APPENDIX B
Longleat MSS. Coventry Papers xi. 237
October 28, 1678. Copy of the letter sent to Mr. Sec. Coventry subscribed T. G. Concerning the murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey.
This is to certify you that upon his Majesty’s Declaration I have been both at Whitehall and at your own house these three days together, and never can be admitted to come to the speech of your worship. Whereupon I thought fit to give you an account what it is I can declare, which is as follows:—Being on Tuesday the 15th, of this instant October, in a victualling house in White Friars I chanced to hear two persons a discoursing, the one saying to the other that if he would go down to Billingsgate he would treat him there with wine and oysters, whereupon the other replied and said: “What you are uppish then are you?” Upon which words he swore, God dampe him (sic), he had money enough, and draws a bag out of his pocket and says. There were fifty pounds. Whereupon the other party was very inquisitive to know how he came by it, and did importune him very much, and at the last he told him that if he would swear to be true to him and never discover, he would tell him. Whereupon he did make all the imprecations and vows that could possibly be that he would never discover, whereupon he told him that the last night he with three men did murder Sir Edward Bury Godfrey and he had that £50 for his pains, and said that he believed he could help him to some money if he would go along with him on the morrow night following. Upon these words the other asked him where it was done and who the other three was that was with him, and he told him that he murdered him at Wild House, and the other three that was concerned with him was gentlemen. Two belonged to my Lord Bellasis, and the other to my Lord Petres, but of the Monday before, there was a court held at Wildhouse and there they tried him, and there was a man like a priest who passed sentence of death upon him; and likewise he asked him how he came to be concerned in it, and he told him that there was a broker that lodged in Eagle Court in the Strand that spoke to him of it: so this is all I can testify of, but only that I can give some account in what a barbarous manner they murdered him. This man’s name is Hogshead, he liveth (?) at the Temple and Whitefriars very much. So, Sir, if you please to give orders to your servant, and let me come to the speech of you, I will come and make oath of it, and with this proviso that I may have the liberty to make a fuller discovery of it, I not being anything out of pocket myself; I desire your answer to-morrow morning to be left at the place mentioned in my former letter, and withal desire it may be more private than the last.
Your humble servant to command,
T. G.
From the Temple this
28th instant 1678.
Coventry Papers xi. p. 235. Coventry’s answer to this.
October 28, 1678. To his very loving friend T. G. these.
(Note added by Coventry below the address): This letter was sent to the Rainbow Coffee House, but never called for, and was brought back by Col. Vernon.
I have yours, and am abundantly satisfied with it, but know not how to answer it at large. Will you tell me by what name I shall subscribe it to you; whether your own or another it matters not so you are sure to receive it. If you enquire for one Mr. Evans at my house to-morrow or any morning he shall bring you to me, when I will give you my best advice and assistance in what you desire.
I am,
Your humble servant,
Henry Coventry.
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 11058: 244
Nov. 7, 1678. Mr. Bedloe’s confession before his Majesty of the murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey.
He saith that the Saturday Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey was missing, about two in the afternoon as he (Godfrey) was going home, two or three gentlemen met him and said they could discover some persons near the Strand Bridge that were agitators in the Plot, upon which Sir E. Godfrey showed great readiness, but they desired him to walk into a houseyard till a constable was got ready; but Sir E. Godfrey had scarce made two or three turns but several people rushed out upon him and stopped his mouth; two friars and some of Lord Bellasis’ servants executing the same, and having carried him into an inner chamber demanded of him Mr. Oates his deposition, promising they would save his life if he would render it to them; yet their design was to have taken away his life though he had given them that satisfaction. Sir Edmund Berry told them that the king and council had them, and therefore he could not possibly do what they desired. Upon which expression they began to use him inhumanly and barbarously, kneeling upon his breast till they thought he was dead; but they opened his bosom and found his heart panted; then they took a cravat and tied it hard about his neck, and so ended his life. He says further that he came too late to be assistant in the murder, for he found him strangled and lying dead on the floor, but presently received an account from the actors in what manner it was performed. His corpse was laid at the high altar of the Queen’s chapel, and continued there till they had consulted a way for removing the same secretly from thence.
He further saith that two guineas were the reward promised among the undertakers, and on Wednesday following the corpse was conveyed in a sedan to Lord Bellasis’ house, and from thence carried in a coach to the place where it was found. He also acquainted the Lords that he had several things to communicate to them which related to the Plot, and that he was able to confirm several passages which Mr. Oates had discovered concerning the plot, but he desired leave to give his testimony in writing, that so he might make no other discovery than what he could be able to testify.
Actors: Mr. Eveley, Mr. Leferry, Jesuits; Penchard and Atkins, laymen; the keeper of the Queen’s chapel and a vally de chambre to the Lord Bellasis.
P.R.O. S.P. Dom. Charles II 407: ii. 29. Longleat MSS. Coventry Papers xi. 272–274.
7th Nov. 1678. Before his Majesty.
Mr. Bedloe informs,
A contrivance between Charles Wintour and the governour of Chepstow Castle, and Mr. Charles Milbourn and Mr. Vaughan of Cont ... and his son, to be in arms when my Lord Powis would in Cardiganshire, to give up the castle to Mr. Charles Wintour and army of 20m men.
Mr. Thimbleby in Lincoln: under Lord Bellasis was to have 20m men. 20m religious men were to meet at St. Jago to come over into Wales from the Groin, and meet Lord Powis and the aforesaid gentlemen in arms.
20m out of Flanders to meet Lord Bellasis and Mr. Thimbleby: to land at Burlington Bay. Has known this by being four years among them.
Qu. What proofs.
Resp. Has lived among the Jesuits four years, and had all he had from them, etc.
Has been in Spain. Employed from five Jesuits to Sir W. Godolphin, Stapleton, Latham, Le Fere, Cave and Sheldon.
Cave and Le Fere sent him to Doway last summer 12 months. 20 months since, and thence by Paris, etc., to Madrid.
Le Fere told him of this design.
Lodges where Captain Atkins lodges, where Walsh the priest lodges, near Wild House.
Mr. Selvyns at the back door of the Palgrave’s Head will show where Captain Atkins lodges, and consequently where Le Fere.
Le Fere is an Englishman, calls himself a Frenchman. The passage of the 20m men from Flanders was to be from Newport.
As to Sir Edmond Godfrey; was promised 2000 guineas to be in it by Le Fere, my Lord Bellasis’ gentleman, and the youngest of the waiters in the Queene’s chapel, in a purple gown and to make the people orderly. They did not tell him at first who was to be killed nor till he was killed.
They murdered him in Somerset House in the corner room, the left hand as you come in, near Madame Macdonnel’s lodgings, and near the room where the duke of Albemarle lay in state.
Stifled him with a pillow, then he struggling they tied a cravat about his neck and so strangled him.
Le Fere told him so, having sent for him by a footman in a blue livery to Somerset House in the walk under the dial. ’Twas done in hopes the examinations he had taken would never come to light.
Obj. The King. The parties were still alive to give the informations.
Resp. In hopes the second informations taken from the parties would not have agreed with the first, and so the thing would have been disproved and made it not be believed. For this reason the Lord Bellasis advised it. Coleman and my Lord Bellasis advised to destroy him.
The informant was born at Chepstow, bred up an indifferent scholar. His friends all protestant since the world began. Went into the Prince of Orange’s army, where finding the religious houses kind and obliging, he hearkened to their arguments, etc., and so was persuaded.
Was never an officer in the Prince of Orange’s army. Was designed to be lieutenant to Vaudepert, a captain. Employed some time to make levies in England from Holland, etc.
My Lord Bellasis’ gentleman is he that waits on him in his chamber, and none other dresses him but he. Middle stature. Little whiskers like a Frenchman.
The Trappan. They persuaded Godfrey that if he would go a little way into the Strand they would make out a great discovery to him. He called a constable and appointed him to meet him at Strand bridge with power, in the interim of which they persuaded him, Godfrey, to walk into Somerset House, where walking with two of them, the Lord Bellasis’ gentleman and a certain Jesuit whom he knows not, others came and with gloves stopped his mouth and hurried him into the room.
The Informant escaped yesterday fortnight by the coach from the Talbot in the Strand to Bristol. Coming to Bristol sent for his mother, and upon her blessing she charged him to discover whatever he knew. Will take his oath and the Sacrament of all this. Has had racks of all this for a year in his conscience. Would have gotten from them three months ago when the king was at Windsor, they about the time whispering something, but not so as to let him know it.
Conyers is a Jesuit, and Pridgeot, and Lewis. Sir John Warner was in the Plot. Le Fere, Keimes, Welsh, Lewis, Pridgeot.
Keimes is in the north of Scotland or beyond the sea. Went two months ago into the north; was with Le Fere the night before. He went to Ernham to Mr. Thimbleby and so northwards.
Mr. Welsh, the chapel-keeper, Le Fere, my Lord Bellasis’ servant, strangled him.
The Chapel keeper carried him off. They carried him off in a chair about Piccadilly and so on to the fields.
He did not see him after he was dead.
Le Fere sent to him by a foot-boy immediately afterwards to tell him of it.
Wintour told him two years ago that if he would keep private so great a design, he should be governour to Chepstow Castle, etc. My Lord of Worcester has kept a very ingenious gunsmith, one David Winkett, in his house for many years to make arms. Mr. Charles Price, steward to my Lord of Worcester, took them off from time to time and disposed of them to my Lord Powis. Mr. Christall, my Lord Powis’ servant, told him my lord had the finest arms of that man’s making, etc. Mr. Jones, a sugar baker on College Hill, can tell where his the informant’s brother is. His brother was with him in Spain, and wondered how he could live as he did.
Le Fere.
Lord Bellasis’ gentleman.
The usher of the Queen’s chapel, etc.
Lords Journals xiii. 343
Bedloe’s statement at the bar of the House of Lords. Die Veneris 8 die Novembris.
The Lord Treasurer reported by his Majesty’s directions, “That yesterday one William Bedlowe was examined at Whitehall concerning the discovery of the murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey, and that his Majesty had given order he should be brought to give this house an account thereof.”
Who being brought to the Bar and had his oath given him, made a large narrative to this effect.
“That he was born in Monmouthshire and was of the Church of England till within these two years, that by Persuasion and Promises from the Jesuits he was drawn over to them: that he is not in orders. He knows that Sir E. B. Godfrey was murdered in Somerset House, on the Saturday, by Charles Walsh and—Le Fere Jesuits, and two laymen, one a gentleman that waits on the Lord Bellasis, the other an underwaiter in the Queen’s Chapel. That he saw the body of Sir E. B. Godfrey, after he was murdered, before he was carried out, and Le Fere told him ‘He was stifled between two pillows,’ and he was offered 2000 guineas to be one of the three to carry out the body, which was kept either in the room or the next where the D. of Albemarle lay in state: That the Chairmen who carried out the body on Monday night at nine of the clock are retainers to Somerset House; but he knows them not.”
He saith “That Walsh and Le Fere and Pritchard told him ‘that the Lord Bellasis employed them in this business.’”
He said further “That Walsh and Le Fere informed him ‘That the Lord Bellasis had a commission to command Forces in the North, the Earl of Powis in S. Wales, and the Lord Arundell of Warder had a commission from the Pope to grant commissions to whom he pleased’: That Coleman had been a great agitator in the design against the King; And that he, asking the Jesuits ‘Why they had not formerly told him what they had designed concerning the king’s death?’ they answered him ‘That none but whom the Lord Bellasis gave directions for were to know of it.’ He desired he might have time to put the whole narrative into writing (which he had begun).
“And being asked if he knew Titus Oates, he denied it.”
P.R.O. S.P. Dom. Charles II 408: ii. 47
Prance’s examination before the Council. The notes are in Sir Joseph Williamson’s handwriting. Dec. 24, 78. Prance called in, etc.
On a certain Monday—with a twisted handkerchief—in the corner near the stables. Carried him into a house in the dark entry, leading up out of the lower court into the upper. Left at that house where Hill lived then, two days, in the dark entry—by the water-gate. There Hill and Gerald and the cushion-man (Green) carried him away. About ten Hill told this informant to go to the other side of the house. Green told him that he thought he had broke his neck before he was carried into Hill’s house. After that, 4 days after. Hill carried him and shewed him the place where he lay with a dark lanthorn about 9 o’clock—and Hill brought him back to his house. Green and Gerald were there—and not having conveniency for keeping him in his own house, conveyed him into another house on the other side.—Hill procured a sedan, and had him carried in a sedan from Hill’s out at the end gate of the upper court. This was Wednesday night.—Was carried as far as the Greyhound in the Soho. He was one that carried him. Green and Gerald and Irishman who lay over the stables in certain lodgings that Green has there.—From Hill’s house first he was carried somewhere to the other side of the house, towards the garden, and Hill met them about the new church with a horse, and he was set upon that horse and carried away, and the sedan was left in one of the new houses when they came back. He came back to his house, and Hill went with the body. Green, Gerald, and the Irishman went also with the body.—Gerald said to him that my Lord Bellasis engaged them to the thing, and said there would be a reward, not yet. Does not know my Lord Bellasis.—Killed him because he loved not the Queen or her servants, therefore Green and Hill, etc.—One Owen in Bloomsbury was in the shop where he changed £100.—Two or three went to his house to ask after him, the maid answered he was not within, etc. They found him out and dogged him, till he came over against the water-gate, came from St. Clement’s, about 9 o’clock, etc. Hill, etc., dogged him. He was not there.—Two feigned a quarrel in the gate, and he was called in to appease the quarrel.—He knew Gerald a year and a half. Hill upon five years. Green about a year, etc.—Hill was without and prayed Godfrey to walk in to quiet the quarrel. He walks within the gate (?) and the upper Court.—Knows not if any guard at the gate. Knows not if any company. About 9 at night—He was strangled in the upper court on the stable side in a corner that is railed (?). He struggled. Carried in at the water-gate.—He had the £100 in gold from Owens in Bloomsbury. Being to go out of town as a papist he got this informant to get it for him. It was nothing to this ... As to the Plot. Was in Ireland’s chamber. Groves, Fenwick were there. Ireland said there would be 50m men in arms. So Fenwick. Two or three days after Groves came to his house to buy two swords.—Said my Lords Powis, Bellasis, Peters, Arundell should become councillors.—That Bellasis, Powis, Arundell were to govern the army.... [Some words indistinct]. One Le Fere came to his shop to ask for a silver sword hilt. Knows not who he is more than that he is.—Knows not Walsh, Pritchard, nor Le Fere not by the names.—50m men.—They hoped Cath. Rel. would be established in a little time, etc.—Heard nothing of the killing of the King, etc.—Godfrey was kept from the time of his being killed in a sitting posture, etc.—One Mr. Moore, servant to the D. of Norfolk, being on a great horse, etc., would we had 10m of them, etc.—His ill-will to Godfrey (that the Queen could not protect her servants)—Knows nothing of the plot nor of any person in it.—That one—a Messenger belonging to Lord Arundell said—He hoped the R. C. Rel. would before long flourish in England. Has declared everything he knows, everything, etc.—Green, Hill, etc., said Godfrey had used some Irishman ill—Owen knows nothing of all this that he learns (?).—Saw Ireland last at Will’s coffee house in Covent Garden and Dr. Southwell were drinking with him in his own house the night before Pickering was taken, etc.