THE Kentish Conspiracy: OR, AN ORDER and NARRATION Declaring The late Plot for the Surprising of DOVER CASTLE:  
And the setting on foot of a Commission of ARRAY in the County of KENT.  
Taken and extracted out of the Examination of the several Conspirators.  
Published by Order of the Committee at Alesford, Janua. 9 1645.  
LONDON, Printed by R. Cotes, for Michael Spark, Junior. 1648.   

AT THE General Committee AT ALESFORD, 1 January, 1644.  
Such hath been the restless spirit of Malignity in some amongst us, as if they meant to outvie the manifold providence and goodness of God by an unwearyed reiteration of new experiments, whether the Watchman of Israel be yet awake, for the protection and preservation of his people: from which Atheistical principle, ungodly and unreasonable men, have roused up their almost despairing spirits, to new and more vigorous actings of their mischief. And hence was it that notwithstanding the manifest hand of God in discovering their former wickednesses, and bringing them upon their own heads, once and again in this County, and in other parts of the Kingdom;  
Yet hath not the fear of God or man wrought upon them to desist: witness this last design for the betraying of Dover Castle, and the setting on foot of Commissions of Array, whereby they were not afraid to embroil this County, as they have done the rest of the Kingdom in a most cruel, unnatural and bloody war: The preventing whereof, by the mercy and goodness of Almighty God, who hath still brought to light the hidden things of darkness, and hath yet graciously lengthened out our tranquillity and peace, doth call aloud unto us, for our unfeigned thankfulness, and praise to the God of our Deliverances, wherein this Committee, in regard of that public Trust, which lies upon them, being sensible, how deeply they are concerned, to stir up themselves and others, have Ordered as followeth.  
That upon the Lord's day, being the six and twentyeth day of this instant january, in the morning before the Sermon, the Ministers of the several Parishes throughout this County shall openly read this Order and Narration of the late design, and of the discovery thereof, hereunto annexed, and shall lay open unto the people the vileness of the same, and the miseries and calamities which would inevitably have followed, if God had suffered it to take effect: And shall withal presently after the reading of this Order, and the said Narration, openly declare their own abhorring of the said Plot, and detestation against it.  
And to the end that the people likewise may not be wholly wanting in some visible testimony of their thankfulness for this Deliverance, and of their abhorring and detestation of this wickedness; It is desired, that at such time as the Minister shall so declare himself; All, who are of a willing mind then present, do in token of joining with the Minister, stand up from their seats.  
And it is further Ordered that the several Ministers do often upon the Lord's day, and at other times, but more specially upon that day, take occasion, both in their Prayers and Sermons, to praise God, as for all former Discovering, and Defeating of Plots, and mischiefs intended to this County, during this present Parliament, so in particular for the Discovering and Defeating of this by name; and that they do hence likewise take occasion to stir up the people, as to all Christian duties answerable to such mercies, so particularly to a constant adhering to the Cause of God, in the present work of Reformation, and in the just defence of the Subject's Liberties, and to inform the people throughly, that in comparison of these things, their estates and lives, which they own to God, and to their Country, ought not to be valued or esteemed by them; And whereas divers ignorant persons, not knowing the danger and penalties in the several Ordinances of Parliament, have been made instruments of this and the like mischiefs, by carrying, and bringing Intelligence, Messages, or Letters to or from Oxford, or any part of the Enemy's Quarters, All persons are therefore hereby required to take notice at their perils, that whosoever shall hereafter be found culpable in that kind, shall be dealt withal as a Spy, according to the severest punishments inflicted by the said Ordinances: and the Churchwardens of the several Parishes are hereby required by the Thursday next following the said Lords day appointed, as aforesaid, for the publication and execution of this Order, to bring in returns under their hands unto the next Deputy Lieutenant, thereby certifying how this present Order hath been executed in their several Parish Churches, and by what Minister: And it is Ordered, that the said Deputy Lieutenants do within eight days after the receipt of the said Certificates, send in the same unto this Committee, or do certify the names of such Churchwardens who shall make default of bringing in unto them the said Returns, that so a due Account may be taken thereof, as is requisite in a matter of so great importance.   

A BRIEF NARRATION Of the late PLOT: FOR The Surprise of Dover Castle; and the setting on foot of a Commission of Array in the County of Kent: taken and extracted out of the Examinations of the several Conspirators; and published by Order of the Committee of the said County.  
THE Castle of Dover being about two years since possessed by Mr. Daux of Dover to the use of the Parliament, he probably not finding his expectations of preferment answered by that subordinate charge which was committed to him under a worthy Knight and Member of the House of Commons, bethought himself of making a Party in the Town and Castle; and of holding the Castle for the King, and to this end communicates his Counsels to one Chandler Belton, Dennis Tillet, and others of Dover, whom he made choice of as fit instruments for that purpose.  
But this design soon proved abortive by discovery, neither was the first Contriver of it, Daux, much longer lived.  
Yet had this project taken such impression in the surviving Confederates, that they resolve to carry on the work: To which end they associate to them, Tomkins, Startup, Bray, Stoakes, Wellard, Mr. Thomas Grant, and others of Dover, and the parts adjacent. And after several consultations, at length resolved to send Bray to Oxford about Midsummer last, for further directions and advice from thence: Bray undertakes the journey in the Habiliments of his profession, and with his Carpenter's rule and leathern apron, easily passeth the Courts of Guard, without being suspected any where of any further Journey then to, or from the next neighbouring Town or Village, to his work or home.  
Bray thus got to Oxford, makes himself and his business known to Captain John Jacob late of Dover, and by him gains access to Sir Edward Nicholas, his Majesty's chief Secretary of State, to whom he imparts his Errand; which the Secretary very well approves of, but for the present advised to defer it, till his Majesty's nearer approach to these 〈…〉 he being then with his Army about Buckingham.  
With this answer Bray returns to Dover, but is upbraided by his companions there, as having cheated them of their moneys, which they had collected among themselves to bear his charges: To clear himself from which aspersion he undertakes three several journeys more successively to Oxford, but all without effect; his Majesty being not all that while returned.  
In this interim those at home had gained to their party, some Gentlemen of Note and substantial Yeomen in and about Dover, and others of meaner rank, to the number of sixty or thereabout, some of whom they thought fit to be entrusted with the more special contrivance and manage of the business, who had by this time projected it as followeth.  
Startup, Hayes and others should have used means to be entertained as Soldiers in the Castle, who at a time appointed, should have a merry day with the other Sentinels and Soldiers, at the drinking of some bottles of wine, to be sent in as a present to them by Mr. Grant, the operation of which Wine to be compounded by Mr. Grant himself, should have been to cast such as drunk of it into a sleep for six hours' space, but if this failed, whilst the rest were at their cups, the new come Soldiers should have let in a Party, some with scaling ladders, to be provided against the time, and others at the Barbicans, a sally Port, near one of the Platforms: At which instant the Prisoners in the Castle, by the help of a false key, which was made by one Onion formerly the Castle Smith, and was in the hands of one Colonel Haggaster, a Papist, then a Prisoner; should have broken out upon the Soldiers, and together with the rest have seized upon the Guns and Guard: At which time likewise a sufficient strength from the Town and neighbouring parts, should be ready for an entrance: And upon an advertisement supplies of Ammunition and provision should be sent in from Dunkirk & from France, for which Mr. Web Secretary to the Duke of Riehmond, had engaged himself, as did likewise Captain Jacob, to be in a readiness at Margate, with a vessel fraught with necessaries for the Castle; This done, Bray should post to Oxford with the news, which should be forthwith seconded by an invasive power to be brought into the County under the command of Mr. Richard Thornhill now made High Sheriff by the King, and Commander of the Earl of cleveland's Brigade of Horse; in which interim, or rather instant of the surprisal of the Castle, by the confession of Captain jacob's brother, three Commissions of Array to be set on foot, and thereby the County in a flame, for a compliment, of which mischievous design, nothing was now wanting but the Royal stamp and name to a Commission, though Mr. Grants opinion was, that delays were dangerous, and it were better do the work without, or before the Commission fetched.  
But this advice did not find reception, whereupon Bray is the fifth time dispatched to Oxford for a Commission, and by the way takes with him several affectionate recommendations, to Mr. Thornhill, Captain Jacob, Secretary Nicholas, and others at Oxford, prime actors in this business, from Sir Anthony percival, Mr. Richard Masters of Langden, Mr. Thomas Tuck, Mr. Edward Kempe of Dover, Mr. Reading and divers others in return to several salutes respectively received by them from those at Oxford by the hands of Bray, who by each of these Gentlemen (Mr, Kempe excepted) had money given him, at his parting out of Kent, as a gratuity; or to bear his charges.  
Bray being come to London finds out Captain Collins being directed to him by Mr. Edward Kempe, and acquaints the Captain with the business; whose forward apprehensions of it were such as represented him at Oxford, the fittest man to whom the Commission of Array should be directed (though it were once moved that it might be sent down in to the County with a blank, that if one man should refuse, any who should accept it, might have his name inserted: but this advice was rejected by Secretary Webb, upon this reason, that if the Commission should come into the hands of the Parliament by mischance, they might then insert whose name they pleased, and show the King's hand for what they did.)  
This success hasteneth Bray to Bostol house within six miles of Oxford, where Sir William Campion, Mr. Edward Masters, Captain George Kingesly, Mr. John Trout, one Mr. Chute and divers other Kentish Gentlemen, receive him gladly, Sir William himself, and one Mr. Mills a Sussex Minister accompanying him to Oxford, where they bring him to Secretary Webb who forthwith repairs to Secretary Nicholas, and speeds the draught of the Commission against the next morning; at which time Secretary Nicholas brings Bray within view of his Majesty, when he presented to him the Commission to be signed, and the same day, being the 29 of November last, dismissed Bray with the Commission under hand and seal.  
Bray thus armed returns to London, and applies himself again to Captain Collins, who whether touched in conscience at the horridness of the enterprise, or doubting the success, or indeed (as he pretended) that his bail upon whose security he enjoyed his enlargement out of Prison might not be brought in trouble, declined the Commission; yet wished that the business night proceed.  
The Commission thus waived by Captain Collins; and Bray, returned to Dover, at a full meeting of the Conspirators, the Commission is tendered to Captain Holman, whose cheerful resolute acceptance, adds new life unto the business; three days after, Captain Holman, whether upon any intimation of the discovery of the Plot, (which indeed the Providence of God had brought to light, by the free and voluntary confession of one whose heart God had touched, so as to make it his very errand to come to Alesford, and reveal the whole design to the Committee there) or whether the hand of God had overpowered the spirit of this new elected Captain; who confessed himself restless in his thoughts while he kept the Commission for three day's space; He returns to his Companions and dischargeth his hands and pockets of the Commission, but not his heart of the villainy intended, which he still kept close without discovery; This ill Omen of two failing Captains notwithstanding, the Conspirators proceed, and encourage one another upon the strength of the Commission, and hopes of a rising party, and ceased not riding up and down the Country, to incite their adherents to an open avowance of their authority and enterprise, until the certain news was spread of the surprise of the Commission, and commitment of those Gentlemen on whom they fixed their expectations to head the party, so that now all hopes cut off, they bethink themselves where to shroud their heads, and to sit down with shame and sorrow, and a conscious expectation of being found out by the hand of Justice, which can only vindicate the honour, and secure the peace, both of Parliament and County.  
FINIS.