Parliament House, or taking their coaches, or going into their lodgings.* "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, 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 is 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 members 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 thirty-seventh 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. This plot, which highly alarmed both lords and commons, is one of those which, as we have "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 done 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."301 "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 know that there is no way to prevent the mischief which the malice of such men may suddenly bring upon the realm, to the utter 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."302 "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 302 Idem, 649. 301 Nalson, II. 646. stated, would now hardly impose upon a gang of swine-herds. 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. A plot for which Sir Henry Beddingfield was apprehended, is more absurd and nonsensical than Beal's, though not so much detailed. It is difficult to conjecture what it means, from the deposition* of the informer who communicated of Worcester's house; and Andrews is described to be near fifty years of age, and uses to come much to Sir Basil Brook'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."303 *"William Shales, sergeant 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, in 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, 303 Nalson, II. 649. the important information. We state it merely to show the ridiculous grounds on which these fabrications rested. A plot was fabricated, of which the pretended object was to kill Charles II. Lord Castlemain 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 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. Jurat. Coram nobis. ROBERT MEREDITH. WILLIAM SHALES. "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 the peace, till the further pleasure of the House be known."304 304 Nalson, II. 661. The details was among the parties accused.305 were of the most absurd and incredible character. On the trial, the principal evidence was one Dangerfield, a most profligate and worthless villain.* There were sixteen records of convictions produced in court, to prove that he was not a competent witness.306 He had been convicted of felony, had broken prison, been outlawed, branded in the hand,t been four times convicted of forging the coin, once as a common cheat, been each time put in the pillory, and been guilty of almost every species of crime: but such was the abandoned character of the court, so completely *“The nation had gotten so much into the vein of credulity, and every necessitous villain was so much incited by the success of Oates and Bedlow, that even during the prorogation the people were not allowed to remain in tranquillity. There was one Dangerfield, a fellow who had been burned in the hand for crimes, transported, whipped, pilloried four times, fined for cheats, outlawed for felony, convicted of coining, exposed to all the public infamy which the laws could inflict on the basest and most shameful enormities. The credulity of the people, and the humour of the times, enabled even this man to become a person of consequence. 99307 † On this trial, a ludicrous opinion was given by the judges of the Common Pleas, who were consulted by lord Raymond, whether a pardon, which had been granted to Dangerfield, rendered his evidence admissible. "They say," states lord Raymond, "that if he had been convicted of felony, and not burnt in the hand, the pardon would not have set him upright: but being convicted and burnt in the hand, they suppose he is a witness."308 305 State Trials, VII. 1067 307 Hume, IV. 349. 306 Idem, 1084, 1102-3. 308 State Trials, VII. 1090. |