had and should receive The King of Navarre besought the King to remember his promise of Alliance newly contracted and not to constrain him in his Religion The Prince of Conde also more fervently answered that the King had given his Faith unto him and to all those of the Religion with so solemn a Protestation and Vow that he could not be persuaded that his Majesty would falsify such an authentick Oath and that thereupon he had thus far yeilded to his Majesties Demands and faithfully performed what he had required of him on this Assurance But as touching the Religion whereof the King had granted him the free exercise and God the true knowledg to whom he was to make an account therein for this his Religion he said he was fully resolved to remain most constant therein and which he would always maintain to be true although it were with the loss of his Life This answer of the Prince set the King into such a choller that he began to call him Rebel seditious and Son of a seditious Person with horrible threatnings to cause them to lose their Heads if within 3 days they took not better counsel and indeed these threatnings and other crafty carriages in this way so wrought on both these Princes at last that they forsook their Faith and first Love and turned to Romish abominations Now the King perceiving that this Massacre of Paris would not quench the Fire but rather kindle it the more fearing lest those of the Religion in his other Provinces and Towns might assemble and unite themselves together and so give them new work he with the speedy advice of his Counsellors sent two Messengers with two several Messages the one to the Governours and seditious Catholicks of his remoter Towns wherein were many of the Religion with express command to massacre them the other containing certain Letters to the Governors of Provinces by which he pretended this Massacre to be perpetated by the Duke of Guise and the Admiral to be murthered on a particular and private quarrel betwixt them two and that the King 's honest meaning and intention was utterly against these things and seriously to maintain his former Edict of a general Pacification and therefore that his care and vigilancy had ceased it the same day it began and yet as my Author recordeth in his History on the Tuesday following being the 26 of the same August the King accompanied with his Brethren and the chiefest of his Court went to the Court of Parliament and there publickly declared in express terms That whatsoever had hapned in Paris was done not only by his consent but also by his Commandment and of his own motion And as for his other former mentioned Message and Letter to other Towns and Provinces for the massacring of those of the Religion among them also his bloody command herein was immediately put in execution at Lyons and many other places where the poor Protestants were murthered and massacred in most hideous and horrible manner by those merciless and inhumane Butchers of bloody Rome who knockt down the innocent Christians among them as so many Dogs cut their Throats mangl'd their Bodies slash'd off their Hands with great sharp Knives as on their Knees they held them up to the Villains praying for the sparing of their Lives yea and were known to rip up their Bellies and take out their Fat from their Bowels and to sell it to the Apothecaries to make Medicines Thus also in those remoter parts from Paris were very many thousands of the Religion murdered without any difference or distinction either of Sex or Age. And so deeply enraged was the King and his Adherents and so desperately resolved to root out and extirpate the memory of those of the Religion especially of any note or eminency that the King having at last got into his custody one Briquemant a noble French Gentleman of the age of seventy years one that had valiantly imployed himself in the Service of the Kings of France having been found in the House of the Ambassador of England then resident in France wherein he had hid himself whilst the greatest fury of the Massacre was executed was by the King's command put in close Prison together with another vertuous Gentleman Cavagnes Master of the Requests both which Gentlemen bare great affection both unto the Religion and also unto the renowned Admiral and were themselves of great esteem and reputation in France but the King having them now fast in hold threatned to tear them in pieces upon the Rack if they would not write and sign with their Hands that they had conspired with the Admiral to kill the King his Brethren the Queen and the King of Navarre But they having most constantly and justly refused to avouch so horrible a lye against their own and their godly Friends Innocencies were racked and cruelly tormented and by a most unjst sentence of the Court of Parliament in Paris they were both declared guilty of Treason and condemned to be hanged upon a Gibbet which was accordingly executed The Queen-Mother leading the King her two Sons and the King of Navarre her Brother-in-Law to see the Execution Her Counsellors thinking that at this last exploit what they had wickedly projected namely the false transferring of the cause of this bloody Massacre on a treasonable Plot intended by the Admiral and others of the Religion against the King as was fore-mentioned would now be wrought out and effected if Briquemant in presence of all the People now at the time of his expected Death would ask pardon of the King withal to work it on the more sending one to him to certifie and assure him that so he might easily save his Life for the King was merciful and that he should have pardon if he would desire it confessing this fact wherewith he was charged But Briquemant answered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not unto him but to the King to ask pardon of God for such an heinious Offence That he would never ask pardon for a fault wherein he had not offended but knew himself to be most innocent whereof he called GOD to witness desiring him to pardon the King 's so great Disloyalty and Cruelty Cavagnes also the other noble Gentleman did the like until he died Insomuch that this execution contrary to the King's expectation served to no other end but more to publish the iniquity of all those cruel Homicides and of all their most pernicious Counsels The Papists Plots in reference to the late Troubles and particularly about the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory as proved by Doctor Du Moulin WHen the Businesses of the late bad Times are once ripe for an History and Time the bringer forth of Truth hath discovered the Mysteries of Iniquity and the depths of Satan which hath wrought so much Crime and Mischief it will be found that the late Rebellion was raised and fostered by the Arts of the Court of
〈…〉 â—â—â—â—UNT 〈◊〉 â—HE â—everal PLOTS CONSPIRACIES and Hellish ATTEMPTS of the Bloody-minded PAPISTS against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland from the Reformation to this present Year 1678. AS ALSO Their Cruel Practices in France against the Protestants in the Massacre of Paris c. WITH A more particular Account of their Plots in relation to the late Civil War and their Contrivances of the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory LONDON Printed for J. R. and W. A. 1679. Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Foraign Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience case to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our Eyes in those little Draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great Trouble and loss of Time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherefore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgment of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdoms I have here collected out of divers Authors which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief Conspiracies and Attempts against the Kingdoms alone and immediately of great Britain and Ireland or else mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or foraign Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first-time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present Year I begin no higher than Queen Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his Sister Queen Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopeful young Prince that was not rather from Ambition if there was any such than from a desire of subverting Religion Not but that the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdom had us then in their Minds but other ways there were before bloody and desperate Practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of less difficulty and more hopeful success And these are the steps the Adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Egypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calves of Rome introducing Ignorance and Blindness that we may when our Eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of Slavery If this course fail the next is by Poyson Murdes and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Egypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are jointly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the Misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of Soul and Body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangeness of the discoveries of their mischiefs sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authors have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate God's goodness to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewise So that for these Mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own Work and continual thanks for his Mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the days of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin Slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have it lost easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can endure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learn also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortned that he cannot save nor his Ear heavy that he cannot hear those that call upon him lifting up pure Hands in sincerity of Heart although the Sins of our Nation in general may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and Superstition a thing not hard to be done in human Reason if the Children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we think their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to Soul or Body as some Men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhor the Religion of such a Generation as count they do God good service by killing us witness the bloody Persecution under Queen Mary and the damnable Plot of the Gun-Powder Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Author of the English Martyrology makes the Marian Persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Hereticks And for the Gun-Pouder Conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few Male-Contents far from the approbation of the Catholicks others as falsly that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbear to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended God's true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderful it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-Powder Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist than a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom Men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloody Persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdom a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best Men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any Man might freely have spoken yet no Man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie-name are none of the worst because from likeness at least
divers Men have one Name We will acknowledg Hypocrites among them but because one is such no Man will conclude they must be all so No Man of us almost abhorreth the Name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will Lie others will Steal and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange Name for such Men and let fall the râ—â—roach of Puritan They call them by a figurative Name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest Figure is of the largest Capacity so they have shaped them a Name which is larger than Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament to curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be toâ—us terres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the business now The King of Spain offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raign of Queen Elizabeth Philip the second of Spain sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a Dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denial her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded People had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtful Affections till she could better provide for her own Security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spain by the Marriage of Queen Elizabeth if like her Sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against England MAry now Queen of Scots Daughter and Heir apparent unto James the fifth and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Lorrain who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Queen Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Arms of England uniting them to the Arms of Scotland on her Plate in the Windows of her House and on her Servants Coats declaring her self thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Brethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother-in-Law with their Confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and there to proclaim the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with Men and Money but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great Forces to augment their Numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable Trouble and Danger of a Civil War Beside all this she had at this time on every side Enemies abroad the French King the King of Spain the Guisian and Popish Faction in Scotland The Loyal People of Scotland were so unable to help her that they stood in need of her help The Low-Countries were under Spanish Tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdom The Conspirators confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the Life of our Queen for indeed they were made believe by Predictions of Popish Astrologians that Queen Elizabeth could not live above one year The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their Lives after Sentence of Death upon them from their own Confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appear by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsel of the Guises for about those times their alone Counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the Civil War of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the aid of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could 1000 Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquiss of Hamilton yet the power of the Queen Dowager with her French Faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquiss Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000 Crowns by the Year and Dutchy of Castle-Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquiss's chief kindred the Marquiss resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Lorrain Queen Dowager a thing for a Woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedom of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her Friends in plain terms that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely than they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young Man whom she seemed to bewail being slain for that his Father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded towards the Professors thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish Custom For these and divers other of her overtures Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many Promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vain She told the Earl of Glencarn and Sir John Campbel who were sent unto her That performance of Promises was to be expected from Princes no farther than stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all Obedience and Duty toward her Violence now with Art was to be used for effecting her Purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the People being bereaved of their Heads would after be easily brought to undergo any Yoak but that things might appear with a more pleasing Colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her Adversaries in Religion
under his command 800 Italians the Spaniard paying the Soldiers Stucley then went to Sebastian King of Portugal to intreat him to be chief Conductor but was perswaded by the said King and the King by Abdalla's Son Mahomet to go first unto the African War where both King Sebastain and himself lost their lives And thus God overthrew their wicked counsels for that time Fitz-Morris his second attempt against Ireland ANno Domini 1579 James Fitz-Morris formerly having fled into France being pardoned for a former Rebellion in Ireland goeth now to the Spaniard and is by him sent unto the Pope to consult with him about his request which was to reduce that Kingdom by force of Arms unto Popery The Pope at the earnest suit of Nicholas Sunders an English and Alan an Irish Priest gave Fitz-Morris some Money to that intent and sendeth him back to the Spaniard from whence with his Priests three Ships and a few Soldiers he arrived at Smerwick in Kerry in Ireland and raiseth a Fort there Thomas Courtney an Englishman presently supriset the Ships John and James Brethren to the Earl of Desmond join themselves to Fitz. Morris who was their Kinsman The Earl of Desmond although he pretended the contrary favoured them drew forces together and by this pretence of Desmond caused the Earl of Clanrickard who came to oppose them to withdraw himself Fitz. Morris seeing few Irish come to his aid under pretence of going in Pilgrimage to the holy Cross of Tipperary went toward Conaught and Vlster to draw Forces together whose Horses being tired he took some Horses from the Plough of William a Burgh his Kinsman and being pursued by the Sons of William a Burgh Fitz-Morris perceiving that told his cousin Theobald a Burgh that it was no time now to fall out about Horses but to join with him in the business of Rebellion for which he was come into Ireland These Brethren had bin in a former Rebellion but now declared unto Fitz-Morris their sorrow for it yet now fighting with Fitz-Morris to recover the Horses both the Brethren and some others were slain Sir William Drury was then Lord Deputy who sent for the Earl of Desmond who made a promise by his Wife to the Dputy that he and his Men would fight against the Rebels He dissembled long but after that Malbey had defeated John his Brothers Forces and had sent for Desmond to come unto him about Rekel a Town of Desmond he plainly discovered his Rebellion That Night the Rebels set upon Malbeys Tents but were disappionted Afterward Desmond was sent for to come in person by the Lord Deputy Pelham who succeeded the deceased Sir William Drury but excuseth himself by a Letter sent by his Wife The Earl of Ormond was sent unto him that he should deliver Sanders the Priest the Castles of Carigofoile and Asketton and to submit himself absolutely The prosecuting of him was committed to the Earl of Ormond who ruined Conilo the Rebels only refuse â—e hanged the Bayliss of Youghall at his Door for refusing to take an English Garrison into the Town besieged the Spaniards in Strangical but they withdrew themselves and after were all killed and so hard he pressed Dismond and his Brethren that madly they intreated the chief Justice to take their parts Afterward the Justice sent for the Nobility of Munster to come to him and would not dismiss them till they had given pleadges that they would assist against the Rebels They made the Baron of Lixenaw yield himself took Carigofoil Castle killed and hanged all the Spaniards in it and the Captain also an Italian San Josephus with 700 Spaniards sent into Ireland THe next Year 1580 700 Spaniards and Italians came to divert the Queens Forces rather than to conquer Ireland they landed at Smerwick under the command of Son Josephus and Italian they fortified it and called it Fort Delor but being followed by the Earl of Ormond they withdrew thence into a Valley called Glammingel Some Prisoners of them were taken who confest they were 700 and that Arms were brought for 5000 and that more were expected from Spain that to conquer Ireland the Spaniard and Pope had resolved and therefore sent into the hands of Sanders Desmond and his Brother John a vast sum of Money That Night the Spaniards and Italians returned to their Fort which so soon as Ordnance could be brought and Winter was returned with the Ships of War from England was on every side besieged and after five days taken The common Soldiers Italians and Spaniards were put to the Sword the Irish hanged only the Captains of the former were preserved Three Years after Desmond wandring like a Vagabond had his Arm almost cut off by a common Soldier before he was known and after was slain Nicholus Sanders was almost famished in the Woods and died stark mad This Year 1580 Priests and Seminaries much increasing in England severe Laws were enacted against them These were for the most part bred in the English Colledg of Doway founded by the procurement of Alan somtimes a Student in Oxford afterward Priest and Cardinal in the Year 1568. Afterward under Requesenius's Government in the Low-Countries when the Wars were between England and Spain the Fugitives were thrust from thence and two Colledges erected for them one at Rhâ—mes the other at Rome the first by the Guises the second by Gregory the 13. From these places rose in England Hanse Nelson Main Sherward Priests who reported Queen Elizabeth to be an Heretick and so ought to be deposed for which they suffered In the aforesaid Year 1580 Robert Parsons a Man of turbulent Spirit and impudent Campian a more modest Man both Jesuits they to serve the Catholicks turns obtained of Pope Gregory an interpretation of Pius his Bull against Queen Elizabeth that it bound the Queen and Hereticks always but not Catholicks till a convenient sâ—ason Compian wrote a Book intituled 10 Reasons in defence of Rome Mr. Chark answered him soberly Parsons wrote against hark virulently but Campian's 10 Reasons were thorowly answered by Dr. Whitaker Campian and others condemned EDmund Campian Ralf Sherwin Luks Kerby Alexander Briant were taken in the year 1581 as Traitors to the Queen and State and condemned for coming into England to stir up Sedition Still more and more Priests came into England and for their dangerons Doctrine That Princes excommunicated were to be thrown out of their Kingdoms that Princes of any other than the Roman Religion had lost their Kingly Dignity that those who had taken Orders were freed from Princes Jurisdiction and not bound by their Laws it was enacted 1582 That it should be Treason to disswade any Subject from his Allegiance and from the Religion established in England c. Somerviles attempt to kill the Queen AN. Dom. 1583 divers Priests and Jesuits wrote dangerous Books against Q. Eliz. and certain other Princes excommunicated which prevailed so far that one Somervile a Gentleman breathing out nothing but Blood against
and spoileth the Country upon which the Rebels make haste to come in unto the Deputy and Tyrone beggeth pardon upon his Knees From Dublin Tyrone should have been carried into England but the Queens death-hindred that and King James pardoned him Afterward he entred into another Conspiracy with O Cane but being sent for with a Process to answer a suit which the Bishop of Derry had against him and fearing he had bin sent for for his Conspiracy he sled out of Ireland Garnet Catesby and others labour to invade England IN the last Year of Queen Elizabeth there was a Plot layed against her by Garnet Catesby and others that the Spaniard should join with the Papists here in the Invasion of England Winter was sent into Spain for that purpose and Creswel the the Leger Jesuite in Spain Don Pedro Francisco second Secretary of State and the Duke of Lerma assured Winter that his Message would be very acceptable to the King of Spain Then had Winter an answer by Count Mirands that the King would bestow 100000 Crowns towards the expedition and at the next Spring at farthest would set his Foot in England Winter returneth and acquainteth Garnet Catesby and Trâ—sham with all and they others but before the next Spring the Queen died The Gun-Powder Treason AT the Queens death Christopher Wright was sent into Spain and Guy Fauks also from Brussels by Sir William Stanley to advertise them there that King James was as violent against the Catholicks as Queen Elizabeth and therefore urged the Spaniard to prosecute the old design The Jesuits privately suggested that they should not admit him into England as being an Heretick Catesby hâ—ld that the King being an Heretick forseiteth his Kingdom before â—â—y sentence pronounced The Parliament was dissolved the 7th of July which the King held and prorogued till the 7th of February Catesby at Lambeth broke with Winter about blowing up the Parliament House Winter told him that it struck at the root but what if it should not take effect Catesby won Winter to consent but first said be go over and win the Constable to obtain more favour for Catholicks and if you may bring over some confident Gentlemen as Mr. Faux Winter went met with the Constable at Bergen and delivered his Message The Constable answered that his Master commanded him to do all good offices for the Catholicks but he shewed the Constable nothing of the matter Faux and Winter came both into England This plot of blowing up the Parliament House after an Oath of Secreoy and the Sacrament received upon it Catesby disclosed it to Percy and Winter and Wright to Faux Percy hired the House Faxn was pretended to be Percy 's Man and names himself Johnson and kept the Keys of the House till the adjournment of the Parliament at which time all the Conspirators departed into the Country A House was hired at Lambeth by Percy to keep the Powder and Wood for the Mine to which it was to be conveyed When the Plot had taken effect what should they do Percy with two or three of them with a dozen more would seize on the Duke and carry him away The Lady Elizabeth was to be surprized at a hunting near the Lord Harringâ—ons They would save from the Parliament first Catholicks then some particular Persons While they wrought in the Mine they fed on baked Meats that they might not go forth At Candlemas the Powder is brought over about which time working in the Mine they came against a Stone-wall when hearing a rushing noise of Coals they seared they were discovered But it was only the moving of Coals to be sold which Celler Faux hired 20 Barrels of Powder they had provided which they hid with Billets and Fagots Faux went into Flanders to acquaint therewith Stanley and Owen Stanley was not there Owen approved it Percy and Catesby met at the Bath and it was agreed that Catesby should call in whom he thought best The number being small He called in Sir Everard Digby and afterward Mr. Tresham The Parliament was a-new prorogued till the 5th of November Then the Conspirators all went into the Country and returned 10 days before the Parliament and hearing that the Prince would be absent from the Parliament said they would then seize on the Prince and let alone the Duke Saturday before the Kings return which was on Thursday a Letter in the Street was delivered to the Lord Mounteagle's Man to put it into his Masters Hand It had neither Date nor Superscription and by the Lord Mounteagle was that Night sent to the Earl of Salisbury who made acquainted with it the Lord Chemberlain the Lord Admiral the Earl of Worcester and Northampton The Letter was this My Lord OVt of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the event in safety For though there be no appearance of any storme yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burned this Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make a good use of it to whose holy protection I recommend you Friday following the King read it who considering the Sentence therein expressed that they should receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and joining it to the Sentence for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burn'd this Letter did suspect the danger mentioned to be some sudden danger of blowing up with Powder Afterward it was determined the Lord Chamberlain should view both above and beneath the Parliament Houses Which the Lord Chamberlain having done sound in a Vault under the upper House great store of Billets Faggots and Coals and casting his Eye aside a Fellow standing by which called himself Percy 's Man that had hired the Celler The King supposing that Gun-Powder might be hid under that Wood and Coals caused a further search to be made Whereupon Sir Thomas Knevet went about the Parliament House with a small number to search more narrowly the Mid-night next after where he found Faux standing without Doors booted and spurr'd and apprehended him then in search under the Wood and Coals 36 Barrels of Gun-Powder and about the Traitor three Matches and other Instruments fit for that wicked purpose were found which wicked intent of blowing up the House he instantly confessed affirming that if he had been in the House he would not have failed to blow up both himself and them