For printing this book, a prosecution was instituted against Richard Baldwin of the parish of St. Sepulchre in London. The information charges that the defendant, being a malicious and a seditious man, and contriving and maliciously intending to disturb the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom, and to excite, move, and procure discord between the king and his subjects, and to bring into hatred and contempt the king's government and the due course of law of this kingdom, did, on the twentieth day of October in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, in the parish of St. Sepulchre aforesaid, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, seditiously, and scandalously cause to be printed, sold and published, a certain false, malicious, scandalous and seditious libel, intituled No Protestant Plot, containing among other things as follows:—The King is of too much goodness, and a Prince of Greater Wisdom and more unstained justice, than that any of his subjects should apprehend or fear anything illegal from him while he acts free and unconstrained; but how far his Ministers, especially those who have been exasperated by the proceedings of Parliaments, may render his Authority a cloak to their malice, and make the pretence of his preservation and safety subservient to their revenge, is what we are jealous of. And tho' we would fain persuade ourselves that they are persons of more honour and integrity than to make reprisals upon the Lives of Peers for the injury which they suppose was done them; yet the imprisoning my Lord Shaftsbury upon the credit of Witnesses whose testimony they refused to believe in the case of my Lord Stafford, doth not a little surprize the thinking part of mankind. Now nothing can be more disservicable to his Majesty, or lessening to the honour of his Government, than to have his Authority abused to countenance a personal quarrel, and his Laws applied to revenge a private offence. And in another part as follows:—Nor can men persuade themselves to believe, but that the Imprisonment of my Lord Shaftsbury is built upon something which will not abide the Test, when they consider the way and method according to which he hath been all along treated. Before either Coleman or the Jesuits were sent to prison, they were allowed both to know and see the persons who had deposed against them. And it is generally believed, that every Englishman may demand it as his right. And therefore, the refusing it to my Lord Shaftsbury, does seem to intimate either that the Witnesses are not of a credit sufficient to support the confinement of so great a Peer, or else that it was not convenient to trust their carriage in this matter, as well as the general course of their lives, to an early and exact scrutiny. But as if this were not enough to create a suspition of some undue and indirect dealing in this affair, the refusing to administer an oath to those that were ready to swear to Indictments of Subornation against the Witnesses, doth exceedingly heighten all men's jealousies. For not to debate about the legality or illegality of this procedure, being obliged till this business do either before this or a higher judicature come under a review, to acquiesce silently in the Judgement of the Court; I shall only say: That as it is the first president of this kind, so the reducing it into common practice, would prove a general obstruction of the justice of the Law. And to make the receiving of Indictments depend upon the pleasure of the Attorney General were to settle on him a more Arbitrary Power than the Laws of England have placed in the King himself. And in another part as follows:—And we are the more inclined to believe this whole Conspiracy wherein the Earl of Shaftsbury and other Protestants are said to be engaged against the King and the Government, is only a malicious piece of revenge upon the zealous patriots of our Religion; by considering that Justice Warcup, and Mr. David Fitzgerald, are employed to conduct and manage the detection and discovery of it.[237]

A copy of the pamphlet is preserved in the British Museum Library. It is in quarto and contains 37 pages.

This is a set of verses satirizing the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs, apparently very similar to those printed on p. 216, for which Jane Curtis was prosecuted.

For publishing them a prosecution was instituted against John Howe, of the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, bookseller.

The information charges that the defendant, contriving and maliciously intending to bring into hatred and contempt Sir William Scroggs, Lord Chief Justice, in those things which touch him and his judicial office and the King's authority, did, on the twenty-fourth day of May, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, within the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill aforesaid, get into his hands a certain false, malicious, infamous, scandalous, and odious libel intituled A Satire, in which libel is contained among other things as follows:—The Judge is a base butcher's sonne (meaning the Lord Chief Justice.) Most sly of nocent blood. But for ten thousand pound has done The Pope a deal of good. 'Twas he that villaine Wakeman cleared, Who was to have poysened the King, As plaine to all but twelve appeared, For which he deserves to swing. (meaning again the Lord Chief Justice.) And that the said John Howe, knowing the aforesaid libel to be a scandalous and infamous libel, did on the said twenty-fourth day of May, publish and expose to sale the same libel, to the great scandal and contempt of the said Lord Chief Justice and the King's authority.[238]

There was also a prosecution against one Enoch Procer for publishing the same.[239]

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against Janeway the printer.

The information charges that the defendant described as of London, yeoman, being a pernicious and seditious man, contriving and maliciously intending to disturb the peace and tranquillity of this kingdom, and to create, move, and excite discord between the king and his subjects, and to bring the king's government into contempt, did falsely, maliciously, and seditiously, with intent to persuade and induce the king's subjects to believe that this kingdom of England was governed by the advice of the king of France, and that the secrets of the government of this kingdom were notified to the king of France, and that to fulfil his most wicked intentions, on the twentieth day of October in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, in the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, London, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, scandalously, and seditiously cause to be printed, sold, and published a certain, false, scandalous, and defamatory libel, intituled The Impartial Protestant Mercury, containing among other things as follows:—There has been a fresh rumour of a Parliament like to be called to meet on the twenty-eighth of the next month, but we cannot find any foundation for that report, more than that a Person of Quality lately arrived from France relates, that he was told of such a thing at Paris.[240]

On April 5, 1682, Janeway was called before the Council for printing and publishing false and seditious news, and he was thereupon ordered to give good security, to appear personally at the King's Bench Bar the first day of the next term, to answer such matters as should be exhibited against him on his majesty's behalf, and in the mean time to be of good behaviour; and he accordingly entered into recognizances for that purpose.[241]

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against Nathaniel Crouch.

The information charges that the defendant, who is described as of the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, London, gentleman, being a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending to incite and move discord and scandal between the king and his people, and the magnates of this kingdom, did on the twelfth day of March, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, publish and cause to be published a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel entituled The Protestant Domestick Intelligence; or, News both from City and Country, containing (among other things) as follows:—Yesterday we are informed that Mrs. Le-Mair, alias Loveland, the mother of Philip Le-Mair was taken into custody, and that she has declared there is a Person of Honour, as well as one of the Lords in the Tower, concerned with her in the conspiracy against the Life of the Duke of Buckingham.[242]

For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against James Astwood, of the parish of St. Christopher, London, printer.

The information charges that the defendant, being a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending to incite and move discord and scandal between the king and his people and the magnates of this kingdom, did on the thirtieth day of March, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Christopher, London, print and cause to be printed, a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel intituled Mercurius Civicus: or, a True Account of affairs both foreign and Domestick, containing (among other things) as follows:—It is advised from the several places where the Lord Chief Justice North has been in circuit, that his Lordship hath been pleased to declare that the Act of Parliament for the Conviction of Popish Recusants ought to be put in force against none but Papists. And though several Protestants had been indicted hereon, he gave it as his Opinion. That the intention of that Act was purely to suppress Popery, and so directed the Jury not to find the Bill against Protestants as Popish Recusants but as Protestant Dissenters, which hath given a great deal of satisfaction to people, several protestants having been severely dealt withall by reason of that Act, which point the Parliament were in great consultation about rectifying.[243]

A pamphlet of four pages; a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library. For its publication David Mallett, of the parish of St. Martin, Ludgate, printer, was prosecuted.

The information charges that the defendant published the same with the intent to create discord and scandal between the king and his people and the magnates of this kingdom; but it does not set out any of the alleged objectionable passages as is usually done.

A copy of this speech is preserved in the Library of the British Museum. It is in folio and contains four pages.

For publishing the same, a prosecution was instituted against John Darby, bookseller, of the parish of St. Bartholomew the Great, London.

The information charges that the defendant being a pernicious and seditious man, and contriving and practising, and falsely, and maliciously, and wickedly and seditiously intending to disturb the peace of the king and the common tranquillity of this kingdom, and to weaken and bring into discredit and bad repute the laws and customs of this kingdom, and the ancient government and the common justice thereof, and to excite and procure discords and seditions between the king and his subjects, also to bring into discredit the trial and sentence of Lord William Russell, did, on the fourteenth day of August in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Bartholomew aforesaid, falsely, unlawfully, unjustly, wickedly, seditiously, maliciously, and scandalously, make, compose, and print and sell, utter, and publish a certain false, seditious, malicious, and scandalous libel intituled The speech of the late Lord Russell to the Sheriffs, together with the paper delivered by him to them at the place of execution, containing, among other things, these false, malicious, seditious and scandalous sentences, viz., I wish with all my soul all our unhappy Differences were removed, and that all sincere Protestants would so far consider the danger of Popery, as to lay aside their Heats, and agree against the Common Enemy; and that the Churchmen would be less severe, and the Dissenters less scrupulous; For I think Bitterness and Persecution are at all times bad, but much more now. For Popery, I look on it as an Idolatrous and Bloody Religion, and therefore thought myself bound, in my Station, to do all I could against it. And by that, I foresaw I should procure such great Enemies to myself, and so powerful ones, that I have been now for some time expecting the worst. And blessed be God, I saw by the Axe, and not by the Fiery Tryal, And in another part, these other false, seditious, scandalous and defamatory sentences, viz., I did believe and do still, that Popery is breaking in upon the Nation; and that those who advance it, will stop at nothing, to carry on their Design: I am heartily sorry that so many Protestants give their helping hand to it. And in another place are contained these other false, scandalous, seditious and defamatory sentences, following, I cannot but give some touch about the Bill of Exclusion, and shew the Reasons of my appearing in that Business; which in short is this: That I thought the Nation was in such danger of Popery, and that the Expectation of a Popish Successor (as I have said in Parliament) put the King's life likewise in such danger, that I saw no way so effectual to secure both as such a Bill. As to the limitations which were proposed, if they were sincerely offered, and had pass'd into a Law, the Duke then would have been excluded from the Power of a King, and the Government quite altered, and little more than the Name of a King left. So I could not see either Sin or Fault in the one, when all People were willing to admit of t'other; but thought it better to have a King with his Prerogative, and the Nation easy and safe under him, than a King without it, which must have bred perpetual jealousies, and a Continual Struggle. All this I say, only to justify myself, and not to inflame others; Though I cannot but think my Earnestness in that matter has had no small Influence in my present Sufferings. And in another place are contained these other false, scandalous, and seditious sentences following:—I pray God lay not this to the charge, neither of the King's Counsel, nor Judges, nor Sheriffs, nor Jury: And for the Witnesses, I pity them, and wish them well. I shall not reckon up the Particulars wherein they did me wrong: I had rather their own Consciences should do that, to which, and the Mercies of God I leave them. And in another place are contained these other false, malicious, scandalous and seditious sentences following:—From the Time of chusing Sheriffs, I concluded the Heat in that Matter would produce something of this kind; and I am not much surprised to find it fall upon me. And I wish what is done to me, may put a stop, and satiate some Peoples' Revenge, and that no more innocent Blood be shed, for I must, and do still look upon mine as such, since I know I was guilty of no Treason; and therefore I would not betray my Innocence by Flight.

On November 20th, 1683, Darby was tried, and found guilty, and on February 1, 1683/4 he was brought to the Court of King's Bench to receive judgment, which, he humbly submitting himself to the Court, and begging pardon, with a promise never to commit the like offence, the Court ordered to be, That he should pay 20 marks for a fine to the king, and find securities for good behaviour for twelve months, and that till this be paid and done, he should be committed to prison.[244]

A single sheet in folio printed on both sides. A copy is preserved in the British Museum Library.

Langley Curtis, the bookseller, was prosecuted for publishing this sheet. The indictment charges that the defendant, contriving and intending to disturb the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom, and to bring the king into the greatest hatred, contempt, and infamy with all his subjects; and to cause, incite, and procure divers differences and false rumours concerning the pretended ghost of Lord William Russell, lately attainted and executed for high treason, did, on the twelfth day of October in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Bride aforesaid, unlawfully, seditiously, and maliciously print and publish, and cause to be printed and published, a certain feigned, false, seditious, and scandalous libel of and concerning the pretended ghost aforesaid, intituled The Night Walker of Bloomsbury, containing these false, feigned, and scandalous sentences following, viz., Ralph: D'ye hear the newes. Will. What newes, &c., &c., to Caball of bigotted Papists. And in another part as follows,—Will. In this Meremaid's attire, &c., &c., to quickly changed the colour of his ghostly habit.

Upon this indictment Curtis was tried on February 14, 1683/4, found guilty, and on April 21, 1684, sentenced to stand in and upon the Pillory in Bloomsbury Market between the hours of eleven and one o'clock, with a paper on his head denoting his offence in large letters, and at the same time the libel was to be burned by the Common Hangman. He was also sentenced to pay a fine of £500, to be committed to the Marshalsea until payment, and to find security for good behaviour during life.

The following is a complete copy of this publication:—[245]

THE NIGHT WALKER OF BLOOMSBURY:

Being the Result of several late Consultations between a Vintner, Judge Tallow-chandler, a Brace of Fishmongers, and a Printer, &c. In a Dialogue between Ralph and Will.

Entred according to Order.

Ralph. D'ye hear the News?

Will. What News?

Ralph. Why, they say my Lord Russel walks.

Will. And do you believe it?

Ralph. Why not? may not Lords walk as well as other people?

Will. That's not the business—but I perceive you have heard but a piece of the Story—you have not heard how the Ghost came to be rais'd nor how he was laid.

Ralph. Rais'd and Laid!—why then I warrant you take it to be nothing but a piece of Imposture.

Will. Nothing more certain,—a meer silly, idle, foppish contrivance of a Cabal of bigotted Papists.

Ralph. I must confess a Bigotted Papist is a very sottish sort of Animal.—But what did this deep design drive at?

Will. Why, Sir, a certain Vintner not far from Southampton Square, a well-wisher, you may be sure, to any Religion he could get by, had a mind to draw custome to his empty House—For he had a vast prospect of gain from the success of the Action,—For, quo he to himself, the people will cry, whether shall we go? Go! says another, we'l go to the Hobgoblin that counterfeited the Lord Russel's Ghost—for, thought he, everybody will be glad to see a Hobgoblin.

Ralph. Puh—this is some invention of yours to put a trick upon the poor Papists.

Will. An Invention of mine! Tis all about the Town—and besides, there is nothing more common among the Papists than to counterfeit Spirits and Ghosts—I find you never read the Story of the four Monks of Bearn in Switzerland, that were hang'd for counterfeiting the Virgin Mary; nor of the Country Curate that lay with his Neece in the shape of St. Barbara. But the Fryer had not so good luck: For he living in a young widow's House, would fain have frighted the young Widow into his Lascivious Embraces—and to that purpose haunted her chamber every Night in a Winding Sheet: But she, being a Woman of mettle, hid a Friend of hers privately in her chamber, that gave the Spirit such a severe Cudgel-correction, as made him quickly beg Quarter for his bruised Bones.

Ralph. But all this while, where was the Profundity of the design?

Will. The profundity of the Design was to put the Lord Russel's Speech upon Dr. Burnett—And of this they were resolv'd to have an acknowledgment out of the Lord Russel's own Mouth.

Ralph. That was hard to do, when his Head was cut off.

Will. Oh—but though the Head of his body was cut off, the Head of his Ghost was still on.—However, tho' it be not to be deny'd, that a Spirit without a Head has a very brisk motion, yet the Committee were not so cunning as to know how to bring his Ghost out of Buckinghamshire into Bloomsbury Square—and therefore another expedient was to be found out.—The Committee was extreamly puzl'd to find out this Expedient, till the Vintner, inspir'd no doubt with his own Pipes and Tierces, had it presently in his Pate.—Quo he Ladies and Gentlemen, why may not I act a Ghost, as well as Matt. Medbourn?

Ralph. Frolick for frolick now, it would be a very good humour to Indict this Vintner upon the Statute of 21 Jacob, 26, for endeavouring to personate the Lord Russel's Ghost, on purpose to procure an acknowledgment contrary to his will and consent.

Will. Faith, Sir, the very action itself procur'd him punishment enough, to be well drub'd, and two such lovely forehead marks of Knave and Fool, that Ten Fountains, with all the Soap in the City, will never wash off.

Ralph. Pardon me, Sir, I have a greater opinion of the Vintner, and that he acted what he did in the imitation of Theseus and Eneas, who both went to visit Pluto's Dominions; but this same Vintner undertook to be even a tormented Inhabitant of the Lower Shades himself, to advance the Popish Interest, which was much a more daring deed then that of Theseus. The Vintner had Listed himself in Hell, which Theseus never did.

Will. Ay—but Theseus was Theseus; Theseus kicked Proserpina's Dog before her Face, in her own Dining-Room: But this Bugbear of a Vintner suffer'd himself to be thrash'd like any mortal Coward, and yet the Fool had not the wit to vanish.—They say, had the Earth yielded never so little, the first blow the Beadle hit, had struck him down to the place from whence he pretended to come.

Ralph. But can you tell who hatched this Chicken of a Design?

Will. Politick Heads, Sir, Politick Heads,—very Politick Heads—and of both Sexes too I assure ye.

Ralph. I must confess I admire neither of their ingenuities; and as for the Women, I find 'em much more famous for the crafty carrying on a Love intrigue, or concealing their private enjoyments, then in managing Hobgoblin Plots.

Will. Sir, I do tell ye, this Committee consisted of several Persons, Male and Female—Imprimis, The Man of the House, and his Wife, chief Presidences of the Council. In the next place, two Fishmongers in Bloomsbury, if you hunt after the name of the one, you may easily find it: the other a most rude and ungraceful acknowledger of the Lord Russel's former favours, as who had all along serv'd his Table from his own Shop; his Grandfather seems to have bin the Son of Tomlins.

Ralph. These Fishmongers, Sir, were notably drawn into this Conspiracy—twas emblematical—For as great undertakings require great silence, so none more likely then Fishmongers to bear the Proverb always in mind, As mute as a Fish.

Will. The next was a Tallow-chandler, who, tho' he live by the Night, takes his name from Noon-Day.

Ralph. Why that was it that spoil'd the whole Plot, to engage a Tallow-chandler in deeds of Darkness.

Will. Oh, Sir, but he was to have been a Witness—and none so fit to be witness as a man of Light—besides, Sir, he was to attend the Hobgoblin, and none so fit as a Tallow Chandler to hold a Candle to the Devil. But observe how the Tallow Chandler was match'd; for the other witness was to be a Papistical Printer in the Neighbourhood.

Ralph. There y'are right again—for if the Truth should chance to slip out of the Chandler's memory, the Printer had always a Register ready to refresh it.

Will. By what I hear, theres no such need of rubbing up the Tallow-chandler's memory. A my word Sir, y'are got into pleasant company—Here's a Vintner acts the Devil—and a Tallow-chandler acts a Judge—and Judges, Sir, are no fools to have their memories rub'd.

Ralph. Who the Devil made the Tallow-chandler a Judge?

Will. Wine and Fat Venson, Sir, at the Crown-Tavern, in Bloomsbury; For there it was that the Tallow-chandler a Witty, Jocose, Droll of a Tallow-chandler, finding there was something to be done to gratify the Company (for it was at a public Venson-Feast) took upon him the Dignity of the Coife, and causing Mr. Hamden to be arraign'd before him, Mercilesly condemn'd him to be hang'd.

Ralph. What had the Tallow-chandler to do with Mr. Hamden.—Surely he is to stand or fall by another sort of Judicature then six ith Pound.

Will. Oh, Sir, 'twas done to please a brace of Reverend Justices that were Stewards of the Feast—and such frolicks as these, Lord Sir, you cannot imagin how they digest Venson, Pasty Pudding Crust—There are some people so hot, that you would admire they do not melt their Grease, and get the Scratches with Galloping after such fancies as these.

Ralph. And yet when this Tallow-chandler serv'd Mr. Hamden with Candles, he did not scruple to take his Money, notwithstanding he might not then be of his severe Judges present opinion: And therefore there is some hope yet left, that Mr. Hamden may sweeten up his Judge into a Reprieve, upon a promise of laying in his Winter store out of Bloomsbury.

Will. There was an Apothecary too, whose spleen was extreamly tickl'd at the conceit of their design. Repute makes him a person of a bulky stature, famous for the beauty of his Wainscot Lady, and the wit of his Son, whom he teaches to curse the D. of M.

Ralph. Why truly, this Pothecary is highly to be applauded for his Loyalty: for to shew the Exquisiteness of his Allegiance, he sends his child to the Devil to confirm it.

Will. There were several others that met at two or three of these consults, that have open'd their Purses to save their Reputation.

Ralph. I am not apt to believe that people who concerned themselves with such a ridiculous Sham as this, had much Reputation to lose; and therefore their Peter-Pence were ill bestow'd. The Proverb is, Discover, and shame the Devil.

Will. That never could be better don then by the Dress with which they disguis'd him: For certainly all the Fools and Zanies in Bartholomew-Fair were never so quaintly rigg'd, as this same Hob-thrush of a Vintner was equipped to act his Tragick-Comedy.

Ralph. As how?

Will. First they hung about his Neck a large Night-Rail, which the Gentlewoman of the House lent him out of her Zeal.

Ralph. Most Enigmatical, Problematical, Emphatical, and Emblematical—for a Night-Rail being a kind of a Cloak, was most proper to cover a piece of Knavery.

Will. To hide his lower parts, the Fishmongers lent him their Aprons.

Ralph. More Enigmatical still.—For Fishmongers being men of Lent and Fasting days—the Fishmongers' Aprons were to put the Ghost in mind of his sorrow, contrition, and repentance for owning a Speech that was none of own.

Will. By your favour, Sir, here's a Breach of an Act of Parliament discovered, to bring a Spirit out of his Grave in Linnen, whereas he ought to have appear'd in Crape; and being a Lord in Lac't Crape too.

Ralph. Well! But what had the Goblin about his Head?

Will. His head was muffl'd up in a White Diaper Napkin—to shew that the Letter was drapered with the Inventions of several Writers, and not of one plain Woofe.

Ralph. Shame faw the Luggs on 'em for a Company of Dotards—as if the Devil were grown as fantastical as the French, to change his old fashions.—Now the old fashions of Ghosts, ever since I heard of Ghosts was always the same, a Winding-sheet with two Knots and a Taper in the Spirit's hands, with which the Chandler might easily have furnished the Devil. Or if the Spirit must needs rise in the same Cloaths he was burr'd, the Cabal had much better ha' club'd for a new Crape Funeral Suit—'Twould ha' serv'd the Goblin of a Vintner another time, when the juice of his own Lime-Fats had burnt up his Liver. I'le undertake there's ne're a Booth in Pork Fair but would have dressed up a Hobgoblin more artificially than such a consultation of Ninny Hammers—But when the Devil was thus betrumpery'd what did he do?

Will. In this Mere-maid's Attire, he went attended with the two Fishmongers for his Guard, and the Chandler and Printer were to be Witnesses they saw the Apparition.—At length when he came to his Posts, as the Contrivers had laid it, 'tis to be supposed, near the House where the Lord Russel liv'd, he fell a groaning like an Oxe at the first sticking; nay, he groan'd even like the Groaning-board itself; and after a short preamble of Lamentations lewdly uttered, He cried out, Oh—I have no rest because of the Speech that I never made, but Dr. Burnet.

Ralph. There's no fear on't, but he'l be taught to groan better when he comes to groan for himself. One would have thought he should have practised the Art of Groaning more accurately before he went to groan upon such an Occasion as this—He should have groaned as if he had been groaning for his Life, that had taken such a part upon him—but it seems he rather fell a braying then a groaning, and so discover'd himself—for upon the noise, as some Report, or at least, as the Goblin deserv'd, one of the Watch coming up to him, and perceiving by his shoes, that he had no Cloven-Feet, Can't ye be quiet., quo he, in your Grave? I'le make ye quiet; and with that, gave him such a Palt o'th Pate and the Thigh, as quickly chang'd the colour of his Ghostly Habit.

Ralph. I' good faith, the Watchmen did more then all the Committee could do—for they only strove to make him a faigned Goblin, but the Watchman made him a real Raw-Head and Bloody-Bones.—A Catastrophe that such an enterprize justly deserv'd.—But what became of poor Raw-Head and Bloody-Bones?

Will. The now real Goblin was forc'd to confess his name, and the names of his Associates, and to chear up the Watch with Drink and Money for the fright he had put 'em in, and so they let him go, to groan forth his own Lamentations to the Gulls that set him at Work.

Ralph. Well, I will say nothing of the Speech one way nor other, but sure it was an act neither generous nor christian-like, to raise up an Impostor to disturb the silence of a Gentleman's Grave that had paid his last debt to Justice.

Will. Barbarous and papistical, which is as much as needs be said of it.

Finis.

London: Printed by J. Grantham, MDCLXXXIII.

There does not appear to be a copy of this book preserved in the British Museum Library: but it is printed in extenso in the fourth volume of Cobbett's Parliamentary History. For writing the same, a prosecution was instituted against Fitzharris. The indictment charges first, that the defendant, described as late of the parish of St. Martin in the Fields, Middlesex, gentleman, did, on the twenty-second day of February, in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, compass treason with one Edmund Everard against the king; and further, that the defendant as a false traitor did treasonably, maliciously and advisedly write and publish a certain most wicked and traitorous libel intituled The true Englishman speaking plain English, in which libel are expressed and declared the treasons and treasonable compassing, imaginations, and purposes of the defendant to excite and persuade the subjects of the King to rise up and rebel against the King and to deprive and depose the King from the style, honour, and royal name of the Imperial Crown of this kingdom, as follows: If James (meaning James, Duke of York) be conscious and guilty, Charles (meaning the King) is so too, believe me, both these are brethren in iniquity, they are in confederacy with Pope and French to introduce Popery and Arbitrary Government as their actions demonstrate. The Parliament, Magna Charta, and liberty of the subject, are as heavy yokes they'd willingly cast off, for to make themselves as absolute as their Brother of France; and if this can be proved to be their aim and main endeavour, why should not every true Briton be a Quaker thus far? And let the English spirit be up and move all as one man to self defence, nay send if need be to open action and fling off those intolerable Riders. (meaning the King and the Duke of York.) And in another part of the aforesaid most wicked and traitorous libel are contained among other things these false, seditious, and traitorous sentences following:—J. and C. (meaning James, Duke of York and the King) both brethren in iniquity, corrupt both in root and branch as you have seen, they study but to enslave you to a Romish and French-like yoke. Is it not plain? Have you not eyes, sense, or feeling? Where is that old English noble spirit? Are you become French asses to suffer any load to be laid upon you? And if you can get no remedy from this next parliament, as certainly you will not, and that the K. repents not, complies not with their advice, then up, all as one man. O brave Englishmen, look to your