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is called conversation. This free and easy system was quite convenient to the informers, as it saved them much trouble in searching for evidence.

Plot for the destruction of certain members of the House of Lords.

On one occasion the English house of lords was most seriously alarmed by the important information given by an Italian, that he heard an Irishman, in the street, inform a certain Francisco, in Italian, that a plot was laid to kill some members of that house, particularly the earls of Northumberland, Essex, Holland, &c.* The house of lords attached great importance to the affair, and summoned the parties to the bar; but it ended in smoke, after the purposes for which it had been fabricated were answered.

Plot for the assassination of one hundred and eight members of both houses of Parliament.

Of all the informers of those days, a certain Thomas Beal, a taylor, merited the palm. None of the confraternity could stand a comparison with him. He gave minute details of a plot, in which one hundred and eight persons had engaged to murder as many members of parliament. The wages they were to receive for this pleasant and amusing business, were very moderate, particularly for the commons, who were not valued at more than twenty per cent. of the lords. The latter were to be paid for at the rate of ten pounds per man: but the members of the lower house were valued at only forty shillings. The feats were to be performed as the members were coming down stairs from the parliament house, or taking their coaches, or going into their lodgings!!!t

* Jan. 11, 1641-2. This day, one Francis Moor, an Italian, gave in an information to the house of lords, that yesterday he stood talking with an Irishman, who lives with the lord viscount Loftus, in the street, and overheard ONE BRIAN KELLY, AN IRISHMAN, servant to the earl of Arundel, SPEAK IN ITALIAN!!! to one signior Francisco, an Italian, and say, that there was a plot laid to kill some lords of the parliament; and in particular named the earl of Northumberland, the earl of Essex, the earl of Holland, the earl of Pembroke, and the earl of Leicester.

"Hereupon, it is ordered, That the said Brian Kelly and signior Francisco shall be forthwith apprehended, and attached by the gentleman usher attending this house, and brought as delinquents to the bar, which was done accordingly: and Brian Kelly being brought to the bar, and charged with the words, he denied that he ever spake any such words. Thereupon Moor was called in to confront him, and upon oath averred what he had formerly informed."581

"House of Lords, Nov. 15, 1641. Thomas Beal, a taylor, dwelling in White-Cross street, was called in, and made a relation of the whole plot, with all the circumstances, which were as follows: "That this day, at twelve of the clock, he went into the fields.

581 Nalson, II. 843.

"Nov. 16, 1641. The lords and commons assembled in parliament, having received informations of dangerous designs and practices, by priests and Jesuits, and ill-affected persons, to disturb the peace of this state, and the proceedings of Parliament, and to attempt upon the persons of many of the members of both Houses; and well knowing that there is no way to prevent the mischief which the malice of such men may suddenly bring upon the realm, to the utter

near the Pot-house: and walking over a private bank, he heard some talking, but did not see them at first: but finding them by the voice, he coming within hearing of them, understood they talked of state affairs and going nearer them, he heard one of them say, that it was a wicked thing, that the last plot did not take; but if this goes on, as in hand and intended, they shall all be made. Heard them say, that there were an hundred and eight men appointed, to kill an hundred and eight persons of the Parliament, every one his man; some were lords, and others were to be members of the house of commons, all puritans; and the sacrament was to be administered to the hundred and eight men, for performing of this; and those that killed the lords were to have ten pounds, and those that killed the members of the house of commons, forty shillings. That Gorges, being the thirtyseventh man, had taken the sacrament on Saturday, to kill one of the house of commons, and had received forty shillings. That one Phillips coming to London on Sunday night late, was charged to be at my lord's chamber, where was only my lord, father Jones, and father Andrews: he also had his charge, and five more with him, he being the hundred and eighth man, and the last, as he thought.

"That Phillips had been in Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire, with letters: and that he delivered letters to Mr. Sheldon, who gave him his dinner and a piece for his pains, charging him to make haste to London again, and giving him letters to deliver to my lord.

"That Dick Jones was appointed to kill that rascally puritan Pym; and that four tradesmen were to kill the Puritan citizens which were parliament men.

"That on the same day, being the 18th of this month, when the city shall be in a tumult, there shall be risings in six several parts of this land, by the Papists; viz. in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, Lancashire, and two other places which he remembers not.

"That those that were to kill the lords were brave gallants in their scarlet coats, and had received every man ten pounds a-piece; and when that was gone, they might come and fetch more.

"That this was to be dene either coming down stairs, or taking their coaches, or entering into their lodgings, or any other way, as they should see opportunity.

"That although all were not killed, yet the tumult would be so great, that it would prevent sending to Ireland; and that was father Andrews his wit, to prevent sending thither; because if they prevailed there, they should not have cause to fear here."5

682 Nalson, II. 646.

subversion of our religion, laws, and liberties, but by putting the kingdom into a posture of defence, and so to be ready, upon all occasions, to oppose force to force."

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"The commons acquainted their lordships, that they have discovered some things further concerning the plot which was related by Beal; for, upon examination, they are informed, that there are two such priests as father Jones and father Andrews; Jones, they understand, is here in town, at the earl of Worcester's house; and Andrews is described to be near fifty years of age, and uses to come much to sir Basil Brooke's house.

"The house of commons further thinks fit, that a declaration be made, that whosoever of the hundred and eight men, designed to do this mischief, shall come in and discover the same, both houses will be humble suitors to the king that they may be pardoned, and they shall be well rewarded."584

The idea of a large body of "brave gallants," not, as sir John Falstaff says, "in Kendal green," but "in scarlet coats," for the purpose of rendering themselves conspicuous, engaged to poignard an equal number of members of parliament coming out of the house, or going into their carriages, the major part for only forty shillings a head, would form an admirable episode in baron Munchausen. But, absurd and ridiculous as it was, the "greedy maw" of public delusion and prejudice cheerfully swallowed it as suitable refection for its devouring appetite.

Shales's plot.

A plot for which sir Henry Beddingfield was apprehended, is equally absurd and nonsensical, though not so much detailed. It is impossible to conjecture what it means, from the deposition of the informer

*" William Shales, serjeant of the foot company under the command of sir Arthur Loftus, knight, saith, that about the latter end of April last, he being then in Norfolk, at Oxborough hall, in the house of sir Henry Beddingfield, the said sir Henry, hearing that this examinant was lately come out of Ireland, sent for him into his garden, whither when he came, he found the said sir Henry walking with one Poole, (whom this examinant supposeth was a priest) and saith, that as soon as he came into the said garden, the said sir Henry asked him whether he knew how the state of Ireland then stood? To which the examinant said, that he thought that all things were quiet and at peace there. Why (quoth sir Henry) doth the army then do nothing? To which the examinant replied, that they carried themselves quietly, and that any man might walk in Ireland with a thousand pounds, and a wand only in his hand. He saith also, that the said sir Henry told him, that he was about to take a house in Kilkenny, of one of the Butlers, for that there was no safety in England for any of his religion; and asked of the examinant, whether there were any good hawking thereabouts? To which the examinant said that there was. Then the said sir Henry said, that now his mind was altered, and that he meant to 584 Ibid.

583 Nalson, II. 649.

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who communicated the important information. But absurd and contemptible as it was, it excited great alarm-and was the subject of parliamentary discussion. It is adduced here merely to display the folly and stupidity of the contriver, and the encouragement afforded to informers.

Plot in favour of Lord Strafford.

It is wonderful, says Nalson, that "whenever the faction had need of a plot, some kind person or other was sure to furnish them with one or more, as there was occasion." On the 11th of Jan. 1641-2, when lord Strafford's fate was depending, a great alarm was excited in both houses of parliament, and generally in the city of London, by the production of two anonymous letters against his enemies, and threatening them with destruction. Among other miserable tales contained in these letters, one was, that 10,000 Protestant ministers were ready to unite with the Roman Catholics, to avenge the dishonour of the bishops in being committed after their celebrated protest.

stay in England; and added, that he did believe, that before Christmas day next, there should be seen such combustions in England and Ireland, as the like were never seen before; and thereupon cursed the Scots as the authors of these troubles.

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"Whereupon it was ordered, that sir Henry Beddingfield should be sent for in safe custody by the gentleman usher of the house; and none permitted to speak with him, but in the presence of the messenger; and that his study should be sealed up by the two next justices of peace, till the further pleasure of the house be known." *"To the worshipful and my much honoured friend Orlando Bridgman, Esq. a burgess of Parliament, at his chamber in the Inner Temple, these present.

the

"Sir,

"We are your friends; these are to advise you to look to yourself, and to advise others of my lord Strafford's friends to take heed, lest they be included in the common calamity: our advice is, to be gone, to pretend business, till the great hubbub be past; withdraw, lest you suffer with the Puritans: we intreat you to send away the inclosed letter to Mr. Anderton, inclosed to some trusty friend, that it may be carried safely, without suspicion, for it concerns the common safe. ty. So desire your friends in Covent-Garden.

"January 4th, 1641-2."586

"The inclosed was directed,

"To the worshipful, and my much honoured friend Mr. Anderton,

these:

"SIR-Although many designs have been defeated, yet that of Ireland holds well; and now our last plot works as happily as that of

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Forged letter respecting the pope's interfering with the English par› liament.

In a former part of this work, p. 31, I mentioned the case of a number of priests, condemned to death for exercising their functions in England, contrary to the statute, and reprieved by the king; whose execution was called for by the parliament. In order to accelerate their fate, and to preclude the chance of escape, a letter was forged and presented to parliament as having come from Venice, in which the pope threatened to invade Ireland, unless a change of measures took place;* for whenever any sinister object was to be ac

Ireland. We must bear with something in the man. His will is strong enough, as long as he is fed with hopes. The woman is true to us and real, her council about her is very good. I doubt not but to send you by the next, very joyful news; for the present our arch enemies, Pym, Hampden, Štrode, Hollis and Haslerigg are blemished, charged for no less than treason; before I write next, doubt not but to have them in the tower, or their heads from their shoulders. The solicitor and Fiennes and Earl, we must serve with the same sauce: and in the house of lords, the Lord Mandeville is 'touched; but Essex, Warwick, Say, Brooke, and Paget, must follow, or else we shall not be quiet; Falkland and Culpeper are made friends to our side, at leastwise they will do us no hurt. The Protestants and Puritans are so divided, that we need not fear them; the Protestants in great part will join with us, or stand neuters. While the Puritan is suppressed, if we can bring them under, the Protestants will either fall in with us generally, or else if they do not, they are so indifferent, that either by fair or foul means, we shall be able to command them. The mischievous Londoners, and the apprentices may do us some hurt for the present; but we need not much fear them; they do nothing orderly but tumultuously; therefore we doubt not much, but to have them under command after one brunt, for our party is strong in the city, especially Holbourn in the new buildings and Westminster. We are afraid of nothing but the Scots appearing again; but we have made a party there, at the king's last being there, which will hold their hands behind them, while we act our part at home. Let us acquit ourselves like men, for our religion and country, now or never. The king's heart is Protestant; but our friends can persuade him, and make him believe any thing. He hates the Puritan party, and is made irreconcilable to that side; so that the sun, the moon and the seven stars are for us: There are no less than 20,000 ministers in England, the greater half will in their places be our friends, to avenge the bishop's dishonour. Let our friends be encouraged; the work is more than half done.

Your servant, R. E.27587

*"Upon Saturday February 26, 1641, secretary Nicholas sent a letter to the house of commons, which he had received lately from a great person in Venice, giving him to understand, that the pope of Rome was much incensed at the proceedings of this parliament against

687 Nalson, II. 836.

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