rd.'

Mr. Tomkins already mentioned, had married Waller's sister, and was
clerk of the Queen' council, and of very good fame for honesty and
ability; great interest and reputation in the city, and conversed much
with those who disliked the proceedings of the Parliament, from whom
he learned the dispositions of the citizens on all accidents, which he
freely communicated to his brother Waller, as the latter imparted to
him whatever observations he made from those with whom he conversed.
Mr. Waller told him, that many lords and commons were for a peace. Mr.
Tomkins made the same relation with respect to the most substantial
men of London, which Mr. Waller reported to the well affected members
of both houses; and Mr. Tomkins to the well affected citizens; whence
they came to a conclusion, that if they heartily united in the mutual
assistance of one another, they should be able to prevent those
tumults which seemed to countenance the distractions, and both parties
would be excited to moderation. The lord Conway at that time coming
from Ireland incensed against the Scotch, discontented with the
Parliament here, and finding Waller in good esteem with the earl of
Nor[t]humberland, and in great friendship with the earl of Portland,
entered into the same familiarity; and being a soldier, in the
discourses they had, he insinuated, it was convenient to enquire into
the numbers of the well affected in the city, that they might know
whom they had to trust to. Mr. Waller telling Mr. Tomkins this, the
latter imparted it to his confidents there; and it was agreed, that
some trusty persons in every ward and parish about London should make
a list of all the inhabitants, and by guessing at their several
affections, compute the strength of that party which opposed an
accommodation, and that which was for it.

Lord Clarendon declares, that he believes this design, was to beget
such a combination among the well affected parties, that they would
refuse to conform to those ordinances of the twentieth part, and other
taxes for the support of the war; and thereby or by joint petitioning
for peace, and discountenancing the other who petitioned against it,
to prevail with the Parliament to incline to a determination of the
war, 'but that there ever was, says the earl, 'any formed design
either of letting the King's army into London, which was impossible to
be effected, or raising an army there, and surprizing the Parliament,
or any person of it,