an authorised commander; and extorted from

the King, whofe judgement too frequently yielded to importunity, a commiffion of array, directed to fuch as he thought proper to nominate, which was fent to London by the Lady Aubigney. She knew not what she carried, but was to deliver it on the communication of a certain token which Sir Nicholas imparted.

This commiffion could be only intended to lie ready till the time should require it. To have attempted to raise any forces, would have been certain deftruction; it could be of ufe only when the forces fhould appear. This was, however, an act preparatory to martial hoftility. Crifpe would undoubtedly have put an end to the feffion of parliament, had his ftrength been equal to his zeal; and out of the design of Crifpe, which involved. very little danger, and that of Waller, which was an act purely civil, they compounded a horrid and dreadful plot.

The discovery of Waller's defign is variously related. In "Clarendon's Hiftory" it is told, that a fervant of Tomkyns, lurking

"

behind the hangings when his master was in conference with Waller, heard enough to qualify him for an informer, and carried his intelligence to Pym. A manufcript, quoted in the "Life of Waller," relates, that "he "was betrayed by his fifter Price, and her Prefbyterian chaplain Mr. Goode, who stole fome of his papers; and if he had not "ftrangely dreamed the night before, that

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his fifter had betrayed him, and thereupon "burnt the reft of his papers by the fire that "was in his chimney, he had certainly loft

his life by it." The question cannot be decided. It is not unreasonable to believe that the men in power, receiving intelligence from the fifter, would employ the fervant of Tomkyns to liften at the conference, that they might avoid an act fo offenfive as that of destroying the brother by the fister's tefti

mony.

The plot was published in the most terrifick

manner.

On the 31ft of May (1643), at a folemn faft, when they were listening to the fermon, a meffenger entered the church, and commu

nicated

nicated his errand to Pym, who whispered it to others that were placed near him, and then went with them out of the church, leaving the rest in folicitude and amazement. They immediately fent guards to proper places, and that night apprehended Tomkyns and Waller; having yet traced nothing but that letters had been intercepted, from which it appeared that the parliament and the city were foon to be delivered into the hands of the cavaliers.

They perhaps yet knew little themselves, beyond fome general and indiftinct notices, "But Waller," fays Clarendon, "was fo "confounded with fear, that he confeffed "whatever he had heard, faid, thought, or "feen; all that he knew of himself, and all that "he fufpected of others, without concealing

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any perfon, of what degree or quality fo"ever, or any difcourfe which he had ever

66

upon any occafion entertained with them; "what fuch and fuch ladies of great honour, "to whom, upon the credit of his wit and great reputation, he had been admitted, had spoke to him in their chambers upon the proceedings in the Houses, and how

7

"they

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they had encouraged him to oppofe them; "what correspondence and intercourfe they "had with fome Minifters of State at Oxford,

and how they had conveyed all intelligence "thither." He accufed the Earl of Portland

and Lord Conway as co-operating in the transaction; and teftified that the Earl of Northumberland had declared himself difpofed in favour of any attempt that might check the violence of the Parliament, and reconcile them to the King.

He undoubtedly confeffed much, which they could never have difcovered, and perhaps fomewhat which they would wish to have been fuppreffed; for it is inconvenient, in the conflict of factions, to have that difaffection known which cannot fafely be punished.

Tomkyns was feized on the fame night with Waller, and appears likewise to have partaken of his cowardice; for he gave notice of Crifpe's commiffion of array, of which Clarendon never knew how it was discovered. Tomkyns had been fent with the token appointed, to demand it from Lady Aubigney,

and

and had buried it in his garden, where, by his direction, it was dug up; and thus the rebels obtained, what Clarendon confeffes them to have had, the original copy.

It can raise no wonder that they formed one plot out of these two defigns, however remote from each other, when they saw the fame agent employed in both, and found the commiffion of array in the hands of him who was employed in collecting the opinions and affections of the people.

Of the plot, thus combined, they took care to make the moft. They fent Pym among the citizents, to tell them of their imminent danger, and happy escape; and inform them, that the defign was “to seize "the Lord Mayor and all the Committee of

Militia, and would not fpare one of them." They drew up a vow and covenant, to be taken by every member of either house, by which he declared his deteftation of all conspiracies against the parliament, and his refolution to detect and oppofe them. They then appointed a day of thanksgiving for this wonderful delivery; which fhut out, fays Clarendon,

5