BY the way give me leave to take notice of one special property in the providence of God, which falleth out according to Davids prayer, Psal. 59. ver. 11. Slay them not, lest my people forget it, but scat­ter them abroad in thy power, and put them downe O Lord, our shield. The people of God are so sub­ject to forget the goodnesse of God, that although he in mercy both discover the plots of their enemies, and pre­vent them, yet many times he is as it were compelled to suffer the enemies to escape the hand of Justice, that so his people grow not secure.

And herein the Lord dealeth like a loving father, who having a spendthrift son, that by his creditors is cast in­to prison, comes, and unknowne to his son, dischargeth all his debts (yet so, that the bonds in his knowledge, stand still in force) and causeth him to be released, that thereby he might still make him afraid of running be­hinde hand againe.

And after this manner it hath pleased God (for ought I can perceive yet) to deale at this time with the Nation [Page 2] in this last discovery of that damnable and cruell plot which should have been put in practise the 18 day of this present moneth of November.

Before I come to the matter, I shall first shew the manner of the discovering it, which was thus.

On Munday, the 15. day of this November, I was in my owne house at dinner at twelve of the clock, when I had dined (having no imployments at the worke of my calling) I tooke a little writing booke in my hand, which formerly I had written, and did intend to peruse it, and correct some faults, and supply some things wanting, but having no conveniency in my owne house, by reason of the frowardnesse of my childe, I thought best (it be­ing a calme day) to goe into a secret field not far off, which formerly I had frequented for my owne private meditations, the field lyeth above Oldstreete, betweene the way that commeth from the Pest-house, and the way that commeth from Brick-lane in Oldstreete; all men that use to goe that way, know that the first of those fields hath a common path, which goeth from the Kings-gate at the further end of Brick-lane towards the Pest­house, over against this path, all the way on the other side of the field is a high banke cast up, which on the further side of it is shelving, like the side of a house eaves, and on that side the path is, it is straite downe like a mudwall, with a little dry ditch cast up on this side.

On [...]he farther side of this banke, I walked a turne or two, and as I had occasion I stooped, and on my knee wrote a word or two, and as I was stooping and writing, I heard a man hem, which made me looke if I could see him, and going softly up the banke, I perceived in the little ditch stood a couple of men, on the sudden I began [Page 3] to retire to my former businesse, but as I turned, I heard them speake of State affaires as I thought, which made me stand still to heare more, which when I had, I cou­ched my selfe close on my knees, and on my elbowes, with my head close to the banke, where with much ease I heard this following discourse.

I shall omit nothing that I can remember, but (as I related it to the house of Parliament) only their despe­rate and bloody oathes, with which almost each sentence was ushered in, the first I could understand was this: as it followeth.

What a wicked thing was it, that that plot did not take effect?

Oh 'twas a wicked thing indeed! but I hope it was dismissed, that a better might take place.

I hope it will prove a better, if it be not un­luckily prevented.

For my part I doe not fully understand the matter, for I came but last night to Town, and as soone as I came to my Lords, they told me I must needs come againe this morning; and when I came, I was conveyed up into my Lords Chamber, and there was my Lord and Father Iones, and Father An­drewes: and Father Andrewes related to me what service I was for, but yet I could not fully understand the scope of it.

No: why, thou knowest whether thou car­riedst thy Letters.

Yes, I carried Letters into Buckinghamshire, and into Warwickshire, and into Worcestershire; but I did not know for what: but at one place I was bravely en­tertained, at Master Sh: as soone as ever hee read [Page 4] the Letter, hee caused me to be set to dinner; and when I had dined, he gave me a Letter to deliver to my Lord, and a piece for my selfe, and charged me to make all speed I could to London againe: but prethee why dost thou bring me to stand here?

I stand here, because in yonder path (poin­ting to the rode-way before him) I promised to stay for Dick Iones: thou knowest him, dost not?

Yes, as well as I know thee.

He's a good lusty Fellow thou knowest, and he is appointed to kill that raskally Puritan Pim, him that hath beene the chiefe cause of our misery.

But I feare still the Puritans will prevaile.

Tush, tush, prevaile; how can that be? being we have so many friends, both in the Lower and the upper House; and when all these base Puritans are killed, then on the sudden all the Citie will be in a tumult, and then on the instant will there be risings in six seve­rall places of the Land, to my knowledge: in Bucking-hamshire, in Warwickshire, in Worcestershire, in Lancashire, (the other two places I remember not.)

Yea marry Sir, this sounds well, if wee can but escape, we shall all be made men.

If wee escape wee shall bee brave fellowes; Lords, and Knights, and Gentlemen; and wee have as brave wayes to escape as ever men had; for wee can quickly change our names, and our cloaths, and our fa­ces too, and with that he plucked a false beard out of his pocket, saying, am I the man I was; putting it on as I conceive.

That is a dainty way indeed, we may thanke Father Andrewes for that trick; for if we have but the least time, presently we can change our shapes: but if [Page 5] we should be taken, 'tis but our lives, and then we shall be Saints: for we to day tooke the holy Sacrament on it, and were shrieved.

So did wee on Saterday, I was the 37. man, and wee had forty shillings a man: and when that was gone, we might come and fetch more.

I thinke I was the last of all: for after I was in my Lords Chamber, I staid till five more came; and I undestood that Father Iones said we were all, and I was last set downe, and was the hundred and eight; and wee had all forty shillings a peece, (shaking his pockets:) but how cunning Father Iones was, hee set downe all our names on the one side, and just against them the names of them wee should kill: but prethee who must kill the Lords?

O they bee brave fellowes in their Scarlet Coates, and their Cloaks lined with Plush, they had ten pounds a man; and if wee should prevaile, we shall every man have the Possessions and Lands of him that we kil'd: there be foure Londoners Tradesmen, that are to kill the Puritan Citizens.

I doe but thinke what a racket there will be when this is done; though all be not killed, yet it will make such a tumult for the time, that it will make them have little minde to send to Ireland.

Ay, that was Father Andrewes his wit, to prevent sending to Ireland, and I hope if they prevaile there, we shall not need to feare here.

Thou knowest him that thou art for ay, as well as I know thee; and I (swearing most bloudily) will be his death, though it cost me my life a thousand times; (hee is a great fatguts fellow) either comming downe staires, or in their Coaches, or at any other place.

[Page 6] Having spoken thus, he that they looked for (Dick Iones) it seemeth did appeare, which caused George sud­denly to leap up, saying, now he is comming; and by his suddaine starting, hee descried me on the other side of the banke; which when he had, he desperately sware he would end me first; and with that, stepping up the banke on the sudden, ere I could recover my legges, (which were so nummed with kneeling, that indeed for the time I could not stand) hee drew his rapier and ran me through both my cloke, short coat, breeches, shirt, and breeches on the other side; and by the mighty pro­vidence of God, ran betwixt my thighes, and yet did me no hurt at all: so thinking he had ended me (for indeed I lay still, being in such a sudden feare with the fight, and hearing him speak so bloudily, and fearing a second blow) he leaped backe againe, and ran away out of my sight, before ever I could recover my senses to take no­tice which way hee ran; but as soone as ever I came to my selfe, I posted to the Parliament House, and first re­lated it to Alderman Somes; he and Master Pymme satis­fied the Lower House of it, where I was examined, and afterward in the Lords House three severall times; and since that the place hath beene seriously viewed, both by Lords and Commons, and the truth made apparant, and I hope some of the Plotters taken; which I pray God they may bee, if it please him, for Jesus Christ his sake: to whom bee praise for ever, Amen.