按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ed him in the deed； he should receive； not only the sum mentioned； but likewise a free pardon； and such protection for his security as he could in reason propose。 Two days after this had been made public； a man named William Bedlow put himself in communication with Sir William Coventry； Secretary of State； declaring he had a certain knowledge of the murder in question。
Archdeacon Eachard tells us this man 〃was one of a base birth and worse manners； who from a poor foot…boy and runner of errands； for a while got into a livery in the Lord Bellasis's family； and having for his villainies suffered hardships and want in many prisons in England； he afterwards turned a kind of post or letter carrier for those who thought fit to employ him beyond sea。 By these means he got the names and habitations of men of quality； their relations； correspondents； and interests； and upon this bottom； with a daring boldness； and a； dexterous turn of fancy and address； he put himself into the world。 He was skilful in all the arts and methods of cheating； but his masterpiece was his personating men of quality； getting credit for watches； coats； and horses； borrowing money； bilking vintners and tradesmen； lying and romancing to the degree of imposing upon any man of good nature。 He lived like a wild Arab upon prey； and whether he was in Flanders； France； Spain； or England； he never failed in leaving the name of a notorious cheat and impostor behind him。〃
On the 7th of November； Bedlow was brought before the king； and examined by two Secretaries of State。 Here he made the extraordinary declaration that he had seen the body of the murdered magistrate lying at Somerset Housethen the residence of the queen； that two Jesuits； named La Faire and Walsh； told him they； with the assistance of an attendant in the queen's chapel； had smothered Sir Edmondbury Godfrey between two pillows； that he had been offered two thousand guineas if he would safely remove the body； which on his refusal was carried away； a couple of nights after the murder； by three persons unknown to him； who were servants of the queen's household。 Hearing this statement； Sir William Coventry asked him if he knew anything of the popish plot； when he affirmed on oath he was entirely ignorant regarding it； he likewise swore he knew no such man as Titus Oates。
That night he was lodged in Whitehall； in company with Tonge and Oates； and next morning appeared before the House of Lords； when it was evident his memory had wonderfully improved since the previous day。 His story now assumed a more concise form。 In the beginning of October； he stated； he had been offered the sum of four thousand pounds； to be paid by Lord Bellasis； provided he murdered a man whose name was withheld from him； This he refused。 He was then asked to make the acquaintance and watch the movements of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey。 With this he complied。 Soon after dusk on the 12th of October； the magistrate had been dragged into the court of Somerset House by the Jesuits； and asked if he would send for the documents to which Oates had sworn。 On his refusal he had been smothered with a piece of linen cloth； the story of suffocation by pillows； being at variance with the medical evidence； was now abandoned。 One of the Jesuits； La Faire； had asked Bedlow to call at Somerset House that night at nine o'clock； and on presenting himself； he was conducted through a gloomy passage into a spacious and sombre room； where a group of figures stood round a body lying on the floor。 Advancing to these； La Faire turned the light of a lantern he carried on the face of the prostrate man； when Bedlow recognised Sir Edmondbury Godfrey。 He was then offered two thousand guineas if he would remove the body； which was allowed to remain there three days。 This he promised to accomplish； but afterwards； his conscience reproving him； he resolved to avoid the assassins； and rather than accept the sum proffered； he had preferred discovering the villainy to the Government。
This improbable story obtained no credit with the king； nor indeed with those whose minds were free from prejudice。 〃His majesty；〃 writes Sir John Reresby； 〃told me Bedlow was a rogue； and that he was satisfied he had given false evidence concerning the death of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey。〃 Many circumstances regarding the narrator and his story showed the viciousness of the one and the falsity of the other。 The authority just mentioned states； when Bedlow 〃was taxed with having cheated a great many merchants abroad； and gentlemen at home； by personating my Lord Gerard and other men of quality； and by divers other cheats； he made it an argument to be more credited in this matter； saying nobody but a rogue could be employed in such designs。〃 Concerning the murder； it chanced the king had been at Somerset House visiting the queen； at the time when； according to Bedlow； the deed had been committed。 His majesty had been attended by a company of guards； and sentries had been placed at every door； yet not one of them had witnessed a scuffle； or heard a noise。 Moreover； on the king sending Bedlow to Somerset House； that he might indicate the apartment in which the magistrate's remains had lain three days； he pointed out a room where the footman waited； and through which the queen's meals were daily carried。
But the dishonesty of his character and falsity of his statements by no means prevented the majority of his hearers from believing； or pretending to believe； his statements； and therefore； encouraged by the ready reception they met； he ventured to make fresh and startling revelations。 Heedless of the oath he had taken on the first day of his examination； regarding his ignorance of the popish plot； he now asserted he was well acquainted with all its details。 For some four years he had been in the secret employment of the wicked Jesuits； and knew they intended to stab and poison his majesty； establish catholicity in England； and make the pope king。 So far； indeed； had their evil machinations been planned； that several popish peers already held commissions for posts they expected to fill in the future。 Lord Bellasis and Lord Powis were appointed commanders of the forces in the north and south； whilst Lord Arundel of Wardour had permission to grant such positions as he pleased。 Then the Dukes of Buckingham； Ormond； and Monmouth； with Lords Shaftesbury and Ossory； together with many others； were to be murdered by forty thousand papists； who were ready to rise up all over the country at a moment's notice。 〃Nor was there；〃 he added； 〃a Roman Catholic of any quality or credit but was acquainted with these designs and had received the sacrament from their father confessors to be secret in carrying it out。〃
It by no means pleased Oates that Bedlow should surpass him in his knowledge of this hellish plot。 Therefore； that he might not lose in repute as an informer； he now declared he was also aware of the commissions held by popish peers。 He； however； assigned them in a different order。 Arundel was to be made chancellor； Powis； treasurer； Bellasis general of the army； Petre； lieutenant…general； Ratcliffe； major…general； Stafford； paymaster…general； and Langhorn； advocate…genera