The history of the damnable popish plot, in its various branches and progress published for the satisfaction of the present and future ages / by the authors of The weekly pacquet of advice from Rome.

CHAP. XI. (Book 11)

An Account of the Proceedings against Wil∣liam Ireland, Tho. Pickering, and John Grove, for Conspiring to Murther the King.

THE sixth of Decemb. his Majesty taking notice of the bold and open Repair of his Subjects to her Majesties Chappel, and the Houses of For∣raign Ministers, for hearing of Mass, and often∣times Sermons Preached in English there, by Eng∣lish, Scottish, and Irish Priests, thought fit to Issue out an Order of Council, strictly Prohibiting the same.

And now on the 17th. of December, we come to the Tryal of William Ireland and Thomas Pickering, both Priests, and John Grove, a Lay-Brother, at the Sessions House in the Old Bailey: There were at the same time Arraigned with them Thomas White, alias Whitebread, and John Fenwick, two Jesuits, but in the course of the Evidence, it not for the present appearing to the Court that there was suffi∣cient Proof against the two last, by two Witnesses, as our English Laws require: The Jury was dis∣charged of them, and they returned back to New∣gate.

The other three were Indicted for High-Treason, and that of the highest nature imaginable, as being actively concerned in carrying on the general Plot

for Subversion of the Government, but more especi∣ally for the horrid design to Murther his Majesties Per∣son; Ireland for contriving and consenting to it; and Pickering and Grove for having undertaken and attempted actually to effect it.

The Jury consisted of Persons of very good Quality, viz.

• Sir William Roberts, Baronet.
• Sir Philip Matthews, Baronet.
• Sir Charles Lee, Knight.
• Edward Wilford, Esq
• John Foster, Esq
• Joshua Galliard, Esq
• John Byfield, Esq
• Tho. Eaglesfield, Esq
• Tho. Johnson, Esq
• John Pulford, Esq
• Tho. Earnesby, Esq
• Rich. Wheeler, Gent.

The sum of the Evidence (waving Generalities which were here necessarily repeated, and have for the most part been already set forth in this History) was as follows:

Dr. Oates Swears, that at a Consult of 40 or 50 Jesuits, begun at the White-horse, Tavern in the Strand, and pro∣secuted * 1.1 at•• several Colloquies, or lesser meetings at several Cham∣bers (whereof Mr. Irelands was one) to which they Adjourn'd themselves: It was resolved that Pickering and Grove should go on (for they had for∣merly been engaged) in their design and attempt to Murther the King; and that Grove being a Lay-man, should have 1500 l. for his Reward; and Pickering (being a Priest) Thirty-thousand Masses for his (which at 12 d. per Mass, as they usually value them, comes to the same sum.)

2. That this Resolve was the same day drawn up

in writing by one Mico, that was Secretary to the Society, and Socius or Companion to Whitebread the Provincial, at the said Whitehreads Chamber, who having Signed it, it was carried by the Wit∣ness (Dr. Oates) as being Messenger to the Consult, to the rest of the Colloquies to be Signed; and that Ireland at his own Chamber did Sign it in his pre∣sence.

3. That Pickering and Grove consented to such Resolve, accepted the Terms, and also Signed it the same day, at the said White∣breads * 1.2 Chamber, at Mrs. Sanders's at Wild-House, where in a little Chappel, they and a∣bout 40 or 50 of the Consulters heard Mass, re∣ceived the Sacrament, administred by one Barton, a Jesuit, and thereupon took * 1.3 an Oath of Secresie upon a Mass-book which Mico held, whilst Whitebread pronounced the words.

4. That in pursuance of this resolve and under∣taking to Murther the King, he did several times see Pickering and Grove * 1.4 walking in the Park together with their screw'd Pistols, which were longer than ordinary Pistols, and shorter than some Carbines: That they had Silver Bullets to shoot with, and that Grove would have had the Bullet champt, to render the wound Incurable; and that he saw Grove's Bullets in May, and Pickering's in August.

5. That in the Moneth of March, 1677/8. (for these persons followed the King to mischief him, before the said Consult and Resolve, which was made only to encourage them as well by so general an Approbation as by the certainty of Reward set∣led)

Pickering had a fair opportunity to have shot the King, but the Flint of his Pistol happen'd to be loose, and he durst not venture to give fire; and because by their negligence this oppor∣tunity was miss'd, Pickering underwent * 1.5 Penance, and had 20 or 30 strokes of Discipline, and Grove was chidden for his careless∣ness, as Whitebread had written in his Letters, which the Witness had read, and well knew his hand.

6. That Grove did go about with one Smith to gather Peter-pence, which was either to carry on the design, or to send them to Rome: That he saw the Book wherein it was entred, and heard the said Grove say he had been gathering it.

The second Witness was Mr. Bedloe, who Swears

1. That he was imployed for the space of near five years as a Messenger, * 1.6 by these Conspirators, for the carrying their Letters to their Confederates beyond the Seas, and bringing others back, all or the most relating to this Plot, for he Swears he had a way to open and read them, whereby he fully informed himself of matters: And for the nature of the Plot, he Swears he heard some of the Conspirators say, That they would not leave any Member of an Here∣tick in England, that should survive to tell hereafter, that there ever was any such Religion there as the Pro∣testant: And to confirm his Intimacy with them, he Swears the manner of his coming first to be im∣ployed by them: By means of the Lady Abbess of the English Nunnery, at Dunkirk, who having kept him six weeks in her Convent, recommended him to Sir John Warner, as a proper Instrument,

who afterwards sent him to Harcourt to be in∣structed; and then he brings his Brother James Bedloe, who knew nothing of the Plot, but Swears he hath heard the Prisoners often named, as being of his Brothers Acquaintance; and that he hath on his Brothers behalf, received several sums of mo∣ney from Priests and Jesuits, sometimes 50 or 60 l. a•• a time; from all which it appears that he must be very well acquainted amongst them, and know∣ing in the design, having been imployed under them so long in it.

2. Mr. Bedloe Swears, That about the latter end of August, 78. (the very day, he Con∣fesses, he cannot Swear to) at Mr. Har∣courts * 1.7 Chamber (one of the Conspira∣tors) he met Ireland, Pickering, and Grove the Pri∣soners, with some others, where he heard them dis∣course that the 4 Irish Russians missing of Killing of the King at Windsor, therefore Pickering and Grove should go on in their design; and that one Conyers (a Benedictine Monk) was to be joyned with them, and that they should endeavour to Assassinate his Majesty in his Morning walk at New Market; and they had taken it so strongly upon them, that they were eager upon it, and Mr. Grove more forward than the rest, insomuch that he said, Since it could not be done Clandestinely, it should be attempted Openly, and that those that should fall therein, had the Glory to die in a good Cause; but if it should be discovered, the discovery could never reach to that height, but their Party would be strong enough to accomplish the work.

3. He Swears that Harcourt told him, Grove was to have 1500 l. and Pickering as many Masses as at 12 d. a piece came to the like sum.

4. That at the same time, when the discourse was at Harcourts Chamber about Killing the King at New-Market, there was likewise a discourse a∣mongst them of a design to Kill several Noble Per∣sons, and the particular parts assigned to every one; Knight was to Kill the Earl of Shaftsbury; Prichard the Duke of Buckingham; Oneile, the Earl of Ossory; Obrian, the Duke of Ormond, &c.

And here it is to be noted, That though Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe do not speak to one and the same Consultation, nor to one and the same time, yet they are in Law two Witnesses to one and the same Crime; for thus several Witnesses to several Overt Acts, are so many Witnesses to the Treason; and the several Overt Acts which declare the Inten∣tion, are but as so many Evidences of the Treason; and this hath often heretofore, as in the case of Sir Henry Vane, and else where, as well as now, been declared to be Law; and there seems good reason that it should be so, for otherwise scarce ever any Treason could be proved; for men that run the ha∣zard of their lives in such Consultations, will hard∣ly suffer two persons to hear them, or meet twice to∣gether, but so dispose them, that they may meet severally at several times, and in different places, as Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe did.

To Corroborate Dr. Oates's Testimony, con∣cerning the Consult of the 24th. of April, there was a Letter produced and read, taken in Harcourts Chamber when they Search'd for him, dated Feb. 23. 77. written by one Peters, a Jesuit, now in

Newgate, on the score of the Plot, to one Tonstall, of the same Society, to summon him to meet at the general Consult to be held at London, April the 24th. [the same day Dr. Oates set forth] wherein there is special Caution given in these words; Every one is also to be minded, not to hasten to London long before the time appointed, nor to appear much a∣bout Town till the meeting be over, lest occasion should be given to suspect the Design; finally, Secresie, as to the time and place is much recommended to all those that receive Summons, as it will appear of its own nature necessary.

Now Dr. Oates had given in his Testimony of the Consult, on April the 24th. long before this Letter was found, so that he was right in that: And by the words, Suspect the Design, and the un∣usual Caution and Secresie prescribed as necessary there, is a strong presumption that the design in∣tended, was indeed no other than what he hath set forth.

The Prisoners Defence for themselves, a∣gainst all this, was

1. A naked peremptory denial of the whole, but that without Witnesses or good Circumstances to prove it, signifies very little, being the common Allegation of every Malefactor, much more to be expected from these men, who having the Consci∣ence to venture on such Devillish Crimes; and who by their Religion could have, or grant a Dis∣pensation for the breaking of an Oath, were not

like to Boggle at telling a Lie to save their Lives, and to keep off so great a Scandal from their Party.

2. They would seem not to know Mr. Oates, or to have had scarce any acquaintance with him.

In answer to this, he Swears to several Circum∣stances which they were forc'd to ac∣knowledge; As, that Grove in December * 1.8 last, lent him 8 s. to hire a Coach to Dover, being then to go for St. Omers; that Fen∣wick was his Confessor; that the said Grove drank twice in his Company at the Red posts in Wild-Street, and once more, by a good token, when he owned that he Fired Southwark, assisted by three Irish men; and that they had a Thousand pounds given them for it, whereof he had 400 l. and the other 200 l. a piece.

And here as a Digression, not altogether imper∣tinent, I cannot but inform the Reader, that when Dr. Oates gave in his Informations to Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, when he read them, and came to this passage concerning Grove Firing of Southwark, being Article the 49th. The said Sir Edmund-bury having, it seems, some knowledge of the said Grove, said, That he had been informed that the said Grove wrought so hard at the said Southwark-Fire, and so over-heated himself, that it was thought it would have cost him his life, or words to that effect; which hard working, the said Sir Edmund-bury did before judge to have been in helping to quench the said Fire; but, as appears, was indeed in promoting and carrying on the same; which Circumstance unknown before to Dr. Oates, doth

exactly correspond with, and confirm his Testi∣mony in that point.

3. Ireland endeavoured to oppose Mr. Bedloes Evidence, who Swore that he was at the Consult at Harcourts Chamber in August: Now he brings two or three to prove that he was not in London all the moneth of August; and two of them (but they are his Mother and his Sister) say he went out of Town the 3d. of August, and returned not till a Fortnight before Michaelmas:. And a Coach-man speaks of being with him from the 5th. of August to the 16th. and afterwards at Westehester.

But against these Peoples sayings, whereof two were so related, there was not only Mr. Bedloes po∣sitive Oath, but likewise Dr. Oates's, though he knew nothing of the particular Consult at Har∣courts Chamber mentioned by Mr Bedloe; yet he Swears directly that Mr. Ireland was in London the beginning of Septemb. by a remarkable Token; that on the first or second of that moneth he had 20 s. of him: And furthermore, Sarah Pain, formerly Grove's Servant, and * 1.9 who knew Ireland very well, of which knowledge she gives the reason, because he came often to Grove's House, and was the man that still broke open the Pacquets of Letters that her Master Grove carried about afterwards, and Sealed all the Pacquets that went beyond the Seas; and she Swears positively, and by most certain Circum∣stances, that she saw Mr. Ireland at a Scriveners door in Fetter-Lane, where he Lodg'd about the 12th. or 13th. of August; so that here were three

clear Testimonies upon Oath, to disprove this Alle∣gation of Irelands, which yet he insisted on at his Death with Solemn Protestations: Whereas since it has pleased God further to manifest the falsi••y thereof, by Mr. Jennison, a Kinsman of his, and then a Catholick, as in due place shall be set forth; whence we may take our measures what Credit is to be given to the dying Asseverations of such men.

4. Mr. Ireland objected, that Dr. Oates was all the moneth of May at Saint Omers, when he Swears he was here at the Consult; and to prove that he was so there then, offered to bring a Certificate from St. Omers, under the Seal of the Colledge; for it seems the Youths either were not then come over, or had not sufficiently Conn'd their Lesson.

But to this it was Answered, that such a Certi∣ficate was not by the Law of England any Evidence, in any case whatsoever, much less to be allowed to them in this case; for what Certificate could they not get from the Colledge at St. Omers, if it might serve their purposes?

Lastly, They essai'd to blast Dr. Oates's Credit with an Imputation of Perjury; because they al∣leadged that there was once an Indictment against him for that Crime; but upon Examination, this appeared to be extreamly frivolous: For

1. The pretended Perjury was only thus, That Mr. Oates Swearing the Peace against a certain man, did at the taking of his Oath, say, that there were some Witnesses that would evidence such a point of Fact, which when they were produced, would not

testifie so much: Now suppose this were true, (though it were never proved) yet how could this be corrupt or wilful Perjury?

2. There was no Record produced, only a pre∣tended Copy.

3. It appeared, if every any such Indictment was Exhibited, it could not be made good, for there was never any Conviction or Prosecution there-upon; and if barely to Accuse, would make a man Guilty; who could be Innocent?

4. Sir Denny Ashburnham, who was called by the Prisoners to Discredit Dr. Oates, was able to say nothing against him, but this, That he had known Mr. Oates in his Youth, and that then he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Person of that Credit as to be depended on for what he should say; and that had the discovery of the Plot come only from his Testimony, he might have had, same little daubt of it. [These are his very words, p. 66.] But then the very same Gentleman declares,] That as it is Corroborated with other Circumstances, it hath (saith he, ibidem) convinced me, so that I am satis∣fied in the truth of the thing; and I do think truly, that nothing can be said against Mr. Oates, to take off his Credibility.

This being all they had to offer in their own de∣fence, the full substance whereof we have impar∣tially repeated, with the Answers thereunto. The Lord Chief Justice proceeded to sum up the Evi∣dence, and in his Speech to the Jury, amongst ma∣ny others, had these excellent Expressions, speaking of the Popish Priests and their Religi∣on, If they had not Murther'd Kings * 1.10 (saith he) I would not say they would

have done Ours: But when it hath been their practice so to do, when they have Debauch▪d mens Ʋnderstan∣dings, Over-turn'd all Morals, and Destroy'd all Divi∣nity: What shall I say of them? When their Humility is such, that they tread upon the necks of Emperors; their Charity such, as to kill Princes; and their Vow of Poverty such as to Covet Kingdoms: What shall I judge of them? When they have Licences to Lye, and Indulgences for Falshoods; nay, when they can make him a Saint that dies in one, and then pray to him; as the Carpenter first makes an Image, and after Worships it, and can then think to bring in that Wooden Reli∣gion of theirs amongst us in this Nation: What shall I think of them? What shall I say to them? What shall I do with them? They Eat their God; they Kill their King, and Saint the Murderer; they Indulge all sorts of Sins, and no humane Bonds can hold them.

After a short Recess, the Jury brought them in all three Guilty; and in the Afternoon, Sir George Jeffries, Recorder of London, pronounced Sentence of Death upon them.

But there being a delay of their Execution, on the 26th. of Decemb. the House of Commons Or∣dered the said Recorder to attend, and give the House an Account why he did not Issue out his Warrant to Execute them: On which being call'd in the next day, he informed the House, that he had not yet received any Orders from the King for their Execution; which Answer, to some Mem∣bers, seem'd Unsatisfactory, but the Debate was Adjourned: And on the 24th. of January, the Prisoners, William Ireland and John Grove suffered

according to Sentence. And on the same day was Publish'd a Proclamation for Dissolving the Parlia∣ment, and calling a New one, to be Assembled the 6th. of March. But Tho. Pickering, whether to in∣duce him to a Confession, or for what other rea∣sons, I know not, was kept a considerable time afterwards, but at last likewise Executed on the 9th. of May, persisting in denials, as the rest had done before him, and scarce behaving himself as a dying man at the place of Execution.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See the Tryal of Ireland, &c. p. 19.
• * 1.2

  pag. 23.
• * 1.3

  pag. 28.
• * 1.4

  pag. 23.
• * 1.5

  pag. 24.
• * 1.6

  p. 37, 38.
• * 1.7

  pag. 41.
• * 1.8

  pag. 31.
• * 1.9

  pag. 57.
• * 1.10

  p. 73, 74.