were also brought together. Several regiments indeed were
already embarked while James waited at Calais, and no one can doubt that
he remained there to receive the first notice of the projected
assassination. Louis had communicated to the various courts in which he
had ministers, the facts that he had acknowledged James King of England,
and that he purposed to invade that country to re-establish him on the
throne. At this time William had a large fleet at Spithead, and an army
attached to him, while the larger part of the nation were desirous that
he should remain their king. With all of these facts Louis was well
acquainted, and there can be no doubt that he was himself also aware of
the intended assassination, as he had far too much sense to suppose that
while William lived any invasion of England would have been successful.

The chief promoter of the scheme for the invasion of England was Sir
John Fenwick, a baronet of good family, but it does not appear that he
was in any way connected with the assassination plot. Sir John Friend,
a city knight, was also implicated in this plot. The Earl of Aylesbury
and Lord Montgomery, with many others, were also connected with it.
Charnock, Sir William Parkyns, Rookwood, Lowick, Cranburn, Knightley
were among the chief persons engaged in the assassination plot.

The conspirators were to be scattered about Turnham Green in taverns and
ale-houses, and to be brought together upon a signal being given. Each
body of them was under a leader, so as to give the proceeding the air of
a military act. While some were to attack the king's guards, others had
been especially selected to shoot at the king himself. James had sent
over a number of his own body-guard to be in readiness to support the
conspirators. It appears, however, that the military men engaged in the
work were very unwilling to undertake it, unless they received a
commission from James himself. This document was therefore drawn up and
signed by the king, and on seeing it, some of them imagined that the
undertaking in which they engaged, although of a somewhat desperate
character, was as honourable as that of entering into a campaign in
regular service. Some, however, felt great doubts about the matter, as
they could not help viewing it in its true light. Among these were two
captains, Pendergrast, an Irish officer, and Fisher, an Englishman, and
a Frenchman named De la Rue, who without any agreement with each othe