to be confronted; when the one repeated his charge, and the other
his denial. The examination of the plot being continued (July 1),
Thinn, usher of the House of Lords, deposed, that Mr. Waller having
had a conference with the Lord Portland in an upper room, Lord
Portland said, when he came down, "Do me the favour to tell my Lord
Northumberland, that Mr. Waller has extremely pressed me to save my
own life and his, by throwing the blame upon the Lord Conway and the
Earl of Northumberland."

Waller, in his letter to Portland, tells him of the reasons which he
could urge with resistless efficacy in a personal conference; but he
overrated his own oratory; his vehemence, whether of persuasion or
entreaty, was returned with contempt.

One of his arguments with Portland is, that the plot is already
known to a woman. This woman was doubtless Lady Aubigny, who, upon
this occasion, was committed to custody; but who, in reality, when
she delivered the commission, knew not what it was.

The Parliament then proceeded against the conspirators, and
committed their trial to a council of war. Tomkyns and Chaloner
were hanged near their own doors. Tomkyns, when he came to die,
said it was a "foolish business;" and indeed there seems to have
been no hope that it should escape discovery; for, though never more
than three met at a time, yet a design so extensive must by
necessity be communicated to many who could not be expected to be
all faithful and all prudent. Chaloner was attended at his
execution by Hugh Peters. His crime was, that he had commission to
raise money for the king; but it appears not that the money was to
be expended upon the advancement of either Crispe's or Waller's