The shammer shamm'd, in a plain discovery under young Tong's own hand, of a designe to trepann L'Estrange into a pretended subornation against the Popish plot by Roger L'Estrange. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. 1681 Approx. 85 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 22 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A47918 Wing L1306 ESTC R13119 11832368 ocm 11832368 49721 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A47918) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 49721) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 540:6) The shammer shamm'd, in a plain discovery under young Tong's own hand, of a designe to trepann L'Estrange into a pretended subornation against the Popish plot by Roger L'Estrange. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. [2], 41 p. Printed for Joanna Brome ..., London : 1681. Reproduction of original in Bristol Public Library, Bristol, England. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Tonge, Simson, b. 1656 or 7. Popish Plot, 1678. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-09 Melanie Sanders Sampled and proofread 2004-09 Melanie Sanders Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Shammer Shamm'd : In a Plain DISCOVERY , Under Young TONG' 's Own Hand , OF A Designe to Trepann L'ESTRANGE Into a Pretended Subornation against the POPISH PLOT . By Roger L'Estrange . LONDON , Printed for Joanna Brome at the Signe of the Gun in S. Pauls Church-yard , 1681. The Shammer Shamm'd . &c. IT is no new thing for L'Estrange to be Baited by the Mercenary Agents of a Seditious , and Schismaticall Faction ; and 't is hard to say , whether the Scurrilous Libells , or the Obscure Authors of them be the more Contemptible : But yet this is a Case , wherein I cannot ; either with Honour , Safety , or with Good Discretion be Silent . In short ; There is a Knot of Little Fellows ( but under the Government of better Heads ) that are now at work to Revive the Old Story of my Tampering with Young Tonge , to Invalidate Oates's Evidence ; and Severall Lies and Scandalls are Printed in favour of that Imposture . My Purpose in these Papers is , in the first place , to lay open , the Notorious Falshood , and Malice of this Practice . And 2 ly , to prove that very Design , which is charg'd VPON me , to be managed AGAINST me . It will not be amiss to Enform the Reader by the way , that in October , 1680. Upon two full hearings before his Majesty and Councell ( in despight of all that Oates could say , and Tong Swear against me ) I had the Honour to be twice acquitted by the Unanimous Judgment of the whole Board : The Particulars of which Proceedings may be seen in a Dialogue under the Title of L'Estranges Case , &c. which I caused to be Publish'd upon that occasion . I shall now , as briefly as I can , set forth how the same Calumny comes to be started again . On the Third of January last past , The Loyall Protestant-News-Paper had this following Passage in it concerning Tong , but mistaking Samuel , for Simson . Whereas Mr. Samuel Tonge , Son to Dr. Tonge deceased , has formerly Sworn , That his own Father was the Chief Contriver of the Popish Plot ; Discovered by a Man who then went under the name of Dr. O — ; Now the Religious good party , seemed at that time to be much dissatisfied , that an Intrigue so well layed , and so effectually managed , ( tho never so ill Contrived , ) should be thus miscarried , and then fell upon young Tonge , and declared that he was an ill Man for offering to charge his Father with such horrid Crimes , after so many Men suffered upon the account of the said Plot , and though that it were but a Contrivance of his Father and Dr. O — ( so call'd then ) that it was an advancement to all Protestant Dissenters in England , Ireland , and Scotland , and used many moderate Reasons with the said Tonge , that at last Mr. Tonge Complyed with the Request and Prayer of the good party ; and when he was sent for again to come before the King and Council , utterly Denying all that he had sworn before ; but since being touched with Remorse of conscience , offers to justifie what he had Sworn unto by his own Testimony alone ; but by such Papers , circumstances and witnesses , as he is now able to produce , without hopes of favour or Reward , but as a penitent Sinner , that expects mercy from God Almighty . Young Tong was so hot upon this Publication , that the very next day , he directed a Paper to Mr Thompson by way of an Advertisement under his own hand , in Confirmation of what was there publish'd : though it was not Notified by Thompson till Jan. 19. and in the words following . Mr Thompson , I have read your Intelligence of the Third of this Instant , and do acknowledge that all you write concerning Me is very True , and I will Justify it to my death ; and I do believe that the Great Poverty and Misery that I lye under , is fallen on me , by the Just Judgment of God , because I was Seduced by the Enticements of my Uncle , and Others , to deny the Truth ; but you mistake my name ; for I am not Samuel but Simson Tonge . He speaks Truth as to his Miserable Condition ; for there was not a Poorer Creature in the Prison ; and Cutting of Pegs for shooes ; ( and working hard too ) for Three-half-pence a day , was the best part of his Entertainment . It was Thompson's Paper of Jan. 3. that gave the Alarum , and stir'd up the Charity of some of the Well-affected Brethren to hearken a little after him . He was taken one day out of the Prison ( as he said ) by a Printer ; and at his Return talk'd of something to be Publish'd toward the Middle of the next Week concerning L'Estrange . This Visit put him presently into Cloaths , and Money in his Pocket , by a Providence , which must be left to Time and Further Scrutiny to Un-riddle . Upon Thomson's First Publication of Jan. 3. Out comes the Buffoon-Courant , of Jan. 6. with these words in 't . [ Has not this very Young Tonge set forth at large how he was at first trepann'd so suggest that Story against his Father , in a Book Printed by Mr C — in the New Exchange ; but for I know not what Reasons stifled , and never suffer'd to be Publish'd ? Has not this Young Tonge a hundred and a hundred times with tears in his Eyes , bewayl'd , and repented of that Unnaturall Villany ? Nay but a fortnight ago , he Voluntarily declar'd that the Sense thereof lay so heavy upon him , that if ever he got out of Prison ( where he was like to starve , and had scarce Cloaths to cover his Nakedness ) he would forthwith Transport himself to the West-Indies ; for his shame for that False and Wicked Accusation was so great , that he should not be able to walk in the streets . And is this Pittifull Fool Furbish'd up to make a New Attacque ? But on the Contrary ; What if this be only a Contrivance of the Popish Traytors , and their Implement Nat ? What if herein he most in pudently abuses , both Old Tonge , and Young Tonge and the Publique ? Then no doubt his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell , the Judges , and all Inferiour Magistrates , and every Protestant English-man will think it Necessary to Punish Exemplarily the Villain that in Print has Broach'd such a Horrid Scandall on the Honour , Justice , Prudence and Safety of the Nation . ] [ Truly I do hope , and wish , with all my heart , that the Government may , and will proceed against all Cheats of this Kind , with the most Severity Imaginable : But how comes Care to know more of Tongs Doings then Tong does of his own ? for Every syllable which Thompson says of Tonge , Tonge says of himself : And the Question is not here , whether it be True , or False ; but whether or no Tonge sayd it . The matter rested here till Jan. 19. Upon which day , came forth Tong 's Advertisement in Justification of Thomson , and Tong 's Pretended Vindication , in Contradiction to that Advertisement . 't was publish'd by Curtis ; and the Author of it may be as well known by his Paw , as by his Face : The Pacquet , and the Vindication bearing all together the same Style , and Design , and , in many Particulars , the very same words . So that the Courantier , the Vindicator , and Simson Tonge are all one and the same person . It carries the Title of [ Mr. Tongs Vindication , in answer to the Malicious and Lying Aspersions thrown upon him by Thomson , and the Observator . ] As to what concerns the Observator [ Being deeply Sensible ( says Tong 's Deputy-Vindicator ) of what Evil Consequence this Notorious Lye may be ; I do Solemnly declare that what was Printed by Thomson , was done without my knowledge , or Consent , having some time since given a True , and Full account of those Persons ( that would have trepan'd , and Endeavor'd to make me Swear , that my Father and Dr. Oates w●re the Contrivers of the Popish Plot ) in my Case , which was Printed by Mr. C — in the New Exchange in the Strand ; but by some Indirect means or other , was stifled , and never suffer'd to come abroad : In which Narrative , I have discover'd nothing but the Naked Truth , with the several Arguments and Inducements they made use of , to make me accuse my deceased Parent , and yet notwithstanding all this , Thomson and the Observator have the Impudence to affirm the Contrary , &c. Observe first , that the Printing of it [ without his Knowledge or Consent ] is no denial of the thing said . 2 ly , Neither Tonge , nor Care or Curtis , in His name says One word in Opposition to the Truth of Tong 's Advertisement , in Affirmation of what Thomson deliver'd . 3 ly , Take notice , that the Case or Narrative which Curtis'es Libell says , was Printed by Mr C — and Stifled ; was layd up in Lavender , for the Opportunity of Imposing an Abuse upon the Oxford-Parliament , as appears by the Title-Page , and the appointment for the Printing of it , bearing date , Feb. 2. 1681. And I am likewise Enform'd , that Several Copies of it were dispers'd to divers Members of that Convention . 4 ly . That Pretended Narrative and Case was Printed for Langley Curtis , with this Express Authority for the Printing of it . I do Appoint Langly Curtis , to Print This my Narrative , and Case : Witness my hand , this Second of February , 1681. Simson Tonge . 5 ly . Beside that , the Narrative is False , and Libellous , it is Undoubtedly the same hand with the Pacquet , and the Vindication ; and three Cheats put upon the Publique , by One and the same Person . 6 ly . It is remarkable , that there is a New Title-Page clapt upon the Old Book , ( which is just now made Publique ) Pretending to be Printed for C.W. Instead of Langly Curtis ; the better to Disguise , or Conceal Curtis and Cares Confederacy and Interest , in the Pamphlet . Lastly , The very Title-Page it self is a Juggle . As for Example , [ The Narrative and Case of Simson Tonge , Gent. being a True Account deliver'd upon Oath , before Mr. Justice Bridgeman , in the presence of Dr. Titus Oates ; relating to Capt. Sam. Ely , Mr. Choqueux , &c. and my self , Who would have Induced me to Swear th●t my Father and Dr. Oates , were the Contrivers of the Horrid Popish Plot ; with Other Material Passages Omitted in the Affidavit . Together with some Short Reflections upon Mr L'Estrange's Dialogue between Zekiel , and Ephraim . ] Who knows how far This [ &c. ] and his [ OTHER Materiall Passages OMITTED in the Affidavit ] may Extend , Especially from the Mouth of Prostitute Falsifyers ? and under the Manage of an Ignoramus-Iury ? And it is a Fair Hint in Janeways History of Popish Sham-Plots from the same hand again , P. 139. where he says , that [ Simson made a Considerable Confession of this Conspiracy , upon Oath , before Mr Justice Bridgeman , though HAPPILY he hath reserv'd many more particulars to another Opportunity . ] At which rate , 't is but rubbing up his Memory at any time , to call to mind things that never had a Being , and to lay the Plot at whose Door he pleases . But to return to his Vindication . [ Having now Sufficiently Vindicated my self ( says he ) from the Malicious , and Lying Aspersions cast upon me by Thomson and the Observator ; I return to the Pacquetier , ( that is to say , to himself again , for there 's not one word of the Pacquetier before ) who amongst them all is the only Person that has done me that Justice , Candidly to represent my Condition to the world , performing the part of an Honest man , in declaring the Great sorrow wherewith my spirits have been oppress'd for the Unnaturall Villany I was perswaded to perpetrate against my Deceased Parent , &c. ] And what is all this , but an Exchange of Civility betwixt Harry in the Vindication , & Care in the Courant ? [ I Bless God ( says he again ) I have not so sear'd a Conscience , as to Justify so False and Villanous a thing as is cast upon me . — I did not verify or assert any thing by dreadfull Imprecations . — It behoves me to stand upon my Guard , and by the force of Truth repell these Vicious Calumnies , which I hope is here perform'd to the Content and satisfaction of all True , Unbiass'd Protestants ; And now having fully discharg'd a Good Conscience , the main End of the Vindication , &c. ] To pass over now the most Daring and Blasphemous Hypocrisy that ever call'd upon Almighty God for the Grace of a Mock-Repentance , see how Dreadfully this Personated Penitent Concludes his Paper . [ I do solemnly protest ( says he ) in the presence of the Great Jehova ) it is nothing but Truth . Witness my Hand , Simson Tonge . ] ( Alias Henry Care had Nick'd it . ) I shall proceed now to Janeways Popish Sham-Plots , which is only the same Jack-Pudding still in another dress . [ Choqueux ( says he P. 138. ) brings Mr. L'Estrange into Simson's Chamber , where among other discourse , Honest Roger had these Words : That he heard Mr. Simson Tonge was upon a very Good Design for the Good of the Nation , to find out the Truth and Contrivance of this Plot , and pray'd he might have Good Successe in it , Adding , he would give Mr. Tonge what Furtherance and Encouragement lay in his Power . ] [ He has another snap at me in the Courant of Jan. 27. where he says , That Friend Hodge , &c. lately renew'd their Acquaintance with Mr. Tonge , and endeavour'd a fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp ; but finding upon recollection , that he would not Correspond further with them ; and fearing all their Roguery would come out , the Reverend Clergy-Guide found himself oblig'd to Cry Whore first . ] I am coming now to his Narrative ; where in the First Page he has these words . [ Hearing that it is commonly reported , that I should Swear against my Father , to take away his Life , it is as False as God is True. ] This is no Denial of his Swearing against his Father ; but of his Swearing against him to take away his Life . And he declares a little lower , That he was all along very tender of his Fathers Safety ; with which shuffle he thinks to come off . He tells a Story , Page 11. Of my refusing to Licence a Book of his Fathers , called The Royal Martyr , unless I might Model it to my own Capricious Humour ; and that his Father was much troubled at my sawciness , and sent for his Book again . The Word Sawciness is an Expression that fits no bodies Mouth but Care 's . But to his Story now . A Book under that Title was brought to me to Licence ; which upon the Perusal , I refused to do : and the Bookseller that brought it , gave me to understand who was the Author of it ; and a Fair Hint in his very Countenance , what might come on 't in case I would not Pass it . Upon This , for fear of After-Claps , I went to Whitehall , and discours'd the matter with Dr. Tonge himself , in words to this Effect . Doctor ( said I ) You must Excuse me if I dare not Licence your Book ; for there are Reflections in it upon the Com't : Where you say , That the Bed-Chamber men Pick the King's Pockets ; and not without a Mixture of Reproaches upon the King Himself . Beside , that you are mistaken in your Annals ; There 's matter of Fact misplac'd , mis-tim'd , and misapply'd ; and from thence we proceeded to a Reasoning upon some Passages in his Preface . Doctor ( said I ) 'T is well that both you your self , and Dr. Oates ( in those days a Dr. ) have so absolutely purg'd your selves to the World , that there can be no longer any doubt of your Integrity ; for otherwise , there are two or three Passages in your Preface , that people would go near to stumble at . As to the Business of the Bed-Chamber-men , I 'le Justifie it ( says the Doctor ) and if there be any slips in the Story , we can set them Right . But what 's your Exception to the Preface ? So I told him , that in Substance the Matter was thus : [ You tell the World , that you have , with Great Care , drawn up the History of the Old Popish Plot ( the business of Habernsfelt , &c. ) And that shewing it to Dr. Oates , ( who very much approv'd of the Draught ) you told him , Titus , It were worth the while to know if this Plot does not go on still . Go you , and put your self among the Jesuits , and enform your self whether it does , or no. You say further , That Dr. Oates did go among them , pretending to be One of them ; and that when he came back , he told you that the Business went on , and that it was no New Plot , but the Old One continued . ] Well! ( says the Dr. ) All this is True , and where 's the Offence ? So I told him , that it might be look'd upon as a strange Councel , either to Give or to Take . The Advice Given is This , Go you over , Titus , and pretend to be a Papist : Take all their Oathes and Tests ; joyn with them in an Idolatrous Worship , and swear your self to the Devil through Thick and Thin , only to see whether it be Cross or Pile . This seems to be the Advice Given : And the following of this Advice , upon Fore-thought , and Consideration , may be taken for a Resolution very Extraordinary . The Doctor 's Answer was to this Purpose , God Almighty will do his own Work , by his own Ways and Methods . I have been the more Punctual in this Relation , to shew as well the Reasons why I would not Licence that Book , in respect of my self , as the Tenderness I had for the Credit of the Doctor , and for the Common Cause ; by not consenting to Expose any thing to the Publick , that might be liable either to a Censure , or a Mistake . He says further in his Narrative , P. 1. [ That L'Estrange in his abusive Lying Dialogue , makes Choqueux to speak of L'Estrange ' s refusing to Licence The Royal Martyr ; which Tonge took very ill at L'Estrange ' s hands , — but Choqueux knew nothing of it . ] The Truth of these Things shall be made appear in their Proper Place . And again in the same Page . [ Mr. Choqueux ( saies he ) recommended me to L'Estrange , as a Person very worthy of my acquaintance , and told him ▪ I had drawn up several Papers , as Objections against the Plot ; and he did presume , I should be very glad of his Assistance therein . L'Estrange told me he would to his power assist me what he could , and asked me where my Papers were ; for he would gladly peruse them : for he was enformed , those Papers had very material things in them against the Plot. That he was a great admirer of all such things , as he did not question he had demonstrated to the World by his Collections he had made concerning the Popish Plot , where Dr. Oates was pleased to be silent , and said that for his part , he found the whole Plot was replenish'd with nothing else , but Improbabilities , and Ridiculous Absurdities , &c. And then Choqueux , and L'Estrange discours'd concerning the late Wars , &c. Ibid. ] Take notice , that Tonge had drawn up some Objections against the Plot ; and L'Estrange desired a sight of 'em , and yet no Papers shew'd him , nor any Answer return'd him to that Question ; but thereupon he went his way . Now see forward [ Going out with L'Estrange ( sayes the Narrative , Pag. 12. ) I ask'd him when I should wait upon him , and if he had any writing , I would transcribe any thing for him which he had to Print , but he said he had no such business , but that any Evening he should be glad to see me , and Mr. Choqueux at his House in Holborn , and went away from us . Here 's Tonge pinning himself upon L'Estrange , and L'Estrange shuffling him off , as far as decently could be done in such a Case . But see now how Tonge plies him yet with Importunities . [ The next day after ( sayes he Ibid. ) Mr. Choqueux went to L'Estrange's House , and told me he was newly gone out , but he said to morrow in the Evening I should go along with him to L'Estrange . ] You will see by and by that I went out of the way on purpose to avoid him ; and that Tonge wrote me a Letter next Morning , desiring me in regard that he miss'd me last night , to appoint him some other time , for he had something to say to me , whereupon I appointed him at seven that Evening . And see how he proceeds . [ Crawley ( sayes he Ibid. ) coming to the Savoy before we ( Choqueux and Tonge ) were gone , went along with us , whom I suppose L'Estrange had no acquaintance with . But Crawley went , thinking he might have something to say to him in relation to his Papers . So soon as we came into the Room where L'Estrange was , he desired Mr. Choqueux and Crawley , to withdraw ; ( for he said it look'd too much like a Consultation ) who went out and expected my coming out into the street . ] It is false , that Choqueux and Crawley were desir'd to with draw ; but Mr. Crawley , and a fourth person that came with them in Company , were fairly hinted to withdraw , because ( as I said ) it would look like a consult . And they did withdraw ; but Choqueux stay'd a while after them . [ Then being together ( sayes the Narrative , Ibid. ) meaning Tonge and L'Estrange ) he asked me whether I had a Copy of that Enformation which was delivered to the King , I told him I had not , only some loose Papers relating to it ; but I could recite several Material Passages of it . Then L'Estrange writ them down , and asked me whether I had no more to say , I told him I had not , and said when he had more leisure , and had all my Enformations , he would swear me to them . I told him , I did not care to be sworn to any of my Papers , &c. ] This point shall be clear'd hereafter , where it will fall more naturally in my way . I shall not need to amplify upon the Particulars above-mentioned any further in this place , then to recommend it to the Reader 's Observation . First , that the Persons Visibly concern'd in these Scandalous Libells , are only Tonge , ( as a Fool for the Faction to make use of ) Curtis , ( the Publisher of the Narrative , the Pacquet , and the Vindication ) Janeway , ( the Publisher of the Popish Sham-plots ) and Care , the Presumptive Author of these four Pamphlets : of whose Character and Credit , the World is sufficiently sensible already , without need of any further Enformation . Now though as it is the Common business of these Fellows to Bespatter the Government , and all degrees of Men , as well as Particular Persons , that Interpose toward the Vindication of the King and the Laws . Their spleen and Forgeries are yet so Peculiarly bent at me , that I dare be answerable to produce at least three hundred Scandalous , Rank and Notorious Lyes , that these servile wretches , ( taking in Baldwin for another ) have published barefac'd against my single self ; and I do verily believe , I may safely say , as many several Libels : But having already made an Express Application to the Magistracy of the City , for Justice , Publick , and Private upon the Infamous Authors of these Defamatory Papers : I make no question , but the Generous , and Loyall Governours of this City , having both the Crimes and the Criminals openly lay'd before them , and the matter , in both respects falling expresly under their Cognizance and Jurisdiction ; I make no doubt , I say , but my Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen will exert their Authority to the uttermost , in calling these Flagitious Incendiaries to a strict account . So that I shall now pass forward to my main business . That is to say , First , To shew that there is a Conspiracy , by Hook or by Crook , to make me a Suborner . Secondly , To Discharge my self of that Impudent , and Senseless Calummy , by Clear and Undeniable Proofs , Inferences , and Presumptions to the contrary . Thirdly , To make it out , beyond all dispute , that the Project has been , from First to Last , to Trepan me , by trying how far I might be prevail'd upon to entertain any Propositions of discrediting , shamming , or Ridiculing the damnable Hellish Popish Plot ; which has been Attested , and Confirm'd , by the Authority and Declaration of so many Parliaments . There needs no more for the making out of the First Point , than what is said already ; which for Order sake , I shall briefly sum up yet once again : Care in his Courant of the 27 th of Jan. 1681 , Charges me with Renewing my Acquaintance with Mr. Tonge , and endeavouring a Fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp . Care again in Tonge's Pretended Narrative , has hook'd me into the [ &c. ] in the Title Page , and his other material Passages Omitted in the Affidavit , [ &c. ] — by drawing my Name into the Book , within the compass of that , [ &c. ] and the Supplemental Reserve . The same Care again , in Janeway's Sham Plots , gives an account Pag. 139. That over and above Tonge's Oath to Mr. Justice Bridgeman , he hath reserv'd many more Particulars to another Opportunity ; which gives him Liberty till the Day of Judgment , to supply his Evidence . It is a farther Presumption of a Design ; First , the Calculating of their Narrative , for the Oxford Parliament , to take me Unprovided , and by Surprize . Secondly , By the keeping it so Close ever since , for fear of having the Villany of it Detected , and Expos'd ; And then the Publishing of it now at last , under a False Name , is a further Confirmation of the Foulness of that Practice . It might suffice to the Second Point , that I was Honourably Discharg'd by the King and Council ; Oates and Tonge being present , and not having One word to say in Contradiction to my Defence : But it is not a likely matter , over and above , that I should have a Design upon Tonge , and at the same time shake him off from fastening himself upon me . That I should enter into that Liberty of Discourse : of Censuring the Plot , Drawing him in to raise Objections against it , and to represent it as the Invention of his Fa●her , and Oates ; and yet at the same time , Caution both Captain Ely , and Mr. Choqueux , to have a Care of him , for he would lay hold of any thing to Ruine them . Is it not a likely matter again , that I should ask him for his Papers , and he should give me no Answer ; and that I should so Greedily Interest my self in a Zeal and Curiosity to be dabbling with him , and yet at the same time , refuse any Information from him , but under his own hand : And with this Condition Annex'd , That he should declare it to be his own Voluntary Act , and ne●ther Directly , or Indirectly drawn from him at my Instance , or Procurement ? Now all This will be laid as open as the Day in That which follows . It will be Objected perhaps , that though this Plea may serve well enough for what 's past , or at least for what has been produc'd against me upon Legal Testimony : But what if he should come upon second Thoughts , ( as other People have done ) to refresh his Memory , and Re-inforce his Evidence , or Charge me ( as Care calls it ) with [ a Fresh Intrigue of the Old Stamp ] till I found ( as the Pacquetier has it ) that Tonge w●uld Correspond no further with me ? I would ask no more for my Acquittal , then that Curtis might be strictly Examin'd , who was the Author of those Three Insolent Impostures ; The Pacque● ; Tonge's Vindication ; and Tonge's Narrative and Case ; which were All Publish'd by him ; and that Janeway might be Interrogated , Who was the Author of his Popish Sham-Plots ; not but that any Man may know whence they all came , they are so like the Father . I would ask this , for the Publiques sake , as well as my Own ; for 't is Impossible for any State to Live at Peace , or any Community or Person to scape Untainted , where These Pests of Humane Society are suffer'd in a Common-Wealth . I shall say nothing now to the Many , Gross , Virulent , and Scandalous Falshoods that are scatter'd Up and Down these Venemous Papers ; but refer the Reader to what I have to say upon the Third Head , wherein I shall set forth the Naked Truth of the Matter ; and make it Evident , that the Shamming and Tampering has been on the other side ; and that instead of my Wheedling of Tonge into a Complication against his Father ; it has been the Business of Young Tonge , his Fellows , and Directors , from One End to the other of this affair , to draw L'Estrange into the Toil. This is the Third and the Last Point , and I shall Handle it at large . The Design of Tonge 's putting a Sham upon me ( by the Order and Instruction , I suppose , of his Superiors ) must bear Date a good while before I ever so much as saw the Face of him ; As appears by his Propounding me ( though an Absolute Stranger to him ) as a fit Person for him to Advise withal , about the Menage , and Government of his Design : and making twenty sleeveless Pretences for getting into my Acquaintance ; besides the Visible Importunities of Pressing upon me , after I knew him ; and the Use he made of the most Frivolous Accidents , to Improve all Circumstances to my Disadvantage . And then the whole Story is Far●'d with Lyes , from one end to the other ; as the Reader will Observe upon comparing the several parts of this Relation . The first time that ever he saw me , ( as himself confesses ) or that I ever saw him , was at Monsieur Choqueux's , by the occasion of my going thither to Enquire about some Memorials of the late War. This was some Months after his Impious Swearing , and Counter-Swearing , Backward and Forward , at Windsor ; so that there could be no pretence for my tampering of him in a matter , where he had so Perjuriously Contradicted himself already ; Neither did Choqueux bring me to him , ( as he suggests ) but the Servant , upon my Enquiry for her Master , desir'd me to Walk into a low Room ●till she call'd him down ; and there I found a Person to me unknown , which , it seems , was Young Tonge , as I was afterwards Enform'd by the Master of the Lodgings when he came down . I found the Fopp to be Talkative , and so I let him run on in a Nonsensical Story of the Privacies that had pass'd betwixt Oates , and his Father , certain Papers concerning the Plot that were Written in Greek Characters , and hid behind the Wainscout ; and a Foolery of one Green , a Weaver , that meeting his Father in the Court of Requests , told him for News ( and without any knowledge of him too ) that E've long , there would be a Popish Massacre : Whereupon , ( says Young Tonge ) my Father made an acquaintance with him , and out came the Plot. He shew'd me likewise an Abuse upon some of the King's Evidence , in a kind of a Disguise like a Romance , which he said was of his own Composing , and I found he had a mind to Unriddle it to me ; but I stopp'd him short ; Adviz'd him against it ; and made what haste Civilly I could , to get quit of his Company , and to deliver my self from the Nauscousness , as well as the Danger of so Impertinent , and Suspitious an Acquaintance . This was before I had ever seen the Eyes of Capt. Ely ; but coming soon after to the knowledge of him , it was my Lesson both to him , and Mr. Choqueux , to have a Care of that Young Fellow for fear of having a Trick put upon them : So far was I from making that Fool my Confident , that I did not think it safe to have any thing at all to do with him ; The Incredibility of his Evidence being the best Security that any Man can have that keeps him Company . Soon after This , Capt. Ely returns from Windsor , ( where he had been it seems upon Tonge 's Errand ) and my having some Inkling of his Business there , made me a little curious to find him one , and learn from him the Truth of the Matter . Presently upon This there , was Bruited a Report about the Town , that Oates had Exh●bited a ●omplaint to the Councel against Ely and Choqueux , and that L'Estrange was brought in for a Third Man. This Alarum put me to bethink my self , and to provide for the worst that Malice and Perjury could pretend against me : For I could easily see thorough Tonge ; and Oates had already pronounc'd me , in all his Haunts and Gangs , as deep in the Practice , as the most Confident and Shameless Asseveration of any thing ; short of a Verbum Sacerdotis could make me . Hereupon I apply'd my Self to Captain Ely , and Monsieur Choqueux , ( being both Clear of the Councel ) to make Oath before some Master of the Chancery to the Truth of certain Particulars , wherein I might possibly come to be Concern'd , if there should happen to be any Combination carryed on against me . They did me the Right to Comply with my Desire , and the Affidavits are as follows . The Affidavit of Samuel Ely , &c. SAmuel Ely of the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields , in the Country of Middlesex , Gent. maketh Oath , that he This Deponent hath not known the Person of Roger L'Estrange in the County of Middlesex , Esq till about a fortnight before the Date hereof : And that He this Deponent never saw the said L'Estrange and Mr. Simpson Tonge together , nor ever heard of any Correspondence between them , more then that Mr. Choqueux told this Deponent that he had brought the said Tonge to Mr. L'Estrange to desire him to take Tonge 's Enformation upon Oath , as a thing that might much justifie Us ; This being before we heard of any Order to attend the Councel . This Deponent further Enformeth , that the said Tonge made mention of Mr. L'Estrange in a certain Paper about the latter end of July last , ( to this Deponents best Remembrance ) as a person that might be a very good Evidence against his Father , for some seditious Passages in a Book of Dr. Tonge 's called , The Royal Martyr ; which the said Mr. L'Estrange refused to License , and D. Tonge took it very ill at his hands ; Tonge the younger declaring , that he had a great mind to be acquainted with the said Mr. L'Estrange . This Deponent moreover saith , That being at Windsor about the middle of August last , He this Deponent● was told , That young Tonge had denyed the Enformation given in by him to his Majesty , and declared , that he was set on by the Papists ; whereupon this Deponent went immediately to young Tonge , being then in Windsor , and told him what he had heard . Who there in the presence of Two other persons , did presently take Pen , Ink , and Paper , and drew up a short Declaration to this following Effect . ☞ Being informed that my Uncle , Captain Tonge , hath maliciously aspers'd me , that I have made a Recantation , and disown'd my former Enformation given in to his Majesty ; As I hope to be saved ; I never did make any such Recantation , though I was mightily urg'd thereunto by my Uncle , and to lay it upon the Papists . But the Enformation was all true , and in the Discharge of my Duty and Conscience ; And that it was my own spontaneous Act , without the Expectation of any Advantage , Benefit , or Reward ; or by the Procurement , Direction or Abetting of any Person whatsoever . This Declaration being by him the said Sympson Tonge Written in the presence of two other Persons , and this Deponent , of his own proper motion , and without any advice thereunto ; and it was likewise attested by this Deponent and the two Persons above-mentioned . And all this was done in the space of one half hour , ( as this Deponent verily believes ) from the time after this Deponent's first hearing the Report . And finally , This Deponent saith further , That he heard Mr. L'Estrange ( being in Discourse with Mr. Choqueux ) caution the said Mr. Choqueux to have a care what he said to that Fellow ( meaning Young Tonge ) for he would lay hold of any thing to ruine you . This was the effect of Mr. L'Estrange's Caveat to Mr. Choqueux , who returned this Answer , That he had nothing to do with him in the World , but in relation to his Cure ; and this Deponent heard Mr. L'Estrange say further at the same time . Remember Mr. Choqueux , what I told young Tonge and You together , I do declare , I will not Receive any Enformation from Tonge , but under his own hand ; and I will have a Clause in it too , wherein he shall acquit me upon the same Oath , of having any thing to do with him by way of Advice or Encouragement ; That I did not directly or indirectly move him to it , but that it was all at his own Motion , and at his own Request : And more this Deponent hath not to say , SAM . ELY . Jurat . coram me . JO. COELL . 4 die Octobris Anno xxxii . Car. II. R. An. Dom. 1680. Upon the perusal of This Affidavit , the Reader will be able to satisfie himself what Tonge's Donyals of any Imprecations ; His Invocating the Great Jehovah to the Truth of what he said ; His Prophane manner of Obtruding upon Almighty God , His Mimical Forms of Contrition and Remorse , for the Ardent Affections of a True Repentance ; The Oppression of his Spirits for his Villany against his Father : What all this ( I say ) amounts to upon the Comparing of the Gross , and Scandalous Contradictions : And yet the Testimony of This Prostigate Wretch is made use of by the Managers of this Infamous Cause , as an Authority sufficient to Obliege the World into a Belief of any thing against L'Estrange ; just according to the Measures of their Proceedings in other Cases , where the Credit of the Witnesses , is rated by the Malice , and Interest of the Faction ; and None , either so Fair , or so Foul , as not to be Blasted or Justifi'd , in order to the Common End of serving a Party . I shall go forward now to the Second Affidavit . Anthony Choqueux of the Savoy , Chyrurgeon , this 4th Day of Octob. 1680. maketh Oath , as follows , Viz. Impr. I. THat about the Beginning of Septemb. last , Mr. Tho. Neucomb brought Mr. L'Estrange to his House to enquire about some Memorials of Prince Rupert's Actions in the late War , and in Flanders : but because it was somewhat late , they drank a Bottle of Wine , and put off farther discourse upon that Business to another Meeting . II. That some few days after this , Mr. L'Estrange came to his House a second time ; and after some discourse with him , the Deponent , before Mr. Tonge , ( whom he had then under Cure ) about the Memorials , and Papers concerning the Prince , he told him that the Person there present was young Mr. Tonge ; whereupon Mr. L'Estrange took notice of him , and ask'd him if he had ever seen him at his Father's Chamber , who answered no , he had never seen him before , or words to the same effect . III. That at the same time , Mr. Tonge said he remembred that he had been told , Mr. L'Estrange refused to License a Book of his Fathers , ( called the Royal Martyr ) which Refusal , Dr. Tonge took very ill , he said . And so he went on in several Discourses of div●rs Meetings betwixt his Father and Dr. Oates , and how many Clerks his Father kept constantly a Writing ; and such kind of Talk ; Mr. L'Estrange onely giving him the Hearing , without any encouragement , or asking him any questions , but slightly telling him that all this signifi'd nothing ; or to that purpose . IV. That finding Mr. L'Estrange to wave the Discourse , he whisper'd the Deponent in the Ear , to desire him to acquaint Mr. L'Estrange , that if he had any thing to Transcribe , he was ready to do it for him ; and should take it for a great kindness . After this ; That there pass'd nothing but common Talk : Onely , at parting , that Mr. Tonge desired of Mr. L'Estrange that he might wait upon him at his House , setting the day and hour himself , to which Mr. L'Estrange seemed to agree . V. That at the time appointed , Tonge went , ( as he afterward told this Deponent ) but Mr. L'Estrange was not at home ; so that he sent him a Letter next morning , desiring him to appoint some other time ; which Letter this Deponent saw , and likewise Mr. L'Estrange's Answer to it , which he convey'd to Mr. Tonge . Before the writing of the said Letter , Mr. L'Estrange said ( by way of caution ) unto this Deponent , A Man had need have a care what he says to such Fellows , for they 'l lay hold of anything ; or to the sam● purpose . That the substance of the Answer ( to the Deponent's best memory ) was this ; That if Mr. Tonge had any thing to say to him , he should be within at Seaven in the Evening . VI. That at seven in the Evening , ( or there abouts ) upon the earnest desire of Mr. Tonge , This Deponent went into Holbourn with him to Mr. L'Estrange's ; and told him how great a desire Mr. Tonge had exprest to be better acquainted with him ; and how ready he was to serve him , in Transcribing any thing for him : to whom Mr. L'Estrange answer'd , that he should be glad ( upon occasion ) to do him a kindness . VII . That hereupon , this Deponent told Mr. L'Estrange ( upon Mr. Tonge 's desiring it ) that Mr. Tonge offer'd to inform him of what he had delivered to the King ; and that Mr. L'Estrange reply'd , If he has any thing material to present to me , as a Justice of Peace , for the King's Service , I 'le give him his Oath and receive it ; upon condition that he declare it to be his own Act , without any motive to it from my self ; otherwise I will not meddle in it ; or Words to the same import : And that Mr. Tonge said this was reasonable , but that he had not such an Information ready drawn : That so this Deponent went away to a place hard by , and about a quarter of an hour after , returning that way , saw Mr. Tonge come out of Mr. L'Estrange's House with two or three little Printed Books in his hand , which he said Mr. L'Estrange had given him . VIII . And Lastly , That after this the Deponent heard Tonge speak no more of Mr. L'Estrange or of any Papers given unto him . A. Choqueux . Jur ' 4. die Octob. 1680 . coram me Magist. Cancel . Adam Ottley . Here 's the Occasion set down in the First Paragraph that brought me first to the Savoy ; where I did not so much as see Tonge , that night , though the Libellers would have it thought , that my Design upon Tonge was the Thing Expresly that carryed me thither . It may be noted upon the fifth Clause , That Tonge came to my House at the time appointed , ( according to the Tenor of the foregoing ) and afterward , told Choqueux that I was not at home : So that it is plain , that he press'd upon me , and I avoided him ; beside that his Secretary Reports it , as if Mr. Choqueux had only told him so , and he had not been there himself . Neither does he take any notice at all of his solliciting me by Letter to set him a Time of Meeting , or of my Answer in return to that Letter . And it appears also in the next Paragraph , that Monsieur Choqueux did not bring Tonge to me , but upon the Earnest desire of Tonge , Monsieur Choqueux coming along with him . Upon the whole matter here 's more then enough said to this point , and to prove that it was thus far an Intrigue carryed on in a direct Train for the Inveighling of me into a share . I shall now proceed to the laying open of a Continuation , or rather a Repetition of the same Project , under the Countenance , and Assistance of the same Prosligate Agents . I shall here Publish the whole truth of the matter , in hope that the Government will proceed for the securing of honest men , in their Lives and Reputations , against a Band of Sanguinary Libellers , and Prostitute Knights of the Post ; and not suffer the Popish Plot to be Shamm'd , and Expos'd to the Highest degree of Contempt and Discredit imaginable , only in the Contemplation of drawing in some Conscientious Protestant or other , that has a true Veneration for the King , and the Church , barely to the hearing of the Story ; for that 's sufficient to the Case here in question . The First Contriver , and Promoter of the Villany , brings himself off by setting up for the Informer . In the First business of Tonge , I kept my self upon such a Guard , as in Honesty and Prudence , I thought my self oblig'd to do , and it was well I did so , for a much wiser man then my self might have ventur'd further , perhaps , then in that Case I thought it convenient to do . I do not speak as to the entering into any Unlawfull Act , or Consultation ; but to the keeping of my self clear from any Reasonable Ground for the least Jealousie , or Suspicion . And yet all this Pre-caution notwithstanding ; how did the Weekly News-papers Publish me over the Three Kingdoms for the Greatest Villain in Nature ! For a matter of six weeks or two months together , without either Truth or Controll ; and no more in the whole matter , than the Impudence of Two or Three Mercenary Rascals to raise all this Scandall and Clamour . This experience taught me so much wit , ( though to my cost ) as for the future , never to have any thing to do with this sort of Catell again , but upon Terms of stricter Reserve ; so that I took up a Resolution ; if ever any further attempt of the same kind should be made upon me , I would fairly endeavour to spoil the jest , and set the Saddle upon the Right Horse . And this is my present Case , wherein I shall Govern my self by the Rules of a Good ChristJan , a Good Subject , and an Honest Man. There was a Whisper about a Quarter of a Year ago , of Tonge's being touch'd in Conscience for a False Oath , about the business of his Father , and the late Dr. Oates . This coming to my Ear , and a Paper of his to my hand , with strange Circumstances in it , I sent him a Letter by my servant , which I thought might very well become me in several Respects : and especially for so much as the matter of it did particularly relate to my self . The Copy of it follows . For Mr. Simson Tonge , &c. SIR , YOU will wonder at this Letter , perhaps , from a Person that has neither Directly nor Indirectly had any thing to do with you , either by Word , Writing , or Message , since October last was Twelvemonth , when , upon your Enformation , I was question'd , and wrongfully accus'd in many particulars before the King and Councell . I look upon it as my duty , to forgive ye ; and at this Good time , to tell ye so ; and I have the Charity to believe , if it had come into your thought , you would have found it your part to have desired it . I know very well , that Oates and College had the handling of ye before you gave your Evidence ; and I have reason to believe it should not have stop'd there if they might have had their Will. But however , I had kept my self upon such a Guard , and so Clear , that I was acquitted without the least doubt of my Innocence . I ask ye no Questions , nor do I desire any thing from ye ; though I should be glad to find any Instance of your Conversion , and that the Truth of the whole matter might appear . I do wish you ( in sine ) such a sense of what you owe both to God and Man , as may lead ye to a Just , and a Conscientious Discharge of your Duty . After all , I am Decemb. 27. 1681. Your Loving Friend , R. L'Estrange . I thought I could not do less in Honour and Religion , ( especially upon this Festival Occasion● ) than to mind him of His Duty by the Discharge of my Own ; but my Charity was not so well Requited , it seems , as it deserv'd : for instead of keeping himself to the Subject of the Wrong he had done me , he presently falls to his Old Play again , of throwing out Baits upon the Question of the Plot , to try if he could get any better hold of me This Bout than he did the last . Upon December 30. I received a Letter from him , in acknowledgment of mine of the 27th , in the Terms and Date following . Directed , For his Ever Honoured Friend , ROGER L'ESTRANGE , &c. Ever Honoured SIR , I Humbly thank you for your Charity , in Forgiving the Wrong I did you , in October was Twelve Month ; And I assure you , it hath been a Great trouble to me ; and if I could have hoped for Pardon , I should have begg'd it of you long since ; but I am Confident , if you had known how I was used by my Uncle first , and afterward by College and Oates , to force me to Accuse you Falsly , you would sooner have Pitied my weakness , and forgiven me what I have done against you : But this Generous Charity which you have now shewed , in giving me that Pardon , which I durst not ask for , hath encouraged me to Entreat you to Intercede with His Majesty , to Grant me His Gracious Pardon , for the Great Offences which I have Committed against him . And that he would be pleased to let me be brought to my Tryal , and have the Perusal of my Father's Papers , to help to make my Defence . And I hope to make out the Truth , to the satisfaction of all Honest Men , and Discharge the Conscience of , ●ings Bench , the Common-side , Dec. 28. 1681. Honoured Sir , Your veriest commandable Servant , Simson Tonge . This Letter came accompanied with the Draught of a Petition ; and Both in his own hand . There needed no Great Sagacity to Chop Right upon This Train , being the very Trick over again , that he had so lately serv'd me before : so that I was e'en resolv'd to look to my self , and to let Nature work ; Clapping this Endorsement immediately upon the Letter for a Memorial . The Endorsement . The Letter whereupon this is Endorsed , was delivered to the Person , who hath hereunder subscribed the Two First Letters of her Name . It was delivered to her Yesterday being the 29 th of December , 1681. with an acknowledgment that he had done the Person to whom it is Directed , a great deal of Wrong ; That he was sorry for it , and would have acknowledg'd it sooner had he had Opportunity : But that he was put on by his Uncle , and Others , to do what he did ; and desir'd the Bearer hereof to deliver the Letter , together with the Contents above written . All which he did of his own accord . Decem. 30. 1681. In the Presence of , &c. The Petition that came in company with this Letter , is Word for Word as follows . Those Names only Excepted , that are Inseparable from the Matter in Question . For my Business is only to Expose the Falshood of this miserable Wretch , without Involving others in the Consequences of his Calumnies . To His Most Excellent Majesty . The humble Petition of Simson Tonge Prisoner in the King 's Bench. Sheweth , THat after your Petitioner had Declared the Truth to your Majesty , concerning the Contrivance of his Father , and Mr. Titus Oates ; Your Petitioner being in great Want of Necessaries , his Uncle Captain Tonge having sent for him , was compelled to go to him for Relief , and Captain Tonge made your Petitioner Drunk , and then threatned and forced him to deny the Truth , and to Sign a Paper which the said Captain Tonge had written , your Petitioner not knowing what he did ; and afterwards when your Petitioner was committed to Newgate , College came to him , and by Threats and Promises , forced your Petitioner to deny the Truth ; for the which your Petitioner hath been ever since under great trouble of Mind , for his great Wickedness and Cowardize to deny the Truth . But your Petitioner doth Protest , in the Presence of Almighty God ; that it is very true , that the Plot was Contrived by my Father , and Titus Oates , when he returned the second time beyond the Seas : my Father and he writ much of it out of [ Houselife ] Queen Elizabeth , ( That Word Houselife I could not make out . ) and out of the Book writ by Hooper or Hocker that came from Rome , and swore against CampJan , and the other Jesuites ; as will appear both by the said Books , and by my Father's Papers ' if your Majesty please to cause them to be searched into : They first Writ at — where the Plot was Written by Oates in Greek Letters ; and afterwards went to Fox-Hall , and one of the Jesuites Letters is in my Father's Hand . Wherefore your Petitioner doth most Humbly Pray and beseech Your Sacred Majesty , to Pity the sad Condition of Your Petitioner , and to Pardon his Great Crime of going from the Truth : And to let him be brought to his Tryal , and to have his Father's Papers deliver'd to him , to make his Defence : And Your Petitioner hopes to make what he hath Written , so Clear ; that Your Majesty will think Him more fit for Your Pity , than Your Anger : And forgive the Great Wickedness of Your Petitioner , for the which he is truly Penitent ; and will rather perish here in Prison , than ever be Guilty of the like : As he hath shewed to those that have been with him , since his Great Poverty , to pervert Him farther from the Truth ; but Your Petitioner would not : Therefore Your Petitioner doth most Humbly Beseech Your Majesty , to Pity the sad and miserable Condition of Your Petitioner , and not to let him lie here and starve for want of Cloth and Bread. And Your Petitioner [ as in Duty bound ] shall ever pray , &c. Simson Tonge . This Petition made it as Clear as the Day , that he was Entring anew upon the Old Haunt ; and that he lay upon the Catch for an Opportunity to do me a Good Turn : So I thought it but reasonable to keep my self out of his Reach , and return'd him for Answer this Following Letter : Addressed , For Mr. Simson Tonge , &c. Mr. Tonge , YOurs of the 28 th Instant , came Yesterday to my hand , with the Draught of a Penitent Petition , which you desire may be presented to His Majesty . You must be more Particular and Clear , before I presume to undertake the Office. As for Instance . 1. You say that you were prest by your Uncle first , and afterward by College and Oates , to Accuse me falsly . But you say nothing what they would have had you to Accuse me of , more than you did : What means they us'd to bring you to 't ; whether there was any Money , or Reward , either given or promised : By whom ? What ? or how much ? How ? or in what manner this was done ? ( If any thing of this kind ) Or if any man can prove This besides your self ? 2. That Captain Tonge made you Drunk ; and sign a Paper of his writing , when you knew not what you did . But you do not say , either where ; what Liquor ; what quantity ; at what time ; who saw you together ; or afterwards saw you Drunk . 3. That the Captain sent for you ; And that you were Compelled by your Necessities to go to him for Relief . But you do not say how often he sent for you : by whom : to what place , or places : whether by word of mouth , or by Letter : Or if upon your going , when sent for , he made you Drunk at the same time : who can prove his sending for you : nor what Relief you had from him ; either in Money , or otherwise : Or what Promises : what Conditions : or what Discourses toward , or concerning all this , passed betwixt you . 4. You say , that your Uncle threatned , and forc'd you to deny the Truth . But you do not say , what those Menaces were : what Truth you were to deny : what Arguments , or Discourses he made use of to prevail upon you : or if any Conditions were offer'd ye , in case of your ComplJance . 5. You say , that College came to ye in Newgate . and Threaten'd and Forc'd you also to deny the Truth , But you say nothing to the Queries upon Num. 1. 6. You say the Plot was Contrived by your Father , and Oates , upon Oate's second Return from beyond the Seas : and name some Books ( the Names of them you cannot make out ) upon the Subject of Queen Eliz. Out of which they have a good part of the Contrivance ; and refer to those Books for the Agreement of the Matter . But you do not speak to Particulars ; what that Contrivance was ; how managed ; who privy , or assistant to it : Or what Discourses past upon it . So that here 's no matter of Fact set forth : Neither do I understand what Books you mean. 7. You say that Oates wrote the Plot , first , at — in Greek Characters ; and that afterward they went Both to Fox-Hall . But you do not say , why in Greek ; what became of the Copy ; what Discourse upon it ; what Assistants , or Advisers ; what was done afterwards at Fox-Hall ; how they came to go thither . 8. You say that One of the Jesuits Letters is in your Fathers hand . But not which of them : Nor ( in one word ) How you come to know all this ; Or who can speak to all these Particulars ? 9. You desire the Sight of your Father's Papers ; but say not in whose Custody they are . You Protest the Truth of all you say , as in the Presence of Almighty God : And in the Name of that Almighty God , I Adjure you , and Entreat you , to say nothing but Truth ; if you shall think sit to make me any Return to this Letter : And if you shall by such an Explanation as the Matter requires , furnish me with a Reasonable Ground to proceed upon ; I will plainly and honestly represent the state of the Case , as you lay it before me : and do as may become , From my House in Holbo●n , Dec. 31. 1681. Your kind Friend , R. L'S . P. S. This is my Second to you , in Answer to your First , and Onely Letter to me , since One in September was Twelve Month. Pray keep an account of what you Send , and Receive ; for I 'le do every thing Above-board 〈…〉 To take the Matter in Order as it rises ▪ The next I received from Tonge , was , That which follows , being Dated Jan. 2. and received the Day following , Mr. L'Estrange , I Received yours , and am very desirous of the Truth , being very confident that a great deal of Roguery and Villany lyes still undiscovered at the bottom of the Plot. But I am no wayes able to answer those Questions you Propose to me , so as to give you any tolerable satisfaction , unless that I were in Possession of my Fathers Papers , which would best clear what you desire . After my Fathers Death , I was enform'd , that those Papers he left at Colleges House , were seiz'd by the Counceil , and my Uncle , under pretence of Administring for me has seiz'd on the rest . This I am certain of , that if those Papers ever come to light they will discover very strange things . I have been now confin'd upwards of a Twelve-month ; and am now in a very Indigent Condition on the Common-side of the Kings-Bench , having no other Subsistence then the Basket : and the place I am in is no wayes suitable for writing , or any thing of serious thoughts . I Question not your Zeal for his Majesty , and the Royal Family ; and I think you could not do a greater service than to enquire , if you can any wayes know which way my Fathers Papers were disposed . Untill that be found out , I shall be in the dark , and no way able to give ye any tollerable result to any Questions : For the Popish Plot , by reason of the several Persons concerned in it , is so Intricate a thing , that to unravell it from first to last , and give you a Particular account of all the several Transactions , is more then I dare Assume upon me ; and by reason of my confinement , I have forgot many material things , which before would have occur'd to my memory : and therefore of necessity must have some assistance of my Fathers writings e're I can proceed . I am Your Loving Friend , and Servant , Simson Tonge . Kings-Bench the Common-side , Jan. 2. 1681. P. S. I Request a Word of Answer from you to this Letter . Any man with half an Eye may see the Drist of this Paper . The Charity of a Single six pence would have pass'd for a Subornation . My bare Enquiry after his Fathers Papers would have been a Tampering , to Invalidate the Kings Evidence . And such an Answer as he desires in his Postscript , to this Letter , would have ruin'd me to all Intents and Purposes . At the same time with the former of the second , I received from him also this following Letter . Superscribed , For his Honoured Friend Roger L'Estrange . Honoured Sir , I Received yours of the last Instant , ( mistaken for Dec. 31. ) and do briefly return you this Answer , untill I can better recollect my memory . 1. As to your first Question , what means was used to bring me to accuse you , when I was examind'd before Mr. Bridgman , at Captain Richardson's House , Oates asked me if you were not concern'd with me , I told him I had seen you once , but could not accuse you of any thing ; then he replyed he knew the contrary , and if I would not discover it , it should be the worse for me , and threatn'd me very much , but proferred me no money ; and none were present with me , but Mr. Bridgman , his Clerk and Oates . 2. The first Message I had , from my Uncle Captain Tonge , was by a young man that waited on him ; who brough me a letter , and desir'd me to come to him to the Golden Anchor in the Strand , whether I came , and having drunk several Bottles of Canary with him , I desir'd to take my leave of him ; who importun'd me to stay , and then call'd for several Bottles more : and said he had a Paper that I must sign , and sinding me unwilling , he drunk me to such a pitch that I was quite drunk , and then I sign'd the Paper . He sent likewise twice for me to the Half Moon in the Strand , where he likewise drunk me very high , and said he would give me some allowance towards my relief , and sent one Mrs. Lamb to me with half a Crown , and promised that hence forwards he would send me three shillings and six pence a week , which I constantly had sent me till of late . The arguments he made use of were , that though I were imprison'd , I should be supply'd with what necessaries I wanted , and that he would endeavour to purchase me my liberty , and discharge my Chamber Rent , and Fees on the Master-side of the Kings-Bench . My Father used to take Notes out of a great Book , it was a Suppliment after Hollinshed left off , and was joyn'd to his , and was writ as I have heard him say by one How , or How 's , and there were other little Books written by Hocker or Hopper , that was the Witness , and Prosecuted the Jesuits . I do not very well remember which , but it may be found by comparing the Letters with Oates and my Fathers Hand . One E — knows much , for he helped to write some of the Papers which my Father left were taken at College's House , and my Uncle sent one Mr. H - to me , in the Kings-Bench , and brought one who was a stranger to me , with a Paper , to Administer on my behalf , and sign'd it , and under pretence of Administring for me hath seiz'd on the rest of my Fathers Papers . That Mr. H — studies Physick , and lives not far from C — but I cannot remember the Court , but the Person he Lodges near , is High-Constable . Sir , I can make no better Answer at present , because I have no place to recollect my self : In the mean time I desire you would accept of this , which is no other then the Truth , from Your Humble Servant , Simson Tongue . Here follows my Answer , Jan. 3. to Two from Tonge received together . Mr. Tonge , Mrs. — has brought me a Letter from you this Morning of Jan. 2. 1681. and another Enclosed in it without Date . The Account you pretend to give of your Affairs , is very Imperfect ; and you mistake your self , in seeming to understand me , as if I had put any Questions to you : I only told you , that your Relation concerning the Matter , whereupon you propounded to Petition the King , fell short in many Particulars . I know very well how Liable Words are to misconstruction , and I will not meddle in any thing which is not as Clear as the Sun. I know nothing of your Father's Papers : If you have any thing to offer me , you must either Declare in the same Paper , that it is your own voluntary Act , or else I 'le not meddle in it . But wherein soever I can do you a Civility , that I may Honestly justifie , I am ready to shew my self , Your Loving Friend , Ro. L'Estrange . Jan. 3. 1681. Here follows another Letter of Tonge , of Jan. 5. King's Bench , the Common-side , Jan. 5. 1681. Mr. L'Estrange , FInding that my Two last Letters to you were Imperfect , I send you this Third , and Request you would be pleas'd to send me the largest Letter , that I may take a Copy of it . The Contrivance was thus : That under the pretence of a Popish Plot , ( which my Father first Imagin'd was on foot , and afterwards Oates at his Second Return , swore to be true ) Their main and principal Design was to Disinherit His Royal Highness . The First persons that manag'd the Plot , and were privy to it , were my Father Oates , &c. The last time I was with B — , he told me he had something to write , that was not sit to be nam'd , but he had burnt it ; and said , he was afraid those Papers would make him mad , should he write any longer ; and that my Father would trust none but him to Transcribe them , and he could not deny him , because he had no other Livelihood . My Father advis'd Oates to write the Plot in Greek Letters , because that none but themselves might be privy to what was doue . The Copy which was in Greek Letters was burnt by Oates . When they came to Fox-Hall , Mr. — was taken in for an Assistant , after he had been sworn to Secrecy . They went to Fox-Hall by my Father's advice , to the end they might be the more private , where those Papers they wrote at — were put into Form , and deliver'd into the Council . After they all Three remov'd from Fox-Hall , and Nail'd up the Chamber-door , having left several Papers behind ; and my Father understanding by Mr. Lambert , that the Door was broken up by the Landlord , and the Papers like to be seiz'd on , was much troubl'd at it , and sent away the Rent that was due by his Man Richard — now living at — who brought back the Papers with him , and can Testifie the same . Sir , I have no Chamber nor Conveniency to write , and besides have a very great Cold upon me ; but request you would be pleas'd to accept of this , which is upon a second Recollection of my Thoughts , which is my own voluntary Act ; and I have been under great Trouble of Conscience ever since I went from my Evidence , ana many times ready to Despair , but that Mrs. — coming to see a Prisoner , I desir'd her to look out some Papers I had left at her House ; and I sent to you , being you were the Person I had wronged , and therefore thought it my Duty to acknowledge my Fault , which I do now again , and Protest , that what I have done is neither in hope of Favour , nor Reward , but to discharge a good Conscience , and to shew that I am truly Penitent . And am Your veriest Commandable Servant , Simson Tonge . In Answer to this as follows . Jan. 6. 1682. Mr. Tonge , ALthough you have so exceedingly forfeited your Credit in the former Abuses you put upon the King ; and others that believed you , that you cannot expect much weight to be laid upon your single word , for any thing , yet having dealt so openly , and so particularly , ( and all on your own accord too ) in a Letter to me of Yesterday , I cannot but hope that you are a true Convert . You have named several Persons that were Privy to the matter of Fact there in Question . You shall do well to bethink your self both where they may be found , and what particulars they can speak to . And what you say , let it be in the Awe of Devine Justice , and Eternal Damnation if you bely any Creature . I will endeavour to do you good some honest way or other : but I dare not venture to see you , or speak with you , for fear of Mis-construction . This is all I can say at present . Your Loving Friend , R. L'Estrange . This was followed by another , from Tonge , Jan. 6. 10. Jan. 10. 1682. Mr. L'Estrange , I Am very sensible that my single word will be but of small moment . However as I declare nothing but the Truth , yet if by declaring what others can Testifie , I can be anyways Instrumental to the further discovery of it , I should not a little r●joyce . [ — having writ all the Papers which related to the History of the Plot , can give account of the whole contrivance , and the several meetings that my Father , Oates , &c. had . He is the only man in Town , could he be found out , &c. ] I have a great cold with sitting on the ground to make Pegg● , as I do all the week , and must work very hard for three-half pence a day , which is all I have , &c. — I am barefooted , and almost naked . I must confess , I have deserved far worse than this ; but God that hath promised that at what time soever a Sinner doth truly Repent , he will have mercy , will , I hope , look upon my unfeigned Repentance , and encline His Majesties Royal Heart to pitty and pardon me , if you please to impart my sorrowfull Estate unto the King ; and to let His Gracious Majesty know how I was Trepann'd by my Uncle ; for the which I am very sorrowfull , and am still . Pray Sir consider the sad Condition of Your Poor Servant , Simson Tongue There never was such a Penitent certainly to all manner of purposes ; but I began now to have enough of him , and in a short Letter of the Day following put an end to the Correspondence . Jan. 11. 1682. Mr. Tonge . I Dare not presume to trouble the King in your Affair . But I will do you all the good I can in what Case soever the matter will Honestly beare it . Your Loving Friend , R. L'Estrange . By this time , Tonge , and his Advisers , finding that they could not Compass their End ; and Mr. Thompson's News-Paper having given Vent to the Design , they lay'd their Heads together to make the best Retreat they could ; and to Face a Shamm upon the World , as if L'Estrange had been already up to the Ears in a New Plot : But they were so Thankful however as to Cover the Back-side of the Poor Fellow for his Good-Will , put some few Pence in his Pocket , and preserve him from Starving this bout , in hope of a more favourable Opportunity . But this shall not serve their Turn , if there be any Reverence left for the Memory of the Popish Plot ; or any Justice to be obtain'd upon Those Miscreants that make it their business to teare up the very Foundation of it by the Roots ; For the worst is yet to come , and under Tonge's Hand , and by him Attested , as well as all the rest . When I came from the University ( says he ) in the Year 77. I found Oates with my Father , in a very poor Condition , who complained he knew not what to do to get Bread ; who went under the Name of Ambrose . My Father took him home , and gave him Cloaths , Lodging , and Dyet , saying he would put him into a way . And then he perswaded him to get acquainted among the Papists ; and when he had done so , then my Father told him , there had been many Plots in England to bring in Popery , and if he would go over among the Jesuites , and Observe their ways , it was possible it might be One now ; and if he could make it out , it would be his Preferment for ever . But however , if he could get their Names , and a little Acquaintance from the Papists , it would be an Easie matter to stir up the people to fear Popery . ] And again , My Father and He ( Dr. Oates ) went and Lodg'd at Fox-Hall , at One Lamberts , a Bell-Founder , ( which House was call'd by the Neighbours the Plot-House ; And there Oates's Narrative was Written ; whereof several Copies were VVritten , very Different , the One from the Other ; and the Four Jesuites Letters ( wherein Oates pretended was the whole Discovery ) were Counterfeits , &c. All this I have to shew under Tonge 's Hand , and I Appeal to Men and Angels , if , it be not the Boldest Attempt that ever was yet made upon the Credit of the Popish Conspiracy : And sufficient to shake any Man's Faith , as to That Point , that were not Proof against the Utmost Effects of Malice , Impudence , and Imposture . So many Particulars , so Boldly , and Openly Attested ; in the Face of so many Witnesses , Tryals , Convictions , Sentences , and Executions ! And all this , Expresly Level'd at the Honour of our Parliaments , and the Dignity of Publique Justice with only the Profligate , and Faithless Practices of the Instrument to Weigh against the Impious Design , and the Desperate Effects and Consequences of so Daring a Scandal . But let the suggestions be never so Incredible and Ridiculous ; It is a thing of great Mischief yet to suffer the Authors of these B●●its and Rumours to pass Unpunish'd : for Malevolent Spirits will be apt to say ; If there were not something into , how is it , that the Reporters of these Fables come to scape ? The Best thing he has to say for himself , will be , perhaps , that he has not so much publish'd ▪ These Shamms by way of Affront to the Plot , as thrown them out for a Bait for L'Estrange to Chop at : So that the Credit of the Protestant Religion , and the English Government must , at this rate , be Expos'd , upon the Experiment of Trying to Engage , and Hamper L'Estrange in the Intrigue . But alas ! I am so thoroughly satisfied in the Business of the Plot ; and the whole Scheme of it is so Perfectly , and Distinctly in my Head , that I have not the least Curiosity in the World to know more on 't ; Beside ; That In vain is the Net spread in the sight of the Bird. I have not Concern'd my self to Hunt after his Fathers Papers , to Trace out his Fathers Agents ; nor Directly , or Indirectly made any sort of Applications Pursuant to his Purpose , and Desire ; but Innocently held him in play with Letter for Letter , to keep up the Rest. The Only Thing that stuck with me upon the thought of this Publication , was the Nicety of Committing those Papers to a Publique View , which might seem perhaps to be deposited in my Hands under some sort of Confidence , and Trust : But when I consider'd , on 〈◊〉 other hand , that These Letters were meant only as Snares to me under the Semblance of That Confidence , I was my own Confessor in the Case , and easily discharg'd my self of That Scruple : And not without a Further Sense neither of Duty to the Government . In Conclusion ; I have here made a Fair Discovery of a Foul Practice , both upon the Publique , and upon my Self ; I was to have been Trappan'd the One way , and Tonge is Detected the Other . I shall remit the rest to the Wisdom of my Superiors , how far it may be either Safe , or Expedient to Encourage this way of Proceeding ; Even to the Violation of Common-Faith , and Society . The Plot 's a Sham ( says Tonge ; ) If L'Estrange says so too , 't is almost as much as his Neck 's worth : Why should not This Scandalous Affront now , be as Dangerous to Tonge for the Starting of it , as it would have been to L'Estrange if he had Joyn'd in 't ? Trapanning will become a Trade , ( Nay , and Forswearing too ) if Men shall find it their Interest , First to play the Knaves , or the Cheats , and then ( as I said before ) come off for the Discovery , and set up for Enformers . This is the Case ; and if I had done less , I had been wanting both to the Publique , and to My Self . FINIS .