the earl of Northumberland had declared himself difpofed in favour of any attempt that might check the violence of the parliament, and reconcile them to the king.

He undoubtedly confeffed much, which they could never have discovered, and perhaps fomewhat which they would wish to have been fuppreffed; for it is inconvenient, in the conflict of factions, to have that difaffection known which cannot fafely be punished.

Tomkyns was feized on the fame night with Waller, and appears likewife to have partaken of his cowardice; for he gave notice of Crifpe's commiffion of array, of which Clarendon never knew how it was difcovered. Tom

kyns

kyns had been fent with the token appointed, to demand it from lady Aubigney, and had buried it in his garden, where, by his direction, it was dug up; and thus the rebels obtained, what Clarendon confeffes them to have had, the original copy.

It can raise no wonder that they formed one plot out of these two defigns, however remote from each other, when they faw the fame agent employed in both, and found the commiffion of array in the hands of him who was employed in collecting the opinions and affections of the people.

Of the plot, thus combined, they. took care to make the moft. They fent Pym among the citizens to tell them of

I

their

their imminent danger, and happy efcape; and inform them, that the defign was to feize the "lord mayor and "all the committee of militia, and "would not fpare one of them." They drew up a vow and covenant, to be taken by every member of either house, by which he declared his deteftation of all confpiracies against the parliament, and his refolution to detect and oppose them. They then appointed a day of thanksgiving for this wonderful delivery; which shut out, fays Clarendon, all doubts whether there had been fuch a deliverance, and whether the plot was real or fictitious.

On June 11, the earl of Portland and lord Conway were committed, one to

the

the cuftody of the mayor, and the other of the fheriff; but their lands and goods were not seized.

Waller was ftill to immerse himself deeper in ignominy. The earl of Portland and lord Conway denied the charge, and there was no evidence against them but the confeffion of Waller, of which undoubtedly many would be inclined to question the veracity. With thefe doubts he was fo much ter-rified, that he endeavoured to perfuade Portland to a declaration like his own, by a letter extant in Fenton's edition. "But for me," fays he, " you had ne"ver known any thing of this bufinefs, "which was prepared for another; and "therefore I cannot imagine why you.

"fhould

"fhould hide it fo far as to contrac

your own ruin by concealing it, and "perfifting unreafonably to hide that "truth, which, without you, already is, "and will every day be made more, "manifeft. Can you imagine yourself "bound in honour to keep that fecret, "which is already revealed by another; "or poffible it fhould fill be a fecret,. "which is known to one of the other "fex-If you perfift to be cruel to yourself for their fakes who deferve "it not, it will nevertheless be made. "appear, ere long, I fear, to your ruin. "Surely, if I had the happiness to wait I could move you to com

66 on you,

paffionate both yourself and me, who, defperate as my cafe is, am defirous

" to