“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.