The particulars of another great Plot against the Lord Protector, and a Narrative of the Conspirators, extorted from them at their Examination, &c.
Mongst the rest of the great plots and Conspiracies, contrived by the disaffected Spirits, since the Revolution of these Times, the very last carryes a special Memento, whereby the [Page 4]people of England by thinking of it, may lay aside their disobedience, and put themselves into an holy Array, to meet the Lord, and bless his Name, for these his Mercies vouchsafed to the Nations, in making so happy and timely a discovery of this unlimited Conspiracy: For, as I am informed, it extended to all in general, except those who should come in and joyn with them; and not onely the Lord Protector, and the Honourable Lords of his Councel; but also divers members of Parliament, and Officers of the Army, should have been exposed to the mercy of merciless men, and have suffered in this bloody Assassination, had not Providence prevented it: For, 'tis said, that they had entred into an Oath of Secresie, to list men privatly, and to procure all such Armes as should make them formidable, in case of any opposition; for which end, they had bought many Blunderbusses, Musquets, Carbines, and Pistols, and had lodged them (as it is reported) in several places both in London and Westminster, with a Resolution to have put a period to the happy Constitution of this Government on Christmass day, by surprizing of the several Guards at white-Hall, St. Jameses, the Mewes, and other places. But [Page 5]one of the chief Conspirators being at last so extreamly haunted with the Furies of a guilty Conscience, took an occasion to reveal the same: In which great VVork, the true saying of a learned Author is verified; That when the Conscience accuseth, the Tongue confesses, the Eyes weep, the Hands wring, the Heartakes, and the Voyce cries; true it is, no part can be at ease.
Upon which discovery, dtvers were apprehended, and the Armes before-mentioned seized and taken.
Since which time, many Ship-Chandlers have been examined; and some Gunsmiths, who confessed the number of Arms sold within the space of such a time; but to whom, and for what use they could not tell.
And upon sufficient Evidence of their Innocency, they were discharged.
Great is the care of our prudent State to make a cleer discovery of the depth of the Design; and to find out the chief Fomentors thereof; to the end they may be brought to condign punishment and be made fit Objects of Justice.
- MR. Hales,
- Mr. Jackson,
- Mr. Smith,
- Mr. Gilbert,
- Mr. Ramsey,
- Mr. Lamb,
- W. Dent,
- John Packer,
- John Bryan,
- Arthur Fox,
- Anthony James,
- W. Monk,
- Tho. Frere,
- Adam Broughton,
- Nich. Broughton,
- W. Broughton
- Peter Rey,
- John Rey,
- W. Sperington,
- T. Jeffery,
- W. Ogleston,
- W. Marshal,
- Tho. Andrews,
- Adrian Beal,
- G. Simpkin,
- Cuthbert Roe.
And many others, who unadvisedly involved themselves in this Conspiracy; some of which, as Report saith, are Quakers, but I shal not affirm it for a truth, til Time makes a further discovery thereof: Yet certainly, they must needs be men unbyassed, that wil presume to stigmatize their own persons with so heinous a crime as to incur not onely the merit of Justice, according to Law; but also a perpetual Infamy from Posterity to Posterity. For know that the positive Law of God is, That whosoever sheddeth blood, by man shal his blood be shed again: and they who wil not have their Truth their Protector, and willingly obey it, it is just with God, they should have Falshood their Tyrant, and so be captivated, and enslaved.
Many are dayly apprehended; which (as it hath of late dayes been reported) hath caused a Gentleman that lay in Red Cross street to desert his Lodging, who for some space of time had been there resident, and went by the name of a Knight, but pretending himself to be the King of Scots, left a large score behind him, for which [in time] there may come a just day of Reckoning.