A NEW PLOT DISCOVERED.TOGETHER WITH THE CHARGE of the Earle of Portland.

WE are not yet ſafe, but every day and houre doth beget new dangers, and doth ſtrike the fearfull and trem­bling ſubject with new horrour and a­mazement. The bleeding heart of this kingdom doth daily receive new wounds: and time, which we hoped would put a finall period to all her diſtractions, doth either con­tinue the old, or els beget new, to the danger of the generall ſubverſion of the whole king­dome. Peace is exlled our habitation•, and we2 can receive from abroad no other ſounds, but ſuch as bring unto us affrightment, and not ſatisfaction or content. Neither can we ex­pect any reſpit or releaſe from theſe unſavou­rie troubles, untill the power and edge of the malignant party be taken off, whoſe deſtru­ctive counſels nnd actions onely tend to the diſquiet and trouble both of the Church and Common-wealth. Mifery muſt needs be the portion of that kingdome, wherein vertue, goodneſſe and religion are not onely 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 aimes and endeavours tending onely to the reformarion of ſuch abuſes as have diſturbed the unity and peace both of Church and Common-wealth, have beene oppoſed by malice and diſcontent. The reaſon of this diſcontent and oppoſiti­on is decided and out of controverſie. The Actors know their own guilt, and know they cannot be ſecure, but by the abetting and pro­ſecuting theſe publike troubles.

My Lord Brooke ſome time after his return to London, being appointed Lieutenant of Warwick-ſhire, and ſo by conſequence had the truſt and charge of the Militia committed to3 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 faithfull 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 Earle of Northampion and the Lord Dunſ­more, who had a Commiſsion from His Maie­ſty to put the Commiſsion of Array in exe­cution, oppoſed him, not with meane and or­dinary ſtrength and power, but had ſo well ar­med themſelves, as they thought their deſigne 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 ſeverall Shires and Counties, whom not onely by faire and allu­ring ſpeeches, but alſo with an extraordinary ſalary they had hired and ingaged to partake with them, and to aſsiſt them in this their de­ſigne. They gave them extraordinary wages, which is not commonly exhibited unto ſoul­diers, for they allowed them two ſhillings a day, to the intent that they ſhould aſsiſt them in the hindrance of the Lord Brooke from the removing of the Magazine from Banhurie.

The competition of this thing was very long and full of terrour, for the Earle of Northampton was very violent, and offered the Lord Brooke to encounter with him, and to de­cide the preſent controverſie by ſingle combat, and not to ingage ſo many mens lives as were on both ſides then preſe•t in that ſame quar­•ell; which the Lord B•ooke out of judgment and wiſdome 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 Lord­ſ••p•nd his p•ſterity.

Thi•modeſt anſwer did not allay or quali­fie the violent ſpirit of the incenſed Earle, but he〈◊〉offered him to draw out of their ſor­•••〈◊〉ſelect men of each ſide, and by them to•ecide that dayes difference. But that〈…〉of the Earle was alſo denied by the Lord Brooke, who would not hazard that〈◊〉truſt impoſed upon him upon ſuch in­•••ſiderate••rmes. Upon ſuch and the like diſcourſ•, 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 div••t it5 for the preſent. It is likewiſe reported, that ſince the Lord Brooke his coming up to Lon­don,••at the Earle of Northampton hath ſei­〈…〉the caſtle of Warwick, and withall〈◊〉••ken poſſeſsion of the Magazine of that Co•••y.

After Colonell Goring had delivered up the haven-town of Portſmouth into the kings poſ­ſeſsion, this unfaithfulneſſe 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 Earle 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 Earle of P•r•land, which was to this eff•ct,

That his Lordſhip was conce•ved 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 C•ſtle of that Iſland into ſuch hands as might no wayes be ſuſpected, but ſuch as they might confide in: and that they did think it very fit­ting that his Lordſhip ſhould be kept in cuſto­dy6 for a time, whereby he was committed to Sheriffe 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 ſhalbe 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 Whiting, Nicolas Dounton, James Stroud, John Walker, and John Cooth Parſon of Shipton-Mallet be forthwith ſent for as Delinquents.