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Meanwhile the wildest sensation was caused by the revelations of this 〃hellish plot and attempt to murder the king。〃 The public mind； long filled with hatred of papacy； was now inflamed to a degree of fury which could only be quenched by the blood of many victims。 To the general sensation which obtained； a new terror was promptly added by the occurrence of a supposed horrible and mysterious murder。
On the evening of Saturday； the 12th of October； Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was missing from his home in the parish of St。 Martin's。 The worthy magistrate was an easy going bachelor of portly appearance； much given to quote legal opinions in his discourse； and to assert the majesty of the law as represented in his person。 He was alike respected for his zeal by the protestants； and esteemed for his lenity by the catholics。 Bishop Burnet records the worthy knight 〃was not apt to search for priests or mass…houses；〃 and Archdeacon Eachard affirms 〃he was well known to be a favourer rather than a prosecutor of the papists。〃 Accordingly； his disappearance at first begot no evil suspicions； but as he did not return on Monday； his servants became alarmed at the absence of a master whose regularity was proverbial。 His brothers were of opinion he was in debt； and sought escape from his creditors； whilst his friends； after their kind； were ready to name certain houses of doubtful repute in which they were certain he had taken temporary lodgings。 On his papers being examined； it was found he had set his affairs in order； paid all his debts； and destroyed a quantity of his letters and documents。 It was then remembered he had been occasionally susceptible to melancholiaa disease he inherited from his father； who had perished by his own hand。 It was noted some days before that on which he was missed； he had appeared listless and depressed。 It was known the imprisonment of his friend Coleman had weighed heavily on his spirits。 A terrible fear now taking possession of his relatives and friends； thorough search was made for him； which proved vain until the Thursday following his disappearance； when he was accidentally discovered lying in a ditch； a cloth knotted round his neck； and a sword passed through his body； 〃at or near a place called Primrose Hill； in the midway between London and Hampstead。〃
If he had been murdered； no motive appeared to account for the deed； neither robbery nor revenge could have prompted it。 His rings and money； gloves and cane； were found on and near his body； and it was known he had lived in peace with all men。 Nor did an inquest lasting two days throw any light upon the mystery。 If it were proved he had died by his own hand； the law of that day would not permit his brothers to inherit his property； which was found to be considerable。 It was therefore their interest to ignore the fact that strangulation pointed to FELO DE SE； and to assume he had been murdered。 Accordingly they prohibited the surgeons from opening the body； lest examination should falsify conclusions at which they desired to arrive。 A verdict was ultimately returned 〃that he was murdered by certain persons unknown to the jurors； and that his death proceeded from suffocation and strangling by a certain piece of linen cloth of no value。〃
Occurring at such a moment； his death was at once attributed to the papists； who； it was said； being incensed that the magistrate had received the sworn testimonies of Oates； had sought this bloody revenge。 Fear now succeeded bewilderment； desires of vengeance sprang from depths of horror。 For two days the mangled remains of the poor knight were exposed to public view； 〃and all that saw them went away inflamed。〃 They were then interred with all the pomp and state befitting one who had fallen a victim to catholicism； a martyr to protestantism。 The funeral procession； which took its sad way through the principal thoroughfares from Bridewell to St。 Martin's…in…the…Fields； numbered seventy…two divines； and over twelve hundred persons of quality and consideration。 Arriving at the church； Dr。 Lloyd； a clergyman remarkable for his fine abhorrence of papists； ascended the pulpit； where； protected by two men of great height and strength； he delivered a； discourse； pointing to the conclusion that Sir Edmondbury Godfrey had been sacrificed to the catholic conspiracy； and instigating his hearers to seek revenge。 Sir Roger North tells us the crowd in and about the church was prodigious； 〃and so heated； that anything called papist； were it cat or dog； had probably gone to pieces in a moment。 The catholics all kept close in their houses and lodgings； thinking it a good composition to be safe there。〃
The whole city was terror…stricken。 〃Men's spirits were so sharpened；〃 says Burnet； 〃that it was looked on as a very great happiness that the people did not vent their fury upon the papists about the town。〃 Tonge and Oates went abroad protected by body guards； arresting hundreds of catholics； cannon were mounted around Whitehall and St。 James's； patrols paraded the streets by day and night； the trained bands were ready to fall in at a moment's notice； preparations were made for barricading the principal thoroughfares； the city gates were kept closed so that admission could be only had through the wickets； and the Houses of Parliament demanded a guard should keep watch on the vaults over which they sat； lest imitators of Guy Fawkes might blow them to pieces。 Moreover； it was not alone the safety of the multitude； but the protection of the individual which was sought to be secured。 In the dark confusion which general terror produced； each man felt he might be singled out as the next victim of this diabolical plot； and therefore devised means to guard his life from the hands of murderous papists。 North； in his 〃Examen；〃 speaking of this period； tells us： 〃There was much recommendation of silk armour； and the prudence of being provided with it against the time the Protestants were to be massacred。 And； accordingly； there were abundance of those silken back； breast； and headpots made and sold； that were pretended to be pistol proof； in which any man dressed up was as safe as in a house； for it was impossible anyone could go to strike him for laughing； so ridiculous was the figure； as they say； of hogs in armour。 This was the armour of defence； but our sparks were not altogether so tame as to carry their provision no further； for truly they intended to be assailants upon fair occasion； and had for that end recommended also to them a certain pocket weapon； which for its design and efficacy had the honour to be called a protestant flail。 It was for street and crowd work； and the engine lurking perdue in a coat pocket； might readily sally out to execution； and so； by clearing a great hall； or piazza or so； carry an election by a choice of polling called knocking down。 The handle resembled a farrier's blood stick； and the fall was joined to the end by a strong nervous ligature； that in its swing fell just short of the hand； and was made of LIGNUM VITAE； or rather； as the poet termed it； MORTIS。〃
One day； whilst the town was in this state of consternation； Tonge sent for Dr。 Burnet； who hastened to visit him in the a