Ireland affirmed, that he was in Staffordshire all the month of August last, a time when Oates's evidence made him in London.

He proved his assertion by good evidence; and would have proved it by undoubted, had he not most iniquitously been debarred, while in prison, from all use of pen, ink, and paper, and denied the liberty of sending for witnesses.

All these men, before their arraignment, were condemned in the opinion of the judges, jury, and spectators; and to be a Jesuit, or even a Catholic, was of itself a sufficient proof of guilt.

The chief justice,[**] in particular, gave sanction to all the narrow prejudices and bigoted fury of the populace.

Instead of being counsel for the prisoners, as his office required, he pleaded the cause against them, browbeat their witnesses, and on every occasion represented their guilt as certain and uncontroverted.