A bloody plot discovered to surprize the Tower, and the Parliament, as it was reported by one of the actors owne confession, who is in custody to the Serjeant at Armes of the House of Commons. Also how a party of Cavaliers have listed themselves under the Lord Cleaveland, their designed Generall of Horse, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, their Lieutenant Generall of Foot. And forty collonels and other officers 1800 horse, and many foot said to be listed. And the grounds of reporting the Army to be comming to London; and the reports of His Majesty to be gone from the Isle of Wyght. Collonel Hudson committed to the Tower, and others apprehended. And a committee of the House of Commons appointed to examine the businesse, and double guards set about the Tower, and the prisoners kept up close. And an order of the House of Lords for examining Collonell Wilshire and others.

1647

A BLOODY PLOT Discovered To surprize the Tower, and the Parliament, as it was Reported by one of the Actors owne confession, who is in custody to the Serjeant at Armes of the House of Commons.

Also how a party of Cavaliers have listed themselves under the Lord Cleaveland, their designed Generall of Horse, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, their Lieutenant Generall of Foot.

AND Forty Collonels and other Officers 1800 Horse, and many Foot said to be Listed.

And the grounds of Reporting the Army to be comming to London; And the Reports of His Majesty to be gone from the Isle of Wyght.

Collonell Hudson committed to the Tower, and others apprehended.

And a Committee of the House of Commons appointed to examine the businesse, and double Guards set about the Tower, and the prisoners kept up close.

And an Order of the House of Lords for examining Collonell Wiltshire and others.

Printed at London by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, neer the Queenes-head Tavern, 1647.

[Page]

[Page 3]

THE Manner of the Plot, (so farre as it is Reported) to have surprized the Tower, and the Parliament, this present Tuesday, December 14. 1647. with other dangerous practises of Malignants, about the City of LONDON.

WHen Julius Caesar was stain, a paper was found in his pocket, (which it seemes had been put into his hands by some body) that that day he should be murthered in the Senate-house; therefore it is discretion, not to flight warnings, the old proverb is, Fore-warn'd fore-arm'd.

There hath lately been severall actions of Malignants about London, whereby the Parliaments friends are troubled to see them so high. One meeting which they had in the Strand, was taken notice of by a Peere of the Realem, and reported to the House of Lords, wherupon their Lordships passed this Order following.

[Page 4]

Whereas this House hath beene certainly informed, that some misdemeanours have beene committed by Collonel Wiltshire, Mr. Pope, and others, in or neere the three Cranes Taverne, and one Berks House, keeping a Cooks shop, neere the Savoy in the Strand.

It is Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled, that Mr. Edwards, and Mr, Carter, two of His Majesties Justices of peace, shall send for the said parties, and such others as they shall think fit, and examine the said businesse: And afterwards make certificate thereof in writing to this House, that such further directions may bee given therein, as shall be meet.

John Browne Clere. Par.

Vera Copia December 13. 1647.

On Munday the 13. of December, 1647. at night a Gentleman came to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and told him that there were a great designe on foote to raise a new Army on the suddaine to surprize the Parliament and the Tower, And that the Lord Cleaveland, was to be Generall of the horse, And Sir Marmaduke Langdale to be Leiuet Gen. of the Foot, and that some 40. Collonels and other Officers were [Page 5]listing of forces, about London, and that he himself was listed, and had received advance monies. That these Officers met at a place in Smithfeild, and at another place neere Aldersgate, and other places about London, and had listed divers horse (it is said about 1800. are listed) and many Foot, (I omit divers particular things of what is discovered, because the businesse is under examination of a Committee of the House of Commons, and therefore I shall omit to speake of further particulars in it then what is publiquely spoken abroad, out of the House, or that Committee.)

He hath both named diverse of the Officers and the places where they lifted, and of giving out Armes, advancemonies, and of the designe that on this present Tuesday, December 14. 1647. was the time appointed to fal upon the Parliament, & the Tower (and if such a thing should have been done) God knows what blood might have been spilt, and where it would end.

The Militia received advertisement thereof from the Speaker that night, (viz. munday night) immediately after this Gentleman had [Page 6]discovered it to him, (whose name, I omit because it may give offence, he being still under examination;) And he delivered himself to custody, and hath ever since been in the custody of the Sarieant of Armes, to the house of Commons.

The Lieutenant of the Tower, Col. Titchburne, received also advertisement from Mr. Speaker hereof, and that he had received intimation, from the aforesaid Gentleman, that one Hodskin or Hudson, a Collonell, or some other considerable Officer, who had formerly served the King in the late wars, would come to the Tower this present Tuesday morning, to conferre with some of the Kings Officers, and other Malignants, that are now prisoners in the Tower about it,

Upon the receipt of a Letter from the Speaker, giving notice to the Lieutenant of things to this purpose, This morning the guards were ordered to be doubled, and strict guards set about the Tower for security therof.

And before noone one Hudson, a Collonel, or other considerable Officer, who hath him in Armes against the Parliament, and another [Page 7]of his of the same name (Hudson also) came along with him, as the foresaid Gentleman had informed the Speaker.

The said Hudson and his brother being brought before the Lieutenant, (for whom he had laid waite) and after examination he was committed prisoner: and forthwith the said Lieutenant of the Tower sent a Letter to Mr. Speaker (the House of Commons then siting.)

There is a Committee of the House of Commons appointed by the House to examine the whole businesse, which Committee sate all this afternoon about it.

Many Cavaliers were observed to ride out of London this day, insomuch that their numbers were much taken notice of upon the high-wayes.

It is conjectured from what is discovered, that the signe was thus to have been.

The Cavaliers ingaged in it, to rumour abroad Tuesday, December. and Wednesday, viz. to morrow that the Arrow under Sir Thomas Fairfax is comming to London, to quarter in the City.

When the City should be in a distraction [Page 8]as they supposed, at this news, if it did work any divisions on Tuesday, then on Wednesday to rise and declare themselves for the King.

And on Tuesday to raise also a Report about the City, that his Majesty is gone from the Isle of Wyght, that so they might the better report his Majesty to be with them on Wednesday, when they begin to act their designe. Though for my part, if there were such a reall designe by them, as carries too probable a face with it, yet, for my part, I doe beleeve that his Majesty is so farre from ingageing in it, that he himselfe will judge it to be some Jesuited designe against himselfe and the Parliament, rather then Hee would countenance it, especially at this time, when things are in so faire a way of composure.

Decemb. 13. 1647.

Imprimatur

Gilb. Mabbot.

FINIS.

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