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.