Mr. Sheridan's Speech after his Examination before the late House of Commons, on Wednesday the 15th of December, 1680.  
'tIs, I confess Sir, a great misfortune to fall under the Displeasure of the Honourable House of Commons, it is a Burden that no man, tho' never so great, is able to bear; It cannot then be a wonder, if so inconsiderable a Person, and of so little strength as I, should stoop under the weight; Not that I fear any Danger to my Person, but grieve for the wounds it gives my Reputation, which I have always valued above my Life, and that it might be preserved spotless, I have ever made it my study to keep a good Conscience, void of Offence, towards God and towards Man; and therefore I little expected to be brought as a Criminal to this Bar, or any Tribunal.  
But I am convinced, Innocence is no security against the Darts of Envy or Malice, and that he who will hazard his Body or his Soul, may take away the Life and Fame of any one at pleasure; 'tis to men of such principles I owe my present Trouble: I do not say this to reflect upon any Member of this Great and Honourable Assembly. My Evil is from without Doors, and I know the Authors and the Contrivance so well, that, if it were convenient, I could name them, and trace the whole Chain, Link by Link, to the very first, hammered by Prejudice, and particular Interest.  
I do not wonder that, in the present circumstances, you should have an ear open to all reports that any way relate to the public, this is due to your Station, and to your Prudence; and because Justice and your Honour require it, I as little doubt your reserving the other ear for the Pleas and Defences of the Accused, or that you will condemn any man unheard: Upon this assurance it is, that I am bold to beg, with all due respect and reverence, that I may have liberty to speak for myself without interruption; If you are pleased to grant me this favour, I will use it as fully and briefly as I can, for your satisfaction and my own vindication.  
I have been represented (I hope without offence I may say, traduced, for so I can make it appear) for a person of no Fortune, a Papist, a second Coleman, and what is more ridiculous, tho' not more false, a Jesuit, and the Duke's Confessor.  
In clearing myself from these Aspersions, I must be forced to say something, which nothing but necessity, that either has none, or breaks all Laws, can excuse from vanity. As that I was born a Gentleman, of one of the ancientest Families, and related to many Considerable, in Ireland; in one County there is a Castle, and a large Demean, and in another a greater tract of Land for several Miles together, yet known by our Name, I need not say who was the head or chief, 'tis too much that my Grandfather was the last who enjoyed the Estate, and that my Father left an Orphan in the beginning of King James' Reign, soon found himself dispossessed and exposed to the World, that whole County, with five others, being entirely escheated to the Crown. My Parents Protestants, my Mother a Gentlewoman of England, of good Fortune, a Foster, who for my Father's sake quitted her Country and her Relations, both famed for honesty, for their Loyalty and Sufferings in the late Rebellion, when my Father scaped twice narrowly with his Life, and at last was forced to fly, for relieving and protecting both the Fortunes and Persons of very many English.  
To my Birth I had a suitable Education; I have some slender pretence to Letters, am not altogether a Stranger to the Civil-law, nor the Laws of England, the means intended for my Livelihood.  
But, without my seeking or knowledge, some Friends procured for me the Collectorship of the Customs of Cork, and the management of most of the Inland-Revenue of that Country: This Employment, and the Accidents attending it, together with that of the East-India Prizes, and others in the last War with Holland, put into Kinsale, enabled me to bring for my own proportion of Advance-money, for the present Revenue-Farm of Ireland, 9532 l. as appears upon Record in the Chancery of England; and being by a Brother of mine, than here, without my privity or desire, engaged in this undertaking, and a stranger to all the Partnership, excepting one, june last was 3 years I sold my Interest for 4000 l, profit. This Money I employed in Corporation and Church-Leases, in Mortgages and other securities, at 10 l. per Cent, the Interest of that Kingdom. And after this account, if I have no visible real Estate, I hope no man can doubt but that I may live independently, tho' besides I happen to be a younger Brother, so far from being a prejudice, that it's possible to prove my advantage, being defigned the Heir of two elder Brothers, who neither have, nor are like to have any Children. The Bills of Exchnge drawn and remitted to and from Ireland, by Sir john Frederick and Company, Mr. D. Arthur and other known Merchants, will show my proper Fond, and no man's Bounty supported my Expenses; and therefore, because I can with great Truth, I do the more freely declare, That I neither have, nor ever had any Relation to the Duke or Duchess of York, as a Servant or Dependent, a Sallary-man or Pensioner, and was so far from succeeding Mr. Coleman, that his Employment never entered into my Thoughts taken up with Affairs of a far different nature. My journey to Flanders was no way criminal, and in a great measure the effect of curiosity, having before seen very little of that Country, Holland or Germany; and as I went not with the Duke, so my return in his Train was purely accident.  
For my Religion, as I was born of Protestant Parents, so I was all along bred a member of the Church of England, and (by the Grace of God) will live and die in this Profession; for it is not so much owing to the chance of Education, as to my choice, being satisfied by Reason, by Scripture, and the Laws of my Country, no inconsiderable Argument, that of all, it is the most purely Christian.  
Since I was seventeen years of Age I have gone duly to Church, and several times in every year received the Sacrament; I did so twice while in Flanders, as Dr. Lake and Dr. Doughty (the Duke's Chaplains) and others can witness; and I have done so six times since my return thence, there are in this Honourable House that can testify some part of this Truth. I have taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy eleven times, am ready to submit to all further injunctions of Law in matters of Religion, have in Disputes encountered, tho' unwillingly, with many of the several Orders abroad, remained unshaken in my Principles; This at Ghent, putting a Jesuit (more zealous than the rest) into great passion, made him pronounce me obstinate, and declare, He could sooner bring over ten of the most rigid fanatics of England, than hope to make me a Proselyte. Now if all this be not sufficient to wipe off the imputation of Popery, I confess I am to seek for a defence.  
Among others 'tis objected, That by my Interest in his R. H. I got my Brother made a Bishop, in opposition to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and contrary to Merit. To this I answer, That my Brother has been as much, and as injuriously, though not so publicly defamed as I; that he came off with Honour; that a peak between two Great Lords of that Kingdom, and one of the greatest of this, did not only prevent his being sooner promoted, but was the occasion of his being bespattered with many falsehoods and calumnies; that few in Ireland deserve it better; that what he enjoys, he obtained not in opposition to, tho' without the recommendation of the chief Governor, nor by the mediation of the Duke, but of a great Minister, in the presence of my Lord Bishop of London, from the King's immediate Grace openly shown in Council, and with a particular mark of His Royal Favour.  
I hope 'tis no Crime to honour and revere the Duke as he is a Prince, or if a private man to love and value his innate Worth and Qualities; or to have said, as it is reported (I wish nothing else had been with less Truth) That I would hazard my Life and Fortune to do him any lawful and just Service; If it be a Crime, as I can no ways apprehend of the Brother of my King, while publicly prayed for in all the Churches of the three Kingdoms, I confess myself guilty; But I am not so wedded to his Interest, as to espouse or pursue them, if he can have any such, contrary to the Duty I owe, and ever will pay my Sovereign, my Country, my Religion and my God.  
And I do here most solemnly protest, as I hope for Heaven, if I knew him in any instance a Conspirator or a Traitor, I would not only detest, but endeavour to bring him to public Justice; and if ever he can be proved a Criminal of this nature, I will have no more respect nor regard, but less, for him, than I would for any common Offender. And therefore, without the hopes of reward, or the fears of punishment, I declare in the presence of the Almighty, If I knew any part of the Popish-Plot, or the persons concerned in't, I would long since have revealed the whole Contrivance. But none in their senses can believe, that a known Protestant could be made privy to such a Conspiracy; to which, if necessary, might be added, that I was in a Country remote from that, where the Design is said to be hatched.  
I own myself of so extensive a Charity, to love the persons of all honest Men, notwithstanding their differing from me in opinion, about the Modes and Circumstances of Religion, and to be for Liberty of Conscience, when consistent with the safety of the state, to all quiet and peaceable Dissenters; But when 'tis urged and made use of to other ends, or as a Cloak for Rebellion or Treachery, I abominate all such Indulgence.  
But I will no longer dwell on this Subject, than to mind you of Colonel Mansel's mistake or forgetfulness, when he informs this Honourable House, That in or about July, 1678. I dined at his Treat for a Germane Lord, in order to a Design of his upon a Foreign Command, and that 2 or 3 days after, I should advise him against it, telling him the Duke would very soon have occasion for such Officers. First, I do say, to have said so was no Crime; But I easily see through this Artifice, 'tis to serve as an argument, that I understood somewhat of the Plot, of which I am as ignorant as any man living, beyond what I have since learned from the Prints and public Fame. In the next place, I do utterly deny I ever said the words, because I do not know the Duke had any such Design, and am certain I cannot invent. Besides, by many circumstances, needless here to mention, that Dinner was after the Courts return from Windsor, and consequently after the breaking forth of the Plot. I desire the Gentleman would recollect himself; at that time he was very great and intimate with a Roman Catholic, H. N. from whom if he heard not the words, as I am not apt to imagine, I am confident he dreamed them. He cannot be ignorant that I knew why he was disbanded in Ireland, etc. and that I always declined, not only as having no Interest, but as unwilling for other reasons, to introduce him to the Duke, as he often pressed; and therefore he made his application to others, but with as ill success.  
And now give me leave, I beseech you, Mr. Speaker, to answer an Objection, that I have prescribed a way how the King should live without Parliaments: I am so far from entertaining such a thought, that I ever esteemed the Constitutions of England by King, Lords and Commons the happiest kind of Government in the world; and if the discourse called, The Rise and Power of Parliaments, etc. be mine, of which many will have me the Author, the reading it, would be of this a sufficient Confutation: In that, Parliaments are magnified, their power rather enlarged than lessened, and their frequent meetings recommended as most convenient.  
In a word, whatever Character my Adversaries have given of me, I am not a Protestant in Masquerade, I can neither Lie nor Dissemble, I am really what I profess, and as the word is commonly taken, no lover of Arbitrary Government, in any single or complicated body.  
As to the Letter Subscribed by Fitz-Iames, I do sincerely protest I have no Acquaintance with any of the Name, nor ever saw the Hand before, nor the intended Messenger C. who not finding me, left it with the Maidservant: But in this there is nothing Criminal.  
As to the Computations, they are a Transcript from a Paper of Sir Peter Petts, containing the number of Conformists, Non-Conformists and Papists throughout England, taken by the Bishop's order, in, or about the time of the General Indulgence and by him produced presently after the Plot, upon the talk that there were fifty thousand Papists, able to bear Arms, within Temple-Bar and about Westminster; a number near double to what, at the taking this survey, they were found men, women and children in the whole Kingdom.  
For the Copy of my Cousin wilson's Writing, I confess it the only thing I endeavoured to evade, having ingenuously and without reserve answered all other questions. That individual Paper I never saw before the preceding night, when meeting it in the Drawer of my Bedchamber, (always open, whether I am at home or abroad) I laid it uppermost with purpose of Enquiring how he came by it, and whether he knew the Author; But not seeing him till next day in presence of the Members sent to search my Lodgings, I could not ask him, and was surprised to have so Indiscreet and Reflective a Paper found in his hand, and among mine. 'Tis true, that about three Weeks before, I found another of the same Contents, in an Old Crabbed hand, to me unknown; which after I had Read, and concluded it might possibly be left by some of my Acquaintance in their Visits, and being unable to guests at the perso●● not knowing how long it had lain there, being Dated above a Month before I immediately threw it into the fire. Yet in this Paper, which has made so great a noise, there is neither Felony nor Treason; and being the Act of another, and never by me published, having neither Sub, nor Superscription, nor Writ to, nor for from me, nor Copied by my Order, cannot, I presume, be a Libel, nor I hope imputed to me, to whom it came perfectly by Accident: If it were lawful to speak one's guesses from the Contents, it should seem to have come from a Learned Gentleman, one of your own Members, then in the Country Skilled in the Spanish Tongue, to which both my Cousin and I are perfect strangers; nor was either of us out of London then, or for sometime before: If I could as well hit upon the person, as his Quality, I would give a more Satisfactory account of this matter; and I hope this Honourable Assembly will the sooner Credit me, when they reflect, that upon seeing another Paper of my Kinsman's writing, I would not by a lie deny this to be his hand.  
As for my Writing to Mr. Gadbury, I refer myself to the Letter in Sir W. Waller's hands: I have told you the accidental occasion; I desired from him, (whose Acquaintance I knew large, even among the Members of that Parliament) the most material of public News; I neither asked for Schemes or Figures, I have ever Laughed at the idle and ridiculous Art of Judicial Astrology, invented, at least practised, to Impose upon, and Pick the Pockets of the Ignorant and the Credulous.  
And now as to the Cause of my Commitment: The story Dr. D. told me as News, of Peter Norris his knowing as much of the Plot as any man in England, his going, or being gone into France to fetch a Priest to be a Witness. I can only say, as near as I remember, I gave the same account to Mr. Secretary; not as an Informer, but as News; for not being looked upon as such, I was not desired to Swear, nor could I to a hear-say. In this I call Heaven to witness I had no Sinister design, but an Honest intention of having the full Truth brought to Light: Nor do I know, nor have I any reason to believe, that Mr. Secretary's after proceedings were from any other principle. Upon my telling him the Name of Norris, and his saying he had never before heard it, and commanding me to send the Doctor to him, or the others Description; As soon as I met with the Doctor, which was several days after this Discourse; and he as not knowing Mr. Secretary refusing to go, I desired from him the Description, which some time after he brought me; I gave or sent to Mr. Secretary, for I cannot tell whether. But of this I am certain, that all I knew of the Affair, was from the Doctor only; and that I never communicated it to any, but Mr. Secretary, and that by what I writ under the Description, appears to be near a Month after Norris his departure, and consequently could not be designed to stop his Journey, or prevent the Priests coming over, or obstruct the fuller discovery of the Plot, which no man living desires more than myself, believing it the Interest of every honest Subject and Protestant, (out of which number I cannot be excluded) to have all in't, from the highest to the lowest punished according to merit; and that tranquillity it has so long disturbed, resettled in the Kingdom: And now I hope none of the Members of this Honourable House can imagine I could be guilty of so Horrid a Crime, as having any knowledge of the Priests being poisoned, as is suspected, or given out he might be. I am so ignorant of this, or any part of the Conspiracy, that I do not so much despise, as decline, because not needing it, the generous offer of Mr. Speaker, or other Members Intercession for my Pardon: I acknowledge, as I ought; the Favour with all fitting respect; but I thank God, I am so Innocent, that I dare, as now I do, challenge the whole world, to make out one particular, where in Word or Action, in the whole course of my life, I have done or spoken falsely, or unjustly; and yet no man ever suffered more Calumnies, without any cause, or the least shadow of Truth, beyond the witty malice of those, whose Eyes are blinded, and Consciences seared by Envy and Interest, who from pretended Friends are become my real Adversaries, contrary to Reason and Justice. But further, none can believe I could keep any dangerous Correspondence, when it's well known that for these three years and a half all my Letters were no otherwise Directed, than for me at the Royal Coffee-house.  
Besides it appeared at the Committee by Norris his own Papers, that this Priest Dowdall, (whose Name I never heard before) died September last was twelve Months, eight Months before I heard there was such a man in the world as Norris, and at a time when I was in another Country. And since you have thought fit to acquit Dr D. who was my Author and Principal, and who owned himself a Roman Catholic; I hope you will not think it equal, that I a known sincere Protestant, and but an Accessary, should stand Committed, and Committed after such a manner, as neither Felon nor Traitor, not only Accused, but Convicted, could suffer a Closer Confinement.  
And here, Mr. Speaker, I entreat your leave to ask Pardon, if at the Committee my behaviour has offended any of the Members of this Honourable House, and to say, whatever heat I expressed, was the effect of Passion, to which I was moved, by hearing several of them in public, as at Locketts and other Eating and Coffeehouses, had called me Papist, and a second Coleman, with other Aspersions I could not bear without resentment: To this was added my being commanded a Messenger for: Dr. D. an office beneath me, and wherein I could not expect to be successful, not knowing whether he would appear without Compulsion. I hope it will not be accounted an unexpiable Crime for a Gentleman of more Years and Discretion, than I can pretend to, to show himself disturbed at a conceived Indignity or Affront; and in hopes it may not be accounted so heinous, I do once more withal due Submission beg pardon. There is one thing more I cannot without trouble touch upon, the Reflections the Written Votes, very different from the Printed, bring upon my Reputation; In those 'tis said, it appears that I have succeeded Mr. Coleman, than which there never was a more groundless, false, or malicious invention: And also that I questioned your Authority, and said your Proceedings looked like the late Rebellion. However Sir William Roberts came to make the Report, my words were to Sir john Morton in another Room, and to him I appeal, whether they were not thus. Upon his advising that I should far the better, if I freely showed my Papers, I told him I would not hid one, nor dispute their power, thò I had heard others did; and that the Seizing Closets and Writings, was not only Illegal, but looked upon as one of the Causes of the last Rebellion; thereupon he wished I had not said the Words: I replied, I meant no harm by those Objections, and notwithstanding my mentioning them, they should find in me a readiness to obey, and an entire submission; and added, if they were offensive, I unsaid them, and asked his pardon, as I now humbly do from the whole House, if I am thought herein to have offended. And to do Sir john Justice, he was pleased to promise he would take no notice of the Discourse, unless commanded; to whom with the rest of the Committee I refer myself, whether of my own accord I was not going along with them, when I met your Messenger.  
If I had been guilty of any Crime, I had not only Warning, but Threats and Advices to fly many days, some weeks before, when I was told by Letters from unknown hands, and by several persons of Honour and Quality, that I was designed to be brought into trouble; I need not in this place say, for what reason. And here I cannot by the way but take notice of a Report made by Justice Warcup at this Bar, and spread at Coffeehouses; that he should have Searched Mr. Sheridans Lodgings, and there found only a Parcel of Popish Books, whereas he never was in mine, but at Mr. Brunetty's House, an Italian Merchant, whose Books those must have been, and therefore I hope this was some Clarks, rather than his mistake.  
And now since no man can be placed beyond the reach of Malice, and the devices of the wicked, and that I happen to be brought hither as a supposed Criminal, I am extremely pleased, I have the good fortune to meet with so wise and equal Judges, as compose this August and Honourable Assembly; where I am so far from fears, that I do not doubt, but upon an exact Scrutiny, and an Impartial Examination, my having been so infinitely traduced, and so wrongfully exposed to the public; will be so far from gratifying my Adversaries unjust desires, that they will not only be defeated, but myself greatly advantaged; and therefore I leave my Cause at the Footstool of your Justice, and willingly submit to your Pleasure and Determinations, praying no other favour, than what I am sure you would grant without ask; your full Consideration of the whole Matter, your speedy Condemnation or Acquittal, as I shall be found Guilty or Innocent.  
LONDON, Printed for Io. Hindmarsh, Anno Domini, 1681.