Gods Providence in Delivering the Godly, Account
A ſhort Narration of the late bloody and abominable conſpiracy againſt the City of Briſtoll, as appeareth by the examination of the Parties thereunto. 1642.
AMalignant and treacherous Party within this City, having long endeavoured to bring in the forces of the enemy into this City, they hoped that they had gotten an opportunity to effect their deſigne on Tueſday night laſt being the ſeventh of March, when by their invitation Prince Rupert having drawne a great party of Horſe and Dragoones with ſome foote to Durdum Downe, within two miles of this Citie, the evening before that night, theſe treacherous and bloody perſons within the towne had framed a party to fall upon the backes of the Guards, and to ſurprize them and cut them off, and to let in the enemy, who upon the ringing of two Bells, viz S. Iohns and S. Michaels, were to give on upon the Towne without, as the conſpirators were to fall upon the guards within. The ringing of theſe two Bells being a common ſigne unto them both within and without the towne. For the better effecting of this trayterous and wicked conſpiracy, the chiefe heads thereof had that night aſſembled together in their houſes thoſe of their confederacy, with divers Saylers and Halliers with all ſorts of Armes, Muskets, Piſtolls, Swords, Clubs, and Barrells of old Nayles to charge the Ordnance withall after they had furpriſed them. And theſe ſeverall companies under their ſeverall Leaders were to have fallen upon the ſeverall Courts of guards; Maſter Robert Yeomans (who is the head of this conſpiracy and pretendeth a Commiſsion from his Majeſty for what he hath done) being to fall upon the maine Guard, and Maſter George Butcher with his company was to have fallen upon the Guard at Froome Gate, and to have opened it for the enemy to enter by: others no doubt had their parts to play, and the better to diſtinguiſh themſelves from thoſe that were deſtinated to deſtruction, thoſe that were of their party had a word which was (Charles) and certaine markes of white Tape tied upon their breaſts before, and their hats behind, and ſuch as were to be ſpared within doores had certaine markes ſet upon the inſide of their doores; for the reſt (if we may believe the ſpeeches of an Officer amongſt the enemies Forces) one of them was heard to ſay that Prince Rupert had commanded them to give no Quarter, but to kill man, woman and child that had not thoſe markes upon their perſons and houſes. And that at the ſame time that they were to fall into the towne, the Saylers were to ſet the towne on fire in ſeverall parts; (which is conceived ſhould have been Captaine Boones part) but God of his mercy delivered us from this dangerous and devilliſh conſpiracy, by ſome notice that we had given unto us of their meeting at Yeomans his houſe, about an houre or two before the plot was to have beene put in exeeution, which was to have been upon the ringing of the Bells about one or two a clocke in the morning. Having ſeized on Maſter Robert Yeomans with his company, and after, Butcher with his company, the necke of the plot being broken within the Towne, the enemy without (whoſe deſigne as it ſhould ſeeme depended much upon it) having ſhowne themſelves upon the Downe the next morning after two or three ſhot of Canons made againſt them from our worke upon Brandon hill, they wheeled off, and ſo God put a Hook into their noſtrills, and turned them back againe: for which great mercy of his in delivering us from a dangerous invaſion of the enemy without, and from a damnable conſpiracy of ſome traytorous inhabitants within the City; both this towne and the whole kingdome (ſo far as it is concerned in the preſervation of this City) hath great cauſe to give thanks to Almighty God, unto whom alone the glory thereof is due.
This is a ſhort narration of the late deteſtable and bloody Plot againſt this City, whereof no doubt more hereafter will appeare, the matter being yet under examination, onelyonly one writing which was found in Robert Yeomans his houſe, I thought fit to adde, which was as followeth.
All Inhabitants of the Bridge, the High-ſtreet and Corneſtreete, keepe within your doores upon perill of your lives: All other inhabitants of this Citie that ſtand for the King, the Proteſtant Religion and the Liberties of this City, let them forthwith appeare at the High Croſſe with ſuch armes as they have for the defence of their lives, their wives and children, and follow their Leaders for the ſame defence.
There was alſo a Proteſtation taken amongſt them to this effect, that they would oppoſe to the utmoſt of their power, all Forces whatſoever that were, or ſhould be amongſt them, or that ſhould come in without the conſent of the King.