To Madam Katharine Hall in Cambray.

ON the Thirteenth of June being Fryday, Mr. Whitebread. Mr. Harcourt, Mr, Turner, Fenwick and Gaven of the Society, and Mr. Corker were brought to the Barr in the Old Bayly, Mr. Corker moved the Court for a longer time being only warned the night before, whereas the other Prisoners had eight days warning to prepare themselves, whereupon he was remanded to Prison till the next day then was the Indictment read against the five above named Jesuits, for conspiring the Kings death, Subversion of Government and Protestant Religion then Mr. Oats swore that on the 24th. of April there was a consult held in London, where the death of the King was conspired, and that he carryed this Resolve from the one to the other, for their subscribing, and swore particular circumstances against each: to corroberate this Testimony, other Witnesses Bedlow, Prance, Dugdale and Chetwin came in with overtures to the Matter sworn by Oates, then did the Prisoners (after a most solemn and Religious protestation of their Innocence and ignorance of any conspiracy against his Majesty) desire that their wit­nesses might be heard, which could demonstrate that Mr. Oates was actually at S. Omers all the whole time, but the Judge Scroggs askt each witness as he did appear, of what Religion he was, and upon answer that he was a Roman Catholick, the whole Court gave a shout of laughter, then the Judge would say to them; well, what have you been taught to say, and by many scoffing questions (which moved the Court to frequent laughter) he did endeavour to take off the credibility of the witnesses; then the Butler, Taylor, and Gardiner of St. Omers, offered to swear that they saw Mr. Oates all the time at St. Omers, when he swore he was at London, after that the Prisoners at the Barr produced sixteen witnesses more that proved Mr. Oats for sworn in Mr. Irelands Tryal, because he was in Shropshire, when he attested he was in London, then did Gaven one of the Prisoners with a great deal of clearness and eloquence and with a cheerful countenance draw up their justification, shewing the face of their Evidence, and how fully their witnesses had proved Mr. Oates purjured. Then he did lay open the improbability of such a Plott, and how unlikely Mr. Oates should be intrusted in delivering Com­missions to persons of Honour, and Estates, whom he never (as he acknowledged) had seen before or since, this was delivered by Mr. Gawen with a countenance wholly un­concerned, and in a voice very audible, and largely and pertinently exprest, the Judge was incensed at this speech which he often interrupted him, but Gaven still urg'd my Lord, I plead now for my Life, and for that which is dearer to me then life, the honour of my Religion, therefore I beseech you have a little patience with me.

After this Plea of Mr. Gavens the Judge made his Arrayne to the Jury telling them that what the Prisoners had brought was only the bare assertions of boyes, who were taught it as a point of their Religion, to lye for the honour of their Religion, whereas Mr. Oats Mr. Bedlow and others were upon their Oathes, and if Oathes were not to be taken no Courts could subsist. Then Mr. Oates brought in four Witnesses which he had kept in reserve, an old Parson in his Canonical Gown, an old Dominican Priest: Proh dolor & pudor! and two women that swore they saw Mr. Oates in the beginning of May 1678. at this the whole Court gave a shout of laughter and hallow, that for al­most a quarter the Cryers could not still them; never was Bear-bayting more rude and boysterous then this Tryal: Upon this the Judge dismist the Jury, to consider and bring in their Verdicts, who after half an hours absence brought in the five Prisoners at the Barr all Guilty of High Treason; thereupon the whole Court clapt their hands and gave a great hallow, it being now eight at night, the Court adjourned till next day at seven a Clock which was Saturday, I was present from five in the morning till the Court broke up, the Prisoners componed themselves most Apostolically at the Barr, not the least passion or alteration appeared in them, at the invectives of the Judge, or at the clamours of the people, but made a clear and candid defence, with a cheerful and unconcerned countenance, (as a stander by said) if they had been a Jury of Turke they had been quitted, I was with them both before and after their Tryal, and had the Honour to be in my Function serviceable to them, which I look upon as that God favoured me in, I hope for my future good: Next day Mr. Langhorn a Lawyer, Sir George Wakeman, Mr. Cooker, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Rumbly, the three last Benedictines, were brought to the Barr, where the Indictment being read against them for conspiring the King's Death &c. they pleaded all not guilty, then was Langhorn first tryed, whose Tryal held so long, that they had no time to Try the other four, and the Commission by which they sate, expiring that day, the Judge adjorned the Tryal of the other 4 till the 14th of Ju­ly, and then the Judge commanded the Keeper to bring the five Jesuits, whom with Langhorn were Sentenced to be Hang'd, Drawn and Quartered, Mr. Corker and Mr. Marsh are close Prisoners, and have been so this eight months, with whom I have been, God has fitted and is still fitting them as sacrifices for himself, they are very well dis­posed and resigned to God's holy will, Mr. Rumbly hath the Liberty of the Prison, with whom is Mr. Eskett, all cheerful and expect the good hour; On Thursday the day be­fore the five Jesuits were Executed, my Lord Shaftsbury was with Turner and Gaven, promising the Kings Pardon if they would acknowledge the Conspiracy, Mr. Gaven answered he would not murder his Soul to save his Body, for he must acknowledge what he knew not, and what he did believe was not.

On Friday the 20th. of June Mr. Whitebread upon one Sledge with Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Turner and Mr. Gaven upon another Sledge, Mr. Fenwick upon a Sledge by him­self, were drawn from Newgate to Tiburn, Mr. Langhorn is for a time Repreived and promised Pardon, if he will (as tis Reported) discover the Estates of the Jesuites, he was their Lawyer tis certain, my Lord Shaftsbury has been often with him.

In the way they comported themselves seriously and cheerfully, Mr. Gaven had smug'd himself up as if he had been going to a Wedding; when they arrived at Tiburn they each made a Speech, first, all averring their ignorance of any Plott against His Majesty, secondly, pardoning their Accusers, thirdly, hartily p [...]aying for them.

But Mr. Gaven in his Speech made an Act of Contrition which was much liked by all, for he was an excellent Preacher: then they all betook themselves to Meditation, for more then a good quarter, the multitude was great, yet there was a profound silence, and their most Religious comportment has wonderfully allayed the fury of the Peo­ple; when they had ended their Prayers, and the Ropes were about their necks there came an Horseman in full speed from White Hall, crying as he Rode, a Pardon, a Pardon, so with difficulty he made through the Press to the Sheriff, who was under the Gallows to see Execution performed; then was the Pardon read, which expressed, How the King most graciously and out of his inclination to Clemency had granted them their lives, which by Treason they had forfeited, upon condition they would acknowledge the Con­spiracy and lay open what they knew thereof. But they all thanked his Majesty for his inclination of mercy towards them, but as to any Conspiracy they knew of none much less are guilty of any, so they could not accept of any Pardon upon those conditions, after a little Recollection the Cart was driven away, after they were dead they were Quartered, but their Quarters were given to their friends, Sanguis Martyrum sit semen Ecclesiae.

I sent to you an accompt of Mr. Puckerings death, and will tell you what may happen, but I know not if they come to you, you may cover your Letter to me, for Mrs. [...] at my Lady Drummonds in Queen street, London.