This he promised to accomplish, but
afterwards, his conscience reproving him, he resolved to avoid
the assassins; and rather than accept the sum proffered, he had
preferred discovering the villainy to the Government.
This improbable story obtained no credit with the king, nor
indeed with those whose minds were free from prejudice. "His
majesty," writes Sir John Reresby, "told me Bedlow was a rogue,
and that he was satisfied he had given false evidence concerning
the death of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey." Many circumstances
regarding the narrator and his story showed the viciousness of
the one and the falsity of the other. The authority just
mentioned states, when Bedlow "was taxed with having cheated a
great many merchants abroad, and gentlemen at home, by
personating my Lord Gerard and other men of quality, and by
divers other cheats, he made it an argument to be more credited
in this matter, saying nobody but a rogue could be employed in
such designs." Concerning the murder, it chanced the king had
been at Somerset House visiting the queen, at the time when,
according to Bedlow, the deed had been committed. His majesty
had been attended by a company of guards, and sentries had been
placed at every door; yet not one of them had witnessed a
scuffle, or heard a noise. Moreover, on the king sending Bedlow
to Somerset House, that he might indicate the apartment in which
the magistrate's remains had lain three days, he pointed out a
room where the footman waited, and through which the queen's
meals were daily carried.
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