The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

Sir William Boswell's first Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury con∣cerning the Plot.

May it please your Grace,

THE offers (whereof your Grace will sind••a Copy) here enclosed towards a further and more particular Discovery, were first made unto me at the second hand, and in speech, by a Friend of good quality and worth in this place; but soon after (as soon as they could be put into order) were av••wed by the Principal Party; and delivered me in Wri∣ting by both together, upon Promise and Oath, which I was required to give, and gave accordingly not to reveal the same to any other man living but your Grace, and by your Graces hand unto his Maje∣sty.

In like manner they have tied themselves not to declare these things unto any other but my self, until they should know how his Majesty and your Grace would dispose thereof. The Principal giving me withal to know, that he puts himself and this S••∣cret into your Graces Power, as well because it con∣cerns your Grace so nearly after his Majesty, as that he knows your Wisdom to guide the same aright, and is ••ssured of your Grace's Fidelity to ••his Majesties Person, to our State and to our Church.

First, Your Grace is humbly and earnestly prayed▪ to signifie his Majesties Pleasure (with all possible speed) together with your Gr••ce•• Disposition herein▪ and purpose to carry all with silence from all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Majesty until due time.

Secondly, When your Grace shall think fit to shew these things unto his Majesty, to do it immediately, not trusting to Letters, or permitting any other Per∣son to be by or in Hearing; And to entreat and coun∣sel his Majesty as in a Case of Conscience to keep the same wholly and solely in his own Bosom, from the knowledge of all other Creatures living but your Grace; until the business shall be clear, and suffi∣ciently in his Majesties and your Graces hands to effect.

Thirdly, Not to Enquire or Demand the Names of the Parties from whom these Overtures do come, or any further Discoveries and Advertisements in Pursuit of them which shall come hereafter, until due satisfaction shall be given in every part of them. Nor to bewray unto any Person but his Majesty in a∣ny measure or kind, thatany thing of this nature, or of any great Importance is come from me.

For as I may believe, these Overtures are Verifi∣able in the way they will be laid, and that the Par∣ties will not shrink; so I make account that if never so little a glimpse or shadow of these Informations shall appear by his Majesties or your Graces speech or carriage unto others, the means whereby the business may be brought best unto Trial will be utterly disap∣pointed; and the Parties, who have in Conscience towards God, and Devotion to his Majesty, affection to your Grace, and Compassion of your Country, dis∣closed these things, will run a present and extream hazard of their Persons and Lives. So easily it will be conjectured (upon the least occasion given up∣on his Majesties or your Graces parts) who is the Discoverer; by what means, and how he knows so much of these things, and where he is: These are the Points, which together with the offers they have pressed me especially to represent most seriously unto your Grace.

For my own particular, having most humbly cra∣ved pardon of any Errour or Omissions, that have be∣faln me in the Messaging of this business, I do beseech your Grace to let me know;

First, Whether, and in what order I shall proceed hereafterwith the Parties?

Secondly, What points of these offers I shall chief∣ly and first put them to enlarge and clear?

Thirdly, What other points and enquiries I shall propose unto them, and in what manner?

Fourthly, How far further I shall suffer my self to hear and know these things?

Fifthly, Whether I shall not rather take the Par∣ties Answers and Discoveries sealed up by themselves, and having likewise put my own Seal upon them, with∣out questioning what they contain, so to transmit them to his Majesty or your Grace?

Sixthly, Whether I may not insinuate upon some fair occasions, that there will be a due regard held of them and their Service, by his Majesty and your Grace, when all Particulars undertaken in these Ge∣neral Offers, and necessary for Perfection of the dis∣covery and work intended, shall be effectually deliver∣ed to his Majesty or your Grace?

Ʋpon these Heads, and such other as his Majesty and your Grace shall think proper in the business, I must with all humility beseech your Grace to furnish me with Instructions, and Warrant for my Proceedings under his Majesties hand with your Graces attestation, as by his Majesties goodness and Royal disposition is usual in like cases.

May it please your Grace to entertain a Cypher with me upon this occasion, I have sent the Counter∣part of one here enclosed: In the vacant spaces where∣of your Grace may insert such Names more, with Num∣bers to them, as you think requisite.

If these Overtures happily sort with his Majesties and your Graces mind, and shall accordingly prove effectual in their operation, I shall think my self a most happy man to have had my Oblations in so Pi∣ous a Work for my most Gracious Sovereign and Ma∣ster: More particularly, in that your Grace under his Majesty shall be, Opifex rerum & mundi me∣lioris origo. Which I shall incessantly begg in my Prayers at his hands, who is the giver of all good things, and will never forsake or fail them, who do not first fail and fall from him, The God of all Mercy and Peace, with which I shall re∣main ever

Your Graces most Dutiful and Obliged Servant, William Boswell.

I have not dared more to trust this business without a Cypher, but by a sure hand, for which I have sent this Bearer my Secretary Express, but he knoweth nothing of the Contents hereof.

Sir William Boswell's Endorsement.

For your Grace. Hague in Holland, Sept. 9. 1640. Styl. loci.

The Archbishops Endorsement with his own hand.

Received Sept. 10. 1640. Sir William Boswell's Letter about the Plot against the King.