Bv W. W. Ravenhill, Esq. 



39 



lu\nlod by col. Overton. This was managed by correspondence with the ma- 

 lignant partye, and I could name the persons, that wente betweene them, and 

 this well known to some present. This was to have a little preceded their 

 gonerall insurrection. 



6. They had agreed their general posts in the nation, especially these; the north 

 where Wilmott [Earl of Rochester] was to command in chiefe ; in the west Wag- 

 statfe : and in Kent he, that was firste to appeare, was the lord Tufton ; his armes 

 and furniture for his owne person was taken, and he was to be very well assisted 

 both with counsell and souldiers ; and London, Surrey, and Sussex, were to associate 

 with Kent. There was besides sirThomas Peyton, one col. Gardner and Weston 

 much imployed in this particular association ; and their way of masteringe the 

 cittye and the forces therabouts was all agreed upon, and a very great summe 

 of money undertaken for. Another post was at Shrewsbury which was to be 

 the rendevous of "Wales. Other posts there were of lesser consequence ; as in 

 Nottinghamshire about Morpeth, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and elsewhere. 



The computation of their forces made by themselves was very great; many 

 thousands in every place, they haveinge sollicited, and some way or other ac- 

 quainted most of their partye with their intentions. 



7. They contrive an assassination of the lord protector to precede all this, 

 which they thought themselves sure of doinge, but direoted it should not be 

 executed, until all their other matters were ready. 



8. Great store of commissions are sent from the pretended kinge, and de- 

 livered to several partyes, to raise horse and foot. 



9* The pretended kinge promises to come to them in person at such tyme as 

 they were ready, and to be in a convenient place for that purpose. 



10. The whole party here carry themselves with confidence and boldnes, have 

 frequent meetings by themselves ; speake, and drinke and swagger, as if all 

 had beene their owne, even to the terror of the countryes ; and their confidence 

 was such, that one of their agents said about a weeke before it broke out, that 

 if he should discover all, it were not possible to hinder it. 



11. All things beinge ready, the pretended kinge removes himself from Cullen, 

 [Cologne] where his court then was, and comes into Zeeland waytinge for the 

 good houre haveinge sent before Wilmott, Wagstaffe, Oneale and severall 

 others to begin. 



12. They had in their eye several garrisons as Portsmouth, Plymouth, York, 

 Hull, Newcastle, Tinmouth, Chester, Shrewsbury, Yarmouth, Lyn, and Boston, 

 and to possess themselves of the isle of Ely. This was their designe, and they 

 made their attempt on the 12th of March. 



It's true, it fell not out accordinge to their intentions. 



The great reason of all was, the Lord disappointed them, and gave us occasion 

 to say of them, They conceived mischief e, they travelled in iniquity, &c. 

 Other subordinate causes were ; 



It pleased God to discover a great part of their plott ; that they were traced 

 in it. The instructions given to them were brought to hand, many of their 

 forces were seized upon ; some of their money ; many, very many of their partye 

 secured and imprisoned, who were to have beene chiefe actors ; the army put 

 into a posture, and moveinge up and down on purpose to prevent their rendevous, 

 and very considerable forces brought out of Ireland. 



