ity, named Bateman. He had attended Shaftesbury professionally, and
had been a zealous Exclusionist. He may possibly have been privy to the
Whig plot; but it is certain that he had not been one of the leading
conspirators; for, in the great mass of depositions published by the
government, his name occurs only once, and then not in connection with
any crime bordering on high treason. From his indictment, and from the
scanty account which remains of his trial, it seems clear that he was
not even accused of participating in the design of murdering the royal
brothers. The malignity with which so obscure a man, guilty of so slight
an offence, was hunted down, while traitors far more criminal and
far more eminent were allowed to ransom themselves by giving evidence
against him, seemed to require explanation; and a disgraceful
explanation was found. When Oates, after his scourging, was carried into
Newgate insensible, and, as all thought, in the last agony, he had been
bled and his wounds had been dressed by Bateman. This was an offence not
to be forgiven. Bateman was arrested and indicted. The witnesses against
him were men of infamous character, men, too, who were swearing for
their own lives. None of them had yet got his pardon; and it was a
popular saying, that they fished for prey, like tame cormorants, with
ropes round their necks. The prisoner, stupefied by illness, was unable
to articulate, or to understand what passed. His son and daughter stood
by him at the bar. They read as well as they could some notes which he
had set down, and examined his witnesses. It was to little purpose. He
was convicted, hanged, and quartered. [471]

Never, not even under the tyranny of Laud, had the condition of the
Puritans been so deplorable as at that time. Never had spies been so
actively employed in detecting congregations. Never had magistrates,
grand jurors, rectors and churchwardens been so much on the alert. Many
Dissenters were cited before the ecclesiastical courts. Others found it
necessary to purchase the connivance of the agents of the government by
presents of hogsheads of wine, and of gloves stuffed with guineas. It
was impossible for the separatists to pray together without precautions
such as are employed by coiners and receivers of stolen goods. The
places of meeting were frequently changed. Worship was performed
sometimes just before break of day and sometimes at dead of night. Round
the building where the little flock