CHARLES II. ziz

the plot; but utterly denied all knowledge of it,and also asserted , that he had no acquaintancewith Oates. Next day, when examined beforethe committee of lords , he bethought himselfbetter, and was ready to give an ample accountof the plot, which he found so anxiously inquiredinto. 'J his narrative he made to tally, as well ashe could, with that of Oates, which had beenpublished : But that he might make himselfacceptable by new matter, he added some othercircumstances, and these, still more tremendousand extraordinary. Ile said, that ten thousand menwere to be landed from Flanders in BurlingtonBay, and immediately to seize Hull: That Jerseyand Guernsey were to be surprised by forcesfrom Brest: and that a French Fleet was, all lastsummer, hovering in the Channel for that purpose:That the lords I’owis and Peters were to forman army in Radnorlhire, to be joined by anotherarmy, consisting of twenty or thirty thousandreligious men and pilgrims , who were to landat IVlilford Haven from St. Iago in Spain : Thatthere were forty thousand men ready in London;besides those, who would, on the alarm, beposted at every alehouse door , in order to killthe soldiers, as they came out of their quarters:That lord Stafford , Coleman , and father Irelandbad money sufficient to defray the expenses ofall these armaments : That he himself was toreceive four thousand pounds, as one that couldmurder a man ; as also a commission from lordLeilahs, and a benediction from the pope: That

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LXVII.

1S7S.