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contribution raising, the year before, for advancing the war with Scotland; an order was made, "that the justices of peace of Westminster should carefully examine, what strangers were lodged "within their jurisdiction; and that they should "administer the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to all suspected for recusancy, and proceed according to those statutes." An afternoon being appointed for that service, in Westminsterhall, and many persons warned to appear there, amongst the rest one- -James, a papist, appeared, and being pressed by Mr. Hayward, a justice of peace, to take the oaths, suddenly drew out his knife, and stabbed him; with some reproachful words, "for his persecuting poor catholics." This strange, unheard of outrage, upon the person of a minister of justice executing his office by an order of parliament, startled all men; the old man sinking with the hurt, though he died not of it. And though, for aught I could ever hear, it proceeded only from the rage of a sullen varlet (formerly suspected to be crazed in his understanding) without the least confederacy or combination with any other; yet it was a great countenance to those, who were before thought over apprehensive and inquisitive into dangers; and made many believe it rather a design of all the papists of England, than a desperate act of one man, who could never have been induced to it, if he had not been promised assistance from the rest.—But to the point.

This discovery of the plot concerning the army being made about the middle of April, which was the end of the earl of Strafford's trial, they for the present made no farther use of it than might con

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tribute to their ends in that business; reserving the rest (as was said before) to be applied in more necessary seasons: therefore, about the time that the bill of attainder was preferred, that no interposition from the court might discountenance or hinder that great work, Mr. Pym one day informed the house of commons," that he had great cause "to fear, there was at that time as desperate a "design and conspiracy against the parliament, as "had been in any age; and he was in doubt, persons of great quality and credit at court had "their hands in it: that several officers had been "treated with in London to raise men, under pre"tence that they should go for Portugal; but that "the Portugal ambassador being conferred with "about it, professed that he knew nothing of it: "and that no person had any authority or promise "from him to that purpose:" (and it is true, there had been some idle discourses in a tavern between some officers, about raising men for Portugal, which was immediately carried to Mr. Pym; as all tavern and ordinary discourses were :) “that, "for the present, he might not acquaint them with "other particulars, which might hinder their further discovery; only desired, that a message 65 might be sent to the lords, to desire them to appoint a committee to examine such witnesses as "should be produced, for the discovery of a plot

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against the parliament; and that in the mean "time they would join in a message to the king, "to desire his majesty that he would not, for some few days, grant any pass to any of his "servants to pass beyond the seas; saying, that

"he believed some men's consciences would tempt "them to make an escape, when they heard of this "examination."

Such a committee was appointed to examine, and such a message sent to his majesty, as was desired. But in the mean time, some persons who had been at the tavern, and talked of raising men for Portugal; and others who had been at the conference before mentioned, where the proposition was for bringing up the army; finding that what had passed so privately, and amongst them, had been discovered, and was like to pass a very severe inquisition, by them who made glosses and comments as they pleased, upon what other men spake or did; and not knowing how much more than the truth had been informed, or what interpretation should be made of that which was the truth; resolved not to trust themselves with such judges, (whose formality was first to imprison, and after, at their leisure, to examine,) and so fled into France.

This was no sooner known and published, than it gave great credit and reputation to Mr. Pym's vigilancy and activity; for it now appeared, there was some notable mischief intended, upon the discovery whereof, such eminent persons were fled. And in this disorder and trouble of mind, men fearing according as they were directed, the bill of attainder found the easier passage in the house of

commons.

Having gotten this much ground; and the bill then depending (and like long to depend) with the lords; Mr. Pym told them in the house of commons, "that it appeared by the flight of such

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"considerable persons, that what he had be"fore imparted to them was of moment, and "that his fears were not groundless; that it "concerned their service, that he should not yet impart the whole matter to them, since the 66 danger was prevented, which they should shortly understand at large: in the mean time, he did assure them, that God had miraculously pre"served them from a most prodigious conspiracy, " in which all their privileges and liberties should "have been swallowed up: that though this "attempt was disappointed, yet he feared there might be some new device; and therefore he I proposed, for the better evidence of their union "and unanimity, (which would be the greatest discouragement to all who wished ill to them,) that some protestation might be entered into by the "members of both houses, for the defence of their privileges, and the performance of those duties "to God and the king, which they were obliged "to, as good Christians and good subjects; and "that a committee might be appointed speedily to "withdraw, and prepare such a protestation."

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The motion was entertained with a general approbation; insomuch as they who were apprehensive enough of the ill designs of those who advanced this, and of the ill consequence of such voluntary protestations, thought fit rather to watch the matter and words, than to oppose the thing itself; which, it was evident, it was to no purpose to do: and therefore they were well contented with the naming such persons for the committee, as were not like to submit to any unlawful or inconvenient obligation. This

was urged as of such consequence, that the doors were locked, and no persons suffered to go out of the house, till this should be concluded. After a long debate, these words were agreed upon, and offered to the house for the protestation.

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"I A. B. do, in the presence of Almighty God, 'promise, vow, and protest, to maintain and defend, as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and estate, the true reformed protestant religion, expressed in the doctrine "of the church of England, against all popery " and popish innovations within this realm, contrary to the same doctrine; and, according to "the duty of my allegiance, his majesty's royal person, honour, and estate; as also, the power and privileges of parliament; the lawful rights and liberties of the subject; and every person that maketh this protestation, in what“soever he shall do in the lawful pursuance of "the same and to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and, by all good ways and means, endeavour to bring to condign punishment, all such, as shall, either "by force, practice, counsels, plots, conspiracies, " or otherwise, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present protestation contained and further, that I shall, in all just " and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve "the union and peace between the three king"doms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and "neither for hope, fear, nor other respect, shall relinquish this promise, vow, and protestation."

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