ents to secure another Protestant sovereign, King James
can be brought over, and the Catholic religion again be established in
the land. The end sanctifies the means, as my excellent
father-confessor assures me, and I therefore have no compunction as to
that matter. King James has sent over a number of his `gentlemen of the
guard' and others, who have come as it were on their private concerns,
but who are all prepared to unite, as soon as they receive directions
from me, to carry out any scheme I may propose. To those who are
squeamish I have suggested merely that we seize and bring away the
Prince of Orange, carry him on board ship, and thence convey him over to
France: but that will never do; before he could be got to the Thames he
would be rescued, and our necks would have to answer for our folly.
There is but one safe plan, and that is to set upon him armed with
pistols and strong pushing-swords, and thus at once to put him to death.
As soon as he is dead his own adherents even will be afraid to assault
us, not knowing who may next be at the head of affairs, What say you,
gentlemen?--I have spoken plainly to you."

"I have been advised on this matter before," was the answer. "With you,
I feel that which you propose is the only way of proceeding, especially
if by that means we can establish again our religion in the land. If
once we can gain the upper hand, we may without difficulty so oppress
and keep down these Protestant heretics that we may compel them to come
over to the true faith, or drive them from the country."

"We are all agreed, then, my friends?" said the leader of the plot.
"Listen, then, to the plan which I have arranged. The king, as you
know, frequently drives out from his palace at Kensington for the
purpose of hunting in Richmond Park, and takes boat near Turnham Green
to cross the Thames to the Surrey side. I have arranged several
leaders, each of whom has five men well mounted to act under him. They
will be well-armed with blunderbusses, musketoons, pistols, and
well-sharpened swords. There is a spot at Turnham Green where the road
is narrow, with high hedges and ditches on each side, so that a coach
and six horses cannot easily turn on a sudden. Just about there, also,
there are some shrubs and bushes which will afford shelter to our men.
We have spies in the palace who will give us exact information of the
hours and days when the king goes forth in his coach; and as he has but
a smal