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.