A GREAT CONSPIRACY OF THE PAPISTS, Against the worthy Members of both Houses of PARLIAMENT.
And also against the City of London, and generally the whole Kingdome.
Discovered by divers wicked and bloody Letters, which by Gods providence came to light, and was read in the House of COMMONS the 10. and 11. of January, 1641.
With the Names of those Honourable and Worthy Members in PARLIAMENT.
Whose lives they conspire against, and seeke to take away.
London, Printed for Iohn Thomas, 1641.
A Letter directed to Mr. Bridgman, the fourth of Ian. and a Letter inclosed in it, to one Master Anderton, were this day read, and ordered to be entred.
To the Worshipfull, and my much honoured friend Orlando Bridgeman Esquire, and a Bu [...]gesse of the Parliament, at his Chamber, at the Inner Temple, these present.
WE are your friends, These are to advise you to looke to your selfe, and to advise others of my Lord of Straffords friends to take heed, lest they be involved in the common Calamity, our advise is, to bee gone, to pretend businesse till the great Hubbub be passed, Withdraw, lest you suffer among the Puritans, We intreat you to send away this inclosed Letter to Mr. Anderton inclosed, [...]o some trusty friend, that it may be carried safely without suspition, for it concernes the Common safety▪ So desire your friends in Coven Garden, Ian. 4.
To the Worshipfull, and my much honoured friend Mr. Anderton, These present.
ALthough many designs have bin defeated, yet that of Ireland holds well. And now our last Plot workes as hopefully as that of Jreland, we must beare with something in the Man, his will is strong enough, as long as he is fed with hopes, the Woman is true to us, and reall, Her Councell about her is very good: J doubt not but to send you by the next very joyfull newes, for the present, our rich Enemies, Pym, Hampden, Strode, Hollis, and Hasterigg, are blemisht, challenged for no lesse then Treason: before J write next, we doubt not but to have them in the Tower or their heads from their shoulders.
The Solicitor, and Fines, and Earle we must serve with the same sauce: and in the House of the Lords, Mandevill is touched, but Essex, Warwick, [...]ay, Brook, and Paget, must follow, or else we shall not be quiet. Faulkland and Culpepper, are friends to our side, at leastwise they will doe us no hurt. The Protestants and Puritans are so divided, that we need not fear them; the Protestants in a greater part, will joyn with us, or [...]and Neuters, while the Puritan is suppressed, if we can bring them under; the Protestant will either fall in with us generally, or else, if they do not, they [Page]are so indifferent, that either by fair, or foul means we shall be able to command them.
The mischievous Londoners, and Apprentices, may doe us some hurt for present, but we need not much fear them, they do nothing orderly but tumultuously: Therefore we doubt not but to have them under command after one brunt, for our Party is strong in the City, especially Holborne, the new Buildings, and Westminster, we are afraid of nothing, but the Scots appearing againe, but we have made a party there, at the Kings last being there, which will hold their hands behind them, while we Act our Parts at home; Let us acquite our selves like men, for our Religion & Country, now or never, The Kings heart is Protestant, but our friends can perswade Him, and make him beleeve any thing, he hates the Puritane party, and is made Irreconcileable to that side; so that the Sun, the Moon, and Starres, are for us: there are no lesse then twenty thousand Ministers in England, the greater half will in their places, be our friends to avenge the Bishops dishonour, Let our friends be incouraged, the worke is more then halfe done.
Another Letter sent to a Papist of London.
THe Grand Committee of the Parliament sitting at Grocers Hall London, about the waighty affaire of the State of the Kingdome; There was notice brought vnto them of a Letter directed out of Jreland to a great personage of this City a Papist, which Letter by accident comming into the hands of a woman, and the housekeeper of this Papist, vpon great suspition of some evill Accidents that might thereby happen, caused the said Letter to be opened, whereby by the great Providence of God, the secrets thereof was disclosed. The contents thereof was to this effect.
OUt of the care of your welfare, I make bold to advertise you for your good, that you would be pleased speedily to convey your selfe and Family out of the City, & that you repaire as farre Northward as conveniently you may, for there is a terrible and suddaine blow expected to be given shortly against the City of London, for though I am of opinion the Kings Majesty be a good Protestant in his heart, yet Jam perswaded that by the perswasions of the Queens Majesty, and the advice of the Catholique Lords and other Gentlemen, the wished designe may take full effect. The truth of which premisses was delivered to the Court of Aldermen and Common Councell of the City of London, from the Committee.
The Copy of a Letter sent by Mr. Hearne, one of the last convicted and condemned Jesuites, vnto one Mr. Napper a Catholick, and now an Inhabitant in Hollowell in Oxford, Ian. 7. 1641.
LEt not our present danger deterre or affright you from the constancy in your profession, let the goodnesse and Justice of your cause encourage you, and prevaile over the present danger, we think it but our duty to suffer for the Law and dignity of our Religion, & it is our credit that we are thought worthy to be subjects of this present persecution, The benefit J could not performe to the Church of Rome in my life-time, I shall be glad to finish with the Seale of my blood, I am provided for the present hazard, and expect nothing but present destruction, let not your Prayers be wanting for our eternall welfare, interceed for us, that we may obtaine the merited reward of our labours, bee you constant in the faith, and not dismay with the present troubles of the times, for you shall shortly see an issue o [...] all these things, and we hope shortly that the distractions and distempers of the King and Parliament, with the feares and insurrections of the City of London, and generally over all the Kingdome will worke for our good, and bring [...] Period to the cruell Tyrannies which the Heretiques [Page]of this Kingdome inflict upon us, and the Sunne which now seemes set, will arise againe, that we shall see glorious dayes, your constancy and perseverance cannot want its reward, J must be short, and take my leave, for J have much to doe, Farewell.