HIS MAJESTIES COMMISSION GRANTED To Mr. GEORGE LE STRANGE, the betraying Lyn to the enemy.
ALSO, A TRVE RELATION OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE PLOT: As it was attested under the Hand of Captaine LEAMON, who discovered it; to be presented to the PARLIAMENT.
Published by Authority.
LONDON, Printed for R. Mason. 1644.
His MAJESTIES Commission granted to Mr. Roger le Strange, for the betraying of the Towne of Lynn into the hands of the Enemy.
WEE having received from Our Trusty and Welbeloved Roger le Strange, declarations of the good affection of divers of our well affected Subjects of Our Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and particularly of Our Town of Lynne, as also some Overtures concerning the reducing of Our said Town of Lynn, Wee have thought fit forthwith to returne Our Royall thanks unto Our said well affected Subjects; and particularly to give Our said trusty and wellbeloved Roger le Strange these encouragements to proceed in our Service, principally in the worke of reducing the said Towne of Lynn.
1. That in case that Attempt shall be gone through withall, hee the said Roger le Strange shall have the Government of the Place.
2. That what engagements shall be made unto the Inhabitants [Page 4]of the said place, or any other person capable of contributing effectually to that Service, by way of reward either in imployment in His Majesties Navy or Forts, or in moneys, not exceeding the summe of 5000. pounds, the service being performed, shall be punctually made good unto them.
3. That they shall in this worke receive what assistance may be given them from any of Our neerest Garrisons.
And lastly, that when ever our said Towne shall be reduced unto Our obedience, we shall forthwith send th ther such a considerable Power, as shall be sufficient to relieve and preserve them, We being at present even without this fully resolved to send a considerable power to encourage Our faithfull Subjects in those parts, and to regaine Our Rights and Interests there.
A TRUE RELATION Of the discovery of the PLOT AGAINST LYNNE IN NORFOLK, Tuesday the 10th of Decemb. 1644.
MAster Roger Le Strange, third sonne to Sir Hamond Le Strange, sent for Captaine Thomas Leamon of Lynne to Apleton Hall, to the house of one Mr. Paston a Papist; And at his comming to him did acquaint him with a designe intended by him against Lynne, for which he said he had a Commission from his Majesty to [Page 6]surprise the Towne of Lynne, which he presently shewed him, and told him, that if he would undertake to be assistant to him, and raise a party within the Towne to effect the designe, that he should have one thousand pound for his paines, and what preferment he would desire, either in the Towne, or in his Majesties Navy; and further he told him, that the King did value the surprising of that Towne, as halfe his Crowne, and that within tenne dayes after certaine notice that the Towne was reduced, that his Majesty would send a sufficient power to their reliefe, and that those forces should be under the command of the Lord Goring; to which Plot the said Captaine Leamon for his owne present security (having taken the Covenant) and well weighing the peace and good of the Common-wealth, for the present seethingly gave consent; the night then comming on he departed from him, with promise to come to him againe the next day to advise further of the designe, but presently hasting to Lynne, went to the Governour Collonel Ʋalentine Walton, and acquainted him with it; who after long debate resolved the next day, that at the time appointed he should go to him to the said Apleton Hall, and take with him a Corporall of his, clad in Sea-mans habit, who seemingly should be a partaker with him, to effect their designe, and comming thither the said Master Strange demanded of Captaine Leamon what he was that came with him, who answered that he was a man for their turne: and immediately the said Corporall answered very discreetly, saying, he was a poor man living in Fisher-end in Lyn, and kept an Ale-house, and that he was forty pounds the worse for the Round heads; Master Strange replyed, its no matter, for when the designe is accomplished, [Page 7]thou shalt have one hundred pound for it, and a Cannoneers place, which he seemingly was well pleased with. But the better to know where the Commission was, then said Captain Leamon, Master Strange my friend (by the way as I came) demanded of me what security you had, if in case the plot should be discovered, to save them from the Gallowes. Captaine Leamon told him you had the Kings Commission, which he desired to see. Master Strange went immediately to a hole in the Canapy of his bed, and produced the Commission, and read it to him; after he had read it, he put it in his pocket: in the interim came Lieutenant Iohn Stubbing, Lieutenant to Major Moll, with five souldiers more, all in the habit of poore Sea-men, appareld as Ship broken men, with a Warrant to attach suspitious persons, which came begging to the dore, and getting within the Court-yard of the said house, being so appointed by the said Governour, as soone as they came up to the doore, the Gentlewoman of the house came running up to the said Mr. Strange, and told him there was fix or seaven poore Souldiers come from Lynn, a begging; Master Strange immediatly sent them downe Twelve pence, and wished them to be gone; And when Mistris Paston went downe, Master Strange went to barre the doore, which Captaine Leamon seeing, gave a winke upon the said Corporall to lay hold upon the said Master Strange, which done, gave a stampe with his foot, by which the Lieutenant knew what hee had to doe, and then Master Strange, seeing hee was betrayed, conveyed his Commission to the said Captaine Leamon, then the Lieutenant, not taking notice of the said Captaine, as one that should betray the said Master Strange, did Attach the said Master [Page 8] Strange as an enemy to the Common weale, and demanded his name, which he refused to mention, and after that required his Commission, which hee denyed to have any: Then the said Lieutenant seeing the said Captaine Leamon, demanded what hee did there, consulting against the State, telling him hee was a stinking knave, and searched him for the Commission, and took it from him, and set a Guard over the said Captaine Leamon, and another over the said Master Strange, and would not suffer them to speak each to other, by the way from the said Apleton-Hall to Lynne, whether they were brought Prisoners to the Governour, with the Commission, which was done by order and consent of the said Captaine Leamon, before the taking of the said Master Strange, which said Master Strange is brought up to London, and committed to safe custody.