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Article JOHN FITZ. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Fitz.
means of a trap which opened from one of the vaults , into a court where heavy luggage was usually introduced . By a ladder , this was easily done , and the escape of the whole pariy was effected without the slightest interruption . It would be in vain to attempt to describe the astonishment of Justice Knaggs and his myrmidons at their fruitless search . The minutest
scrutiny was made without success ; and indeed some doubts arose on the part of the men as to the safety of pursuing their investigation , conceiving that such an escape was almost supernatural . The malice of Robert Sprang was shorn of its venom , ancl his spiteful attempts were completely defeated : not , however , that the disappointment corrected , for one moment , his bad feelings ; on the contrary , lie solicited
the Justice to arrest John Fitz , and even accompanied the officers to his former friend's house , where Fitz , who bad arrived at home , was taken . The opinion of this unfortunate young man , in regard to the political events of the times , was well known to be completely inimical to the designs of the party of the Bishop of Winchester : he had upon several public occasions rendered himself conspicuous in siding with the adherents of the Duke of Gloucester , protector of the realm ; and was known to have headed a party of his young fellow-citizens upon the
occasion , when the Bishop with his servants and followers were repelled from taking forcible possession of the City . The old Justice waited upon the Bishop early on the following day , and related to him the particulars of the attempted arrest of the Freemasons , and the step he had taken with John Fitz , whom he represented as a partizan of the Duke of Gloucester , and a determined foe of the
Bishop . Incensed beyond measure by the story , the Bishop at once determined to wreak his vengeance on the person of John Fitz , and gave immediate directions for bringing him as a criminal before him for examination ; which was done the same day at the residence of the Bishop , in Stangate , Lambeth '" .
He was accused , on the evidence of Robert Sprang , and testimonies were offered by Justice Knaggs and his officers , in support ofthe charge , of being engaged in treasonable practices , contrary to the laws of bis country . Fitz defended himself by referring to his known attachment to the king and to the government ; at the same time , he stated be would not degrade his character , by denying that he was a Freemason . The Bishop at once desired him to reveal the objects and pursuits of the Craft . To this question the prisoner stated , in a bold tone , " That although he was but a young member of the fraternity , he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Fitz.
means of a trap which opened from one of the vaults , into a court where heavy luggage was usually introduced . By a ladder , this was easily done , and the escape of the whole pariy was effected without the slightest interruption . It would be in vain to attempt to describe the astonishment of Justice Knaggs and his myrmidons at their fruitless search . The minutest
scrutiny was made without success ; and indeed some doubts arose on the part of the men as to the safety of pursuing their investigation , conceiving that such an escape was almost supernatural . The malice of Robert Sprang was shorn of its venom , ancl his spiteful attempts were completely defeated : not , however , that the disappointment corrected , for one moment , his bad feelings ; on the contrary , lie solicited
the Justice to arrest John Fitz , and even accompanied the officers to his former friend's house , where Fitz , who bad arrived at home , was taken . The opinion of this unfortunate young man , in regard to the political events of the times , was well known to be completely inimical to the designs of the party of the Bishop of Winchester : he had upon several public occasions rendered himself conspicuous in siding with the adherents of the Duke of Gloucester , protector of the realm ; and was known to have headed a party of his young fellow-citizens upon the
occasion , when the Bishop with his servants and followers were repelled from taking forcible possession of the City . The old Justice waited upon the Bishop early on the following day , and related to him the particulars of the attempted arrest of the Freemasons , and the step he had taken with John Fitz , whom he represented as a partizan of the Duke of Gloucester , and a determined foe of the
Bishop . Incensed beyond measure by the story , the Bishop at once determined to wreak his vengeance on the person of John Fitz , and gave immediate directions for bringing him as a criminal before him for examination ; which was done the same day at the residence of the Bishop , in Stangate , Lambeth '" .
He was accused , on the evidence of Robert Sprang , and testimonies were offered by Justice Knaggs and his officers , in support ofthe charge , of being engaged in treasonable practices , contrary to the laws of bis country . Fitz defended himself by referring to his known attachment to the king and to the government ; at the same time , he stated be would not degrade his character , by denying that he was a Freemason . The Bishop at once desired him to reveal the objects and pursuits of the Craft . To this question the prisoner stated , in a bold tone , " That although he was but a young member of the fraternity , he