THE pretended Answer to the Objections against the Earl of Danby, about the Mur­ther of Sir Edmondbury Godfrry, is so far from excusing him, or making that Narra­tive appear unlikely, that, if the Author be Dr. Tong, as is reported, he could not have invented a more certain way to confirm the opinion that Paper is likely to produce amongst considering men, of the Earl of Danby's being the main Contriver of that d [...]stable villany; for allowing his Poetical flourishes, in his Common-place Harangue, about the difference between Prosperity and Adversity, to be as true as he in frothy Nothings s [...]s to teach us; and that his Patron stands at this time a remarkable Example of Fortunes [...]ability, as well in being dissected by false and feigned Friendships, as exposed to the furious gusts of Revenge, proceeding (to use the Author's own words) from such Foes as his wil­ful Passion, which overflowed all bounds of Reason, made Enemies to his [...]urple greatness, when Ambition got the Reins: And truly Purple greatness may that well be call'd, which Dyes it self so deep in the Purple Goar of Innocence.

But to take all matters as they stand; Sir Edmondbury Godfrey once an active, worthy, ho­nest, judicious, learned, zealous and impartial Magistrate, now a most Villainously-murder'd Person, which both by the Laws of God and Nature, cries out for Vengeance against the Au­thors and Contrivers of his horrid Exit.

The Earl of Danby, once a flaming Meteor, above our Horizon, pretending by his ill-acqui­red and worse-dispenc'd Power, nothing but ruine and destruction to all that Region he had influence on; now a Prisoner to stand or fall as his abused Prince, and Justice shall agree: but however undoubtedly liable to an Hue and Cry from the Nation, for all those undeniable Villa­nies and Crimes he tacitely confesses in his Pardon.

A Pardon so drawn up, that were there nothing in the World but that, to point out what is chiefly here enquired for, it certainly would trace us to the Action beyond all Circumstances yet revealed, but what is right down sworn of the Murther. For as a States-man merely, and to fence against all those trayterous Stratagems of prostituting the Honour of his Prince and Country, to the designs of an Ambitious Neighbour; or his weak contrivance to enslave us, and rule us by an Army, with other the like half-spun, raw, untaking Politicks; a Pardon for Treason, Misprision of Treasor, Conspiracies at home or abroad, and other matters, with which the first and Pardoning clause of his was fill'd, relating to matters of that nature, would have been enough: but it is to be observed, that the second reciting clause of his, seems to Par­don him all Felonies, &c. Crimes none but Murdering-States-men, as he is now thought to be, could ever need.

And it's very likely he surpriz'd his Master, his loving Master, (and, but for him, perhaps the best of Princes) into that Pardon for those latter Crimes, by reading but the former part unto him; for it may be doubted, he durst not read the names of Crimes so remote to his Imploy­ment, and from which he could never hope his Majesty would shelter him, by taking all upon himself, as he, in his unbounded goodness to him, has done for very great ones of the first [Page 2]Nature. But to our first point, which is, that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey is murther'd, and the Earl of Danby, a Prisoner, stands suspected of it, which how he is clear'd from, by his Poetical Ad­vocate, we will examine.

First, the Paper infers, that because Danby could not hope to be much greater, therefore he needed not to do that mischief: But (to speak the Author's stile) that is but a very weak Inference; for Ill men will do as much mischief to continue, as to obtain Power: otherwise Cromwell, and other Tyrants, are foully be-ly'd. Then too, he wilfully mistakes the Paper he pretends to Answer; for that intimates the design of the Murder likely to proceed from Danby's fear, that Sir Edmond should make apparent to the King and Kingdom, as he had done to the Duke, that Danby was either the Inventer of the Plot, or Concealer of it, for pur­poses of his own. But it may be asked, What purposes of his own? To this might readily be answered, To prevent an Impeachment against him, upon one head more, (viz.) for keeping up an Army, beyond the time limited by Parliament for their Disbanding: since 'tis demon­strable from his own Letters and Practises, that he long before knew there should be none of the intended foreign use for them; and if so, what use could they be continued for but the en­flaming of the Nation; or what pretence so justifiable for keeping them up, as a dangerous Plot amongst so obnoxious and hated a People as the Papists, on whom he might be reveng'd too sufficiently, for the Popish Lords voting against his design of keeping the Earl of Shaftsbury (and other zealous Patriots for Liberty) in the Tower. Therefore not to charge him with con­spiring with the Papists, as this Paper would foolishly hoodwink us with the reasons sugge­sted, are sufficient to shew he might politickly contrive that horrid Murder.

Next to what is said about the opportunity, is suggested against the Earl of Danby, by the being of Sir Edmond at his House that day, we will, with the Author, allow, that all men who have opportunity, do not causelesly murder their Friends: But it is before suggested, that he could not esteem Sir Edmondbury Godfrey his Friend, who had discovered his malice to his too long blinded Patron the Duke; nor did Danby treat him as such, after he had knowledge of that honest man's love to that well meaning Prince, in sending Coleman to him; but upon several meetings and applications to him, revil'd him (though a Gentleman as well born as himself) with the foul and opprobrious names of Rogue, Knave, and medling-Rascal. And though Murther be so execrable a crime, that no Christian can think of without horrour and amazement; yet we find men often call'd so, accus'd, and found guilty of it; Nor is there one generous or heroick action in all the notorious life of Danby recorded, but on the contrary, it has been a summary of base ingratitude to his first Raisers, and constant Preservers, of falshood and injustice to his Equals, of tyranny and oppression to his Inferiours, of dishonour and Treason to his Prince and Countrey; in fine, a life of lies and infamies, therefore when provok'd, no doubt capable of any the most unnatural villanies: and that this may not be thought a mere uncharitable suggestion, I will refer my self to the known custom of the honest Earl of Lindsey, his Lady's Father, who when he heard any notorious Lie, in re­spect to his Son in Law's most notable virtue, still would call it an Osbourn.

But to follow our Paper, which concludes on a Supposition taken from what is proved by the Witnesses against those already Executed for the Murder, and those, he says, have de­posed, he was traced from his own House towards London in the morning, &c. inferring from thence, he could not be at Danby's that day; but if all things concluded thereupon be but as true, as that he was waiting at the Earl of Danby's that day till one a clock, to speak with him, then is Danby as surely guilty of the Murder, as 'tis sure that Sir Edmondbury God­frey is dead. For 'tis notoriously known to Sir John Banks, Mr. Mules, and twenty other people of business that waited with him that day that Sir Edmond was there; he complaining then to divers of them how he was fallen into Danby's displeasure, besides his being there, has not onely been declared to the Privy Council by the Lady Prat, but has been attested by the King himself in open Discourses, acknowledg'd by a great Countess, Danby's own Relation, and confess'd by himself: nor can it be any wonder the Witnesses should mistake the story of his constant progress that day, since it is so notoriously known, they often change their tales of the Rooms the Body was laid in, in Somerset-house, during its supposed continuance there. But to waste time no farther, it is as likely Danby might be deceived in his Instruments as other men, if guilty, it is plain have been. But to clear himself from so probable surmises and presumptions which are made against him, his onely way is generously to wave his Par­don (at least) till after Judgment, and take his Trial for this and other things charged upon him by the whole Nation: For all scribling for him is but washing the Blackamore. And it is more than to be suspected, that those who take that pains, or any other ways publickly to defend him, who so plainly confesses Treasons and Felonies, by sheltering himself under a Pardon for them, has been some of his Accomplices in these Crimes, of which, believe it, there will not want Witnesses, when it is as safe and lawful to speak truth, as 'tis now me­ritorious to do the contrary: Which time, sweet JESƲS, in thy good mercy send us speedily.