The true Effigies Of Sr. EDMONDBURY GODF●●● Knight and justice Of the Peace who 〈◊〉 MURDERED by Papists the 12th day of October Ann. Dom. 1678.  
F. H. van Hove. Sculp●●●    

Memoires OF THE LIFE and DEATH OF Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, LATE Justice of the Peace for Middlesex, who was Barbarously Murdered by the Papists, upon the first Discovery of THE Horrid Plot: TOGETHER WITH A full Account of the strange Discovery of the Murder, the Trial of the Murderers, and the Sham-Plot of the Papists to charge the Murder of Sir Edm. Godfrey upon himself, Detected.  

Protomartyr pro Patriâ  
Moriendo restituit rem.   
LONDON, Printed for John Hancock at the three Bibles over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, and Enoch Prosser at the Rose and Crown at the East end of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1682.   

TO THE KING'S Most Excellent Majesty.  
Most Gracious and dread Sovereign,  
THat I should presume to lay this little Treatise at your Royal Feet, and to implore your Majesty's most gracious Patronage of it, is not out of any vain Ostentation of leaping from the distances of my mean Station to approach Majesty; But rather to do that right to my Subject, as to shelter it against malicious Censurers, under your Royal and powerful protection. Those that Persecuted him while living, and at last took away his Life, at once bereaving your Majesty of a faithful Subject, and the Nation of a useful Member, will I question not, endeavour (as they have often attempted) to bear down the true Value of his Merits by unjust Slanders: but he was too well known to be Scandalised by such men, who are as well known (as they were his, so) to be Enemies to your Sacred Majesty, your Kingdoms, and the true Protestant Religion. It was for his firm adherence to all these that he fell an Innocent Sacrifice to their Revenge and Malice. He faithfully served your Majesty and Country, while he had Life to spend in such Services. 'Tis fit the World should know what he was. He died for his Zeal in such Services, for his Loyalty to your Majesty, and Constancy to the Protestant Religion. To whom then should the Protection of his Memory upon such accounts be better (though with a humble respect to your greatness) dedicated, than to our Gracious King and Defender of the Faith?  
Honorantes me honorabo, is the Royal Promise of the King of Kings to his Worshippers. Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was one that dutifully Honoured and Served your Majesty: And your Majejesty, according to your Native Clemency and Goodness, and (after the pattern of him whose Vicegerent you are) was pleased in compensation of his Duty, to confer many Honours upon him. You Honoured him with the Dignity of Knighthood, with admitting him into the Commission of the Peace, and that great Character your Majesty was pleased to give him of his Abilities for that Service. He was honoured with the freedom of access to your Royal Presence, and being employed for your Majesty in some great Services. After his Death, your Majesty was pleased so far to Honour him by your gracious Sympathy with your People in his loss, as to extend your Justice by your Royal Proclamation for the Discovering of his Murderers, and then to grant a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer for their Trial, and to bring them to condign Punishment.  
Unto all these Honours that living and Dead your Majesty has graciously been pleased to extend to him; May it please your Sacred Majesty to grant one more in his behalf, in graciously condescending to Vouchsafe your Royal Patronage to these Memoires of your late faithful, Loyal and Protestant Subject; and of your Princely goodness, as well to pardon the presumption of the Author, as the defects of his undertaking.  
May the divine goodness that hath hitherto (to the unspeakable Joy of your Subjects) preserved your Sacred Person and your Government against all the Plots and Contrivances of your Enemies, continue to defend you, and increase such Loyalty in the hearts of your Subjects, as this man died for.  
That the Crown may long flourish on your Royal Head, and that you may be blessed with a long, happy and peaceable Reign over these Kingdoms, is the hearty Prayer of,  
Great SIR, Your Majesty's most humble, Loyal and Obedient Subject and Servant, Ric. Tuke.   

Memoirs OF THE LIFE and DEATH OF Sir Edmondbury Godfrey.  
A Good Name (says the Royal Moralist) is better than precious Ointment, Eccl. 7. 1. 'tis this, that while the Body of a good Man is preyed upon by corruption, and infected with stench and faetor in the Grave, perfumes the World with the Odours of grateful and pleasing remembrances fit as well for the delight, as use of the Living.  
That the worthy Sr. Edmondbury Godfrey left such a Name behind him, needs not the confirmation of this Narrative; there is no place where ever he had a mention, but is scented with it.  
The confection of those great and imitable Virtues with which this Good-Name was by himself in his life time compounded, I am now to spread before you, and to open this Box of Nard for your delight and benefit.  
The very last Act and Apotheosis of his Life, though Tragical and bitter to him; yet, as it was occasioned by that loyal Zeal and Resolution for the Service of his King and Country, which provoked the malicious Papists to cut him off, was an Offering of a Sweet-smelling Savour, and made this precious Unguent to savour in the Nostrils of all good Men with the greater redolencie and sweetness: And notwithstanding the cursed designs of his revengeful Enemies, after having taken away his Life, to take away his good Name too; it was not in the power of those dead Flies to corrupt this Ointment.  
If the accessions of a Gentile Stock, and generous breeding thereto suitable, might be any advantage to own Personal worthiness, he might boast of both; but 
Sed genus & provaos & quae non fecimus ipsi. Vix ea nostra voco. Ovid.  he had more to boast of (had he been given to that idle humour, which he never was) from his own acquirements; so that whatever bequests of Honour or Estate he received from his worthy Ancestors, were accumulated by the acquests of his own Industry and Virtue; by both which he became tam famae quam fortunae suae faber; and Ennobled the Coat of his Ancestors with his own Achievements: Yet, to render him a Gentleman of the truest Stamp, he was so qualified as well by Descent as Purchase. The Moralist thought the former sufficient, That Nobility was nothing else but 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; Plutarch lib. cont. Nobilitatem.  Ancient Wealth and Ancient Worship; but this was not sufficient for him without building upon an Ancient Basis a New Superstructure of a Personal Merit.  
His Father was Sir Thomas Godfrey Knight, of an Ancient and reputable Family in the County of Kent, where not only his said Father, but his Grandfather, and Elder Brother were Justices of the Peace, as was this worthy Knight himself afterwards for the County of Middlesex. So that in this kind of Series and Succession of Magistracy from Father to Son, he seemed as 'twere Born to be a Justice of Peace, as 'tis observed by that Learned and Worthy Prelate Dr. Lloyd in 
Sr. Edm. Godfrey's Funeral Sermon, Page 14.  that excellent Sermon he preached at his Funeral.  
His Father (by several Wives) had a Numerous Issue, no less than Ten Sons, Our Sir Edmondbury being the Sixth by a Second Venture: yet though the Father himself was but a younger Brother, the Grandfather left so plentiful an Estate to him as served to afford sufficient allowances to his Children; None of them but with what was left them, besides the laudable improvements they made to it by Trade and Traffic, lived plentifully and in good repute.  
Sir Edmondbury had in his youth bestowed upon him an Education suitable to his Birth and Quality, being first put to Westminster School (that Prime Nursery and Pae dagogie of Tyronick Learning,) where in a little time by the strength of his extraordinary Parts he arrived to that proficiency as to be sent to the University in order to his maturation in Studies of an higher Nature.  
Having continued there for some time a diligent and industrious Student in those parts of Learning, which afterwards qualified him for great and worthy Employments; he was afterwards sent over to Travel in Foreign parts, to advance the Theory of his speculative acquirements by Observation of Men and Manners, and became thereby the better qualified to discharge himself in those public Places to which he was afterwards called.  
During the time of his Travels, he kept himself (by the aids of the Divine Grace) as well free from the contagion of the Immoralities as the (equally dangerous) false Religion of the places in which he conversed; the two destructive Rocks, upon which most of the unseasoned youth of the Gentry of this Kingdom, when exposed to the like Temptations by their incautelous Parents (out of a vain humour of a fancied accomplishment to be gained by Travel) do infortunately split.  
For by those sound Principles of Religion and Virtue which he had imbibed by the means of his careful Parents and Instructors, he was sufficiently antidoted against both; returning home rather informed than corrupted; like the laborious Bee extracting the Honey of useful Experience and Observations from the worst of things.  
After his return home to his Native Country, his careful Father, to render him as well accomplished in Domestic Learning as Foreign Experiences, sent him next to 〈…〉, and admitted hi● 〈◊〉 Member of the Honourable Society of Greys-Inn, there to Study the Regal and Municipal Laws of this Kingdom; And in this place though he continued not long enough (according to the Rules of such Societies) to assume the Graduate's Robe of that Profession; yet he arrived to that mature proficiency as gave him a good Title to it: And wanted nothing but a Compliment of time to make him capable of it.  
But the reason of his so soon leaving the Society was a sense he had in himself of a defect in his Hearing, or a kind of Deafness, which (though not very great) was always Natural to him, and was judged by himself and Friends might be an hindrance to him in the nice and difficult practice of Pleading, where the circumstances of debated Matters from the Mouths of Pleaders or Witnesses not being audibly received might be a great prejudice to the client's Business; and withal some unhealthiness in his Body, which in the laborious employment of the Law-practice might be prejudicial to him. For these Reasons after some Years continuance in that Inn he removed himself into the Country amongst his Friends.  
Amongst whom he diverted himself for some time: but his generous Soul being too active to be confined to the retirement of a private Solitude and conversation, could not long rest in this inert and useless Capacity, but put him upon some undertake, wherein he might improve the activity of his industrious Spirit for the good of himself and others; Idleness being always a burden to him to whom Labour never was so; the fatigues of the latter in its most difficult 
Quis autem vir bonus & erectus ad honesta, non est laboris appetens justi, & ad officia cum periculo promptus? Cui non industrioso otium poena est? Senec. lib. de Providentia.  managements were so little ungrateful to him, that he seemed never better pleased, than when he had least case: for indeed Business was so natural to him that it was never uneasy; He was most in his Element, when he was employed in public or private Offices of doing good, and none was ever more indefatigable in such Offices than himself.  
And Providence was so auspicious to him in these generous designments, as in a short time to offer him a fair occasion of putting them in Execution, by means of an intimate Friend and Relation of his, who had lost a great part of his Estate by reason of his Services for the King in the late Wars; and having reduced the rest into Stock, resolved to improve the same in way of Trade by taking a Woodyard, and Buying and Selling Wood and Coals; an Employment not only creditable, but known to be usually very gainful to the Undertakers; especially such as have any considerable Stocks to manage it with.  
Sir Edmonbury Godfrey being a younger Brother, and what Estate he had, consisting in Moneys to the value of 1000 l. or thereabouts, was advised (as a fair way of improvement) to join Stocks with the aforesaid Gentleman, and to come in a Partner with him, in managing the Trade of a Wood-wharf, which he accordingly did; settling themselves first at Dowgate, within the City of London; where in a few Years that they continued Trading together, it pleased God so to bless their honest industry and endeavours, that they advanced their Stocks to a very considerable increase & advantage; so indulgent is Providence commonly to the honest endeavours of industrious Persons, that the more laborious they are in the Employments they are called to, the more they thrive and are blessed in them.  
How may the Example of these two Trading Gentlemen, reproach the unthrifty humours of too many of the Gentry of these Days, who study no other Arts but that of spending, and wastefully to consume the Patrimonies, that their careful Fathers had gathered for them, in all the expensive Modes of Luxury and Riot? and while they scornfully disdain those laudable Employments and means of Thrift by which they might be 
* Quis est istorum qui non malit Rempub. turbari quam comam suam, qui non solicitior sit de capitis sui decore quam de salute, qui non comptior esse malit quam honestior? Senec. de Provide. Cap. 12.  serviceable to the Commonwealth and advance their Families, what do they by taking the contrary courses, but precipitate themselves upon the Rocks of unavoidable contempt and Beggary? and so become themselves the Scorn of those industrious Persons whose ways of Thriving they formerly contemned.  
Having thus by their joint Trading (as I have said) acquired considerable advantages to their particular Estates, in a few Years that they dealt together; It afterwards happened that Mr. Harrison, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Partner, altered his Condition by Marrying a near Relation of Sir Edmondbury's; the other continuing still, and to the Day of his Death in the state of Coelibacy: but whether it were upon this account, the Family being too much enlarged for their commodious Cohabitation; or that their Stocks being likewise so much enlarged, there might be a necessity (as was the case once between Abraham and Lot) of a Separation, I know not; but these two Partners having first fairly and justly stated the Accounts betwixt each other, agreed upon a parting: And accordingly Sir Edmondbury (resolving still to follow the same Employment) having found out a convenient House and Yard fit for his purpose at the other end of the Town, at Hartshorn-Lane, near Charing-Cross, removed thither; And having furnished his Yard with a good Stock of Wares, began now to Trade for himself: And found the same Providence that had hitherto been propitious to him, to succeed his industry and endeavours in this his new undertaking, with a suitable Blessing.  
The Arts he used as means (subservient to the Divine Providence) of his Thriving in the World, were no other than those of an ingenious industry and unreprovable Integrity, the two best and most solid Bases of a prosperous condition. He being in his private Capacity, as strict an Observer of the Rules of Commutative Justice, as he was afterwards of the distributive, when called to the exercise of a more public Function.  
And it was not long that he continued in this private way of Commerce and Trading; but that the great Abilities both of Estate and Parts of one so near residing to the Court being represented to his Majesty (who as of his piercing Wisdom, he is most able to judge of; so of his Native Clemency and Goodness is most ready to prefer such Persons to Places of Trust and Honour, wherein they may become serviceable to himself and People) It pleased his Majesty to admit him into the Commission of the Peace, as one of his Justices for the County of Middlesex, and City of Westminster; in which Place he faithfully served him, till such time, as for the last Services wherein he performed the greatest act of Loyalty to his Prince and Country, that lay in the power of a Subject to do, he was by the malice of his, and our implacable Enemies, the Papists, taken from us.  
We are now therefore to consider him in his more public Capacity as a Justice of the Peace, in which place as he spent many and the last Years of his Life, we may remark more solemnly those Graces and Excellencies which always did illustrate his most imitable Conversation.  
But whether or no any happy Conjunction of sidereal influences might auspicate this Honour to him by way of Succession to his worthy Ancestors; 'tis certain one of the greatest of Princes thought him not unworthy the Office.  
And was so well satisfied in his choice of him, that in confirmation of his approvement, He [that aught to know best (says the Learned Doctor in his Threnodia) 
Sir Edm. Godfrey's Funeral Sermon.  hath often said, He took Sir Edmondbury Godfrey to be the best Justice of Peace in this Kingdom;] and adds a great Word of his own in the first Clause of that Paragraph; That [He was perhaps the Man, the Man of our Age, that did the most good in that Station; He did (saith he) Dedicate himself wholly to it; made his Country his Family; his Parish his Wife and Children; attended wholly to their good; to keep up Law and Justice, and Safety and Liberty; to save others from Violence and Wrong, to reduce them from Disorder and Violence.  
What greater Testimonies, than these of so judicious a Prince, and so Learned a Prelate, could be expected or desired to Illustrate the Merits of a worthy and deserving Magistrate?  
But if we may Comment upon this Royal Theme, it will be worth our while to consider those Excellencies apart which rendered him capable of so great a Character. And here we may not unfitly take the opportunity to give you in brief the Character of this Excellent Person, both as to his Natural and Moral Endowments; by which it may be easily judged, how well qualified he was as well for the Honour as Trust of that Eminent Place in which he served.  
As to his Person, the Graver hath furnished you in the Frontispiece with a Copy (not much disagreeing to the Life) of his comely and graceful Countenance; in which, as if Nature had cast him into a Mould fit for the purpose of his future Office, we may perceive a duly composed Feature equally mixed with gravity and sweetness, a becoming mien that carried as well Authority as ingenuity in it, and commanded at once both awe and love from the beholders.  
The gracefulness of a Man's presence (in the Fancies of some) adds much of respect and reverence to their Persons, especially where their Characters require it or deserve it. And therefore Howell treating of the qualifications of Ambassadors, gives this for one: That being to represent 
Howels Treatise of Ambassadors.  the Person of his Prince, he ought to be a comely and graceful Person. And such an one was Sir Edmondbury; his Stature was elevated somewhat above the common Size of ordinary tall Men: the habit of his Body spare, far from Corpulency; but well set and exactly proportioned. He was indeed (as most tall Men are) somewhat inclined to stoop in his going, which might be occasioned by the Thoughtfulness of his musing Head, mostly working upon some good and generous Designs in the way of his Business. His disposition and humour were such as obliged love and respects from all that knew him, being Naturally of a kind, courteous, and affable temper, free of access, and ready to hear the meanest Persons, that in way of complaint, or business, had any thing to do with him; and this accompanied with a faceteness and pleasancie of humour, that was no less Natural him, rendered his Conversation lovely and delightful to all Persons.  
If it may not seem impertinent, I will give you one instance for all of the Urbanity of his temper. That he being one Night attending at the Council Table at Whitehall, till it was somewhat late, and being then to go to the Temple upon Business, called a Coach at the Court Gates; and perceiving a Gentleman standing there, whom he had observed likewise attending upon Business at the Board, was pleased courteously to inquire of him, whether his way lay towards the Temple: understanding which, he was pleased, though a Stranger, to take him into the Coach with him, and gave him his passage thither.  
Civility and Courtesy were the Flowers and Ornaments of that excellent temper; the ground of which consisted of an exact Justice and Complete Charity; both these were Eminent in this Worthy: None more punctual and exact as to the Commutative parts of Justice than he; in his dealings, in the keeping of his Accounts, in performance of his promises, rendering to every Man his right, and discreetly looking to his own. And for his Charity, as he was Naturally endued with a large and bountiful Spirit, so the expressions of it were Visible in such circumstances and instances, as may perhaps be paralleled by few Men of this Age, if we respect either the Charity of his Mind, or the Charity of his Hands.  
And as to the First, how free was he from a censorious Spirit; the unhappy temper of too many of this Age; and no doubt the main ground of our present differences both in Church and State? when Men not content to enjoy the satisfaction and liberty of their own persuasions, do injuriously censure and perhaps maliciously despite those that are of the contrary: But this Good Man was none of that Leaven; he was himself of a Sound and Orthodox persuasion and principles; yet censured none that differed from him in lesser Circumstances not material to the Essence and Vitals of Religion; but honoured many such for the Characters of a solid goodness appearing in them from whom he differed in his own private Judgement and Opinion: though he was most strict in reproving and punishing grosser Enormities; yet he could charitably bear with the lesser infirmities of such in whom a controlling Virtue did more eminently prevail. In fine, though he had a severe regard to himself, and his own actions; yet he could bear with others for greater miscarriages than he allowed in himself: though he always frowned upon the frontless Sinner; yet (such was his candour) that he would rarely put a modest Transgressor to the Blush.  
As to the Charity of his Hands, it must be a labour (though a delightful one) to any that should go about to enumerate those labours of Love, those Offices of a true Christian Charity in which he abounded.  
It may now be lawful to declare to the World, that which in his Life he most laboured to conceal; for indeed his Charity was so truly Christian and Heroick, that in the expressions of it, his left Hand was a Stranger to what his right Hand did: few have more merited applause in this kind than himself, none sought it less; being co●●ted to have done his duty, expecting his reward from his Heavenly Father, and leaving the fame of it to the contingent notice of a posthumous Memory.  
It is now known which durst not before be mentioned, how kind he was to a Religious, but suffering Family in the City of Westminster, allowing them Ten Pounds per Annum, towards their support, and this Annuity he continued to them for several Years together.  
But this was but one Family of many that were in the like nature, though in different proportions, relieved by him.  
Although he was ever severe against idle Beggars and Vagabonds, such as refusing the honest ways of Industry and Labour to maintain themselves, lived altogether upon the Alms of others; yet he was so much a friend to those that were necessitatedly poor, and whose poverty was neither occasioned by ill Husbandry, nor continued by idleness, that such should never want his Charity; but he would either set them on Work, or otherwise relieve them by some charitable donation.  
Although, as I have said, it was the Christianity of his temper to do his Alms in secret, there are many Hundreds of living Witnesses that are able to give in their Testimonials to this part of his Character, that he was a truly charitable Man.  
And as he arrived to this grave of the beatifying Scale of being Merciful; 
Mat. 5. 9  so he declared himself to be a true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a Child of God by ascending another; he was a Peacemaker, one that coveted not so much the Triumph of the Laurel as the shadow of the Olive-bough: Moderation and Peace were the proper Elements of his Nature. If he observed any differences to arise betwixt any of his Friends or Neighbours, how industrious would he be to reconcile them! nor would he rest, whatever pains he was exposed to, till he had accomplished his ends.  
The reputation of his Peacemaking humour occasioned him much trouble by such as desired the benefit of it, by putting him frequently upon Arbitrations and composing of differences: which province as by reason of his great judgement and experience, he was very capable to manage; so he rarely declined it, though it were a great hindrance both to his Public and Private Business; it is well known by the Neighbourhood amongst whom he lived, how much of his time and pains were laid out in such friendly Services.  
Thus was he as a Man: take him as a Christian, and a Religious Man; and I cannot give you his Character more truly and fully than is mentioned by the aforesaid Learned Prelate in his Funeral Sermon: one who as by reason of his intimacy with him, he had the greatest opportunity; so by his faculty was most capable to judge of him in this particular. His words are these:  
As to those things which belong 
Funeral Sermon pag. 12, 13.  to a private Christian, I ought to know him better than most others. And I did know that by him which gives me abundant comfort in his Death. I knew him to be a just and charitable Man; A Devout, a Zealous, and Conscientious Christian. His Religion was more for use than show. And yet he was constant in all the Acts of God's worship, as well out of Judgement as Affection. And though the compassion that he had for all Men that did amiss, extended itself to all manner of Dissenters, and amongst them he had a kindness for the Persons of many Roman Catholics: yet he always declared a particular hatred and detestation of Popery. I say this on purpose to be remembered (because some would have him a Papist, or inclined that way) I never pleased him with any duty I performed, at least he never thanked me for any so much, as he did for those Sermons which I preached here against Popery.  
Thus far the worthy Doctor, whose words I have quoted at large, as a Noble confirmation of what has been before hinted, of his Piety, Charity, Moderation, and Religion; and withal (under this Head) to take off that groundless and malicious calumny, devised no doubt by the Papists themselves, of his inclination to their Religion; a Scandal so grossly absurd (to them especially that were acquainted with his Conversation) that if the known opposition he made against them and their Practices in the first discovery of their present Plot, and his dying for it by their violent and malicious Hands, were not a sufficient refutation; we have here an unexceptionable confirmation from the Mouth and Pen of this worthy Bishop; whose judgement was too great, and who knew him too well, to be deceived in so material a cirstance.  
We have by these rude touches given you a rough draught of some of those lineaments that made up his Excellent composition; some faint Ideas of his well featured Soul, whose several Graces as they were singly most Excellent and Lovely, so the Harmony of their contexture agreeing in an exact Symmetry, rendered him a pure form of Virtue: the complexion of which was not of a faint or fading Nature, like some tender Constitutions that change with every Air; but strong and permanent, not to be altered by any Vicissitudes of Fortune or Condition: What he was, he was always, of whom it may be said, as it was 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. vita Arhan.  once of the great Athanasius, That he was A living and immortal Pillar of Virtue.  
We shall lastly consider him in his more public Capacity as a Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, in which province as he stood more liable to Vulgar notice, we shall observe those remarkables of him that may be satisfactory to the Readers attention and his own due merits.  
How well he deserved this Office, needs no higher or greater Confirmation, than that he was elected to it, and approved in it by him that bestowed it on him: A Great and Wise Prince, who as he is himself the Fountain of Justice, cannot be thought to commit the Administration thereof (especially to one in vicinity, so near, and so well known to him, as Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was) but to Persons of exact approvement.  
Besides, what we have before hinted of his fitness for this Service by the happiness of his Education, having been brought up a Student in the Laws of England; he was otherwise qualified for it, by many excellent Endowments of Nature, requisite to the composition of a good Magistrate; a deep and piercing Judgement to search into the Niceties and Intricacies of such difficult business as he often met with, and to determine accordingly; An indefatigable Patience mixed with a genuine serenity of Mind, whereby he could bear with the Clamours and Impertinencies of such as came before him, leisurely attending to the Allegations both of Appellants and Criminals, and fully hearing whatever (and so long as) they had any thing in reason to offer to him; rather than the Truth on either side should be undiscovered by any prejudicated forestalling of the Evidence.  
A right and sound Integrity of Mind, the golden Vein that ran through the whole body of his Actions, and all the parts of it, not to be corrupted by gifts, bribes, or pensions (the common taint of Justice) nor to be warped or byased by any sinister Interests, but plain and upright, uninterested, and regularly conformable to the exactest rules of Justice and Honesty, in all the particular administrations of his Province, being well known, as to any partiality in his actings, to be no Respector of Persons.  
Add unto all these, an Heroic Fortitude, and Invincible Courage of Mind, which was the Shield of his other Virtues, and whereby he was bravely armed and defended against all the difficulties and discouragements (which were not a few) that he met with; still keeping his ground with a steadfast Uprightness, and unmoved Virtue amidst such Trials, as persons of less Courage than himself would have sneaked and groveled under; 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plato in Lachete.  Fortitude is styled by Plato, One of the most Fair and Excellent Virtues; And is by Aristotle in his Ethics made to bring up the Van of the Four Cardinal Virtues, Quia haec virtus circa res arduas & difficilimas versatur; Virtutis autem proprium est versari inter difficiliora. A Virtue therefore certainly most becoming a Good Magistrate, who must dare to be such in the worst of times, and greatest of dangers.  
'Tis vulgar Virtue (says the Learned Prelate, speaking on this head) that puts men only upon Safe good things; 'Tis Virtue 
Funeral Sermon pag. 16.  in its perfection, when one dares do well, and suffer for it: And of this Degree he showed some as great proofs as perhaps have been given in our days.  
We shall in the first place give you one Instance which (with due Allowance to the unusualness of the Practice) may give sufficient proof of the greatness of his Mind, in daring to be just to himself, (Justice as well as Charity beginning at home,) in a case wherein a Sneaking Softness or Compliance might have betrayed him to the ruining advantages of a Sconced and Insulting Adversary.  
Having a considerable Debt owing to him from a Great Person at Court, to whom he had made many and often applications for the Payment of it, without any other satisfaction than that of fair promises, from time to time, and nothing performed: Sir Edmondbury well knowing the Ability of the Person, and that his pretences were but so many formal delays to defer the Payment of that which (though justly due) he knew (by reason of his privilege) he could not in an ordinary course of Justice be troubled for, resolved however to sue him at Common-Law, (notwithstanding his said Privilege) and rather to cast himself upon His Majesty's Clemency, for infringing the Privilege of his Household, than to suffer himself to be unjustly defrauded of his due Debt, by one that would make such a Protection an Asylum to that Injustice, which he knew His Majesty would never patronise or allow of.  
Accordingly after all other fair ways, unsuccessfully attempted; he got the said Courtier Arrested by virtue of the King's Writ, and a Warrant thereupon granted by the Sheriff: and the Defendant was thereupon taken into Custody, till such time as he should give in sufficient Bail to answer the Action, instead of which the Defendant insisting upon his Privilege: sent to White-Hall, and got an Order for the Commitment of Sir Edmondbury, for breach of Privilege, upon which he was taken into Custody, and so remained for the space of six days a Prisoner, and was so to continue till such time as he should discharge the other of the Arrest, which Sir Edmondbury would not consent unto, but rather suffered the severity of that uneasy restraint, than to gratify his Adversaries stubbornness with a too easy compliance:  
His Majesty being then acquainted with the Circumstances of the Case, was pleased graciously to Order Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's discharge; and taking notice, in his Princely Judgement, of that Magnanimity and Heroic disposition he showed, in hearing the brunt of this trouble, was pleased not only to pardon the Misdemeanour; but by this Action to take such farther notice of him, as to confer upon him the Honour of Knighthood: and as a more special token of his Grace and Favour, to admit him again into the Commission of the Peace, out of which he had, by means of his Adversary, been then lately before strucken out.  
But a more noble instance than this to prove the fortitude of his mind, as well in daring dangers, as bearing troubles, appears in his staying in Town in the time of the last great Sickness, when the two great Cities of London and Westminster were in a manner deserted by their Inhabitants, and few left but such of the poorer sort who wanted Money or Friends to remove themselves farther; when the Arrows of the Almighty were scattered abroad in every corner: when almost every House was turned into a Sepulchre, and Epitaph'd with the doleful Inscription of a Miserere Domine, while the Dead and Living seemed buried together; when the fear of the Contagion rendered the few Inhabitants as unsociable to each other, as they would with wild Beasts in a Wilderness, every man fearing to come near another, lest he should meet with his own Executioner, when their very words (conveyed with a lethiferous Air) were feared as Bullets: when breath itself the Instruments of Life in one, should be death to another as it passed from him. In fine when death and danger filled all places, and turned the whole Town into one universal Scene of Misery and Mortality: than it was that this worthy Magistrate showed the greatest proofs of a true Christian Courage and Resolution, in adventuring to stay for a Public Good in all the greatest heats of this dangerous Contagion. The famous Roman, Curtius, is celebrated in History for his unexemplary Courage, in that for the love of his Country, and to evert a great Judgement then upon them, he fearlessly road headlong into a vast devouring Gulf, becoming so the Sacrifice of their Redemption. The action was full of Gallantry and Bravery, suitable to the Heroic temper of a true Roman Spirit: but Sir Edmondbury, from a better Principle, of a truly Christian Zeal, at least equallized his Courage in this great undertaking; wherein death in a thousand several appearances, seemed ready to devour him, if his Tutelar Angel (consigned by the Divine Providence) had not preserved him to greater purposes.  
It was no unadvised forwardness, or injudicious temerity that put him upon an exploit so hazardous as this was to his life and safety, neither any designs of advantage by it, but a Just and Conscientious regard to his Duty in that place wherein he knew he might (in the absence of those his fellow Magistrates that were fled from the danger) be instrumental as well to preserve the Lives, as Properties, of such as should be exposed both to the danger of the Contagion, and the Rapine of some ill minded people, who frequently take the advantage of such Public Calamities to enrich themselves with the spoils of the miserable Deceased.  
These were the only ends he had of his staying in Town, for a Public Good, and was therefore esteemed by the Inhabitants of Westminster, as their Guardian Genius; as the Asylum and Sanctuary of their distressed conditions.  
He was the man (shall I say the only man of his Place,) that stayed to do good, and did the good he stayed for; shall we go about to instance in particulars? 'tis impossible, they are innumerable. 'Tis easier to say, what good did he not that lay within the Verge of his Province? His House was not only the Seat of Justice, but an Hospital of Charity, where besides that Relief which he commonly afforded the Poor at other times for the necessity of Living, he now extended his Charity to give them Physic, to preserve them from dying, when they were in a more immediate danger by the Contagion, then of Starving; He was the Man, (and where was there such another,) that laying aside the Grandeur of his Circumstances, would familiarly visit his Poor Sick Neighbours, and Administer suitable Reliefs to them; He was the Man, that at that time durst venture himself into the very Garrison of Death the Pest-house (the ordering o● which, he took into his peculiar Care and Administration) and there amidst the deadly Fumes that arose from their Putrid Sores, would he stand by the Diseased Lazars, and see them dressed, not denying them any Relief or Assistance that lay in his Power to afford them.  
His Justice was no less remarkable than his Charity, when there was any need of it, as many times there was, to right the Dead, as well as to relieve the Living; a notable instance whereof, we shall give you in this following Narration.  
A Profligate Wretch that had taken up a new way of Thieving, (yet 'tis said too much Practised in those times) of Robbing the Dead, notwithstanding the Horror that is naturally concomitant to such Actions, had in the dead time of the Night used to Invade the Cemeteries and Churchyards that were now more Peopled than the places they belonged to; and there breaking up the mournful Clods, would Sacrilegiously ransack the Graves, and pillage them with as much freedom, as Soldiers do the bodies of their vanquished Enemies in the Fields of War, taking from them their Dying Apparel, the Sheets and other Linen in which they were Inhumed, and decently covered, leaving the Poor Carcases inhumanly Naked.  
This Trade he followed so long till he furnished a Warehouse with the Spoils of the Dead; and had gotten into his Possession (some say) to the number of a Thousand Winding-sheets: when by some means being at last discovered, information of these barbarous Actions being given in to Sir Edmnud-bury, he condescended to go himself with the Constable's Guard, to the Place where (he was informed) the Good, were Harboured, and Seized them. In the mean while the Criminal having got notice of the design against him, was fled; and being hardened against the fear of Infection by his too much familiarity with the Dead, had taken Sanctuary in the Pest-house, where he thought himself sufficiently secured against the Attacques of any that should pursue him; for who should venture upon so imminent a danger, as to seize a Malefactor in that place, where possibly they might run upon their own Deaths? And indeed, the Officers to whom Sir Edmundbury had directed his Warrants to that purpose, were too faint-hearted to do it, and declined the Service; But then the Noble Knight himself (as a Pattern of unpresidented Magnanimity) out of his Zeal to Justice, ventured in his own Person to go unto that Fatal Place (made Sacred against all Approaches by the danger of it,) and there with his own hands Seized and carried off the Offender, then delivering him into the hands of the Officers to be secured, in order to be at a convenient time Examined about the Fact.  
And upon due proofs made out to him by several Witnesses, the Criminal being Convicted, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey in respect to Justice, and to make so great a Villain an Example for the future to all that should be tempted to any such execrable designs, pronounced this Sentence upon him, as most suitable to the nature of his Crime, That he should be carried to the Church yard, the place where he had perpetrated his Nefandous Villainies, and there to be stripped naked to the Waste, and by the Beadle belonging to the Parish, to be severely scourged round the place; which Sentence was accordingly Executed upon him, in the presence of a great number of Spectators, who were assembled out of Curiosity to see so remarkable an Execution: Mortui non Mordent, it is proverbially said; but one that durst so boldly venture to spoil their passive Carcases, found an active revenge inflicted on him, for so doing, in the very prospect of their injured Relics; yet neither the smart, nor shame of his punishment could mollify the hardened wretch to any kind of relent for his notorious Villainies; but rather excited in him a Spirit of Revenge against the Authors of it: which he especially designed against the worthy Sir Edmond Bury, by whose Sentence it was inflicted, so that turning his Covetous designs against the Dead, into a malicious Revenge against the Living, he vowed and resolved upon his death whenever he should find an opportunity for it:  
And in pursuance of such his Devilish resolves, being one time late at night, unhappily befriended with an occasion of meeting Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, in the Street going homewards towards his own House, the Barbarous Villain, in an inhuman manner, assaults him with a Cudgel that he carried about him (perhaps for that purpose) and had certainly brained him, if Sir Edmondbury, perceiving his design, had not prevented it by a timely defence, which he did by drawing out his Sword, and therewith Warding the blows that were aimed at him, yet without any offensive violence or hurt to his Adversary, but only to defend himself, which he did till such time as Company coming by, and taking notice of the Outrage, Rescued him from the Assault, and seized upon the Ruffian, who was thereupon Committed to Newgate, where he continued till the next Sessions of the Peace holden for London and Middlesex, at the Old-Bayly, and there (besides for this) several other Indictments coming in against him for Felony, he was Convicted, and received Sentence to die; but by the mercy of the Court he was only Transported into some Foreign Plantation, where persisting still in his wicked Courses, not withstanding these seasonable warnings, being Convicted of some Criminal Fact, that by the Laws of the Country deserved death, he had Judgement of death accordingly passed upon him, and was Hanged.  
During all the time of this great and dreadful Sickness, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, (as we have said) continued his Station: and did worthily, that while, supply the defect of those that out of a Pusillanimous Phil-auty, had deserted their Charges to secure themselves; such selfish Principles as theirs were abhorrent from his Generous and Public Spirit, who durst attend his Duty in the Face of the greatest difficulties and dangers. And it pleased God (as an encouragement to others in the like discharge of their Duties) to reward his faithfulness with a singular Protection, preserving him from those imminent Perils, that he was (by his forwardness to be useful) continually exposed to, that he might continue to be farther serviceable to his King and Country in better times.  
And many years after this it pleased God to continue him to us for a Public Blessing: in which time, though we cannot note any great remarkables of him to supply a History, yet remarkable it is, and worthy note, that he was still the same; the same Good Useful man that he always was; none of the Fleeting Mobile that aspire at Names, and to be made the Discourse of the World by their fluctuating and giddy Changes, he kept his Station, and contented himself with a private and retired acting in that Sphere, wherein he had opportunity enough of doing Good, and being Useful to the World, the greatest thing that he ever aspired to.  
About the Year 1678. Having been by the constant Fatigues and Labours of his Business, reduced to a sickliness of Body, and Distempers growing upon him, he was advised by the Physicians to go to Montpellier in France, the Air of that Country being accounted very Restorative to wasting and decaying Constitutions; according to whose advice, having settled his Affairs in England for the short time of his intended stay, he went over thither, and took, together with, the benefit of that Salutiferous Air, a Prospect of several remarkable Places in that Kingdom; especially of a Great Work that the French King was then undertaking, in making a Navigable River through those Countries into the Levant. He continued for some months in that Country (in which time it having pleased God to restore him to a good measure of Health, (the end he went for) he returned again to bless his own Country, and Relations, with his much longed-for presence.  
And not long after his return it was, that the late (I fear we have too much reason to say the present) Hellish and Damnable Plot of the Papists against the King and Government, broke out in England. An unhappy Juncture in which his last actings, that concluded the Catastrophe of his worthy Life, exposed him to an untimely and cruel Death, by the hands of those bloody-minded Papists; the Proto-Martyr of those Innocents' that were designed by them to a merciless destruction; but blessed be God, his Death, however maliciously designed by them, occasioned a prevention of the ill effects of their Malice against others, by awakening the Magistrates, and generally the whole Kingdom, by this early instance of their Treachery to a more narrow watchfulness of them and their proceedings.  
The History of the first beginning and Discovery of this Plot, is so generally known, and mentioned in so many Narratives and Informations Published of it, that it were needless for us to say much of it, or more than is necessary to let you know how far Sir Edmondbury was concerned about it.  
Dr. Oats, Reputed the first Discoverer of this Plot, having been beyond the Seas, and here in England, a long time Conversant with the Managers of it, as being Listed one of their Party, and privy thereby to all their Designs and Managements, Was resolved to make his Discovery of this Mystery of Iniquity, and the Intrigues of it, upon the first fair opportunity that offered itself to him. And having got into some acquaintance with Dr. Tongue, a Worthy and Learned Person, who had lately before Translated a Book, Entitled the Jesuits Morals, into English, the said Book reflecting so severely upon that Brood of Vipers, exasperated them to that height, that nothing would satisfy them but his blood (the usual Alloy of their merciless Revenges) and Dr. Oates, than a great Confident of that Party must be the man (enjoined thereto by their Provincial Whitebread) that should dispatch him. Dr. Oats could do no less than accept the service, but (as it never was in his purpose) was so sar from Executing what he had promised that after a little time of acquaintance with the Doctor, he Discovers to him not only what they had designed against his own life, but the Plot in General, with their designs against the King and Government, and Protestant Religion Established in these Kingdoms; and looking upon the Doctor (as he was) as a person of approved Trust and Integrity, did at the same time Communicate to him the General Heads of this multi-form Treason, with the names of the Actors concerned it it.  
But the business being of so Extraordinary Consequence, and Mighty Opposition and Difficulty supposed to be met with upon the Discovery of it; it was consulted between them, what fit Person they should pitch upon to acquaint his Majesty with it.  
And accordingly they agreed upon Colonel Kirby, a Person of known Fidelity to the King, and Zeal to the Protestant Interest; the Colonel cheerfully undertakes the Service, and taking a convenient opportunity of meeting the King walking in St. James' Park, begs his Attention, and informs him some heads of the Treason, and particularly, of the Designs of the Papists, to take away His Sacred Life, and that Pickering and Grove, besides others, were Engaged to Attempt it in that very place of His Recess; His Majesty was much Surprised, to hear of a Danger, (that by reason of his Native Innocency and Goodness) he needed not to have feared, but graciously accepting at the hands of his Loyal Subject, this seasonable Notice, was pleased thereupon to Order him, together with Dr. Tongue, to wait upon Him that Evening at Whitehall with the Informations, which they accordingly did; delivering to him an Information consisting of Forty three Articles, drawn up by Dr. Oates: the Origional of which, (this being but a Copy) he kept in his own hands His; Majesty graciously received the Papers, but being to go the next Morning to Windsor, was pleased to order them to be left in the hands of a great Lord and Eminent Minister of State, whom His Majesty would intrust as well for the safety of them, as his Secrecy in the Affair, and accordingly they were left with him, and several Attendances were spent upon his Lordship, in order to acquaint him with other Matters relating to the Concern.  
In the mean while Dr. Oates discovered himself to Colonel Kirby, who had not had all this time any acquaintance with him; and gave him in some further Information, as namely, of the coming to Town of the Provincial Whitebread, Bedingfield a Jesuit, and others of that Gang and that they having by some means got intimation of this Discovery, had him in Suspicion for it; And had designed to prevent his Progress therein, by making him away: this they thought in their devilish Policy the likeliest way to forward their Designs, by first removing such Persons out of the way as should be likely to be Instrumental in the intended Discovery.  
This they then attempted against Dr. Oates, and this they afterwards Executed upon the worthy Sir Edmundbury, who was not so lucky to escape their Murderous Hands, as he was. For the Doctor more than mistrusting their Designs against him, had the good luck to avoid the brunt of their Revenge against him, by a timely flight; the particulars of which, he related to Dr. Tongue: and that now having thus got himself loosed from his Treasonable Company, he was resolved to cast himself upon the Mercy and Protection of his Majesty; which Resolution of his, Dr. Tongue very well approved, and till such time as they could meet with a convenient opportunity of accomplishing it, did kindly invite him to continue with him (as a good place of Safety and Retirement to him,) at his Lodgings at Fox-hall.  
During which time, Dr. Oates wrote over fair Copies of his Informations, and upon the King's Return to Whitehall, Notice was one day given to Dr. Tongue and Colonel Kirby, That it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that they two should Attend him the next Morning in Council, to be Examined before that great Presence, about the Particulars of their Informations.  
In Order to which, it was necessary, that their several Copies should be Sworn to, to render them the more Authentic when they should be delivered into the Council; And Sir Edmundbury, as a Person of known Loyalty to his King and Country, was the Magistrate whom they chose to be Sworn by, and to intrust with this great Secret.  
A Loyal, but unhappy piece of Service to this poor Gentleman, who having with Horror and Astonishment perused the said Informations, and taken their Oaths of the truth of them (which they Swore to before him) would needs desire a Copy of them, to be left with him, that he might in his own Loyal and Judicious thoughts take them upon an after view into a more serious consideration, and so be the better enabled to Act in that Province he was in, if need should be, for the prevention of the growing mischief.  
Little dreaming (Dear Soul) at that time, that his Loyal Intentions therein, should expose him to that Malice of his Enemies (who too well knew the honesty and integrity of his mind, not to be concerned at it) that should be the occasion of his Death; the sad and doleful Narrative of which, as it was by this means occasioned, we shall presently give you:  
The Two Informants having thus sworn to their Informations, went with them before the King and Council, who afterwards sent for Dr. Oates, and they were all Three severally Examined before them, and their Services herein so well accepted, that to secure them from the Malice of their Enemies, His Majesty (out of his Native clemency and goodness) was graciously pleased to take Dr. Tongue and Dr. Oates into his Royal Protection, and to order them Lodgings in his Palace at Whitehall.  
The Plotters (that had Spies in every Corner to observe the progress of their Designs, and the successes of them) were now strangely surprised, that the scent was taken, and that we were already in pursuit of the game, before they were aware of it; They dreaded the Rumour of it more than any particular Informations; They knew that Information had been given in and Sworn to; They knew who it was that gave them their Oaths, and that he had Copies of the Informations; They knew so Loyal a Person, so True a Protestant, would be more than a Speculative or idle Observator upon such Treasonable Subjects, they knew his Place, they knew his Parts, they knew his Power, they knew his Interest at Court; his free access to the King, his esteem amongst the People, and were not ignorant how able, how ready he might be to improve all these advantages to the ruin of their Designs: They knew his Integrity, that there was no hopes of corrupting him, and therefore resolved to destroy him; that by such an Execrable instance of their Revengeful temper they might deter all other Loyal Magistrates from intermeddling with their Affairs, and to render their Arcana inferna Sacred against all such intermeddlings 
Flectere si vequerunt superos Acheronta movebunt.  by the danger of their Revenges. His Murder now is fully resolved upon, and several persons employed to effect it.  
The Persons principally concerned were Father Girald, and Father Kelly, two Irish Priests, Robert Green Cushion-man to the Queen's Chapel, Laurence Hill, Servant to Dr. God-den Treasurer of the said Chapel, Henry Berry Porter of Somerset House; Mr. Miles Prance a Goldsmith in Covent-Garden, and Captain William Bedloe, who though he was not an actor in the Design, yet was made privy to it, and afterwards made his discovery of it: besides there were others that were likewise privy to it, as namely, one Lawson a Priest, and Philip Vernatti (belonging to the Lord Bellasis) who afterwards fled, Prichard, Le Fair, Welch, Kains, and others; these last Five being all Jesuits.  
Vernatti and the Priests were the Persons (it is believed) that first undertook the Design, and then drew in first Green, Hill and Berry (the actual Murderers) and afterwards Mr. Prance, to engage with them in this Hellish Conjuration.  
The Scene of the contrivance was the Plough-Ale-house, near the Water-gate by Somerset-house: the time upon a Sunday after Evening-prayer, when the said Priests coming from the Chapel met with Mr. Prance there, and upon conference with him, told him, That Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was a bitter Persecutor of Catholics, and a particular Enemy to her Majesty's Servants, (of whom Mr. Prance counted himself one, as being employed to work in work of Gold and Silver for Her Majesty: and that he had very lately Examined People against them, and got Depositions to fix base Crimes and Scandals on their Religion, and that Catholics would be ruined unless he were taken off; and therefore it was necessary, for the Glory of God and good of the Church, that it should be done: And when Mr. Prance seemed to scruple at what they proposed to him to engage him in the Murder, the two Priests Girald and Kelly told him, It was a meritorious work, and no sin, but a work of Charity— How cruel are the very Mercies of the Wicked! How impious the Religion of such unsanctified Zealots!  
They prevailed with him, at least he seemed to be prevailed upon, to engage himself in the Design, and several consultations were afterwards had about the management of it.  
Upon Saturday the Twelfth of October, Laurence Hill, one of the Conspirators (as they had laid their design) was employed to go to Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's House in the Morning about the time of his stirring, to speak with him, but what his Errand was, is unknown: afterwards the said Hill meets with Girald and Green, and they three together waylay Sir Edmonbury at his coming forth, which was about Ten or Eleven a Clock (the usual time of his setting out) being all alone; they followed him and watched him all that day from place to place, till about Six or Seven a Clock in the Evening: And then these that lay in wait to shed Blood, having lodged their innocent prey at a place where they saw him enter, sent their fellow Green (while they in the mean watched his forthcoming) to Mr. Prance, to summon him with all speed to hasten to Somerset-house Water-gate leading down to the Thames, where Kelly and Berry the other two designed Executioners were to meet him, in order to accomplish the Tragedy.  
These three Assassinates abided for some hours the Horrors of the Night, with a devilish impatience of seeing their expected prize; when about Nine a Clock their companion Hill comes with cruel haste to inform them he was coming: and now for a Gin wherewith to entrap him into their bloody Hands, it is presently contrived, That Kelly and Berry should begin a seeming quarrel; and in the mean while Hill that watched for that purpose, was to engage Sir Edmondbury at his coming by, to come down and use his Authority for the parting of them.  
When Thiefs fall out (it is said) honest Men come by their Goods; when Murderers feignedly do so, it appears such Men may lose their Lives.  
The Innocent Gentleman not dreaming of any other Treachery (if he thought of any) than what he knew intended against the Public, soon after comes by, when Hill (the Judas in the Plot) having treacherously insinuated himself into so much acquaintance with him as to be known by him; meets him upon his approach, in a seeming great earnestness and counterfeit concernedness, Entreating him for God's sake to come in, for there were two Men a quarrelling, and he was afraid there would be blood shed: Murder be sure there was, as it was by this artifice designed and executed; his presence (as a Magistrate) was urged as a likely means to i'll the heats of their fury, and to make them quiet. Sir Edmondbury was unwilling to engage himself, especially at that season of the Night; but the other by his importunity in a manner forced him to it, Hill leading the way, and Sir Edmondbury Godfrey following him through the Gate leading down toward the place; Girald and Green were watching near by, and observing the motion, immediately fell in after them; Mr. Prance as soon as Sir Edmondbury was entered the fatal limits, goes down to secure the Water-gate, that no Body should enter that way to disturb their proceedings; and Berry at the same time (that the Scene of their mischiefs might be altogether inaccessible) was to watch the Stairs and Passage by the Chapel; but first He and Kelly the pretended Quarrellers stood about the Rails by the Queen's Stables; and as Sir Edmondbury went down towards them, (sweet Soul whose Thoughts were only then affected with generous designs of hindering the Effects of a pretended Outrage, and little dreaming that himself was the designed Subject of it) that Villa in Green suddenly threw a twisted Handkerchief about his Neck, and forthwith all four of them pulled him down and throttled him, drawing between them the ends of the strangling Instrument so hard, that at last his pure and innocent Soul, after some Convulsive struggle against the violences of such an unnatural dissolution, was disloged from the Body, and conveyed by Angels to the place where blessed and Martyred Saints lie under the Altar, crying out their Quousque Domine's, for a just revenge of their innocent Blood upon the Heads of their malicious Enemies: It was no easy death, and he being a Man of a strong Make and Constitution, they were fain to use the more violence to dispatch him, giving him (when prostrate on the ground) many violent punches on the Breast with their Knees; and Green to perfect the Execution, wrung his Neck almost round with all his force.  
Prance and Berry being come to them by that time he was quite dead, they altogether helped to carry the murdered Body into Dr. Goddin's Lodgings, where the said Hill lived; who went before and opened the Door; when they were got in, they carried him five or six Steps into a little Room on the right hand, and there left him that Night and Sunday all Day and Night.  
There were some unhappy Omens of this Tragedy which Sir Edmondbury himself had conceived 
Vide Narrative of the Trials of Green, Berry and Hill.  (it seemed in his own mind) some time before the Execution of it, which he not long before declared to Dr. Oats, after he had received the Informations; That he had received Affronts from great Persons, for being so zealous in that business of the discovery of the Plot; and that (being threatened by some great Men of the Popish party) he went in fear of his life by that party, having been dogged by them for several Days; but (being advised to take his Man always with him) Answered, That he did not fear them, if they did but come fairly.  
And to Thomas Robinson Esq; (discoursing with him about the Plot) he declared himself to him in these Words: Upon my Conscience, I shall be the first Martyr; but I do not fear them if they come fairly, I shall not part with my life tamely.  
But notwithstanding these (more than suspected) dangers, being fortified with his own Innocence, that meant wrong to no Man, he adventured so far as 
Murus hic ●heneus esto— Nil conscire sibi. Horat.  to become at last a prey to his Malicious Enemies.  
But to return to our History: The Monday Night following, Hill and some others of them removed him into a Room in the upper Court; and Prance having a mind to see where they had laid him, they all went together with a dark Lantern to the said place (Dr. Goddins Lodgings,) where also Captain Bedloe came, who had not hitherto before engaged himself in any actual performance with them, and perceiving Mr. Prance there amongst the rest, took s●ch particular observation of him, as served him afterwards to make a discovery of him and the rest concerned in the Murder.  
On Tuesday Night they conveyed the Body to another Room in the long Entry over against Dr. Goddins Lodgings; And the Wednesday Night following, being removing it again from thence to the place where, it was first lodged, Mr. Prance happening to come suddenly upon them at unawares, they fearing it had been a Stranger, left the Body in the Entry and ran away together in a fright, till such time as Mr. Prance (perceiving their mistake) called out to them, and discovering who he was, they went back together, and carried the Body into the little Room where it was first placed.  
And now to perfect their Villainy to the height of malice, (that they might as well Murder his Reputation as they had done his Person, a thing more than once by them attempted) the two Priests, Girald and Kelly advised to carry him out into the Fields, and there to leave him, run through with his own Sword, in some obsure place; where (upon discovery) he might be supposed to have murdered himself; and therefore his Money, Rings and such other things of value as he had about him, were all to be left with him.  
Captain Bedloe had before the Murder been acquainted by them with the design, and fain they would have engaged him to have assisted them in the Execution; for which they told him there was 4000 l. to be given by a great Lord of the Popish Party; and acquainted him with the time when they intended to dispatch him, then desiring his assistance, but he honestly failed them; which made Monsieur Le Fair (one of the Undertakers) very angry with him; but meeting him on the Monday following, told him that the business was done without him; and having showed him the Body (as we have before told you) would then have engaged him to assist them in carrying it off, according to their last mentioned contrivance; and bound him to it upon the Sacrament he last took (a pretty knack of profane Conjuration, by which they usually adjure their Parties to Trust and Secrecy) Captain Bedloe promised to meet them at Twelve a Clock that Night to that purpose, as judging that the fittest time for such deeds of Darkness to be transacted in; but failed them again, and came no more at them; but instead thereof taking a journey to Bristol, where some time after, the horror of this fact had made such impressions on him, that thereupon changing his mind as well as he had done his Company, he sent up to one of the Secretaries of State, in writing, together with a discovery of other matters relating to the Plot, an Account (so far as he knew) of this Murder.  
But in the mean while the aforesaid Complices being thus defeated of his assistance, went about the work themselves; to which end they had procured a Sedan, into which (though with some difficulty, by reason of its stiffness) they crowded the Murdered Body; this was done about Twelve a Clock (the Hour appointed,) Prance and Girald carrying him out at the great Gate, the Door of which Berry the Porter opened to them; having (to avoid their taking notice of the action) invited the Soldiers who used to attend there, to his House, and there treated them with Drink and Tobacco, till such time as they had conveyed away the Body.  
What breasts besides those of these hardened and cruel wretches, would not have quivered with the horror of such inhuman actions? to deal so familiarly with the Carcase of a murdered person, a person murdered by their own hands, and whose blood they could not but think at the same time cried loud for vengeance upon their heads! But oh the Stiffness of a Romish Zeal! how immalleable does it render their Stony Natures to the force of all humane Impressions!  
Yet neither the horror of the Fact, nor yet that of a dark night, could scare them from their hideous purposes; but they proceeded with their dead Burden (carrying it in the Sedan by turns between them) till they came to So-hoe Fields, near the Grecian Church there lately built; and there Hill attended with an Horse ready for their purpose, upon which they placed the Body before Hill, who held it from falling; (Oh horrid Boldness!) Mean while the rest conveyed the Sedan into an House that was building, but unfinished, that stood near by, to remain there till they came back: And then Girald the Priest said, I wish we had an hundred such Rogues as secure as we have this.  
Mr. Prance then because he was an Housekeeper, took his leave of them and returned home, and the other four went away with him, one leading the Horse, Hill riding and holding the Body, and the other two walking by.  
They carried him into an obscure place, about two miles out of Town, towards Hamstead, near a place called Primrose-Hill, and there in a ditch they left the Body, after all these harrasing to its quiet repose; this was the Grave they had prepared for him; but before they left him (as a token of their malicious design) Girald runs Sir Edmondbury's own Sword through him, laying the Scabbard together with his Gloves on the bank, at a small distance from the Body.  
In the mean time Sir Edmondbury's Servants, and then his Friends, and then the whole Town were not a little concerned for his absence; and there was once a Proclamation ordered to discover him, but countermanded, by reason of false Informations spread about by some of the Popish Party, that he was living and well: And there were several persons that went designedly up and down to Coffeehouses to spread false Reports upon this Subject; as that he was gone into the Country to be married to a certain Lady, whom they took upon them to name, and that they saw him in such and such places.  
Upon Saturday the twelfth of October, the very Evening that Sir Edmundbury was Murdered; Father Harcourt the Jesuit afterwards Executed, sent away a Letter to Father Ewers a Priest at the Lord aston's in Stafford-shire, wherein were these words; This Night is Sir Edmondbury Godfrey dispatched. This Letter was received there on the Monday, and shown to Mr. Dugdale, as he hath since made Oath at seveveral Trials, and the same since confirmed by Mr. Chetwin a worthy Gentleman, who being then in that Country, heard a report of it there by means of that Letter on the Tuesday; which was before ever there was any discovery of it at London.  
But as Murder the great Object of the Divine Justice, does most unseldom escape Discovery; but that the Murder is detected, and the Murderer by some means brought to light; God was pleased by his Providence so to order it, that the Murder of this good Man (the miss of whom had caused great Thoughtfulness of Heart (I may say) all the Kingdom over) was in a few days after Discovered.  
For upon Thursday the Seventeenth Day of October, which was the next Day after they had left him in his uncovered Grave, two Men by chance passing over the Fields, spied the Gloves and Scabbard, and upon further search discovered the Body itself lying in the Ditch, with the Sword run through it, in such manner as his Murderers had left it; besides that they found about him, his Rings, Watch, and some Moneys both Gold and Silver, all which the Covetousness of his Enemies dispensed with the loss of, to gratify a more unjustifiable end thereby, of a malicious Slander, which they thought might be thereby occasioned, of being his own Murderer.  
These two honest Discoverers well weighing the circumstances of what they had seen, and that there was no Blood any where appeared, upon the Wounds made by the Sword run through him, concluded it was some Extraordinary case, and thereupon one of them fetching a Constable and some others to assist them, conveyed the (yet restless) Body to an house, where he lay not long before upon the rumour the Body was, known to be the Relict of the much desired and wanted Sir Edmondbury Godfrey.  
The Coroner of Middlesex was then sent for (as is required in such Cases of unnatural Deaths) to inquire of the Death of this person; who by the Oaths of a Jury of substantial Credits, found that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was murdered, (not murdered himself as the design was laid) and the Verdict was recorded. But yet the Felons concerned in the Murder, could not be yet discovered.  
His Majesty being graciously inclined to be concerned as well as others in the loss of this good man and faithful Subject; understanding that what was feared was now certainly proved, that he was Murdered, was pleased upon the twentieth day of October following to issue out his Royal Proclamation; Commanding all his Subjects and Officers to use their utmost Diligence to find out and Discover the Murderers of Sir Edmondbury, graciously promising 500 l. reward to any that should make such Discovery; and if any one of the Murderers should Discover the rest, he should not only be Pardoned, but likewise have the same Reward.  
But this Royal Offer could not prevail with them to come in for the present, (guilty Consciencies are awed as well by the Clemency as Justice of the Magistrate) but they seemed more hardened in their Wickedness by its Success.  
For it was not above a Fortnight afterwards, that they drew up a Narrative of this so meritorious Act of theirs in killing a Protestant Magistrate, in writing, which Vernatti read in an insulting manner at a meeting they had at the Queens-Head at Bow, where he declared that the same was drawn up to be showed to one of the Popish Lords (now in the Tower) and other great Persons that were the Original Designers and Promoters of the business, for their Satisfaction, by whom it might possibly be sent to Rome; and there no doubt it would find a great approbation and acceptance.  
The Murder we see is found out, but the Murderers yet undiscovered, notwithstanding his Majesty's gracious Proclamation, with promises of reward (besides Pardon) to the Discoverer: Captain Bedloe had (as we have told you) sent up a general account of it, but not being himself present at the Murder, could not give a particular account of those that were actually concerned in it: So that the Assassinates for about ten weeks had lulled themselves into a fond Security, becoming almost as fearless as they were graceless: But the Keeper of Israel, that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, and from whom no Secrets are hidden, was then pleased (to make the Triumphs of his own Wisdom and Justice the more Illustrious, when all humane attempts to that end seemed in a manner defeated) to work out a Discovery by such unthought-of means, as plainly showed it was Digitus Dei and the Lords own doing.  
We have before informed you that Mr. Prance was drawn into the cursed Combination, and how far he Acted in it; who as he was bound by the Ties of Secrecy to a sinful Silence, had hitherto concealed the Fact: But there happening some misunderstanding betwixt him and a Neighbour of his, the latter knowing Mr. Prance to be a Zealous Papist, and having understood by some of his Servants that one time about Michaelmas than last, he had absented himself two or three nights from home; an imagination came into his Head, that Mr. Prance might be concerned in Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Murder; although indeed, such his absenting was a fortnight before Sir Edmondbury's death, not upon the account of that, but some others more dangerous to him; The Proclamation being then newly issued, prohibiting all Papists and Popishly affected persons from staying in Town; about which time, when the Plot was first noised abroad, Fenwick, Ireland, and others of the Conspirators were seized, whom he was so Zealous to defend in a public Coffee-house; that for some Words then spoken, he was threatened by some persons present to be Prosecuted; and upon that account only lay from home the said two or three nights, (as he was able to prove by credible Witnesses) till such time as the business might be composed; However, this Neighbour of his, upon the bare suspicion, took out a Warrant against him to appear before the Council; which Mr. Prance readily obeyed, as knowing 
Vide Mr. Prances Narrative, pag. 20, 21.  him not able to prove any thing against him upon that account. But being taken by Virtue of that Warrant, upon the twenty first of December, and being first carried into the Lobby by the House of Commons, Captain Bedloe (whom he did not then know, having been seen by him but once before, (viz.) upon the View of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's body in Somerset-house, before mentioned, at which time Mr. Prance took no great notice of him) knew his Face again, and charged him with that Murder, whereupon, after a strict Examination, he was Committed Prisoner to Newgate.  
The next day being the 22th of December, he made his Discovery, (the Narrative of which is since by Licence of Authority Printed, and thereby charged the before named Dominick Kelly, Robert Green, Henry Berry, and Laurence Hill, as Confederates in this Murder; of whom the three last were apprehended, but the two first Escaped; the Subtle Priests, according to the old Proverb of those that have the better luck, shifting for themselves, and leaving those whom they had drawn in to answer for themselves. Although afterwards Kelly was taken up in Surrey, by the name of Daniel edmond's, as a Recusant; but understanding Prances being taken, got out upon Bail (hired by him for that Service) before he was known to be Kelly, though afterwards the same was Discovered; the account of which, because it is not so pertinent to our present History, we shall here Omit.  
The 24 th'. of December Mr. Prance was Examined before the King and Council, and having given in the particular Circumstances of the Murder, and in what respective Rooms and places the Body was kept as aforesaid, several Lords were ordered to go with him, to see if there were such Rooms as he had described, and whether he could readily go to them; which he did to their full satisfaction.  
But some time after, remaining in Prison without any assurance of his Pardon, he was so far prevailed with, to retract by word of Mouth what he had truly Confessed upon Oath; As once upon a further Examination to say before the King and Council, that He was Innocent, and they All were innocent: But as to the Temptations he was under, and the Circumstances that swayed him to that ill Action he hath since (in that Narrative which he hath published to the World of these matters) so ingeniously set them forth, as may satisfy any unbyass'd person, and take off that Calumny wherewith the Papists have endeavoured to bespatter him, and to Invalidate his Evidence on that account: In answer to which, he offers these considerations (as the just and 
Mr. Prances Narrat. pag. 24.  true Sentiments of his Soul;) These are his Words, as you may find them in his Book, pag. 24.  
That what he had declared concerning the Murder in manner herein before set forth, was Solemnly upon Oath: That the supposed Retractation was suddenly done, under Consternation and Fear, and not upon Oath.  
2. That he was at this time under certain danger of his Life, if he had persisted in that Confession, for he had no Pardon granted, nor any certainty of obtaining the same.  
3. That if he should obtain his Pardon, he considered that yet his Life would be still in danger, from the Revengeful and bloody Priests and Jesuits.  
4. That 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 his Livelihood, and in all humane probability, both he and all his Family be certainly undone; For he was the Queen's Servant, and that his Trade and Subsistence chiefly or indeed wholly depended on her Majesty's Custom (which was certain and considerable) and that of other Roman Catholics; so it was not to be doubted but the most crafty and implacable Priests would soon use means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Representations and Scandal to deprive him thereof, if he proceeded in his Discovery.  
5. That he retained still a certain respect to the Popish Religion, in which he had so long been educated; for that he had not yet entirely got his Soul out of that Snare; and therefore he did then conceive, being swayed by such powerful inducements, that he might lawfully say he was Innocent, and so they were all; which 
☜ Note  in Popish Construction, is not to deny that they killed Sir Edmondbury Godfrey; for that, according 
Note the sincerity of Popish principles, where such Equivocations are allowed of to justify the greatest Villainies.  to their Divinity, and what the said Priests had Solemnly declared, was no Sin or Crime, and consequently they might all in such their Catholic Sense still be innocent: Yet this he must acknowledge, he somewhat doubted, because he never was at Confession nor received Absolution since the Fact committed; which all the rest (as some of themselves had declared) had done, and so might more peremptorily persist (as they did) in averring themselves to be Innocent; and he does ingeniously declare, that had he received Absolution, 'tis his Fear he should never 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 Reason and Duty, under that perplexity of Spirit; but as soon as he had done it, Conscience slew in his Face, and would no longer be laid asleep with any delusive Popish Charms. When he began to recollect himself, the power of Truth dispersed all these Temptations of Interest, Fear and Superstition: If it were true, that he might hazard his Life and lose his Trade if he did persist in the Confession of the Murder, it was as true, and he found it by experience, that he never should have peace of Conscience if he denied it.  
And therefore, he was no sooner returned from the King and Council to Newgate, (which coming in a Coach, 'tis certain was not half an hour) but he most earnestly requested Captain Richardson, (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, that the first Confession which he made on Oath, was true in all Circumstances, and that whatever he had said before them that Morning, was occasioned only by the Consternation, Fear and Perplexity of mind he was under: which the Captain immediately did, and hath since declared the same upon Oath.  
Thus far the words of Mr. Prances own Narrative, which we have thought pertinent to be inserted: The perusal of the Narrative itself, may serve not only for the Readers Satisfaction in this, but as well to inform him of the several notorious Villainies of a great number of Popish Priests, therein by name exposed; to which as a very confirming circumstance we may add, that falling very dangerously ill soon after, he then when he had nothing but a certain Prospect of approaching Death before his Eyes, declared and asserted to divers Persons his first Confession to be true in all points; and also afterwards as soon as he had recovered his health, he repeated the same with all Steadfastness before the King himself, and the Lords of the Council: whereupon his Majesty was most graciously pleased to grant him his Pardon.  
From all which it is most plain, that all the noise which the Priests and Jesuits have made about this matter is but empty Air, as good as nothing, and the just Truth thereof is become Evident to any ingenious person that will but impartially look into these transactions, and consider them as they are, and not as they are Represented by their false Perspectives.  
Thus far we have given you (according to the most exact accounts that have been hitherto produced) a Narrative of the Discovery of this most Horrid and Execrable Murder, and by what strange and unthought of means it pleased God to effect it.  
In Order of History, we should before this have acquainted you with the Passages of his Funeral; It was fit so good a Man, so Loyal a Subject, so great a Sufferer for the public Interest, should not go without Honour to his Grave.  
After his Relics, so long disturbed by his restless Murderers, had been Viewed by the Coroner, and then quietly deposed into the Hands of his Relations, care was taken that he should have a Burial suitable to that general Esteem that all persons had of him; which accordingly upon 31th of October next after the time of his Murder, was performed by his said Relations in a most decent and becoming manner, without any Pomp or Pageantries of Ostentation (that which in his Life-time he was most averse to, and no man ever declined more than he did:) The Body being first carried to Old Bridewell, a place agreed upon for that purpose; as being for its amplitude most fit to receive the numerous Congress of Persons, that out of the City and other places adjacent, came thither to pay their last respects to this Martyred Worthy.  
From thence accompanied with great numbers of persons of Quality, eminent Citizens, Ministers and others, that were all hearty Mourners upon this sad occasion: He was carried in a Solemn manner through Fleetstreet and the Strand, to the Parish Church of St. Martin's in the Fields, and there decently Interred: The Funeral Sermon upon this occasion being then Preached by the late Reverend and Learned Prelate Dr. Lloyd, than Incumbent there, and since by him Published; a Discourse so Sympathising with the Subject, and so excellent in all its parts, as deserves better than a transient Mention.  
WE have hitherto given you a Summary of the Excellent Life, Tragical Death, and lastly the Discovery of the Murder of this worthy Gentleman: It remains now (and it may be expected by the Reader) that we give some Account of the Trial and Execution of those Villains that were concerned in the Murder.  
You have heard before, how that upon the discovery made thereof by Mr. Prance, and of the Actors in it, Three of them, viz. Robert Green, Henry Berry, and Laurence Hill, were taken and committed to the common Gaol, in order to their Trials.  
The Parliament sitting about that time, were pleased to take such notice of the fact (considering what relation it had to the Plot, about which they were then sedulously enquiring) that it was Ordered by the House of Commons, that Sir John Earnly a Member of that House, should immediately carry an Address from them to his Majesty, That his Majesty would be pleased to issue out a Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of the aforesaid Malefactors: Which Address his Majesty graciously accepted, and was pleased to say, That a Commission should forthwith be issued out for that purpose.  
Which was accordingly done; and upon Wednesday the 5th of February, the said Green, Berry and Hill, were brought to their Trials at the Kings-Bench Bar at Westminster, where before the Judges there sitting, they were severally Arraigned, and pleaded Not Guilty— And a Rule of Court entered for their being brought to Trial on Friday the tenth of the same Month; and then a Jury of able and worthy persons (being Impanneled by the Sheriff) were Sworn to try the fact: Their Names were as follow, viz.  

Sir William Roberts, Bar.  
Sir Richard Fisher, Bar.  
Sir Michael Heneage, Kt.  
Sir Thomas Bridges, Kt.  
William Avery, Esq  
Charles Umphrevile, Esq  
John Bathurst, Esq  
Richard Gowre, Esq  
Tho. Henslow, Esq  
John Sharpe, Esq  
John Haynes, Esq  
William Moyle, Esq   
Dominick Kelly and Girald the two Priests, and Philip Vernatti, (whom we have before mentioned to be principal Actors in this Murderous Design) stood charged in the same Indictment for the Murder, but they being more wary than the rest, were fled, and for that time escaped the hands of Justice.  
Mr. Prance (the principal Evidence) according to the Informations he had before given in to the Council, declared the Series of the whole matter from first to last, according as is before related, but declared that he never had any Conference with Captain Bedloe in his life, before he was committed to Prison.  
Captain Bedloe swears, that a little before the Fact, Le Fair, Prichard and Keynes, three of the Confederates and some others of them, (all of them Priests) discoursed him about killing a cercain Gentleman, whom they would not name: and encouraged him with the promise of a very considerable Gratuity to be assistant to them; and then directed him to insinuate himself into Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's acquaintance. Which in compliance to their Wicked humours, (which he durst hardly refuse to do) he did: and did under several specious pretences insinuate himself into an Acquaintance with Sir Edmondbury, (who was never hard of access to any) but made not that advantage of his acquaintance that they maliciously had designed.  
But he informed the Court, that the very day Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was murdered, Le Fair (at a Tavern near Temple-Barr) told him there was a Gentleman to be put out of the way, (that is, in their Popish sense,) to be murdered, that Night; and would engage his assistance: And that there would be 4000 l. reward given by a Great Lord of the Popish party to recompense the Undertakers: For (said these devilish Politicians) should not this Gentleman be cut off, things would be discovered to that degree, that they should not be able to bring their designs to pass; they knew what a Remora the activity of his Loyal Spirit would be to their proceedings: To prevent which, they request Captain Bedloe to meet them at Somerset-house near the Cloisters that Evening, being the place in which they designed to act the Tragedy. This he promised to do, and (as we have said before) he durst do no less; but knowing against whom their designs were intended, he wilfully failed them. That on the Monday following, Le Fair again meeting with the said Captain Bedloe, charged him with breach of promise, and appointed him to come to Somerset-House about Nine of the Clock that Evening; where he told him he had done ill, in that he denied to assist them in this business, but if he would help to carry him off, he should still have part of the before mentioned reward: Why, said the Witness (as surprised at the News of it) is he murdered? Yes, replied Le Fair. Whereupon the Witness asked if he might not see him? which was granted, and Le Fair led him through a dark Entry into a Room where there were several people, that had no light but a dark Lantern amongst them, and were consulting together how to carry him off: When one of the company throwing off the Cloth with which the body was covered, Captain Bedloe had a View of his face and presently knew it to be Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's, with whom (by the instigation of these Murderers,) he had been so well acquainted as easily to remember him. The Captain's advice to them was, to tie weights to his Head and Feet, and throw him into the River: but this they did not think fit to do, but said they would put it upon himself. And to that end resolved to put him into a Chair (or Sedan) the Porter Berry being to sit up to let them out at the Courtgate, and at Twelve a Clock that night was the hour appointed to carry him off; Captain Bedloe promising to them, upon the Sacrament which he had took the Sunday before, to return again to them, and help them; but being got from them, never came at them more.  
The Constable that Viewed the body in the Ditch, gave an account how he found it with the Sword Sticking through it, but no blood appearing upon the ground. And that he found a great deal of Gold and Silver in his pockets.  
The two Surgeons moreover Swore, that they verily believed the Sword was run through him after he was dead and Cold; but that he died of Suffocation and breaking of his Neck, together with the bruises on his Breast.  
To confirm Mr. Prances Evidence, that they had been several times at his house, enquiring for him, and that Hill (as he and the rest told Prance) was there on the morning of that day in which he was murdered, there was produced one Elizabeth Curtis, that at the same time dwelled with Sir Edmondbury, his menial Servant; she Swore directly that Green had been at her Masters about a fortnight before her Master was killed, and talked with him about a quarter of an hour in French: And that Hill was there that very Saturday morning on which he was murdered, and spoke to him before he went out, and was there a good while in the Parlour with him, but could not tell what his business was: That the night before, there was a strange man brought a Note to her Master, which she gave to him, and the man staying for an Answer, Prithee (said Sir Edmondbury Godfrey) tell him I do not know what to make of it: But this was none of the three persons at the Bar, but supposed to be one of their Fraternity.  
As for Hill, she was sure he was there on the said Saturday morning, by the same token he had then on the same clothes as he now had at the Bar; though now he denied he was there, yet he acknowledged he had not changed his clothes, but wore the same Suit ever since before that time.  
The man at the Blow Alehouse (where Mr. Prance swore the Murder was consulted) and his Servant, did both Swear, that Prance did use to come thither with Hill, Girald and Kelly, several times within five weeks before the Murder. The relation that Mr. Prance gave of the meeting at the Queens-head at Bow, is confirmed by a Messenger that they sent for a Gentleman living about a Mile from that place, to come to them.  
Sir Robert Southwell deposes, that Mr. Prance having related these things to the Council, and being to attend the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Ossery, to show them the places he mentioned, He readily went to them, and they appeared to be all such as he had described them; only as to the Room in the upper Court, where the Body was laid one Night, having never been there but once, and that in the dark too, he said he could not positively assign it, but pointed to some Rooms, and said he was sure it was thereabouts, and this doubtfulness the Court observing did give more credit to the rest of his Evidence. For a person that right or wrong will Swear any thing, will stick at nothing.  
Lastly, It was proved that Berry the Porter, pretended Orders given him, that he should Suffer no Strangers or persons of Quality to come into Somerset-house on the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth days of October, the first being the day on which Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was Murdered, and the two days following the time that he lay there; and that Prince Rupert coming in there within that time, was denied entrance.  
These were some of the principal heads of the Evidence that were given in against the Prisoners, which, notwithstanding the directness of the circumstances to prove the Fact upon them, they had all the Stoutness to deny. And it was no wonder that men of such profligate Consciences that would not stick at the perpetrating such Villainies, should not boggle at the denying of them.  
The defence they made for themselves was very Strained and unconvincing.  
Hill would needs except against Mr. Prances Testimony, because he once formerly denied it (the reason of his so doing you have had before related, from the words of his own Narrative.) But this exception the Court easily overruled, for that besides the before mentioned reasons that induced him to it, he had now affirmed the truth upon Oath, and his denying of it was but his bare saying, and so he could not be now Perjured upon that single assertion, nor the credit of his now Evidence be any wise the more mistrusted, considering the circumstances he was then under.  
And further, the said Hill to Evade, offers some Witnesses of his own Religion, to aver he was never from his Lodgings after nine a Clock at night. But these did it so nicely and generally, that no Stress could be laid upon them, it being proved that they had several Keys to the door, and Hill might go in and out without their knowledge; and one of his Witnesses makes 
See Narrative of the Trials.  a palpable mistake of an whole Month, p. 55. and two of Green's Witnesses a whole Week, p. 66. So unhappy were they in their Calculations of the time they were brought to speak to.  
The Evidence that Berry gave in to the Court were the Soldiers who were placed Sentinel at the Gate. They say they saw a Sedan come in, and so far they agree with the King's Evidence, but then they confidently aver that they saw none go out all night. But what was this to matter of Fact? or what did it relate to the Murder Committed, so positively in all its circumstances Sworn to by the King's Witnesses? The Sentinel might be from his Post, and 'tis most probable he was so: For Mr. Prance had before informed the Court that Berry had inveigled the Sentinel in to drink, and so not being in the way at the time of doing it, he might truly say without any discredit to the Evidence of the other side, That he did not see the Sedan go out, it might be morally impossible he should; At least the Sentinel knowing he had committed a dangerous fault by so doing, might be so wise for his own safety as to conceal it. Yet these poor and slender Evasions were the best defence these Wretches could make for themselves; which besides their own weakness being opposed with so many undeniable Arguments of truth and certainty by the Witnesses of the other side, found so little Credit with the Jury, that after a little time of Consideration, they brought them in all three Guilty of the Murder.  
Upon Tuesday the eleventh of February, they were brought again to the Bar in Order to receive their Sentence, which (after a grave and seasonable Speech made to them upon that occasion by Mr. Justice W●ld, whose province it then was, as being second Judge of the Court) was pronounced against them in common form: That they should be carried back to the place from whence they came, and from thence to the place of Execution, and there be Hanged by the Necks, till they were dead.  
According to which Sentence Robert Green and Laurence Hill were Executed at Tyburn on the twenty eighth day of the same Month. At the place of Execution they behaved themselves with the Courages of true Romans of the new Stamp, denying the Crime they Suffered for, with that their formal Evasion of being Innocent as the Child unborn; that is as no body. A Child unborn may be a Non ens— Had it been as a Sucking Child, I question whether their dying Consciences could so well have dispensed with the Expression. But what other might be expected from Consciences so charmed as theirs was, by the Sophisticating Juggles of their Superiors, tied up by so many Oaths and Sacraments to conceal that truth which by the divulging must necessarily turn to the Scandal of the Romish Church— whose principles will rather admit the blame and punishment of a Crime than the shame of it.  
And that there were some designs contrived to oblige them to such a profane concealment (in so solemn a case as dying I can give it no fitter an Epithet) is evident by one notorious Circumstance: That when Hill and Green were Hanged and dead, Captain Richardson the Keeper of Newgate, with several others, saw the Executioner (amongst other things) take a Paper out of Hill's Pocket, purporting to be the form of the Speech that he should use to the People at the Gallows, which being penned in a singular way of expression, I shall take leave to insert Verbatim, as followeth.  
I Am come now to the fatal place where I must end my Life, and I hope with that Courage that may become my Innocence. I must now appear before the great Judge who knows all things and Judges rightly; and I hope it will be happy for me a Sinner, that I am thus wrongfully put to Death. I call God, Angels and Men to Witness that I am wholly Ignorant of the Manner, Cause, or Time, of the Death of Justice Godfrey; although on that account by the Malice of wicked men brought to this shameful death, which I hope will give me a speedy passage to Eternal Life. In this hope I die cheerfully because of mine Innocence, and the benefit of the precious wounds of my blessed Saviour, by whose Merits I hope for Salvation. I die a Roman Catholic, desiring all such to Pray for me: And I beseech God in his Justice to discover this horrid Murder, with the Contrivers thereof, that my Innocence may appear. And though from my Heart I forgive my Accusers, Yet I Cite all such as have a hand in this bloody Contrivance, before the great Tribunal of God's Justice to answer for the wrong they have done the Innocent; and particularly the Lord Chief Justice, and the Brothers of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, with Jury, Witnesses and all their Partakers. Oh Lord bless and Preserve his Majesty and be merciful to this poor Nation, and lay not Innocent Blood to its Charge.  
Dying words ought to have their just allowances of credit, as supposing men, if ever they dare speak the truth, will do it then when they are within an immediate prospect of a sudden appearance before the Omn●●ient and righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, to answer for what they have said and done.  
But when the truth has been once determined (as in this case) by no less than a Cloud of Witnesses, some of them unknown to the other, yet all of them harmoniously agreeing in the particular circumstances of the Fact; and the Fact itself sufficiently proved on all hands by persons that profess such a Religion as gives no allowances to lying or dissimulation.  
When on the other hand the truth so proved shall be denied by persons instructed in such false principles as these; to deny the truth when the secular Interest of their Idolised as well as Idolatrous Church shall be endangered by it; to invert the moral nature of good and evil, and to account those actions and things good, virtuous and meritorious, which in their own nature (besides the express commands of God's Word) are wicked and sinful; No wonder if such persons upon such principles should deny or conceal the truth, especially when they can make such unhappy distinctions betwixt the form and reality of a Fact; as to deny the crime of Murder when they know themselves to be guilty of killing a person, killing in their sense being sometimes no more Murder than it was for the Priests of old to kill a Sacrifice, or for the Jews to slaughter the reprobated Amalekites, they arrogating to themselves the same dominion over the lives and properties of Heretics (as we are accounted by them) that the Jews (that privileged people) of old had over the execrated Pagan Nations; so that in their sense, Killing is no Murder.  
Upon which considerations it 〈◊〉 easy for any impartial man to judge how much credit such dying attestations may admit of, against such clear and undeniable proofs as were brought against them.  
And it is more than probable, that the words of the aforesaid Paper were not Hill's own words, but dictated for him in that form by those of his party that were afraid of a Confession, and durst not trust the reputation of their cause to the hazard of any unwary expressions, that the consternation of death might extort from him.  
Wherefore otherwise might not a verbal expression of his Innocency (if he were minded to declare it) be looked upon as more credible from one in his dying circumstances, than a set and Studied form of Speech calculated for the purpose?  
But they feared either the terrors of death would force him to a plain Confession, or that the power of truth fortified with such awful Sentiments, would over-bear his Tongue in some circumstance; or at least that he would not deny the Fact so resolutely, and in such a taking manner as might fix a Suspicion and odium upon the Witnesses, Judge and Jury in the minds of the People, which was the great thing they aimed at.  
No doubt therefore this form of what he should say at his Execution, was drawn up for him by some of the Religion, that every word might be according to their mind, and to the purposes of their designs, how remote soever it were to his thoughts or the truth.  
And no Wonder it is that they should instruct their Proselytes to make Speeches just as they say Prayers, resting in the Opere Operato, without any understanding or attention, or consent of mind to the words they use, when a bare doing or a bare saying can excuse an intention.  
To conclude, It is evident that the words were framed by another for him to Con by heart, and not of his own doing, by this undeniable circumstance, that he never had Pen, Ink nor Paper all the while he was in Newgate, and his Wife being Examined about it, testified that it was not of his hand-writing, nor did she ever see it before, or know how he came by it; yet he began his Speech with these very Words, and repeated as much thereof as his memory under such confused circumstances would serve him to do.  
In the Speech itself we may observe the great Charity of the Author of it (whoever he were) in citing all such as had any hand in his Death, before the great Tribunal of God's Justice, particularly the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Brothers, with the Jury, Witnesses, and all their partakers— And yet, but in the words just before, he declares that he does from his Heart forgive his Accusers. We may see by this Passage of what nature such men's Forgiveness is; seeming to Pardon, when at the same time they cry out for Vengeance upon their Adversaries.  
The Papists (for the still better colouring of the business) have commonly reported that Berry was always or at least died a Protestant, which is notoriously false, having been known to be a Papist for many years; induced thereto (as he confessed to the Ordinary) out of Lucre, and to get an employment; And though he did not believe many things (as he declared a little before his Execution) which the Romish Doctors teach as necessary Articles of Faith (which is no more than many other Papists will affirm) Yet the said Berry neither before nor at his Execution, would ever disown the Romish Church, nor in the least declare himself a Protestant.  
I would not have these last Passages thought altogether an (at least impertinent) digression from our Subject, the design of their rehearsal being chiefly to Evidence the truth, against the subtle Designs of the Papists to suppress it, which they have managed not only by suborning (if I may so say) or at least seducing their mischievous Agents to persist to the very death in denying of what they did: But (despairing upon just grounds of the success of that Imposture, so liable to detection) they have since by their malicious slanders endeavoured to remove the Charge of the fact from those that were the real Actors, and from all their own party, to those that were most clear of it.  
And perceiving that the Belief of their designs and actings against the Life of this Innocent Gentleman, was in the length of time not only the more confirmed, but that the credit of it had a fatal influence upon their further proceedings, they were so effrontless in their Villainous Prosecution, that they stuck not to commit a second Murder upon the good Name as well as they had before done upon the Person of this worthy Martyr for his King and Country, by endeavouring to charge the Murder upon himself, a brief account of which, to shut up this Tragical discourse, I shall now give you.  
But by the way it may be observed from this last account of Hills Confession, that he or his Party had at that time no thoughts of fixing such a slander upon him, of his being Felo de se, but did own it as a Murder committed upon him by others (though Hill would have shifted it off from himself) as appears by the words of his Confession— I beseech God in his Justice to discover this Horrid Murder: The manner of the expression may sufficiently evince that he meant it not of his being Murdered by himself, but others.  
The Popish Plot, which by the goodness of the divine Providence was hitherto prevented in its progress by surprising discoveries, was forced to shift its Scenes, and assume new forms of Enterprise, upon the defeats of the former: And now a new Instrument of theirs is brought upon the Stage: One Fitz-Harris lately Executed for Treason; who upon his first Arraignment before the Justices of the King's Bench, did offer upon a private Examination to discover to them some persons (before unknown) who were instrumental in the Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, himself (by his own confession) being one that was concerned in it, and so had the better opportunity to know the rest.  
These Examinations were taken in private, and therefore what the Effects of them were, and who the persons particularly were that were thereby accused, Time (the Parent of Truth) may hereafter discover.  
But whether the Accusation of some persons mentioned in the Informations might provoke them to it; or that the Revival of this new Evidence might Stimulate the malicious party to the undertaking, a new design is contrived to fix this Murder upon the Murdered Person.  
This was one of their Sham-plots; many of which they have set up with an irrefragable persistance, by such Methods (if possible) to amuse us into a disbelief of the real one, then and yet in Prosecution.  
They never want Instruments to effect their Villainies, when they have once contrived them; and had one at this time fit for their purpose, an Irishman, Mac-gar by name, a Zealous Papist, and one of a suitable reputation; who coming lately over from Ireland, and judged by them to be a man fit enough for the purpose of an ill design, they engage him to spread about reports up and down the Town, that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey had Murdered himself; but that to save his Estate from a forfeiture, by reason of his so doing, His Brothers had engaged him (the Informant) to run Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's own Sword through him, and so to leave him in that Condition in which he was found in the ditch upon the first Discovery.  
This Tale could get little credit amongst the Townsmen— who were upon just grounds more apt to abhor it than believe it; so that not succeeding with the mobile (as the People by the wits of this time are finely termed) it is resolved that he should apply himself to persons of greater note and influence. And to that purpose Mac-gar is next instructed to apply himself to a Great Person then a Prisoner in the Tower, to whom he sends word, that he had such a matter to inform him of concerning this murder. But the other refused to have any discourse with him about it, till he had acquainted the Constable of the Tower with it; who upon notice thereof came and Examined Mac-gar about what he had to say of the business; he formally relates the Story as aforesaid: But the Constable of the Tower judging it to be a matter of too great importance to be slightly canvased; resolved to acquaint the Privy Council with it, and Mac-gar was carried before them to be Examined about the particulars— He there gives in the same Information, and obstinately persists in the asserting of the truth of it; but that Honourable and Judicious Assembly, though sufficiently convinced in their own minds of the maliciousness of this Calumny, yet the better to find out the depth of the design of it, Ordered the said Mac-gar to be taken into a Messenger's hands, in order to a further Examination at such time as he should be appointed again to be brought before them.  
While he continued thus in Custody, being conscious to himself as well of his Crime, as of the likelihood of its Discovery, and the disgrace that thereupon would fall upon him and his party; he contrives with himself how to acquaint his Employers with his condition, and to desire their further direction and Assistance, either to carry on the design, or to bring him off (as to what he had already acted) impunè.  
To this purpose he gets leave of the Messenger (in whose Custody he was) to have Pen, Ink and Paper, in order to writing to one of the Secretaries of State some things that he had in his mind about the present business; which favour being granted him, he Seals up a Paper directed to one of the Secretaries as he pretended, but withal, at the same time had written a Letter to M ris Celliers the Popish Midwife, (so notoriously infamous for her contrivances and actings in the Popish Plot) acquainting her with his Proceedings, and what kind of success he had met with; that if she and the rest of the Friends that engaged him in the design, would not now stand by him, the Cause must perish and he too.  
The aforesaid Letter to the Secretary, was but a colour to make way for the passport of this; so having gotten a Messenger to carry the former (which was allowed him) he slips the latter (directed to M ris Celliers) into his hands, expecting no doubt but it would be delivered, and to have a certain return of it.  
But his confidence failed him, for the wary Messenger partly knowing his Circumstances, and knowing what a person M ris Celliers (to whom the Letter was directed) was; instead of carrying it to her, conveyed it to Whitehall to be perused by the Council, who upon consideration of the particulars of it, perceiving the Intrigues of the design, were resolved to take it into a more strict Examination: And to that end Ordered Mac-gar (at a time appointed) again to be brought before them; when at first taking no notice to him of the surprised Letter, they began to Interrogate him about the points of his former Evidence, which he still stiffly stood to the Justification of, so far as Lying and Dissimulation would help him, but at last perceiving his Incorrigible Obstinacy, they produced the aforesaid Letter against him, the Autography of which he had not then Confidence enough to deny, but by the irresistible Convictions of his now overpowered Conscience was forced to Confess both the Writing of that, and (upon Questions put to him) to Discover the whole Design; upon what account it was contrived, and who were the Contrivers of it; denying all his former Evidence, as false and Forged, without any grounds of truth.  
So it pleased the Divine goodness, always propitious to the Innocent, to detect this new upstart Villainy; which if it could have met with any hopeful Success, must have been both a second fate to the Reputation of that Martyred worthy whom they themselves had Murdered, and to the repute of those worthy and honest Gentlemen his Brothers; whose pious Zeal in Vindicating his Memory, and pacifying the cries of his Blood, by a just Avenging it upon the Heads of his Murderers, is too well known to be in any wise contradicted by such sly and malicious Artifices of a plotting Faction.  
Thus we have given you some short (yet we hope, not unsatisfactory) accounts of the most imitable Life and Tragical Death of this Excellent person; taken off by the hands of his bloody Enemies in the six and fiftieth Year of his Age, and in a time of our greatest expectations from him: God's Providence Suffered it, though wicked men contrived it, and our sins deserved it, that he must then die: There was such a sinful necessity for it, as was once pronounced by Caiaphas against the Life of our Redeemer; he was too much a Friend to Religion and goodness, too much an Enemy to Irreligious men and their Practices, to be suffered to live by such men: had he been less good, less useful, less just, he might have lived unto this day. But had he lived (they thought) their cause must have died, their Treasons would not have prospered; they knew he was firm and fixed to his duty; They could not scare him from it, they could not Bribe him, but they could Kill him. They could not have thought of a more compendious way than this. 
Funeral Sermon, p. 28.   
We have related to you, the strange manner of the Discovery of this Murder, the Trials of the Murderers, their Execution and manner of their Dying; and lastly, the happy discovery of their Sham-designes, to turn off the Murder from themselves upon his Friends. We shall here conclude our Memoirs; only by way of Postscript, with which we shall entertain you, instead of Music, upon the close of this Tragedy, with some strains of excellent Poetry, composed by two of the greatest Wits of this Age (as their writings testify) upon this Subject; the one a Pindaric Stanza, Selected out of an ingenious Poem (by an unknown hand) called Bacchanalia, or the drunken Club, Printed in the Year 1680. the other a Poem calculated for the very Purpose, upon the issuing out of his Majesty's Proclamation against the Murderers, by that late Prodigy of Wit and Fancy, Dr. Robert Wild: We recommend and leave them to the Readers Judgement; but as to our own present undertaking, we shall here conclude with  
FINIS.   

Bacchanalia, OR THE DRUNKEN CLUB.  
Stanza 11.  

ARe these the Pope's Grand Tools?  
Worshipful Noddies! who but blundering Fools  
Would ever have forgot  
To burn those Letters that revealed their Plot?  
Or in an Alehouse told that Godfrey's dead,  
Three days before he was discovered;  
Leaving the silly world to call to mind  
That common Logic, They that hide, can find?  
But see their Master Policy  
On Primrose-Hill,  
Where their great Enemy  
Like Saul upon Mount Gilboa doth 〈◊〉,  
Fallen on his Sword, as he himself 〈◊〉.  
But oh the Infelicity! 〈◊〉,  
That blood was fresh and gushed 〈◊〉 the  
This so congealed that not one spot was sound,  
No not upon his Sword, as if it would  
Tell us 'twas guiltless of its Master's blood;  
Some Carcases by bleeding do declare,  
This by not bleeding, showed the Murderer.   

But to his broken Neck I pray  
What can our Politicians say?  
He hanged, then Stabbed himself, for a sure way;  
Or first he Stabbed himself, then wrung about  
His head for madness that advised him to't;  
Well Primrose, may our Godfrey's Name on thee  
(Like Hyacinth) inscribed be:  
On Thee his memory shall flourish still  
(Sweet as thy flower, and lasting as thy Hill.)  
Whilst blushing Somerset to her  
Eternal Shame shall this Inscription bear,  
The Devil's an Ass, for Jesuits on this spot  
Broke both the Neck of Godfrey and their Plot.    

THE PROCLAMATION Promoted, OR AN HUE-and-CRY and Inquisition AFTER TREASON and BLOOD; UPON The Inhuman and horrid Murder of that Noble Knight, Impartial Justice of Peace, and Zealous PROTESTANT, Sir EDMONDBURY GODFREY of WESTMINISTER.  
An Hasty POEM.  

O Murder! Murder! let this Shriek fly round,  
Till Hills and Dales, and Rocks and Shores rebound.  
Send it to Heaven and Hell; for both will be  
Astonished and concerned as much as we.  
First send to Endor where of old did dwell  
An Hag, could Fates of Kings and Kingdoms tell.  
If that cannot be found, to Ekron go,  
To Pluto's Oracle and Hell below.  
There serve this Hue and Cry, for there 'twas hatched,  
(Except the Priests their Gods have overmatched.)  
Methinks Belzebub, if he be outdone  
In his Grand Mysteries, and Rome needs none  
Of his Black Arts, but can Out-Devil Hell,  
His Envy and Revenge this Plot should tell:  
And by disclosing in his own defence,  
Not only Vindicate his Innocence;  
But hasten their destruction, and prevent  
Loss of his Trade, (the Jesuits intent)  
Unless he fears them, as indeed he may;  
When once in Hell, none shall Command but they.  
But if this Tragedy be all his own,  
And Roman Actors (taught by him) have shown  
How they can play all parts he can devise;  
Female or Male, with or without disguise:  
And need no Cacodoemons prompting Art  
Or Whisper, but can fill up any part;  
Fast, Pray and Weep, Swear and for swear, decoy,  
Trappan, Kiss, Flatter, Smile, and so Destroy,  
Stab, Pistol, Poison Kings, Unking, Dethrone,  
Blow up or down, Save, Damn, make all their own.  
Knows not he then, tho' founder of the Stage,  
The Laws of Theatres in every Age?  
That th' Actors, not the Author of the Play,  
Do challenge the Rewards of the first day?  
Make then their Names renowned, and come to hide  
Such Children of thy Revels and thy Pride;  
Send to their Father, and thy eldest Son  
That Lucifer of Rome, what feats they've done:  
That he may make their names be understood,  
Written in Calendars of Martyrs Blood.   

But if the Fiends below be Deaf and Dumb,  
And this conjuring cannot overcome,  
They and their Imps be damned together: I  
To Gods on Earth will send my Hue and Cry.  
Arise Just Charles Three Kingdoms Soul and mine,  
Great James thy Grandfather could well divine;  
And without spell the bloody Riddle Spell,  
Writ by like Secretaries of Rome and Hell.  
And if Thy Proclamation cannot do,  
We pray God's Spirit may inspire Thee too.  
If thy Prophetic Usher did not err,  
The Mass would enter by a Massacre.  
The Wounds Thy Godfrey found were meant for Thee,  
And thou liest Murdered in Effigy.  
In Gods, Kings, Kingdoms Cause this Knight was slain:  
Let him a Noble Monument obtain,  
Erected in your Westminster's great Hall,  
That Courts of Justice may lament his Fall  
And may (when any Papist cometh near)  
His Marble Statue yield a bloody tear.  
Yet let him not be buried, let him lie,  
The fairest Image to draw Justice by.  
There needs no Balm or Spices to preserve  
The Corpse from Stench, his innocence will serve.   

Ye Lords and Commons join your speedy Votes:  
A Pack of Bloodhounds threaten all your Throats.  
And if their Treason be not understood,  
Expect to be dissolved in your own Blood.  
O Vote that every Papist (high and low)  
To martyred Godfrey's Corpse in person go;  
And laying hand upon his wounded Breast,  
By Oath and Curse his ignorance protest.  
But oh the Atheism of that Monstrous Crew,  
Whose Holy Father can all Bonds undo:  
Whose Breath can put away the heavi'st Oath;  
Who fears no Heaven nor Hell, but laughs at both.  
Therefore a safer Vote my Muse suggests,  
For Priests and Jesuits can swallow Tests  
As Hocus Pocus doth his Rope or Knife,  
And cheats the gaping Farmer and his Wife.  
Oh Vote each Signpost shall a Gibbet be,  
And hang a Traitor upon every Tree.  
Yet we'll find Wood enough for Bonfire piles,  
T' enlighten and inflame our British Isles  
Upon th' approaching fifth November night,  
And make Incendiaries curse the light.  
November Fires Septembers may reveal,  
One Burn (we say) another Burn will heal.  
Lastly, And surely, let this Hue and Cry  
Reach Heaven, where every Star looks like an Eye:  
To that High Court of Parliament above,  
Whose Laws are mixed with Justice and with Love;  
Whither Just Godfrey's Soul's already come,  
And hath received the Crown of Martyrdom;  
Where Murdered Kings and slaughtered Saints do cry,  
Their Blood may never unrevenged lie,  
Ye Saints and Angels, hath that Scarlet Whore,  
Whose Priests and Brats before your shrines adore,  
And in their Massacres your Aid implore;  
Staining your Altars with the precious Gore.  
Pour down your Vials on their Cursed heads,  
And in Eternal flames prepare their Beds.  
And Thou Judge Jesus Hanged and Murdered too,  
By Power of Rome and Malice of the Jew,  
In Godfrey's Wounds Thine own do bleed anew.  
Oh Rend Thy Heavens! Come Lord and take Thy Throne,  
Revenge Thy Martyr's Murder and Thine own.   
FINIS.   

ADVERTISEMENT.  
THere is now Published a Book, Entitled, The Plot in a Dream, or the Discoverer in Masquerade; fully and truly relating the History of the present Popish Plot, from its Original until this time; as namely, the first Contrivement of it beyond the Seas: The Ways and Methods there resolved upon for the effecting of it: The manner of its first Discovery: The Description of the Papists Grand Consult, and proceedings upon it: Sir Edmonbury Godfrey's Murder related: The several Trials and Executions of Staly, Coleman, the Jesuits that were employed to kill the King: read's Subornation and Punishment: The Story of the Meal-Tub-Plot, and other Sham-Plots since: The Proceedings against the Lords in the Tower, with the Trial and Execution of the Lord Stafford: An account of the last Parliament held at Oxford, with the Proceedings against Fitz-Harris, etc. Intermixed with Verses and variety of Fancies; with several Cuts to illustrate the Design; and the whole digested into Chapters, with Contents for the better Satisfaction of the Reader. By Philopatris. Price bound 1 s. 6 d.  
The Life and Death of Captain William Bedloe, one of the Chief Discoverers of the horrid Popish Plot; wherein all his more Eminent Cheats, and whatever is Remarkable of him, both Good and Bad, is Impartially discovered. 8o. Price bound 1 s.  
Both these are sold by John Hancock, and Enoch Prosser, Booksellers, at their Shops at the Three Bibles at the end of Popes-Head Alley over against the Royal Exchange, and at the Rose and Crown in Sweetings Alley, at the East end of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1681.