438 The HIS T 0 RY of the PuRITANs. VoL. II. POliver But the proteCl:or was hardly fixed in his chair, before an affaflination plot roteflar. f 1 j'fl d'r d d h f h · 1654 . o t 1e roy a Ins was 11covere , an t ree o t e confptrators (viz.) Mr. ~· Fox, Mr. Gerhard, and Mr. Vowel, were apprehended., and tried before Plot ofthe an high court of jufiice, for confpiring to murder the lord proteCl:or as he royalijls. · H G r · 1 was gowg to ampton ourt, to 1e1ze t 1e guards, and the 'Tower of London; and to proclaim the king. Mr. Fox who confeffed moll: of what was alledged againft him, pleaded guilty, and was reprieved; but the other two putting themfdves on their trial, though they denied the jurif– diCl:ion of the court, were convicted, and executed July 1 o. Gerhard a young hot-headed enfign in the late king's army being beheaded; and Vowel a fchool mafier at' lj!ington, hanged at Charing Crofs: Gerhard confeffed he knew of the plot, but Vowel was filent. Thefe commotions were the occafion of the hardfhips the royalifts underwent fame time after. Portugueze Don Pantaleon Sa brother of the Portugueze ambaffitdor, was behead– amba!fador's ed the fame day, upon account of a riot and murder in the Ne1v Ex– hrot~er exechange. Pantaleon had quarrelled with the above-mentioned Gerhard clfte • and to revenge himfelf, brought his ferv1nts next day armed with fword~ and pi!l:ols to kill him ; but infl:ead of Gerhard, they killed another man, and wounded feveral others. The Portugueze knight and his aifociates, fled to his brother the ambaifador's hou(e for fanctuary, but the mob fol– owed them, and threatened to pull down the houfe, unlefs they were de– livered up to jufiice. The proteClor being informed of the tumult, fent an officer with a party of foldiers to demand the murderers. The ambaifador pleaded his public character, but the proteClor would admit of no excufe; and therefore being forced to furrender them, they were all tried and conp. 577· victed, by a jury half englijhand half foreigners ; the fervants (Jays Whit– lock) were reprieved and pardoned; but the ambaifador's brother, who was the principal, notwithfianding all the interceffion that could be made for his life, was carried in a mourning coach to 'Tower Hill and beheaded. This fin gular act of jufiice raifed the people's efteem of the proteCl:or's re– folution, and of the equity of his government. .A new parIn order to a further fettlement of the nation, the protector fumrnoned liammt. a parliament to meet at JVejlminjler September 3· wh!ch being reckoned one of his aufpicious days, he would not alter, though It fell on a Sunday; the houfe met accordingly, and having waited upon the protector in the painted chamber, adjourned to the next day September 4· when his high· ~;~,)!;~::· nefi rode fromWhitehall to Wejlminf!er with all the pomp and ftate of the greateft monarch ; fome hundreds of gentlemen went before him unco– vered; his pages and lacqueys in the richefl: liveries ; the captains of his guards on each fide his coach, with their attendants, all uncovere?; then .followed the commiL1ioners of the treafury, mafter of ceremomes, and other
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