to Douay, Paris, and Madrid.[197] As far as Bedloe’s character is concerned the matter is immaterial, for another lie from his mouth would scarcely add weight to the scale of his perjury; but it is important not to exaggerate the folly and credulity of the government, and here at least it has been maligned. This was little more than a support for Oates’ story in general. The more remarkable part of Bedloe’s information dealt with the murder of Sir Edmund Godfrey. All that need be extracted from it at this point is his evidence against Atkins. Godfrey, he swore, had been murdered on Saturday, October 12, in Somerset House, the queen’s palace. He was himself to have been one of the party to do the deed, but failed to come at the right time. Soon after nine o’clock on Monday night he had been taken by one of the murderers to see the dead body in the room where it had been laid. There, in a small company, he saw by the light of a dark lantern, standing near the corpse, two men “who owned themselves, the one to be Lord Bellasis’ servant, and the other to be Mr. Atkins, Pepys’ clerk.”[198] The account which was communicated to the Lords concludes: “The same time Mr. Atkins being called in before Mr. Bedloe, Mr. Bedloe saith that he is in all things very like the person he saw in the room with Sir Edmundbury Godfrey’s dead body; and he doth verily believe it was him that owned himself to be Pepys’ clerk; but because he never saw him before that time, he cannot positively swear it, but he doth verily believe him to be that man.”[199] According to Atkins’ own account Bedloe’s charge against him at this meeting was still more vague. Bedloe was asked if he knew the accused. Turning to Atkins he said, “I believe, Sir, I have seen you somewhere, I think, but I cannot tell where; I don’t indeed remember your face.” “Is this the man, Mr. Bedloe?” asked the Duke of Buckingham. “My Lord,” returned the informer, “I can’t swear this is he; ’twas a young man, and he told me his name was Atkins, a clerk, belonging to Derby House; but I cannot swear this is the same person.”[200]