[713] Reresby, Memoirs 146. “Being with the king at the Duchess of Portsmouth’s lodgings, my Lord Treasurer being also present, the king told me he took it (Oates’ story) to be some artifice, and that he did not believe one word of the Plot.” Reresby, though always well-informed, was never at this time in possession of real secrets.
Barillon, October 1/10, 1678. “Le Roi de la Grande Bretagne m’a dit qu’il ne croyait pas que cette accusation eût un veritable fondement.”
Shaftesbury, The present state of the Kingdom at the opening of the Parliament, March 6, 1679. “As concerning the plot and the murder of Godfrey, the king’s discourses and managing are new and extraordinary. No man can judge by them but that he is in the plot against his own life; and no man doubts but he is so far in as concerns us all.” Printed Christie ii. 309.
[714] Barillon, January 16/26, 1679. “Le Roi d’Angleterre ne me parle plus comme il a parlé jusqu’à present. Il me dit hier que la déposition d’un dernier témoin nommé Ducdale lui parassait si peu concertée et si pleine de faits vraisemblables qu’il ne pouvait plus s’empêcher de croire à une conspiration contre sa personne. Ce Prince me redit toutes les raisons qui lui ont fait croire qu’Oats et Benloi sont des parjures et des imposteurs, mais en même temps il me fit connaître que ce qu’ils avaient dit de faux n’empêchait pas qu’il n’y eût quelque chose de vrai qui servait pour fondement à tout ce qu’ils avaient pu inventer d’eux mêmes.”
[715] See the trials of Andrew Bromwich, 7 State Trials 715–726, Lionel Anderson and others, ibid. 729–750, Knox and Lane, ibid. 763–812, Lord Castlemaine, ibid. 1067–1112.
[716] Luttrell, Brief Relation i. 34.
[717] See e.g. his summing up at Lord Castlemaine’s trial. 7 State Trials 1408–1412.
[718] In spite of his own and his brother’s assertions there cannot be the least doubt of this. North afterwards declared in his memoirs that he never believed in the Popish Plot, a statement which is belied by every action and word of his on the bench.
[719] 7 State Trials 218, at the trial of Green, Berry, and Hill.
[720] 7 State Trials 69.