rator began to engage
proper persons for the enterprise. When their complement was full, they
determined to execute their purpose on the fifteenth day of February.
They concerted the manner in which they should meet in small parties
without suspicion, and waited with impatience for the hour of action.
In this interval some of the underling actors, seized with horror at the
reflection of what they had undertaken, or captivated with the prospect
of reward, resolved to prevent the execution of the design by a timely
discovery. On the eleventh day of February, one Fisher informed the earl
of Portland of the scheme, and named some of the conspirators; but his
account was imperfect. On the thirteenth however he returned with a
circumstantial detail of all the particulars. Next day the earl was
accosted by one Pendergrass, an Irish officer, who told his lordship he
had just come from Hampshire at the request of a particular friend, and
understood that he had been called up to town with a view of engaging
him in a design to assassinate king William. He said, he had promised
to embark in the undertaking, though he detested it in his own mind, and
took this first opportunity of revealing the secret, which was of such
consequence to his majesty's life. He owned himself a Roman catholic,
but declared that he did not think any religion could justify such a
treacherous purpose. At the same time he observed, that as he lay under
obligations to some of the conspirators, his honour and gratitude
would not permit him to accuse them by name; and that he would upon no
consideration appear as an evidence. The king had been so much used to
fictitious plots and false discoveries, that he paid little regard to
the informations until they were confirmed by the testimony of another
conspirator called La Rue, a Frenchman, who communicated the same
particulars to brigadier Levison, without knowing the least circumstance
of the other discoveries. Then the king believed there was something
real in the conspiracy; and Pendergrass and La Rue were severally
examined in his presence. He thanked Pendergrass in particular for this
instance of his probity; but observed that it must prove ineffectual
unless he would discover the names of the conspirators; for, without
knowing who they were, he should not be able to secure his life against
their attempts. At length Pendergrass was prevailed upon to give a list
of those he knew, yet not before the king had sole