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. XV. (Book 15)

The Proceedings in Parliament touching the Plot, with the discovery of Mr. Read∣ing's ill practice, and the substance of the Proceedings against him, for attempt∣ing to stifle the King's Evidence, re∣lating thereunto.

AT the beginning of March, his Ma∣jesty sent his Royal Highness the Duke of York a Letter, Ordering him to withdraw for some time, who thereupon set forwards on the third of March towards Flanders, and on the sixth of the same, the new Parliament met, whom the King entertain'd with a Speech, setting forth what had been done in prosecution of the Plot, disbanding the Army, &c. during the interval; and con∣cerning the Duke of York's being so withdrawn beyond the Seas, his Majesty was pleased to take notice thereof, in these words,—And above all, I have Commanded my Brother to absent himself from me, because I would not leave the most Malici∣ous Men room to say, I had not removed all Causes which could be pretended to influence Me towards Popish Counsels. But some unhappy Traverses happened, about settling a Speaker, which stum∣bling at the Threshold, was even then look'd up∣on

by observing men as an Ominous Presage, That little good would be attained or effected by that Assembly, though undoubtedly it was com∣posed as of men of the best Estates, so generally of the most able Understandings, and most pub∣lick-spirited Gentlemen, that over served their Country in that Capacity; To allay and com∣pose these Animosities which were unhappily started by the Treasurer and his Interest, pur∣posely to render this Parliament ineffectual, which he knew would otherwise prove Fatal to him. There was a short Prorogation, and then they fell to Business, and on the 24th. of March, 1678.

Resolved, Nemine Contradicente,

That this House doth declare, That they are fully satisfied by the proofs they have heard, that there now is, and for divers Years last past, hath been an Horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy contrived and carried on by those of the Popish Religi∣on, for the Murthering of his Majestie's Sacred Person, and for Subverting the Protestant Religion, and the Antient, and well-Establisht Government of this King∣dom.

And the Concurrence of the House of Lords being desired herein, the next day their Lord∣ships sent a Message to the Commons, That their

Lordships did immediately and unanimously Con∣cur with the House of Commons in the Decla∣ration as to the Plot. Thus have we the Judg∣ment of Two Parliaments in the Case solemnly and publickly declared.

The same 25th. of March, One Mr. Sackvile a Member of the House of Commons, and Bur∣gess for East Greenstead in Sussex, being charg'd by Dr. Oats to have said,—That they were Sons of Whores, who said there was a Plot, and that he was a lying Rogue that said it, the matter was examined, and Resolved, That the said Mr. Edw. Sackvile be sent to the Tower, and that he be Expelled the House, and made incapable of bear∣ing any Office; and though the next day on his Knees at the Bar of that House, he desired to have the last part of this Sentence remitted, yet the House would not Retract what they had done.

About the same time, Mr. Bedloe made a com∣plaint of harsh usage, and discouragements, to the House of Commons, and upon Oath set forth, That going to the Lord Treasurer for some money, by virtue of an Order from the Council, my Lord took him into his Closet, and asked him, Whether the Duke of Buckingham, or Lord Shafts∣bury, or any of the Members of the House of Com∣mons, had desired him to say any thing against him, and to tell him who they were, and he would well Reward him, and to know if he would desist from giving Evidence against the—and the Lords in the Tower, &c. To which he answered, That he had once been an ill man, and desired to be so no more: To which the Treasurer replied, You may have a great sum of money, and live in another

Countrey, as Geneva, Su••den, or New-England, and should have what money he would ask, to maintain him there; But Mr. Bedloc refusing such Temptations, his Lordship began to threaten him, saying, There was a Boat and a Yatch ready to car∣ry him far enough for telling of Tales, and after this, Guards were as Spies upon him, and he very ill used, till by an Address to the King, the same was remedied, and better Care taken. And at the same time, Dr. Oats declared to the House, That one day he being in the Privy Garden, the said Lord Treasurer passing by, and reflecting on him, said,—There goes one of the Saviours of Eng∣land, but I hope to see him hang'd within a Month; all which Complaints as to the Earl of Danby, were referred to the Consideration of the Com∣mittee of Secrecy.

We have before Chapter the 13th set forth a kind of Counter-plot, laid for opposing and vi∣lifying the Evidence of Dr. Oats and Mr. Bedloe, but now we must give an account of another kind of Design, still aiming at the same end, but manag'd more privately, to mollifie aad sweet∣en Mr. Bedloe in his Evidence, and stifle his Testi∣mony by his own consent, that it might not fall too heavy upon the Lords in the Tower, but this too proved Abortive, for though they had chosen a notable Agent for the Work, viz. One Mr. Reading a Council at Law, (famous for his Adventures in the Isle of Axolme) yet Mr. Bed∣loe out-witted him, and brought him to deserved Infamy for that corrupt practice; for after he had long held him in hand, got several sums of money of him, procured by a stratagem suffici∣ent

Witnesses to prove it out of his own mouth, and under his hand, and made the Business full ripe. Then on the third of April, the Committee of Secrecy (to whom Mr. Bedloe had from time to time communicated this Intrigue, and from them took his measures of proceeding in it) in∣form'd the House of Commons, that they had something of moment lately come to their know∣ledg, wherein they desired the Assistance of the House; hereupon it was immediately Ordered, That all Persons who were not Members, should be put out of the Speakers Chamber, and that no Person should be suffered to go out of the House, and that the Keys be brought in and laid upon the Table, which being done, and the bu∣siness discovered and debated, it was Ordered, That Mr. Speaker immediately issue out his War∣rant against Nathaniel Reading Esquire, who be∣ing then walking in the Lobby, (for he had much Practice in Soliciting Causes in Parliament, and commonly attended there,) was taken into Custo∣dy, and the Secret Committee Ordered to take his Examination; which being dispatch'd and Reported, the House on the 8th. of April, made the following Address to the King for bringing him to his Tryal.

May it please your Majesty,

WEE your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the Commons in Parliament Assembled, having according to our Duty made equiry into the Damnable and Hellish Plot against your Majesties Sa∣cred

Person and Government; and for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religi∣on, have upon examination discovered that Nathaniel Reading Esq hath Industri∣ously and against the Duty of a Loyal Sub∣ject held frequent Correspondencies with se∣veral Lords and other Persons that stand Committed for High-Treason, and also used his utmost endeavours to prevent and sup∣press your Majesties evidence, and as much as in him lay to stifle the discovery of the said Plot, and thereby to render the same Fallacious and of no reality, and by such undue means to prevent the Malefactors from coming to Justice; Therefore We your said Commons do most humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be Gratiously pleased to command, That a Commission of Oyer and Terminer do immediately Issue forth for the Tryal of the said Nathaniel Read∣ing for the said Offence, that he may be brought to publick Justice.

Accordingly a Commission was granted, and on Thursday the 24th. of April, Mr. Reading was brought to his Tryal, before Sir Francis North, Lord Cheif Justice of the Common Pleas, and most of the other Judges, (except the Lord Cheif Justice of the Kings-Bench, who was in the Country) and several other Persons of Qua∣lity in the Commission named, at the Kings-Bench-Bar at Westminster.

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When the Jury came to be Sworn, Mr. Read∣ing desired the Liberty of a Peremptory Challenge, which the Court could not allow, he standing Indicted only for a Misdemeanour, not Treason, then he replied with a great deal of Submission, and Eloquence, seeming to urge that the nature of the Crime as it was laid, was Treason, and thence descended to crave the Opinion of the Court, whether he might not be Indicted again for Treason for the same matter, but in this, the Court refused to gratifie him, only telling him, that the laying of it but as a Misdemeanour was a favour, and ought so to be by him accounted; and so proceeded to Swear the Jury as follows,

• Sir John Cutler, Kt.
• Joshuah Galliard, Esq
• Edw. Wilford, Esq
• Thomas Henslow, Esq
• Thomas Earsby, Esq
• John Serle, Esq
• Thomas Cass, Esq
• Rainsford Waterhouse, Esq
• Matthew Bateman, Esq
• Walter Moyle. Esq
• Richard Pagett, Esq
• John Haynes, Esq

The Effect of the Evidence.

1. Mr. Bedloe set forth how he came acquaint∣ed with Mr. Reading, whom he employed in some Concerns: * 2.1 That he never went about to have him stifle the whole Plot, but only to make him easie towards some particular Peo∣ple, that he Solicited for, to which purpose he would tell him it was not for his safety to run at the whole Herd, and if he could do a kindness he should be well gratified.

2. That the cheif Persons he Solicited for, were the Lord Petre, the Lord Powis, the Lord Stafford, and Sir Henry Titchborn, in whose name he promised great Rewards, both in money and Estate, for shortning the Evidence, and bringing them off from the charge of High Treason; and particularly that he made him easie towards Whitebread and Fenwick, when they were first Arraigned, which was to be an Assurance that he would accomplish what he promised, and an ex∣ample what kindness might be done, wherein the Witness was willing to comply, to carry on the Intreigue with the Lords, till it might pro∣perly be discovered, he esteeming that of greater Consequence, then two old Priests, whom he might charge further another time.

3. He did not know but Reading had laid a Trap for him, and therefore discovered these Conferences to Prince Rupert, the Earl of Essex, Mr. Kirkby, and others; and Mr. Reading being to give him a meeting at his Lodgings on the 26th. of March, he had planted one Mr. Speke a Gentleman of good Quality behind the hang∣ings, and making an hollow place in the Bed, laid his man there, cover'd over smooth with a Rugg, as if it had been new made, that they might over-hear what passed, and not be descry∣ed. There he agreed to bring the Final Answer of the Lords, and told him, That he had Autho∣rity to draw blank Deedes, both for Sums, and Estates, which they would settle on him; and that the Lord Stafford was Felling of Timber to sell, to raise money for him, &c.

4. That the Monday following, the Witness and the Prisoner drew up a Paper of what the Witness had to charge the aforesaid Lords with, which was carried to the Lords, and then re∣turn'd by Reading in his own hand writing, but minc'd so, as not to signifie any thing material against them. This paper Mr. Reading own'd, and it was read in Court.

5. Mr. Speke sets forth the Conference be∣tween Mr. Bedloe and Mr. Reading, which he over-heard, and that Mr. * 2.2 Reading said, The Lord Stafford would settle an Estate in Glocestershire on Mr. Bed∣loe, and Sign and Seal a Deed thereof within ten days after he should be discharged, and se∣veral other discourses plainly proving the matter of the Indictment, too long here to be recited. And the same was sworn by Henry Wiggins, Mr. Bedloes man.

6. Mr. Bedloe swore positively, That Mr. Read∣ing had given him several Sums of money, a∣mounting in all to 56l. or upwards, and all to dispose him to this matter.

To all this Mr. Reading had very little to say in his own defence, that was pertinent or mate∣rial, but only endeavoured with a multitude of fine words to cloud the matter, and asperse the Evidence, yet in the process of his discourse he did in effect own the whole matter of Fact, he stood charged with, but would have had it be∣leiv'd that Mr. Bedloe first proposed it to him, and that all that he did; was not in the least to short∣en, lessen or stifle any thing of Truth, which Mr. Bedloe had to say; but only to prevent him

from the guilt of Perjury and Innocent Blood, &c.

All which, being sufficiently disproved by the Evidence, and most improbable in it self, the Ju∣ry going together, soon returned, and brought Mr. Reading in guilty of the Misdemeanour where∣of he stood Indicted.

And then the Lord Cheif Justice North after a grave Speech respecting the heinousness of the Crime, and the Quality of the Person, as being of the long Robe, whose knowledg should keep them from so foolish, and their Integrity from so wicked an Attempt, Pronounced the Judgment of the Court, viz. That be be Fined 1000 l. Im∣prisoned for one Year, and stand one hour in the Pillory, in the Pallace-Yard in Westminster on Monday then next, between the hours of Eleven and Twelve. Accordingly he did at the same time publickly stand in the Pillory, and the People generally appear'd so Enraged against his Crimes, that if an extraordinary Guard had not been provided to secure him, 'tis thought, some Fatal Mischeif might have been done to his Person, by the Fury of the incensed Rabble.

Notes

• * 2.1

  See Reading's Tryal, P. 15.
• * 2.2

  Ibidem P. 28.