A brief history of the times, &c. ...

CHAP. V.

What did Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Friends, Relations, Servants and Acquaintance think was become of him, from the time of his going away, to the Time when the Body was found?

RIchard Adams Senior of Lincolns Inne, Esquire, Deposeth; Octob. 4. 1684. That upon the Satur∣day Morning, betwixt Six and Seven, being the Day (as he conceives) Whereupon Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was first Missing; He This Enformant went to the House of the said Sir Edmund, and Enquiring for him, received Answer, from some of the House, that he was gone a∣broad Early in the Morning: and so This Enformant went from Thence to Westminster, from whence he Re∣turn'd, and call'd at the House of the said Sir Edmund toward Eleven the same Day, and Enquiring for Sir Ed∣mund again, the People of the House seem'd to be in Great Consternation; which gave Occasion to This En∣formant to Enquire what the Matter was, receiving for Answer, that they had Cause to fear that he was made away.

Mr. Thomas Wynell Deposeth; that having been In∣timately acquainted with Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, the said Sir Edmund made a proposal to This Enformant (as on the behalf of a Friend) for the buying of some houses of this Enformants in Brewers Yard: And they proceed∣ed so far upon the Agreement, that they applyed them∣selves, by Consent, to Mr. Goodwin a Councellor at Law, then living near the Temple-Gate, to draw up the Con∣veyance between them: and appointed to Dine together at one Collonel Welden's in York-Buildings, on the Sa∣turday

the 12. of October 1678. To the best of This Enformants Memory; Intending, after Dinner, to go to Council together to finish the Writings.

This Enformant saith further, that coming to the Place and not finding Sir Edmundbury Godfrey there, he desired Collonel Welden to send his Servant to his house for him; it being then past Twelve a Clock at Noon. The Servant went to call the said Sir Edmund, and brought word back that he was not at home: After which, this Enformant staid for some time Expecting him; and then told Welden that he would go himself to his house, Whe∣ther this Enformant went accordingly.

And saith further, that he This Enformant coming to∣wards the Door of the house, saw the Maid-Servant of the House (an Elderly Tall Person) Leaning upon the Rail without the Door: and the Man-Servant (which he took to be his Clerk, and his Name, Moor) Leaning against the Door-Post: And both of them appearing to This Enformant sad, and surpriz'd.

This Enformant did then Demand of them where their Master was; or whether he was at home or No? To which they, or one of them made Answer, that he was gone out about two hours before; This Enformant asking them whether he was gone, it was Answered, that they could not tell: Whereupon, This Enformant said to them, Your Master Promised to Dine with me to Day at Collo∣nel Welden's, Will he not be There, think Ye? To which the Man replyed, Truly he could not tell. Vpon This the Enformant bad the Servant tell his Master when he came in, that he was gone to Collonel Welden's, and Expected him There, according to his appointment. To which the Man Answered, Ay Sir, when I see him, so I will. There appear'd to This Deponent so much Disorder in their Coun∣tenances; Their Manner of speaking, and their Beha∣viour, that it made an Impression of Heaviness upon him.

Hereupon the Enformant went his way, and in less then an hour return'd to Welden's, and told him he could not find him, and they had best go to Dinner; for they said he was gone out, and No body knew where he was.

Sir Edmund's Clerk remembers Mr. Wynel's Enqui∣ring for his Master, as above.

Mr. Thomas Burdet Deposeth, That He This En∣formant hath often heard Mr. Thomas Wynell speak of the very Great Melancholy, and Disorder of Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey for some short time before he left his House; and particularly, that upon the very Morning that Sir Edmund went away, Mr. Wynell calling at his House, saw a Servant, or Servants of the said Family, in a very sad, and Disconsolate Appearance, at the said Sir Edmund's Door, which gave Mr. Wynell an Ap∣prehension, as if some Great Mischief had Befall'n the said Sir Edmund.

Mary Gibbon the Elder Deposeth, That upon the Sun∣day, the Day after Sir Edmundbury Godfrey went from his House, Mrs. Pamphlin came to This Enformant, and Weeping, asked her where Sir Edmund was.

Vpon Monday (the Day following) the Two Brothers of the said Sir Edmund came to This Enformant's House, and Enquired for their Brother; telling her, that he din'd with her the Day before, and lay there all Night. Mr. Michael Godfrey saying, I am sure he is here; This Enformant Declaring that he was Not; and why should she deny it, if it were Otherwise? The Brother hereupon ask'd This Enformant when she saw him, and what Discourse they had? so This Enformant told them of his Locking himself up, and of his Discourse; and how much he was out of Humour: Vpon the Hearing whereof, Mr. Michael fell to stamping, and Crying-out, O Lord! We are Ruin'd, What shall we do? The

Brother Benjamin lifting up his eyes; Wringing his Hands; and breaking out into Exclamations: What will become of us! This Enformant asked them then what the Matter was! they said [Nothing.] But they said he was not at Church, and so they thought he might have been with Her, telling This Enformant also that she should hear More.

Henry Moor Deposeth, That his Master not coming home That Saturday Night, he went Early the Next day, being Sunday Morning, to the House of Mr. Michael Godfrey, to acquaint him with his Masters Absence; whereupon the said Mr. Godfrey brake out into This Ex∣pression: [God have Mercy upon us; I pray God we hear good News of him.]

Let any Man Consider now, upon what Apprehen∣sion it was that the Brothers should be so Transported upon the Story of This Extravagance of the said Sir Edmund. It will not be said, I hope, that This Wild Behaviour of his was a Symptom of any Danger he lay in from the Papists.

Mary Gibbon Iunior Deposeth, That some Day be∣twixt Sir Edmund's Leaving his House, and the finding of the Body, she This Enformant saw the Two Brothers of Sir Edmund come into her Fathers House; but she did not hear their Discourse: only This Enformants Mother told her afterwards, that upon some Discourse with them of the Strange Behaviour of their Brother a Matter of Ten Days before, they brake out into Exclamations, Crying out, they were Ruin'd; What should they do! VVhat would become of them!

Mary Gibbon Senior further Deposeth, That on Tues∣day Morning, the Enformant came to the House of Sir

Edmund, where she found Mrs. Pamphlin Crying, and saying, We shall never see Sir Edmund More: And asking her what was become of him, she said, she durst not trust her.

And further saith, That about a Fortnight after the Burial of Sir Edmund's Body, Mrs. Pamphlin came to This Enformant, saying, It is a very sad thing that I should not be examin'd about the Death of Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey: This Enformant telling her, the said Pamphlin; If you do know how he came by his Death, and do not discover it, you will be Damn'd to All Eternity: The said Pamphlin replying to this Effect; If his Clerk and I were Examin'd upon Oath, we could say a Great Deal, which I will not do Volun∣tarily; but if I be put to my Oath, I will speak what I know. The Clerk knows more then you can Imagin, This Enformant wrote down some Notes of what Mrs. Pamphlin said, which were Deliver'd (as this En∣formant believeth) either to the Lords Committees, or to the Earl of Shaftsbury. This Enformant well Remem∣breth, that Mr. Pamphlin took Notice to her of Sir Ed∣mund's being much out of Order some Weeks before his Death.

Captain Thomas Gibbon Deposeth, That upon the Munday after Sir Edmundbury Godfrey went away, he went to Collonel Weldens, and asked him what he thought of Sir Edmund? Whose Answer was, I Dare not tell you my Thoughts; for I have observ'd him to be much out of his Ordinary Temper, ever since his Ex∣amination of Otes: This Enformant telling his Wife, what he had heard, at his Return.

This Enformant went the Day Following, to Sir Ed∣mund's to know what News; where Mrs. Pamphlin said, that She could not tell him, but bad him go into the Kitchin, where the Clerk was, and he would tell him more.

Mary Gibbon Iunior, Deposeth, That after Sir Edmunds Dead Body was found, and that in the Time betwixt the Burial of the said Sir Edmund, and the co∣ming in of Bedloe, and Prance; and before any News of a Discovery how he came by his Death; the said Pam∣phlin, came to the House of This Enformants Father, and was saying; How strange a Thing it was that she should not be examin'd; For I was warn'd (said she) as well as Moor, and Curtis, and they were examin'd, and I was not: Pamphlin telling her this Enformant, that they were not willing she should appear; Mean∣ing, as this Enformant understood her, the Relations of Sir Edmund; but the said Pamphlin told this Enformant, that upon a Second Warning, they agreed that she should Appear; but bad her speak sparingly; and tel∣ling her, that she might safely swear, That the Pa∣pists had Murther'd him. This Enformant was at that Time waiting upon her Grandmother in her Death-Sick∣ness, who after the Departure of the said Pamphlin, spake to the Enformant to this effect, [Mrs. Pamphlin has made such a Discourse here, that I think you are bound in Conscience to enform a Magistrate of it; for I am Confident Sir Edmund kill'd Himself.] This Enformant Inclining also to have some Justice of the Peace acquaint∣ed with it.

And this Enformant well remembreth, that the said Pam∣phlin asked her, [If Sir Edmund has Murther'd him∣self, d'ye think he is damn'd] which she this Enfor∣mant much wondered at; there being no occasion given for such a Question: So that this Enformant asked the said Pamphlin thereupon, Why d'ye say these Things to me? You frighten me; If you know any thing your self, you ought to discover it to the Next Magistrate. To which the said Pamphlin made Answer, Let Old Moor be examin'd wit•• me, and I'le say what I know; for

I have no reason to run my self voluntarily into an Inconveniency: for you know I have a Dependency upon the Brothers, (which this Enformant understood to be a Pension) and I am loth to Anger them: But if I be compell'd, I'le speak what I know. This Enformant telling her again, That if she knew any thing, she might be examin'd in such a manner, as it might appear a Force upon her: For there was a Severity or a Perse∣cution that lay heavy upon a Suffering People; and she did not know what Inconveniences might follow up∣on it.

Iudith Pamphlin Deposeth, That soon after Sir Ed∣dmundbury Godfrey's withdrawing from his House, this Enformant heard the Wife of Sir Edmund's Clark say, Oh! That ever it should be said that such a Man as Sir Edmund should Murther Himself! This being spoken some Days before the Dead Body was found.

William Fall, Gent. Deposeth, That at the Time when Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Missing from his House, and to the best of this Enformants Memory, before the Dead Body of the said Sir Edmund was found; the Two Brothers of the said Sir Edmund, Merchants in London, came several times to the Lord Chancellor Not∣tingham's House in Queenstreet, to speak with his Lordship.

And saith further, That the Enformant enquiring of his said Brothers, what was become of Sir Edmund? He this Enformant apprehended by their Discourse; that they were in some Apprehension that he had made himself away.

To say Nothing of Mr. Grundy, Mr. Huysman, Mr. Birtby, and Mr. Snells Reflexions, as appears, ex∣presly in their Enformations so soon as ever they heard

the Body was found, upon the Melancholique Walk and Actions of the Persons, the last Time they saw him.