Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n
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A87689
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The Kentish conspiracy: or, An order and narration declaring the late plot for the surprizing of Dover castle: and the setting on foot of a commission of array in the county of Kent. Taken and extracted out of the examination of the severall conspirators. Published by order of the committee at Alesford, Janua. 9. 1645.
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1645
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Wing K322; Thomason E25_6; ESTC R17205
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4,791
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15
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THE Kentish Conspiracy OR AN ORDER and NARRATION Declaring The late Plot for the Surprizing of DOVER CASTLE And the setting on foot of a Commission of ARRAY in the County of KENT Taken and extracted out of the Examination of the severall Conspirators Published by Order of the Committee at Alesford Janua 9. 1645. LONDON Printed by R. Cotes for Michael Spark Junior 1648. AT THE Generall Committee AT ALESFORD 1 January 1644. SVch hath been the restlesse spirit of Malignity in some amongst us as if they meant to out-vie the manifold providence and goodnesse of God by an unwearyed reiteration of new experiments whether the Watchman of Israel bee yet awake for the protection and preservation of his people from which Atheisticall principle ungodly and unreasonable men have roused up their almost despairing spirits to new and more vigorous actings of their mischiefe And hence was it that notwithstanding the manifest hand of God in discovering their former wickednesses and bringing them upon their owne heads once and againe in this County and in other parts of the Kingdome Yet hath not the feare of God or man wrought upon them to desist witnesse this last designe for the betraying of Dover Castle and the setting on foot of Commissions of Array whereby they were not afraid to imbroyle this County as they have done the rest of the Kingdome in a most cruell unnaturall and bloody war The preventing whereof by the mercy and goodnesse of Almighty God who hath still brought to light the hidden things of darknesse and hath yet graciously lengthened out our tranquillity and peace doth call aloud unto us for our unfained thankfulnesse and praise to the God of our Deliverances wherein this Committee in regard of that publick Trust which lies upon them being sensible how deepely they are concerned to stirre up themselves and others have Ordered as followeth That upon the Lords day being the six and twentyeth day of this instant Ianuary in the morning before the Sermon the Ministers of the severall Parishes throughout this County shall openly read this Order and Narration of the late designe and of the discovery thereof hereunto annexed and shall lay open unto the people the vilenesse of the same and the miseries and calamities which would inevitably have followed if God had suffered it to take effect And shall withall presently after the reading of this Order and the said Narration openly declare their own abhorring of the said Plot and detestation against it And to the end that the people likewise may not bee wholly wanting in some visible testimony of their thankefulnesse for this Deliverance and of their abhorring and detestation of this wickednesse It is desired that at such time as the Minister shall so declare himselfe All who are of a willing minde then present doe in token of joyning with the Minister stand up from their seates And it is further Ordered that the severall Ministers doe often upon the Lords day and at other times but more specially upon that day take occasion both in their Prayers and Sermons to prayse God as for all former Discoverings and Defeatings of Plots and mischiefes intended to this County during this present Parliament so in particular for the Discovering and Defeating of this by name and that they doe hence likewise take occasion to stirre up the people as to all Christian duties answerable to such mercies so particularly to a constant adhering to the Cause of God in the present work of Reformation and in the just defence of the Subjects Liberties and to inform the people throughly that in comparison of these things their estates and lives which they owe to God and to their Country ought not to bee valued or esteemed by them And whereas divers ignorant persons not knowing the danger and penalties in the severall Ordinances of Parliament have been made instruments of this and the like mischiefes by carrying and bringing Intelligence Messages or Letters to or from Oxford or any part of the Enemies Quarters All persons are therefore hereby required to take notice at their perils that whosoever shall hereafter bee found culpable in that kinde shall bee dealt withall as a Spye according to the severest punishments inflicted by the said Ordinances and the Church-wardens of the severall Parishes are hereby required by the Thursday next following the said Lords day appointed as aforesaid for the publication and execution of this Order to bring in returnes under their hands unto the next Deputy Lieutenant thereby certifying how this present Order hath been executed in their severall Parish Churches and by what Minister And it is Ordered that the said Deputy Lieutenants doe within eight dayes after the receipt of the said Certificates send in the same unto this Committee or doe certifie the names of such Church-wardens who shall make default of bringing in unto them the said Returnes that so a due Accompt may bee taken thereof as is requisite in a matter of so great importance A BRIEFE NARRATION Of the late PLOT FOR The Surprize of Dover Castle and the setting on foot of a Commission of Array in the County of Kent taken and extracted out of the Examinations of the severall Conspiratours and published by Order of the Committee of the said County THE Castle of Dover being about two yeeres since possest by Mr. Daux of Dover to the use of the Parliament hee probably not finding his expectations of preferment answered by that subordinate charge which was committed to him under a worthy Knight and Member of the House of Commons bethought himselfe of making a Party in the Towne and Castle and of holding the Castle for the King and to this end communicates his Counsels to one Chandler Belton Dennis Tillet and others of Dover whom hee made choice of as fit instruments for that purpose But this designe soone proved abortive by discovery neither was the first Contriver of it Daux much longer lived Yet had this project taken such impression in the surviving Confederates that they resolve to carry on the worke To which end they associate to them Tomkins Startup Bray Stoakes Wellard Mr. Thomas Graunt and others of Dover and the parts adjacent And after severall consultations at length resolved to send Bray to Oxford about Midsummer last for further directions and advice from thence Bray undertakes the journey in the Habiliments of his profession and with his Carpenters rule and leathern apron easily passeth the Courts of Guard without being suspected any where of any further Journey then to or from the next neighbouring Towne or Village to his worke or home Bray thus got to Oxford makes himselfe and his businesse known to Captaine John Jacob late of Dover and by him gaines accesse to Sir Edward Nicholas his Majesties chiefe Secretary of State to whom hee imparts his Errand which the Secretary very well approves of but for the present advised to deferre it till his Majesties neerer approach to these 〈…〉 he being then with his Army
about Buckingham With this answer Bray returnes to Dover but is upbraided by his companions there as having cheated them of their moneys which they had collected among themselves to beare his charges To cleere himselfe from which aspersion he undertakes three severall journeys more successively to Oxford but all without effect his Majesty being not all that while returned In this interim those at home had gained to their party some Gentlemen of Note and substantiall Yeomen in and about Dover and others of meaner ranke to the number of sixty or thereabout some of whom they thought fit to bee intrusted with the more speciall contrivance and manage of the businesse who had by this time projected it as followeth Startup Hayes and others should have used meanes to be entertained as Souldiers in the Castle who at a time appointed should have a merry day with the other Centinells and Souldiers at the drinking of some bottles of wine to be sent in as a present to them by Mr. Graunt the operation of which Wine to be compounded by Mr. Graunt himselfe should have been to cast such as drunk of it into a sleep for six houres space but if this failed whilst the rest were at their cups the new come Souldiers should have let in a Party some with scaling ladders to be provided against the time and others at the Barbicans a sally Port neere one of the Platformes At which instant the Prisoners in the Castle by the helpe of a false key which was made by one Onion formerly the Castle Smith and was in the hands of one Colonell Haggaster a Papist then a Prisoner should have broken out upon the Souldiers and together with the rest have seized upon the Guns and Guard At which time likewise a sufficient strength from the Town and neighbouring parts should be ready for an entrance And upon an advertisement supplies of Ammunition and provision should bee sent in from Dunkerk from France for which Mr. Web Secretary to the Duke of Riehmond had ingaged himself as did likewise Captain Jacob to bee in a readines at Margate with a vessell fraught with necessaries for the Castle This done Bray should post to Oxford with the newes which should be forthwith seconded by an invasive power to be brought into the County under the command of Mr. Richard Thornhill now made High Sheriffe by the King and Commander of the Earl of Clevelands Brigade of Horse in which interim or rather instant of the surprisall of the Castle by the confession of Captaine Jacobs brother three Commissions of Array to bee set on foot and thereby the County in a flame for a complement of which mischievous designe nothing was now wanting but the Royall stampe and name to a Commission though Mr. Graunts opinion was that delaies were dangerous and it were better doe the worke without or before the Commission fetch 't But this advise did not find reception whereupon Bray is the fifth time dispatch't to Oxford for a Commission and by the way takes with him severall affectionate recommendations to Mr. Thornhill Captaine Jacob Secretary Nicholas and others at Oxford prime actors in this businesse from Sir Anthony Percivall Mr. Richard Masters of Langden Mr. Thomas Tuck Mr. Edward Kempe of Dover Mr. Reading and divers others in returne to severall salutes respectively received by them from those at Oxford by the hands of Bray who by each of these Gentlemen Mr Kempe excepted had money given him at his parting out of Kent as a gratuity or to beare his charges Bray being come to London finds out Captaine Collins being directed to him by Mr. Edward Kempe and acquaints the Captaine with the businesse whose forward apprehensions of it were such as represented him at Oxford the fittest man to whom the Commission of Array should be directed though it were once moved that it might bee sent downe in to the County with a blanke that if one man should refuse any who should accept it might have his name inserted but this advise was rejected by Secretary Webb upon this reason that if the Commission should come into the hands of the Parliament by mischance they might then insert whose name they pleased and shew the Kings hand for what they did This successe hasteneth Bray to Bostol house within six miles of Oxford where Sir William Campion Mr. Edward Masters Captain George Kingesly Mr. John Trowtes one Mr. Chute and divers other Kentish Gentlemen receive him gladly Sir William himselfe and one Mr. Mills a Sussex Minister accompanying him to Oxford where they bring him to Secretary Webb who forthwith repaires to Secretary Nicholas and speeds the draught of the Commission against the next morning at which time Secretary Nicholas brings Bray within view of his Majestie when he presented to him the Commission to be signed and the same day being the 29 of November last dismissed Bray with the Commission under hand and seale Bray thus armed returnes to London and applies himselfe againe to Captaine Collins who whether touch't in conscience at the horridnesse of the enterprize or doubting the successe or indeed as he pretended that his baile upon whose security he enjoyed his inlargement out of Prison might not be brought in trouble declined the Commission yet wisht that the businesse night proceed The Commission thus waived by Captain Collins and Bray returned to Dover at a full meeting of the Conspirators the Commission is tendred to Captaine Holman whose cheerefull resolute acceptance addes new life unto the businesse three dayes after Captaine Holman whether upon any intimation of the discovery of the Plot which indeed the Providence of God had brought to light by the free and voluntary confession of one whose heart God had touched so as to make it his very errand to come to Alesford and reveale the whole designe to the Committee there or whether the hand of God had over-powered the spirit of this new elected Captaine who confessed himselfe restlesse in his thoughts while hee kept the Commission for three dayes space Hee returnes to his Companions and dischargeth his hands and pockets of the Commission but not his heart of the villany intended which hee still kept close without discovery This ill Omen of two failing Captaines notwithstanding the Conspirators proceed and incourage one another upon the strength of the Commission and hopes of a rising party and ceased not riding up and down the Country to incite their adherents to an open avowance of their authority and enterprize untill the certaine newes was spread of the surprize of the Commission and commitment of those Gentlemen on whom they fixt their expectations to head the party so that now all hopes cut off they bethink themselves where to shrowd their heads and to sit down with shame and sorrow and a conscious expectation of being found out by the hand of Justice which can onely vindicate the honour and secure the peace both of Parliament and County FINIS