1685; Privy Council Book, February
26, 1685-6.]

[Footnote 465: Lansdowne MS. 1152; Harl. MS. 6845; London Gazette, July
20, 1685.]

[Footnote 466: Many writers have asserted, without the slightest
foundation, that a pardon was granted to Ferguson by James. Some have
been so absurd as to cite this imaginary pardon, which, if it were
real would prove only that Ferguson was a court spy, in proof of the
magnanimity and benignity of the prince who beheaded Alice Lisle and
burned Elizabeth Gaunt. Ferguson was not only not specially pardoned,
but was excluded by name from the general pardon published in the
following spring. (London Gazette, March 15, 1685-6.) If, as the public
suspected and as seems probable, indulgence was shown to him; it was
indulgence of which James was, not without reason, ashamed, and which
was, as far as possible, kept secret. The reports which were current in
London at the time are mentioned in the Observator, Aug. 1,1685.---- Sir
John Reresby, who ought to have been well informed, positively affirms
that Ferguson was taken three days after the battle of Sedgemoor. But
Sir John was certainly wrong as to the date, and may therefore have
been wrong as to the whole story. From the London Gazette, and from
Goodenough's confession (Lansdowne MS. 1152), it is clear that, a
fortnight after the battle, Ferguson had not been caught, and was
supposed to be still lurking in England.]

[Footnote 467: Granger's Biographical History.]

[Footnote 468: Burnet, i. 648; James to the Prince of Orange, Sept. 10,
and 24, 1685; Lord Lonadale's Memoirs; London Gazette, Oct. 1, 1685.]

[Footnote 469: Trial of Cornish in the Collection of State Trials,
Sir J. Hawles's Remarks on Mr. Cornish's Trial; Burnet, i. 651; Bloody
Assizes; Stat. 1 Gul. and Mar.]

[Footnote 470: Trials of Fernley and Elizabeth Gaunt, in the Collection
of State Trials Burnet, i. 649; Bloody Assizes; Sir J. Bramston's
Memoirs; Luttrell's Diary, Oct. 23, 1685.]

[Footnote 471: Bateman's Trial in the Collection of State Trials;
Sir John Hawles's Remarks. It is worth while to compare Thomas Lee's
evidence on this occasion with his confession previously published by
authority.]

[Footnote 472: Van Citters, Oct. 13-23, 1685.]

[Footnote 473: Neal's History of the Puritans, Calamy's Account of the
ejected Ministers and the Nonconformists' Memorial contain abundant
proofs of the severity of this persecution. Howe's farewell letter to
his flock wil