call another justice of peace, that took their Examinations, and we shall then particularly apply ourselves to Mr. Knox, that seems to make these excuses for himself. Call Mr. Justice Warcup. [Who was sworn.] Sir W. Waller. Yes, but the rest did both confess, that what was done was wholly by the contrivance of Knox, L. C. J. Did you ask Knox if he had dropped a guinea? Sir W. Waller. My lord, he confessed he had dropped a guinea, but it was only to lend them, and they promised to repay him; and that one morning he dropped ten shillings upon the bed, and they took it up. L. C. J. Knox said he only lent it? Sir W. Waller. Yes, but they positively swore both the one and the other. Justice Pemberton. What said Knox to that? Sir W. Waller. He lent them only. Sir W. Waller. And Lane did positively confess, that at all the places, and the several lodgings, and the treats and entertainments they had been at, they were all at Knox's charge, except twice, which might amount to about eighteen pence, and that he paid. L. C. J. What said Knox to it? Sir W. Waller. He denied all. Justice Pemberton. As to the manner of it, what said Knox to the dropping of it? Sir W. Waller. He confessed he dropped it, | but only lent it them. Sir Fr. Winnington. You say Lane was a servant to Dr. Oates, pray whose scrvant was Knox? Sir IV. Waller. He did belong to my lord Dunblane. And moreover, Mr. Knox did confess to me, that the papers so drawn up and delivered into his hands, had been in the custody of my lord Latinore for a long time. Warcup. I must beg the favour of the court, because my memory is bad, that I may refer to the Informations that were taken before me. Just. Pemberton. You may look upon them for the refreshment of your memory. Warcup. I answer to every part of this that hath my hand to it, I desire it may be read. Recorder. No, that can't be, you must not read them, but only refresh your memory by them. Warcup. This John Lane did confess he liv'd with Dr. Oates, and about the 7th of April he left him, and while he lived with him, he said, he sent his servants daily to prayer in the morning to the chapel, and left but one at home to dress him, and whilst he was with Dr. Oates, he was never charged by his master with the opening of any letters, and that the informations marked 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.— Williams. Pray, sir, acquaint the court as far as you can by your memory. Warcup. Lane, my lord, before me denied all that he had said, that is, that what he had said before the lords was true, but that particular examination before sir W. Waller was by him alone. Sir Fr. Winnington. Was he upon oath before you? Warcup. Yes I find he was. L. C. J. Did you examine him after sir William Waller, or before? Warcup. To the best of my remebrance it was before.. Just. Jones. He was upon his oath here too? Warcup. Yes, and I must acquaint you I find it at the bottom to be (Jurat.) He was brought before the Lords of the Committee for Examinations, and did there likewise at first swear the things in these notes contained, and did afterwards come to the said committee, Sir Fr. Winnington. Did he so, I hope the and beg their pardon, and God's pardon for jury will believe him then. L. C. J. Sir W. Waller does swear, that Knox confessed that all those scandals raised against Dr. Oates, had been by his hands delivered into the hands of my lord Latimore, and were there for some time. Sir W. IV. Yes, my lord. Sir Fr. Winnington. I did not well hear you, Sir, one thing you were saying in the beginning of your evidence, that these gentlemen spoke of my lord of Danby's not surrendering himself, pray let us hear that over again. Sir W. Waller. Mr. Lane said this, that my lord of Danby would not have surrendered himself to the Black-rod, but that he did depend upon their standing to what informations they had given in. L. C. J. Upon your oath Lane did say this? lord. what he had sworn, for it was false. L. C. J. Who did? L. C. J. Did you hear him? Just Jones. Was he upon his oath the last time, when he said this to the committee? Sir W. Waller. Yes, my lord, I was by too, I heard him. L. C. J. So he swears backwards and for wards. Sir Fr. Winnington. Such people used to do so. Warcup. That particular of the Note, that Mr. Knox sent up by the nurse, I was by and did hear him confess it. Sir W. Waller. But he did declare there to the committee, that it was his voluntary repentance, and that he was exceeding sensible of Sir W. Waller. Yes, my the abuses he had offered to Dr. Oates, in this Serjeant Maynard. My lord, now we will design of accusing him in such a manner. Just. Jones. What, before the lords? Warcup. Mr. Knox did say he sent such a Note up to Osborne, and the words were, as I remember, We always club'd and you paid two shillings at the Sugar-loaf, Tear this.' L. C. J. Look you, the use I see that would be made of this, is that Knox in a secret way should give intimation to this Osborne, that he should not own that be had been treated by him, or any money spent upon him, and this Note is the cunning way of insinuating that mattér, as I understand it. Warcup. I shall humbly acquaint your lordship with one thing further; Knox did confess that he had lain with these people in several private places, for there were warrants out for the the apprehending them, upon the information given by Dr. Oates of this contrivance, that he had lain with them at White-Friers. and Charing-cross, and at other places. Just. Pemberton. That he hadobscured them when they were in danger. Warcup. That he had lain with them at that time. Sir Fr. Winnington. Pray, upon your oath, when he had told you he had lain with them in any private lodging Just. Pemberton. Did he say he had advised them where to lie? Warcup. He said he had been with them, and advised them where to lie. Just. Pemberton. Did he say he had taken lodgings for them ? Warcup. Yes, he did. Sir Fr. Winnington. Your question, sir, hath prevented mine; but I would ask him a question further. Did he confess to you he paid for those lodgings? Warcup. Truly, my lord, unless I read the information, I cannot tell. Sir W. Waller. My lord, I perfectly remember this, That Knox did confess he had paid for their lodgings, but they were to pay him again; but both Osborne and Lane did positively swear he did pay for all, and several times at several taverns where he treated them, he bid them call for what they would and they should have it. Sol. Gen. What do you know of being at the Sugar-loaf at any time? 3 Warcup. I tell you what I find here he confessed, that they complaining they knew not where conveniently to lodge, this examinant told them he would endeavour to find them a lodging, and the very self-same day, he went by the direction of one of my lord Dunblane's servants, a coachman, to the Sugar-loaf in White-friers, and took lodgings as for himself and two of his friends, and lay there with them to the time of his going from the same lodging, which was five or six days. Just. Pemberton. And he did it by the direction of my lord Dunblane's coachman? Warcup. Yes, my lord, it is so in the information, Serj. Maynard. Is that information true? Warcup. Yes, my lord, I am sure he said it, or I should not have writ it down. L. C. J. Mr. Warcup, had Lane recanted what he had said against Mr. Oates at that time when the lodgings were taken? Warcup. My lord, it was before they came to the lords that they took these lodgings. Just. Pemberton. Ay that is clear, it was before all came out. Warcup. I was commanded by the House of Peers to give my warrant for the apprehending of them. L. C. J. The lords sent to apprehend thera upon the slander of Mr. Oates, and then he concealed them. Recorder. My lord, sir W. Waller speaks of one Rix that was sent by Lane to him to make a discovery, this is the gentleman, [Who was sworn.] Rix. May it please your lordship, there was one Osborne that was concerned with this Lane, who is since run away: Osborne came first upon the guard to me, and desired me to get him into service. He desired to come into my lord-treasurer's service, and what he desired of me was to frame him a petition to my lordtreasurer. We had no answer till two days after, and I being upon the guard with Dr. Oates, I did suppose I might get him into his service, I spoke to Dr. Oates, and he entertained him; and after he had entertained him a while, this Lane then being a servant with him, they both told me they were a going off now from Mr. Oates. L. C. J. Who told you? Rix. Lane and Osborne, and that they should get preferment; they were sworn brothers together, if one did go, the other would go. I asked them why they would go away? Oh, said he, I shall keep my man myself. Say you so, said I, I have been in town so long, and I could get no such preferment. Then they told me they should have 100l. a year, and 5007. in money. Justice Pemberton. Who told you so? Rix. Osborne and Lane both. Justice Pemberton. What, 100l. a year, and 500l. a-piece. : Rir. Yes so I asked them how, but they would not tell me, but said Osborne to me, for your preferring me to Mr. Oates, you shall be no loser. I met him another time, for Osborne came to desire me to lend him a cravat. Said he, I must come down to your house to-morrow morning to get a cravat, I desire I may have a good one, for I am to go before one of the greatest peers of the realm to dine with him: where, said I, to which end of the town? The other end of the town, said he to me: but, said I, why do you leave Mr. Oates? Oh, said he, let Mr. Oates look to himself, for I have enough against him. Then I smelt something of some design against Dr. Oates, and brought it before justice Warcup, and gave in my testimony, and upon further inquiry into it, the Lords ordered him to send out his warrant for the taking of those fellows, Knox, Lane, and L. C. J. Where is this woman, this nurse? Sir W. Waller. She was nurse to the gaol, and was turned out upon this discovery by the gaoler. Justice Pemberton. You had this from Lane, sir Wm. Waller? Sir W. Waller. Yes. L. C. J. What did he confess? 1 Rix. He did confess, That my lord Treasurer would never have surrendered himself if he had thought they would not have stood firm, and if they did not stand firm he should lose his head. Mr. Williams. You say Lane confessed this as of himself. Osborne, which he assigned over to me; in a short time after they were taken, first Lane was taken, and in a day or two Osborne and Knox, and were examined and taxed with it. Osborne he made a confession before justice Warcup, and they desired me to see Knox and Lane, in prison, and I did see them in prison, and when they did come there, Knox said, Rir. My lord, after this was done, Lane's Where is Osborne, why do not he come to father and mother told me this at my own prison as well as I? I am a better gentleman | house, that had it not been upon their son's acthan he. Oh, said I, he hath confessed; so he count, my lord Treasurer would never have was turned up into the prison. Said I to Mr. come in; and they told me that one Hest Lane, will you drink a pot of beer? said he, I should come and tell them so and Lane himdo not much care if I do; and said he, Mr. self told me, he thanked God that now he had Rix, if I have not gone too far against myself, made an honest confession, that now his heart if you will stand my friend, I will make an was very light; he had a burden upon him behonest confession. Said I, I am glad there is fore, but now he had confessed, and his heart so much grace in you, I will then do you all the was light. good I can. Pray, said he, will you please to go and call sir Wm. Waller? Why not justice Warcup, said I, who was first concerned in this discovery? No, he would have only sir Wm. Waller. I came and found him in the Court of Requests, so I went with him to Smith's the tobacconist near the gate, and sent for Lane; the keeper brought him: I think this was about nine or ten in the morning, and from that time till about six at night he was in examination. I then went to Mr. Oates, and told him Lane had made an honest confession. I waited on sir Wm. Waller till the afternoon, and then he made an order, that he having made an honest confession, should have the enlargement of the prison, and not be confined, as others were, which, he had. Lane sent for me the next day, I came down in a day or two after, and his sister was there with him, they were eating butter and radishes, and when I would have paid for the drink, Lane cried, No, by no means; for Knox hath sent me in 23s. the other day, and that will serve me, I hope, till I come out: but now, said he, I have made a confession, I believe I shall have no more money from him; and I desire you would speak for my enlargement. I came down to him another time, and he told me he had received a note, which note was put up from a gentlewoman in the street. "That if he would stand firm to his text, he should have 500l.; nay he should not want 1,000l.; but in case they would not stand firm to their text, the Lord Treasurer would never have come in; and if yet they did not stand firm, he would lose his head." L. C. J. Who came that note from? Sir W. Waller. He told me this, That there was such word brought to him by the nurse, and she told him, That a gentlewoman very well clad came to her, and desired her to speak to him to stand fast, and that Osborne and Knox would be sure to stand fast, and that they two should be too strong for the other, he being but a single evidence; and more than that, he should not want 1,000l. if he had occasion for it. I asked the nurse what the gentlewoman's name was, she told me, she had asked, but she would not tell her. Rir. Yes, and afterwards his father and mother told me so, and he did say as of himself, that he had a note put under the door. L. C. J. But from whom had he that note? Rir. From a gentlewoman in the street, he told me so. Justice Pemberton. What did he say as to Knox ? Rix. He told me he was set on by Knox, and he drew up all the writings for him; and Knox told him, if you come to be examined at such or such a thing, make a stop, and turn this way and that way. Mr. Williams. Pray acquaint the court and the jury, Did Lane tell you how he was drawn into this, and who drew him in ? Rix. Knox was the man that drew up the writings, and promised him those rewards, he said. Justice Pemberton. You say he told you that Knox promised them? How far Knox will be concerned in this evidence, will be considered afterwards. Serj. Maynard. Now we come to Knox's own particular actings. What hath been said already, hath been out of other people's mouths, now we come to him himself, and we call Richard Slightam [Who was sworn.]. Att. Gen. Pray, Mr. Slightam, will you tell my lord and the jury, what you know of this Knox, what offers have been made you, by whom, and when, and for what? Slightam. I was offered money to carry notes from the one to the other. Sol. Gen. Why, what office had you there? Slightum. I was a prisoner there myself, and under-gaoler too, and I was offered money to carry notes between the one and the other, that they might not betray one another. Recorder. By whom? L. C. J. What did they offer you? Slightam. I had three half-crowns given me at one time by Knox, and he promised me he would give me a considerable sum. L. C. J. But he did not name the sum? L. C. J. What did he desire you to do for that money? Slightam. He desired me to carry notes from the one to the other, that they might not be tray one another. Att. Gen. Between whom? Name them. L. C. J. What did you say, that they might not betray one another? Why? Slightum. Yes, that they might not betray one another, for they were fearful that they should, because they could not speak together, to lay their stories together. Att. Gen. And hark you, Sir. What messages did you carry between them? Slightam. None, I never carried any. L. C. J. No, what had you your money for? Slightam. I told them of it below, and they would not let me carry any. ? L. C. J. But you got your money Slightam. Yes, I got some money. Att. Gen. Knox you say gave you the three half-crowns. Did you speak with Lane and Osborne ? Slightam. Lane I spoke with every day, and Lane said, he hoped that the lords would not put him in the pillory, for all he had sworn falsely. L. C. J. What lords? Slightam. My lord Shaftesbury, and my Lord Privy Seal. Mr. Smith. What did Knox say to you after Osborne had confessed? Slightam. That is nothing, said he, if we do but stand firm together, what Osborne hath given in evidence will signify nothing. Mr. Smith. Why? Slightam. For two, he said, were better than Dewy. My lord, some time in the sitting of the last parliament that began in March, about ten o'clock at night a message was sent in to me that one would speak with me from my lord Latimer: I was either in bed, or going to bed; and I did not think there was really any such message, because my lord Latimer did not know me, nor I him. They were very pressing to come in, insomuch as my man could hardly keep them out. I told them there was nothing sure of so much haste, but what might be done to-morrow, or some other time: So I spoke not with them that night. Either the next day, or some short time after, as I remember, Mr. Knox came to me with another gentleman, and he brought papers in his hands ready written; he told me that they were informations of one Lane and Osborne (as I remember those were the names he mentioned then and they were against Mr. Oates. Then I began to look upon it as something extraor dinary, the parliament being then sitting, and the committee of each House having the examination of this business. Said I, Mr. Knox, you have been a justice of peace's clerk (for I knew him so) and you know it is very unusual to take informations against a person without the party's being present, if he may be had, to cross-examine the witnesses upon interrogatories, as the case may be: And besides this looks as if it were to take informations against the king: which we never do upon oath. So I dismissed them, and directed them to the committee of secrecy of the House of Commons, for whom it was most proper. This is all I know of this business. Mr. Williams. Did Mr. Knox tell you any thing that was contained in those examinations? Dewy. Yes, he did give me some information, that Osborne and Lane did repent of something, but I can't give you information particularly. Mr. Williams. Pray tell the substance of it. Dewy. I can't remember what the particulars were, but Lane and Osborne were the parties to be examined, and I shifted them off as well as I could. L. C. J. Did they come along with Knox? Dewy. They were not in my room, but they were without, I believe. L. C. J. And did he tell you at the same time that they had recanted? Dewy. Truly, my lord, I can't well remember; but he said they repented of what they had falsely accused my Lord Treasurer of. L. C. J. Did they say they had falsely accused Mr. Oates? Dewy. No, they did charge Mr. Oates with some crime; and they did speak something of false accusing, I can't remember what. L. C. J. Did not they say, Mr. Oates? Dewy. I remember it now; it was as if Mr. Bedlow and Mr. Oates had made a conspiracy against my lord of Danby. Sir Fr. Winnington. I think you say, you knew Mr. Knox a justice of peace's clerk: 3 E Pray, Sir, you are an ingenuous man, from whom did he pretend to come to you? Dewy. He came to me from iny lord Latimer, as he said. Sir Fr. Winnington. Did he say so, that the lord Latimer wished him to go to you? Dewy. Yes; and I wondered at it, because I did not know my lord, nor my lord me. Mr. Withins. When was this? Dewy. It was the latter end of April or the beginning of May, as I take it; I do not very well remember: but the substance of it I remember was, that they had overheard Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow conspiring against my lord of Danby. L. C. J. Mr. Dewy, can you remember whether they did come to give you information against Mr. Oates for abusing their bodies, or Oates and Bedlow's conspiracy against the earl of Danby? Dewy. Truly, my lord, I can't be positive in it; for the parliament was then sitting, and I shifted them off. Justice Pemberton. You never looked into the information at all? Dewy. No, I did not, I thought it not proper for me. Recorder. Call Henry Wiggins and his mother. [Who were both sworn.] Att. Gen. Come on, Mr. Wiggins, what do you know of any endeavours of Knox or Lane, or any of these persons, to take off or scandalize Mr. Oates's or Mr. Bedlow's testimony? L. C. J. What is this man's name? Att. Gen. Henry Wiggins. Wiggins. About the latter end of February Fast, Mr. Knox and I met at Charing Cross, and we went in and drank together; and he proposed several things to me; first he desired that I would get for him a copy of the papers my master had. L. C. J. Who is your master? Wiggins. Mr. Bedlow. And especially what concerned my Lord Treasurer; as also to take a journal of all my master's actions; and the names of the persons that came to him; for, said he, my lord hears that my lord of Shaftesbury and the duke of Buckingham do cabal with him against my lord. But if my lord could but find out his enemies, he would oppose them, and strive to baffle them. My lord, to encourage me to this, be told me he would carry me to his lord, though it were at midnight, to discourse with him. L. C. J. What lord? Wiggins. My Lord Treasurer: And he said he should give me encouragement to go on. Said I, Does my lord Know of this? Yes, said he, I told my lord I Kad a friend lived with Mr. Bedlow, and he gave me encouragement to go on and treat with him. And he said more over, my lord, Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow were two great rogues; that the king believed not a word they said; and as soon as he had heard all they could say, they should be hanged. Mr. Williams. Pray did he propose any reward to you? Wiggins, He told me his lord should give me encouragement. L. C. J. What should you do? Wiggins. He desired me to give my lord the papers, and then my lord should tell me what I should do about my master. Sir Fr. Winnington. What did he say of Oates and Bedlow, Sir? Wiggins. He said, That Oates and Bedlow were great rogues, and that the king knew them to be so; and when he had heard what they could say, he would hang them. Mr. Williams. Pray upon your oath, did he offer you any money, or any reward? Wiggins. He offered me not any particular sum, but he told me I should have satisfaction and reward, or any place in my lord's disposal I should be entertained into, if I went away upon this business. Mr. Williams. Did he say any thing to you to invite you, or encourage you to swear against your master? Wiggins. No, But he told me my lord should give me directions how to go on. Recorder. What say you as to Lane and Osborne? Wiggins. I did not know them at that time. Recorder. What time after was it that you did know them? Wiggins. I inet with them a little while after, and they were discoursing all together, but I had no discourse with them. Recorder. Did Knox at any time speak to you, to bring him into the company of Lane and Osborne ? Wiggins. No, Sir. Recorder. This was the first time you met with him about this matter? Wiggins. Yes, it was. L. C. J. What did you promise Knox you would do? Wiggins. I told him I would do him any service that lay in my power, but nothing that would be to my master's prejudice; and I was appointed by him to meet him at my LordTreasurer's. L. C. J. A what other meetings had you besides? Wiggins. I was but twice with him. L. C.J. You never agreed to any thing? Wiggins. I told it my master, and it was discovered soon after, so that the Lords came to hear it. Att. Gen. Where is Mrs. Wiggins? What do you know of any endeavours to corrupt this evidence? Mrs. Wiggins. I know no more than what my son knows; he first came to my house. L. C. J. Who? Mrs. Wiggins. Mr. Knox; and asking me where my son was, I told him he lived with Mr. Bedlow: and he said, he very much rejoiced at it, and desired to speak with him. I told him, No, he could not, for his master had so much employment for him, that it was very seldom I myself could get a sight of him. Said he, I have a little concern with him; and he |