A New Martyrology, Martyrology · Life 1
Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey.
HAD the Person who wrote that Scandalous Libel upon Sir E. B. G. which he calls The Mystery of his Death, but always confin'd himself to as much Truth and Reason as we meet with in the very first Lines of his Preface to it, he might have gone both through the World, and out of it with more Reputation than now he is like to do—[There will (saith he) be a time when Truth shall be believed, and the Witnesses of it justified.] But notwithstanding all his boasted Sagacity in winding Alterations at such a distance, we may safely affirm, that when he writ that Sentence, he little thought 'twould ever have been apply'd in this manner— That Truth would come to life again after all the care he had taken to stifle it, and the highest Judicatures in the Nation in one day remove all the black dirt which so many years he had been throwing on its Witnesses, and in so Publick and authentick a manner justifie 'em again. 'Twas in the heat of those Mischiefs and Miseries which all thinking men cou'd long before easily foresee wou'd be the Consequences of such Notions as he broached, and were too greedily swallow'd, that he publish'd the book before mentioned, at such at time when he knew 'twas in one sense unanswerable, wherein he pretends both to confound all the Evidence given in before the Parliament, and Publick Courts of Justice for Sir Edmond's being murthered with Papists; and over and above—That he was a self-murtherer—No better than a second running him through with his own Sword after his Death. 'Tis some plausible insinuations he has there heapt together which will make it necessary to be a little larger on him than those who came after; especially since he led the way both to the Sufferings of the Protestants, and Malice of their Enemies.
Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey was born of a good Family; his Relations are sufficiently known, and as justly respected in the City of London: But 'tis not the intention of this Piece to write the Lives, but the Deaths of those who are the Subjects of it; at least no more of one than is requisite for describing the other.—The occasion of his Knighthood is reported to be the good Service he did in giving Directions for quenching a Fire which happend some years past at St. James's; which Honour the then Duke of York obtain'd for him, having been under a great Consternation at the apprehension of the danger. This very probably might be the beginning of his so great Intimacy with the Papists, which Sir Roger so often hints in his History, and which afterwards cost him so dearly.
He was a Person of known Vertues—For the Instances of his secret Charity the World is oblig'd to that Reverend and Learned Person who preach'd his Funeral Sermon. For his Piety and Integrity, even his worst Enemy here gives us several Instances thereof; that particularly, when after those Prophetick bodings of his approaching Martyrdom, he took care to settle all things, and adjust Accompts exactly, and even in Parish Matters to right such as he thought had formerly been injur'd. Lastly, how vigilant and careful he was in the Execution of that Office the Law had intrusted him with, his Death, as well as his Life may testifie—One thing cannot, without great Injury to his Memory, be omitted—'Tis his extraordinary Conduct and Courage in the time of the Plague in this City, whence he never stir'd all the while it rag'd so dreadfully; but reliev'd the Poor, and fed them daily with his own hands: Nor did he neglect Justice while he was exercising Mercy, but to the amazement, and almost terrour of the Beholders, pursu'd a Malefactor, who had taken Sanctuary in a Pesthouse, thinking none wou'd be so desperate as to follow him, and with his own hands fetch'd him thence, when the other Officers dar'd not venture after him.
'Twas either his Acquaintance among the Papists, before intimated, and hence his being consequently better known by those who were of that Party, or his industry and indefatigable care in the Discharge of his Office, or both, to which we may rationally attribute the addressing of the first Discovery of the Popish Plot to him, rather than any other.
The clearest Method for the Description of his Martyrdom, will be first to enquire into the Occasion of it and then the Manner, Circumstances, and Authors; and lastly the several Endeavours have been used to clear the Papists of that indelible Guilt which sticks upon 'em from so horrid a Villany.
For the Occasion of his Martyrdom, what was said in the Summing up the Evidence concerning him, but modestly and on supposition only, we may yet venture to affirm positively—This Protestant Magistrate was certainly murder'd—because he was a Pro…estant.
But the particular and special Reasons were these following:
1. He had taken Examinations about the Popish Plot, and those not only (as the Attorny General said in the Trial of the Assassines) perhaps, but undoubtedly more than are now extant. Mr. Oates addressed himself to him with his Depositions—he had taken them, and enquired something closely into the Design, as his manner was in any thing which belong'd to his Office. This the Papists very well knew, and therefore found it convenient to be rid of a troublesome busie man, who now he was engaged in the business, was likely to pierce to the bottom on't—and he being once out of the way, the Evidence might very easily have been dispos'd of to their satisfaction
But here those, whose Interest 'tis to get clear of such a Charge, object very pertly—What need, or what advantage in taking off a Justice, when the same things were deposed in other places?
2. The second Reason or Occasion for this Murder will easily answer that Objection. They not only bore him Malice for what he had already done in Oates's case, and might probably be ignorant of those secret Passages transacted before King and Council in relation to Oates's Depositions, —but were sensible of a deeper Reason than all this, and which brought them into more danger than the other.
See it in the Lord Stafford's Trial, p. 22. and 24. Mr. Dugdale had received a Letter the very night on which this Gentleman was martyr'd (of which more anon) with these words in't—[This Night Sir E.B.G. is dispatch'd.]— This came from the Papists to Ewers a Popish Priest at my Lord Aston's, who after he had read it communicated the good News to Mr. Dugdale, telling him One of their Enemies was taken out of the way. — He being desirous to know how things went, ask'd what was the Reason they took away his Life? Ewers tells him — There was a Message sent to Mr. Coleman, when in Newgate, to desire him that he wou'd not reveal any thing of the Plot; which Message came from the Duke of York.— To which Coleman replyed — What was he the nearer — for he had been so foolish as to reveal all to Sir E.B.G. already? But upon the Examination of Oates before Sir E.B.G. he was afraid he would come in as Evidence against him, having shewn himself eager in the business.—To which the Duke of York sent word again, — If he wou'd take care not to reveal, but conceal it, Sir E.B.G. shou'd not come in against him.—And the next news was—that he was dispatch'd.
Now this effectually takes off the former Cavil; —and this S…r Roger cou'd not but be sensible of; and concluding so unanswerably against wh…t he built so much upon, e'ne lets it fairly drop. and mentions not a syllable of it in all his Book— Which Evidence of Mr. Dugdales is beyond contradiction confirm'd by several hints unluckily given in Sir Roger's own Depositions—pa. 187. where Mr. Wynnel deposes Sir E. told him— Coleman wou'd dye—and mention'd Consults about a Toleration—Adding further—That he was Master of a dangerous secret that wou'd be fatal to him. —Hence nothing can be plainer to any reasonable man, than that Sir Edmond was acquainted with Mr. Coleman as well as Dr. Oates, and knew even the minute Circumstances in those Letters which afterwards were brought against him and stood in fear of his Life for that very Reason, as for the same he afterwards lost it.
For the Manner of his Death, those who were Accomplices therein shou'd best know it; and the Objections against their Evidence the Reader may find clear'd, if he'll take the pains to look a little lower —After the poor Gentleman had several days been dog'd by the Papists, as Dr. Oates, Mr. Prance, and Mr. Bedlow unanimously swear, and which he as good as acknowledged to Mr. Robinson, as appears on the Trial of his Murtherers, they at last accomplish'd their wicked design on Saturday, Octob. 12. 1678. and under a pretence of a Quarrel, which they knew his Care for the publick Peace wou'd oblige him to prevent, about Nine at night, as he was going home, got him into the Water-gate at Somerset-House. When he was thus trapan'd in, and got out of hearing from the Street, toward the lower end of the Yard, Green, one of the Assassines, threw a twisted Handkerchief round his Neck, and drew him behind the Rails,—which, notwithstanding his age and weakness, are objected against its probability; taking him thus at a surprize, and in the dark, 'twas easie for him to do, especially three or four more of 'em immediately falling in to assist him, there they throtled him; and lest that shou'd not be enough, punch'd and kickt him on the Breast, as sufficiently appear'd when his Body was found, by the marks upon it; and lest he shou'd not be yet dead enough, another of 'em, Girald, or, as I find him called in other places, Fitz-Girald, wou'd have run him through, but was hindered by the rest, lest the Blood shou'd have discover'd 'em: But Green, to make sure work, wrung his Neck round, as 'twas found afterwards on the inspection of the Surgeons.
For the disposal of the Body, they all carried it up into a little Chamber of Hills, another of the Murtherers, who had been, or was Dr. Godwin's man, where it lay till Monday night, when they remov'd it into another Room, and thence back again 'till Wednesday, when they carried him out in a Sedan about Twelve a clock, and afterwards upon a Horse, with Hill behind him, to support him, till they got to Primrose-Hill, or as some say 'tis call'd, Green-Bury-Hill, near a Publick House, call'd the White house, and there threw him into a Ditch, with his Gloves and Cane on the Bank near him, and his own Sword run through him, on purpose to perswade the world he had kill'd himself. Very politickly making choice of a place to lay him where they might both think he wou'd be sometime conceal'd, and near where he had been seen walking the same day, if the Affidavits to this purpose in Sir R's Book may be reposed upon.
All this Mr. Prance swe…rs upon the Trial of his Murtherers, with whom he acknowledges he had several Consults before at the Plow Alehouse, and other places, concerning it. Whose Evidence is confirm'd, not only by innumerable other Circumstances, but Mr. Bedlow's Confession, who was to have been present at the Action, had not Remorse of Conscience hinder'd him, having been engag'd by the Conspirators for a great Reward, and was afterwards to have a considerable part of it for carrying off the Body, which he swears he saw in the very Room whither Prance says 'twas remov'd on the Monday night.—But even here too he fail'd 'em—So 'twas done without his Assistance in the manner before described.
And very sure, no doubt, the great Plotters thought they had now made their Business: for we are not to fancy these little Villains attempted such an Action of their own impulse; the great Spring we had before in Dugdales Story of Coleman, from whence those large Sums must proceed which Bedlow mentions. Now, I say, they thought the Business was as sure as the Jews had made the Sepulchre—having seal'd all the mouths of the Parties concern'd, with Oaths and Sacraments, Solemnities commonly abus'd by their Party to the foulest Villanies.—But neither that, nor the darkness of the night, nor the distance of places, cou'd hinder the Divine Justice from looking through and discovering the Villains concern'd, and bringing 'em to Punishments worthy their Wickedness —The manner thus,—His Body being found by some who accidentally walk'd that way, and generally suspected from his former discourses, and many probabilities; that he was murder'd by the Papists, the King issued out a Proclamation with a promise of Indempnity and 500 l. reward to any who wou'd discover it. On this Mr. Bedlow writ a Letter to the Secretary from the Country, concerning his Knowledge of something considerable in that matter; and being sent for up to Town, reveal'd whate're he knew of the Business. And a little after, Prance being accidentally seiz'd by a Constable, and then in the House of Lords Lobby, was known by Mr. Bedlow, having seen his Face on that Monday night, when at the same time they saw the Body; —who on Examination discover'd also what his share was in the Murther: And tho' he afterwards denied it, for fear of losing his Trade, and such other Motives, as he himself confest, yet in a quarter of an hour he returned again to his first Evidence.
But the most difficult Task will be what yet remains—the clearing those Objections, and some of 'em plausible ones, and which have led away too many well-meaning men, against the Truth of this recited Evidence; as well as some Insinuations spread abroad, and made the most of to perswade the World this worthy Gentleman was guilty of his own Death.
But here it can't be expected that a private Person, who has not the advantages of Sir Roger, to have Warrants from two K's and all Persons and Papers before him relating to that Business, and who had Wit great, and Honesty little enough to pick out, and leave in what was for his turn; that such an one shou'd be able to go through so many hundred pages as his Book consists of, and answer every Particular therein. 'Twill be satisfaction enough to any rational man, to touch some of the Plots and Fetches made use of from one time to another to wash the Blackamoor white, and clear the Papists from this Villany: To answer the main Objections against the Evidence, and bring some corroborating Circumstances for the truth on't. And lastly, To shew Sir Edmond cou'd not murther himself in that place and manner as is pretended.
The first of the Methods they used to sham off this Murther, was by early Reports they spread about, even before his Body was found, That he had kill'd himself. Now this Sir Roger himself can scarce have Brow enough to affirm was done by the Brothers to save the Estate; since 'twas a very odd way certainly to do that, by letting the World openly know that he was a Self-murtherer. That such Reports were spread we shall by and by prove, and that from Sir Roger's own Book, without the trouble of consulting the Paper-Office,— and who got by't, who shou'd do't, whose Interest was't to do't but the Papists, altho' the particular Authors may be unknown?
Among the many Evidences of his Death being known at so many distant places before 'twas publick here, there are two come up exactly to the matter in hand. The first—which was recited by the Reverend Dean of Bangor, now Bishop of St. Asaph, in his Funeral Sermon, and which it seems he had of one Mr. Angus — who the same day Sir Edmond was found about Five a clock on Primrose-Hill, being in Mr. Chiswell's Shop in St. Paul's Church-yard about One or Two, there was a Person unknown to him past by, and clapping him on the shoulder, ask'd him [If he heard the News that Sir E.B.G. was found dead, with his own Sword run through him.]
The second is of Mr. Goldsborough, Clerk of the House of Commons, who being in a Barber's Shop on Tuesday morning, while he was missing, a person came in open-mouth'd [That Sir E. B. G. was found;] and being ask'd where, reply'd, [He had kill'd himself upon Primrose-Hill;] where, upon Thursday following in the evening the Body was indeed discover'd.
The second considerable Attempt made the same way, was by one Magrath an Irishman, the famous Celiers, who foretold both the Prince of Wales, and a great many more after him; the Jesuits in Newgate, and others, who pretended to prove Sir E. B. G. hang'd himself, and his Clerk Moor cut him down—But being examin'd at the Council-Board, it prov'd only a malicious and false Contrivance.
'Twill be very well worth the while, to remark that Mrs. Mary Gibbons was one of the persons deeply engaged in this design among so much other good Company; and that Mrs. Mary Gibbons is one of the main Evidences Sir Roger makes use of in his Book.—Tho' this Sham was then so thin laid, and this person so well known, that even Farewell and Pain were asham'd to make use of either in their Letters to Prance on this Subject, but protest very solemnly, That none of those, neither Celiers, the Newgate Priests, nor Mrs. Mary Gibbons, or other Papists, or popishly affected, knew any thing of the matter, but were all Strangers to it.
When this Contrivance was found out by all the World to be as very a Sham as Celiers being with Child in Newgate, or some Body else in another place, yet was not the indefatigable Zeal of that Party discouraged; but Mr. Farewell, a person intrusted in managing the Estates and Lands of the Jesuits; and Pain, Brother to the famous Pain who wrote St. Coleman's Elegy, set a new Project on foot to the same purpose in some Letters sent to Prance, and printed by N. Thomson; which indeed, if we look close into 'em, will appear to be Sir Roger in little, there being the self same Expressions in one as the t'other, and his Mystery seeming to be hardly more than their Letters spread a little thinner.—The Blood gubling out of the Wound,—Bedlow and Prances East and West Contradictions,—The Wax dropt on his Clothes after he was found, and several other things the self same in both of 'em. And I remember, at that very time 'twas shrewdly suspected and rumour'd about Town▪ that the same person lay behind the Curtain, and thrust their Cats-feet into the Fire, who has since appear'd publickly in prosecution of the same Cause.
Before their Trial they reckon'd their Witnesses by the hundred, pretending to make his Self-murther as clear as the Sun. When they came to it, and had all the fair Play imaginable, Pain's heart fail'd him, and he pleaded Guilty.—Farewell made so poor a Defence, and the Matter was so clearly prov'd against 'em, that Farewell and Thomson were both fined by the Court▪ and sentenced to stand in the Pillory, with this Inscription over them, [For Libelling the Justice of the Nation, by makin… the World believe that Sir E.B.G. murther'd himself.] Where how abundantly they were honour'd by the Spectators, all who know any thing of the Story can't but remember.
Thus it lay for some time, and no person was so hardy to make any farther Attempts that way while there was any possibility of having Justice against 'em: But when the Sheriffs, Juries, nay King and all were chang'd; when that past which poor Oates and all the World have cause to remember; when, if Prance wou'd not unconfess, he knew he must tread the same dolorous way that Oates had gone before him, and had now done all that cou'd be desired; Then Sir Roger took up the Cudgels, and publish'd his Book, call'd, [The Mystery of Sir E.B.G's Death unfolded;] Or, which wou'd have been a fitter Title, [The second Edition with Additions of Farewell and Pain's Letters.] The main of what he advances there, will be answer'd in clearing, as was propos'd, the Objections against the Evidence relating to that matter.
If the ill Character of the persons who gave it, be urg'd to invalidate their Testimony, as this does not reach all of 'em, so it has been often answer'd —Who but such were fit for such Villanies? If their seeming Disagreement in some part of their evidence, what greater Argument that 'twas no Combination? If Prance retracted—we are told by Sir Roger himself, That he was a white-liver'd Man, and so might be frighted out of truth as well as into it. And indeed, on that very reason 'twas long before suspected, that if he shou'd ever be bore hard upon, he wou'd not be able to stand it.
[But the Papists wou'd never kill him, because he had obliged'em] — As if Gratitude were a Popish Vertue, or Charity, any more than Faith were to be kept with Hereticks: Those that think so, let 'em look back, and see if the last Reign be enough to convince 'em.
It may be urg'd on, Here are several Testimonies in the Trial of the Murtherers, and since, that invalidate the Evidence there given,—Warner and his Wife and Maid about Green—That he was at home all that Evening when he was accused for committing it. —'Twou'd be enough to oppose to this their Confession to Captain Richardson— That they cou'd do him no good.—But besides this, Mr. Justice Dolbin's Observation on the Trial clears it effectually—They swore to the Saturday fortnight after Michaelmas day, which was, says the Justice, the 19th of Octob. not the 12th. on which the Murther was committed.
—If Broadstreet and others testifie they were in the Room where the Body was laid, and Hills Wife so rubs up her Memory, that after so many years she remembers what she cou'd not upon his Trial—That she, and he, and their Child lay in the Room all that very time when the Body was said to be there—'Twou'd not be a shift, but an Answer—That they were Papists that swore it, who can swear any thing. But besides, Broadstreet acknowledged before the Duke of Monmouth, That Hill was gone from his Lodgings before this time, as was prov'd on the Trial. Mrs. Tilden says, There was but one Key to their Door. Mrs. Broadstreet at the same time, with what she own'd about Hill, That there were six or seven—Contradictions in others, we see, as well as the King's Evidence; and these being much homer, and more irreconcileable than theirs, must of necessity destroy the belief of what else they testifie.
But the home thrust is—[The Centinels saw no Sedan carried out—] This the printed Trial easily sets right. The Centinels were Trollop and Wright. Trollop staid till Ten, and saw a Sedan go in, but none out again: Wright till One, but saw none go out. It must be in Trollops time, being, as Prance says, about Twelve.—The Centinels being then at Bury's Lodge, smoking and drinking. Trollop says on the Trial, he was never at the Lodge, but so does not Wright, as any one may see by consulting it, he being never ask'd the Question.
'Twill give a great Light into this Deed of Darkness in the next place, to consider several Circumstantial Evidences, which wou'd, of themselves, go very far to prove that Sir E. B. G. was murther'd by the Papists, and that in the very place and manner which has been already described.
The first of these from Sir Edmond's own mouth, which has been already hinted, but shall here be farther clear'd.
'Twas indeed so notorious, that Sir E.G.B had boding thoughts, and a sort of a Prophetical Intimation of his Death, and that by the Papists; and discours'd of so publickly and generally, that Sir Roger cou'd not deny all the Matter of Fact, but endeavours to avoid the force on't; when he says, as is witnessed by several—[On my Conscience I shall be the first Martyr—] This he interprets —[I doubt I shan't live long.] —Sure, though he says in one place, The Man was no Fool; yet he must be supposed to be no better, any more than all the Readers, if neither he nor they made any difference between being hang'd and martyr'd. But the very reason of this …nterpretation was for what Sir R. dearly loved—that he might have opportunity for a Reflection on the Parliament— He fear'd, says he, that the Parliament wou'd call him to account, and that nothing wou'd satisfie 'em but his Life for not discovering it sooner.— In opposition to this, any impartial man need but consider what follows. Esquire Robinson, on the Trial of the Murderers, witnesses that he had a Discourse with Sir Edmond a little while before his Death about the Plot then newly talkt on— Says Robinson —I wish the depth of the Matter be found out.— Sir E. answers, —I'm afraid it is not.—VponUpon any Conscience I believe I shall be the first Martyr.— He acknowledged he had taken several Examinations about it, but thought he shou'd have little Thanks for his pains. The Esquire askt him— Are you afraid? [No, said he, I do not fear 'em, if they come fairly; and I shan't part with my Life tamely.] Well, Sir Roger, Is all this the Parliament? Was he afraid the Parliament wou'd send a Party to dog him, and set upon him? and that he did not fear the Parliament, but if they came fairly, would not part with his Life tamely?— No; any Man that has but half an eye, unless that too blinded with Prejudice, may see the meaning on't; and that he apprehended danger onelyonly from the Papists, against whom he had taken several Examinations.
The next is of John Wilson the Sadler, who Swears, Sir Edmond talking with one Mr. Harris, then told this Informant, [That he was in danger for what he acted for the Discovering of the late Plot against his Majesty.] See how ingeniously this is answer'd—[His apprehension was from the Parliament, not the Papists; and for Concealing, not Discovering the Plot.] These very words Sir Roger has in his Book, pag. 281. Now whether this is not a direct Statuimus, i. e. Abrogamus, What Sir Edmond calls Discovering, for Sir R. who knows his Mind better, now he's dead, than he himself did while alive, to tell us he means Concealing, which is quite contrary— and how fair a way of answer 'tis, let any of his best Friends be Judges.
Twou'd be tedious to bring any more, when this does effectually as to his own Judgment. Only 'tis remarkable, that these very things are Sworn upon the Trial by Mr. Oates,—that Sir E. B. G. had told him— [He had received Affronts from great Persons for being so zealous in the Business—That he had been threatned— That he went in fear of his Life from the Popish Party; and that he had been dog'd several days, —but fear'd 'em not if they came fairly to work.]
For other Evidences of his Murther by the Papists, that which indeed made the greatest noise, was, his Death being heard of so far off, and in so many different places, before 'twas known in London. This Sir Roger tells us, was on purpose spread by the Brothers to throw it on the Papists: But here's this in opposition: Dugdale, against whom he makes no objection, but allows his Evidence; makes Oath in my Lord Stafford's Trial, and other places, That this News was brought to one Ewers a Priest, in a Letter which he shew'd him, dated the very night 'twas done, —which had these words in't —[This very night Sir E. B. G. is dispatch'd.] Now I'd fain ask—Had these Brothers Correspondence with the Priest? wou'd they use such a word as that [Dispatch'd?—] Did they write to Ewers too, and bid him tell Dugdale, That this Sir E B.G. was a busie Man, and fit to be taken out of the way?— as Dugdale swears he did.— Cou'd Dugdale conspire with Oates so long before they knew one another; and while he was himself a Prisoner in Staffordshire; and were all those perjur'd who witness that Mr. Dugdale did report this before it cou'd be known by any but the very Conspirators?
That 'twas done in that very place, at Somerset-House, Providence has left strange Confirmation.
The first is—Bury the Porter's refusing to admit any persons into the Gates about that time, the 12th, 13th, 14th of October. Nay, that he had deny'd the Prince himself admittance, (Prince Rupert I suppose it must be) and pretended Orders for so doing. But these Orders he never produc'd.—And more like a true Papist, deny'd matter of Fact when charg'd with it; and tho' he had acknowledg'd to the Council he had never such Orders before, when Sir Thomas Stringer came to witness it, positively deny'd it.
Two more ve…y remarkable Affidavits there are, which give mighty strength to all the former: One of Spence (Captain Spence he's call'd in some Copies) and the other of John Okeley. Spence was a tall, black Man, much like Sir E. B. G. as was witnessed by those who knew him; to all which Sir R. only answers—He has been told otherwise. This Spence passing by the same Water-gate at Somerset-House about Seven at night, two days before Sir Edmond's Murther, was drag'd in thither, being seiz'd by five or six Men— but one of 'em, when they had him in, cry'd out— This is not he— on which they immediately let him go.— Here's a plain Evidence of their Intentions, and a Confirmation of what Bedlow, Oates, and Prance sware of Sir E's being dog'd so long before.— All that's answer'd to't is,— That there was a Suit of Law depending between this Spence and Mrs. Broadstreet —and therefore forsooth, he must forswear himself, and wilfully damn his Soul only for a Circumstantial Evidence and Reflection on Hill himself three or four years after he was hang'd, and so on his Master Dr. Godden, and thence again on Mrs. Broadstreet; and all this when it had no influence at all on the Suit of Law, or them who su'd him.— But enough of this— Let's now take notice of the next— 'Tis one John Okeley, who that very night, Octob. 12. going by Somerset-House, at the Water-gate about Nine a Clock, saw there Sir E. B. G. whom he knew very well, living in the same Lane with him—he past close by him, pull'd off his Hat to him, as Sir E.B.G. did to him again; —when past him, he turn'd about and look'd on him. And this he told to several persons, which witness the same.— To this, the main of what Sir R. objects is,— 'Twas dark, and how shou'd he know him? Certainly, any one that knows London can't be ignorant that we have Lights in the Streets at Nine at night: and 'twas morally impossible that one who knew him so well, who look'd upon him, who put off his Hat to him, as he to him again, and who after all this look'd back upon him— that such a one shou'd be mistaken in the Person.
The last thing to be prov'd is—That Sir E.B.G. did not, and cou'd not murder himself in that place, as is pretended by his Enemies. He was first missing on Saturday, and therefore according to their account, his Body must have been in the place where 'twas found till that Thur…day night. But had it been there on Tuesday or Wednesday, the Pack of Hounds which hunted there, both of those days, must have found him. Sir Roger tells us.— They might have been on t'other side of the Ditch, or beat the place carelesly without finding it. But Mr. Faucet's Deposition is,—That he beat that very place—which sure he was capable of knowing, having been himself there to see it after the Body was found. He repeats it, and says twice,— 'Twas in that very place. And Harwood says as much, who hunted the day after.—One Circumstance there is, which makes this Evidence yet more conclusive. 'Twas depos'd in the Trial of Farewell, and several other places, that the Body stunk extreamly when 'twas found, which was but the next day after. Now I'd ask any unprejudic'd man, Whether was so much as possible that this very place shou'd be beat two days after one another, and the Hounds not Scent the Body, even tho' the Hunters might perhaps over-see it?
But besides this, there was yet a narrower search made on another occasion in that same Field. The Story is told in a Paper, call'd, An Account of the Murther, publish'd by Thompson himself, who, with another Printer, was present, and avouch'd the Matter of Fact on their own Knowledge. 'Tis this—That while the Body lay at the White-house, and the Jury were about it, one of the Jury-men themselves declar'd,—That a servant of his Mother, a Butcher, and two Boys, made a very strict and narrow search in all parts of the Ground for a Calf that was lost there, and this both on Munday and Tuesday—and at that time there lay no dead Body, Belt, Gloves, or any thing else there.— But were all these too on the wrong side of the Hedge? or where did they look for this Calf? in the middle of the Field, or in the Ditches and Hedges? where 'twas impossible they cou'd have mist of the Body, had it been there.
There's one great Objection which Sir Roger makes very much of in this matter—tho' not quite so strong now as 'twas some years since; and that is—There was no Popish Plot at all, therefore no duplicate page duplicate page Popish Murther, —which he expresses in his own peculiar Merry-Andrew way—They hang both upon the same string, and whoever overthrows the one, trips up the heels of the other. Nor indeed is he singular in his Opinion, as to a great part of it—for my Lord Chief Justice Pemberton says, on the Trial of Farewell I think 'twas, —If they cou'd have made it out that he had killd himself, all of them wou'd have cried out, the Popish Plot was a Sham raised by the Protestants against the Papists, and all the Plot must have gone for nothing.— But now to retort the Objection—If there was a Popish Plot, 'tis a terrible Argument that there was too a Popish Murther. But that there was one, we must be forc'd to believe, till we find these things, among many others, answer'd.
1. Coleman's Letters— and that Expression— The Extirpation of this Northern Heresie.
2. The Letter produc'd in Harcourt's Trial, wherein the very Consult of April 24. is mention'd,—and A Design then on foot among 'em, which they were to manage with all imaginable secrecy.
3. The positive Oaths of so many men. Some of 'em of a fair Character and blameless Conversation; others no more able to invent such a Plot than their Enemies to disprove it.
4. The Endeavours of the Papists to assassinate, disgrace, buy off, or any way divert the Evidence against 'em; which they were not such Fools to do for nothing.
5. The behaviour of the Witnesses ever since. One of 'em testifying at his death, after the Sacrament: Another by his life, their Malice reaching to his barbarous Murther. A third with his Blood, and so much as wou'd have perhaps cost any two or three other men their Lives, to the Truth of their Depositions.
And lastly, What Transactions we have felt and seen since the late King came to his Throne, till his departure, are no great Evidence that all that Plot was a Forgery.
From these things 'tis plain there was a Popish Plot: from these, and what went before, that this was a Popish Murther.
There needs no Exaggeration of the Fact, nor Tragical Exclamations. 'Twas as foul as Hell cou'd make it, and perhaps we have not yet seen the full Revenge that Heaven intends for those who were concerned in it; tho' 'tis after so long a time miraculously begun, and will in due time be accomplish'd.
Two Anagrams there were made on this brave Gentleman, which for the peculiar luckiness of 'em, it may not be ungrateful to the Reader, to have 'em inserted.
Sir EDMVNDBVRY GODFREY.
Anag.
I FIND MURDER'D BY ROGUES.
Another;
BY ROME'S RUDE FINGER DIE!
Having thus vindicated the Memory of this great Person▪ without any mean expectation, either of Applause or Reward, who was the first Martyr for our holy Protestant Religion; we shall address what has been written on this subject, not only to Posterity, as Sir Roger very wisely does, where he shall never hear his Fault, but to all the sober unprejudic'd men of the present Age, and so dismiss it, and go on to the rest for whom he only made way, after we have presented you with one of the best pieces of Wit that the Age has yielded on Sir Edmond's death. 'Tis a part of that ingenious Poem, call'd Bacchanalia, or, The Drunken Club.
Well Primrose! may our Godfrey's name on thee
Like Hyacinth inscribed be!
On thee his Memory flourish still,
Sweet as thy Flower, and lasting as thy Hill.
Whilst blushing Somerset, to her
Eternal shame, shall this Inscription wear;
"The Devil's an Ass, for Jesuits on this spot
"Broke both the neck of Godfrey, and the Plot.