S Ʋch hath been the restlesse spi­rit of Malignity in some a­mongst us, as if they meant to out-vie the manifold provi­dence and goodnesse of God by an unwearyed reiteration of new experiments, whether the Watchman of Israel bee yet awake, for the protection and pre­servation of his people: from which Atheisti­call [Page 2]principle, ungodly and unreasonable men, have roused up their almost despairing spirits, to new and more vigorous actings of their mis­chiefe. And hence was it that notwithstanding the manifest hand of God in discovering their former wickednesses, and bringing them upon their owne heads, once and againe in this Coun­ty, and in other parts of the Kingdome;

Yet hath not the feare of God or man wrought upon them to desist: witnesse this last designe for the betraying of Dover Castle, and the setting on foot of Commissions of Array, whereby they were not afraid to imbroyle this County, as they have done the rest of the Kingdome in a most cruell, unnaturall and bloody war: The preven­ting whereof, by the mercy and goodnesse of Al­mighty God, who hath still brought to light the hidden things of darknesse, and hath yet gra­ciously lengthened out our tranquillity and peace, doth call aloud unto us, for our unfained thank­fulnesse, and praise to the God of our Delive­rances, wherein this Committee, in regard of that publick Trust, which lies upon them, be­ing sensible, how deepely they are concerned, to stirre up themselves and others, have Ordered as followeth.

That upon the Lords day, being the six and twentyeth day of this instant Ianuary, in the morning before the Sermon, the Ministers of the severall Parishes throughout this County shall openly read this Order and Narration of the late designe, and of the discovery thereof, here­unto annexed, and shall lay open unto the people the vilenesse of the same, and the miseries and calamities which would inevitably have follow­ed, if God had suffered it to take effect: And shall withall presently after the reading of this Order, and the said Narration, openly declare their own abhorring of the said Plot, and de­testation against it.

And to the end that the people likewise may not bee wholly wanting in some visible testimo­ny of their thankefulnesse for this Deliverance, and of their abhorring and detestation of this wickednesse; It is desired, that at such time as the Minister shall so declare himselfe; All, who are of a willing minde then present, doe in token of joyning with the Minister, stand up from their seates.

And it is further Ordered that the severall Ministers doe often upon the Lords day, and at other times, but more specially upon that day, [Page 4]take occasion, both in their Prayers and Ser­mons, to prayse God, as for all former Discove­rings, and Defeatings of Plots, and mischiefes intended to this County, during this present Parliament, so in particular for the Discove­ring and Defeating of this by name; and that they doe hence likewise take occasion to stirre up the people, as to all Christian duties answera­ble to such mercies, so particularly to a constant adhering to the Cause of God, in the present work of Reformation, and in the just defence of the Subjects Liberties, and to inform the people throughly, that in comparison of these things, their estates and lives, which they owe to God, and to their Country, ought not to bee valued or esteemed by them; And whereas di­vers ignorant persons, not knowing the danger and penalties in the severall Ordinances of Par­liament, have been made instruments of this and the like mischiefes, by carrying, and bringing Intelligence, Messages, or Letters to or from Oxford, or any part of the Enemies Quarters, All persons are therefore hereby required to take notice at their perils, that whosoever shall here­after bee found culpable in that kinde, shall bee dealt withall as a Spye, according to the seve­rest [Page 5]punishments inflicted by the said Ordinan­ces: and the Church-wardens of the severall Parishes are hereby required by the Thursday next following the said Lords day appointed, as aforesaid, for the publication and execution of this Order, to bring in returnes under their hands unto the next Deputy Lieutenant, there­by certifying how this present Order hath been executed in their severall Parish Churches, and by what Minister: And it is Ordered, that the said Deputy Lieutenants doe within eight dayes after the receipt of the said Certificates, send in the same unto this Committee, or doe certifie the names of such Church-wardens who shall make default of bringing in unto them the said Re­turnes, that so a due Accompt may bee taken thereof, as is requisite in a matter of so great importance.

THE Castle of Dover being about two yeeres since possest by Mr. Daux of Dover to the use of the Par­liament, hee probably not finding his expectations of preferment an­swered by that subordinate charge which was committed to him un­der a worthy Knight and Member of the House of [Page 8]Commons, bethought himselfe of making a Party in the Towne and Castle; and of holding the Castle for the King, and to this end communicates his Counsels to one Chandler Belton, Dennis Tillet, and others of Do­ver, whom hee made choice of as fit instruments for that purpose.

But this designe soone proved abortive by dis­covery, neither was the first Contriver of it, Daux, much longer lived.

Yet had this project taken such impression in the surviving Confederates, that they resolve to carry on the worke: To which end they associate to them, Tomkins, Startup, Bray, Stoakes, Wellard, Mr. Thomas Graunt, and others of Dover, and the parts adjacent. And after severall consultations, at length resolved to send Bray to Oxford about Midsummer last, for further directions and advice from thence: Bray undertakes the journey in the Habiliments of his profession, and with his Carpenters rule and leathern apron, easily passeth the Courts of Guard, without being suspected any where of any further Journey then to, or from the next neighbouring Towne or Village, to his worke or home.

Bray thus got to Oxford, makes himselfe and his businesse known to Captaine John Jacob late of Dover, and by him gaines accesse to Sir Edward Nicholas, his Majesties chiefe Secretary of State, to whom hee im­parts his Errand; which the Secretary very well ap­proves of, but for the present advised to deferre it, till his Majesties neerer approach to these [...] he being then with his Army about Buckingham.

With this answer Bray returnes to Dover, but is up­braided by his companions there, as having cheated [Page 9]them of their moneys, which they had collected among themselves to beare his charges: To cleere himselfe from which aspersion he undertakes three severall jour­neys more successively to Oxford, but all without effect; his Majesty being not all that while returned.

In this interim those at home had gained to their party, some Gentlemen of Note and substantiall Yeo­men in and about Dover, and others of meaner ranke, to the number of sixty or thereabout, some of whom they thought fit to bee intrusted with the more speci­all contrivance and manage of the businesse, who had by this time projected it as followeth.

Startup, Hayes and others should have used meanes to be entertained as Souldiers in the Castle, who at a time appointed, should have a merry day with the other Centinells and Souldiers, at the drinking of some bot­tles of wine, to be sent in as a present to them by Mr. Graunt, the operation of which Wine to be com­pounded by Mr. Graunt himselfe, should have been to cast such as drunk of it into a sleep for six houres space, but if this failed, whilst the rest were at their cups, the new come Souldiers should have let in a Party, some with scaling ladders, to be provided against the time, and others at the Barbicans, a sally Port, neere one of the Platformes: At which instant the Prisoners in the Castle, by the helpe of a false key, which was made by one Onion formerly the Castle Smith, and was in the hands of one Colonell Haggaster, a Papist, then a Prisoner; should have broken out upon the Souldiers, and together with the rest have seized upon the Guns and Guard: At which time likewise a sufficient strength from the Town and neighbouring parts, should be rea­dy for an entrance: And upon an advertisement sup­plies [Page 10]of Ammunition and provision should bee sent in from Dunkerk & from France, for which Mr. Web Secre­tary to the Duke of Riehmond, had ingaged himself, as did likewise Captain Jacob, to bee in a readines at Mar­gate, with a vessell fraught with necessaries for the Ca­stle; This done, Bray should post to Oxford with the newes, which should be forthwith seconded by an in­vasive power to be brought into the County under the command of Mr. Richard Thornhill now made High Sheriffe by the King, and Commander of the Earl of Clevelands Brigade of Horse; in which interim, or rather instant of the surprisall of the Castle, by the confession of Captaine Jacobs brother, three Com­missions of Array to bee set on foot, and thereby the County in a flame, for a complement, of which mischievous designe, nothing was now wanting but the Royall stampe and name to a Commission, though Mr. Graunts opinion was, that delaies were dangerous, and it were better doe the worke without, or before the Commission fetch't.

But this advise did not find reception, whereupon Bray is the fifth time dispatch't to Oxford for a Com­mission, and by the way takes with him severall affecti­onate recommendations, to Mr. Thornhill, Captaine Jacob, Secretary Nicholas, and others at Oxford, prime actors in this businesse, from Sir Anthony Percivall, Mr. Richard Masters of Langden, Mr. Thomas Tuck, Mr. Edward Kempe of Dover, Mr. Reading and divers o­thers in returne to severall salutes respectively recei­ved by them from those at Oxford by the hands of Bray, who by each of these Gentlemen (Mr, Kempe ex­cepted) had money given him, at his parting out of Kent, as a gratuity; or to beare his charges.

Bray being come to London finds out Captaine Col­lins [Page 11]being directed to him by Mr. Edward Kempe, and acquaints the Captaine with the businesse; whose for­ward apprehensions of it were such as represented him at Oxford, the fittest man to whom the Commission of Array should be directed (though it were once moved that it might bee sent downe in to the County with a blanke, that if one man should refuse, any who should ac­cept it, might have his name inserted: but this advise was rejected by Secretary Webb, upon this reason, that if the Commission should come into the hands of the Parli­ament by mischance, they might then insert whose name they pleased, and shew the Kings hand for what they did.)

This successe hasteneth Bray to Bostol house within six miles of Oxford, where Sir William Campion, Mr. Ed­ward Masters, Captain George Kingesly, Mr. John Trowtes, one Mr. Chute and divers other Kentish Gentlemen, re­ceive him gladly, Sir William himselfe, and one Mr. Mills a Sussex Minister accompanying him to Oxford, where they bring him to Secretary Webb who forthwith repaires to Secretary Nicholas, and speeds the draught of the Commission against the next morning; at which time Secretary Nicholas brings Bray within view of his Majestie, when he presented to him the Commission to be signed, and the same day, being the 29 of November last, dismissed Bray with the Commission under hand and seale.

Bray thus armed returnes to London, and applies him­selfe againe to Captaine Collins, who whether touch't in conscience at the horridnesse of the enterprize, or doubting the successe, or indeed (as he pretended) that his baile upon whose security he enjoyed his inlarge­ment out of Prison might not be brought in trouble, declined the Commission; yet wisht that the businesse night proceed.

The Commission thus waived by Captain Collins; and Bray, returned to Dover, at a full meeting of the Conspirators, the Commission is tendred to Cap­taine Holman, whose cheerefull resolute acceptance, addes new life unto the businesse; three dayes after, Captaine Holman, whether upon any intimation of the discovery of the Plot, (which indeed the Providence of God had brought to light, by the free and volun­tary confession of one whose heart God had touch­ed, so as to make it his very errand to come to Ales­ford, and reveale the whole designe to the Commit­tee there) or whether the hand of God had over-pow­ered the spirit of this new elected Captaine; who con­fessed himselfe restlesse in his thoughts while hee kept the Commission for three dayes space; Hee returnes to his Companions and dischargeth his hands and pockets of the Commission, but not his heart of the villany intended, which hee still kept close without discovery; This ill Omen of two failing Captaines notwithstanding, the Conspirators proceed, and in­courage one another upon the strength of the Com­mission, and hopes of a rising party, and ceased not riding up and down the Country, to incite their ad­herents to an open avowance of their authority and enterprize, untill the certaine newes was spread of the surprize of the Commission, and commitment of those Gentlemen on whom they fixt their expectati­ons to head the party, so that now all hopes cut off, they bethink themselves where to shrowd their heads, and to sit down with shame and sorrow, and a consci­ous expectation of being found out by the hand of Ju­stice, which can onely vindicate the honour, and secure the peace, both of Parliament and County.