CONTAINING 1. A True Relation of the Matter of Fact. 2. Some Remarks on the Circumſtances. 3. A true Copy of the pretended Speech of Evans the Popiſh Prieſt, executed in Glamorganſhire (as it was lately printed by the Papiſts) in Revenge of whoſe Proſecution, this Aſſaſſination is preſumed to have been committed.

With a Comment on the Hypocritical Speech of that dying TRAYTOR.

AFTER the horrid bloody Plot of the Papiſts, diſcovered even as by Miracle, prov'd by various yet fully concurrent and ſatisfactory Evidence, confirm'd by undeniable Circumſtances, as Godfrey's Murther, Coleman's Letters &c. declared by his Majeſty in repeated Proclamations, by ſeveral Parliaments, in reiterated unanimous Votes, manifeſted by Legal Convictions of many of the Traitors, Flight of divers others, and ſubtle Evaſions uſed by that Party to ſhufftle off many more of the moſt conſiderable Conſpirators from Juſtice, it could ſcarce be imagined (eſpecially Right and Power being moſt happily on the ſame ſide) that theſe Cockatrices Eggs ſhould not have been throughly cruſht, when their Neſt was ſo plainly diſcovered; that their traiterous Malice ſhould not have been perfectly diſarm'd, theſe Foxes muzzel'd, as well as unkennel'd, theſe Bulls of Baſhan hamſtrung; that their Religion (forgive me that in Cuſtom I apply that Sacred Name to ſuch a Chaos of Superſtition and Atheiſtical Villany) ſhould not long e're this, have been abominated by every Proteſtant, every true Engliſhman, every real Servant of God, every honeſt Subject to his King.

But ſo it unhappily has happen'd, after all theſe Diſcoveries, theſe ſelf-evident Demonſtrations, ſuch is the Craft and Diligence, the impudence and Artifice of the Popiſh and Be-Jeſuited Party, and ſuch the Eaſineſs, Incredulity or Treachery of ſome that call themſelves Proteſtants, that ſtill theſe curſed Machinations ('tis juſtly fear'd) go on, and thrive, and gather Strength and Encouragement, they have out-brazen'd their apparent Guilt, turn'd the dreadful Conſpiracy into a matter of Ridicule and Merriment, when in vain they had attempted to debauch, corrupt the Kings Evidence (as by diverſe Inſtances was irrefragably prov'd to the Satisfaction of all the World) they next with Libels and Lampoons, with forged Stories, and impudent printed Slanders, endeavoured to repreſent them as Rogues, whom with all their Bribes and their Baits, they could not make ſuch, and to render them contemptible and unworthy of Credit, and herein All the Drolls, and the Witts with wry-mouths, the Bullies and the Hectors, the Tories and the Simpletons, in a word, all the Riff-raff of the Town, the Burthen of our Nation, and the Scandal of our Church moſt readily have joyn'd.

Eſpecially (as their laſt Refuge) they have made it their Buſineſs to fling the Odium upon other people, to embroil Proteſtants with mutual Fears, Miſunderſtandings and Jealouſies, and though even in this too, indulgent Heaven has moſt ſignally in ſeveral Inſtances detected their Deſign, yet ſo far have the Powers of Hell, and Charms of Jeſuitical Imps prevail'd, that not a few weak inconſiderate, though otherwiſe perhaps well-meaning Proteſtants have been inveigled into too good an Opinion of theſe Deſigners, and too hard Thoughts and unjuſt Suſpitions of their Innocent, Loyal, and peaceable Neighbours. This miſchievous work, has of late been chiefly carried on under-ground in Masks, and borrowed Faces, of the many thouſands about this City very lately known to be moſt furious deſperate Papiſts, there is now ſcarce one (forſooth) that will own himſelf a Roman Catholick, No, No, Oaths, Sacraments, nay railing againſt his Holineſs, provided it be with a God-dam-me, and to carry on the Modiſh Health; all ſhall be ſwallow'd and permitted by large Diſpenſations, ſo as ſtill it may help forward the grand Cauſe, and neatly ſet Proteſtants together by the Ears.

In the mean time, theſe new Diſguis'd Sons of the Church of England (whoſe Ruin in truth they principally deſign) palliate Popiſh Treaſons and Murthers, and Create firſt, and then Exaggerate imaginary Fears and Dangers from Proteſtant Diſſenters; But tell us, you pragmatick Make-bates, you Pope-and-Fanatick Villains, you Citt-and-Bumpkin Incendiaries, tell us, if you can, that one Presbyterian, that one Nonconformiſt, who ſince his Majeſties Glorious, Happy, and Gracious Reſtauration (except long ſince a wild Small-coal-man, and a handful of Venner's mad crue, with whom all other Nonconformiſts were ſo far from joyning, that both then, and ever ſince, they deteſted ſuch Rebellious Frenzie) what one Diſſenter, I ſay, beſides, throughout the whole Nation, in now Twenty years peaceable Government, hath acted or preached any thing Trayterous or Rebllious? If you know any ſuch, proſecute them; but till you are able to do that on better Evidence than your Meal-tub Knights of the Poſt, or Squire Crack-fart's ſilly Pictures, and more ſilly Pamphlets. Is it not plain to any that wears Common Senſe about him, that all this is nothing but Romiſh Duſt and Smoak that they would blow into our Eyes? ſo to ſet us a quarrelling blind-fold amongſt our ſelves, that you might more conveniently knock out all our Brains? And then ſhould the Sober Church of England (to you the moſt odious, as being undoubtedly the moſt Glorious in the Reformed World) have been voted as Fanatical and Heretical as any of thoſe whom you now ſo loudly declaim againſt.

The honeſt Reader will excuſe this long (not impertinent) Preamble. Now to the Matter.

At this deplorable Juncture, when the Plot lay half-buried in new-rais'd Duſt, when the King's Witneſſes were publickly (though not allowedly) ſcorn'd and libell'd; when Godfrey's Tragedy was made Matter of Romance, when Gentlemen moſt active to ſerve (nay to ſave) their King, their Religion, and the Liberties and Properties of their Countrey, were repreſented as the moſt odious and dangerous. In this Lethargy God has been pleaſed once again to awaken the Nation, by Infatuating and Diſplaying theſe Sons of Belial in another of their moſt nefarious Attempts: the true Relation whereof (according to our beſt Information) follows.

JOHN ARNOLD Eſquire, a Perſon (as 'tis ſaid) of above fifteen hundred pounds per Annum, and a very worthy Gentleman, being formerly, before the Diſcovery of the preſent damnable Popiſh Plot, one of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the County of Monmouth, and being then active, according to his Oath and Duty, to give information of, and proſecute growing Papiſts in that County. He was (as 'tis ſaid, by certain miſrepreſentations) put out of the Commiſſion a little before the Detection of that Conſpiracy; whereupon coming to London, he was deſirous to underſtand his Offence that might occaſion ſuch his Removal: and upon Enquiry was told, That Edward Coleman (then an Eminent Servant to ſome of the Family of the Duke of York, and ſince juſtly hang'd for Treaſon to murther the King &c.) had offered ſomething to his prejudice; (Innocence is alwayes the Nurſe of Reſolution) therefore Mr. Arnold then repaired to the ſaid Mr. Coleman's Dwelling-houſe, deſiring to ſpeak with his High-and-mighty-ſhip, and know what he had to charge him with, offering to appear to anſwer for any Miſdemeanour before King and Council, or any lawful Judicature. But at that time, that mighty Traytor, buoy'd up with extraordinary Expectations, and full of Damnable Buſineſs, was too Great (forſooth) to be ſpoken with, and all the ſatisfaction he could get was, That he was not at leiſure to anſwer ſuch a Fellow as he was. Which Inſolence to a Gentleman of his worth, it may well be thought, could not but move him to ſome Paſſion, and, amongſt other Repartees, he parted with theſe words, (fatally prophetick to Coleman) Sirrah, I ſhall live to ſee you hanged.

This Accident being already related in Print, we took leave here to repeat it, to ſhew that this Gentleman has long lain under the evil Eye of the Papiſts; whoſe Plot being ſoon after diſcovered, His Majeſty was pleaſed again to put Mr. Arnold into Commiſſion, who vigorouſly diſcharg'd his Duty in ſeveral remarkable Services, as the Diſcovery of the Jeſuits Colledge, Books, &c. at Combe in Herefordſhire, which he, by Order of the Council, cauſed to be burn'd; the ſeizing and proſecuting that Notorious Raſcal Father Lewis the Jeſuit, (that cheated a poor Maid of a conſiderable Sum of money to pray her Father's Soul out of Purgatory.) By theſe and the like faithful Services, he had contracted upon himſelf the further Malice of the Papiſts, who frequently threatned to aſſaſſinate him; particularly one Evans a Jeſuit, gave out that he would Piſtol him, but that bloody Ruffian-prieſt was prevented, by being hang'd ſoon after for Treaſon, at Cardiff in Glamorgan Shire. However, their implacable Spleen ſtill reviv'd and grew more furious, only waiting an Opportunity, which now they thought they had obtained; for ſome Difference happening between Mr. Arnold and one Mr. Herbert another Juſtice of Peace, who 'tis ſaid had been an Encourager inſtead of a Suppreſſer of Papiſts, Mr. Arnold for his ill Practices accuſed him to the King and Council, and ſo came to London with ſeveral Witneſſes to make good the Charge. The Matter being to be hear'd at the Board on Friday the 16th. of this Inſtant April, the ſaid Mr. Arnold was over-night (viz. Thurſday the 15th.) with ſome Perſons of Quality at the Apollo (commonly called the Divel) Tavern near Temple Bar, but being very mindful of his Buſineſs, about ten a Clock took an Opportunity to ſlip from his Company, deſiging to ſtep to his Council, Mr. Phillips, at his Houſe in little Lincolns-Inn Fields, and ſo return to them. As he went forth he call'd to his Servants (for he had two men that attended him) to follow him, but he going out ſo haſtily and privately without the Company's breaking up, they did not hear not perceive him, but in their Stead, certain Bloody Aſſaſſinates (who 'tis thought had long dogg'd him up and down, as their Brethren did Juſtice Godfrey) follow'd him at the Heels (he thinking they had been his own men) up Bell-yard to the end of Jackan-apos Lane, which ſuppoſing to be a fit place for their barbarous Deſigns, they there fell upon him, being three in number, one firſt with a Cudgel, ſtriking him with all his Force behind on the Calves of the Leggs, which making him ſtagger, another at the ſame Inſtant flung a Cloak over his Head, and ſo muffled him, that he might not cry out, they then having thrown him down, made many Paſſes at his Body with their Swords or Daggers, but not above ſeaven took place on him, by reaſon of a Quilted Waſtcoat that he wore, made of ſtiff Whale-bone; ſo that the Murderers perceiving their Weapons would not enter to kill him dead, ſaid one to another, Dam the Dog he wears Armour, let's cut his Throat, which accordingly they did giving him ſeveral diſmal Gaſhes on each ſide, but as Providence ordered it, miſs'd his Windpipe, they likewiſe ſtampt upon his Breaſt, and being afraid upon the opening of a Door hard by, left him as they thought, quite diſpatcht, one of them ſaying as he went from him, Dam me ye Dog, now pray for the Soul of Captain Evans. This Evans was that Popiſh Prieſt we mentioned before, who went by the Name of Captain, (and ſome ſay, had ſome time ſince a Commiſſion) theſe Aſſaſſinates were ſo eager to do the work, that it ſeems in the Dark they wounded one another, for Mr. Arnold remembers one of them cry'd, God Dam me, ye have wounded me in the Leg.

Mr. Arnold being left in this lamentable mangled Condition, and diſintangled from the Cloak, cry'd out Murther, and was ſoon taken up and carryed home to his Lodgings at the Poſt-houſe in Fleet-ſtreet, where Chyrurgions being preſently provided, beſides the Wounds in his Throat, he was found to have received ſix more, viz. one in the Head, two in the Arm, two in the Breaſt, and one on the ſide, as alſo his Breaſt lamentably bruis'd, no leſs dangerous than any of them, but yet by the Mercy of God he is in an hopeful way to be recovered, and ſurvive a Living Monument of Popiſh bloody Baſeneſs, and treacherous Cruelty.

His Majeſty in Council next Morning being inform'd hereof upon Oath, there was immediately made and printed an Order of the Board, for Search and all Means to be uſed to diſcover and apprehend the Aſſaſſinates and thoſe that ſet them on, and graciouſly promiſing 100 l. Reward to any that diſcover or take any one of them, and the like Reward and Pardon to any of them that ſhould diſcover the Reſt. At the ſame time, the Matter againſt Mr. Herbert being conſidered, though Mr. Arnold was thus diſabled to attend, yet by Witneſſes ſuch Miſdemeanours were made out, that Herbert was committed to Newgate.

Scene 1. From this diſmal Scene, the ſecond part of Godfrey's Tragedy, we may obſerve the bloody Genius of Papiſts, their malicious revengeful Nature, and withal their Inſolence, that they dare thus attempt our Magiſtrates, and hope thereby to affrighten them from their Duty. For that it was done by that Party there is no room to doubt, as well becauſe of their former Menaces, as eſpecially from the words they uſed about Evans; nay, indeed from their very Principles, which allow Murther of Hereticks, when 'tis for the Intereſt of their Catholick Cauſe. And indeed how can we expect they ſhould be merciful to our Bodies, whoſe Souls they have already doom'd to endleſs Torments, holding it impoſſible that ever one of us ſhall be ſav'd. Let me (ſaith one of their moſt famous Authors) be damn'd with Lucifer to Eternity, if ever any Proteſtant ſee the Face of God, or enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Nay, the Jeſuits publickly teach, That 'tis lawful to Aſſaſſinate any man (though a Brother-Catholick) that ſhall but give one a Box o'th' Ear, or ſhall impair ones Credit, &c. much more they may butcher an Heretick that endeavours to prevent or puniſh their Treaſons, or bring their Holy Fathers to Juſtice. This is ſo far from being Criminal, that 'tis Meritorious.

Secondly, Again, we ought here with thankful hearts to take notice of the ſignal Series of Gracious Providence, that ever ſince the firſt Diſcovery of this Plot, whenever it has ſeemed to be almoſt ſtifled, and the Evidence moſt diſcouraged by the power and policy of the Adverſaries; then alwayes hath infinite Wiſdom brought ſomething to light, or infatuated them into ſome horrid Act, which plainly has confirmed the Teſtimony of the Witneſſes, and the Wickedneſs of this bloody Babyloniſh Faction.

Thirdly, But now, As to this Reverend Father Evans, to whoſe revengeful Manes this Worthy Gentleman was to have been ſacrific'd; He was, 'tis well known, upon a fair Tryal, Condemned and Executed for Treaſon: And what a Meek, Peaceable, Holy, Humble Blade he was, you may partly gueſs, by his taking upon him to be of the Church-militant, with the Title of a Captain, living as a Bully, and his Mouth perpetually overflowing with Oaths and Curſes. But eſpecially you may meaſure his extraordinary Piety by his frequent threatnings to Piſtol this very Gentleman, as is fully proved upon Oath. Yet, after all this, that you may ſee how innocent a Lamb this ſwaggering Bell-weather is repreſented to have been at his Death, I ſhall take leave to print verbatim one of their Lying, Seducing Papers, as it was (with multitudes of the like ſtamp) printed for, or at leaſt openly ſold by Turner the Popiſh Bookſeller in Holborn, as follows.