A TRUE NARRATIVE AND DISCOVERY Of several very REMARKABLE PASSAGES Relating to the Horrid Popish Plot As they fell within the Knowledge of Mr. MILES PRANCE of Covent-Garden, Goldsmith.  
VIZ.  

I. His Depositions concerning the Plot in General, and a Particular Design against the Life of His SACRED MAJESTY.  
II. The whole Proceed touching the Murder of Sir EDMUNDBURY GODFREY, and the particular Circumstances thereof.  
III. A Conspiracy to murder the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury.  
iv The Traitorous Intriqus and Immoralities of divers Popish Priests.   
Published by Authority.  
DUBLIN, Reprinted M.C.LXXIX.   

THE Epistle Dedicatory TO ALL PROTESTANTS  
I Looked upon the following Narrative as justly due to the World, whether I respected myself or You: for as I am bound to disburden my own Conscience by a full and Impartial Discovery of what I know, relating to this horrid, detestable Popish Plot, and to endeavour to tender my Acknowledgements as public as the Evils wherein I ●●ve been involved; So I am under the Obligations of Charity to Contribute All I can to your juformation and Satisfaction, That both the present●ge, and Posterity may take right Measures of Popery, as a thing so destructive to Government and Human Society in general, and so directly oppo●e to all the Ennobling, Holy, Humble, Meek and Peaceable Designs of True christianity, That the Better Roman-Catholick any person is, the worse man becomes, and look how much more devout, so much the more dangerous.  
For as when the Philistines had once deprived Samson of his sight, they ●●●de him grind in their Mill at their pleasure; so when people shut their ●●●es, and give up themselves to be led blindfold by the Nose with a strong ●●●uceit, That they are Embarked in a Church that cannot Err, (which is the 〈◊〉 Cornerstone of the Romish Building, and the first Principle they in●●●e; although in truth, by that Church is meant nothing more than the ●●surping, Domineering Pope, and his Covetous, Juggling, Self-designing ●●●y;) After, I say, they are brought into this slavish hoodwinked condition, 〈◊〉 wonder, if they be led forwards by the same men, to the most wick●●● Practices, as well as false Opinions. For as the Understanding is directed, the man, if he have any thing of a zealous temper, or be firm to the Religion he professes, will suitably Act, and comsequently may with ease be seduced to think he does God the best service, when indeed he most violates all ●●aws of God, Nature and Man.  
This I may the more firmly avouch, because I must acknowledge my selt to have been an unhappy Example of it, and therefore although these al● minable Principles and Practices of the Roman Church are already excellent laid open by a multitude of Learned men, (for She has bestowed too ma● sad instances thereof on the World, and this Nation in particular,) Yet wha● have to say, being matter of Fact, so lately done, and wherein I myself ●● so nearly concerned, it may (though never so meanly delivered,) possibly w● some be of use, more effectually to prevail with them.  
The matters herein discovered are of a various, but all of them of a m●● black and villainous nature; some relate to the Plot in general, wher● you may perceive how far the design was spread, and how no small numb●● (to my knowledge) were privy thereunto, and certainly the poison m●●● be most virulent at the Root when so many little Twiggs were therewith in●●●cted. You will found here (besides what hath been already discovered a●●● proved by others) notice of a cursed hand that durst resolve to attempt t●●● Sacred Life of our most Gracious Sovereign; a Prince, who besides the a●●●ful stamp of Heaven in his Character and Dignity, and the dread Life-gua●●● of Sacred Precepts, Not to touch the Lords Anointed, carries in His Pers●●● such charms of Sweetness, Goodness, Clemency and Indulgence, as mig●● secure him from Violence even amongst Heathens and Savages; but no Quillity or Innocence is Armour of proof against a Popish Knife; no Virtue sufficient to guard any from the Assassinations of a throow-paced Jesuited R●●man-Catholick.  
And certainly the Murder of that Loyal Protestant-Magistrate, Sir E●●mund-bury Godfrey, was a thing so hellish in itself, and yet through Go●● overruling Providence, so very considerable in its influences to this poo● Nations preservation, That I am confident it will be no mean satisfaction t●● all good Protestants to be ascertained of all (even the smallest) Circumstances relating thereunto; which as far as came within my knowledge, I have here freely and faithfully set forth, without adding a word beyond the Truth out of prejudice, or any sinister end; or concealing any thing for my ow● Reputation; For though to commit Sin be the greatest of shame, yet ingeniously and penitently to confess it, to the Glory of God, and warning of ou● Neighbour, is no disgrace, but the greatest Honour, and the best service a se●duced Criminal can be capable of, or able to perform.  
Nor was their other Conspiracy against the Life of that Noble Lord, th● Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury herein likewife set forth, lesle wicked and barbarous on their part in the design, though frustrated by the Providence of God, who I trust will continually bring to naught all the mischie●vous Counsels of these Romish Achitophel's, and cast the cruel Devices of such Assassinates on their own heads.  
As for that part which concerns the Ill Lives of several of their Priests, ●●●e same is not inserted out of any Spleen or Ill will to their Persons, (for to ●●veral of them in the Course of my Trade I have been beholden, as far as ●●ey were my Customers) but to give our English World a Taste of the pra●●●ces of the Leading men of that Apostate Church, and to persuade, if pos●●●le, Lay-Romanists, to consider what kind of Persons they are, on whose ●●eves they so blindly pin their Faith, and to whose Conduct they Trust in ●atter of such unspeakable Importance, as the Salvation or Eternal destruction of their Souls: And this I the rather recommend, and hope may be ●●●valent with others, because it had some weight with myself; for next to ●●●ections on the odious Plot they were carrying on, and the vile murther ●●●y had engaged me in, The certain knowledge of the close hypocrisy or ●●●fs Profaneness and lewd Lives of their Ghostly Fathers (at lest most of ●●●se I had the unhappiness to be intimately acquainted with, which were 〈◊〉 a few, though I accuse not All in that particular) had a strong Influence awaken my thoughts to quit their Communion; As conceiving that must ●●a bad Cause which used such wicked means to support it, and that it was way likely That should be the true Religion, which had no better Influ●●●e on the Conversations of those who were its Priests and chief Promoters. The far greatest part of this whole Narrative hath already been attested up●●● Oath: As for the rest that is therein asserted, as on my own knowledge, I ●●ll at any time be ready to justify and prove the same: And what I received information from others, is every where so expressed, with the Reason's 〈◊〉 circumstances inducing the credit I gave thereunto. For as I was educa●●●● amongst them from my Childhood, so I had a great acquaintance and familiarity with many of the Fathers and most zealous persons of that party ●●●ut the Town, having been several years her Majesty's Goldsmith, & the ●●●●f of my Trade depending on Priests & others of the Rom. Cath. persuasion. The reason why I presume to dedicated this mean Narrative to so great a ●●●y as all you worthy Protestants in general, seemeth to me just, because sin●●● and excusable, because in some sort necessary; I make you as it were All ●●●ies to these Presents, not only that there may be so many living witnesses ●●●nst me, if ever either there should be any wilful untruth found therein, or 〈◊〉 I should fall back, (which God forbidden) from that pure Religion which you ●●ess, and I most cordially though lately have embraced; but also more espe●●y thereby to engage your united Prayers to God, as well for my persevered and growth in Christian knowledge, as for my preservation against the ●●●ce of those restless enemies, from whom I am to expect the worst that ●●●●revenge can suggest, or cruel malice execute; partly for my relinquishment of them, but much more for disclosing some of their Proceed 〈◊〉 wherein already they have not been wanting, for besides lies and slander 〈◊〉 dustriously spread, to vilify and make me odious, and the depriving me (as 〈◊〉 as in them lies) of the means of a Livelihood, I was of late credibly infor●●● of a resolved design against my life, and that three persons had dogged 〈◊〉 for some time for that purpose: But the Lord is my God, of whom than shall 〈◊〉 afraid? To his infinite protection I resign myself, and next under ●●●m to 〈◊〉 of his Vicegerent, from whose most Gracious Majesty, as like who from the ●●●●ble Lords of his most Honourable Council, as well as the Right Honourable the House of Peers, I have upon all occasions found all just encouragement and very great indulgence, which with a thankful heart I desire to com●●● morate, and publish for the encouragement of others.  
The Romanists (especially the Jesuits and Priests, who sway the res●●● their pleasure) are a most vigilant and unwearied sort of people to propag●●● their false Doctrines, and spread their tyranny; I speak it experimenta●●● who have had the advantage in a great measure to know them; no defeat 〈◊〉 daunt them, nor scarce any disappointments discourage them: not sooner is 〈◊〉 Plot discovered, but they presently lay another. For 'tis a Rule that th●● Priests enjoin their people to believe, I may I am confident say of most, 〈◊〉 firmly as their Creed, that their Religion shall infallibly one day or other 〈◊〉 restored and established again in England; and being thus verily perswad●● they bear up under all Miscarriages, and still vigorously pursue the main●● sign, though in new methods, and with different Instruments. And therefore will certainly concern Protestant's to be as careful and active to prevent th●● designs, and preserve their own Religion and Lives, as the other are to 〈◊〉 stroy both: you have now an opportunity put into your hands to crush 〈◊〉 Cockatrice's egg: O may you all in your several places and stations impro●● it with wisdom, and with courage, and with integrity: For if the neck of th●● Design be not now throughly broken, if Popery be not now ham-strung 〈◊〉 England; if the Serpent's head be not bruised, and the Vitals destroyed, 〈◊〉 may justly be feared, that it will revive again, and than the Plot will be o●● laid to sleep, & not prevented, & the latter end prove worse than the beginning.  
But who am I, to advice so great and so wise a Body? May the God of Wisdom advice you and direct you, and protect you in his Truth and in his fe●● And so begging all your Prayers on my behalf, I shall conclude, and subscr●●● myself.  
A Hearty Wellwisher to the Protestant Chur●● and the welfare of the King and People, MILES PRANCE Covent-Garden, May 26 1679.   

A NARRATIVE OF The whole PROCEED touching the MURDER OF Sir EDMONDBURY GODFREY; AND Several other Passages relating to the Horrid Popish Plot, Which came within the Knowledge of MILES PRANCE Of St. Giles' in the Fields, in the County of Middlesex, GOLDSMITH.  
MIles Prance was from his Infancy bred up in that Persuasion, which calls itself the Roman Catholic Religion, having several very near Relations engaged therein; and being under the strong Prejudices of Education, and continual Incitements of the Priests, was very zealous for advancing that Church; being made believe, That in order to that end, no means aught to be avoided or esteemed unlawful.  
He had, by long Conversation, contracted as large and intimate an Acquaintance both with the Priests and Jesuits residing in England, (especially about London) as also with Persons of Quality of the Romish Profession, as any man of his Circumstance was capable of.  
He doth well know, that for divers years last passed, it hath been a general Opinion and Expectation amongst Papists, That their Religion should in some short time b●●● publicly reestablished in England. And this vain Conceit their Priests did always very industeiously nourish in them, but with words more open and peremptory here 〈◊〉 late, than before: so that he, as well as others, had for several years, a general Intimation, That some great thing was shortly to be done for the Roman Catholic Cau●●● and that the Redemption (as they were want to call it) was drawing nigh. But t●● first direct and particular Information he received of the Plot, or any form Desig●●●● and Resolution to take Arms, wa● near two years ago, on the occasion, and in the m●●ner following, viz.  
One Mr. Towneley of Townley in Lancashire, a Gentleman of a very considerable 〈◊〉 state, coming up to London with his two Sons, in order to carry them over 〈◊〉 Douai, there to be brought up: For that is the general practice of the Popish Ge●●try, to sand over their Children thither, being made believe, that we have no go●● method of Learning in our English Schools or Universities; but that the only gra●● Masters of Education in the World are the Jesuits. By which means, not only o●● Nation is scandalised, and the wealth thereof privately drained away, but also it com●● to pass, that the Children of so many Noble & Considerable Families, being bred 〈◊〉 from their tender years wholly under their Tuition, they have the better opporuniti●● to instil Traitorous and Disloyal Principles into their minds, plant in them an endless b●● tread against the Protestant Religion, & in general, gain such an Ascendant over the●● that as they were their Masters and Tutors in their Youth, so they behave themselves as their Governors all their lives afterwards: the Estates of many Popish Gentry b●ing as absolutely at the Priests dispose, as at their own: These things he knows to 〈◊〉 true, and of very pernicious Consequence; and therefore hopes 'tis not unseasonab●● digression to mention them.  
This Mr. Townley coming to Town on this occasion, did likewise bring up with hi●● his two Brothers to keep him Company, and took Lodgings at one Airies house 〈◊〉 Drury-lane, where John Fenwick a notorious Jesuit and Arch-traitor, now in custod●● than had his residence: where, after they had continued some short time, the said M●● Townley and one of his Brothers, went over to Douai with the two Lads, and left t●● other here; who, in the absence of his Brothers declared very often to Mr. Praun●● Wives Brother, and to one Adamson a Watchmaker, That when his Brother's can●● back from Flanders, they expected to receive Commissions from the Lord Bellasis a●● other Catholic Lords concerned, for the raising of men to carry on the Catholics Cause. And this his Brother and the said Adamson several times told again to M●● Prance at Pedley's house in Vere-street, where was kept a frequent Club consisting 〈◊〉 none but Papists.  
That during the time that the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Shafisbury, the Lo●● Wharten, and Lord Salisbury, were confined in the Tower, one Mr. Keighly, a pe●son (repated) of good Estate, was pleased in discourse to express his joy and satisfaction for such their Confinement: For, said he, Now is the time for the Promoting of O●● tholick Religion (meaning Popery); and if his Royal Highness be but sure, and will follows the business closely ●● which he said Catholics had good grounds to hope he would 〈◊〉 and we can but strike whilst the ●on is hot, and not l●se opportunities, I do not doubt b●● our Religion may sheedily be settled in England: for no juncture of time can appear more f●● or favourable for the Business than the present.  
That about a year ago, being in Company with one Singleton a popish Priest, at t●● house of one Hall a Cook in joy lane, London, the said Priest, in the presence of M●● Prance and the said Hall, did say these words following: That he hoped be shou●● be settled in a Parish-Church before a Twelvemonth came about; for he did n●t fear b●● that the Catholic Religion would reign in England: and to advance it, be would not m●● any more matter to S●ab Forty Parliament-men, than to eat his Dinner: he being than 〈◊〉 ●ing at Dinner with his Knife in his hand. Concerning this zealous Gentleman's pran●●● we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter.  
That one Mr. Ridiey a Chirargion, living at the House that was late the Lord of Ba●●●nor's in Wild-treet, walking in Wild-Garden, declared, The he expected to be a Chirurgeon to the Catholic Army in England; and that he hoped the Lord Bellasis, whom ●●●● knew wa● one chief person to command it, would much ●and his friend in that concern. ●●d since the discovery of the Plot, upon Mr. Praunce's information, there was a Po●●● Priest, one Fincham by name, being a Priest to the Lady Saveil, taken in the said 〈◊〉. Ridleys' House, where he was sheltered; but since, by the mediation of good ●●ends; he is, as 'tis said, sent beyond the Seas.  
That in the month of August, 1678. Mr. Prance having occasion to writ to a friend 〈◊〉 the Country, but not knowing certainly how to sand, went to one Mr. Paston, ●●om he had some reasons to believe could inform him therein; he lodged than at ●●e Bamber's a Tailor in Duke-street, and had great resort of Jesuits and Priests to his ●●amber: after he had satisfied him in the particular matter he came to him about, ●●ty immediately fell into discourse of public Affairs, and the interest of Catholic ●●igion; & he bid Mr. Prance not to fear any thing, for all would suddenly be well: 〈◊〉 in the first place, he said, It was true the King was a great Heretic, but the Lord ●●●asis, the Lord Arundel, the Lord Powis, and Lord Peter, (these four Nobleman's 〈◊〉 well remembers he named) would have a gallant Army for the deposing, or disposing ●●e cannot now certainly say which of these words he used, but is sure it was one of ●●em) of the King, & utter subversion of all the Protestants; & than the Catholic Religion should established & flourish in this Nation. And he than farther said, that the Lords had already ●●en out Commissions to divers Gentlemen in the Country for raising their Troops; and he ●●med several of them; amongst whom he well remembers one was Mr. Talbot of ●●ngsord; another, Sir Henry Bedingfield of Oxborough-hall in Norfolk, and a third Mr. Sto●●, who lives within four or five miles of Kingston upon Thames: others he mentioned, ●●ose names he does not so well retain.  
7. That about eight or ten days before Michaelmas, 1678. he had a more clear discovery of the design in hand, That they intended to levy War, to subvert the Government, etc. for being at the Chamber of Father Ireland the Jesuit, siuce executed for ●●eason, he lodging than in Russel street, where were likewise present John Fenwick and ●●n Grove; the said Ireland did declare, that there would VERY SHORTLY be Fifty ●●usand men in Arms. At which Mr. Praunee, as surprised, demanded of him where ●●ey would have them, and what they were to do? to which he answered, We must ●●ve them speedily to settle our Religion here, or else all will be ruined. Than Mr. Praunce ●●uired who should command them? to which Fenwick undertook to make answer, ●●d said, That they should be commanded by the Lord Auundel, Lord Bellasis, Lord Powis, ●●d others. Whereupon, Mr. Prance apprehending the fatal mischiefs and distracti●●s of a Civil War, said to them, What than shall we poor Tradesmen do? the same ●●wick replied, You for your part of all men need not fear a Trade, for you (being a goldsmith) will have enough in your way by Church-work And several such discourses ●●en passed between them, whereby he plainly understood, that there was a grand Plot, ●●d near to be put in execution, and that they were very confident of the success.  
8. That soon after this, the said Grove came to Mr. Prannce's shop to buy two S●l●●r spoons for a Christening where he was to be Godfather; & taking occasion to speak 〈◊〉 their last recited discourse at Father Ireland's, Mr. Prance asked him what Office he the ●●d Grove was to have in the Catholic Army: but he declined to answer directly, & at last said, He did not know AS YET. Than being asked again, who were to govern t●● intended Army, he named the Lord Bellasis, the Lord Arundel, the Lord Powis, and 〈◊〉 Lord Peter's; and said, that they had already Commissions for that purpose.  
9 The Priests themselves were not only the grand Contrivers of this desperate Desig●● with Counsel and Encouragement, but likewise intended to be actually concerned in 〈◊〉 Butcheries, as well as the Laiety: for very near the same time, Mr. le Feure a Priest, whe●● Mr. Prance was well acquainted with, as having sold him several Chalices, Crewels Basins, O●●-boxes for Extreme Unction, and suchlike Utensils, came to his Shop●● buy a second hand Silver-bilt for a Sword; whereupon, he asked him what he ment●● do therewith, for he had a good Sword already? the said le Feure answered, there w●● times coming on, wherein Catholics would have good occasion for Weapons, a●● therefore he would be sure to be provided, by getting another special Sword, and wou●●● have such an Hilt to it.  
10. Happening one day to see Mr. Moor, that belongs to the Duke of Norfolk, riding in the streets upon a very brave Horse meeting him soon after in the Court at Somers●● House, Mr. Prance was saying what a gallant Beast he saw him mounted upon late●● whereupon, the said Mr. Moor wished that he had ten Thousand of them; but said, th●● he hoped in a very short time we should have Ten thousand as good Horses, and mounted with brave men, well Armed and Accoutred, for the advancing of the Catholics cause: which he spoke openly, and in a braving manner, as if he were not afraid to ow●● the thing, nor cared who heard him.  
11. In like manner, and much about the same time, he heard Mr. Messinger, Gentlema●● of the Horse to the Lord Arundel, boast, That he doubted not but to see the Catholics Religion flourish ere long throughout England, and Heretics to be rooted out: for he h●●●●ped to see a gallant Army one of these days, to effect so glorious a work. The sam●●●●man was afterwards engaged in the horrid Designs of Murdering the Kings Sacre●● Majesty, and also of the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury; of which a particular Account is herein afterwards given.  
After God by a miracle of mercy to these Nations, had been pleased to give some Discovery of the Plot, their insolence was so little daunted, and their malice increased; contriving new ways to destroy all that opposed them, and to involve us in Blood an●● Confusion. For,  
12. When the Order came forth for tendering the Oaths of Allegiance and suprema●●●●● all Roman Catholics, one Mr. Laurence, an Apothecary in Drury lane, came to Mr. ●raunces House, to borrow a Book which had in it the forms of the said Oaths, seemin●cry much dissatisfied and offended about it; and after several Complaints, and mu●●●urings against Authority, did speak these words— I wish with all my heart, half the Pa●●●ment were poisoned, for they will ruin us all, meaning all Papists. Now how exce●●ing dangerous may a person, continuing under such desperate Principles, and of tha●●●ade, be to the Nation, in destroying privately, such as shall oppose their Hellish De●●●●? for 'tis reasonably to be feared, that he that had mad zeal and malice enough t●●●●sh half the members of that most Honourable Assembly poisoned, will scarce stick to●● 〈◊〉 a piece of his skill upon any particular Heretic or Heretics, when the Interest o●●●●ir Bloody Church shall command, or prospect of considerable gain invite thereunto  
13. That about a fortnight before St. Thomas' day last, Mr. Prance having an intimate●●●quaintance with the Lord Arundel of Warder's Butler, he told Mr. Prance. (but ●●th a great obligation of Secrecy,) That the  Mr. Messinger (his ●●●rds Gentleman of the Horse) was to kill the King, and to have a vast Reward, if he ●●aped with his Life, as 'twas well hoped, the business was so neatly contrived, that 〈◊〉 might: But however, if he should miscarry or suffer in or for the Attempt, than he ●●ving appointed beforehand what Friends should have the said Reward, it should be ●stributed faithfully to them by the said Lord Arundel, Powis, and the rest of the ●●ords that were in the Plot. Whereupon, within a day or two after, Prance meeting with the said Messinger in Lincoins-Inn-Fields, after some previous and preparatory discourse, asked him, Why be would kill the King? At which question he appared strangely surprised and confounded, as wondering how he should come to know ●●uch his traitorous Intention: But Mr. Prance seeming not willing to give him any ●●casion of fear, he, recollecting himself, said, Who told you of it? To which the other answered, That their Butler intimated so much to him, as a Friend; whereupon he ●●ly said, Not, not, we are of of that thing now: giving him to understand as if they ●●d taken some new Measures. Than Mr. Prance took leave of him, who seemed ●●uch troubled at the Discovery: and after he was gone a few paces from him, called ●●m back again, and asked him to drink with him; but he told him, that his business ●●quired haft, and so avoided going with him. Than he adjured him not to speak of ●●at business to any body living. But afterwards the poor Butler came to Praunce's ●●op, and told him. That he had received great Anger, and was like to be undone, because he had told him what Mr. Messinger was to have dove.  
14. In the same street where Mr. Prance lives, viz. Princes-street in Covent Garden, ●●ere dwells one GROVE a Papist (Nephew to John Grove, lately executed for designing to murder the King) who is still, at the writing hereof, suffered to teach School ●●ere. This person, after the Condemnation of his Uncle, said very confidently, that ●●ere was no such Plot at all as was pretended, for it was one'y a Plot. of the Prote●ants: And to vilify the King's Evidence, though most plain and pregnant, (according 〈◊〉 the usual method of all Papists, who make it their grand business to throw upon ●●em all imaginable Scandals) said. That they were all Rogues that swore against his ●●ncle. Whereupon Mr. Prance (of whom he than had no mistrust, but looked upon ●●m as firm to their party) said, But than what think you of the Fifty thousand men ●●at were suddenly to be raised? which to my knowledge he knew of: for I well remember he told me of it. Which plain Argument of his Uncle's Treason from Mr. Prance, the said Grove not being able to deny, said, That possibly his Uncle might speak ●●at in jest. Such sorry Evasions will they make use of to outface Truth, bolster up ●●eir villainous practices, and make ignorant and credulous people believe, That all their raitors are Saints, or at lest Martyrs.  
Further Particulars which have fallen within the said Miles Fraunce's Cognizance ●●uching the Plot in general, (though several material ones there are) we shall not here mention, as being not yet fit to be publicly divulged; but proceed to the Murder of ●●ir Edmundbury Godfrey, in which Mr. Prance was unhappily concerned.  

The Full Discovery of the Manner and Circumstances of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder.  
1. THe Design of Murdering this Innocent and Neverto beforgotten Gentlem●● was laid, and some Attempts made to execute it before it was at all communicated unto Mr. Prance, for he hath since heard by Girald and Kelly (Irish Popish Pri●● concerned in the Murder) and others, that once, some small time before they acquainted him with it; a Gentleman passing by , that was very like Sir Edmon●bury in Statute, Physiognomy and Habit; some of them mistake and compliment him as Sir Edmondbury, but the Stranger denying the Name, or that he was any ●u●● person, they were so confident, as to think he did it out of Caution to avoid the 〈◊〉 And therefore peremptorily told him he was Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, which he as positively denying, they made some attempts to push him into the House, but at last pa●●ceiving their mistake, released him, pretending it was only to have drank a Bottle●● Wine with him. Likewise they said that once or oftener, they dogged him into 〈◊〉 Fields, and out parts of the Town, but being in the day time, could meet with no opportunity to dispatch him.  
2. On Sunday, wanting but a day of a fortnight before the Murder committed, conkling from the Queen's Chapel, the said Girald and Kelly together with Robert Gre●● Cushion man to the Chapel, Laurence Hill, Doctor Goddin's Man (which Doctor●● Treasurer of the Chapel) and Mr. Prance went (as commonly they did every Sunday to the Plough-Alehouse by the Watergate (as they call it, that is the furthermost Gate 〈◊〉 passage going down out of the Strand to the Waterside) of Somerset House; whe●● after some common friendly discourse and talk of the Plot which was than begun to b●● discovered. Girald the Priest, in a familiar plausible way asked Prance if he did n●●● know Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, who told him he had heard of him, and seen him; bu●● had no particular Acquaintance with him. Than he asked if he did not know wha●● 〈◊〉 bitter persecutor he was to Catholics, and a particular enemy to the Queen's Servants (which it is supposed he urged because Prance was one of them:) And now o●●●●ate (said he) he has examined people against us, and got Depositions to fix odiou●● Crimes and Scandals upon us and our Religion; To which Prance answered that headbeard he had lately taken some Examinations concerning the Plot, but did not know●●●● particulars, though he understood there was a great deal of Noise abroad about i●●●●●nd heard that Mr. Ireland and others last night were taken upon it. The other told him ●●hat the said Sir Edmondbury was so desperate an Enemy, and had done such things that ●●he were not taken of, the Catholics would be generally ruined, and therefore it was desolately necessary for the Glory of God, and the good of the Church that it be done ●●nd if we can found an opportunity to do it, we shall have a very good Reward from 〈◊〉 worse Man than the Lord Beliasis, and therefore (saith the said Girald to Prance) ●●oking upon you as a good Catholic and that will not deny so good a Service to ●●e Church; we would have you be aiding and assisting to us in it. This was the ve●● effect, and as near as he can remember the Words of his first Discourse.  
To which, being surprised with horror at so unexpected and cruel a Motion, Praunce ●●wered, not, he could not be concerned, nor would be guilty of any man's Blood for arnhold. For Marther was a grievous and most mortal sin. The Priest replied, Alas, this ●●o sin, but a work of Charity. There is no murder in this case, it is for the Glory of God and the good of the Church, and therefore you aught to do it. With several o●●er words to that purpose.  
●●n which wicked persuasions, Kelly the other Priest likewise joined with him, affirming 〈◊〉 same & highly encouraging Prance & the rest present (whom it seems they had En●●ged before) thereunto, as a meritorious work. Yet still Prance told them he could 〈◊〉 Treacheroufly kill any man, for he was not able to fort his mind to such an ●●●tion; Girald said, he desired him to be not further concened than he would be himself, and that he would make nothing of killing twenty Heretics in such a Case, and ●●t there was no Danger in it, for it might easily be effected and no body the wiser. ●●veral such words and discourses passed. At last they told him he should not be troubled to do the business, but should only stand at a distance, and that they were sure he ●●uld not deny to do, for, by their very declaring the Business, he was already as far secerned as that came to, unless he would betray them; which if he did, he was certainly Damned, nor should escapelong here without Revenge.  
These, to the best of his memory were the substance of all their Arguments to him. ●●r did they Assign any particular reason of their malice, only that Sir. Edmondbury ●●●dfry was a busy man, and was going about to ruin all the Catholics in England, ●●d that it was necessary to destroy him, else they should be all undone. In fine, so im●●tunate they were, that by these cursed persuasions proceeding from Priests whom ●●had been taught to Reverence, and receive their words as Oracles; Prance wa●●●vailed with, (with hearty Sorrow, Shame and Contrition, he desires to acknowledge it) to keep their bloody Counsels, not daring both on a Religions and Tempo●● account to leveal the same, fearing as well Damnation in the next World, if he ●●uld discover it, as Ruin in this, being one of her Majesty's Servants, and so great ●●art or rather his who●e Livelihood depending on her and other Catholics. With ●●om these revengful Priests by their Interest and some  informations might easily ●●do him, besides the danger he lay under of a private Stab or the like michief from ●●●m.  
Than they acquainted him that some others were engaged in the Business, besides ●●ose than present, naming Henry Berry Porter to the Queen's Majesty at the upper ●●urt Gate, one Lewson a Priest, and Philip Vernatti, who did belong to the Lord ●●asis, her to fore Paymaster at Tangier, and much indebted to the said Lord. Who together with Gerrard & Kely (as 'tis believed) were the first that were engaged in the ●●iness, & that the said Vernatti might be induced thereto by some promise, that his ●●bt should be remitted, and further rewards promised.  
They I kewise said there should be one more in it, whose Nam (as they than told 〈◊〉 he doth not remember. And as he since understands, there were several others con●●ned. So desperately were the Original Contrivers set upon this good Gentleman's ●●●ther; That to effect it throughly they laid several distinct Plots, and employed di●●e Separate Agents unknown to each other. But those above mentioned were all ●●t he than knew of for his part, or that they discovered to him.  
● In the week following, some of them met with him several ●ime● at the same house, ●●d appointed to meet the next Sunday, which accordingly they did: Walking immensely from Prayers at the Chapel down to the Waterside, where they presently fell ●●o Consultation about the manner of effecting this Horrid m●rder. But did n●t there ●●●e to any Resolation, but went from thence to the said Plough to drink, where they concluded to dog or watch Sr. Edmondbury the next week, and that whoever of th●● could first see him in a Convenient place, should give the rest notice.  
4. Pursuant to this Resolve, as he since understood, Green and some of the rest were 〈◊〉 Sr. Edmondbury's House, and endeavoured to watch him, but as appears, could 〈◊〉 light on a fit Opportunity. They met sometimes in the former part of that Week, 〈◊〉 Prance never concerned himself to go to his House, or elsewhere, to look for, or a●● him; But on Saturday the 12th. of October in the morning Girald, Green and Hill, w●● forth to observe his motions, and Kelly the other Priest who lodged in Sommerset-H●●● and knew of their going, came about nine a Clook in the Forenoon to Praunce's Hou●● to acquaint him therewith, and charge him to be at home in a readiness, The first th●● went near Sr. Edmundbury Godfrey's, and whilst two stayed some little way of, Hill w●● up to his House, and inquired for Sr. Edmundbury, and understanding he was with●● Spoke with him, and pretended some sained Business as 'tis believed, but not certa●●●● known what it was, and so he returned to his Companions (This Account He relate●● he had it from themselves, viz. Girald and Green, afterwards being not present than h●● self, but at home as aforesaid.)  
5. About ten or eleven a Clock Sr. Edmundbury came forth all alone (as his man●● was, for, being a plain Stout Gentleman, he never or very seldom went abroad attend●● with any servant, which they very well knew.) They waiting for him privately, dogg●● him to several places, up and down all the rest of the day, as his business led him, till●● 'bout six or seven a Clock at Night he came to St. Clement's, and went into a great ho●● there, where it is thought he supped. Than Green left the other two, and came●● Prance's shop, but he not being at home, but at a public House hard by, he sent 〈◊〉 him, and informed him that they had now set Sr. Edmundbury in St. Clements (but 〈◊〉 particular House he did not name or declare to him, so as he might know whose it wa●● but only told him that he must make all the hast he could down to Sommerset-House 〈◊〉 the Water-Gate, where he should found Kelly the Priest and Berry the Porter, according 〈◊〉 Prance left his Company, went thither, and found them walking in the Yard, wh●● they three sometimes walking, and sometimes sitting on the Bench, continued till ab●● nine of the Clock; And than Sr. Edmundbury as it appears came fourth of the said pl●● by St. Clement's, and presently Hill came running away before, up Street to give not 〈◊〉 that he was coming. And ordered that for to wheadle him in, two should pretend●● be a Quarrelling, and having thus said, the said Hill goes up again to the Wat●● Gate, and stood there to expect his coming by, and entice him in. In the mean 〈◊〉 Kelly the Priest and Berry began a seeming Quarrel, but made no great Noise; and 〈◊〉 Edmondbury coming along the Strand, just as he was passing by the Water-Gate, 〈◊〉 (who well knew Sr. Edmunbury, and Sr. Edmundbury him, as having traded with 〈◊〉 for C●a's) steps up to him as in a great deal of haste, and says, for God sake. Sr. Edmondbury Godfrey be pleased to come in, for here are two men a Quarrelling, and I am afr●●● there will be Blood shed between them. Pough, Pough, said Sr. Edmondbury, refu●● at first to trouble himself, but Hill still crying out he feared there might be a great d●● of Harm door, and how glad he was to light on his Worship, who being a M●●●strate, his presence would presently quiet them and therefore entreated him again 〈◊〉 ●o s●ep in; The Gallant Gentleman's good Nature, was such, not suspecting any H●●●●ut designing to do an Act of Charity, and to endeavour that the Peace might be ke●●●ccor●ing to his Office, that he was prevailed with by the Treacherous persuasions 〈◊〉 Assassinate, to turn into the Trap they had laid for him. Hill entered the Gate first: Sr. Edmundbury follows him and immediately behind him ●●ald and Green; they coming down as soon as they had passed ●raunce (who stood close ●●to the wall unseen) went forwards towards the water-gate, to observe any that ●●uld come that way, and Bury than went to secure the Stairs and passage by the chapel. But first he and Kelly were the pretended Quarrellers, and stood just at the 〈◊〉 of the Rail by the Queen's Stables, and as Sr. Edmundbury went down, Green who ●●kt just behind him, having in readiness a large twisted Handkerchief, on a sudden ●●ew the same about his Neck, and immediately they all four, viz. Girald, Kelly, ●●●een and the said Hill fell upon him, secured his Sword, pulled him down, throttled ●●m, so that he he could neither Cry out, nor Speak, drew him behind the Rail and ●●ve him many violent punches on the Breast with their Knees, and having as they suppled dispatched him, and that he had lain still for a while, fearing he was not yet quite ●●ad, Girald the Priest would have run his Sword through him, but the rest would ●●t yield to that, for they said than it should be discovered by the Blood, so that at their ●●swasion he put up his Sword again, and did not do it; however to make sure ●●orke, Green got upon him and punching him with all his Force on the Breast with ●●s Knee, wrung his Neck round; The first Attaque, viz. Green's flinging the twist●● Handkerchief about his Neck, and their falling upon him, Prance saw, but than immediately went to the water-Gate, and as for the rest of the Transactions, he had 〈◊〉 from all their mouths afterwards, and particularly as to the wring of his Neck, Green told of it himself, for he boasted of it; and the bloody minded Priest Gi●ald, seeing him Dead, said these Words: Well if we could not have enticed him in here, 〈◊〉 resolted I would have followed him down Hartshorn Lane that leads to his own House, ●●nd there would have run him through with my own Hand.  
But it was otherwise ordered by the Hand of God, who though he sometimes suffers wicked men to perpetrate their barbarous designs, yet he often overrules them ●●o far as that they themselves against their intentions, contribute to the discovery, or ●●prings by infinite wisdom and power, Good out of Evil, and serves the interests of his Church and people even by the Cruelties of their implacable enemies. For had they skilled him in another place, or disposed of his Body in another manner, 'tis possible it had never been found out, and in that Case, or if they had not been suffered to be so fa●● infatuated by the Devil as to murder him; 'tis probable their Hellish Plot had never been sufficiently taken notice of, till se●● in the direful Effects, so that Sr. Edmondbury must justly be styled, the King and Kingdom's Martyr, since his Death (though i●● itself most horrid and deplorable was yet through the infinite mercy of God, a mean to preserve the Lives of many thousands.  
7. Having stayed at the Gate about a quarter of an hour, in all which time no bod● offered to come in that way, Prance went down to them, and likewise Berry came from his post at the Stairs, and than they all set upon removing the Body, which they carrie●● in at a Door right against the place where he was Murdered, and so up a pair 〈◊〉 Stairs that goes into a long Entry leading into the upper Court by the Coach House and than into Doctor Geddin's Lodgings, who was Treasurer of t●e Chapel to th●● Queen, where the said Hill lived, & did all the Doctor's Bussiness, being he first Doc●●●● on the left Ha●d in the said Entry, Hill going before and opening the Door; Than th●● carried him up Five or six Stepped, in to a little Room on the Right Hand, where th●● set the Body with his Back leaning against a Bed and so leaving Hill there as being 〈◊〉 home the rest departed, and dispersed themselves, every Man to his own Dwelling getting home about ten of the Clock, or between ten and eleven.  
8. The Body lay in that Room, Saturday Night, Sunday all Day and Night, a●● until Monday at Night, and than Prance coming from Home about ten of the Clo●● down to Hill's, to know if they had disposed thereof, or how they would do it, b●● cause he had heard nothing from them; Hill told him, that he and the rest had th●● Evening a little before, carried him out to a Room cross the upper Court of Some●● set-House, for fear Notice should be taken of their keeping the other Room so lo●● private, or that some body should have occasion to go into it, and discover him; ●he Mr. Prance went to the Plough Alehouse, where he found Green, Girald and Kelly, an●● presently Hill came thither also, and Hill with a dark Lantern went with the oth●● three, etc. To show Mr. Prance where the Body lay, which was in the said Room 〈◊〉 the upper Court upon the Ground, covered with a Cloth over the Head, but h●● Sword was not there, but still kept hidden in Hill's House; So having seen the Bod● every Man went home.  
9 There the Corpse continued Munday-Night, and all Tuesday till about ni●● of the Clock at Night, and than all the said five persons, viz Girald, Kelly, Green, H●● and Berry took him out of the said Room, and brought him back cross the Cour●● Ward to the aforesaid long Entry by Doctor Goddin's Door, but Hill going in befor●●o his own Lodging, found (as they declared after.) some body there, so that the ●ould not with safety lay him in the same Room where he was first before, and there ●ore they carried him into another Room on the left Hand going from the uppe● Court just opposite to Doctor Goddin's Door, which as is supposed was Sr. John A●●●undel's Lodgings who is Master of the Horse to the Queen.  
10. There the Body lay Tuesday-Night, and till Wednesday about nine a Cloc●●t Night; and than all the said five persons undertook to convey it ba●k again to th●●●oom in Doctor Goddin's Lodgings where Hill Lived, and where it was laid at first, ●●ey imagining as Mr. Prance supposes that they might have more freedom, and bet●●●er opportunity to carry it from thence unperceived, than from the other place; Bu●●●●uring the time they were so removing him, and just as they had the Body in the En●●●●y, Mr. Prance accidentally came that way, and they not knowing who it might be●●●●●t the Body there, and began to fly, Berry running away quite to his Lodge, but Mr. Prance calling to them they knowing his Voice, came back and than they al●● 〈◊〉 but Berry who was so gone) set to their Hands & got it up again into the said little ●oom in Doctor Goddin's Lodgings, where it was at first.  
11. There they entered into a serious Consutation, and the Two Priests Girald & ●●elly (whether by Order of Superiors or not, cannot here be set forth because they ●●med no body that had so ordered, but delivered it as their own Sense) advised ●●at the safest and best way was to carry him out into the Fields and lay him in some ●●scure place, in such a manner as that whenever he should be found it might be supposed that he Murdered himself, which would much serve the interest of the Church, ●●en it should be publicly known, that he who was so busy in charging Catholick●●●●th a Plor, was so troubled afterwards for so abusing them in the same, that he made●●●●ay himself; & therefore it was agreed that none of his Money or other things should ●●medled with, the better to colour that Report; and indeed if they did take away ●●y Note Book or other Writing form him, it was in Praunce's absence, for he never ●●w them search his Pockets, nor doth know what became of his Band, but supposes ●●e same might be lost in some of their removes, and being found by some Papist, ●●en the Body was after discovered, and enquiry made after the Band, the same might 〈◊〉 kept concealed, becaused it should not be any Evidence that he was murdered ●●ere.  
12. This being well approved of, it was further resolved to carry the body away that ●●ght about twelve of the Clock, to which purpose Hill and another underook to get 〈◊〉 Sedan, and appointed all to meet there at eleven a Clock, in the mean time they ●●ent home. Mr. Prance calling as he passed, upon Berry to let him know that he must 〈◊〉 ready on such a sign to open the Gate.  
13. Near eleven a Clock that Night Mr. Prance returned and found all the four; ●●t. Hill, Green, Girald and Kelly there, and a Sedan provided, standing ready at Do●●or Goddin's Door Now by that time they had contrived which way to carry him, & ●●t him into the Sedan, it was near Twelve a Clock, than Girald & Prance going to car●● him found there wanted leathers & were not able to carry him well with their Arm, 〈◊〉 Hill provided Cords, which they tied in the nature of Leathers, and than Girald and ●●aunce took him up and carried him over the Court-Yard up to the Lodge and there ●●ve an Hum (which was the Token agreed on) and thereupon Bury came forth and ●●ened the Gate and let them out, having on purpose to avoid any Notice being ta●●n, invited the Soldiers into his House with Drink and Tobacco, for they saw no ●●entinel at all, and at the Trial, the Soldiers which that Night stood Centinel acknowledged that they saw a Sedan come in, but none go out, and indeed it was impossible they should, they not being there, but in Bury's House, where were Lights seen ●●d company heard talking.  
Being thus got out of Somerset House, Hill run before to get ready an Horse. But ●●ose the Horse was, or where provided, Mr. Prance doth not know. Than Girald ●●d Prance carried him into Covent-Garden to the end of James-street, and there set ●●n down; and than Kelly and Green, who walked by, took him up and carried him a●●g Kings-street to Newstreet-end, and so up Rose-street to Longacre-end. Than the ●●t two took him up again, and carried him by the Grey hound Tavern to the Greeian ●●urch, there Hill met them with an Horse, and taking out the Body, set it on the ●●se before Hill, and clapped the Sedan into an House that was Building, but un●●nisht, leaving it there till they came back. The Body being so set on Horse●●k, Girald the Priest said, I wish we had an hundred such Rogues as secure as we have 〈◊〉. Than those four, viz. Hill, Girald, Kelly and Green, went away with him, 〈◊〉 Leading the Horse, and the other walking by on each side, whilst Hill held him 〈◊〉 before him, But Mr. Prance returned home, because being an Housekeeper his Fa●●y might take no notice of his being out all Night, nor any body observe his co●●ng home in the morning, for it was between One and Two before he got back.  
14. Next day they met together, and than Girald told him that they had laid the ●●dy in a Ditch belonging to a Field about Primrose-Hill; and to make people think whenever he shall be found, That he killed himself, I, said he, run his own Sword ●●ough him, and left it in his Body, and laid his Scabbard and Gloves at a small ●●ance on the Bank.  
15. On the Thursday in the Afternoon the Body was found: That night 〈◊〉 Prance was at the Horsesh●e-Tavern in Drury-Lane, with Philip Vernatti, that sho●●● have been actually concerned in the Murder, but failed to be there; and also a●●ther friend that accidentally was with them, knowing nothing in the lest of this h●●rid business. There some people came in and said, That Sir Edmundbury Godfrey 〈◊〉 sound murdered, whereupon the said Vernatti calling Mr. Prance aside to the Fi●● said, Lord! is this man's body found already that was carried away but yesternight Thanks be to God that he was conveyed away without any notice, for now I hope 〈◊〉 will never be discovered. He said further, That he should have been concerned 〈◊〉 was sent to, but was not at home, but was sorry he was not there, to have been 〈◊〉 stant to them. Than he asked the manner how the Murder was contrived; of wh●● Mr. Prance gave him some short account, but not all, because his Friend being in 〈◊〉 Room, they were afraid of talking long so privately, left he should suspect som●● thing to their prejudice.  
16. In little time after, the said Vernatti met with Girald, who gave him an ex●● accounted in writing of the whole proceed and manner of the Murder, That he 〈◊〉 he said) might communicate and show the same to the Lord Bellasis, and other o●●●nal Designers or promoters of the business, for their satisfaction; which Mr. Pra●●●● came to the knowledge of in manner following, viz. About a fortnight afterwards 〈◊〉 met with the said Vernatti again, who invited him to Bow to take a Dinner, and s●●● Friend of his: To which he consented, and the day was appointed. But in the mo●●ing they were first to meet in London at the George, an Alehouse right over against 〈◊〉 Stocks Market; where going accordingly, he found Mr. Vernatti and the before mentioned Lewson, a Priest that was privy to the Murder, and should likewise have be●● at it, but happened to be absent; these were got thither before, but Mr. Praun●● had but a little time been come to them, before the said Vernatti plucked out of 〈◊〉 p●cket a paper in which was written down an account of the whole Murder, readi●● the same to Lewson. Upon which Mr. Prance asked him who gave him all that ex●● Account? He answered, Girald gave it him to show it to the Lord ●ellafis, and 〈◊〉 rest concerned.  
17. Than away they went together all three to Bow to a Tavern; being the Queen Head, one Mr. Cashes House, where they went up one pair of Stairs, and there Mr. Vernatti wrote a Note to one Mr. Dethwick who lived about a mile and an half o●● 〈◊〉 (as Mr. Prance thinks, about Poplar) to come to him, and causes a messenger 〈◊〉 be provided to carry it, who was a Cobbler, whom he strictly charged not to deliver the same to any but Dethwicks own hand, and if he were not at home, to bring 〈◊〉 back again; whilst he was gone, looking out at the Window, and hearing Fish cried 〈◊〉 Mr. Prance bought some, and ordered the people of the House to dress them. B●● after some time, both Vernatti and Lewson went down to desire the Woman not to f●● them with Suet but with Butter, saying they would allow her so much the mo●● for dressing, pretending fat would rise in their Stomaches; but the true reason whic● they declared above, was because it was Friday (being as he remembers the Frid●● next after the Proclamation came forth, commanding Papists to departed the City. Thus nice and scrupulous were they in that paltry Observation who could ab●●● counsel, and without the lest remorse, carry on a most Hellish Plot, and premedi●● ●●ed Murder. Yet was not this Caution so neatly delivered but that the people be●an to have a suspicion that they were Papists; for having a Barrel of Colchester Oysters brought, the Cobbler returned with word, That Mr. Detbwick, would presently ●e there; who came accordingly, and was entertained by Vernatti with abundance of Complaisance and Caresses; so fell to their Oysters, and preparing for Dinner: Mr. Vernatti was so eager to communicate the business, that he had got the  Narrative of Sir Edmundbury's Death in his hand, and was reading the same to Dethwick, who said the same was very well; but a boy of the House observing a paper ●n his hand, and having some suspicion, because he heard the name of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey mentioned (as he hath since made Oath) did listen at the door, till Mr. Prance percieving something stir behind the door, and being (as the Guilty always ●re) full of suspicions and jealousies, ran to the door, and opening it, found him there, and threatened to kick him down stairs; and from that time they would not suffer the door any more to be shut, because no body should listen. However there they continued all that day, and at night went every one to his home.  
18. Soon after this, Vernatti was very importunate with Mr. Prance to go out o● Town with him; whether it were to have done him a mischief, as fearing to put confidence in him, and suspecting he should discover them, he knows not, but absolutely refused to go with him. This Vernatti is a person that has been a great Traveller, and lived a long time at Rome, maintaining a Correspondence both in France and Italy with Jesuits and other the most dangerous Popish Firebrands; he frequently made it his business to carry away young Gentlemen to Rheims, Douai, and other foreign Seminaries, and sometimes young Ladies to Nunneries. In a word, he was amighty stickler in the Catholic cause; and a person so dangerous, that 'tis pit● he has escaped the hand of Justice.  
19 Thus far this Execrable Murder was carried on in secret, and the parties concerned begun to be out of all pain concerning it, not dreading any discovery; but a● last the righteous God by an unexpected means was pleased to lay open the same, and in infinite mercy to bring Mr. Prance (whom the vile Priests persuasions as aforesaid had drawn in to be an Accomplice, and hardened so far as not to have any due sen●● of the Gild he had contracted) to be deeply affected with the horror of that crime hearty penitent for the same, and instrumental towards a full discovery. The bringing this to pass was most assuredly the overruling hand of a special Providence, 〈◊〉 appears by the strangeness of the circumstances which contributed to his being fir●● questioned for the same.  
For the better understanding whereof, we must acquaint the world with an Accident that happened before the Murder committed, which yet casually occasioned i● discovery so long after.  
Upon the first notice of the Plot and Commitment of Fenwick, Ireland, and th● rest of the Traitors that were first apprehended, Mr. Prance being than blindly ze●●lous for Popery, happening to be in a Coffee-house where some people were ta●●ing of the said Prisoners, for the credit of the Catholic cause, did there speak wor● in their favour, which some of the Company thought ill, and gave (as he was tol●● some information against him; whereof having notice, to avoid trouble and charge he did absent himself from his house the three nights next, and immediately 〈◊〉 Michaelmas day, viz. on the Monday and Tuesday nights he lay at a Friend's He●● right over against his Dwelling; and on Wednesday-night at an House by the Mews●● But than understanding that the business was over, and no prosecution like to●● made on it, he afterwards lay at home as before, and this was very near a Fort●●● before Sir Edmundbury was murdered. Yet by occasion of this, twelve weeks ●● Mr. Prance was called in question; for there happening some misunderstanding between a Neighbour and him, who having got some intelligence that he once lay three Nig●●● out of his House, he will not say out of ill will, because he acknowledges the hand of G●●● in it, but upon a mistake it was, that he did imagine that these might be the Nig●●● whereon Sir Edmund. bury Godfrey was murdered, and those that succeeded it and u●●● this naked surmise, bottomed upon nothing that he or any that he could produce (tho●●● Mr. Praunces' Servants were scrutinized) knew of the matter, a Warrant was obtains from the most Honourable Council-Board to apprehended and examine Mr. Prance touching that matter. Being taken upon that Warrant on the 21. of December last, being St. Thomas his day, he was first carried into the Lobby by the House of Common where Mr. Bedlow, whom he did not know, having but once been seen by him before viz. between the Murder and carrying out of the Body of Sir Edmundbury Godson and at a time when Mr. Prance did not observe him, yet knew his face again, a●●● charged him positively with being concerned in that murder; and thereupon after Examination he was committed to Newgate on Saturday the one and twentieth of December.  
Upon the Monday following he made a discovery upon Oath, and than did impeach the said Fitz. Girald, Dominick Kelly, Robert Green, Henry Berry, and Laurence Hill; 〈◊〉 these the two subtle Priests made shifted to escape; Girald having not since been hear●● of, but Kelly was got into the Prison of the Marshalseys by the name of Daniel Edmond being taken up somewhere in the County of Surrey where he retired to hid himself and sent thither for being a Recusant; and hearing of Praunces being apprehended made all the Interest he could to be gone, and so procured unknown Bail hired to ●● shillings a piece, and got away in December, before he was known to be Kelly ●hough since there hath been a full discovery thereof made public; as for Hill and Berry they were forthwith taken at their own houses, but Green was before clapped up 〈◊〉 Prisoner in the Gatehouse for refusing to take the Oath, (for his Conscience was wondered tender in that, but able to digest a murder.) And when his Keeper came t●●●quaint him that there was another Business come against him, and that he was charged with the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, he hastily asked, Who accused him ●nd the Keeper telling him, It was one Prance: he presently clapped his hand on his rest, and said these words, Than am I a dead man.  
20. On the 24th. of December, Prance was carried before the King and Council, here he gave a particular account of the Circumstances of the Murder, as herein be●●re is set forth; and for more full satisfaction touching the several places he had had occasion to mention, his Majesty thought fit to appoint his Grace the Duke of Monmouth, the right Honourable the Earl of Ossory, the Earl of Clarendon, and Sir Robert ruthwell Clerk of the Council, to go with him and take his Examination on the place, ●●d see if he could show all the particular places be had mentioned to the Board; being come there he showed his Grace and those Noble Lords, first the fatal spot, or place ●●re Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was murdered, the place where Berry was assigned to 〈◊〉, and where himself stood; than the door he was carried in at by the end of the ●●●es, the stairs, the long dark Entry, the door leading to Doctor Goddins Lodgings, little Chamber there were the Body was first laid; going to them all as readily as a 〈◊〉 could do to any room in his own House, which all appeared to be exactly situate 〈◊〉 had desc. ibed them that morning before to the Board. But as to that Room where ●●●aw the body lie on the Monday-night, being cross the upper Court, (though he ●●●ed them directly towards the place cross the Court, & told his Grace so far he was sure ●●●as right, yet there being several Rooms, and he having never been there but once, that in the night, and only with a dark Lantern,) he was not able certainly to in the very Room. But as to all the other places he was positive, and so his Grace their Honours returned very well saisfied in the reality of his Information.  
21. Here is to be noted, That whilst they were viewing Doctor Goddins Lodgings, Broadstreet the Doctor's Housekeeper, coming to understand what it was for, and Hill their Servant was charged with the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, she 〈◊〉 a right Papist, to keep up the reputation of the party) voluntarily offered her Oath, did swear before the Duke of Monmouth, That the said Hill had taken an House in ●hope-street, and went thither to live and lodge at Michaelmas; whereas in truth, and ●●e Trial of the said Hill, &c it was plainly made appear before her face, That the Hill did not go to reside at such his new house so soon, but continued his Lodging 〈◊〉 till about three Weeks after Michaelmas, in which time all these Transactions coning the murder, happened. She than further swore, that there was but one Key being to the outward door of their Lodgings, and so it was impossible that Hill ●●d go out and in, and all these things be done, and they within not see him, or take ●●e of them; and yet before they went away from thence, Mr. Prance made it appear, she was forced to confess, That there were four or five Keys amongst them thereun●●e of which Hill did always use to carry about him, that he might at any time 〈◊〉 in, & go out at his pleasure without troubling or disturbing the rest of the Family; Mr. Prance himself hath been several times let in by him there with, they in the 〈◊〉 rooms taking no notice, as he could perceive.  
22. But now because Mr, Prance would conceal nothing, but impartially set forth all happened in this matter, he must not omit the Relation of that Imbecility (or what ●●ber and unbiast Judges shall please to call it) which has been so much talked of, variously reported.  
●ost true it is, though the sense of the bloody crime that he had been concerneed in, in spite of all the Popish Doctrines he had imbibed) work such Convictions ●on Mr. Prance his awakened Conscience, as to make this real Confession; yet by the or thereof, the danger his life was in, the apparent hazard of being utterly undone, ●her with a certain respect which he still bore towards that Religion he had been ●in, and other selfish Considerations he was once, for avoiding (as he than conceit these dangers, betrayed by human frailty so far to retract by word of, mouth, what he before most truly confessed upon oath, as to say before the King and Council, That he innocent, and they all (meaning the rest accused) were innocent; and that was the ●nce of all he than and there declared in that kind: For which he humbly begs par●● of God, his Majesty, that Honourable Board, and the world. And though he dare not go a bout to excuse the same wholly, yet there are several Circumstances that my alleviated it, and tender it insignificant to invalidate what he had before truly forth. For, 

1. What he before declared concerning the murder in manner before herein set fo●●●● was solemnly upon Oath; this supposed Retractation was suddenly done under consignation and fear, and not upon Oath.  
2. He was at that time under certain danger of his life if he persisted in that Confession, for he had no pardon granted, nor any certainty of obtaining the same.  
3. If he should obtain his pardon, he considered, That yet his Life would be sti●●● danger from the revengeful and bloody Priests and Jesuits.  
4. His mind was sorely troubled, as with all these dangers, so with this further apprehension, That if he should escape with his life, yet by this discovery he should lose●● livelihood, and in all human probability both he and all his Family be utterly under for as he was the Queen's Servant, and that his Trade and subsistence chief, or ind●●● wholly depended on Her Majesty's Custom, (which was certain and considerable) 〈◊〉 that of other Reman Catholics; so it was not to be doubted but the most crafty and 〈◊〉 placible Priests would soon use means by false Representations and scandal, to dep●●● him thereof if he proceeded in this detection.  
5. He retained still a certain respect to the Popish Religion in which he had so 〈◊〉 been educated; for he had not yet entirely got his soul out of that snare, and therein he did than conceive, being swayed by such powerful Inducements, That he might lawfully say, He was innocent, and so they were All; which in Popish construction is no●● deny that they killed Sir Edmundbury Godsry, for that according to their Divinity, 〈◊〉 what the said Priests had solemnly declared, was no sin or crime, and consequently 〈◊〉 might all in such their Catholic sense still be innocent; yet this he must acknowledge somewhat doubted, because he had never been at Confession, and received Absolute since the Fact committed, which all the rest (as some of themselves had declared) had d●●● and so might more peremptorily persist (as they did) in averring themselves to be●● nocent; and he does ingenuously declare, That had he received Absolution, 'tis his he should never, or not without extreme difficulty have been brought to any acknowledgement.    
These Circumstances, together with a great distemper of body contracted by the incommodities of Confinement, want of Air, etc. occasioned that sudden revolt of his rea●●● and duty under that perplexity of spirit; but as soon as he had done it, Conscience 〈◊〉 in his face, and would not longer be laid asleep with any delusive Popish charms; 〈◊〉 he began to recollect himself, the power of Truth dispersed all these temptations of●●● terest, fear and superstition. If it were true, that he might hazard his Life and lose●● Trade, if he did persist in the confession of the Murder; it was as true, and he fou●●● by experience, that he should never have peace of Conscience if he denied it.  
And therefore he was not sooner returned from the King and council to Newgate (〈◊〉 coming in a Coach 'tis certain was not half an hour) but he most earnestly request Capt. Richardsou (who had been with him, and heard what he had said that morning for God's sake to go back and assure the King and that Honourable Board from him, 〈◊〉 the first Confession which he had made on Oath was true in all circumstances; 〈◊〉 that whatsoever he had said before them that morning to the contrary, was occasionly by the consternation, fear, and perplexity of mind he was under, which the Capt. ●●mediatly did, and had since declared the same upon Oath.  
23. The next day he grew more sich, in so much that his life was despaired of, co●●●uing so for about a week; during this sickness, the Reverend Dr, Loyd Dean of Ba●●●, was charitably pleased to give him a Visit, and bestowed much pains with him at several times, instructing him in the grounds and reasons of the Protestant Religion; from whose pious admonitions and labours, by the Divine blessing, he reaped much benefit fo●●●●e comfort and settling of his perplexed Soul, and thinks it his duty, for the sa●●● publicly to return him his hearty Thanks, Being wholly taken of from the Apostatise, ●oody Roman Church, which he utterly renounces, and doth freely, cordially, and impurely embrace the Protestant Religion, and therein particularly submits himself to th●●●hurch of England, resolving (by God's Grace) therein to live and die.  
24. After God had been pleased to restore in some measure his health, having give● several Instances of steadfastness to his first Confession, by making some further Discoveres in the mean time, he was again carried before the Kings most Excellent Majesty and 〈◊〉 Right Honovable the Lords of the Council, and there being largely reexamined speated his former Discoveries, agreeing in all circumstances; and than his Majesty wa●●●raciously pleased with his own Royal Lips to give him assurance of his Gracious ●rdon, and soon after the same was perfected in due Form of Law, under th●●reat Seal of England. For which with deepest sense of humility and gratitude, he de●●●red himself ever ready to pay most hearty thanks in all observance and duty, desiring ●● longer to enjoy that life which he holds by his Royal Favour, than he shall upon al●●casions employ it to the utmost of his Capacity in his Majesty's service, for the safety ●his sacred life, the welfare of his Kingdoms, and the interest of the true Protestant religion.  
But whereas by Popish Adversaries there have been several false and scandalous Reports invented and spread abroad, that he was racked or tortured in Newgate, and with ●ish usages forced to confess what he did touching the Treasons and Murder afore●●d, he does declare the same are wholly false, and that on the contrary he did the same ●eely within two days after he was brought in there, and that he received several Ciulities from Captain Richardson during his Confinment under his Custody.  
And he does protest in the presence of God, the searcher of hearts, before whose just ●● dreadful Tribunal we must all appear, that as to the whole Discovery and Evidence 〈◊〉 hath given, he hath not therein been biased with any malice or sinister ends, no●●ne any wrong to any of the persons accused; but shall conclude this impartial Account of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder, with his most hearty prayers, That as be ●●th obtained the King's Majesty's Gracious pardon here on Earth, for his heinous Crime in ●●ing so Accessary to the Death of that innocent worthy Gentleman, so on sincere Repentance, ●●d through the only Merits of Jesus Christ, he may for the same receive forgiveness from the ●ing of Kings in the World to come.   

The Popish Conspiracy to Murder the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury, and some other Contrivances after Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Death  
AFter the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and some farther discovery of ●● Plot, there was no person (next to his Sacred Majesty) against whom the ma●● of these Popish Conspirators was more directly leveled, than at the Right Honoural the Earl of Shaftsbury, as knowing that till so able a Statesman, and vigilant and acti●● Patriot, firm to the true Interest of his King and Country, and zealous for the preservation of the Protestant Religion, was taken out of the way, their cursed Machine ●●ions would be frustrated, and their wicked designs be rendered ineffectual. And therefore they not only by their Emissaries and Abettors, both formerly and of late, h●●● endeavoured to asperse his Honour, but also entered into a formal Conspiracy and R●●olution to murder him, and engaged several barbarous Villains to do it; though a●●●y the Providence of Heaven over his Noble Person, and a timely discovery happily prevented.  
1. About five weeks before William Staley. (lately executed for Treason) was apprehended, Mr. Prance was with one Mr. Messinger (Gentleman of the Horse to th●●●ord Arundel of Warder, and formerly named in this Narrative for a Design to mur●●●er his Sacred Majesty) one Prosser a Silver-smith, and one Matteson a Barber than li●●●●g in Holbourn, all rank desperate Papists, at Mr. Bradleys' an Alehouse in Holbourn, ●here the said Mr. Messinger grievously complained of the severity of the Laws that ●ere against the Roman Catholics, expressing his apprehensions that they would no●●●●●e rigorously put in Execution against them, by some that were not lovers of their party, and particularly he named the Earl of Shaftsbury as one of their most dangerous nemies, and who did most concern himself about them, and in discovering the Plot, ●●●d therefore he said, There must be some effectual means used to rid him out of the ●orld, and declared that it was already resolved on.  
2. That about a Fortnight, or near theresbouts, before the said Staleys Apprehension, 〈◊〉 was in Company with the said Staley, and the said Matteson, at the Cross-Keys Tavern ●●er against Mr. Staleys Father's House, where in discourse they were complaining of ●●e great Afflictions the Catholics lay under, and what severe Usage; they must further expect, if once this, Plot should come to be believed, and be made out against ●●em; and thereupon the said Matteson said, That if they did not take some speedy ●orse to destroy some particular persons that were their most active Enemies, they ●eaning the Roman Catholics in general) should be mined; and therefore in the 〈◊〉 place (said he) we resolve to kill my Lord Shaftsbury, (whom he than called, The ringleader of the mischief which they feared would fall upon them:) And further, the 〈◊〉 Matteson said, That he would engage three more to assist in that work of kill 〈◊〉 said Earl, whose Names he than and there declared; that is to say, one Adamson a ●●tch maker, and the said Prosser, and one Bradshaw an Upholsterer.  
3. That some short time after the said Matteson came to Mr. Prannees Shop, and ●●ded a Pistol out of his pocket, saying, This shall do Shaftsburys business; declaring had provided the same on purpose for killing the said Earl.  
4. That afterwards Mr. Prance met with the beforenamed Adamson at Mr. Ped. at the White Posts in Vere-street; where discoursing of News, Adamson said, That the Catholics would be all undone, if they did not look about them, and therefore ●●y were resolved to kill the Lord Shaftsbury: Against whom, upon all occasion's o●●●●ntion, both he and the other Persons before nominated, expressed the utmost malic●● 〈◊〉 hatred imaginable, as being, they said, most likely to obstruct and frustrate their resigns: Likewise the said Adamson another time, not long after, did again expres●●●●h Design to murder the said Lord, and than owned that he himself in particular was ●●aged therein, and would kill him as soon as he could get an opportunity: which ●●ords were by him uttered at the Sign of the Gridiron an Alchouse in Holbourn.  
5. About the same time the beforenamed Prosser coming to Mr. Praunces' Shop, did ●●ewise tell him, That he did resolve to kill the Lord Shaftsbury, and assigned this rea●●n or provocation which incited him thereunto, viz. For that he the said Earl of Shaftsbury and some other Protestant Lords, did intent to ruin the Lord Arundel of Warder, on the ac 〈◊〉 of the Plot, which Lord Arundel (as he said) was his the said Prosser's very good Cummer and Benefactor. And also the said Prosser did, at Mr. Bradley's House in Holbourn, de●●ate, that he was to be an Ensign under the said Lord Arundel in the Forces which were 〈◊〉 have been raised by the Conspirators, for the subversion of the Government and Extirpation of the Protestant Religion.  
6. That the beforenamed Bradshaw, about the same time, viz. the first or second week of November, came to Mr. Praunce's Shop one day, and in discourse did say That he would make not more to kill a Protestant than too Kill a Dog or a Cat, which 〈◊〉 pronounced with a great deal of vehemency & earnestness, & said moreover, That 〈◊〉 was resolved to dispatch some of those busy heretical Lords, but the first should be th●● Lord Shaftsbury: and likewise the said Bradshaw pulled out a Pistol and shown the same 〈◊〉 the said Shop, declaring that he had prepared the same to do the said Execution there ●●th.  
7. That the said Bradshaw is a violent cruel Papist, of most dangerous principles, an●● 〈◊〉 to be employed in such assassinating bloody Attempts, appears by this Instance. That about three years ago being with some Company in a Shop in Dukes-street, discoursing ●●nd seeing a little Child passing by, he voluntarily said, that he would make no mor●●●●o kill that heretical Child than to kill a Dog.  
8. That another time the beforenamed Prosser, at Mr. Bradley's House in Holbourn did declare, That the  Mr. Messinger (Gentleman of the Horse to th●● Lord Arundel of Warder) was the person that principally promoted the kill of th●● Lord Shaftsbury, and that he himself was engaged therein, and did not doubt but 〈◊〉 short time to get an opportunity to effect the same.  
9 That Mr. Henry Nevil is very intimate with the before mentioned Prosser, and hat● for a long time been aiding and assisting to him, and doth hold a Correspondence with the Lords in the Tower, and with some persons at Rome, sending Letters duly thither● and receiving great Pack quets back again from thence very frequently; and that one 〈◊〉 his Servants having several of the said Letters in his Trunk, the said Mr. Nevil about last caused the said Trunk to be broke open (the Fellow being the in the Country) and took a way the said Papers, to prevent any Discovery that might 〈◊〉 made thereby.  
10. That Mr. Richard Nevil, Nephew to the said Henry Nevil, did maintain a Corr●●●●spendence with the Lords in the Tower in a very suspicious manner, viz. Dressing himself in a Coachman's Habit, he drove his own Coach, wherein road his Coach man 〈◊〉 the Equipage of a Gentleman, and taking upon him the Name of Squire Duck; wh●●●●eing come to the Tower, this pretended Squire Duck commanded the disguise Coachman (who was his real master) to go into the Lords, and present his m●●●●●umble Service to them, and to tell them that he came as nigh them as he could, an●●●●ould be most glad to hear of their good healths; in which disguise the said No●● ●●ent up to their Lordship's Lodging, and stayed with them a considerable time, which ●●e true Coachman remained in the Coach. But soon afterwards the said Duck was removed from that employ of Coachman and sent away into the Country; for fea●● 〈◊〉 is most probable, that he should discover this and other the like Actions of the sa●●● two Gentlemen; this Relation came from the said Coachmen own mouth.  
11. That in the month of October last Mr. Prance met with one Mr. Cozeen a French papist, and by Trade a Tailor, who walking together in Covent-Garden, and discouraging of News; The said Cozeen said, that the King and Parliament designed to unders, (meaning the Romanists) but, said he, if I were to kill a man, I would kill th●●●●ing as soon as any man, and if we had him in France we would have killed him before now; intending thereby, as he understood him, and as the Natural sense of that expression imports, to magnify the Courage and Zeal of their French Papists, and now ready they would be to kill their King, if he were of another Religion, which 〈◊〉 proposed as an Example that he would have English Roman Catholics to imitate 〈◊〉 another time, not long after, the said Cozeen spoke the same words, or to the very ●●e effect in Praunces' Shop.   

A brief Detection of the Immoral Behaviour, Cruel Expressions, and Vile Practices of several other Popish Priests with whom M.P. hath been acquainted.  
HAving thus faithfully and impartially made a candid Discovery of the several Traitorous and Bloody Intriqus carried on by the Papists, herein before set ●●th, we shall thereunto add a short Account of the Manners of divers Romish Priests, ●●th whom Mr Prance hath had Conversation; which he does protest to do, not out 〈◊〉 any malice to their Persons, but out of detestation to their dangerous Principles ●●●d lewd Practices, and more especially that others whom Education or crafty Infinu●●ons have brought up in, or inveigled to the Romish Communion, may reflect and insider what kind of people they are whom they blindly follow, and thereby be wakened to forsake such wicked and beastly Guides and no longer be led astray by ●●em, to the dishonour of God, feandal of Christian Religion which they detend to profess, disturbance of Government, danger of their Neighbours, and ●●ard of their own Souls.  
1. Amongst many other Priests he had a particular acquaintance with one Mr. matthews, that was Priest to the Lord Peter, who was a very bitter Enemy to all Protestants, and hath several times said, That they (meaning the Protestants) were all ungainly and infallibly damned, and that it was impossible for a Soul of them to be saved; ●●ther adding, that to kill any of them was no sin, especially if is were for the interest the Church; and the like wicked and cruel Expressions: He also in or about the Month of August last, said, That his Lord and the Lord Bellasis, with some other Catholic Lords, would ere long have a good Army on 〈◊〉, and that all the Devils i●●●ll could not prevent it, but the Catholic Religion would quickly be settled in England. We may believe him, that the Devils would not prevent or hinder i●, since it was 〈◊〉 much their Interest to have it establish●, especially by such bloody and hellish mean● 〈◊〉 the conspirators were resolved to make use of for that purpose; but God has hitherto 〈◊〉, and we hope will still, be grac●o sly pleased to prevent their Designs. This Gentleman was a great Dealer in Relics and Agnus D●●●● and hath cheated divers ignorant ●vout people (as hath been credibly reported) of considerable sums of Money for such trumpery. He hath oft times, with much reverence and ceremoney, as kissing them 〈◊〉 showed Mr. Prance several pieces of Bones, which he said were the Bones of such & ●●●h He-and-She Saints whose names her had at his Tongue's end, had attributed most wondered Virtues to them; for he hath affirmed, That they being worn about one; could keep the Devil from one, so that not only he should have no power to hurt one's ●rson, but not so much as to tempt those to sin that carried them about them: That in Tempest they would preserve one from drowning, and if at House were on fire if you 〈◊〉 in one of them the same would presently stop the fire etc. But as to the last it is apparent, that he and his brethrens, the Popish Priests and Jesuits, are far more dexterous Artist, 〈◊〉 contriving devices to burn down Houses than to quench them when on Fire.  
2. there was occasion before to mention one Singleton a Priest, that declared, He would 〈◊〉 not more to stab 40 Parliament men, than to eat his Dinner, besides his Quality of Priest 〈◊〉 was also a kind of Solicitor or Broker amongst the Pacists, making it his business to 〈◊〉 other People's money into his hands, and put it out to Use; in which trade he played 〈◊〉 Extortioner most egregiously, for all that he could get above the due Interest of 6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cent. being to be put in his own Pocket, he would not let 40 or 50 l. out for six months, but he would have 40. ss. for procuration, which must be deducted on the first i●●ing of the Money, and yet the full legal interest to run on; and besides he always would 〈◊〉 up the Bond himself, and for that business, (for which no Scrivener ever asked above 〈◊〉.) he would make the poor people pay five Shillings: These Practices of his Mr. Prance can affirm on his own knowledge; and there are divers who have de. It with him 〈◊〉 these terms who can testify the same; and yet this Ghostly Father was a great preach●● against Covetousness and Usury, but it seems he meant only in others, not himself: Fo● 〈◊〉 other Cases likewise he allowed himself the like Privileges, for he would frequently Drunk, and stay out till one or two of the Clock in the Morning, or after, and yet go●● 〈◊〉 same Forenoon to say Mass, and consequently received the Sacrament, which they ●●ch the People must in no wise be done, unless the party be strictly fasting.  
3. Mr. Byfleet and Doctor Guilding, two Priests, have severally declared in Mr. Ha●● 〈◊〉 Cook's House, and divers other places, That they respectively had turned several people from the Protestant Religion, and reconciled them to the Church of Rome in the ●●●ty of London, and that they hoped they should turn many more. They were both per●●●s of a very vicious Conversation, but stily carried it. Byfleet was a mighty magnifier o● 〈◊〉 Vortues and Necessity of Fasting to other People in Lent Ember-days, etc. but as f●● himself, could frequently, as is well known, dispense with six pennyworth of Victuals ●●●d a quart or two of Ale, all alone for a Breakfast or Supper on the same days in his Chamber. As for Doctor Guilding, he was his cousir, and (they said) had read Philosophy many years at Douai, but very much forgot his Ethics in England, being so only addicted to lewd Women, that one could not but conclude he received his Ordination from Pope Joan, or some of her fulsome Successors.  
These two la●●● amed, and Singleten, were most frequently at Mr. Hall the Coo●● house in ●●y Lane, and there they dined, and Mr. Prance does verily believe, that theophany Popish Books being above a Cartload and an half, with the Priest's Vestment ●eads, Images, and other superstitious Trumpery, which were lately found there it Sear● 〈◊〉 of his House, did belong to them; And the said Hall (as he likewise believes) d●● now where they are, or were since they absconded themselves, for which suspicion the ●●e these two grounds. First, Because whenever about November or December last, ●●ame to speak with Singleton or either of the others, he the said Hell undertook to 〈◊〉 ●●is business, and must needs deliver it to Singleton; because when he called again he fa●●●●●ot to give M.P. an Account of it from him; Secondly, Because Mr. Hadden Servant Doctor Parrot, the Superior of Seoular Priests told him, that always when he came w●●●●●●oney to be distributed for Masses for the Dead, Hall took the money that was design●● 〈◊〉 Singleton, and conveyed it to him. The meaning of which is thus, when any Rom●● Catholic dies, 'tis probable there is a Priest (sometimes two or three) by him, who a●●●●er fail to put him in mind, and frighten him with the pains of Purgatory, and of 〈◊〉 ●●irtues of Masses said to ease and deliver them from the same so much the sooner, so 〈◊〉 ●●eing therewith terrified, If he be a person of any considerable Quality or Estate, it 〈◊〉 ●●ome happens but he leaves so much money to pray his Soul out of Purgatory, than th●●●●oney is paid in to the Superior, who thereupon according to the Sum, sends to so m●●● 〈◊〉 Priests so many shillings a piece, for which they are each to say so many Masses for th●●●●ceased; the common price of Mumbling over a Mass being accounted 12 d. And as 〈◊〉 ●●is Doctor Parrot, who is, or lately was the Head of all this sort of Priests in England, ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 credibly informed, That he hath been seen in Bed with a Whore, by the said Mr. Ladden his Servant who told the same to Mr. Prance.  
4. But as whoring is counted but a Venial Sin by Papists in general; so amongst th●●●●●arce any are more devoted thereunto than their Ghostly Fathers, who rail so loud at th●● Protestant Clergy for having honest Wives of their own. About 3 years ago one Kelly 〈◊〉 ●●●ish Priest, (a Kinsman to the before named Dominick Kelly, concerned in the murder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Edmund-bury-Godfrey) being just Arrived from France or Flanders, was brought 〈◊〉 ●●dge at Mr. Praunces' house, & the very first night, the maid going up with him to war●● 〈◊〉 Bed, he began to use some Incivilities, which the modestly opposing, he proceeded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 violence, and would have Ravished her, insomuch that she cried out, and Mr. Prance ●●ife hastening up Stairs, and perceiving his rudeness, being affrighted run down against ●●aring he would have done her some mischief, and called in some Neighbours, wh●●●●●mediately coming in, caused him to desist: for which M.P. Wife would presentary: turned him out of doors, but it being late in the Night, and he wholly a Strarg●● the Town; He would not (though he were a Rogue) be so inhospitable to him; bu●●●ffered him to stay till morning; However they were obliged to burn Candle all night 〈◊〉 fear in Revenge he should do them a Mischief.  
5. One Dowdal being Colonel Talbot's Priest at Twitnam. some few years ago, and under that Quality much Entrusted, stole and run a way with the Chalice, Crewet, Bason, ●●●h Copes, Vestments, Surplices and other Sacred Gear, provided for him to officiate Mass with, and being wholly a Stranger, exposed the Basin and Crewet to Sale at 〈◊〉 Prance's Shop, who fairly and at a valuable price bought the same, The Priest having received his money, invited him into a Tavern, and afterwards agreed, That he 〈◊〉 come next day to his Lodging in White-Fryers, and see the Vestments, Linen 〈◊〉 other things; which he did and offered him 8 l. but he would not take under 12 or 〈◊〉 However he would go again to drink, and at last walked with Mr. P. home, who lea●●●g him in a parlour, where there was a little Girl of about 6 years of Age, whilst he 〈◊〉 to attend some customers in the shop, this Goalish Priest began to play the Villian 〈◊〉 the Child, and would have spoiled her, (had she not cried out) with his impu●● Rudeness, which made him run into see what was the matter and occasioned the 〈◊〉 to hasten away, and presently shifted his Lodging, for going next day to look 〈◊〉 him he was gone, out of fear (as is supposed) of being apprehended for the Robber, of which yet there was no great danger; For though within a day or two Mr. Prance heard of the Robbery, by one that was a servant to the Colonel, yet such was the Colonel's extreme Zeal, and so prevalent above the Resentment of his loss, that (as was by that servant assured) as soon as he discovered what their Priest had done, he 〈◊〉 all his people together, and did solemnly charge them not to speak thereof to 〈◊〉 person, because if known, it would be a soul scandal to their Religion; Adding if he found any of them should utter a word of it he would run them through, A 〈◊〉 of secrecy, (when ones life lies at Stake) almost as firm as that of confession.  
●bout 4 years ago there was one Mr. Thomas Shepherd a person related to Mr. Prance, 〈◊〉 being sick, sent to him to procure a Romish Priest to come to him, Mr. Prance 〈◊〉 wondered at his desire, as having always accounted him a Protestant, however it 〈◊〉 his Request, and understanding he was very ill, and not likely to live, he did en●●our to get one. And thereupon repaired to Dr. Hanson a Carmelite, at Wild-House of their Superiors, who directed him to Dr. Clement Mutus, a Benedictin Monk ●●nging to the Spanish Ambassador; but lodging than at one Ireland's a Tobacconist in street, having told him the story, and what a work of Charity it would be to save a 〈◊〉, he readily condescended to go, and did give the man what advice he thought fit But the sick party being very poor did not give him any money, which as appears he ●●cted; for next day the man growing still weaker, sent to desire the same Priest again, which purpose Mr. Prance went to request his company. But here truly found the old acerb verified. No penny no Pater-Nister for this charitable Father told him not, he would for he gave him nothing yesterday. Mr. Prance urged that so good a work as to re●●● a dying Heretic to the Church would reward itself, and be meritorius. H●repl'd ●oved a Reward in hand, for all that of the other world; For (said he) they get Hea●●y us, and why should not we get money by them: The other insisted, that the man was 〈◊〉 poor, and had it not, and that he hoped he would not suffer his Soul to be jest; his Soul, quoth he, do as it will, I am resolved not to go to any twice that do not me; And so by no entreaties could be induced to stir; but the poor man soon after  
〈◊〉 So sordidly covetous are these people, and not withstanding all their pretences, ●●●ng really so little Regard to the Salvation of men, that they would suffer a Soul to perish Eternally) as they say all do that die out of their Church's Communion lesle they can get money, by saying it, if indeed (as they impudently pretend) 〈◊〉 in their power:  
There is another Priest that did likewise pretend to belong to the Spanish ●●bassadour, his name is Collins, who ' its said is now in Custody, when His Maje● Proclamation came out some years ago, commanding away all Priests (but as were allowed) And that none of His Subjects should go to hear Mass, this lous Father got up on the Leads of , and there held Conventicle, and said Mass, having a great Concourse of People that followed yet this precious Saint, when a young Wench has come to him to Confe●● hath been seen to get her between his Legs, and so closely hug, and kiss her 〈◊〉 times over, as if it had been part of her Penance to be most filthily smuggled, was a common frequenter of Bawdy-Houses, and has been observed many times to 〈◊〉 drunk out of such lewd places, in such filthy postures as 'tis a shame here to re●●  
There is also one Davenport a Friar, but of what Order, Mr. Prance does not member, who calls himself, and is usually styled, Captain Davenport. He is a kind strolling, wandering Priest, that rides up and down the Countries, but ●●●●cially, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridg-shire, Isle of Ely, etc. where he does abunda●●● of michief in seducing people both from the Protestant Religion, and their A●giance to their Sovereign: For he makes it his whole business to insinuate, 〈◊〉 News, unsettle weak heads, abuse the Church of England, and its Ministers, and serters, magnifying the Holiness, Piety, Charity, etc. of Rome, and by such his 〈◊〉 perverting the minds of many; For he has long followed this michievous practic never constant in any place, but always in motion from one Gentleman's house to ●●●ther, and some times amongst people of mean condition, to spread his poison the ●●●ther; As if he designed to infect the whole Country. He is no doubt a very danger●● fellow, and no longer ago than the last Summer was Twelvemonth, there being Chapter (as they call it, that is, a General Convention) of Friars held in Som●●● set-House, whither many resorted both from beyond the Sear, and all parts of 〈◊〉 Realm; On what Design (whether to carry on the Great Work) Mr. Prance 〈◊〉 not, But hath some reason to suspect it was for no good purpose: For seeing ab●●● Twenty of them together, amongst the rest there was this Captain Davenport, whom than heard say, That he hoped to be a Captain once again in the Catholic Cause, fore he died.  
There is one Bully, a Secular Priest, who formerly did belong to a French Embas●dour, but of late his Trade has been to run about Hackneying forth of Masses for tw●●●● pence a piece at private Houses, where ever he can get Customers. He was might strict in his teaching (as they all do) That people must by no means eat or drink a drop the morning on which they intent to Receive the Eucharist, before they come to Mass, 〈◊〉 cause they must receive strictly Fasting; Yet hath not only been frequently seen in 〈◊〉 Road to Mr. Paston's in Duke-street, call in at an Ale house, and take his pot 〈◊〉 more of Ale, and so away to Mass; (Now a Priest cannot say Mass, but he himself must needs receive.) But also he ha● been known at play at Cards, Tippling in Company, and Drunk after One a Clock in the morning at Pedley's at the White Posts, and 〈◊〉 ●he same day Trudge to Mass and earn a Shiling to furnish a fresh debauch. But the are not all the rare Qualities he has, For he is a notable Whoremonger too; Nay if the General Report be true that is currant amongst Catholics) keeps another ●●●n's Wife; which Mr. Prance is the rather inclined to believe, because he hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 met them hand in hand in Cheapside, and other places.  
There is one Holt a Secular Priest, that used to officiate at the Lady Somersets 〈◊〉 ●incolns-Iun-Fields, who is a virulent Enemy to all Protestants, and hath often be●●●●●ard by Mr. Prance to declare, That it is impossible any of them should ever 〈◊〉 ●●ved. Now how ready a way is this to inflame Papists against them, and how apt w●●●●●ey be to cut their throats, and any way destroy those whom they are already made to believe are Enemies of God, and nothing but fit fuel for Hell. And th●● his was his Design, is most probable both by the violent eagerness of such his Expressions, As also because Mr. Prance hath often heard him say. That he did not doubt 〈◊〉 to see Heresse rooted out, and the Catholic Religion e'er long estal lished in England.  
Father James an eminent Friar at  lately deceased, was for several yea●●onsessor to Mr. Prance, so that he had with him an intimate Familiarity; About year and an half ago discoursing with him, He told him, That there would short 〈◊〉 be on foot a considerable Force to settle the Roman Gatholick Religion in England; And that he did not question but to see it established very shortly. Upon which Mr. Prance said to him, That he was confident that could never be do●●●● without opposing his Majesty's Authority; and it would be a great shame and scanned to Roman Catholics, who had valued themselves so much upon their Loyalty in th'senate Times, if they now should be Guilty of Rebellion against their King. Whereupon 〈◊〉 replied, That in the Cause of God there was no Consideration to be had of Princes; That it was no sin to be active to suppress Heresy, and establish the Catholic Doctrine: For though Obedience was a duty in other Circumstances, yet in th●● Case the Obedience to the Church was to be preferred; For the Civil Magistrates 〈◊〉 submit to the Spiritual, and might lawfully be resisted, and That it was the Duty very Priest to give any man Absolution that should be concerned therein, with several other Seditious and Traitorous Expressions. And further Mr. Prance having several times fallen into discourse upon some occasions concerning the nature of 〈◊〉 Absolution given by him and other Priests, he the said Father James did declare That such Absolution was a full and perfect Remission of Sin, and such an Acquit●● is rendered any man as innocent and free from Gild as the first day he was born, fr●●●● any actual Transgression. Than he asked him, for Example. If a person should commit a Sin, and confess it to him, or any other Priest, and receive an Absolution, a were afterwards taxed or questioned for that Fact, Whether he might with a safe Conscience, and without Sin say be was innocent. To which the said Father James repli●● That if such person had received such Absolution, and performed the Penance impo●● upon him, he may lawfully say, He was innocent: for, says he, When God by 〈◊〉 mouth of his Priest, has absolved any person, he becomes innocent in the sight of G●●● and being so, has no reason to impeach himself by owning of the Crime before m●● nor cast a scandal on the Church, which to do would be a greater sin, than to de●●●● matter which he is no ways obliged to confess.  
These and several other like Discourses to the same purport and effect hath the 〈◊〉 ●ather James declared to Mr. Prance, enquiring his Instructions for the Direction is Conscience; whereby may appear, by what measures such men steer the Soul hose that ignorantly commit themselves to their Conduct; and no wonder it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that some persons gasp out their last Breath with pronouncing a Lie, and per●●●● 〈◊〉 the utmost in denial of those Crimes, which both their own Consciences and 〈◊〉 world know them to be guilty of, since they are before hand hardened into a person 〈◊〉, That it is not evil, but rather their Duty in respect to the Church's Interest so 〈◊〉 ●●●o.  
Jeremy Jennings, a Secular Priest, lately living at Mr. Ramseys near Norwich in No●●●●lk; a little after Midsummer last, both at Mistress Hells in Eagle-Court in the Strand, an● 〈◊〉 Mr. Praunces own Shop, told him, That we should shortly see better times, anywhat he did not doubt, but such Roman Catholic Priests as he was, should e'er lo●●●●alk publicly in Parson's habits. He also hath reconciled several (as he hath acknowledged) to the Church of Rome, and amongst his Acquaintance was very free of hogsheads, and Prayer books, and hath been heard to say Mass at Sir Henry Benifields, 〈◊〉 Oxford. Hall in Norfolk; So that by such his aforesaid Words, there is good reason 〈◊〉 ●dge that the said Jennings was acquainted with the Plot, nay it is reasonable to be●●●●●e that there was not a Priest in England, nay scarce any Gentleman of Note, or 〈◊〉 ●●●te person of any Condition of the Roman Catholic Persuasion, but was privy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the said Plot and Conspiracy, if not as to the particular Intriqus, yet at lest as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 General Substance and Designs thereof.  
There was one Monsieur L' Hay (to the best of Mr. Praunces' remembrance, that was ●●s right name) who not much above a year ago retaining to a Foreigner, a Person 〈◊〉 condition (whose name and Quality is not convenient here to mention) did debauch young Woman, and to avoid Charge that he suspected might ensue, by her proving ●ith Child, procured a certain person of his acquaintance to be married unto her 〈◊〉 ●●d after this, privately bargained to commit Adultery with her for so much a time● which he practised so long without payment, that at last at the rate agreed on, he was 〈◊〉 l. in her debt, which refusing or avoiding to pay, the Woman impatient to be so ●●●ved, did repair unto his Lord's House, and getting access to him complained of his Priests owing her Twenty pounds; who demanding for what? She, after some tri●●ings of pretended modesty, confessed it was for the ill use of her Body; the Gentleman surprised, and scarce believing her, asked her when the last time was that he had do with her? She answered on Friday last about Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon; the Gentleman remembering that his Priest was that day at Mass; told her, She ●●s certainly mistaken; but she persevering in her story, he called in the Priest, desanding if he owed her any money; which he not being able to deny, nor yet to clare on what good account he became so indebted to her, his Master could not but include him Guilty, and began to upbraid him, saying, Are not you a most profane ●●llain to lie with this Woman at Nine a clock and approach to the Altar, and offer to ●●ceive God's Body before Ten, and that without any Absolution too? The Priest ●●uld not deny but that he was Rogue enough, but as to the last particular, assured ●●●m he had Absolution. And being inquired how or from whom, after some Evasion 〈◊〉 confessed that are her French Priest and he both lay with her successively at that time ●nd that they mutually 〈◊〉 each other Absolution; which is a notable Reli 〈◊〉 method of Whoring, and as 'tis likely often practised by these Ghostly Fathers. ●elation Mr. Prance doth not aver upon his own knowledge, but knew the said Hay very well, and was most credibly informed and assured of the Truth there.    

The foregoing Narrative touching the Murder of Edmundbury Godfrey, and other Passages relating the horrid Popish Plot, were written by my Dire●●ns, and put into Method for the Press, the matter ●●●g dictated by me, and taken all along from my 〈◊〉 mouth: And having since perused it all over 〈◊〉 own the same, and attest the truth of the several particulars and things therein contained, as they are are related and set forth.  
Miles Prance.