"rity wasrequisite, and, being trusted to them, would “not be executed at all, or elfe at such a time as his " Majesty should receive ample fruit by it, provided “it were done with secrefy equal co the hazard they " should run who were employ'd in it.

“ The King had this exception co it," the impro"bability that it could do good, and that the failing "might do hurt to the undertakers." But the promo

ter was a very popular man in the City, where he " had been a comniander of the Trained Bands till " the ordinance of the militia removed him, which " rather iniproved than leffened his credit, and he “was very confident it would produce a notable ad

vantage to the King. However, they desiredit who “were there, and would not appear without it; and “therefore the King consented to it, referring the " nomination of all persons in the commission to " him, who, he verily believed, had proceeded by the \inftru&ion and advice of those that were nearest " the concernment: and for the secresy of it, the King “seferred the preparing and dispatch of the com• "miffion to Sir Nicholas Crifp himself, who should “acquaint no more with it than he found requisite. “So, without the privity or advice of any counsellor

or minister of state, then most trufted by his Ma" jesty, he procured such a commission as he desired " (being no other than the Commiffion of Array in "English) to be signed by the King, and sealed with “the great seal.

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“This being done, and remaining still in his cu“ stody, the Lady Aubigney, by a pass, and with the “consent of the Houles, came to Oxford to transact “ the affairs of her own fortune with the King, upon “ the death of her husband, who was killed at Edge“hill; and the liaving in few days dispatched her bu

finess there, and being ready in return, Sir Nicho"las Crisp came to the Kily, and befought him “to “ defire that lady (who had a pafs, and fo could pro“ mise herself safety in her journey) to carry a Small “ box (in which that commillion should be) with her,

and to keep it in her own custody until a gentleman “ should call to her Ladyship for it by such a token; “that token, he said, he could send to one of the per“ fons trusted, who fhould keep it by him till the op

portunity came in which it might be executed.” “ The King accordingly withed the Lady Aubigney to

carry it with great care and fecresy, telling her so it “much concerned his own service, and to deliver it “in such manner, and upon such assurance, as is s before mentioned;" which she did, and, within few

days after her return to London, delivered it to a

person who was appointed to call for it. How this “commiflion was discovered I could never learn; for

though Mr. Watier had the honour to be admitted soften to that lady, and was believed by her to be

a gentleman of most entire affections to the King's "service, and, consequently, might be fitly trusted

" with what she knew, yet her Ladyship herself, not “knowing what it was she carried, could not in"form any body else.

“But about this time a servant of Mr. Tomkins, “who had often cursorily overhead his master and “Mr. Waller discourse of the argument we are now

upon, placed hin:selfbehind a hanging at a time they were together, and there, whilst either of them dis“coursed the language and opinion of the company

they kept, overheard enough to niake him believe “his information and discovery would make him wel

come to those whom he thought concerned, and so

went to Mr. Pym, and acquainted him with all he “had heard, or probably imagined. The time when “Mr.Pym wasmade acquainted with it is not known, “ but the circumstances of the publishing it were such

as filled all men with apprehenfions. It was on “ Wednesday the 31st of May, their solemn fast-day, “when being all at their fermon, in ģt. Margaret's "church in Westminster, according to their custom,

aletter or message is brought privately to Mr. Pyn, “who thereupon, with some of the moft active mem“bers, rise from their seats, and, after a little whi"spering together, remove out of the church. This " could not but exceedingly affect those who staid “ behind. Immediately they send guards to all the “ prisons, as Lambeth-house, Ely-house, and such "places, where their malignants were in custody, with

“ dire&tions" to search the prisoners, and some other

places which they thought fit should be suspected." “ After the sermons were ended, the Houses met, and

were only then told, " that letters were intercepted going to the King and the court at Oxford, that expressed some notable conspiracy in hand, to deli

ver up the parliament and the City into the hands “ of the Cavaliers, and that the time for the execu“tion of it drew very near." Hereupon a commit

tee was appointed, to examine all perfons they " thought fit, and to apprehend fome nominated at " that time.” And the same night this committee ap“prehended Mr. Waller and Mr. Tomkins, and the “ next day such others as they fufpected.

“Mr. Waller was fo confounded with fear and ap"prehension, that he confessed whatever he had said, “heard, thought, or feen; all that he knew of him

self, and all that he suspected of others, without “concealing any person, of what degree or quality “soever, or any discourse that he had ever, upon “any occasion, entertained with them: what such “and such ladies, of great honour, to whom, upon “the credit of his great wit and very good reputa“tion he had been admitted, had spoke to him in “their chambers of the proceedings in the Houses, “ and how they had encouraged him to oppose them; "what correspondence and intercourse they had with “fome ministers of state at Oxford, and how they

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“ derived all intelligence thither. He informed them, “ “ that the Earl of Portland and the Lord Conway “had been particular in all the agitations which had “ been with the citizens, and had given frequent ad“ vice and directions how they should demean then“ selves; and that the Earl of Northumberland had “expressed very good wishes to any attempt that “ might give a stop to the violent actions and proceed“ings of the Houses, and produce a good understand"ing with the King."

“ They proceeded to try Mr. Tunikins, Mr. Chal" loner, a citizen of good wealth and credit, and not « intimate with Mr. Tonkins, Mr. Hanıbden, who “ brought the last message from the King, one Haf« fel, a messenger of the King's who passed often be“tween London and Oxford, and sometimes carried " letters and messages to the Lord Falkland, and

fome citizens whose names were in the commision “ sent from Oxford, by a council of war; by whom " Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Challoner were condenined “ to be hanged, and were both, with all the circum“stances of severity and cruelty, executed; the one u on a gibbet by his own house in Holbora, where he “had long lived with singular estimation, and the “ other by his house in Cornhill, near the Old Ex“ change. Haffel, the messenger, faved then further “ trouble, and died in prison the night before his “ trial: and there being no evidence against Mr. Volume I.

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