3 I2 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

C h a p. “ subverting the government, and for rootingI'Xv/r. « out and destroying the protestant religion”.

I6?3, So vehement were the houses, that they fatevery day , forenoon and afternoon , on thesubject of the plot: For no other business couldbe attended to. A committee of lords wereappointed to examine prisoners and witnesses:Blank warrants were put into their hands, forthe commitment of such as should be accused orsuspected. Oates, who, though Jus evidence weretrue, must, by his own account, be regarded asan infamous villain, was by every one applauded,caressed, and called the saviour of the nation. Hewas recommended by the parliament to the king:He was lodged in Whitehall , protected byguards, and encouraged by a pennon of 1200pounds a-year.

Beiiioe’s It was not long before such bountiful encou-narrative. ra cr e ment brought forth new witnesses. WilliamBedloe, a man, if possible , more infamous thanOates, appeared next upon the stage. He was ofvery low birth, had been noted for several cheatsand even thefts, had travelled over many partsof Europe under borrowed names, and frequentlypassed himself for a man of quality , and hadendeavoured , by a variety of lies and contrivan-ces , to prey upon the ignorant and unwary.When he appeared before the council, he gaveintelligence of Godfrey’s murder only, which,he said , had been perpetrated in Somerset-house,where the queen lived, by papists some of themservants in her family. He was questioned about

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