THE MOST Remarkable Trials Of 

Nathaniel Thompson.  
William Paine.  
John Farewell.   AT THE Kings-Bench Bar in Guild-Hall, On the 20th of this Instant June, 1682.  
For Trespass and Misbehaviours, in Writing, Printing, and Publishing Letters, importing, That Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey murdered himself. Also several scandalous Reflections upon the Government, and arraigning the Justice of the Nation. With all the material Circumstances that attended their Trial, wherein they were all Three found guilty.  
Guild-Hall, June 20.  
THis being the first sitting of this Term at the King's Bench Bar for the City of London, and the Liberties thereof, after several Trials the long expected Trial of Nathaniel Thompson, William Paine, and John Farewell, according to the Adjournment of the last Term came to an Issue. First the Jury were sworn, viz. Peter Hubland Foreman, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Barry, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Bifeild, Mr. Lee, Mr. Whitwood, Mr. Sambrook, William Jacob, John Denew, Mr. Baly, and Mr. Howard, all substantial Citizens, and Men of Worth; whereupon Mr. Thompson, Counsellor at Law, opened the heinousness of the Fact, insisting that Nath. Thomson had Printed and Published Two Letters, the first directed to Mr. Miles Prance, about his Evidence in relation to the Death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, the other in answer to the Ghost, both dated in March last; In which he not only went about to make the People believe that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey murdered himself, but also arraigned the Justice of the Nation, the Papers being produced in Court, Sir Philip Floyd, Sir John Nicols, and Esq Bridgman were called, who deposed, that Thompson had owned the Printing of them, and that Farwell declared he brought him the one, and Pain the other, before the Council. After the general Paragraphs were read in his Intelligence, wherein he seemed to justify the former Letters, and that he could bring a considerable number of Witnesses to prove that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey killed himself, or to that purpose; whereupon Sergeant Mainard, Counsel for the King, opened the Cause more at large, laying open the nature of the malicious Design, which he said was to insinuate into the People a belief, that that worthy person killed himself, and thereby to take off the Odium from the Papists, whose Interest those men strove to advance, who should dare to arraign the Justice of the Nation. After which Thompson, Paine, and Farwell were called to bring in their Witnesses, but the latter only made his personal appearance, being brought up in the Custody of a Tipstaff, and Counsel in the behalf of Thompson, endeavoured to make his Defence, he not appearing in Court. After the Council for the King had given the Charge, Mr. Saunders declared, that William Pain had been drawn into the unfortunate Action, and that he did absolutely disown it in its particular Circumstances, making many Apologies for his Client; but withal declaring, that if he thought him wilfully Guilty of so Notorious a Crime, he would not have appeared in his Cause; after him Mr. Yeaulding pleading for Thompson, and then Eliz. Curtis, Mr. Brown the Constable, and others had sworn that they gave in their Evidence at the Trial of Green, Berry, and Hill, and that the Record of their Conviction was, Read, and their Execution sworn to by Capt. Richardson, Farewell proceeded to call his Witnesses; viz. one Mr. Hazard, who deposed that upon the first brute of the finding the Body of Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey, Mr. Farewell desired him to go with him to see it, whereupon they went; when as Mr. Farwell conducted him the nearest way to the place where the Body had lain, it being then removed to the White House, some distance thence, and that he perceived some Blood scattered about the place, and whether it was the Blood of his Body, or not, he was ignorant; after him Mr. Leazenby, and Mr. Hobbs, two Chirurgeons, were sworn, who deposed, that by several Symptoms they found about the Deceased, they verily believed he was first Strangled, and afterwards Run thorough; the Defendant thereupon alleging, that his Choler made the Impression in his Neck; but the Chirurgeons, as well as others; declared their Opinions, that there was another Impression than what the Choler made; and that by the colour in his Face when Dead it was apparent that he had been Strangled, and the Cord or Handkerchief left about his Neck till the Blood was settled. After this he called William Balson, to prove the great quantity of Blood that was found upon the place, he declared that he believed in his Conscience that the Blood was laid there, there appearing no Blood upon his clothes, unless a small quantity on his Shirt behind: Then he desired one Rawson and his Wife to be called, who lived at the White House, and demanded of them whether the Mouth and Eyes of the Deceased were not Fly-blowed; to which they answered, they perceived no such thing: Then my Lord Chief Justice was pleased to ask them, whether they perceived the Flies busy at that time of the year (it being not only in the middle of October, but likewise Frosty weather) to which they answer, they perceived none then. Farewell alleged, that the Friends of the Deceased refused to let him be opened, and that the Coroner at first was doubtful whether it was felo de se, or that he was Murdered, and thereupon offered to produce the Journals of the House of Lords, to prove that Mr. Prance, and Mr. Bedlow did not agree in their Evidence: After which he again called Mr. Brown the Constable, who declared upon Oath, that Mr. Farewell had been tampering with him, and told him, he had not given in his Affidavit right, and offered to instruct him therein; but he was wiser than to be Ruled by him; and in conclusion, he called several other Witnesses, as Mr. Paulet, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Whinyard, etc. who for the most part made against him, their Evidence being contrary to his purpose; all or most of them declaring they did verily believe that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Murdered by the Papist; and that what Blood was scattered, was brought thither. As for Nath. Thompson, notwithstanding his boast of 60 Witnesses, his Council endeavoured to excuse him, by declaring that he had voluntarily discovered his Authors, and that Pain and Farwell had put it upon him, and brought him into that Praemunire. After all the Witnesses called by Farwell were sworn (not any appearing for Thompson and Paine, Mr. Sergeant Maynard offered to call Witnesses for the King, as Mr. Prance, Dr. Oats, etc. but my Lord Chief Justice declared, it needed not, for that he only gave the Defendants all imaginable Liberty to see how far they would drive on the Design, the which, could they make any ways piausible, it would certainly please the Papists that had undeniably set them on work, to obliterate their Plot against the Nation, which was so open, and at this day apparent to all men of reason and understanding; whereupon Farwell declared, he was no Papist, and offered to call Witnesses to prove what he said; whereto my Lord Chief Justice Replied, He verily believed he was of no Religion, as by his Actions in the present Cause was apparent; for that it was a malicious Design to Arraign the Justice of the Nation, and to vindicate those that had legally suffered, which he by no means ought to do; and after his Lordship had given an Excellent Charge to the Jury, they, without going from the Bar, gave in their Verdict, that Nathaniel Thompson, William Paine, and Mr. Farewell, were Guilty of the Trespass and Misbehaviour for which they were Tried; whereupon followed such a Shout as made the Court ring; and afterwards Farewell was conveyed to the King's-Bench Prison, from whence he came, there to continue till he be Fined for the Matter aforesaid.   

LONDON, Printed for L. Curtiss, at the Sign of Sir Edmund-Bury-Godfrey, near Fleet-Bridge.