The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. VoL. H. Common· While the .fl'ots were railing forces for the king's fervice, a private corwe6alth. refpondence wa~, carried on with the englijh preibyterians · letters were alfo 1 5 I· · 1 \.~)wrote, and meifengers fent from London to the kmg and queen mother in Presbyterian France, to haflen an accomodation with theJcots, aifuring them, that plot, the englifh preibyterians would then declare for him the fidl: opportunity. Confiderable fums of money were collected privately to·forward an expe– dition into England; but the vigilance of the commonwealth difcovered and defeated their defigns. The principal gentlemen and miniflers con– cerned in the correfpondence, were fome diibanded officers who had ferved· the parliament in the late wars ; as major Adams, Afford, and Hun– tington; colonel Vaug.ban, 'Iitus, Sowton, J acifon, Bains, Barton; cap– tain Adamr, Potter, Mq/Jey, Starks, Far; and Mr. Gibbons. The mi– niflers were Dr. Drake, Mr. Cafe, Watjon, Heyrick, Jenkins, Jaclifon, Jacquel, Robir!}on, Ca·wton, Na!fon, Haviland, Blackmore, and Mr. Love. Thefe had their private afiemblies at major Adams's, colonel Bar– ton's, and at Mr. Love's houfe, and held a correfpondence with the king, who defired them to fend commiilioners to Breda to moderate theJcots demands, which fervice he would reward when God lhould reaore him to his kingdoms. But fo numerous a confederacy was hardly to be concealed from the watchful eyes of the new government, who had their fpies in all places. Major Adams being apprehended on fufpicion, was the fir(l who difcoverei the confpiracy to the council qf flate. On his information warrants were iifued out, for apprehending mo(l of the gentlemen and miniflers above– mentioned; but feveral abfconded, and withdrew from the ftorm. The rninifters who were apprehended were Dr. Drake, Mr. Jenkins, Jackfon. R obinflm, lf'atjon, Blackmore, and Haviland, who after fome time were releafed on their petition for mercy, and promifing fubmiilion to the go– vernment for the future, but Mr. Loveand Gibbons were made examples, as a terror to others. Mr. Jenkins's petition being qpreifed in very (lrong terms was ordered to be printed ; it was intitled The humble Petition of 'Will. Jenkins prifoner, declaring his unfeigned Jorrow for all his late mffi:arriages, and promijing to be true and faithful to the prifent (lovern– ment; 7vith t.bree queries, being t.be ground of his late petition, and jub– mijjion to the prifent Powers. lvfr. Love's The reverend Mr. L ove was brought before a new high court if jujlice :r!al. ereCled for this purpofe, as was the cuflom of thefe times for /late cri– minals, when Mr. attorney-general Prideaux June 20, exhibited againft him the following charge of high treafon; "that at feveral times in the years " 1649, 1650, and 1651, and in feveral places, he, with the perfons " abovementioned, had malicioufly combined, and. contrived to raife forces '' againft
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=