A BLOUDY PLOT, Brought to light by Gods providence: Wherein was intended, A great insurrection, and rising of the Papists in divers Counties of this Kingdome, on Thursday, October 18. 1641.
ONE M r BEALE Over-hearing their Discourse, which is here related, according to the ttue Copy, by him presented to the PARLIAMENT.
With the Number, and Names of some Papists that are committed about the said Plot: and why?
Whereunto is added, A RELIGIOUS AND GRAVE SPEECH Spoken by Sir Robert Philips in Parliament, for the drawing up of the Remonshrance ready to the King.
Printed according to the true Coppie, presented to the High Court of Parliament, by the Author himselfe, 1641.
A True DISCOVERY Of a bloudy Plot.
ON Munday about one or two of the clocke in the Afternoone, Thomas Beale walking in the fields beyond the Pest-house, hearing the Discourse, perceived their names, the one to be George, the other philips.
VVHat a wicked thing was it, that that plot did not take effect?
Oh 'twas a wicked thing indeed! but I hope it was dismissed, that a better might take place.
I hope it will prove a better, if it be not unluckily prevented.
For my part I doe not fully understand the matter, for I came but last night to Town, and as soone as I came to my Lords, they told me I must needs come againe this morning; and when I came, I was conveyed up into the Lords chamber, and there was my Lord and Father Iones, and Father And [...]ewes: and Father Andrewes related to me what service I was for, but yet I could not fully understand the scope of it.
No: why, thou knowest whether thou carriedst thy Letters.
Yes, I carryed Letters into Buckinghamshire, and into Warwickshire, and into Worcestershire; but I did not know for what: but at one place I was bravely entertained, at Mr. Sh: as soone as ever he read the letter, he caused me to he set to dinner, and when I had dined, hee gave me a Letter to deliver to my Lord, and a piece for my selfe, and charged mee to make all speed I could to London againe: but prethee why dost thou bring me to stand here?
I stand here, because in yonder path (pointing to the rode way before him) I promised to stay for Dick Jones: thou knowest him, doest not?
Yes, as well as I know thee.
He's a good lusty fellow thou knowest, & he is appointed to kill that raskally puritan Pym, him that hath bin the chiefe cause of our misery.
But I feare still the puritans will prevaile.
Tush, tush, prevaile; how can that be? being we have so many friends both in the lower & the upper house; and when all these base puritans are killed, then on a sudden all the City will be in a tumult, and then on the instant will there be risings in [...] severall places of the land, to my knowledge: in Buckinghamshire, in Warwickshire, in Worcestershire; in Lancashire, (the other two places I romember not.)
Yea marry Sir, this sounds well, if wee can but escape, we shall all be made men.
If we escape, we shall be brave fellowes; Lords, and Knights, and Gentlemen: and we have as brave wayes to escape as ever men had: for wee can quickly change our names, and our cloaths, and our face too, and with that he plucked a false beard out of his pocket, saying, am I the man I was; putting it on as I conceive
That is a dainty way indeed, we may thank Father Andrews for that trick; for if we have but the least time, presently we can change our shapes: but if we should be taken, 'tis but our lives, and then wee shall be Saints: for wee to day tooke the holy Sacrament on it, and were shrieved.
So did we on Saturday, I was the 37 man, and vve had forty shillings a man: and when that vvas gone, vvee might come and fetch more.
I thinke I was the last of all for after I was in my Lords Chamber, I staid till 5 more came, and I understood that Father Iones said we were all, & I was last set downe, & was the hundred and eight, and we had all 40 s. a piece, (shaking his pockets) but how cunning Father Iones was, he set downe all our names on the one side, and just against them the names of them we should kill: but prethee who must kill the Lords?
O they be brave fellowes in their scarlet Coates, and their Cloaks lined with plush, they had ten pounds a man, and if we should prevaile, we shall every man have the possessions and lands of him that we kil'd: there be 4 Londoners Tradesmen, that are to kil [...] the puritan Citizens▪
I doe but thinke what a racket there will be when this is done; though all be not killed, yet it will make such a tumult for the time, that it will make them have little mind to send to Ireland.
Ay, that was Father Andrewes his wit, to prevent sending to Ireland, and I hope if they prevaile there, we shall not need to feare here.
Thou knowest him that thou art for ay, as well as I know thee; and I (swearing most bloudily) will be his death, though it cost me my life a thousand times, hee is a great fa [...]-guts fellow, either comming downe staires, or in their Coaches, or at any other place:
Having spoken thus, he that they looked for Dick Iones it seemeth did appeare, which caused George suddenly to leape up, saying, now he is comming; and by his suddaine starting, he deseryed me on the other side of the bank; which when he had, he desperately swore he would end me first, and with that, stepping up the banke on the sudden, ere I could recover my legs, which were so nummed with kneeling, that indeed for the time I could not stand, he drew his repier and ran me through my cloake, short coat, breeches, shirt and breeches on the other side: and by the almighty providence of God, ran betwixt my thighes, and yet did me no hurt at all: so thinking he had ended me (for indeed I lay still, being in such a sudden feare with the [...]ight, and hearing him speake so bloudily, and fearing a second blow) hee leaped backe againe, and ran away out of my sight, before ever I could recover my senses to take notice which way he ran, but as soone as ever I came to my selfe, I posted to the Parliament House, and first related it to Alderman Somes: he and Mr. Pymme satisfied the Lower House of it, where I was examined, and afterward in the Lords House three severall times: & since that the place hath bin seriously viewed, both by Lords and Commons, and the truth made apparant, and I hope some of the Plotters taken: which I pray God they may be, if it please him, for Jesus Christ his sake: to whom be praise for ever, Amen.
THE NAMES of the Papists Committed.
I.
ON the aforesaid 18. day of November, there was one Sherborne a Recusant, brought as a Delinquent to the House, for saying his Son had hurt a man in the fields: therfore he had sent him out of the towne, that he might not be questioned, for it was conceived, that his Son had hurt Mr. Beale, and that he knew of the Conspiracie.
II.
AFterwards on Saturday following, the House of Commons was turned into a Committee, to receive the Names of such eminent Recusants, as beare any Office in the severall Counties, or were any wayes suspected dangerous. And they reported to the House the names of above threescore, which afterwards at a Conference, were delivered to the Lords, desiring, that there might be care taken of them: especially of one Liltle living about Rachston. The Lords taking it into consideration, dispatched a Messenger for the bringing of the said Liltle to the House.
Sir Rohert Philips his worthy Speech in Parliament.
IF ever there were a necessity of dealing plainly and truly, now is the time. There hath bin admission of Papists, priests, and Jesuits, as if it were in Spaine or France: this increase of papists is by conivance of persons in Authority. Nine hundred and forty persons in houses of Religion in the Netherlands, being English, Irish, and Scots: and maintained by the papists in England. And of this, I shall deliver the particulars, that wee may frame a Remonstrance to the King: that unlesse there be some better performance of his Majesties so many gratious Answers to our Petitions, our religion will be past recovery.