Mr. Stewarts Information.

IN the time of the Fire, near Bridewell, there was a man sadly bemoaning the great Loss he was like to sustain (the Fire being within five or six houses of him) who did beseech the people for Gods sake, they having no Goods of their own in danger, to help him throw out Trunks, Chests, Beds, &c. out at a window, having procured two Carts or Waggons to carry them away. Whereupon I ran into his House with several others, broke down his Windows, threw out his Goods, and loaded the Carts; and there being some interval of time before the return of the Carts, and seeing a Room wherein were many Books and loose Papers (which seemed to be a Library) I went in and took down a Book, which prov∣ed to be Ovid Metamorphosis, and while I was looking upon it, there came into the same Room an Old Man of Low Stature, with a white Frock, who looked also on the Book as it was in my hand; I took him in my mind to be some Groom come out of a Stable, and thought him to be presumptuously foolish, supposing such a mean like Old Man ignorant of that Language in which the book was written, it being in Latin, but I spoke not to him: In the mean time, there brake sorth a Fire amongst the Papers which were behind us, there being none in the Room but he and I. Whereupon the rest of the people coming in, cryed out, we had set the Room on fire, and rushing in upon us, put out the fire with their Feet: whereupon I took hold of the Old Man by the Buttons under the throat, and said, How now Father, it must either be you or I must fire these Papers. There was a small thing of a black matter, which looked like a piece of a Link burning, which questionless set fire on the Papers, but it was immediately trod our. A multitude of people thronged in; and when I said, How now my Father, and took hold of him, he said, Parce mihi Domine: The people which did not understand it, cryed out, He is a French∣man, kill him, and with pulling of him, his Perriwig fell off; then appeared a Bald Skull, and under his Frock he had Black Clothes, I think of Bishops Sattin, whereupon he seemed to be a grave Eccle∣siastick Person. I had much a do to save him from the People, but at last brought him before the Duke of York: we found in his Pocket a bundle of Papers closed up with Wax like a Pacquet, which was delivered to the Duke of York. I know not what was written in them, neither do I know what Country-man he was; but methoughts he looked something Jesuit-like. This I am certain of, that when I went into the Room there was no fire in it, and it was fired when there was none but he and I in it, yet I cannot say I saw him do it, though I cannot but suspect he did it, and the rather, because there were several houses untouched betwixt this house, and where the fire was coming on, when the Papers in the Library where thus on fire as I have related. What became of this fellow after we had delivered him to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, I have not heard.

John Stewart.

NOt long after the Burning of London, Mr. Brook Bridges, a young Gentleman of the Temple, as he was going to attend Divine Service in the Temple-Church, in a Pew there found this follow∣ing Paper, which immediately, either by himself or a Relation of his, was delivered to Sir William Morrice, one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State; the Contents of the Paper are as follows:

A VVarning to Protestants.

I Who have been a Papist from my Infancy, till of late; and in Zeal for their horrid Principles, had too great a share in the Fireing of the City; And did intend to do further mischief to the Protestants (of which I am now, and ever shall be a Member) do upon abhorency of that Villany, and Religion that hath moved me to it, declare to all Protestants the Approach of their sudden Ruine, that it may be prevented, if it be not too late.

When I, together with other Papists, both French, Irish and English, fired the City; others were im∣ployed to massacre the Protestants, we thinking thereby to destroy the Heads of your Religion; but the Massacre was disappointed by the Fear of him who was the chief Agent in this Villany. And the Fire not having done all its Work, they have often endeavoured to fire the remaining part. They in∣tend likewise to land the French upon you: To whose Assistance they all intend to come, and for that purpose are stored with Armes: And have so far deceived the King, that they have the Command of most part of the Army and the Sea-Ports. The French intend to Land at Dover, that Garison being most Papists, And the Papists in England have express Command from Rome, to hasten their business before the next Parliament, and to dispatch. Therefore as you love your Lives and Fortunes, prevent vour Ruine, by removing all the Papists in England, especially Colonel Legg from the Tower, and the Lord Douglass, and all his Adherents and Souldiers from Dover, and by disarming all Papists. I have such an abhorrancy, that I would willingly undergo any Punishment for it, and declare my self open∣ly, were I not assured that I could do you more good in concealing my Name for the present. De∣lay not from following these Directions as you love your Lives; And be not deceived by any Pre∣tences whatsoever.

Page  14 Thus we see, that then, even presently after that dreadful Calamity, there wanted not various proofs of its being contrived and carryed on by Popish Treachery: By what means these Informati∣ons were smothered, 'tis not my business now to inquire; 'tis certain, had they been sufficiently taken notice of, and encouraged, and due prosecution made thereupon, it might have prevented many mischiefs which since happened: But we have now a more full discovery of that villanous Intrigue from their own Mouths; for as I my self have more than once heard them own and boast of the Ex∣ploit, so nothing can be more plain than what Dr. Oaets hath made out in his Depositions Sworn be∣fore that worthy and since Marty'd Gentleman, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, on the 6th of September last, Paragraph 34, To this effect:

That in Iuly 1678, Richard Strang, the then last Provincial of the Jesuits, did tell him, That their Society of Jesuits did get 14 thousand pounds in that Fire in 66, and that he the said Strang, with three other Jesuits and a Dominican Fryar, all there named; designed, and were chief Instruments in effcting the same; That they intended to have Burnt it sooner, viz. in Feb. 1664, but had not then got persons and things ready for Execution: That they commonly met at the Green-Dragon at Puddle-Dock, and pretending themselves Fifth-Monarchy-men, first drew in one Green a poor man, by fur∣nishing him with 30l. to joyn in the Plot of Firing the City, and killing the King, who soon after brought in 8 more of the same Gang; but at last some notice was taken of their Design, and away the Jesuits are gone, leaving the poor silly seduced new Brethren of the Fifth-Monarchy to suffer for their Roguery, and accordingly 8 of them were Executed in May 66, but never spoke a word of the said Fathers, nor indeed could they, for they knew not their true Names, nor ever suspected them to be Jesuits or Papists, whereupon the said Strang further said, That he himself and the others returned again in Iune following, and fell again to prosecute their Design, which had been carried on in the mean time by others of their Society. In short, he said they got 50 or 60 Irish, and di∣vers French, who were very faithful to ply the work, and got one Everard, who was chief Keeper of their Fire-works, a place in the Kings Service, relating to the publick Ammunition, the better to colour it; That himself by the Name of Walker, and the said Fryaer, took a Lodging in Aug. 66. in Fanchurch-street, that they might be at hand, it having before been resolved where they should be∣gin; That all things being thus prepared, one Neal of VVhite-Chappel, whose charge it was to see the Fire carried on through Thames-street to the Tower, called him up about 12 a Clock, and before he could make him ready, the Fire was begun; That there was Fourscore or upwards imployed therein as Servants by the Society, and that they spent 700 Fire-balls, and had others, both Men and Women, attending to Plunder what they could, having a Warehouse in VVild-street, and another at Somerset-house, to receive what they so got, which amounted to the value of 14000 pounds, as aforesaid, &c.

As for the Fifth-Monarchy-men that were Executed, mentioned by the said Strang to Mr. Oats in this Discourse, 'Tis very observable what Account the Gazett gave of their Tryal.

'Tis in the Gazett published on Munday April the 30th 1666. The words are these.

At the Sessions in the Old-Baily, John Rathbone, an old Army-Colonel, William Saunders, Henry Tucker, Thomas Flint, Thomas Evans, John Miles, William Wescot, and John Cole, (formerly Of∣ficers or Soldiers in the late Rebellion, were Indicted for Conspiring the Death of his Majesty, and the over∣throw of the Government, having laid their Plot and Contrivance for the Surprizal of the Tower, The Killing his Grace the Lord General, Sir John Robinson Lieutenant of his Majesties Tower of London, and Sir Richard Brown, and then to have declared for an equal division of Lands, &c. The better to effect this Hellish design, THE CITY WAS TO HAVE BEEN FIRED, and the Portcullices to have 〈◊〉 let down to keep out all assistance, The Horse-Guard to have been surprized in the Inns where they were quartered, several Ostlers having been gain'd for that purpose, the Tower was accordingly viewed, and its surprise ordered by Boats over the Moat, and from thence to scale the VVall; one Alexander who in not yet taken, had likewise distributed sums of Money to these Conspirators, and for the carrying on the Design more effectually, they were told of a great Council of the GREAT ONES that sate frequently in London, from whom issued all Orders, which Council received their Directions from another in Hol∣land, which sate with the States, and that the Third of SEPTEMBER was pitcht on for the at∣tempt, as being found by Lillies Almanack, and a Scheme erected for that purpose, to be a Lucky day, a Planet then ruling which Prognosticated the downfal of Monarchy. The evidence against these Persons was very full and clear, and they accordingly found Guilty of High-Treason.

Thus that Gazett verbatim. From whence we may observe,

1. How exactly the Account given by Father Strang to Mr. Oats agrees herewith, as to the Num∣ber of Persons, Time, Design, &c.

2. How industrious these Popish Conspiraters are, and how dexterous in turning themselves into all shapes, and complying with all humours to carry on their designes, as here pretending to em∣brace and promote Fifth-Monarchy-Principles, Levelling, &c. which should methinks caution all Protestant Dissenters from the Establisht Church-Government, yet to abhor all Conspiracies, and never to be drawn into any Plot or Seditious Pranks on any pretensions whatsoever, lest whilst by indirect means they fondly hope to advance some little Notions and Whimsies of their own, they shall but do the Jesuits Drudgery, and really be found diligent Instruments to advance that Scarlet VVhore whom they so loudly declaim against and abominate.

Page  15 3. The Jesuits herein Acted with that Devilish Policy, which is so much the Study of their Society; for having such an horrid Plot, on Foot, they thought fit to find out some other Party, upon whom they might lay the Scandal of it, but it seems could meet with none so ready to be Bubbled as the Fifth-Monarchy-men; For, said the subtle Fathers, if we can perswade them to the Business, viz. Fire∣ing the City, and Killing the King, Then not only our work will be done to out hands, but we shall have an excellent occasion to fall not only on these people, but whoever else we shall please to call Fanaticks, as their Accomplices; and all the World shall acknowledge, that we do but Justice in cutting them off, when they shall be made guilty of such Treason and Villany. On the other side, if they attempt and fail in it, Let the Rogues Hang, we and our Church are free, both from the Dan∣ger and the Odium of it; Nay more, we shall gain this advantage, That when we shall do it in earn∣est, 'twill certainly be laid at their Doors, because of their former Attempt, and to load them the heavier, they had set down the Names of all the most eminent Dissenters, and such as had serv'd un∣der the Parliament, as concern'd in this Plot, and left it with these people, That as a List of the Con∣spirators, it might be taken with them, and consequently all those persons secured in Custody at a time when they design'd the French, with whom we were then at War, should invade the Kingdom; and I am credibly inform'd, they had all been taken, had not his Grace, the late Duke of Albemarle Interposed.

4. As they had to do with ignorant Enthusiastical people, so they managed them accordingly; Telling them a Story of an Equal Division of Lands, a Councel of Great Ones that must be name∣less, and another yet greater that sate with the States; But especially they forgat not to name the Third of September to them, being the day or next save one, themselves had so long pitcht upon for the Burning of London; and for this purpose, the Oracle, Lillies Almanack, must be consulted, but indeed, it was the Astrology of St. Omars that resolved the Question; for they did this meerly, that if they should be discovered, that circumstance should likewise be divulged as part of this, Fifth-Monarchy-Plot, and consequently being remembred by people when they should see the City on Fire, They might thence take occasion to fall upon the Fanaticks as the Incendiaries; and 'tis more than probable, that not finding these Half-witted Fellows very fit to serve their Purposes actively, They resolved to make them do it passively, and might themselves cause them to be betray'd, it being nothing infrequent with the Jesuits to imitate their Father the Devil, in tempting people first to Vil∣lany, and then to be the first that shall accuse them.