THough Rome has been so often baffled in her weak and shallow Contrivances, yet her Agents think it not convenient to give over, although in every Design and new Contrivance, their Ma­lice and Folly is made to appear, to the Abhorrence and Detestation of all sober and civil Persons; nor can they pre­vail to Work upon any but Poor contemptible Proselites, whom they by the powerful Charms of Gain, do bring into Snares: that so their work may be perfected, though to their utter Ruin, as [Page 2] may be observed in the many Firing Plots the cunning Jesuites have of late Contrived; in which for the most part they Employ silly Servant-Maides, promising them after the pernicious Work is done, that they shall receive much Wealth: which makes them go Boldy on to perpetrate the horrid Deed: But then be­ing taken by the Hand of Justice, they are left in great Confu­sion and Amazement, not knowing where to find the Man that did Enjoyn them their destructive Task.

An Instance of which may be plainly seen, in a late unlucky Mischief which happened to the House of Mr. Cooper, commonly known by the Name of the Sussex-House, near to Fetter-Lane end, in Fleet-street: The m [...]nner of which was as followeth, About a Month since Mr. Coope [...] having an occasion for a Servant-Maid, by reason of the departure of his former, was by a Friend of his VVished to one [...]lisabe [...]h Owen who had of late dwelt in Grace-Church-street and upon his Friends Recommendation he accord­ingly Entertained her in his House, in nature [...]f his Servant; She behaving her self seemingly well, and never was observed to have any one follow her, unless one young Man, whom she called Cozen, pretending he was her Uncles Son: on Sunday last being the seventh of this Instant November, her Mistriss and she had a small falling-out, about the Dressing of a Dinner, and some Words past, but in no likelyhood of such force as to prompt her on to such a despe­rate Revenge, the Feude being reasonably pacified; She went about her VVork as at other times she was wont to do, continu­ing very Chearful all Sunday after, and likewise Monday, which was the Day, wherein she Acted the horrid Deed. About nine of the Clock in the Evening, she was observed to go up Stairs, at which time, as She since did not greatly deny, and by Circum­stances does plainly Appear. She went into the Garret where the Tapster of the House Lay, and with a Bunch of Keys that were afterwards found about her, opened several Trunks, in which were Cloathes which she took out and bundled up, putting several of her own amongst them: After that with several Candles (the Tallow of which being found melted on the Floor) she set the Trunks on Fire, placing them where she thought they soonest would take hold of the Timber. This being done and she seeing them to begin to Blaize, went down Stairs, and placed her self in the Barr, this being between Ten and Eleven of the Clock: when immediately the Smoak came down Stairs, of which e'r any be­sides those of the House smelt it, She began to complain of, say­ing, That there was an intolerable Smoak, which almost put her [Page 3] Eyes out. VVhereupon her Mistriss Answered, She saw no such mighty Smoak as she pretended: But if there was any she belie­ved, That it proceeded from the Burning of Faggots in the Cham­ber over Head. There having been some Gentle-men of her Ac­quaintance lately in the same. But the Wench persisted, That it could not come from thence, but that the House she feared, was on Fire, or Words to that effect; the Smoak still encreasing more and more, They were induced to Believe there had some mischief indeed hapned, or that some Brand roaling out of the Chimney, might have taken hold of the Hangings, so that running up Stairs, they went into the Room where the Fire had been made, but found all things in good Order: When looking farther they observed a Smoak to come down the other pair of Stairs, that were yet higher: So that when they went up them, they found the Garrets all on Fire, being fired in several places, and that in one place it had Burnt quite through the Floor, into the Chamber underneath: Whereupon they immediately called for help, which was not long e'r they had sufficient from their Neighbours; and through Providence in a short time Mastered that Raging E­lement which then began to Blaze through the Roof of the House: And, Heaven knows, had it not been so stayed, it being amongst Old Buildings, what harm it might have done, or where have ended.

After the Fire was beaten down, and the hurry was over, they began to search into the Cause of it, or how it should happen, which they long had not done, before they found, as we have already mentioned, several parcels of Greace, which come from the melted Candles, and that the Trunkes being first opened were set on Fire, which being light and dry, had Fired the rest. Both the Garrets being Fired in several places, the Trunks Burnt to Ashes, but the Ashes of no Woollen Apparel found amongst the rest; Which made them Enquire what might become of the VVoollen that was in them, and upon farther search found that it was thrown out at the VVindow, into a little Paved Yard, and as it is before-mentioned many of Elisabeth Owen's own Cloathes packt up amongst them, which caused her Master and Mistriss to suspect her as Guilty of Firing their House: And thereupon by the Advice of several Neighbours, They Caused her to be Appre­hended, and for that Night secured, the next Morning She was carried before the Right VVorshipful Sir William Turner Alderman and Justice of the Peace, for the City of London: VVho Exami­ned her strictly in all Points, but could not get nothing out of [Page 4] her, She being of a sullen dogged Temper; only she did Declare to some Persons of VVorth and Credit, that she did not design the Fire should have began so soon, but that it should have been much longer e'r it had kindled, so that it might have Surprised her Ma­ster and Mistriss, with all the rest of the Family, her self only ex­cepted, and have Burnt them in their Beds, so horrid and despe­rate was her Hellish Design. After a long Examination She was Committed to Newgate, where she now remains. Not long after She was Committed, her pretended Cozen came to look for her; Who, perhaps had he been taken and narrowly sifted, might have pro­ved the Jesuite or the Jesuites Agent, that Employed her to Act this desperate Exploit and horrid Villany.