The Substance of the Information of Richard Perkin of Shutborrow

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Of ‘The Substance of the Information’.

In 1678, Viscount Stafford was implicated in Titus Oates’s later discredited “Popish Plot”, and sent to the Tower of London on 31 October 1678, along with four other Catholic peers. They were due to be put on trial in early 1679, but Charles prorogued Parliament and it was delayed. The King initially seems to have had some suspicions about Stafford’s loyalty, especially after hearing the seemingly plausible evidence of the informer Stephen Dugdale, and went so far as to offer Stafford a royal pardon if he would confess; but he later altered his opinion. Scepticism about the plot grew and it was thought that the imprisoned peers might be released, but anti-Catholic feelings revived in 1680 and Stafford was put on trial in November for treason. As a peer he claimed the privilege of peerage to be tried before the House of Lords, presided over by the Lord High Steward. As events would show, however, a peer could not take the sympathy of his fellow peers, even those peers who were his blood relations, for granted.

The main evidence against Stafford came from Titus Oates, who said he had seen a document from the Pope naming Stafford as a conspirator; and from Stephen Dugdale, who testified that Stafford had tried to persuade him to kill the King when Stafford was visiting Dugdale’s employers, the Astons, at their country house, Tixall, Staffordshire.

The Substance of the Information of Richard Perkin of Shutborrow, concerns this period at The Astons.

Richard Perkin would again appear in another pamphlet:

The Several Informations of Mr. Simeon Wright, Thomas Launders and Richard Perkin concerning the horrid Popish Plot in England : and the several ways that have been used to take off the Kings witnesses, and to hinder the further discovery of it : the two former, being witnesses in the trial of the late Lord Stafford, their informations were taken upon oath by Edmond Warcup, Esq., one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster, in December last 1680 : the latter was taken upon oath by Sir Robert Atkyns, kt. at the assizes at Stafford, 1679 : the whole informations being nothing but matter of fact., London: Printed for Thomas Simmons. 1681.