which had been formed against it--a
circumstance which in all probability induced the late conspirators to
conceal their purpose of assassination from his knowledge. He professed
his loyalty to king James, and prayed heaven for his speedy restoration.

EARL OF MONMOUTH SENT TO THE TOWER.

While Fenwick's affair was in agitation, the earl of Monmouth had set on
foot some practices against the duke of Shrewsbury. One Matthew Smith,
nephew to sir William Perkins, had been entertained as a spy by this
nobleman, who finding his intelligence of very little use or importance,
dismissed him as a troublesome dependent. Then he had recourse to the
earl of Monmouth, into whom he infused unfavourable sentiments of the
duke, insinuating that he had made great discoveries which from sinister
motives were suppressed. Monmouth communicated those impressions to
the earl of Portland, who enlisted Smith as one of his intelligencers.
Copies of the letters he had sent to the duke of Shrewsbury were
delivered to secretary Trumball sealed up for the perusal of his
majesty at his return from Flanders. When Fenwick mentioned the duke of
Shrewsbury in his discoveries, the earl of Monmouth resolved to seize
the opportunity of ruining that nobleman. He, by the channel of the
duchess of Norfolk, exhorted lady Fenwick to prevail upon her husband
to persist in his accusation, and even dictated a paper of directions.
Fenwick rejected the proposal with disdain, as a scandalous contrivance;
and Monmouth was so incensed at his refusal that when the bill of
attainder appeared in the house of lords, he spoke in favour of it
with peculiar vehemence. Lady Fenwick, provoked at this cruel outrage,
prevailed upon her nephew the earl of Carlisle to move the house that
sir John might be examined touching any advices that had been sent
to him with relation to his discoveries. Fenwick being interrogated
accordingly, gave an account of all the particulars of Monmouth's
scheme, which was calculated to ruin the duke of Shrewsbury by bringing
Smith's letters on the carpet. The duchess of Norfolk and a confidant
were examined and confirmed the detection. The house called for Smith's
letters, which were produced by sir William Trumball. The earl
of Monmouth was committed to the Tower and dismissed from all his
employments. He was released however at the end of the session, and the
court made up all his losses in private lest he should be tempted to
join the oppos