Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A67747
|
A full discovery of the first Presbyterian sham-plot, or, A letter from one in London to a person of quality in the country by Andrew Yarranton.
|
Yarranton, Andrew, 1616-1684.
|
1681
(1681)
|
Wing Y15; ESTC R34108
|
11,352
|
16
|
Mitchel's House at Hitinton But to let you see that he knows the Design you come about he hath left his Man with a Horse ready sadled to conduct you to him Some of the Party being Volunteers out of Worcester observing the words and deportment of Mrs. Yarranton went presently home again amongst whom was Mr. Winter Hains an Apothecary and since Mayor of Worcester and still alive who hath often said that very instant he smelt the Design The Officer with his Party was brought by Henry Cowell Mr. Yarranton's Servant to the House of Mr. Mitchell where finding the said Yarranton the Officer told him He was his Prisoner and must go along with him to Worcester and about ten a Clock the same day they all entred the City where all the Trained Bands of the County were up in Arms. The same day several other Persons were secured as Mr. Ambrose Spanry Minister of Martly near which place the Sham-Packet was pretended to be found Mr. Henry Osland Minister of Bewdly Mr. Edward Osland of the Rocke Dr. Jackson of Kederminster Mr. Moore Minister of Worcester Mr. Bryan Minister of Old Swinford Captain Wells Cap. Wells living now at Bednal-green Mr. Vicars now living in Smithfield Mr. Henry Baldwin Mr. George Wilson Mr. John Vicars Mr. Mekine all four of Worcester with some scores more which I forbear to mention all which Persons were disposed of into several Prisons or Places of confinement so that they could not speak one with another having Sentinels always standing at their several Doors Amongst the common People there was a great noise of a horrid Plot a Presbyterian Plot and they were so confirm'd in the belief of it that the several Prisoners as they marched with their Guards through the Streets were greatly reviled and affronted All things continued in this posture for the space of ten days after which time the Trained Bands would continue no longer they were grown a little sensible of the Sham And upon their departure the Deputy Lieutenants out of their great clemency discharged all the Prisoners then in custody except Dr. Jackson Mr. Sparry Mr. Henry and Mr. Edward Osland Capt. VVells and Yarranton only they must pay their Fees and find good Security not to go five miles from their Habitations without leave first obtained from the Lord Lieutenant or two Deputy Lieutenants to appear when they were sent for and in the mean time to keep all the King's Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil This done Mr. Sparry Dr. Jackson the two Oslands and Mr. Yarranton were ordered to be kept close Prisoners in several Chambers of the George Inn in VVorcester Jo. Shuler Marshal so that no Person whatsoever must come or speak to either of them but in the presence of the Marshal The Trained Bands being gone as was said before to their several Homes care was taken for the securing of these Criminals by the dignified Clergy of VVorcester together with some of the fattest Clergy-men of the County who provided about 60 Foot Souldiers which they arm'd and paid as some of them said with double pay which Souldiers were to attend as Sentinels in their turns upon each of the Prisoners and the rest to keep a Court of Guard in the Town-Hall of VVorcester These were commonly called the Clergie Band and they had for their Captain one Mr. VVilliam Sheldon of Stoke-Prior who hath of a long time as it is said belong'd to the Rules in Southwark I can't omit the acquainting you with one renown'd Act of Chivalry that was done in this Church-Court-Guard It hapened that there came to Worcester a poor old Man to enquire after the Welfare of Mr. Henry Osland his Minister and speaking with one of these Souldiers the Souldier liberally charged Mr. Osland with being a Traitor a Rebel a Plotter against the Government with some other hard Names he stoutly defended his Minister and said he was an honest peaceable Man and he could never believe he was concerned in any Treason or Plot against the Government The Church Militant-Man in great Wrath laid hold of this poor old Zealot and carried him to the Court of Guard he that then presided in that Court-Martial was also a Church-Officer and no meaner Man than an Apparitor he commanded the old Man to be ty'd Neck and Heels together charg'd him with having a Hand in this Presbyterian Plot and threatned him with severe usage unless he would make a Confession The old Man bore all this with great Patience answering him never a Word which so enrag'd this Man in Authority that he put lighted Matches betwixt his Fingers and burnt them to the very Bone and all this was done to force a Confession from him of a Presbyterian Plot. The Name of the Person thus tortur'd is Roger Waldern of Bewdly who for ought I have heard to the contrary is still alive and carrieth about him the shâ—â—vel'd Skin which was caus'd by those burning Matches betwixt his Fingers and so are many others alive which saw him in his Misery and contributed their help to the healing of his Hands Now if so small an Officer of the Church as an Apparitor durst be so hardy as to act such a piece of Barbarity contrary to all Law and Conscience what may we fear and expect from those of a greater Figure if once they come to have Power in their Hands But this is a digression This feigned Plot was not only laid in Worcestershire but in other Shires and Counties of England as I hinted before I could fill many Sheets of Paper if I pleased with Particulars But give me leave to inform you only of some Passages in Oxfordshire which respect to this Plot which fell out about the same time There dwelt in Oxford one Mr. Matthew Martin Mr. Martin Brewer in Old-street who was then Town-Clark there he is now a Brewer in London and in good Reputation both for Estate and Integrity There came one Evening to his House in Oxford a Stranger with a Letter who had no sooner delivered it but he withdrew and went his way when Mr. Martin had open'd it and a little considered the Contents he took a prudent course to carry it to the Mayor as you 'l hear by and by and to do it immediately for had he tarryed a Night or an Hour it might have been found about him and then Oxford had quickly been as full or fuller of Plotters and Prisoners than Worcester The Copy of this memorable Letter I here insert word for word Mr. Martin I Pray will you warn all these Men to be all in their Arms upon Wednesday next in the Night you know already where they must meet There will come into Oxford two hundred Men all in their Arms you know who doth Command them Dr. Greenwood has sent to Mr. Combs the Barber to get his Party of Scholars ready that night and I have sent to Mr. Hickman to get his Men ready at the same time and Dr. Owen has sent
two more concerning Mr. Yarranton As soon as he was discharged as before he goes up to London and prevails with the Lord of Bristol to acquaint the King with the great Wrong he had received and with the wicked Contrivance of some of his Ministers by Sham-Plots to divide the King from his People and his People from one another Hereupon an order of Councel was directed to the the Deputy Lieutenants of Worcestershire that were then in and about London to appear before the Councel and to give an account of this matter They seem'd to clear themselves from being concern'd therein and desired such as were in the Country might be consulted the next post they inform their Brethren in the Country how Matters stood before the Councel that the Lord of Bristol did patronize Mr. Yarranton upon this Sir J. W. one of the Deputy Lieutenants hastens up to London and brings with him one Hales * Now living in Tenbury an Attorney his Kinsman and Tenant Which Hales with the Constable of St Mary Overies and one Halborne a Water-man now living in Pepper-Ally in Southwark arrested Mr. Yarranton when he was bowling in Winchester-Park for High Treason and being farther assisted by some of the Horse Guards then in Southwark conveyed the said Yarranton in Halborn's Boat to White-Hall where he was that Night in Custody but on the Morrow the Earl of Bristol sent the Kings Privy-Seal to a Friend of Mr. Yarranton's who brought it to him wherein it was declared that it was the King's Pleasure he should travel where he listed and not be molested by any Person whatsoever without a special ' Warrant from the King A little after Sir Kenelm Digby Chancellor to the Queen-Mother sends for Mr. Yarranton and was very earnest to know from him the bottom of this pretended Plot. He relates the whole matter from the beginning to the end to Sir Kenelm Digby upon which Sir Kenelm produced two Letters from Paris signifying that they were of Opinion in France that we in England were taking one another by the Throat again which inclined that King to joyn with the Dutch against the English which after a little time came to pass These two Letters are to be seen as being lodged in a safe Hand after the death of Sir Kenelm by his Executor Mr Yarranton seeing how Matters went in London resolved to return again into the Country where he prosecuted Major Wild and others for imprisoning of him wrongfully but within six Months after a Design is laid by some of the Criminals in the former Sham-Plot to subborn Persons to swear against him that he had spoken Treasonable Words against the King and Government the Witnesses were one Dainty a Mountebank formerly an Apothecary in Darby who afterwards acknowledged that he had 5 l. for his pains the other Witness liv'd in Wales and went by two Names This was done at the Assizes in Worcester the Bill being found by the Grand Jury Twisden then Judg. Mr. Yarranton put himself upon his Trial and tho he did not except against any one of his Jury yet upon a full hearing of the Case they presently acquitted him which was a great Disappoinment to the designing Gentlemen The Clarke the of Peace Mr. Parker and the Officers belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court were not a little disgusted for now the Sham-Plot was discover'd which had brought a great deal of Grist to their Mills for tho the Innocent Papists were conniv'd at the turbulent Fanaticks were punsh'd by whole-sale both in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Court POSTSCRIPT SIR I know you did expect from me that I should have given you an Account of the particulars of the several Transactions as to the Shamplot which was acted in Warwick Glocester Hereford Salop Stafford Cheshire and Lancashire both as to the Persons imprison'd the day when and by whom and how it was managed by the Plotters but I must beg your Excuse for that Matter and all its wicked Intents and what Evil it hath been the occasion of propagating in this Nation I understand is ready for the Press being faithfully collected by several Persons who were great Sufferers in that Affair FINIS