Lindsey Davis - Rebels and traitors

An unexpected result was renewed pressure on Cromwell to adopt the title of king. Although rumours of the failed fireball circulated almost immediately, Thurloe did not formally announce details of the plot to Parliament for ten days, after a frenzy of speculation had built up. Then he emphasised alarmingly how the assassination attempt had involved not only home-grown radical terrorists but designing foreign powers, all in alliance with the ever-treacherous Royalists. News-sheets relayed frightening stories of armies raised by these enemies, armies that were poised to sail to England at any moment in a flotilla of ships… This overlooked the known facts that Charles II had had a destructive quarrel with his brother the Duke of York; he had no money to pay for a fleet and his armies overseas were dwindling daily.

In the aura of panic, a day of thanksgiving for Cromwell's deliverance was held on Friday the 20th of February, with an enormous public feast in the Banqueting House. All the MPs were invited, as were foreign ambassadors. Four hundred luxurious dishes were served and the regal evening ended with a splendiferous musical entertainment. So great was the crush that a staircase collapsed, causing many injuries, particularly to Cromwell's eldest son Richard; he would eventually be known as Tumbledown Dick, supposedly from his indecisiveness, though perhaps also because in the accident he suffered several broken bones.

It had been assumed by many that the Protector would be offered the crown as he hosted this glittering occasion. This did not happen; perhaps the accident to Richard was an inhibiting factor. The formal request was made the following Monday, in the austere and appropriate environment of the House of Commons. It was stressed that a new monarchy, with a defined hereditary succession, might preserve Cromwell from further desperate attempts on his life. The offer specifically referred to the Sindercombe Plot: 'the continual danger your life is in from the bloody practices of the malignants and the discontented party… it being a received principle amongst them that nothing is wanted to bring us into blood and confusion and them to their desired ends, but the destruction of your person…'

The first address to Cromwell was probably drafted by John Thurloe. It was repeated by Parliament in a modified form, but it was not universally welcomed; a hundred army officers appealed to Cromwell to reject the idea. Cromwell consistently maintained that kingship was unimportant to him; however, most people assumed he was attracted and would succumb eventually. It was believed that events were being stage-managed by Thurloe, with Cromwell's full approval.

After much private deliberation and prayer, however, Oliver Cromwell took an unexpected decision. After nearly two months' thought, he refused the crown. He conceded that those who had made the proposal were honourable, and that their purpose was to set the nation on a good footing. But he concluded that it would be sinful to take upon himself the title of king.

Cromwell made this surprise announcement to Parliament at a special meeting in the Banqueting House on the 7th of May. At the end of June Parliament would go into recess for six months and he was to be reproclaimed Protector, with much ceremony.

Then a pamphlet hit the streets — literally, for it was scattered there — entitled Killing no Murder. Authorship of Killing no Murder was ascribed to "William Allen" — the genuine name of a New Model Army Leveller, an old associate of Sexby's. Allen denied involvement. Thurloe arrested John Sturgeon, another disaffected member of Cromwell's Lifeguards; whose connections with the Sindercombe plots were known. He had recently returned, secretly, from exile in Holland. Killing no Murder was printed in Holland.

Enough copies escaped into circulation. When Gideon Jukes read Killing no Murder, he laughed at its irony. Then he went hot-foot to visit Secretary of State Thurloe.

Thurloe saw him immediately. Gideon was taken to a small inner cabinet, where Thurloe had a copy of the pamphlet and a pile of witness examinations in front of him. 'This pernicious document has appeared all over the Continent — even published in Dutch! Royalists are crowing with delight, naturally…'

'But it is most certainly not by a Royalist,' Gideon murmured. He had brought his copy. It was a long tract, but he had read it carefully. As Thurloe brooded, Gideon quoted: "To Tour Highness justly belongs the honour of dying for the people… Religion will be restored, Liberty asserted, and Parliaments have those Privileges they have fought for…"

Thurloe angrily took up the bile: ' "In the Black Catalogue of High Malefactors, few can be found that have lived more to the affliction and disturbance of Mankind…" This is slander and treason! It asks whether His Highness be a tyrant and if so, whether it be lawful — or profitable to the Commonwealth to do justice upon him? It means by killing him. It pretends that His Highness has put himself above the law, therefore should not have the law's protection.'

'Do you know where this has come from?' Gideon asked.

Thurloe summarised angrily: 'We were alerted to several Dutch vessels in the port of London. Colonel Barkstead learned that prohibited goods had been concealed in houses near the river. Barkstead ordered a search. At the house of Samuel Rogers, a distiller of strong- waters in St Katharine's Dock, he seized seven parcels of books, two hundred to each parcel. Rogers of course claimed no knowledge. When a watch was set secretly on his house, however, lo! There appears one Edward Wroughton — a man already known to us for distributing scandalous literature in Swan Alley'

'Coleman Street?'

'You know it?'

'By reputation,' agreed Gideon, with a smile.

'Fifth Monarchy' snarled Thurloe briefly. 'Venner's group. Your Okey is one — '

'Not my Okey!' Knowing that John Okey had recently only narrowly escaped a treason charge for involvement with the Fifth Monarchists, Gideon quickly distanced himself.

'Wroughton demanded to see an arrest warrant. These people are practised; he pointed out that the warrant specified the assistance of a constable. Barkstead's customs officer was compelled to send for one. Wroughton went along peacefully, but when they got him to the Tower Gate he suddenly broke free and they had to chase him all the way to Galley Quay'

'Was Wroughton working for himself?'

'He was in league with John Sturgeon.'

'Arrested too?'

'Officers recognised Sturgeon in East Smithfield, carrying yet more bundles. They had paper wrapped about them, and were tied up with pack- thread, but the paper was loose and ruffled up, so the book titles were visible. The officers took from Sturgeon a pocket pistol' — Thurloe riffled through the examination papers — ' "which he had in a money- bag, a weapon with four barrels in the stock, being all charged and ready for execution." He gave a false name, and has since refused to co- operate. "Asked, whether or not he hath delivered any such books to Edward Wroughton? He saith, he will not answer to that, nor any other questions that shall be asked of him — though it be whether two and two make four"…' Thurloe continued reading, with a startled expression, as if he had just noticed a postscript: 'Barkstead is so concerned he has asked for a back-dated warrant for Wroughton — lest he escape on a technicality!'

He looked up. He gazed for a moment at Gideon. 'And you have anxieties, Captain Jukes?'

This was Gideon's cue: 'I do not believe this well-penned piece, Killing no Murder, comes from William Allen. Edward Sexby wrote it.'

Thurloe started. 'It is Sexby's style?'

'Machiavelli peppering Scriptures and illustrations from the ancient Romans, like Jamaica spices mixed in a mortar. He cites not only Francis Bacon, but — cheekily — your own Secretary of Tongues, Mr John Milton! This is well-argued, thoughtful, sustained work. Twenty pages as good as anything Nedham produces for you — Gideon noticed Thurloe looking put out. 'Well — I am a printer, as you know, and was told many years ago, never to take responsibility for ideas — but I can evaluate prose! See here, where he appeals to members of the army as his audience. The phrase he uses, to all those Officers and soldiers of the Army that remember their engagements and dare to be honest — "engagement" is a word beloved of Sexby; it is used again afterwards. And at the end he suddenly turns to the business of Miles Sindercombe, claiming his death was not suicide, but Colonel Barkstead smothered him with pillows. He equates Sindercombe with Brutus and Cassius — "give him statues and monuments" — '