of Doors glad was I to be thus delivered out of the hands of my treacherous Companions but durst not for that night go home to my Lodging which was too well known to them but concealed my self at another place The next night I ventured when it was something late to go to my old Lodging to fetch some necessaries that I wanted but the mischievous Varlets had so way-laid me that I was set upon by one of them before I got thither and had certainly been murthered had not Providence sent in some persons timely to my rescue by whose kind assistance I did for that time get clear of my blood-thirsty Enemies and resolving now wholly to quit my old Lodging I repaired to the Pegasus in the Royal Ville where I met my trusty Friends the Doctor and the noble Collonel and by their persuasions for my better concealment took up my quarters for some time in that place CHAP. VI. The Doctor and Phileroy make their Discovery to the King and Council and are taken into the King's Protection The Author's Vision of the Murther of Sir Edmond Another of the Grand Senates Sitting The Author meets Phileroy with some Priests that he had seized Phileroy gives him an account of his seizing the Physician and his Examination before the Council the Secretary seized and examined Phileroy gives the Author a full account of Sir Edmonds Murther and the Practices of the Petropolitans to conceal it The Murther stangely discovered D Oates Sieznig of Iesuits Execution of a Traytor Reading standin in The Pillory The Town appeared to me now like a Swarm of Bees its Inhabitants in swarms hurrying and humming up and down having their peaceful Repose disturbed by the breaking out of this Discovery of a Plot which filled all things with noise tumult and distraction In these Extasies I seemed one time to be transported into the most glorious place that ever mine Eyes beheld it was a spacious Room hung round with rich Tapestry at the upper end of which upon a stately Throne was seated Our Great Albonian Monarch in his Royal Robes and the Imperial Crown encircling his sacred brows which rendred his presence very august and awful round about him on both sides were seated an illustrious company of Grandees in most magnificent Robes with Coronets on their heads which I concluded was the Peerage of the Realm and this to be the Vpper Order of the Great Senate or Assembly of Estates convened in this place amongst whom all things relating to the Interest of King and Kingdom are first judiciously consulted and then such Votes Orders and Acts passed thereupon as they think needful to the purpose At the Bar at the lower end of the House whom should I see standing but my friend Phileroy who I perceived was now upon his Examination before that Great Assembly concerning the matters of his Examination given in to the King I was glad to see things brought to this ripeness that now not only the King but Nation too the People whereof were representatively included in this great Assembly should be acquainted with this Hellish Conspiracy and that it now lay before them whose united Wisdoms could not fail finding out the Misteries of it their powers as well serve them to make provisions against the Authoâ—s of the Design Methoughts I lift up my heart in a hearty prayer for a blessing upon their proceedings and here my Vision terminated in a strange transport of joy and admiration upon the consideration of the Divine goodness so evidently appearing in these hopeful beginnings Some time after methought I was walking about the West parts of the City where I met with a crew of Matchmen and Souldiers that guarded along three or four persons whose dejected looks well enough shewed what their Condition was One of them looking wistly in his face I knew to be a Petropolitan Priest one of those that came over with us from Strombolo I was glad to see these Beasts of prey to be taken in our Toils but did not presently understand who it was that chased them thither till hearing a voice behind me crying out look well to your Prisoner I looked back and saw one following them drest after the Mode of the Albonian Clergy and followed at a small distance by a party of the Royal Guards observing him more wistly I knew him to be Phileroy I did not so much wonder at his Divinity Habit as knowing he had Title to it by those sacred Orders which he had taken up in Albonia before he fell in with the Petropolitans the Guards I imagined were those allowed him for his defence in those dangerous Services notwithstanding his hast and business I could not forbear speaking to him but his hast would not permit him to parly with me only taking me by the hand he whispered me in the Ear that he would meet in the Evening at the usual place and treat me with a feast of Wonders I expected indeed having not had his company a considerable time since to be now extraordinarily treated with accounts of things which I perceived began to work now very briskly so with much seeming impatience and with a world of fancies that like Atoms flutter'd up and down in my heated brains I dreamed away the time till Evening and then posted to the place where I was to meet with Phileroy He had got thither luckily before me and I found him with his Royal Guard of Partizans about him and a Bottle of Wine upon the Table which after I had saluted the Company we drank about Phileroy being pleased at that time tho a thing not usual with him to begin an health which was to the Preservation of His Majesties Royal Person and Government against the Plots of the Petropolitans This Health was eccho'd with hearty Amens and as chearfully pledged by all the Company amongst whom it went round and was lastly pledged by my self after which Phileroy taking me by the hand told his Guards that he had some private business for which he must withdraw from them for a little time into the next Room bidding them in the mean time to make much of themselves so we withdrew together and being by our selves Phileroy told me that to make good his word to me he had with much difficulty got loose from his business which said he at this time lies very hard upon me for having made my Discovery to the King and his Councils they have ordered me to pursue the Chase of these Petropolitan Vermin till I have brought them into their Toils and so to the Tribunals of Iustice to receive the Reward of their Treasons and when you met me in the morning I had been upon the hunt and seised one crafty old Fox a Priest in his kennel together with two other Petropolitans whom I carryed before the Council and having proved my charge against them they were by Order of that Sacred Board committed to the Den of Thieves the fittest receptacle for
THE PLOT in a DREAM OR THE DISCOVERER IN Masquerade IN A Succinct Discourse and Narrative of the late and present Designs of the Papists against the King and Government Illustrated with Copper Plates By PHILOPATRIS Fictae Religioni ficta decent LONDON Printed by T. Snowden for John Hancock and Enoch Prosser and are to be sold at their Shops at the Three Bibles next Popes-Head Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil and at the Rose and Crown in Swethings Alley at the East end of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1681. THE BOOKSELLER TO THE READER Courteous Reader THe ingenious Author wants neither Wit nor Eloquence to recommend this delightful Mirror of the Popish Plot to thy acceptance but his great humility restrains him from doing that Justice to himself and kindness to me Yet rather then so fair a Birth should perish in the bringing forth so curious a Work lie by for want of a few good words I resolved to say somewhat my self and not onely for the Authors praise but a little for my own profit I know what hath been said in some Prefaces of the bottomless deserts of some Writings to deceive the Credulous World And it is easie to say more in a Page than you shall find true in a volume But my design is not to swell this Book or thine expectation by a prolix and undeserved Encomium My purpose is only to bespeak thy Faith as the Author I doubt not hath pleased nor a damnable black and bloudy Plot against our King Laws Lives and Religion more fully discovered and fairly represented than you do in this Vision To conclude If thine eyes be shut this Vision will open them if open it will delight them What thou seest in it or by it intended but defeated designed but discovered let it excite thy praises to that God whose All-seeing eye beholds and whose infinite power and wisdom bounds the Rage and baffles the Counsels of these wicked Achitophels Neither do thou cease to pray that the same Jehovah would evermore mightily defend our Gracious Sovereign this great and populous City the whole Kingdom and all the Churches of God both at home and abroad from Hells Rage and Romes Religion till Christ shall come in glory to judge that Scarlet Whore and give us and all his Saints a clearer Vision of that Mystery of Iniquity than the World ever had or shall have till that day Farewel To the Ingenious Dreamer T Is well when others with their waking Wit Won't see a Plot that Dreams discover it When our grave Narratives grow out of date You lend brisk Faâ—sie to perpetuate Its Memory Pray take the other Nap And dream who would our Phileroy intrap What yet I saw is but the midnight Theam But hope ere long to see a Morning Dream That will reveal not onely what is past But what conclusion they 'l come to at last Servile Applauses to no man I owe Yet on your Dream my Verdict I le bestow More Truth nor better Sense no Dreamer spake But Sir you dream as if you were awake Your unknown Friend T. D Ad Authorem Epigramma Heu quam grande nefas haec dira insomnia narrant Ni fallor verè somniat hic vigilans T. D. THE PLOT in a DREAM OR The Discoverer in Masquerade CHAP. I. The Author in a Vision travelling over the Petropolitan Countries arrives at Strombolo the supposed place of Purgatory in company with some Petropolitan Travellers There they met with an Apparition talking to it self about the present Plot A pleasant passage of the fright the Petropolitans were put into by the Apparition and their flight upon it The Apparition proves to be Phileroy the Discoverer of the Plot and an acquaintance of the Author's upon renewing their acquaintance Phileroy discourses with him concerning the Plot and of his end in coming thither which was to attend a Consult there holden by the Great Bishop and his Emissaries about carrying on their Designs against Albonia Their arrival at the place of the Consult A description of the place The Author placed on Phileroy's Apartment where incognito he takes his Observations BEing naturally delighted in reading of Forein Peregrinations and Observations of the different Manners and Customs of strange Countries I was one night musing upon such Subjects till sleep the Ape of Reason had dispossest me of my considering faculty and turn'd it wholly into Imagination and Fancy by the force of which on the sudden I was carried into the Hysperian Countries where having staid a small time to remarque some most noted Observables of that Catholick Region me-thoughts I approacht towards the Sea-coast and finding a Vessel ready did having agreed for hire therein imbarque my self for Italy the principal of the Petropolitan Countries and thence to return again to Christendom having past the Fretum Gaditanum and entred into the Levant we were by force of Winds carried to the utmost parts of Italy amongst the burning Islands the chiefest of which is Strombolo commonly affirmed by the Petropolitans of those Countries to be the Jaws of Hell and that therein the damned souls are tormented here notwithstanding the frightfulness of such Reports we were forced to put in for a Refuge against the Storm and having landed our selves at the foot of that burning Mountain I and some of our Company had a mind to ascend it to see the curiosities of that feigned Incendium We had by leisurely and winding Ascents arrived to near three parts of the way when in a solitary by-way amongst a queach of bushes we discovered something in the shape of a black man softly moving before us I and my company were I must confess somewhat startled and surprized to see any thing like humane in that desolate and uninhabited Region and therefore concluded it must be some Devil or other that was sent out as a Scout to surprize such unwary passengers as our selves or else some poor Purgatory Soul that by the power of Masses had got leave to cool himself in the open Air My Company were at the point of turning back again in a fright but I persuaded them against it telling them if it were the Devil it were more safe to resist him than to fly whereupon they all besides my self being Petropolitans began to cross themselves a main to rattle their Beads and to mutter over their Ave Maries at such a rate that for my part though I could not forbear smiling at their folly yet I was more afraid of such their ridiculous incantations than of the supposed Devil The best on 't was all this while his back was towards us and his posture rather standing than progressive taking his steps so leisurely as if some weighty notions in his head had retarded the motion of his heels By this means we hop'd to avoid his sight of us and proceeded forward when on the sudden we heard him who had hitherto kept silence break out into these expressions which he utter'd with
Petropolitans The Design of our meeting here at this time is well known to you to be for the reducing of that Rebellious and Heretical Province of Albonia to the Obedience of the Apostolick Chair from which it hath long since departed by a schismatical Separation and having thereby not only cast off their Allegiance unto us to whom as St. Peters Successor all States and Kingdoms in the World do owe an undeniable Subjection but also sacrilegiously robbed the Church it self of its Incomes and Revenues All which they have converted to their own use and benefit We have out of the constant Zeal for the promoting of the Glory and Interest of the Petropolitan Empire and to regain so considerable a part of our Patrimony as are by those Hereticks detained from us Resolved to leave no means unattempted till we have fully subdued that Rebellious People and either brought them back again to their duty to us or so consumed them that they shall not have a name left upon the Earth and for you our dear Children that have so dutifully and freely offered your selves to our service and to become the Ministers of our Revenge upon them Be courageous and proceed with Vigour in this great undertaking you shall not want either Encouragements or Rewards let your valour and Resolution appear as evident for the subduing these Enemies to the Ecclesiastick State as ever the ancient Romans did for the Enlargement of their Empire We go not to subdue them with open Force or Strength of Armies those Hereticks being that way too hard for us as we experienced when our Catholick Son sent out his invincible Navy to invade them but were by those stubborn Albonians in a short time miserably overthrown and ruined Their Fleets and Armies are so powerful as keeps the whole Europian World in awe of them so that it is to no purpose to attempt by any such means to subdue them but what cannot be gained by Strength must be done by Policy and secret Contrivances for which end we have now the fairest opportunity in our hands that we could wish for to encourage our Proceedings sufficient to redeem all those former defeats that we have suffered by them We know the time is yet fresh in memory when those that the World could not subdue were destroyed by themselves by an Intestine Civil War created by their own Factions but fomented and carryed on by our Petropolitans this flame could not be extinguished but by the blood of their own Prince and Soveraign who was sacrificed to the revenge of the insulting Vulgar before the Gates of the Imperial Palace This Fact contributed no little to our Designs while our Party many of them siding with the Prince against the Rebels as it was either their interest or necessity then to do did thereby take off the suspicion of the Treason from themselves and left it upon the Factions who by that means have rooted such Jealousies and Suspicions in the Government against those Factions that as we by Our Agents amongst them have and do continually improve the Argument they shall be sooner suspected of Treason and Disloyalty than their Enemies the Petropolitans there are those heats and feuds as the effects of that Civil War yet left amongst them as 't were easie for you by stirring up the grounds of their Old quarrel to work into them another Rebellion or to keep their Divisions open so wide as to afford a fair way towards it Albonia says one of their own Writers is a great Animal that can no waies be destroyed but by killing it self let us but put swords into their hands and they are mad enough to thrust them into their own sides Divide impera is a true Maxim in Policy Divide them a while and we may come in time to rule them Now then it is the opportunity presents it self fairly to our hands we need not make Divisions amongst them but only keep them open the Order of their Church is disturbed by Dissenting Parties Mingle your selves disguisedly amongst those Herds foment their differences incense them against the Government by suggesting fears of troubles and persecutions from them And at the same time stir up the Government against them to increase the provocation Thus keep the Body Politique in a posture of Opposition till they fright one another into fightings and then will we come and part Stakes between them In the mean time while we disease the Body let 's strike at the Head the former remedy may be chronical this must be fatal the Petropolitan Church acknowledges no Head besides our self And seeing the Albonian Princes since their Apostacy from us have usurped that Title to themselves by arrogating a peculiar Jurisdiction and Supremacy over the Churches within their Dominions It is necessary that such Heads be lopt off that so the body may be again united to its proper one the Petropolitan Viccar And therefore I adjure you all by that Obedience that you owe to me and to the Apostolick Church that you will by all means imaginable according to your several powers and Capacities endeavour to cut off the present Heretical Albonian Prince as the nearest and likeliest means for us to attain our ends in reducing the Albonian Countries to the obedience of our Government which meritorious fact when once it is accomplished we have already taken care that the next Successor shall be one true to our Interest and a Petropolitan one that we have proselyted to our Religion and such an one that tho the People detest him for his faith yet must admit him upon his right to the Government of those Kingdoms And besides this the better to facilitate your proceedings we have engaged our dear Son of Franconia the most Petropolitan King to assist you both with Men and Moneys upon all occasions to carry on your designs We have farther issued out our Bull of Excommunication against that Heretical Prince of Albonia thereby by vertue of our Apostolick Power depriving him of his usurped Title to the Albonian Countries and absolving the Albonians his Subjects from their Duty and Allegiance to him under pain of our highest Displeasure and the bitterest Curses we can inflict upon them And such of them as out of an holy fear of our Indignation shall observe our Pleasure in this particular by turning Traytors to their Prince to become Friends to us and our Interest shall not only have our Dispensations and Indulgencies granted to them for so doing but shall have the Benefit of our sacred Benediction and such rewards as the merit of their doings or Sufferings shall require And now our dear Friends and Children if those Encouragements be not sufficient to animate you in your proceedings yet let â—he Interest of your Mother-Church which should be dearer to you than your very Souls provoke you to it Consider what a goodly part of St. Peter's Patrimony is kept from us That Albonia whose fruitful soil and large revenues did sometime plentifully
most of which by their Countenances seemed to be Albonians but what they did there or what was said I minded not for the truth is at the understanding of this I fell into a deep fit of musing thinking with my self of the presumptuous arrogance of the Petropolitan Bishop who would not be content only to let his destructive Beagles to skulk up and down in shelters in a Country where their Company was so much abhorred and hated but should assign them so publick a place in the midst of a populous City and near to the Princes Court as it was to kennel in I confess my admiration at this and some other passages that I had observed put me into a very profound fit of musing and thoughtfulness so that I never observed this new Company either what they did at the Consult or when they departed But my Friend Phileroy seeing me stand in such a studious posture with my Eyes fixed upon the ground and Head leaning upon my Hand began to rouse me up by plucking me by the Elbow and saying What are you asleep A wake-man Here is another rare Show a coming No no said I Phileroy I â—m asleep though I lyed in that for 〈◊〉 was asleep all this while but however at this time I fancied my self awake only got into a brown Study out of which being thus roused by Phileroy I opened mine Eyes again to see what Pageant was next and presently I discovered a single person by himself and without any other Company marching up in great haste as if he had forgot himself towards the Table he shewed himself by his habit to be an Albonian and was a spare thin-faced old man pretty tall having over his other cloaths along scarlet Gown and Hood such as in Albonia are used by those of the Degree of Doctor to satisfie my curiosity Phileroy told me that he knew him very well and that he was an Albonian Physician A Physician said I what need is there of such here their province being to save mens lives but those are all for destroying them 'T is true indeed replied he it is a Physician 's work to preserve Life if they can though through their ignorance too often they destroy many but what such do ignorantly this great man for he is a person of quality shall do wilfully and kill as many at once if he succeed in his Design as Nero would have done when he wished that all the Citizens of Rome had but one Neck that he might strike it off at a blow The Albonian Nation have but one supream Head upon whose preservation the Lives and Properties of the whole Kingdom does depend Him this Devils drugster is to take off by poison and to facilitate his way to it he hath already got a place in the Albonian Court whereby he may have the freer access to the King when he has occasion and is lately come over to the Consult to receive his Orders the Great Bishop has had several discourses with him in private since his being here and I suppose has firmly ingaged him to the business and that he now attends the Board for Instructions And accordingly I saw the Secretary deliver him some Instruments into his hand and wished him to be very careful in his management The Great Bishop himself then beckened up to him and whispered something in his Ear what it was I know not and then took up a small glass of liquor which Phileroy said he believed was the poison and having mumbled a few words over it which was the Blessing or Consecration of the Viccar to make it effectual he then delivered it to the Darts wishing its operation to be successful and him to be saithful and couragious in the applying of it after which he took up a good bulky purse of Gold as 't is supposed and having likewise bestowed his Benediction upon it such blessings I confess I thought I could be content to receive from his Viccarship my self he likewise gave the Physitian that upon this purse was plainly inscribed this Motto in Capitals Auri sacra Fames Quae non mortalia pectora cogis Virg. which Phileroy was pleased to english thus The sacred hunger of Gold Will Judges make corrupt and Cowards bold Thus furnished with his poisonous drug and healing bag this new Doctor Lopez made his Obeysance to the Court and vanisht In whose room starts up presently another Gown-man an Albonian but of a different Robe having on him such an one as is usually worn by the Advocates and Pleaders in Albonia he seemed to be about 50 years of age a spare man but of a comely aspect and very grave in his deportment the Court seemed to give him much respect he being as Phileroy informed me the chief Counsellor and Advocate to all the Petropolitan party in Albonia and his services in that particular was looked upon to be of no small consideration to their Designs and Interest being to draw up the Conveyances of such Estates as they should purchase in Albonia or such Stocks as they should raise for the carrying on their Designs to settle them securely as also to draw up such Commissions and Pattents as should be necessary to their purpose His charge which he received from the grand Viccar himself was no more in short than that he should be careful and faithful in his trust in the management of which they knew his own skill and learning in the Laws would be most proper to direct him without receiving from them any particular Instructions Thus Physick Law and feign'd Divinity In heats against their Native Country burn Let them go on but may that Misery Design'd to us upon themselves return The Lawyer after a short stay did likewise make his Exit And who the Devil should come up next but a sort of Masqueraders or Protesto-petropolitans for so Phileroy called them their habit indeed was perâ— Masquerade for their inside Garments was after the Petropolitan guise a monkish kind of Gear with Rosaries and Crosses dangling at their Girdles But over these they wore an upper Garment of the Albonian fashion some in Cloaks and some in Coats and some in Gowns such as our Clergy in Albonia do usually wear upon their first appearing I saw the Secretary deliver out to them Instruments under the Seal of the Fisher containing Indulgences and Dispensations I minded not much what was said to them being willing rather to be informe by Phileroy who told me that those Indulgencies given them were for Lying Disturbing the main necessary part of their Undertaking These 〈◊〉 he are looked upon as no part of their standing 〈◊〉 but a kind of Aluriâ—â—aâ—iâ—â— or 〈◊〉 that being bred up in the Câ—â—istian Faith are yet in their Hearts and Judgments Petropolitans which they keep close to themselves and only wear the profession of their Country Religion for a Dâ—gâ—iâ— and 〈◊〉 Sic sic juvat ire per umbras In masquerading Shades these Sons of Night And Darkness
they were for farther Confirmation severally to receive the Sacrament upon it at the hands of their Priests or Confessors before they went about their Enterprise sure bind sure find said the Provincial but thought I with my self as the Devil here binds so I hope God will unbind and loosen their cursed Intrigues This was the effect of this damned Consult there were other matters of less moment then dispatched which I will not now trouble you with it being now late so we fell to some other chat a little and then took leave one of another Phileroy appointing a short time after to meet me again and to acquaint me further CHAP. V. Phileroy's Proceedings about making a Discovery The Grand Cashier's practises to stifle it The Petropolitans Practices to seduce the People under several religious Disguises ACcording to this Appointment I met him a few daies after at our usual place of Meeting and having conferred notes a little of what we had observed since we came to Town I told him my Thoughts which I knew was agreeable enough to his mind concerning a Discovery He told me with a look much more troubled than ever I had seen him with before that while this horrid Conspiracy against his Prince and Country lay concealed in his bosom he carried a fire within him much more hot than the place we came from but for him at that time to attempt a Discovery being a stranger at Court and knowing no great Person there whose acquaintance should be a means of his Introduction and give Credit to his Testimony he thought would be altogether in vain and besides the Petropolitan party being now all in Town that knew him should he attempt a Discovery before he had got some protection from the higher Powers for his security he should be in continual danger to have his Life and Evidence taken off together But withal he told me he would acquaint me with a secret which he had never yet revealed to me or any one which was That the Provincial Blanc-pain had enjoyned him to murther an eminent Albonian Divine one Dr. Tongus who had lately put forth a Book called the Ignatians Morals a Book so palpably detecting the Villanies of that Party that in revenge thereof they had engaged him to that barbarous service of cutting him off But said Phileroy I have considered with my self that taking hold of this Thread I might possibly unravel the whole bottom of their Designs and therefore I have purposed to go forthwith to the Doctor and first to acquaint him with the Mischief intended against himself and then to inform him of the Plot in general in its various Contrivances against the King and Kingdom to which end I have drawn up a Paper consisting of forty three Articles and containing the general heads of my Discovery which I intend to deliver to him and withal to engage his assistance being a person of so much Note and Eminency to get it preferred to him whom it most concerns the King himself with a Promise to appear my self to justifie it when ever I shall be thereto required This project of Phileroy's did exceedingly well please me wishing him without delay to proceed upon it and withal to give me an account of the Result at our next Meeting Which accordingly he did for then looking with a more gay and pleasant Countenance than before he told me merrily that he had been at Confession but said he it was to a Christian and not a Petropolitan tho I wish I may not come to be pennanced by them for so doing In fine he acquainted me how that he had been with the Doctor and made his Discoveries to him not only of the Conspiracy against himself but that against the King and Kingdom both which he accepted very kindly and as for the latter as a loyal Subject concerned for the safety of his Prince he had ingaged a Noble Collonel a Person great at Court to deliver the Articles into the King 's own hand which he accordingly did taking a fit opportunity for his purpose as the King was for his Recreation walking in his Park And His Majesty received the same very graciously from him and afterwards at his return from his Walk vouchsaft to hear him more particulary of the Treason intended against him as also an account of the Traitors themselves their Names and Characters But being more secure in his own Innocency than aware of the danger threatned him and being to go the next day to one of his Royal Pallaces in the Country told him he would leave the Papers in the hands of his Oreat Cashier and ordered the Collonel to attend him that he might put him in mind of them a Person whom he said he could confide in but one that has since proved himself too much a friend to his Enemies but not so much a friend to his Master as the Duty of his Place besides the Rewards of it should have obliged him to have been especially in an Affair of this Nature wherein no less than the Life of his Soveraign was concerned For said Phileroy altho for the more clear evidencing of the Design it was offered him to produce the very Persons that should perpretrate the intended Murther with their Weapons and Instruments of Death about them in such time as the King should happen to take a Walk next in the aforesaid Park and although farther the Collonel acquainted him with a means how to seise the Letters of their Correspondents which might give a further light to the Discovery yet all these opportunities were slighted or neglected by him Neither would he permit any access to him by the Discoveror to give in his farther Information bur put him off with delays from time to time and hardly any notice taken of this important affair so that the Progress of our Discovery being retarded thus by one that appears so much a friend to the Petropolitans we are in danger of being Discovered our selves before we can make out our Discovery against them I was much dampt to hear that the Design should be thus slighted by a man in Power and so near to the Prince's Person as the grand Cashier by his place was and withal I feared by this Instance that the treacherous Petropolitans had corrupted more such men as he was and by Bribes or otherwise drawn them over to their Interest and said I if they have gained this point of us to infeeble those that should be the Supporters of our State and to render them defenceless to us we may well give over stirring and leave them to play out their game for who shall hinder them That will I replied Phileroy bravely so long as I am sure the main Pillar of all stands fast and unshaken I mean His Majesty to whom I am resolved seeing I can have no better success with his Minister to go my self as soon as ever I can find means of access to his presence and give in my Informations my self
time Phileroy willing to gratifie my curiosity to the utmost rubbing his eyes a little began thus I have already said Phileroy in some of my former Discourses with you about these matters acquainted you how these five Lords came to be drawn into the Plot and the nature of their Crimes which as they are complicated together would be tedious to recite to you But for these Crimes being imprisoned in the Royal Tower they had afterwards an Impeachment drawn up against them by the Lower Senate consisting as you know of the Commonalty of the whole Kingdom wherein they were severally charged with High-Treason for conspiring with the Secretary and the other Traitors whose Facts and Trials have been already mentioned to subvert the Christian Religion and introducing Petropolitanism to murther the King to alienate our Estates to seize our Garrisons to introduce foreign Arms and to that end receiving Commissions of Places and Offices by allowing Contributions out of their Estates to carry on the Designs of their Treason with several other particulars too tedious to enumerate which Impeachment according to custom was carried up to the Senate of Lords before whom the matters therein charged were to be tried To this Impeachment the said five Lords being called upon to give in their Answer made a Demurr a Phrase you know used in their Forms by our Lawyers in Albonia which they gave in in Writing for that the Facts alledged in the Impeachment were so general and the times and places wherein they were mentioned to be done so uncertain that they could not with safety give any direct answer to them But by the Votes of the Lower Senate this Demurr was over-ruled and they Ordered to plead according to form of Law to the matters of Fact charged against them and then they put in their Pleas severally the substance of which in general was only Protestations of their Innocency and submitting the Trial of their Peers And now great Expectations were of their being brought to a speedy Trial and Scaffolds for that purpose erected in the midst of the High Courts of Justice But in the mean time the Grand Cashier whom the Lower Senate had now likewise impeached for Treason but had for some time absconded did now unexpectedly come in and surrendred himself insisting upon a Pardon which he had obtained although as yet there was no Crime proved against him But this the Lower Senate Voted illegal upon which and upon another point of the right of the Spiritual Lords to be Iudges at those Trials which they denied such misunderstandings arose betwixt the Lower Senate and the Senate of Lords that the King was forced at last to dissolve the Session After which the Grand Cashier was secured a Prisoner in the Royal Tower where he and the rest of the Petropolitan Lords except the Lord Fordstaff are yet remaining Although several Senates have been since called but their Sittings so short by reason of some unhappy Misunderstanding amongst those Grand Estates about the Proceedings against the Great Duke occasioning their sudden Dissolution that they have not had opportunity to proceed upon their Tryals only the Last Senate that has been since called saving one the aforesaid Lord Foâ—dstaff was brought to his Trial before the Senate of Lords where the Lower Senate as Prosecutors appeared against him charging him particularly with Design to murther the King and offering Money to have it done This horrid Fact was by two Witnesses fully proved against him whereupon after several days Trial which the Senate in favour allowed him he was convicted of High-Treason and had the Sentence of Traitors passed upon him but by the Mercy of the King that Sentence was mitigated only to the taking off his Head which Death he hath since suffered upon the Hill adjoining to the Royal Tower dying like a true Petropolitan by justifying his Innocency and denying the Facts charged upon him which he formally read out of a Paper supposed upon good grounds to be drawn up for him by some of the party as the like hath been proved in other cases some Petropolitans about the Staffold were observed to dip their handkerchiefs in his Blood which no doubt was esteemed by them as a precious Relique Phileroy having thus far obliged me by giving me in so large an Account of the matters I desired to be satisfied about I thought I could do no less than gratifie him in that which I perceived Nature and his Weariness required by suffering him to take a Repose it being now late at Night or rather morning when our Discourse was finished so we lay down together at least I fancied so for no sooner was I laid down but the Magick of my Fancy still in continual motion transported me to a place where nolens volens I was forced to stay being now a meer passible subject to my own imagination and expecting to meet with some adventure I staid not long before I perceived some Persons that I knew to be Petropolitans to enter into an house just over against me and amongst the rest one that I had observed at Strombolo to be of the crew of Sham-plotters attired in one of these habits which I observed were there wore by them This Person coming over with us in the same Ship had there so much knowledge of me and I of him that I resolved at this time to renew acquaintance with him that I might thereby understand what Designs they were then upon Whereupon taking my Ticket that is my Rosarie and Crucifix out of my pocket I hung them at my Girdle that I might appear no other than a Petropolitan I made up to him and saluted him with a Salve mi Frater He hereupon looking wistly upon my face stood still not knowing whether he had best own his own knowledge of me or no lest I should prove a Trappan But my ratling my Bâ—â—ds at my Girdle drew his Eyes off to that place where and only where I was a Petropolitan this served to removed his Suspicion and thereupon without farther scruple telling me he was glad to see me he took me by the hand and drew me into the House telling me by the way that we should now understand the Results of their Sham-Plot I durst not presume to ask him what Sham he meant lest I should appear to be as ignorant as indeed I was and so incur a new suspicion but told him I longed my self very much to understand the Consequence of it So we proceeded and came into a Room where the Managers were a pretty Company there was of them all sitting in a very disconsolate posture and amongst the rest a Woman in a Matron-like dress looking with a very rueful Countenance and often wringing her hands in a passionate manner I heard her often repeat Never was so hopeful a Birth spoiled for want of due Care and Management since the time that I have practised Midwifry I never met with the like Miscarriage By this I understood she
instead of them to see them filled with great numbers of Illustrious Persons of the Nobility and Gentry walking with their Swords by their Sides and Lacquies after them Many of them had Papers in their hands which I perceived that they were busily discoursing about and the whole Town I perceived was very full of People of all Ranks and Qualities I could not imagine the meaning of this great Convention till I was soon after resolved by this accident for happening in my perambulations upon a pleasant Garden belonging to one of the Colledges I entred into it and taking a private walk within a Grove of Trees whom should I meet there but my old Friend Phileroy who admiring to see me there and to find him out in that solitary place I resolved him that I came hither I knew not how and met here I knew not who but desired him as he had hitherto been my Intelligeneer to satisfie me what was the meaning of this great Assembly this he promised to do but before he did that would needs know of me what News I could tell him from Londinopolis To gratifie him in which I told him what I had heard and seen of the late Adventure of the Meal 〈◊〉 and of my Discourse with Oâ—â—◠〈◊〉 all which he told me he understood before he left Londinopolis and some other passages relating to that Design he acquainted me which I knew not before as that after Camperil had fully made out his Discovery and thereby detected the severall parties concerned in the Design the Lady Wispo was examined by the Royal Council about it and upon substantial proofs being convicted of having an hand therein was by their Order sent a Prisoner to the Royal Tower Gad the Conjurer was sent to the Den of Thieves where he pretended to make a Discovery impeaching some Persons of quality as concerned with him and so said he by what means I know not he got at last his Discharge And as for the Petropolitan Midwife said Pâ—â—â—crey she so obstinately persisted in Justification of her Practices that she published a Book in Vindication of them and reflecting too much upon the Justice of the Government in matters relating to this Discovery she was for this upon a Trial had for the same fined the Sum of 1000 l. and sentenced to stand three days in the Piliory which Sentence was accordingly executed upon her in the midst of Thousands of Spectators who besides whole vollies of Curses spent upon her had it not been for a Board that she held in her hand to defend her self with had certainly brained her before she was taken down but being by a strong Guard at last delivered from the fury of the Rabble and carried back to Prison but a worse misfortune than this soon after befel her for Camperil and others making out some new Discoveries against her of a more dangerous consequence she was thereupon continued in Prison under no less charge than that of High-Treason against the King and Government But said Phileroy leaving this heard you nothing in Town of one Arnoldus I told him no why then said he I will acquaint you with a new Design of the Petropolitans lately acted This Arnoldus a Magistrate in the Cambrian Countries a Loyal Gentleman and great Enemy to the Petropolitans coming up to Londinopolis to make some Discoveries against them to the Royal Council was one night late set upon in a narrow Lane by a crew of Ruffians Petropolitans all of them who got him down and with their Knives had certainly murdered him had not a Boy with a light accidentally past by which caused them to fly and leaving him weltring in his Blood having cut his Throat from Ear to Ear but not so mortally having scaped his Wind-Pipe but that he afterwards recovered Two of these Dillains were afterwards discovered and brought to Trial and fined in a great Sum of Money besides the punishment of standing in the Pillory near to the place where the Fact was committed where the Guards about them had much a do to preserve him from being torn in pieces by the People before they could get them back to Prison their durance for some time in which was to make up the Consummation of their Punishment And now said Phileroy I shall proceed to satisfie you concerning the great Convention you have observed here Here are at this time by the King 's Royal Order assembled the three grand Estates of the Senate by him lately called to consider of the arduous affairs of this Kingdom the former Senate being upon the account of some unhappy differences arising upon their Proceedings to exclude the Succession of the Great Duke to the Crown of this Kingdom some time since dissolved but most of the old Members of that Senate being chosen by the Countries to serve again in this it is much feared if as their Dictator hath declared They are not given to Change lest they should fall upon the same measures they did before which if they do will inevitably cause another Dissolution and all our great hopes of their Proceedings in the Discovery of this Plot and to bring the Petropolitan Lords to Judgment will be utterly defeated And I the rather fear said Phileroy that notwithstanding all the great and sumptuous Preparations made here for their Reception their stay here will not be long upon account of another matter which has unhappily faln out For said he you cannot but know that there has been a great noise made for some time of another Plot like to this if not the same carried on by the Petropolitans in Bogland to kill the Vice-Roy of that place to massacre the Inhabitants and to cause an Invasion of that Country by the Franconians several Persons have been seized upon this account and Informations given to the Royal Council by Witnesses that have come over from that place to give in Evidence against them who have fully proved the truth of the said Plot notwithstanding the Petropolitans according to their old wont have endeavoured several ways to Shain it off upon the Christians tho without effect Amongst others that have been seized for this Plot there was one Fitzar notoriously concerned in it and now a Prisoner in the Royal Tower who 't is said hath since his being there discovered things of such a dangerous Consequence to some great Persons that Endeavours have been made to prevent his farther Proceedings on that kind by bringing him to speedy Iustice to which end they have obtained the Royal Commission for the trying him by Iudges therein specially deputed But the Lower Senate having now notice of it have endeavoured to prevent that Proceeding by having the matter brought to be examined before themselves and to that end have preferred an Impeachment against him in the Senate of Lords before whom he appears to stand now chargeable And this way of proceeding appearing as it were designed to prevent the other it is much feared may occasion such