WHy I tell thee, Ephraim, I heard it with my own Ears, and it was a Man in Black too, that said it.

In Black, do ye say? 'Twas no Divine I hope.

No, no; He was too Fierce, and Fiery, for a Divine: By his laying about him so, and his Bug-Words, a Man would rather have taken him for a Con­jurer. But yet he seems to be a very Good man, in His Way.

There's a Doctor of Physick or two, that I know, that are very Honest, Zealous Men: Might it not be One of Them?

No, no; This Man does not look like a Doctor of any thing: I should rather take him for some body toward the Law.

Pre'thee describe him a little. Has he not a Big, deep Voyce?

Yes; and a hoarse kind of wheasing with it, like the Ciphring of an Organ-Pipe that has got a Flaw.

And thou find'st him a Man of parts too; dost not?

Oh: A Devillish Fellow. Well Ephraim: 'Tis a strange thing, how one may be deceived in a bodies Out side. I should not have thought by the semblance of This man, that he could have said Bo to a Goose.

We are Both upon the same Person Zekiel, on­ly he spoke the same things, in the Morning at the Am­sterdam Coffee-House, and in the After-noon at Richards.

Hs has an odd kind of Lift methinks with his Upper-Lip, like the Snuffling of a Stone-horse at a Mare.

I have observ'd something of a Convulsion in that Part. But what-like Face had he, I Pre'thee?

Did'st thou ever take notice of a Vizor, with a a kind of Liver-colour Vernish yonder, at a Glasse Shop by Exeter Change? The Mouth, (if you mark it) is cut a little higher then Ordinary.

Now thou mind'st me of it, 'Tis the very Pi­cture of this Worthy Gentleman. The Nose on't I re­member, looks as if it had been drawn on with a Shoo­ing-Horn.

But then take the Gentlenesse of his Manners▪ the Graces of his Mind; the Sweetnesse of his Motions, and Addresse: Really take him altogether, and the Man is a Man, every Inch of him.

'Tis very true Zekiel: for the Man is Tall, and Slender; and every thing that he says, or does, comes from him with so Pretty an Obliging Ayre. But let us come now to the Point: What did he say?

He said flat and Plain, that Crack-fart was a Conspirator; up to the Ears in Young Tongs Sham-Plot; and that a Pillory was too good for him.

Why This is no more then the Common Talk of all the Coffee-Houses about the Town.

And let me tell thee as a Secret, Ephraim, the same People carry'd the same Humour about the Town, as well as the same Words. There's a short, Trub, fat, Fel­low, in a white Perrywig, (his Father, as I take it, was a Commitee man.) There happen'd one of L' Estrange his Pamphlets to ly in his way, and you might see his Indignation come up his Gullet, as plainly, as if a Snake were fetching up a Toad again. Thou canst not think how I dote upon this Honest man, for his Af­fection to our Interest.

There's another, that they call the Coffee Dra­per: upon my credit, he lays it on to some Tune too. I heard him speak bloody words t'other day; and he was as well Seconded by one that is lately come over from the Profession of an Hypocrite to the Practise of it, who is an excellent Man too in his Generation.

Prethee Ephraim let's have no more Riddles. Thou mean'st the Hypocrite, I suppose, according to the Letter.

But what do ye think then of the Poetical Joyner? He that Rhim'd so plaguily upon the Judges and the Juries, about Gascoyn, and Wakeman?

Ay, now you speak of a Man indeed: If you had but heard him, how he whipp'd up two or [Page 4] three Blades t'other day, of the Arbitrary way, upon the War of Forty One, you'd have said he had been a Teazer, indeed. He told them to their very No­ses, that the Parliament men of those days were the bravest Patriots that ever England bred; that they fought for the Liberty of the Subject; and in one word exalted them to the skyes.

Come, come; Let it suffice, that Dr. Oates was There himself, and a great many Worthy Per­sons besides; And no Room for any other Discourse then L' Estrange and Tong, Celiers and L' Estrange.

Why Really to give him his Due, the Doctor seem'd to be much for Moderation: One was down­right for the Gallows: Another would have brought it down to Pebbles, and Rotten Eggs; But the Doctor himself, being more inclin'd to Mercy, was willing to content himself with a Touch at the Carts Arse.

Prethee Zekiel let us keep close to the Subject, now we are upon it: for some way or other, This Varlet must be Confounded.

Nay, That's a thing absolutely Resolved, E­phraim; and there are more ways to the Wood then One. Let us try First, how far we can carry it upon the Reputation of Tongs Plot.

Very Good; and if That will not reach him, we must set our Wits to work some other way.

Why you see how all the Coffee-houses take fire at it already.

Ay; and all the News-Mongers too; and conse­quently the whole Kingdome.

And then it goes down with the People, with­out so much as Gulping. Nay; It has Stagger'd, I know not how many, of his Best Friends. How many Fools, and Coxcombs have I heard him call'd, even by his own Party; since we put This Hare afoot. Not so few as a Hundred people came to Harry Brooms in One day, to see what was become of him, and in what Goal to find him.

Nay (as we order'd the matter) his Charge, Examination, and Committment, were all over the Na­tion, before either the Counsell, or Himself, had heard one Syllable of the Story.

It must not be deny'd, but that the Design was well layd; and carry'd on too, with as much Skill, and Industry, as was possible.

If you speak of the Original design; the Snare for L' Estrange was as well contriv'd as Heart could wish it. For nothing could be more Plausible, then the Means that Tong used by a Second hand, for the draw­ing of him into the Toyle. You know what I mean.

Yes yes; Tong propounded that L' Estrange might be call'd in, to his Assistance, as a fit person to direct him in This Affayr. But This poynt Ephraim was not followed so close as it might have been. And then there was too much Noise made on't beforehand. Now there's no thought of compassing such a business as This, when it has once taken Vent.

To say the Truth, Zekiel, we were a little out in our Measures, at Both Ends. First, we let it run too long, without any sort of Personal Application to L' Estrange. Secondly, we struck too soon at Last. For who knows, but that with Art, and a little longer Patience he might have been prevayl'd upon, in the End, to have Pouch'd the Bayt?

'Tis but so much Time and Breath cast away, to stand talking of matters that are gone and Past: But since Tongs Committment, and the bringing of things to a Forc'd Put; I have set as hard upon L' Estrange's Skirts, as another.

And if you go to That (Zekiel) there are O­thers that have done their Parts (I believe) too, as well as You: And Pray'e (if a body may ask you) what mighty businesses have You to boast of, in This Affair, more then your Fellows?

Nay since you provoke me Ephraim. I am not Affraid to dispute Services with you, provided that it breed no Ill bloud betwixt us; For Competitions are many times the Ruine, even of the most Generous Vnder­takings.

These are not so properly Competitious, Zekiel, as Virtuous Emulations, when Brethren strive only to Exceed one another in Goodnesse. Wherefore I Pre­thee let us vye the good Offices we have render'd the Publick, in This Instance, with that Calmnesse, and Moderation that may become persons of Our Character, and Profession.

Thou hast spoken with the Lips of an Angell, Ephraim. And beside the Duty of our Agreement, if there were nothing in it but Humane Policy, it would concern us to bear up in Unity, against the Common E­nemy, and leave the Unhappy Differences that we find among our selves, to be Adjusted at Leisure. But now to your Friendly Challenge, Ephraim. See Honest John Gays News-Letter of Octob. 2. 1680. At the Flying Horse in Fleetstreet, and you will find This Passage following.

A Person (says he) having visited Mr. Tonge in Newgate, Mr. Tonge deliver'd him a Paper, Contai­ning a Discovery of the whole Contrivance against Dr. Oates; in which is mentioned that Mr. L' Estrange is concerned in it; and that upon Notice of its being likely to be Discover'd, Mr. L' Estrange sent a Letter to Mr. Tonge, to Remove all the Papers out of his Lodgings, to Mr. Ely's. &c.

Now if This was not a Considerable Service, the sending of This Person to Newgate; and the Publishing of This Report, which was the Foundation of All the Fol­lowing Aspersions upon L' Estrange: I am no Master of my Trade.

Your Will was Good no doubt on't, Zekiel; And so was your Design: you made use of Proper In­struments too, and gave Birth to a very Serviceable Ru­mour: But what needed you have given that Blind Intimation of a Quidam: a certain Nameless Person that first broch'd the Story? It makes it look like a Practice; whereas one bold Touch to have made it a discovery up­on an Examination from Above, would have hit the Bird in the Eye. And then L' Estranges Letter to Tong, and the Removal of his Papers to Mr. Elys, (to be plain [Page 8] with ye Zekiel) was e'en a Silly Invention: for any man might foresee, that once in Eight and Forty Hours, the Abuse would be detected; (as effectually it was.) And if the people had not been very kind to us, the Manifest Falsity of Those Particulars, might have haz­zarded the Credit of all the Rest.

This was Gays fault, and not Mine: for That Piece was intended only for a Country Intelligence, and he like a Coxcomb, goes and disperses it here in the Town.

But what do ye think now of My device, that was Clapt in upon the Back of Prance his Narative, by way of Post-script? You have seen't I'm sure; 'Twas Prin­ted for Langly Curtis upon Lud-Gate Hill: and came out October. 1st. The man you must know, is as True as Steel, where he takes; and a pretty Fellow enough, if he would but leave a foolish Trick he has taken up, of winding up his Nose, and shewing his Teeth at every turn, like a Whelp that has got a Bee in's Ear. Your Intelligence I can assure ye, had been run to dirt; if This Paper had not Stept in, to Relieve ye.

Mrs. Cellier, (says he) mentioning the said Mr. Le­strange very familiarly; and pretending then to send her Imps, Grange, and Sing up and down to him; tho' for all her vain boasting, it cannot (I think) be imagin'd, that so worthy a Gentleman and so much a Protestant as he has shown himself by his late Learned Pamphlets; and one that is, (as I am told) a Justice of the Peace, would have any Correspondence with such a notorious Popish Baggage, &c.

[Page 9] Here's a Spark now that would passe the Ordeal, and never say, God save the King for't. For when he has fairly hinted a familiarity betwixt L' Estrange and Celiers, and a Correspondence entertain'd betwixt them, even to the naming of the very Mercuries that convey'd the In­telligence; you will finde in the Context, that it is all delivered only as a Cr [...]dible Hearsay; and to tell you as a Friend, the Small Officer you wot of, had a great hand in the Advice; And then so soon as ever he had Bespatter'd him with Calumnies, hardly ever to be repaired, do but see how delicately the Rogue makes it worse and worse by pretending to Lick him Clean again.

But how comes Curtis to have such an Interest thereabouts?

There's a Mystery in That, my Friend Ephraim. First, upon an Order for a Prosecution at Law, there is a way of either falling short in the Evidence, and so bringing the matter off That way; or else of suppres­sing those Articles that would have done the business, or in some cases not bringing the question on at all. Se­condly, There is one that does not stick publickly to de­clare, that he will not meddle with hindring any Li­bells against L' Estrange: and so we have as good as a Protection in that Assurance. And then (under the Rose) There may be now and then certain Feelings in the Cause, and Connivings, in which Case it will be dan­gerous to disoblige us, for fear of telling Tales.

Well, but you are gone from your Text. Where's the Mighty Service, I beseech ye, that you have done your Party by This Pamphlet?

Or rather, Where are your Eyes, Ephraim, that cannot discern it, without poynting to't? did not you find the Operation of This Paper, Immediately upon the Publishing it? and that whereas L' Estrange was only mention'd before, as a setter on of Tong against the Two Doctors without any other Confederate; It came now to the Cry of the Town, that Celiers and L' Estrange went on hand in hand with the Conspiracy: and in such a manner too, that L' Estrange had hardly any way left him to purge himself, but the Testimony of Celliers, who was not to be believ'd. There's nothing sticks closer to L' Estrange, then this Intimation: and yet it has started another Bugg too, which is that he is a Papist, as well as a Plotter; and That perswasion I promise you goes a great way. Nay Ile tell ye a word more too, but in Confidence. I heard a Gentleman undertake the other night to prove him one; and This is a man that speaks him as fair to his Face to, as any man Living, which carrys the greater Credit.

But do you believe, Zekiel, that L' Estrange holds any Correspondence with Celliers, or not?

I do not believe that ever he exchang'd any message with her, or ever so much as saw the Eyes of her in his whole Life. This is a thing I would not say to every Body, but I know to whom I speak it.

You must know Zekiel that I did not only start the first General Report of L' Estranges being in Tongs Plot, but I fixed the Particular Article; and layd it; for Tampering with Tong, to Renounce the Retracta­tion he made to his Vnkle, of his former Enformation.

That might passe well enough to serve a pre­sent Turn, but at the long Run, you could never ex­pect that it would hold water, for at the time of Tongs Renouncing That Retractation, L' Estrange had not as yet ever seen the face of Tong. To deale frankly with ye, I do not approve the laying of so much stresse neither, upon Tongs Testimony. First, he advances an Enforma­tion; and at the same time, gives us a Counterpart of it, which according to our Principles was fairly done. Se­condly, he Retracts That Information; and Thirdly, denys, upon his Salvation that ever he retracted it, and Swears it to have been his own Spontaneous Act, with Three Wittnesses to Assert That Disclamer. Now This is so Notorious a forfeiture of his Credit, that I should be very loth to Venture the Pinch of the Question upon his Evidence. So that I am still blowing up the Clamour of L' Estrange and Celiers and the Jelousy of L' Estranges being a Papist. And I'le tell ye what, beside; I have push [...]d it forward, that the Duke of York sent Tong a Hundred Guinnyes by L' Estrange, for an Encourage­ment. And This works in the peoples heads, like Bottle Ale.

That it does upon my word Zekiel: for I was rounded in the ear but yesterday, that Prance had Ten Wittnesses in Readiness, to prove that L' Estrange had been Forty times at Mass here; & Solemnly Worship­ping according to the Profession of the Romish Commu­nion. And I was told by another at the same time, that L' Estrange was run quite away, and a Sum of money offer'd to any man that should bring him back again.

This Play of Fast and Loose may do well e­nough, so long as the Truth is kept out of sight: But you see, since L' Estrange's appearing at the Councell, that the businesse of Tonge is in a manner blown over, [Page 12] and that we are put to our shifts for Other Pretenses, to uphold the Controversy. So that if it were not for My story of Celliers, and the Common Theme of Popery, and Popishly-Affected, I do not know but we might e'en shut up our shops, and let fall the Question.

I know very well how matters pass'd upon L' Estrange's Examination; and all things consider'd, I am of Opinion that John Gay has done his part again, to help us out at a dead Lift, in his paper of Intelli­gence. Octo. 7.

Yesterday (says he) Mrs. Cellier, Mr. L' Estrange, Mr. Choqueux, Captain Ely, Mr. Tonge, his Father, and Dr. Oates, had a Hearing before the Councill; where seve­ral material things were discovered; and many Words past betwixt Dr. Oates, and Mr. L' Estrange,; The Council upon Dr. Oates desiring L' Estrange might be committed, Or­der'd Dr. Oates to bring a Bill against him, and if it was found, he should be Secur'd. And L'Estrange own'd that Mr. Tonge had been with him, but did not communicate any of his Plot to him. The further Hear­ing of Him and Mrs Cellier is adjourn'd till Friday.

What dost thou mean Ephraim, to encourage such a Flam as This? There are twice as many known Falshoods in it as there are Lines: And they are so Palpable too, that there is hardly any man of business, but is able to Contradict them: Nor is there one Syl­lable in it to the Purpose, but where L'Estrange and Cellier are coupled together. He says nothing at all here of L' Estrange's being snapt up at the Councell for his Sawcynesse, and the Moan he made to their Lord­ships for Dr. Oates's making so bold with one of the Kings Justices; and the Drs. telling him that he would prove him a Rogue, by the Best in the Land; and of the Cause being only put off, in order to the Drs. bringing of further Evidence. Now since Mr. Gay was so bent upon it, to strain a point of Candour, and Integrity; methinks he should have had the Brains to have made a better Choice of the Lyes he intended to publish; espe­cially when the One was every jot as True, and as Cheap as the Other.

Pray'e tell me what Exception you have, now, to the Paper of honest Mr. Hill? (that of a Strong-Water-man is now become an Intelligencer.) It bears Date, Octo. 7.

Yesterday (says he) Mr. Justice Bridgman and Dr. Oates appear'd at the Councell-board, where he deliver'd the Confession of young Tonge, which he made in Newgate, whereby he accused Mr. L'Estrange, and one Choqueux to be Conspirators with him in the Plot, against his Father, and Dr. Oates. Very high Words pass'd between Dr. Oates, and Mr. L'Estrange; [Page 14] the Latter telling the Councell that Dr. Oates took the Liberty to call him a Thousand times Rogue, and Rascall; which the Dr. owned, saying he would prove him to be Both, and de­sir'd he might be Secur'd: Whereupon the Councell Order'd the Dr. to prefer a Bill a­gainst him; and if it were found, promised that he should either be Secur'd, or give sufficient Bayle. Upon Examination, L'Estrange owned that Young Tonge had been with him; and at the same time told him he had something to disco­ver but he knew not what it was.

This piece of Intelligence, Ephraim, is like Chip in Porridge, it does neither good, not hurt; only it keeps the Wheel a going. And yet the leaviug out of Cellier (let me tell ye) is the want of a Principal Verb. It was not well, to put in the Doctors calling L'Estrange, Rogue, and Rascall; unlesse it had been ac­company'd with some Intolerable Provocation; for fear it might be look upon as an Irreverence toward the Board. The Dr. they say, made often mention of the Parliament; which the News-Letters do well not to take notice of, upon matter of Discretion as well as Re­spect. Upon the whole matter, I observe This Deco­rum in all these Papers, that in the Main they have the Wit to hold mostly in a Tale. The most Positive and Concise of the whole Tribe is little Hancock. Octo­ber. 7th.

[Page 15] The Papers of young Tong's Sham-Plot being seiz'd, Mr. L'Estrange, and Mrs. Cellier were Summon'd; but they deny'd they knew any thing of it; but Mrs. Cellier would not stand to it, by reason of the many Bruises she received on the Pillory: But next Wednesday, Mr. Tonge will be brought to Confront them, face to face.

These Papers of Young Tongs, I must confess I never heard of. But I am fully Convinc'd of the be­nefit of Coupling L'Estrange with Celliers.

Pray'e my Masters will you give me Leave now to put in a word, in my own Case: And you shall have the Naked Truth of it, as if I were upon my Last Confession.

'Tis an Old saying, that Listeners seldome hear well of themselves; but it is as True again, in another Case, that he that makes a Conscience of his ways, needs never fear being surpriz'd.

With what face can you pretend to appeal to the integrity of your own Souls; when you are not more convinc'd of the difference betwixt Truth and Falshood, then you are Conscious to your selves, of a Malicious Conspiracy against an Innocent Person, in This Practice? For your Calumnies are all Supported by Confederacy, and Inconsistent with Themselves. The Pretended Foundation of your Outrage against me, is, for Abetting a Subornation against the Kings Wit­nesses: And when you finde that upon That Ground [Page 16] you cannot sustain your Charge; I am to be made a Papist. When That Calumny fails you too, my Wri­tings are to be pickt, and sifted; and an Inquisition to passe upon my Papers. So that your business is not to punish any Open Faults in me but to hunt for secret ones, and to revenge your selves upon my Person, be­cause I have layd my Offences out of your Sight.

You should do better to value your self upon the simplicity of your manners, then upon a flourish of Words and Phrases: And since you are so forward to offer your self to a Defence; Pray'e will you speak to such Points concerning this business of Tong as you judg may be sufficient for your Vindication.

It is most Unwillingly that I enter up­on This Subject; and for many Reasons. First, as my Case must necessarily take in some matters that fall under the Cognizance of his Majesties most Honour­able Privy Councell. Secondly, As I am no Friend to the Circumstances of almost All Vindications; being still accompany'd more or less with Vanity, and Clamour. Thirdly; It is an Argument of great Weakness and Ill manners, for me to impose upon the World; and to ex­pect that the Sun should stand still in the Firmament, to attend my Little Story. And truly, in This Outra­geous Liberty of the Press, I should be no more mov'd at a Personal Libell, than at a Pug upon the Thames, for calling me the Son of a Whore; or at a Privileg'd Fool, upon the Land, for making as many Sorts of Rascals of me as ever were created out of the Four and Twen­ty Letters. For Course Language is the Dialect of Courser Natures. I never met with any man that was angry with a Frogg for Croaking: and every one knows that it is as natural for a Puppy to Bark, as to Breath. But yet under [Page 17] favour, when This Popular Venom comes to Resolve into a Crime of State; and that the Honour of a Family: the Life, Freedome, and Reputation of a Loyal Subject, and an Honest man, comes to be the Issue of the Que­stion; I have no other Choyce before me, but either to Sink under the Infamy of a Fool, and a Traytor, (which is the Character that the Little Scribbling Hirelings of this Town have bestow'd upon me) or else to Redeem my self by a Clear, and Open Defence: Wherein I shall endeavour to govern my self with a due Reverence both to Authority, and Truth.

Pray'e Speak, in the first place, to the matter of your Examination.

Upon Wednesday the 6th of this Instant Oct. I attended the Councill; where Mr. Oates, being pre­sent, referr'd himself, (as to any Charge against me) to Young Tongs Affidavit.

The Affidavit being read; I spake, with Leave of the Board, to thoe Parts of it that seem'd to affect me; And, as I then promised, so I delivered a Just, and punctual Account, upon the whole matter in questi­on: which was to This following effect.

Mr. Thomas Newcomb of the Savoy, did, at my In­stance, desire Mr. Choqueux (his near Neighbour there,) that he would appoint me some time to dis­course with him at his own House concerning several Historical Passages of the Late War, whereof (as I was enform'd) he had reserv'd diverse Memorials; He set the Time, and I went to him accordingly, telling him in Generall terms my businesse: But company being There, and just setting down to a Collation, it was too [Page 18] late to enter upon the Discourse after Supper, and so we referr'd it to another time.

Upon my next Visit, a maid directed me into a low Room, where there were two young men; (both Strangers to me:) Mr. Choqueux coming down Imme­diately, saluted me, and made Young Tonge (who, it seems, was One of them) and myself known to each o­ther. Mr. Tonge (said I) I have been sometimes at your Fathers Lodgings in White-Hall: did I ever see You There? No Sir, says he, I never saw you before in my Life; but I have often heard my Father speak of You. Yes (says Mr. Choqueux) for refusing to License his Royal Martyr; which he took very Ill at your hands. There were several dangerous Passages in it (said I) that I durst not meddle with. As Sir, says Young Tonge, so there were: And upon That, he took an Occasion to tell me some Generall Stories of his Father, and Mr. Oates: That they had had many Privacies together; but with­out naming any Particulars of businesse. And Then he told of one Green (a Weaver) that seeing his Father looking about him in the Court of Requests, (as I re­member) askt him what News? Dr. Tonge replying, that he heard none: Green made answer that he would tell Him some; and that there would sodainly be a Popish Massacre. After which (says young Tonge) my Father made an Acquaintance with him; and not long after, follow'd the Plot. Some other wild Discourses he made; but all of them so Extravagant, and Incoherent, that I cut him off as fairly as with Civility I could, by Pishing at all he had said, and telling him, in plain terms, that it signify'd just nothing.

Upon shewing this Dislike, Tonge whisper'd to Mr. Choqueux, who told me presently, that if I had any [Page 19] Writing-work, Mr. Tonge would Transcribe any thing for me with all his heart. Mr. Choqueux also recom­mending Tonge to me, as one that had a great esteem for me. I told him that I had no businesse of That kinde, and that I should be ready to Oblige Mr. Tong: And so we sat together over a glasse of Wine, with­out one syllable more of businesse, more then that I desir'd Mr. Choqueux to remember me for what Notes he had of the late Warre; the which he said he would, but that his Papers were most of them at Paris.

As I was going to take leave, M. Tonge desir'd that he might wait upon me at my House; and propounded such or such a time: So that I agreed at last to the time of his own choosing: But so little satis­fy'd was I with this kinde of Entertainment, that I slipt out of the way, and so he lost his labour. But the next morning, Mr. Choqueux brought me a Letter from him, desiring me that in regard he mist of me last night, I would appoint him another time, for he had something to say to me.

Upon reading of His Letter, (which I shew'd to the Bearer of it) Mr. Choqueux (said I) he that has to do with these Fellows, Must be as wary as if he were upon the High Rope: a slip is as much as a man's Neck's worth: If you do but misplace One word, hee'l be your Ruine. But I'le write him an Answer however; which in effect was This. I'm sorry that I mist you last night, but if you have anything to say to me, I shall be at home at 7. in the Eve­ning. Truly (Sir) says Mr. Choqueux I believe young Tonge to have no sort of Guile in him; but however, he can do me no hurt, for I have nothing to do with him, but in relation to his Health.

[Page 20] About 7. in the Evening, came Mr. Choqueux, Mr. Tonge, and two more, (who are meer Strangers to me): Mr. Choqueux telling me, that Mr. Tonge had de­sir'd him to bring him to me, and that he had some­thing to acquaint me with. Sir (said I) This businesse has an Ill face: I will not meddle in any thing looks so like a Consultation. So the two strangers departed, leaving the Other two behind; Sr. (says Mr. Choqueux) Mr Tong has deliver'd some Enformations already: and he has an Enformation to offer to your self, as a Justice of Peace. Gentlemen (Sayd I) if it be an Enformation ready Drawn, and in your own hand, Mr. Tong; so as to need no alteration; if you please to Insert a clause in't for my Security, wherein you shall declare, that it is your own voluntary Act, and without any Argument, or Inducement, from me to move you to't, let me see the Information, and if I find it a matter fit for me to meddle in, I'le Swear you to't; but otherwise I can do nothing in it. Mr. Tong making Answer, that he had nothing ready drawn; Mr. Choqueux went his way, and Tong Stayd I think about a Quarter of an hour after at most, after him; telling over the same Stuff again, that I was so Sick of at the Savoy. I was so far from Pumping him for matter to work upon, or making any Improvement, or Collections from what he sayd, that I quitted the Table where he sat, and walkt about the Room; which made him change his Discourse, to talk of some little Foolish Things that I had written; which in good manners I gave him, and so he departed. After which time I never receiv'd either Note, or Message from him.

But did not Dr. Oates charge you for con­cealing a Conspiracy, contrary to your Duty, as a Magistrate? And did he not Appeal to the Board, whether or no you had rendred any account to their Lordships of That Conspiracy?

He did so: And my Answer Then was, that it would be a strange boldnesse, and Imperti­nence to trouble their Lordships with every ridi­culous Story that I heard, and a more ridiculous then This I never met withall, under so Grave a Pretense.

I do now answer further, that as I was not at all Inquisitive into the Particulars, so the matter in Generall of what I heard, was, in the very qua­lity of it, so Insignificant and Trivial; that bating the Charge, and Trouble of Fees and Attendance, I would have stood the shook of the Issue of such a Charge, for a single Half Crown, even admitting that every Article of it could have been prov'd a­gainst me. So that, as I said upon my Examina­tion, I do not account it worth my while to dis­guise, or evade any one Circumstance in This mat­ter, being wholly Intent upon the discharge of my Conscience, in this affair, with a respect to Modesty, Truth, and Duty. Beside, that on the o­ther hand I have a natural abhorrence for the Of­fice of a Setter, or a Trepanner: And it is the Last Lavfull Service in this world, that I would render even to my Prince and Countrey.

These are but Words still: But since you have gone thus far of your own accord, pray'e go a little further for my sake. Did you neither Tamper with young Tonge, Originally, nor advise him afterward to disclaim his Retractation to his Uncle, of his former Informations.

No: I do' aver it, upon my Hopes of Heaven, that I never saw the Eyes of Young Tonge (to my knowledge) till after that disclaiming of his Retractation. And so far was I from laying a­ny stresse upon what I believe Tonge suggested, that I would have stood in Mr. Oates his Place for Three half-pence, if it could have been proved against Me.

You never had any thing to do neither with Mrs. Celliers, for the carrying on of This Contri­vance against the Doctors, had ye?

Upon the word of a Christian, I do not so much as know the Woman: and I do verily believe that I never saw her Face. Nor had I ever any thing to do with her, either directly or Indirectly in my whole Life: Nor did I hear so much as her Name mention'd upon my Examination.

Pray let me put you a Question now. Did you never deliver Tong a hundred Guyneys by order from the Duke of York? Or do not you, either know, or believe, that he had That, or some other Sum given him, or some Reward, promis'd him, for the Carry­ing on of This Affayr? and by Whom?

No, by all that is Sacred, I do neither Know nor Believe that any Sum of Money, or any Reward, was either Given, or Promised to Tonge by his Royal Highness, or his Order; nor do I know of any Money given him, or any Reward Promised him, in considera­tion of his appearing as an Evidence, by any Person whatsoever. Neither did I ever touch a Penny of the Duke's Money in my Life, either for my own, or for the Use of any other Person. But as to any Gra­tification to him, or the Hopes of it, in case he could draw me into the Snare, I can say nothing to That. But by his Proposing of me beforehand, for his Assist­ant (being, as then, wholly unknown to him) and by the Sequel of his Addresses and Applications, it doth manifestly appear, that the entrapping of L' E­strange was one part of his Design.

But you say nothing all this while of a Conspiracy on the other side; and an endeavour to set up the whole Nation in Evidence against me. For what is it less, the dispersing of so many hundreds of Papers every Week, all over the Kingdom, stuffed with the basest and falsest Scandals against me imaginable; belying the very Ord [...]rs and Proceedings of the Councel; and misrepresenting Matters of State: And this is the Trade of a Pack of Mercenary Scriblers that are (pro­bably) kept in Pay to a Faction.

You have the Wit, I perceive, to tell us no­thing to your Disadvantage: Pray'e were not you taken up for being a little too Malapert, when Dr. Oates laid you so open before the Councel?

Not one Jot I do assure ye Gentlemen: and I hope, I understand my Duty better than to deserve it. True it is, that Mr. Oates charged me with abu­sing the Kings Witnesses in my Writings. And I did say indeed, It were well if some of them did not abuse themselves more in their manners; for that Oates him­self had within a few days call'd me at least forty Rogues and Rascals, in a Coffee-House, in one quarter of an hour; whereupon, (not to make the matter worse than it was) Mr. Oates replyed, so I have; and I will prove you to be a Rogue and a Rascal. And then he was at it that he would find Witnesses: to which I only observ'd that they were yet to find.

And pray'e Note, That all this Heat was about my Writings; which he had at the same time declar'd in precise words that he had never read.

He threatn'd me indeed with a Parliament, but that is a Course of Speech he has got. If the Pri­soners but ask a New-comer for his Garnish or Foy, the Master of the Prison shall be told of a Parliament. A Bishop shall not Suspend a Minister for refusing to officiate according to the Canon, but he is present­ly threatn'd with a Parliament. If the University shall not think fit to allow Mr. Oates his Degree; The Lawn-Sleeves are to be Ruffled next Parliament. I was walking a while since only cross the Outer-Court at White Hall innocently about my business, and because I did not Cap him, over the Square, [Page 25] as the Boyes do Fellows in Cambridge; Squire L' Estrange (says he) We shall have a Parliament, twirling his Hat about, betwixt his Finger and his Thumb; with a Look and Action not to be exprest.

What can be a greater Affront now to that Illu­strious Body, than to entitle it to the Protection of insolent Reproaches and Wrongs. As if Parliaments had nothing else to do, than to countenance the A­nimosities, gratifie the Passions, and weake the Reven­ges of Private and of troublesom men.

To say that I have as great a Veneration for the Constitution of an English Parliament; as any man living, is only to say the same thing over again which I have very often said heretofore. And I have made my words good by my Practices in the Deference and Obedience which I have ever paid to the Authori­ty and Dignity of That August Assembly, whenso­ever Legally Indicted and Conven'd. Did I suffer above three years Imprisonment in Newgate under a Sen­tence of Death, from the Late Usurpers (that de­thron'd and depos'd his Majesty) for my Loyalty to my Prince and the Government? And shall I now be a­fraid of a Parliament that stands up for the King's Preservation and Support? Have I been True to the Crown, through all the Extremities of a Barbarous Re­bellion, to be a Traytor now at last to a Gracious and a Lawful Prince? No, no; Gentlemen, to be hang'd on both sides with the Doctors fair Leave, is a little with the [Page 26] most. I have not behav'd my self at a Rate to fear a Parliament, but rather to wish for't. As to all Pub­lick Matters, I have made the Law my Rule, and I have made my Duty the Measure of my Actions; and he that keeps himself within these Bounds, needs no other Security against the Justice of a Parliament; especially a Person that has upon all occasion assert­ed the Rights of that Noble Assembly; Treating them with the stile of Venerable Patriots [Case put Pag. 22] even in the very case concerning his Roy­al Highness; and never receding from those Terms of Honour and Respect.

You have made a long Discourse here; just nothing to the purpose: for you are not Charg'd with Abusing the Parliament, but for Disparaging the King's Witnesses.

As for the Kings Witnesses, I have had no dealings with any of them, but with Mr. Oates, and none with him neither in any sort to reflect upon his Evidence. He gives it up and down, with open-mouth, that I am a Conspirator, and a Papist; and I declare on the other side, that there are not a couple of Ran­ker Lyes in Hell. Rogue, Rascal, Villain, and other Scurrillities of the same seasoning, are the Lard he makes use of in his ordinary Discourses of L'Estrange. And under all these Indignities I must not dare to say that I am None of these fine things, for fear of discre­diting Mr. Oates by the Contradiction But so long as he serves my betters with the same sauce, there's the less hurt done. Where's the Liberty of the Subject, if men shall be Arraign'd for their Thoughts? Where's common Equity, if the Testimony of a Profligate, [Page 27] Little Creature, that has sworn forward and backward, and backward and forward again, in the same Cause already, shall come to weigh against almost forty years service of the Crown, without so much as one false step, which I affirm to be Literally True; and I defie the Devil himself, (let him but subscribe Satan to his Information) to disprove me in so much as a Syl­lable. What Security will there be for Honour or Virtue, when it shall become dangerous to be honest; And that there shall need no more than such a wretch as young Tong's kissing of a Book, to work the Ruin of any man living? We have no Curtius's in This Age to spare; no Devotes, (that will run through fire and water to redeem their Countrey (more than the Go­vernment (I fear) has need of. This is a Case not to be imagin'd; and fitter for a Romantick Vision, than a Christian Contemplation. It might do well enough, for a Satyrical Piece of Painting, to draw the nar­row Way beset with Gibbets, Shackles and Halters; and to have the broad One strewed with Honours, Pre­ferments, and Rewards: for 'tis a Phansie only for an Embleme, not a History.

And yet God forbid but Conspiracies and Conspi­rators should be throughly sifted and punisht; The Suborners of false Evidence made exemplary, and delive­red up to the highest degree of Ignominy & Scorn; But then let the impartial Hand of Justice hold the Scale; and let Authority, in due course of Law, pronounce the Sentence. But for Private Men to obtrude them­selves upon the Province of the Magistrate: For Men who upon a Fatality of Principle, are (by a certain kind of Incantation) enslav'd to such or such a Party; [Page 28] for these men (I say) to take advantages of the Passi­ons, Distempers, Wants and Weaknesses of Persons in Distress: What may they not do with Mean and Mercenary Souls under such a Pressure? We are re­ally come to that pass, That the Government it self as well as the Servants of it lies at the mercy of every common Scribler, and Hedg-Printer: and it is at their pleasure, whether we shall be Honest Men; or Ras­cals, Traytors, Plotters, Suborners, Trepanners; All as They please.

Pray do but mind now, how all this hangs together. You are censured for discrediting the Kings Witnesses; and you discharge your self with saying that they abuse you: and there is not one word neither to clear your self from being a Pa­pist.

I have examined both my Books and my Thoughts. For the Latter; I am satisfied in my own Conscience, and that's enough for me. As to the Former, let but any man shew me where I have so much as implyed any thing to be False that was true; where I have so much as intimated the Doubt, or Discredited the Evidence of any thing that was sworn: or where I have so much as advis'd a Cau­tion in the point of believing but to the advantage of the Kings Evidences upon the true and real Plot: and I'le be his Bond-Slave. Now the Sum of all my words and meaning, is wrapt up in This: Distinguish betwixt Street-Reports and Sworn-Evidences; do not bring a Disparagement upon the Truth, by being over-easie to believe Fables: for nothing more supports the credit [Page 29] of any Cause, than the casting of all Trash and Trumpery out of it.

To the Scandal of Popery; I am not ignorant how Liberal diverse People are of their Censures in this Case; who by the Ties of Nature, Honour and Good Manners, ought to be more tender and care­ful of what they say: And some among the rest, that stab me with this Poyson'd Dagger in their very Arms; for I can scarce pass them without an Embrace. If what I have said and prov'd already upon this Subject, will not satisfie the World, no­thing will: But however, it is only so much pains lost, to attempt it once more.

In my Reformed Catholique, pag. 3. ‘[The Author (say I) is no Disguised or Concealed Papist, but of the Communion of the Church of England, Trained up in the strictest way of it, and standing firm to it against all sorts of Provocation, Discouragement, Temptation and Argument; and without warping to the Jesu­its, either on the Right Hand, or on the Left.’

In my Discovery upon Discovery, Pag. 9. I ex­pound the Passage above recited, in these Words,

[Page 30] ‘I had the Honour, in the Late Times, (and being then an Exile) to pass a matter of Eight Months in the House of the Cardinal of Hesse; where I was as kindly received as if I had been at my own Father's: I wanted neither Invitations nor Arguments to carry me over to the Church of Rome; beside the private Temptation of a Hopeless Interest (as to the King) and a Broken Fortune. Now if I had been so easily disposed to Truck my Religion for Money (as the whole Litter of the Town-Scriblers will have it) I do assure you Dr. I could then have made my Mar­ket.’

And then in my Letter to Dr. Oates, p. 21. thus;

‘Now to discharge my Soul to you, Dr. as in Confession; I am (by my Hopes of Hea­ven) a True Son of the Church of Eng­land.’

Some there are, that will have me a Papist of Fifteen Years Standing; others, only of Six Months; But a Papist I am to be, in despight of my Hearts-Blood. The Coffee House-Doctors have, in fine, pro­nounc'd me a Papist; but where, and how often, and how many Witnesses to prove me at Mass, they are [Page 31] not yet agreed upon. The Scene is said to be laid in Somerset-House, Wyld-House, and three or four other obscure Places. The High-Fliers will not abate a single Ave-Mary of Forty Masses; but the more Moderate reckon upon Nine, precise; within a Dominus Tecum, which looks like Five Pound want­ing a Penny, in a Tavern-Bill. With the same Con­science they might have made it Even Money as well, if they had so pleas'd. There's some body has made mention of Prance, as the Person to produce the Wit­nesses; but I'le not believe it. I could silence all these Calumnies, by telling you, that I have satisfi'd the Law in Receiving of the Sacrament, and taking the Tests; but I'le go further with you.

By my Hopes of a Future State, I am in my Heart and Judgment, a True Son of the Church of England, according to the Nine and Thirty Articles: And if I was ever pre­sent at the Celebration of any Mass since His Majesties Return; or if (to the best Recollection I can make of Things past) I have ever so much as set my Foot into a Romish Chappel, since His Majesties Return, I wish I may never enter into the Kingdom of Hea­ven.

This is a bold Push; but all this Swear­ing and Staring will not bring you off yet for your Writing.

As to my Writings, they are at this Instant under the Anatomy; and I know most of the very Persons that are Commissioned to Read upon the Dissection. I look upon my self to be under the Protection of the Law; and I do positively say, that without a most Unnatural Violence, both upon the Scope and Wording of them, I am secure.