THE Shammer Shamm'd: In a Plain DISCOVERY, Under Young TONG'S Own Hand, OF A Design to Trepann L'ESTRANGE Into a Pretended Subornation against the POPISH PLOT. By Roger L'Estrange. LONDON, Printed for Joanna Brome at the Sign of the Gun in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1681. The Shammer Shamm'd. etc. IT is no new thing for L'Estrange to be Baited by the Mercenary Agents of a Seditious, and Schismatical Faction; and 'tis hard to say, whether the Scurrilous Libels, or the Obscure Authors of them be the more Contemptible: But yet this is a Case, wherein I cannot; either with Honour, Safety, or with Good Discretion be Silent. In short; There is a Knot of Little Fellows (but under the Government of better Heads) that are now at work to Revive the Old Story of my Tampering with Young Tonge, to Invalidate Oates' Evidence; and Several Lies and Scandals are Printed in favour of that Imposture. My Purpose in these Papers is, in the first place, to lay open, the Notorious Falsehood, and Malice of this Practice. And 2 lie, to prove that very Design, which is charged UPON me, to be managed AGAINST me. It will not be amiss to Inform the Reader by the way, that in October, 1680. Upon two full hear before his Majesty and Council (in despite of all that Oats could say, and Tong Swear against me) I had the Honour to be twice acquitted by the Unanimous Judgement of the whole Board: The Particulars of which Proceedings may be seen in a Dialogue under the Title of L'estranges' Case, etc. which I caused to be Published upon that occasion. I shall now, as briefly as I can, set forth how the same Calumny comes to be started again. On the Third of January last past, The Loyal Protestant-News-Paper had this following Passage in it concerning Tongue, but mistaking Samuel, for Simson. Whereas Mr. Samuel Tonge, Son to Dr. Tonge deceased, has formerly Sworn, That his own Father was the Chief Contriver of the Popish Plot; Discovered by a Man who then went under the name of Dr. O—; Now the Religious good party, seemed at that time to be much dissatisfied, that an Intrigue so well laid, and so effectually managed, (though never so ill Contrived,) should be thus miscarried, and then fell upon young Tonge, and declared that he was an ill Man for offering to charge his Father with such horrid Crimes, after so many Men suffered upon the account of the said Plot, and though that it were but a Contrivance of his Father and Dr. O— (so called then) that it was an advancement to all Protestant Dissenters in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and used many moderate Reasons with the said Tonge, that at last Mr. Tonge Complied with the Request and Prayer of the good party; and when he was sent for again to come before the King and Council, utterly Denying all that he had sworn before; but since being touched with Remorse of conscience, offers to justify what he had Sworn unto by his own Testimony alone; but by such Papers, circumstances and witnesses, as he is now able to produce, without hopes of favour or Reward, but as a penitent Sinner, that expects mercy from God Almighty. Young Tong was so hot upon this Publication, that the very next day, he directed a Paper to Mr Thompson by way of an Advertisement under his own hand, in Confirmation of what was there published: though it was not Notified by Thompson till Jan. 19 and in the words following. Mr Thompson, I have read your Intelligence of the Third of this Instant, and do acknowledge that all you write concerning Me is very True, and I will Justify it to my death; and I do believe that the Great Poverty and Misery that I lie under, is fallen on me, by the Just Judgement of God, because I was Seduced by the Enticements of my Uncle, and Others, to deny the Truth; but you mistake my name; for I am not Samuel but Simson Tonge. He speaks Truth as to his Miserable Condition; for there was not a Poorer Creature in the Prison; and Cutting of Pegs for shoes; (and working hard too) for Three-halfe-pences a day, was the best part of his Entertainment. It was Thompson's Paper of Jan. 3. that gave the Alarm, and stirred up the Charity of some of the Well-affected Brethren to hearken a little after him. He was taken one day out of the Prison (as he said) by a Printer; and at his Return talked of something to be Published toward the Middle of the next Week concerning L'Estrange. This Visit put him presently into clothes, and Money in his Pocket, by a Providence, which must be left to Time and Further Scrutiny to Un-riddle. Upon Thomsons First Publication of Jan. 3. Out comes the Buffoon-Courant, of Jan. 6. with these words in't. [Has not this very Young Tonge set forth at large how he was at first trepanned so suggest that Story against his Father, in a Book Printed by Mr C— in the New Exchange; but for I know not what Reasons stifled, and never suffered to be Published? Has not this Young Tonge a hundred and a hundred times with tears in his Eyes, bewailed, and repent of that Unnatural Villainy? Nay but a fortnight ago, he Voluntarily declared that the Sense thereof lay so heavy upon him, that if ever he got out of Prison (where he was like to starve, and had scarce clothes to cover his Nakedness) he would forthwith Transport himself to the West-Indies; for his shame for that False and Wicked Accusation was so great, that he should not be able to walk in the streets. And is this Pitiful Fool Furbished up to make a New Attack? But on the Contrary; What if this be only a Contrivance of the Popish Traitors, and their Implement Nat? What if herein he most in pudently abuses, both Old Tonge, and Young Tonge and the Public? Then no doubt his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, the Judges, and all Inferior Magistrates, and every Protestant Englishman will think it Necessary to Punish Exemplarily the Villain that in Print has Broached such a Horrid Scandal on the Honour, Justice, Prudence and Safety of the Nation.] [Truly I do hope, and wish, with all my heart, that the Government may, and will proceed against all Cheats of this Kind, with the most Severity Imaginable: But how comes Care to know more of Tongues Doings than Tongue does of his own? for Every syllable which Thompson says of Tonge, Tonge says of himself: And the Question is not here, whether it be True, or False; but whether or no Tonge said it. The matter rested here till Jan. 19 Upon which day, came forth tongue's Advertisement in Justification of Thomson, and tongue's Pretended Vindication, in Contradiction to that Advertisement. 't was published by Curtis; and the Author of it may be as well known by his Paw, as by his Face: The Packet, and the Vindication bearing all together the same Style, and Design, and, in many Particulars, the very same words. So that the Courantier, the Vindicator, and Simson Tonge are all one and the same person. It carries the Title of [Mr. Tongues Vindication, in answer to the Malicious and Lying Aspersions thrown upon him by Thomson, and the Observator.] As to what concerns the Observator [Being deeply Sensible (says tongue's Deputy-Vindicator) of what Evil Consequence this Notorious Lie may be; I do Solemnly declare that what was Printed by Thomson, was done without my knowledge, or Consent, having some time since given a True, and Full account of those Persons (that would have trepan'd, and Endeavoured to make me Swear, that my Father and Dr. Oates w●re the Contrivers of the Popish Plot) in my Case, which was Printed by Mr. C— in the New Exchange in the Strand; but by some Indirect means or other, was stifled, and never suffered to come abroad: In which Narrative, I have discovered nothing but the Naked Truth, with the several Arguments and Inducements they made use of, to make me accuse my deceased Parent, and yet notwithstanding all this, Thomson and the Observator have the Impudence to affirm the Contrary, etc. Observe first, that the Printing of it [without his Knowledge or Consent] is no denial of the thing said. 2 lie, Neither Tonge, nor Care or Curtis, in His name says One word in Opposition to the Truth of tongue's Advertisement, in Affirmation of what Thomson delivered. 3 lie, Take notice, that the Case or Narrative which Curtis'es' Libel says, was Printed by Mr C— and Stifled; was laid up in Lavender, for the Opportunity of Imposing an Abuse upon the Oxford-Parliament, as appears by the Title-Page, and the appointment for the Printing of it, bearing date, Feb. 2. 1681. And I am likewise Informed, that Several Copies of it were dispersed to divers Members of that Convention. 4 lie. That Pretended Narrative and Case was Printed for Langley Curtis, with this Express Authority for the Printing of it. I do Appoint Langly Curtis, to Print This my Narrative, and Case: Witness my hand, this Second of February, 1681. Simson Tonge. 5 lie. Beside that, the Narrative is False, and Libellous, it is Undoubtedly the same hand with the Packet, and the Vindication; and three Cheats put upon the Public, by One and the same Person. 6 lie. It is remarkable, that there is a New Title-Page clapped upon the Old Book, (which is just now made Public) Pretending to be Printed for C.W. Instead of Langly Curtis; the better to Disguise, or Conceal Curtis and Cares Confederacy and Interest, in the Pamphlet. Lastly, The very Title-Page itself is a Juggle. As for Example, [The Narrative and Case of Simson Tonge, Gent. being a True Account delivered upon Oath, before Mr. Justice Bridgeman, in the presence of Dr. Titus' Oats; relating to Capt. Sam. Ely, Mr. Choqueux, etc. and myself, Who would have Induced me to Swear th●t my Father and Dr. Oates, were the Contrivers of the Horrid Popish Plot; with Other Material Passages Omitted in the Affidavit. Together with some Short Reflections upon Mr L'Estrange's Dialogue between Zekiel, and Ephraim.] Who knows how far This [&c.] and his [OTHER Material Passages OMITTED in the Affidavit] may Extend, Especially from the Mouth of Prostitute Falsifyers? and under the Manage of an Ignoramus-Iury? And it is a Fair Hint in Janeways History of Popish Sham-Plots from the same hand again, P. 139. where he says, that [Simson made a Considerable Confession of this Conspiracy, upon Oath, before Mr Justice Bridgeman, though HAPPILY he hath reserved many more particulars to another Opportunity.] At which rate, 'tis but rubbing up his Memory at any time, to call to mind things that never had a Being, and to lay the Plot at whose Door he pleases. But to return to his Vindication. [Having now Sufficiently Vindicated myself (says he) from the Malicious, and Lying Aspersions cast upon me by Thomson and the Observator; I return to the Pacquetier, (that is to say, to himself again, for there's not one word of the Pacquetier before) who amongst them all is the only Person that has done me that Justice, Candidly to represent my Condition to the world, performing the part of an Honest man, in declaring the Great sorrow wherewith my spirits have been oppressed for the Unnatural Villainy I was persuaded to perpetrate against my Deceased Parent, etc.] And what is all this, but an Exchange of Civility betwixt Harry in the Vindication, & Care in the Courant? [I Bless God (says he again) I have not so seared a Conscience, as to Justify so False and Villainous a thing as is cast upon me.— I did not verify or assert any thing by dreadful Imprecations.— It behoves me to stand upon my Guard, and by the force of Truth repel these Vicious Calumnies, which I hope is here performed to the Content and satisfaction of all True, Unbiass'd Protestants; And now having fully discharged a Good Conscience, the main End of the Vindication, etc.] To pass over now the most Daring and Blasphemous Hypocrisy that ever called upon Almighty God for the Grace of a Mock-Repentance, see how Dreadfully this Personated Penitent Concludes his Paper. [I do solemnly protest (says he) in the presence of the Great Jehova) it is nothing but Truth. Witness my Hand, Simson Tonge.] (Alias Henry Care had Nicked it.) I shall proceed now to Janeways Popish Sham-Plots, which is only the same Jack-Pudding still in another dress. [Choqueux (says he P. 138.) brings Mr. L'Estrange into Simsons Chamber, where among other discourse, Honest Roger had these Words: That he heard Mr. Simson Tonge was upon a very Good Design for the Good of the Nation, to find out the Truth and Contrivance of this Plot, and prayed he might have Good Success in it, Adding, he would give Mr. Tonge what Furtherance and Encouragement lay in his Power.] [He has another snap at me in the Courant of Jan. 27. where he says, That Friend Hodge, etc. lately renewed their Acquaintance with Mr. Tonge, and endeavoured a fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp; but finding upon recollection, that he would not Correspond further with them; and fearing all their Roguery would come out, the Reverend Clergy-Guide found himself obliged to Cry Whore first.] I am coming now to his Narrative; where in the First Page he has these words. [Hearing that it is commonly reported, that I should Swear against my Father, to take away his Life, it is as False as God is True.] This is no Denial of his Swearing against his Father; but of his Swearing against him to take away his Life. And he declares a little lower, That he was all along very tender of his Father's Safety; with which shuffle he thinks to come off. He tells a Story, Page 11. Of my refusing to Licence a Book of his Fathers, called The Royal Martyr, unless I might Model it to my own Capricious Humour; and that his Father was much troubled at my sauciness, and sent for his Book again. The Word Sauciness is an Expression that fits no bodies Mouth but Cares. But to his Story now. A Book under that Title was brought to me to Licence; which upon the Perusal, I refused to do: and the Bookseller that brought it, gave me to understand who was the Author of it; and a Fair Hint in his very Countenance, what might come on't in case I would not Pass it. Upon This, for fear of After-Claps, I went to Whitehall, and discoursed the matter with Dr. Tonge himself, in words to this Effect. Doctor (said I) You must Excuse me if I dare not Licence your Book; for there are Reflections in it upon the Comed: Where you say, That the Bedchamber men Pick the King's Pockets; and not without a Mixture of Reproaches upon the King Himself. Beside, that you are mistaken in your Annals; There's matter of Fact misplaced, mistimed, and misapplyed; and from thence we proceeded to a Reasoning upon some Passages in his Preface. Doctor (said I) 'Tis well that both you yourself, and Dr. Oates (in those days a Dr.) have so absolutely purged yourselves to the World, that there can be no longer any doubt of your Integrity; for otherwise, there are two or three Passages in your Preface, that people would go near to stumble at. As to the Business of the Bed-Chamber-men, I'll Justify it (says the Doctor) and if there be any slips in the Story, we can set them Right. But what's your Exception to the Preface? So I told him, that in Substance the Matter was thus: [You tell the World, that you have, with Great Care, drawn up the History of the Old Popish Plot (the business of Habernsfelt, etc.) And that showing it to Dr. Oates, (who very much approved of the Draught) you told him, Titus, It were worth the while to know if this Plot does not go on still. Go you, and put yourself among the Jesuits, and inform yourself whether it does, or no. You say further, That Dr. Oates did go among them, pretending to be One of them; and that when he came back, he told you that the Business went on, and that it was no New Plot, but the Old One continued.] Well! (says the Dr.) All this is True, and where's the Offence? So I told him, that it might be looked upon as a strange Council, either to Give or to Take. The Advice Given is This, Go you over, Titus, and pretend to be a Papist: Take all their Oaths and Tests; join with them in an Idolatrous Worship, and swear yourself to the Devil through Thick and Thin, only to see whether it be Cross or Pile. This seems to be the Advice Given: And the following of this Advice, upon Forethought, and Consideration, may be taken for a Resolution very Extraordinary. The Doctor's Answer was to this Purpose, God Almighty will do his own Work, by his own Ways and Methods. I have been the more Punctual in this Relation, to show as well the Reasons why I would not Licence that Book, in respect of my self, as the Tenderness I had for the Credit of the Doctor, and for the Common Cause; by not consenting to Expose any thing to the Public, that might be liable either to a Censure, or a Mistake. He says further in his Narrative, P. 1. [That L'Estrange in his abusive Lying Dialogue, makes Choqueux to speak of L'Estrange ' s refusing to Licence The Royal Martyr; which Tonge took very ill at L'Estrange ' s hands,— but Choqueux knew nothing of it.] The Truth of these Things shall be made appear in their Proper Place. And again in the same Page. [Mr. Choqueux (says he) recommended me to L'Estrange, as a Person very worthy of my acquaintance, and told him▪ I had drawn up several Papers, as Objections against the Plot; and he did presume, I should be very glad of his Assistance therein. L'Estrange told me he would to his power assist me what he could, and asked me where my Papers were; for he would gladly peruse them: for he was informed, those Papers had very material things in them against the Plot. That he was a great admirer of all such things, as he did not question he had demonstrated to the World by his Collections he had made concerning the Popish Plot, where Dr. Oates was pleased to be silent, and said that for his part, he found the whole Plot was replenished with nothing else, but Improbabilities, and Ridiculous Absurdities, etc. And then Choqueux, and L'Estrange discoursed concerning the late Wars, etc. Ibid.] Take notice, that Tonge had drawn up some Objections against the Plot; and L'Estrange desired a sight of 'em, and yet no Papers showed him, nor any Answer returned him to that Question; but thereupon he went his way. Now see forward [Going out with L'Estrange (says the Narrative, Pag. 12.) I asked him when I should wait upon him, and if he had any writing, I would transcribe any thing for him which he had to Print, but he said he had no such business, but that any Evening he should be glad to see me, and Mr. Choqueux at his House in Holborn, and went away from us. Here's Tonge pinning himself upon L'Estrange, and L'Estrange shuffling him off, as far as decently could be done in such a Case. But see now how Tonge plies him yet with Importunities. [The next day after (says he Ibid.) Mr. Choqueux went to L'Estrange's House, and told me he was newly gone out, but he said to morrow in the Evening I should go along with him to L'Estrange.] You will see by and by that I went out of the way on purpose to avoid him; and that Tonge wrote me a Letter next Morning, desiring me in regard that he missed me last night, to appoint him some other time, for he had something to say to me, whereupon I appointed him at seven that Evening. And see how he proceeds. [Crawley (says he Ibid.) coming to the Savoy before we (Choqueux and Tonge) were gone, went along with us, whom I suppose L'Estrange had no acquaintance with. But Crawley went, thinking he might have something to say to him in relation to his Papers. So soon as we came into the Room where L'Estrange was, he desired Mr. Choqueux and Crawley, to withdraw; (for he said it looked too much like a Consultation) who went out and expected my coming out into the street.] It is false, that Choqueux and Crawley were desired to with draw; but Mr. Crawley, and a fourth person that came with them in Company, were fairly hinted to withdraw, because (as I said) it would look like a consult. And they did withdraw; but Choqueux stayed a while after them. [Then being together (says the Narrative, Ibid.) meaning Tonge and L'Estrange) he asked me whether I had a Copy of that Enformation which was delivered to the King, I told him I had not, only some loose Papers relating to it; but I could recite several Material Passages of it. Then L'Estrange writ them down, and asked me whether I had no more to say, I told him I had not, and said when he had more leisure, and had all my Enformations, he would swear me to them. I told him, I did not care to be sworn to any of my Papers, etc.] This point shall be cleared hereafter, where it will fall more naturally in my way. I shall not need to amplify upon the Particulars abovementioned any further in this place, then to recommend it to the Reader's Observation. First, that the Persons Visibly concerned in these Scandalous Libels, are only Tonge, (as a Fool for the Faction to make use of) Curtis, (the Publisher of the Narrative, the Packet, and the Vindication) Janeway, (the Publisher of the Popish Sham-plots) and Care, the Presumptive Author of these four Pamphlets: of whose Character and Credit, the World is sufficiently sensible already, without need of any further Enformation. Now though as it is the Common business of these Fellows to Bespatter the Government, and all degrees of Men, as well as Particular Persons, that Interpose toward the Vindication of the King and the Laws. Their spleen and Forgeries are yet so Peculiarly bend at me, that I dare be answerable to produce at least three hundred Scandalous, Rank and Notorious Lies, that these servile wretches, (taking in Baldwin for another) have published barefaced against my single self; and I do verily believe, I may safely say, as many several Libels: But having already made an Express Application to the Magistracy of the City, for Justice, Public, and Private upon the Infamous Authors of these Defamatory Papers: I make no question, but the Generous, and Loyal Governors of this City, having both the Crimes and the Criminals openly laid before them, and the matter, in both respects falling expressly under their Cognizance and Jurisdiction; I make no doubt, I say, but my Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen will exert their Authority to the uttermost, in calling these Flagitious Incendiaries to a strict account. So that I shall now pass forward to my main business. That is to say, First, To show that there is a Conspiracy, by Hook or by Crook, to make me a Suborner. Secondly, To Discharge myself of that Impudent, and Senseless Calummy, by Clear and Undeniable Proofs, Inferences, and Presumptions to the contrary. Thirdly, To make it out, beyond all dispute, that the Project has been, from First to Last, to Trepan me, by trying how far I might be prevailed upon to entertain any Propositions of discrediting, shamming, or Ridiculing the damnable Hellish Popish Plot; which has been Attested, and Confirmed, by the Authority and Declaration of so many Parliaments. There needs no more for the making out of the First Point, than what is said already; which for Order sake, I shall briefly sum up yet once again: Care in his Courant of the 27 th' of Jan. 1681, Charges me with Renewing my Acquaintance with Mr. Tonge, and endeavouring a Fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp. Care again in Tongue's Pretended Narrative, has hooked me into the [&c.] in the Title Page, and his other material Passages Omitted in the Affidavit, [&c.]— by drawing my Name into the Book, within the compass of that, [&c.] and the Supplemental Reserve. The same Care again, in Janeway's Shame Plots, gives an account Pag. 139. That over and above Tongue's Oath to Mr. Justice Bridgeman, he hath reserved many more Particulars to another Opportunity; which gives him Liberty till the Day of Judgement, to supply his Evidence. It is a farther Presumption of a Design; First, the Calculating of their Narrative, for the Oxford Parliament, to take me Unprovided, and by Surprise. Secondly, By the keeping it so Close ever since, for fear of having the Villainy of it Detected, and Exposed; And then the Publishing of it now at last, under a False Name, is a further Confirmation of the Foulness of that Practice. It might suffice to the Second Point, that I was Honourably Discharged by the King and Council; Oats and Tonge being present, and not having One word to say in Contradiction to my Defence: But it is not a likely matter, over and above, that I should have a Design upon Tonge, and at the same time shake him off from fastening himself upon me. That I should enter into that Liberty of Discourse: of Censuring the Plot, Drawing him in to raise Objections against it, and to represent it as the Invention of his Father, and Oats; and yet at the same time, Caution both Captain Ely, and Mr. Choqueux, to have a Care of him, for he would lay hold of any thing to Ruin them. Is it not a likely matter again, that I should ask him for his Papers, and he should give me no Answer; and that I should so Greedily Interest myself in a Zeal and Curiosity to be dabbling with him, and yet at the same time, refuse any Information from him, but under his own hand: And with this Condition Annexed, That he should declare it to be his own Voluntary Act, and ne●ther Directly, or Indirectly drawn from him at my Instance, or Procurement? Now all This will be laid as open as the Day in That which follows. It will be Objected perhaps, that though this Plea may serve well enough for what's past, or at least for what has been produced against me upon Legal Testimony: But what if he should come upon second Thoughts, (as other People have done) to refresh his Memory, and Reinforce his Evidence, or Charge me (as Care calls it) with [a Fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp] till I found (as the Pacquetier has it) that Tonge w●uld Correspond no further with me? I would ask no more for my Acquittal, then that Curtis might be strictly Examined, who was the Author of those Three Insolent Impostures; The Packet; Tongue's Vindication; and Tongue's Narrative and Case; which were All Published by him; and that Janeway might be Interrogated, Who was the Author of his Popish Sham-Plots; not but that any Man may know whence they all came, they are so like the Father. I would ask this, for the Publiques sake, as well as my Own; for 'tis Impossible for any State to Live at Peace, or any Community or Person to scape Untainted, where These Pests of Humane Society are suffered in a Commonwealth. I shall say nothing now to the Many, Gross, Virulent, and Scandalous Falsehoods that are scattered Up and Down these Venomous Papers; but refer the Reader to what I have to say upon the Third Head, wherein I shall set forth the Naked Truth of the Matter; and make it Evident, that the Shamming and Tampering has been on the other side; and that instead of my Wheedling of Tonge into a Complication against his Father; it has been the Business of Young Tonge, his Fellows, and Directors, from One End to the other of this affair, to draw L'Estrange into the Toil. This is the Third and the Last Point, and I shall Handle it at large. The Design of Tongue putting a Shame upon me (by the Order and Instruction, I suppose, of his Superiors) must bear Date a good while before I ever so much as saw the Face of him; As appears by his Propounding me (though an Absolute Stranger to him) as a fit Person for him to Advise withal, about the Menage, and Government of his Design: and making twenty sleeveless Pretences for getting into my Acquaintance; besides the Visible Importunities of Pressing upon me, after I knew him; and the Use he made of the most Frivolous Accidents, to Improve all Circumstances to my Disadvantage. And then the whole Story is Far●'d with Lies, from one end to the other; as the Reader will Observe upon comparing the several parts of this Relation. The first time that ever he saw me, (as himself confesses) or that I ever saw him, was at Monsieur Choqueuxes, by the occasion of my going thither to Inquire about some Memorials of the late War. This was some Months after his Impious Swearing, and Counter-Swearing, Backward and Forward, at Windsor; so that there could be no pretence for my tampering of him in a matter, where he had so Perjuriously Contradicted himself already; Neither did Choqueux bring me to him, (as he suggests) but the Servant, upon my Enquiry for her Master, desired me to Walk into a low Room ●till she called him down; and there I found a Person to me unknown, which, it seems, was Young Tonge, as I was afterwards Informed by the Master of the Lodgings when he came down. I found the Fop to be Talkative, and so I let him run on in a Nonsensical Story of the Privacies that had passed betwixt Oats, and his Father, certain Papers concerning the Plot that were Written in Greek Characters, and hid behind the Wainscout; and a Foolery of one Green, a Weaver, that meeting his Father in the Court of Requests, told him for News (and without any knowledge of him too) that E've long, there would be a Popish Massacre: Whereupon, (says Young Tonge) my Father made an acquaintance with him, and out came the Plot. He showed me likewise an Abuse upon some of the King's Evidence, in a kind of a Disguise like a Romance, which he said was of his own Composing, and I found he had a mind to Unriddle it to me; but I stopped him short; Advised him against it; and made what haste Civilly I could, to get quit of his Company, and to deliver myself from the Nauscousness, as well as the Danger of so Impertinent, and Suspicious an Acquaintance. This was before I had ever seen the Eyes of Capt. Ely; but coming soon after to the knowledge of him, it was my Lesson both to him, and Mr. Choqueux, to have a Care of that Young Fellow for fear of having a Trick put upon them: So far was I from making that Fool my Confident, that I did not think it safe to have any thing at all to do with him; The Incredibility of his Evidence being the best Security that any Man can have that keeps him Company. Soon after This, Capt. Ely returns from Windsor, (where he had been it seems upon Tongue Errand) and my having some Inkling of his Business there, made me a little curious to find him one, and learn from him the Truth of the Matter. Presently upon This there, was Bruited a Report about the Town, that Oats had Exhibited a complaint to the Council against Ely and Choqueux, and that L'Estrange was brought in for a Third Man. This Alarm put me to bethink myself, and to provide for the worst that Malice and Perjury could pretend against me: For I could easily see through Tonge; and Oats had already pronounced me, in all his Haunts and Gangs, as deep in the Practice, as the most Confident and Shameless Asseveration of any thing; short of a Verbum Sacerdotis could make me. Hereupon I applied myself to Captain Ely, and Monsieur Choqueux, (being both Clear of the Council) to make Oath before some Master of the Chancery to the Truth of certain Particulars, wherein I might possibly come to be Concerned, if there should happen to be any Combination carried on against me. They did me the Right to Comply with my Desire, and the Affidavits are as follows. The Affidavit of Samuel Ely, etc. SAmuel Ely of the Parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, in the Country of Middlesex, Gent. maketh Oath, that he This Deponent hath not known the Person of Roger L'Estrange in the County of Middlesex, Esq till about a fortnight before the Date hereof: And that He this Deponent never saw the said L'Estrange and Mr. Simpson Tonge together, nor ever heard of any Correspondence between them, more than that Mr. Choqueux told this Deponent that he had brought the said Tonge to Mr. L'Estrange to desire him to take Tongue Enformation upon Oath, as a thing that might much justify Us; This being before we heard of any Order to attend the Council. This Deponent further informeth, that the said Tonge made mention of Mr. L'Estrange in a certain Paper about the latter end of July last, (to this Deponents best Remembrance) as a person that might be a very good Evidence against his Father, for some seditious Passages in a Book of Dr. Tongue called, The Royal Martyr; which the said Mr. L'Estrange refused to Licence, and D. Tonge took it very ill at his hands; Tonge the younger declaring, that he had a great mind to be acquainted with the said Mr. L'Estrange. This Deponent moreover saith, That being at Windsor about the middle of August last, He this Deponent● was told, That young Tonge had denied the Enformation given in by him to his Majesty, and declared, that he was set on by the Papists; whereupon this Deponent went immediately to young Tonge, being then in Windsor, and told him what he had heard. Who there in the presence of Two other persons, did presently take Pen, Ink, and Paper, and drew up a short Declaration to this following Effect. ☞ Being informed that my Uncle, Captain Tonge, hath maliciously aspersed me, that I have made a Recantation, and disowned my former Enformation given in to his Majesty; As I hope to be saved; I never did make any such Recantation, though I was mightily urged thereunto by my Uncle, and to lay it upon the Papists. But the Enformation was all true, and in the Discharge of my Duty and Conscience; And that it was my own spontaneous Act, without the Expectation of any Advantage, Benefit, or Reward; or by the Procurement, Direction or Abetting of any Person whatsoever. This Declaration being by him the said Sympson Tonge Written in the presence of two other Persons, and this Deponent, of his own proper motion, and without any advice thereunto; and it was likewise attested by this Deponent and the two Persons abovementioned. And all this was done in the space of one half hour, (as this Deponent verily believes) from the time after this Deponent's first hearing the Report. And finally, This Deponent saith further, That he heard Mr. L'Estrange (being in Discourse with Mr. Choqueux) caution the said Mr. Choqueux to have a care what he said to that Fellow (meaning Young Tonge) for he would lay hold of any thing to ruin you. This was the effect of Mr. L'Estrange's Caveat to Mr. Choqueux, who returned this Answer, That he had nothing to do with him in the World, but in relation to his Cure; and this Deponent heard Mr. L'Estrange say further at the same time. Remember Mr. Choqueux, what I told young Tonge and You together, I do declare, I will not Receive any Enformation from Tonge, but under his own hand; and I will have a Clause in it too, wherein he shall acquit me upon the same Oath, of having any thing to do with him by way of Advice or Encouragement; That I did not directly or indirectly move him to it, but that it was all at his own Motion, and at his own Request: And more this Deponent hath not to say, SAM. ELY. Jurat. coram me. JO. COELL. 4 die Octobris Anno xxxii. Car. II. R. An. Dom. 1680. Upon the perusal of This Affidavit, the Reader will be able to satisfy himself what Tongue's Donyals of any Imprecations; His Invocating the Great Jehovah to the Truth of what he said; His Profane manner of Obtruding upon Almighty God, His Mimical Forms of Contrition and Remorse, for the Ardent Affections of a True Repentance; The Oppression of his Spirits for his Villainy against his Father: What all this (I say) amounts to upon the Comparing of the Gross, and Scandalous Contradictions: And yet the Testimony of This Prostigate Wretch is made use of by the Managers of this Infamous Cause, as an Authority sufficient to Oblige the World into a Belief of any thing against L'Estrange; just according to the Measures of their Proceedings in other Cases, where the Credit of the Witnesses, is rated by the Malice, and Interest of the Faction; and None, either so Fair, or so Foul, as not to be Blasted or Justified, in order to the Common End of serving a Party. I shall go forward now to the Second Affidavit. Anthony Choqueux of the Savoy, Chirurgeon, this 4th Day of Octob. 1680. maketh Oath, as follows, Viz. Impr. I. THat about the Beginning of Septemb. last, Mr. Tho. Neucomb brought Mr. L'Estrange to his House to inquire about some Memorials of Prince Rupert's Actions in the late War, and in Flanders: but because it was somewhat late, they drank a Bottle of Wine, and put off farther discourse upon that Business to another Meeting. II. That some few days after this, Mr. L'Estrange came to his House a second time; and after some discourse with him, the Deponent, before Mr. Tonge, (whom he had then under Cure) about the Memorials, and Papers concerning the Prince, he told him that the Person there present was young Mr. Tonge; whereupon Mr. L'Estrange took notice of him, and asked him if he had ever seen him at his Father's Chamber, who answered no, he had never seen him before, or words to the same effect. III. That at the same time, Mr. Tonge said he remembered that he had been told, Mr. L'Estrange refused to Licence a Book of his Fathers, (called the Royal Martyr) which Refusal, Dr. Tonge took very ill, he said. And so he went on in several Discourses of div●rs Meetings betwixt his Father and Dr. Oates, and how many Clerks his Father kept constantly a Writing; and such kind of Talk; Mr. L'Estrange only giving him the Hearing, without any encouragement, or ask him any questions, but slightly telling him that all this signified nothing; or to that purpose. IV. That finding Mr. L'Estrange to wave the Discourse, he whispered the Deponent in the Ear, to desire him to acquaint Mr. L'Estrange, that if he had any thing to Transcribe, he was ready to do it for him; and should take it for a great kindness. After this; That there passed nothing but common Talk: Only, at parting, that Mr. Tonge desired of Mr. L'Estrange that he might wait upon him at his House, setting the day and hour himself, to which Mr. L'Estrange seemed to agree. V. That at the time appointed, Tonge went, (as he afterward told this Deponent) but Mr. L'Estrange was not at home; so that he sent him a Letter next morning, desiring him to appoint some other time; which Letter this Deponent saw, and likewise Mr. L'Estrange's Answer to it, which he conveyed to Mr. Tonge. Before the writing of the said Letter, Mr. L'Estrange said (by way of caution) unto this Deponent, A Man had need have a care what he says to such Fellows, for they'll lay hold of anything; or to the sam● purpose. That the substance of the Answer (to the Deponent's best memory) was this; That if Mr. Tonge had any thing to say to him, he should be within at Seven in the Evening. VI That at seven in the Evening, (or there abouts) upon the earnest desire of Mr. Tonge, This Deponent went into Holbourn with him to Mr. L'Estrange's; and told him how great a desire Mr. Tonge had expressed to be better acquainted with him; and how ready he was to serve him, in Transcribing any thing for him: to whom Mr. L'Estrange answered, that he should be glad (upon occasion) to do him a kindness. VII. That hereupon, this Deponent told Mr. L'Estrange (upon Mr. Tongue desiring it) that Mr. Tonge offered to inform him of what he had delivered to the King; and that Mr. L'Estrange replied, If he has any thing material to present to me, as a Justice of Peace, for the King's Service, I'll give him his Oath and receive it; upon condition that he declare it to be his own Act, without any motive to it from myself; otherwise I will not meddle in it; or Words to the same import: And that Mr. Tonge said this was reasonable, but that he had not such an Information ready drawn: That so this Deponent went away to a place hard by, and about a quarter of an hour after, returning that way, saw Mr. Tonge come out of Mr. L'Estrange's House with two or three little Printed Books in his hand, which he said Mr. L'Estrange had given him. VIII. And Lastly, That after this the Deponent heard Tonge speak no more of Mr. L'Estrange or of any Papers given unto him. A. Choqueux. Jur' 4. die Octob. 1680. coram me Magist. Cancel. Adam Ottley. Here's the Occasion set down in the First Paragraph that brought me first to the Savoy; where I did not so much as see Tonge, that night, though the Libelers would have it thought, that my Design upon Tonge was the Thing Expressly that carried me thither. It may be noted upon the fifth Clause, That Tonge came to my House at the time appointed, (according to the Tenor of the foregoing) and afterward, told Choqueux that I was not at home: So that it is plain, that he pressed upon me, and I avoided him; beside that his Secretary Reports it, as if Mr. Choqueux had only told him so, and he had not been there himself. Neither does he take any notice at all of his soliciting me by Letter to set him a Time of Meeting, or of my Answer in return to that Letter. And it appears also in the next Paragraph, that Monsieur Choqueux did not bring Tonge to me, but upon the Earnest desire of Tonge, Monsieur Choqueux coming along with him. Upon the whole matter here's more than enough said to this point, and to prove that it was thus far an Intrigue carried on in a direct Train for the Inveigling of me into a share. I shall now proceed to the laying open of a Continuation, or rather a Repetition of the same Project, under the Countenance, and Assistance of the same Prosligate Agents. I shall here Publish the whole truth of the matter, in hope that the Government will proceed for the securing of honest men, in their Lives and Reputations, against a Band of Sanguinary Libelers, and Prostitute Knights of the Post; and not suffer the Popish Plot to be Shamm'd, and Exposed to the Highest degree of Contempt and Discredit imaginable, only in the Contemplation of drawing in some Conscientious Protestant or other, that has a true Veneration for the King, and the Church, barely to the hearing of the Story; for that's sufficient to the Case here in question. The First Contriver, and Promoter of the Villainy, brings himself off by setting up for the Informer. In the First business of Tonge, I kept myself upon such a Guard, as in Honesty and Prudence, I thought myself obliged to do, and it was well I did so, for a much wiser man than myself might have ventured further, perhaps, then in that Case I thought it convenient to do. I do not speak as to the entering into any Unlawful Act, or Consultation; but to the keeping of myself clear from any Reasonable Ground for the least Jealousy, or Suspicion. And yet all this Precaution notwithstanding; how did the Weekly News-papers Publish me over the Three Kingdoms for the Greatest Villain in Nature! For a matter of six weeks or two months together, without either Truth or control; and no more in the whole matter, than the Impudence of Two or Three Mercenary Rascals to raise all this Scandal and Clamour. This experience taught me so much wit, (though to my cost) as for the future, never to have any thing to do with this sort of Cattles again, but upon Terms of stricter Reserve; so that I took up a Resolution; if ever any further attempt of the same kind should be made upon me, I would fairly endeavour to spoil the jest, and set the Saddle upon the Right Horse. And this is my present Case, wherein I shall Govern myself by the Rules of a Good ChristJan, a Good Subject, and an Honest Man. There was a Whisper about a Quarter of a Year ago, of tonge's being touched in Conscience for a False Oath, about the business of his Father, and the late Dr. Oates. This coming to my Ear, and a Paper of his to my hand, with strange Circumstances in it, I sent him a Letter by my servant, which I thought might very well become me in several Respects: and especially for so much as the matter of it did particularly relate to myself. The Copy of it follows. For Mr. Simson Tonge, etc. SIR, YOU will wonder at this Letter, perhaps, from a Person that has neither Directly nor Indirectly had any thing to do with you, either by Word, Writing, or Message, since October last was Twelvemonth, when, upon your Enformation, I was questioned, and wrongfully accused in many particulars before the King and Council. I look upon it as my duty, to forgive ye; and at this Good time, to tell ye so; and I have the Charity to believe, if it had come into your thought, you would have found it your part to have desired it. I know very well, that Oats and College had the handling of ye before you gave your Evidence; and I have reason to believe it should not have stopped there if they might have had their Will. But however, I had kept myself upon such a Guard, and so Clear, that I was acquitted without the least doubt of my Innocence. I ask ye no Questions, nor do I desire any thing from ye; though I should be glad to find any Instance of your Conversion, and that the Truth of the whole matter might appear. I do wish you (in sine) such a sense of what you owe both to God and Man, as may lead ye to a Just, and a Conscientious Discharge of your Duty. After all, I am Decemb. 27. 1681. Your Loving Friend, R. L'Estrange. I thought I could not do less in Honour and Religion, (especially upon this Festival Occasions) than to mind him of His Duty by the Discharge of my Own; but my Charity was not so well Requited, it seems, as it deserved: for instead of keeping himself to the Subject of the Wrong he had done me, he presently falls to his Old Play again, of throwing out Baits upon the Question of the Plot, to try if he could get any better hold of me This 'Bout than he did the last. Upon December 30. I received a Letter from him, in acknowledgement of mine of the 27th, in the Terms and Date following. Directed, For his Ever Honoured Friend, ROGER L'ESTRANGE, etc. Ever Honoured SIR, I Humbly thank you for your Charity, in Forgiving the Wrong I did you, in October was Twelve Month; And I assure you, it hath been a Great trouble to me; and if I could have hoped for Pardon, I should have begged it of you long since; but I am Confident, if you had known how I was used by my Uncle first, and afterward by College and Oates, to force me to Accuse you Falsely, you would sooner have Pitied my weakness, and forgiven me what I have done against you: But this Generous Charity which you have now showed, in giving me that Pardon, which I durst not ask for, hath encouraged me to Entreat you to Intercede with His Majesty, to Grant me His Gracious Pardon, for the Great Offences which I have Committed against him. And that he would be pleased to let me be brought to my Trial, and have the Perusal of my Father's Papers, to help to make my Defence. And I hope to make out the Truth, to the satisfaction of all Honest Men, and Discharge the Conscience of, ●ings Bench, the Common-side, Dec. 28. 1681. Honoured Sir, Your veriest commandable Servant, Simson Tonge. This Letter came accompanied with the Draught of a Petition; and Both in his own hand. There needed no Great Sagacity to Chop Right upon This Train, being the very Trick over again, that he had so lately served me before: so that I was even resolved to look to myself, and to let Nature work; Clapping this Endorsement immediately upon the Letter for a Memorial. The Endorsement. The Letter whereupon this is Endorsed, was delivered to the Person, who hath hereunder subscribed the Two First Letters of her Name. It was delivered to her Yesterday being the 29 th' of December, 1681. with an acknowledgement that he had done the Person to whom it is Directed, a great deal of Wrong; That he was sorry for it, and would have acknowledged it sooner had he had Opportunity: But that he was put on by his Uncle, and Others, to do what he did; and desired the Bearer hereof to deliver the Letter, together with the Contents above written. All which he did of his own accord. Decem. 30. 1681. In the Presence of, etc. The Petition that came in company with this Letter, is Word for Word as follows. Those Names only Excepted, that are Inseparable from the Matter in Question. For my Business is only to Expose the Falsehood of this miserable Wretch, without Involving others in the Consequences of his Calumnies. To His Most Excellent Majesty. The humble Petition of Simson Tonge Prisoner in the King's Bench. Shows, THat after your Petitioner had Declared the Truth to your Majesty, concerning the Contrivance of his Father, and Mr. Titus' Oats; Your Petitioner being in great Want of Necessaries, his Uncle Captain Tonge having sent for him, was compelled to go to him for Relief, and Captain Tonge made your Petitioner Drunk, and then threatened and forced him to deny the Truth, and to Sign a Paper which the said Captain Tonge had written, your Petitioner not knowing what he did; and afterwards when your Petitioner was committed to Newgate, College came to him, and by Threats and Promises, forced your Petitioner to deny the Truth; for the which your Petitioner hath been ever since under great trouble of Mind, for his great Wickedness and Cowardice to deny the Truth. But your Petitioner doth Protest, in the Presence of Almighty God; that it is very true, that the Plot was Contrived by my Father, and Titus Oats, when he returned the second time beyond the Seas: my Father and he writ much of it out of [Houselife] Queen Elizabeth, (That Word Houselife I could not make out.) and out of the Book writ by Hooper or Hocker that came from Rome, and swore against CampJan, and the other Jesuits; as will appear both by the said Books, and by my Father's Papers ' if your Majesty please to cause them to be searched into: They first Writ at— where the Plot was Written by Oats in Greek Letters; and afterwards went to Fox-Hall, and one of the Jesuits Letters is in my Father's Hand. Wherefore your Petitioner doth most Humbly Pray and beseech Your Sacred Majesty, to Pity the sad Condition of Your Petitioner, and to Pardon his Great Crime of going from the Truth: And to let him be brought to his Trial, and to have his Father's Papers delivered to him, to make his Defence: And Your Petitioner hopes to make what he hath Written, so Clear; that Your Majesty will think Him more fit for Your Pity, than Your Anger: And forgive the Great Wickedness of Your Petitioner, for the which he is truly Penitent; and will rather perish here in Prison, than ever be Guilty of the like: As he hath showed to those that have been with him, since his Great Poverty, to pervert Him farther from the Truth; but Your Petitioner would not: Therefore Your Petitioner doth most Humbly Beseech Your Majesty, to Pity the sad and miserable Condition of Your Petitioner, and not to let him lie here and starve for want of Cloth and Bread. And Your Petitioner [as in Duty bound] shall ever pray, etc. Simson Tonge. This Petition made it as Clear as the Day, that he was Entering anew upon the Old Haunt; and that he lay upon the Catch for an Opportunity to do me a Good Turn: So I thought it but reasonable to keep myself out of his Reach, and returned him for Answer this Following Letter: Addressed, For Mr. Simson Tonge, etc. Mr. Tonge, YOurs of the 28 th' Instant, came Yesterday to my hand, with the Draught of a Penitent Petition, which you desire may be presented to His Majesty. You must be more Particular and Clear, before I presume to undertake the Office. As for Instance. 1. You say that you were pressed by your Uncle first, and afterward by College and Oates, to Accuse me falsely. But you say nothing what they would have had you to Accuse me of, more than you did: What means they used to bring you to't; whether there was any Money, or Reward, either given or promised: By whom? What? or how much? How? or in what manner this was done? (If any thing of this kind) Or if any man can prove This besides yourself? 2. That Captain Tonge made you Drunk; and sign a Paper of his writing, when you knew not what you did. But you do not say, either where; what Liquor; what quantity; at what time; who saw you together; or afterwards saw you Drunk. 3. That the Captain sent for you; And that you were Compelled by your Necessities to go to him for Relief. But you do not say how often he sent for you: by whom: to what place, or places: whether by word of mouth, or by Letter: Or if upon your going, when sent for, he made you Drunk at the same time: who can prove his sending for you: nor what Relief you had from him; either in Money, or otherwise: Or what Promises: what Conditions: or what Discourses toward, or concerning all this, passed betwixt you. 4. You say, that your Uncle threatened, and forced you to deny the Truth. But you do not say, what those Menaces were: what Truth you were to deny: what Arguments, or Discourses he made use of to prevail upon you: or if any Conditions were offered ye, in case of your ComplJance. 5. You say, that College came to ye in Newgate. and Threatened and Forced you also to deny the Truth, But you say nothing to the Queries upon Num. 1. 6. You say the Plot was Contrived by your Father, and Oats, upon Oat's second Return from beyond the Seas: and name some Books (the Names of them you cannot make out) upon the Subject of Queen Eliz. Out of which they have a good part of the Contrivance; and refer to those Books for the Agreement of the Matter. But you do not speak to Particulars; what that Contrivance was; how managed; who privy, or assistant to it: Or what Discourses passed upon it. So that here's no matter of Fact set forth: Neither do I understand what Books you mean. 7. You say that Oats wrote the Plot, first, at— in Greek Characters; and that afterward they went Both to Fox-Hall. But you do not say, why in Greek; what became of the Copy; what Discourse upon it; what Assistants, or Advisers; what was done afterwards at Fox-Hall; how they came to go thither. 8. You say that One of the Jesuits Letters is in your Father's hand. But not which of them: Nor (in one word) How you come to know all this; Or who can speak to all these Particulars? 9 You desire the Sight of your Father's Papers; but say not in whose Custody they are. You Protest the Truth of all you say, as in the Presence of Almighty God: And in the Name of that Almighty God, I Adjure you, and Entreat you, to say nothing but Truth; if you shall think sit to make me any Return to this Letter: And if you shall by such an Explanation as the Matter requires, furnish me with a Reasonable Ground to proceed upon; I will plainly and honestly represent the state of the Case, as you lay it before me: and do as may become, From my House in Holbo●n, Dec. 31. 1681. Your kind Friend, R. L'S. P. S. This is my Second to you, in Answer to your First, and Only Letter to me, since One in September was Twelve Month. Pray keep an account of what you Send, and Receive; for I'll do every thing Above-board 〈…〉 To take the Matter in Order as it rises▪ The next I received from Tonge, was, That which follows, being Dated Jan. 2. and received the Day following, Mr. L'Estrange, I Received yours, and am very desirous of the Truth, being very confident that a great deal of Roguery and Villainy lies still undiscovered at the bottom of the Plot. But I am no ways able to answer those Questions you Propose to me, so as to give you any tolerable satisfaction, unless that I were in Possession of my Father's Papers, which would best clear what you desire. After my Father's Death, I was informed, that those Papers he left at Colleges House, were seized by the council, and my Uncle, under pretence of Administering for me has seized on the rest. This I am certain of, that if those Papers ever come to light they will discover very strange things. I have been now confined upwards of a Twelvemonth; and am now in a very Indigent Condition on the Common-side of the Kings-Bench, having no other Subsistence than the Basket: and the place I am in is no ways suitable for writing, or any thing of serious thoughts. I Question not your Zeal for his Majesty, and the Royal Family; and I think you could not do a greater service than to inquire, if you can any ways know which way my Father's Papers were disposed. Until that be found out, I shall be in the dark, and no way able to give ye any tolerable result to any Questions: For the Popish Plot, by reason of the several Persons concerned in it, is so Intricate a thing, that to unravel it from first to last, and give you a Particular account of all the several Transactions, is more than I dare Assume upon me; and by reason of my confinement, I have forgot many material things, which before would have occurred to my memory: and therefore of necessity must have some assistance of my Father's writings ere I can proceed. I am Your Loving Friend, and Servant, Simson Tonge. Kings-Bench the Common-side, Jan. 2. 1681. P. S. I Request a Word of Answer from you to this Letter. Any man with half an Eye may see the Drist of this Paper. The Charity of a Single six pence would have passed for a Subornation. My bare Enquiry after his Father's Papers would have been a Tampering, to Invalidate the King's Evidence. And such an Answer as he desires in his Postscript, to this Letter, would have ruined me to all Intents and Purposes. At the same time with the former of the second, I received from him also this following Letter. Superscribed, For his Honoured Friend Roger L'Estrange. Honoured Sir, I Received yours of the last Instant, (mistaken for Dec. 31.) and do briefly return you this Answer, until I can better recollect my memory. 1. As to your first Question, what means was used to bring me to accuse you, when I was examinded before Mr. Bridgman, at Captain Richardson's House, Oates asked me if you were not concerned with me, I told him I had seen you once, but could not accuse you of any thing; then he replied he knew the contrary, and if I would not discover it, it should be the worse for me, and threatened me very much, but proffered me no money; and none were present with me, but Mr. Bridgman, his Clerk and Oates. 2. The first Message I had, from my Uncle Captain Tonge, was by a young man that waited on him; who borough me a letter, and desired me to come to him to the Golden Anchor in the Strand, whether I came, and having drunk several Bottles of Canary with him, I desired to take my leave of him; who importuned me to stay, and then called for several Bottles more: and said he had a Paper that I must sign, and finding me unwilling, he drunk me to such a pitch that I was quite drunk, and then I signed the Paper. He sent likewise twice for me to the Half Moon in the Strand, where he likewise drunk me very high, and said he would give me some allowance towards my relief, and sent one Mrs. Lamb to me with half a Crown, and promised that hence forwards he would send me three shillings and six pence a week, which I constantly had sent me till of late. The arguments he made use of were, that though I were imprisoned, I should be supplied with what necessaries I wanted, and that he would endeavour to purchase me my liberty, and discharge my Chamber Rent, and Fees on the Master-side of the Kings-Bench. My Father used to take Notes out of a great Book, it was a Supplement after Hollinshed left off, and was joined to his, and was writ as I have heard him say by one How, or Hows, and there were other little Books written by Hocker or Hopper, that was the Witness, and Prosecuted the Jesuits. I do not very well remember which, but it may be found by comparing the Letters with Oats and my Father's Hand. One E— knows much, for he helped to write some of the Papers which my Father left were taken at College's House, and my Uncle sent one Mr. H- to me, in the Kings-Bench, and brought one who was a stranger to me, with a Paper, to Administer on my behalf, and signed it, and under pretence of Administering for me hath seized on the rest of my Father's Papers. That Mr. H— studies Physic, and lives not far from C— but I cannot remember the Court, but the Person he Lodges near, is High-Constable. Sir, I can make no better Answer at present, because I have no place to recollect myself: In the mean time I desire you would accept of this, which is no other than the Truth, from Your Humble Servant, Simson Tongue. Here follows my Answer, Jan. 3. to Two from Tonge received together. Mr. Tonge, Mrs.— has brought me a Letter from you this Morning of Jan. 2. 1681. and another Enclosed in it without Date. The Account you pretend to give of your Affairs, is very Imperfect; and you mistake yourself, in seeming to understand me, as if I had put any Questions to you: I only told you, that your Relation concerning the Matter, whereupon you propounded to Petition the King, fell short in many Particulars. I know very well how Liable Words are to misconstruction, and I will not meddle in any thing which is not as Clear as the Sun. I know nothing of your Father's Papers: If you have any thing to offer me, you must either Declare in the same Paper, that it is your own voluntary Act, or else I'll not meddle in it. But wherein soever I can do you a Civility, that I may Honestly justify, I am ready to show myself, Your Loving Friend, Ro. L'Estrange. Jan. 3. 1681. Here follows another Letter of Tonge, of Jan. 5. King's Bench, the Common-side, Jan. 5. 1681. Mr. L'Estrange, FInding that my Two last Letters to you were Imperfect, I send you this Third, and Request you would be pleased to send me the largest Letter, that I may take a Copy of it. The Contrivance was thus: That under the pretence of a Popish Plot, (which my Father first Imagined was on foot, and afterwards Oats at his Second Return, swore to be true) Their main and principal Design was to Disinherit His Royal Highness. The First persons that managed the Plot, and were privy to it, were my Father Oats, etc. The last time I was with B—, he told me he had something to write, that was not sit to be named, but he had burnt it; and said, he was afraid those Papers would make him mad, should he write any longer; and that my Father would trust none but him to Transcribe them, and he could not deny him, because he had no other Livelihood. My Father advised Oats to write the Plot in Greek Letters, because that none but themselves might be privy to what was dove. The Copy which was in Greek Letters was burnt by Oats. When they came to Fox-Hall, Mr.— was taken in for an Assistant, after he had been sworn to Secrecy. They went to Fox-Hall by my Father's advice, to the end they might be the more private, where those Papers they wrote at— were put into Form, and delivered into the Council. After they all Three removed from Fox-Hall, and Nailed up the Chamber-door, having left several Papers behind; and my Father understanding by Mr. Lambert, that the Door was broken up by the Landlord, and the Papers like to be seized on, was much troubled at it, and sent away the Rent that was due by his Man Richard— now living at— who brought back the Papers with him, and can Testify the same. Sir, I have no Chamber nor Conveniency to write, and besides have a very great Cold upon me; but request you would be pleased to accept of this, which is upon a second Recollection of my Thoughts, which is my own voluntary Act; and I have been under great Trouble of Conscience ever since I went from my Evidence, ana many times ready to Despair, but that Mrs.— coming to see a Prisoner, I desired her to look out some Papers I had left at her House; and I sent to you, being you were the Person I had wronged, and therefore thought it my Duty to acknowledge my Fault, which I do now again, and Protest, that what I have done is neither in hope of Favour, nor Reward, but to discharge a good Conscience, and to show that I am truly Penitent. And am Your veriest Commandable Servant, Simson Tonge. In Answer to this as follows. Jan. 6. 1682. Mr. Tonge, ALthough you have so exceedingly forfeited your Credit in the former Abuses you put upon the King; and others that believed you, that you cannot expect much weight to be laid upon your single word, for any thing, yet having dealt so openly, and so particularly, (and all on your own accord too) in a Letter to me of Yesterday, I cannot but hope that you are a true Convert. You have named several Persons that were Privy to the matter of Fact there in Question. You shall do well to bethink yourself both where they may be found, and what particulars they can speak to. And what you say, let it be in the Awe of Divine Justice, and Eternal Damnation if you belly any Creature. I will endeavour to do you good some honest way or other: but I dare not venture to see you, or speak with you, for fear of Misconstruction. This is all I can say at present. Your Loving Friend, R. L'Estrange. This was followed by another, from Tonge, Jan. 6. 10. Jan. 10. 1682. Mr. L'Estrange, I Am very sensible that my single word will be but of small moment. However as I declare nothing but the Truth, yet if by declaring what others can Testify, I can be anyways Instrumental to the further discovery of it, I should not a little rejoice. [— having writ all the Papers which related to the History of the Plot, can give account of the whole contrivance, and the several meetings that my Father, Oates, etc. had. He is the only man in Town, could he be found out, etc.] I have a great cold with sitting on the ground to make Pegg●, as I do all the week, and must work very hard for three-half pence a day, which is all I have, etc.— I am barefooted, and almost naked. I must confess, I have deserved far worse than this; but God that hath promised that at what time soever a Sinner doth truly Repent, he will have mercy, will, I hope, look upon my unfeigned Repentance, and incline His Majesty's Royal Heart to pity and pardon me, if you please to impart my sorrowful Estate unto the King; and to let His Gracious Majesty know how I was Trepanned by my Uncle; for the which I am very sorrowful, and am still. Pray Sir consider the sad Condition of Your Poor Servant, Simson Tongue There never was such a Penitent certainly to all manner of purposes; but I began now to have enough of him, and in a short Letter of the Day following put an end to the Correspondence. Jan. 11. 1682. Mr. Tonge. I Dare not presume to trouble the King in your Affair. But I will do you all the good I can in what Case soever the matter will Honestly bear it. Your Loving Friend, R. L'Estrange. By this time, Tonge, and his Advisers, finding that they could not Compass their End; and Mr. Thompson's News-Paper having given Vent to the Design, they laid their Heads together to make the best Retreat they could; and to Face a Shame upon the World, as if L'Estrange had been already up to the Ears in a New Plot: But they were so Thankful however as to Cover the Backside of the Poor Fellow for his goodwill, put some few Pence in his Pocket, and preserve him from Starving this bout, in hope of a more favourable Opportunity. But this shall not serve their Turn, if there be any Reverence left for the Memory of the Popish Plot; or any Justice to be obtained upon Those Miscreants that make it their business to tear up the very Foundation of it by the Roots; For the worst is yet to come, and under Tongue's Hand, and by him Attested, as well as all the rest. When I came from the University (says he) in the Year 77. I found Oats with my Father, in a very poor Condition, who complained he knew not what to do to get Bread; who went under the Name of Ambrose. My Father took him home, and gave him clothes, Lodging, and Diet, saying he would put him into a way. And then he persuaded him to get acquainted among the Papists; and when he had done so, than my Father told him, there had been many Plots in England to bring in Popery, and if he would go over among the Jesuits, and Observe their ways, it was possible it might be One now; and if he could make it out, it would be his Preferment for ever. But however, if he could get their Names, and a little Acquaintance from the Papists, it would be an Easy matter to stir up the people to fear Popery.] And again, My Father and He (Dr. Oates) went and Lodged at Fox-Hall, at One lambert's, a Bell-Founder, (which House was called by the Neighbours the Plot-House; And there Oates' Narrative was Written; whereof several Copies were Written, very Different, the One from the Other; and the Four Jesuits Letters (wherein Oats pretended was the whole Discovery) were Counterfeits, etc. All this I have to show under Tongue Hand, and I Appeal to Men and Angels, if, it be not the Boldest Attempt that ever was yet made upon the Credit of the Popish Conspiracy: And sufficient to shake any Man's Faith, as to That Point, that were not Proof against the Utmost Effects of Malice, Impudence, and Imposture. So many Particulars, so Boldly, and Openly Attested; in the Face of so many Witnesses, Trials, Convictions, Sentences, and Executions! And all this, Expressly Levelled at the Honour of our Parliaments, and the Dignity of Public Justice with only the Profligate, and Faithless Practices of the Instrument to Weigh against the Impious Design, and the Desperate Effects and Consequences of so Daring a Scandal. But let the suggestions be never so Incredible and Ridiculous; It is a thing of great Mischief yet to suffer the Authors of these B●●its and Rumours to pass Unpunished: for Malevolent Spirits will be apt to say; If there were not something into, how is it, that the Reporters of these Fables come to scape? The Best thing he has to say for himself, will be, perhaps, that he has not so much published▪ These Shamms by way of Affront to the Plot, as thrown them out for a Bait for L'Estrange to Chop at: So that the Credit of the Protestant Religion, and the English Government must, at this rate, be Exposed, upon the Experiment of Trying to Engage, and Hamper L'Estrange in the Intrigue. But alas! I am so thoroughly satisfied in the Business of the Plot; and the whole Scheme of it is so Perfectly, and Distinctly in my Head, that I have not the least Curiosity in the World to know more on't; Beside; That In vain is the Net spread in the sight of the Bird. I have not Concerned myself to Hunt after his Father's Papers, to Trace out his Father's Agents; nor Directly, or Indirectly made any sort of Applications Pursuant to his Purpose, and Desire; but Innocently held him in play with Letter for Letter, to keep up the Rest. The Only Thing that stuck with me upon the thought of this Publication, was the Nicety of Committing those Papers to a Public View, which might seem perhaps to be deposited in my Hands under some sort of Confidence, and Trust: But when I considered, on 〈◊〉 other hand, that These Letters were meant only as Snares to me under the Semblance of That Confidence, I was my own Confessor in the Case, and easily discharged myself of That Scruple: And not without a Further Sense neither of Duty to the Government. In Conclusion; I have here made a Fair Discovery of a Foul Practice, both upon the Public, and upon my Self; I was to have been Trappaned the One way, and Tonge is Detected the Other. I shall remit the rest to the Wisdom of my Superiors, how far it may be either Safe, or Expedient to Encourage this way of Proceeding; Even to the Violation of Common-Faith, and Society. The Plot's a Shame (says Tonge;) If L'Estrange says so too, 'tis almost as much as his Neck's worth: Why should not This Scandalous Affront now, be as Dangerous to Tonge for the Starting of it, as it would have been to L'Estrange if he had Joined in't? Trapanning will become a Trade, (Nay, and Forswearing too) if Men shall find it their Interest, First to play the Knaves, or the Cheats, and then (as I said before) come off for the Discovery, and set up for Informers. This is the Case; and if I had done less, I had been wanting both to the Public, and to Myself. FINIS.