S. Atk. I can't well remember, my lord, but I suppose at home, for I am seldom out at that time of night. Ld. London. Were you in the Pall-Mall, or that way, that you remember? S. Atk. No, my lord, I believe verily not. Ld. Shaftsbury. Mr. Atkins, if you are innocent, you're the most unfortunate wretch living. Pray attend to what I say; I assure you, 'tis good news for you. There remains but one way in the world to save thy life, and that I would have you make use of; and you may do it without injury to yourself, if you will Confess all you know, and make a discovery of this matter, and your life shall be saved. S. Atk. My lord, I expect no pardon, but desire death when I am found to deserve it: I have nothing to trust to but my innocence, next to the goodness and justice of God Almighty, to whom I commit myself. [After this I was directed to withdraw, and the Keeper ordered to carry me back to prison, which was accordingly done.] Memorandum, The Deposition made this 8th of November, 1678, before the Lords of this Committee, by Mr. Bedlow, concerning this matter, hereafter follows in the express words thereof; as they were reported by the said Committee to the House of Lords, and entered in their Journal Book, viz. "Die Martis, 12 Novembris, 1678. "The EXAMINATIONS taken, November the S. Atk. My lord, had I any to make; could 8th, 1678, at the Committee of Lords, for I say one word, more or less, in this matter; enquiring into the Murder of Sir Edmundor were I at all guilty in any part of it, I supbury Godfrey, were read as follows: pose you'll please to believe, that the horror of my conscience, and the punishment I should "William Bedlow being sworn in the Lords' justly expect from God and man, for such of- House, was called in and examined, saith on fence, would lead me to make an ingenuous his oath, That this examinant being treated confession, to save my own life, that I might with by Mr. Leefaire and Mr. Welch, who are thereby get time to repent, and beg forgiveness two Jesuits, about the beginning of Oct. last, from God Almighty. But as I am innocent in they offered him a reward of 4,000l. if he would every part of what is said about me, I hope be one of the four or six that should kill a man you'll neither advise or desire me to go about that was a great obstacle of their design; he, to wrong my conscience, or stain my soul, to this deponent, promised to be one to do it, endeavour to live a few moments in this world, upon their giving him notice. Afterwards (viz. and to avoid death for a time, which will, at the Friday before sir Edmundbury Godfrey was length, overtake every body. I assure your missing) Mr. Leefaire met him, this deponent, lordships, my prayers are to God Almighty, to about four o'clock, in Grays-Inn-Walks, and give me grace and strength to go through to appointed to meet him again in the same place the last, and rather suffer a thousand deaths, about four o'clock the next day, to do that buthan as much as tell a solemn lie to the preju-siness: That upon taking the Sacrament to do dice of any person. it, he, this deponent, should have the money Ld. Shaftsb. Then I tell you what, Mr. At-paid to himself, or any friend he should name; kins, and that I ne'er said to you before; since you are so gallant, I assure you, you'll either be hanged or knighted; if the Papists rise and cut our throats, you'll be knighted; if not, you'll be hanged. Here's first what you said to Mr. Atkins, and then this gentleman's oath, which, though not positive, yet with such circumstances against you, as I doubt, whether a jury in this case, won't find you Guilty; besides other collateral circumstances there may be : And another thing there is, that there are several others, well known to this Mr. Bedlow, to have been concerned in it. D. Buck. And are here in the House, in custody. Ld. Shaftsb. And if one of those swear you were in it, all the world cannot save you. S. Atk. My lord, my prayers are and shall be, that one person may but be detected who was really in the murder, and I am sure I shall be acquitted; and I cannot suffer, but from the thing's being misplaced. D. Buck. Oh, he'll confess nothing, he expects a pardon. Ld. Shaftsb. I'll secure him from that, I warrant you; there's three hundred to one. but he, this deponent, not liking the design, failed of meeting him: The next night after, being Sunday, he met Mr. Leefaire, again, by accident, in Fleet-street, going into Red-lioncourt, about five o'clock; Mr. Leefaire then desired him not to fail of meeting him the next night (being Monday) about the same hour, at the Palsgrave's-head tavern, that he might employ this deponent in some other special business; but this deponent came rarer than the time appointed, and so failed to meet him there, but left word at the bar of that tavern, that he would meet him at eight o'clock in the cloister of Somerset-house court; and accordingly, betwixt eight and nine o'clock, this deponent came thither and found Leefaire walking there, who said, he had stayed almost an hour for him; they passed the time there about half an hour, Leefaire telling him how much the Church of Rome and the Pope were obliged to him, and what rewards he should have for his secrecy and fidelity to them. "Afterwards be desired him, this deponent, to walk into the midst of the court, where he, the said Lecfaire, might say something to this deponent, and nobody over-hear it; and there be told this deponent, that the person whom he | ponent for not coming the last night, according was to kill, was killed, and his body then lay in Somerset-House; and that he did believe, that the excuse which this deponent had made him before, for not coming to the murdering of him, was real; and that he knew his fidelity was such, that he should have half the reward, if he would help to carry the body to a place where they had chose to lay him. | to his promise; this deponent told him, He "This deponent asked to know first, Who "This deponent then asked Leefaire, How were to be the persons that were to go with they got him thither, and where they found him? Leefaire told him, they were himself, Mr. him? Leefaire told him, That himself, Walsh, Walsh, the lord Bellasis's gentleman, Mr. At- and the lord Bellasis's gentleman, met him by kins (Pepys's clerk,) and one that he had often the King's-Head inn, in the Strand, crossing seen in the queen's chapel: Then Leefaire the street, in the evening, before five of the brought this deponent by the hand, in the clock, and told him that if he would please to dark, through the entry, unto that room, which go with them so far as Strand-Bridge, they be shewed the duke of Monmouth, and would bring him to a place near St. Clement's knocked softly with his finger at the door; and church, where there were a company met, prinwhen it was opened, Lec faire led this deponent cipal plotters of that design, against the king, into it, which was dark; Leefaire then pulled and there (if he would go presently) he might a dark lanthorn from under his coat, and take them, and the principal of their papers; shewed a small light in the room, where this he answered, That he thought it not convedeponent saw the persons he before-mentioned: nient to go himself, but he would send his warof whom this deponent knew Lee faire, Mr. rant, and the constable: They told him, If be Walsh, and the other person he saw often in dia make so much delay, they might be gone; the chapel; and the other two owned them- and that if he would walk up so far as Strandselves, the one to be the lord Bellasis's servant, Bridge, one of them would go and call a conand the other to be Mr. Atkins (Pepys's Clerk). stable to him there, and he might give his order "And this deponent saith, That they did presently: Whereupon, he walked with them agree to carry the body in a chair to the corner so far as Somerset-house, and there they made of Clarendon-house, and there to put him in a a halt: They told him, it would be less obcoach, to carry him to the place where he was served, if he walked in Somerset-house, than to found. Having concluded this, they agreed to stand in the street; and thereupon, two of carry him off at eleven of the clock the same them walked in with him, and the other prenight: Then some of them turning about, they tended to go call a constable; and when they throwed off a cloak that lay upon him, and had walked a turn or two in the court, two shewed this deponent the hody. This depo- more persons came forth, and shewed him into nent asked them, who it was? They told him, a room, and when they had him secure there, it was an old man, that belonged to a person they held a pistol to him, threatening, if he of quality, who had taken some examinations made a noise, they would shoot him, but if he tending to the discovery of their design. This would answer their expectations, they would do deponent asked them further, Why it was not him no harm. Then they asked him to send proper to kill the person of quality himself? for those examinations he had taken about They answered, No; for this man had the ex- those that were committed; he answered, aminations in his own custody; and that their They were not in his power, for he had sent design of getting him thither, was to get him to them to Whitehall. Upon that, and refusing send for them by fair means or foul, and then to answer other questions, they seized him, they did not question, but the next examina. and stifled him with a pillow, and so they tion would be so contrary to that, that it should, thought he had been dead; but coming into the upon their trials, appear two several stories; room some time after, they found him strugand when they should be brought to trial, upon gling, and then they strangled him with a long the latter examination, they would produce the cravat (which cravat this deponent saw the former to contradict it, that it might seem par- Monday, at night, about his neck). Then this tiality to the world: Upon which reasons, this deponent asked Leefaire, Why they carried him deponent seemed satisfied, and asked them, into the fields? Or what they designed by it? Where they killed him? they told him at So- He answered, that they had made a wound in merset-house. Then this deponent begged par- his body, and laid his sword by him, that it don for half an hour, and he would wait upon should seem he had killed himself; and that them again; but this deponent went away, they did not question, that the discovery of and came no more; But the next day, about killing him would ever have been made; neieleven of the clock, this deponent met Lee-ther did they doubt, but that their design would -faire by accident, crossing Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and then they went together unto the Greyhound tavern in Fleet-street; Leefaire (putting his cane up to his nose) said, He had something to say to hun: Leefaire there charged this de have its effect. Then Leefaire told this deponent, That as he would be answerable to Christ Jesus, at the last day he should be faithful to the cause; and so they parted. "The same time, Mr. Atkins being called in before Mr. Bedlow, Mr. Bedlow saith, That he is, in all things, very like the person he saw in the room with sir Edmundbury Godfrey's dead body; and he doth verily believe it was him that owned himself to be Pepys's clerk; but because he never saw him before that time, he cannot positively swear it, but he doth verily believe him to be that man." On Friday, the aforesaid 8th of Nov. in the evening, I was brought back to prison in irons (which I kept on till the Monday following, but were then, by the favour of captain Richardson, taken off), and remained that night in capt. Richardson's house; the next day was removed thence into the Press-yard, where I continued kept very close till Monday the 11th of November, 1678. a dark lanthorn? quit myself of the duty I owe to his majesty, and the interest of this nation; but I was purely innocent, and whatever hath been sworn against me (let it be more or less, and by more or fewer hands), might with the same truth be sworn against a man who never was on this side York: So desiring their patience, I briefly run over to them what had happened at my several examinations before the Lords. They asked me then, Whether I knew one Welch, or Prichard? I told them, No, nor ever heard of them that I remembered. Whether I remembered no circumstance on Monday about My answer was, No; that I had not seen one, as I remembered, many house? I said, No: neither then, nor any months. Whether I was not then at Somersettime before or since in my whole life. How, Monday morning being the 11th of Nov. and where, I spent my time the Saturday, capt. Atkins made me a second visit, and saluting Sunday, and Monday, the 12, 13th and 14 of me with the good-morrow, asked if I had been October? I answered, I could not presently before the Lords? I told him, Yes I was, last tell, but could soon recollect. They told me, Friday, and saw a person there I knew not, I did not seem to have so illa memory. I said, nor he me, nor did he swear any thing (that II supposed most would be found to have as ill knew) against me: Ay, says he, but he has since that, in the House of Commons, on Saturday night, swore, that you were at Somerset-house when sir E. Godfrey's body lay there; and my uncle, Phil. Howard, bid me come to you, to tell you of it, that you may consider, and confess what you know before it be too late. After which sort he earnestly seemed to press me to say somewhat. I told him, My last breath (if I suffer) must and shall agree with what I said at first, of my being unable to say any thing of this whole matter, more than the unborn child. Pray, capt. Atkins, who is this man? Why, says he, his name is Bedlow. Who is he, pray? Is he a man of any good fame? No,answered he, I think of no very good fame. Do you know him, pray? Yes, says he, I have known him three or four months, but have no very great acquaintance with him (observe, he at first told me, he never saw him but once). Pugh, says he, I do not believe a word he says; they are all shams; he is certainly hired by those that did it. Do you think so, says I? Ay, ay, says he, trouble not yourself about it. And so he took his leave of me; telling me, he believed I should be called again before the Lords. The next day morning, being Tuesday the 12th of November, four gentlemen of the House of Commons came to me to Newgate (two of whom only I knew, Mr. Sacheverel, and col. Birch), and having sent for me to them in capt. Richardson's house, they told me the occasion of their coming, and in what a desperate posture my life lay in, so as there seemed no possibility to expect the saving of it, but by pouring myself out in a confession to them and so aggravated the murder, with its (indeed) ill circumstances, and asked me, what I had to say? I first told them, I heartily wished I could give them any light in it, I should deem myself very happy, to be so enabled to ac VOL. VI. to answer such a question. Some other little questions they asked, and I made true answers to, though not to their satisfaction; and so they left me, asking me over again, just at their departure, very seriously, if I knew any thing of the murder, or the plot? I avowed with several asseverations, I did not. Upon my returning to my chamber, I considered, and brought to my perfect reniemof those aforesaid three days: And so I rebrance, how I had passed almost every hour mained there without hearing from, seeing or speaking with any creature, till Thursday the 21st of November, 1678. On Tuesday morning, being the 19th of November (in the interval), my keeper comes to me, and bidding me rise, and dress myself, which I accordingly did, he puts a great pair of irons on my leg, and told me, I must go then to have my trial at the King's-bench bar. Lord, says I, I wonder I had no forehand notice of it; I have no witnesses ready: He answered, He could not help it, but go I must. After I had been ready about an hour, expecting their calling me down, my keeper comes up, and informs me of the mistake, the order being for one Mr. Staley to be brought up, and not me; but that on the morrow I should prepare to go. The morrow comes, I hear nothing of it. The following day, being Thursday the 21st of November, my sister and a gentleman of my acquaintance (having relation to the law) Mr. Hayes, came to see me with a keeper, by order from my Lord-Chief-Justice, and brought me ill news of what Bedlow had sworn against ine, and the little hopes there remained of saving my life; but that they were doing all they could for me, towards the making my defence, and so shewed me a paper they had drawn up (by collections they had made from several people in whose company I spent the time), ef 5 C my passing the 12th 13th and 14th days of October, which agreed with what I had done in my memory in substance, and different in no essential circumstance: And so they left me, bidding me consider what I had to say, for that my trial would be in a day or two. | lordship and the court, that a rule of court might be granted for the bringing in thither against my trial, such papers as were in the hands of either of the secretaries of state, clerk of the House of Lords, or recorder of the city of London, relating to my affair; and bad for Accordingly, having the use of pen, ink and answer, that it was not proper to grant a role paper given me, by order from my Lord-Chief- the Attorney-General attended about it, be of court for it; but they doubted not, if I had Justice, I set upon drawing up in writing, what would see I should receive all that was just and I had to say in my defence, and did it in a lit-fit for me therein. After I had done speaking, tle time as well as I could. In the mean while a grand jury was summoned, and a bill found against me at the King's-bench, for a principal in the murder of sir Edmondbury Godfrey; but (upon what occasion I know not) my trial came not on this term. Presently, after it was over, capt. Richardson sent for, and took from me (by order I suppose) all the papers I had drawn up preparatory to my trial, and carried them (I have great reason to believe) before the committee of Lords, who, I suppose, from thence having learnt who were the witnesses I should have to prove the expence of the evening on Monday the 14th of October, the very time Mr. Bedlow accuses me to have been at Somersethouse; found out where they lived, sent for them by a messenger to attend them, and in Mr. Bedlow's presence, and the king's counsel, having put them all to their oaths, examined them distinctly and crossly, about all they could say relating to me, and my passing my time, where, and with whom, on the said Monday night. my Lord-Chief-Justice asked, if I was, or ever I was directed to withdraw, and so went back had been a papist? To which answering No, to prison. On Monday morning I was brought again to the Bench-bar, in company with Mr. Hill, Green, and Berry, three persons accused by Mr. Prance, as actors in the murder of sir E. Godfrey, and after a short stay there, the court directed I should be carried aside, till the trials of those three persons were over; and accordingly I was so. About three of the clock in the afternoon, their trials being ended, I was called to the bar, and my Lord-Chief-Justice told me, their trials had taken them up so much time, and it being so near the end of the term, I must be content to stay till the sessions for mine; and so asked me if I had bail ready, and my liberty should be had thereupon. I answered, I was better prepared for my trial, than with bail, and insisting upon the hardship I had endured in a long imprisonment, earnestly begged for my trial. His lordship told me, and I must be contented. I thereupon was their business could not all be put off for mine, I remained in prison till the following term (two sessions of gaol-delivery having passed), beginning the 23d of Jan. 1679, and desisted from moving in court for my trial, till the lat-proposing bail to the court, while captain ter end of it, being in expectation I should be Lloyd, one of my witnesses, stood up and told brought to it without trouble or charge to my-derable time in town to give evidence for me, them, he was, and had been detained a consi self. But Goding no intention, or preparation for it from the Attorney-General (whom we consuited in it, and desired not to oppose us in our motion in court for a trial), on Thursday, being the 6th of February, a motion was made for my being tried before the end of the term, and granted; the king's counsel declaring their being ready on his part: pursuant thereto, another motion was made, the next day, being Friday, for my being brought to the bar on the morrow after to be arraigned, in order to my trial. and could not possibly be in England at the next sessions; which I also backed with assurances, that it was his and several other of my witnesses cases, whose occasions indispensably called them away: Upon which, the morrowmorning, very early, was appointed for my trial, and so I was directed to withdraw, and went back to prison. 11th day of February, 1679, I was according On the morrow-morning, being Tuesday, the ly brought to the bar, and arraigned with two Indictments, one as principal, the other as accessary to the murder of sir Edmondbury GodAccordingly on Saturday morning, I was frey, and after a very full hearing of the Evibrought thither and arraigned upon a bill dence against me, and being suffered to say found against me, just before my coming to the very little of the great deal of matter I had to bar, as accessary to the murder of sir E. God-urge in my defence, the jury (who were all frey: After the Indictment was read, I asked the court when my trial would come on? And was answered by my Lord-Chief-Justice, that he thought on Monday: Then I moved his gentlemen of quality of the county of Middlesex), without stirring from the bar, gave their verdict in, Not Guilty: And I was thereupon immediately ordered to be discharged. The Examination of Captain WILLIAM BEDLOw, deceased, relating to the Popish Plot; taken in his last Sickness, by Sir Francis North, Chief Justice of the Court of Common-Pleas. Together with the Narrative of Sir Francis North, at the Council-Board: and the Letter of Sir Francis North, to Mr. Secretary Jenkins, relating to this Examination. Perused and signed to be printed, according to the Order of the House of Commons, by me, William Williams, Speaker.* The EXAMINATION of Capt. WILLIAM BEDLOW, taken upon oath before the Lord Chief Justice North, at Brirtol, on Monday the 16th of August, 1680. The NARRATIVE of sir FRANCIS NORTH, Lord At my first coming to Mr. Rumsey's house, The Examinant saith, That the duke of York where I was to lodge at Bristol, opon Monday hath been so far engaged in the Plot, as he the 16th day of August in the afternoon, being hath seen by Letters in Cardinal Barbarini's se- the first day of the assizes, sir John Knight came cretary's Study, that no part that hath been to me, and said, That Mr. Bedlow lay dangerproved against any man already, that hath suf- ously ill of a fever, and had little hopes of life; fered, but that to the full those letters have and desired that I would give him a visit, that made him guilty of it; all but what tended to he might impart something of great cousethe king's death. And at Rome I asked Father quence to me before his death. I told him, I Anderton, and Father Lodge, two Jesuits, would give him a visit that night after supper, What would the duke do with his brother when about nine o'clock, if I might be satisfied of he was king? and they answered me, They two things: 1. That there was no infection would find a means for that; they would give in his distemper: 2. That the time would not him no trouble about it. Then I told them, I be inconvenient, but he might discourse to me believed the duke loved his brother so well, he without prejudice to his condition. After a would suffer no violence to be done to him: little while, two physicians came to me, and they said, No; if the duke could be brought assured me, that there was no danger of infec to that, as he had been religiously to every thing tion, and that the time I had appointed would else, they might do their work; their other busi- be most proper; for commonly he took his ness was ready; and they might do it present-repose in the afternoon, and at nine o'clock he ly. But they knew they could not bring him to that point, but they would take care for that themselves. They had not begun with him, to leave him in such scruples as that, but they would set him into his throne, and there he should reign blind-fold three or four days; for they had settled some, they should pitch the action upon, should clear their party, and then should fly upon them with the sword of re : would,in all probability, be refreshed, and fit to discourse with me. Thereupon, I declared my resolution of going, and desired the company of the two sheriffs, and my brother, Roger North, and appointed my marshal, William Janes, to go with me. As we were upon the way, Mr. Crossman, a minister in that city, told me, Mr. Bedlow had desired him to come with me to him I said, It was very well, and I should be glad of his company. Whereupon we went all together and being come into the room And this Examinant doth further add, That where Mr. Bedlow lay, I saluted him, and said, the queen is not,to this examinant's knowledge, I was extreme sorry to find him so ill; I came nor by any thing that he could ever find out, to visit him upon his own desires: I did imaany way concerned in the murder of the king, gine he had something to impart to me, as a but barely by her letters consenting and pro-privy counsellor, and therefore if he thought mising to contribute what money she could to fit, the company might withdraw. He told the introducing the Catholic Religion. Nay, it was a great while, and it made her weep, be-me, that needed not yet, for he had much to say fore she could be brought to that. venge. Aug. 16, 1680, WILLIAM BEDLOW. (Coram Me,) FRA. NORTH. *Bedlow having been so remarkable a witness in the several Trials of the Popish Plot, it is thought proper to insert here what he declared upon oath to the Lord Chief Justice North, four days before his death, (which happened August 20, 1680. which was proper for the company to hear: and having saluted the Sheriffs, and Mr. Crossman, he discoursed to this purpose. That he looked upon himself as a dying man, and found within himself that he could not last long, but must shortly appear before the Lord of Hosts, to give an account of all his actions. And because many persons had made it their business to baffle and deride the Plot, he did, for the satisfaction of the world, there declare upon the faith of a dying man, and as he hoped |