For this, and the publications described in articles 261 to 264 importing that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey murdered himself, a prosecution was instituted against Nathaniel Thompson, William Pain, and John Farwell, and on Tuesday, June 20th, 1682, they were tried at the Guildhall, London, and found guilty. Thompson and Farwell were sentenced to stand on the pillory in the Palace Yard, the last day of Term, between the hours of Ten and One o'clock, for the space of an hour, and each of them to pay a fine of £100, and to be imprisoned until they paid it. Pain was only to pay a fine of £100. Accordingly, on Wednesday, the 5th of July, 1682, Thompson and Farwell stood in the pillory, in the Old Palace Yard, at Westminster, with this writing over their heads—
"For libelling the Justice of the Nation, by making the world believe that Sir Edmundbury Godfrey murdered himself."
The following is a copy of the information:—
Memorandum quod Robertus Sawyer miles, Attornatus domini Regis nunc Generalis, qui pro eodem domino Rege in hac parte sequitur, in propria persona sua venit hic in curiam dicti domini Regis, coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium, die Mercurii proximo post quindenam Paschæ isto eodem termino, et pro eodem domino Rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari, quod die Martis proximo post crastinum Purificationis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, termino Sancti Hillarii annis regni domini Caroli Secundi nunc Regis Angliæ &c. tricesimo et tricesimo primo, in curia dicti domini Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium, eadem curia apud Westmonasterium in comitatu Middlesexiæ tunc tenta existente, per sacramentum duodecim juratorum proborum et legalium hominum comitatus Middlesexiæ prædictæ tunc et ibidem juratorum et oneratorum ad inquirendum pro dicto domino Rege et corpore comitatus prædicti, extitit præsentatum quod Robertus Greene nuper de parochia Sanctæ Mariæ le Strond in comitatu Middlesexiæ Laborer, [ ] Gerrald nuper de parochia prædicta in comitatu prædicto clericus, Henricus Berry nuper de parochia prædicta in comitatu prædicto Laborer, Laurencius Hill nuper de parochia prædicta in comitatu prædicto Laborer, Dominicus Kelly nuper de parochia prædicta in comitatu prædicto clericus, et Philbert Vernat nuper de parochia prædicta in comitatu prædicto Laborer, Deum præ oculis suis non habentes, sed instigatione diabolica moti et seducti, duodecimo die Octobris anno regni domini Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regis Fidei Defensoris &c. tricesimo, vi et armis &c. apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Strond prædictæ in comitatu Middlesexiæ prædictæ in et super quendam Edmundum Berry Godfrey militem, in pace Dei et dicti Domini Regis nunc adtunc et ibidem existentem, felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata, insultum fecerunt. Et quod prædictus Robertus Greene quoddam sudarium panni lini anglice a linen handkerchiffe, valoris sex denariorum, circa collum ipsius Edmundi Berry Godfrey adtunc et ibidem felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata, plicavit, et fixavit anglice did fold, and fasten. Et quod prædictus Robertus Greene cum prædicto sudario sic per ipsum Robertum Greene plicato et fixato circa collum ipsius prædicti Edmundi Berry adtunc ipsum prædictum Edmundum Berry Godfrey felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata, suffocavit et strangulavit anglice, choake and strangle, de quibusquidem suffocatione, et strangulatione ipsius Edmundi Berry Godfrey prædicti, per ipsum prædictum Robertum Greene in forma prædicta factis et perpetratis, ipse prædictus Edmundus Berry Godfrey adtunc et ibidem instanter obiit. Et quod prædicti [ ] Gerrald, Henricus Berry, Laurentius Hill, Dominicus Kelly, et Philbert Vernat, adtunc et ibidem felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata fuerunt præsentes, auxiliantes, abettantes, comfortantes, assistentes, et manutenentes præfatum Robertum Greene ad prædictum Edmundum Berry Godfrey in forma prædicta felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata, interficiendum et murdrandum. Et sic juratores prædicti adtunc dixerunt super sacramentum suum prædictum quod prædictus Robertus Greene, [ ] Gerrald, Henricus Berry, Laurencius Hill, Dominicus Kelly, et Philbert Vernat, modo et forma prædictis, præfatum Edmundum Berry Godfrey felonice, voluntarie, et ex malitia sua præcogitata, interfecerunt et murdraverunt, contra pacem dicti domini Regis nunc, coronam et dignitatem suas &c., per quod præceptum fuit vicecomiti comitatus prædicti quod non omitteret &c. quin caperet eos si &c., ad respondendum &c. Quodque postea, scilicet die Mercurii proximo post crastinum Purificationis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, termino Sancti Hillarii, anno regni domini Caroli Secundi nunc Regis Angliæ &c. tricesimo et tricesimo primo supradicto coram domino Rege apud Westmonasterium venerunt prædicti Robertus Greene, Henricus Berry, et Laurencius Hill sub custodia Willielmi Richardson generosi tunc custodis gaoli dicti domini Regis de Newgate virtute brevis dicti domini Regis de Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, recipiendum &c. in cujus custodia præantea ex causa predicta commissi fuerunt ad barram prædictæ curiæ dicti domini Regis tunc et ibidem ducti in propria persona sua, et adtunc et ibidem statim de præmissis prædictis eis superius impositis separatim allocuti qualiter se velint inde acquietari separatim, dixerunt quod ipsi in nullo fuerunt inde culpabiles et inde de bono et malo posuerunt se separatim super patriam. In quaquidem causa taliter processum fuit quod prædictus Robertus Greene, Henricus Berry, et Laurencius Hill postea scilicet die Lunæ proximo post octabas Purificationis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis termino Sancti Hillarii annis regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo et tricesimo primo supradictis, in prædicta curia dicti domini Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium prædictum in comitatu Middlesexiæ prædictæ, pro felonia et murdro prædictis in indictamento prædicto specificatis et contentis per quandam juratam patriæ debito modo triati fuerunt et adtunc et ibidem legitimo modo pro felonia et murdro prædictis convicti et attincti fuerunt, prout per recordum inde in prædicta curia dicti domini Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westmonasterium in comitatu Middlesexiæ prædictæ remanens filatum plenius liquet et apparet. Qui quidem Robertus Greene, Henricus Berry, et Laurencius Hill postea debito modo executi fuerunt, et pænam mortis subierunt juxta formam et effectum judicii et attincturæ prædictorum. Cumque etiam quidam Milo Prance, super triationem prædictum fuit testis productus et juratus ex parte dicti domini Regis nunc adtunc et ibidem legitimo modo dedisset materialem evidenciam versus prædictos Robertum Greene, Henricum Berry, et Laurencium Hill ad probandum ipsos fore culpabiles de felonia et murdro prædictis in indictamento prædicto specificatis. Et quidam Willielmus Bedlowe, Johannes Browne, Elizabetha Curtis, Zacharias Skillarne, et Nicholaus Cambridge super triationem prædictum fuerunt testes similiter producti et jurati ex parte dicti domini Regis, et diversas materiales evidentias versus prædictos Robertum Greene, Henricum Berry, Laurencium Hill, ad probandum ipsos fore culpabiles de felonia et murdro prædictis in eodem indictamento mentionatis dederunt. Cumque etiam prædicti [ ] Gerrald, Robertus Greene, Laurencius Hill, Dominicus Kelly et Philbert Vernat tempore feloniæ et murdri prædictorum fuerunt Papistæ et manutentores Romanæ superstitionis. Et prædicti [ ] Gerrald, Dominicus Kelly, et Philbert Vernat fugam fecerunt et ad indictamentum prædictum adhuc non comparuerunt nec aliquis eorum comparuit. Cumque etiam super visum corporis prædicti Edmundi Berry Godfrey mortui jacentis quædam inquisitio debito modo capta fuit coram Johanne Cooper generoso tunc uno coronatorum dicti domini Regis comitatus Middlesexiæ prædictæ per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum comitatus Middlesexiæ ultra numerum duodecim personarum per quamquidem inquisitionem compertum fuit quod quidam malefactores ignoti felonice et ex malitia sua præpensa ipsum Edmundum Berry Godfrey strangulaverunt et suffocaverunt de qua obiit. Et quod quidam Nathaniel Thompson nuper de parochia Sancti Dunstani in Occidente Londoniæ Typhographus, Willielmus Payne nuper de parochia prædicta infra civitatem Londoniæ generosus, et Johannes Farwell nuper de Westmonasterio in comitatu Middlesexiæ generosus præmissa prædicta satis scientes, et existentes personæ diabolice effecti ac machinantes practicantes et totis viribus suis intendentes pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare et quantum in ipsis fuit debitum legis cursum corrumpere, subvertere, et evadere, et justitiam hujus regni Angliæ in ea parte defamare et scandalizare et tam præfatos Milonem Prance, Willielmum Bedlowe, Johannem Browne, Elizabetham Curtis, Zachariam Skillarne, et Nicholaum Cambridge quam prædictos Johannem Cooper et probos et legales homines super inquisitionem prædictam super visum corporis prædicti juratos in maximum odium contemptum et vilipendium cum omnibus ligeis subditis dicti domini Regis nunc inducere et inferre ac ad deterrendum subditos dicti domini Regis a comparendo detigendo et probando machinationes Papistorum contra dominum Regem nunc et veram religionem per legem nunc stabilitatam et impie et nefarie machinantes et intendentes ipsos prædictos [ ] Gerrald, Dominicum Kelly et prædictum Philbertum Vernat a subeundo pænas et sententias per legem super ipsos infligendas pro murdro prædicto ac ad auxiliandum et assistandum ipsos quamvis inde culpabiles fore compertos minime culpabiles ac ad decipiendum et fallandum subditos dicti domini Regis de et in præmissis cum falsis affirmantiis et agreamentis suis et causare et procurare quod creditum foret et estimaretur quod prædicti Robertus Greene, Henricus Berry, et Laurencius Hill personæ, sic ut præfertur, pro felonia et murdro prædictis prædicti Edmundi Berry convicti et executi minus rite convicti et executi fuissent, quodque prædictus Edmundus Berry Godfrey fuit felo de se et seipsum felonice murdrasset, ipsi prædicti Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne, et Johannes Farwell ad nequissimas, nefandissimas, et diabolicas intentiones suas prædictas perimplendas et proficiendas postea scilicet vicesimo tertio die Februarii anno regni domini Caroli Secundi nunc Regis Angliæ &c. tricesimo quarto apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ vi et armis &c. falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, scandalose, et diabolice, fecerunt, composuerunt et imprimi causaverunt quendam falsum, scandalosum, et defamatorium libellum intitulatum, A Letter to Mr. Miles Prance, in relation to the murther of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, in quoquidem libello inter alia continetur prout sequitur. And hearing that the Coroner's Jury or Inquest were first of opinion, and accordingly declared, he was felo de se; and that there was much art and skill used to procure their verdict to the contrary; more particularly, the refusing of the body, (at their instance and request) to be opened. Ac in alio loco ejusdem libelli ulterius continetur prout sequitur. They say, that if a man, or any other creature be strangled, or hanged, and his body cold, and the blood settled in the veins (as he must needs be, if your evidence be true) (evidentiam prædicti Milonis Prance innuendo) run twenty swords through such a body, not one drop of blood will come out; but on the contrary, his body, when found, was full of blood, in so much that (over and above the cakes or great gobbets of congealed putrified blood found afterwards in his cloaths) the constable when he pulled the sword out of his body, it crashed against his back bone, and gobbets of blood and water gushed or gubbled out of that wound in abundance, not only in that very place where the sword was pulled out but in all his passage to the Whitehouse; especially there where his body was lifted over two high stumps; and also when he was laid upon the table, the blood and water so issued out of that wound, that it ran from off the table upon the floor, and from thence into the cellar. So that they do aver, that that wound that he received by that sword, must of necessity be the cause of his death. Ac in alia parte ejusdem libelli ulterius continetur prout sequitur, They observe, that Bedloe's, (before the Committee of Lords), and your evidence in relation to this gentleman's death, are as different as the East is from the West; for you dog him out of St. Clement's; the other decoys him from Charing Cross; you swear he was strangled with a handkerchief near the stables going to the water-side; Bedloe, that he was smothered with a pillow in a room in the great Court in Somerset-house. You say, he took horse at Soho; Bedlow says, he took Coach at Clarendon-house, with many more such like contradictions; and considering the old proverb, fore-warn'd, fore arm'd; a further and fuller account of the whole matter expect. Quodque prædicti Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne et Johannes Farwell ad nequissimas nefandissimas et diabolicas intentiones suas prædictas perimplendas et proficiendas postea scilicet tertio die Marcii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto [word defaced] apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ prædictæ vi et armis et falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, scandalose, et diabolice, fecerunt composuerunt et imprimi causaverunt quendam alium falsum scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum, A Second Letter to Miles Prance, in reply to the Ghost of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, in quoquidem ultimo mencionato libello inter alia continetur prout sequitur. Next, whereas my letter saith, (and that truly) that the Coroner's Jury were first of opinion and accordingly declared he was felo de se; and that much art and skill was used to procure their verdict to the contrary. Ac in alio loco ejusdem ultimo mencionati libelli inter alia continetur prout sequitur. And it would be very material, if the Coroner would declare, what he received for that job, and of whom, and what evidence he had to induce the Jury to find (as the inquisition imports) that he was strangled with a linen cloth, a matter of fact never so much as spoken of, until you came in with your evidence, which was not in some weeks after. And I do again aver, that the body was required by the jurors to be opened, and was refused; and if the body was in their and the Coroner's power (as the Ghost insinuates) such power was concealed from and denied the Jury. Et in alio loco ejusdem ultimo mentionati libelli inter alia continetur prout sequitur, He is to understand that Mr. Brown, the two surgeons (prædictos Zachariam Skillarne, et Nicholam Cambridge innuendo) and Mrs. Curtis are not competent (nor can be material) witnesses in this case. Et in alio loco ejusdem ultimo mentionati libelli inter alia ulterius continetur prout sequitur, But Mr. Prance, it will be fully proved, that the body was full of blood, and that there were cakes or gobbets of dry blood found in his cloaths, which (with his body) stunk extremely. And it will be also fully and effectually proved that his eyes, nostrils, and corners of his mouth were fly-blown. Ac in alio loco ejusdem ultimo mentionati libelli inter alia continetur prout sequitur, And as to the seventh and last paragraph, which relates only to the difference betwixt yours and Mr. Bedlow's evidence, I must take notice, that what you and he swear are very contradictory. Et in alio loco ejusdem ultimo mentionati libelli inter alia ulterius continetur prout sequitur, But I cannot omit to take further notice of Mrs. Curtis's affidavit in relation to the drops of wax found upon the cloaths, in which I cannot say but she may swear true: but this I do aver, that if it be so, those drops were put upon the cloaths long after he was found, and after the jury had sat on the body; for there was no such thing then on the cloaths. And I suppose this was some artifice used by those, who, either out of interest or design, were desirous to confirm his being murthered at Somerset-House. Ac ulterius idem Attornatus dicti domini Regis nunc Generalis pro eodem domino Rege dat curiam hic intelligi et informari quod prædicti Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne, et Johannes Farwell in ulteriorem prosecutionem prædictæ falsæ nequissimæ et malitiosæ machinationis et intentionis suarum prædictarum postea scilicet septimo die Marcii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto supradicto apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ prædictam vi et armis &c. falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, scandalose, et diabolice composuerunt, fecerunt, et imprimi causaverunt quendam alium falsum scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum, The Loyal Protestant, and True Domestic Intelligence, or News both from City and Country, in quoquidem ultimo mentionato libello continetur prout sequitur, That there is not in the said letter (prædictum falsum scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum A Letter to Mr. Miles Prance, in relation to the murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey præantea primo mencionatum innuendo) the least item or circumstance, but what will be by undeniable evidence made out to be the truth: So the said Mr. Prance, having not as yet vouchsafed an answer to that letter, he will speedily receive a further letter relating to that murther; wherein the further truth will not only be fully set forth, and other circumstances set out. Et ulterius idem Attornatus dicti domini Regis nunc Generalis pro eodem domino Rege dat curiam hic intelligi et informari quod prædictus Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne, et Johannes Farwell in ulteriorem prosecutionem prædictæ falsæ nequissimæ et malitiosæ machinationis et intentionis suarum prædictarum postea scilicet undecimo die Marcii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto supradicto apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ prædictam vi et armis, falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, scandalose, et diabolice composuerunt, fecerunt, et imprimi causaverunt quendam alium falsum scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum, The Loyal Protestant and True Domestick Intelligence, or News both from City and Country, in quoquidem ultimo mentionato libello inter alia continetur prout sequitur, Whereas Dick Janeway in this Day's Mercury, promises an answer to the late Letter to Mr. Prance, &c. This is to give him and all the world notice, that such an answer is impatiently expected by the author of that letter, who questions not but to prove every tittle of that letter to the satisfaction of all mankind: And besides he is very desirous that the Courantier (according to his last Pacquet of Advice from Rome) would go on, and use his interest, to procure the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen and Common Council of London, to inspect the Truth of that letter; whereby it will appear inevitably that there is not one Papist or popishly affected person concerned in that letter, or in the proof of the particulars thereof; but the same (with divers other material circumstances relating to the murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and the fraud and blind put upon the world in relation thereto) will be more fully, plainly and manifestly proved, without giving ill words, or scurrilous language, or reflections to any person that really are or supposed to be therein concerned in any circumstance whatsoever. Et ulterius idem Attornatus dicti domini Regis nunc Generalis pro eodem domino Rege dat curiam hic intelligi et informari quod prædicti Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne et Johannes Farwell in ulteriorem prosecutionem prædictæ falsæ nequissimæ et malitiosæ machinationis et intentionis suarum prædictarum postea scilicet primo die Aprilis anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto supradicto vi et armis &c. apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ prædictam falso, illicite, injuste, nequiter, malitiose, scandalose, et diabolice fecerunt composuerunt, et imprimi causaverunt quendam alium falsum, scandalosum et defamatorium libellum intitulatum, The Loyal Protestant, and True Domestic Intelligence, or News both from City and Country, in quoquidem ultimo mentionato libello inter alia continetur prout sequitur, Last Wednesday, Nathaniel Thompson, (upon summons) appeared before the Lords of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, about the letters to Mr. Miles Prance, concerning the death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey where he justified the matter, and produced the authors, who are ready to prove (by undeniable and substantial witnesses, not in the least accused, or suspected of Popery, as the malicious party do suggest) that every tittle and iota of those letters are true. Quodque in alia parte ejusdem ultimo mentionati libelli inter alia continetur prout sequitur, Mr. Thompson and the gentlemen his friends, are to attend the next Wednesday at Council where they do not doubt but that Honourable Board will put them into a method to prove the whole, or any particular which their Honours in their great wisdom shall think convenient to be brought to the test or examination. Et ulterius idem Attornatus dicti domini Regis nunc Generalis pro eodem domino Rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari quod prædicti Nathaniel Thompson, Willielmus Payne, et Johannes Farwell vicesimo tertio die Februarii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto supradicto diversis aliis diebus et vicibus inter prædictum vicesimum tertium diem Februarii anno tricesimo quarto supradicto et diem exhibitionis hujus informationis apud parochiam Sanctæ Mariæ le Bow Londoniæ prædictam scienter, et quilibet eorum scienter prædictos separales libellos fore falsos malitiosos et scandalosos et seditiosos vi et armis &c. falso illicite injuste nequiter malitiose scandalose et diabolice prædictos falsos malitiosos scandalosos et seditiosos libellos utteraverunt, publicaverunt et quilibet eorum utteravit et publicavit, in contemptum legum hujus regni Angliæ manifestum, ac scandalum et defamationem publicæ justitiæ ejusdem, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini Regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.
266.
The Memoirs of James Lord Audley Earl of Castlehaven, his engagement and carriage in the Wars of Ireland, from the year 1642 to the year 1651. Written by himself. London. 1680.
On August 3rd, 1682, Lord Castlehaven was summoned before the Council, the King being present, respecting the publication of this book, which he owned; and it was resolved that the book was a libel against the government.[221] A copy of this publication is preserved in the British Museum Library.
267.
The Loyal Protestant, and true Domestic Intelligence, or News both from City and Country, No. 166, Saturday, June 10th, 1682.
For publishing this periodical a prosecution was instituted against Nathaniel Thomson and Mary his wife. The following is a copy of the information:—