A BRIEF NARRATIVE OF The late Treacherous and Horrid design, Which by the great Blessing and especial Providence of God hath been lately discovered: And for which, public Thanksgiving is by Order of both Houses of Parliament appointed on Thursday the 15. of June, 1643.  
TOGETHER WITH A true copy of the Commission, under the great Seal▪ sent from Oxford, to several persons in the city of LONDON.  
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament, That this Narration and Commission be read in all Churches and chapels, in the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, on the day above said.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
LONDON: Printed for Edward Husbands, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Middle-Temple. July 12. 1643.   

A brief Narrative of the late Treacherous and horrid design.  
AFter a continual succession of secret Conspiracies and open violences, Plotted and attempted against The true Protestant Religion, Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, there hath of late risen up, under the plausible Pretences of Moderation and Peace, a most dangerous and wicked Plot of divers persons, to join themselves with the Armies raised by the King, and to destroy the Forces raised by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs, and by Arms to force the Parliament; and in a word, To have delivered up Religion, Parliament, city and Kingdom, into the mere will and pleasure of the King, now in the hands of most desperate and pernicious counsellors.  
Towards the effecting whereof;  
There was framed a mixture and conjunction of Persons of several qualities, some whereof were of both Houses of Parliament; others of the Court and of the city, who were in their respective Places and employments to form and perfect this Work, raised out of the Ashes of the late Petition of London for Peace.  
The Method observed by them for the Conduct and carrying on their design, was first for several persons in the City, to dispose of themselves into a Committee, being those who had been principal Movers and Fomenters of that Petition.  
The part that this Committee was chiefly to act, was;  
First, To hold intelligence with both Armies, Court, and Parliament.  
Secondly, To take a general survey of the Affections and numbers of persons, within the several Wards and Parishes of the City and places adjacent, by the Weekly Bill of Mortality, under three Ranks; of, Right men, (or the King's party) of, Averse men (or the well affected to the Parliament) of, Moderate men, (or Neutrals) as they called them.  
Thirdly, To consider of Arms, Ammunition, and all other Provisions of War requisite thereunto.  
Fourthly, Out of themselves to appoint some select persons to treat with M. Waller, and M. Tompkins, with relation to the City, Court, and Parliament, as also with Crispe, Roydon Broome and Binion; then at Oxford.  
Master Waller's part in this business was;  
First, To engage a considerable party of the Lords and Commons in the design.  
2. To be the means of conveying all counsels, Resolutions, and Intelligences between the said party of Lords and Commons, and the Committee of the city.  
M. Tompkins was not only an Assistant to M. Waller in the premises, but an Instrument to convey by hazel, and others, the particulars of their proceedings in the Court, by address principally to the Lord Faulkland, and to receive from Court directions, Powers, and commands, for the completing of the work. For preventing discovery, Protestations of secrecy were taken by them to this effect, As they were Christians, not to disclose it. Secondly, No man to endeavour the engaging above two, whereby no one man could impeach many.  
The part which was acted from the Court was,  
1. By M. Herne, M. Alexander Hampden, and others employed upon Messages from the King to the Parliament, under pretence of Treaties for Peace, to convey their directions, encouragements, and counsels unto their party in London.  
2. To give Power and Authority by Commissions under the great Seal, by Warrants under the King's hand; and otherwise for settling of a council of War; naming of generals (and other Officers.) Execution of martial Law; Raising of Moneys, and Provision of Arms and other necessaries.  
3. For the disposing of some part of the King's forces at Oxford, to be near the city, and in readiness to assist the party here, as cause should require.  
The steps and degrees to bring this into Action were:  
1. A Commission under the great Seal brought from Oxford, about a fortnight ago, by the Lady Aubigny, with the Authorities aforesaid, thereby enabling and commanding them by force of Arms to destroy, kill, and slay, the forces raised by the Parliament, and their Adherents as Traitors, and Rebels.  
2. Several Propositions, most of them agreed, and resolved by Master Waller, in behalf in the said party of the Lords and Commons, and the Committee of the city, in behalf of the party depending upon them, for the more ready and orderly execution of the design. As first, Concerning the number of men Armed. Secondly, The places where Magazines were laid; The places for rendezvous, and for retreat upon occasion, The Colours, the Marks and Tokens for distinction from others, The strength to be relied on within the walls, and without, What to be done with the Tower, Where the chief Commanders affected to the Parliament dwelled, The time of executing the design.  
3. A Declaration was framed by them under pretence of asserting and maintaining the heads of the Protestation, thereby the better to colour mischievous intentions to the people.  
4. A Message was sent from Oxford, on Saturday was fortnight to acquaint the Lord Faulkland by Hazel, that the design was come to good perfection, unto which, Answer was returned, That they should hasten it with all speed.  
The particulars of the design itself were:  
1. To seize into their custody the King's Children.  
2. To seize several Members of both Houses, the Lord Major, and Committee of the Militia, under pretence of bringing them to a legal trial.  
3. To seize upon the outworks, Forts, Tower of London, Magazines, Gates, and other places of Importance in the city.  
4. To let in the King's forces to surprise the City, and to destroy all those that should oppose them by authority of Parliament.  
5. By force of Arms to resist all Payments imposed by authority of the Houses of Parliament, for the support of the Armies employed for their just defence, and preservation of the true Protestant Religion, and Liberties of the Subject; To suspend, if not alter, the whole Government of the city, and with assistance of the King's force, to awe and master the Parliament.  
All which hath been made appear to both Houses of Parliament, by the Examinations and Confessions of M. Waller, M. Tompkins, M. Challenor, M. hazel, and other persons, principal Actors in the same, now under restraint; The publication of the evidence being deferred till after their trial.   

A true copy of the COMMISSION under the Great Seal, sent from Oxford to several persons in the City of London.  
CHARLES Rex.  
CHarles, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To Our trusty and well-beloved, Sir Nicholas Crisp, Sir George Stroude, Knights; Sir Tho. Gardener, Knight, Record●r of London; Sir George Binion, Knight; Richard Edesand Marmaduke Royden, Esquires; Tho. Broom, Esq Peter Paggon, Charles Ginnings, Sir Edw. Carlton, Robert Abbot, Andrew King, Will. White, Steven Boulton, Robert Alden, Edmund Foster, Tho. Blinkhorne, of London, Gentlemen; And to all such other person and persons as according to the true intent and purport of these presents shall be nominated and appointed to be Generals, Colonels, lieutenant-colonels, sergeant-majors, or other Officers, or of Our council of War, Greeting:  
Whereas in Our Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, Our Borough of Southwark and County of Middlesex, there are raised and continued great number of Military Forces, both Horse and Foot, who under the Command of Robert Earl of Essex, as their general, and under the Conduct of divers others, pretending to derive their Authority from the two Houses of Parliament, have traitorously levied War, and rebelled against Us their natural Liege Lord; and many of Our Subjects have been seduced by false Informations, by the practice of a few, who have been the contrivers of the mischievous Plots, and have joined with them, either in person, or by aiding of them with Men, Money, Horses, or other things, and many of our good and loyal Subjects overawed by the Power of the rebels, have been forced to contribute to them for the maintenance of this unnatural War; and others refusing, have been Plundered, and Robbed of their estates, and some committed to several Prisons, and others barbarously used, contrary to the liberty of freeborn men, the Laws of the Land, and contrary to all humanity; of which injuries and calamities falling upon Our good Subjects, We are very sensible, and are desirous to give relief to Our good Subjects by all the best means We can, and to resist the violence and insol●ncie of the Rebels and their adherents, We having no other End therein, but to preserve the true Protestant Religion in the integrity and purity thereof; To maintain the Laws of the Land, and the Liberty of Persons, and the Property of the Estates of Our Subjects, and the just privileges of Parliament. We have thought fit, for Our better Service, to settle a council of War in or about Our City of London, who may take these things into their sad considerations which may conduce best to this end, and to have such Commanders and Officers settled in the places aforesaid, which may both raise, govern, and lead such Forces as may be raised there.  
Know ye therefore, That We, reposing special trust and confidence in your fidelities, industries, and good discretions, have made choice of, nominated, and appointed you to be Our council of War for the said Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, Our said County of Middlesex, and Borough of Southwark; And do hereby give and grant Authority to you, or any four of you, to make choice of such other able and discreet persons as you shall think fit to nominate, under the Hands and Seal of any four of you, which with yourselves shall make up in all the number of Twenty one, and no more: And We do give and grant to you, or any four of you, Power and Authority, at such times, and in such places as you shall think convenient, to assemble and meet together, and there to consult, advise, and resolve of all such things, and of such ways and means as you, or any four of you shall think fittest, for the raising of Forces both of Horse and Foot, either of the Inhabitants of the said Cities, County, Borough, or any the adjacent Counties or other places, who will voluntarily associate themselves to that purpose; And these Forces to Arm, Muster, Conduct, Order, lead, and Govern in the places aforesaid, or in any the Counties adjacent, or elsewhere, in such manner as you yourselves, or such other able and fit persons as you, or any four of you shall to that purpose appoint, according to these Presents shall think fit: And the better to effect this Our Service, We do further give and grant to you, or any four of you, Power and Authority, under your Hands and Seals, to make choice of, and appoint such a fit Person as you shall think meet, to be Captain general of all these Forces thus to be raised, and such other persons as you, or any four of you shall in like manner make choice of and appoint, to be Colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and sergeant-majors, over the Forces, in such manner, and in such places as you shall so appoint; who by virtue thereof, and by virtue of these Presents, shall have Power and Authority to do, execute, and perform all such things, which to these several Offices and Employments, according to the Law martial, do belong: And We do hereby promise and grant, That with all convenient speed after We shall have notice from you, or any four of you, under your Hands and Seals, of your nomination of any person or persons whose several places We shall grant and confirm unto them, and every of them respectively, those several places to which you have so nominated them as aforesaid, under Our Great Seal of England, or otherwise, as shall be reasonable d●●ised and required of Us. And We do further by these Presents give and grant unto you full Power and Authority, by all such good ways as you, or any four of you, under your Hands shall agree upon, to raise Money for the clothing, arming, furnishing, and paying of all such soldiers as shall be thus raised, and for the providing of all Ammunition, and other necessaries for the War; all which money, upon a just account, we do for Us, Our Heirs, and Successors, promise, grant, and agree, well and truly to repay, so soon as We shall be enabled thereunto; and in the mean time to secure the same to those for Our Service, and by your mediation and industry, shall lend or disburse the same. And We do further by these Presents grant, That such Generals, Colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and other Officers so by you nominated as aforesaid, shall have full Power and Authority, by virtue of these Presents, to lead and order the soldiers severally under their Charges; and with them to fight against Our Enemies and Rebels, and them to slay and destroy, or them to save, according to the Law martial, or course of War: For the doing of all which, this shall be to you, them, and every of them, a sufficient Warrant; willing and commanding all such Officers and soldiers, which by virtue hereof you shall retain, to obey readily, to receive and accomplish your directions, commands, and summons in all things hereto appertaining, or necessary to be done; As also all majors, Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Commissioners of Array, and all other Our Officers and loving Subjects, to be aiding and assisting both to you, and to all such Officers and other persons whom you shall appoint, under any four of your Hands and Seals, for the furthering and advancement of this Our especial Service; for which, this shall be to you, to them, and every of them, a sufficient Warrant. In witness whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents.  
witness ourselves at Oxford, the 16 day of March, in the eighteenth year of Our reign.  
FINIS.