to acquaint the king with: but she answered me, That my lord Sunderland being out, there would be no money had for secret service, and advised me to go to the lord Clarendon or Hyde; but before I could do this, I was taken. As for that part of the libel which I left with Everard, as a pledge, to assure him I would not betray him, I received it of the lord Howard: and the money I received from the king, was for bringing a libel called, “The King unveiled, and the Lady Portsmouth's Articles." I call God to witness, I never had a farthing charity from the king.

about the streets two years ago: I replied, I could say no more. Mr. Sheriff said, he was sorry for me with all his heart, but thought I could say more if I would, and pressed me hard to speak to several beads; unto which, unless I spoke, he said, there was no hope of life; the heads I was to speak to, is what the examination taken by sir Robert Clayton, and sir George Treby contains, and a great deal more that I did not say then, relating to the queen R. H. earl of Danby, declaring French pensioners, lord Halifax, Hyde, Clarendon, Fe-> versham, Seymer, and others; the burning the Fleet, Forts and Governments in Popish hands, Meal-Tub Plot, Prentices Plot, the Contrivance of the Libel on the lady Portsmouth, being a French design to destroy Protestants. These and many other heads were

"I do further confess and declare, that the lord Howard told me of a design to seize upon the king's person, and to carry him into the city, and there detain him till he had condescended to their desires. Heyns and myself were privy to this design, and had several meet-brought to me by the sheriffs. ings with the lord Howard; and as an encouragement, the lord Howard assured us of breaking the settlement of Ireland, taking off the❘ additional revenue of the bishops, forty-nine men, and grantees, whose estates were to be shared amongst the party.

"I do further confess and declare, that sir Robert Clayton, and sir George Treby, coming to me to examine me, sir Robert Clayton asked me what I could say concerning Godfrey's murder? I answered something. He replied, It may be I was in a confusion; recollect yourself. And what I said concerning Father Patrick, was forced out of me, and what I said concerning him is not true. Sir George Treby was with me three hours, or thereabouts, and pressed me to say something concerning Godfrey's death: and said, Unless I could speak to that murder, I could say nothing; whereupon I said something I had from others. He asked me if I could say no more? I replied, is not this enough to save my life? Am not I rogue enough? The Recorder hereupon swore,

Then the Recorder entered upon the heads of the examination; which being done, he told me, All this would not save my life, unless I would speak to the libel, which was a court trick; and it was not for nothing that I have been so often seen at the lady Portsmouth's. The lord Shaftesbury said, You know more of these matters than any man. Sir George would have me speak to the consult; that the duke was at it, the lords Bellasis, Arundel, and Powis, were at it; you have seen them go to it at St. James's, without doubt they were there; do you but say it, we have those that will swear it.

"I do confess and declare, That while I was in Newgate, the sheriffs, Bethel and Cornish, came to me, with a token from the lord Howard, which I knew to be true, and brought heads with them from Everard, wherein he accused me of being a court emissary, or Yorkist, put on by the king to put the libel into Protestant houses to trepan them. But I declare upon my death I had no such intent, nor do know any such thing. The sheriffs likewise told me, I was to be tried within three or four days, that the people would prosecute me, and the parlia-Zounds, what were you ever but a rogue? ment would impeach me, and that nothing would save my life but discovering the Popish Plot; and then the sheriffs aforesaid gave me great encouragement from my lord Howard, that if I would declare that I believed so much of the Plot as amounted to the introducing the R. C. or if I could find out any that could criminate the queen, R. H. or make so much as a plausible story to confirm the Plot, that the parliament would restore me to my father's estate, with the profits thereof, since his majesty's restoration. I finding myself in the condition I was, in Newgate, fettered, moneyless and friendless, my wife ready to lie in, without any subsistence, my children in a miserable condition, and must needs be in a worse by my death, and I could see no other refuge for life, but complying with them; so not with ambitious intent, but to save my life, I did comply. The sheriffs brought instructions, which they said came from the Lords and Commons who met that day in order to address the king in my behalf (if I should confirm the instructions) and they made use of my lord Shaftesbury's name, and others, what advantage I might have thereby. At the first I made a formal story concerning the Plot, which was not prejudicial to any body, but most relating to general heads known publicly; upon which Mr. Cornish told me these were things cried

"I do further declare and confess, that what I said against the queen and the duke, I was put upon, in the matter of sir Edmundbury Godfrey's murder; and do further declare, That what I swore against the earl of Danby; the threatening words that were uttered, I did (to the best of my remembrance) hear, but whom they concerned I could not well know, by what my lord himself said. And what de Puis told me concerning my lord of Danby, I do believe was spoken out of ill-will; and what I said against him was to stave off my trial till a parliament; and they were the more desirous to accuse the lord Danby of Godfrey's murder, because the crime of murder is not inserted in his pardon. I am sorry for what I have said

against the queen, his royal highness, and the earl of Danby; I desire God to forgive me the wrong I did them, and do heartily beg their pardon.

"I do further declare and protest, That this confession and declaration of mine I own sincerely, as a dying man, and not to save my life; and I call God and his angels to witness the truth of it; and I renounce mercy at the hands of God Almighty, if this be not true. "And I do further declare and protest, as a dying man, unto James Walmesly, Edward Pattel, and Mary Walmesly, That I have made this confession and declaration unto Dr. Haw

kins freely, and of my own voluntary accord, without any manner of promise made, or hopes given me by him from the king of saving my life by this confession, I having given him to. understand beforehand they were matters of consequence, and such as chiefly concerned the good of the king and kingdom.

"I give the doctor my hearty thanks for all his prayers, counsel, and charitable offices be hath done me, and I pray God to bless him for ever for it. I forgive all the world, and desire all the world to forgive me; and the Lord have mercy on my soul. "EDWARD FITZHARRIS."

In the same Year, 1681, and we may suppose shortly after the Execution of Fitzharris or Fitz-Harys, the following Articles were published: viz.

A NARRATIVE, being a true Relation of what Discourse passed between Dr. HAWKINS and EDWARD FITZHARYS, esq. late Prisoner in the Tower; with the Manner of taking his ConFESSION. Published by Authority. London: Printed for Samuel Carr, 1681.

TO THE READER.

THERE will need no other apology for the exposing of these Papers, than the command and warrant of the following Order of Council for their publication:

At the court at Whitehall, this 2d day of July
1681. By the king's most excellent ma
'jesty, and the Lords of his majesty's most
honourable privy council.

And as I have made a conscience of keeping myself exactly to the truth in this relation,. without any injury to the memory of the dead, so I have done all I could, on the other side, to spare the names of the living, separating the fact from the persons reflected upon in the It was this day ordered by his majesty in story; my business being only to communicouncil, That the confession of Edward Fitz-cate the substance of the discourses I had with harris, this day delivered by Dr. Hawkins to the board and here read, be, and it is hereby ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Mr. Fitzharris. But as I have, upon a point of tenderness, left only spaces for, instead of Narrative, I shall be ready to discharge myself mentioning several names concerned in this upon my oath in that particular also, whenever required by a lawful authority so to do.

And the said Dr. Hawkins is desired to take 'care to see the same done: And likewise to 'cause to be printed and published a narrative "of what cominunication he had with the said A True RELATION of the occasion of Dr. Haw

Fitzharris upon that subject. PHIL. LOYD.'

Now, as I did not at the first intermeddle with Mr. Fitzharris but by order, so neither have I done any thing in the business concerning him without a sufficient authority for what I did. And it will appear likewise that I have put it off as long as I could, till now at length the unreasonable clamours and calumnies of ill minded men have rendered it absolutely necessary, as well for the vindication of common justice, as of my particular duty.

As to the truth of what I now deliver, and the confession of Mr. Fitzharris, formerly published, I do solemnly here declare unto the world, upon the word of a minister of the gospel, that it is a candid impartial report of what I had

kins's going to Mr. Fitzharris, late prisoner in the Tower, sentenced to die, and since executed at Tyburn; of the manner of taking his Confession, and of all that passed between Fitzharris and him. Upon Friday the 17th of June, about four o'clock in the afternoon, I received orders from captain Cheek lieutenant of the Tower, to go to Mr. Fitzharris, who (as Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower had before informed me) seemed to be disturbed in his mind, and was very troublesome to his warders and those about him. As I entered his room, he saluted me, and said, I was welcome to a poor prisoner, and if I would come and see him now and then, it would be a great comfort to him in his sad condition. Sir,

(said I), I shall be ready to do all that becomes | me, and will do you all the service I can. Then Mr. Fitzharris began to complain of some hard usage, in that his wife and friends were not permitted to come to him; whereas it was, (he said) the only favour he begged of the court after sentence was passed, that his wife and friends might have liberty to see him; but, (said he) I hear my wife is in custody, and not one friend of mine can come near me: this troubles me extremely, and makes me restless in my mind, and so uneasy to my keepers. I desired him to have patience, and said, I durst assure him, the Lieutenant of the Tower would not deny him any favour the court had granted him. Then he desired we might be alone; but I told him, I had no orders to be in private with him. He spoke to one of the warders to go to the Lieutenant of the Tower to know his mind in it; and the messenger returnpresently with leave for us to be as private as we would, so the keepers withdrew.

religion that encourages the subject to attempt
against his prince's, either person or govern-
ment, is false and antichristian.
He went on
and said, he ever held the bond of allegiance
indissoluble, and had subscribed that position,
that no power, either spiritual and temporal,
could dispense with the duty of allegiance. Í
asked him, whether he had ever taken the
oaths; and he answered, he quitted a lieu e-
nant's commission, because he refused to take
them.

Yet (he said,) he was in a good measure satisfied, he might lawfully take them, for he had the opinion of some learned men about them; and particularly of an acquaintance of his, a doctor of Sorbon, and canon of St. Bennets in Paris, who told him, the oath of supremacy might lawfully be taken by all the catholic subjects of the king of England; it was no more than what the catholic church of England had done, before they were forbidden by the pope's order; which order, being but a private order of the pope's and not of a general council, was not according to the canon, and therefore of no force.

Then I laid before him the danger of his condition, and the indispensable necessity of doing all that lay in his power to make his Why did you not, said I, take the oaths, peace with God; that he must needs discharge seeing you was so well satisfied about them? his conscience, and give the world satisfaction❘ He replied, it was the test that went more before he died. He answered, he had already against him than the oaths; beside, I was addone all that he could; he was heartily sorry vised, said he, by a person of quality, not to for all the sins he had committed, and he take the oaths; and he gave me this reason hoped God would have mercy upon him. I for his advice: That so long as I was not told him, I would pray for him, and was obliged to the king by oath, I might act against come to profer him my assistance. He thanked him with the more freedom. That, said I, me, and desired me to assist him with my pray- was a special friend to the government: But ers. Then he began to relate how he came to you say, it was the test went against you. He fall into that great misfortune he was in; he said, he would not be compelled by an act of fold me how he had lived abroad, and his parliament to declare his opinion of the Sacrafortune being small, after his return into Eng- ment of the body and blood of Christ. Points land, he took upon him an employinent which in religion, he said, were not to be determined (he said) was much against his inclinations, in parliament. My answer to this, was, That but he must do something to live; his father when the bishops and those of the clergy of lost his estate in Ireland, which was the ruin the convocation, commanded by the king's of their family; and he most unfortunately took writ, have met, and consulted, and are agreed upon him to find out libellers against the king, in a point in religion, it is afterwards brought which led him into the company of ill men, and into parliament to receive a civil sanction. If had brought him to that condition. Would you I could, said he, be satisfied about the real pre(say I) hazard your life, only to live? You should sence, I could come up to all things else in the have brought down your mind to your fortune, church of England; as for the word transuband endeavoured to have been content with your stantiation, I do confess, I never understood it. condition, for nothing runneth gentlemen Sir, said, I this is not a time for you to puzzle into ill courses like a mind above their con- yourself about difficulties in religion, your bucondition. I need not ask your religion, I sup-siness is repentance; yet for your better sapose you are a Papist. He answered he was brought up in the Roman Catholic Religion, yet never had a good opinion of the Jesuits, for they are, said he) an order of men, who, for their meddling with government, are ill thought of in all parts of the world. Their principles, (said I) do strangely influence their minds to be tampering with government; the pope's supremacy (of which they are the great upholders) must needs interfere with the power of the civil magistrate; and to keep up the authority of their church, they will ever be lessening the power of princes, but while they so contend for a superiority over kings, they bring a disparagement upon their religion; for any opinion in

VOL. VIII.

your

tisfaction, I will turn you to a short answer in
our church catechism: Where the question
being asked, What is the inward part, or thing
signified by the outward elements? Answer is
made, The body and blood of Christ, which is
verily and indeed taken and received by the
faithful. Endeavour to understand these words
in their proper sense, and you need trouble
self no further. As you cannot, without
offering violence to both your reason and your
senses, believe the elements upon the words of
consecration, to be turned into the natural body
and blood of Christ. So not to believe Christ
to be present in that Sacrament in a more es
pecial manner than many do, that talk of sym-
2 D

bols and figures, naked elements, is a mean opinion, and unworthy the greatest mystery in the Christian religion: The body and blood of Christ is verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful. You and I will not dispute the mammer of it at this time. I enquire no further, said he, I will receive the Sacrainent of you before I die, and the Lord fit me for it. Amen (said I ;) and since you have made this resolution of your own accord, you must give me leave to mind you of it. He said, there was nothing hindered him from receiving, but the disturbance he was in, for the absence of his wife and friends; he could give no directions concerning his poor wife and children, and until he had seen his wife, and disposed the affairs of his family, and thereby settled his mind, he durst not receive. I told him, he must not discompose bimself; the seeing his wife was not his great concern, he mast prepare to die, and if he were not fit to receive the sacrament, he was not fit to die: Wherefore, said I, you must needs lay aside all thoughts of this world, and prepare for another; you must examine yourself, and set your sins in order, and lantent the follies of your past life; the work you have to do is great, and your time is but short, and you stand upon the very brink of eternity; and if you neglect, or be not sincere and hearty in what you do now, you are lost and undone for ever.

I

have been made believe all along that I should be brought off; but I see, now it is too late, that I have been deluded; and to declare to the king's ministers would be to no purpose, I shall not save my life by it; yet, if you will hear me, I will declare the truth, and you may acquaint the king with it; for they are things of consequence, and such as concern the good of the king and kingdom. Well, said I, if you are resolved to declare, I am obliged to hear you, and if they be things of moment, I can do no less than let the king, or some lords of the privy council know, what you declare; but as for any hopes to save your life, I can give you none: It is towards evening, and I have neither pen, nor ink, nor paper; I will take my leave of you for to night, and will be with you (God willing) again in the morning; a good night to you, and I pray God be your comfort.

Saturday June the 18th, about 10 o'clock in the morning, I went up to Mr. Fitzharris again; and after some discourse concerning his hopes of a better life after death, he began to declare, how he had been employed to find out libels and things of that nature against the king; as you have it in his confession; and he further declared how Mr. Everard methodized and put the libel for which he suffered, into form, and writ it fair; and when he came to Mr. Everard for the libel, he scrupled delivering it, unless he could be secured, Mr. FitzHere Mr. Fitzharris began to be very much harris would not betray him: So Mr. Fitzmoved, and fell a weeping, and said, he would harris left part of the libel (mentioning those deal ingenuously with me; he thanked me for eight heads, he said, he had of my admonitions, and falling upon his knees with Everard as a pawn for his fidelity: then begged of me to hear him; for he was resolved, Everard gave him the libel, perfected, and he said, to give the world satisfaction. I lifted fair written with his own hand; and Fitzharris him up, and desired him to keep his chair. said, he went presently to court with the libel, Sir (said he) you are a stranger to me, and to but could not deliver it that night: In the mean my knowledge, I never saw you before in all time sir William Waller, whom Everard had my life; yet the good opinion I have of you, made privy to the secret of the libel, with aa that you deal faithfully by me, shall oblige meintent to discover Fitzharris, goes to a secre to say that to you, which I have refused to say tary of state, and informs against him, as the to others; I will declare to you all that I author of the libel, who is thereupon ordered know of public matters. Mr. Fitzharris, said I, to be taken into custody, and being brought I have no orders to hear you in those matters; before a secretary of state, and examined; I come to you as a divine, as a guide to your after some interrogatories, he took sir William soul, to help your devotions, and to complete Waller aside, in the secretaries chamber and your repentance; I am not a fit person to whom told him, that if he designed he should accuse you should declare yourself in things of state; the he was mistaken, he would run any you have had some of the greatest ministers of hazard before he would betray friendship. This state with you, who came to you on purpose to I took in short notes, as he spoke it, and then have you declare your mind; they were the repeated it to him, and asked him, whether I fittest persons to whom you should have done it; understood him right, and ebarged him to say they could have served you, I cannot; I can the truth, as he would answer it to God, and give you no hopes of life, whatever you de- he protested it was true, and I have it under clare: Let me desire you to send for them his hand. What he declared next, was the again, I will go to them from you, and ac-design to seize the king; of this he spoke often, quaint them, that you desire they would come to you once more, and you will speak your mind. No, said he, they are great men, and I care not to speak before them; beside, what I shall declare, is for the discharging of my conscience, and not out of hopes to save my life by it; I do not believe the king will pardon me; and those assurances that have been given me from others have made me obstinate;

and said, when they (the party he always called them) had seized the king, they would have obliged him to call a parliament, which should sit until the bill of exclusion against the duke was passed; all evil counsellors removed; and men of their chusing put into places of trust; the militia settled, and the navy put into good hands; all grievances redressed, and all things ordered to their own liking: And had this de