THE KING'S Evidence VINDICATED, AS TO THE IMPUTATION OF PERJURY.  
In a LETTER to a Friend.  
Honoured Sir,  
IT is not so much a regard unto your Commands, which is great, as Loyalty unto my King, and Zeal for the Protestant Religion, that compels me, in short, to give you my thoughts concerning the Validity of Mr. Dangerfield's Evidence, according to the account I have received of it. You mention his Felonies and Perjuries, as reason sufficient to engage the Wise and Judicious to neglect all that Evidence he hath given in concerning the Popish Plot; for, say you, if such a Villain may be credited in matter of Life and Death, what honest man can be secured either of his Estate or Life?  
Sir, there is much seeming strength of Argument in what you suggest; and had there not been more real strength of Reason to overbalance it, I would submit. But since it may be made with the greatest clearness to appear, That notwithstanding all this, Mr. Dangerfield's Evidence may be as good as that of any Papist, whether a continued Bigot to that Superstition, or one who hath abandoned the abominations of that sort of people; I cannot but presume to be free in the Communications of my thoughts: which I the rather do, because His Majesty's Life and the Protestant Religion are so much concerned herein.  
I say, that notwithstanding the Felonies and Perjuries you suggest that Mr. D. may have been guilty of; I assert, that his Evidence is as good as that of any other Papist whatsoever, that hath shown himself a thorough Papist, that is, a vile Traitor to a Protestant (which they term Heretical) King.  
1. That his Felonies cannot make his Evidence less evident than that of the Papists, is demonstratable to such as shall but consider, that if a greater and more heinous Crime than that of Felony cannot Invalidate the Evidence of such an one, then surely, Felony, the lesser Crime cannot. But a greater Crime than Felony, namely, High-Treason against His Majesty's Sacred Life (of which Hellish Diabolical Treasons, most English Papists, but in special all the Discoverers of the Plot have been guilty), cannot spoil the Testimony of such; for should High-Treason, that is a Crime that deserves the backest title, Invalidate the Evidence of a Reforming, Repenting-Traytor', the worst of Rogues may escape the just severity of our Laws, and the best of Princes be exposed to the merciless Rage of the vilest of Traitors; And if this great Transgression, that is inconsistent with all the Rules of Christian Religion, cannot after a Pardon spoil the Evidence, How is it that Felony, the less (though an odious) evil should? I hate Felony with my very Soul, but I hate a Traitor much more so.  
But the great thing that sticks, is Perjury. To which I offer, that though I know not whether Mr. D. hath been Convicted as a Perjurer; yet be it so, this cannot Invalidate his Evidence, any more than the Evils of a like nature, in the which the Plotting- Papists have fully involved themselves. For let it be but duly considered, and you'll find that the true Reason why Perjury should weaken his Evidence, is because a Perjured person is supposed to be one who hath so far debauched his Conscience, and razed out of his Soul the Characters of Truth, that 'tis become impossible he should be ever a true man for the future. To which I answer.  
1. Sincere Repentance is not in this case impossible; Perjury, for certain, is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost, neither is it embowelled with Final Unbelief and Impenitence; whence if you can but find the Characters of a sincere Penitent on Mr. D. our Church, though it had Excommunicated him, would have given him his Absolution, whereby he would have been fit for our Communion; and for which reason, all his old Sins, even his Perjury must be blotted out of our Remembrance. And can all this be, and his Testimony for the King an idle thing? But,  
2. Supposing Mr. D. a Perjured person, yet nothing more certain than that he hath not prostituted himself more to lies than the Papists, nor debauched his Conscience more than the other Plotters have done. For,  
1. Do we not know that the Popish Religion is but a heap of Lies? What is it composed of, if not of Equivocations, Mental Reservations, Lies, Falsehoods, Perjuries, & c? I must be plain, and assure you, that I scruple more the Evidence of a Real Papist, that I do of a Perjured Protestant: And my Reasons are these. A Perjured Protestant doth never Swear falsely, but 'tis contrary to his principle, and may be the product of but a present temptation, of which he may soon repent; and because of the gripes of his awakened Conscience, like the burnt child dread the fire of such a sin; but the Papists principles, are to Lie, Equivocate, and Swear falsely, taking the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, even when they are resolved for Treason against His Majesty, which they do without any rebukes of Conscience; or if any are so squeamish, as to boggle at it, 'tis but to scour their Kettle, confess and receive Absolution, and all is well; yea they may have Dispensations, and what not.  
2. It must be also remembered, that if Perjury will Invalidate Mr. D's. Evidence, what Plotting Papists Evidence, after the greatest remorse can be good? Are not all that are engaged in this devilish Plot Sworn to the greatest secrecy? yea with greater and more awful Solemnities, than the kissing the Bible; and if they discover, are they not all apparently perjured, if not according to the formality of our Law, yet as really and truly? Which being so, you may see how dangerous 'tis to neglect Mr. Dangerfield's Evidence, for the same thing being pleadable against the rest, we are all an undone people; for if the past Perjury of honest penitents will Invalidate their future Testimonies, what encouragement is this to the remaining plotters to make any further Discoveries? of what use is His Majesty's Proclamation? and how are the past Plotters animated to go on, being confident that none without Perjury can discover them? whereby there is no possible guarding against the Papists plottings, nor no bringing them to condign punishment: All which tends to the ruin of His Majesty, the loss of our Religion, the destruction of our Liberties and Lives.  
But since 'tis as sure as that the Sun shines at Noonday, that there is a Popish Plot, which hath been detected by admirable Providences; 'tis also as certain, that such as have been Perjured, have spoken true; that is, they have been by an overruling Power engaged to repent of their devilish Treasons, their vile Perjuries, etc. and are become honest and true men, good Protestants and Loyal Subjects, expiating their past Treasons by enduring, and a patiented bearing great Discouragements in their steadfast adhering to the Truth. We have seen, that if these Germane Dogs would have been drawn aside by such Crusts as Popish Preferments, Thousands of pounds, etc. or driven from an Owning the Truth by such Menaces and Threats as have attended them, as the being Godfredized or Arnoldized, and the like, we might not have one man to give in Evidence against the Lords in the Tower, etc.  
I had almost forgot to desire you to make a free Intimation of your mind, concerning what are the Qualifications you expect should be found in a Popish Plotter, who designs nothing less than the burning Cities, depopulating Countries, destroying Protestant Kings; What manner of persons must such be? what! must they fear an Oath, or a Lie? what! is there no Evil in Murder, and Treason, and the Torturing of thousands of Innocents'? What! are all these things little things in comparison of Perjury? or can you in your Conscience imagine, that such as are men of principles bloody enough to engage in all these Cruelties, are yet afraid of a Lie, or of a false Oath? Sir, I do verily believe there are none fit for these detestable Treasons, unless they can Perjure themselves over and over; yea, and that there are many who can exercise their Tongues in Cursing and Damning themselves and others, yea perjure themselves again and again, who yet could not imbrue their hands in the Blood of Kings, and Thousands of Innocents'. Let not past perjury then be so formidable a thing to stagger your Faith concerning a Plot, whose Being hath been discovered with so much Evidence and Conviction to all that hear on't.  
I beseech you therefore, that you'll consider how you neglect the Evidence of such men, who once were perjured Popish, and false Traitors, but are now honest, good and loyal Protestants, whose Evidences hath been most miraculously brought to light, and confirmed, to the astonishment of all considering and thinking men, both at home and abroad. I need not beg your pardon, since if you are a Protestant, as I know you are, you cannot but approve of the Zeal of him, who is,  
Yours,   

London, Printed for R. Janeway in Queens-head-Alley in Paternoster-Row, 1680