heard of, until you declared who he is) In which you desired to communicate to some Loyal Magistrate important matters to the service of the King and Country. But when we were with you, we thought it not convenient to ask you any Questions; but advised you in the fear of God, to do no man wrong, but faithfully and truly to draw up in Writing, what you had to discover, without respect of persons; which you promised should be ready against Monday at four in the afternoon. But by your Letter to me, you would insinuate, as if you were in some danger, and do therefore desire, I would correspond with you only. I do here declare, That in case you have any thing to be made known by way of Information, I will not take it, but in the presence of some one or more Justices of the Peace. For I pray where lies any danger for you to reveal the truth? which we did most seriously admonish you to do. As for sending for you to a Tavern, or other private place, I am against that; I am for doing all things above-board. And therefore if you have any Jealousy, make your discovery to some other Justices. We sought not the Employment.  
You are very bold to say in your Letter, I have created Correspondency with you through the means of Cooper; I knew neither of you, nor ever heard of him, or of you, further than at the Commons Bar; Therefore this seems to me at first Sight to be a Popish Sham-trick. Sir, In case you think fit to draw up any thing which is just and true, by way of Information, and which as you said, should have concurrent Testimony with it; if you send for any other Justice of the Peace I'll assist him if there be occasion; but to do it alone with you, or to make Terms, as Cooper 's Letter you sent him has it, I'll have nothing to do with you. An honest man does not make bargains to speak truth; You must apply yourself to some persons, that are more zealous for Subornation, for I abominate the practice: and therefore expect not to correspond with me.  
Yours P r. Rich.  
I have desired Mr. Lowman to read this Letter with you; Do you satisfy him in what one thing I have had any Correspondency with you or with your Cooper, To which I expect your Answer.  
Mr. Lowman having read this Letter with Fitz-gerrald, presently asked Fitz-gerrald whether he could charge Mr. Rich, or either of the other Justices that came to examine him, with any Correspondency held with him, or any dealing or tampering? He replied, no, he could not; but said he would write an Answer to this Letter, and appeared very angry that it should be sent unsealed, and Mr. Lowman be desired to read it.  
This Mr. Rich did on purpose to show that he would have nothing to do with him privately and without Witness, which was what himself desired in his Letter; but Mr. Lowman it seems was not a Witness of that sort which he intended, and from thence arose his passion upon a circumstance which so ill comported with his design. For not only from hence, but also from a clause in the conclusion of his foregoing Letter to Madam Jordan, wherein he desires her not to let the Bearer know the Contents of it; from both put together, I say, it is clear that he intended to hold a Correspondency, as he calls it, that is, covertly to treat with his dissenting Acquaintance and with some Loyal Magistrate at the same time, that so he might feel which of the two would bid highest to make a Discoverer on their side. But these honest Gentlemen, you see, refused to give him the least encouragement of any Reward of any kind, but only according to their Duty shown themselves ready at his own time to receive any such Information as he should voluntarily and without a Bribe give in to them. Whereas on the other side, this Letter which contained such black Calumnies upon three Gentlemen whom he says to be Justices of the Peace, though he craftily conceals their Names, was cherished by Madam Jordan and Mr. Slater; and though they were bound by the Laws of Justice and Charity to have conveyed this Letter forthwith to some Magistrate whom they might expect to be so well-affected to the Government, and so tender of the Reputation of Gentlemen, as instantly to have went to Fitz-Gerrald, and learned from him who these Justices were, and then have communicated the Letter to them, that if they were innocent they might have a speedy opportunity to vindicate themselves; instead of this, they shown the Letter about to their own Friends and Confidents only, who made frequent Transcriptions of it, and long brooded upon it. Nay, to show how willing they were to believe, or how much concerned to have the Letter true, by order from the superior Juncto, a Committee of four persons, viz. M Jordan, Mr. Parkhurst a Bookseller, one Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Evans at the Bridg-foot in Southwark, on the 13th of October went to him in the Marshalsea, to know if he would abide by that Letter, and satisfy them who the Justices were which he accused therein; and upon Fitz-gerrald's owning all the Contents of it, and naming the Justices he meant in it, 'tis more than probable he received from them Promises of Enlargement, as appears by the following Letters written to Mr. Parkhurst and Madam Jordan.  
In the Marshalseas of Southwark October the 17th. 1681. Mr. Parkurst,  
SIR, I humbly desire you would be pleased to let me hear from you the Accounts of your proceed in my Affairs as to, the getting my Liberty for me, Sir if I speak either Impertinent or Impurtunat be pleased to impute it to my Tedious and distressed Imprisonment, And Madam Jordan, And you are all the friends, or dependency I have, And being very destitude of any relief for so long a time As that I am very Cold by reason that I am very Bare Clad, dear Sir, Therefore I pray Commiserat me if you have got any thing for my present relief I beseech you send it to me; and I desire you would write to me by the bearer which is all att present with my best wishes to your sweet self, And Madam Jordane, I remain Sir  
Your very humble Servant, John Fitz Gerrald.  
In the Marshalseas of Southwark, October the 19th. 1681. Madam Jordane,  
AND dear friend I am every Minute longing to hear the evint of your proceed with Mr. Parcurt and the rest of your friends In your efficatious prevaileings for takeing me out of this miserable place, As I may In several respects call it; whereof the first And Chiefest respect is: that I am every day troubled with the enemies of the Protestant Cause, tempting me to disowne what I have Affirmed before the King, Council, And Parliament; And not only tempting me but also Treatening if I do not disowne it. It shall be worse for me. For they Tell me; they will Compel me to do it, therefore I say it would prove prudence, And Charity In these friends that were with you when here last, to procure me my Liberty, prudence for the forgoeing reason, and Charity for the premises Considered I Am All most starved, for both Cold, And distresses, And allsoe much reflected upon by reason of those evil spirits that haunts me here, as I gave you an Account of: Mr. Lowman told me no Longer ago than this Morning, that if I do not take a speedy Course to get my Libertee, And pay him what I own him, he would turn me to the Common side where if I go I shall Certainly Perish, to prevent which, And other Inconveniencies I have no other hopes but your sweet self, And your friends. Therefore I beseech you let me hear from you and them speedily, for fear of being surprised unawarse And as I have proven hitherto Stable And steadfast to my Testimony, and profession without relapsing or reflenging upon the Account of it, I humbly desire, And request you and all that are professors, and real Lovers of true Christianity, And Charity, not to suffer me to ley under this grievous burden no Longer, for I am not able to bear it any more, therefore let religion, be made manifest by faith, And faith by works In such a measure, As that I may have no reason to stumble but stick Close to my Took as ever I have done since I came to England, which is all from your loveing friend and humble servant as I may  
John Fitz Gerrald.  
I pray Madam be pleased to Answer me speedily, for Godsake Consider my Condition And my heavy grievances that I lie under for the protestant Cause which otherwise I need not. I earnestly desire to be remembered to Mr. Jordane, And Mr. Reeves, And to the Laydies both that were with you here Mr. Reeves was here on Sunday night And left me a Note of Directions where I might Correspond with him but very unhapily I lost the Not, And I request you to send me an other, but Dear Madam I pray fail not In Answering this, or I know not what mischief may In sue if you 〈◊〉 not.  
In the Marshalseas of Southwark, October the 21st, 1681. Mr. Parcurst,  
SIR, I was In great hopes of my Liberty, when I seen you had A hand in It, But I begin to despair of it by reason of your delays, And I am Certain if you had stured In it, It had been done since you were hear last, but happily you will say you durst not meddle In it But Alas? Notwithstanding the great profession of Religion that several persons makes yet I Can not meet with such another sufferer Amongst you all as myself for I have Left a Certain Maintenance And being I have Incurred the displeasure of my relations and Parent, I have Exposed my life to A dangerous Circumstances att sundry times And occations, for the Protestant Cause. And now I suffer a Tedious Imprisonment, and several heavy distresses which I can Lawfully say I had no need to suffer as I do, had it not been for the Cause Above mentioned, and I am not Certain that many Persons who, professeth great matters would suffer the tenth part of what I have done, so that I see Cleerly that they do not mean as they do profess these Complaints Cannot well be taken amiss of me, Considering the reason I have to speak them. Alias? what danger Cann there Ensue In Conferring with other well affected persons About my business Therefore let me not be blinded with such excuses for it is Impossible to make them pass Currant with me, Sir, I am heartily Sorry that I met with such occations, as to provoke me to these expressions but if you thoroughly consider all, you Cannot blame me, for God sake take Notice of these few lines and allsoe of my distress; And Let me know if you be Inclined to do me a kindness And let me hear your Answer to a prisoner, And Sir your  
very humble Servant, John Fitz-Gerrald.  
Mr. Parcust,  
SIR, I writ to you the Last week and would not now trouble you but that I am very unwell, And have no more hopes of Relief, And with much 〈…〉 prevailed with the Bearer who is Steward of this Marshalseas to Carry this Note to you I promised him you would pay him which I humbly request you to do Sir I beseech you pity my sickly And distressed Conclusion And allsoe let me know if there was any thing done as to my releesement which is all at present from  
your very humble Servant John Fitz-Gerrald. In the Marshalseas of Southwark 8 ber, the 24th 1681.  
Will not any man who reads these Letters conclude that he apprehended himself to have got a Hank upon them, as having received great assurances of his liberty from them upon conditions which he thought they would be unwilling to have divulged? For he seems now not so much to crave as to demand their Charity, and his Letter is plainly begging and menacing party per pale. For what can he be thought to design by those expressions, in that to Madam Jordan, of efficacious prevailings, and it would prove Prudence, and his fear of being surprised unawares, and his desire of having no reason to stumble; and his knowing not what mischief might ensue; and in one of those to Mr. Parkhurst of the great profession of Religion which several persons make, and his seeing clearly that they do not mean as they profess, and that he must not be blinded with such excuses; how, I say, can all this in the connexion wherein it stands in his Letters be otherwise plainly englished than thus, Sir and Madam, you know very well, that you and others your Friends have been practising with me, and encouraging me to persist in my groundless accusations of the three Justices, and have made me promises of procuring my Liberty if I would not reflench from my Testimony. My Conscience indeed you did at first with a small Fee retain, but I find daily more and more that you are, what you delight to call yourselves, Professors, and nothing else. And therefore I advise you to consider that mortal man, as you know, is frail, and that if you do not speedily get me released, I may possibly be surprised, and be apt to stumble, and think myself obliged to tell the whole truth of the matter.  
Though this Representation may seem somewhat comical, yet that the substance of it was the real apprehension of the persons concerned is clear from hence, that Mr. Parkhurst was so terrified at the consideration of these Letters, that he thought it not safe to conceal the matter any longer; but looking upon it to be his best way to cry Whore first, he applies himself to one Mr. Farthing, an ancient Inhabitant of the Burrow of Southwark, who had long had the honour of being known to these three Justices, and who though he be an avowed Presbyterian, is yet, I verily believe, a man morrally honest. To him Mr. Parkhurst communicated all the foregoing Letters sent by Fitz-Gerrald to himself and others; upon the reading of which Mr. Farthing said to him in his plain way, Mr. Parkhurst, do not believe these things, but rather acquaint the Justices with them, and hear what they can say in their defence. Accordingly it was agreed upon, and in a day or two after Mr. Farthing accompanied Mr. Parkhurst to Justice Reading, who upon perusing all the Letters, told them that there was not a word of truth in them so far as concerned the Justices; and for their fuller satisfaction he proposed that himself with the other two Justices his Brethren might go at the same time with Mr. Parkhurst and his Friends to the Prison, where he doubted not but they would soon be convinced of their Correspondent's Knavery. Hereupon on Friday the 28th of October, the Justices with most of the other persons mentioned in these Papers, met at the Marshalsea Prison, where Mr. Reading spoke to Mr. Fitz-Gerrald to this purpose.  
Mr. Fitz-Gerrald, you know that about a Month ago, we who are the three Justices here, were with you to take your Information, upon a Letter you had directed to one Mr. Cooper. The Letter you did acknowledge to be your Handwriting. Now I ask you, when we were with you, did we direct or threaten you to what you should say? Did we put any Questions to you? Did we not advise you to speak truth, and accuse no man wrongfully? Bade you remember that God is the God of Truth, and that there is a day of Account approaching? Did we not tell you, our Desire was that you should draw up your Information yourself in Writing, and appoint your own time it should be ready at, and at that time we would return to you? Did you not appoint the Monday following, four o'Clock in the Afternoon to be the time? Were not Mr. Daniel and myself with you at that time? And did you not tell us you had not drawn your Information, neither would you be examined by us? Did you not say you had created a Correspondency with Mr. Rich, and to him you would give your Information? Did we not thereupon tell you, that you might have done well to have saved us this Labour? For the time we were all with you, did you not say we were all strangers to you, which made you so shy of us? Now that your Friends are come hither on purpose to be truly informed, give them a satisfactory account of the matter, and tell them the whole Truth.  
Fitz-Gerrald 〈◊〉 pausing a while, and then said that he did not mean these three Justices, but others whom Cooper told him of. But he was soon con●u●ed in that, for those four persons , who went on the 13th of October to inform themselves therein, testified that he named Reading, Daniel and Rich to be the three Justices he meant in his Letter. Furthermore Mr. Cooper himself having heard that there was to be at that time a meeting in the Marshalsea concerning Fitz-Gerrald, came thither, and being asked whether he had seen, heard of, or conversed with any of these Justices, he answered in the Negative; and proceeded to say, that it was true he had visited Mr. Fitzgerald upon the score of a former acquaintance contracted while he was Dr. Tong's Servant; and being with y●u, says he, applying his Discourse to Mr. Fitz-gerrald, you know I said thus to you, Sir, I am sorry to see you in this condition, and you made Answer, Never worse. Then said I. Mr. Fitz-Gerrald, you can discover a great deal of the Plot, for you was very conversant with my Master Tonge; was I in your stead I would 〈◊〉 what I knew, for that might be the means to get you out of Prison; you made me this Answer, that it was the joyfullest News you had heard since you came into Prison; and afterwards you wrote the Letter to me (viz. that mentioned in the foregoing part of this Narrative) wherein you desired to be examined. Fitz-Gerrald did not deny any thing that Cooper had said; but being then called upon to give an Answer to what Justice Reading had questioned him about, he acknowledged that what he had said or written of the Justices was all false, and that he had groundlessly aspersed and traduced them. Hereupon a Gentleman there present asked him, Why did you abuse the Justices in such a wicked manner, as to write that vile Letter wherein you say, they would have had you to reflench from your Testimony of the Popish Plot, and help to accuse the Protestants with it; for which they would release you, procure a Pardon from the King, and continual maintenance? To which He confidently replied, He hoped thereby his Friends would have got him speedily discharged. Upon this bold Answer, one of the Justices said to Mr. Slater and the other persons there, Gentlemen from this foul dealing, I suspect that the man is a Popish Priest still; therefore, pray, says he to Fitz-Gerrald, Tell us what Religion you are of. To which he answered, I am a true Protestant. The Justices having put all the Questions they thought needful in order to clear themselves, desired Mr. Slater, Mr. Sylverster or any other there, to put what Questions they pleased for their better satisfaction. But answer was made they were hearty sorry that they had believed so much as they had done, and were very sensible from Fitz-Gerrald's Letters to one and the other, and from what they heard from his own mouth, that he had been greatly abusive; of which they would acquaint their Friends.  
For once to strain a courtesy, I will make bold in the names of these Justices to thank you, Gentlemen; but certainly you do not think that by such a faint pretence you have made sufficient amends for concealing so long from them, and yet whispering privately among your own Party such foul aspersions cast upon them. Pray Mr Slater, Mr. Sylvester, and the rest of you be pleased to disperse yourselves to your usual haunts, the Amsterdam Coffeehouse, Richards, Bruens, etc. and having got your wont select Congregations about you, declare plainly to them after the following manner. Truly Sirs, we have, as you know, for a considerable time entertained and propagated an ill opinion of three of the King's Magistrates, upon the account of a Letter which you have often seen▪ or heard mentioned by us; but finding ourselves for certain private reasons lately obliged to inquire into the matter, and looking upon those Gentlemen in a good light, we find their Reputations spotless, and that they are persons perfectly innocent of any such things as we told you were laid to their charge. Therefore as our bounden duty is, we make this Declaration to disabuse you, and right them, ask God and those Gentlemen forgiveness; and not only resolving for our own part, but advising you our Friends, not to be forward to believe or disperse scandalous Imputations laid against persons in Authority for the future. This till you have done, I must tell you that you remain deeply in arrears to those Justices; and you will still stand indebted to them for their generosity, if they accept of this as satisfaction.  
That what I have said concerning Fitz-Gerrald's clearing these Justices of the Imputations he before laid upon them, is true, will be fully confirmed by the following Letter written with his own hand to Mr. Reading the very next day after these passages.  
In the Marshalseas of Southwark 8ber the 29th. 1681. Honoured Sir,  
IT doth not little grieve me that I should upon Any Account give you such grounds of harbouring an opinion of falsity of me, But I am not Able to make a satisfactory apology In my own vindication, But Sir finding your tender And Charitable Construction of my unseemly proceed as yesternight debated, And Censured of me Accordingly, but I do intent with God's permission as I shall though not now, give your Worship an ampler Account how it came to pass that I should render myself so oprobious. And ridiculous upon Record; as I am so looked upon, but Sir, I have no more to pen att present as to that effect, but the Lord of his Infinite goodness remit you, and yours in the measure that you, and that I find you are Inclinable, to pass such things, and Sir, by it I am made very miserable, as to my present Condition I was never worse, I therefore most humbly request you to show me somewhat of your good sympathy And so far as to Consider that I am in the deplorablest distress that ever I was redust to for I have no manner of relief nor no person to Commiserat me, so that I am almost starved, therefore Sir be pleased to relieve In Charity, which is all from ever  
Your most humble Servant, John Fitz-Gerrald.  
You see here that Fitz-Gerrald does in his way ask of Mr. Reading the Charity of Forgiveness and Alms at once; and I dare be bold to affirm that there is no Gentleman in Christendom more ready to grant both than Herald  
I have now done my story; the matter of Fact I have reported truly, and as occasion offered I have remarked impartially; designing not to forestall or prepossess the Readers Judgement, but only to save him the trouble of deducing inferences himself, by directing his thoughts to that which naturally follows from the several occurrences contained in this Narrative. I would not have the Reader think that I have employed so much Paper and Ink merely to prove a beggarly Irishman to be a bad Evidence. Alas! Fitz-Gerrald is a little forfeited wretch, ready at any time to mortgage his Soul to Feed and  his Body. But here were Loyal Gentlemen and Magistrates defamed, and they ought to be vindicated: and here were men of high pretences to Religion that secretly abetted and encouraged the foul aspersions thrown upon them, and their practices ought to be detected. I am a man in whom of all passions incident to Humane Nature, Anger is least predominant; and for that reason possibly these Justices may con me little thanks for representing the Fact so calmly and indifferently, when it afforded such plentiful matter for satire. But the meekest man upon earth cannot but express his resentments, that persons who appropriate to themselves the Name of TRUE PROTESTANTS should act thus contrary to the Rules of Old Heathen Honesty: That a person in Public Office should on the last Lord Mayor's Day, when a Gentleman offered to tell him how three Justices his Neighbours had like to have been ensnared by an Irishman, reply quick upon him, Sir, I can sure you the thing is true, and it is sworn upon them, and neither Justice Reading, Justice Rich, or Justice Daniel, Shall be able to wipe it off from them as long as they live; and, to conclude, that they who so loudly decry Irish Evidence when their own Friends are concerned, should yet so willingly receive and embrace Fitz Gerrald's Testimony against Gentlemen placed in Authority by His Majesty.  
FINIS.