Then Oates, seeing he had gone too
far, said they did not know of the conspiracy, but it had been
intended to acquaint them with it in good time. Later on he
swore falsely against them.
Meanwhile the wildest sensation was caused by the revelations of
this "hellish plot and attempt to murder the king." The public
mind, long filled with hatred of papacy, was now inflamed to a
degree of fury which could only be quenched by the blood of many
victims. To the general sensation which obtained, a new terror
was promptly added by the occurrence of a supposed horrible and
mysterious murder.
On the evening of Saturday, the 12th of October, Sir Edmondbury
Godfrey was missing from his home in the parish of St. Martin's.
The worthy magistrate was an easy going bachelor of portly
appearance, much given to quote legal opinions in his discourse,
and to assert the majesty of the law as represented in his
person. He was alike respected for his zeal by the protestants,
and esteemed for his lenity by the catholics. Bishop Burnet
records the worthy knight "was not apt to search for priests or
mass-houses;" and Archdeacon Eachard affirms "he was well known
to be a favourer rather than a prosecutor of the papists."
Accordingly, his disappearance at first begot no evil suspicions;
but as he did not return on Monday, his servants became alarmed
at the absence of a master whose regularity was proverbial. His
brothers were of opinion he was in debt, and sought escape from
his creditors; whilst his friends, after their kind, were ready
to name certain houses of doubtful repute in which they were
certain he had taken temporary lodgings.
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