Justice Pemberton replied, “This might be writ to serve a turn very well”; and Scroggs closed the discussion by remarking, “This your witnesses say, and you urge, is true, but not pertinent.”[697] Shortly before Wakeman turned to his fellow-prisoners and said, “There is my business done.” He knew that in all human probability he would be condemned. Suddenly, without any warning, there occurred the most unexpected event, which, in a dramatic moment unsurpassed by the most famous in history, shattered the credit of Oates and produced the first acquittal in the trials for the Popish Plot.[698] Sir Philip Lloyd, clerk to the privy council, was asked to state with what Oates had charged the prisoner at his examination before the council. The evidence deserves to be given in Sir Philip’s own words: “It was upon the 31st of September,” he stated; “Mr. Oates did then say he had seen a letter, to the best of his remembrance, from Mr. White to Mr. Fenwick at St. Omers, in which letter he writ word that Sir George Wakeman had undertaken the poisoning of the king, and was to have £15,000 for it; of which £5000 had been paid him by the hands of Coleman. Sir George Wakeman, upon this, was called in and told of this accusation; he utterly denied all, and did indeed carry himself as if he were not concerned at the accusation, but did tell the king and council he hoped he should have reparation and satisfaction for the injury done to his honour. His carriage was not well liked of by the king and council, and being a matter of such consequence as this was, they were willing to know further of it; and because they thought this evidence was not proof enough to give them occasion to commit him, being only out of a letter of a third person, thereupon they called in Mr. Oates again, and my Lord Chancellor desired Mr. Oates to tell him if he knew nothing personally of Sir George Wakeman, because they were in a matter of moment, and desired sufficient proof whereupon to ground an indictment; Mr. Oates, when he did come in again and was asked the question, did lift up his hands (for I must tell the truth, let it be what it will) and said, ‘No, God forbid that I should say anything against Sir George Wakeman, for I know nothing more against him.’ And I refer myself to the whole council whether it is not so.”