A BLOODY PLOT, Practised by some Papists in Darbyshire.  
And lately discovered by one Jacob Franklin, Sexton of the Parish Church of Bingley within thirteen miles of DERBY.  
With the Examination of one john Symonds an Instrument in this Conspiracy.  
Together with his Confession taken before the justices of the Peace of the same County,  
Also the Names of those whom he confessed to be Confederates in this said PLOT.  
And what Ammunition and all kind of Provision was found and taken in two of these Confederates Houses, jan. 18. 1641.  
A true Relation.  
London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641.   

A True Relation of a most horrible and bloody plot at Bingly in Durbyshire, some 13. miles from Derby, which Plot was discovered by one jacob Franklin Sexston of the same Parish.  
Mischief the child of Heresy cannot want instruments to prosecute and bring it to perfection, and the Devil who is the Author of all unlawful attempts, is always ready at hand to further and set forward any dissensions, and damnable enterpises. He will not suffer the poor disposition of Rome to sleep and be at quiet for want of new supplies and assistants to further her unlawful practice. This Kingdom hath had too frequent experience of their mischievous intentions and plots, which had not the allseeing eye of Heaven prevented, we had long ago been brought to utter ruin and destruction. Yet notwithstanding the manifold Discoveries, and the continual shame, that hath continually been the issue of their undertake, they will not desist, but still proceed in their inhuman and most Tyrannical devices, they have of late practised most strangely against the Peace of this Realm but by the mercy of GOD have been prevented, yet none was of such Horrible condition as this which I shall now relate unto you. In Derbyshire some Thirteen Miles from Derby Town, lieth a Town called by the name of Bingly, a small Country Town but of good Bigness, inhabited by good sort of men of great Rank and Quality, among the rest their lived one Mr. Thomas Needham, a man of large possessions, but by profession a Romish Catholic, this Needham had gotten unto him many of the same profession, and by the assistance of one john Simonds, whom they had hired for their purpose, had conveyed by night by a private Door into the Church into a great Vault underneath the Ground 34. Barrels of Gunpowber, with store of small pieces of old Iron, some Stones, and Faggots, whereby they had determined at the time of Divine Service, to subvert and blow up the aforesaid Church in the time of Divine Service, when the Church was filled with a full number of the Parishioners, but thanks be to God; their design was prevented and the Parishioners destined for Ruin, as yet safe and alive, The Discovery was after this manner, it happened that one jacob Franklin being the Sexton of the aforesaid Parish of Bingly had occasion to go to the Church late in the Evening to Tole the passing Bell for a Neighbour who then lay desperately sick as he was entered into the Church he heard a great noise underneath the Ground, which put this Sexton into a great affright and amazement, so that leaving to perform the Duty, he came about, he betook himself home, and told his wife what noise he had heard in the Church under ground, who willed him to call some of his neighbours, and take them along with him, and to go and perform what did belong unto him to do. He did according to his wife's directions and council, and as he entered into the Church accompanied with some of his Neighbours they all heard the same noise, not knowing from whence it should proceed, and at length as he was passing by to the place where he should toll the Bell, through the cranny or crack of a stone, he received the Reflection of a light to shine forth of the Vault, whereupon they drew near the mouth of the said Vault, and discovered by their approach more light, which made them retreat bacl to see the event of this noise and light, about half an hour after they lying in obscurity perceived a man with a dark Lantern to come forth of the Vault, and perceiving him to be alone, unaccompanied with any body else, they drew near unto him, and demanded the reason of his being there at that unseasonable time, and the cause of his going down into the Vault, but he would not declare any thing unto them, but said that they had no power to question him, upon which peremptory answer they dragged him by violence unto the Constable, who kept him in safe Costody that night, and the next day had him before a justice of peace to be examined, which Symonds upon examination confessed that he was an hired servant unto Mr. Needum, and that he did not doubt but that his Master would justify what he had done, he further confessed that he was to receive twenty Marks for his service, and that he had been now 6. months in this employment, to lay in the Powder and the rest of the things in the Vault, and that their design was in the time of Divine Service, to have blown up the Church and killed all the Parishioners that should have been at that time assembled, and that if he had not been at this present taken, by the next Sunday they should have understood the end and intention of his proceed. He confessed further, that this his Master was not alone in this Plot, but that he had more adherents in the business, some of which, he at that time made mention of, as of one Mr. Richard Danzy Esquire, Mr. Thomas Overlie, and Mr. Anthony Grace, Gentlemen all of the said County. After this his examination taken, his mittimus was made, and he sent unto Derby Goal, where he now remains, and immediately this strict charge was given by the Justice of the Peace, that search should be made in the Vault, which was done accordingly, where they found the Gunpowder according to his confession, and all things else, after which they did proceed to apprehend some of those whom this Symonds had confessed to be in this Plot, but they were all fled, but in the house of Mr. Needhum they found great store of ammunition for war, as Muskets, Pikes, Halberds, Armour, Powder and Bullets great store, the provision that was taken from thence might very well furnish near upon an hundred men for service, there was also taken forth of Mr. Gray's house some other Provision for war, as store of Petronels, Gunpowder and shot, and in his stable sixteen horses well fitted for service, all which provision was seized on, and was carried away, and delivered into the hands and custody of Mr. Richard Fotherly, justice of Peace of the said County.  
FINIS.