A HAPPY DELIVERANCE, OR, A Wonderfull Preservation of foure Worthy and Honourable Peeres of this Kingdome, and some others.
Who should have beene poysoyned at a Supper in St. Martins Lane neere Charing-Crosse, on Tuesday, the 11. of Ian. 1641.
Viz.
- The Earle of Leicester
- The Earle of Essex, Lord Chamberlaine.
- The Earle of Holland.
- The Earle of Northumberland.
- With some others.
Whereunto is annexed five Articles preferred by the COMMONS in PARLIAMENT against Mr. Herbert the Kings Atturney Generall.
London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641.
A True Relation of a treacherous intention, Practised by a French-man, for the poysoning of foure Noble Peeres of this Kingdome at the Earle of Leicesters house in St. Martins Lane, Jan. 11. 1641.
THe daily and horrible Plots and Enterprises of the Romish Faction practized against this Island of Brittaine, and the test of his Majesties Dominions, are not vnknowne unto us all, and the bloody practises and mischiefes invented and plotted by them, have much disquieted the peace of this Kingdome, and distracted the content of King and Subject, had they not beene growne most impudent in their attempts, and audaciously resolute to performe their bloody intentions, The many Discoveries of their Hellish practizes and inventions, (with which it hath pleased God to blesse this Nation) might deterre and affright them from any new prosecution, But they are growne now most desperate, and their corrupt nature cannot forbeare to Act, what is familiar and common to their Religion, which they seeke to propogate by [Page]the effusion of blood, for why should they doubt to put that in execution, which is commended and allowed by their holy Father, in whom they put their confidence, and from whom they expect more then Absolution from their sinnes, a blessing for their pious undertakings, villany cannot want instruments to put it in execution, and wickednesse is seldome stifled in the infancy, by the deficiency or scarcity of Nurses to mature it, and bring it into action, they have laboured often by strong hand and power to subvert and captivate this Kingdome, but the hand of Heaven hath given us the upper hand of them, and turned all their plots to their owne confusion, now of late they haue planted their malice in divers places of this Realme by private agents, endeavouring to effect that by pollicie, which they could not attaine and reach too by their Power, amongst which J shall relate one of a most dangerous consequence, but the Lord that protected them, brought this wicked and horrid resolution to light.
The Earle of Leicester having invited foure Honorable Lords and Peeres of this Kingdome, with some other great personages, to a Supper, which was performed at his house in St. Martins Lane neere the Strand on Tuesday Ian. 11. 1641.
And being all set at Supper, there came in a Hellish and bloody minded fellow, a French-man, (and is conceived) backed unto that wicked intention by some of the Popish Faction, which may well be conjectured by the Sequell which followeth.
This French-man being come into place where these Noble Peeres did sup that night, he privately whispered [Page]with the Cooke of the Earle of Leicester, who also was a French-man, and could not speake a word of English, and told him in his owne Language, that if he would vndertake to poyson the second course that was to be set before these worthy and Honourable personages, he would for his reward and secrecy therein, give him 3000 l. in ready Gold; The Cooke perceiving this his wicked and bloody intentions, told him that if it might gaine him 1000 worlds, he would not attempt an Act so wicked, and withall told him that his Trecherous designs he would immediately discover, the which the French-man perceiving (when he saw his opportunity) stole out of doores, for no man there present could understand French, And this French Cooke vnderstanding no English, whereby to discover this wicked advice, of his Countryman, was the reason why he did escape, who if he had beene as avaricious of lucre as the other of bloud, they had dispatched out of this world these Noble Pillars of our Realme, this was not discovered till after Supper, the Cooke meeting one of the Earle of Leicesters Chaplaines which understood French, who told him the manner and forme of it as is before related, yet was this French Cooke apprehended and sent for to be examined before the Lords in Parliament, and as yet not acquitted.
Let every christian reader judge what Diabolicall, and unparallel'd intentions are continually practized by the Papists in England, against the Pillars of our Church and Commonwealth.
Five Articles preferred by the House of Commons in PARLIAMENT against Mr. Herbert the KINGS Atturney Generall.
I.
WHether he contrived, framed, or advised the Articles exhibited in the House of Lords, against the Lord Kimbolton, Mr. Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Mr. Pym, Mr. Hampden, and Mr. Stroud or whether he knew or had heard who did contrive, frame or advise the same. To which he answered, That he did none of those three, and if he was proved so to doe, he [...]ould be contented to die for it.
II.
Whether he know the truth of those Articles; To which he Answered, That he knew nothing but what was said to him by his Master the King.
III.
Whether he will make them good when he shall be called thereto, To which he Answered, he was no way able to make them good farther then his said Master should enable him.
IV.
From whom be had received them, or by whose advice he did exhibit them, To which he Answered, That from his Masters hands he received them, and by his command did exhibit them.
V.
What proofe and testimony he had to maintaine those Articles, To which he Answered, That he received the Command from his Master, and had no other proofe or testimony but such as his Master should enable him with. And being pressed to deale cleerely, what testimony that was, He said he was of his Majesties Councell, and therefore desired further time to consider what answer to make.
Upon all which it was resolved upon the Question, that the exhibiting of those Articles in the Lords House against Members of the Commons House, was illegall and a high crime. It was likewise ordered, that a Message should be sent to the Lords, to desire them to joyne with the House of Commons, to move the King, that by Thursday next his Majesty will be pleased to appoint such as have given information against the foresaid Members, may bring in their charge, or else they to be freed by such a way as the Parliament shall thinke fit.
An Order was entred that in regard there was a high breach of the Priviledges of Parliament by Mr. Herbert Mr. Attorney in exhibiting the Articles aforesaid, in the sealing up their papers and Trunkes, in the demand of the foresaid Members in the Commons House, and in his Majesties comming in that manner to the Commons House, that a Message be sent to the Lords to make a Committee of Lords to meet with a Committee of the Commons House, to consider how and in what manner reparation may be made for the breach of Priviledges.
Then the Black Rod came to call the Speaker and the Commons House into the Lords House, where the King by Commission passed the two Acts, 1. For pressing of Marriners for the ships. 2. For the reliefe of the Captives taken by the Pyrats of Argiere.