The Tryal of Nathaniel Thompson, Wil∣liam Pain, and John Farrel, at Guild-Hall, before Sir Francis Pemberton, Lord Chief Justice of his Majesty's Court of Kings-Bench, on Tuesday, June the 20th, 1682.

The Jurors Names were

• Peter Houblon,
• John Ellis,
• William Barret,
• Joshua Brooks,
• Gervas Byfield,
• Jonathan Lee,
• George VViddowes,
• William Sambrooke,
• William Jacomb,
• John Delmee,
• Samuel Bayly,
• Samuel Howard.

TO whom an Information exhibited by the Kings Attorney General against the said Thompson, Pain and Farrel was read, for writing and printing several scandalous Libels about the Page  32Death of Sir Edm. Godfrey, reflecting on the Justice of the Nation in the Proceedings against his Murtherers. Which Information Mr. Thomp∣son opened, and Serjeant Maynard aggravated the Crimes therein contained.

Mr. Clare then was sworn, and produced a Copy of the Record of the Conviction and At∣tainder of Sir Edm. Godfrey: As also a Copy of the Inquisition take by the Coroner of Middlesex, upon the view of the Body of the said Sir Edm. Godfrey, whereby it was found by them that he was murthered, strangled with a Cord by Per∣sons unknown. Both which (Mr. Clare having sworn to be true Copies) were read. Then the Execution of Green, Berry and Hill was attested by the Oath of Capt. Richardson, and Mr. Prance and Curtis swore that they and Bedloe were Witnesses at their Tryals.

Then Sir John Nicholas, Sir Philip Lloyd, and William Bridgman Esq swore that the two Let∣ters in the Information (which were shewed them) were the same that were shewed to Thomp∣son, Pain and Farrel, at the Council; and that Thompson owned the printing of both; and Farrel owned the bringing of the first, and Pain owned the bringing of the other to Thompson: both which Letters was then read in the Court.

The first (which Farrel owned he writ) was intitled, A Letter to Mr. Miles Prance, in rela∣tion to the Murder of Sir Edm. Godfrey. The De∣sign whereof was to contradict the Evidence given at the Trial of his Murderers, and to fix the Guilt upon himself; affirming that the Coro∣ner's Page  33Inquest were first of Opinion he was Felo de se, and there was much Art us'd to procure their Verdict to the contrary. That the Body was refused to be opened; and the Coroner of Westminster's Assistance rejected, and he dismist with a Guiny. That he was not dogg'd as was sworn, but was seen in several places, and about three in the Afternoon about Primrose-hill, walk∣ing in the Fields. That he was found in a place inaccessible by a Horse, and in such a posture, as inferr'd he could never be thrust into a Sedan. That his Body was full of Blood; and when the Sword was pulled out, Blood and Water ve∣ry much issued out of that Wound; and that part of the Sword which was in the Body was discoloured, and the Point which was through was rusty; his Clothes, Belt, and Scabbord, were weather-beaten to Rags, his Body stunk, and his Eyes, Nostrils, and Mouth, were Fly∣blown; his Eyes shut, his Face pale; no Dirt on his Shoes, nor Horse-hair on his Clothes; and that Bedloe's and Prance's Evidence before the Committee of Lords, very much differ'd. And that all this would be proved by divers credible and undeniable Eye and Ear-Witnesses.—Da∣ted from Cambridg, Feb. 23. 1681.—Subscribed Truman. London, printed for M. G. at the Sign of Sir E. B. G's Head, near Fleet-bridg.

The other Letter (writ by Pain) was inti∣tuled, A second Letter to Mr. Miles Prance, in Reply to the Ghost of Sir E. Godfrey. Which was a Vindication of the First, in Reply to the An∣swer given thereto, by a Paper Intituled, The Ghost of Sir E. Godfrey; Disclaiming the con∣currence Page  34of any Papists in publishing that Paper, asserting for Truth all that had been said there∣in, which was ready to be proved by many Witnesses, who were not willing to expose them∣selves to the fury of that Torrent, which then carried all before it in favour of the Plot, by appearing at the Trial; running over all the Paragraphs of the other Letter, asserting what had there been said for Truth; endeavouring to wipe off the Objections given, in a scurrilous manner; imputing Melancholy to be predomi∣nant in Sir Edm. Godfrey's Family, and that such Accidents were no News thereto, &c. Dated from Cambridg, March 13. 1681. subscribed Truman. London, Printed for Nath. Thompson, 1682.

Then was read a Paragraph out of N. Thomp∣son's Loyal Protestant Intelligence, Numb. 125. Tuesday, March 7. 1681. which was a kind of Advertisement of this second Letter's coming out; and an Assertion, that all things in the first were true; and were ready, by undeniable Evi∣dence, to be made out. Then a Paragraph was read out of another of the like Intelligences, Num. 127. Saturday, March 11. 1681. which was a kind of challenging an Answer to the first Letter; and of the City's inspection of the Truth thereof, promising Proof to every Tit∣tle, without one Papist, or Popishly-Affected Person being concern'd therein, &c.

Thus, by these Letters and Intelligences they endeavoured to stifle the Evidence of the King, and arraign the Justice of the Nation.

Then Mr. Sanders (of Counsel for Pain) ac∣knowledg'd the rashness and unadvisedness of the Act, but that it was not out of Malice; that he was no Papist, nor any of his Family; and how ingenuously it was done of him to acknow∣ledg his Letter, much more than to write it, and bring it to be printed. Mr. Gooding (of Counsel also for Pain) acknowledged him sorry for what was done, and offered to give any Sa∣tisfaction.

Mr. Yalden (of Counsel for Thompson) plead∣ed, That the other two drew him in, and that it was honestly done of him to discover the Au∣thors; and that what was in his Intelligences, was not so much his Fault as the Authors, for whom it was free to put what they would in there, he being paid for his pains.

Mr. Osborne (of Counsel for Farrell) acknow∣ledg'd it a foolish thing; but offer'd his Wit∣nesses to be heard.

Farrell then, first of all, called one Mr. Ha∣zard, who deposed, That he went along with Farrell to see Sir E. Godfrey's Body at the White-House. That he lay there upon a Table, and his Eyes were closed, and Shoes clean as if he had been upon an Hay-Mow. That he saw Gob∣bets of Blood in the Ditch where he had lain, and likewise at a place where there were two or three things to go over.

William Batson deposed, That he also saw the Body at the White-House, and the Blood in the Ditch; but that it looked to him, as if it had been laid there rather than any thing else.

Then one Fisher, who helped to strip the Body at the White-House, deposed, That his Shoes were clean, and he saw no Blood but on his back-part, where was Blood; that he seemed to have been strangled; and his Neck was so weak, that it might be turned any where.

Then John Rawson deposed, That he help'd to carry the Body away out of the Ditch, and pul∣led out the Sword; that he saw Blood upon some Posts, and upon the Table where it lay, and on the Floor; and that there were some∣thing like Fly-blows in his Eyes; tho (being ask'd) he said he saw no Flies busy at that time of the Year. [At which the People laughed.]

Mrs. Rawson, his Wife, only swore, That there was Blood and Water ran through the Ta∣ble; and that many People said there were Fly-blows, but she did not mind it, tho there was something like Fly-blows.

Then Farrell proposed to prove the difference between Prance's and Bedloe's Evidence, by Co∣pies of the Journals of the House of Lords; and the Ld. Ch. Justice gave him leave freely to prove what he would or could: But he went off from this Proof, and called other Witnesses, &c.

Mr. Chase the Son, deposed, That he saw no Blood in the Ditch, but he saw some four or five Yards off, which the Constable told him follow∣ed the Sword when it was pulled out. That he saw the Body in the House, wherein was two Wounds, and a great Contusion on the left Ear, his whole Face much bruised, and he believed him strangled; and that those Injuries offered him could not be after he was dead.

Mr. Hobbs deposed, That it was his Opinion he was Strangled, his Face was bloted, and the bloody Vessels of his Eyes full, and he observed no Fly-blows.

Mr. Chase, the Father, deposed, That he ob∣served the Body beaten, from the Neck to the Stomach, so as he never saw the like. That Mr. Farrell telling him soon after what Proof he could make of this Business, he disswaded him, as being impossible to say any thing against it that had the face of Truth: That after his Book came out, Mr. Farrell, on Easter-Eve told him, That six Months before he had given him good Counsel if he had taken it.

Then Mr. Brown deposed, That he saw no Fly-blows on the Body, nor ever said he did, but that Mr. Farrell would have had him said so; and another time told him, he was wrong in his Affidavit, as if he knew what he could make Affidavit of better than himself.

Then Mr. Smith deposed, That he did not carry any of the Blood home in his Handker∣chief, as Farrell had called him for to declare.

Then Mr. Lazingby was sworn, to declare, Whether Men that kill themselves, do not look as Sir E. Godfrey's Body did? He deposed, That he seemed to him to be strangled, and that which strangled him was kept about his Neck till he was cold, because his Face look'd bloody and bloted; and that he put his Finger into the Blood, which lay some four Yards from the Ditch, and it smelt like that which comes from a Body after a Fortnight's Time dead, rather than a Weeks, it being Blood and Water; whereas the Water Page  36 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  37 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  38will separate from the Blood. That the Body was bruised from the Neck to die Stomach, his Eyes were open and Blood-shed. That his Clothes were dry, which he admired at, there having been so great a Storm the Afternoon before.

Farrell then proffer'd to prove himself no Pa∣pist; but the Ld. Ch. Justice told him, His Re∣ligion was not worth inquiring into. And Searj. Maynard observ'd how little Service his Wit∣nesses had done him, not one haying spoke on his side, but quite against him; and how little it belonged to such Fellows as he to meddle in this Business, or to write about it; proffering to call some Witnesses in, to prove him as wicked a Liar as lived; but it was thought unnecessary, and was therefore waved.

The Ld. Ch. Justice observing what liberty he had given the Defendant to call what Witnesses he would, because he was willing to hear what could be said in the Case, whether a Doubt could be made in the World, that Sir E. Godfrey was not murdered, &c.—leaving it to the Jury, Whether upon the Evidence, they did not be∣lieve them all Guilty of this Design, of tra∣ducing the Justice of the Nation.

The Jury thereupon, without going from the Bar, found them all three Guilty of the Infor∣mation. And on Monday, July 3. they being brought to the Bar of the Court of King's Bench to receive the Judgment.

Mr Thompson the Counsellor moved for Judg∣ment; and further to satisfy the World, pro∣duced Mr. Spence's Affidavit before Mr. Justice Dolbin, July 10. 1682. wherein he had deposed Page  39that on Thursday, Octob. 10. 1678. As he was passing by Somerset-House, about 7 at Night, five or six Men standing at the Water-gate, laid hold on both his Arms, and dragg'd him about a Yard within the Gate, it being dark; but one of them cried out, (which he believes was Hill, whom he very well knew) and said, This is not he; upon which they let him go.

The Clerk of the Crows said, he knew this Spence, and that he was very like Sir E. God∣frey.

Then John Oakeley's Affidavit was read, which was made before Sir John Moore Mayor, June 22. 1682. and was, That he coming by Somerset-House, upon Saturday, Octob. 12. 1678. the ve∣ry day on which Sir E. Godfrey was missing, a∣bout eight or nine at Night, he saw Sir Edmond-bury near the VVater-gate, and past close by him, knowing him very well, put off his Hat to him, and Sir Edm. did the like to him; and having pass'd him, he turned and looked upon him, and saw him stand still, and a Man or two near him: And that he told this to Elizabeth Dekin two or three days after; and to his Uncle Ralph Oakely of Little St. Bartholomew about a Week after, and to his Father Robert Oakely and seve∣ral others in a short time after.

Elizabeth Dekin's Affidavit (who was his Fel∣low-Servant) before Sir John Moore at the same time hereof; and Mr. Robert Breedon's Affidavit (who was their Master, and a Brewer, near Sir E. Godfrey's House) made then also; that Dekin had told him what Oakely had told her, and that before the Body was found. And Robert Page  40Oakely his Fathers Affidavit, made at the same time that his Son had told him the same; and his Uncle Ralph Oakeley's Affidavit of the same, before Mr. Justice Dolbin, July 4. 1683. were all annexed to corroborate his Testimony.

And whereas it had been reported, that Sir E. Godfrey hang'd himself, and that one Moore his Clerk cut him down; the said Henry Moore made Affidavit before Justice Balam of the Isle of Ely, July 28. 1681. That the Report was false and scandalous, and that he neither said nor did any such thing.

John Brown and William Lock also, of Mari∣bone, made Affidavit before Sir John Moore Mayor, June 30. 1682. That they viewing the Body on Thursday, Octob. 17. 1678. as it lay in the Ditch, found that the Pummel of the Sword-Hilt did not touch the Ground by an hand∣ful, &c..

Benjamin Man also of London Gent. being not called at the Trial, tho twice subpoened, made Affidavit before Sir W. Dolbin, July 3. 1682. That being in the Gatehouse when Green was took, and about to be put into Irons; and un∣derstanding his Crime, saying, he did not think to have found him such a Man; Green thereupon replied, He was a dead Man.

Robert Forset Esq of Maribone, made Affida∣vit also before Sir VV. Dolbin, on July 1. 1682. That he was a hunting with his Hounds, on Tuesday, Octob. 15. 1678. and beat that very place where the Body was afterwards found, but there was neither Body, nor Gloves, nor Cane thereabouts then; and that Mr. Henry Harwood Page  41(who is since dead) borrowed his Hounds, and told him, that he beat the same Ditch the next day, and that no Body was there, he was sure, on VVednesday at Noon.

George Larkin of London, Printer, made Oath also before Sir John Moore Mayor, March 22. 1681. That he going to see the Body, on Octob. 18. 1678. he met Nat. Thompson there, who then proposed the printing of a Narrative of this Murder to him, desiring his Assistance; which they afterward agreed to print; and that con∣tain'd, how Sir E. Godfrey's Face was of a fresh Colour, tho in his life-time Pale; a green Cir∣cle about his Neck as if he had been strangled, &c. That there was no Blood in the place, and his Shoes as clean as if he had but just come out of his own Chamber, which was an evident sign that he was carried thither,—and that the Co∣roners Inquest found that he was suffocated be∣fore the Wounds were made, &c. And finally, that one of the Jury affirmed, that his Mother's Servant searched all those Grounds for a Calf that was missing, Monday and Tuesday, and at that time there lay no dead Body, Belt, Gloves, Stick, &c.

Farrell it seems was Trustee for Fenwick that was executed; and Pain was Brother to Nevill, alias Pain, who was famous for scribling for Mrs. Cellier and the Papists.

The Court consulting together, Mr. Justice Jones, having first set out the greatness of their Crime, gave the Judgment of the Court, which was, That Thomson and Farrell should stand in the Pillory, in the Palace-Yard, the last day of Page  42the Term, for an hours space, between ten and one; and each of them pay 100 l. Fine, and to be imprisoned till they had paid it. Pain was excused from the Pillory, but adjudg'd to the same Fine.—Accordingly on Wednesday, July 5. 1682. Thompson and Farrell were Pillored, with this Writing over their Heads; For libelling the Justice of the Nation, by making the VVorld be∣live that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey murdered himself.