THE Earl of Portlands' CHARGE.  
Delivered to the Lords House by M. Pym.  
ALSO A NEW PLOT DISCOVERED.  
Being the Relation of the Earl of Northamptons' surprising the Magazine at Banbury by the forging of a false Letter.  
Also the taking of Warwick Castle by the said Earl, and his carrying of the Magazine to the said Castle.  
With certain Propositions propounded by the Earl of Northampton to the Lord Brook at their meeting, and the Lord Brook his judicious and religious answer thereunto.  
Joh. Brown Cler. Parl.  
August 11. Printed for John Jones 1642.   

A NEW PLOT DISCOVERED.  
TOGETHER WITH THE CHARGE of the Earl of Portland.  
WE are not yet safe, but every day and hour doth beget new dangers, and doth strike the fearful and trembling subject with new horror and amazement. The bleeding heart of this kingdom doth daily receive new wounds: and time, which we hoped would put a final period to all her distractions, doth either continue the old, or else beget new, to the danger of the general subversion of the whole kingdom. Peace is exlled our habitation●, and we can receive from abroad no other sounds, but such as bring unto us affrightment, and not satisfaction or content. Neither can we expect any respite or release from these unsavoury troubles, until the power and edge of the malignant party be taken off, whose destructive counsels and actions only tend to the disquiet and trouble both of the Church and Commonwealth. Mifery must needs be the portion of that kingdom, wherein virtue, goodness and religion are not only not encouraged, and countenanced, but neglected, scorned, and trampled down.  
The laborious and pious cares and counsels of this Parliament have from their very beginning found slender and undeserved welcome with a great many, and their aims and endeavours tending only to the reformarion of such abuses as have disturbed the unity and peace both of Church and Commonwealth, have been opposed by malice and discontent. The reason of this discontent and opposition is decided and out of controversy. The Actors know their own guilt, and know they cannot be secure, but by the abetting and prosecuting these public troubles.  
My Lord Brook some time after his return to London, being appointed Lieutenant of , and so by consequence had the trust and charge of the Militia committed to him, in the execution and performance, according to the appointment of the House of Parliament, by whose power and authority he was thought worthy of that trust, and had it conferred upon him; in the execution, I say, of that t●ust he spent his faithful and respective service. His opposition was much and dangerous: for when he began to put the Ordinance of Parliament in execution, and to exercise the Militia in the County of Warwick, the Earl of Northampion and the Lord Dunsmore, who had a Commission from His Majesty to put the Commission of Array in execution, opposed him, not with mean and ordinary strength and power, but had so well armed themselves, as they thought their design and intentions did deserve or desire. For they had gathered together into one entire body for that present service and execution, many hundreds of men out of several Shires and Counties, whom not only by fair and alluring speeches, but also with an extraordinary salary they had hired and engaged to partake with them, and to assist them in this their design. They gave them extraordinary wages, which is not commonly exhibited unto soldiers, for they allowed them two shillings a day, to the intent that they should assist them in the hindrance of the Lord Brook from the removing of the Magazine from Banhurie.  
The competition of this thing was very long and full of terror, for the Earl of Northampton was very violent, and offered the Lord Brooke to encounter with him, and to decide the present controversy by single combat, and not to engage so many men's lives as were on both sides then present in that same quarrel; which the Lord B●ooke out of judgement and wisdom did refuse to do, advising the said E●●●● to 〈◊〉 from the prosecution of so bad a 〈◊〉, which he had undertaken, which must of necessity tend to the subversion of his Lordship ●nd his posterity.  
Thi● modest answer did not allay or qualify the violent spirit of the incensed Earl, but he 〈◊〉 offered him to draw out of their sor●●● 〈◊〉 select men of each side, and by them to ●ecide that day's difference. But that 〈…〉 of the Earl was also denied by the Lord Brooke, who would not hazard that 〈◊〉 trust imposed upon him upon such inconsiderate ●●rmes. Upon such and the like discourse, the day was spent, and at the close of the day they p●ie●: B●● t●is since reported, that 〈…〉 hath seized up 〈…〉 and hath carried 〈…〉 were there repo 〈…〉 to have pass 〈…〉 much blood had 〈…〉 God did divert it for the present. It is likewise reported, that since the Lord Brook his coming up to London, ●●at the Earl of Northampton hath sei 〈…〉 the castle of Warwick, and withal 〈◊〉 ●●ken possession of the Magazine of that Co●●●y.  
After Colonel Goring had delivered up the haven-town of Portsmouth into the king's possession, this unfaithfulness in him not without just grounds, did move the House of Commons to enter into consideration concerning ●he securing of the Isle of Wight, and the discharging of the Earl of Portland from the government of the said Island. Whereupon after much and due consultation and deliberation, a Charge was drawn up against the said Earl of P●r●land, which was to this effect,  
That his Lordship was conceived upon very strong grounds and motives to be much Popishly ●ffected: and that the reason which did induce them to this opinion was, because that his wise and the rest of her kindred, and his mother, and the most of her friends and kindred were of that religion: so that being induced to thi● opinion by these grounds, they thought it convenient and very requisite to place the Castle of that Island into such hands as might no ways be suspected, but such as they might confide in: and that they did think it very fitting that his Lordship should be kept in custody for a time, whereby he was committed to Sheriff Garret to be kept in safe custody.  
This Charge was delivered to the House of Lords by M. Pym against the Earl of Portland.  
That Sir Ralph Hopton, M. Tho. Smith, & Captain John Digby shallbe disabled to sit as members of the House of Commons during this Parliament. That Captain John Digby, Sir Ralph Hopton, M. Tho. Smith, Sir Ferdinand Gorges, Sir Francis Dodington, Richard Board, Hercules Whiteing, Nicolas Dounton, James Stroud, John Walker, and John Cooth Parson of Shipton-Mallet be forthwith sent for as Delinquents.  
joh. Brown Cler. Parl.  
FINIS.