An exact abridgment of all the trials (not omitting any material passage therein) which have been published since the year 1678: relating to the popish, and pretended Protestant-plots in the reigns of King Charles the 2d, and King James the 2d.

The Trial of Nathaniel Reading Esq be∣fore the Commissioners of Oyer and Ter∣miner, at the King's-Bench-Bar at West∣minster, on Thursday, April 24. 1679.

ON Wednesday, April 16th, 1679, His Ma∣jesties Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer did meet at Westminster-Hall, in the Court of King's-Bench, When and where the Commission was Read, and the Grand-Jury Sworn; and then Sir James Butler, the Chief Commissioner that then appeared, gave them their Charge, in∣forming them briefly of the Occasion of their meeting: desiring them to go together, and take the Witnesses (being first sworn) along with them; which they did for about half an hour, and then returned, finding it Billa Vera. After which the Court Adjourned to Thursday, April 24. On which day the Commissioners there met, viz.

• Sir Francis North Kt. Ld. Ch. Justice of His Majesties Court of Common-Pleas.
• William Montague Esq Ld. Ch. Baron of his Majesties Court Exchequer.
• Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. one of his Ma∣jesty's Justices of the King's-Bench.
• Sir Hugh Windham Kt. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Common-Pleas.
• Sir Robert Atkins Kt. of the Bath, another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas.
• Sir Edward Thurland Kt. one of the Barons of the Exchequer.
• Vere Bertie Esq another of the Justices of the Common-Pleas.
• Sir Thomas Jones Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench.
• Sir Francis Bramston Kt. another of the Barons of the Exchequer.
• Sir William Dolben Kt. another of the Justices of the King's-Bench.
• Sir William Jones Kt. his Majesty's Attorney-General.
• Sir James Butler Kt. one of the King's Coun∣sel, and the Queen's Attorney.
• Sir Philip Mathews Bar.
• Sir Thomas Orbey Kt. and Bar.
• Sir Thomas Byde Kt.
• Sir William Bowles Kt.
• Sir Thomas Stringer Serjeant at Law.
• Sir Charles Pitfield Kt.
• Thomas Robinson Esq
• Humphrey Wyrle Esq
• Thomas Haryot Esq
• Richard Gower Esq

After Proclamation made for Attendance, the Lord Chief Justice North discharged the Grand Inquest; and Mr. Reading being set to the Bar, his Indictment was read to him;

Being for Soliciting, Suborning and endeavouring to per∣swade Mr. William Bedloe to lessen, stifle, and omit to give Evidence the full Truth accord∣ing to his Knowledg, against the Lord Powis, Lord Stafford, Lord Petre, and Sir Henry Tichborn, but to give such Evidence as he the said Reading should direct; as also for giving the said Mr. Bedloe 50 Guinies in Hand, and promising him greater Rewards, for the Ends and Purposes aforesaid.

To which he plead∣ed Not Guilty in Thought, Word, or Deed. Then the Jurors sworn, were,

• Sir John Cutler,
• Joshua Galliard Esq
• Edward Wilford Esq
• Thomas Henslow Esq
• Thomas Earsby Esq
• John Serle Esq
• Thomas Casse Esq
• Rainsf. Waterhouse Esq
• Matthew Bateman Esq
• VValter Moyle Esq
• Richard Pagett Esq
• John Haynes Esq

Mr. Reading at first challeng'd Sir John Cutler, as being in Commission of Peace, and labour'd very much to have made his Challenge good. But the Court over-rul'd it, in regard Sir John was not in the particular Commission then sit∣ting; and for that he could not challenge him peremptorily, the Indictment not endangering his Life, as it might have been laid, but only for a Misdemeanour. Thereupon the Court proceeded; and the Indictment being read to

the Jury, Edward VVard Esq (of Counsel for the King in this Cause) opened it, and Sir Creswel Levinz opened the Charge. After which, Mr. Reading, to save time, admitting those Publick Passages laid in the Preamble of his Indictment, (as that Coleman, Ireland, &c. were Executed for Treason; and that the Lords in the Tower were accused and impeached in Parliament for this Plot) Mr. Bedloe was sworn, and deposed, That Sir Trevor VVilliams brought him first ac∣quainted with the Prisoner; who began with him as a friendly Adviser; in publick always pressing him to discover what he knew of the Plot, but in private advising him to be cautions, and not to run at the whole Herd of Men, inti∣mating as if the Ld. Ch. Justice also seemed dis∣pleased at his forwardness, saying, that he would make the Parliament his Friends by proving the Plot; the King his Friend, in not charging all the Lords; and the Lords his Friends, by being kind to them. That the Persons Mr. Reading most sollicited for, were the Lords Petre, Powis, and Stafford, and Sir Henry Tichborn, Mr. Roper, Mr. Caryl, and Corker: That he should have Mony, and an Estate, by the negotiation of the Prisoner at the Bar, to shorten the Evidence, and bring them off from the Charge of High-Treason. That he and Mr. Reading had several Consultations about this matter; none of which he did conceal, but revealed them presently to the Prince, the Earl of Essex, Counsellor Smith, Mr. Kirby and several others. And that he did not give in his full Evidence against VVhitebread, and Fenwick, a Ireland's Tryal, because he was then

treating with Mr. Reading who had made him easie. That the Prisoner, in assurance of his Reward, told him, he had order to draw blank Deeds to be sign'd in ten days after the dis∣charge of those for whom the Sollication was made. That he and the Prisoner had a private Consultation in his Bed-chamber, March 29. last, when Mr. Speke, and his own Man Henry VViggens were hid privately in the Room, and over-heard the main of the Consultation and Overture of Mr. Reading; At what time Mr. Bedloe was to pen his Testimony as the Prisoner should direct him, for the mitigation of the Evidence. That when that Paper was finished, the Prisoner carried it to the Lords to consider of it: And that after they had consider'd of it, and mended it as they pleas'd, Reading return'd with the Emendations written with his own hand; and deliver'd them to Mr. Bedloe in the Painted-Chamber, who held them so behind him, that Mr. Speke, as it was agreed, took them un∣observed out of his hand. [Which Paper being then Produced, was read in open Court.]

Then Mr. Speke was sworn, who deposed, That on Saturday morning, March the 29th last, he was hid behind the Hangings, between the Bed's-head and the Wall, in Mr. Bedloe's Cham∣ber (as was, agreed on before) and there he heard Mr. Reading's and Mr. Bedloes Negotiation together. That Mr. Bedloe asked the Prisoner, what the Lords said to the Business, and what the Lord Stafford said to the Estate in Glocester∣shire? To which the Prisoner answered, That the Lord Stafford had faithfully promised him to

settle that Estate upon Mr. Bedloe, and that he had Orders from that Lord to draw up a blank Deed in order to the Settlement, which the said Lord had engag'd to Sign and Seal within 10 days after he should be discharg'd by Mr. Bed∣loe's contracting of his Evidence.—And that the Lords Powis and Petre, and Sir Henry Tich∣bourn had faithfully engag'd and promis'd to give Mr. Bedloe a very fair and noble Reward, which should be suitable to the Service he should do them, in bringing them off from the charge of High-Treason. To which when Mr. Bedloe answer'd, that he would not rely upon their Promises only, but expected to have something under their Hands; Mr. Reading reply'd, That they did not think it convenient so to do as yet, but that Mr. Bedloe might take his Word, as he had done theirs; and that he would engage his Life for the performance; With much other Discourse, all tending to the same effect.—That on the Monday morning, he saw Mr. Reading deliver the Paper to Mr. Bedloe, from whom he received it, and he and Mr. Wharton read it immediately in the Lord Privy Seal's Room.

After him, Henry Wiggen's Mr. Bedloe's Man, deposed, That he was concealed under the Rugg upon his Master's Bed, at the same time, and to the same intent as Mr. Speke was; giving the same Evidence, as to what had been discours'd of between the Prisoner and his Master in the Chamber; which afterwards he and Mr. Speke writ down.—And that he saw Mr. Reading de∣liver the Paper to his Master in the Painted-Chamber,

and saw Mr. Speke take it, who went with another Gentleman into the Lord Privy Seal's Room with it.

After this Mr. Reading began his Defence, Protesting his own Innocency, producing Mr. Bulstrode, only to testify that the occasion of his going to the Lord Stafford, was his sending for him; which yet he did not without leave from the Committee of Secrets. That then he was employ'd by the Lords, only to get them their Habeas Corpus's. And Sir Trevor Williams being called by him, declared how he only recommend∣ed Mr. Bedloe to him for his Advise, about having his Pardon as perfect as could be. The Prisoner owning his being in Mr. Bedloe's Chamber at that time, and taking his Evidence, and carrying it afterwards to the Lords; but that it was purely out of Conscience, and to prevent Per∣jury, and the Shedding of Innocent Blood; and the Deed discoursed of was only for 200 l. to be paid him by the Lord Stafford within 10 days after he should be discharged, pro Consilio impenso & impendendo, to be secured upon an Estate in Glocestershire; the which Mony, the Lord Stafford indeed told him, when he had received, he might dispose of it as he thought fit (which Confession the Court declared amounted to the Confession of the whole Charge.) Then he en∣deavour'd the bespattering the Witnesses; Re∣lating how Mr. Bedloe had vilify'd Dr. Stilling-fleet, Dr. Tillotson, and Dr. Lloyd; and that he heard him say, he had by him several Witnesses that would swear whatever he bid them; and that he laid in Provisions of Fire, Coals and

Billets, behind the Palsegrave-Head Tavern, and hard by Charing-Cross, to burn the City of VVestminster; which he produced one Mr. Pal∣mer to swear, and that he lent him Mony, as also he had Mr. Speke, which was yet unpaid (which proved to be 6 s. 8 d. for an Order, which was for Mr. Speke's Brother); aspersing them with being Eves-droppers; multiplying words, to little purpose. His Defence therefore being Artificial, (as the Lord Chief Justice told him) because nothing to the purpose. Nay, Mr. Justice VVild told him, he disgrac'd his Profession by making so weak a Defence. And Bedloe own'd some of the Crimes he bespattered him with, as part of the Guilt for which the King had given him his Pardon, and farther Depos'd, That Mr. Reading was to have 100 l. a Year, out of every 1000 l. a Year of Bedloe's Reward.

The Ld. Ch. Justice summ'd up the Evidence, to which the Ld. Ch. Baron added some little; and then the Jury, after a short recess, brought the Prisoner in Guilty. And then the Court Adjourn'd for half an hour when being met again, and the Prisoner at the Bar, The Ld. Ch. Justice Sentenc'd him, to be Fined 1000 l. to be imprisoned for the space of a whole Year; and to be set in the Pillory for the space of one hour in the Palace-Yard in VVestminster. On the Monday following he was Pillored according∣ly, the Sheriff having a particular Charge of his Person; that nothing but Shame and Infamy might befal him, to which he had been condem∣ned, and did deserve as well as any Man that ever was convicted.