AMong the several other Cursed ways and means, whereby the Papists have endeavoured to enslave this Nation, they have used none more often, than this of Firing Towns and Cities; and among the rest, this Famous City of London has had the unhappiness to taste most severely of their Burning Malice and Fury.

For besides the Burning of London in 1666, which was so apparently discovered to the Parliament then in being by the Voluntary Confession of Robert Hubert a French­man, who Fired the Bakers House in Pudding-lane, and whose Conscience was so starttled at the vast Desolati­ons and Ruines he had occasioned thereby, that he vo­luntarily confessed the same, for which he was deser­vedly Executed, and the abundant Testimony of others to confirm the same; and among the rest, one Mr. Light of Ratcliff, Informed the Committee of the House of Commons, that having discourse with one Mr Richard Langhorn of the Inner-Temple Barrister, reputed a zea­lous Papist, about February before the Burning of London, Mr Langhorn took him by the hand, and said to him, You expect great things in Sixty Six, and think that Rome will be destroyed, but what if it be London; which is a plain demonstration of their intended Damnable design, and this is that very Langhorn who was last Executed for Conspiring the death of the King, and the overthrow of the Protestant Religion and Gove [...]nment.

They still proceeded to perpetrate more Horrid Mis­chiefs and Villanies both in Southwark, and other places for these Thirteen years last past, both in the City and Country; and this they have done by several ways and Methods.

As the Firing of London in 1666, was effected, by Fire-balls put at the end of a Pole, and so thrust in at a hole [Page 3]or window; and sometimes by flinging the said Fire-balls and other Combustible Matter into Cellers through the Bars or Grates of Houses, and thus was that Great Fire in Southwark effected, which Burnt down so many hun­dred Houses; and by taking opportunity of the Conster­nation and Hurry of the People, they stole their goods as well as burnt their Houses, carrying away from South­wark to Somerset-house, their place of Rendezvous, the value of Four thousand pounds in Money and Goods, and in the fire of London above sixteen Thousand pounds value.

They still continued their Burning, as at Wapping, where there were abundance of Houses burnt; at the Temple in White-Fryers, St. Pauls Church-yard, Fetter-lane, neer New-Inne, Ship yard, Southampton-Buildings, at the Water-house, in the Minories; and many other places; endeavouring by all manner of ways to impo­verish and destroy this Noble City.

Another way of firing they had, by throwing Fire-balls in at Glass-windows, as they did at a Black-smiths House in Black-Friers. Another was by setting their own Lodgings on Fire, as the French Man in Shoe-lane did in the time of the Burning of London: and as some others did at Saf­fron-hill a while after. Another way was by hiring Cellers in dangerous places, and then filling them with Combu­stible Matter and firing them; which was one of the ways that they advised me to practice. Another was by firing Hay-lofts, as they did in Smith-field once or twice. Another was by Strangers pretending to come of Errands to Lodgings and Chambers: and in this manner was the last dreadful Fire in the Temple.

Another way was by getting into empty Houses, and setting them on Fire: and this was done in Budge-Row in London. Another was by creeping into Back-yards, and firing stacks of Bavins, Reeds, or such like stuff; and this was practiced at Lime-house. Another way was by going into Victualing-houses, and leaving trains of Gun­powder behind them for firing; and this was done at a Cooks in Fetter-lane, and also in Southwark. Another way [Page 4]was by confederating with the Servants in Houses; and by this means one Elizabeth Oxly having dwelt a short time with one Mr. Bird, an Atturney in Fetter-lane, took the opportnity when all the Family was in Bed, to sire a large Press in his Closet, wherein were Papers and Writings kept; and a while after ran up to her Master and told him the House was on fire; and then running down she let in the Watch: But it being observed that her Cloths were pack'd up, and giving several other marks of su­spicion, she was charged to be accessary to it; and after a small time of Examination she confessed the fame, de­claring that she was hired to do it by one Mr. Stubbs, who engaged to give her Five pounds for doing the same Upon this Stubbs was searched for and taken, who con­fessed that it was true, that he had perswaded her to do it, and was to give her Five Guinneys to perform it, be­sides Five Shillings which he had given her before-hand; and said further, that one Father Gifford (the same Per­son whom I was to have assisted in such wicked Practices, and was his Confessor) had engaged him in the business, by telling him it was no sin at all to fire the Houses of Hereticks; and that the said Gifford had promised him a Hundred pound for the same, telling him he should have the Money from the Church. He also declared that he used to meet the said Gifford and two other Persons in St. James's-Fields, in the dark of the Evening, to consult of these matters.

And in order to make these Fires more destructive and ruinous, they chose out the most close and dangerous places to begin their Villany, and gave instructions to their cursed Accomplices accordingly, as among old Houses and Sheds, where Engines cannot play; and to fire Wa­ter-houses, and to get the New River Water stopp'd during that time the Fire continued. To have some of their Friends about the Fire, who might perswade the Magi­strates to blow up Houses, where it was not necessary, or rather, where it might do more harm than good, by opening a passage to the Fire. To have others of the Par­ty, [Page 5]who under pretence of helping to quench the Fire, may throw their Fire-balls to increase it in the Houses next adjoyning, and to break down the Roofs of the Win­dows to let in the Fire more easily. To have some others attending, who should cry out against the French and Papists; and should mightily pity the People, thereby in­sinuating themselves so as to be trusted with the removing of Goods, and so take the opportunity of stealing and cheating them of their Goods; and sometimes to fire Houses at a distance, as they find opportunity. And lastly, To ob­serve the Wind and Tide in all their Attempts: as also Frosts and very dry Seasons; and to chose Sundays for doing their Work, because then there is little Water to be had. By these wretched Courses have they endeavoured to advance their cursed Interest: And let us not be too secure, for no question the Plot, though in part discovered, yet is still going on; and these are are not the last Fires we must expect; and if the Great Design do not miscarry, they hope to have our Blood too, by Massacring us in the hurry and confusion that dread­ful Fires usually put People unto.

But to proceed to what is of my own knowledge, It was my chance to be at Paris in the Month of June 1676, at the English Convent of Benedictine Monks, with whom, upon di­vers occasions, I had much ingratiated my self, so that they made me one of their Confidents; among other Dis­courses, they talked af a great Design carrying on, For subverting the Protestant Religion, and introducing Popery into England. They fell to debate the several ways and means preparatary to it, and what methods were best to be used to accomplish it; but because they did nothing without advice of their Fellow-Traytors in England, one of them produced divers Letters from London; wherein there were several particulars concerning the Firing of the City and Suburbs of London; and many other of the chief Cities and Towns in England. And it was concluded by them that the most effectual means to make way for their Design, was to weaken and ruin the said City of London; and some of them wickedly gave God thanks that their Attempts of [Page 6]that nature had succeeded so well already; and that though it were so nobly and unexpectedly re-built, yet many of the Inhabitants still felt the effects of that Desolation.

After this and much more discourse of this kind, which was managed with great zeal and earnestness, they at last asked me, Whether I would assist them in carrying on this business, as I had done before in the other part? To which I seem'd readily to consent, pretending that I was able to be very serviceable to them in it, as being very well acquainted with all parts of the City of London, and could therefore direct them to those places where the greatest mischief was like to be done; and that I had knowlege also of several of the Chief and most Trading Towns in England, whereby I was in a Capacity to manage such af­fairs with more security and success than any other man; by such discourses as these, they were so well satisfied of my Abilities in this kind, That it was agreed amongst them, that I should go for England, and should there be joyned with Father Gifford before-mentioned, for the car­rying on these Burning Attempts. This Father Gifford was a Jesuit, and as I understood by the Letters I had seen, he was one of those that was very Active in carrying on the Dreadful Fire in London, in the year 1666, and also (as they Reported) the Great Fire in Southwark, which Fire happened not above a Month before we had the forego­ing Discourse together, and that he had attempted to Fire divers other places at several times, though he had mis­sed in the performance of it.

At this great Consultation of the Benedictines, several Letters were produced, as is mentioned before, all tending to the way and manner of burning the City of London and its Suburbs, and several other Towns in England, and they were very earnest with me. that as soon as I came to Eng­land I should be very careful and diligent in Executing the same; and that I should receive all necessary Orders, Encouragement, and Supplies, to put me into a Capacity of Carrying things on. I afterwards went into Spain, and continuing there some time, I came at length to London, [Page 7]which was in the Year 1678; and a while after there was a Consultation held by Gifford and several other Priests and Jesuits, for Carrying on the business of Firing; which Consults they usually kept every Week upon that Ac­count.

In this Meeting it was resolved, That Wapping and Lime House should be first Fired, by that means if possible to burn the Vessels and Ships in the River of Thames. To which end several of those that were at this Consultation, were to be assisting there, some by Land, and others by Water, who were to fire those Ships that lay farthest from Land, and to cut the Cables of Ships, that they might fall foul one upon another; and in pursuit of this, Lime House was really fi­red, though it had not that dismal Effect which they expected, some of the Conspirators having faled of being present there to manage it. After this Gifford and my self went upon the Thames several nights, and especially about London Bridg, to take exact notice of the lowest Rooms, Cellars, and Windows, and what Places were filled with the most Combustible stuff, whereby they might have opportunity to burn down the Bridge, which they thought would be most easie to Effect at the time of High-Water, when they might bring a Boat almost equal with those Windows and Cellers, and thereby more Conveniently throw in their Fire Bals; there was also mention made of firing the Towe [...] of London, but Father Harcourt (who was lately Executed for High Treason) told them, that they were assured of that place within, and therefore advised the preserving of it, as be­ing for their Benefit and advantage.

Briefly, for near a year before I discovered this damna­ble Design, I was imployed by all ways and means imagi­nable, to endeavour the setting a Fire London, and other places; and the chief management of all their intregues of this kind, was committed to my Conduct, but the Jesuits were to be my Overseers, that I might not want Combustible Matter sufficient to carry on the Work; and in August last I designed to take several Cellers and Ware­houses, where I might stow Coals, Wood, and other things fit for our use, of all which I bought several quantities, and also several Barrels of Gun powder, which I ordered to be placed in several parts of the City and Suburbs: As for Example, At my own Lodgings in Essex Garden, at the [Page 8]back-door of the Palsgrave's Head Tavern near the Temple, I laid in a great quantity of Coals, and some hundreds of Faggots, which was designed for burning the Temple, with the Writings and Records therein. I laid in another parcel in Brewers yard in the Strand in a Cellar, and some other Old Buildings there; the Cellar belongs to Mr. Morgan at the Red Bible in Bedford street. Another parcel of Faggots and Coals I laid at Mr. Browns in White-Friers, and intended to haue sent some more into an old Cellar of Mr. Withers at the Plow in Seething-lane near Tower-hill, and others into Red-cross-street, Bishopsgate-street, White-cross-street, Queen­hithe; and many other places about this Town: which I am ready to attest the truth of when required thereto by Authority.

The last Consultation we had about these Designs of Firing, was in August last, 1678, and others were then Contriving and Conspiring, To take the King out of the way (which is a soft word to express Trea­son and Murder) and those other of the Nobility and Magistrates, that might obstruct their business, which was to have been first done, and then my Firing of London was to have succeeded; and in the hor­rour of that dreadful Conflagration, all the Papists were to have ap­peared in Arms, and declared openly for the Pope.

Many other Designs have been Contrived, in order to the carrying on these Affairs to Fire many places, and several Persons have been Im­ployed therein, but few of them acquainted with each other, some of which Fires have had Effect, and others have failed. But these Wretch­es are never weary of committing wickedness, and will therefore never cease Contriving our Destruction, by all ways and means Ima­ginable; having all their Engines ready, awaiting only the giving the Traiterous and Dreadful Stroke against the Life of our Gracious Soveraign, whom we hope God will ever defend from their Cursed Malice and Villany. Amen.