THE OBSERVATOR Proved a TRIMMER: OR, Truth and JUSTICE VINDICATED, IN The HISTORY of the MURDER OF Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, And the Several POPISH sham's Since made Use of to amuse the World about it.  
BEING A Full Answer to certain late Pamphlets, Entitled, OBSERVATORS; Wherein the Evidence of that Gentleman's being Murdered by Papists, is very falsely Stated; and the Positions and Practices of the Church of Rome, too favourably Represented.  
Humbly Dedicated to the CLERGY of England.  
The fourth Impression Corrected.  Non recipit Mendacium Veritas, nec patitur Religio Impietatem— D. Hil. 
LONDON: Printed for J. Allen, and are to be Sold by most Booksellers. 1685.   

TO THE 

Most Reverend  
Right Reverend  
And Reverend   CLERGY OF THE Church of England, By Law Established.  
My Lords! And Venerable Sirs!  
AS these Animadversions are made Public without the least malice to the Person of the Observator, or design to gratify any Faction, or undervalue any Services his Papers may have heretofore done the Church or State; But to Rectify certain things which he has lately advanced, that may (if they pass uncontrolled) prove injurious to the Honour and Interest of both; so they address not to you for Protection, any further than your Justice and Piety is always wont to favour Truth. And therefore (humbly cast at your feet) are submitted to your grave and impartial Considerations and Censure; as being under God and His Majesty, the Watchful Overseers, whose especial Concern it is (in your several Stations) to take Care Ne quid detrimenti Capiat Ecclesia.   

AN ANSWER TO Some late Pamphlets, ENTITLED, OBSERVATORS, In which the Evidence of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's being Murdered by Papists, is grossly misrepresented, and maliciously slandered.  
'TIS one of the Observators own Maxims, That nothing but Print can answer Print; [Obs. Vol. 1. Numb 473.] Therefore not only excusable, but necessary to Print a few Honest Loyal Animadversions on some late Printed passages of his, which are false and scandalous, concerning the Murder of Sir Edmbundbury Godfrey. For since the Observator (after so many desperate and unsuccessful Attempts of others) is pleased once more to bring that Affair upon the Stage, (though not in any Judicial Course or Form, but by way of Argumentation and Libel) and make that Gentleman's Assassination a Subject of his Sport and Raillery, and expose the belief of his being killed by Papists, as ridiculous in the highest degree; since he was so liberally exercised his Talon on the Witnesses, and musters up a multitude of imaginary Contradictions, which he avows they positively have sworn to, etc. What remains, but that we take leave to examine the weight of his Allegations, the occasions, Proofs, Circumstances, and Ends of all this unseasonable noise and Clamour? And if we find them to have no Colour of Truth or Probability, and that they are mere Malicious Imputations; We hope it will be no Offence modestly to tell the World so much, and demonstrate the Particulars thereby doing Right, (as much as lies in a private Capacity) to injured Truth. and the Honour of our Country; checking the Progress of Lies and sham's, and rescuing the present Age from such confident Delusions as well as preventing their Influence on Posterity.  
But in this whole Disquisition the Reader must excuse us from that Gaiety of Humour, which usually sparkles in an Observator, (especially where there is any Witness of the Popish Plot in the case) and renders his Scribbles so taking with the Mobile of Witlings; for there are Gallants that can laugh at Trajedies, and scoff even at mnipotency, and Ridicule the most sacred and serious things; yet certainly, amongst all that are (in good earnest) Christians, or Loyal Subjects, Murders and Assassinations; Oaths upon the Holy Evangelists, Solemn Examinations before his Sacred Majesty, and his most Honourable Privy Council, and afterwards in the House of Peers, (one of the most August and Honourable Courts under Heaven) the legal Proceed of Sworn Judges and Juries, in case of Life and Death, and the Execution of Convicted Murderers, are matters which as they should not rashly be determined of, censured, questioned or meddled with by any private persons; so much less ought they to be made the common Themes of wanton Droll, and scurrile Buffonery.  
But lest any already should have forgot, or in after times be ignorant of the mature Cautions, vigilant and prudent Proceed used in the Examinations touching the Discovery of the  Gentlemans Murder, and against those Executed for the same, and other public Transactions that have since happened, relating thereunto; I think it convenient in the first place to give a brief, yet true and impartial state, of the matter of Fact.  
On the 6th of September, 1678, Titus Oates did repair to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, being one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and before him did swear to his Information touching the Popish Plot; yet without permitting him then to read the Particulars, only assuring him in general that it contained matter of Treason, and other high Crimes; and that his Majesty had a Copy of it. On the 28th day of the same month two more of the said Copies were sworn to by the said Oats before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey who then would needs keep one of them, having never before perused the said Information. [See Mr. Christopher Kirkby's Narrative of the Discovery of the Popish Plot to his Majesty, p. 2. and 3.  
On the 12th of October following, Sir Edmundbury going forth as he used to do, and not returning at night, not being heard of for several days, his Servants, Friends, and the whole Town were much alarmed thereat; But many Stories were industriously buzzed up and down about him; You cannot but remember (saith the Reverend Dr. Lloyd, now Bishop of St. Asaph, in his Funeral Sermon, Octob. 31. which was before any Discovery made of the Murderers) You cannot but remember the dust that was raised in the week when the search should have been made; Those Calumnies, and those various Reports that went about it, were on purpose to hinder the Discovery. One while he had withdrawn himself for Debt, another while he was Married, and not very decently; another while he was run away with a Harlot, even what the Father of Lies put into their Heads; at last when they knew what they intended to do with him, they prepared you to expect it by giving out, THAT HE HAD KILLED HIMSELF; you know how impatient they were to have this believed; I was told it some Hours before the Discovery, that he was found with his own Sword through his Body, others could tell that he had two Wounds about him; These things were found to be true some Hours after. (So far that excellent and Reverend Person.)  
For on Thursday, Octob. 17. near the Evening, the Body was accidentally found in a Ditch, near Primrose-Hill, with his Sword run through him, his Gloves and Scabbard lying not far off on the Bank, Gold and Silver in his Pocket, nothing missing but his Band and Papers.  
The next day the Coroner having impanelled a Jury, and viewed the Body with the Assistance of two able Surgeons, the Inquest found upon their Oaths, that certain Malefactors unknown feloniously and of their Malice prepensed, had strangled and choked him, whereof he died; Whereupon his Majesty issued forth his Proclamation for discovering and apprehending the Murderers, with a gracious Proposal of Five hundred Pound Reward, and Pardon to any one of them should discover the rest.  
Sometime after Mr. William Bedloe coming in, did, (amongst other things relating to the Popish Plot) make some discovery touching this Murder: But most part of what he deposed therein, was but the words of others, viz. what Le Phair, Pritchard, Welsh, Koins and another, (all five Jesuits) had told him; only as to his own knowledge he swore that he saw the Body after it was Murdered, lie in a Room at Summerset-house on Monday night, Octob the 14th.  
On the 21 of Decemb. following, one Miles Prance, a Goldsmith in Prince's Street, and then a Roman Catholic, was upon the suspicions of one of his Lodgers or Neighbours, suggesting that he had lain out of his house about that time of Godfrey's Murder, though in Truth the same was a fortnight before) taken up by a Warrant, and waiting in the Lobby by the Parliament House in order to be examined, Bedloe coming by, and not knowing that he was already in Custody desired that he might be secured, and charged him positively to be concerned in that Murder, remembering his face again, as being one present when the dead Body was shown to him the said Bedloe as aforesaid.  
And the next day, and the days following Prance discovered the Circumstances of the Murder from his own knowledge, charging Girald and Kelly, (two Popish Priests) and Green, Berry and Hill; to have been actually concerned therein, which three last were sound, but the two Priests and one Vernat (who was charged as Privy to the Murder) made their escapes, and to this day stand outlawed for that Murder and Felony.  
Both Bedloe and Prance were divers times Examined before his Sacred Majesty, and the Council, before Commits of Lords and Commons, and the Bar of either House of Parliament; and all appeared so well satisfied in the Coherence and truth of their Evidence, that the five hundred Pound Reward promised to the first Discoverer, was accordingly paid to Bedloe, and also both their Pardons were granted, and it was thought fit to bring the said Green, Berry and Hill to their Trial, where at the King's Bench Bar the 10th of February, 1679 after a full and fair hearing, upon the Evidence of the said Bedloe, and Prance, and upon the Oaths of several other Witnesses, corrob orating the same in divers material points, and upon hearing what could be objected about Prances pretended Retraction, and what else could be alleged either against the Evidence, or for the Prisoners; They were all three found guilty by a Jury of Knights and Gentlemen of good Quality.  
And 'tis remarkable, That the Court was so fully satisfied, that when the Verdict was given, Sir William Scroggs then Lord Chief Justice, publicly expressed it in these Words:  
Gentlemen, You have found the same Verdict that I would have found if had been one with you; and if it were the last Words that I were to speak in this World, I should have pronounced them GUILTY (Trial. p. 86.)  
And the next day when they were brought to receive Sentence, his Lordship repeated the same thing to them, when they pretended their Innocency in these word; We do not expect much from you, and it is no great matter; for your Confession will do us but little good, but only for yourselves; we regard it not otherwise, because the Evidence was so plain, THAT ALL MANKIND IS SATISFIED; there is no SCRUPLE in the things;— Every one that heard your Trial hath great satisfaction, and for my own particular, I have GREAT SATISFACTION THAT YOU ARE EVERY ONE GUILTY [Trial p. 88] So Judge Wild in his Speech before the Sentence, averrs, That they were founa guilty upon a clear and pregnant Evidente, to the satisfaction of all good men that were indifferent; [Trial at. 89.  
Accordingly the said three Persons were soon after Executed, and though (according to the usual manner of persons of their Religion, after Absolution, especially where the Honour of their Church is concerned) they pleaded Innocency to the last; yet the formal Speech found in his Pocket, with the very words whereof he began to harangue, and went on as sar as he had Conned it by Heart, which was testified by his own Wife not to be of his writing; and in itself shown a malicious Spirit in the Inditer towards the Evidence and the Court, in Language above Hills capacity, makes it most probable that their denials were only the Dictates and Injunctions of some of their Priests, See Hills Speech, with the Animadversions thereon, Printed by Authority.]  
Here by the way it may be noted, That whereas the PAPISTS have since given out that Berry was always, or at least died a Protestant, [and if I do not much misremember, the Observator in some of his Papers (for I have neither leisure nor inclination to review his Fardel for the certain number) does make the same Suggestion] the same is notoriously false, for he had many years been a Papist, chief lead thereto for Lucre, and to get an Employment, as he acknowledged to Mr. Smith the Ordinary of Newgate: 'Tis true, he did a little before his Execution declare to the said Mr. Smith,— That he did not believe many things which the Doctors of the Romish Church teach as necessary to be embraced for Articles of Faith, which is no more than what many other Papists will affirm; which shows them to be either Hypocrites, or at least that all the boasted Certainty and unity amongst them is Lies and Cheats) yet the said Berry neither in Prison, nor at the Gallows, would ever disown the Romish Church, nor in the least declare himself a Protestant.  
The whole Proceed in this most weighty Clause having been so solemn and deliberately weighed, sifted, examined and inspected by the highest Authority, and so many several Judicatures, and prudent Assemblies; and the Eyes of all the Nation being from first to last fixed and intent thereon, if ever in any case private Subjects ought to acquiesce in a public legal Determination, it must certianly be here.  
But of so mighty a concernment to the Papists and their Designs; was it to have the Murder removed from their doors, and such Loyal Peaceable and modest Subjects they are, when their Interest is concerned, that they have been restlessly employed in throwing dirt and scandal on the Government, and its clear and upright Proceed herein; and spare no pains nor Art to effect it.  
'Tis pleasant to observe by what variety of Tools, and on what different pretences and contradictory Mediums they have moild and toiled to shuffle off the indeligible guilt from their Party; but as the incomparable Papinian, told the Emperor Caracalla, when he required him to palliate by an Oration the kill of his Brother, That it was more easy to commit, than excuse a Murder; so hitherto all their Attempts have been vain, Just Providence (as we doubt not, He will ever do, that is the Avenger of Blood, and God of Truth) turning all their Lying and Crafty Invention to their greater shame and confusion.  
One of their first Attempts (besides railing at the Witnesses in several Libels) was as I remember, in a Printed Pamphlet, Entitled, Reflections, etc. about the beginning of July, 1679. Wherein by advancing several notorious Falsehoods, and thence (like our Observator) deducing plausible, but altogether fallacious Arguments, blind hints, and Inuendo's, they endeavoured to raise jealousies and suspicions upon a Noble Protestant Lord, [The E. of D.] who being than not only Confined, but under a popular Odium, they thought (it seems) that the most groundless improbabilities would be believed of him; The persons that handled that villainous Paper to the Press, that good Catholic Gentlewoman that Midwifed it abroad, and distributed them, and the Printers (one that refused, and another that did it) are not unknown; or if they were, by the thing itself, the Language, Arguments and Scope; 'tis evident, that it came out of the Roman Forge, hammered on purpose to serve a turn for that Party; But the same soon after being fully detected and confuted by the publication of Mr. Kirkbies' Narrative, vanished like an ignis fatuus, and left only a loathsome stinch of Popish Impudence behind it. [See Kirkbies Narrative, and the Impartial State of the Case of the E. of D.]  
After this, about the month of September, 1680. comes Mrs. Celier, a Roman Catholic too, and flushed with an acquital, she had then late before obtained on an Indictment of Treason; she publishes a Libel, Entitled, Malice Defeated, etc. (owned by her, but supposed and charged in Print to be written by Munson a Condemned Popish Priest, then in Newgate; which was never that I know of denied or disproved) wherein amongst many other impudent reflections on the King, and the Protestant Religion, and the public Justice of the Nation: She affirms, Prance to have been Racked and grievously Tortuard in Newgate, and thence would insinuate, That all his Testimony touching Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder, was by those means extorted from him, for which Seditious Libel (upon the Prosecution of Mr. Robert Stephens, Messenger of the Press) being brought to Trial at the Old Bailie, on Saturday the 11th of September. 1680. upon a full hearing, That false and scandalous Allegation of Prances being Racked or Tortured, being fully disproved, and she not so much as offering the least shadow of Testimony to make it good, she was found guilty; and on Monday the 13th of the same month, Sentenced to be put on the Pillory three times at several places, and fined 1000 l. and so stand Committed in Execution till the same paid; Accordingly she did stand on the Pillory, and remained a considerable time in Newgate, and how at last she became discharged, I have not inquired. But these words of (the then) Mr. Baron Weston who chief managed her Trial, are worthy an Observators notice, (viz.)  
There was a horrid barbarous Murder Committed here, and which certainly did fix the Accusation of the Plot fuller upon them [the Papists] then all the Evidence that was given besides: The Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Magistrate, who in doing of his duty, was most barbarously Murdered, and BY WHOM is Evidenced by one Prance; It hath been the whole Labour of the Party, to cast his Murder upon other persans, and take it off themselves, for they find if that Accusation stick upon them; it is a thing of so Heinous a Nature, that it will make the Popish Party odious to all Mankind. And therefore this they Labour at MIGHTILY, and this Task she hath taken on herself, etc.  
The next that Tampered with this matter, was one Fitz-Harris an Irish Papist, (since Executed for Contriving a most Horrid and Treasonable Libel) who to save his own Stake when desperate, offered at the same Game started by the Author of the Reflections, ; And upon his Oath, there was a Bill found by the Grand Jury against one Depree or Depuy, (or some such name) and the E. of D. as Accessaries before the Fact; upon which Subject, the OBSERVATOR, Numb. 141. has this Gloss— You cannot forget what Stickling there was amongst the true Protestants themselves, to ease the Papists of the Murder, and turn it upon that Noble Earl, who is known to be a Protestant of the Church of England, even of the highest form— That the Earl is a Protestant, I never heard denied, But the OBSERVATOR would have done well to have named those true Protestants that made this Stickling to case the Papists, and burden that Noble Lord; He says indeed, Numb. 141. That a near Relation of Sir Edmund, was Foreman of the Jury which found that Bill; what he designed to insinuate by this, is not hard to guests.  
But as the thing itself is utterly false, the Foreman of that Jury, being no nearer a Relation to Sir Edmund, then to the OBSERVATOR, viz. a small Cousin to both on Adam's side, so upon inquiry, I cannot hear of any Relations to the Martyred Gentleman, but what (were like himself) sound Protestants of the Established Church of England.  
But what means the man, when in the same Paper he says, The charging of my Lord at that time of the day, looked as if THEY were still groping after the Truth of the matter; And was constructively improved into a tacit discharge of the Papists?— No Mortal certainly, but the Papists themselves, except it should happen to be the Observator; who has showed himself so ready to improve that way any thing (though never so inconsequent or Extravagant.)  
2. As to the Charging of the Earl here intended, 'tis plain, 'twas done by Fitz Harris, a Traitorous Irish Papist; which I suppose Mr. Observator could not be ignorant of, being to this day no stranger to a near Relation of his, who (as I have heard) forfeited what Estate he had, for being concerned in a certain Scuffle in Ireland, between Whig and Tory about the year 1641. wherein a small parcel of about two hundred thousand Heretics had their throats cut— But let that pass.  
The Truth of the story which the Observator thus constructively improves to a tacit discharge of the Papists from the guilt of Godfrey's Murder, is thus:  
Fitz-Harris upon his Arraignment in the Kings-Bench for his Traitorous Libel, having put in a Plea to the Jurisdiction of that Court, because an Impeachment he alleged, was pendent against him in Parliament; The Court on the 11th of May, 1681. overruled it, and gave him notice to prepare for a Trial on the ninth of June following; On the 13th of May, a motion was made for Fitz-Harris to be brought up by Habeas Corpus to the Bar, to give Evidence against the before mentioned De Pree, touching the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey; The Court took time till next day to consider; And then awarded a Habeas Corpus; upon which being brought up May the 16th, and sworn; he was ordered to give his Evidence to the Grand Jury in open Court, where he told a long story: And the Bill before mentioned, was found upon his positive Oath; what other Grounds the Grand Jury had for finding it, I am not to inquire; but if there were leave in such Cases for Conjecture, it might justly be supposed, that the Jury remembering the former attempt of the Papists in their Libel of Reflections; and that the Witness was of the same stamp and party; were desirous to see what could possibly be offered to maintain it, that the Truth might be sifted to the utmost, and the Innocency of the Accused have a public Vindication: Whereas should they have refused to find the Bill, the Romanists would then undoubtedly have improved it constructively to a tacit discharge of their Party, and cried out of a stoppage of Justice. But so little started was that Honourable Lord, that immediately, (as I am credibly informed) he exhibited a Petition, that he might speedily be brought to Trial thereupon.  
Now by what Constructiveness any Honest Protestant should improve this fair, deliberate, judicial procedure into a  discharge of the Papists from the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, because a known Papist, in hopes to save his own Neck, swore such and such Protestants were Accessary, I am utterly ignorant; though yet the OBSERVATOR has published it in Black Letters, as a special hint to those Folks he writes unto, or for that they may take more notice of, and further improve it upon occasion.  
Only this is further to be noted, That the same Fitz-Harris in his Examination before Sir George Treby, and Sir Robert Clayton, March 10. said no more than that Depuy told him, That the Murder was Consulted at Windsor; and that in April, 1680. Kelly told him at Calais, that he was one of the persons concerned in the Murder, and that the same was done much in manner as Prance had related it.— And the very next day was Fitz-Harris removed from Neugate to the Tower, and there kept close Prisoner; so that it was impossible any of those THET whom the OBSERVATOR seems to aim at by the Title of true Protestants, could put him upon any such villainy, as he afterward deposed touching this Affair. *  
Another Irishman, one Magrath steps in, pretending, there were those that could make it appear, that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Hanged himself, and that one Mr. Moor (who was Sir Edmund's Clerk) cut him down: Which matter being examined at the Council board, May 26. 1681. the said Magrath was found to hold Correspondence with Mrs Celier and the Popish Priests in Newgate, touching this matter, though he solemnly vowed he had no Acquaintance with them, and the whole appeared to be a false and malicious Contrivance: Whereupon he was required to find Sureties, and so that Project likewise fell to the ground: [See the Appendix to Thompson's Trial, printed by Authority, p. 40. where also is an Affidavit of the said Mr. Moor, utterly confuting that scandal; and 'tis reported the same honest Gentleman has since or lately been interrogated or Examined about the same business, but still persisteth in his former Testimony.  
Not yet discouraged, one Thomson that called himself the Loyal Intelligencer, but by others was commonly styled The Popish Printer: How justly I know not; but as I hear, he is at this day (or very lately was) in Newgate for Printing Popish Books or Libels, against his Majesty's Supremacy: the Protestant Religion and Government.) This Thompson I sav, about February 1681/2;. And in several succeeding Months, by the Instigation of Pain and Farewell, the latter of which stands charged upon Oath in Print, to have been a Trustee for the Traitor Fenwick a Jesuit, some time since executed, [See the Appendix to Thompson's Trial, Fol. 50 & 51.] undertakes the business by several Scandalous Printed Letters to Prance on that subject, wherein asserting many untruths, as that the Coroner and Jury were first of Opinion, and declared. That Godfrey was Felo de se, That there were Cakes or Gobbets, of blood found in his , and near the place where the Body lay, That the , Belt, and Scabbard, were Weatherbeaten to rags, and his Eyes, Nostrils, and corner of his Mouth, were Fly blown, and that his Shoes were clean, or glazed with his walking on the Grass, and Grass seeds observed to stick in the seams of his Shoes; And (amongst the rest) alleging all that the Observator now musters up (viz. That Bedloes Evidence before the Committee of Lords) and Prances in Relation to this Gentleman's Death, were as different as the East from the West; for one dog's him out of St. Clement's, the other decoys him from Charing Cross; One swears he was strange led with a Handkerchief, near the Stables, going to the Waterside; the other, that he was smothered with a Pillow, in a Room in the great Court in Somerset house; One says, that he took Horse at So ho; the other that he took Coach at Clarendine House, with many other such like Contradictions; And from these and the like Allegations, the said Letters raised Arguments to invalidate the whole Evidence, and insinuate that the Gentleman Murdered himself; Which Letters are at large recited in the Trial of Thompson, etc. [from page 10, to page 18.]  
These pretended Letters were first rationally Answered and Confuted; But Thompson in his jutelligence, Observator, News-book, (or what you please to call it) still persisting in his Impudence, and boasting what wonderful matters he could make appear by a Cloud of undeniable Witnesses; he was at last summoned before his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, where having declared his Authors, they were committed to Newgate, and Mr. Attorney General ordered to Prosecute them at Law; And accordingly soon after, an Information was Exhibited against them by Mr. Attorney, wherein after the Recital of the Conviction of Green, Bery, and Hill; upon the Evidence of Bedloe, Prance, John Brown, Elizabeth Curtis, Zachary Skillarm, and Nicholas Cambride; and the flying of Girald, Kelly and Vernat. As also having recited the Inquesis taken before the Coroner, it is charged;  
That the said Nathaniel Thompson, William Pain, and John Farewell, well knowing the Premises, and being Persons devilishly affected, devising, practising, and with all their Strength, Intending the Peace and common Tranquillity of the Kingdom of England to disturb, and as much as in them lay, the due Course of the Law, to destroy subvert and elude, and the Justice of this Kingdom of England, to defame and scandalise; and as well the said Miles Prance, William Bedloe, Jonathan Brown, Elizabeth Curtis, Zachary Willarm, and Nicholas Cambridge, as the said Jonathan Cooper, and the honest and lawful men Sworn upon the Inquest aforesaid; upon view of the Body aforesaid; to bring into the greatest Hatred, Contempt, and vile Esteem with all the King's Subjects to deter the King's Subjects from finding, detecting, and proving the Designs of PAPISTS against ur Lord the King, and the true Religion now by Law established; and impiously and wickedly devising and intending them the said Gerald, Dominick, Kelly, and Philbert Vernat from undergoing the Pains and Sentence by Law upon them to be inflicted, for the Murder aforesaid; and to aid and assist them (altho' they beguilty) to be found not guilty thereof; and so deceive and beguile the King's Subjects in the Premises, with their False Affirmations and Arguments: and cause and procure that it should be believed and esteemed, that the said; Green, Berry, and Hill, the Persons for the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, as afore said, Convicted and Executed, had been Convicted and Executed Unjustly; and that the said Sir; Edmundbury Godfrey was Felo de se, and himself had Feloniously Murdered: They the said Thompson, Pain and Farewell, their most impudent, wicked, and diabolical Intentions to fulfil and perfect, afterwards, to wit, the 23 of February, in the 34th year of the Reign of Our now Sovereign Lord the King, at the Parish of St. Marry Le Bow, London; with Force and Arms, etc. falsely, unlawfully, unjustly, wickedly, and Diabolically, made and Composed, and caused to be Printed, a certain false scandalous Libel, Entitled, A Letter to Mr. Miles Prance, in Relation to the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey; in which Libel, (amongst other things) is contained, etc. [Reciting then the most material Passages of the said Libel]  
Which Case being brought to Trial, June 20. 1682. after a mighty Expectation raised by the confident Papers daily Printed by Thompson, the Defendants were not able to produce any Testimony that had the least show of Truth or Religion To justify those Allegations, but on the contrary, generally their own Witnesses, made against them. For Example:  
First, About the pretended Blood, found near the place where the Body lay; One William Balson a Witness Swears, that on the Friday, coming back from viewing the Body at the White-house, (whether it had been carried over Night by the Constable, after it was found (They shown me in a Ditch where they said lay some Blood, I cannot say it was his Blood; but I'll assure you, The Blood looked to me, like Blood that was left there, rather than any thing else. (Thompson's Trial pag. 22.) So Mr. Lazingby, one of their Witnesses Swears, The Blood that was, was some four yards from the Ditch, I put my Finger into it, and smelled to it, and it smelled like that which comes from a Body after a Fortnight's time dead, rather than a Weeks: My Lord! It was Blood and Water; the Water will separate from the Blood: Ibidem, p. 25. [Hear note, that probably some of the Murderers or their Agents that Conveyed the Body thither, after they heard it was found, and removed into a House, might privately the next day lay some Blood near the place, the better to colour their designed Lie, That he Murdered himself.]  
2. The Witnesses produced by the Defendants, all agree, Sir Edmundbury to have been Strangled; Thus Fisher swears, He looked as if he were Strangled, and his Neck was so weak, that you might turn it any Way; p. 22. So by the Surgeons, by them produced, Mr. Chase— my Lord! I believe he was Straugled, for I don't believe, that those Injuries that were offered about him, could be after he was dead, (pag. 23.) And Mr. Hobbs— Indeed My Lord! I thought he was strangled, that was my opinion, (Ibidem) See Mr. Lazingby— He appeared to me to be Strangled, and that which strangled him was kept about his Neck till he was very cold, (pag. 25.) And that from the upper part of his Neck to his Stomach and Breast, was very much discoloured and black, and his mouth was discolcured: Now (says he) when ever a man is bruised, whilst he is Alive, or whlist he is Warm; the part after the Person is dead, will soon Corrupt,; (page 26.)  
3. As for the story of Fly-blows, there was no Proof, but the contrary; and Brown swears, that Farewell would have him say so, but that he never did say so; page 24.  
4. It is observable, that as Thompson in his Libels had not omitted this Topick, now improved by the Observator; (viz.) The difference between the Evidence Mr. Bedloe gave in the House of Lords, and the Evidence that Prance gave at the Trial of Green Berry and Hill; So Mr. Farewell desired he might prove Copies of the Journals; And my Lord Chief Justice that then was replied, You shall make any proof you will.— But Mr. Farewell, though he caused one Stanley to be sworn, to prove those Copies, did presently ('tis supposed by advice of his Council, knowing how vain any such thing would be) go off from, and declined that Proof; and all that they had to offer being heard, My Lord Chief Justice delivered himself in these Words:  
Gentlemen, I did give him [speaking of Farewell who seemed the chief Person in this Intrigue] leave to go into what Evidence he would in this Case, net that I thought it materiale for if he could have PROVED NEVER SO MUCH, yet his MALICE had been NEVER the LESS, to have gone and aspersed the GOVERNMENT; What had he to do to meddle with it? To what purpose should he write Books concerning the matters of Government? To traduce the Justice of the Nation? The People had suffered as Malefactors? If they had suffered INNOCENTLY, he ought to have done no such thing as this is, he did design and would (no doubt of it) have been very much satisfied, if he could have made but some probable Evidence that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey killed himself; and I was desirous to hear what they would say for themselves: But you hear what a kind of Evidence it is; Not a Witness he hath called, but 'tis as much against him as can be, and does Evince it plainly, that the man was killed by Strangling; And so the Evidence was upon the Trial of;; Green, Berry and Hill, if he could have raised a Doubt about it, yet his offence had not been Mitigated by it; for a private Person is not to Arraign the Justice of the Nation: But I was willing to hear what could be said in the Case; whether a Doubt could be made in the World, that Sir; Edmundbury Godfrey was not Murdered and you see how his veay Evidence hath in all things coufirmed the Evidence that Prance hath given, that he was killed, and that by STRANGLING, I must leave it with you Gentlemen, they are three in this mischief, 'tis a Combination of them to astront the public justice of the Nation; And what is the end of it? The end of it is, to make people believe there is no Popish piot: But it is plain, He was killed by the popish party As;; Prance upon his Evidence against Green, and the others Attested; But if they could have made it out. That he killed himself, all of them would have cried out, The Popish plot was a shame, nothing but a thing raised by the Protestants against the Papists, and all the Plot must have gone for nothing, Gentlemen, I do leave it with you, etc.  
The matter was so plain, that the Jury without stirring from the Bar, found them all three Guilty.  
The Prisoners were not brought to Sentence till the third of July, 1662. Between which time and the Trial, Thompson having in his Intelligence took upon him to give an Account, as if Justice had not been done them, (though they had as much time and liberty given them by the Lord Chief Justice to call their WITNESSES, and examine who they would, as they could desire) therefore for further satisfaction the following AFFIDAVITS of WITNESSES for the King that attended the Trial, but were not then called, were read in open Court, the first was of Captain Spence, a tall black Man, and in person very like Sir Edmundbury Godfrey; in these words  
Spence's Affidavits.  
Richard Spence, Citizen and Upholder of London, living in Arundel-street in the Strand, in the Parish of St. Clement's Dane, in the County of Middlesex; having been twice subpenaed to give Evidence for the King upon an Information exhebited in the Crown-Office against Nathaniel Thompson, William pain, and John Farewell, and not being called at their Trial to give Evidence in open Court, maketh Oath; That upon Thursday the tenth day of October, 1678, it being the Thursday before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was missing from his House in Hartshorn-Lane in the Strand, as he this Deponent was coming from St. James 's Market, to go to his own House, about seven of the Clock at night, there were then at the Water-gate at , five or six men standing together, who laid hold on this Deponent as he was passing by them, and they taking hold of both this Deponents Arms, dragged him down about a yard within the Water-gate of , it being dark; but one of the said men, which this Deponent believes to have been HILL; (for that this Deponent knew him very well; as also his Master, Doctor Godwyn) cried out and said, This is not he: upon which they immediately let this Deponent go.  
Richard Spence.  
Jurat the 10th of July, 1682.  
Coram me W. Dolbin.  
Then John Oakly's Affidavit was read.  
John Oakly, of the Parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, in the County of Middlesex; Servant to Mr. Robert Breeden of Hartsshorn-lane, in the said Parish and County, Brewer: maketh Oath, That on Saturday the 12th day of October, 1678. about eight or nine of the Clock in the Evening, he was in the City of London, in the Company of his Father Robert Oakely of Bissiter, in the County of Oxon, Maulster: And his Father came with him as far as Ludgate, where they parted. And this Deponent going homewards to his master Breedons-House, coming by Sommerset-House in the Strand, when he came near the Gate of that House, which leads down to the Waterside, commonly called the Water-Gate, which was about nine of the Clock at night, he there saw Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and past close by him, and put off his Hat to him; and Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, put off his Hat again to him. And after that this Deponent had passed beyond Sir Edmundbury, he this Deponent turned about, and looked upon him again, and Sir Edmundbury Gopfrey stood still, and there was a man or two near Sir Edmundbury: And this Deponent further saith, that he knew Sir Edmundbury Godfrey very well, for that he saw him almost daily pass by his Master Bredoons-House in Hartshorn lane, going or coming from his own Dwellinghouse, which was also in Hartshorn-lane: And this Deponent further saith, that about two or three days after, when the Rumour was, that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was missing, he acquainted his Fellow Servant Elizabeth Dekin, that he saw Sir Edmundbury Godfrey near the Water-gate at Sommerset-House in the Strand, that very Saturday night that he was reported to have been missing from his House in Hartshorn-lane: And this Deponent further saith, that he told the same thing to his Uncle Ralph Oakely of the Parish of Little St. Bartholomew, about a week after the time that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Body was found, and also that he told the same thing to his Father the aforesaid Robert Oakely, and to several others, in a short time after.  
John Oakely.  
Jurat. 22. die Junii 1682.  
Coram me. John Moor, Mayor.  
Note in this Appendix to Thompson's Trial, p. 43, 44, and 45. You may see four Affidavits, (viz.) of Elizabeth Dekin, John Breedon, Ralph Oakely the Uncle, and Robert Oakely, corroborating this last Affidavit, and all proving that the Deponent did, both before the Body was found, and soon after, relate to them the substance of what he had now sworn therein.  
The Affidavit of Robert Forset.  
Robert Forset, of Marrowbone in the County of Middlesex, Esquire; having been twice Subpoena'd to give Evidence for the King, upon an Information exhibited in the Crown-Office, against Nathaniel Thompson, William Pain, and John Farewell; and being not called to give Evidence in open Court, maketh Oath, That Tuesday the 15th of October, 1678. Being the Tuesday that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was missing: He this Deponent was a Hunting with his Pack of Hounds, at the very place where the Body of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was afterwards found, and beat that very place with his Hounds, and the Body was not then there, nor any Gloves nor Cane thereabout; the said Deponent further saith, that the same day Mr. Henry Harwood, requested him this Deponent, that he would let him have his Hounds the next day after, being Wednesday, and be would find that Hare they could not find on Tuesday, or Words to that purpose: And this Deponent further saith, That he the said Harwood hath several times since affirmed, that he did accordingly Hunt in the same place, and beat the same Ditch, and said, that the Body was not there that Wednesday at Noon, which said Henry Harwood is newly dead.  
Robert Forset.  
Jurat 1. Die Julii 1672.  
Coram me W. Dolben.  
After these Affidavits were read, the Court proceeded to Sentence; which was, That Thompson and Farewell should stand in the Pillory at the Old Palace-yard at Westminster, and each of them pay an hundred Pound, and to be imprisoned till they paid it; And Pain only Fined an hundred Pound. Accordingly Thompson and Farewell did stand in the Pillory with this Writing over their Heads.  For Libelling the Justice of the Nation, by making the World believe, that Sir EDMUNDBURY GODFREY Murdered himself. 
But now as if all these things had been transacted in a Corner, or were utterly forgot; as if still (against the Testimony of so many Records) the manner of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder were as uncertain as the story of Brute, or a Popish Legend of St. Kit, or the eleven thousand Virgins, comes the witty Observator, and (not to mention several of his former squinting reflections, in defiance both of Iruth, and all those wholesome Laws whereon these former Criminals had been punished, does in three Papers, one dated September 29. 1684. another the first of October, the third the sixth of the same month, under take, and by a few bold dashes of the Luxuriant Pen, by his single Authority to Reverse (in effect) the whole Proceed.  
But what News does this illuminated Author bring? Can he assign any other manner of the Gent lemons death? Can he discover any other Murderer? Can he name any other time or place when or where the Honest Magistrate was brought to his untimely end? No, he pretends not to any thing of all this, for you must note his general work is to pull drun, not to Edify, to Dig a Pit, not to cover it, to amuse, and not to satisfy; If you will be but so Courteous to believe, That the poor, ever-harmless, ever-innocent, ever-loyal Papists had no hand in it, the business is done: But if he cannot so much as offer any probable Account of the Murder, nor has any new matter to Communicate; to what purpose does he trouble himself & the world, or indeed (with all submission be it spoken) what has his Worship to do with it at all? Yet I'll warrant you, he has some secret reasons, some valuable (though no good) Causes and Considerations; but I doubt the Reader must turn back to the before-recited preamble in the Information against Thompson, etc. if ever he will truly understand them.  
Not to defile Paper with a particular Repetition of the Ribaldry, (as he himself delervedly calls his own handy work) the Substance of all these three Observators, (bating the lewd Expressions, as, Let us hear the Child of Perdition open against the man of Sin, Observator, 141. and the like Profanation of Holy Writ) is, to show his Faculties in giving us a new Lesson on the old String, Tuned to his hand by his dearly Beloved Fellow-Labourers, Thompson and Farewell; for though they (Bunglers as they were) could make no Music on't, he doubts not but to Tickle it so sweetly, that like a second Orpheus, all the unthinking Brutes and Logerheads about Town, shall dance to his Harmony; The Scope and Sum of all I say, is to new vamp the old baffled Calumny, viz. That there were Contradictions in the Evidence given upon Oath, by Prance and Bedloe, touching the manner and Circumstances of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder, and consequently that the whole is a Fiction, and no way deserving Credit; That the two youngling Witnesses agree not in their Tale, any more than the two Elders, in the Accusation of chaste Susanna: And although neither King, Lords, Commons, Judges, nor Jury could not perceive any thing at all of these palpable Oppositions, and damnable Interferings; yet the Observator, like a second Daniel forsooth, has found out all the Roguery.  
Thus he tells the World, [Observator Numb. 145.] That Prance and Bedloe, are directly at you Lie, and you Lye. Again— If four thousand Parliaments should believe, Two point-blank Contradictions to be both true; (as that's the present case) I should beg leave to be excused— Ibidem,— Let the Witnesses be what they will, if they swear Backwards and Forwards, or disagree upon any considerable Points among themselves, I would not (as a Gentleman said, upon better Light, and second thoughts, in this very case) I would not I say Hang a Dog upon such an Evidence, Observator 〈◊〉— And so he goes merrily on, pretending to recite by way of Dialogue, Prauces and Bedloes Testimony; in Observator 141, 142 & 145. And according to his fashion, represents them as directly thwarting one another.  
But notwithstanding the Observator, is upon so pleasant a Pin, The disereet Reader will consider of what weight and moment this matter is How much the Honour of the King and Kingdom is therein concerned, and what Consequences attend it As,  
1. If Godfrey's being Murdered by the Papists can by any Artifices be brought into Suspicion, made a doubt, or rendered uncertain, one of the greatest Demonstrations of the Popish Plot will be taken off: Therefore, nothing can be a greater Service to that party, than such an Attempt, and they are the only people that can be gratified thereby.  
But on the contrary, if that Murder does undeniably lie at their door, where 'tis fixed by Law; Then all these shuffling illegal Practices, to stifle the belief and memory thereof, (as barbarously as they did his person) are but so many fresh and pregnant Arguments, both of their guilt in that Assassination; as also, of the certainty of their HELLISH CONSPIRACY, in Subservience to which, the MURDER was first Committed, and ever-since is so daringly endeavoured to be palliated.  
2. How much it will reflect (should the Observator be Credited) on the Wisdom and Goodness of his Sacred Majesty, (known to be one of the most quicksighted and justest Princes living) and upon his most Honourable Privy Council, and the whole house of Peers: That they none of them should ever discern these palpable notorious Corrtradictions, that the Observator talks of; for if they had perceived them, it cannot without a civil Blasphemy, be imagined, that they would have suffered such Witnesses to have escaped unpunished; much less would his Majesty have parted with five hundred Pounds to Bedloe, or permitted three honest In nocent men to have been Executed on a Testimony not fit to Convict a Dog.  
3. As the Reverend Judges are Members assistant in the house of Peers, and so cannot be ignorant of what Depositions Prance and Bedloe had there given in, so being by our Laws bound to be (as it were) of Council with the Prisoners, (on which score they are allowed to Fee none, at least as to matter of Fact) they seem obliged in Conscience to have taken notice of such Contradictions, if any such there had been; And indeed, what the Observator would now make pass for Contradictions, were (in effect) Sworn by the said Bedloe and Prance, on the Trial of Green, Berry and Hill, as well as in their former Depositions before the Lords; so that the matter by him now raked up, (bating his own Forgeries and Prevarications) were then properly before the Court, who were so far from judging that the same did invalidate their Evidence, that they declared their Testimony to be thereby much strengthened; or could it possibly be supposed, that these Contradictions were then by any oversight unreguarded by the Court, 'tis an amazing thing that no one Judge, nor one noble Member of the Lords House, should either not have the Sagacity to observe, or the Courage to remonstrate to his Majesty those Incoherences in the Evidences, and to have besought the best natured Prince in the World for a Pardon or Reprieve at least, till the matter might have been more fully Examined.  
4. How can we imagine but in all that time, between the Prisoner's Commitment, (I mean Green, Hill, etc.) and their Trial, some of their Friends might have had recourse to the Lords Journal, and thence taken Authentic Copies to confront the Witnesses, or that Farewell, etc. that alleged and brought a Witness to prove such Copies, would not have insisted to have the same read, and not totally have declined that part of their business, if they had not been conscious that no relief could thence be expected in a Court of Judicature, however they might serve their, (or now the Observator's) turn, pretty conveniently to stuff out Libels, or a muse such of the Rabble as are willing to be deceived?  
5. What strange Apprehensions will this be apt to beget in Foreigners minds of our English justice, if such gross Absurdities as the Observator would make them believe, be swallowed in our Courts of Judicature, and men's lives thus taken away? And what Triumphs will the active and witty Jesuits hence erect to themselves, and to the scandal of the Protestant Religion, in places remote, and after-ages; and justify all by the authority of the Observator?  
6. How pernicious and choking may this bold Example, if it should escape unpunished, prove to all judicial Proceed? For how reserved and loath will many people be to give Evidence against, Try or condemn Malefactors of Power or Interest; If after the Law and Justice has had its due Course, they shall lie under the Lash and Examen of every private Mercenary Scribbler (for though I have all the Deference I ought to have for the Observator's Quality, yet in such Cases and such Methods I know no privilege he has above others) if it shall remain in every man's power that has Confidence enough to write a Book, to Arraign or call to review and reverse, or brand with scandal all the most solemn proceed with Impunity.  
Where's the Dignity of the Law, (as Mr. L'Estrange says well) or the security of the State, if every foul-mouthed Libeler shall be at liberty to Arraign Authority gratis, and to make what Whores, Rogues and Traitorrs they please? [L'Egrange no Papist, p. 2.] What Traitor, what Murderer shall at any time be Executed, but if he have any witty Friend or Confederate surviving, may at this rate be Sainted and made a Martyr, or celebrated as an Innocent, and all the Judges, Juries and Witnesses exposed even to the highest Odium and Contempt, as often as any Factious Writer has a mind to show his dexterity in managing a Goose-quill, and get money for a Pamphlet?  
7. The OBSERVATOR seems to be the less excusable in that he had Recent Examples of the Laws just severity against such Practices; could not the thoughts of Madam Celier, and Nathanael Thompson's Fate restrain him from Embarking in the like designs? Can he so soon forget how a certain Fellow was notably whipped, and Curtis pillored and fined for publishing a Paper reporting that some Persons acted the late Lord Russel's Ghost? Was not Mr. Braddon's Punishment fresh in memory, for intermeddling about the Earl of Essex's Death, after the Coroners Inquest had found him felo de se, or Sir Samuel Barnadiston's being fined in a great Sum for missrepresenting (tho' but in a private Letter) the late horrid Fanatical Conspiracy? If therefore it shall appear that the Observator, in defiance to Truth, and all those Proceed, has deliberately, and that in Print, and more than once or twice, unnecessarily, and upon design, called into question the manner of Godfrey's Murder, after it was settled by Law, and forged Contradictions (which really never were) in the Evidence, and slandered the Witnesses, and by Consequence abused his Majesty, and the whole House of Peers; nay, the Justice and Honour of the Nation, and thereby Exposed it (as much as in him lies) to Contempt abroad, and the unjust scandal of lying under the guilt of Innocent Blood at home; What Animadversions he ought to be liable to, is with all humility submitted to Authority. Nor will what he subtly insinnates, Observator, 145. That neither OATS nor his CASE, nor his PLOT is the fame at this day which it was at their first appearance: but the Contradictions, the frauds, and the Complicated Iniquities of Fiction and Canfedracy, which time hath since brought to light, have given us a full and clear discovery of a thousand things, which to the four Parliaments lay quite out of sight— This I say will not at all relieve the Observator; for how true (or rather false) soever the same may be, as to the Popish Plot in general, (which here I intent not to Examine) yet as to the Murder of Sir Edmunabury Godfrey, I must avow, That neither time, nor the Observator's Industry (after five years active Endeavours) have not brought one fyllable, one Circumstance to light that may in the least seem to invalidate the Evidence, which was not known and apparent at the Trial of Green, Hill and Berry; But on the contrary 'tis notorious, that a multitude of matters, Testimonies and Circumstances, have been discovered; which every way strengthen, and abundantly Confirm the Evidence of Bedloe and Prance there given.  
Since therefore such fatal Consequences, dishonourable to the King and Kingdom, attend the Observators Suggestions; And that as he had no Right, so he could have no honest Loyal Design to intermeddle therewith, even supposing them true, what then will you say, if they are utterly groundless and false? Certainly next to the Murder itself, or that Cause which occasioned it, there could scarce either a more audacious or mischievous wickedness be attempted.  
Now to demonstrate that the Observators Clamours are as groundless as malicious, shall be our next Eudeavour.  
And indeed 'tis quickly done, for there is one Continued thread of Fallacy (or rather Forgery) runs through all his Cobwebb Contexture, which being once taken notice of, there will not remain the least colour of argument in all his three Papers, to weaken the testimony; For wherever Bedloe swears what Lephair, etc. told him; the Observator very wittily, (but how honestly let others judge) omits that part of the deposition, and puts it, as if Bedloe had positively swore it of his own knowledge, and so therewith Confronts Prances testimony, and then tragically cries out O Rogue! O Rascal! See how they contradict and give each other the Lye.  
'Tis also fit to consider the Observators Vouchers; how does he prove the depositions of Prance and Bedloe before the Lords? Why forsooth from a certain Pamphlet wherein I perceive the Gentleman is well read) Entitled, Series, which I confess, (living in the Country) I had never heard of, till I found it here so often cited; and thereupon coming to London, and enquiring in Pauls-Church-Yard and Fleetstreet, I understood it was a Night-Bird, rare to be met with; but at last I got a sight of it, and found it so far from being published by any Authority, that the very Printer and Bookseller both, were either afraid or ashamed to own it, or affix their Names. And although Mr. Observator, for the greater credit of the business— Cries— See Series, or the Journal of the Lords; [OBSERVATOR, Numb. 141.] whereby craftily he would inveigle his Reader, as if that Pamphlet were the Journal of the House of Peers Printed, yet the thing itself hath more Grace and Modesty, and has not a word of the Lords Journal in all the Title. And indeed to every Judicious Peruser it will appear by its disorder, mistakes, frequent Blanks, etc. to be only a Rhapsody of the Papers then fluttering abroad in Coffeehouses, or the Collection of some Sage News-writer in those times; and if I am not misinformed, was when it first crept out (in 81.) questioned by Authority. To what kind of Animals does this Sire of an OBSERVATOR write? Is the man swelled to that dotage of vanity as to expect an Apocryphal Anonimous Libel should pass for Authentic? How does it appear that these are true Copies? That there are no omissions nor ignorant mistakes, or wilful Forgeries? Must the Judicial Proceed of a Nation be unravelled; Murderers acquitted, Assassinates screened from Justice, and the deserved Odium of their bloody practices; the Reputation of the Dead, and Credit of the Living, be vilified and branded with Perjury, upon the words of a Lewd Pamphlet, that in the year 81. escaped the Press in Huggermugger? And especially when the Pamphlet itself, does not pretend to give the words of the Depositions, For so says Series, p. 40. Bedloe being brought to the Lords Bar, made a large Narrative to this EFFECT— And p. 167.— Frances being sworn, did declare TO THE EFFECT following;— Yet now the Observator screws every word of this lose, uncertain account, and thence would run down all their Evidence.  
But let us for once, and only by way of supposition, take it for granted, That Bedloe and Prance did upon their Examination, depose just as his Beloved Series relates, yet it will no way Impeach the Truth or Credit of their Testimony; nor prove any Contradictions therein. For the truth is, however Series has used them, yet the Observator hath grossly falsified the testimony of Series itself; for when Series is so far honest, as to tell us, that Bedloe all along swears, That Lephair, etc. TOLD him so and so; The Obseroator not only leaves out that, but adds, that Bedloe SWORE POINT BLANK so and so. As for example, Series, p. 51. This Deponent then asked Lephair, how they got him thither, and where they found him? Lephair TOLD HIM, that himself Walsh and the Lord Bellasis Gentleman, met Sir Edmundbury by the Kings-Head in the Strand, etc. Now this Question— and Answer, the Observator, Numb. 141. suppresseth, and represents Bedloe swearing Lephairs answer thus: Captain Bedloe gives it upon his Oath, That Lephair, Walsh, and the Lord Bellasis met Sir Edmundbury by the Kings-Head in the Strand, crossing the Street, about five of the Clock, etc.  
And the same Artifice the Observator useth throughout all his Citations from Series, which I need not stand to repeat, let any man that hath a mind to it compare that Book with the Observator Quotations from thence and if he do not blush for the Observator, I may without breach of Charity, pronounce him insensible of Truth or Justice. For can there be a more palpable Prevarication than to change Hipothetical Assertions into Categorical, and represent what Bedloe swears, only as the Relation of others, as a positive Declaration of his own Knowledge?  
So when Series, page 167. mentions Prance's Evidence, setting forth the Motives Gerald and others made use of to engage him in the Murder, it adds, that he (the said Prance) did consent thereto; and the rather for some Malice that he bore to the said Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, who about two years before, when he was troubled at Hicks-Hall, about Parish-duties, did not consent to his discharge, as another Justice did; but said, The Queen had not power of Protecting her Servants: Whether Prance did declare any such thing, depends wholly on the Credit of Sertes, which is not worth a button; but however, the Observator has quite altered what Series said of it, and tells the world, Numb. 141. That the reason given by Prance for his consenting was, because Sir Edmundbury Godfrey would not consent to discharge Gerald, when he was troubled at Hicks-Hall about Parish-duties, and repeats that Falsification again, Observator 142. which could not possible be a mistake of the Observators, being contrary to the Scope, Sense and Grammar of the Words, as related by Series; but was no doubt perverted on purpose with a Design to make Prance seem to swear such an Absurdity, as that Gerald (a Strooling Priest) should be in trouble about Parish-duties: In short, if the Observator had but Printed the several Depositions which he talks of, entire, even as they are related by his Oracle Series, it would have plainly appeared, that there was no Contradiction between the Evidence of Prance and Bedloe, but rather that each confirms the other, and lays the guilt of the Murder more strongly on the Papists. For,  
1. This variation in their Account, Prance charging Gerald, Kelly, Green, Hill, and Berry, to be actually concerned; and Bedloe naming Walsh Lephair, etc. to have treated with him about it, is an undeniable Argument, That Prance and Bedloe had no Correspondence, for had there been Confederacy in the Case, they would undoubtedly have laid their Stories more agreeable.  
2. On the other side, this shows how zealous the Popish Party were to destroy this Worthy Magistrate. and how many were privy to it; they would be sure to have Tools enough, (though the under Instruments not acquainted with each other, at least till the  was over) that if some failed, the other should hit.  
3. As for what Lephair told Bedloe after the Murder committed, about the manner of their meeting Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and decoying him into , and the persons concerned in it, they were undoubtedly in themselves lies; But what is that to Bedloe? Who only upon Oath relates their Words; I think 'tis no wonder, that such as would contrive a Murder, should invent Falsehoods; who ever is well acquainted with the Fathers of the Society, and their Doctrines and Practices, knows they are not wont to be Slaves to their Words, and that their Stories are far from being relied on as Oracles.  
4. But here steps in Farewell alias Thompson's Letter to Prance, with an Objection, that Lephair, etc. were under no Temptation to misinform him;— I Answer, how do we know that? For though we are not obliged to find Reasons for Jesuits telling of their Lies, who are known all the world over to be men of Intrigue, and might have twenty Crotchets and Designs in their heads herein, which we cannot imagine; yet there is no necessity we should rather blast an Evidence upon Oath, and shuffle over an apparent Murder, than conceit those holy men would be guilty of teling a few Lies, because we cannot see how they were necessary to their secret purposes? However, if we consider the whole Case, it will be easy to guests at their Design.  
They had treated with Bedloe to be concerned in the Murder, (tho' then not naming the Person) and he promised to meet them for that purpose at , on the twelfth of October at night, but failed; This might raise some Suspicions of him: However, to engage him as deep as 'twas possible, Lephair appoints him to meet on Monday night, and then told him the business was done, proposes a Reward if he would help to carry off the Body, and showed him the same, having first told him the before mentioned long (but false) story of the manner of the Murder; and conjured him upon the Sacrament he had lately received, to be there again that night, about eleven or twelve a Clock, to help off with the Body, which they said they would carry out in a Chair, and put it upon himself, and that the Porter was to sit up to let them out, etc.  
Now the design of telling him these false Circumstances of the Murder, might very well be, That if he should offer to discover, (whereof they might have some certain Suspicion for the Reason's aforesaid) than he charging it upon wrong persons, (viz.) Lephair, Walsh, etc. They no doubt were well provided with Testimony where they were all that very Night the murder was done, and so would have thrown off his Evidence.  
And finding that Bedloe did not come that Monday night at eleven or twelve a Clock, according to his promise, they grew more jealous of him, and deferred the carrying out of the Corpse till Wednesday following, Which answers all the Observators Taatle, numb. 141, & 142. on that Subject, which he would make a mighty Contradict of, as if whereas Prance swears, the Body was not carried out till Wednesday night, Bedloe should depose that it was carried out an Monday; Whereas Bedloe swears no such thing, but that they told him, or said, they had agreed to carry it out then; but he replied, it would be too soon, and that eleven or twelve a Clock would be better.  
And that they were under some such Suspicion of Bedloe, especially after his second failing on Monday night, may be presumed from their removing the Body the next night into another Room, where it had not been before, as Prance sets forth, Trial p. 19  
How much the Court was satisfied with the Truth and Coherence of the Evidence, (and so far from apprehending any Contradictions, that on the contrary they judged the same wonderful Agreeable, as far as the nature of the Case would bear) appears (besides what we cited before) by these words of the Lord Chief Justice to the Jury, upon the Trial of Green, Berry and Hill, Fol. 80. It is hardly possible for any man to invent such a Story; for Prance it is I believe; I find it is no hard thing for the Priests to contrive such an Action, but for Witnesses to agree in so many material Circumstances with one another, which had never conversed together, is impossible; If all this had been a Chimaera, & not really so, then Prance must be one of the most notable Inventors in the World, & there must have been the mightiest chance in the World, that Mr. Bedloe and he should agree so in all things, and that the Maid should swear that Hill was there that Morning, and that the Constable should find the Body just as they had told Prance they had left him; so that upon the matter you have two Witnesses almost in every thing; for Mr. Bedloe seeing him in the place Murdered, is a plain Evidence that the thing was done; and all the other Witnesses speaking to Circumstances, both before and after, makes the Evidence plain, that these were the men that did it▪ And I see nothing in-coherent in all Mr. Prances Testimony; I would noturge this so, if I were not satisfied in my own Conscience that the Relation is true. Thus the Lord Chief Justice to the Jury.  
It is farther to be noted, That Bedloe on his Deathbed when he was on the Brink of Eternity, and was satisfied that his Dissolution was very near, did with repeated Asseverations avow the Truth of all his Depositions; And (as I find it in an Account soon after Published, of his Death, by Randal Taylor, and which I never heard was questioned or confuted) did to the Right Honourable the then Lord Chief Justice North, (now Lord Guildford and Keeper of the great Seal) declare amongst other things, That whatsoever he had Declared to the King and Council, and the secret Committee, and at the SEVERAL TRIALS upon Oath were all true upon the Word of a dying man; Adding these Emphatical Expressions, That he expected no Crown of Martyrdom for lying, as the Papists did; but what he said was sincerely true, as he was shortly to appear before the Great Jehovah, the Maker of all Flesh; where he should stand with a clear Conscience, as to all matters of the Plot, wherein he had given Evidence.— This was Monday August 16. 1680. and growing weaker and weeker, on Wednesday Night was taken Speechless, but on Thursday night his Speech being restored, one standing by, again asked him, If he were satisfied in his Conscience as to what he had sworn? To whom he Answered, That as he hoped for Salvation, all that he had sworn about the Plot, was just and true; and that he had rather Omitted than Augmented any thing he had given in Evidence. This he spoke the very Night before he died, and after he had been in a Trance several hours; the next day August 20. 1680. about two of the Clock in the Afternoon he expired.  
And so notorious in Bristol was this his last Assertion of the Truth of his Evidence; That there were Escutcheons fixed on his Hearse, with this Inscription in Black Letters, in a Field Argent.  
Testimonium quod vivens Exhibuit, Moriens constanter Obfirmavit;  
The Testimony which he living Exhibited, dying he constantly did Confirm  
And is it not hard, very hard, inhuman and uncharitable, as well as bold and reflective on the public Justice, for the Observator (now four years after this Persons death, and near fix since the manner of Godfrey's Murder was settled by Law,) to come with the Negromancy of a Company of palpable Tricks, actuated and raised by the Daemon of Drollery, to load the deceased with opprobious Names, and render that Solemn Testimony of his, and all those Reverend Authorities that gave it Credit, Contemptible, and Ridiculous, and as much as in him Lies) Odious?  
As for Prance the other chief Witness, be being as much a Stranger to me as the Observator himself; I love not to make needless Apologies for People I am acquainted with, only I cannot but observe.  
1. That the Observator has moiled and toiled most hearty for some years to Blacken him, but after all I do not see that he has so much as Charged him with any thing that can be pretended to invalidate his Evidence; and if he cannot do that, all the rest is impertinent Libelling, even supposing the matters were true.  
2. That the Observators common places against Prance about Brass-Skrews, cheating her Majesty in the Antipendium, etc. are wholly fictious and scandalous, I am confident all men of sense will conclude, that shall read the Book set forth by Prance about Christmas last, entitled, A Postscript to the Observators First Volume, etc. Wherein those Clamours are so fully, modestly and undeniably Confuted by Reason, Affidavits, and all kind of Competent Proofs, that it was a plain Demonstration, how unable the most witty Slanders are to stand before plain naked Truth; and must wonder at the forehead of an Observator, that can repeat those baffled Calumnies, after he was therein so clearly Convicted of Falsehood and Scandal.  
3. 'Tis the most accountable thing in the World, That Prance bred a Romanist almost from his cradle, so zealous in that persuasion, all or most of his Relaations such; A man who had his whole Trade and Dependency on that Party (For besides his work at her Majesty's Chapel, which was very considerable, the main of his other Employment came from Priests and Papists) And a Tradesman of Substance in the World; for he averrs, and makes it very probably appear, in his Book before cited, p. 5. That he was worth a Thousand Pounds when taken, (and consequently might perhaps be a better man in Estate than some Observators at that time) And that he came not in for Lucre of moneys, appears likewise in that he did not take the Advantage of his Majesty's promised Reward of 500 l but stood out still till he was taken, and charged; Nor is it so much pretended, that he then received any Affronts from his own Party, the Romans; but was in great esteem with them, so that it could not be out of Malice or Revenge; I say 'tis the most unimaginable thing in nature, That a person thus Circumstanced, should falsely accuse himself in a most detestable Murder, and contract the guilt of three innocent men's Blood, and bring a scandal on that Church he then loved so well, to the apparent hazard of his Life and Credit, and Destruction of Temporal Advantages; if it had not been upon the horrors of Conscience and Convictions of Truth, it must certainly be impossible he should have done all this.  
4. Since the Observator is so zealous in his Repetitions, that to support his vain sham's, he recites Observator, Numb. 142.145. and again, 169. what he had more than enough said Numb. 141. I hope the Reader will pardon if we briefly Recapitulate here the several Evidences that have Coroborated the Truth, and makes it as conspicuous as the Sun in his Meridian Lustre, that Justice Godfrey fell by Popish hands, and in that manner Prance relates.  
1. 'Tis most plain, that Sir Edmundbury was apprehensive of his being Assassinated by Papists, Esquire Robinson, Prothonetary of the Common-Pleas, A Gentleman of unquestionable Reputation, deposes positively, that on the seventh of October, but five days before the Murder; Godfrey discoursing with him about the Plot, and the Examinations by him taken, said he should have little thanks for the same, and that he was afraid the Depth of the matter was not found out; and then added these observable Words,— Upon my Conscience, I believe I shall be the first Martyr.  
Secondly, That both Green and Hill had been at Godfrey's house, the former about a fortnight before, the latter, on the very morning that he was missing, (agreeable to Prance's Evidence of what they had told him) is sworn by Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Maid Servant Elizabeth Curtis, who also swears, that Hill had on that morning, the very same  which he wore at the Bar, and he acknowledged that he had not changed his , Trial page 40. She also deposeth, that others about that time, came to their house with strange notes, which her Master Sir Edmundbnay said, he did not know what to make of.  
Thirdly, The Intimacy of Gerald, Kelly, Green, Berry and Hill, with Prance, and their frequent Meetings at the Plow-Ale-house about that time is proved, both by the Master of the House, and his Servants; Trial page 41, and 42.  
Fourthly, That Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Neck was broken; And that the Wound or Wounds given by the Sword, run through the Body when found, were not the Cause of his Death; That having on then a Flannel Waistcoat and Shirt, neither of them, or any of his  were penetrated, is testified by two able Surgeons that viewed the Body.  
Fifthly, That Sir Edmundbury Godfrey about nine of the Clock, October, 12. 1678. (the very time Prance mentions) was seen come along the Strand by , and towards the Water-gate stopped to speak with somebody, see Oakly's Affidavit before recited.  
Sixthly, That the Body of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey in the Ditch or his Stick and Gloves on the Bank, where he was found on Thursday Evening, were not there on Wednesday, See the before recited Affidavit of Squire Foaset and Nathaniel Thompson's Narrative, Printed on his own view, and written by his own Directions, immediately after the Body found, recited in Thompsens' Trial Fol. 49. Though afterwards the same Thompson as , had the Impudence to publish Libels, not only contrary to Truth, but even his own particular Knowledge, and Printed handiwork.  
Seventhly, What Prance had long before declared of the Meeting at Bow after the Murder, and reading the Paper of the manner of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder, is wholly Confirmed by two Witnesses, and particularly, by Evan, belonging to the house, who swears that they pulled out a Paper and read it, and named Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's name, and whilst he was at the door, somebody came and threatened to kick him down Stairs— Just as Prance said in every particular. Consider all these and many other Circumstances, in the Trials of Green, Berry and Hill, of Celier and Thompson, etc. And let any reasonable man judge, whether there be yet any doubt to be made by whom or how Godfrey was Murdered? Especially if he at the same time reflect who and of what stamp the only Persons are, that have endeavoured to render it dubious, (viz) an Anonimous Paper of Reflections, famous Mrs. Celiers, Fitz-Harris, Magrath, both Irish Papists, the now-more-then-ever notorious Thompson, Farewell, etc. and after all, though most bold, and yet (to the praise of the rest of the Intriguers, be it spoken) in this matter, the most empty and trifling Observator.  
Upon whose Papers (on this Subject) unworthy a Gentleman's Pen, I should not have bestowed so much pains, did I not observe, how much they are Cried up, and greedily swallowed by many half-witted people, that esteem every thing he writes as Authentic as sacred Oracles; and think all that oppose or detect his Scandals of any kind, must needs be fanatics, whigs, and Enemies to the Church of England as by Law Established.  
Now what a friend to the Honour of the Government the Observator is, has partly appeared in this matter; And what regard he has to the Church of England, his Outrages and Reflections on several Worthy, and every way Conformable Divines, may Evidently Domonstrate; And especially the whole Scope of most of his late Papers wherein pretending to expose an Imaginary Trimmer for the Dissenters, of his own making; he himself really acts broad-faced, a Trimmers part for the Papists.  
'Tis far from my intent, (who have been Educated in, and esteem it my greatest honour and happiness to continue a Son of the Legal Established Church of England) to espouse the Cause of Schismatics, of either side, (for such the Papists are, as well as others) But as all the World knows that good Church (like every Virtue lying between Extremes) has many years been troubled with two ill Neighbours, the one aiming at her Throat, the other renting off her Garments; I mean the Politic Faction (for I can scarce afford it the name of a Church) of Rome, on the one hand, and Protestant Dissenters (under several Denominations) on the other; The former quarrelling with her Doctrines, Vnchurching her, and— Denying Priesthood to her Bishops and Ministers; nay, even Salvation to any one of her Members, living and dying such: The latter (for the most part) owning her Doctrinals, Church-ship and Ministry, and (as far as I know) none of them denying the possibility of Salvation to her dying Members, but scrupling certain Rites and Ceremonies (on all sides amongst us held to be Indifferent) which they pretend or think, are without sufficient Warrant from God's Word enjoined, or made necessary to Communion with her. And on that, or some such like score, allege they dare not join themselves with and in her.  
Now as it seems not very difficult to determine, which of these is, or aught to be accounted the worst, most dangerous and Irreconcilable Enemy to the Church of England; so it is most suspicious, that a person that pretends to be the eneral Champion for the Church (as well as State) yet defends her but on one side, and whilst he skirmishes her own Revolted or disaffected Infantry, takes no notice of the other Zanzummim Host of her old avowed and inplacable Adversaries; nay, one that whilst he flourisheth fair Colours of zeal for our Church, makes it his business to raise Mutinies in her Tents, and is highly beloved and applauded in, if he hold not Correspondency with that formidable Camp of her Enemies; whom he never engages, but upon all occasions, rather appears a Mediator, a Panegyrist, or an Advocate of and for them; 'Tis very suspicious, that such an Undertaker is rather a Spy than a Champion, an underminer or Betrayer of the Protestant Church, to which he pretends, rather than a Cordial lover or Asserter of it. I desire not to be believed upon Nude Averments, or partial, wrested, false applied, or imperfect Sentences; let every man that wears the Name of a Protestant, make but use of his own Eyes, his own Ears, and what Reason an Judgement God hath lent him, upon these Words of the Observator. Vol. 2. Numb. 145.  
Trimmer. Do not the Papists hold it Lawful, nay, and a Point of Duty to destroy the Heretics?  
Observator. The Argument flies in the face of ye; for 'tis the very Principle of the fanatics, against the Papists; But in one word, to make a Popish plot on't, you must first prove the Fact: Secondly, The congruity of that Practice to the Positions of the Papists. not to the Positions of here and there a man, but to the Authoritative Positions and Concinstous of the Romish Church, and the Conform Sentiments of the Members in General of that Communion,;  Trimmer. 
Is not all this PROVED clearly to ye?  Observator. 
No, No; NOT AT ALL, nor CLEARLY.  
These are the very Words of the Observator, and whether the most witty Jesuit in Europe, could have Trimmed it away more clevery for the Papists, is left to every Protestants Consiedration.  
1. 'Tis here asserted, that the fanatics hold it lawful, nay, a Point of Duty also, to destroy Papists;— Now it may be worth while to inquire whether the Observator had not a design to brand all Protestants, particularly, our English Government, for making the necessary Penal Laws against the Papists; for I challenge him to prove or instance in any Protestants, either of the Church, or Dissenters from it, usually called fanatics, that ever held or declared it lawful to destroy or take away the Lives of Papists; as, or because they were such. I say, let him name any one that hath so done, not to tie him up to Authoritative Positions, and Conform Sentiments in general, which he requires, where he fears the Romans may be pinched.  
But on the other side, that the Modern Church of Rome holds it Lawful, nay a point of Duty, to destroy all that she calls Heretics; and this not only by their public Magistrates, in Judicial Decrees and Sentences, but if that cannot be obtained, by any Private Hand, (that is) by Clandestine Murders and Assassinatious; and this too not only against private Subjects, but Princes, (even their own) that are Heretics; and that the Church of Rome, and her particular Members, with her Approbation, have practised accordingly, is so nororious to every man tolerably acquainted with the Roman Canons and Decrees, or History of Europe for these last seven or eight hundred years,; that to stand long in proving it, I fear would render me suspected to be like the Observator, one that has abundance of Leisure, and Scribbles for so much a Sheet.  
But lest I should seem to those unversed in Church-History (who I perceive are the Observators Admirers) to swagger over (by this general charge) what I cannot prove, be pleased to take these few Testimonies, (from amongst a thousand more that I could offer) and those too from as good Law, and as Authoritative as any Edicts of that Church.  
1. That the third Council of Lateran, held by Pope Alexander the third; and the fourth held under Innocent the third: And the Council of Constance, (all which are owned by the Romanists to be general Councils) do decree, that the Goods of all Heretics, if they be Laymen, shall be Confiscated.  
2. That Heretics shall be Imprisoned in Fetters and Iron Chains till the Church have passed Sentence on them. Council Constance, Session, 45. By the fourth Lateran Council, all Kings, Emperors, etc. are commanded to Expel and Extirpate all Heretics out of their Territories; And adds, that if any Temporal Lord neglect to do so, he shall be Excommunicated, and if he stand so one Year, than the Pope may pronounce his Subjects to be discharged from their Obedience, and Expose his Territories to be enjoyed by Catholics, who having exterminated the Heretics, shall possess it without all Contradiction: And moreover, that they who under the Badge of the Cross will set themselves to Root out Heretics, shall have and enoy a full Remission of tall heir Sins.  
3. That Heretics shall be duly punished by the Secular Judge, they shall take them away by a Damnable Death, says another of their Decrees, [Conc. To. 11. p. 619.] and so was, and to this day is, the constant Practice in Italy, Spain, etc.  
4. That Persons, yea Princes, upon the Charge, and even the supposal of Heresy, or where the interest of Holy Church hath required it, may be Murdered by private hands, appears by the Assassination of two French Monarches in the last Age, various attempts against Queen Elizabeth, and the matchless Gunpowder Conspiracy against King James; most of which Treasons were promoted and approved of by the Pope, and some of the Traitors honoured as Saints by their Church; not to mention a thousand other and some more near instances, which the Observator shall hear of, whenever he calls for them, if he dare contest this point.  
2. The Observator says— To make a Popish Plot, you must First prove the Fact, Numb. 145.  
Answer— Good Sir! At whose Bar? The King and his Council, and the Lords and Commons of England in four Parliaments, have heard the Proofs, and upon a strict Scrutiny, becoming their Wisdom, and the weight of the matter, were satisfied, and have declared it a Popish Plot, and an horrid and damnable Plot too; But still Mr. Trimmer-maker, Mr. I know not who of an Observator, it seems is not satisfied. Let him but have the scanning of it over again, and he, by the art of Legerdemain, and Prestee begun, will make nothing on't: what pity 'twas that he was out of the way, or lost in a Dutch Bogg, whilst these matters were under the consideration of our Supremest Councils and Judicature; that He, the ONLY HE in the World that could do the Feat, was not here to enlighten us.  
But, Alas! this inspired Man was absent, and who knows but three or four thousand Guinies in 79. might have satisfied his Hungry Scruples as much on the one side, as the like or a greater Illumination did in 83 and 84, on the other.  
3. To make a Popish Plot on't, the Observator says we must prove the Congruity of that practice [of Plotting and Destroying Heretics he means] to the positions of the Papists, not to the positions of here and there a Man; But to the Anthorative Positions and Conclusions of the Church of Rome, and the Conform Sentiments of the Members ingeneral of that Communion, and THIS (he says) is not clearly, nor at all proved.  
This Paragraph is all over the Quintessence of St. Omer, Trimming, Shamming, Lies, Scandal and Prevarication, all close heaped up together. First, here is the Innocency of the Church of Rome's Principles Asserted. Secondly, All the Modern Divines of our Church, that have opposed Popery, scandalised as Dunces, that understand not their Adversaries Doctsines, nor able to prove what they themselves have generally asserted, but such ill men, as wilfully slandered the Papists in that matter. Thirdly, Here's the Old Juggle, whereby Papists have endeavoured to solve or excuse the odious Tenets of their Schoolmen and other Writers, when they do not find it for their turn to justify them, (viz.) That they are the positions of Private Men not owned by the Church. Fourthly, He makes it impossible ever to prove a Popish Plot, unless we can prove the Congruity thereof, not only to the Authoritative Positions of that Church, but also to the Conform Sentiments of the Members in general of that Communion. And at this Rate when shall we have done? If we must Summon all the Papists in the World, to know their Sentiments, when not one in a Hundred, nay a Thousand of them scarce, know what they hold themselves.  
As to the first and second of these particulars, viz. the Roman Principles, or That that Church holds it lawful, and a piece of duty to destroy Heretics; 'tis an amazing thing that any man in a protestant Livery, should have the Confidence to deny it or to aver at this time a day, that the same is not clearly, no not at all proved.  
Quae Regio interris nostri. non plena Cruoris?  
What Spot of Ground in all the world is free;  
From Bloody Marks of Popish Cruelty?  
The Learned Dr. Moor (Divine Dialogues, p. 161.) gives a specimen of Roman Catholic good Nature— Pope Julius the Second (saith he) by his pragmatical planting and pulling up, and Transplanting, is said to have been the occasion of the Slaughter of Two Hundred Thousand Christians, in the space of Seven Years; That one Popish Massacre of France, within the space of Three Months, amounted to an Hundred Thousand; Nay, P. Perionius avers, That in France alone, in that great Persecution against the Albingenses and Waldenses, there were Murdered no less than Ten Hundred Thousand Men; From that time to the Reformation, no small Number was made away by the Sword, by Fire, and other Tortures; from the beginning of the Order of Jesuits, till the Year 1580. Balduinus reports, That there were about Nine Hundred Thousand of the Orthodox Christians Murdered: That is, within the space of Thirty or Forty Years; within a few Years in the Low Countries alone, the Duke of Alva cut off by the Hand of the Hangman, Thirty Six Thousand Souls of the Protestants, and the Holy Inquisition, as Vergerius Witnesses, (one well acquainted therewith) in less than Thirty Years space, consumed a Hundred and Fifty Thousand, with all manner of Cruelties: Insomuch as that Learned and Judicious Person, Mr. Joseph Mede, is of opinion, that the Papal Persecution does either equalise or exceed the Destruction of Men made upon the Church, by all those Ten Famous Persecutions under the Pagan Emperors; and yet there has been a Considerable Accession made since to this Bloody Catalogue, in Piedmont, and Ireland, if not in other places. So far that Learned Doctor.  
After such stupendious Butcheries acted throughout Christendom, by the Church of Rome, merely under the Notion of Suppressing Heresy, comes the Merry Observator; and would persuade us that good mumping Lady had never a Tooth in her Head; She Plot? She Murder? No such matter; you must prove the Congruity of such Practices to her Positions and Conclusitions too, or else by the Mass he will not allow us one Inch of a Popish Plot.  
Well, to humour the Gentleman, we have given him a few instances both of her most charitable Authoritative Positions, and her congruous Practices, they that would see more, and that this Congruity of Principles and Practices in the Church of Rome is clearly proved, and 'twas so before the Observator was born; Let them read the Learned Mortons' Discovery of Romish Positions, and the Defence thereof, dedicated to King James; and Whites way to the Church, and indeed almost any of our Ancient Divines in their Promelicks against the Papists, and of late the Right Reverend Bishop of Lincoln's accurate Treatise; and the Judicious Deans of Paul's and Canterbury, in several of their respective Writings, whereby the falseness as well as Scandalousness of this the Observators Assertions will appear: And as to what relates more particularly to Sr. Edmondbury Godfrey's Case, I shall crave leave to recite the Words of the Reverend Bishop of St. Asaph in his Funeral Sermon, p. 29. 30. As to the Doctrine of the Jesuits, in plain terms, (saith that Reverend Person) to slander another Man in defence of their own Right or Honour, especially for one of the Fathers, to do it in Defence of the Society, some hold it plainly lawful, some say it's a Venial Sin; for the Proofs you may find them together, in the fifth of the Provincial Letters; If so, what should hinder those Men from raising all these Reports of this person, since it was in defence of themselves and their Sect; if they Killed him.— Secondly, That it was their interest to Kill him, 'tis manifest, if they have any designs against the Government. And if either his Life would have hindered, or discouraged them in it: Or if his Death would discourage others, from being active in their places. But that 'tis the interest of their Sect, and of their Church to subvert the Government, and that they for their parts design it now at this present; I think that this is SO PALPABLE, that I should but lose time in proving it.  
Thirdly, That they hold it Lawful to Kill in such Cases; for this, it is so plain delivered in their Writings, as any Article of Faith is in the Creed; they say first in general, to Kill another is Murder indeed, if you do it for Revenge, or any such sinister end. And therefore you must be sure to direct your intention aright; and so by directing the intention, though you do the same act, it is not Murder.  
For Example, if one threaten to publish grievous Crimes of myself, or of my Order, when I have no other way to escape this, I may lawfully Kill him; And 'tis plain, that I have no other way, if he be ready to charge me or my Order before Men in Authority, saith Jannerus. In like manner one may kill another, if it be in defence of his own Goods, or of the Goods of his Society, saith Lessius, if one endeavours to take away any Life, by revealing a Secret Crime, I may Kill him; nay, if he endeavours but to take away my good Name, by revealing a secret Crime, I may kill him, saith Lessius; and the same saith Falliusius. Now who that knows what Information our friend had against them can doubt but they might lawfully kill him by those Doctrines.  
I know what any Jesuit would answer to this; they would say, That these Doctrines are some of them delivered as being only speculatively true, that is, they are true in their own Nature, but they are not practice sequendae, that is, in respect of the Consequences they are not to be reduced to practice: and why so? If they be speculatively true, why then are they not to be practised? They themselves tell you why, they would cause Disorders in the Commonwealth: Lessius hath a better reason, because if one practise them, he may be Hanged for it. The mean while, if one can do it so secretly, as not to disturb the Commonwealth, (and then to be sure, he shall not hang for it) in that Case it is to be practised, according to their Doctrine: Or if not, whilst it is speculatively true, that the thing itself is no Sin, who that knows this, and hath a mind to kill another, and sees his occasion, will make any scruple of the practice?  
Yes, (they will tell you) the Pope hath forbidden it in that Decree of the year 1665. which is set down in the end of the last Roman Index: To their shame be it said; these Doctrines are forbidden indeed, but not as being untrue, nor as contrary to God's Word, or having any Immorality in them: Now then? He saith they are adminimum scandalosae, at least apt to give offence, (no doubt they are, if we Heretics come to know them) and therefore he chargeth them upon their Obedience to himself, that they must not practise these Doctrines; had he said upon their Obedience to God, that had been a dangerous word, it would have made them afraid to practise them even in his own Service; he would take heed of that, not to spoil that which may be a useful Doctrine: But he forbade it forsooth upon Obedience to himself! which is such a restraint that the Pope may take off when he pleaseth, and how can we tell when he doth, or doth not? That which is in his own power secretly to do, or not to do, we have only this measure by which to Judge: He will do whatsoever he sees best for the Catholic Cause; if he sees it best for the Cause, we shall live; if not, you see it is no Sin to Kill us, even the Pope being Judge; so that we hold our Lives at his Courtesy.— Thus that Reverend Prelate.  
What say you now, Mr. Observator? Is not this clear proving that the lawfulness of Plots and Assassinations when against Heretics, or it may make for the Catholic Cause, are Positions of the Church of Rome, insomuch that the Pope will not at any rate condemn them absolutely, but only suspend their being practised during his own pleasure?  
Vain and Fallacious is therefore your third pretence, that these are but the Positions of here and there a man, not Authoritative Conclusions of the Roman Church; pray tell us in your next, what you mean by the Church of Rome? If the Church Virtual, (as they call it, and thereby intent the Pope) or the Church Representative, whereby they understand such Councils as they own to be general; both these we have proved, do allow and Command the Destruction of Heretics: And where shall we find the Authorized Tenants of that Church, if not in the public Writings of her Divines? Sure you are not ignorant that the Church of Rome, hath Licensers, Inquisitors, and Indices Expurgatory: If she do not then authorise such Doctrines, how come they to swarm in the Writings of her most Eminent and most Honoured Doctors? Why are not these Books suppressed, the Authors punished, the Opinions Anathematised? Qui non prohibet cum potest jubet: He that connives in such Cases, justifies.  
The Observators last Limitation, That we must prove such Positions to be the Conform Sentiments of the Members in general of that Communion, is ridiculously Extravagant: Does he himself use the same method towards others? And how vain were it for us to seek such Conform-Sentiments amongst the Romanists, when notwithstanding all their boasted Unity, and infallible Art to preserve it, yet will they have as many feuds and differences amongst themselves, as can be found amongst any or all sorts of Protestants?  
Nor is there, I do verily believe, a greater consent amongst them in any one Article, than in these points, That all Protestants are Heretics, and that dying such, they are uncapable of Salvation, and that Heretics are to be destroyed; or if there be amongst them any of softer and more charitable. Sentiments in their private thoughts, yet as they are embarked in that Church, where the only Compass they sail by, is to believe implicitly as the Church believes, though they do not explicitly understand what it is, they are tied up to believe any particular Dogmas obtruded upon them by their Ghostly Fathers. Most true and notable to this purpose are the words of the late Lord Chief Justice Seroggs, at the Trial of Green, etc. Fol. 83.— You must say and believe as your Priest will have you; and in such Actions as these, as your Priest suggests to you, so does the Devil to your Priests: You are upon the matter Necessitated to what they will have you think, for though your Priests preach up Freedom of Will, yet they allow none to the Understanding; they hold you may do good or evil, but will not suffer you to understand Right and Wrong, for you cannot be perfectly theirs, if you have any thing of your own to guide yourselves by. I know that every body of that Party is apt to say, their Priests own no such thing: But it is Notoriously known to all the World, that they both print and practise it: What, shall any of you dispute the Power of a Pope, saith a Jesuit, or of the Pope and Council, say the most moderate Priests? Have you power to say, how far you will be a Papist, and how far not? You may as well bound the Sea, and bid it go so far and no farther, as Limit the Pope's Authority.— No Gentlemen! 'Tis the fault of your Doctrine, and 'tis a monstrous Mistake in you, if you think that you have any power over yourselves whilst you continue in their Persuasion:— Let no man tell me, Oh Sir! We desire none of these Mischiefs you talk of: What, not if Religion requires it, or if the Pope says it does? Hath not the Council of Lateran defined that every Popish Prince ought to root out Heresy, upon pain of Damnation? Can you go and tell the Pope how far you will believe, or what you ought to do? You may as well tell me, that if he were once with us, and had the Power he once had, he would leave us to Ourselves; and that if he had the same Ability, he would not have the same Tyranny.  
I shall conclude this particular with that Asseveration of the Judicious King James, in his Speech Novemb. 1605. That as it is not impossible but many honest men seduced with some Errors of Popery, may yet remain good and faithful Subjects: So on the other part, none that knows and believes the Grounds and School-conclusions of their Doctrine, can ever prove good Christians or faithful Subjects.  
This being so, the Observators last Limitation, that we must prove such Positions to be the conform Sentiments of the Members in general of the Church of Rome, is neither possible nor requisite. Must we Examine all the Papists in the World to know their conform Sentiments in general? And what if some, or many of them do not believe them? Yet since they are of the Romish Communion, and these are the Doctrines of their Schools, and their greatest Divines, of their Councils and their Popes, and they are bound implicitly to believe as their Church believes; As soon as these are manifested by their spiritual Guides to be the Doctrines of their Church (which will be as oft, and as soon as these spiritual Politicians find them useful to their Cause) they must then believe them, and practise accordingly.  
Some of the  Allegations are indeed very frequent in the Mouths and Writings of the Jesuits, and other Emissaries of Rome, when they would colourably Excuse their Party; But 'tis matter of Surprise to find them mustered up, and insisted upon by a professed Protestant Gentleman, who could not but know how false and frivolous they have been proved by sundry of our Learned Church-mens unanswerable polemics.  
Therefore though I have as much value and deference for the Observators Person, and that Figure he makes in the World, as I ought to have; yet as I cannot hinder many Loyal, Zealous, and ever-constant Sons of the Established Church, from questioning whether some of his late Writings have shown him so sincere a Champion for, and friend to that Church, as he would be counted; or whether indeed, the Church of Rome be not more beholding to his Pains? So the mischief is, That I know not how to Answer their Objections and Queries about his playing the Trimmer for the Papists. And since the witty Gentleman himself, though sufficiently provoked and challenged, has declined that Province, I am half ready to despair of seeing it done by any other.  
Observatori pudet haec opprobia nostro,  
Et dici potuisse, & non potuisse refelli.  
1. 'Tis wonderful to see how sweet and gentle, how debonair and good-natured the Gentleman is every where towards the Papists, how tender of their Credit, so ready and Laborious to Excuse them, even where no Excuse can be made for them; as in their before mentioned Principles, and this very Case of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder; Which Attempts as they were unjust and illegal, so could not possibly be any Advantage or Service to the State or Church of England, but rather tended to the Scandal of both, and administering a causeless occasion to their Enemies to Insult and Triumph; have not the Romanists, busy Jesuits and Scribblers enough of their own? What need was there for the Protestant Observator to foul his Fingers in being their Advocate?  
2. 'Tis observable that there's no love lost in the Case; no men more zealously crying up and magnifying the Observator, than the Gentlemen of the Roman Catholic Communion, and this not only in their common discourses, but in Print; Thus in a nameless Pamphlet, Entitled, Oats' Manifesto, said to be Printed for R. L. 1683. (which I think no man ever doubted to be written by a Roman) in p. 25. [speaking to Oats] is this swaggering Rhodomontado;— The Observator, a Person of that Eminent Learning, public Merit, and known Fidelity to the Established Government and Church of England, that is so far above thy Calumny as thou art beneath his Worth and Honesty; Surely the Devil owed thee an ill turn when he Egged thee on to this Rashness; for what can a Villain like thee, expect less than 〈…〉 sach a Head, sach a Heart, such a Hand, as that of L'STRANGES? Suitable to this we find in a Pamphlet, Entitled, The Paoquet of Advice from Geneva, Numb. 2. p. 10. L'Estrange is undoubtedly sent from above, to Act here in this Generation, for the great good of his king and Country; and to be— Vere malleus Redellirm & Phanaticorum— Which last Pamphlet was discovered to be written by one Prat a Papist, and was suppressed by the right Reverend Father in God, My Lord Bishop of London, as scandalising the whole Reformation, 〈…〉 of Exposing Presbyterians.— In brief, no man that Converies with Roman Catholics, can be ignorant how they hug, admire, and applaud the Observators Writings; and if I do not mis-remember, he himself somewhere complains of his Neighbours, for taking notice of the Refort of the Red-lettered Tribe, etc.  
Now if all this Love and Esteem from the Papal Party to the Observator, be merely on the score of those Services he renders the Government and Established Church; we must conclude those People wonderfully changed on the sudden, in their Affections towards that Church and Government, which ever since the Reformation, they have been eager to destroy; But we have little reason to confide in their pretended Kindnesses, since at the very same time, they were themselves contriving and privately spreading abroad Libels, highly derogatory to his Majesty's just Rights and Government, and tending to the Scandal and Subversion of the Church at present Established by Law; as appears by the late discovery made at Nathaniel Thompson's, who was their Instrument, tho' a Spark that pretended (in his Sphere) to as high a pitch of Zeal for the Church and Government, as the Observator himself.  
The Papists, and especially their Priests and Fathers of the Society, are men that understand their own Interest, and are not wont to be Prodigal of their Favours, but for valuable Considerations: And he that is their Friend, (let him swagger never so much against the fanatics) must be a close Enemy to the Church of England.  

Tuta frequensque via est sub Amici fallere Nomen,  
Tut a frequensque licet, sit via, Crimen habet.   

'Tis safe and frequent too, we see;  
By feigned Friendship to deceive:  
Safe and frequent though it be,  
'Tis KNAVERY, by your leave.   
3. 'Tis Charged by some, that wherever the Observator speaks one word for the Church of England, it's always Balanced, though not in direct Terms, by a side-wind, for the opposite Church beyond the Alps: [Observator, Repr. p. 3.] This I am sure may justly be affirmed, That the Observator himself does effectually the same thing on the one side, which he taxes the fanatics for doing on the other: For Example, Numb. 145. speaking to his property, Trimmer, he saith; There is another thing yet, that utterly spoils the falbion of your Popish Plot, which is, that you take into it inclusively The popishly affected, the Adherents to the Papists, the Masqueraders as you call them; And under this Latitude the Church of England and the Church of Rome make up one Conspiracy.  
Now to pass by the Insolency of this Expression, I shall only say, that 'tis indeed certain, that those Terms of Popishly Affected, Adherents to Papists, etc. have been used to very bad purposes, and that many Honest Worthy Protestant Divines and Gentlemen have been slandered therewith, by persons that have been carrying on Factious Designs; And the same was very wickedly done; but what less does the Observator? Is it not plain by this new coined Canting word Trimmer, he means persons Conformable, and visible professed Members of the Church of England, but holding Correspondence with, or favouring the fanatics? So that to call a man a Trimmer, is all one as to call him Whiggishly Affected, an Adherent to the fanatics, or a Whig in Masquerade: Now since the Observator bestows this Opprobrious Term of Trimmers on whom he pleases, of either the Clergy or the Laity, as liberally as the fanatics can do that of Popishly Affected; And since the Papists are as cunning and as malicious too at Bottom against the Church of England, as the Dissenters can be for the hearts of them; If the one carry on their design by abusing sound Churchmen, as Popishly Affected, why may not the other also advance their designs of subverting the Church, by Branding real Sons with the false Titles of Trimmers or Phanatically Affected, and dividing the Church of England within itself, into Parties and Factions, by spreading and affixing Terms of Distinction and Reproach? For thus how easy would it be for the Papists to Ruin the Credit of any Divine or Member of the Church of England, that shall zealously appear against them? 'Tis but calling him a Trimmer, and presently the honest Gentleman shall be Transformed into the shape of a Conspirator against the King, and an Enemy to the Church, though never so dutifully affected to each; and thus as he complains, Observator 145. The true Sons of the Church of England are by the Whigs Incorporated into that pretended Popish Plot; so it will follow, that they may by his Arts be involved in the Odium of the Fanatical Plot; which I have more deference to Truth and Authority than to call pretended, as he does the Popish one. Do the Whiggish Faction call an upright Churchman a Papist in Masquerade? So does the Popish Faction call him a Fanatic in Musquerade, which is alone a Trimmer: Do they declare the Papist in Masquerade to be the more pernicious Enemy than the professed Papist? And has not the Observator declared the Trimmers, and the Church-whiggs (as he calls them) to be more dangerous than the open fanatics? Your Mahometan Infidel (saith he) is an Angel to your Christian Infidel: This Balderdash of a gospeler, [The very Nickname by which the Papists in Queen Mary's days, called the Holy Protestant Martyrs in Reproach, as the Observator uses it here,] and a TECKELITE, is of all others the most Diabolical Composition, Observ. 142.  
4. Another shrewd sign of the Observators Trimming for the Papists, is, that in the whole Course of his Papers, They are the only Party that have evermore his good word, or of whom he altogether speaks well. The Protestant Dissenters are very Mother's Child Traitors and Schismatics, Rebels and Atheists: In the Church of England he finds abundance of Trimmers and Teckelites, which he says are as bad or worse than the other. But that Observator is yet to be written (or at least I have not seen it) wherein any Papist is Charged with, or so much as acknowledged to be guilty of any Dissloyalty, ill design against the Church of England, or other Crime; Unless it be only in a drolling way of supposition, that he might have room for the more swinging Blow upon their Adversaries.  
Nay, he is not only dumb himself o' that side of his Mouth, but would Mazzle all others too, representing all such as shall decry Popery, or speak of any danger from that Coast, to be Enemies to the Government and Church of England; And why I beseech you? Because some ill men have heretofore masked seditious designs with that pretext: A Goodly Reason! As if the Shepherds (in the Fable) having been once or twice deceived with the Boys false Alarm, that the Wolf was coming, were bound not to believe when he came indeed, and made actual havoc of their choicest Lambs.  
The Commons-House of that Long and Loyal Parliament, which began the eighth of May 1661. and was continued above seventeen years, did on the 29th of April, 1678. (many months before Oats and his Plot, as the Observator is pleased to call it, were heard of) complained of the danger arising to this Kingdom from the restless endeavours of Priests and Jesuits, and other Popish Recusants; and in their reasons drawn up for a Conference with the Lords on that subject, amongst other things they speak of some Persons Popishly inclined, that had got in Commission, and that in several Counties many Protestant Dissenters had been indicted under the Notion of Popish Recusants, and the Penalties Levied upon them, when the Papists there, had been either totally or for the most part discharged; which they attributed to the Remissness of some Officers and Ministers of Justice.  
Now I desire the Observator to tell us whether those Loyal Senators, were whigs or Trimmers, or disaffected to the Government and Church of England? If he say they were, he will no doubt say the same of all the Commons Assembled in Parliament at any time ever since Queen Mary's days; if he will acknowledge them to be the Honest Loyal Protestant Church of England-Gentlemen, than it will follow both that the Papists are a dangerous sort of Cattle; and that before Oats made discovery of their damnable Plot, they were generally observed to be arrived to a greater degree of Boldness than usual.  
Besides, the Pickpockets sometimes Cry, Look to your Purses; Yet I hope there's no harm in the Caution, nor does it follow, that he is always a Knave that gives it, but rather a Fool that will not take it: Whereas the Advancing of such a Conceit, that none but whigs ever apprehended or speak of Dangers from the Papists, is not only an insufferable Scandal to the Church of England, and leading to her Ruin, (for 'tis not so much the Crushing of the fanatics, as Her Subversion, that the Roman Party really aims at) but also tends directly to the Encouraging Popery, the Eluding of the most necessary Laws made for its Suppression, and discouraging of inferior Magistrates and Officers, from putting them in Execution. He is certainly unwrothy of the Name of a Loyal Son of the Church of England, that is not an Enemy to the Doctrines and Practices of Papists, and does not upon all occasions as impartially, readily, and effectually punish their Recusancy, as he does that of the Dissenters; seize Popish Priests as diligently as Non-Con Ministers: and is not as active to chastise the bold Resort of the one party to their Idolatrous Mass, severely according to the Laws in force, as he would do the other for frequenting of Conventicles.  
Sure I am, if ever the Papists should get the uppermost, they would make no difference between a Church of England Protestant, and the arrantest Fanatic. The Reverend Ridley that was for retaining the usual Vestments and Ceremonies, as well as the zealous Hooper that declined the use of them, were both burnt in one and the same year; Those that now Reproach each other to the wounding of Charity and Peace, with the odious Names of whigs and Tories, if they will not all become downright thorough paced Papists, must expect to mingle their Blood and Ashes at the same Stake: And therefore, I see no Reason why we should make any difference in favour of Papists, beyond other Dissenters.  
5. Notwithstanding the Observators Invectives against Schism, and its ill Consequences, yet his aim seems to be to have the Schism of the Protestant-Dissenters from the Church of England still kept up, rather than to have it Closed; or at least to have it determined rather by the utter Ruin and Extirpation of all those Dissenters in his Majesty's Dominions, than by their Conversion to a more manly Knowledge, and wiser thoughts about the Indifferences in Question: [Solitudinem cum fecerit, Pacem vocabit;] For what else mean his continual Excitement to Rigour, and exclaiming against all Moderation or fair Treatment to such of the said Protestant-Dissenters as join themselves to the Established Church? Are not such Courses likely to harden People in their mis-conceived Prejudices? Can any thing more prevail with men, and especially English Men, than Methods of Address and Kindness? And if in any Case, certainly in matters Religious ought Love, and Compassion, and mutual Condescensions to be practised; and if towards any, much more to such as we find inclinable and complying. But 'tis no very inviting Entertainment, if when men do honestly frequent the Church and Sacraments, they must yet, and for that very reason, do penance in the Observators Black Sheet, and be still worried for Hypocrites. But why, good Mr. Observator! may not a Protestant-Dissenter, reclaimed and Conforming, be supposed to Act as conscientiously as a Conforming Papist? To the latter you never Object Hypocrisy, or Caution the Church or the Government against him as dangerous; Though always bred a Papist and still associating with such, yet if he has qualified himself a Protestant according to Law, if any one talk of his being Popishly affected, he is an Enemy to the Government and the Church, says the Observator; and why not He too, say I, that calls all the Conforming Dissenters, (and many thousands that never were Dissenters in their Lives) Trimmers, or whigs, that is, Adherents to the fanatics? There must needs lurk some Mystery in this partiality, for certainly whoever vies the Lives, Conversations, and designs of most of our late Conforming Catholics, and compares them with the Conformists from the other side, must needs own that the latter appear much more like Sincere Converts to the Holy Doctrines, and excellent Devotions of the English Church, than the other, who seem to have no regard thereunto in their Lives, nor indeed any sense of Christianity; Adding nothing of Strength or Beauty to our Church by their pretended Accession, but a greater weight of Sin and Scandal, by obtruding themselves as her Members, when she abominates their practices; and this the rather, because the very Principles of Papists allow them to dissemble their Religion; which cannot be proved of any other Sectaries amongst us. Some Popish Priests, (says the Learned Dean Stillingfleet) have contended for it as a thing lawful for them, not only to come to our Prayers, and hear our Sermons, but to partake of our SACRAMENTS too, which they may allow, while they hope to carry on their Interest that way; But if once (which God forbidden;) the Tide should turn with them, than the Old Laws of their Church must prevail, and nothing would be thought so wholesome as an INQVISITION— Dr. Stillings-fleet's Sermon, September 21. 1673. p. 47.  
Agreeable to which, is the Testimony of the Author of that Excellent Treatise, Entitled, A seasonable Discourse of the necessity of maintaining the established Religion, in Opposition to Popery; Published Anno 1673. who if I am not misinformed, is the Reverend Bishop of St. Asaph before mentioned. Let no man (saith he, p. 34.) be so fond to hope for better Terms, or Liberty of Conscience, if Popery should now prevail. Let us look into the World and we shall see on all hands, that nothing is any where suffered to grow either under or near that Sect: Where Protestantism has been so strongly fixed, as not to be battered down at once; it has by degrees been perpetually Undermined. Witness the Proceed against them in Poland, and Hungary, and several parts of Germany, the late Persecutions in the Valleys of Piedmont, and the Methods used in France to demolish their Temples, and disable them from their Employments, and almost Exclude them from common Trades. This we are sure of, whatever Articles are, or can be made, of Favour and Compliance, 'tis somewhat more than a probable Doctrine, that Faith is not to be kept with Heretics. The Jesuited Romanist is at large by Equivocations to say any thing, and by directing of Intention to do any thing; They can with a very good Conscience dissemble their own, and pretend to the Protestant Profession; nay come to the Devotions of Heathen Idolaters, and that from express Licence from his Holiness Pope Clement the Eighth, upon Account of which, We may (says Tho. a Jesus de Convers. Infid. p. 854.) be present without any scruple at the Rites and Divine Offices of Infidels, Heretics, and Schismatics.  
6. The Style and manner of the Observators Writing, is little accommodated to the Gravity and Seriousness of the Church of England, in such weighty matters as he often meddles with. Serious Humanists tax Juvenal, that whilst in his Satyrs he inveighs against the Vices of his Age, he does it so broadly and fulsomely, that he Teaches what he seems to Reprehend. Our Author in acting his whigs and his Trimmers, uses ofttimes such Language as no good, Loyal or Modest men can read without Horror; And I believe he is the first Advocate for any Church in the World that ever took the Liberty of Swearing so frequently in Print, and talking so irreverently of matters of Religion and State, or of wrapping up his filthy Conceits in Sacred Language, and abusing so much Scripture Phrases to scoff and jeer with; I confess, 'tis an humour that is very taking with the Gallantillo's of this Age, whereby they endeavour to make themselves admired by the empty or less serious part of Mankind; The height of this Persection is a little readiness in Profane Buffoonery, their Wit like Fish and Touchwood never shining but when it Stinks or Rots; and now genteel soever it may seem, 'tis no other Office than the ancient Romans put upon their Slaves, when the Graver Persons had a mind at Banquets and other Divertisements, to Relax and entertain themselves with Pantomines; and thus what these Men cannot make out in solid or Learned Discourses, they supply with Comical Droll, or Politic Farce, and prove or refute every thing by Similitudes, and odd expressions, and so turn the most Pious and Serious things into Ridicule.  
Now the indulging and promoting of this Humour, contributes not a little advantage to the Factors of Rome; for as it takes off the due Reverence of Holy Word, (the only infallible Engine against Popery) and that seriousness of temper (which should always possess our Souls in things of an Eternal Concernment) so it corrupts the Judgement, rendering it volatile, desultory and trifling, uncapable of close strict Reasonings, apt to be inveigled with fumes and fancies, fair shows, and specious pretences, the paint of Rhetoric and Gewgaws of Sophistry; wherein the Masterpiece or principal Talon of all the Writers and Pleaders for Popery, does consist. And when the minds of our Young Gentry and others are so far debauched with this Itch of Vanity, Mockage, and Impious Burlesque, as to account ingenious Railing a Demonstration, and Raillery and Fooling Arguments, and so become unsettled as to the practical Principles of Religion, Reason, Morality, then are they fit disposed matter for the Papists to work upon, and proselyte; For he that in Truth has NO RELIGION, is the only fit Person to be brought to a Profession of THEIRS.  
But here I expect the Observator should with loud Harangues Recriminate on the other side, from his Everlasting Common-place-Book and Magazine, The Dissenters Say, (how faithfully Collected, or how justly chargeable on the whole Party of our Present Dissenters, I shall not here inquire; but must say, That I conceive the Publication thereof in Print in French, might, for the Honour of our Nation, and of the Protestant Religion, have been spared): However what the Observator shall offer of that kind, will be to no purpose; Recriminating others, is no excuse for himself: I am not Apologizing for any Party therein guilty; but only aver, That the Church of England detests such things; by whomsoever Practised; much less does She allow Calumnies, or False Accusations in any case, though against the worst of Men: (No, no, these you have heard, are Maxims of the Jesuite's Schools.) And therefore what Regards can the Observator either bear unto her, or expect from Her, whilst he uses such dishonest Arts: As in this particular Matter about Godfrey's Murder, where in one Observator, Numb. 142. he positively asserts at least fourteen notorious Capital Untruths, and Untruths in Capitals, with his so many Ay Butts, touching Bedloes Evidence.  
7. Lastly, The Observator has actually made Inroads upon the Church, and defamed several of her able Divines, (by Name or plain Indigitations) every way Conformable, and unblameable in their Doctrines and Conversations: Nay, he has suggested, as if a Crowded Church, or Numerous Audience, were a Mark that the Preacher there is a Trimmer, or Dissaffected Person; which is, at one Blow, to stab the Reputation of all the most Able, Painful, and Excellent Preachers, throughout the Nation: And whether this be to serve the Church of England, or gratify her Papal Enemies, by dividing her within herself, as well as keeping the Dissenters at a distance, that all may become the more easy a Prey to the insulting Romenists, is not difficult to determine. There goes a Story, that this Gentleman had the Vanity sometime since to style himself, THE GUIDE OF THE INFERIOR CLERGY; it seems his Faculty is now improved into a Cersorships which he thinks he may exert upon any honest Clergymen of the Church, (and some of them, none of the most Inferior for Age or Parts, for Learning or Piety, for Titles or Dignities) at his Pleasure; and where this New Ecclesiastical VISITOR (of his own making) will stop, or upon whom he will bestow the Honour of his next Castigations, who can foresee? Considering how causelessly, and yet how rudel, he fell upon M●. SMITHIES, (not to mention Others) and withal how weakly, and yet how insolently he defended it, in a Course of Calumny, and lewd Language, undecent to be used to any Christian, much less towards a Minister of the Gospel, and a Priest of that Church of which he owns himself a Member. Nay such a Common-shore of slander is his Paper come to be esteemed, and so apt to receive any idle stories, and vent them abroad again in Print, to the prejudice of any persons Good Name and Reputation, that 'tis no unusual thing when two Neighbours fall out, for the one to threaten the other— I'll PUT YOU IN THE OBSERVATOR.  
Thus (to use one of his own Witticisms) whilst the Club blow the Bagpipes. and the Observator Twedles, the Nation is serenadid towards a Debauch with false insinuations and daring Fictions; Factions and Animosities increased by new- Coined Terms of Distinction and Reproach, the Justice of the Government scandalled, Judicial Proceed unravelled, misrepresented and Calumniated in favour of Murderers and Traitors; The Church of England attacked, and endeavours used to divide and weaken her; The Papists in all things justified or excused, and their Traitorous Bloody Doctrines and Practices, Blanched, extenuated, or untruly denied. And if there be yet any persons that will have these things accounted Services to the Government, or the Established Church of England, I must crave leave to suspect either the soundness of their Understandings, or the Loyalty of their Affections to Both.  
I shall conclude in the words of the late cited Seasonable Discourse, p. 36.— If we have any Love to our Religion, any obhorrence of the groffest Superstition, Error or Idolatry, any regard for the Safety of his Majesty, any care of our Laws, or our Estates, any Concernment for the strength, the Wealth, the Number rf our Nation, any desire to hold the Freedom of our Conscience, the Virtue and Honour of our Families, and lastly any Care of self-preservation, to escape Massacres, and the utmost rage of Persecution; It will behoove as to beware of the prevailing of that Sect, [the Papists] in whose successes we have reason to expect to forfeit all these Interests, perish ourselves, and bequeath Idolatry, and Beggary and Servitude to our Posterity.  
Whether all Honest-Church-of- England-Men will not (or at least ought not) believe this Reverend Prelate, of that Church, rather than the Jigs of an Observator, is the Question.   

Postscript.  
THE Observator Numb. 145. falls foul upon Mr. Oates, for saving, The Popish Plot was designed in 1670. and he believed it was so in 1666, etc. But if Oats had never told us one Word, it would have been rational to believe, That there has been a Popish Plot one foot ever since the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth, when the Pope began to Thunder as Her, and charged all his Children to refrain going to Church; which was the first Rise of Recusancy, Name and Thing: I say, ever since then, there has been, and is without doubt a Popish Plot and Traitorous Conspiracy on foot, and continually going on, in general to Subvert our Established Church and Government, and introduce the Pope's Supremacy, and detestable Idolatries: (And of matters tending thereunto, as of moneys raised for promoting the Catholic Cause in England, or the like; Why might not Oats see Memorials in some of their Records or Ledges Books, without incurring that Train of Absurdities which the Observator (according to his manner, very pleasantly, but very inconsequently) raises thereupon? Such a continued Plot to have been, our Histories show; and Campion the Jesuit boasted, That as long as there was one of that Society alive, it should not be desisted; Though true it is, the several Scenes or Schisms of that Plot have been varied, and the Mediums, Actors, and Methods changed according to the Oppertunities of Affairs, and different Junctures of times, as might easily be Demonstrated.  
But that they had some particular form ill Design upon the Wheel against his Majesty's Government, in the Year 1666. seems very evident from the Testimony of one of their own Communion, (though not so thorough-paced as their high Churchmen, as to the Pope's Power over Princes in Temporals) I mean, Father Peter Walsh, a Franciscan Friar; which because it also gives a Specimen of Roman Catholic Loyalty, I shall here recite with the Occasion.  
You must know then, that soon after his Majesty's Restauration, the Laws being put in Execution against the Papists in Ireland, and they resolving to Petition his Majesty for Ease therein, were advised to premise therein a Protestation of their Loyalty, which was drawn up in these Words. [as recited in the said Father Walshes History of the Loyal Formulary, Printed 1674. Fol. 7.]  
To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty.  
The Humble Remonstrance, Acknowledgement, Protestation, and Petition of the Roman Catholic Clergy of Ireland.  
YOUR Majesty's Faithful Subjects, the Roman Catholic Clergy of Your Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland, do most Humbly Represent this their present State and deplorable Condition; That being entrusted by the indispensable Commission of the King of Kings, with the Cure of Souls, and the Care of their Flocks, in Order to the Administration of Sacraments, and Teaching the People that perfect Obedience which for Conscience Sake, they are bound to pay to your Majesty's Commands; They are loaden with Calumnies, and persecuted with Severity. That being obliged by the Allegiance they own, and aught to swear unto Your Majesty, to reveal all Conspiracies and Practices against Your Person and Royal Authority, that come to their Knowledge; They are themselves Clamoured at as Conspirators, Plotting the Destruction of the English amongst them, without any ground that may give the least Colour to so foul a Crime, to pass for probable, in the judgement of any Indifferent Person.  
That their Crimes are as Numerous and Divers as are the Inventions of their Adversaries: And because they cannot with Freedom appear to justify their Innocenry, all the Fictions und Allegations against them, are received as undoubted Verities: And, which is yet more mischievous the Laiety, upon whose Consciences the Character of Priesthood gives them an Influence, suffer under all the Crimes thus falsely imputed to them; It being their Adversaries principal Design, That the Irish whose Estates they enjoy, should be reputed Persons unfit, and no way Worthy any Title to Your Majesty's Mercy.  
That no Wood comes amiss to make Arrows for their Destruction, for as if the Roman Catholic Clergy, whom they esteem most Criminal, were or aught to be a Society so perfect, as no Evil, no indiscreet person should be found amongst them; They are all of them generally cried down for any Crime, whether true or feigned, which is Imputed to one of them: And as if no words could be spoken, no Letter written, but with the common consent of them all; The whole Clergy must suffer for that which is laid to the charge of any particular Person amongst them.  
We know what Odium all the Catholic Clergy lies under, by reason of the Calumnies, with which our Tenants in Religion, and Our Dependence upon the Pope's Authority, are aspersed; And we humbly beg Your Majesty's pardon to vindicate both, by the Ensuing Protestation, which we make in the Sight of Heaven, and in the presence of Your Majesty, sincerely and truly, without Equivocation, or mental Reservation.  
WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE and confess Your Majesty to be our true and lawful King, Supreme Lord, and Rightful Sovereign of this Realm of Ireland, and of all other Your Majesty's Dominions. And therefore we do acknowledge and confess ourselves to be Obliged, under Pain of Sin, to obey Your Majesty in all Civil and Temporal Affairs, as much as any other of Your Majesty's Subjects, and as the Laws and Rules of Government in this Kingdom, do require at Our Hands, and that notwithstanding any Power or Pretention of the Pope, or See of Rome, or any Sentence or Declaration, of what kind or Quality soever, given, or to be given by the Pope, His Predecessors, or Successors, or by any Authority, Spiritual or Temporal, Proceeding or derived from Him, or his See, against Your Majesty or Royal Authority; We will still acknowledge and perform to the utter most of Our Abilities, Our Faithful Loyalty, and True Allegiance to Your Majesty. And We openly Disclaim and Renounce all Foreign Power, be it either Papal or Princely, Spiritual or Temporal, in as much as it may seem able, or shall pretend to Free, Discharge, or Absolve us from this Obligation, or shall any Way give us Leave or Licence to raise Tumults, bear Arms, or offer any Violence to Your Majesty's Person, Royal Authority, or to the State or Government; Being all of us ready not only to discover, and make known to Your Majesty and to Your Ministers, all the Treasons made against Your Majesty or Them, which shall come to Our Hearing: But also to lose Our Lives in Defence of Your Majesty's Person and Royal Authority, and to resist with Our best Endeavours, all Conspiracies and Attempts against Your Majesty, be they framed, or sent under what Pretence, or patronised by what Foreign Power or Authority soever: And further We profess, that all absolute Princes, and Supreme Governors, of what Religion soever they be, are God's Lieutenants on Earth, and that Obedience is due to them according to the Laws of each Commonwealth, respectively in all Civil and Temporal Affairs. And therefore, We do here Protest against all Doctrines to the contrary: And We do hold it Impious, and against the Word of God, to maintain that any private Subject may kill or murder the Anointed of God his Prince, though of different Belief and Religion from His: And We abhor and detest the Practice thereof, as damnable and wicked.  
These being the Tenants of Our Religion in Point of Loyalty, and Submission to Your Majesty's Commands; and Our Dependence on the See of Rome no way entrenching upon that perfect obedience which by our Birth, by all Laws Divine and Humane, We are bound to Pay to Your Majesty our Natural and Lawful Sovereign; We humbly beg, Prostrate at Your Majesty's Feet, that you would be pleased to Protect us from the severe Persecution We suffer merely for Our Profession in Religion; leaving those that are, or hereafter shall be guilty of other Crimes, (and there have been such in all times, as well by their Pens, as by their Actions) to the Punishment prescribed by the Law.  
This Protestation was consented to at London by one Popish Bishop of Ireland, and several of the Catholic Nobility; But being sent into Ireland, the generality of their Bishops and Clergy, though it were signified unto them that it was His Majesty's desire and positive directions that they should sign it, as an Argument of their purpose and Resolution to be more faithful to him hereafter than they had proved to his Father, and though they were told that such subscription must be the only Medium to procure them that ease from the penal Laws which they desired, [Welsh ibidem p. 20.] yet I say, the generality of their Clergy refused to sign it; And the said Remonstrance itself was Condemned by the Theological Faculty of Louvain, as containing things Repugnant to the sincere Professiou of Catholic Religion, and therefore unlawful and detestable: requiring such as had subscribed, to Revoke it; and none to subscribe under the guilt of Sacrilege, [ibidem. Fol. 103.] And the Pope's Internuncio from Brussels likewise Brands it, as invented for the Seduction of Souls, and adulterating the Sincerity of Faith; And so likewise Cardinal Barberini in a Letter on that occasion, avows, that it asserts things contrary to the Catholic Faith, [Fol. 632.]  
Well, after long shuffling and brangling, the Irish Clergy very much desired a National Synod to debate and determine the point, which at last was graciously condescended unto, and granted. (the First says Walsh, they had enjoyed since Queen Mary's days; and we hope it will be the last, unless they had the Honesty to make better use of it.)  
Accordingly their Synod met at Dublin, which began the eleventh of June 1666. and continued to sit fifteen days, but in all that time could by no arguments or persuasions be prevailed with to pass this innocent and most just and necessary Declaration, and so were commanded to dissolve by the Lord Lieutenant. The reason of which their prodigious obstinacy, is thus rendered by the said Father Walsh (who was all along present, a Principal Member of that Convention, and who used a world of pains to have persuaded them to approve it)— They had (saith he) before obstinately resolved against all Reason; The Miracles and Revolutions they expected from the year 1666. Their Foreign Intelligence and Expectations, and their Lying Prophecies at home, with many other vain persuasions of their own, fixed them unalterable; These are Walshes own words p. 703.  
Here were MIRACLES and REVOLUTIONS, (that is a Change of Government, and a Re-establishment of the Roman Catholic Religion) firmly looked for that year. Here was FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE to that purpose held about the matter, and from thence VAST EXPECTATIONS (His Majesty then actually engaged in a War with France) And therefore they would not so far oblige the King, or disoblige the Popc in so hopeful a juncture, as to subscribe this honest Profession of Obedience to their Sovereign; so very favourably worded as aforesaid.  
Behold here an illustrious and never to be for gotten Precedent of the so much boasted Loyalty of Papists. And let the Observator take notice, these were the Authoritative Proceed of a whole National Council of Popish Clergymen; And withal let the Protestant Reader remember that this was in that very year 1666. (wherein about two months after this Catholic Synod in Ireland) the City of London was laid in Ashes, by a Fire kindled by a French Papist (who for the same upon his own Confession was Executed) and carried on, as was generally more than suspected, by Popish Hands and Contrivances; Tho' the Observator has laboured hard to clear them from the same; But with as little sincerity, and no more force of Argument, than he has used in the like Service for them, touching this matter of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder. For instance, He would persuade us that this Monsieur Hubert was a Protestant; 'Tis true, the Varlet after his Condemnation, did once pretend so; but that the same was false, and said by the injunction of some Priest, is very plain. 1. Because being immediately asked whether he were an Hugonote (the common word whereby the French call Protestant's) he earnestly denied that (that word it seems was not in his Bargain) 2. Being wished to Pray he only muttered over divers times Pater Noster, and Avia Maria, in Latin, and so suffered— But this matter of Londons-Fire, requires a larger Disquisition, which (God willing) may one day see the light.  
FINIS.   

ADVERTISEMENT.  
Whereas the Observator in his Pamphlet that came out on the 8th. of December Numb. 180. hath maliciously and falsely represented and named Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Delaune as the Two Licensers of this Book; which he tells his Reader (that he may give the more Credit thereto) comes to him from one that Certainly knows; And also that they gave their Judgement upon it That there was nothing in't either against Church or State: This is to acquaint the Reader, That neither Mr. Jenkins nor Mr. Delaune, did ever read, (or hear any one else read) one line thereof, until it came out in Print: nor did Mr. Jenkins so much as hear there was any such Book written, or in the Press, until he saw it Printed: Which will be testified upon Oath, if need be. It may therefore well be presumed one great reason why he is so concerned to find out or imagine an Author and Abettors so circumstanced, is. That he may load them with Personal Reflections, and thereby Elude the Answering of the Book: Since he has made bold (as loyal as he pretends himself) to break the Act of Indemnity, that he might reflect on Mr. Jenkins; having no other ground, than that some of the Observators skulking Emissaries have given him information as abovesaid. But by this Specimen of the Observators Truth, the Reader may see what Credit is to be given to what he asserts with the greatest Confidence; as if there needed no other Confirmation but the Observator's unquestionable Veracity.