A RELATION of the late Wicked Contrivance of Stephen Blackhead and Robert Young against the Lives of several Persons, by Forging an Association under their Hands, &c.
I Think it becomes me, as a Duty which I owe to my Country, and to the Character I have the undeserved Honor to bear in the Church, to give the World some Account, how my Innocency was clear'd from the late Wicked Contrivance against me: In hopes that this Example of a false Plot so manifestly detected, may be, in some sort, beneficial to the whole [Page 6] Nation on the like Occasions for the future: However, that the Enemies of the Church may have no Reason to cast any Blemish upon it, from the least Suspicion of my Guilt: And that this faithful Memorial may remain as a poor Monument of my own Gratitude to Almighty GOD, to whose immediate Protection I cannot but attribute this extraordinary Preservation.
Perhaps my Reader, at first view, will look on this Relation, as too much loaded with small Particularities; such as he may judge scarce worth my remembring, or his knowing: But he will pardon me, if I presume that nothing in this whole Affair ought to appear little, or inconsiderable, to me at least, who was so nearly concern'd in the event of it.
I have therefore made no scruple to discharge my weak Memory of all it could retain of this Matter; Nor have I willingly omitted any Thing, though never so minute, which, I thought, might serve [...] to fix this wonderful Mercy of GOD the more on my own Mind; or d [...]d any way conduce to the saving of divers other innocent Persons Lives, as well as mine.
I cannot indeed Promise, that I shall accurately repeat every Word or Expression, that fell [Page 7] from all the Parties here mentioned: Or that I shall put all down in the very same Order, as it was spoken, having not had the Opportunity to take Notes of every thing as it pass'd. But this I will say; if I shall not be able to relate all the Truth, yet I will omit nothing that is Material: I will as carefully as if I were upon my Oath, give in all the Truth I can remember, and nothing but the Truth.
What I Write I intend shall consist of Two Parts. The First, To be a Narrative of the plain Matter of Fact from my first being taken into Custody, May the 7th, to the time of my last Dismission Iune the 13th. The Second, To contain some Account of the Two Perjur'd Wretches that were pleas'd, for what Reasons they know best, to bring me into this Danger.
For the Truth of the Substance of what I shall recollect on the first Head, I am bold to appeal to the Memories of those Honourable LORDS of the Council, by whom I was thrice Examin'd. And touching the second, I have by me so many Original Papers, or Copies of unquestionable Authority, (which I am ready to shew any Worthy Persons, who shall desire the Satisfaction) as are abundantly sufficient to justifie all [Page 8] that I shall think fit for me to say against Blackhead, and Young; especially against Young.
It was on Saturday the seventh of May of this present Year 1692, in the Evening, as I was walking in the Orchard at Bromeley, Meditating on something I design'd to Preach the next Day; that I saw a Coach and four Horses stop at the outer Gate, out of which two Persons alighted. Immediately I went towards them, believing they were some of my Friends, coming to give me a Visit. By that time I was got to the Gate, they were enter'd into the Hall: But seeing me hastning to them, they turn'd, and met me about the middle of the Court. The Chief of them perceiving me to look wistly on them, as being altogether Strangers to me, said, My Lord, Perhaps you do not know me. My Name is Dyve, I am Clerk of the Council, and here is one of the King's Messengers. I am sorry I am sent on this Errand. But I am come to Arrest you upon suspicion of High Treason.
Sir, said I, I suppose you have a Warrant for so doing; I pray let me see it. He shew'd it me, I read it; and the first Name Highted on [Page 9] being the Earl of Nottingham's; I said, Sir, I believe this is my Lord Nottingham's own Hand, and I submit. What are your Orders how to dispose of me? My Lord, said he, I must first search your Person, and demand the Keys you have about you. My Keys I presently gave him. He search'd my Pockets; and found no Papers, but some poor Notes of a Sermon, and a Letter from Mr. B. Fairfax about ordinary Business.
Now, says he, My Lord, I must require to see the Rooms to which these Keys belong, and all the Places in the House, where you have any Papers or Books. I straight conducted him up Stairs into my Study. This, Sir, said I, is the only Chamber where I keep all the Books and Papers I have in the House. They began to Search, and with great readiness turn'd over every thing in the Room, and Closets, and Presses, shaking every Book by the Cover, opening every part of a Chest of Drawers, where were many Papers, particularly some Bundles of Sermons; which, I told them were my proper Tools; And that all that knew me, could Vouch for me, it was not my Custom to have any Treason in [Page 10] them. They read several of the Text, and left them where they found them. But in one corner of a Press, which was half open, they met with a great number of Letters fil'd up. I assur'd them they were only Matters of usual Friendly Correspondence, and most of them were of last Years date. Mr. Dyve looking on some of them, found them to be so; and said, If he had time to view them all, he might, perhaps, see reason to leave them behind; But being expressly Commanded to bring all Letters, he must carry them with him. I left him to do as he pleased; so they seal'd them up.
Then they went into my Bedchamber, and the Closets adjoining, doing as they had done in my Study, feeling about the Bed and Hangings, and knocking the Wainscot in several places, to see if there were any private Hole, or Secret Conveyance.
After that they came down Stairs, and search'd the Parlour and Drawing-Room on that side of the House with the like exactness. In all these Rooms I observed they very carefully pryed into every part of the Chimneys; the Messenger putting his Hand [Page 11] into every Flower-Pot: Which I then somewhat smiled at: But since I found he had but too much Reason so to do.
When they had done searching in all those Rooms, and in the Hall as they were going out, and had taken with them what Papers they thought fit; they carryed Me away in the Coach that brought them. By the Way we met my Servant Mr. Moor coming from London. I call'd out to him, Have you any Letters for Me? He gave me three or four, which I deliver'd to Mr. Dyve to open: Who found nothing in them, but Matters of private Concernment, or ordinary News. And so, between Ten and Eleven at Night, we arrived at Whitehal, and I was brought to my Lord-Nottingham, whom I found alone in his Office.
My Lord, said I, I am come upon your Warrant; but certainly there must be some great Mistake, or black Villany in this Business. For I declare, as in the Presence of God, I am absolutely free from any just Accusation relating to the Government. His Lordship told me, He himself was much surprized when he heard my Name mentioned. [Page 12] I intreated him I might be Examined that Night, if any Witnesses could be produced against me. He said, That could not possibly be, because the Lords, who had the Management of such Affairs, were separated, and gone Home: But that I was to appear before them the next Day; and in the mean time, all the Civility should be shewn me, that could be expected by a Man in my Condition.
My Lord, said I, I hope, it being so very late, you will suffer me to lie at my own House at Westminster. He reply'd, You shall do so; But you must have a Guard of Soldiers and a Messenger with you. A Guard of Soldiers said I, My Lord, methinks is not so necessary to secure one of my Profession; I should rather offer, that I may have two or more Messengers to keep me, tho' that may put me to greater Charges. My Lord, said he, I, for my own part, would be glad, if I might take your Parole; But I must do what I may answer to others; and therefore I pray be Content.
At this I acquiesced; only adding, My Lord, here are divers Papers brought up [Page 13] with me, which, upon my Credit, are but of common Importance; yet, because they are most of them private Talk among Friends; there may be some Expressions, which no Man, if it were his own Case, would be willing to have divulg'd; and therefore I desire your Lordship will take Care they may not be shewn to the Prejudice of any. He answer'd, You have to do with Men of Honour: And you shall have no Occasion to complain upon that Account.
And so I was convey'd Home to Westminster by Mr. Dyve, and Mr. Knight the Messenger, in the Coach with Me, and a Guard attending on each side. After we came to the Deanery, Mr. Dyve having diligently surveyed my Lodgings, and the Avenues to them, left Me about Midnight, with a strict Charge to the Messenger and Soldiers, not to give me any unnecessary Disturbance; but to watch carefully at my Bed-Chamber-Door till further Orders, which they did.
The next Day, being Sunday, May the 8th, Mr. Dyve came again to me about Noon, to acquaint me, That I was to attend the Committee of the Council that Evening by [Page 14] Six o'the Clock. And, says he, My Lord, I suppose you have here also at Westminster a Room where you keep the rest of your Books and Papers. I told him, I had. Then, said he, I have Commission to search there likewise; particularly in your Cabinet. I shewed him my Library and gave him the Keys. He opened all the Presses of Books, and viewed particulary every Shelf, and examined every Drawer in the Cabinet: But finding nothing there of a late date, or that might afford any the least shadow of a Trayterous Correspondence, he went away without removing any one Paper thence.
At the time appointed I was brought by the Messenger and Guard to Whitehal, where a select Number of the Lords of the Council were assembled at my Lord Nottingham's Lodgings. There were present, as I remember, the Earl of Devonshire Lord Steward the Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Nottingham Secretary of State, the Earl of Rochester, the Earl of Portland, the Lord Sydney Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Sir Edward Seymo [...].
[Page 15]When I was enter'd the Room, and come to the end of the Table, my Lord Nottingham began. But now, for the greater perspicuity of the whole Proceedings, and to avoid the too frequent repetition of, said I, or said such an one, or said they, I will henceforth give all the Questions and Answers, and the rest of the Discourses, in the Name of every Person, as they spoke, and by way of Dialogue.
My Lord, You cannot but think it must be some extraordinary Occasion, which has forc'd us to send for you hither in this manner.
My Lord, I submit to the Necessities of State, in such a Time of Jealousie, and Danger, as this is.
My Lord, I am to ask you some Questions, to which we desire your plain and true Answers.
My Lords, I assure you mine shall be such; as, I hope, I have been always taken for a Man of Simplicity and Sincerity.
Have you Composed a Declaration for the present intended Descent of the late King James into England?
I call GOD to Witness, I have not.
Did you ever draw up any Heads, or Materials for such a Declaration?
Upon the same Solemn Asseveration, I never did.
Were you ever solicited, or apply'd to by any Person, for the Undertaking such a Work?
I never was.
Do you hold any Correspondencies abroad in France?
I do not hold any.
Have you ever sign'd any Association for Restoring the late King James?
I never sign'd any.
Do you know of any such Association? Or any Persons that have subscribed one?
Upon the Word of a Christian, and a Bishop, I know of no such thing; nor of any Person, who has subscribed any Paper of that Nature.
My Lord Bishop of Rochester, We have examined the Papers that were seized in your Closet at Bromley. We find nothing in them, but Matters of ordinary and innocent Conversation among Friends; only we have one Scruple, That there are few or no Letters among them witten since Lady-day last.
Sir, I suppose there may be some of a Date since that Time in the Bundles. If I had preserv'd more, they would have been of the same Nature with the rest that you have, that is, concerning common Intelligence, and the Talk of the Town; not any Secrets of State, or against the Government. My Lords, I hold no Correspondencies of that kind. When I am in the Country, I desire some Friend or other here to let me know how the World goes, that I may inform my self, and the Neighbouring Gentlemen, of the Truth of Things, and prevent the spreading of false News: And afterwards I file up such Letters according to their Dates, (as you may perceive I did these,) that at any time I may have a present Recourse to them to refresh my Memory in any past Transaction.
[Page 18]My Lords, Those are all I thought worth keeping of this kind these two last Years. And I hope the Clerk of the Council has done me the Justice to acquaint your Lordships, how I was apprehended, out of my House; and how narrowly I my self, and my Study, and Lodging-Chamber, and other Rooms, were search'd: So that it was impossible for me to have suppress'd or smother'd any one Writing from you. And really I believe there was not a Note, or least Scrip of Paper of any Consequence in my Possession, but they had a view of it.
But, my Lord, it is probable a Man of your Interest, and Acquaintance, must have received more Letters since, than are here to be found. We see here are many concerning Affairs that pass'd just before that time.
My Lords, A little before the Conclusion of the last Session of Parliament, I obtain'd Leave of the House of Lords to retire into the Country, for the Recovery of my Health. During my abode there, as long as the Parliament continued, I was somewhat curious to learn what pass'd in [Page 19] both Houses, and therefore, as your Lordship has observ'd, Letters came thicker to me about that time. But when the Parliament was up, very little hapning that was remarkable in that interval, I was not so mindful to preserve the Letters that came to me, whilst all Things, both abroad and at home, were rather in Preparation than Action.
Besides that, since the Time your Lordships speak of, I was twice or thrice in Town for several days together; once especially upon a publick Occasion, the Annual Election of Westminster School; which detain'd me here about a Week. And these are the True Reasons why you find so few Letters to me since the Date of Time your Lordships have mentioned.
Will it please your Lordships to ask the Bishop of Rochester any more Questions?
They being all silent, I said, My Lords, I cannot imagine how it comes to pass that I should be thus suspected to be guilty of any Contrivance against the Government; I think I may appeal to all that know me, I am sure I may to all my Neighbours in [Page 20] the Country where I live, that there has no Man submitted to it more peaceably and quietly than I have done ever since the Revolution; and I must own, I did it both upon a a Principle of Conscience and Gratitude. Of Conscience, Because I cannot see how the Church of England and the whole Protestant Religion can be preserv'd but upon this Constitution; since an Invasion from France cannot but be destructive to Both. And of Gratitude, Because, as you all know, I happen'd to be, in the late Reign, engag'd in an Affair, which since I have been taught was Illegal. And though, I may say, I stopp'd betimes, and did no great hurt, but hindred, as much as I could, whilst I Acted; yet I Acted so long, that I might have expected to be severely punish'd for what I did. But the King's and Queen's Part, in the General Pardon, was so Gracious and Benign, in making it their own Act, and not excluding me out of it, that Their Majesties have thereby laid upon me an Obligation never to be forgotten.
Upon this I was bid to withdraw; and about an Hour after, the same Clerk of the [Page 21] Council was sent out to tell me, The Lords had Order'd I should return to my own House, and be under the same Confinement as before, of a Messenger, and a Guard of Soldiers: And there I should shortly hear what their Lordships would determine concerning me. He likewise told the Messenger, and the Guards, That he had a strict Command to them to use me, with all Respect; only to take Care, that I should be safely kept, and forth-coming. Nor indeed had I any thing to object against their Behaviour. For, as Mr. Dyve demean'd himself always to me like a Gentleman, and the Messenger was very Civil, so the Soldiers themselves were as easie and quiet to the rest of my Family, as if they had been a part of it.
The same Evening Mr. Dyve came home to me, and brought me all my Papers, telling me, That the Lords had heard him read them over; and, having no Exception against them, had sent him to return them all safe to me again.
Thus guarded, I continued from that Day, till the 18th of May, under the Custody of a Messenger and of four Centinels, [Page 22] who watched Day and Night, and were relieved every Eight and forty Hours.
But then, having heard nothing in the mean time from the Lords, I wrote this Letter to the Earl of Nottingham.
AS I have all this while, according to my Duty to their Majesties Government, with Patience and Humility, submitted to my Confinement under a Guard of Soldiers, and a Messenger; so now, fearing that my longer Silence may be interpreted as a Mistrust of my Innocency, I think it becomes me to make this Application to your Lordship, earnestly intreating you to represent my Condition and Request to the most Honourable Board, where I was examined. I entirely rely on their Justice and Honor, that, if they find nothing real against me (as God knows, I am conscious to my self they cannot) they would be pleased to order my Enlargement. I am forced to be the more importunate with your Lordship in this Business, because it is very well known, in what [Page 23] a dangerous Condition of Health I went out of Town towards the latter end of the Session of Parliament: And I find my Distemper very much increased by this close Restraint, in a time when I was just entring upon a Course of Physick in the Country.
This Letter was read in the Cabinet Council that Day, and it had the Desired Effect; for thereupon I was ordered to be discharged that Evening; which accordingly was [Page 24] done about ten at Night, by Mr. Shorter, a Messenger of the Chamber, coming to my House, and dismissing the Messenger, and taking off the Guard.
The next Morning, being May 19th, to prevent any Concourse or Congratulations, usual upon such Occasions; I retired early to Bromley, where I remained quiet till Iune the 9th, little dreaming of a worse Mischief still hanging over my Head.
But that Day, being Thursday, as I was upon the Road, coming to Westminster, to the Meeting of Dr. Busby's Preachers, who assemble once a Term at my House there, I was stopt by a Gentleman that brought me this Letter from my Lord Nottingham.
I Must desire your Lordship to be at my Office on Friday Morning by Ten of the Clock.
I asked the Bearer, whether he had any farther Orders concerning me: He answered, No: But was forthwith to return. I desired him to acquaint his Lord, that I was now going to Town upon other Business, but that I would presently wait on him at White-Hall. Accordingly from Lambeth I went to his Office. When my Lord came to me, I told him, that having met his Lordship's [Page 26] Letter accidentally in my Way to Westminster, I thought it best to come presently to know his Pleasure.
My Lord, There is a Mistake, I gave you Notice to be here to morrow Morning: And that is the Time you are appointed to appear before the Committee of the Council.
However, My Lord, being in Town occasionally, I thought it became me to present my self to you as soon as I could. And I now make it my Request, If your Lordships have any thing farther to say to me, I may be convened before you this Day.
I fear you cannot be so, for there is much Business to be this Afternoon, both at the great Council, and the Committee: But I will send you Word to the Deanery, if you can be called this Evening. In the mean time you have your full Liberty to go where you please.
Thus I went home; but having no Notice from my Lord that Night, the next Day, being Iune the 10th, about Ten of the Clock, I came to his Lordship's Office; where were [Page 27] met the same Lords as before; only, I think, the Earl of Portland was not there, and the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Privy Seal, was.
When I was call'd in, besides the Privy Councillors that sat about the Table, there was standing against the Wall a very ill-favour'd Man, who afterwards prov'd to be Blackhead; with whom I strait perceiv'd I was sent for to be confronted.
For, as soon as I was in the Room, my Lord Nottingham said, My Lord, Do you know that Person?
My Lord, I have seen this Man's Face, but I cannot immediately recollect where.
I pray view him well. Has he never brought you any Letters from one Mr. Young?
I do call to mind, he has brought me a Letter. I cannot in a moment remember from whom it was.
He says it was from one Young.
I think it was at my House at Bromley, that he delivered it me; but I verily [Page 28] believe, it was not from any of the Name of Young.
I was with the Bishop of Rochester at Bromley: I brought him a Letter from Mr. Young, and I received an Answer to Mr. Young back again from the Bishop.
Thus far, during the beginning of this Examination, I stood with my Face against the Window, and my Eyes being so very tender and feeble as they are, I had not a perfect View of Blackhead; but he so confidently affirming, That he had of late carried Letters between me and one Young, I changed my Station, and got the Light on my Back; and then immediately, having a true Sight of his very remarkable Countenance and Habit, and whole Person, and being also much assisted by his Voice, which is very loud and rude; I did (by Gods Blessing) perfectly call him to mind; and said, Now, my Lords, by the Advantage of this Light, I do exactly remember this Fellow, and part of his Business with me at Bromley. What he says of Young cannot be true. I know not for what purpose he affirms this; but upon my Reputation, [Page 29] it is utterly false, that he ever brought me a Letter from one Young.
My Lord, He says particularly, it was upon a Fast-day.
My Lords, I do remember this Fellow was with me at Bromley on a Fast-Day: By the same Token, I told him, he should stay till after Evening-Prayers, and must expect only a fasting kind of Meal. But then I would return an Answer to his Business.
It was upon a Fast-day. I did eat with the Bishop's Servants; and I received an Answer from his own Hand, to the Letter I brought him from Mr. Young.
My Lords, This that he says of Young, is a wicked Lye; All my Correspondencies are so innocent (as I hope your Lordships can testifie) that, if I had received a Letter from any Mr. Young, I should have no reason so positively to deny it. I beseech you, examine this Fellow throughly, and I doubt not but you will discover some impudent Knavery. I stand to it; I am sure there is no Person whose Name is Young, with whom I have of late years maintained any Intercourse by Letters.
My Lord, Is there no Person of the Name of Young, a Clergy-man, with whom you are acquainted?
Oh! My Lord, There are two excellent Persons of the Name of Young, both Clergy-men, to whom I have the good Fortune to be very well known: The one was your Brother Ossery's Chaplain, and is now Prebendary of Winchester; the other was Canon of Windsor, when I was a Member of that Church, and is there still. But I suppose, neither of these are the Youngs, whose Correspondence this Man objects to me. I should take it for an Honor to Correspond with them. But in Truth it has so happen'd, that I have neither written too, nor receiv'd one Letter from either of them these many Years, to the best of my Knowledge.
The Bishop, if he please, may remember it was Robert Young, from whom I brought him a Letter.
How long ago say you, it was?
It was about two Months ago?
I have indeed, my Lords, some obscure Remembrance, that some Years ago, there was one writ to me out of [Page 31] Newgate, under the Name of Robert Young, pretending to be a Clergy-Man; and I recal something of the Contents of his Letter. It was to tell me, That He and his Wife lay in Prison there upon a False Accusation, of which he hoped they should be speedily clear'd. In the mean time, he desired me to recollect, that he had Officiated some Weeks for the Chaplain at Bromley-College, and had Preach'd once or twice in the Parish-Church there. He intreated me to give him a Certificate of this, because it would stand him in much stead in order to his Iustification: And withal, that I would send him something out of my Charity, for his and his Wifes Relief in their great Distress.
This, my Lords, I dare say, was the whole Substance of that Letter, and this was two or three Years ago at least.
To that Letter I am sure I made no Reply in Writing. Only, having not the least Remembrance of him my self, I inquir'd in the Neighborhood, and among the Widows in the College; intending to have sent him some Alms suitable to his Condition and mine, had I found him worthy.
[Page 32]But upon inquiry, I received from all Hands, so very ill a Character both of this Young, and his Wife, that I resolv'd to give him no Answer at all; and I have never heard any thing more of him to this Day.
But now, I beseech your Lordships, to give me leave to speak to this Person my self: And they intimating I should do as I thought best, I said to him;
I Conjure you, in the Presence of these Noble Lords, and especially of the Great LORD of Heaven and Earth, that you will declare the Truth of what I am going to ask you.
When you came to my House at Bromley, upon a Fast-Day it was, I think the first Fast of this Year; Did not you desire to speak with me, as having a Letter for me? When I came to you into my Hall, Did not you first kneel down, and ask me Blessing? Did you not then deliver me a Letter, affirming it was from a Country-Minister, a Doctor of Divinity? Did not you tell me, You were his Servant, or Bayliff? And that your Master had sent you on purpose, many Miles [Page 33] to receive an Answer your self to that Letter from my own Hand?
I never brought a Letter to the Bishop of Rochester from a Country Minister; I know no such Doctor of Divinity: Nor ever was Servant to any: I only brought a Letter to the Bishop from Mr. Young.
My Lords, What I say is most certainly true. This Man had never any other Business with me, but in relation to that Letter, pretended by him, (for now I find it was but a pretence) to be written to me by an Eminent Country Divine in Buckinghamshire, a Person of a Considerable Estate, as he told me. My Lords, I cannot yet call to Mind the Doctor's Name: But the Business of the Letter I am in great part Master of, and it was to this purpose:
That there was a Person, (naming him,) who had apply'd to him to be his Curate; but that he had Reason to suspect he had Counterfeited my Hand and Seal for Holy Orders: Therefore he desired me to send him Word under my own Hand by the Bearer his Man, Whether I had Ordain'd such a One, in such, or such Years: That if I had, [Page 34] he would Encourage, and Entertain h [...]m; if not, he would take care, he should be punish'd for his Forgery.
Now, My Lords, upon the receipt of so Friendly a Letter, by this very Messenger, I bid him stay a little, and I would give his Master Satisfaction out of my Books, Whether I had Ordain'd any Man of that Name; which I thought I had not. Accordingly my Secretary, and I did severally turn over all my Papers relating to such Affairs, as carefully as we could; and finding no such Mans Name in them; in which we could not be easily deceiv'd because I keep Methodically (as no doubt every Bishop does) all Recommendations, Subscriptions, Testimonials, and Titles of those I admit into Orders; I wrote the supposed Author of the Letter, as civil an Answer as his seemed to deserve.
That I was extreamly pleased, and thankful, that a meer Stranger to me should be so careful of my Reputation: That my Secretary, and I, had diligently examin'd all the Books, where such Things are Recorded: And I could assure him, I never had Ordain'd [Page 35] any such Person either Priest or Deacon, within the space limited in his Letter, or at any other time: That I should look upon it as a signal Service done to the Church in general, and a special Favour to me in particular, if he would, as he promised, cause the Counterfeit to be apprehended, so that the Course of Law might pass upon him.
This Letter, my Lords, all, Written with my own Hand, I delivered to the Person here present: And he went away with it, asking me Blessing again upon his Knees; and promising I should speedily be made acquainted with the Success.
I pray, My Lord, how was the Letter Superscrib'd you sent back by this Man?
My Lord, It was to the same Person, with the same Superscription as he Subscrib'd himself, and directed to the same Place, where he said he was Minister; tho' the Name of Place or Minister I cannot yet recover. But let that Letter of mine be produced, and it will put an end to this whole Controversie.
The Letter I receiv'd from the Bishop, was Superscrib'd to Mr. Young, and to no other.
My Lords, This is a Horrid Falshood. I well remember now, this Fellow was at my House a second time, some Weeks after the first. When he came, I was in the Garden with some Gentlemen my Neighbours; where, first asking me Blessing, he told me, His Master the Doctor had taken up the Person who had Forg'd my Orders: That the Man stood upon his Vindication; but that his Master was bringing hint up to London; and then I should hear farther from him: Adding, That his Master was a Man of such a Spirit, and such a plentiful Estate, that whenever he suspected a Man to be a Rogue, or a Cheat, he would spare no Pains to discover him, nor think any cost too much to get him punish'd. These, my Lords, I well remember were the Knaves very Words: And I hope your Lordships will likewise deal with him in the same manner. I took this second Message still more kindly, and order'd my Servants to entertain the Messenger very civilly.
I brought no such Message. All my Business with the Bishop was from Mr. Young, which I suppose was of another Nature.
What I say is so true, that I am confident several of my Servants do remember the Particulars. For this Man stuck not to Declare his Business before them all; very much Magnifying his Master, and his House-keeping, and Vapouring what an Example he would make of the Counterfeit Priest; without putting me to any Trouble, or Expence.
Has your Lordship none of those Servants near at hand:
My Lord, some of them are in Town; and one, my Secretary, Mr. Moore, by an accidental good Fortune, came hither with me: He was without, when I was called in. I doubt not but he will satisfie your Lordships what was this Man's Errand to me: He is a young Man, of Great Honesty, and, I believe, would not tell a Lye to save my Life: I am sure I would not have him.
[Page 38]Whilst they were calling in Mr. Moore, I added, My Lords, I appeal to the Great God of Heaven to judge between me and this Wretch, touching the Truth or Falshood of what we say, and to deal with us both accordingly at the last Day of Judgment: And I dare also appeal to your Lordships to judge between us by what appears to you; For did you ever see greater Villany, and Consciousness of Guilt in any Man's Countenance than in his?
By this time Mr. Moore being come in, I said, Moore, Apply your self to My Lord Nottingham. I charge you, Do not, for any Consideration of me, speak any Thing which you cannot justifie for Truth.
Mr. Moore, Do you know that Person there? Pointing to Blackhead.
My Lord, I do know him so far, that I have seen him once or twice at my Lords House at Bromley.
What Business had he at Bromley?
The first Time he brought a Letter to my Lord.
From whom?
My Lord, It was from a Country Minister in Buckinghamshire, a Doctor of Divinity, as he wrote himself, his Name was Hooke.
My Lords, I now very well remember that was the Name, Hooke, or something very near it. There may be the Difference of a Letter: I will not stand upon that, or can it be expected I, or my Servant, should be positive as to every Letter of a Name, in so sudden a Question.
Mr. Moore, What was the Business of that Letter?
My Lord, it was concerning one that offered himself to be the Doctor's Curate, whom he suspected to have Counterfeited my Lord's Letters of Orders. The Doctor desired my Lord to look into his Books, whether he had Ordain'd any such Person. My Lord and I did thereupon search all the Places where the Memorials of such Affairs are kept, and we found no such Name; and so my Lord himself wrote back to the Doctor, by this very Man that stands here.
Mr. Moore, Will you take your Oath of all this?
I am ready to take my Oath of it, if you please to give it me.
What say you Blackhead? You see here is a young Man, the Bishop's Secretary, comes in by chance, and confirms punctually what the Bishop had said before, concerning your Message to his Lord: And he offers to take his Oath of it. If you did bring a Letter from one Doctor Hooke, Why do you not confess it? It can do you no hurt.
I know of no such Divine as Doctor Hooke; nor any Thing concerning one that Counterfeited the Bishops Orders. The Letter I brought was from Mr. Young.
My Lord, This Fellow cannot but know, that what he says is shamefully false; I assure you, I have the Original Letter at home to produce: And doubt not but divers of my Lords Servants remember him and his Business as well as I do: For he was a second Time at Bromley some Weeks after.
What was his Business then?
He said, He came to acquaint my Lord, That his Master, Doctor Hooke, had seized on the Person who had forg'd his Orders. My Lord ask'd him, Whether he had also seiz'd the False Instrument? And if he had, desired it might be transmitted to him. This Man answered, He believed his Master had got it: That he was coming up to London, and bringing the Cheat with him; and had been there sooner, had he not sprain'd or hurt his Leg: But when he was come, the Doctor would give my Lord Notice, or himself wait upon him. My Lord was much pleased with this second Message; and gave Orders to have the Bringer of it well used. He was so; and freely discoursed with the Butler, and the other Servants, touching his Business there. So that I am verily perswaded several of them remember all these Circumstances of it, and perhaps more than I do.
Upon this, Blackhead, being again urg'd by the Lords with so plain a Testimony, perfectly agreeing with what I had said; and he still persevering obstinately to deny every part of it; I and Mr. Moore were ordered to withdraw, Blackhead. staying behind.
[Page 42]As I was going out, I said, My Lords, I cannot comprehend to what purpose this Fellow persists in this Lye; I am sure he can never prove that I have injured the Government, in Word, or Deed, or Writing. Then I could not but again observe to the Lords, what visible Marks of Falshood and Treachery there were in Blackhead's Face. For, indeed all the while he look'd as if he would have sunk into the Ground: Tho', as I was told afterwards, before I came into the Room he had appear'd very brisk, and bold, and full of Talk. But upon my first coming in, his Complexion, which was naturally very sallow, turn'd much paler and darker; and he was almost Speechless, saying nothing to any purpose, more than what he thought was necessary to keep him firm to the main Lye, That he had brought me a Letter from one Young, and no other.
But after my being withdrawn, about half an Hour, I was called in again, and Blackhead sent forth.
Now, my Lord, the Business is out, the Fellow has confess'd he brought the Letter [Page 43] to you, Written not in the Name of Young, but as from one Doctor Hookes, Hookes was the Name, not Hooke, your Lordship was in the right, in saying, you would not stand upon a Letter.
My Lords, I could not trust my Memory so far as to a Letter. But one Thing I was sure of, That was the only Letter this Rascal ever brought me; and it was not from any whose Name was Young.
Well, that Business is over, he has confess'd it; and now, my Lord, Pray take a Chair and sit down.
Pray, my Lord, sit down.
No, my Lords, I desire you to excuse me.
My Lord, we have some few Questions to ask you, and therefore pray repose your self.
If you please to permit me, I had rather answer what your Lordships have farther to say, standing thus as I am at the Table.
Then, my Lord, we shall ask you. Have you ever written to the Earl of Marleborough within these Three Months?
I think I may safely affirm, I never writ to my Lord Marleborough in my Life: But I am certain, and upon the Faith of a Bishop, I declare, I have not written one Word to him these Three Months.
Have you received any Letter from my Lord Marleborough within these three Months?
I protest solemnly, I have not received any.
Have you received any Written or Printed Papers from my Lord Marleborough within that space of Time?
As in the Presence of God, I declare, I have not. My Lords, I have had some Acquaintance with my Lord Marleborough, both in King Iames's Court, and in the Parliaments since; but I cannot call to mind, that ever I wrote to him, or he to me.
Then, I think, my Lords, we have nothing more to do, but to wish my Lord Bishop a good Iourney to Bromley.
[Page 45]With that they all rose up, and saluted me, testifying their great Satisfaction, that I had so well cleared my self, confounded my Adversary. More especially Two Noble Lords of the Company, to whom, I said I would now particularly Appeal, gave me an Ample Testimony of their belief of my Innocency in this Accusation, and of my Dutiful Disposition to the Government.
My Lord Nottingham then told me, in the Name of all the rest, They had no farther Trouble to give me. I intreated them to suffer me to add a few Words: They permitting me, I said;
My Lords, I heartily thank you for Confronting me with this Fellow; else I could not so well have made out my Innocency: But I might still have lain Under a Suspicion, whereof I had not known the least Ground. Had this been a Tryal for my Life, I should have been glad to have such Honourable Persons for my Judges. But now I have much more Reason to bless GOD, that you have been my Compurgators: That you are Witnesses, as well as Judges, of the Detection of this Villany against me; whereof, [Page 46] I must acknowledge, as yet, I do not fathom the bottom. Wherefore I must intreat, That I may put my self under your Protection for the future. For although this Fountain of Wickedness has been now stopt in this Particular, as to my self; yet it seems to run under Ground still: And unless special Care be taken, it may break forth again in some other Place, on some other Occasion▪ to the Ruine, if not of Me, yet of some other Innocent Person.
No, My Lord, You need never fear this Fountain can break forth any more, to do you, or any other good Man, any Prejudice; He having been so palpably Convicted of Knavery and Lying.
My Lords, I hope so: As for my Self, I take my own Innocency to be abundantly Vindicated, by this your general Declaration in my Favour. I make no question but your Lordships will next Vindicate your Selves, and the Justice of the Government, by bringing this Wicked Man to Condign Punishment, and by examining the main Drift of his Design, and who have been his Accomplices.
[Page 47]They all assuring me, I might relie upon them for it, I withdrew.
All this while I had not the least Conjecture, or Imagination, who this Young should be, with whom Blackhead pretended I held so close a Correspondence.
But my next Appearance before the Committee of the Council, will clear up what remains of the whole Wicked Mystery.
In the mean time, returning Home that Evening to Bromley, I presently met with a plentiful Concurrence of Evidence from most of my Servants, of their Discourse with Blackhead, and their Knowledge of his Business, in reference to Dr. Hookes Letter.
First, The Butler Thomas Warren told me, That according to my Order to use him kindly, he had done so both times has was with us: Particularly the second time he had entertain'd him with one of the Petty Canons of Windsor, who came thither by chance, in the Parlour next the Garden: That thence he brought him down into the Cellar, where Blackhead Drunk my Health with Knees almost bended to the Ground: That then he earnestly desir'd him to shew him my Study; [Page 48] saying, I have heard your Lord has a very good Study of Books: My Master Hookes has a very good one: He often lets me go into it, and I doubt not but you have the same Liberty: I pray let me see his Books. The Butler answer'd, My Lord has but few Books here, only such as he brings from time to time from Westminster for present use, and they are lock'd up in Presses, so that I cannot shew them if I would. I pray then, said Blackhead, let me see the Room, I hear it is a very fine one. The Butler said, He could not presume to do it without my leave. Then, said Blackhead, let me see the rest of the House. The Butler excus'd his not being able to do it then, because there were some Ladies with his Mistress. The same Request, he assur'd me, Blackhead repeated almost twenty times: But still he deny'd him.
Then Thomas Philips my Coachman, and Iohn Iewel my Gardiner, confirm'd most of what the Butler had said: All of them agreeing, that both the times he was at Bromley, especially the second, he had talked publickly with them of the Business he came about from his Master Dr. Hookes: Enlarging much [Page 49] in Commendation of the said Doctor, what a Worthy Man he was; What Hospitality he kept; And how he would never rest, till he had brought to Punishment the Knave that had forged my Hand and Seal for Orders. They added, That, after I had dismiss'd him, he linger'd about, in the Garden, the Hall, and the great Parlour, a long time; and was full of such Discourses.
Moreover, the Gardiner, and William Hardy the Groom, and Thomas French, and one or two of the other Servants, who remain'd at Bromley whilst I was in the Custody at Westminster, did all assure me, that this Man, who brought first the Letter, and then the Message from Dr. Hookes, had been a third time at my House, whilst I was under Confinement. That it was upon a Sunday which by Computation prov'd to be Whit-Sunday, May 15th, That they found him in the midst of the House, before they knew he was enter'd. He told them that, passing that way, he came to Condole for my Mishap, and to enquire what the Matter was; hoping it was not so bad as was reported at London. They answer'd, They knew nothing of Particulars; [Page 50] yet doubted not but I was innocent. That he then again desir'd to see the House. But all the Doors were lock'd, except the great Parlour, which has no Lock upon it. That he would have enticed them to Town to Drink with him; which they refused, but made him Drink there; and he coming after Dinner, they perswaded a Maid-Servant to provide him some Meat: Which she did, but unwillingly, telling them she did not like the Fellows Looks; That perhaps he might come to Rob, or to Set the House, now so few Servants were at Home: That he rather looked (as indeed he did) like some Knavish; broken Tradesman, than an Honest Rich Clergy-Man's Bayliff, or Steward, (as he also call'd himself;) and it has proved since, that her Conjecture was true.
All this, and more, my Servants repeated to me, touching Blackhead's Behaviour in my House, and his Discourse concerning his Master Dr. Hookes. And they offer'd to depose it all upon Oath. And, above all, the next Day, being Saturday, Iune the 11th, Mr. Moore coming from London, immediately [Page 51] found the Original Letter, that Blackhead had brought me from the pretended Doctor.
Wherefore, being furnished with all these fresh Materials, especially with the Letter it self; and being not a little surprized to hear that the Rogue had, the second time of his coming, been so earnest to get into my Study, or any of the other Rooms; and that he had the Diabolical Malice against me, to come to my House a third time, on pretence of Condoling my Misfortune, which I then thought, it was probable, had chiefly proceeded from his Malicious Perjury against me: All this consider'd, I resolved to go to London on Munday Morning with these Servants, and to carry the Letter that he brought me as from Dr. Hookes, to lay the whole Business before the Lords of the Committee, and to desire their farther Examination of Blackhead upon these Particulars.
Accordingly on Munday; Iune the 13th, I went, and attended the meeting of the Lords that Morning in the usual place. When there was a full Committee, I sent to [Page 52] them by a Clerk of the Council, intreating that I might have a short Audience. After some time, I was introduced. There were present (besides most of the Lords before-mentioned,) three others whom I had not seen there since my first Appearance before them, the Marquiss of Carmarthen Lord President, the Lord Godolphin, and Sir Iohn Lowther.
When I came into the Room, and was just going to propose the Business that brought me thither: My Lord Nottingham prevented me, and said;
My Lord, Do you know that Person there? Pointing to a Man, who stood behind the Privy Consellors, near the Door which leads into the public Room.
My Lord, I do not know him.
My Lord, I pray observe him well.
Upon my Credit I never saw this Man before in my Life, to the utmost of my Knowledge.
Then the Person standing there look'd boldly upon me, and said, Do you not knom me, [Page 53] my Lord? Do not you remember, that I officiated some Weeks at Bromley-College, for Mr. Dobson, in King James's Time? And that I Preached in the Parish Church there once or twice?
My Lords, I solemnly affirm, I do not know this Man: I never saw him before: I never knew that he Officiated in Bromley-College: I never heard him Preach in the Church there: He is a meer Stranger to me: He may have serv'd for the Chaplain of that College in King Iames's Time: But I was not then concern'd who Officiated there. He may have Preach'd in the Church, and I not have heard him: For about that time I was Clerk of the Closet, and was seldom or never at Bromley on Sundays, by reason of my Attendance on the Princess Anne of Denmark, either at Whitehalt, or Windsor, or Hampton-Court, or Richmond.
The same Person presently took me up, with insolent Confidence, You will know me better when Captain Lawe appears: I warrant you don't know Captain Lawe neither.
My Lords, if any of your Lordships please to ask me any Thing, I shall answer with all Respect. But I do not understand that I am bound to satisfie this sawcy Fellows Questions: Yet, because he has ask'd me so familiarly, touching my Acquaintance with one Captain Lawe, I assure you, I know not any such Man in the World as Captain Lawe.
But, my Lords, by this Person's Discourse I am induced to believe, he may be the Young, with whom the other Knave Blackhead pretended the last time that I held a strict Correspondence by his Means.
This Man's Name is Young, Robert Young.
Then, my Lords, because my Lord President, and some of the other Lords, were not here then, I must beg leave of those that were, that I may repeat what I then remembred concerning one Robert Young. Whereupon I recollected the Substance of what I had said, of a Letter I had received some Years since, dated at Newgate; from one of the same Name, who pretended himself to be a Clergy-man.
[Page 55]I added, It seems, my Lords, by his own Confession, this is the very same Young. But as I never saw him before he was in Newgate, so I declare, upon the Faith of a Christian, I never saw, or heard from him since that Letter: However I am very glad you have him now: I make no doubt but he will be found in the end such another Villain as Blackhead was proved to be on Friday last.
But, my Lords, said I, the Business that brought me to wait on you now, is to intreat you to take that same Blackhead into farther Examination, and to inquire a little more into his Part in this Wicked Contrivance, whatever it is.
My Lords, since I went to Bromley, my Servant Mr. Moore has had the good Fortune to retrieve the very Original Letter that Blackhead brought me from his Counterfeit Master Doctor Hookes. Then I deliver'd the Letter at the Table, and my Lord Nottingham read it aloud. And to shew with what a Treacherous Insinuation, and plausibility of Style it was written, to draw from me an [Page 56] Answer under my own Hand, I here set down the very Letter it self Word for Word.
BEing destitute of a Curate, one Mr. James Curtis came to me, who produced Letters dimissory (bearing Date, March 13th, 91.) and likewise Letters of Orders under your Hand and Episcopal Seal. Now, my Lord, willing I am to employ any that your Lordship shall recommend, and give him all the Incouragement imaginable; but being since, by his own Words, suspitious that his Instruments are forg'd, I have therefore on purpose sent my Man to know the Truth thereof, and in order thereunto, I humbly beg your Lordship to give an Account in yours by this Bearer, promising, for the Church of Englands Credit, and likewise your Lordship's Honor, that, if he be an Impostor, I will see him brought to condign Punishment for such his Forgery; but if he be not, I beg your Lordships Pardon for this Trouble, occasioned by my candid [Page 57] Affection for your Lordship and all Clergy-men, being not willing to have them impos'd upon.
Now, my Lords, proceeded I, I thought it would be for your Service to acquaint you, That I have received, from divers of my Servants, a farther Account of all Blackhead's Demeanor, the first, second, and third Time he was at my House at Bromley; for he was there a third Time also, which I knew not of, before I went home on Friday.
Then I summ'd up what it has been said before, my Servants were ready to depose to that purpose: Concluding thus, My Lords, my Servants are attending without; I pray that Blackhead may be brought before them Face to Face, and that they may be admitted [Page 58] to give in upon Oath, what they have to say concerning him.
Upon this, several of the Lords said, Send for Blackhead; and he was sent for.
But before he came, they call'd in Mrs Young, the Wife, it seems, of the aforesaid Robert Young; but what a kind of Wife, and which of the two Wives he had at one and the same time, will appear in what follows.
When she was come in, my Lord Nottingham said to her, Mary Young, Whence received you this Paper? Taking up a Paper that lay upon the Table.
I had it from Captain Lawe.
What did he say, when he gave it you?
He bid me deliver it to my Husband.
What did he say it was?
He said it was a Sociate, or some such Word.
What! Did he deliver you a Paper of this Treasonable Nature, in the manner as it is, to be given to your Husband, without [Page 59] Sealing it up, or inclosing it in anothe [...] Paper.
Yes, my Lord, he did.
Did he tell you any of the Names to it.
Yes; He said, there were the late Archbishop of Canterbury's, the Bishop of Rochester's, and some other Lords Names to it.
What pass'd afterwards between you about it?
I gave it my Husband, and when Captain Lawe came for it again, my Husband said, No, These Lords, whose Names are subscribed, have not been so liberal in their Relief of my Wants as formerly; and therefore I will make another Use of this Paper: And so lock'd it up.
By this time Blackhead was brought in, and the Woman ordered to withdraw, and to be kept by her self.
Blackhead, The last Time you confessed you brought the Bishop of Rochester a Letter from Robert Young, under the false Name of Doctor Hookes.
Yes, I did.
Can you know that Letter when you see it?
I cannot tell, I doubt I cannot know it.
Here it is; (and it was given into his Hand;) Is that the same Letter you delivered the Bishop?
I am not sure it is.
Consider it well; look on the Superscription, you cannot but remember that. You began to be somewhat Ingenuous last Friday; if you relapse it will fare the worse with you.
Yes, this may be the Letter; This is the very same Letter.
And you received an Answer to this from the Bishop for Doctor Hookes, which you carried to Robert Young?
Yes, I did, I own it.
But, What made you, when you were at Bromley the second Time, so earnestly to desire of the Bishop's Butler, and his other Servants, that you might see the Rooms in the House, especially his Study?
No, I do not remember that I desired to see the Study: The House I might, out of Curiosity.
But here are some of the Bishop's Servants without, who are ready to swear, that you press'd very often to get a sight of his Study; saying, you had the Freedom at your Master Hookes, to shew any Stranger his Books, and you doubted not but the Butler could do the same there.
I cannot deny that I did desire to see the Bishop's Study: The other Rooms I am sure I did.
What Reason had you to be so importunate to see that, or any of the other Rooms? Had you any Paper about you, that you design'd to drop, or leave in any part of the Bishop's House?
Here Blackhead stop'd, as very loath to out with it; till divers of the Lords urg'd him to tell the Truth. At last he went on, though with much Hesitancy.
Yes, I must confess I had a Paper in my Pocket, which I design'd to put somewhere in the House.
What did you with it?
I did leave it in the Parlour next the Kitchin.
In what part of the Parlour?
In the Flower-Pot in the Chimney.
Good Lord bless me, cryed I. I seriously protest, I never heard that any Paper was found there by my Servants. To be sure they would have brought it me.
But, my Lord, it will be worth your while to send presently to Bromley, to see whether there be any Paper still, and what it is.
My Lord, I will send one away immediately. Only my Servants are without, expecting to be sworn. Be pleased first to call them in, and dispatch them.
Nay, My Lord, There is no need of their Testimony now. For this Fellow has said already more than they know. He has confess'd, not only that he desir'd to see your House, and particularly your Study, but that he did it with Intention to leave a Paper somewhere in it; and that he did leave one in your Parlour, and in the Flower-Pot of the Chimny.
Then, my Lord, I will send away forthwith.
Stay, my Lord, let us first Examine him a little farther. Blackhead, What [Page 63] Paper was it you left in the Bishop's Chimny in the Flower-Pot?
It was the Association.
Was it this Paper here? Shewing the Association that lay upon the Table.
Yes, it was.
How came you by it? And who advised you to lodge it there?
I had it from Mr. Young, and he advised me to leave it in the Bishop's House, as I did.
Did Young direct you to put it into the Flower-Pot in the Parlour?
Yes, he did, and I put it there accordingly in the Flower-Pot.
But were not you a third time at the Bishop's House? It was upon a Sunday, which it seems was Whit-Sunday.
I was.
You pretended to Condole for the Bishop's Imprisonment: It is manifest that could not be your Business. What was it?
I was desired by Mr. Young, seeing the Association was not found by those, who Apprehended the Bishop, to go to Bromley, and try to recover it, that being the Original. I [Page 64] did so, I came into the House before any of the Servants were aware, I went into the Parlour unseen, and took the Paper out of the same place where I had put it, and deliver'd it again to Mr. Young.
My Lords, I am very much surprized at all this. I cannot but admire the Wonderful Goodness of GOD, in this my extraordinary Deliverance. It appears by what this Fellow confesses, that this Forged Association was in my House, in a Flower-Pot, for many Days together: And that it was there at the very time I was seized on by your Lordships Order. For he says he put it there the second time he was at Bromley, which was a pretty while before I was in Hold: And took it not out till the third time, which was upon Whit-Sunday, the Ninth Day after I was under Confinement. And by a strange and marvellous Providence, that Parlour, where he says it lay so long in the Chimney, was never search'd or inquir'd after by the Clerk of the Council, or the Messenger.
The other part of the House on the Left-Hand of the Hall, where my Study is, and Bed-Chamber above Stairs, and a Parlour [Page 65] and Drawing-Room below; all these they searched very accurately. Particularly, I well remember the Messenger thrust his Hand into the Flower-Pots in every Chimney: Which seem'd very odd to me then: But I now understand the meaning of it.
At this, my Lord Sydney, my Lord Nottingham, my Lord Devonshire, and some others of the Council, affirm'd, That they perfectly remember'd, both Blackhead, and Young, did especially direct them to give Order to those who should be sent to take me to search all the Flower-Pots.
By this time it was thought seasonable by the Lords to confront Blackhead with Young.
But in the mean while, the Counterfeit Association, being handed about the Table, was at length deliver'd to me. It was to this purpose, as much of it as, by a transient View, I could carry away in my Memory.
[Page 66] That We whose Names were surbsribed, should solemnly promise in the Presence of GOD, to Contribute our utmost Assistance towards King JAMES's Recovery of His Kingdoms. That to this end, We would have ready to meet Him at His Landing, Thirty Thousand Men well Arm'd. That we would seize upon the Person of the Princess of Orange, Dead or Alive; And take Care that some strong Garison should be forthwith deliver'd into His Hands: And furnish Him with a Considerable Sum of Money for the support of His Army; or to this sense. March 20.—9 [...]
And the Forged Subscriptions were, as I remember, after this manner:
- Marleborourgh. Salisbury.
- W. Cant.
- Tho. Roffen.
- Cornbury.
- Iohn Wilcoxe.
- Basil Firebrace.
[Page 67]Now upon the first sight of this Paper, I presently said, I protest, my Lords, I am very much amazed to see my Hand so well Counterfeited. All the difference is, they have done me the favour to write it finer that I can. Otherwise I acknowledge it is so like, that I verily believe, I my self, had I seen it in another place, should have been apt to doubt whether it were of my Writing or no. I am confident it might, upon the first Blush, deceive the best Friends I have.
But, my Lords, here is another innocent Person's Name, whose Hand I know very well. And I dare venture to say, it is even better forg'd than mine. I mean Archbishop Sancroft's.
My Lords, I am very well acquainted with Archbishop Sancroft's Hand. And really it is here most exactly counterfeited.
Moreover, my Lord Godolphin, my Lord Sydney, and others said, That the Earl of Marlborough's Hand had been so well feigned in a Letter pretended to be written to Young himself, that it was very difficult for his most intimate Friends to observe any Distinction. [Page 64] [...] [Page 65] [...] [Page 66] [...] [Page 67] [...] [Page 68] And in that Letter the Bishop of Rochester was said to have the Paper in his keeping, which appears now to have been meant of the False Association's being in my Custody.
Nay, my Lord, Sydney assur'd me, these very Impostors had brought him a Letter, supposed also to be Written by me to Young, which being but of ordinary Matters, he thought not worth the keeping, but he well remembred the Subscription of my Name was very like this in the Association, as well indeed it might.
By this time Young being come into the Room, my Lord Nottingham spoke to him;
Young, Look upon that Letter, (shewing him his own to me, under the Name of Doctor Hookes,) Do you know that Hand?
No, I don't know it.
Did not you send that Letter to the Bishop of Rochester by Blackhead?
No, I know no Hookes, I never writ to the Bishop of Rochester, but in my own Name, with my own Hand.
What say you, Blackhead?
I did receive that very Letter from Mr. Young's own Hand, and deliver'd it to the Bishop of Rochester with nine.
(Taking up the Association, and shewing it to Young,) Did not you give this Paper to Blackhead, and order him to put it into a Chimney in the Bishop of Rochester's House, and into a Flower-Pot, if there were any?
No, I never desir'd him to carry it thither, or to put it into a Flower-Pot.
What say you, Blackhead?
Mr. Young did give me that Paper, and directed me to leave it in the Bishop's House; and, if I could, to put it in a Flower-Pot in some Room; which I did, in the Parlour.
There is no such matter, I absolutely deny it.
Upon this, the Earl of Nottingham, the Lord Sydney, and some others of the Counsellors, ask'd Young, Why then did you give us such express Directions, to send, and search the Flower-Pots, among other Places, in the Bishop's House?
I said nothing of Flower-Pots. I bid you take care that the Bishop's Person should be exactly search'd; because, when he went abroad, he carried the Association about him; when he was at home, he put it in some private place, for fear of surprize: Perhaps I might say in the Chimney.
The Lords replyed, Nay, we all well remember, you particularly mentioned the Flower-Pots.
Young, When you perceived that the Persons sent to seize on the Bishop had missed the Association, did not you then desire Blackhead to go a third time to the Bishop's House, and to take it out of the Pot, where he had laid it?
No, I know nothing of it.
What say you, Blackhead?
At Mr. Young's request, I went to the Bishop's House a third time; it was upon a Sunday; I privately got into the Parlour, and took the Association out of the same Flower-Pot where I had laid it, and return'd it back to Mr. Young.
This is a Combination between the Bishop of Rochester and Blackhead, to taffle the whole Discovery of the Plot.
[Page 71]Which Saying of Young's could not but raise a general Smile among all the Company, they lifting up their Hands with great Indignation at his unparallel'd Impudence.
I thought, my Lords, the last Time I was here, Blackhead was the most brazen Faced Fellow that ever I saw; but now I find this same Young to be a much viler Miscreant than he. This is so base a Suggestion against me, and so impossible for me to be guilty of, and I know your Lordships so little suspect it of me, that I need not make any Answer to it in my Defence.
Young, Thou art the strangest Creature that ever I heard of; Dost thou think we could imagine, that the Bishop of Rochester would combine with this thy Confederate, to have an Association written, with his own Hand to it, and then laid in his own House, in a Flower-Pot there? Which, if it had been found, must have endangered his Life: And we see it was the most remarkable good Fortune to him that almost ever hapned to any Man, that it was not found there.
But Young still persisting, that he believed I had taken Blackhead off, they were both [Page 72] order'd to withdraw. And, I assure my Reader, that during this whole Examination, tho' Young's Forgery was so evidently Convicted by the Confession of his own Companion, and Instrument, yet he behaved himself with a daring unconcernd Confidence, with a bold and erect Countenance, though it had naturally very much of a Villain in it. His whole Carriage indeed was such, as became the Discipline he has undergone for these divers Years; having so long been almost a constant Inhabitant, together with his Wife, of many of the common Gaols in England and Ireland; as you shall find before I leave them.
But to make hast to the Conclusion of this Narration; the Lord President call'd for the Letter which Young had sent to me under the Name of Hookes. When his Lordship had viewed it deliberately, he ask'd also for the Association, and having compared them for some considerable time, he broke forth in these Words; Really, my Lords, it is a very great Providence, that this Letter, sent by Young, under the Name of Hookes, to the Bishop of Rochester, was preserved by his Servant: [Page 73] For this very Letter, and the Association, were both apparently Written by the same Hand; you may perceive there is no manner of Difference in the Writing, but only that the Letter is written in a less Hand, as Letters are wont to be, and the Association in a greater, as a Publick Instrument.
At this the whole Board, one after another, had a perfect fight of both, and all applauded the Happiness of the Discovery: For it was as clear as Light to all that were present, that the Letters, and Words, of both, were of the very same Form and Figure.
Particularly, my Lord Godolphin farther observed, and made it plan to them all, That the W in W. Cant. in the Subscription, was the very same Letter with the W in Whereas, which was the first Word of the Counterfeit Association.
For my Part, I could not forbear Exclaiming, Great is Truth, and it will prevail.
After all this, I asking the Lords, Whether they had any farther Service to command me? And they saying No, I spoke these few Words.
My Lords, I must always acknowledge, [Page 74] That, next the Signal Providence of God, in so visibly protecting an innocent Man, your Lordships fair and honorable Way of Proceeding with me, in not shutting me up close in the Tower immediately upon my first Accusation; but in openly Confronting me with these Varlets, whil'st the Matter was fresh in my Memory; and in so strictly and impartially examining them now, has been the Principal Occasion, that my Innocency has met with a Vindication as publick and unquestionable, as I my self could have wished and prayed for. But still, my good Lords, I do again most humbly recommend to your Lordships, The Prosecution of this Black Contrivance to the Bottom, for the Sake of Truth and Justice, and for the Safety of every other honest Man, whose Lot this might have been as well as mine. I am sure your Lordships all believe, that there can be no greater Service to the Government, especially at this time, than to have such perjured Informers, so plainly discovered, to be severely punished according to their Demerits.
And so I took my Leave of their Lordships.
[Page 75]This is the Substance of what I can remember, as far as my Part goes in this Surprizing Adventure. As to the Account I promised of my Wicked Accusers, my Reader shall have it as fast as my weak Eyes will give me Leave to write it.