The Information of Francisco de Faria, Delivered at the Bar of the House of Commons, Munday the First Day of November, 1680.

(ANGLO JUDAICA).

John Bill, Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, Printers to the King

London

1680

On title, seal of Great Royal Crest, “Honi soit qui mal y pense”

Roth, Magna Bibliotheca Anglo-Judaica, p. 248, no. 1

This fascicle begins with the following words, “The information of Francisco de Faria, born in America, son of John de Faria, a Jew, of St. Giles [Belgium].” The information de Faria provided was considered essential in uncovering the infamous “Popish Plot,” a Catholic plot to overturn the Protestant government of England. We learn from his testimony that de Faria was recruited as an agent in Antwerp, where he made the acquaintance of several English Catholics, including nuns and a Jesuit priest, who convinced him to travel to London. There he worked in the employ of the Portuguese ambassador as an interpreter. (De Faria was fluent in eight languages.) Eventually, he was offered by the Ambassador the assignment of assassinating two key persons in exchange for the considerable sum of 50,000 reales d’ocho [pieces of eight]. Later, Francisco’s brother, Abraham de Faria, arrived in London; he too was brought into the Affair by the Ambassador. A tale of considerable intrigue and suspense. See AJHSP, Vol. XX, pp. 115-132.