A DISCOVERY OF The great Plot For the utter Ruin of the City of LONDON, AND THE PARLIAMENT. As it was at large made known By JOHN PYM, Esq On Thursday being the Eighth of June, 1643. At a COMMON-HALL: And afterwards corrected by his own hand for the Press.  
London, Printed for Peter Cole, at the Glove in Cornhill, near the Royal EXCHANGE. 1643.   

John Pym Esq his Speech.  
MY Lord Major, and you worthy Citizens of this famous and Magnificent City, We are sent hither to you from the House of Commons, to make known to you the discovery of a great and a mischievous Design, tending not only to the ruin and destruction of the City and of the Kingdom; but in those Ruins, likewise to have buried Religion and Liberty, I might call it a strange Design, though in these late times designs of this kind have been very frequent, because it exceeds others in divers considerable circumstances of it; In the malice of the intention, subtlety of contrivance, extent of mischief, and nearness of execution, all which arose from the wickedness of the Authors: Two others may be added, that is, the clearness of the discovery and proof, and the greatness of the deliverance, proceeding from the great mercies of God.  
I shall in the opening of this design, take this course for my own memory, and yours.  
Observe first, what was in their aims. Secondly, the variety of preparations. Thirdly, the degrees of proceeding. Fourthly, the maturity and readiness for execution.  
The Parliament, the City, and the Army, seem to be the three Vital parts of this Kingdom; wherein not only the well being, but the very life and being of it doth consist; this mischief would have seized upon all these at once.  
The City should have been put into such a combustion, as to have your swords imbrued in one another's blood: The Parliament should have been corrupted, and betrayed by their own Members: The Army destroyed, if not by force, yet for want of supply and maintenance, that so they might have had an open and a clearer way to the rest, which they had in proposition, especially to that main and supreme end, the extirpation of Religion.  
I shall tell you first, out of what principles this did rise, it was from the ashes of another design that failed; that mutinous petition which was contrived in this City, the Actors of that petition being therein disappointed, they fell presently into consultation how they might compass their former end in another way, that is under pretence of see●ring themselves by force against the ordinances of Parliament, and under pretence of procuring peace, they would have made themselves Masters of the City, yea of the whole kingdom, & they would have ruined & destroyed all those that should have interrupted them in their mischievous intentions.  
The first step in their preparation was, to appoint a Committee that might often meet together, and consult how they might compass this wicked end.  
Their next was, that they might enable that Committee with intelligence both from the Armies, as well those on the King's side (as they call themselves, though we be of the King's side indeed) as those that are raised by the Parliament, especially they were careful to understand the proceed of Parliament, that so by the advantage of this intelligence, they might the better effect that which they had in project, and find the readiest and the nearest ways to it.  
After they had thus provided for intelligence, how they might procure power and countenance to this action, by some appearing authority from His Majesty; for which purpose; they projected to get a Commission from the King, whereby many of themselves, and of those that were of their own consort, should be established a Counsel of War in London and parts adjacent, with power to raise Forces, make provisions of Ammunition, and of other kind of Arms, and to give authority for the leading and conducting of those Forces, and to raise money for the maintenance of them, and as it is expressed in the Commission, for the destruction of the Army, under the command of Robert E: of Essex, raised by authority from the two houses of Parliament.  
Having laid these grounds, I shall in the next place discover to you, those that should have been Actors and Agents in this business, their several qualifications and relations.  
The first sort was some Members of the City, whereof there were divers, you shall hear the names out of the proof, and the next was (in their pretence, as they gave out) members of the two Houses of Parliament, and the third sort, was two Gentlemen, Master Waller, and a brother in law of his, Master Tomkins, that were to be Agents betwixt the Parliament and the City, as they pretended. Then a fourth sort was those that were to be Messengers to convey intelligence from this place to the Court at Oxford, and to other places where there should be occasion. And then the fift and last consisted but in one man, that we yet discover, and that was the Lord of Falkland, that kept correspondency with them from the Court; these were to be the Actors in this mischievous design.  
They began then to think upon some other courses of very great advantage to themselves.  
The first was of combination, how they might be more closely conjoined one to another, and how they might be more secure from all others that were not of the same party; And for this purpose, there was devised a Protestation of secrecy, whereby as they were Christians, they did bind themselves to keep one another's counsel, not to reveal that which they had knowledge off, which they were trusted with. And the second was, a wariness in discovering the business to any of those who were to be brought into the plot, though they came in amongst them to be of them, they would not trust all of their own body, but they took this wary and subtle course▪ that no one man should acquaint above two in this business; that so if it came to examination, it should never go father than three, by the same party that discovered it, and then those two had the like power, that any one of them might discover it to two others, that so still it might be consigned within the number of three: then there was a special obligation (as was pretended by Mr. Waller) which he had made to those that he said were Members of both Houses of Parliament, and consenting to this Plot, but that is yet but a pretence▪ no names or parties are known.  
After they had provided thus for their combination, and for their security; then in the next place, they thought of some means of augmentation how they might increase their numbers, and draw in others to come to be of their party; and for this they did resolve to use all the Art and subtlety to irritate mens minds against the Parliament; they found out those that thought themselves most heavily burdened with these taxes, they did cherish all that had any discontents about the Assessment, advising them to repair to the Committee for ease, which they knew would be difficult to obtain, and that they being disappointed would be more enraged, and the apt to join with them in this Plot.  
From this care of augmentation, they went in the next place, to find out some means of discovery, that they might know how far their party did extend, who were of their side, and who were against them, and for this purpose they did devise that there should be a survey of all the Wards, nay of all the Parishes within the City of London, the Suburbs and places adjoining in every parish, to observe those that were for them, whom they called right men, and others that were against them, whom they called averse men; and then a third sort, whom they called neutrals, and indifferent men; and they appointed several persons that were trusted with this survey and enquiry, to find out these several degrees and sorts in every parish.  
Thus far this design seems to be but a work of the brain, to consist only in invention and subtlety of design, but the other steps & degrees which I shall now observe to you, will make it to be a work of the hand, to bring it somewhat nearer to execution.  
The first step that came into action and execution was, that they procured this Commission which they had before designed, and endeavoured to obtain: Now they had obtained a Commission (as I told you before) to establish certain men, 17 in number, their names are there expressed, you shall hear them read to you, they were to be a Counsel of War here within the city; these 17 men they had power to name others to themselves, to the number of 21, & they should be enabled both to appoint, not only Colonels and Captains, and other inferior officers of an Army, but to appoint and nominate a General; they had power to raise men, to raise Arms, Ammunition, and to do all those other things that I told you before, and to lay taxes and Impositions to raise money, and to execute martial-law.  
When they had gone thus far, in the next place they did obtain a Warrant from the King, & this was to M. Challener, that he might receive money and plate of all those, that either by voluntary contribution, or Lo●n, would furnish the King (as they called it) in this necessity of His, and thereby the King was obliged to the repayment of it this was obtained.  
By this cometh in the list, that that was before part of the design, cometh now into act, the Citizens that were trusted with framing of this list, brought it in, except in some few parishes; under those heads of discovery that I formerly told you of; that is, in every parish who were right, and who were indifferent, and neutral, and who were averse, and those were brought to Mr. waller's House, and after they had delivered that list, the Citizens then declared themselves that now they had done their part, they had discovered to them a foundation of strength, they did expect from them again a foundation of countenance and authority, that was from both Houses of Parliament; and they did declare that they would proceed no farther, till they knew the names of those Members of both Houses that should join with them, and should undertake to countenance this business. M. Waller made this answer, that he did assure them that they should have Members of both Houses, both Lords and Commons to join with them, that he himself he was but their mouth, that he spoke not his own words, but their words, that he was but their agent and did their work, that they should have of the ablest, of the best, and of the greatest Lords, and the greatest number, nay, that they should pick and choose, that they could not wish for a Lord, whom he doubted not, but to procure them; this was the vanity of his boasting to them to draw them on, and to encourage them in this plot: This being done now, and propounded by the Citizens on their part, so Mr. Waller propounded from the Lords divers queries, questions which had been framed (as he said) by the Lords and Commons, and in their name he did present them, that were for the removal of difficulties, of some obstructions that might hinder this work, those queries were delivered upon Friday was 7 night to some of the Citizens, and upon the Saturday morning (that was Saturday was seven night) they were returned back again with answers.  
I shall now relate to you, both the queries, and the answers that were returned by those of the City.  
The first query was, what number of men there were Armed.  
The Answer was,  
That there was a third part well armed, and a third part with Halberds, and another third part with what they could get, with that that came to hand.  
The second Quaere was, In what places the Magazines were laid?  
The Answer to that was, At Alderman Fowk's house, at Leaden-Hall, and at Guild-Hall.  
The third Quaere was, Where the Rendezvouz should be?  
The Answer was, At all the Gates, at the places of the Magazines, in Cheapside, in the Exchange, and at what other places the Lords should think fit.  
The fourth Quaere was, Where the place of retreat, if there should be occasion?  
The Answer was, That they had Bamstead Downs, they had Black-Heath in proposition, but they did refer the conclusion of the place to the Lords.  
The fifth was, What Colours there should be?  
To this it was answered, That at every Rendezvouz there should be Colours.  
A sixth consideration was, By what marks & tokens they should be distinguished from others, & know their friends from their enemies?  
To that it was answered, That they should have white Ribbons, or white Tape.  
Then in the seventh place, it was asked, What strength there was within the walls, and what strength without the walls?  
To that it was answered, That within the walls, there was for one with them, three against them; but without the walls, for one against them, there was five for them.  
The eighth was, What was to be done with the Tower?  
The Answer was, That they could conclude nothing in that point?  
The ninth was, Where the chief Commanders dwelled?  
To that they made this Answer, That every Parish could tell what new Commanders and Captains they had, and who of the Militia dwelled in it.  
The tenth and the last was What time this should be put in execution?  
To that the Answer was, That the time was wholly left to the Lords.  
After these Quaeres thus propounded and answered, Master Waller told them that he would acquaint the Lords with those Answers that he had received from them to their Quaeres, and wished them not to be troubled, though the Lords did not yet declare themselves, for they could do them as good service in the House.  
Being proceeded thus far, they came then to some propositions which should be put in execution, and they were these:  
First, that they would take into their custody the King's children that were here.  
The second was, That they would lay hold of all those persons that they thought should be able to stand in their way, or to give them any impediment, or at least of some considerable number of them, it is unlike that all were named, but some were named; Of the Lord's House there was named my Lord Say, and my Lord Wharton: and besides my Lord Major, whom they took into their consideration, as the head of the City; there was named of the House of Commons, Sir Philip Stapleton, Master Hampden, Master Strode, and they did me the honour and the favour to name me too.  
When they had taken into consideration the surprisal of these Members of both Houses, they did take into their further resolution, that with my Lord Major should have been seized all your Committee of Militia, they would not spare one of them.  
They intended further, That they would release all Prisoners that had been committed by the Parliament, that they would seize upon the Magazines, that they would make a declaration to satisfy the people.  
There are no Designs, be they never so ill, but they do put on a mask of some good, for betwixt that that is absolutely and apparently ill, there is no congruity with the will of man, and therefore the worst of evils are undertaken under a shadow and a show of goodness; this Declaration must be set out, to make the people believe that they stood up for The preservation of Religion, For the preservation of the King's Prerogative, Of the liberties of the Subject, Of the Privileges of Parliament; and of these 1000 were to be printed, they were to be set upon Posts and Gates in the most considerable and open places: and they were to be dispersed as much as they could thorough the City against the time it should be put in execution: this was done upon Saturday last was seven-night in the morning.  
Then in the next place, they thought fit to give intelligence to the Court of what proceed they had made here, and thereupon Master Hazel he was sent to Oxford that very Saturday in the afternoon from Master waller's house, there were two Messages sent by for this main Design they would not trust in writing, the first Message was from Master Waller, it was that he should tell my Lord of Falkland that he would give him a more full notice of the great business very speedily; the other Message was from Master Tomkins, and that was, That the Design was now come to good maturity; That they had so strong a party in the City, that though it were discovered, yet they would be able to put it in execution: They promised to give notice to the King of the very day, and if it were possible, of the very hour wherein this should be put in execution; and then they did desire, That when they had seized upon the Out works, that there might some party of the King's Army come up within fifteen miles of the City, who upon knowledge of their proceed must be admitted into the City. These were the four points upon which the Message did consist, which was sent from Master Tourkins to my Lord of Felkland, by Master Hazel. To both these Messages my Lord of Falkland returned an Answer by word of mouth, they kept themselves so closely that they durst not venture to write, but he bid the Messenger to tell Master Waller, Master Tomkins, and Master Hambden (a Gentleman, that was sent up with a Message from the King, and remained here in Town to agitate this business) made that use of his being here in Town, that he should tell them, That he could not well write, but did excuse himself, but prayed them that they would use all possible haste in the main business.  
Master Waller having plotted it, and brought it on thus far, now he began to think of putting it further, and the Tuesday following this Saturday, which was Tuesday was seven-night in the evening, after he came home to his lodging; Master Tomkins and he being together, he told Master Tomkins, That the very next morning, that was Wednesday, the Fast day, he should go to my Lord of Holland, and acquaint him with this plot, discover so much to him as he thought fit, that he himself would go to some other Lords, and do the like: this was the Tuesday night, in which conference they had put on that confidence in expectation of success in this plot, that Master Waller broke out with a great Oath, to affirm, That if they did carry this throughout, than we will have any thing. This he spoke to Master Tomkins with a very great deal of earnestness and assurance: So far they went on in hope and expectation, but here they were cut short: That very night there were Warrants issued (upon some discoveries that were made of this Plot) to the Lord Major, to the Sheriffs here, which they did execute with so much diligence and care of the good of the City, that the next morning when Master Tomkins and Master Waller should have gone about their business, they were apprehended, and the rest of the Citizens, divers of them, some escaped.  
Thus fare I have discovered to you the materials and the lineaments of this miscievous design; you shall now be pleased to hear the Proofs and the Confessions out of which this narration doth arise, and that will make all this good to you that I have said; and after those are read, I shall then tell you what hath been done since in the House of Commons, somewhat in the House of Lords, and what else is in proposition to be offered to you from the House of Commons; but I shall desire you first that you may be fully convinced of the great goodness of God in discovery of this Plot, and the truth of these things that I have spoken to you, that you will hear the evidence of the proofs, and then we shall go on to those other things which we have in charge.  
FINIS.   

John Pym Esquire his Speech.  
GEntlemen, we have held you long, you are now almost come to the end of your trouble; I am to deliver to you some short observations upon the whole matter, and then to acquaint you with the resolutions thereupon, taken in the House of Commons; and to conclude with a few desires from them to you:  
The observations are these: First, I am to observe to you, the contrariety betwixt the pretences with which this design hath been marked, and the truth: One of the pretences was peace, the truth was blood and violence; Another of the pretences was, the preserving of propriety, the truth was, the introducing of tyranny and slavery, which leaves no man master of any thing he hath.  
A second observation is this: The unnatural way by which they meant to compass this wicked design, that was to destroy the Parliament, by the members of Parliament; and then by the carcase and shadow of a Parliament to destroy the kingdom; what is a Parliament but a carcase when the freedom of it is suppressed? when those shall be taken away by violence, that can or will oppose and stand in the way of their intentions: The high Court of Parliament is the most certain and constant Guardian of Liberty; but if it be deprived of its own Liberty, it is left without life or power to keep the Liberty of others; If they should bring a Parliament to be subject to the King's pleasure, to be correspondent (as they call it) to his will, in the midst of such evil counsels which now are predominant, there would little or no cure be left, but then all things that are most mischievous, would seem to be done by Law and Authority.  
The third observation is this, with what an evil conscience these men undertook this work: They that pretended to take Arms to defend their own propriety, obtained a Commission to violate the propriety of others, they would take the assertion of the Laws of the Land, but assumed to them such a power, as was most contrary to that Law, to seize upon their persons without due process, to impose upon their estates without consent, to take away some lives by the Law martial; and besides all this, without any Commission they intended to alter the government of the City, which is now governed by your own Council, by a Magistrate chosen by yourselves, then to be governed by violence.  
The fourth observation is this, that the mischievous effect of this design would not have ceased in the first night's work, all the godly part in the kingdom, all faithful Ministers especially, would have been left not only to the scorn and reproach, but to the hatred, malice and cruelty of the Papists, and Malignants.  
The fifth and last observation I shall make to you, is this, that this matter was prosecuted in part, and agitated and promoted by those that were sent from the King, and seemed to be messengers of peace; and while we should be amazed with pretences of gracious Messages, to propose peace, this villainous project, which should have set you all in blood was promoted by those Messengers, and should have been put in execution very shortly after. This is all I shall trouble you with by way of observation.  
The matters resolved on in the House of Commons, are these things: First that there be public thanksgiving to God, both in the City, and throughout the Kingdom for this great deliverance, that a near day be appointed for the City, the Parliament, & the parts adjacent, & a convenient day for other parts of the Kingdom. The next thing resolved on, was, that the House of Peers, they should be made acquainted with these proofs, and with all this discovery, which hath been done accordingly. It was likewise resolved, that there should be a Covenant made, whereby we should both testify our detestation of this mischievous plot, and join ourselves more closely in the maintenance of the common interest of the Church and Commonwealth, in Religion and liberty, which are still in great danger, and would have been utterly subverted, if this project had taken effect. It was resolved in the fourth place, which is now partly executed, that this should be communicated to you of the City, that so as you have a great part in the blessing, you may do your part in the duty of thankfulness, together with us. It is further resolved, that it shall be communicated to the Army, that they likewise take notice of this great mercy of God, and join with us, both in the thanksgiving, and in the protestation and Covenant, as we shall likewise desire you of the City to do.  
Then we are commanded to give thanks to my Lord Major, to the Sheriffs, and to the rest of the Officers of the City, for their great care in the apprehending of these persons, in guarding the peace and the quiet of the City.  
We are likewise to give thanks to those Gentlemen, that have had the custody of these prisoners; we know it cannot but be a trouble to them, there was no means to keep them safe from messages one to another, and from speeches, but by such a way of putting them in honest men's hands; The House of Commons have commanded us, to give them special thanks that they would undertake this care, and to assure them that they will see them fully recompensed for all the trouble, and charge they shall undergo by it.  
And we are to give you thanks, which are the Citizens of this City, for your good affections to the public cause, and for your continual bounty for the support of it.  
Thus fare we are enjoined by the resolution of the House: Now we are further to entreat you, to hear both the Covenants, you shall thereby know, to what we have bound ourselves, and to what we desire you should be bound; there are two Covenants, that is, one proper for the Houses of Parliament, which hath been taken in the House of Commons by all the members, by those Gentlemen that are named in those examinations to have been privy to this plot, which they all have disavowed; and the other Covenant is to be taken by all the other part of the Kingdom, by the Citizens, by the Army, and the rest of the people generally in all places.  
The draught of these two Covenants we shall communicate to you; the House of Lords they have had them already, and have taken them into consideration; and we hear, they do resolve that, which is appointed for them, shall be taken by the members of that House.  
We are further to desire you, that you would be serviceable to the Divine providence, to Gods great mercy to this City, and the whole Kingdom: God doth not only do good, but thereby gives assurance that he will do good; His mercies they are comforts for the present, they are pledges for the future; but yet our care must not cease.  
We are to desire that you would keep your guards, and look well to your City, and that you would find out these evil members that are among you, as near as may be, that so for the time to come this plot may be prevented, as hitherto hath been stopped, for out of doubt all the malignity is not drawn out of them, though the present opportunity is hindered for the present of putting it in execution.  
I am to tell you further, that in desire to win those that shall be taken with remorse for this wicked defigne and conspiracy: It is resolved, that if any man shall come in before the 15. day of this present June, and freely confess his fault, and what he knows of this conspiracy, that he shall have a full, and free, and plenary pardon for the time to come, except those that are already taken or fled; I say, those that come in voluntarily shall be pardoned.  
Your care, and our care, they will be all little enough; we hope God's blessing will be so upon them both, that you shall be restored to a full peace, and that in the mean time you shall enjoy such a degree of safety and prosperity, as may make way to it.  
FINIS.