royalty restored-第67章
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esting his majesty would order a day of general fasting and prayer； to implore the mercy of Almighty God。 The king complying with this desire； they next； 〃in consideration of the bloody and traitorous designs；〃 besought him to issue a proclamation 〃commanding all persons being popish recusants； or so reputed；〃 to depart ten miles from the city。 Accordingly； upwards of thirty thousand citizens left London before the 7th of the following month； 〃with great lamentations leaving their trades and habitations。〃 Many of them in a little while secretly returned again。 A few days before this latest petition was presented to the monarch； Oates had been examined before the House for over six hours； and so delighted was he by the unprejudiced manner in which his statements were received； that he added several items to them。 These were not only interesting in themselves； but implicated peers and persons of quality to the number of twenty…six。 The former； including Lords Stafford； Powis； Petre； Bellasis； and Arundel of Wardour； were committed to the Tower； the latter to Newgate prison。
At the end of his examination he was several times asked if he knew more of the plot； or of those concerned with it； to which he emphatically replied he did not。 Three days later he remembered a further incident which involved many persons not previously mentioned by him。
Both Houses now sat in the forenoon and afternoon of each day； excitement was not allowed to flag。 Oates seldom appeared before the Commons without having fresh revelations to make； but the fertility of his imagination by no means weakened the strength of his evidence in the opinions of his hearers。 〃Oates was encouraged；〃 writes John Evelyn； 〃and everything he affirmed taken for gospel。〃 Indignation against the papists daily increasing in height； the decrees issued regarding them became more rigorous in severity。
On the 2nd of November the king； in obedience to his Parliament； offered a reward of twenty pounds for the discovery of any officer or soldier who； since the passing of the Test Act； 〃hath been perverted to the Romish religion； or hears mass。〃 Two days later a bill was framed 〃for more effectually preserving the king's person and government； by disabling papists from sitting in either House of Parliament。〃 As it was feared a clause would be inserted in this； excluding the Duke of York； the enemies of his royal highness more plainly avowed their object by moving that an address be presented to the king； praying his brother should 〃withdraw himself from his majesty's person and counsels。〃 This was the first step towards the Bill of Exclusion from Succession which they hoped subsequently to obtain。 The monarch； however； determined to check such designs whilst there was yet time； and accordingly made a speech to the peers； in which he said to them； 〃Whatever reasonable bills you shall present to be passed into laws； to make you safe in the reign of my successor； so they tend not to impeach the right of succession； nor the descent of the crown in the true line； shall find from me a ready concurrence。〃
The intended address was therefore abandoned for the present； but the bill for disabling catholics from sitting in either House of Parliament； having a clause which excepted the Duke of York from that indignity； passed on the 30th of November。
CHAPTER XVIII。
Reward for the discovery of murderers。Bedlow's character and evidence。His strange story。Development of the 〃horrid plot。〃 William Staley is made a victim。Three Jesuits hung。Titus Oates pronounced the saviour of his country。Striving to ruin the queen。Monstrous story of Bedlow and Oates。The king protects her majesty。Five Jesuits executed。Fresh rumours concerning the papists。Bill to exclude the Duke of York。Lord Stafford is tried。Scene at Tower Hill。Fate of the conspirators。
Before the remains of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey were laid to rest； a proclamation was issued by the king； offering a reward of five hundred pounds for discovery of the murderers。 If one of the assassins betrayed those who helped him in the deed； he should receive； not only the sum mentioned； but likewise a free pardon； and such protection for his security as he could in reason propose。 Two days after this had been made public； a man named William Bedlow put himself in communication with Sir William Coventry； Secretary of State； declaring he had a certain knowledge of the murder in question。
Archdeacon Eachard tells us this man 〃was one of a base birth and worse manners； who from a poor foot…boy and runner of errands； for a while got into a livery in the Lord Bellasis's family； and having for his villainies suffered hardships and want in many prisons in England； he afterwards turned a kind of post or letter carrier for those who thought fit to employ him beyond sea。 By these means he got the names and habitations of men of quality； their relations； correspondents； and interests； and upon this bottom； with a daring boldness； and a； dexterous turn of fancy and address； he put himself into the world。 He was skilful in all the arts and methods of cheating； but his masterpiece was his personating men of quality； getting credit for watches； coats； and horses； borrowing money； bilking vintners and tradesmen； lying and romancing to the degree of imposing upon any man of good nature。 He lived like a wild Arab upon prey； and whether he was in Flanders； France； Spain； or England； he never failed in leaving the name of a notorious cheat and impostor behind him。〃
On the 7th of November； Bedlow was brought before the king； and examined by two Secretaries of State。 Here he made the extraordinary declaration that he had seen the body of the murdered magistrate lying at Somerset Housethen the residence of the queen； that two Jesuits； named La Faire and Walsh； told him they； with the assistance of an attendant in the queen's chapel； had smothered Sir Edmondbury Godfrey between two pillows； that he had been offered two thousand guineas if he would safely remove the body； which on his refusal was carried away； a couple of nights after the murder； by three persons unknown to him； who were servants of the queen's household。 Hearing this statement； Sir William Coventry asked him if he knew anything of the popish plot； when he affirmed on oath he was entirely ignorant regarding it； he likewise swore he knew no such man as Titus Oates。
That night he was lodged in Whitehall； in company with Tonge and Oates； and next morning appeared before the House of Lords； when it was evident his memory had wonderfully improved since the previous day。 His story now assumed a more concise form。 In the beginning of October； he stated； he had been offered the sum of four thousand pounds； to be paid by Lord Bellasis； provided he murdered a man whose name was withheld from him； This he refused。 He was then asked to make the acquaintance and watch the movements of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey。 With this he complied。 Soon after dusk on the 12th of October； the magistrate had been dragged into the court of Somerset House by the Jesuits； and asked if he would send for the documents to which Oates had sworn。 On his refusal he had been smothered with a piece of linen cloth； the story of suffocation by pillows； being at variance with the medical evidence； was now abandoned。 One of the Jesuits； La Faire； had asked Bedlow to call at Somerset House that night at nine o'clock； and on presenting himself； he was conducted through a gloomy passage into a spacious and sombre room； where a group of figures stood round a body lying on the floor。 Advancing to these； La Faire turned the light of a lantern he carried on the face of the prostrate man； when Bedlow recognised Sir Edmondbury Godfrey。 He was then offered two thousand guineas if he would remove the body； which was allowed to remain there three days。 This he promised to accomplish； but afterwards； his conscience reproving him； he resolved to avoid the assassins； and rather than accept the sum proffered； he had preferred discovering the villainy to the Government。
This improbable story obtained no credit with the king； nor indeed with those whose minds were free from prejudice。 〃His majesty；〃 writes Sir John Reresby； 〃told me
