CHARLES II.

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in partfcular , gave sanction to all the nar- chap.row prejudices and bigoted fury of the po- lxvii.pulace. Instead of being counsel for the prisoners,as his office required, he pleaded the cause againstthem, browbeat their witnesses, and on everyoccasion represented their guilt as certain anduncontroverted. He even went so far as publiclyto affirm, that the papists had not the same prin-ciples which protestants have, and therefore werenot entitled to that common credence, which theprinciples and practices of the latter call for. Andwhen the jury brought in their verdict againstthe prisoners, he said, “ You have done, gen-“ tlemen , like very good subjects, and very good“ Christians, that is to fay, like very goodt£ Protestants: And now much good may theira 30,000 masses do them. ’’ Alluding to the mas-ses , by which Pickering was to be rewarded formurdering the king. All these unhappy menwent to execution, protesting their innocence: acircumstance , which made no impression on thespectators. The opinion, that the Jesuits allowed ,67s-of lies and mental reservations for promoting a I4th Jan ‘good cause, was at this time so universally re-ceived , that no credit was given to testimonydelivered either by that order, or by any of theirdisciples. It was forgotten, that all the con-spirators, engaged in the gun - powder treason ,and Garnet, the Jesuit, among the rest, hadfreely on the scaffold made confession of theirguilt.

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