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 't would 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 . 'T was 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 't was 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 . 'T is 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 't is 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 — 'T is 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 .

'T was 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 't is 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 , 't was 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 't was 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 't is 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 't was remov'd on the Monday night . — But even here too he fail'd 'em — So 't was 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 . 'T will 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 't was 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 't was 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 .

'T will 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 't was 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 't was 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 't was 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 . — 'T wou'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 19 th of Octob. not the 12 th . 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 — 'T wou'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 .

'T will 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 .

'T was 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 . — Vpon 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 onely 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 't is , 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 't is 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 't was 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 't was 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 't was 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 12 th , 13 th , 14 th 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 — 'T is 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 , — 'T was 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 't was 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 't was 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 , — 'T was 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 . 'T was depos'd in the Trial of Farewell , and several other places , that the Body stunk extreamly when 't was 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 . 'T is 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 't was 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 't was some years since ; and that is — There was no Popish Plot at all , therefore no 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 't was , — 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 , 't is 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 't is 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 . 'T was 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' 't is 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 . 'T is 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.