A brief review of the most material Parliamentary proceedings of this present Parliament, and their armies, in their civil and martial affairs. Which Parliament began the third of November, 1640. And the remarkable transactions are continued untill the Act of Oblivion, February 24. 1652. Published as a breviary, leading all along successiviely, as they fell out in their severall years: so that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what moneth thereof it was accomplished. And for information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these times, which things are brought to passe, that former ages have not heard of, and after ages will admire. A work worthy to be kept in record, and communicated to posterity.

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Title
A brief review of the most material Parliamentary proceedings of this present Parliament, and their armies, in their civil and martial affairs. Which Parliament began the third of November, 1640. And the remarkable transactions are continued untill the Act of Oblivion, February 24. 1652. Published as a breviary, leading all along successiviely, as they fell out in their severall years: so that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what moneth thereof it was accomplished. And for information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these times, which things are brought to passe, that former ages have not heard of, and after ages will admire. A work worthy to be kept in record, and communicated to posterity.
Author
Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.
Publication
London :: Printed by M.S. for Tho: Jenner, at the South-entrance of the Royal Exchange.,
1653.
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Subject terms
England and Wales. -- Army -- Early works to 1800.
England and Wales. -- Parliament -- Early works to 1800.
Executions and executioners -- England -- Early works to 1800.
Last words -- Early works to 1800.
Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
Great Britain -- Politics and government, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"A brief review of the most material Parliamentary proceedings of this present Parliament, and their armies, in their civil and martial affairs. Which Parliament began the third of November, 1640. And the remarkable transactions are continued untill the Act of Oblivion, February 24. 1652. Published as a breviary, leading all along successiviely, as they fell out in their severall years: so that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what moneth thereof it was accomplished. And for information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these times, which things are brought to passe, that former ages have not heard of, and after ages will admire. A work worthy to be kept in record, and communicated to posterity." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A74878.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2024.

Pages

Page 19

A Full Narrative of the late dangerous designe against the State, written with Master Love's owne hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; whereby he set∣teth down the severall meetings, and secret actings, with Major Alford, Major Adams, Colonel Barton, Master Blackmore, M. Case, M. Cauton, Dr. Drake, M. Drake, Captain Far, M. Gib∣bons, M. Haviland, Maj. Huntington, M. Jenkins, M. Jaquel, M. Jackson, Liev. Jackson, Captain Massey, M. Nalton, Captain Potter, M. Robinson, M. Sterks, Col. Sowton, Col Vaughan, and others.

[illustration]

COnsidering how a clear and full Narrative may satisfie the State (although it may prejudice my selfe) I am willing with an in∣genuous freedome, and opennesse of heart to make knowne the whole matter, so far as I distinctly know, and well remember, humbly hoping that this large acknowledgement of mine (which is more then any in the world can prove against me) shall not be taken as an Aggravation of my fault, but as a Demonstration of my ingenuity. Before I mention the matters of Fact, I humbly crave leave to signifie the time when, and manner how I came to be intangled in this unhappy businesse.

As for the time, it was after the breaking off the Treaty between the King and the Scots at Jersey; for before that time (to the best of my remembrance) I was not privie too, or acquainted with any meet∣ings about the sending of Captain Titus (whose face I never saw) to Jersey, or sending Letters to him, or receiving Letters from him, while he was there; or about sending any Letters too, or receiving any Let∣ters from the King, Queen, Jermyn, Piercy, or any other person in

Page 20

forreign parts during the Treaty at Jersey, but after that Treaty was ended, M. W. Drake came to me, told me he had Newes to impart, and to that end, he desired to know (if he could get friends together) whether I was willing that they should meet at my house (it being con∣veniently scituate in the midst of the City) that so he might commu∣nicate what he heard of Affairs abroad. To satisfie my curiosity to hear News, I was content to let him, with those he should bring to meet at my house. Thus for the time when, and manner how I came to be pre∣sent at any meetings about Intelligence.

I now come humbly and truly to relate the matter of Fact, which is as followeth: It appeared to me by the testimony of the Witnesses, that there were frequent meetings by Mr. Drake, Alford, Titus, Adams, and others, soon after the death of the late King, and applications made to the King of Scots, the Queen his Mother, to Jermyn, and Piercy, both before and during the Treaty at Iersey, of which I know nothing, nor was I present: But the first meeting I was at, was at my house, and was (as I remember) at the reading of a Letter which came from Captain Titus, after the Treaty was ended at Jersey; the Con∣tents of that Letter were (if I mistake not) to this effect: That the Treaty at Jersey was broken off through the violent and evill Counsels of desperate Malignants; and that he had something of concernment to communicate, which he durst not doe in person, being not safe for him to come over into England, nor could he well do it by writing, he judging it not fit nor safe to send by the Common Post, fearing a mis∣carriage; wherefore he desired some body to be sent over to him to Ca∣lice, to whom he might give an account of all proceedings. Ʋpon the reading of this Letter, Mr. Drake moved that some person should be desired to goe to Calice; for said he, We shall hear the whole relation of the businesse at Jersey: Whereupon Major Adams or Captain Farr were moved by Mr. Drake to goe. There was mention of Major Al∣ford to goe, though he was not then present that I know of, nor was he ever within my house, as I remember, untill after he returned from Calice: so that there was none that I know of was gone, Mr. Drake told me, Major Alford was the fittest man to goe over to Calice, ha∣ving businesse of his owne to goe into France, to look after his Prodi∣gall Son, so that it was (said he) a plausible pretence to conceale his going over to meet with Titus. There were present at this first meeting, M. Drake, M. Ienkins, Maj. Adams, D. Drake, Cap. Farr, Cap. Potter, and my selfe, with some others, but who more, I cannot remember.

Page 21

About two or three dayes after Major Alfords returne from Ca∣lice, Mr. Drake told me he was come to London, and told me he would goe to severall Ministers and Citizens, to desire them to meet at my house, that so we might hear what Newes Major Alford brought with him from Calice; accordingly the next day in the evening they met at my house, Mr. Drake brought Major Alford with him; Ma∣jor Alford at that meeting gave an account of his conference with Titus, and of his receiving a copy of the Kings Letter from him, as also a Narrative of the proceedings at the Treaty at Jersey: But he said (if I mistake not) that he brought not over the Letters himself, but delivered them to a Passenger that came over in the Ship, to carry them, lest that himselfe should be searched; but after he came into England, he received the Letter and Narrative from the Passenger (but who he was I know not) and so brought them to London; whether the Copy of the Kings Letter was read at my house, in my hearing, I remember not; yet I deny not but it was read there, I am sure I heard that the Contents of it were to this effect, That he tooke in good part the affections and loyalty of those who formerly had made ap∣plications by way of Petition to him (of which Petition I know no∣thing) and if ever God restored him, or put him in a condition, he should remember them: The Narrative which Alford brought from Titus, was read in my house, in my hearing, which was to this effect, He made a large description of the Scots, commending his prudent car∣riage and good inclinations to an Agreement with the Scots, but that his bad Councell about him hindred it; Also he made a rehearsall of his sufferings from the Cavaliers at Iersey, how he was imprisoned in a close Room: Many things else was in the Narrative, which I have forgotten. There were present at this meeting, Major Alford, M. Drake, M. Case, Major Adams, M. Iaquel, M. Iackson, M. Ien∣kins, D. Drake, Cap. Potter, M. Sterks, Cap. Farr, and my self, with some others, but who more, I doe not remember.

A little before or about the Treaty, between the King and the Scots at Breda. there was a meeting at my house, M. Drake proposed, that we should think of some way to promote the Agreement betweene the King and the Scots; where by the way, I desire humbly to give notice, That this was the first and onely meeting of this nature, and for this end, at my house, that I know of. At this meeting, M. Drake tooke cut some papers out of his pocket, written in Characters, which he read in my study; what he read, went under the name of a Commission

Page 22

and Instructions (as he termed it) to be sent to the Lord Willough∣by, Alderman Bunce, Massey, Graves, and Titus, to appoint them to advise with, and use their interests in persons of Honour, about the King, to provoke him to agree with the Scots, and to take the Cove∣nant; as also to advise with the Scots Commissioners, and perswade them, That in their agreement with their King, they would have spe∣ciall respect to the interest of Religion, and terms of the Covenant; the Commission ran in this form, as if it were in the names of all the Presbyteriall party in England: After I heard it read, I expressed my selfe against it, alledging severall Reasons, chiefly, That it was an Act of high presumption for private persons to send a Commission with instructions, and an act of notorious falshood, to say, this was in the name of the Presbyteriall party of England, when none but a few persons knew thereof, that I know of: Many in the company did expresse a dislike thereof, as well as my selfe. M. Drake did also read a Letter in this meeting, but to whom it was, I know not, neither know I the Contents of it, I was at least a dozen times called out of the Room, whiles the Company were there met, so that I am not able to give so full and particular an accompt of the Contents of the Letter, and of the Commission and Instructions: What M. Drake did about the Commis∣sion and Instructions after he was gone from my house, I know not; what he sent away, I know not, nor did I know by whom it was sent away, untill Maj. Alford declared before the High Court, That he received the Papers from M. Drake, carried them to Gravesend, and delivered them to one Mason (whose face I never saw) and he carried them to Holland. There was present at this meeting, Ma∣jor Huntington (who was never at my house before nor since, whose face I never saw before nor since, but at my Tryall) M. Drake, D. Drake, M. Jackson, M. Jenkins, M. Cauton, Maj. Alford, M. Gibbons, Maj. Adams, Cap. Farr, and my selfe, with some others, whom I cannot remember.

There is one thing more I make bold to mention, That there are other persons, besides those I have named, who did now and then come to these meetings at my house, as M. Robinson, M. Nalton, M. Havi∣land, M. Blackmore, Col. Vaughan, Col. Sowton, these were also present at one time or another, but at what particular meeting, I cannot positively say.

Thus I have clearly laid open the whole matter of Fact, so far as I well remember, and distinctly know of Passages a∣bout

Page 23

these Meetings and Transactions at my house.

From the Tower of Lon∣don, July 22. 1651.

I attest the truth of this Nar∣rative under my hand,

Christopher Love.

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