one of the said lords replied (it was the earl of Shaftsbury) that he took this way of close imprisonment to be illegal, and that to be so surprised by a trial, would be the same thing as to cut my throat; and his lordship did thereupon tell me, that care should be taken, that I should have a just liberty and freedom in the gaol for my friends to come to me, and should not be surprized by a trial, as I feared to be.

This promise of this noble lord gave me great comfort; but notwithstanding this, my close imprisonment continued. My opinion was, that I was forgotten; and therefore I did several times send to captain Richardson, to put their lordships in mind of it; and when that was without effect, I apprehended that captain Richardson neglected me. But I find since, that those lords must have been understood to have intended to move the House of Lords, in relation to the making good of that promise; and that by the dissolving of that parliament, (which happened shortly after, though unknown then to me) there was no possibility for the making of such motion.

My close imprisonment continuing in January or February following, my poor wife procured leave from his majesty to see me; but not otherwise, than in the presence of my keeper. Upon her coming, I bemoaned myself to her, that I was totally ignorant of what was charged against me; and had still a continuance of my fear that I should be surprized with a trial, without being able to make any defence. My wife, much troubled to hear this, could not give me any answer to remove my apprehension, because captain Richardson was present; but against the time of her next coming to me, she procured an Abstract to be made of the several Narratives of Mr. Coleman's and Mr. Ireland's trials; and when she came next, she endeavoured to give it to me, to the end I might from thence know what was at those trials given in evidence relating to me. But captain Richardson discovering her intention, took the paper, and though he told me he would restore it to her, he carried it to the privy council, and would not permit my wife to see me any more.

Upon the delivery of the beforementioned paper to the council, (which was on the 1st day of March) a most worthy friend of mine had licence from his majesty to come to me, to exhort me to confess my knowledge of the plot, to represent unto me my danger, if I refused; and to give me hopes of a free pardon, in case I complied therein. In truth he represented my condition to me so dismally, that had not Almighty God been very merciful unto me, his discourses would have been of sufficient force to have deprived me of my understanding. In short, he both told me I was to expect no mercy, without a discovery made by me of the plot, and, that there was two or three express witnesses against me who had been believed already by several juries; and that it was unreasonable in me to expect, that other juries should not believe what former juries had be

lieved. He added, that the whole people were so possessed of a full belief of the plot, from the testimony of those witnesses, and of such strange an abhorrence against all of my religion, that whatever could be said against me would be believed by every jury; and whatever I should pretend to give in evidence for my defence, would be disbelieved and rejected, though an angel should come from heaven to confirm it. To all which I gave answer, that my trust and reliance was in my God, and only in him, that I had no doubt but my God, who knew my innocency, would stand by me and assist me, and find some way for the justification of my innocency, which to him I did aver and declare in the presence of God, and by invoking his divine majesty, to testify the truth of what I so averred and declared, with all the solemnity that I could use, and that can be used by Christian in any case of like nature. I told him that there must be two several persons perjured, or I must be safe; and I could not think that two persons could conspire in perjury, for the destroying of so inconsiderable a person as I knew myself to be. And I added, that in case my God should so far withdraw his grace from me, by abandoning me to a reprobate sense, as to leave me to submit to the temptation of charging other persons falsly with any crime or plot, by which I should endanger the lives of others, for the saving of my own life, I was totally ignorant how to frame a plot that should seem credible; and could not in possibility frame any thing that could agree with what was at the present affirmed by my accusers, I being totally ignorant of what they had afirmed.

After this person had left me, I was in the beginning of March, and about one or two days before the meeting of the now parliament, again sent for down into captain Richardson's house, where I found two most honourable lords of his majesty's council, who gave me the same exhortation and invitation, in order to a discovery of the plot, as I had received before from my other friend; with this great addition, that their lordships shewed me an order of council to secure me of my pardon, in case I should make such discovery; but with this condition, that I must make it then, or else the assurance of pardon, promised by that order, to be void,

My conscience being clear and innocent, I made the same answers to these noble lords, as I had done to the former person who had sent to me; whereupon, before their departure, they delivered into my hands that paper which my wife had formerly prepared for me, it being (as I found) the opinion of his majesty, and of the council, that I should have it."

covery was so fully secured, of producing me a pardon.

My close imprisonment continued until two or three days before Whitsunday, about which time it was allowed to some of my friends, to come to me with freedom, in order to my preparing for my trial, which was appointed to be at the end of Whitson week. By these friends, I had the printed Narrative brought to me of all the former trials relating to this plot, but I could have no light (otherwise than from them) of what would be charged against me in evidence. I found it given in evidence by Mr. Oates at Mr. Coleman's trial, That he communicated the substance of a treasonable consult unto me, on the 25th of April 1678. The very next day (as he then swore) after the consult, and saw several commissions then in my chamber lying before me; and that after that time, he had never seen me. And I was glad to find that he had (as I conceive by what he then swore) lockt himself up by his oath to a time, and could not, without perjury, charge any thing against me as done after that time. And so far as I could make any judgment of what was deposed by Mr. Bedlow against me at Mr. Ireland's trial, touching my registering the consults of the Jesuits, I conceived it was only intended by him upon his hear-say. This was the whole (so far as I could gather from the printed Narrative) of what appeared to be charged. I did remember the name of Oates, having once by his hand received a letter; but I did not remember his person. And as for Mr. Bedlow, I did not remember ever at any time to have heard his name.

I found also from the said Narratives, That the Court had declared both those witnesses to be ill men. And as to Mr. Oates, I found that he had owned himself to have been first a Protestant, then a Roman Catholic; and now upon this charge laid by him upon me, and others, (of more value in the world by much, than my poor self) to profess himself again to be a Protestant. I also found, That upon comparing the several evidences which he had given against others, he had apparently contradicted himself, and affirmed several things which could not subsist to be all true, because they were contradictory one to the other. And as to Mr. Bedlow, I found by the Narrative of Mr. Reading's Trial, That he swore himself at that trial to be flatly perjured, when he gave evidence against Mr. Whitebread and Mr. Fenwick at Mr. Ireland's trial; for being then sworn to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth against the said Mr. Whitebread and Fenwick. And having then affirmed upon his said oath, That he was a stranger to them, and knew nothing to give in evidence against them, he did at the said trial of Mr. Reading, swear that it was impossibie that he should be such a stranger to Mr. Whitebread and Mr. Fenwick, as he affirmed himself to be at their trials, when he was sworn to give evidence against them. I was also informed, (and there was a witness to prove the

VOL. VII.

same) That when at one of the former trials witnesses were tendered, to prove that Mr. Bedlow was a very ill man, and that for that reason no credit was to be given to him. He answered in the Court publicly, That they might save their labour to prove how ill he had been, for he readily owned the worst things that could be said of him but that having the king's pardon, he was safe. And as to both Mr. Oates, and Mr. Bedlow, I was informed from good hands:

1. That they had owned themselves (with what truth I will not undertake to say) Guilty of the same Treason that they now charged upon me and others; and this was evident, from what they swore at every trial.

2. That they had received their pardons more than once each of them.

3. That they, had received great rewards for the evidences by them given against others in the same case.

4. That they expected greater and farther rewards for the evidence to be given against me, and others.

All which, I conceived, would render their evidence unfit to be credited by any jury, if not wholly invalid in law.

Having gained these lights, after my long imprisonment, I did with very great longing expect my trial, and with great joy went to it when the day came, (which was Saturday in Whitsunweek, being the 14th of June now past) though in my passage from the gaol to the Court, I found myself condemned by the multitude before my trial, which (I thank my God) put me in remembrance of what iny blessed Jesus suffered, from the like vote of the people.

I shall forbear to repeat the particulars of my trial, because I will give no occasion to think, That I have any intention to arraign the justice of my king, or of the government, or of my judges, or jury; only I shall crave leave to observe these following particulars, viz.

I. That the two first witnesses which were sworn for the king, deposed nothing against me; those were Mr. Dugdale, and Mr. Prance.

II. That Mr. Oates, who was the third witness sworn for the king, and the first whose evidence charged me, deposed, That he had two several communications with me since the month of April 1678, namely, in July and August 1678, whereas at the trial of Mr. Coleman, he had expressly sworn, That after the month of April 1678, he had never seen me to his knowledge or remembrance.

III. That Mr. Bedlow deposed, That as he and Mr. Coleman were together walking in my chamber in the Temple, he saw me entering several treasonable letters into a book in my study; and that the said book was a great book, lying upon the desk in my study: Whereas every person who knows my saia chamber, and the situation of my study, cannot but know, that it is impossible to look out of my chamber into my study, so as to see any one writing there, and that I never had at any time any desk in my study.

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swered, That he was so far from having receive ed any such sum, or any reward for his said services, that he was out of purse 750l. of his own monies, in the prosecution of the same. Which, how great an untruth that is, I refer to his majesty, and those who manage his ma

1. That as to Mr. Bedlow, I do not know, remember or believe, that I ever saw him, or heard him speak, before that time that he appeared in the said Court, to give evidence against me at my said trial.

2. That I did never see or speak with Mr. Oates at any time since the month of November 1677, so that I can with great truth affirm, and do affirm, in the presence of the all-knowing God, That whatever was given in evidence against me by the said Bedlow, was utterly false and untrue. As likewise whatever was given against me in evidence by the said Oates, as spoken by himself, or by me, in the months of April, July and August, 1678, or at any other times after the month of November 1677. As also what was sworn in evidence against me by the said Oates, at his first coming to me in the month of November 1677, which related to my prejudice; and which I could have proved to be false by a very good witness, in case I could have foreseen, that Mr. Oates would have had the confidence to have given any thing in evidence against me, as pretended to have been spoken by me at that time. But Mr. Oates, at the trial of Mr. Coleman, gave a clear evidence of his skill in this kind of fencing, and of his great care and cunning, to prevent that no person, whose life he designs to take away by his evidence, shall ever be able to know what he intends to swear, or consequently to produce any witness to discover or disprove his perjuries: For being then upon his oath, and being interrogated what he had informed against Mr. Coleman before his majesty and the council at Mr. Coleman's examination there, before he was committed to Newgate, Mr. Oates did not blush to swear, That he did only at that time inform what he judged sufficient, whereupon to ground Mr. Coleman's commitment; and concealed what he had farther to say, lest he should by saying it, enable Mr. Coleman to produce witnesses as to the circumstances of time and place, to disprove what Mr. Oates should say against him, or to the like effect.

Add to all this, that which Mr. Oates answered at my trial, when interrogated by me, (and to my best remembrance Bedlow gave the like answer to the same question) what gratification or reward he had received, for his pretended discovery of this by him pretended plot, and for giving evidence against such as had been tried thereupon; and particularly, whether he had not received the sum of 500l. and did not expect to receive a farther gratification for his farther services therein?. He boldly an

the most extreme poverty of these two persons, Oates and Bedlow, before they relieved their wants, and found the way to supply their necessities, by charging those persons with treason who have been executed, or remain still prisoners upon their accusations.

After the judgment was given against me, upon the verdict found upon the evidence of these two men, there were two persons came to me to the gaol, as sent by the earl of Shaftsbury, or his order, to propose something to me in charity, for the saving of my life. The first thing by them proposed to be done by me for that end, was a discovery to be made by me of the plot and treason for which I stood con demned. But when I had satisfied them so far, as to my solemn protestations made in the presence of God, were of force to satisfy them touching my innocency, and my total ignorance of any plot or treason ever at any time designed against his majesty, other than the late unparalleled treason and rebellion, which was before his majesty's happy restoration. They were pleased to propose farther, That it was well known, that I had been made use of as a counsel for the Jesuits, and in that capacity could not but know what estates they had in England, or at least a very great part of those estates; and that if I would freely make a discovery of such estates of that nature as should be of a considerable value, I should thereby obtain my pardon; the granting of which, upon such discovery, might be well justified to the parliament at their next meeting.

Having well weighed this latter proposal, and considered, that it would be a sin against truth to deny that I had a knowledge of such estates; and that all the scandal which could be taken by my discovery of them, could not be so great, as my denial would be offensive to God. And having no doubt, but that my frank and sincere discovering and owning what was within my knowledge, though to the displeasure of those who were to be concerned therein, would make it evident to all honest and judicious persons, that in case I knew any of the plot, or of any treason intended against his majesty, (the concealment of which by me would be a sin unto damnation) I would without difficulty discover the same, for the saving of my soul, as well as of my life, since I was ready to make a discovery of such estates, the concealment of which could be no sin against God or the king. I freely engaged myself to discover all that I knew touching such estates, for the service of his majesty; and the persons by whom the same was so proposed, went from me, with a resolution, to report my ready compliance therein unto his said lordship.

After this, I did by some friends prevail to have a report made to his majesty, of what had passed between those two persons and me, with which his majesty seemed (as I was informed) to be well satisfied, and directed, that I should send unto, and intrust his majesty with so much as I could remember (without having resort to writings) of those estates, which I with all readiness did: And I took that command from his majesty, to be an evident implied promise of a pardon, for the securing of my life. This engagement of mine, to make this discovery, occasioned a reprieve to be granted me for some days; but after the said reprieve granted, my lord of Shaftsbury was pleased to intimate unto me by one of the aforesaid persons, by whom it was first proposed unto me to make such discovery, that no pardon should be granted to me, without a full discovery made by me of the plot. And his lordship was also pleased to come to captain Richardson's house, and sending for me thither, to tell me to this effect, viz. That as my parts and reputation in the world had made me fit for employment, so I might rest secure, That in case I would make a full discovery of the plot, I should be put into as good a post, both as to honour and estate, as my own heart could wish; but if I failed to do that, no discovery of estates could or should procure my pardon. I laboured, what I could, by solemn protestations to satisfy his lordship of my innocency, and my total ignorance of any plot or treason whatsoever; and this I did so fully, (as I conceived) That in case Almighty God should have so far withdrawn his grace from me, as to leave me to a reprobate sense, and to permit against truth, to have pretended a knowledge of a plot, to the prejudice of any person, merely for the saving of my own poor life, and the obtaining those advantages with which I was tempted, I ought not in any measure to have been believed. But blessed be my God, who hath by his grace so far strengthened, as to enable me rather to choose and lose my life in innocency, and save my soul, than by falsities to lose my soul, and become guilty of the blood of others, against whom I could not with truth testify any thing of any

crime.

After his said lordship had given me the temptation before-mentioned, I had several persons applied to me, with discourses tending wholly to make me despair of pardon, unless I would discover a plot; and to persuade me, that it was not honourable nor honest for me to discover any estates, which his majesty might seize on, in case I did not know, that the owners of the said estates were traitors. But I took all these discourses to signify no more than a repentance, for having proposed to me to make a discovery of estates: And therefore having sent such discovery unto his majesty, as I was able to make upon my memory; I laboured by my friends, and did obtain a farther reprieve, together with an order requiring to send into the council by a day limited, such disco

very as I could make; and a license to have all my writings and papers in my chamber perused by such as I nominated, and according to such direction as I should give, for the better enabling me to perfect such discovery. This was conceived by me, and my friends, to be intended by his majesty, as an assurance of a pardon, it being to engage the whole council, as his majesty was pleased to engage himself before, when he commanded me to trust him; and it seemed evident, that this discovery required, must be a discovery of estates, other wise the perusal of papers and writings had been to no purpose.

In obedience to the said last mentioned command, I applied with all diligence to compleat my discovery, my papers and writings were examined by my friends, and my discovery was perfected, and delivered in unto the council, at the precise day for that purpose limited, and it amounted to the value, as I computed the same, of between 20 and 30,000l. sterling, and was annexed to a petition, wherein I declared my innoceney and ignorance of any treason or plot, and my sincere dealing as to my said discovery; and offered to submit myself to be examined upon interrogatories upon oath, or to undergo any trial of any test, for the giving satisfaction, that the discovery then by me made was compleat, and that I knew of no other lands belonging in any ways to the Jesuits, other than what I had then and there discovered; and likewise for the purging of myself touching any other matter, upon which it should be thought fit to examine me. And in my said discovery, I expressed every thing with such certainty as to the names of the estates, and the places where they lay, and the values, so far as I was able to give the same, and the persons (so far as I knew) concerned therein, that it was easy to seize the same immediately for the use of his majesty : So that I thereby did all that was in my power, in order to my giving a perfect obedience to the said commands of his majesty, and to what was thereby required from me. And my friends, as well as myself, had no doubt, but that as Almighty God requires no more from us, for the obtaining his pardon of our sins, and the salvation of our souls, than what his Divine Majesty knows to be possible for us to do on our parts; so the king's majesty, and his council, would require no more from me, for the saving of my poor life, and the obtaining of my pardon, than what was possible for me on my part to do. I also looked upon the public honour and faith to be now firmly engaged for the security of my life, and the granting of a pardon to me, I having fully performed my part, of that which was the condition. And it being clear, that when once my discovery was delivered in, and read in council, it ceased to be a secret, and that nothing therein contained, could afterwards remain as a thing undiscovered. It was likewise evident that by this act I had done (as I believed) more than any other single person now living, who is merely a lay