A PLOT Lately discovered for the taking of the TOWER, BY NEGROMANCIE, For the deliverance of the Archbishop, discovered by a Mathematician in southwark.  
Who after some serious debate with himself revealed the conspiracy to many eminent men.  
For which thirty Papists most inhumanly beset his house, and pursued him as far as Lambred upon Trent, where they most barbarously murdered him: some are taken, and lye in hold, to the mercy of Justice.  
London printed. 1641.   

It is not unknown that William Archbishop of Canterbury by reason of his bowing and bending towards Idols hath preferred himself a great Favourite to the Papists, but an enemy to his own content, that they might therefore content him in what they can, they have joined their brains together, and plotted as followeth.  
In the burrow of southwark nere the Golden crown, there dwelled one which professed himself a man of Art, and called himself by the name of a Mathematician, speaking of very many things which he could do, as Calculating the Nativity of any, finding of things lately lost, foretelling things good or bad which shall happen, with many more strange things as possibly can be done by man: to him go a company of Papists, about the number of three hundred, desiring him that he would answer to one which spake after this manner.  
Most worthy Sir, we have heard how you excel in Art, and that you can do many strange and unheard of things if you can do this therefore which I shall propose unto you, gold and our loves shall recompense your pains.  
The Mathematicioner desired him to proceed.  
Then he began to unfold all their grievances after this manner.  
Know, gentle Six, that our great Friend and Associate is now Prisoner in the Tower, where minutely he lives in fear of death, and danger; our earnest desire is therefore that you would extend your Art thus far.  
First, we beseech you that you would inchaunt the Tower wherein he lies, that no man whatsoever might enter the Tower, and come to his Presence, but his Friends.  
Secondly, that he may have all the joys and delights which this life can yield, as music, dancing, masquing, and reveling, and such like, insomuch that he might forg●● those sorrows and affrightments past, and live in all mirth and jollity.  
Thirdly, it is our most earnest desire that the likeness of those who have been the chief causers of his misery might come and be maskers before him to make him sport.  
Fourthly, we desire you that you would be pleased to convey the Pope from Rome to his society.  
Fifthly, if there be any Lady which he affects, as such secrets we know are not hide from your breast, we desire that you would convey her thither to him.  
Sixthly, they desired him to cast it so, that at his death the Tower might sink into the Thames.  
These were their practices, and this was their chief occasion, why they went thither, where you may plainly perceive their dangerous devices.  
Well, this Mathematician heard their requests, and after some grave pause, as if he considered what was to be done, and what answer to give, he spake to them as followeth:  
Gentlemen, this business which you desire me to undertake is very dangerous, and for ought as I yet know, ye may come to betray me, and my life into danger, therefore I pray you to desist from your designs, for I cannot, neither will I condescend to any such matter: mine Art is mine own, neither will I occupy it about any such traitorous designs.  
At these words there rushed to him three or four squashing Cavaliers of the same Religion with their swords drawn, vowing that he should never calculate birth again, if he would not condescend to their requests; our Mathematician is now in a wood, he knoweth not what to say, but stareth upon them wishly for a while, till at last astonishment had given way to his speech, and he allayed their suries with these words.  
Why you harebrained people, is it not expedient that every man should doubt the worst, the times being dangerous, and suspect grounded upon the least as possible may be, and that suspect being any way proved, condign punishment is sure to follow, why were ye so stupid therefore not to consider of these things before? thus much I will open myself unto you: my Lord of Canterbury, when he was in his prosperity was my most gracious Friend, for he was always, and is yet a cherisher of Arts, wherefore I will promise you to do all that in me lieth for the good of my gracious Lord,( whispering aside, I mean not Canterbury, for I am not mad to damn my soul for him)  
They being pretty well pacified with these words, they gave him money as much as he would desire, and departed, desiring him to make all the speed as possibly he could, which he promised to do, and so he left them, but they  told him that they would not be long from him, for they did much desire to hear of his proceedings. After their departure he began thus to debate with himself, I have promised to do this thing, 'tis true, but it is not pleasing to God, and besides I was forced to promise to do it, then again they gave me money, and it will be dishonesty for me to keep it except I accomplish their desires, why it was to hinder suspicion that I did take it, and therefore I hope it will not be offensive to my God; and again it is Treason that I must accomplish, nay, no vulgar Treason neither, but that which is as much against the King of Heaven as against mine own sovereign Charles by the Grace of God, King, &c. for whose safety I will pray both night and day, that it would please God to defend his royal person from the malice of all Popish traitors, and that he might reign long over us to maintain the true Faith, and with the very thought of loyalty to his King, he went to a friend of his with an intent to reveal all; when he came there he found his friend talking with another man who was a Recusant, but without any respect of persons, he began to unfold all unto his friend, who shook his head, and admonished him to apprehended them the next time they came. Now neither he nor his friend knew this man to be a Recusant, for he took notice of what was said, but he made but little answer to any thing, but after some compliments passed, he took his leave; he was no sooner partend from them, but he goeth to acquaint this Company of it, which when they heard of, they stormed most mightily, vowing the death of this Mathematician, and having taken their oaths to  shed his blood they all went out, some one way, some another, where they beset the house round, but as it happened, he was not in the house, and so he escaped from forth the City of London, but they had quick intelligence thereof, and followed him four manner of ways, and at length they overtook him, at a Village called Lambred upon Trent, where they took away the life of a true subject, I know not how to deplore his estate, but I shall end with this prayer, From all the deceits of the world, and works of the devil, good Lord deliver us.  
FINIS.